Local Notes: Kiltimagh drama group looks back on successful year
Clann Machua production of 'Stolen Child' won multiple awards during the year and reached the All-Ireland finals in Mountmellick, Co Laois. Back row: Seamus Corry (director), Adrian Lavan, Fiona Campbell, Tony Kelly. Front: Ethen Henry, Finola Mellett, Rebecca Farrington.
There was a good attendance at the annual general meeting of Clann Machua drama group which was held in the Cill Aodain Court Hotel last week.
Outgoing chairperson Adrian Lavan gave a detailed account of the group’s activities over the past year. He congratulated director Seamus Corry and the cast of the 'Stolen Child' who won many awards and reached the All-Ireland Finals in Mountmellick, Co Laois. He also thanked outgoing secretary Oisin Herraghty for all his work over the past two years.
Outgoing treasurer Rebecca Farrington presented a detailed account of the financial state of the group. It was decided to postpone the Taste of Theatre Night until the new year.
The following officers were elected – Honorary President and PRO, Mick Higgins; Chairperson, Rebecca Farrington; Treasurer, Sean Langan; Joint Secretaries, Michael D Freeley and Vinny Clabby.
The members are now busy rehearsing for their upcoming ‘A Wake in the West’ which will be staged in the Town Hall Theatre on December 2nd, 3rd and 4th. The play is directed by Seán Langan.
Aiden McDonagh and Denis Regan and Michael Carney and Michael Costello were the joint winners of the weekly card game in the Parochial Centre last week. Third place was shared by Patsy Flatley and Hilary Foley and James Walsh and Danny Doherty.
The Last 10 went to Mary and Jimmy Doyle, Alo Langan and Jack Ryan and Chris Flatley and Manus Kilcoyne. Spot prizes went the Carnahan way to Joe Boyle and Tom Conroy while James Walsh, Hilary Foley and Tom Flatley were the winners of the raffle.
Butt Drama Circle, a group based in Ballybofey, County Donegal, won the Open Section of the Kiltimagh One Act Drama Festival with their play ‘A Matter of Rights’ last week.
The runners-up were the Ennis Players with ‘Dragonflies’ and Upstage Players came third with ‘Invisible’. The Confined section was won by Shannonside Drama Group from Clonlara in east Clare with ‘A Matter of Life and Death’. The Wilde River Drama Group from Ballinrobe came second with ‘Aubade,’ and Lucan Drama finished third with ‘Mary Mary’.
The unique trophies for this year’s awards were made by Sylvia's Oil and Glass Paintings from Foxford.
Michael J. Gallagher and Leona Connery were the winners of the weekly bridge game last week with a score of 79 out of a possible 126.
Ray Nally and Mary Colahan came second with 74, and Maeve Duffy and Maureen Carney were third on 73. Kathleen Morley and Sheila McNicholas (70) were fourth, with Thomas McNicholas and Cait McTigue in fifth with 64. Mick Dolan and Patrick Keary (61), Brenda McNicholas and Bernie Byrne (48) and Helen Tarpey and Nancy Shannon (35) completed the scoring.
Bridge is held in the Park Hotel every Tuesday at 7.30pm. The club is open to new members joining at any time. Casual pairs are also welcome. Bridge classes are available for beginners and anybody interested can contact John McCrohan on 087-2422945.
Seán Langan will direct Clann Machua Drama Group’s production of ‘A Wake in The West’ by Michael Joe Ginnelly from Mulranny, on December 3rd, 4th and 5th in the Town Hall Theatre. This is a very popular three-act comedy that celebrates the great Irish tradition of wakes. It is one of the most popular and funniest plays on offer and guarantees a great laugh.
Colm O’Shea was the winner of the Kiltimagh GAA 50/50 jackpot last week. Colm won €503 in the draw which was held in Langan’s.
Kiltimagh Tourism Festivals are holding a Christmas Monster Raffle with huge prizes. First prize in the draw is €1,000. Second prize isn’t bad either – tickets to The Saw Doctors concert in Virgin Media Park, Cork, which will be held on June 14th next year, including a night’s dinner and bed and breakfast in the four-star Clayton Hotel for two people.
Third prize is a pair of tickets to Ireland v England in the Six Nations Rugby at the Aviva Stadium with hotel accommodation for two people in a Dublin city centre hotel. Fourth prize is a publican’s hamper to the value of €400. The fifth prize is a voucher for the Cill Aodain Court Hotel valued at €300. The sixth prize is for two nights' bed and breakfast for two people at the Mill Park Hotel, Donegal. There will be many more prizes to be won.
The raffle will take place in Teach O’Hora on Sunday, December 29th. Tickets are €5 each or three for €10. The organisation does tremendous work throughout the year promoting the town.
Cill Aodáin Choral Society is busy getting ready for its usual Christmas performances. The society will commence its seasonal events by singing at the turning on of the Christmas lights in Kiltimagh on December 8th at 5.30pm. The society is always privileged to be asked to take part at this community event.
The group has been asked once again to perform in the beautiful setting of Museum of Country Life, Turlough, on December 22nd at 2.15pm. This is always a beautiful day and gets everyone in the Christmas spirit. The choral society will also take part in the Carol Service in the Church of the Holy Family with the time and date yet to be confirmed.
There are a number of vacancies on the Rural Social Scheme in the Kiltimagh, Bohola and Midfield areas.
The scheme provides a supplementary income for low-income farmers. To participate in the scheme, you must be 25 years old or over, and in receipt of Farm Assist, or if you are actively farming or fishing, you may qualify for the scheme if you are also getting one of six qualifying social welfare payments.
If you are eligible but do not wish to participate in the RSS, your dependent spouse, civil partner or cohabitant can take the available place. For full details, contact Caroline on 087-2107385.
Former Kiltimagh Knock United player Thomas Morley is on duty with the Ireland men’s Under 19 squad for three Under 19 European Championship qualifiers.
Ireland played hosts Moldova last Wednesday before taking on Azerbaijan on Saturday, and their final qualifier is against Iceland today (Tuesday). Teams finishing in the top two of the group will progress to next spring’s elite round of qualifiers with an opportunity to reach the finals in Romania.
Midfielder Morley currently plays with Sligo Rovers and was also part of the Irish squad for a three-match series last month. There’s great excitement at his home club to see his progression from grassroots to the international stage.
Last week's Kiltimagh Knock United 50/50 lotto jackpot was €348 and the winner was John McNicholas from Bohola. The club expresses thanks to all who support the draw every week.
Congratulations to former 2010 Kiltimagh Knock player Dylan Reddington who received the Players’ Player of the Year award after his first season at Longford Town. Well done Dylan.
Twenty-one players competed in Round 9 of the Winter Poker League in Teach O’Hora on Wednesday night last with Pat Boyle taking top prize, the runner-up was David Lydon and Enda Ruane was third.
The other finalists and their finishing positions were: 4th, Michael Higgins; 5th, Martin Regan; 6th, Thomas MacDonagh; 7th, Gerry Groarke; 8th, Kieran McGee; 9th, Tom Maughan.
Michael Sheridan remains top of the league table on 120 points, followed by Keith Lydon (118) and Enda Ruane (116). The rest of the top 12 is Paul Walsh (106), Martin Regan (97), Pat Boyle (96), Gerry Groarke (92), Derry O’Sullivan (86), Michael Higgins (80), AN Other (76), AN Other (75), Nicky Cunnane (74).
The league continues with tournaments in Teach O’Hora every Wednesday night at 8pm. Entry each night is €20 with an optional re-entry and late registration available for 90 minutes. €5 from every entry goes towards the league final prize pool with the rest paid out on the night.
After 15 weeks, the top 12 players qualify for the grand final to compete for an estimated prize pool of an estimated €2,000 and they will be joined by two more players from the play-off tournament which is open to all non-qualifiers. There will be no game this week, Wednesday, November 20th, and the league resumes as normal on Wednesday night, November 27th.
There was a great turnout for the charity tournament in aid of the Irish Kidney Association which was held in Teach O’Hora on Sunday, November 10th. Thirty-four players and a rebuy frenzy raised over €600 for the charity and generated a prize-pool of €1,295.
The winner was Kieran Tarpey who beat Enda Ruane heads up. In third place was Phillip O’Malley, Dave Brennan was fourth and Martin Monaghan finished fifth.
A big thanks to everyone who supported the event and especially those who sponsored spot prizes, Fintan Gavin (Irish Poker Tour), Hibernian Poker, Jesters Poker, Walsh Timber Flooring, Derry O’Sullivan, Brian McQuillan, Wimsey Memorials, Kilkelly Poker League, Kiltimagh Poker League, Annette Reynolds, Kieran Tarpey, Frankie Forde Waldron, Bart Furtak, Phillip O’Brien Gleeson, Gerry Groarke, Majella Gill and John Reynolds.
Kiltimagh Knock United's Siofra McGuinness was on county duty with the Mayo Under-16s who enjoyed a 3-1 win over Galway in the inter-league. Siofra has enjoyed another great season with the club at Under-17 and Under-16 level.
