NEWS

BATTLE OF THE SOMME
The community was both delighted and honoured to see our oldest resident, Alison Hurschberg (97) of Cullentra, Mountnugent present at the State commemoration of the First World War battle of the Somme where over 2,000 Irish soldiers were killed.
The ever graceful Mrs Hurschberg daughter of General Sir Oliver Nugent of the 36th Ulster Division wore her father's medals with great pride. General Sir Oliver fought in the First World War battle which raged from July to November, 1916, this year commemorates it's 90th anniversary. General Sir Oliver Nugent was wounded but thankfully survived the war and passed away in 1929. This was the first State commemoration of the battle and Mrs Hurschberg stated "they should have never been forgotten".
Mrs Alison Hurschberg celebrated her 97th birthday in May and still leads a very active life. She is a wonderful and fascinating lady who is very independent with a great memory. Mrs Hurschberg still walks several times a day, she loves the environment and eats a very healthy diet, much of which is grown in her own back garden. She is a very active member of Mountnugent ICA, she established Oldcastle girl guides and was captain for many years. The whole community are extremely proud of this very refined lady and she is wished many happy and healthy years to come.

MOUNTNUGENT FESTIVAL
The Mountnugent Festival committee are delighted to announce that the festival will take place on August Bank Holiday weekend. This promises to be a great weekend of fun and games for all the family to enjoy. The programme is as follows:
Saturday August 5 - kicking off at 3pm, childrens' sports day with many different races and novelty events followed by the two finals for the Connie Kelly Memorial Cup and the Tony Murray Memorial U'14's Cup all taking place at the GAA grounds. Saturday evening at 7pm the Navan Bike Club will take part in a 30 mile bike race around the village.
Sunday August 6 - family day in the village from 2pm will be lots on offer, obstacle course, bungee tying, face painting, hair braiding, pavement art, tug o'war, bonny baby, glamourous granny, dog show plus many more events including the very popular, duck race.
The Mountnugent ladies football team will also display their talents on the pitch, check out the notes next week for further details.
Monday August 7 - the day begins with the junior fishing competition casting off from Crover Pier. The competiton is open to girls and boys under eighteen who enjoy the sport. The fee will be 10 euro which includes a year membership in the local LSTPA (Lough Sheelin Trout Protection Association). Competitors will need their own fishing rod, sun- glasses and life jacket (for those who don't have one, life jackets will be available on the day). Starting and finishing times will be printed in the notes next week. To book your place, please contact: John Murphy on 049 854 0304.
The fishing competition will be followed by a boat race on Lough Sheelin. In the village from 2pm many events will take place including, childrens' walking treasure hunt, bouncing castles, triathlon, BBQ plus more extra events.
Please note that everything will be free and there will be no charge for entering any race or competition, in return, winners will receive lovely prizes including trophies, medals or toys. Well done to the hard working festival committee who work tirelessly to keep the festival running free of charge. Your support would be greatly appreciated.

WHISTERIA LANE
Congratulations to all the winners of the most recent whist drive night in Ballinacree community centre: Sean Keogan first gent; Tom Ryan second gent; Martin Clyne third gent; Phillis Briody first lady; Mary Carolan and Betty Porter second lady (tie); Peter Diffley and Val Goldrick half-time gent (tie); Nan Hughes half-time lady; Ned Gaffney and Olive O'Reilly
last four games (tie).  Margaret Crowe, Cathal Fitzpatrick, Nan Hughes and Martin Clyne were all delighted raffle winners. Well done to everyone involved and best of luck for next week.  Remember, new members are always welcome, just come along on Thursday nights at 9 o'clock.

BAPTISM
Congratulations is extended to Derek and Yvonne McCabe, Roebuck, parents of Alanna Rose McCabe who was welcomed into the church, when baptised recently.

RATHOWEN CHAMPION
Johnny Morrissey of St Brigid's AC took the junior mens title at the Rathowen 5k road race recently. Johnny covered the tough distance in 17.31, congratulations and every success from all the athletes and coaches at the club. Well done, Johnny.

THE ABBEY
Fr Gerard Cusack and Fr Terry Smyth from the Abbey will be travelling over to Germany to take part in the General Chapter of the Norbertine Order. The community wish them a safe and enjoyable journey.  Monthly St Pio devotions will take place at the Abbey on Wednesday August 2 at 8pm with first Friday devotions on August 4 at 8pm. For further details on regular
meetings and upcoming events, please contact the Abbey office on: 049 854 4416.

YOUTH FESTIVAL
A Summer Youth Festival will take place in Knock Shrine from Thursday 27 to Sunday 30 July. Youth 2000 have teamed up with Knock Youth Ministry to offer young people a fun festival which will consist of talks, prayer and a chance to meet young people from all over Ireland.  The festival is free but donations would be welcomed. Youths are asked to bring a sleeping bag and can avail of special buses from some locations. For further information please contact: Ann (Knock Shrine) on 094 928 8100 and Catriona (National Youth 2000) on 01 675 3690 or check out their website: www.youth2000.ie

ATHLETIC SUCCESS
The athletes from St Brigid's AC took part in the Meath Track and Field Championships in Claremont Stadium, Navan recently.
Michael Flood, Stephen Browne and Padraig Plunkett placed third, fourth and sixth in the boys U'12 ball throw. Well done, lads.
Helen Flood, Emma Dolan, Lisa Brennan and Eimer Delaney took the honours in the girls U'9 50m relays.
Joseph Blake, Kevin Gilsenan, Matthew McGowan, Alan Moore, Shane Moore and Anthony O'Sullivan took the honours in the boys U'9 50m relays.
Erin Kevin, Mairiad Blake, Siniad Connell and Natasha Clarke gave a strong performance in the girls U'11 50m relay finishing third.
Barry O'Reilly, Aron Kiernan, Allan Clarke and Conor Delaney featured strongly in the boys U'11 50m relays finishing second.
Gillian Hawdon, Jillian Clarke, Siniad Gilsenan, Ciara Delaney and Jenna McCann ran strongly to finish second in the girls U'13 50 relays.
Michael Flood, Padraig Plunkett, Ciaran Plunkett and Stephen Browne ran like the wind to also finish second in the boys U'13 50m relays. Congrats and well done to you all and best of luck in all your races to come.

CONDOLENCES
The community was both shocked and saddened at the sudden death of Patrick Monaghan of Maughera, Virginia husband of Mary Blake, Ballymacad. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mary and her children, relatives and friends at this most difficult time. May he rest in peace.

MOUNTNUGENT FESTIVAL
Well folks, don't forget to mark Mountnugent Festival on your calender. The festival will take place over August Bank holiday weekend and has lots of fun in store for all the family to enjoy.  Saturday August 5 - children's sportsday kicks off at 3pm with many fun races and novelty events followed by the Connie Kelly Memorial Cup and the Tony Murray Memorial U14's cup finals, all taking place in the GAA grounds. On Saturday evening a 30 mile open cycle race will take place around the village at 7pm.  Sunday August 6 - family day in the village from 2pm with bungee tying, obstacle course, face-painting, hair braiding, pavement art, tug 'o' war, bonny baby, glamourous granny, dog show and duck race plus many more exciting events.  Monday August 7 - the junior fishing competition will cast off from Crover Pier for times and further details, please contact: John Murphy on 049 854 0304. The fishing competition will be followed by the very popular boat race on Lough Sheelin. In the village from 2pm, children's walking treasure hunt, bouncing castles, triathlon, BBQ plus much more.
Everything will be free on the day and winners will receive lovely prizes. The festival committee are very dedicated and have worked tirelessly to keep this fun weekend free of charge. Your support would be welcomed.

SUMMER WORK
St Brigid's GFC is currently offering a part-time Summer work position in administration which would suit a student or homemaker. Anyone wishing to take up this position must have their own PC and printer and be competent in letter writing on Microsoft word.  As the club is undertaking a project at the moment, they envisage the administration work could be completed over a six week period with about six to ten hours per week needed. Weekly meetings will be required with Micheal Briody and Seamus Smith, who will instruct the successful candidate on the job in hand.
If you are interested in taking up this part-time position, please contact Micheal Briody on: 087 821 4445. Best of luck to all candidates.

LOOK WHO'S 40
Happy 40th birthday to Dan and Tom Flood of Ross who celebrated this special milestone with a fun party in the Bridge Inn, Mountnugent. The twin brothers were joined by everybody who's anybody in Ross along with lots of family and friends from all over the county.

MOUNTNUGENT OR BUST
The Navan Road Club will take part in a charity cycle 'Mountnugent or Bust' in aid of the Arc Cancer Support Centre in Dulbin on Saturday August 5 departing from the Balreask Arms in Navan at 11am. The cycle route will be Navan, Kells, Virginia, Oldcastle and finishing in Mountnugent.  Navan Road Club members, Larry Clarke, Noel Clarke, Ken Clarke, Ciaran Harte and Andy O'Brien better known as the Cuban five due to the lads taking part in the Cuban Cycle Challenge for the past three years in aid of the Arc centre.  The charity cyclists will be accompanied by many collectors along the route and they hope to receive lots of support and a great welcome when they finish in Mountnugent.  They will then join fifty other cyclists and take part in a open race around the village as part of the Mountnugent festival. Well done to lads for taking on this challenge and best of luck in the open race.

COWBOY X
Upcoming band, Cowboy X will be one of the headline acts at this years Le Chiile Festival in Oldcastle on August Bank holiday weekend. Named after an obscure Sesame Street character, Karen McCartney, Carlow; David Grealy Longford; John Hanley Roscommon and Adrian Garry Mountnugent have been gigging all over Ireland and are already receiving a huge amount of radio airplay from Ray Darcy and Tom Dunne on Today FM; and Nikki Hayes and Rick O'Shea on 2FM.
The band is the most exciting new Irish act this year and will play Le Chiile on Monday August 7 with the proceeds from the gig going to the ISPCC. Playing on home ground will be very exciting for Adrian and his fellow bandmates, with Karen's
vocals, David on guitar, Adrian on bass and John on drums, this band will wow the audience with their great sound.
Fuelled by a mutual love of The Pixies, Tori Amos and Kraftwork, they recorded their debut album, 'Who Are These People?' in various bathrooms and bedrooms in Portugal and Ireland and released their debut single 'Gabbi' during the
Dublin riots.  Adrian started his love for music at the tender age of two and is a sound engineer in Temple Bar, Dublin. So come on, Mountnugent and Ballinacree, pencil the Le Chiile Festival in your diary and give Adrian lots of local support.

PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES
Don't forget the Diocese of Meath Pilgrimage to Lourdes will take place from Tuesday 12 to Sunday 17 September. Anyone who wishes to travel, please contact: Theresa McCabe on 086 167 5889; Michael Smith on 087 940 9600 or Brigid Heery on 049 854 1449.

GOING FOR GOLD
Elaine Plunkett of Ballinrink gave a fine performance finishing sixth in the girls U15 1500m at the AAI Track and Field Championships in Tullamore recently. Elaine positioned herself well throughout the race and was second of a group of eight
hitting the bell.  It has been an excellent season for Elaine so far, having already taken gold in the County 800m and 1500m and winning Leinster gold in the girls U15 1500m last month Elaine also represented Meath at the recent All-Ireland Community Games Cross Country finals in Mosney and will be back there in August when she goes for gold in the girls U14 1500m.  Congrats and well done Elaine and the very best of luck from all the athletes, coaches and members of St Brigid's AC in Mosney.

THE ABBEY
On Wednesday August 2 there will be monthly St Pio devotions at 8pm and on Friday August 4 first Friday devotions will take place at 8pm.  Please note, that Eucharistic Adoration will finish on Thursday July 27 at midnight. There will be no adoration during the month of August and will resume on Tuesday September 5 at 6pm.  For further information on regular meetings or upcoming events, please contact the Abbey office on: 049 854 4416.

SWIMMING CLASSES
The annual two week course in swimming and water safety has commenced at Crover Pier and will run until Saturday July 29. Classes take place at Crover Pier and begin at 10am - 2pm each day. The class at 7pm is for adults only. The fee is 20 per child with family concessions available. For further details, please phone: 049 433 6604.

BEREAVED
Sympathy is extended to the family and friends of Gretta Pache (nee Gilsenan), Mountnugent who passed away recently. May she rest in peace.

ST BRIGID'S AC
Fancy keeping fit and having lots of fun along the way, well why not become a member of St Brigid's AC in Ballinacree. Training for junior and senior athletes takes place on Sunday mornings at 11am in Mullaghmeen Forest. For further details, please contact Gerard Heery on 049 854 1449 / 086 249 9886.  Training for juvenile athletes takes place every Wednesday at 6.30 - 7.30pm at St Brigid's football pitch in Ballinacree. For further information, please contact Martin
Heery on 049 854 1449 / 086 856 4160 or Pat Plunkett on 049 854 0317 / 087 265 7051.

BLOTTO
There's alot of lotto up for grabs in the St Brigid's GFC blotto! The jackpot wasn't won and it now stands at a very handy 9,400. Remember, if you are not in, you cannot win. The next draw will be on Monday July 31. Best of luck to everyone
entered.

CEMETERY DEVOTIONS
Cemetery Sunday devotions for the parish will take place on Sunday August 13.

WHISTERIA LANE
Congratulations to all the winners of the most recent whist drive night in Ballinacree community centre: Martin Clyne first gent; Phil Shaw second gent; Edward Gaffney and Val Goldrick third gent (tie); Margaret Fox first lady; Bella Henry and Olive O'Reilly second lady (tie); Jimmy Smith half-time gent; Brigid Heery half-time lady; Peter Gilsenan and Margaret Crowe last four games (tie).  Tom Ryan, Peter Diffley, Margaret Fox and Seamus Clarke were all delighted raffle winners. Well done to everyone involved and best of luck for next week.  Remember, new members are always welcome, just come along on Thursday nights at 9 o'clock.

HOLIDAY TIME
Hi everyone, this is your local correspondent, Mary. I will be taking a Summer break and will be back in full swing from Monday August 7. In the meantime if you have any notices or information that you would like to include in the paper, please contact: Breandan Morley on 046 902 2333 or e-mail on morleybrendan@eircom.net or fax on 046 902 9864.