Lanesboro Ballyleague Notes 12th October’09 | Lanesboro & Ballyleague Notes

Lanesboro Ballyleague Notes

Blood Transfusion Service

The Irish Transfusion service will offer the opportunity to people to give blood when they visit Longford during the coming week. They will be in the Longford Arms Hotel on Tuesday 13^th, Wednesday 14^th, and Thursday 15^th October from 4.30 pm to 8.30pm each day.

Terry Fox Run this Sunday

The Annual Terry Fox Run in aid of Cancer research will take place on Sunday next 18^th October. As usual the Run/Walk will start at St. Mary’s Church, Lanesboro and follow the regular route with a starting time of 3pm. All walkers and runners are asked to take part and help this excellent charity that carries out so much excellent work in Cancer Research. Your support will be deeply appreciated. For further information please contact Una Clarke phone 086-8929402.

Launch of Poetry Collection

A collection of poems, entitled “April Promise” by Margaret Nohilly will be launched by native writer Jack Harte, in Lanesboro Library on Friday night next 16^th October at 8pm. This is the first collection of poetry by Margaret and we wish her every success.

Margaret who retired from teaching a short time ago has put her retirement to great use by writing this collection of poems.

Margaret would like to extend an invitation to each and everybody to the launch. If you cannot make it to the launch copies of the book will be on sale in O’Brien’s Corner Shop.

Lanesboro Bridge Club

The results of the competition held on Wednesday 7^th October are; N/S 1^st Barbara Ferguson & Eilish Gray, 2^nd Mairéad Gill & Maura Hanly, 3^rd Kathleen Reilly & Tom Feeney. E/W 1^st Noreen Dunne & Mae Casey, 2^nd Cyril Hussey & Una Lawlor, 3^rd Renee Walsh & Mary Jameson.

Lack of Policing a Major Concern

On the 16th June last I wrote an article expressing a concern about the lack of policing in Lanesboro Ballyleague area, see article on www.joeobrien.ie It is my greatest regret to inform you that in the Lanesboro Ballyleague the policing concern of then has now become a major crisis for both communities. The Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy and Minister for Justice, Dermot Ahern, were recently in Granard denying the media claims and concerns of locals that there were going to be stations closures in rurals areas and that the station at Aughnacliffe, in particular, was going to be closed. The local community were demanding extra Gardaí and not the closure of their station.

In last weekends Sunday Tribune we were treated to the extravagant living of our Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue, Government Ministers and in recent times read of the extraordinary expense claims by ordinary TD’s, all of this I can only presume, at the expense of an ample number of Gardaí in Lanesboro to serve the people of both the Lanesboro and Ballyleague communities. We have honest decent and hard working communities and we deserve the fairness and the security that the Garda force was set up to serve. We have hard working and dedicated Gardaí working to serve the community from Lanesboro station and it is extremely unfair on them.

In recent time we have seen a change in the Garda divisions and with that change has come the ludicrious situation of Ballyleague being served now by Roscommon Garda station. When there is any incident now in Ballyleague it has to go through Roscommon who may be duty bound at some other incident leaving the people of Ballyleaue in a very vulnerable and scary situation. The people of Ballyleague deserve much better, they deserve the same rights and protection as every citizen in this country is entitled to. Imagine the scenario where an incident just across the bridge in Ballyleague has to be reponded by Gardaí over 10 mile away in Roscommon and Gardaí a few hundred yards away are not notified.

In my previous article I mentioned the fall in manning levels at Lanesboro Garda station. The situation has got infinitely worse and there is no sign of any extra gardaí been transferred to Lanesboro station and the situation seems to be progressively getting worse. I belive that the number of 12 a few years ago has diminished so much that it is now at crisis level with only 3, yes 3, gardaí working from Lanesboro station right now. How can this be justified by local Superintendant, Garda commissioner, our politicians or Minister for Justice. It is now time for a tremendous outcry from the communities of Lanesboro and Ballyleague into the treatment we are receiving. It is truly beyond belief that we can be left in such a vulnerable position. Like any community we deserve the best policing that the minister can give. It is an entitlement that each citizen of the country is enntitled to receive.

How dare they treat our communities with such contempt. How dare they leave us so vulnerable. When will we receive any response or will we receive any information as to why we are being neglected and ignored by those that decide policing in our area. Why should we be treated like second class citizens. If Minister Ahern or any of the superior officers from the Gardaí want to explain to us why we are are being treated as we are I will be happy to organise a meeting for both communities to hear their reasoning, but I will not be holding my breath. I presume this article will meet the same response as the previous one did back in June – utter neglect.

Shannon Gaels Minor Club

The under fourteen team and management finished their season with a very enjoyable blitz in Clonbonny on Saturday last.The club would like to compliment the management team of Neil Donohue, Sean Lisle and all the players for their great season and we look foward to next year.The blitz was a great success and thanks goes to the management team and Michelle Lisle and Jacqui Rooney and to Padraic Farrell and Brendan Rhatigan for refereeing the games and everybody that turned out to support. The first final was between the the Stephen Tobin captained team of Eoin Sorohan Sean Costello, Sean Casey, Laura Peters, Niamh Shea and Andrea Carter overcame the challenge of the Andrew Ward captained team of Shane Kenny, Jack Rooney, Lauren Guinan, Elanor Lisle, Emily Brennan and Dearbhail Flood. In the second final the Carol Cooney captained team of Kieran Lisle, Niall Keane, Mikela Cox, Jo Sweeney, Eugene Maguire and Andrew Rhatigan beat the Oisin O’Sullivan captained team of Gary Gallagher, Sharon Rooney, Garth O’Reilly, Shannon Rooney, Connell Kennelly and Danielle Irwin. A feature of both winning teams was that they were both managed by our underage ladies Linda Kilcoyne and Tara Leigh Lulham. Well done girls and also well done to all players.

The Junior Championship visited the two parish primary schools on Monday.Thanks very much to the team captain PJ O Neill for taking the time to visit the schools.The future of the club and future successes on the field will all start in the primary schools.year.

Preparations for Scor have begun and five disciplines will be entered this year. This is great progress as the club had never entered the competition up to a few years ago. The club would like thank everybody for their efforts.

A winter indoor under 8 league has commenced on Monday and will continue for six weeks.

Birth – The club would like to congratulate Stephen and Tina Dowd on the birth of a baby girl recently.

Photographs – if you have any old club photographs they would be greatly appreciated for the upcoming yearly club annual.

Sympathy

Would like to extend our sincere sympathy to Breda and Niall walsh and family, Clonbonny on the death last week of Breda’s father Johnny Tanner, The Island, Kenagh.

Keeping Well and Warm

LCRL Social Inclusion Group in partnership with the Longford Citizens Information centre are organising an information session on rights and entitlements which you or family member may be entitled to this winter. “Keeping Well and Warm in County Longford” will take place in the Acorn CDP offices in Longford town (behind Crossan’s, Main St.) at 10.30am on Tuesday 20th October . There will be free onsite childcare and you are asked to book immediately. To book please contact Martina at LCRL on 33 45555

Coillte Meeting

Coillte is reviewing its forest management plans for South Longford and we would like to hear your views.

Please come along to the public consultation meeting which is taking place on this Thursday 15th October 2009 at 8pm in Cooney’s Hotel, Ballymahon.

For more information or to view these plans online, please visit www.coillte.ie

Guitar Lessons

Will commence in the Lanesboro Parish Hall on Thursday 29th October, classes are 1 hour long and costs €15 per class. Lessons will start soon depending on the numbers interested. Please call Karl Somers on 087 7472563 to book in and for info.

Please note that the notice in the Parish News read that the guitar lessons were in Ballymahon, there was an error in sending and the lessons will be in Lanesboro Parish Hall.

Lanesboro 2000 Bridge Club

The results of the competition that took place on Monday 28^th September are: Gross 1^st Noreen Dunne & Katharine Harrison, 2^nd Nancy Dolan & Eileen Kelly, 3^rd Hannah Clyne & Maureen Hynes. Nett 1^st Noreen Dunne & Katharine Harrison, 2^nd Nancy Dolan & Eileen Kelly, 3^rd Una Clarke & Nora Kelly. N/S Gross and Nett1^st Nancy Dolan & Eileen Kelly, 2^nd Hannah Clyne & Maureen Hynes, 3^rd Bernadette Gillen & Patsy Canavan. E/W Gross and Nett 1^st Noreen Dunne & Katharine Harrison, 2^nd Nora Kelly & Una Clarke, 3^rd Mary Conmy & Mary Jameson.

Don’t forget the “no blame” competition is being held on 19^th October. And the club pair’s will be held on Monday 2^nd November.

Gross 1^st Eileen Kelly and Nancy Dolan, 2nd JJ Donlon & Joan Donnellan, 3^rd Hannah Clyne & Maureen Hynes. Nett 1^st Eileen Kelly and Nancy Dolan, 2^nd Ger Clarke & Breda Clarke, 3^rd Mary Fallon & Goretti Kenny. N/S Gross 1^st Eileen Kelly and Nancy Dolan, 2nd JJ Donlon & Joan Donnellan, 3^rd Hannah Clyne & Maureen Hynes. N/S Nett Eileen Kelly and Nancy Dolan, 2^nd Hannah Clyne & Maureen Hynes, 3^rd JJ Donlon & Joan Donnellan. E/W Gross and Nett 1^st Ger Clarke & Breda Clarke, 2^nd Mary Fallon & Goretti Kenny, 3^rd Mary Mulvihill & Helen O’Shea.

Don’t forget the ‘no blame’ competition on 19^th October. You must enter for it. Unfortunately, this is clashing with the first round of the winter league team competition which is being held in Birr. If you would like to form a team to travel to Birr, please give the names to either Hannah Clyne or Joan Donnellan as soon as possible.

Wonderful Developments

As you well know at this stage the ‘duck pond’ behind the car park on the way to the harbour has been a hobby horse of mine for some time as it lay in a state of incomplete and was an eyesore for so long. Well, finally I am very pleased to announce that the work has recommenced on the pond and in the next few weeks’ it will be fully functioning again for the benefit of locals and come the new tourist season all our visitors will have the pleasure to enjoy it too. It will be such a pleasure to go to the pond and see it once again stocked with a number of ducks

It also will finish off what is a tremendous facility for everybody, a large and spacious car park housing the Lough Ree Sub Aqua club and Lanesboro Rowing club, the children’s playground, all to the front, and the open green area will now have been rid of the eyesore and we have a beautiful duck pond. All this beauty as you walk to the small harbour that is still busy with the unexpected and very welcome good spell of weather we are having. It is great to see boating continuing so late in the season. In some small way it makes up for the lack of boating during a horribly wet summer.

The duck pond is only half the story and the funding approved and granted by Longford County Council over a year ago has finally led to the commencement of the work. This money was sanctioned to develop and create a walkway by the side of the old quarries to the woods and from there into the Coillte forest. Well, the money has now arrived and work has commenced in repairing, raising the present road and creating a new road that will lead to the woods. From there walkways are to be created through the woods to enhance the local knowledge of the astounding amenity we have on our doorstep. When this roadway and wood walks are completed it will be a huge and magnificent tourism benefit to Lanesboro and will draw many people interested in strolling through a beautiful nature walk to the town and be a huge asset to local business. It will also take those of us that grew up playing in the woods back down memory lane.

The excellent work being carried out at present is being done by Lanesboro Tourism Co-Op with the assistance of the local Fás workers under the supervision of John L Farrell and they must be sincerely congratulated and supported on their excellent work.

The developments above along with the far seeing proposals mentioned last week from the Green shows that Lanesboro is preparing itself for the future upturn in the community and is not sitting waiting for others to do it for us. The groups concerned in the present developments must be congratulated for their great work. At present there are a number of developments being proposed for the area and these proposals are found to be viable and suitable to the local environment and needs of the community they should also be supported and promoted. All of this shows that Lanesboro is vibrant and farseeing community with many excellent people, many behind the scenes, doing marvellous work in creating a community for everybody to enjoy.

Hopefully in the near future I will be able to bring to you through these notes news of new businesses for the town, as they come to hand, and also the news of the badly needed hotel. The hotel is probably the most urgent of all with the excellent access to the river and the huge number of people using boating as a recreation. We need to be able to accommodate those that want to avail of the facilities that have been mentioned in this article and also want to use Lanesboro as their access to boating on the river Shannon.

Launch of CD by local Songsters

A number of local songsters who enjoy nothing more than singing songs and having the craic have come together to put their collective voices on CD in aid of a local charities. Jimmy Hussey who recorded the 13 artists at his new recording studio will be producing this eagerly awaited CD at minimum cost. Jimmy has put together an excellent CD and the launch is a night not to be missed. The cost of the producing the CD will be met by the 13 artists and all monies received from the night of the launch through draws, raffles and sponsorship will go towards the selected charities.

The charities that were selected by the group to receive the proceeds were MS Ireland and Parkinson’s Association of Ireland.

The launch of the CD will take place in Adie Farrell’ on Sunday week 25^th October on and it expected that there will be a huge turnout on the night. Your support will be very much appreciated. The locals featuring on this CD are Liam Connerton, Tommy Donoghue, Michael Coffey, Joe Ginty, Johnny Malone, John Coffey, Catherine Mc Neilis, Tracy Docherty, Steve Ormsby, Gerald Farrell, Fergie Feeney, Seamus Flynn and Jimmy Hussey.

Lough Ree Athletic Club

The club was pleased to learn that some of their athletes were invited by the Connaught AA to join their squad for training on a regular basis. Those who attended the session in Galway were Eoin Sorohan, Shane Kenny, Sean Casey, Melonie Smith, Enda Berga and Rachael Costello. They seemed to enjoy the experience and are looking forward to the next session in Athlone.

The National Schools cross-country championships has moved on from county to provincial level with Sligo being the venue for the Connaught Championships on Sunday next 17^th October. We wish those that have qualified from Ballyleague, Lanesboro and Fermoyle National Schools well as they step up to the mark. We are sure that the stronger the opposition the better they will perform.

Lanesboro Pike Angling Club

A Pike Boat Fishing competition sponsored by ESB will take place on Sunday next at Lanesboro. Fishing will take place from 11am to 4pm and entries will be taken at the harbour behind the car-park from 9.30am. The entry fee for a maximum of four rods per boat is €50. The prize fund is €500 for the winner, €300 for second place, €250 for third, €200 for fourth and €150 for fifth place. There will also be a prize draw for non fishing members. The presentation will take place following the weigh-in at the Yacht Bar where refreshments will be served. If you require any further information please call Eithne 086-1584686.

St. Faithleach’s GAA

U14 Girls Championship County Final: Pride of the parish this week goes to our U14 Girls who captured the U14 Championship title when they defeated Elphin in Boyle on Saturday last. Final Score – St. Faithleach’s 5-6 Elphin 1-2. Faithleach’s opened the scoring with points from Kellie Murphy, Joan Geoghegan & Ellen Hegarty. Elphin secured a point before Claire Cleary cracked home 2 goals for Faithleach’s. Sarah Brennan pointed for Faithleach’s & Elphin replied with a point before the half-time whistle. Joan Geoghegan pointed for Faithleach’s before Elphin hit back with a goal. Goalkeeper for Faithleach’s, Aileen Nerney pulled off a cracking save before Ellen Hegarty was on target scoring a goal for Faithleach’s followed by 2 fantastic gaols from Rachel Banahan. Joan Geoghegan pointed another for Faithleach’s before the full-time whistle. This was a fantastic team performance & many congratulations to all players on the panel along with their Manager/mentors, Jimmy Brennan & Sheila Collier. Captain, Shauna O’Neill was presented with the winner’s trophy by Ray Burke. Panel of Players: Aileen Nerney, Catherine Brennan, Emma Kenny, Nichole Carty, Niamh Scally, Shauna O’Neill(Capt.), Tara Nerney, Rachel Costello, Kellie Murphy(0-1), Sarah Brennan(0-1), Joan Geoghegan(0-3), Ellen Hegarty(1-1), Aíne Collier, Claire Cleary(2-0), Rachel Banahan(2-0), Niamh O’Donnell, Lynn Gill, Jenny Silva, Leona Hoare, Claire O’Reilly. Well done to all players on the panel for their commitment and dedication throughout the year. The victorious team toured the parish with a huge following of supporters and were treated to a meal in The Lifebelt Bar afterwards thanks to Giles Murray & staff of the Lifebelt Bar. Many thanks to Manager/Mentors Jimmy Brennan & Sheila Collier for all their hard work and efforts throughout the year. Many thanks to the parents for their support throughout the year.
Minor Ladies: Our minor ladies were defeated by Castlerea St. Kevin’s on Sunday last.
U21 Team: Our U21’s were defeated by Tulsk on Saturday last.
Cards: Every Tuesday night in the Club House, 9.00pm. New players welcome. Results of last week’s games: 14 games – Maureen/Bernie. 11 games – Frank/Sean. Last game – Mark/Noreen. Ticket winners – Peggy, Michael, James, Gemma.
Up-coming events: The club are holding an Adult Table Quiz Night in the Club House on Friday 16th October. Tables of 4. All welcome, please support. Look out for our ‘Fancy Dress’ Party Night on Sunday 25th in the Club House. A great night to look forward to with prizes for the most topical and most original costumes so come along and have fun. Music on the night. Those who don’t wear a costume must wear a mask.

Congratulations: To Sean & Olive Cox on the birth of their baby girl, Anna, a sister for Mark, Shane & David. To Alan & Michelle Brehon on the birth of their baby girl.
Congratulations: To Gerry & Marie Donlon who celebrated their 25th Wedding Anniversary in the Club House on Saturday last. To Ollie & Ruth Trimble who celebrated their 10th Wedding Anniversary at the weekend.

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