Lanesboro Ballyleague Notes
All Roads lead to Longford Greyhound Track
The invasion of Rathcline people of Longford Greyhound Track will take place on this coming Friday night 28th June. Each and every time the parish of Rathcline goes to the dogs at Longford track it proves to be hugely successful and a wonderful parish night out. The Rathcline Ladies and the Shannon Gaels Minor encourages everyone to come along and be a part of a wonderful night out. The excitement and comradery of a parish night is something to behold and the night at the dogs creates that wonderful feel good factor.
It is very important that everyone that buys a ticket comes along to a night of fun and laughter, a night of thrills and spills and most important a night of parish celebration in support of two tremendous clubs in our parish.
If you would like to buy tickets for the night you can contact Madeleine Murray, Sean Kenny, Michael Greene, Brendan Keane, Seadna Ryan or O’Brien’s Corner Shop.
Come along and play your part in a fabulous family and parish night out.
Gathering Launch on Thursday
This coming Thursday evening 27th June in Adie Farrell’s the committee invites everyone to come along to the official launch of the Gathering weekend at 9pm. Come along and discover the wonderful line-up of events that have been put in place for our Gathering. Light refreshments will be served on the night.
Hosting the weekend festival is proving to be very expensive but it is a cost that we are fully confident will be covered by sponsors, contributors and support of people of Lanesboro and Rathcline throughout the world by supporting the events leading up to the event and also attending the functions throughout the weekend. We are committed to making the weekend a very special that will fill everyone with a great sense and pride of our town and parish.
We have heard of people that have made plans to be here for the weekend and we hope to hear from more and more people as the days draw closer.
We invite everyone that can attend on Thursday night to come along and be part of the first of our Gathering events.
A very special Thank You
The Church Gate collection in aid of the Lanesboro Gathering Festival last weekend was a tremendous success and we would like to thank everybody that contributed so generously to the collection. We would also like to thank the collectors who made themselves available throughout the weekend. We would also like to thank, once word was out about the collection, the many people that offered to do the collection. If you missed the collection and would still like to contribute you can leave your donation into O’Brien’s or Adie Farrell’s.
We would like to say a very special thank you to PJ Maher who had the weekend booked as part of the great work he does in the charitable work he does each year. This was a tremendous gesture by PJ and the Gathering Festival committee are very grateful to him.
Win €15,000
Lanesboro Tourism Co-Op and Tidy Towns have made a special offer to the Lanesboro Gathering Festival to assist in the defraying of some of their costs. They have made the magnificent offer of giving the full proceeds of their weekly lotto draw in the hope of making a dent in the huge outgoings of the Gathering Festival.
We would encourage everyone to buy at least one ticket each and make the draw a massive success. Envelopes will be available throughout the parish all this coming week and we ask that you enclose just €2 in each envelope and mark in your 4 numbers. Who knows it may you that can be €15,000 richer come next Tuesday.
The Lanesboro Gathering committee would like to say a very special thank you to the Lanesboro Tourism Co-Op and Tidy Towns for their magnanimous offer.
25 Drive called off
Sadly I have to relate that the 25 Drive scheduled for Sunday 21st July had to be called off due to unforeseen circumstances. It was a great pity that this had to be called off as a tremendous amount of work had already gone into the organising of the game. The Gathering committee would like to express their grateful thanks to Tom Feeney and his support group for all of the work that they had put into the preparations for the game.
Thank You
The Lanesboro Gathering Festival committee would like to express their deepest gratitude to Michael Clancy, Rathcline Road and John Hanley, Ballyleague; Directors of Dublin based FDT Consulting Engineers & Project Managers Ltd for their contribution of sponsorship towards the Gathering Festival. The committee would like to further thank Margaret Gillen, Mags Hair salon and Peter Clancy, BDC, Business Development Consultancy, Dublin for their most generous contributions towards the Gathering Festival.
Sympathy
We would like to express our deepest sympathy to Richard and Mairéad Rooney, Rathcline and the extended Rooney and Kelly families on their very sad and recent bereavement.
Rathcline Cemetery
At the upcoming grave blessing and mass in Rathcline cemetery the committee will be holding a collection. The collection is help in maintaining the present work being done in the graveyard.
With Rathcline being the first cemetery for Mass and the blessing of graves the committee would ask everybody to tend to their family graves and to have the cemetery spic and span for Sunday week.
Cemetery Sunday arrangements
The dates have been announced for the blessing of graves and mass in the three cemeteries in the parish of Rathcline. Now is time to start preparing and tending to your family graves. It is very important – not only for these dates – to have your family graves looking well maintained. As usual Rathcline cemetery is first on Sunday 7th July, followed by Lanesboro on Sunday 14th July and concluding in Clonbonny on Sunday 21st July. People with family members interred in any of the graveyards are encouraged to tend to their family graves in time for the blessing of the graves and Mass
Farewell Mass
Everybody is invited to a farewell mass for Fr. Ray Browne in the Church of the Holy Rosary, Ballyleague on Friday week 5th July at 7pm. Fr Ray will be soon leaving to take up his post as Bishop of Kerry. The Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Christopher Jones, Bishop of Elphin. Afterwards there will be refreshments served in Ballyleague Hall.
Lanesboro Community Games
“The Stags Head”, Ballinalee was the venue for a Community Games Gala night at the beginning of the month, celebrating 40 years of Longford Community Games. Awards were received by people from each area for outstanding commitment and hard work. The Lanesboro Committee was delighted to honour our local coach and mentor, Fabian Walsh for his involvement in Community Games from the outset and his continued interest and support. Thank you Fabian!
On a sweltering hot day, 9th June, a large number of Lanesboro athletes travelled to Leo Casey Park, Ballymahon for the Community Games County Athletic Finals. A very successful day was enjoyed by all and Lanesboro will be well represented this August in the National Finals in Athlone.
The results from our athletes show a wide range of talent from our area in both track and field events. Achieving first place in their U8 60m races were Aoife Kennelly and Kieran O’Dowd. Longford will also be represented in Athlone by two Lanesboro Relay teams – U13 Mixed and U16 Girls , namely Orla Keane, Lucy Ann Myhill, Bryn Peters, Cronan Flood, Tanya Farrell, Sarah Farrell, Hayley Rooney and Anna Peters.
Also receiving a ticket to the national finals were Rebecca Stavuse (1st – Girls U14 Javelin) and Tanya Farrell (1st Place in Girls U16 Discus)
Other outstanding results were achieved by Victoria Kaganova (3rd – Girls U10 200m), Richard Prior (2nd – Boys U12 100m), Aoife Nolan (3rd – Girls U12 600m), Orla Keane (3rd – Girls U14 100m), Anna Peters (2nd – Girls U16 100m), Sarah Farrell (2nd– Girls U16 1500m), Róisin Brennan (Joint 3rd – Girls U12 Ball Throw), Stephen O’ Dowd (2nd – U16 Discus) and finally Mark Lyons, Kevin Sorohan, Niall Keane and Conor English (2nd – Boys U16 Relay).
Function to mark Phelim’s Retirement
The end of an era at Cloontuskert National School happens this week with the retirement of Phelim Henry. The name Henry has been synonymous with the school for many years as Phelim’s father was principal there for many many years.
To celebrate Phelim’s retirement and the wonderful times and memories of his teaching ain Cloontuskert a ‘retirement party’ has been organised in St. Faithleach’s clubhouse on this coming Friday night 28th June at 9.30pm.
All ex-pupils, their families and friends along with the many friends of Phelim are invited to come along and celebrate with Phelim.
Lanesboro Tourism Co-Op/Tidy Towns
It is wonderful to see the area in and around the bottle banks has been cleaned up and planting has taken place. The area looks fantastic now and it is incumbent on everyone to ensure that no bags of clothes, cardboard boxes and rubbish are left in the vicinity. All of the aforementioned should be disposed of properly and not left to create an eyesore in any are of our communities.
The approach roads, footpaths and streets are looking exceptionally well and litter free and the co-op would like to thank everyone for making their special effort to make Lanesboro clean and tidy. The FÁS continue to do tremendous work in making Lanesboro clean and beautiful. There is a tremendous community effort happening and it is wonderful to see such great rewards.
The weekly clean-up continues every Monday from 7 to 8pm. More volunteers would be welcome to help in this great work.
This coming week the Co-Op is donating the proceeds of the draw to the Lanesboro Gathering festival. We ask of your full support.
Lough Ree Sub Aqua Club Celebrates
There are very few groups in our community that does as much great work in the protection and saving of lives than Lough Ree Sub Aqua Club. Since its formation in 1983 the club has proved to be a most vital cog in search and rescue throughout the midlands and further afield.
Last year the club suffered a massive loss when a fire broke out in its clubhouse causing tremendous damage to their boats, their equipment van, oxygen tanks and compression pumps for the refilling of oxygen tanks. All in all over a hundred thousand euro of damaged was done by the fire.
Less than one year on and the club have made a staggering recovery and on Sunday 7th July the club will celebrate the reopening of their club house and the blessing of the boats. Not only are they celebrating the reopening but they also celebrate 30years of their existence since that famous and wonderful day back in 1983. The official opening ceremony will take place at 3pm.
The club will host a family fun day and barbeque with musical entertainment and boat trips in the car park along the banks of the Shannon. The club invites you all to come along for what promises to be a wonderful occasion for their double celebration.
LCRL Showcase this Friday
Longford Community Resources Ltd (LCRL) is holding a showcase event in the Temperance Hall Longford on Friday 28th of June, from 11am until 2pm. This occasion provides the opportunity for people from around the county to come in and view the work carried out by LCRL within local communities in Co. Longford. Exhibitors will include representatives from local community groups, enterprises and local initiatives that have benefited from the programmes administered by LCRL. All are welcome to call in, browse through the projects and chat to exhibitors and LCRL staff.
Calling all Golfers
Do you play golf? If yes why not go along and join the local Lough Ree Golfing Society on their next outing to Moate Golf Course on Saturday week 29th June. The tee is booked from 11am and you are asked to please arrive early for the draw. A big crowd is expected on this lovely and very popular midland course. The more players that the society has on Saturday week the better the deal! So bring your friends as well.
For your timetable the society is in Longford on Saturday 3rd August and Athlone on Friday 6th September. Further information on those two outings will be published nearer the time.
Sponsored Swim for cystic Fibrosis
Lanesboro Triathlon club are in the process of organising a sponsored swim from Kilnacarrow (Bord na Mona) bridge to Lanesboro on August Bank Holiday weekend – most probably Sunday 4th or Monday 5th August in the afternoon in aid of Cystic Fibrosis. The date details will be confirmed in the very near future.
The club is seeking volunteer swimmers to join with them on the swim. If you are interested please contact sponsoredswim@trilanesboro.com. This will be a wonderful and new challenge for swimmers but most definitely an excellent cause will benefit to a major extent.
A very active Lanesboro Library this summer
Lanesboro library will be a very busy place over the summer months with a host of events tailored to meet almost everyone’s needs. Pay a visit and discuss how you can be involved with the events being held there during the summer.
Summer Reading Buzz at Lanesboro Library. Why not pick up an entry form in our local library and collect some surprises on the way! All forms submitted will be entered into a draw – you may enter as often as you wish – All Summer long.
Photography Competition – ‘Summer in Longford’ Photographs will be displayed in local libraries for the month of September.
Summer Surfing at Lanesboro Library. Want to improve your computer skills or just want to know how to email and use social media?
Tailored Internet Courses to suit your needs; Introduction to social media Facebook & Twitter; Learn how to use the Internet for Internet Banking, Motor tax etc. Learn how to upload photos on your laptop or PC; Keep in touch with family & friends using Skype; Touch typing and Basic computer skills; How to use your IPAD to get the most from it.
€50 for 5 weeks (1 hour per week)
For more information contact Lanesboro Library 043 332 129 or email Stella at lanesborolibrary@longfordcoco.ie
Co Longford VEC visits Lanesboro Library – The Adult Educational Guidance Service (Co Longford VEC) will visit Lanesboro Library on Tuesday July 16th from 2-4pm. If you are interested in getting back to learning and want to know what’s available locally, come and chat with Mary or Liz, both qualified guidance counsellors, who will be happy to go through your options with you. This is a free service and all are welcome
Rathcline Lotto Draw
The jackpot total of €300 was not won this weekend. The numbers drawn were: 3, 7, 14, 33, 36, and 41. Congratulations to our four €25 winners this week as follows: Joe & Mary Rooney, Rathcline, James & Mary O’ Flaherty, Lehery (3) Steve Ormsby, c/o Clarkes Bar and John Donlon, Derryhaun. Next week’s jackpot will stand at €400.
Siamsa
An Irish language summer course (SIAMSA) will take place on from Monday 8th July to Friday 12th July in Gaelscoil Longfoirt. The course will take place from 9.30am to 3pm each day and will cater for students from third to sixth class. Further information and application forms are available from Yvonne Ní Mhurchú phone 087-2642665.
Free Pre-School Year
Head Start pre-school for 2½ to 5 year olds is now taking enrolments for September 2013 and on an on-going basis for the free pre-school year and non ECCE children. For more information you are asked to contact Denise at 043 33 21321 after 1pm.
School Bus service to Roscommon
A new bus to the second level schools in Roscommon will commence with the new school year in the Mercy Convent, CBS and Community College. A limited number of seats are available. For further information you are advised to contact Tom 086-8293328.
Honda 50 Run
Longford Multiple Sclerosis will host a Honda 50 run from St. Mary’s Hall, Lanesboro on Sunday 30th June. Registration will take place at the Hall between 10.30 and 12noon.
The kick start will be at 12.15pm. The run will be over 100k/62.5mile approx. beginning and finishing at St. Mary’s Hall. Honda 50, 70, 90 and big bikes are all very welcome.
There will be refreshment before and after the run. There will be prizes on the day. For more information you should contact James 0872289468 or Celine 08610888207.
Lanesboro Choir in Longford Festival
The Lanesboro choir with Edel and Alida Loftus will perform in the midlands biggest ever choir outdoor event on the Market Square, Longford in the “Love Longford Summer Festival 2013” on Saturday 29th June at 6pm. Local choirs from all over county Longford will be taking part in this even with harpist Edel Loftus as choir master. Go along and enjoy what should be an excellent occasion.
Shannon Gaels
The U6, U8, U10 and U12 teams will continue training in Clonbonny on Friday evenings from 7 to 8 pm. Our U8 and U10 players had challenge games this weekend against Dromard. We thank Dromard for the great games.
Our U13 team were beaten in their last game of the league when had a wonderful contest with a strong Granard side. It was a tremendous game of football played by both sides.
Our U14 panel travel to Dunderry, Co. Meath on Saturday next for Féile competition. Good luck to all.
Our U16 team will have played in the special minor league on Tuesday evening against Clonguish Óg – hopefully to an excellent result. The U16 team will play the semi-final of the league on this coming Thursday in Grattan’s at 7.30pm. Drumlish will provide the opposition and we wish our lads the very best of luck and looking forward to a final night out.
Our U18 players should all be back to training following the exams. There is now no excuse for any player to be missing training.
The minor club would like to wish the Reserve league 2 team the very best of luck in the League Final in Cashel on Saturday at 4.30pm where they play Ballymahon.
Rathcline GAA
Rathcline GAA would like to wish Longford senior team the best of luck in their 1st round qualifier game with Limerick on Saturday evening coming 29th June at 7pm in Pearse Park. If any is interested in doing steward for the game please contact any member of the Executive as soon as possible.
Galway Races – The inaugural Rathcline GAA race day will take place at the Galway Races on Monday 29th July. The club hope to replicate the success of that achieved by Longford County Board at Punchestown only on a much smaller scale which will satisfy the needs of our own club. The occasion will present our parishioners, members, supporters and friends a fantastic afternoon of horse racing on opening day of the 2013 festival. The club have agreed an attractive hospitality package with the organisers in Ballybrit which surpasses that seen at the Annual Punchestown County Board fundraiser. Most people will be familiar with the Galway Races but for those who are not; a great day out is always guaranteed. Ballybrit at the end of July is always the highlight of the horse racing calendar in Ireland and it is the aim of Rathcline GAA to tap into the atmosphere, banter and craic to serve our own needs as well as giving something back to our supporters. For more information, please contact Albert Cooney, Alan Fayne or Liam Connerton. With only a month left to the event, table bookings are now being accepted by the club.
Reserve League 2 Final –The eagerly awaited Reserve League 2 Final between Ballymahon and Rathcline will take place next Saturday 29th June in Pairc Ciarán in Newtowncashel at 4:30pm. The game is a repeat of last year’s final and Rathcline will be hoping to take back to back titles under the stewardship of Joe Rooney. It has been a long hard journey to get to the final with very competitive games from the outset of the group stages and eventually overcoming St. Columba’s in the semi-final replay. It is a magnificent achievement by the team and management to get to another final in this competition especially with the limited resources which were available this year. We hope that as many people as possible from the parish will make the short journey up to Cashel to support the team in what promises to be a cracking game of football.
Club Rathcline Lotto Draw – The Jackpot total of €300 was not won this weekend with numbers drawn as follows: 3, 7, 14, 33, 36, and 41. Congratulations to our four €25 winners this week as follows: (1) Joe & Mary Rooney – Rathcline (2) James & Mary O’ Flaherty – Lehery (3) Steve Ormsby – C/O Clarkes Bar (4) John Donlon – Derrahaun. Next week’s Jackpot will €400.
Club Fundraising – In the last decade, there has been a huge amount of work completed in Clonbonny. No one will argue that we have one of the finest GAA facilities in the midlands with a fantastic new All Weather Pitch with a state of the art clubhouse. With such facilities, comes a cost and the cost on our club is roughly €20,000 a year for the next six years. At this time of the year, Rathcline GAA normally makes plans in developing a fundraiser which will service our annual debt of our club to our local Credit Union. Last year, we asked our parishioners to subscribe to new annualised lotto format. This venture was hugely successful in so far as the Club fulfilled its commitments to our Credit Union as well as giving out nearly €10,000 in prize money over the 12 month fundraising term. This year, it has been agreed to copy the template/initiative of other clubs around the midlands where €100 donations from patrons will go directly to our club needs. It is seen as a hugely efficient way of meeting club targets where 100% of every €100 donation will go to clearing the club debt for the year. Rathcline GAA is looking for at least 200 people in the parish to join in this venture to fulfil the loan requirements. Fermoyle National School lead the way with the first donation of the campaign and we hope that the rest our parishioners, patrons, members and supporters can do their best for our club in similar fashion. Recognition for such donations has yet to be finalised by the financial committee but any help will not go unnoticed. Members of our financial committee will be in contact with households in the parish in the coming weeks. Rathcline GAA is the heart of the community and our parishioners have always delivered for our club. We have no doubt that this venture will be a huge success.
Shannon Gaels – Coaching for U6, U8, U10 and U12 will continue in Clonbonny on Friday in Clonbonny from 7pm to 8pm as normal.
U6 & U8 – Commiserations to both age groups who were unlucky not to beat Dromard on Saturday morning in Clonbonny. It was a great work for our younger troops and the future shine bright for both groups under the stewardship of Lee Cullen and Seadna Ryan.
U13 – Commiserations to our U13 team who were beaten by a goal to Granard/Ballymore amalgamation in Clonbonny on Sunday morning. The team exit this competition but many thanks to management team headed up by Tom Irwin for their Trojan in the last couple of weeks.
Western Gaels – U14 – All roads lead to Dunderry in Co. Meath next weekend for the Féile competition. It is expected that the team will perform well in the competition and we wish them well in their ways.
U16 – A busy week in store for the U16’s; Round 1 of the Special Juvenile League will see Western Gaels face Clonguish Óg in Clonbonny on Tuesday evening 25th June at 7:30pm. This will be followed by the semi-final of the Juvenile Shield Final where Western Gaels will host St. Vincent’s in Dunbeggan- Stonepark at 7:30pm. We hope that as many parishioners as possible will turn up to cheer on the lads in their pursuit of a final placing. Well done to management of Padraig Kenny, Mick Shorthall, John Moran, Cathal Twaddle and Cathal Chapman on their great work to date.
Minor – Round 3 of the Minor League recommences next Monday evening 1st July when Western Gaels face St. Dominic’s/Moydow Harpers in Dunbeggan at 7:30pm. Training for U16 & Minor continues this week per the normal routine. The frequency of the training campaign will pick up in the next week or so in advance of the first round of the championship in both age groups. Now that the exams are completed, we need to get all players back out on the pitch as soon as possible. Players will get the usual text message in advance of training.
Dog night for Minor and Ladies Club – Shannon Gaels and Rathcline Ladies are running a joint fundraising venture “Dog Night” on Friday night coming 28th June at Longford Greyhound track. Tickets are in circulation for the event and can be received from any member of either executive. A great night’s entertainment is guaranteed. Please support this event.
St. Faithleach’s GAA
Senior League – O’Rourke Cup: Our seniors have a League game against St. Aidans this coming Wednesday evening in Ballyforan at 8.00pm.
Junior Ladies – Championship: Our Junior ladies got off to a winning start in the Junior A Championship, with a comprehensive win over Michael Glaveys on Thursday evening last, at home. Final Score – St. Faithleachs 4-12 Michael Glaveys 1-07. The ladies started nervously, but managed to build up a 6pt lead by half-time, leading 1-06 to 0-03. In the 2nd half, the team came out meaning business and from there to the end, completely dominated. Team; P. Mc Cormac, E. Kenny, A. Ormsby, M. Farrell, J. Melia, Q Cox, A. Nerney, J. Geoghegan (0-1), A. Mc Loone (2-05), A. Lannon (0-01), E. Hegarty (1-0), R. Costello, M. Corcoran (0-1), K Murphy (1-03), T. Nerney. Subs; M. Malone, L. Mc Loone (0-1), C. Brennan, R. Banahan, C. Brennan, N. Carty. Many thanks to all who came out in support of the ladies for this game and we hope to see you all for their next fixture.
Junior League: Our Junior men were defeated by Tulsk on Tuesday evening last in Tulsk. Final Score – St. Faithleachs 1-5 Tulsk 2-16. Team: S. Connor, J. Walsh, D. McCormack, D. Gibbons, A. Hanly, B. Scally, M. F. O’Grady, A. Brehon, C. Gunn (1-0), D. Hussey(0-3), S. Kenny, B. Hussey (0-1), P. Rooney, D. Rooney (0-1), A. Manning. Subs: D. Dunne. This game was followed by a draw with Kilglass Gaels on Friday evening last in Kilglass. Final Score – St. Faithleachs 2-09 Kilglass Gaels 1-12.
Minor League: Our minor men have a League game against St. Aidans on Friday 5th July in Ballyforan at 7.30pm.
U12 Girls – D2B Championship Final – Hard luck to our U12 Girls and their management, who were defeated by Strokestown in the D2B Championship Final, on Monday evening last, in Ballyleague. Well done to all players on the panel, along with their management, Jimmy Brennan and Mary Hussey on reaching the final and all their efforts throughout. Panel of players – M. Reynolds, S. Fallon A. Trimble, N. Flynn, C. Curley, L. Parker, O. Costello, J. Brennan, O. Irwin, E. Irwin, L. Parker, C. Hussey, L. O’Donnell, C. O’Brien, L. Costello, H. Barry, C. Carroll, J. Gibbons, A. Parker.
U12 Boys – Spring League: Our U12 boys had a win over Elphin on Saturday evening last, in Elphin. Final Score – St. Faithleachs 9-12 Elphin 3-5. Next game is this coming Wednesday evening, against Roscommon Gaels at 7.00pm in Ballyleague. The best of luck to the panel of players and management as they travel to Ballintubber this coming Saturday to participate in a Blitz event.
U10 County GoGames Blitzes: The County U10 Blitz will be held in St. Faithleachs GAA club grounds this coming Saturday. With approx. 25 clubs from the county participating, we wish you all an enjoyable day. Matches start from 10.00am and will run until evening. Please come along and support.
St. Faithleachs GAA Cúl Camp 2013: Cúl Camp takes place from Monday 15th July to Friday 19th July (10.00am to 2.30pm). Application Forms available through local schools or at St. Faithleachs GAA clubhouse or at training sessions. Cúl Camp for children aged 5 to 13yrs. Charge: €35 per Child. (Reduced family rates)
Lotto: The numbers drawn were – 17, 19, 25 and 26. There was no jackpot winner and the five €20 winners were – Michael J O’Brien, Dan Droog, Evelyn Clarke, Vincent Glennon, M. and G. McGann. The next draw will take place on Tuesday 2nd July for a jackpot of €8,900.
Cards: Every Tuesday in the clubhouse, 9.00pm. All welcome. The proceeds of last week’s card game were in aid of Ballagh NS. The winners were – Mickey/Mary, Runners-up – JohnO/Pakie, Last game – Mick/Frances. Congratulations to all our raffle winners on the night also.