What strange weather we are having at the moment, one moment we are having sun stroke, and healthy sun Tans, the next thing one gets soaked to the skin, but what can I say, we really can not complain.

Firstly apologies all round for no broadcast last Monday, I just could not get my head around it to find some news, I think I must have had a bit of sun stroke owing to the Connemara Community Radio sponsored walk, don’t miss understand me, it was a fantastic walk in wonderful country side, day one was from the Quarry near Leenane to Rossroe along the Killary, we stopped for lovely ceremony of planting a tree in memory of Tomas Burke, who passed away a few months ago, Tomas was a regular walker with us as well as being very influential with the workings of the Radio in letterfrack, his wife and eldest son were present at the planting, some reminiscing from the walkers and end it off some of the girls sang some lovely songs in his memory. If ever any body is walking along that road you will also spot a flat stone with Tomas Name on it, very moving. Eventually we took a boat across the Killary and walked all the beaches and the strands to Killadoon, day 2 we took a bus from Killadoon to Maam, from Maam over to Kylemore Lake over one of the Maam Turk to Letterfrack via the diamond, eventually back in Letterfrack at 7pm, hot and tired but happy to have done it, the Radios target is to reach €10,000 in sponsorship, I have a feeling for the first time it will be reached, so thank you everybody who sponsored me, so far I am up to €435, just have to collect it now, so hopefully I might be able to make my target of €500. Surfice to say, a fantastic walk, and well done to all the organisers at the Community Radio.

Roundstone Ceramics;
While I am thanking people, which never goes amiss, on behalf of the Pastoral Council we would like to thank Seamus and Rose for the beautiful candle holder they made of which they donated it to the church, the candle can now be safely lit on the alter at the pastoral services on Wednesday.

Tidy Towns;
As part of the tidy town’s competition thanks to Frank McDonald and big Tom, we have now placed a very large stone on the side of the road just outside of the village towards Galway, to hopefully have Peter Lydon to put an inscription stating that Roundstone is a Litter Free zone, with the Galway County Council Logo, at the same time we have another stone to be placed down by the harbour with the Nimmo plaque placed on it. Its the Alexander Nimmo Plaque that was given to Roundstone last year as a result of Kathleen Villiers-Tuthill’s book “Alexander Nimmo & The Western District” which we launched last year. Once the plaque has been placed on the stone, it will eventually as I say placed on the triangle by the Harbour.

The Ryan Tubridy Show:
It’s possible you might now about this next Item Next of news Friday 22nd June RTÉ Radio 1’s The Tubridy Show will be broadcast live from Gaynor’s Pub in Leenane, broadcasted live from 9am to 10am and locals are invited to come along to Gaynor’s to join in the fun from 8.30am. The programme will be looking at various aspects of life in Connemara. Ryan will be talking to editor of the Connemara View newspaper and Swedish writer Ann Henning Jocelyn, author of several books. The show will feature an item on fly-fishing: enthusiasts Rory Daly and Peter Mantle are so passionate they’ll convert the nation! And there will be live music with fiddle player, Frankie Gavin.

Roundstone Pony show :
A quick up date as it is now getting closer, I was up at the show grounds yesterday, the improvements that paddy has made to the site are incredible, this you will have to see for your self, entries are coming on well, sheep classes and of course the family dog judging, and talking about dogs, posters are now out for the All Ireland Dog show Sunday 12th August 12 noon, so folks for the application forms get in touch with Paddy 35833, they are now available, my dogs are certainly going to enter, now that will be some stiff competition for the Labrador class and Terrier, but it gets better Paddy was telling me this evening, there will be other events happening on the show grounds through out the summer, not quite confirmed as yet, but watch this space. Good on yer Paddy

Arts Week:
People have been ring me to find out about the Roundstone Arts Week, Not sure if there will be an Arts week this year, however, as from 27th July to the 30th h July I will be having a major exhibition of Water Colors by artist Ben Schonziet, which is a Saturday so with this in mind I am going to try with the help of Ann Conneely to make a long weekend of events of sorts, which hopefully might help us to get the Arts Week back on track for the year 2008, in other words Ann and myself are going to do Arts week our way next year, with the complete turn over of the Arts week website, plus the arts residency will start again next June so we will see how it goes.

Martin Paul O’Donnell:
I always like to end of on a good note, its Martin Paul O’Donnell 18th Birthday, hey happy birthday man, this also comes from all your family, so now you know how found, seriously MP, congratulations, now I can legally have a pint with you, your paying of course. Have a great day, but also belated birthday wishes to Thomas Griffin who celebrated his 33rd birthday in the shamrock last Saturday