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| 30th August | Three Generations
from Ardara at Dublin Mini-Marathon |
 Front row, L. to R., Ronan Molloy (secretary of "Friends of the Handicapped (Ardara branch), South-West Donegal"), Lauren McHugh, Jenny McHugh, Ann McHugh, Suzie McHugh, Sarah McHugh, and Janet Connolly. Back row : Clare Molloy, Karen Doherty, and Pauline McHugh. |
| Of the ten in their team, a
grandmother, a mother and a grand-daughter stepped it out
in the "Ardara Ladies" group who participated
in the Dublin Mini-Marathon on June the 4th of this year.
Three generations of the McHugh family, Front St, Ardara,
strolled out the kilometres with six other team members,
pushing two and a half year old Sarah in her buggy. Sarah
is an old hand at the Marathon. Last year she had seen it
all when she had been carried. This year she slept all
the way. Ann McHugh, Sarah's grandmother, took part in her first Mini-Marathon more than fifteen years ago and she's still returning for more. "I'd like to see my daughters doing the Marathon each year," said Ann. "You can raise a lot of money for good causes, and people give generous support." Janet Connolly, the star walker of the "Ardara Ladies " group, had been in training for the event and completed the ten kilometre course in 68 minutes. It was her first Marathon and her team-mates were proud of her achievement. The route of the Women's Mini-Marathon usually begins at St Stephen's Green and then moves on out to Ballsbridge. "At Belfield Bridge, the half-way mark, you think you're doing quite well," said Ann. "Then you get a view of the thousands of people ahead of you, and you think you must really be lagging. Once you cross the bridge and look back, you see everyone trailing behind you, so then you know you're not doing so badly after all." About 38,000 women participated in the Mini-Marathon this year. Adding an interesting dimension to the occasion, there are usually a few men who walk the ten kilometres, enjoying themselves masquarading as the fairer sex. With generous sponsorship, the group from Ardara this year raised £1838. for the Ardara Resource Centre for People with Special Needs, in the Wood Rd. Ronan Molloy, secretary to the Ardara committee responsible for the founding of the Centre, was very happy to be presented with the cheque. The money will be used in Phase Two of the project, a residential house for about six people. Top of page |
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| Community Notices The Late Bridie Gildea A good friend to all she met, Bridie Gildea died on the 17th of August in Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, after a short illness. Bridie had been in the clothes and haberdashery business for fifty years, and kept her doors open until she was the age of eighty-one. She was the only girl in her family and was pre-deceased by her four brothers. She was a very kind, generous and honest person, and was like a second mother to her nieces and nephews. She enjoyed the simple pleasures of life, and was fond of a walk on the Loughros Pt road on a good day. She loved her home, her business, and the town of Ardara, and was always happy to return after her annual holiday in Dublin. Before her sight failed, Bridie used to read a lot, and liked to know what was going on in the world. She always enjoyed a chat. She is mourned by her nieces and nephews, and all those who knew her. Wood School There will be an official opening of the Wood School on the 13th of September at 11 a.m. by the Minister for Education and Science and Bishop Mehaffey. All past pupils are welcome. Yoga Iyengar yoga classes start at the Heiritage Centre on Monday, September the third at 7:30 p.m. The classes will be given by Franco Recchi from Italy. They are for people at beginner and intermediate level, and are for the month of September only.To book a place or for more information, telephone 086-3547911. There is a limited number of places. Ardglen Sinn Fein There will be a meeting in the Nesbitt Arms Hotel on Sunday the second of September at five p.m. Tai Chi at Castle Kilraine Discussions, lectures, workshops and classes on all aspects of Hau-Ch,uan ("The Internal Way"), Tai Chi, Qi-Gong, and Kung Fu are starting in September at the Castle Kilraine, Glenties. For bookings or further information, contact Charlie, at the Castle, or telephone 075-51596. Progress of Library A progress report from Cller Slowey indicates that the library is going to be a reality in the near future. The room in the Community Centre is now painted and the shelving is being erected. Books already donated will be processed soon. Additional books are still needed. It would be nice to have a full collection of Show catalogues, Dearcadhs, and other historical books with a Donegal or Irish flavour. Books can be left at the Credit Union, Ardara branch, on Mondays or Thursdays from 9:30 - 1:00 p.m. and from 2 -5 p.m. All books donated will be stamped and will remain in the library at Ardara. Top of page |
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| 27th August | Community Notices ICA
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| 24th August | Readings from
'Malinski' |
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| A first novel has been earning
accolades of praise for its young author, Siofra
O'Donovan, Co Wicklow, since it was first published last
year. Sold out in hardback and now available in
paperback, 'Malinski' is flying out of the bookshops.
Ardara people were privileged to have the opportunity to hear readings from this novel, set in Poland and in Ireland, in the Ard Bia cafe, Ardara, Saturday evening the 18th of August. The readers, who were closely associated with the book, included the writer herself, her father, and a friend. They read to an audience which packed the cafe for the occasion. The plot of the story concerns two brothers whose lives take quite different directions when they are separated during the invasion of Poland by the Nazis, in the Second World War. Each remembers this separation as occurring for different reasons. Stanislav, the elder, blames his younger brother for his loss of family. Nevertheless, he survives the war living with his erratic aunt in Nazi-occupied Krakow, and lives out his life in a Poland dominated by another authoritarian regime, that of the Communists. The younger brother, Henryk, is imprisoned with his mother by the German occupying forces, escaping at the end of the war to settle in Ireland. Changing his name to Henry, he assumes the character of a roguish wastrel. Forty-nine years after the separation, the two elderly brothers meet again, but are estranged from each other by language difficulties, distorted memories, and the influences of the different places where they live. Donal K. O'Donovan, father of the author and also a writer and journalist, gave the first reading from part one of the book, concerning the character Stanislav. The second reading was from part two in the book relating to Henry and the German occupation of the family's manor home in Lvov, and this was read by Peter Alexander, a journalist and broadcaster. Siofra read from part three, regarding the meeting of the two brothers forty-nine years later, when they find themselves alienated by different languages, differing memories and experiences of life. 'Malinski' is greatly praised by the critics. It has been described in 'The Irish Times' as 'a well crafted, intelligent story.....There is much to admire in O'Donovan's novel : her treatment of memory and the tricks it can play give the story its shape ; her writing is confident and her descriptions are powerful, often beautiful......'Malinski' is a strong debut that marks O'Donovan as a writer to watch.' Siofra O'Donovan worked in Poland as an English teacher and a jobbing actress after the fall of communism there. She became interested in the conditions and events of wartime Poland, the Stalinist era, and in the Irish connections of those who had fled the country in those years. This, her first novel, was launched in Dublin by the Polish ambassador to Ireland. On the day of the scheduled readings in Ardara, Siofra spoke of an extraordinary co-incidence. During the afternoon, Patrick McCabe had walked into the Ard Bia cafe. "He was the Irish ambassador to Poland for five years," said Siofra, "and helped to get my book published in Lublin, Poland, last September." That evening, Patrick gave an introduction to the book in Ard Bia and talked about the history of Poland. The second co-incidence was that Ian Czak, president of the Nijinsky Foundation, that evening revealed the course of his own life-story. His parents had been killed by the Nazis in wartime Poland, he had been interrogated by the S.S. at the age of fourteen, and had escaped to French Canada, leaving his only brother in Poland. Though she had not known of his past, his story was almost the same as that related by Siofra O'Donovan in her book, 'Malinsky'. That Ardara people had the chance to enjoy a literary evening of such calibre is due to the insight and organisational skill of Ard Bia's proprietor, Aoibhann McNamara. The only way to judge this book is to read it. 'The Sunday Business Post' says of it, "It is refreshing to see such a fine Irish novel take the stage from this side of the Irish Sea." Top of page |
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| 16th August | Community Notices
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| 15th August | Old
Friends Meet During New York/Celtic Visit to Ardara |
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| Though the New York/Celtic visit
to Ardara was a sporting event for young people, there
were many older people who re-encountered old friends of
many years ago, during the few days that the American
teams were in the County. Tuesday the 31st of July saw
the arrival in Ardara of a contingent of Irish/Americans
representing an Irish G.A.A. club called New York Celtic,
enthusiastic to try their U-10 and U-12 teams in a number
of sporting and social engagements in this country. In the group of about seventy people, one familiar face was quickly recognised as that of Connie Malloy, a person who had served the community of Ardara, and a member of their 1982 Championship team. For the past twenty years, Connie has lived in New York and is now very involved with the under-age structure there. Much of the credit for the visit to Ardara is due to Connie and Anthony Malloy, who did all the local preparation. All the guests were booked into the Nesbitt Arms and various local guest houses. The day of the matches, Wednesday the first of August, was fine so the children had the opportunity to visit beautiful Narin Strand and enjoy their time there. Some of the adults were quick to take advantage of the Narin/Portnoo Golf Course, and others just enjoyed rambling around Ardara. By 5 p.m., there was a concerted move to Pearse Memorial Park for the anticipated football duel. The Ardara U-10 and U12 teams were in good form and won both of their matches. At a social function later in the evening John McConnell, chairman of the County Board, made a presentation on behalf of the Ardara Club to the club from New York. Another presentation was made to Connie Malloy for his years of dedication to Gaelic football in Ardara and in New York. The presentation was made by his friend of long-standing, Columba Diver. Presentations were also made to all the children of the Ardara U-10 and U-12 teams by the New York club. M.C. for the evening was Anthony Malloy and there were some fine speeches. Some senior members of the Ardara Club who had spent many years in the United States came along to give a warm welcome the American visitors : Packie Maguire, John the Saddler, Vincent McConnell, John Herron, and Columba Diver. A memorable part of the evening was when Packie Maguire telephoned Michael Ross of Inver to tell him that his flat-mate of over forty years ago was in Ardara. Michael immediately drove to Ardara to meet his old friend from the past, Tommy Trainer. |
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 New York U-10 Team |
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 Ardara U-12 Team |
 New York U-12 Team |
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| 12th August | Community
Notices Brackey
National School Book Launch Chiropodist Raphoe Diocesan Pilgrimage Local Training Initiative |
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| #www.geocities.com/ardaratown# |
