It’s good to be alive with weather like this, therefore I have to say It’s been a fun week in Roundstone, kicking off with the

Table Quiz:
That was held in Eldon’s and arranged by Ann Conneely and daughter Orla in support of Aileen Mann and her solo Sail around Ireland in the late Joe Conneely’s boat the Silver Dipper, Aileen’s challenge is to raise some funds for the 3 Ts, Turning the tide on Suicide, and Canteen Ireland. The winning table was The “Connor Vaughan appreciation society” led by Thomas King, a mini suit case of wine was the prize, which was sponsored by Eldon’s, I must say these table quiz’s are great fun, anyway with a raffle €320 was raised, Frank Mc Donnell won the week-end away sponsored by Yhatt Hotel, Westport and Mrs Conneely, from Errislannon got the lovely jewellery set which was donated by Shelia Mc Gee. I am sure Ann and Orla would like me to thank all those that took part, and to those that donated the very generous prizes.

First Holy Communion:
Congratulations to Liam Mahon, Mary Coyne Cian Conneely, Imogen Laffey, and Ray and Sue’s son Peter, they made their first holy communion yesterday, it was a lovely ceremony with Father McCarthy, the kids did their role with great dignity, I must say it says a lot for the parents and the teachers. I have some lovely photos, which speak for themselves, and will have them on the Roundstone website in a day or two. So congratulations to all those concerned.

Tidy Towns:
Our application form for the tidy towns competition has now gone in, one thing for sure we should earn a few more points this year, the entrance to the village and leaving the village really looks well, thanks to the FAS Gang with all the Strimming, the new waste bin shed is nearly finished, hedges have been clipped and Micky Nee’s wall with the help from Pious is nearly completed, things like this makes all the difference to the outlook of the village, but there are still things that can be done, such as more hanging baskets, which I might add a few more were put up today and a lick of paint here and there, good stuff everybody keep improving we really can not afford to sit on our laurels, because the Judicator does his rounds in June.

Arts Week:
The programme for the Arts Week is now completed and is going to print in a few days time, we are using the week to raise funds for two Defibrillator’s for the village, for example all the exhibitions of paintings will give 25% of sales towards this project, and the Car riddle Hunt on Saturday 28th June, with all the proceeds to the Defibrillators, so this a good start, to fund raise, in fact some funds have come in already, also the Order of Malta, Ambulance corps have arranged to deliver the defibrillators in the second week of August, so the pressure is on to have the money to pay for them on the day,
Then the ambulance corps will give some volunteers training in the use of them once the Defibrillators are in place. If there is anybody in Roundstone that would be a volunteer, to carry the key and be shown how to use them, please would you let me know, we need at least six people. Point of interest here, these machine actually talk to you when, god forbid, the need arises.

Graduation 16th May:
Congratulations to Megan Walsh, Martin Paul O’Donnell, Susan Linnane, and David McDonagh, who have now graduated on the 16th, unfortunately, I missed the ceremony, but talking to Geraldine Coyne this morning, it sounded a great event, Geraldine also gave me some photos, which will be on the Roundstone site in a day or two. All we have to do now is to wish them and Lisa Coyne the very best of luck on the last leg of their school days with the leaving Cert.

60th Birthday:
Ann and I are celebrating our 60th next week, with a humble party in Eldon’s food and Wine, music etc, as we are not sending out any written invitations, only verbal, I know I speak for Ann we would love to see you and have a jar with us, it’s a shock enough having reached over half a century, therefore no reminders with cards or presents, we would much prefer donations as part of our fund raising to have the defibrillators placed in the village, trust me this would be a wonderful birthday present for both of us. A donations box will be placed in the hotel in Reception.

Roundstone Water update:
The Roundstone Development Council are meeting Galway County Council for their monthly meeting up date re the water progress next Thursday 4th June, so between Ann and I, we will get it out there as soon the news bulletin becomes available.
The Green Coast Beach Award:
I mentioned some weeks back, about the Dogs Bay Green Coast Beach Award, well relating to Dogs bay, I got a telephone call from a friend of mine, who read in the Daily Telegraph, travel section on the 24th May and I quote “Around the world in 80 Beaches, in Ireland Dogs Bay was top of the list, with the caption, “ On the Western Shores of Europe, this mile long stretch of silver white sand is imbedded with the wilderness of Connemara, set below a grassy headland of Marron and the turquoise waters of the gulf stream, and is a good site for the Dolphins” un quote. Gosh, it makes one think that Dogs Bay is now becoming a huge responsibility to keep it clean; hopefully we might be able to clear the stacked rubbish away before the June bank holiday.

Festus Nee:
Our condolence to the family and relations of Festus Nee, who was buried today in Ballinafad, Festus was really quite a character, and was always seen walking the highways and the byways, so to speak. Nice man, May he rest in peace.

Knock pilgrimage:
In theory, Friday the 20th June, in conjunction with Forum, with the Ballyconneely senior Citizens, and Roundstone Senior Citizens, we are trying to arrange for a bus to go to Knock , again in theory, first stop will be some coffee in Peacocks, then dinner on the way back, again in Peacocks, we already have a small group from Ballyconneely, who wish to go but if any body wants to go from Roundstone, let me know, or Catherine Burke, details and cost of the said trip will be given, I think by next Friday.

Defribulator:
Having just got back from Lourdes, working with the Order of Malta, and St Johns ambulance, I brought up the subject of a Defribulator for Roundstone, and possibly for other area’s, they were very helpful, each machine through the ambulance corps and the Order of Malta, will in fact cost €2,500 each, with a minimum of five volunteers, training will be provided by St Johns ambulance. So in theory we could have them in place within the next few months, providing we raise the money, which should not be too difficult providing we all pull together.
Water update:
The monthly meeting with RDC and the Galway County Council is coming up again in few days, but meanwhile, tons of new filtration sand for the reservoir up behind the cottages has been delivered, to replace the old lot, in fact that whole system is being up graded as we speak, it seems thing are really moving to get this water project on track.
Tidy Towns:
The tidy towns committee as part of RDC are meeting in the Community Hall tomorrow at 8.pm, to implement a plan of campaign to tidy up the village before the judicator comes around in June. Everybody is welcome to attend and is in fact encouraged to attend this meeting for your help, and to create a working body, last year if I remember rightly, we were third in our category, we should get a little higher, as already some good work has been carried out, but there is still more to do, and your ideas would be helpful.
Warning:
A few concerned members of the Community rang me today, to put out on air a word of warning, that apparently telephone calls are being made to people mentioning them by name, and with the name of their bank, cunningly asking relevant details with their bank accounts, these phone calls were made on a private phone, so therefore the callers number can not be traced, what I am getting at is, particulie to our senior citizens, be quite polite and tell them nothing.
The silver Dipper;
You may remember some weeks back Orla & Joseph Conneely sailed out of Roundstone on her late Fathers boat the Silver Dipper to Kinsale, her other colleague Aileen Mann, has just sailed out of Kinsale last Sunday on her own for a solo voyage on the same boat around Ireland, Aileen is on a fund raiser for teenage suicides and cancer, its hoped that she will be in Roundstone next Thursday, with this in mind Eldon’s is having a table quiz next Friday to raise funds for Aileen’s Project. What courage’s thing to accomplish, so we must make an effort to support this worth while effort. Well done Aileen, see you Thursday
I love it another phone call came through from another concerned citizen, apparently for quite some time now, a very splendid cockerel between the hours of six am and 9am crows its heart out, it does not belong to her, she feels its lost, and is worried that it might get killed, so has asked me to say, has anybody lost this supposedly splendid Cockeral, if somebody has, (not quite sure how it will be caught) just make contact with me
Arts Week further Draft update:
Draft Programme for the Roundstone Arts Week 2008
27th June to the 6th July
Theme: The Sea, Youth and the Environment
27th June 6pm
Opening of the Arts Week with an Exhibition of Paintings from the two week Residency at Errisbeg House, Stable Gallery. Wine Reception.
Artists: Eric Clarke, Philip Morrison, Elain Callan, Catherine Davidson, Susan McKeever
9.00pm: Play “Boat to Liverpool” Community Hall
8.30 pm Placing of Boxes Friday night for the collection of Moths at Errisbeg House in preparation for the showing of live moths 28th June 11.30pm

Saturday 28th June:

10 pm Walk / Car treasure Hunt with Dave Hogan, Rendezvous Roundstone House Hotel.
11.30 am: Talk and the showing of live moths with Carol Reynolds, Errisbeg House
12.30 pm Children’s Corner Fishing Nets different kinds of catch rendezvous Ervallagh harbour, Barbeque on the beach, weather permitting. Bring your own Nets
2.30 pm Reading with Des Lally from the Ballinahinch Castle, Lower Community Hall
4.30 pm Music Outdoors
6.pm Play “The boat to Liverpool”
9.00 pm: History evening of Galway / Connemara Native Boats, Anglers Return, with traditional music with Mary Staunton, & Fiachra O’Regan
10pm Traditional Music in the village
Sunday 29th June
10 am Walk Fishing Competition,
12.30 pm: Music outdoors: Some like it hot, Eldon’s Hotel
2.30 / 5.30 Children’s Disco with D.J. Mike O’Malley, Face Painting on the Tennis courts, weather permitting.
4.30 Out door Music;
6 pm Weigh in of Fish at the Old Quay
6.30 pm opening of new Exhibition of watercolour painting’s of “Connemara” by Yvonne King, Kings Gallery, with wine reception, main street, Roundstone. The exhibition will continue until the 6th July of which 25% of sales will go towards a Defribulator for Roundstone
9pm moths and Bat walk Errisbeg House
10 pm Traditional Music
Monday 30th to Friday 4th Work Shops 10am / 12pm / 2pm 4pm
Painting & drawing work shop with Bridget Cox of the Ballinakill Artist School at Errisbeg House, to explore the theme of the Sea and the Environment. For all levels, Children welcome €5.00 per hour, full day €20 and the whole course €80.
Creative writing with Penny Perrick
Hair and make up with Rosie Mannion and Beautician Emma Reynolds
Costume making with Lorraine Mannion
Wednesday 2nd July 8.30 pm Opening of the Irish Nights,
Community Hall, Hosted with Christina Lowry
Friday 4th July

Work Shop with children from 4 yrs to 12 yrs with adults from the Seal Sanctuary, Dublin 6.30 pm, Community Hall
Saturday 5th July
10 am: Sharp: Archaeological Field Trip with Michael Gibbons exploring 5,000 years of Connemara History. Innishnee, Coffee break at the Zetland, then on to High Cashel. €20 a head. Please book in advance 095 35834
12.30 pm Sandcastle competition Dogs Bay, with a story of their creation. Weather Permitting
3.30 pm: Children’s Treasure Hunt, rendezvous by the Flag Poles, opposite the Roundstone Hotel
4.30 pm Music Outdoors
6.30 pm. Slide show and talk on Seals
9 pm The biography “La Sheridan; Adorable Diva” written by Anne Chambers on Irelands most Famous Prima Donna, Margaret Burke Sheridan (1889 – 1958) Errisbeg house, with a reception and light food.
10pm: Traditional Music
Sunday July 6th:

12.45 pm : Showing of “Na Sioga augus an greasaí” “The elves and the shoe maker” a family orientated show. Community Hall
2.30 pm Flower arranging with Richard Haslam, Errisbeg House
2.30 pm Clay Pigeon Shoot, up on the Show Grounds. Down the line and cock and Hen, and left and right
4.30 pm Music in the streets,
6.30 pm display of work shop efforts and Prize giving, Eldon’s Hotel
7.30 Reading. With Mary Banotti “There is something about Mary”
9.pm whisky and wine tasting with Seamus Lowry and Terrance Miley
10pm Traditional Music, Eldon’s Hotel

Josephine Roach:
Josephine was 35 years as a teacher, there were even some of her past pupils who are now married with children of their own, and their kids were being taught by her.
The retirement party for Josephine Roach organised by the parents association, along with Nicola which was held in the national school in Roundstone was a very special occasion, starting off with Mass in the classroom with father McCarthy, with the kids doing all the readings, and the songs, you now, listening to the kids was quite a moving moment, I suppose its just their innocence in expressing their faith.
Presentations were made to her by the kids, the one that stuck out in my mind was when Sara Devane and Luke Connolly presented her with a book, but before giving it to her, they both in turn read from it, when I grow up I want to rich, famous etc, this went on for about 3mins each reading something, at the end, they both said together, “ No I don’t want to grow up, and thank you Josephine for the fun, and not letting us grow up to quickly” which if you think about it’s a lovely tribute to the now retired teacher.
Josephine her self gave a little speech, about her early days as a teacher bringing her life to the present day, and at the same time having a bit of a banter with the kids, who very obviously were genuinely very fond of her
The party did not stop there, Johnny M. Lowry, Noreen Sullivan, John Gerard Welsh, and unfortunately I didn’t know who the violin player was, they all played some lovely music, with the kids themselves giving a rendition of their flute skills, after that some of the Adults then got on to the floor for some traditional dancing. Then it was great to Brian Cunningham from Cashel, with his superb dancing
Lunch was then provided for every body courtesy of Siobhan Vaughan, and out came the retirement cake
So all in all the whole party was a great mixture of events.
So there you are we wish you well Josephine, and of course the best of luck to Nicola Spokes, now in her forth year, and of course to Ashling Ryan the other teacher. I do have some photos which I will put on to the website in the next day or two.

Roundstone Water Press release:
Roundstone Development Council Update on
Roundstone Water
25 April 2008
Members of the Roundstone Development Council Water Committee met with senior officials from Galway County Council last Tuesday, 22nd April, to discuss the ongoing Water Situation. The officials gave us a run down on work done to date along with a summary of what will be happening over the coming months.
In short, Galway County Council has applied for €3.25 million from the department of the Environment to pay for the extension of the Carna / Kilkerian Scheme as far as Roundstone and the provision of a new reservoir on Errisbeg Hill. The time frame for completion of this work is February 2009. Since then we have heard that funding has been granted for the scheme
In the past two weeks some surveying of the area has been carried out by consultants working on behalf of the council. They are working on determining the best route for the new water main to the Reservoir. Roundstone Development Council have recommended following Farrell’s Road up from its junction at the R341 rather than taking a route through the village, thus keeping disruption to the village to a minimum.
In the meantime work will be carried out on the existing Roundstone scheme to bring it up to drinking water quality by July of this year. However, there is no guarantee that this will be the case as ultimately it will be the results of the HSE testing that will decide this. The County council will also be replacing some sections of the old water mains around the village so some disruption will occur over the coming weeks.

We will be meeting the Council’s Water Services division again towards the end of May after which time we will be in a position to update you further on developments on the Roundstone Water Situation.
Roundstone Development Council will meet on the first Monday of each month. Our Water Committee will meet Galway County Council Water Services Section during the 3rd week of every month to review progress to date on our water supply. If anyone has any questions they would like us to ask at either meeting please put it in writing and send it to:
The Secretary, Roundstone Development Council, Roundstone, Co. Galway and we will issue you with a written reply when we know the answer.
Roundstone Development Council
Chairperson: Michael Reynolds, Secretary: Nicholas Griffin,
Treasurer: Martin J. Conneely, P.R.O: Diarmuid Vaughan
Members:
Oliver Coyne, Bridie Davis, Michael King, Michael J Ferron,
Michael P Conneely, Simon Ashe, Thomas King, Feichin Welsh, Joe Creane,
Pat Conneely, Joe Mongan, Paddy (Yank) McDonagh.
Muireann de Barra, Documentary Director:
Muireann is an independent documentary maker, based in Dublin with a strong connection with the Roundstone. She is the daughter of Paddy Barry (Northabout fame). Her great passion is for water. Muireann has been following the water crisis at a global level for several years now, with a particular focus and interest in the struggles arising in Latin America demanding public control over water services. This has lead me to Bolivia on a few visits and I am currently making a film about the water situation there, where the water was privatized ten years ago but has since been returned to public control.

Her interest in water issues in general is very much rooted in the social and cultural right to a fair, clean and equitable water service. It’s of course hard to avoid the politics and this is very true of the situation as it unfolds in Ireland today. She is deeply concerned about the state of the public water service in the country and is keen to record what is happening now and to see how people are dealing with water crises at a local level and to see what can be learned from the experience, as you say. She is aware that there have been problems with the water there locally for some time -and there’s no doubt there are will be many more communities who will face similar experiences. What Muireann can do is record the testimonies and experiences of people in the community in the hope that a film will raise awareness of the issue, which may in turn affect change at a higher level. At this stage, she can’t say what the final outcome of the film will be. Hopefully, that a project like this might receive funding in the future but at the very least, she would aim to make a documentary that can be distributed independently through festivals and local communities. So all this week end we went around the area talking to various local people and filmed them for this forth coming documentary, so hopefully Muireann will do something with it.