Local Notes: Women's Shed, Get into Golf, Scrabble Club
The cast of ‘Separate Beds’ staged recently in Lisacul. Back row: Fr Matthew Gribble (Derek Marren), Madge Wirsall (Geralyn Gallagher), Andy Crawford (Michael McCarthy), Judy Marshall (Molly Hilton), and Alan Rea (Brendan Davis). Front: Clare Marshall (Vanessa Anderson), Arthur Marshall (Tom Coppinger), Ivy (Anna Marie Boyle), and Sarah Rea (Cait Deane). Pic: James Hunt
There was a great buzz in Ballaghaderreen on Sunday for the game between Roscommon and Mayo. Many families, friends and businesses support their team wholeheartedly, and Ballagh still remains a great place to live, work and socialise -as was proven on Sunday with banners and banter galore. The generational ‘divide’ will always be a bone of contention in Ballagh. Despite a headline in a national paper Ballagh is not a ‘Festering Sore’ or anything like it. It is a town of decent, hardworking and entrepreneurial people who disagree on GAA, but join together to live and improve their town. Ballagh is strong and developing, and great craic.
Ballaghaderreen's thriving arts and cultural scene will be celebrated again this August with the 4th annual Ballaghaderreen Arts Festival. It will welcome thousands over the two weeks with international music, painting, sculpture and written word events happening throughout the town and area. The community will welcome all visitors from Dallas to Derry with warmth and smiles as has always been the town's way.
The next women’s shed meeting takes place on Tuesday, April 28th at 11 a.m.. With the kind support of Roscommon Sports Partnership, a pole walking and light exercise session will be held as part of a four-week programme running on consecutive weeks. All are welcome, equipment will be supplied, and the cost is €4 per session. Weather permitting, the group hopes to make use of the outside space. The women’s shed will host its annual day trip on Tuesday, June 9th with this year’s outing titled “The Erris Experience.” The trip is open to all guests and not just members, and promises a full day of fun, music, dancing, laughter and good company. The coach will depart from Ballaghaderreen at 8 a.m. and return at approximately 9 p.m. with pick-up and drop-off in the town. All food and light refreshments are included.
Ballaghaderreen GAA’s 50/50 draw was held on Sunday, April 26th in the Old Forge Inn, Cloontia. Winner of the jackpot of €715 was Ellie O Dowd, c/o Des Lynch, selling agents, GAA clubhouse. Next draw is on Sunday, May 3rd in Durkin’s Bar.
The Ballaghaderreen FC 50/50 Club draw took place on Tuesday, April 21st with a jackpot of €250 won by Bríd Kelly, with the winning ticket sold in Clarke’s Bar. The next draw will be held on Tuesday, April 28th at the Community Park. The club extends sincere thanks to all supporters for their continued backing. Tickets remain available in outlets throughout the town and online at Clubforce.com, with annual tickets also available for €90.
Ballaghaderreen FC produced an impressive all-round performance on Sunday, April 26th securing a 2–0 victory over Dunmore Town in the FAI Women’s Competition. Goals from Rebecca Finan and Tori Duffy sealed a comprehensive win for the home side, who controlled the game from start to finish. The result sees Ballaghaderreen advance confidently to the next round, with a strong team display highlighting their growing momentum.
EmployAbility Service Roscommon provides free and confidential employment and recruitment support for people with a disability, health condition, illness or injury who wish to pursue and maintain work in the open labour market. The service is individualised and funded by the Department of Social Protection. For further information, contact 090 6647117 or email employabilityroscommon@seetec.ie.
Citizens Information will be in attendance at the Community Resource Centre, The Shambles on Wednesday, April 29th from 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.. For further information, contact Roscommon Citizens Information Centre on 0818 07 6360 or the Community Resource Centre on 094 9862565.
Ballaghaderreen Golf Club is running its “Get into Golf” programme for new beginner ladies and complete beginners. No experience or golf clubs are needed. For further information, contact 087 1463625 or ballaghaderreen-golfclub@gmail.com, or follow the club on Facebook.
Chit Chat, Tuesday’s Conversational English with Kelly, runs every Tuesday from 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. in the SICAP Office, The Shambles. For details call 094 9862565 or 0868194698. All are welcome.
The Ballaghaderreen Writers' Group welcomes both experienced and new writers, with new members always encouraged to join. Meetings are held every other Friday at Ballaghaderreen Library, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.. For more details, call 087-1202432.
A scrabble club meets every Thursday at Ballaghaderreen Library from 5 to 7 p.m.—all are welcome.
The Active retirement group meets in the Ozanam Centre from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays. New Members are welcome.
The knitting club meets in The Shambles every Tuesday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.. New members are welcome.
A Creative Arts Café is running every Thursday at The Shambles. Whether you have creative skills or looking to try something new, join in from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. (F45EW98). There will also be monthly, evening sessions on the first Friday of every month (May 1st 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.). CV Workshop will be running all day Thursday. If you'd like help to revamp your CV or are starting from scratch. Call 0868098539 to make an appointment. The groip also like to thank everyone who came along to the community cuppa on Friday. A get-together for the community with some baked goods, a nice cuppa and a chat. The next one will be Friday, May 8th at 11.30 a.m..
The Ballaghaderreen Notes is a space for the community — if you have local news, a story worth sharing, an upcoming event, a fundraiser, a milestone, or anything happening in and around Ballaghaderreen, feel free to send it in so it can be included for others to see. Whether it’s a club update, school achievement, charity drive, “thank you” note, community notice, or a reminder about something coming up, this column is here to reflect what’s going on locally and to help keep people connected. Contact Erik Nielsen at ballaghaderreennotes@gmail.com
A four-week activator poles programme is underway at Loughglynn Community Centre on Thursdays at 7 p.m.. This is open to men and women. Benefits of activator poles include: improved balance and stability; better posture and walking technique; increased upper body engagement; reduced pressure on hips, knees and joints; a great way to stay active and social. All welcome.
