Local Notes: Prestigious Award for Kenneth McCarthy, Ballinrobe Musical Society.
Kenneth McCarthy of Ballinrobe Musical Society pictured (centre) with the Best Stage Management (Gilbert) award at the 2024 AIMS Awards in the INEC in Killarney. Pictured also are (left) AIMS Vice-President Gerry Sweeney and (right) AIMS President Feargal Kavanagh. Pic: Darragh Carroll Photography
Ballinrobe Musical Society extends heartfelt congratulations to Kenneth McCarthy, who received the award for Best Stage Management in the Gilbert section at the annual AIMS awards at the Gleneagle INEC Arena in Killarney. Kenneth acted as Stage Manager and Chairman for the society for their highly successful staging of The Phantom of The Opera in February 2024.
A native of Clare, Kenneth first joined the society in 2002 and performed in several shows before becoming an integral part of the society's backstage crew in recent years.
‘We are delighted to see Kenneth and his team recognised for their outstanding work on The Phantom of The Opera,’ said a society spokesman.
‘Kenneth has done an incredible amount of work for the society over the years and we are thrilled to see his contribution recognised by AIMS.’ Well done Kenneth and all involved in Ballinrobe Musical Society on their great success at The Association of Irish Musical Societies awards night. The Ballinrobe Musical Society have also announced their production team for the upcoming year: Alan Greaney (director), Shane Farrell (musical director) and Aoife McClafferty (choreographer).
Community First Responders (CFR’s) are volunteers who are trained to attend specific types of emergency calls in a defined area where they live or work. Their aim, whenever possible, is to reach a potentially life-threatening emergency in the first vital minutes, to help stabilize the patient and provide the appropriate care including CPR and defibrillation, until the more highly skilled ambulance crew arrives on scene to take over. Community First Responders working alongside the National Ambulance Service save lives.
Cloonliffen CFR Scheme has been set-up to respond to cardiac, stroke, breathing difficulty and choking related incidents within a 3.5km radius of Cloonliffen, Ballinrobe. This area also incorporates Ballinrobe town and outskirts.
The group is fully voluntary and rely solely on donations, fundraising and grant aid to purchase and maintain equipment and supplies. The group requires defibrillators, first aid kit bags and contents, general supplies, and training equipment, in order to carry on with their work.
All donations would be greatly appreciated to continue this vital community service and will be acknowledged on the group’s social media sites, and local media. The chairperson of Cloonliffen CFR scheme is Sally Westcott.
Those wishing to make a donation, or who wish to volunteer in the Cloonliffen CFR Scheme, are asked to pcontact 087 9967381, visit their Facebook page ‘Cloonliffen Community First Responders’ or alternatively email cloonliffendefibfund@gmail.com.
A knitting group for adult women meet every Friday in the Tacú Centre, Ballinrobe, from 2 to 4pm. Beginners are welcome. This group is a great social outlet, so why not go along and see if it is for you.
The craft-mates group meet in the Tacú Family Resource Centre Ballinrobe, every Wednesday from 10am to 1pm. Why not go along and share your ideas/talent or learn something new. Further details and information are available by contacting 094 9542908 or 087 4111343.
Creative writing classes for adults take place every Wednesday in the Tacú Centre, from 6 to 8pm.
Yoga classes for adults take place in the Tacú Centre, Ballinrobe, every Tuesday evening, from 7 to 10pm. These classes are also suitable for beginners. For further details and information you contact 094 9542908.
Food parcels are available in the Tacú Family Resource Centre and you are asked to contact 087 2859973 to order a parcel.
Food cloud takes place Monday to Friday from 10am to 12.30pm in the Parish Centre. No booking is required for food cloud – just call by and help yourself.
Applications for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance recently opened at Ballinrobe Tacu Family Resource Centre. If you automatically qualify for the payment, you don't need to apply.
The results of a mixed scramble competition held on Thursday week last are as follows: 1st, Adrian Dervan, Cian Touhy, Loraine Gannon and Antoinette O’Connor; 2nd, Billy McGrath, Dave Slattery, Angela Murphy and Agnes O’Connor; 3rd, Iarla Reilly, Ciaran Ferriter, Ann Galvin and Brid De Barra. The competition was kindly sponsored by The Bowers Bar and Restaurant.
There was no winner of the €23,500 lotto jackpot draw which was held in Fitzpatrick’s Bar, on Monday, June 17. The numbers drawn were 4, 6, 16 and 28. The €25 winners were Margaret O’Brien, and Julie Burke.
Congratulations to Aine and Tommy Feeney who were the winners of €355 in the club’s weekly 50/50 draw. The draw took place in O’Hare’s Bar, on Sunday, June 16.
The draw takes place every Sunday and tickets are available for purchase by visiting www.lottoraiser.ie/BallinrobeRFC. Each ticket costs €2 or you can buy three tickets for €5.
Ballinrobe Rugby Club will host a two day Connacht Rugby Summer Camp at The Green, from Monday, July 29, to Tuesday, July 30. The camp is for children aged 6-12 and no rugby experience is necessary. Attendees will be under the guidance of fully accredited Connacht Rugby and IRFU coaches who will teach the kids new skills and drills in a fun and safe environment. The cost per-child to take part is €50. Attendees will receive a Connacht Rugby camp top. For registration or for further details and information, you are asked to visit www.connachtrugby.ie/summercamps.
***************************
Another very enjoyable walk took place last Monday evening, June 17. The walk started at Raheens Wood, back to the Three Bridges down through the villages of Derrycrieve and Corha to join the Newport Rd and return to Raheen Woods. The group were very pleased with the 6.6km route along a lovely quiet country road for the most part and are looking forward to next Monday July 1 . All are welcome so please feel free to join, for even part of the journey.
‘Celebrating Friendships’ is the Islandeady Foróige 50th Anniversary Book detailing the origin of the club and depicting all the changes in the club and country life down through the years. It is full of stories and pictures from the past 50 years which many people can recognise and identify with. The book is still available in local bookshops in Westport and Castlebar and Archers in Islandeady and Corrigans, Ballintubber or you can email foroigeislandeady@gmail.com. The cost of the book is €20 and all proceeds are in aid of the new community facilities centre.
Islandeady Community Council acknowledge and extend thanks to all those who took part in another one of their regular litter-picks. The roads are noticeably quite clean following a litter-pick, and the community council aim to maintain a litter-free status as much as possible. Frequent litter-picks are proving to be quite effective in deterring the amount of litter being dumped. It is beneficial to everyone to ensure their own area is being monitored and kept litter-free as much as possible. Hi-viz vests and some bags are still available from James on 087 6777751.
A 45 minute fitness class with Lisa continue on Thursday evenings in Islandeady Community Centre, with a fat burning workout at 6.15pm and a slow relaxed pilates class at 7.15pm.
Glenisland Cemetery Mass will take place at 7pm on Saturday, August 3, and Islandeady Cemetery Mass will take place at 11am on Sunday, August 4.
Islandeady Community Council will be holding a cake sale in St Aidan’s on Sunday, July 7, immediately after mass. If anybody would like to make/bake some products, contact Breege on 087 288 9264 or Philomena on 087 962 6075. All money raised goes towards the running costs of the current community centre.
Fr. Jim Walsh PP of Kilmeena Parish retires soon. Weekend Masses in Kilmeena and Fahy will now be shared by the priests from Newport, Islandeady and Westport. Mass times in Fahy will be 7pm each Friday and 9.30am every Sunday in Kilmeena. Thanks to the priests for their support providing weekend cover. Fr Jim is wished well in his retirement.
