Lanesboro
Ballyleague Notes
Tractor
Run, Barbeque and Family Day
A
wonderful and exciting day is promised by the Shannon Gaels Minor Club on
Sunday 14th August when the club hosts a Tractor Run followed by a
barbeque and Family Day. The tractor run will commence at St Mary’s
Church and will take a route through the parish and will make its way back to
the club grounds in Clonbonny where it is only then the fun and lots of craic
will begin. The barbeque will take place immediately following the tractor run
and many local artists will supply music to cover all tastes. Some of the
activities on the day will include a Dog Show, Face Painting, Sheaf Throwing,
live music and many more surprises. This is a new and novel day organised by
the minor club and club would like to see a huge number of tractors on the
roads through the parish on the day. Bookings for the Tractor Run can be made
by calling into Martina O’Brien in the Corner Shop or by phoning 0433321107.
Payment of €30 must be made at the time of booking.
One-Day
Pilgrimage to Lough Derg
A
one-day pilgrimage to Lough Derg will take place on Sunday 21st
August leaving from Ballyleague Hall at 7am. The island contribution is €30 and
the bus fare has yet to be determined. For those wishing to avail of the bus
and pilgrimage they can make enquiries to Mary, phone 043-3321969.
Triathlon
The
morning was dreary, the weather forecast was not great all threatening to spoil
what was hoped to be a memorable day for the Lanesboro Triathlon club. To stage
a triathlon at any time is a huge undertaking with the huge logistics needed to
be put in place. For a club not 12 months in existence to take on the enormous
task of organising a triathlon is a testimony to the club it has become. The
time and effort that the club members put in has been nothing short of
remarkable. Their attention to detail – and there was some detail – had to be
seen to be believed. For a club in its infancy, running its first triathlon, to
be awarded a round of the National Junior Series and the Midland
Triathlon club (one of the biggest triathlon clubs in the country) to hold
their club championships on the day was confirmation in itself as to the regard
in which Lanesboro Triathlon club is held. One can only remark that this club is
one of the finest every to be formed in the area and long may it continue. To
mention the club alone would be wrong because on the day they were ably
supported by many local clubs and volunteers all who acknowledge the great work
of the club and were delighted to help in making this day one that even the
inclement weather could not dampen. We congratulate the club and look forward
to you going from strength to strength.
Racing
in Roscommon on Tuesday
Following
on from the excitement of Galway race week Roscommon will host its most popular
meeting of the year on Tuesday next 2nd August. Traditionally all
the stars of Galway turnout again in Roscommon on the Tuesday in front of
bumper crowds and I am certain next Tuesday will be no different. The first
race will start at 5.40 and the whole evening will be filled with spills,
thrills and excitement. Don’t miss it.
Sympathy
We
would like to extend our sincere sympathy to Orla and Noel Horohoe and family,
Ballyleague on the death of Orla’s sister Mary Wynne, Coralstown, Mullingar,
last weekend.
Wedding
The
marriage took place at Ss Mary and Laurence Church, Crookstown, Co. Kildare of
Michelle Whelan daughter of Dermot and Trish Whelan, Kilgowan, Kildare and Cian
O’Brien, son of Joe and Martina O’Brien, Clonfower. Bestman was Cóilín O’Brien
brother of the groom and groomsmen were PJ and Seamus O’Neill friends of the
groom. Chief bridesmaid was Nicola Whelan twin sister of the bride, bridesmaids
were Fiona Whelan and Deirdre Meehan sisters of the bride. Flower Girl was Ava
Clyne cousin of the groom and Page boy was Óisín Meehan nephew of the bride.
The marriage ceremony was celebrated by Fr. Frank Mc Evoy and the wedding
reception was held in the Mount Wolsey Hotel, Tullow.
We
wish the happy couple many years of wedded happiness.
Very
Important Public Meeting
Wetlands
Heritage Longford is a new group that has come together in the preparation for
the end of the Bord na Mona boglands as we know them in the coming years. The
meeting will take place in the Co-Op hall on this Thursday evening 28th
July at 8pm.
The
end of the milling of peat will lead to a new and new vibrant opportunity for
the area as a wetland area with massive potential for the entire area. The
prospects for the area will be immense and the benefits will be reaped only if
the change is treated with thorough preparation and all aspects are fully
explored. The potential benefits come with educational opportunities at all
levels, it can generate and stimulate employment, develop cultural and
eco-tourism, field schools, experimental archaeology programmes, trails,
fishing, boating, enhance children’s environmental awareness and culture, arts
and crafts events, and wilderness retreats.
The
Wetlands Heritage group aims to protect peatlands artefacts, environment and
heritage. The potential for tourism and environmental education in county
Longford is very clear and potentially highly significant.
Back
in 2004 Mairéad
Farrell, B.., MSc. Cert. (Env. Mgt.), on behalf of Longford Leader group
created a hugely incisive report into the potential future of the cutaway
and intact raised bog at the Bord na Mona Mount Dillon Bog and she identified a
total of 12 sustainable after-uses that could potentially be employed within
the Mount Dillon bog area. The report is essential reading and highlights a
tremendous future for the area and a future we must embrace and welcome and
assist in its development in whatever way possible.
Today,
Saturday, I heard a commentator on the radio make the comment that during the
years of the boom and Celtic Tiger there was tremendous difficulty to bring
sustainable and substantial employment to county Longford and some other
counties. The opportunity is now truly in our own hands and we must work
ourselves to make and create a substantial contribution for the betterment of
our people. Just like the fabulous Longford Business Angels initiative we must
do it for ourselves.
This
is most definitely one of the most important meetings to take place in
Lanesboro for a long time and it is vitally important that everyone that can
makes a special effort to attend.
Footballers
on the up
The
St. Faithleach’s senior team on Friday night last virtually assured themselves
of a semi-final spot in the O’Rourke Cup with a convincing win over St Brigid’s
in Ballyleague. The team are presently on a marvellous winning run having won
their last 5 league games and are awaiting Strokestown for a place in the
quarter final of the championship.
Rathcline
seniors got their championship campaign back on track following a hard earned
1point win over Ballymahon in Cashel on Friday last. They now take on Colmcille
for a place in the quarter final in a winner takes all game next weekend.
Lanesboro
Pike Angling Club
On Sunday 7th August Lanesboro Pike Angling
Club will be holding the Michael Casey Perpetual Trophy Pike Boat competition
on Lough Ree.
Fishing will take place from 11am to 4pm. Entries will
be taken from 10.30am at Lanesboro harbour, the entry fee is €25 per boat with a maximum of 4 rods per boat and 2 rods
per person.
Membership will be taken on the day – adults €10 and juniors and O.A.P.s €5.
Visiting
Lanesboro Parish Hall
Following
the response to his last visit John King will be making a return visit to St.
Mary’s Parish Hall, Lanesboro, on Thursday 4th August.
John is an energy healer who works with angelic energy to aid in physical,
emotional and spiritual healing. He also reads angel cards, oracle cards and
Zen tarot. To book an appointment contact John at 085-1232957
Lanesboro
Bridge 2000 club
The
summer bridge competition continues in the Co-Op hall every Monday night at
8pm. The results of the competition held on Monday 18th July are N/S
1st Joan Donlon & Johnny Rogers, 2nd Des watts and
Loretta Cooney, 3rd Peg Clarke and Mary B Casey and 4th
Maureen Hynes and Goretti Cooney. E/W 1st Una Clarke and Nora Kelly,
2nd Carol Hamill and Eugene Donlon, 3rd Mary Conmy and
Catherine Mc Govern and 4th Mary Fallon and Kathleen Hanley.
Lough
Ree Golfing Society
The
club had a lovely outing to Mountemple Golf Club on Friday 15th
July. The course was splendid, the weather was fine and the golf was good.
It
was great to welcome Declan Glynn, playing off scratch, back from USA who shot
a superb 1 over par: well done Declan.
The
net results for the competition were: Nearest the pin on first: Mike Brennan;
Ladies Prize: Marie Simpson; Back Nine: Peter Day on 17 points; Front nine Jim
Finn with 21 points; 3rd : Declan Glynn, 35 points; 2nd: Michael Simpson,
39 points and first with a marvellous score of 42 points was Brendan Whitty.
Well done all and thanks to Mick Dolan and Mountemple Golf Course for a lovely
day and pleasant surroundings.
The
next club outing is to Mullingar Golf club on Friday 12th August and
Lough Ree Golfing Society looks forward to a big turnout at this great midland
Golf Course. The tee is booked from 11 am so as usual be there half an hour
earlier for the draw.
St.
Faithleach’s GAA
O’Rourke
Cup: We had a win over St. Brigids on Friday last. Final Score: St. Faithleachs
3-10 St. Brigids 0-6. Team: S. Connor, M. F. O’Grady, J. Connor, J. Tarmey, D.
Thompson, A. Murtagh, C. Brennan, M. Reynolds (0-3), D. Murray (1-0), B.
Reynolds, C. McCormack, E. Kenny (0-1), A. Dooney (2-1), H. Kenny, C. Murtagh
(0-3). Subs: G. Cox (0-1), B. Scally, B. Murtagh (0-1), J. Quigley. See
fixtures for details of next game.
Minor
Special League Final: Hard Luck to our Minor Team & Manager/Mentors who
were defeated by 2 points in the Minor Special League Final this evening. Final
Score: St. Faithleachs 3-13 St. Aidan’s 4-12. Team: C. Farrell, S. Garvey, D.
Gibbons, J. Walsh, C. Gannon, R. McDermott, D. Rooney Capt.(1-3), K. Healy, K.
Kelly, C. Gunn(0-2), K. Farrell(0-1), D. Murtagh(2-6), N. McCaffrey(0-1). Subs:
N. Mc Weeney, J. Garvey, J. Kelly, D. Healy. Many thanks to all who supplied
refreshments in the clubhouse afterwards.
Junior
Ladies: We were defeated away to Elphin Sunday last. Team: S. O’Neill, S. Ormsby,
C. Cleary, C. Brennan, E. Kenny, Q. Cox, J. Geoghegan, L. Martin, E. Donlon, L.
Connor, A. Nerney.
Lotto:
The numbers drawn were – 9, 18, 26 and 29. No jackpot winner. €20 winners –
Killian & Ethan Healy, Church View. Erin Connell, Cloontuskert. Annie Cox,
Erra. Mary Donlon, Moher. Liam Connerton, Lanesboro. The next draw will take
place on Tuesday 2nd August for a jackpot of €3,900. The team in
charge is S. Cox, M. Murphy, D. Dunne, and N. Banahan.
Cards:
Card game takes place every Tuesday in the Clubhouse at 9.00pm. All welcome.
Last week’s winners were – Sean/Michael. Runners-up, Peggy/Phonsie. Last game,
John O/Pakie. Ticket winners – Michael, Frank, Kevin, Freda, Frank.
Family
Fun-Day: This coming Sunday 31st July at St. Faithleachs GAA Club Grounds. Fun
for all the family with kid’s races, novelty events & many more. Come along
and enjoy from 4pm.
Raffle:
Congratulations to the following ticket winners in our recent Raffle: James
Irwin, Alan McCormack & Steve Connor. Many thanks to all who supported the
Raffle.
Cash-for-Clobber:
The Club are collecting Cash-for-Clobber Bags. If you have bags for collection,
please leave same at the Club House.
Club
Membership: Cards available for collection in the Club House.
90th Birthday
Congratulations to Kathleen Harold who reached the
fantastic age of 90 on Monday 4th July. Kathleen was joined by
family from South America, Canada and throughout Ireland for a celebration in
the Longford Arms on Saturday 2nd July. Kathleen was born in 1921
when Ireland was in turmoil and when she was being taken by her parents from
Cornollan to Newtownforbes for baptism the horse and carriage had to detour due
to Black and Tan activity on the usual route. A woman who has indeed seen many
troughs and crests of waves in Irish Politics and Economics raised a family of
nine daughters with her late husband Tommy and maintains a positive outlook on
life and a deep devotion to her religious beliefs. She enjoys good health to
enjoy her twenty four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. When she has
time free from her fabulous garden, Derek Mooney and Judge Judy she spends some
time planning how to spend that cheque from the President. Happy Birthday
Kathleen!
Graduation
Congratulations to Victoria Harold daughter of Bernie Harold and the
late Terry Fitzpatrick, Killoe and New York on her recent graduation from the
Robert Gordon University Aberdeen with a Degree in Bachelor of Nursing
with 1st Class Honours. Victoria is a former pupil of Lanesborough
Primary School and Wilsons Hospital School, Multyfarnham. She takes up a post
as a staff nurse in the High Dependency Unit (HDU) at the Broomfield Hospital
in Essex in September. We wish Victoria every success in her future career.
Rathcline GAA
Well
done to the senior team on a hard fought victory over Ballymahon in the Senior
Championship last Friday evening in Cashel. The match finished with a score of
10 points to 9 to Rathcline. Well done lads and thanks to everyone who turned
out to support the team. All eyes will now be focused on our clash with
Colmcille which has been fixed for this Saturday evening 30th July
at 6.30pm in Allen Park, Newtownforbes. The group is all to play for after
Colmcille beating Dromard which leaves each team having one win each in the group
so far. We hope that a large crowd turn out to cheer on the team to victory.
The crowd can act like an extra man and we need as much support as possible for
this encounter with the hope of progressing to the quarter-finals. Best of luck
to all involved.
Clonbonny
will host an Intermediate Championship match this Friday evening July 29th
between St. Brigid’s and Grattan Óg. The game throws in at 8pm.