Lanesboro Ballyleague Notes
Christmas Day Swim
It’s that time again for the hardy people of Lanesboro and its surrounds to strip off for the Annual Christmas Day Swim that is in aid of St. Christopher’s and run by the Lanesboro Lough Ree Sub Aqua Search and Rescue Unit.
Come along folks on Christmas day after 11.30am Mass and support these brave souls, Or, better still, join them in their bid to make life a little better for the good people of St. Christopher’s and their good work which goes on year after year, often unnoticed. For further details, please contact any member of the Lough Ree Sub Aqua Search and Rescue Unit.
MS Christmas Day Run/Walk
It is great to see so many people out walking and jogging in preparation for the MS Christmas Day Run. The walk will commence at 11.45am and the run at 12.15pm. This year the committee are expecting a huge attendance as they to break all records in both attendance and sponsorship. The value the Multiple Sclerosis organisation get from this their main fundraising event each year is truly enormous and rewarding in aiding those with MS.
Each year you contribute so much either as a participant or sponsor and the committee are greatly indebted to you for your fabulous support. Your efforts do not go unnoticed and are greatly appreciated.
Sponsorship cards are available in O’Brien’s, 3321107, or the Flood family Lehery or Newtowncashel or any committee member.
Thank you
Longford County Social Services Meals on Wheels would like to thank everybody for their most generous contributions at all masses last weekend.
The Green a living history
Continuing on with the apprentices in 1975 we had in Lanesboro Brendan Birmingham, John Brennan, Gerard Cox, Patrick Coyne, Patrick Cunniffe, Tommy Donoghue the Green, Gerry Garry, Patrick Grey, Johnny Jordan, the Green, Brendan Kelly, Brian Kelly, Myles Murren, Edward Nolan, Aidan Smyth, Kenneth Usher, William Bagnall, Colm Bradley, Joseph Carroll, Richard Cullen, Patrick Mc Dermott, Thomas Martin, Michael Moffatt, John Phelan, Martin Plunkett, Sean Tarmey, Cloontuskert, Joe Troy, John Whelan, Bernard Whelehan, Patrick Carolan, John Corrigan, John Deering, Joe Dolan, Seamus Donohoe, Martin Doyle, Eugene Keeshan, Patrick Leonard, Thomas Mulhall, Sean O’Brien, Martin O’Rourke, Brendan Quinn, Seamus O’Rourke, Patrick Stones, and Sean Monaghan, the Green.
I am awaiting the full household of the Quinn family in no 24 and I hope to get the full list over the next few days. The other residents of 24 were Tony and Aileen Dalton who moved down from no37 and their family Richard, Ann, Paul and David. The next residents were the Weir family who were natives of Co. Mayo and then Tracy Gray and her son Jason. In no25 was Paddy and Mrs. Keaveney, and their children Beryl, Cecil and Olive, the family later moved to no51 and the Geheran’s Tom and his wife Moira along with their children Eileen, Gerry and Cathal moved in. The current inhabitant is Tracy Whitlow along with her daughter Shannon.
50/50
The 50/50 draw took place on Monday night last 14th December. Believe it or believe it not but the winning ticket drawn was in the name of Tina Dowd, Thureen. This was the second time Tina has won the 50/50 and this time she won €387. The next draw will take place on Monday night next and your continued support will be greatly appreciated. Tickets are only €2
Christmas Mass Times
In St. Mary’s church Lanesboro two Christmas Masses will take place on Christmas Eve at 7pm and 8.30pm. On Christmas morning masses will be at 9.30am and 11.30am.
Mass on Christmas Eve in Ballagh will take place at 8pm and in Ballyleague at 9pm. On Christmas Day mass will take place in Curraghroe at 10am and in Ballyleague at 11am.
Engagement
Many congratulations to Fintan Duffy and Patricia Brady Church View on the announcement of their engagement at the weekend.
Dinner Dance
The Rathcline GAA Dinner Dance makes its long awaited return in the Radisson Blu Athlone on Saturday 23rd January.
Tickets priced €35 are on sale from members of the club executive or from O’Brien’s, phone 3321107, email joea@iol.ie or text 0862460840 to book your tickets.
St. John’s Church
On Christmas Eve there will be a Holy Communion Service in St. John’s Church at 8pm. Christmas Day Service will take place in St. Coman’s Roscommon at 10.30am
The St. John’s congregation would like to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and Peaceful New Year.
New Year Draw
The Rathcline club has just launched their annual Christmas/New Year draw. With huge expenses in the affiliation and entry of competitions at the beginning of each year the profits from the draw goes to the payment of this large expense at the beginning of the year.
Each year your support is tremendous and the club again depend on your generosity. Tickets are priced at €10 and the following is the prize structure: – Prizes are as follows: 1st prize – €1500, 2nd prize – €750, 3rd prize €500, 4th prize €200, 5th prize €200, 6th prize €200, 7th prize €100 and 8th prize €100. The draw will take place at the Dinner Dance on Saturday 23rd January.
Care Workers Sought
Part time care workers are required and if you feel you can avail of this offer you are asked to contact Bernie at 09066 25852 or send your C.V. to R.S.G. Derrane, Roscommon, or email info@rosdisabilities.ie. There are also positions available for both Carers and clerical workers on the DSP Community Scheme.
Thank You
Cloontuskert National School would most sincerely like to thank everyone you supported our recent bag packing day in Keane’s Super Value and Cake Sale in Ballyleague Hall. We would also like to Bernard Kane and his staff for allowing us the opportunity to raise funds for our school. Your support was greatly appreciated. We would also like to congratulate our fifth and sixth classes who won the recent SciFest Competition. Well done to all involved.
Lanesboro Library
Christmas Closing: The Library will close at 5pm on Wednesday 23rd December and will reopen on Monday 4th January at 2pm. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all our customers!
For Sale in the Library: Easter Rising 1916 Centenary Calendar for sale in the library. Wonderful drawings by Laura Doherty. Only €5 each. Why not pick up one or two as Christmas presents!
Shannonside Camera Club Photographic exhibition is currently on display in Lanesboro Library and will remain there until the end of the year. Drop in and see their wonderful work.
Foreign Currency Appeal Reminder While you are doing a clean out over the Christmas time you are sure to come across foreign coins from your holidays abroad. The library staff are still collecting unwanted foreign currency and old coins/notes in aid of ISPCC. The smallest donation can make a huge difference.
Used stamps also being collected at the library for ISPCC.
Lough Ree Sub Aqua Club
By all accounts the Christmas Party in the Mullingar Park Hotel went very well on Saturday last. There is an ongoing search for someone’s “mojo” which seems to have gone missing??? Also someone attained a degree in engineering and enthralled everyone with in-depth knowledge of Jukeboxes’!!
There will be a club-house and boat shed clean up next Sunday in preparation for the Christmas Day Swim. I am reliably informed that Sean Connaughton has an ample supply of brushes and bleach for Santa’s little helpers on the day. Anyone with equipment is asked to collect it from Sean.
Christmas Day is approaching fast so a we need a big turnout for the Christmas Day Swim in aid of St. Christopher’s. So come along everyone to support us, or better still, join us and leave yourself refreshed after a brisk swim and a good appetite to tackle that big turkey later on.
The lecture last week was on pressure and its effects. This was the last night in the pool for 2015. We will resume in January (watch this space) when it is rumored that k c will demonstrate two lengths under water.!
Finally, to all our members, their families and everyone who supports us in our work throughout the year, may I on behalf of the Lough Ree Sub Aqua Search and Rescue Unit wish one and all a safe and peaceful Christmas and every good wish for the New Year.
Rathcline GAA
New manager – The club are delighted to announce that Enon Gavin has been appointed as the new senior manager of Rathcline for 2016. Enon is from Clann na Gael in Athlone. Joining Enon’s management team are David Kilcoyne and Lee Cullen. We wish you all the very best of luck for 2016.
Dinner Dance – To celebrate the success of 2015 the club will be holding a dinner dance in the Radisson Blu Athlone on Saturday 23rd January. The players will be presented with medals on the night and our two cups will be on show. Tickets are priced at €35 which will include the meal and music afterwards by the band 4Degrees West, followed by DJ Tommy K. A great occasion this promises to be for all parishioners.
New Year’s Draw – Our New Year’s Draw will take place on Saturday 23rd January at the Rathcline Dinner Dance in the Radisson Blu hotel in Athlone. Prizes are as follows: 1st prize – €1500, 2nd prize – €750, 3rd prize €500, 4th prize €200, 5th prize €200, 6th prize €200, 7th prize €100 and 8th prize €100. Tickets cost €10 and are available now from executive members and other ticket sellers. With the move to senior football next year, the club will need even more income so it’s crucial again to make this draw a success.
50/50 Draw – The luck of the Dowd’s continued on Monday night last as Tina Dowd was the lucky winner of €387 in our 50/50 draw for the second time. Tina previously won €360. The draw continues every Monday night at 9pm and envelopes only cost €2.
Yearly Subscription 50/50 – Our 50/50 draw which started a year ago has proved to be very successful. We have given away over €24,000 in prize money since the draw began. We are now giving people who live abroad or away from town the opportunity to be in with a chance of winning and supporting the club. A yearly subscription costing €100 will include membership for the year along with a chance of winning an average weekly prize of €400. The first date for the subscription envelopes to be rolled out will be Monday 11th January. Your support would be greatly appreciated. Please contact any member of the executive or email us at pro.rathcline.longford@gaa.ie if you’re interested in subscribing.
Recruitment drive for referees – With a serious shortage of referees in the county the county board are looking to recruit new referees with a training programme to begin in the new year. This is open to male or females between the age of 16 and 35 and it is not limited to those who play or have played football. Anyone with an interest may apply. The opportunity may arise to go on and referee at county level in the future. Please contact any member of the executive as soon as possible if you are interested in becoming a referee.
Christmas wishes – Finally we’d like to wish everybody at home and abroad a very happy Christmas from everyone at Rathcline GAA.
St. Faithleach’s GAA
Happy Christmas: The club would like to take this opportunity to wish all our members a very happy Christmas and to thank you for all of your support throughout 2015, to all of the people who have worked tirelessly over the past year behind the scenes to ensure that all our players from both the Minor and Senior Clubs are encouraged and supported throughout the season we wish you all a happy Christmas your support and help cannot be underestimated and without which we could not continue. We look forward to 2016 and wish players and members a Happy New Year.
Novelty Match: St. Stephens Day sees the club come together for a novelty match, which will start at 1:30pm with the Seniors and minors, 2:30pm sees the Junior Ladies and dads of all ages play the Mothers and Others and the younger lads, all donations are going to Roscommon Palliative Care in honour of Denis Mc Loone. Refreshments will be served in the Clubhouse after and the evening will continue with music, a few festive drinks, food, raffle and a fun night for all involved. Anyone who is interested in participating please contact Qona Cox, Noel Banahan, Ursula Kilcoyne, Darragh Hussey or Ray Cox. All are welcome to either play and/or support.
Santa Visit: Santa came to the clubhouse on Saturday last and as usual it was a huge success; we would like to thank all who helped out on the day to make the evening a lasting memory for all the children involved. Special thanks to Qona, Patricia, Raymond, Monica, Martina, our face painters Michelle and Clare, our elf’s on the day Maire, Aoife and Keeley, Eamon for the gingerbread men, and last but by no means least Santa. The U6 and U8 teams also received their Certificate of Achievement Awards, if you or your child was unable to attend the event please contact Nicola on (086)2242294 to receive your certificate.
Lotto: The last draw took place on Tuesday 15th December where there was no jackpot winner. The numbers drawn were 12,15,18 and 24. The five €20 winners were, Eileen Mullen, Brian Ross, Jimmy Mangan, B. Compton, John Rice. The next draw takes place on Tuesday 29th December for a jackpot of €12,000.
Cards: take place every Tuesday night in the clubhouse at 8:30pm. Winners Martin/Jimmy, runners up Kevin/Liam, last game Peggy/Michael. Tickets Paddy, Kathleen, Michael and Dan. Wishing all our card players a very happy Christmas and we look forward to seeing you in the New Year.
Congratulations: To Amanda and Kevin Egan on the birth of their baby boy.