Bridgie Madden:
Last Wednesday, Joe and Maureen Cadmus hosted a farewell party for Bridgie Madden, Bridgie is leaving for Chicago, to be with her sister and her Nieces, and Nephews on a permanent basis, then there was some mighty dancing and singing in Mary Kings Bar afterwards, with Musicians, Marcus Hernon, John Joe Ford, and Michael Conneely, a mighty night all together, come to think of it would be nice to have a get together at least once a month, not just farewell ones. Bridget did ask me to read out a message to everybody, expressing her thanks for the lovely get together last Wednesday, particularly  to Maureen and Joe Cadmus for their great dinner, Maura made some lovely desserts, Ann Conneely for her famous salads, Chris de Courcey for the music in Mary Kings, and Mary King herself for the sandwiches, and the use of the bar and I quote “ I really enjoyed the evening, to have this great get together, it was very much appreciated, and will be back, God bless you all” unquote. Some photos of the get together are now up on the website. So on behalf of the Community and me of course, we wish Bridgie all the best in the world and hope she won’t go completely native

Innishnee Water:
A survey is being done as we speak to sort out the problem with the water, the problem is the lack of it, trying to find out where the leak is, various members of the Innishnee resident’s have been highlighting this dilemma over the last few weeks, and have held meetings with Evan Malloy GCC, however I am now told the leak has been found, Bridie Davis was telling me this morning, that it was a huge leak, which has now been capped, it was found in between Kevin Forests house and Michael Keanes, it has to be said, the GCC have to be praised for their quick and efficient response in locating the problem with good local back up from James Conneely and Sean O’Neill, so there you are residents of Innishnee, no need to send your washing away, let the water flow.

It is now realized as a result of the capping of the leak, GCC deem it necessary to upgrade the water system which in theory will be upgraded in the year 2009, so well done GCC, and to Bridie and colleagues for solving and high lighting this unnecessary problem.
RDC.

It’s been a busy week for various meetings in Roundstone with GCC, Eamon O’Cuiv and the directors of the Roundstone Development Community Council also met last week to discuss the formation of a new committee and of their appointment, it was decided to hold the new committees first meeting on Monday 7th April, to elect a chairman, Secretary etc. so this is all going in the right direction for Roundstone, for the year 2008. Keep up the good work

Man of Arran:
In conjunction with the Galway University, and folding landscapes, the film John J.Flaherty’s  classic documentary “Man of Arran was shown, and afterwards, George Stoney’s documentary on “how the Myth was made” on the making of the film, was most interesting, and all the interviewees were relating stories of Robert J. Flaherty, while the film was being made.
A very good turns out of students from Galway and local people 78 all told was the total of attendee’s and certainly very encouraging for future events.

Mikey King;
Our condolences to the immediate family of Mikey king, of Erlough who died in St Anne’s, Clifden, and was buried in Gurteen yesterday, also our condolences goes out to the family of Pat Gianmaruti who died in the USA, he was in fact a Brother- in- Law to PJ Mc Inerney. May they both rest in peace?
Seals, Maggie & Alexis
The two seals that were found a couple of moths ago, one named “Maggie” found by Nicky and Margaret and “Alexis” found by Pious Delapp are making their return to Dogs Bay on the 9th March at 2.30 pm to be released back into the sea, there will be huge coverage, on radio and television, three Faroige youth clubs are coming down from Galway and members from the Dublin Seal Sanctuary, I would like to encourage as many local people as possible to attend and hopeful the National School children, once they have been released to the wild, back to the community Hall for tea and sandwiches and then there will be a slide show Titled, “Seals and Pollution”. So that is some thing to look forward to, every week we will give an update on the plans of this event as it unfolds

Beach Clean up:
In the light of the release of the two Seals on Dogs bay, and bearing in mind of the amount of people who will attend this release, on the Sunday 9th March, I am asking for as many as possible to come down to dogs bay to clean up the area, there are bags already bagged and ready to be moved to the Dogs Bay car park are fifty six bags already to be trans ported to the park , so Saturday 8th March 2pm as many volunteers as possible for a clean sweep. Gloves and bags will be supplied, but man power is needed, we also need a few trailers. I will make contact with Cahill Mullen for his quad bike and trailer to do the transport from the beach to the car park. So that will be the Saturday 8th March 2pm, I am counting on a lot of help, please not just the usual few, particulary as we come up to St Patrick’s week end and of course the Easter week to have our beaches looking well.

Just a word of warning, unfortunately, the Chef in O’Dowd’s left his door open for a bit last night, he lives in one of the apartments at the back of O’Dowd’s, some one came in and took two mobile phones, and nothing else, not even the camera that was on the table, so people beware of your homes and lock your doors, even if you go out just for a moment, you never know who is around the corner.

Brendan & Emma Devane
I got this evening a lovely E. mail from Barbara Nee, who is a sister of Paddy shoulders, relating to Brendan and Emma from Erlough, they both went out to New York for Valentine’s weekend. They meet up with Barbara, Pat & Oisin Nee. They have a house upstate New York a place called Greenville. Now get this they both went skiing to Windham on the Sunday. Barbara sent me some photos of Brendan and Emma who were practicing for the upcoming Olympics.  Barbara said they had a fantastic weekend with this lovely couple.
I have to say Brendan, a fisherman, yes but not a skier, there you are folks it takes all sorts to make a world, I have known this couple for years, good on yer Brendan and Emma, I see you in a different light, hope you had some après ski. For sure the photos will go on the website.
And to end off on a nice note, congrats to Marion McDonald and Bartley Malloy on the Christening of their little daughter, yesterday “Bridget”, second grand daughter for Frank and Margaret McDonald, well Marion’s second child, not Franks and Margaret’s 2nd Grandchild.

A good majority of you knew that I was off to Africa, Kenya to be precise for three weeks, but because of all the turmoil politically, and what turned out, tribal uprisings we had to think was it worth the risk, at the last minute we got a telephone the day before flying out to Nairobi, that our flight had been changed to a later one on the same day, and upon landing we were to be air lifted straight away to the Mara, which is in some ways exciting, anyway at the end of the day the foreign Office did not recommend this idea, so back to Sunny Roundstone.. Even though we would have been safe in the Mara, with a holiday of a life time like this we do not need to keep looking over our shoulder, perhaps next year I hope. We did get our flight and safari camps monies back, in other words a complete refund.

Roundstone Marina:
You may have read the article in the Connacht Tribune re the potential Roundstone Marina, which could be bad timing, yes we have applied again for an extension of planning permission, yes we are waiting for the monies from the state, however our project profile has now been handed over to Minister Eamon O’Cuivs department, the Roundstone directors of the Marina project have already met with the minister, with more meetings to come, but for the moment, the out come of that meeting with the minister was a very positive one, we really do feel at last with Eamon, there could be light at the end of the tunnel, I know I am not telling you much of its progress, that is because, there is nothing to tell you at this time, suffice to say the guarantors, and the investors have been kept up to date with this very frustrating project, every time we cross a hurdle from the powers that be, we keep being knocked down. You know, we long for the day that we can tell the Roundstone’s community that the Roundstone Marina will become a reality to bring another strength to a small village like ours for the future generation

That article who ever submitted it is not helping us at all, Roundstone stroke Connemara needs a project like this to keep us alive, and we will continue to fight for it.

Two Pub Town:
The other article by the same author re the village was the “Two Pub Town”, I appreciate that we had a few more in the olden days, hey what can I say its that’s the sign of the times for you, as we all know during the winter months only a few remain open, but on the other hand we are very lucky to have our shops open through the winter as well as the few pubs. As we come into the spring and summer, in fact in a few weeks time the village comes alive again, with four pubs and two hotel Bars. What I am getting at, this sort of negative publicity does not do any village any good, quite what one can do about it I am not quite sure, perhaps a letter to the editor of the Connacht tribune, asking him to speak to the author of these negative and not strictly correct stories, to be sure on their facts. What does anybody else? Think?

I or the Connemara community Radio, would love to hear from you, its not just Roundstone, it effects us all with these stupid writings without doing some sort of research.

Roundstone Musical Instruments:
Just a reminder, Malachy Kierans, at the Roundstone Musical instruments, is having a Valentines senior citizens party from 12.30 to 5pm on Thursday 14th February, needless to say those that are not, like my self a senior citizen, yet, are welcome to drop in for a jar and chat to our seniors, thank goodness I am back in Roundstone, thinking about it I wonder if St Valentines is celebrated in Kenya, I am not sure that I would like to be perused by a six foot female friendly Massi warrior with a spear, “in my dreams” God bless Roundstone. Malachy always throws a good gathering with Patrick and his staff. At the same time Nicky griffin, O’dowds is also having a valentines scenario, the Thursday to the Sunday, he is having a special menu for €30 euros, four course dinner, so just give him a call as reservations are coming in, advertising from us broadcasters is not really allowed, but here is an example as well as Malachy, and so many others to keep our village alive.

Man of Arran:
Just a reminder that on the 22nd February in the lower community Hall George Stoney will be introducing the screening of his film, how the myth was made, about the classic documentary “Man of Arran” this starts at 7pm, I would really encourage you to attend, through folding landscapes and the Galway university, between them Roundstone could become another arrow in its bow, to place it on the map for winter events, and oh by the way its all for free.

Felix Maganini;
Lastly, I thought I would just put this out, I got a telephone call from France this morning from a Janet Maganini, which does not quite relate to Roundstone more so to Letterfrack and Moyard, her husband Felix Maganini died yesterday after five years fighting Cancer, as Felix spent a lot of time in the area buying fish, mussels etc from the local fishermen, he made quite a lot of friends who were still in contact him, Janet asked me to put the word out so to speak, of his passing, Felix was what I call a loveable rouge, but he was a very kind man, and always gave a helping hand to those who needed it. May he rest in peace?

And to end off on a very nice note, Tom and Mary O’Donnell have reached their 52 wedding anniversary last Saturday, ie the 8th February, wow that is really quite some thing, Tom and Mary who always salute me on the road, and I mean it, when I say congratulations to you both, naturally your kids and grand children have the same regards as I do. There you are folks it can be done, god bless the both of them.

Well that’s all from me for the moment, slightly mixed bag of news, but good things are going to come in Roundstone that will enhance all our lives, don’t forget it’s the green bags for collection tomorrow, spring is in the air, keep smiling. And very happy St Valentines days, to one and all, see you at Malachys on Thursday.
Richard Duc de Stacpoole,
Errisbeg House
Roundstone
Galway.
(T) 353 95 35834
(M) 0868215153
destacpoole@eircom.net
www.roundstone.ie