Lanesboro Ballyleague Notes
Horse Fair and
Dog Show
Once again the Lanesboro will host the annual traditional Horse Fair and Dog Show on
Saturday 3rd March. The Horse Show has continued to draw great
numbers year on year and the sight of a large numbers of animals creates a
wonderful sight and excitement for the younger people that are in awe of a
Horse Fair and the older generation who remembered the Lanesboro Fair from days
gone by. It was said that during its prime that you could walk on the backs
horses from Lanesboro Church to Ballyleague Church such was the popularity of
the fair. To witness the selling of a horse and all the haggling involved is a
joy to see. The gamesmanship involved is really something else.
This year the committee is again deeply involved in the development of the fair and
are making every effort to making it, again, a stunning success. This is a day
that evokes many memories of times gone by and creates a wonderful atmosphere
in the town for the day – this atmosphere is directly due to the influence of
the dedicated committee and their planning for the day a very special one. It
is also a free day, one of the very few events that you can attend that has no
charge and you can have a great experience of a traditional fair day.
The fair will take place on Saturday 3rd March from 10am in the field
behind the Church accessed from the old school road. Horse, Pony, Donkey sales
will take place on the day. There will also be side events that will include
children’s attractions, Rodeo Bull Rides, Home Bakery stalls, Farrier at his
work, and trade stands.
On the day there will also be a Dog Show which since its introduction to the Fair
Day has become an outstanding success with huge numbers of dogs being entered
each year. With the number of dog owners locally growing from month to month it
is expected that this year will break all records with the numbers entered at
the show. The Dog Show takes place in the field adjacent to the car park of the
Yacht Bar. The show will commence at 12.30pm and the entry fee is €4. The
classes that will be judged are; 1, Puppy – 12 months, 2 Terrier, 3 Toy Dog, 4
Local Ballyleague/Lanesboro Dog, 5 Pastoral, 6 {Setter, Pointer, Spaniel}, 7
{Labrador, Retriever}, 8 Working Dogs, 9 Ladies handling, 10 Gents handling and
11 Child handling. There will also be Champion Gun Dog sponsored by Lanesboro
Gun Club, Reserve Gun Dog sponsored by Lanesboro Pike Angling Club and Champion
of the Show sponsored by Mark Shields, MJS, Longford Road. Trophies for the
show will be sponsored by Sean Mimnagh, Shannon Grill and C&D,
Edgeworthstown, will sponsor dog food.
If you want to enter or find out any information about the Horse Fair or Dog Show
you are invited to phone 087-9140903.
Sympathy
We would like extend our deepest sympathy to Mrs Maisie Carroll and family,
Rathcline, on the death last week of her brother Vincent Jordan, whose burial
took place in Greevagh, Co. Sligo
Lourdes Church
Gate Collection
Next weekend, Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th February, at all
Masses in Lanesboro the annual Church Gate collection in aid of the Lourdes
Invalid Fund will take place. The organising committee does great work year in
year out in assisting those that need to travel and experience the serenity and
holiness of Lourdes. The collection is very vital towards bringing as many as
possible to Lourdes on the annual pilgrimage and the reward received, by those
travelling from your contributions, really has to be seen to be believed. I
hope that your contributions again this year will be of equal value, if not
surpass your generous donations of previous years. The people of the area have
been extremely generous of the years and the committee would like to extend
their deep gratitude for all your contributions.
If anybody wants to travel this year as an invalid will they please contact Breda
Moran or Philomena Walsh.
Clonbonny Bridge
In recent days a number of people asked me about the access to Clonbonny via the
old route. As you may or may not know that the bridge on the Clonbonny Road has
been closed a couple of years now by Longford County Council and there seems to
be no work being done or proposed for the bridge. Not only is a hindrance but
it is also an eyesore on a much travelled road. Perhaps the council can inform
us of their intentions and take away this ugly eyesore of a load of gravel piled
high on the bridge to block traffic travelling over the bridge.
Lanesboro Bridge Club
The results of the competition held on Wednesday night last 1st February
are; N/S 1st Mona O’Flaherty & Bernadette Gillen, 2nd
Gemma Douglas & Elish Gray, 3rd Phil Chalmers & Cyril
Hussey. E/W 1st Mae Casey & Noreen Dunne, 2nd
Kathleen Kelly & Katharine Harrison, 3rd Mary Mc Gushin &
Mike Flynn.
Free Pre-School Scheme
Head Start Pre-school for 2½ – 5 year old children is now taking enrolment for
September 2012 and an on-going basis for the free pre-school year and non ECCE
children. For more information cant Denise at 043-3321321 after 1pm.
St. John’s
celebrates 150 years.
This year St. John’s church will celebrate 150 year on the weekend 20th
April where a number of events will take place throughout the weekend. At
present the organising committee is putting memorabilia together and seeks your
help and assistance. If you have any artefact or old photographs relating to
St. John’s church and congregation the committee would appreciate you
contacting them. If you have any material relating to the Church please contact
Philip Mc Garry, Gardenstown or Tora Crooke, The Green or any member of the
congregation
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
The St. Patrick’s Day committee is encouraging everybody in the community to help
make this year’s event the biggest and best yet. With the air of depression so
prevalent in the country it would be a massive fillip for our local area if the
St Patrick’s Day Parade can be the biggest and most joyous of all and create a
massive feeing of goodwill. The committee urges everyone within club,
associations and businesses to put their plans together and to be inventive.
Lanesboro Library
The FÁS eLearning at the Library is a
joint project between FÁS and the Library Council. If you are new
to computers and want to take things slowly, our project is perfect for
you. We will help you get up and running at a nice easy pace. The
programme is 32 hours in duration, delivered over a 16 week period with one 2
hour workshop each week.
If you are already a FÁS client you can register for the programme through
your local FÁS office. All other interested candidates (over the age
of 18) can contact Stella at the library on 043 3321291.
Table Quiz next Friday
The Table Quiz scheduled for last Friday night has to be deferred at the last minute and
now the monster Table Quiz will take place on this Friday night 10th
February in Adie Farrell’s Bar supporting PJ Maher’s fund raising drive for his
trip to Kenya. PJ is travelling to Kenya with the Building of Hope Charity that
are going to build and orphanage for blind children. If you know the organisers you definitely are
assured of a wonderful night of fun and frolic and if you don’t make sure you
don’t miss the experience. A table of 4 will cost €40 and come along and enjoy
what I am certain will be a memorable night. I am assured that refreshments will
be served.
Rathcline Ladies Clothes Collection
Last autumn Rathcline Ladies had a clothes collection which proved to be a great
success. The club have now taken on this collection on an on-going basis. The
club is seeking clothes, sheets and curtains and the likes. The clothes they
are seeking is not the good resalable clothes that charity shops can avail of
but all older clothing, If you have any of the above at any stage during the
coming year you can drop them off at 51 The Green or to make arrangements phone
086-1500123.
Indoor Market
The Lanesboro and Ballyleague Indoor Market is held in St. Mary’s Parochial Hall, Lanesboro, on
Friday from 11am to 2pm. There is a range of stalls selling local home baking,
local jams, free range eggs & mushrooms, gold, silver, gemstone and
costume jewellery, goats milk beauty products, sensy flameless candles, books,
bric a brac & cd’s, Forever aloe vera products. John King (Healer and
Angel Cards readings). There is free car parking to rear of building
(beside the playground). Tea, Coffee and light snacks will also be available.
Contact 087 3965568 for queries.
Rathcline Ladies AGM
Rathcline Ladies held their AGM on Saturday the 4th February. The following officers were elected for the
coming year. Chairperson Madaleine Murray, Vice Chairperson Geraldine
Hanley, Secretary Aoife Connaughton, Assistant Secretary Carina Mulvihill, Treasurer
Paddy Nolan, PRO Aoife Connaughton, Registrar Aoife Farrell and Paddy
Nolan and Children’s Officer Seadhna Ryan.
Registration for all ages U12, U14 and upwards will be held in Clonbonny on
Sunday 19th February at 12.30. Can all parents please try and attend
on this day.
Lough Ree 2000 Bridge
The results of the competition that took place on Monday last 30th January are; 1st Nancy
Dolan & Eileen Kelly, 2nd Mae Casey & Margaret Gillen and 3rd
Joan Browne & Patricia Mc Gann.
St. Faithleach’s GAA
50th Year: 2012 brings a very important year for St. Faithleachs GAA Club as we celebrate our 50th Anniversary. This is an exciting time for the Club & Parish. In an effort to complete a history of the past 50 years of the club we are looking for your help. There are many photographs & artefact from down through the years which we would dearly
love to see. If you, or anyone you know may be in possession of such items,
please contact a member of the Committee or email us at stfaithleachgaa@gmail.com.
Lotto: Numbers Drawn – 10, 18, 19 and
25. No jackpot winner. €20 Winners – P.J. O’Neill, Knock. Bridie Nolan,
Newtowncashel. Kevin Chapman, Lisnacusha. Mary Connor, Ballyleague. James
Quigley, Weekfield. The next draw will take place on Tuesday 14th
February for a jackpot of €5,300. Cards:
Every Tuesday in the Club House, 9.00pm. All welcome. Results of last week’s
games – winners, 11 Games, Tim Fox/Pat Joe Fallon. 2nd, Michael Kelly/Frank
Fallon. Last game, Michael Rogers/Michael Finan. Ticket winners – Seamus,
Frank, Mark, Annie, Padraig.
Club Membership: 2012 Membership now due. Payable to
Brian Scally, Senior Club Registrar. Adult €40, Student €20, Family €80.
Upcoming Events:
Rose of St. Faithleachs 2012 – We are now looking for ladies to take part in the Rose of
St. Faithleachs in February. Please contact Mary Kenny for details (087)
9920708. Entrants must be 18years or over. Cloontuskert NS are holding a
fundraising Disco in the Club House on Friday 17th February. Colm Mulligan
plays in the Club House on Friday 16th March. St. Patricks Day Parade – Once
again St. Faithleachs GAA Club will be having a Float in the
Lanesboro/Ballyleague St. Patricks Day Parade & we would appreciate your
help & support. For anyone interested in organising or participating in a
Drama Group within St. Faithleachs GAA Club, please contact us.
Senior Club Social & Presentation Night: Our Senior
Club Social & Presentation Night will be held in the Club House on Saturday
11th February with Presentations to our 2011 Player of the Year, Club Person of
the Year & Ladies Player of the Year. Music and Food on the Night.
Admission €10.
Women’s Mini-Marathon: Calling all the ladies who
would be interested in taking part in the Mini-Marathon in June to raise funds
for the Development of the new stand at St. Faithleachs GAA Club. Your efforts
& support would be greatly appreciated.