| 30th
Jan |
Community Notices
Sympathy
The sympathy of the community is extended to the family
and friends of the late Charlie McCann, Mullantyboyle,
Glenties, who was buried in Ardara on Thursday the 16th
of January. Charlie was pre-deceased by his wife, Mary
McCann (nee Bennett), who was born and raised in Ardara.
Sympathy is also extended to James Boyle of Leaconnell,
whose brother-in-law, Ronnie Doherty, died in Birmingham
last week.
The Methodist's Concert
The annual concert in the Methodist hall will be held on
Thursday , Friday, and Saturday (6th, 7th, and 8th of
February) at 8 p.m. A varied programme of entertainment
will be presented, as well as a three-act play, the title
of which this year is "Married Bliss". Usually
a popular and fun evening out, this is a night not to be
missed. Admission will cost 8 euro for adults and 2 euro
50 cent for children, and includes supper. All are
welcome.
Senior Citizens
The Day Centre re-opened on the 28th of January from 2-5
p.m. in the Commnity Centre, and will continue on
Tuesdays as usual.
Mass and Healing Service
This service will be held in the Franciscan Friary,
Rossnowlagh, on Sunday the 2nd of February. A bus will
leave Divers' at 1:30 p.m. that day, and bookings may be
made at Divers'.
Club Ceili na nGleannta
A reminder of the St Bridget's Day ceili/barndance on
Friday the 31st of January in the Highlands Hotel. Rushes
for cross making will be available. Music will be by Art
Mcnally, and the admission fee of 5 euro includes supper.
Seals Dying
A resident of Loughros Point has observed three dead
seals lying in the area of the slipway on the southern
side of the Point. There are unconfirmed reports of a
number of dead seals being seen on Fintra Strand. The
seal virus, which killed many seals in Scotland, and,
more recently, on the Galway coast, may have reached our
shores. Some fishermen are not unduly sorry about this,
as they say that the seals have increased greatly in
number in the last few years, and that the furry sea
creatures are responsible for many a chewed salmon taken
in their nets.
Chiropody
The chiropodist will be in attendance at the Community
Centre, in association with Ardara Community Care, from 2
- 5 p.m. on Tuesday the 4th of February. Anyone who
wishes to, may make an appointment by calling Breda at
075-41246.
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| 23rd
Jan |
Community Notices
The Late Bella Ann Boyd
After a lengthy illness, the death occurred in
Letterkenny Hospital, on December the 10th, of Bella Ann
Boyd, aged 86 years, formerly of Drimitten, Loughros
Point. She had been living in the care of her nephew and
niece-in-law, Bertie and Margaret Boyd, Tullyvoose, Mt
Charles, for the preceding four and a half years. The
wake took place at their home. The funeral service was at
the Ardara Methodist Church on December the 10th, Rev
Weir, Dunkineely, and Rev Henderson, Inver, officiating.
The readers were Fiona Boyd and Donna Alcorn. Burial took
place afterwards at Kilcashel graveyard, Loughros Point.
Bella Ann was born in Drimitten and lived all her life,
with her brother and his family, there. She took a great
interest in her nieces and nephews, and was always on
hand to help look after them. She was a very skilled
knitter and a capable sewer, and though she lived
quietly, when the opportunity arose, she enjoyed a party.
She loved children and she had a good memory for the
people she met.
Bella Ann was pre-deceased two years ago by her brother,
Hugh Thomas Boyd. She is survived by her sister, Rachel
Boyd, Drimitten, and her brother-in-law, Alex Boyd,
Drimitten, her sister-in-law, Bella Boyd, Drimitten, her
eight nephews and two nieces, and many great-nieces and
great-nephews. She will be fondly remembered by her many
friends and relatives.
The Late Noelle Vial
Members of the Donegal Workshop Theatre and the Ardara
Writers' Group would like to convey their heartfelt
sympathy to the family and friends of the late Noelle
Vial and to the Killybegs Writers' Group, of which she
was a founder member. Noelle was a long-standing friend,
mentor, and workshop leader of the Donegal Workshop
Theatre and the Ardara Writers' Group, and her creative
input will be thoroughly missed.
Sympathy
The sympathy of the community is extended to the family
and friends of Charles Harold, Glenswilly, who died on
New Years Eve in Leconnell, Ardara, and also to the
family and friends of John Breslin, Owenteskna, whose
funeral took place on Tuesday the 7th of January.
Parish Council Meeting
At the Parish Council meeting of January the 14th,
letters were received from Dinny McGinley, T.D., and
Minister Mary Coughlan stating that they had been in
contact with the North Western Health Board and the
Donegal County Council, respectively, requesting measures
to speed up the provision of facilities for the elderly
in Ardara. Jerry McGarrigle, Project Manager of the N.W.H.B.,
had also written to the Parish Council outlining the
flood report on the Owentocker as being the reason for a
delay at present, but he also expressed the commitment of
the N.W.H.B. to the provision of a Day Care Centre and a
Primary Health Care Centre in Ardara.
The International Fund for Ireland had written to inform
the Parish Council of their grant of 130,000 euro for the
construction of a river walkway and a footbridge in
Ardara.
John McBrearty reported on behalf of the Community Centre
committee that a new boiler had been installed downstairs
as part of the heating system, and that the Playcentre
committee had decided to meet the cost of this
installation. Donal Haughey said that the programme for
the Walking Festival had been printed.
Declan Brennan furnished information concerning the
representation by irishadventure.com at the Holiday and
Leisure Fair in Dublin from January 23rd-26th. The
Lakehouse Hotel, the Walking Festival, and the Cup o' Tae
Festival will receive publicity at the irishadventure.com
display in the R.D.S. Also available will be information
about accomodation and night-life in the Ardara area. The
Parish Council had contributed 440 euro towards the cost
of this display.
The chairman of the Tidy Towns committee, Jack Maguire,
fixed a date for their first meeting of the year,
Wednesday the 29th of January. The secretary, John
Couzens, was of the opinion that many more people were
needed to help with the necessary work on the approaches
to the town, in order to improve on last year's marks.
Counciller Slowey was unable to attend the meeting but
had sent a report, which was read by the secretary of the
Parish Council, Ann Marie Travers. The Donegal County
Council are in the process of placing a state of the art
disinfection of water supply at Ardara. It would be in
effect within the next three months. It would ensure only
a residual chlorine level, and that the water would meet
the Drinking Water Quality Criteria as regards
bacteriological levels. A meeting concerning a research
project for rural libraries in Donegal would take place
in the Ardara Community Centre at 6 p.m. on Wednesday the
15th of January. The library hours at present are as
follows : Saturdays 4 - 6 p.m. ; Wednesdays 7 - 8:30 p.m.
Some concern was expressed at the meeting as to the
difficulties of contacting a doctor for emergency
situations at night and at the weekend. It was felt that
the present system was too slow. Pending an appointment
with her, this matter will be discussed with Dr Sweeney.
The meeting felt that parents need to take more
responsibility for their teenage children and to know
where their young people were at all times. It was
important to be aware of the dangers of alcohol and drugs.
Some parents have formed car pools to meet their children
either outside the disco, or as they get off the bus in
Ardara.
The need for more bins at scenic locations during the
tourist season was recognised, and concern was expressed
that at present there is no-one to collect wrecked cars
in the county. The secretary will write to An Post in
support of door to door postal delivery, as it is a life-line
to many elderly people, and it is an Irish way of doing
things - we don't have to be the same as other countries
in the European Union.
The next meeting of the Parish Council will take place on
Monday the 10th of February at 9 p.m. in the Community
Centre.
The Canon's Concert
A crowd of slightly less than three hundred people
enjoyed a varied programme of local talented artists in
the Community Centre on Friday the 17th of January. This
was a revival of the traditional Canon's Concert of
former years in Ardara, and it is hoped that it will once
again become an important annual event. There is
definitely plenty of local talent to ensure the
continuation of the tradition. Vincent Campbell and Derek
McGinley, two notable Donegal fiddlers, began the evening
with some remarkable music, some of it learned from other
musicians, like the late Johnny Doherty. Meentinadea
National School had the audience listening attentively to
keep up with the story being presented to them in Irish
script and song. They performed very well. Deirdre Mooney
brought a lump to the throat with her rendering of "Danny
Boy", and she was followed by Irish traditional
music provided by a youthful trio from the Seamus Sweeney
music group.A gentleman of uncertain identity, though he
is said to be from Monargan, brought forth a great deal
of laughter with his fund of funny stories, then Michelle
McHugh delighted everyone by singing "Tomorrow"
from the show 'Annie'. The first half of the concert was
brought to a rousing conclusion by some spectacular
dancing, of 'River Dance' standard, from the Marie Cannon
dancers.
After the intermission, the audience heard, at length,
from a 'Dungloe' man, who had woken up one morning,
looked out the window, and had said to himself, 'It's a
good day for cutting turf,' so he went down to the shed
and .................suffice it to say that that man had
a very busy and interesting day! 'Sail Along Silvery
Moon' was Matt McNelis's first number on his silver
trumpet, and it was enough to make any middle-aged person
feel twenty again. The Seamus Ryan Quartet gave him
professional backing, and then performed in their own
right with singers, Lucy and Donna. There followed a
sketch starring the greatest footballer who never left
Ardara, Columba Diver. It was rather difficult to
recognise Columba after Dr Conal Shovelin and his nurse
had finished ministering to him, using the latest weight-losing
methods from America. (Was that real smoke issuing from
the weight loss machine?) Elaine Boyle pleased the young
ones, especially, with her selection of clap-along modern
songs, and Shirley Baskin completed the programme by
singing some country and western style songs, providing
her own accompaniment on her piano-accordion. Rose-Marie
Whelan had baked a birthday cake for Shirley, since it
was her birthday, and Canon Laverty presented the cake
with gallantry.
Great credit is due to Bart Whelan and his willing team
for organising this concert, the proceeds of which are in
aid of the Sheltered Housing for Elderly People in Ardara.
Another enjoyable and successful performance of this
concert took place in the Kilclooney Dolmen Centre on
Sunday the 19th, with some changes to the programme.
Doctor's Consulting Rooms
The new surgery at Hillhead is a huge improvement on the
former rooms in Main St. The conversion of the bed and
breakfast house next to the petrol station worked very
well, as the space available in the house fitted the
needs of the doctor's practice. The interior layout has
yet to be signed and some decorating is still in process.
There are parking spaces for at least six patients in
front, and there is staff parking at the rear of the
building. As it is necessary, an ambulance could be
parked in the front driveway to the house. A practice-nurse,
Ms Carol McDonagh, is available for certain procedures
like measuring blood pressure, taking blood samples,
doing E.C.G. tests and dressings, etc. Having a practice
nurse opens future possibilities for running day-clinics
for diabetics, for example, or "Stop-Smoking"
courses. The practice nurse is there solely to look after
the needs of the practice. Such assistance definitely
takes some of the pressure off the doctor in
circumstances where the waiting room is full, and should
help to decrease waiting time for the patients.
Barndance/Ceili
The Club Ceili na Gleanta are holding a night of dance
and music in the Highlands Hotel, Glenties, on Friday the
31st of January, (St Bridget's night).Music for dancing,
from 9:30 p.m. till 1 a.m., will be provided by Art
McNally. Admission will cost 5 euro and includes supper.
All are welcome.
Tidy Towns Committee
The Ardara Tidy Town Committee is to hold an open meeting
at the Community Centre on Wednesday January 29th at 9 p.m.
The main objective of the meeting will be to evaluate the
progress made in 2002, to consider the key area mentioned
in the Tidy Towns Competition judging, decide whether to
enter the competition this year, and to discuss ways of
achieving improvements to the appearance of the town.
Considerable progress was made last year, with the
provision of hanging baskets around The Diamond and
Bridge areas, the use by both business premises and
householders of a large number of window boxes, attention
to the central garden on the Diamond, and the painting of
premises. While further progress will be expected this
year, participating in the Tidy Towns Competition
requires a great deal of work in a number of areas. So
the committee is hoping at its meeting to concentrate on
a number of key areas, forming sub-committees with
responsibility for overseeing progress in sectors such as
signage, floral attractions, litter and grass cutting.
One lesson from 2002 was that more people have to remain
involved during the spring and summer if worthwhile
progress is to be achieved. It is requested that all
local groups arrange to send at least one representative
to this meeting to ensure that the views of all the
community can be considered.
Ceili Classes
Ceili classes commence in the Highland Hotel, Glenties,
on Thursday the 23rd of January, from 8:0 - 9:30 p.m. All
are welcome.
Bowling
It is hoped to get the bowling club up and running again
in the Dolmen Centre, Kilclooney. New and old members are
welcome. Contact the Centre for further details at 075-45010.
Playboy of the Western World
The Balor Theatre Company will be performing "The
Playboy of the Western World" in the Dolmen Centre,
Kilclooney, on Monday night, the 3rd of February at 8:30
p.m. Admission will cost 8 euro for adults and 4 euro for
children.
Ardara GAA
There has been no winner of our weekly Flotto. The
numbers drawn on Saturday night last were 1, 2, 10 and 18
and the nearest were Brendan Sweeney, Carrickacleave and
Mary Kelly, Mountcharles. This weeks jackpot stands at
€6,150.00 and this weeks selling team is Columba
Diver's.
The history of the Club is progressing very well. The
committee have now reached an advanced stage. There are
still pictures and other information which are required
for the early years. We are currently looking for two
pictures that someone might be able to locate for us -
1954 Minor Team and the 1979 U-14 County Champions. The
Committee is as follows : George Doherty, Mary Kelly,
James McHugh, Tom O'Donnell, John McConnell, John M.
O'Donnell and James McBrearty.
Coaching Officer, John McConnell, has organised a
Coaching Session which will take place in the Community
Centre, beginning on Saturday 1st February. These
sessions will involve the skills of the game. It will be
opened to U-18, U-10 and U-12s. (There will be more in
next weeks Notes).
The Minor Board will hold their first meeting on
Wednesday 29th at 9.00 p.m. in Dohertys' Bar. All
managers are asked to be present.
The Minor Board are organising a Poker Classic which will
be held in the Central Bar on Friday 7th February
beginning at 8.00 p.m.
Congratulations to St Columbas Comprehensive School U-16
Team who beat St Columbas, Stranorlor last week in the
County semi-final. They now meet Falcarragh in the County
Final. Many of the Ardara U-14 and U-16 Players are part
of the team. We wish them all the best in the final.
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| 16th
Jan |
Community Notices
The Late Sheila Connolly
The death occurred after a short illness of Sheila
Connolly, Sandfield, Ardara, on New Years Eve at
Letterkenny Hospital. The funeral took place at St
Conal's Church, Kilclooney, on January the 2nd, Fr Daly
officiating. Sheila was born in Kilclooney and lived all
her life in the area. She was pre-deceased by her
husband, Joe Boyle, and married Paddy Connolly some years
later. Paddy died early in their marriage. Sheila will be
remembered for her courage in adversity, and her good-natured
out-going personality. She devoted all her energies to
her children, being a solo parent through difficult
years, and the better years which followed.
She is survived by her sons Oliver, Sandfield, and
Michael Boyle, Aberdeen, her daughters, Bernadette
Morrison, Aberdeen, and Fidelis Spillane, Ashbourne, Co.
Meath; her sons Patrick, Sandfield, and Seamus Connolly,
Sandfield; her sisters Mary, Birmingham, and Sadie
McGurk, Armagh, her brother, Danny Boyle, Coventry; her
nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren, and many
nieces and nephews. She'll be sadly missed and fondly
remembered by all her family.
The Late Kathleen Fisher
Kathleen Fisher, nee Haughey, died on January the third
in Killybegs Community Hospital after an illness of three
months. The funeral Mass, on Sunday the fifth of January,
was in the Church of the Holy Family, Ardara, with burial
in the adjacent graveyard. Canon Austin Laverty
officiated. Kathleen was born and raised in Brackey,
Ardara. She married William Fisher of Hillhead, Ardara,
and they settled in Tullycleave where they raised a
family of seven children. Kathleen was pre-deceased by
her son, John, who died in a car accident in Dublin, and
also by her daughter, Mary, who died in Brooklyn, New
York. In later life, Kathleen herself was to live in New
Jersey for eighteen years, working as a nurse's aid. She
retired to the family home in Tullycleave where she spent
a good few happy years. Kathleen was cheerful, smiling,
and always had a good word for everybody.
She is survived by her daughters, Margaret Miller, New
Jersey, Annie Campbell, Hawthorne Heights, Letterkenny,
her sons, Brendan, New Jersey, Thadaeus, New York, and
Connel Fisher, Tullycleave, her five grandchildren in the
U.S., her four grandchildren in England, and her four
grandchildren in Ireland, her brother, Willie Haughey,
Brackey, and her many nieces and nephews. The community
extends its sympathy to the family in their loss.
The Cannon's Concert
The Cannon's Concert, in aid of St Vincent de Paul
Sheltered Housing, will be held in the Community Centre,
Ardara, on Friday the 17th of January at 8:30 p.m. This
promises a great night of song, dance, music, and drama
with top local artists taking part. Admission will cost 5
euro for adults and 2 euro for children. Please support
this worthy cause.
The concert will also be held in the Dolmen Centre,
Kilclooney, on Sunday the 19th of January at 8:30 p.m. An
evening of entertainment not to be missed.
Keep Fit Classes
An exercise class for keeping fit would be just the thing
after the festive season. Such a class, suitable for all
ages, is commencing in the Nesbitt Arms Hotel on
Wednesday the 15th of January from 8:30 - 9:30 p.m. The
fee for the six week course will be 40 euro. All are
welcome, and if you miss the first week, don't let it
bother you - you can start the second week!
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Community Notices
The Late Susanna Gillespie
The death occurred in Letterkenny General Hospital, on
the 26th of December '02, of Susanna Gillespie (nee
Maloney) of Brackey, aged 76 years. The funeral took
place at the Church of the Holy Family, on December the
29th, Canon Austin Laverty officiating. As a young woman,
Susanna worked in Maloney's Hotel, Carrick, and then in
Belfast, before going to live in London in 1948. She and
her husband, Frank, were married in London in 1955. They
retired from London to their home in Brackey in 1985,
where they enjoyed living among their many neighbours and
friends. Frank is grateful to all those who kindly helped
during the wake, in particular the McCabe brothers, and C.
Heena, who sang lovely hymns at the funeral Mass. Susanna
is survived by her husband, Frank Gillespie, Brackey, her
two daughters, Patricia and Frances, London, her grand-daughter,
Michaela, London, her two brothers Tommy Maloney,
Ardconnell, Ardara, and Michael, London, her brothers-in
-law, Colm and Josie Gillespie, Clogher, Carrick, her
brother-in-law, Con, Essex, England, her sisters-in-law,
Agnes, Navan, and Annie, Donegal town, her many brothers-
and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews. The community
extends it's sympathy to Frank, in his loss.
Community Library
The Ardara Community Library will re-open in the
Community Centre, following the Christmas break, on
Saturday the 11th of January. The revised opening times
are Saturdays from 4 - 6 p.m., and Wednesdays from 7- 8:30
p.m. The library has a large selection of books to suit
all tastes and the number of books is increasing all the
time. There is a joining fee of 5 euros per family. It is
requested that young children should be accompanied by an
adult, when they attend the library.
Music Courses
Kenneth Baker Music Courses will begin on Tuesday the 14th
of January. Enrolment will take place in the Nesbitt Arms
Hotel on Friday the 10th of January from 6 - 7:30 p.m.
Further information may be obtained by calling 073-36437.
New Location of Dr Sweeney's Surgery
As from Monday the 6th of January, Dr Sweeney's
consulting rooms are located in the Portnoo Rd at what
used to be Greenhaven B & B, beside Maguire's petrol
pumps.
Dearcadh
Ardara's own annual publication, Dearcadh or Ardara View,
is still available in the shops. Congratulations to the
editorial committee on this years edition, of a
commendably high standard, as usual.
Medujorge Pilgrimage
For more details of the Medujorge Pilgrimage from August
17 - 24th this year, contact Noreen Feeney at 075 - 41689.
River Walkway and Footbridge
Councillor Terence Slowey welcomes the allocation by the
International Fund for Ireland of €130,000 towards
the provision of a River Walkway Extension and Footbridge
at Herron’s Field, Ardara. Cllr. Slowey said this is
another vote of confidence in Ardara and looks forward to
the completion of this work. This project in addition to
the other private projects planned for Ardara in the
coming years are set to transform the area and enhance
greatly the commercial nature of the town.
Barndance and Supper
The Ardara Basketball Club are holding a barndance in the
Central Bar at 10 p.m. on Friday January the 10th. The
music will be provided by Country Traditions, and a
supper will be served. The door-charge will be € 5.
and everybody is welcome.
Ardara Parish Council
The January meeting of the Ardara Parish Council will
take place in the Community Centre on Monday the 13th of
January at 9 p.m.
Digital Photography
An eight week computer course to assit you in digital
photography will start on Monday the 13th of January at
the Women's Centre, Kilclooney, from 7 - 9 p.m. Everyone
is welcome. For more details call Sally at 075-45368 .
Ardara GAA
The Annual General meeting of the Club takes place in the
Community Centre on Sunday 19th January, 2003, at 2.30.
All members and new people wishing to join are welcome to
come along.
The Minor Board A.G.M. takes place on Thursday16th
January in Dohertys at 8.30 p.m. All underage Managers
are asked to attend as well as any parents who wish to
help out in the coming year.
This weeks Flotto jackpot stands at €5,850.00 and
this weeks selling team is Michael Breslins Team.
A number of photographs were taken by John McConnell at
the annual Dinner and Dance in the Blue Haven. These
pictures can be viewed on the GAA Site and copies ordered
if required. The site can be obtained on www.geocities.com/ardaragaa
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