Lanesboro Ballyleague Notes
Celebrations
Amidst all the doom and gloom of the Corona virus two families celebrated milestone in the lives.
Firstly, Chris and Caroline Cullen, Rathcline Road, celebrated 50 years of wedlock a few weeks back and the planned celebrations had to be cancelled. I am sure they had their own special celebration while cocooned at home.
On Friday last Fabian Walsh, celebrated his 90th birthday and there was a mini self-distancing celebration with a few neighbours. I am sure Fabian enjoyed his day and he will celebrate when the cocooning is lifted.
We would like to congratulate Chris, Caroline and Fabian on achieving these great milestones and we wish them many more years of happiness.
If anyone else has had reasons to celebrate during this lockdown and they would like me to mention it please send me on the details as I would love to acknowledge your celebrations.
Staring into the Abyss
During last week ESB decided to take the Power Station off load with the reasoning being that the flow of the River Shannon along the hot water stretch becoming almost negligible hence triggering the EU regulations in relation to emissions of the hot water.
Once again this throws to entire community in an abyss that we cannot see any comeback from. If the flow and water heat level is such in April, then the outlook is not good looking forward as the water levels will be dropping going into and through the summer months. In my opinion it looks as if the power cannot reopen until September/October time unless we have a very wet summer.
Once again, we have to look at Bord na Mona and ask where they go from here. Since the last layoffs they have brought back some seasonal workers to and trained them up in the transportation section of the works. It is the main source of employment in the Mount Dillon works. Once again, the workers will feel very uneasy about the current situation and if what is expected then the rail tracks will become silent hence the loss of more jobs. The feel-good factor that was beginning to rise within the local community and the hope that at least there would be work until the end date of 31st December is starting to evaporate fairy rapidly.
While we wonder about the Bord na Mona workers we must also have great concern for the ESB employees and the future ahead of them. Last year they were assured of a package or redeployment but with Shannonbridge already closed it is very difficult to see where their skills within the organisation can be used without major family upheaval.
I believe an announcement will be made during the week by Bord na Mona and I would expect a similar announcement will be made by ESB to bring clarity to the situation and hopefully allay the fears of the workers and community as a whole.
Death
There was widespread in our community when we heard of the death at Innis Ree Lodge Nursing Home, Ballyleague on Thursday last 16th April of Michael Donlon, Moher. Mickey, as he was most commonly known was from one of the oldest and most respected families in our community and tended to his farm with a great diligence. He was renowned for being wonderful character in his own inimitable way and for his warm and comforting nature. Everyone that encountered Mickey remembered him for his generosity of spirit and time. He was the happiest man I ever knew; he had this warm smile that disarmed even the coldest of hearts and equally his warm greeting were always things to behold. For the past number of years Mickey had been in ill health and from the very outset of his illness his wife Kathleen was devoted to ensuring that he would be resting easy at all times. Following a long time of loving home caring Mickey moved to Innis Ree Lodge Nursing Home where the care was excellent but always by his side was Kathleen. A measure of the affect Mickey had on so many was to be seen by the number that lined the roadway to the church.
Mickey’s remains reposed in Farrell’s Funeral Home before being removed to the Church of the Holy Rosary, Ballyleague for prayers. Following prayers Mickey was laid to rest in Cloontuskert.
Due to the current restrictions on wakes and church services owing to the Coronavirus we all missed paying our last respects to his family, but we deeply feel the pain of his family. We would like to extend our deepest sympathy to his wife Kathleen, son Michael, daughter Karen, relatives and may friends.
Death
The community of Meadowbrook, Ballyleague and the wider community were greatly saddened to learn of the death at Portiuncula Hospital on Thursday last 16th April of Tara Noone. At the time of her death Tara was aged just 39. Tara was predeceased by her sisters Angela and Sinead. She was a daughter of Eddie and Patricia Noone and a native of Carricknabrickna, Roscommon Town. Tara was one of the first residents into the new Meadowbrook estate just 13 years ago. She was an excellent neighbour and friend and her passing will leave a great void in the hearts and minds of everyone that knew her. Tara was a quiet and reserved lady whose sole interest was in the development of her daughter Larissa. Larissa was an excellent underage athlete with Lough Ree AC and Tara was always there to support her all the way.
Tara’s was laid to rest in St. Coman’s Cemetery, Roscommon on Saturday last following Mass in the Church of the Sacred Heart, Roscommon.
Due to the current restrictions on wakes and church services owing to the Coronavirus we all missed paying our last respects to her family, but we deeply feel the pain of her family. We would like to extend our deepest sympathy to her daughter Larissa, parents Eddie and Patricia, her sister Tracey, brothers Edward and Shane, relatives and friends.
Sympathy
We would like to extend our sincere sympathy to Siobhán Nic Ruairí, Carraroe on the death in Norwich, England, of her brother Jim Fitzgerald.
Sympathy
We would like to extend our deepest sympathy to the Nealon family, Lough Ree Park and their extended family on the death of Anthony Murray, Scrine, Athleague, Co. Roscommon who passed away on Tuesday 14th April. Anthony was brother in law to Bernie.
Lanesboro Library
A message from Stella our local librarian.
To help contain the spread of Covid-19, all branches of Longford County Library will be closed to the public until further notice. All meetings and events have been postponed until a later date.
Just a note to say that I am missing you all and hopefully it won’t be too long before our doors are open again and we are back to the hustle and bustle!
In the meantime, keep an eye on Lanesboro Library Facebook page for lots of activities, crafts & story times taking place at the Libraries in Co. Longford!
We have lots of other information and Mindfulness videos for adults also.
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Lanesboro-Library-432171923496634/posts/?ref=notif
During April and May we are celebrating #SpringIntoStorytime and I would love you children at home to take part!
Write a Poem or a Story or Draw a Picture, Build a Lego creation or make a Playdoh Monster, be creative with Crochet or Knitting….anything you want to do!!
Then send pictures to me at sosullivan@longfordcoco.ie
We will have a big exhibition and party in the library when we reopen!
Defibrillator Certificates
Anybody requiring certificates of completion the recent defibrillator course for their employment or any other particular reason can obtain same by contacting Joe or Martina O’Brien at the shop and they will make arrangement for the issuing of the certificate. Contact details 3321107, 086 2460840 or joeaobrien@outlook.com
St. John’s Church of Ireland
St Johns church of Ireland diocesan Service broadcast takes place every Sunday at 10 a.m.
You can log onto Kilmore Elphin Ardagh YouTube or http: shortturl@/drbz3 or www.dkea.ie.and follow the link.
News from St. Mary’s Church
Opening Times
The church will remain open each day from 10.30am to 7.30pm
Urgent sick calls, funerals and burials
The designated priests in this Deanery of the Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois are Fr. Merlyn Kenny PP Newtowncashel 086 0603433 and Fr. Turlough Baxter, Killashee 087 9972259.
Government guidelines for the bereaved
Funeral arrangements are made via phone calls or emails. A limit of 10 people attending any ceremony with social distancing and no associated gatherings. The use of condolences books is discouraged; where possible. Close relatives and contacts of the deceased should use their own transport. Families and friends of the deceased will not be able to have gatherings after the funeral service.
Mass Intentions
All Mass intentions which have been book can be rescheduled for a later date when the current situation changes.
Parish Newsletter
The parish newsletter will be printed each week and it will be available in the Church porch from Friday afternoon. The newsletter will also be available from Friday afternoon in O’Brien’s Corner Shop.
Collections
Fr. Reilly would like to thank everyone that has dropped in their collection envelopes into his house. The current crisis is impacting significantly on the Parish Financial Resources and the ability to meet responsibilities. Parishioners are encouraged to drop off offertory and priest’s dues envelopes into his house and NOT to put them in the box in the church porch.
Due to the shortage of collection envelopes there will be a revised payment scale. This will mean that some priests will receive only €600 per month.
Online donation fraud
You are asked to be vigilante if contacted by any online payment companies offering to set up parish donation services. In the current climate it would be prudent not to respond directly to these emails as requests may not be legitimate.