Well, I must say we have had quite a busy week, and Roundstone is still ticking over with visitors, what with weddings and birthday parties etc.
Any way the first bit of news for the week was the results of the, Tidy Towns Competition:
Which came out on Thursday of which I don’t have the time to go right through it, however in our category we came fifth out of fifteen with a score of 233, out of 400, not brilliant but we are getting there, there were a lot of constructive comments as well as compliments, for Whit’s End B/B, Roundstone House Hotel, Eldon’s, Yvonne Kings Gallery, Dalky Design, Shelia Magee’s and O’Dowd’s.
So during the winter we will have to do a bit of work to gain more brownie points for next year. The results are in fact on the Roundstone.ie website as well as posted around the village; any comments would be very helpful to keep the momentum up
Birthday wishes:
As mentioned last week, more birthday’s best wishes to Collette King who reached her 21st birthday last Wednesday, as did her godmother Mary McDonagh, also to Josephine McDonagh from the Seagrove, letterdyphe I feel sure some good celebrations were held. So congratulations and Happy Birthday to one and all
Condolances:
Our condolences to Margaret Conneelly on the loss of her mother, Mrs Cavanan who died last Wednesday.
On behalf of the community and my self of course we would like to express our sympathies to all the immediate family. May she rest in peace?

John Moriarty Memorial Mass:
I got an e-mail from Brendan Kennelly from the Galway University re John Moriarty
John the writer, philosopher and broadcaster, John Moriarty, who died on June 1st this year, had a strong association with NUI Galway. He was a frequent visitor to the University where his talks in the University Chapel were greatly appreciated by members of staff, by students, and by the general public. In June 2006 the University was delighted to honour John’s brilliant work by conferring him with an honorary doctorate in literature. By that time many people were aware that John was suffering from cancer and the University was delighted that he was well enough to accept that prestigious award in person. John’s association with Galway goes back to the 1970’s when he lived near Roundstone for many years.
John left an enormous legacy of writing and talks that will continue to inspire and enthral readers and listeners for many years. Many people who were lucky enough to hear John at one or other of his talks in the University Chapel would agree with the broadcaster Andy O’Mahony who described John as one of the most remarkable men that he had ever met in his entire life. It wasn’t simply that John was a great thinker, writer and communicator. He was also the most humane and compassionate person one could ever hope to meet. To mark John’s death and to celebrate his life there will be a memorial mass in the University Chapel at 5.15 p.m. on September 27th. Everybody is welcome to attend the mass which will include reflections on John’s life and work from some of his friends in Galway.
Galway Hospice Day;
Thursday was the coffee mornings for the Galway Hospice, Roundstone Musical Instruments raised €250, O’Dowd’s and their cafe raised €200 , not bad coming from Roundstone for the Galway Hospice day.

Cian Conneelly:
Even though I mentioned that it was Cian Conneely’s 8th birthday last Wednesday, his mother Martina had arranged to have his birthday party up here at my place last Saturday, with a bouncing castle and B/Q in the garden with twenty four of Cian’s friends making as much noise as possible, I was introduced to a new brilliant type of game for the Kids Called “Pinata” one learns some thing every day, in case you don’t know the doll “Pinata” suspended on a branch of a tree filled with all sorts of sweets inside the doll , the child is blind folded, twisted around close to the doll, then given a stick in his hand, and is given three chances to whack the doll to release all its sweets, mighty fun, however frustration was beginning to set in with the troops, after about an hour it was decided that Martina and my self would tear up the shattered looking doll to release its goodies, trust me big mistake, with the kids around you, so as the sweets were dripping out we were trampled from all corners, I was flattened to the ground, so undignified, but great fun.
Happy Birthday Cian.
Community Games:
Thanks to Johnny Sheean, who sponsored the Community games yesterday, it worked very well, yet again we were lucky with the weather, only just though. The games consisted of various types of races for adults and Children by the play ground, with a tug of War, and the tossing of the weight, every body was a winner mean while on the Tennis courts, Chef Maurice Ryan was flat out cooking hamburgers, DJ Mike was teaching the troops to disco, the bouncing castle was in full swing, the benches were full of local people just chatting, the atmosphere was great, but come five o’clock the heavens opened, another community games over for another year. There are in fact some photos on the Roundstone Website under “Photo Events” of the games.
My thanks to Michael Keane for his truck and general collection of benches and Tables etc in fact to all those that helped in the organisation of the day in one way or another
Rosie McGurran:
I have just heard that Rosie McGurran has just won a very prestigious award for her figurative work in Belfast today.
I was hoping to get a few more details of this award before the broadcast, suffice to say we do congratulate her, perhaps by next Monday with Ann, we will have a little more details.
Noel Linnane and Jeannie: Sheena Conneely & Paraic Connolly
To end off on a good note, Noel Linnane and Jeannie are getting married on Friday in the Ballinafad Church and then on to Barna for their wedding reception, and also to Sheena Conneely & Paraic Connolly who are getting married on the Saturday with their reception at the Zetland Hotel, just to wish them all the luck in the world and for the future, and have no fears re the weather we have high connections in Roundstone for your day.
Good luck Guys and many congratulations.

Firstly I must apologise for the no news last Monday, I was just up to my ears with the arrangements for my daughters Serena’s 21st here at Errisbeg on that day with all her university colleagues from England, then the Saturday before, there was Patrick McDonaghs 21st Birthday Party held at his Gran mothers home, the Seagrove with a marquee, spectacularly positioned looking over the bay, wonderful lighting, the atmosphere was so alive, every body has to be congratulated for the work that went into the occasion for Patricks 21st. Its a strange feeling having being part of their lives for some time in the youth club, now all grown up, but its a nice to now I have young friends for life, come to think of it there are a few more from Roundstone who will be 21, before the year is out. Oh party on.

Ballinakill Active age Group:
Came to Errisbeg amongst all the work that is being carried out on the roof for a tour of the house and a cup of tea, 25 all in all last Thursday. Its nice to be able to give a little talk on the family and the house, plus the story of having to get the bees out of the roof, the bats unfortunately have gone, but I am told that once the roof is finished they could come back, so Sean has not insulated, or blocked up the entrance that section of the roof, in the hopes they will return, there was such an interest from our senior citizens we must do this more often perhaps with other senior groups around the area of Connemara.

Table Quiz:
We had the Table Quiz in Mary kings bar to raise funds for the forth coming community Games on the 23rd September. We have to thank all those Business who gave very generously towards the Raffle, and indeed to all those that gave a helping hand on the night. €406 was raised, which will enable us to have a B/Q, Bouncing Castle, kids races and a disco with Michael O’Malley, on the 23rd, by the way it starts at 2pm until 6pm to finally end off the season.

Champion of Champions show:
Which was held yesterday was yet again a great success with around a hundred and ten entrants all in all. I could not believe the luck we had with the weather, after a very wet start, 10.30 am the rain stopped, with sunshine right through the day. Galway Bay Fm came to Roundstone and parked outside Eldon’s for an outside broadcast, with Tom Geraghty who interviewed Paddy the Yank and Ann Jocelyn and I am sure a few more people in the village. Paddy made a special presentation to Ruth Rodgers, (journalist for the Irish Field) for her contribution to the show over the years, and to Bartley O’Malley & Tom O’Malley for 50 years recognition with Connemara pony stallions and Mares, also Paddy made a presentation to Tom Geraghty from Galway Bay FM for his support, and what made it nice Tom spoke a few words live in the show ring to the crowd.

The Junior Champion was a two year old filly “Beech Honey” owned by Pat & Mary Rabbit, Castletowngeoghan, Westmeath,

The Reserve champion was a two year old colt “Hazel brook Buachaill” owned by Kieran Mc Grath, Cahernashilleeny, Clare Galway.

The Foal Champion: was Filly Foal Vinura Leona owned by Rodger & Laura Brady, Cloonboy, Claremorris, Co Mayo

Reserve Champion: was Colt Foal owned by Patrick Conneely, Doohulla, Ballyconneely, Co Galway

The all Ireland Supreme Champion was “Gleann Rua Sea Mist” owned by Seamus Keady, Shannagurran, Spiddle, Galway

The all Ireland Reserve Champion was “Grange Ruby Surf” owned by last year’s supreme champion Padraic & Nicola Heanue, Ballinaboy, Clifden, Co Galway. The full list of all winners will be up on the Roundstone Pony show website and on the Roundstone.ie news section in a day or two. There was also a black face ram Championship, winners with a first and a second was Paddy Connolly, a second for Ted Sherwood. And as I am not sure of the results for the Championship, I think it was Damien Connolly who got the reserve Champion, I do have a photograph of the overall champion, but I can not identify him, and there was a young lad who got reserve, I must say it is always nice to see young people taking part in these showing classes.

The day ended with all the winners being paraded through the village, what a sight that was. And last but not least a few jars in the shamrock with Seamus Keady’s winning cup filled to the brim with a quite powerful beverage with a public toast to Paddy. A fantastic day, the craic in the evening was mighty with a slight sore head this morning, I have to add, but well worth it.

Well done Paddy

Keane Conneely:
A special birthday wish to Keane Conneely who will reach his eighth birthday on Wednesday.

Congratulations to Bridie and Martin J. Conneely from Ervallagh on their wedding anniversary which was yesterday

Also a message from Regina King to her mother Nora, its just to wish her a happy birthday which was yesterday, Regina is in Alaska at the moment and is making her way back to the Caribbean, Regina works on a Cruise Liner by the way, so happy birthday Nora from your daughter.

One quick note for your diary, this coming Thursday, a hospice coffee morning will be held down at Malachy Bodhrans shop in the IDA centre, kicking off at 10.30 am right through the day, and also at the internet Cafe by O’Dowd’s kicking off at 10am to 12noon.

Your support would be appreciated.

Tidy Towns

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