Excuse the expression, but the news is of very slim pickings, depression recession, lousy weather, but hey !! we move on, and as luck would have it we had a dry day for a:

Beach Clean Up:
My thanks to the few that turned up to help, Peggy Ward, John and Catherine Mullen, Pat Mullen and Maureen Cadmus, even with the few we were able to clear off 18 bags of rubbish, off the beach then a few days later with the help of Pat Mullen we were able to collect the rest of the bags which were collected and placed within the various gate ways. It is very helpful of the walkers to pick up rubbish, bag it, and leave tidily in allocated spots, equally helpful to have Tommy Sullivan, our community Warden, to arrange collection from the Galway County Council to dispose of all these bags. Thanks for that Tommy

Hares on Gurteen:
While we are on the subject of the beaches, yet again a gang of people attempted to collect up some hares, as did happen last year, but luckily this time owing to the vigilance of a certain person, and I have to add quite brave thing to do, told them in no uncertain words that they were trespassing, they apparently claimed that permission was granted to have access to the grounds, true or untrue, this sort of activity is unacceptable, as it’s a conservation area. However, faces and names were recognized, I have the feeling this collection of hares for coursing will not happen again in our area, so well done to this individual.

Water update:
RDC had a meeting with Liam Gavin, Director of water services, Galway County Council, it was confirmed, that all going well the new supply from Carna / Killkerrin will be up and running by February 2009, it was outlined that they are currently replacing old sections of the water main within the village which are suspected of leakage. The next phase, which will start in November, will be the replacement of the old reservoir on the hill; the new tank will be four times greater than the existing reservoir. There was a lot more to do with the water update at that meeting, but as time is a little short for me to go right through the details of the meeting, Nicky Griffin, who is secretary for RDC has sent around a letter within the community of the update, this update can also be seen on the www.roundstone.ie  website.

Youth Club:
The Youth club in Roundstone has now started again, in fact we are in our third week and this year we are very lucky to have two more male helpers Bernard King and Ray for the Friday nights and also to have Martina Conneely as a leader to back up Geraldine Coyne and myself. We have eighteen youth members, all very enthusiastic with great plans until May 09 to put the club on a good standing, you know, with the upgrading of the lower community Hall, of course makes life much easier for us, as now it has become a safe environment

Tim Robinson:
Congratulations to our own Tim Robinson who had a launch of his new book “Connemara, the Last Pool of Darkness” in the station house theatre, Clifden on Saturday, which was very well received, with Brendan Flynn as the guest speaker, with Tim giving a reading from his second book as part of a trilogy

Talking about Tim Robinson, NUI Galway in conjunction with Folding Landscapes there will be a Documentary about the Artist Derek Jarman, presented by Colin MacCabe, this is a documentary Colin MacCabe produced about Derek Jarman, directed by Isaac Julien and featuring Tilda Swinton, earlier this year. It is a film involving two courageous and innovative artists -one the subject and one the filmmaker - which provides a cinematic journey that, illuminates the work and enduring importance of the late Derek Jarman, In the Lower Community Hall Monday 27th October at 6pm. In fact, if you do a Google search on Derek Jarman, you will find that indeed he was well known as a film maker and writer, I assure you it will be a very interesting Documentary of his life and works.

Paul Hughes and Gerard King:
To end off congratulations to Paul Hughes of the Abbeyglen, and to Gerard King, who is president of the Clifden Chambers of Commerce, the decoration of “Cavaliere” they have in fact been made a Knight in the Order of “Stella Della Solidarieta Italiana” which was conferred with or without the sword on them by the president of the republic of Italy, a nice honour for them both considering their impute and efforts into tourism, and in particular the launch of the Marconi, and for Connemara as a whole over the last few years, suffice to say, as much as I am pleased for your new title, but sorry guys I still out rank you ha! Ha!

Floods:
Heavy rain that fell in our area on Thursday together with the High Tides caused severe flooding in the Ballinafad & Ballinahinch area.  The Ballinahinch at the highest ever recorded, leaving the roads impassable in two places  Ballinafad | church was flooded due to the high floods in the river opposite and the lake.  All traffic to the Roundstone area had to be rerouted via Clifden or Cashel.

The Tidy Town committee:
Already preparing for next years entry, They were pleased with this years results and feel that while everyone has some extra time on their hands now is a good time to begin, a meeting will be announced in the next week or so.

Joan Addley
Gave the CPR course last month here in Roundstone and now will be attending the youth club meeting of Oct 31st  to show the youngsters how CPR and the defibrillator works and to make them aware of how important it is having it here in Roundstone.  She will be giving an adult class on November 9th from 2 to 5pm for those who were unable to attend the last course.  Richard or I can be contacted if you wish to partake.

Nov Sunday 2nd at 2pm.

Fr. McCarthy will have an open air mass in Gurteen graveyard.  Last year was a huge success so it is all set again for this year weather permitting.  This will give everyone time to clean up family graves for the occasion.

Birthday wishes:

To Ellieann Conneely O’Toole who was one year old on Saturday last.  Ellieann is the daughter of Pat and Joanne.

North West Connemara Senior Citizens Respite;
Having been away for a few days with our senior citizens to Ennis for their annual outing as a carer, news will be a little scarce, however as Roundstone members came on the trip, I feel I can just tell you something about this extraordinary trip being the new boy on the block, I was not sure what was going to unfold, I need not have of worried. We were booked in to the West County Hotel in Ennis for three nights, therefore on the cultural side we visited Ennistynan Falls, Lisdoonvana, our guide showed us the site where the Father Ted Series was shot and then on to the Cliffs of Moher, boy that was quite an experience it was so windy we had to go in groups arm in arm from the bus to the centre, it was quite comical, then we visited various holy wells, in the Burren, St Bridgets Well and St Fauchlna Well to collect the holy water, stopped in various shops, one in particular, known as the rock shop famous for the Liscanor Stone. Mean while back at the hotel for the evenings entertainment, with Eddy Keogh and  as it happened John Gerard Welsh’s step brother Michael was married with the reception held in the West County, with a few more guests from Roundstone and Clifden, and no we did not gate crash, we were invited to do some dancing in the evening to some fantastic music, with John Gerard and his daughter Marie on the fiddle, with the groom Michael singing some great songs, our own Mathias Conneely, took part with his accordion, whistle and the spoons, in fact every evening until the small hours, sessions just suddenly happened, not only with Mathias, but also with Joe King who gave some lovely sean nos songs, Tom Hanue, this quite and unassuming man, also took to the Accordion and sang, helped along with wedding party musicians, they by the way stayed with us until the morning of our departure, the hotel management called in an all Ireland fiddle, unfortunately I can not remember his name. You could not pay to experience the quality of music that was played so impromptu, If you think partying is only for the young, you are seriously mistaken. For me it was a truly an amazing experience to be with our senior citizens, not just the music, not just the story telling, but the complete camaraderie, and communication and oh boy such laughter, very defiantly, Connemara left their mark in County Clare. I have to say the music did not stop there, on our way home our tour guide Séagh ó’ Baoíll a highly educated and fluent Irish speaker and also incidentally a fine flute player in his own right announced that we could not leave Clare with out the music from Kilfenora, Ceili band CD followed with Séagh’s Flute, also our extremely funny Bus driver Noel added to the entertainment, by singing songs like “Danny Boy”. So there you are “If music be the food of love, then I say play on. I hope I will have the privilege of being with them again next year, and it has to said well done to Martina Gavin and Geraldine Kelly on their impeccable organisation, its is a huge responsibility to look after 65 senior citizens.
when we got back on the Friday, news had to found of the goings on in Roundstone this week end, we had the all Ireland fishing competition on Dogs Bay, also Ted Sherwood brought down some Rugby players, majority from Northern Ireland, who incidentally played on the show Grounds, a table quiz was held in Mary Kings bar, so you can Imagine Roundstone was humming this week end.
A request to send out birthday wishes to John O’Keefe from all his friends and relations, who’s birthday is on Friday, I did ask what age are we talking about for next Friday, all I got was a hesitant giggle, must be a secret, any way what ever age you are going to be John it comes with best wishes from all.
Coming to the end of the news I have such a bumper crop of cooking apples this year, picked and bagged, just out side my front door at Errisbeg, if any body wants them, please just come and help yourself, other wise I will have to do a Molly Malone with the wheel barrow down the street in Roundstone, in your dreams.
I know that I have mentioned this before, but I have just received a letter that Neil McKay that he dropped in to me just five minutes ago from the Galway Hospice Foundation it was just to thank Roundstone for their support, from which the tidy sum of €211.40 was raised for this worthy cause, so well done Roundstone, and of course well done to Malachy and his staff from the Roundstone Musical Instruments for hosting the event.
Well that all from me for this week, please bare in mind with your prayers that young Stuart Rima from Kylemore will be found safely, who has been missing since the 21st September, and that he will find what he is looking for, so please don’t forget, that if you have any knowledge of his where a bout’s, ring the Garda Station in Clifden 21021, so there you are, thanks for listening, Ann will be back with you for next Monday. Don’t forget it’s the green bags for collection tomorrow.
Recession or no Recession I feel a good glass of good wine (Bordeaux) coming on. Keep smiling.