ROUNDSTONE YOUTH DEBS NIGHT

Last Thursday another one of those great moments for me to meet up with 6 young people from Roundstone in all their finery in Clifden at Guys for their debs evening.Having been involved in their lives in a small way as youth club leader, it was quite something to be there and to take photos and informally see them off for the evening ie Chris McDonagh, Clara Conneely, John Sheridan,Marion McDonagh, Katrina Keane and Louise O’Toole.

Some of these photos can be seen on the website under photo events titled “Roundstone Debs November 2005”, now of course the next event in their lives will be the Graduation next year, then off into the big wide world, oh well at least there will be a few more young Roundstone kids coming on into the youth Club.

Pastoral Assembly:

There was a reasonable turn out with Father McCarthy and Father Breen with other representatives from the surrounding committees to attend the pastoral assembly in Eldon’s which was felicitated by Bridge Madden.This was one of many meetings during the month of November held through out the Tuam parish to brain storm and explore possible new structures in the church and to explore as to how the community could be more involved with parish life. Two Items that were discussed under the heading of

Sharing the Ministry

“What resources need to be provided to develop the faith and ministry of laity in the parish?”

Building the Community

“How can a parish best provide welcome and refuge for the stranger, the outcast and the alienated of society?” There will be a few more meeting on this level in the early New Year to continue, so this time we need to encourage maybe some young mothers and a few young people to brain storm also with them.Surprisingly only two from the actual village of Roundstone turned up to the meeting.

News Letter: www.roundstone.ie/newsletter

The Roundstone Community Development Council Ltd News letter is now out and circulated around the area, and as some people were concerned that they were not able to get hold of the last letter that came out, so as back up so to speak the news letter will be put on to the website, www.roundstone.ie/newsletter and in the church.

Marty Devane:

On a sadder note, we have lost another character within the community of Roundstone our man Marty Devane from Ervallagh who died very suddenly on Thursday age 69.Marty is the brother to Pauline Mannion and Bridie and husband to Liz and father to Brendan, Alison, Katie and Mary, what can I say except on behalf of the community and of course my self our condolences to all the immediate family. It may not be much of a conserlation but Marty at least had the privilege to see his children grow up and as an added bonus there were also the gran children. Marty was a true character, a fisherman for many years with his brother Paddy with the currach fishing for the lobster, there are lots of stories about Marty which will keep his memory alive.John Welsh played on the accordion as the cortege left the church as Marty was taken to his final resting place.

I was told of a lovely song re the boat he fished in “Oh my boat would often float through the winde and weather, not a drop will she take aboard her, that would wash a fly away” I must find the rest of those words it’s a nice little tribute to a fisherman and his boat.

May he rest in peace

Dates for the Diary:

Roundstone Musical Instruments:

Wednesday 14th is Malachys Bodhran’s Senior Citizens Christmas party commencing at 12.30, and I gather there will be no invitations going out so if you consider your selves of a senior age lunch will be waiting for you, perhaps it would not be a bad idea perhaps to give malachy or Neil a quick to say that you will attend.

Tidy Towns:

Just to remind you that the next tidy town meeting will be next Sunday the 4th December after mass. we will have as guests from Galway County Council, Mark Malloy (Chief Environmental Officer) and Sinead Ni Mhainnin, talking about Sinead there was a very disappointing turn out at the home composting workshop last week, however she will give a few tips on the Sunday.

Mink:

Now here is a little bit of information for you, as we all have the dreaded mink on our brains and am trying to find a way to cull them apart from trapping, well I was talking to an eminent naturalist about this problem, you may remember I stated by saying that the mink has no natural enemy, well did you know that the mink has one enemy, and that is believe it or not is the Otter, quite were we could go with this bit of information I am not sure, perhaps through other naturalists it could be possible to introduce more otters into our area.

What do you think?

As news is a little limited, I thought I would pass on a little tip to anybody who is traveling to Shannon Airport and has to leave their car for a few days.

I had to go to Shannon Airport last week, there was not a parking space to be had, until I was informed that just a mile and a half outside the Airport, there is another area with a shuttle bus Service, I have to add its a very efficient service, the reason why I am relating this on Roundstone News, arriving back to Shannon I picked up the shuttle bus to be brought back to my car, which I could not remember where I put it, as it was already dark. The driver drove around looking for it, after which we eventually found the car, he waited to make sure my car would start, as it happened I had a flat Battery, and on top of that a flat tyre, the driver told me to stay calm and said “give me five minutes to fetch some leads and I will have you sorted”.

Within twenty minutes I was on the road again, unfortunately I never got his name, but I do remember he told me he is a Connemara man from Clifden, he probably won’t hear this story but thanks man just in case. The point being that if I had found parking in the allocated spots it might have been a little more difficult to get help. So there you are if your car is a little unreliable the shuttle bus service is you answer for immediate help should the need arise.

Go Karting

Members of the Roundstone youth Club went off to Loughrea to the Pallis go-Karting on Saturday. Janey can these guys drive, even yours truly took part, thinking that I would show them a thing or too, not a bit of it as far as they were concerned I was only out for the fresh air, I went grey in about ten minutes, however the whole Grand Prix competition amongst the lads was brilliant with young Cathal Mullen who is the Roundstone Youth Club PRO as the overall winner, second place David McDonagh (Youth Club Chairman) and third was Michael Sullivan from Innishnee. Some of the photos can be seen on the website under photo events www.roundstone.ie

Eventually ended up in Galway Centre for a few hours to do there shopping, I had a good group with me on Saturday the banter was great, they made my job very enjoyable and un stressful and a pleasure to be with them, well done troops.

Tidy Towns

Last Sunday there was a tidy Towns meeting to further our plans for next years competition, and we are delighted to have Tim Robinson prepare a proper map of the village. A map of the village would be a valuable tool for any applications for funding of any kind.

As we speak there is a talk in the community hall on how to successfully compost at home with Sinead Ni Mhainnin from the Galway County Council this will be the last meeting for the year of the Tidy Towns, meeting in Eldon’s again on the Sunday 4th December, because we hope to have as our guest Mark Malloy (Chief Environment Officer) as well as Sinead and various other people from the environment section of the Galway County Council to guide us on the keeping the village litter free and that there would be the possibility of some funding to enhance the village with the upgrade of street bins and bottle bank etc.

Mink

These predators have struck again, my next door neighbour has just lost 49 hens and cockerels of all sorts, they were shut up for the night, but Martin was telling me there was a small gap in the shed enough for the little “Bleep” to create havoc, what makes it really worse those poor hens could not escape from this dreadful killing machine.

What in Gods name are we going to do about this dilemma?

I won’t have hens again nor will Martin for the time being, it’s going to end up no more free range eggs, not only that nature it self will suffer of its wild life.

Any thoughts on the subject ?

Pastoral Meeting

On the Thursday of the 27th November at 8pm Sharp in Eldon’s, there will be a pastoral meeting with the Roundstone Parish, Cashel, and Recess, its an open meeting to discuss and put forward ideas on issues relating to the parish and to encourage the laity to be more involved with the church, not just to help our parish priest, but the day will come when parish priests will be a thing of the past.

Bridgie Madden will be the facilitator for the evening. It’s an important meeting and would encourage all parents, and the young, all ministers of the Eucharist and readers etc should attend and have your input on other local issues.

Table Quiz

There is a table quiz in Ryan’s Bar in aid of the National School on Thursday of this week i.e. 27th November 9.00 kick off in theory with yours truly as quiz master

Dance Work Shop

Starting on the Sunday of the 27th there is a seonas dancing work shop with the Cunningham family in the Clifden Town Hall from 3pm to 5pm also on the 4th December and the 11th but it is only for 1st year and 6th year youth i.e. for the 13 to 17 years of age, there was 50 places available of which Marie Feeney tells me that there are only 20 places left. If any body wants more information ring Ellen Mitchell or Marie Feeney on 22175 there is no one from Roundstone yet.

RDC

Abiding by the Articles of Association for The Roundstone Development Council 21 days has to be given to hold their annual general meeting in the Community hall therefore the meeting will be held on the 12th December 8pm

Thanksgiving

To end off just to wish all our local people who are over in the states for Thanksgiving Day which is on Thursday, to wish them and in fact to all who know Roundstone “Happy Thanksgiving Day troops”?

Birthday

And since we are wishing happy things, happy birthday to young David Mc Donagh, who reached his 16th Birthday on Sunday, David by the way is also the youth chairman for the Roundstone youth Club, hope you had a good one Dave.