Designed
and Maintained by Niall Farrell
© Nuacht Chláir
Across from
the Friary and near Claregalway Castle is the bridge over the River Clare.
It was first mentioned in 1349 and was a wooden structure. The bridge
of the Nine Arches was erected in stone probably in the early eighteenth
century. In 1765 John Bodkin, a landlord from Lackagh, changed the course
of the River Clare and diverted it away from the old bridge in order to
improve the drainage of the area, but also to deepen the river to make
it navigable up to Tuam. The present bridge, built in the early 1950,
replaced Bodkin's one and a record of his work is preserved on two stones
in the wall of the bridge.
Claregalway Amenity Group have undertaken the challenging task of unveiling
the Nine Arches.
Phase I has been completed in conjunction with Galway County Council.
This involved the clearing of the arches. With money allocated from Councillors
notice of motion funds we were able to complete this phase. We thank Senator
Jarlath McDonagh, Councillors Paddy McHugh, Deputy Padraic McCormack for
their prompt response for funds towards this project.
Phase II involves the restoration of the 9 Arches in which the FÁS
workers will be specialy trained in restoring the stonework under the
aegic of supervisor Tom Cullinane. Councillor Seamus Gavin has confirmed
he will allocate notice of motion funds towards this phase. His gesture
is much appreciated.
Phase II will be a time consuming and expensive process. We are currently
finalising costs in this regard in liaison with our local architect Geri
McManus to whom we are deeply indebted for her commitment and expertise.
A sincere thank you to Area Engineer Diarmuid Croghan who helped us get
this project initiated. His co-operation and commitment is deeply appreciated.
Thank you to Colm Wallace of Galway County Council who is a constant source
of inspiration to us, to Sean Connell, Area Foreman, thank you for your
continuous help on the ground.
Our Group are very enthusiastic about this project and look forward to
having this historical structure back to where it belongs - within its
monastic setting.
Further updates will be given as the project proceeds.
Josette Farrell.
Committee: Josette Farrell, (Chairperson), Sean Harte (Secretary),
Celia Lennon (Treasurer), Josie Concannon, Mary Duggan, Rose Kavanagh,
Larry King, Vincent Lyons, Seamus O'Connell.
The Return
Red and white cones
Yellow diggers.
Roadworks.
What's the story?
Major clearance
Reappearance.
The Nine
Arches
In all their glory.
Patricia
Carton, January 1998.
Welcome to the following "Bundles of Joy":
Aisling Moran,
baby daughter of Michael and Margaret, Cloon
Laura Boyle,
baby daughter of Tom and Marie in Cahergowan
Shannon Marie Cullen, baby daughter of Anthony and Joanne, Mullacuttra.
Congratulations
to Fidelma and Breffni O'Rourke on the birth of their son Bríon,
December 23rd. 1997.
"A Baby is an angel whose wings decrease as his legs increase"
Birthday Greetings to Caitriona Davin, Rockmount, who celebrated her 2lst
Birthday on 5th January.
Happy Birthday to John Forde, Cahergowan, who celebrated his 16th Birthday
on 26th January, and to Paul Casserly who was 18 on the 30th December.
Welcome to Maura and Michael Wall who have recently taken up residence
in Cahergowan.
Although we are well and truly into the new year, many of our Choir Members have special memories of Christmas, due to their visit to Maynooth on Sunday 2lst Dec. - Mon. 22nd December.
This trip was undertaken in order to participate in Gay Byrne's "Concert of Carols" which is a "Live Recording" for his Radio Programme on the Monday before Christmas This is an annual event. The Concert is performed by a gathering of choirs from all over the country, together with a male and female soloist and a boy soprano, and accompanied by the Concert Orchestra from the Royal Irish Academy of Music.
All participants were expected to attend for rehearsal on the Sunday afternoon and the setting this year, in the Chapel in Mayoooth College, was absolutely spectacular. There were between 500 and 600 voices combining to "raise the roof" with the traditional outpouring of seasonal favourites. Attendance at the practice certainly sets the scene for the actual concert and puts everyone right into the atmosphere of Christmas.
Some Claregalway
choir members spent the Sunday night in the Clerical Students accommodation
in the College and there could be a tale or two to relate there, but enough
said!!! All were present and correct bright and early on the Monday morning
and I think anyone who may have been tuned in, would agree that the concert
was a huge success. Everyone considered it a wonderful start to Christmas
week and a welcome escape from the commercial angle which predominates
this time of year.
Hopefully we will repeat the experience next year, and that more of our
members will be able to join us.
MINISTER'S COMMITMENT TO GALWAY AIRPORT
In a New Year's reception given by Galway Chamber of Commerce at Galway Airport in Carnmore, Mary O'Rourke, Minster for Public Enterprise, reiterated the Government's commitment to the development of the Airport. The approved changes will cost an estimated £4.2 million, of which £3.1million will come from the Government.
Mrs. O'Rourke
stressed the importance of Regional Airports, "in this day and age
we are all only too well aware of the importance of Access" she said.
The new improvements will include the extension of the existing runway
from 1,350 metres to 1,600 metres and widening it from 30 to 45 metres.
As a result, jet aircraft will be accommodated, which will open up the
Airport to flights to Britain and the Continent. Galway will thus be placed
in a better position to attract additional air services, more tourists
and more importantly enhance the standing of Galway as a major centre
for business and enterprise.
No doubt, the expansion and upgrading of the Airport at Carnmore will
have a positive effect on the entire locality.
DIVISION
III LEAGUE
Our Division III Team had an important win over the Galway Lawn Tennis
Club in a very exciting home game last week. This was the first game in
the second round of the Competition. Well done and Good Luck in the next
game against Oranmore on 3rd February.
COUNTY
CHAMPIONSHIPS - DOUBLES (Senior)
Division III
Congratulations to Paula Shaughnessy and Cathy Casserly who won the Ladies
Doubles and to Mairéad Glynn who reached the Semi-final stage of
the Competition
Division
II
Paul Casserly and Liam Hyland played really well to reach the Final of
the Mens Doubles.
Well done Paul and Liam.
Division
I
Congratulations to John Forde and his partner, Mark Murphy who were narrowly
beaten by Dave Lawlor and Tommy Hehir in an extremely closely contested
3-set Final.
JUNIOR CONNACHT CHAMPIONSHIPS
U11, and U15 Championships will be held in G.L.T.C. on Sunday
8th February at 10.00 a.m. Good Luck to all who enter.
U13 and U17 will be held at the same venue on Sunday 15th February at 10.00 a.m. Closing Date for this Competition is 6th February. Forms are available on Saturday and Tuesday at the Badminton Club.
U11 SQUAD
Five of our boys traveled to the Ulster U11 Championships in Lisburn on
Friday and Saturday 23rd and 24th of January. Congratulations to Ryan
Gately, Mark Loughlin, Ian Steven, Gregory Hehir and Damian Hehir who
all played really well and were an absolute credit to their Club.
Damian and Ian reached the Doubles Final and Damian reached the Semi-final of the Singles.
Senior Club Night continues on Tuesday 8.30 p.m. - 10.00 p.m. New members are welcome.
M. Forde.
A Committee meeting was held in the Centre on Wednesday, 28th January. At this meeting a vote of sympathy was passed on the death of the young daughter of Martin Joe Carroll, who was tragically killed in an horrific road accident recently. Martin Joe is an employee at the Leisure Centre.
The Annual General Meeting will take place on Wednesday 4th March at 8.30 p.m. in the Leisure Centre. Hopefully there will be a good attendance on the night.
There is much activity in the Centre at the moment and the new floor has ensured full utilization throughout the damp winter months. However, much time and energy is required by committed personnel to ensure the smooth running of acitivities and planning of ongoing maintenance and improvements. If there are enough ordinary members willing to help out, the load will not be very great on any individual. So please come forward and do a little, it will help a lot.
M. Reidy
(Secretary)
A new year
is upon us and with it, come all our dreams, resolutions and aspirations
for the months ahead. Some of us will include our garden in these aspirations,
other's wont', but whither or which there will be joy for everybody at
some stage, from their garden.
We should not look upon the garden as a chore but as a hobby. Many people
are turned off gardening - some by spending 2 hours cutting a lawn - if
it is that big buy a ride-on lawnmower or buy a share in one with one
or two friends or neighbours. This will cut down on your workload and
not be as boring. Don't leave all your gardening to the last minute or
one or two times a year. Spend an hour or two twice a fortnight and it
won't build up, this will be more rewarding and relaxing as well. Many
Health Boards, Mental Handicap Associations, Doctors dealing with depression
recommend gardening. It is known to be relaxing and very therapeutic for
patients. Hence you will often hear people say "I love being out
in the garden, I find it very relaxing". Of course it is, sowing
plants, watching them grow, keeping them alive, watching the nature around
them. So put an hour or two aside and try different things in your garden
and enjoy it.
Most of our heavy frosts are at this time of the year so protect any plants
that need it. Cut away any old seed heads or dead stems of perennials
to tidy them up. The vegetable garden an have compost or rotted manure
or seaweed spread on the surface before digging or rotavating it in. All
trees should have their stakes and ties checked. Planting of all bareroot
hedging and trees can continue as can planting of all fruit trees and
fruit bushes.
You can still spray any fruit trees with tar oil to help clean any moss,
liverwort and algae off them. It also helps kill any overwintering pests
and diseases on the tree.
This months Irish Garden Magazine has a piece on cleaning Birch trees
or the same as above. Basically remove some of the lower branches. Use
a rough brush to remove any debris. Mix your tar oil solution and wash
or brush down the tree with the solution.
Scrub down paths also or wash with a power hose to prevent any algal growth
- leading to slippy paths. Cover parsley and other herbs outside to prevent
frost damage. Deadhead old heads of winter flowering pansies. Any straggly
shoots can be shortened to encourage bushier growth. Very overgrown and
neglected deciduous hedges can be rejuvinated by some hard pruning. This
promotes the production of fresh new growth from lower down. Plants such
as privet, forsythia and Beech can benefit from this.
Did you
know?
Weather has an affect on the size and shape of garden spiders webs. In
windy weather the spiders build smaller webs with fewer spirals of silk
spaced further apart. When the weather is warmer and there is more food
about, the spiders build larger webs, increasing the size of their snare.
When the level of humidity goes down so does the size of the web. So a
big spiders web and a red sky at night, is it a sign of good weather coming?
In the new millennium, nursery men predict that lettuce and tomato plants
will be replacing plants such as Begonias and Chrysanthemums as pot plants!!!
A building
company that recently felled an oak tree in England were fined £25,000
as it had a preservation order. Here in Ireland many people do not know
that before you cut a mature tree down you must notify the Gardaí
and obtain a tree felling licence from your local County Council.
All the locals will know this one, but its amazing how many people have
asked us about the Nine Arches. Its many the school project that has been
written about or constructed on the Nine Arches. For those that do not
know, the original river Clare ran through these Arches opposite Dunleavys
until the new bridge and road was built in 1953 (I think). Now that they
have started clearing them, it makes them a great feature in the village.
That's it
for now,
Happy gardening,
Bosco McDermott, Jnr., Glynn's Garden Centre, Lydican.
CLAREGALWAY
SKIN CARE AND AROMATHERAPY CLINIC
(091) 798485.
AGEING: Ageing is not something that happens to you suddenly after
a specific number of years have passed. It is a continuous process that
affects both body and mind, the result of a combination of internal and
external factors.
Skin ageing is no exception. As you get older, the protein fibers (collagen
and elastin) in your dermis change. They lose water as a result of a process
called polymerization, and the result is that much of their flexibility
goes. This is one reason for the skin wrinkles so characteristic of ageing
skin; another is that the subcutaneous (under skin) layer of fatty tissue,
which acts as a cushion for your delicate internal organs, loses some
of its fat. As it disappears, the skins supporting structure weakens.
The skin itself begins to sage, and settles into folds and creases.
Another factor that contributes to the formation of wrinkles is an increased
loss of moisture from your skin. The sebuceous glands slow down too, which
also has an effect on your hair. It tends to become drier and more brittle.
You can slow down the effects of ageing on your skin (by replacing lost
moisture or by exercise and massage which by toning the skin's underlying
muscles, help to maintain its firmness), but you cannot stop them. Neither
can you unwrinkle skin which has begun to lose its resilience, except,
in some cases, by surgery.
For further
information, contact Evelyn Kitt (091) 798485.
Claregalway
Drama Festival which has been held annually since 1982 is currently finalising
preparations for the 1998 festival which runs from Sunday, the 8th March
to Friday, the 20th March.
As always, a full program of entertaining plays has been arranged. A new
feature this year which should prove extremely popular with the children
of the area is the presentation of a Puppet Show on Friday the 13th March.
The Annual Primary School Table Quiz will take place on Sunday the 1st
March at 3 p.m. in the Leisure Centre. Entry fee is £5.00 per table
with five children participating.
A full list of the plays is listed hereunder:
Sun. 8th
"Big Maggie" - Allen Little Theatre.
Mon.9th "Murder in the Cathedral" - Holycross/Ballycahill.
Tues.10th. "Equus" - Ennis Players.
Wed.11th. "Blood Wedding" Athenry Players.
Thurs.12th "Sive" - Kilkee Drama Group.
Fri. 13th. Puppet Show.
Sat. 14th. "The Gentle Island" - Doonbeg Drama Group.
Sun. 15th. "Belfry" - The Corn Mill Theatre Co.
Mon. 16th. "I do not like thee Dr. Fell" - Icharas Players.
Tues. 17th. "The Power of Darkness" - Glenamaddy Players.
Wed. 18th. "The Steward of Christendom" - Coolera Dramatic Society.
Thurs. 19th. "Flight to Grosse Ile - Nenagh Players.
Fri. 20th. "Sharon's Grave" - Boystown Players.
Designed
and Maintained by Niall Farrell
© Nuacht Chláir