Lanesboro Ballyleague
Longford Association in London
The Longford Association in London are holding their 62nd annual Dinner Dance on the 18th February at The Crown Hotel Cricklewood.
Looking forward to meeting some old friends and hopefully making some new ones.
Tickets are now available. If anyone would like to book, please message or call Aidan Ganly to arrange 00447786081999
A big call to all Lanesboro people living and working in and around London to go along and meet up with locals from home and have a whale of a night.
Engagement
Many congratulations to Ciara Gillen daughter of Greg and Bernadette Gillen, The Green, and Eamon Farrell, son of Paul and Ita Farrell, Tullyvrane, who announced their engagement over the Christmas period.
50/50
On Tuesday night, last 2nd January, the 50/50 draw took place in the Peer Inn, Lisnacusha. The first Rathcline 50/50 draw winner of 2017 was Mike Gill, Rathcline Road. Mike was the recipient of the pool of €369
The club thanks you for your continued support. Blue weekly tickets are on sale in all local businesses and yearly pink tickets are also available costing €100.
Parking at Church
Once again after a reasonable positive period of conscious parking we are once again back to this old chestnut. Parking from the top of the Church Road all along Ferguson’s fencing should never take place. There should be parking on one side only. Last Saturday night double parking took place and it was extremely difficult for a car to go either up or down the road. Entrances to the Green are once again getting clogged up with parking on both sides of the road. Drivers are asked to be conscious of the need to be able to get emergency service vehicles into the Green at a time of need. Please remember parking should on one side only.
Monster Meeting Wednesday
The Lough Ree Monster group will have its first meeting of the New Year in Adie’s Bar on this Wednesday 11th January at 9pm.
As this is our most important few months, it is vital that anyone that is interested in the Festival comes along for the meeting. Everyone is welcome and your input will be much appreciated.
Deferred Card Game
As a mark of respect to the Healy/Donoghue family on the death of David Donoghue the Anthony Healy Memorial card game scheduled for before Christmas was deferred to a later date. The Anthony Healy Memorial card game has got a new date and it will now take place in Clarke’s Bar on Sunday 29th January commencing at 7pm. If you had bought tickets for the original date, then bring them along as they will be valid for this date.
The organisers would like to encourage everyone in the locality to support this game either by buying tickets or coming along and playing in the game.
The proceeds will go to the Roscommon Mayo Hospice and your support is keeping the memory one of our favourite sons alive. Please be generous.
First Goal Winner
The Rathcline Ladies first goal competition is held every week on a selected match and the winner of the first goal scored will receive €50. The winner of the last first goal game was Caroline Ginty, Ballyleague. Tickets are on sale in local pubs and from Mike Greene from only €2.
It is a small but significant fundraiser for the Ladies Club and your support will be greatly appreciated.
Wedding Showcase
The Abbey Hotel will host a Wedding Showcase on Sunday next15th January from 2 to 6pm.There will be a host of giveaways and discounts on the day. Local lady Geraldine Greally will be on hand to help guide you through the day.
Be a Referee
Now is the time to be thinking of becoming a GAA referee. Foundation courses and referee introductions in Longford GAA will commence from mid/late February. The new system introduced in Longford last year was an outstanding success and between the nine new referees they officiated at almost 200 games. The system has gained wide acclaim and it is a great welcome to refereeing.
Longford for the first time had 2 female referees which was very welcomed and they would like to increase that number of ladies next year and in the coming years.
If you want any more information or want to let your name go forward contact me at joea@iol.ie, phone 086-2460840 or email Longford county board secretary.longford@gaa.ie with your name and contact details.
Tractor Run
Newtowncashel Tractor Run will take place from Newtowncashel on Saturday 25th February. The Tractor Run is in aid of the Irish Hospice Foundation and it start from ‘The Local’ at 4.30pm. The entry fee is €20 and every sort and type of tractor is welcome to participate.
Later that evening music and a raffle will take place in ‘The Local’
Kick of Your New Year
Why not kick off the New Year by getting out, get healthy and fit. Training has started for the Ronan McCormack Charity Challenge 2017, walking/jogging/running training takes place on Tuesdays and Thursday at 7pm from the Quad Centre Roscommon Town. Cycling training takes place on Saturday mornings at 10am. Every age and ability catered for. A perfect opportunity to clear the head and shed a few pounds for 2017.
Rathcline Christmas Draw
The results of the Rathcline Christmas draw that took place in Clarke’s bar on Sunday night last were 1st €1,000 Celine and Eugene Hester, Knock, 2nd €1,000, Mark Kenny, Blenavoher, 3rd €500 Sean Kenny, Fermoyle, 4th Dessie Mc Dermott, Barnacor, 5th €200 Peter Clancy, Rathcline Road, 6th Des and Claire Egan, Newtowncashel, 7th €200 Mary Mullooly, Rathcline 8th €200 Aoife Chapman, Lisnacusha.
Table Quiz
The Ballyleague Christmas Lights Committee are hosting a fundraising Table Quiz on this coming Friday 13th January in Rosie’s at the Lifebelt at 9.30pm. There will be lots of great prizes and there will also be a raffle. There will be prizes for the ‘best community group’, ‘best sports group’ and ‘best business’. Teams of 4 cost €40
The funds raised will go towards the cost of this year’s Ballyleague’s Christmas lights display. Your support will be greatly appreciated by the Ballyleague Christmas Lights Committee.
Thank You
The Lanesborough Christmas Lights Group would like once again to thank everyone who donated to their collection. The group are balancing their books for 2016. Anyone who has not donated and feel they would like to in order to keep lights in the town and improve on them can donate to Joe O Brien, Mags Gillen, Mark Casey or Brigid Mullooly. We will print a full list of business sponsors in next week’s paper. All donations will be receipted.
Lough Ree AC
Let us start by congratulating the runners who came out to support our Annual Christmas Day Run, the weather wasn’t conducive to increased participation and we appreciate the dedication of those who turned up and then of course on the day we are competing with Santa Clause. Ella Hogan was our first lady home, while Eoin Cox was first home for the boys. Well done to Michael Hogan and Sean O’Dowd who were the youngest competitors to take part. Thanks to the parents for their help in ensuring the safety of the competitors. Compliments to Caoilinn Flood and Kieran O’Dowd who promoted themselves to completing the 12k from Newtowncashel to Lanesboro in aid of MS Longford. In the upcoming weeks, we need to decide a date for our AGM. Wishing all our athletes and parents a very Happy New Year.
Ronan Mc Cormack Charity Challenge
The 5th Ronan Mc Cormack Charity Challenge was launched in Hannon’s Hotel this week. The now annual event is organised to remember Ronan, a young Roscommon man, taken from this world in May 2010 in a tragic road accident. This challenge has grown in numbers as the years have gone on and it is expected that 2017 will be even bigger and better. Over the last 4 years a total of 108,815 euro has been raised for charity. In 2017 the charities to benefit will be Pieta House West, The Jack and Jill Foundation, Burrenview Child Development Services, Galway and Roscommon Special Olympics.
The event takes place over the weekend of the 3rd and 4th March. On Friday night 3rd March, there will be a 5 and 10k timed moonlight road run and walk. It is hoped that all the running clubs, junior athletics clubs and walking clubs in Roscommon and the surrounding counties will come on board to support and participate in this event. Walking and running is suitable for both young and not so young and this weekend is guaranteed to be a fun filled challenging one with a few surprises on the evening and is an event that can be enjoyed by all the family. Secondary School pupils are encouraged to come on board this year and join in.
On Saturday morning the 4th March, Ronan’s Cycle Challenge will involve a cycle incorporating 2 distances 65 and 105 km. this will bring participants on a tour of Roscommon and surrounds. Again, this is an activity open to all.
This 2-day event is a perfect way to start the athletic calendar and provides an excellent goal for all those New Year’s resolutions. To sports clubs of whatever code, to the various operation transformation groups, boot campers and keep fit classes, you are encouraged you to join with us to increase the team spirit within your own group. If you have never exercised before, maybe you walk a few evenings per week but would like to be able to walk quicker or longer, perhaps you are a jogger but would like to go quicker, this event is for you. If you are an accomplished runner and want something a little different whilst enjoying some company while you train, this event is for you. If you have never cycled in your life, you will be helped to cycle at least the 65km distance, if you can only mange a few km cycling at the moment you will be trained up to the required level for the day. There is no body that this event doesn’t suit.
What makes this event special is the training that leads up to the actual day. In this regard, Training for both events will commence on the first week in January. Event organisers are hugely indebted to Noel Feely and his staff in Roscommon Sports Partnership for organising and providing the training for it.
Cycling training under the guidance of qualified cycling coaches starts Saturday morning 7th of January at 10am from The Quad Centre, Roscommon Town and running/walking training commences on Tuesday 3rd of January also from the Quad. The support and commitment of Roscommon Sports Partnership to this event must not be over looked. The work that Noel Feely and his staff put into overseeing training for the 8 weeks is truly remarkable and we are lucky to have such dedicated and professional people associated with this challenge.
The 3rd and 4th March has something for everyone and it is hoped that the people of Roscommon including the business of the area come on board, participate, get fit, healthy and at the same time raise money for our charities. You can register on line using this link http://www.active.com/roscommon-coroscommon/running/distance-running-races/the-ronan-mccormack-charity-challenge-2017
Business and employers are encouraged to create a team spirit of health and fitness within the workplace and encourage your staff to participate in both the training and the event itself. To facilitate this, we are happy to announce that lunchtime training will be provided also starting on the first Tuesday in January and continuing every Tuesday at 1.05 pm sharp from the new county council car park.
A healthy body aids a healthy mind. So organisers are encouraging everyone to come out and get involved. This is an ideal opportunity for those who may have indulged a bit over Christmas to shed a few pounds it is also an opportunity for anyone who is considering taking up running or cycling to get involved with well-organized training classes under the professional guidance of Noel and his staff. The 3rd and 4th March has something for everyone and we hope that the people of Roscommon including the business of the area come on board, participate, get fit, healthy and at the same time raise money for our charities.
After the challenge and effort of the day, a Social night will follow in Foxes, Roscommon on the Saturday night where the annual darts competition will take place. Special tribute was paid to Luke Concanon, Martin Fleming and Tommy Beirne and members of Roscommon darts committee who have always been so good in organising an enjoyable entertainment.
Rosbowl on the Lanesboro road will once again be event HQ. Michael and Aisling O’Connor were thanked for providing their centre to us and look forward to working with them to ensure the smooth running of the challenge.
This event is expected to be very well supported and bring athletes and onlookers into town which should benefit the local business community. I encourage the business of the town county and surrounds to come on board. Business that sponsor or support us in any way will be offered an opportunity to take part in our EXPO which involves pitching their business in the event hub to advertise their services or product. Last year over 1,000 athletes’ cyclists and their families rambled around our event centre so businesses may like to take this opportunity to promote themselves.
Before I finish I would like to congratulate Daire Feeley on the wonderful year he has had, He has truly put himself and Roscommon on the cycling map. We wish him all the luck in the world on his move to AC Monaco. He puts a serious effort into his training and it is paying off now. He thoroughly deserves this opportunity.
To conclude, this Ronan McCormack Challenge is to remember Ronan, to remind us of the love and laughter, amusement and devilment he brought to this world for the short while he was here. We all know how proud he would be to know that even though we can’t see or hear him anymore that in his name good work is being done.
Further details can be got by emailing ronanschallenge@eircom.net, 0861721181 or FB Ronan Mc Cormack Charity Challenge
Ballyleague Tidy Towns
Ballyleague Tidy Towns wish to extend deepest sympathy to the family of Anna Egan. The late Anna Egan …. For over 20 years Anna was at the centre of our voluntary committee activities – plotting the course of all our development work, co-ordinating the flowers for the tidy
towns committee & generally leading the way to progress in our village. She was also of course such a wonderful neighbour on the Strokestown Road (where she lived with her beloved Tom & family) and she gave so much more to our community by passing on her great love of music and
the piano to dozens of young people so this week our committee and our community are in such sombre mood – we grieve with Anna’s girls and her extended family – and we say goodbye to a great friend. Rest in Peace Anna.
Off to France
After the success of last October’s world fishing championship on Lough Ree, the anglers of Lanesborough and Ballyleague, Longford and Roscommon are heading to France next weekend to promote the lake and the region among the top anglers of Europe.
The Lough Ree Angling Hub has printed over 2000 brochures in the French native language to promote fishing in Counties Roscommon and Longford and will be marketing the area in front of some 22,000
anglers expected at the largest fishing trade show in France in Clermont-Ferrand next Saturday and Sunday.
The Lough Ree Angling Hub is using the new slogan ‘Le grand lac d’Europe pour la peche au predateur’ – the great predator fishing lake of Europe for this promotion and has invested € 10,000 in this
promotion at the show in Clermont-Ferrand. It is still seeking support from key agencies here for the project and will in turn be promoting over 30 accommodation providers in Longford, Roscommon and nearby. The hub wish to thank Inland Fisheries Ireland for facilitating them with facilities in France to promote the area.
If you provide accommodation in the area and would like to be part of the promotion of good fishing and food around Lough Ree at any stage, this year please contact Debbie Tierney or Helen Feeney at Lough Ree Angling hub at 04333 21734 or e mail: loughreeanglinghub@gmail.com