Patrick Gormley

patrick7gormley@hotmail.com

Motor Neurone

Susan Tinney would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support in the Easter Egg Draw in aid of the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association. A grand total of 800 euro was raised from the draw for this worthy charity.  our support is greatly appreciated. Thank you all.

Guitar lessons

Guitar Lessons for beginners start in mid-May in the St Johnston and Carrigans Family Resource Centre. For further enquiries and to register, please contact reception at 074 91 48551.

Church Draw

There was a draw held recently in support of the Taughboyne and Craigadooish Church of Ireland Churches. It took place on March 28. The first prize went to Pearl Duffy. Second prize to Renee Moore. Third prize, Shauna Faulkner. Fourth prize went to Michaela Mulrine. Fifth prize Melissa Tinney. Sixth prize to Wilbert McConnell. The organisers would like to say thanks to all who supported the draw and who helped in any way and a congratulations to the winners.

Forever Crafts

On Saturday, April 19, Forever Crafts, hosted one of two of its annual craft fairs. This was held in the lecture hall and car park of the Presbyterian Church, St Johnston. The Fayre was held in the hall and the car boot sale was held in the car park. A huge variety of homemade crafts were on sale and lots of variety at the car boot sale too. Proceeds of the event will be forwarded to the Oncology Unit at Letterkenny General Hospital. Already the count is at 1,000 euro and there are still further pledges to come. Two of Forever Craft’s members recently attended a gathering of representatives of groups involved in cross-border initiatives which took place in Lusty Beg Centre in Co Fermanagh and enjoyed renewing acquaintances.  Sourcing craft materials is sometimes difficult for our members so we attended the Stitch and Creative Crafts Show in Belfast on Saturday April 12. We were pleased to be joined on the trip by other crafting friends.

Alzheimer’s Tea Day

Maggies Tavern, Carrickmore, St Johnston, is hosting an Alzheimer’s Tea Day on Saturday, May 3. From noon to 2pm. Please come along and support this very worthy cause.

Summer Playscheme

The Summer Playscheme is a very important part of the year for the young people of St Johnston and Carrigans.  It is always an outstanding success.  The Resource Centre would like to hear from people who are interested in helping out.  If you are interested then here is a date for your diary.  There will be a public meeting in relation to the plays cheme for all who are interested in getting involved on Tuesday, May 6 at 7.00 pm.

Newsletter

The current edition of the St Johnston and Carrigans Family Resource Newsletter is now available from the usual outlets – Resource Centre etc.  It is a free publication so please take one.

By Patrick Gormley

patrick7gormley@hotmail.com

Badminton

St Johnston and Carrigans Family Resource Centre is offering four Badminton Taster Coaching sessions to young people who are over 12 years old. The sessions will take place in the Lecture Hall on Tuesday evenings starting yesterday at 7pm. Booking is essential as places are limited. To book please contact Mary/Amanda at (074) 9148551. This project is supported through Donegal Sports Partnership.

Information Evening

There will be an Information Evening and Questions and Answers Session, Thursday, April 3, at 8pm, in the Resource Centre on Various Agriculture Schemes, Social Welfare entitlements, Housing Grant Schemes, Alternative Energy sources for Farm and Home (Wind, Hydro, Wood Energy and Energy Crops). The following guest speakers in will be in attendance: Garvan Connolly DLDC Rural Development Worker and Colm Crossan Environmental Consultant.  For further information, please contact Garvan at (074) 9127056 or Mary Crossan of the Resource Centre at (074) 9148551.

Lunch Club

The fortnightly lunch club will be held on Wednesday, April 2, at the usual times. Everybody is welcome.

Newsletter

Contributions for the St Johnston and Carrigans Newsletter can be placed into a box that is in the Main Hall.

John Throne

Everybody enjoyed the meeting with John Throne that took place on March 4 in the Resource Centre. John is the author of The Donegal Woman. This book was naturally a major part of the discussion that evening. We were shocked to learn than less than 100 years ago, slavery still existed in rural parts of Ireland. Children as young as seven or eight were sold for fixed periods by their impoverished parents to farmers who made them work their fingers to the bone.  They were treated like cattle.  In many cases, they were subject to worse treatment having been beaten and verbally abused. The book, it was revealed, was about the author’s own grandmother who was hired out and raped by her master and forced to marry a much older man when she got pregnant.  Her strength and instinct for survival are themes that run through this inspiring work.

Craft Fayre

The annual Craft Fayre will be held in the Lecture Hall, Church Lane, St Johnston, along with a Car Boot Sale in the St Johnston Presbyterian Church Car Park on Saturday, April 19. Proceeds are in support of the Oncology (Cancer) Unit, Letterkenny General Hospital. It was usually held on Easter Saturday but as Easter fell so early this year, the April date proved more suitable.  Everybody is welcome and please keep an eye out for the posters for further information.

Bus

Donegal Action for Cancer Care (DACC), the group that campaigns for better care for cancer patients, is holding a supper dance in Biddy Friel’s, Drumoghill, on Friday, April 4.  There will be a bus leaving Carrigans at 9.30 pm going via St Johnston. If you would like further information please contact Alma O’Donnell at the Carrig Inn, 9140186. 

By Patrick Gormley

patrick7gormley@hotmail.com

Volunteers

Would you like to engage in reward and fun work with young people? Would you like to contribute to our community?  Do you have an hour or two to spare each week? If so we can help each other.  St Johnston and Carrigans Family Resource Centre hopes to expand their programmes for young people and to do this we need your help.  If you are over 18, interested in working with young people in your local community, are available to volunteer at evenings and weekends you may be interested in volunteering in any of the following programmes: after school Club for Primary Level Students; Homework Support for Second Level Students, Youth Club for 8-12 year olds Primary Level Students; 16+ Youth Club or other Youth Activities as identified. They intend to hold an information evening for potential volunteers within the next few weeks to let people know about our volunteer policy and the supports and training such as child protection that we will provide for volunteers. As part of our volunteer policy, all potential volunteers will be supported by the Family Resource Centre to seek Garda clearance to ensure that they are suitable for working with children and young people. If you are interested in volunteering with us or would like to attend our information evening please contact Amanda Slevin on 074 9148551.

Parents’ forum

Are you worried or concerned about the health and wellbeing of young people and children in this area? Are there issues such as drug and alcohol abuse and anti-social behaviour and lack of supports for parents that you think need to be addressed. If you would like to discuss these or related issues with a view to forming a parents’ support group, please contact Mary Crossan 074 9148551.

Dolphin dance school

A record success was achieved for the Dolphin Dance School at the Suzie Waite Championships on January 27 in Belfast. Every child of Wendy McBean’s dance group came home with at least one trophy. Cora Higgins got a trophy in each of her three sections – well done Cora! The girls from St Johnston were Gemma Duddy, Michaela Allen, Carla and Kiera and Georgia Keys and Cora and Keely Higgins as well as dancers from Wendy’s classes in Culdaff and Derry. Wendy is one very proud dance teacher. The girls are all working really hard. Congratulations from all of us at the Resource Centre to Wendy and all the children.  The children were aged from five to 14 years. The next big event will be the Northern Ireland championships. Good luck to all.

Senior Citizens’ Party
The senior citizen’s Christmas party was held on Saturday 17 in An Grianán hotel, Burt. There was a large attendance and everyone had a great day. The committee would like to thank the main sponsors – Duffy Express, Coyle’s bar, GAA, Alison Doggit Bank of Ireland – and also everyone who supported the fundraising dance and gave donations and prizes. Your support is greatly appreciated. A big thanks to the hotel and staff especially Allen Lyttle for the fantastic meal. Every year the patrons look forward to the day out and without your help it wouldn’t be possible. (See page 77 for pics).

Aware Relatives Group
A support group for relatives of people who experience depression meets on the first Monday of every month at 8pm in the ‘Create a Link’ art studio beside Profiles building 4a Pearse Street, Letterkenny. Come along this Monday evening or telephone 074 9735030 for a free information pack. The suffers’ group also meet every Tuesday at 8pm in the same venue.

Donegal Action for Cancer Care: (DACC)
Burt, Killea and Newtowncunningham branch are having a flower arranging demonstration on Wednesday 28 at 8pm in the Columban hall. Flowers and arrangements by Josie Coll.

Annual Sale
The Church of Ireland Church are holding its annual sale (bazaar) in the Orange hall on Friday, November 30 starting at 7.30pm. This year there are excellent raffle prizes such as gift vouchers from 40 euro upwards. Petrol/diesel vouchers, hairdressing vouchers, electrical items, (household), bicycle, toys Christmas food hampers and many more prizes. The is also a cake stall and teas are also available. Admission is free. Please come and enjoy an evening’s fun and win.

Soccer news
Killea FC lotto was not won this week, consolation prizes to, Willie Kelly, Carrig Inn and Gabrielle McFarland, Carrig Inn. Next week’s jackpot is 2,550 euro. The senior team wound up the Ulster Senior League away to Champions, Kildrum Tigers. We started with 4 members of our Killea/Newtown Academy u18s who compete in the Donegal Youth League and drew 1-1. Marty Gallagher, Rory Feeney,
Marty Beattie and Alex Devenney, with Colm Gardiner and Damien Gardiner coming on as subs. Marty Gallagher saved a penalty from Ronan Coyle the Ulster |Senior League top goal scorer. The team was in charge of Shane Hannigan and Dessie McGlinchey in the absence of Dermot O’Donnell. Well done lads.

Soccer Academy
In the Donegal Youth League on Saturday Killea/Newtown Academy beat Bonagee 2-0
Goalscorers were Colm gardiner and Martin Beattie.
Children up to 11yrs have finished for a few months on Mondays. Thanks to all the parents for getting them here every Monday.

Yoga
Yoga every Thursday night at 8pm sharp in Killea community hall. Qualified instructor. Contact Aisling on 086 2427962 for further details.

If you would like anything included in the notes, please tel. Elaine and Edel on 074 9156221 or email gburke@eircom.net

Special collection
The Annual Special Collection held by the Society of St Vincent de Paul, St Baithin’s Conference, will take place on the way into St Baithin’s Church before Masses on the following dates. Saturday December 1 and Sunday December 2. And again on Saturday, December 8 and Sunday, December 9.

Stepping stones
Stepping Stones Playgroup had a very successful Halloween Draw on Thursday, October 25, raising 837 euro. The First Prize went to Ian Latta. The Second Prize went to Sheila Coll. The Third Prize went to Deirdre Lynch. Thanks to Ann Marie Toland and the Playgroup Committee who donated the items.

St Baithin’s NS
St Baithin’s National School held a No Uniform Day recently in aid of Fr Oliver McCrossan’s Philippines Mission. A total of 400 euro was raised. Well done to the boys and girls who took part in the Mini-Sevens Gaelic Competition at the start of October. St Baithin’s School Mass was held this term in honour of the late Hannah Keys. A special thanks to members of her family who attended the Mass on the day. There has been a huge response from the children to the Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Appeal. Thank you to all the parents of junior infant children who turned up for the Starting School Night, which was held recently in the junior infant room. Thanks also to Ms McElhone and Ms McLoone who facilitated the evening. The school was buzzing last week with the parents and children of junior infants who were invited to a breakfast morning at the school. First and Second Class will be taking part in the Plant a Daffodil Competition organised by the Courtyard Garden Centre in Newtowncunningham. Ms McLoone will be co-coordinating the competition in the school.

Well done to all the pupils in second class who successfully completed an eight weeks swimming course in Strabane Leisure Centre during the summer.

An eight weeks Gaelic coaching programme took place and all classes from Junior Infants to Sixth Class took part in it.  Paddy Hegarty, former county player facilitated the training.
A very special thanks to Joe Porter, Dannie Gillespie and all at the Resource Centre for bringing the National League Cup to St Baithin’s recently.  There was great excitement at the school.  It was a wonderful opportunity for the children to get a close up view of this very valuable piece of silverware.
A very successful sports day was held at St Baithins and was blessed by beautiful sunny weather.  A special thank you to all the parents who came and gave great support to all the children during the day and to the parents who took part in the Parent’s Race.

The school was honoured to have Neil Gallagher, the Donegal Senior Football Team captain and local county player, Brendan Devenney, present at the schools recent Prize Giving Ceremony. A special thank you to both men for taking time out of their busy schedule to pay St Baithin’s National School a visit.  Their presence meant a lot to the children on the day.
The school would like to wish Ms Avril Gallagher every good wish as she returns to class teaching in September.  Ms Gallagher has worked extremely hard in her role as HSCL Coordinator over the last five years.  The new HSCL Coordinator   will be Ms Emer McLoone who takes up her post in September.

The Summer Scheme for the St Johnston and Carrigans area which was held from 16th July to 20th July this year was a great success.  There were trips to Bananas in Derry, the swimming pool in Letterkenny, Dunluce Centre, Portrush, Dundonald Ice Bowl, the cinema in Lifford, Donegal Adventure Centre, Todd’s Leap Activity Centre for children and young people from the playgroup to as far up as fifth year.

This course is designed for people who are seeking employment or who may be considering a career change.  It offers practical advice on preparing a C.V., interviews and how to present yourself in a positive manner.  It also looks at personal skills and talents that can be undervalued but which may provide the key to achieving job satisfaction.  This course will run over a period of eight weeks and will cost €10.  Please contact the Resource Centre with your name and contact details if you are interested.  This course is supported through Donegal VEC.

This course will run over a period of eight weeks starting in September.  Itis an accredited course by Donegal Occupational First Aid Services.  The fee will be €30.  If anyone is interested in participating in the course pleaseleave your name and contact details in the main office of the St Johnston and Carrigans Family Resource Centre or telephone 91 48551.