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2017 ST JOHNSTON AND CARRIGANS NOTES ARCHIVE

Resource Centre: Due to ongoing works and refurbishments at the centre the computer room will not be available to the general public from Monday the 4th of December 2017. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused.

Shop: There will be a Christmas charity shop open for seven days only in aid of Donegal Hospice and Breast Cancer. Opening dates are Wednesday 13 and 20 December. Friday 8 and 15 December. Saturday 9 and 16 December. 10.30 am to 4 pm. Located opposite Applegreen filling station in St Johnston. The shop will be selling a variety of things for example clothes, toys, delph etc.

Mindfulness: Friday morning mindfulness has ended for the year. It will start again in January in the new year.

Jumping Jacks: The Jumping Jacks After Schools Get Fit Club for fifth and sixth class pupils is going well. Facilitated by the Resource Centre, it includes activities such as basketball, javelin, stretching, relay races and running.

Bonus Ball: Why not buy a 50/50 Bonus Ball at the Centre? It is only €2 per week. Funds raised will go towards the Resource Centre. Congratulations to Ben McCarron who won on number 4 on 11 November.

Thanks: The Resource Centre wishes to thank the community and beyond for their support of recent fundraisers for the Centre. The Silver Circle raised €1734. The Coffee Morning raised €645. The 5k walk/race raised €490. The staff and committee of the centre wishes again to say a huge thanks for your much valued support.

Website: Well done to St Baithin's National School on their website http://stbaithinsns.com/. There is an interesting bit of history on the website. St Baithin’s NS, is an 8 teacher primary school situated in the village of St Johnston. It is a co-educational school under the management of the Department of Education. It is an amalgamation of what was originally 3 smaller primary schools, Trentamucklagh NS, Drumucklagh NS, and St Baithin’s NS, in St Johnston. The school opened in 1980. The fact that the school is the product of amalgamation, gives it a very large catchment area. It has a staff of 8 teachers, a Teaching Principal, 5 Classroom Teachers, a Learning Support Teacher and 2 Resource Teachers. There are 111 pupils on roll at present. The school is designated disadvantaged. Learning Support has been provided in the school since 1992.
St. Baithin’s N.S. – St. Johnston. Co. Donegal – Tel. 074 ...stbaithinsns.com


In St. Baithin’s N.S., we provide a school with a positive learning environment where pupils, parents and teachers work together to develop every aspect of the child.

Collection: Remember the special SVP collection for the local poor takes place before masses at St Baithin’s Chapel this weekend.

History: In response to an appeal for further information about the Foyle drownings of 1917 on https://www.stjohnstonandcarrigans.com/drowning1917.html I received the following. “Victim Arthur Dowds was a first cousin of my father Alexander Dowds born in Dublin in 1907. My father talked about Arthur’s drowning from time to time explaining the tidal nature of the Foyle and how there was a deep channel where the river flowed when the tide was out which was deceptively dangerous when the tide was in. Arthur’s father Tom Dowds was a schoolteacher from Richill in Co. Armagh where his father John taught before a premature death. I understand his grandfather was a weaver. Tom’s mother Sarah Earls was from Glenarm in Co Antrim. My father (Alex) later taught in nearby Crossroads school and his sister my Aunt Sadie Dowds also taught for a while in Inch Island, Lough Swilly. Arthur’s mother Martha Barber was from Knockbeg in Co. Sligo and I understand she was also a teacher. Martha’s sister Elizabeth married my grandfather William James (Jem) Dowds in Taughboyne parish in 1918 after Jem’s first wife’s death in 1917 (clearly 1916/1917 was a bad year for my grandfather losing two brothers in WW1, a wife and a nephew within 12 months). Arthur’s only sibling Jack became a doctor and I believe at one stage practiced on the Falkland Islands. He married but had no children so that line of the family died out. Coincidently Arthur’s first cousin and namesake Arthur drowned in 1946 when his ship the Albany sank on the Welsh coast. He had survived sailing between Portugal and Ireland throughout the war.” Please email Pat Gormley stjohnstonandcarrigans@yahoo.co.uk if you have any information about the death of David Quigley who was the brother of victim George Quigley.
St Johnston Drowning Tragedy

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Tea Dance: This Friday 29 September from 1 pm to 4 pm there will be a Tea Dance in the Centre. Music by Arty Arbuckle. €5 admission. Funds go towards St Johnston and Carrigans Family Resource Centre.

Baby Massage: Baby Massage with Kiera will start on Wednesday 11 October 2017 at 10 am. It will continue at the same time for five weeks. This valuable programme is for babies aged 6 weeks to 6 months. To book a place contact the Resource Centre as soon as possible for places are limited. Please call 91 48551.

Bus: The new Local Link Bus Service that started last month to and from Letterkenny-St Johnston and Carrigans is going well. This is a daily service, Monday to Saturday, and ideal for students and travellers with shopping, social and recreational interests or to attend appointments. The bus goes right to the hospital door. People with free travel passes will be eligible to travel free. Please visit http://locallinkdonegal.ie/ or call into the Resource Centre for a timetable.

Fundraiser: Monreagh National School presents a night of music and dancing on Friday 6th of October 2017. The venue will be Biddy Friels, Drumoghill, 9pm until late. Music by David James, followed by DJ Lee Duncan. Tickets are €10 and available from the school. There will be a prize draw on the night and first prize is a two night B&B in the Shandon Hotel for 2 people. Prize has kindly been donated by Fleming Steel. All proceeds are in aid of the School.

Harvest Thanksgiving: The Monreagh Harvest Thanksgiving Service will be held on Sunday 1st October at 7.30 pm in Monreagh Presbyterian Church. Supper will be served in the school hall afterwards. Everyone welcome.

Sean Conley: Sean Conley writes, on the community website stjohnstonandcarrigans.com, “I came across your website, specifically pages on McAdoo family. My fourth great grandfather, John McAdoo was from Monreagh. He married in Derry and moved to NY with his wife and two children Robert and Sarah. John was born around 1799. In his will he mentions a James McAdoo, not a descendant but a relation. I would like to find out more. Please email stjohnstonandcarrigans@yahoo.co.uk if you can help Sean and also if you have any contributions towards the community notes.

Message: Tina Moore has the following request for help with family history. Her great aunt Agnes Quinn married Joe Gormley in 1938. They had Agnes, May, Brian, Gerald, Sheamus, Dan, Dolores, Bridget who died age 5, and Josephine. Agnes’ mother and father were Mary Carlin and Daniel Quinn who are buried in St Eunan’s Raphoe. They lived in Drumbeg. Her great aunts were in the school register: Agnes and Letitia (Cissie) Quinn. If you can help Tina’s research please leave a message on the guestbook of stjohnstonandcarrigans.com.

Lunch Club: Are you over 50? Why not join us for lunch? The centre runs a lunch club every other Wednesday where you can meet old friends and maybe make some new ones. You will get a spot of lunch, a game of bingo and laughs are always guaranteed. The dates confirmed for October are the 4th and the 18th.

After School Clubs: Please note the following. 3 to 4 pm Mondays is when Homework Club 1 meets in the Centre. Wednesdays from 2 to 2.45 pm is when Stretch and Grow Group 1 meets. Wednesdays 3 to 3.45 pm is when Stretch and Grow Group 2 meets. 3 to 4 pm on Thursdays is when Homework Club 2 meets.

5k race/walk: There will be a 5 kilometre race walk on Saturday 7 October. Registration will be from 8.30 am to 10 am. Venue is the Resource Centre. Race or walk starts at 10.30 am. Family participation costs €20. Adult costs €8. Junior costs €5. Walker costs €4. Post race refreshments will be held in the centre. There will also be a presentation to participants. There will be category and spot prizes. Participants will be chipped and timed by Lifford AC. Funds go towards the centre.

Whist Drive: The next whist drive will be on Monday 23 October 2017. The venue will be the St Johnston and Carrigans Family Resource Centre starting at 8pm. The cost is €5 per person and this includes a light supper. All are welcome.

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Switch Bitch: A Switch and Bitch Evening will be held in St Johnston and Carrigans Family Resource Centre on Thursday 28 September at 7.30 pm. The event will include a mini-auction. Please bring along clothes and accessories you want to switch for another’s unwanted clothes and items. Remember one person’s trash is another’s treasure. A light supper will be provided. €5 to participate. Funds go towards the centre.

5k race/walk: There will be a 5 kilometre race walk on Saturday 7 October. Registration will be from 8.30 am to 10 am. Venue is the Resource Centre. Race or walk starts at 10.30 am. Family participation costs €20. Adult costs €8. Junior costs €5. Walker costs €4. Post race refreshments will be held in the centre. There will also be a presentation to participants. There will be category and spot prizes. Participants will be chipped and timed by Lifford AC. Funds go towards the centre.

Growing Fruit: Are you interested in learning how to grow and maintain a range of fruit plants, dealing with pests, disease, soil suitability for fruit production etc. This programme will run every Friday 11.15 to 3.45pm, starting 15th September 2017. For further information or to book a place contact the Resource Centre 91 48551.

Tea Dance: Friday 29 September from 1 pm to 4 pm in the Centre. Music by Arty Arbuckle. €5 admission. Funds go towards the centre.

Monreagh Heritage: This is a contribution to the notes from Monreagh Heritage and Education Centre, Carrigans. A mere man described by a popular search engine as a visitor attraction in Monreagh, is our Mr Colm Clarke. Another Monreagh local that we are fortunate to have in our small arsenal of volunteers for Mr Clarke carries some clout in these parts. I say clout what I really mean is flax. An enthusiastic champion for his much beloved plant, and at Monreagh we agree with him not out of fear of getting a clout from him I should add but because flax is one of the oldest textile fibres known to man, weaving cloth is man’s oldest manufacturing processes. Need I say anymore? I won’t because that’s Colm’s job on the guided tours. He is a man on a mission and his mission is to educate as many as he possibly can on a once cottage industry. A cottage industry that bloomed and flourished in the 18th and 19th centuries with the industrialisation of agriculture, mills and stores were built close to the crops that supplied them. The local village of Carrigans boasted two mills in its heyday. In 1921, 40% of the registered working population in Northern Ireland were directly employed by mills and factories. Colm worked in the flax industry until 1955, his demonstrations are modelled on the cottage industry processes. But he provides an oral history on the practices of the mills. His online video demonstration, filmed through the course of a year at Monreagh Heritage Centre by Kieran Fegan, Centre Manager, on how linen is made has so far received over 12k views on youtube. Titled Making Linen Fabric from Flax Seed it is proving popular worldwide even in places like Iran!! A visit to Monreagh Education and Heritage Centre would not be complete without seeing the man himself breaking down the flax fibre. Scutching, crimping and haggling the flax into submission to reveal its hidden linen treasure. A word of advice though on your visit to Monreagh don’t mention threshing mills to Thompson as his childhood memories aren’t as fond as Colm’s. Also, four things you may not know about Carrigans. Sir Jim Starritt, a former Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, was born in Carrigans. Writer Dame Agatha Christie visited Carrigans on a few occasions, as a guest of the McClintocks of Dunmore, to whom she was related through marriage. The Bangalore Torpedo, an explosive device, used in many conflicts and seen in famous films, such as Saving Private Ryan, was invented by Captain (later Colonel) McClintock, of Dunmore, Carrigans. Carrigans once had a railway station, the village was served by the Great Northern Railway, which closed in 1965. Come along and meet Brian Mitchell at Monreagh Centre on Saturday 23rd September 2017. He is the author of a number of Irish genealogy reference books such as A New Genealogical Atlas of Ireland, A Guide to Irish Parish Registers, Irish Passenger Lists 1847-1871, and Genealogy at a Glance: Irish Genealogy Research. Brian has been involved in local, family and emigration research in the North West since 1982. The database whose construction he supervised from 1982 to 2007, containing one million records (dating from 1642 to 1922) extracted from the major civil and church registers of County Derry, can now be accessed at Roots Ireland. To contact the centre for information on this event and other up and coming events and services please call 074 91 40708.

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Fundraiser: Maggies Tavern Charity Cycle will be held this Saturday 29 July. The cycle takes thirty miles and a sixteen miles option is available. Proceeds go in aid of The Donegal Branch of the Diabetic Association. Starting 12.30 pm sharp. Entry fee is €10 per cyclist. Please look up the Maggies Facebook page for further information and on how to obtain a sponsorship card.

Bus: A new Bus Service is starting in mid August to Letterkenny from St Johnston and Carrigans. This will be a daily service which will make daily return journeys to and from Letterkenny for anyone wishing to travel i.e students, shopping, social and recreational or to attend appointments. People with free travel passes will be eligible to travel free. A preliminary information session facilitated by SITT Rural Transport Initiative will take place in St Johnston and Carrigans FRC on Monday 31st July at 2pm and anyone with any queries or who would like to more should attend. An official launch of the service will take place later in August.

Fundraiser: St Johnston and Carrigans Family Resource Centre wishes to say a huge thank you to all who made the fundraising dance in aid of St Johnston and Carrigans FRC on 9th of June 2017 in Maggie's Tavern such a success. Thanks to David James and the musicians. Thanks to all who supported the event and who came along. The event proved to be a great fundraiser for the Centre.

Workshop: The Resource Centre facilitates many groups and individuals who have a keen interest in learning new things from DIY to hobbies. That is why the Centre encourages you to think about the following up and coming programme in Derry. Would you like to have a go at Traditional Hot Lime Pointing or the conservative repair of old rubble stone walls under the guidance of experienced professionals?

The organisation Derry - Donegal Landscapes Alive with Society for protection of Ancient Buildings warmly invite you to participate in a practical hands on workshop Four Day Heritage Week Event in De Burgh Terrace Clarendon Street Conservation Area in Derry City from 24th - 27th August also includes guided walking tours led by SPAB scholar Architect Mary Kerrigan. There are two participation options: two days or four Days. This event will be of interest to construction trades especially stone masons, heritage interests, engineers, architects, gardeners, anyone wanting to learn more about the care and repair of our built heritage and communities in the North West Derry and Donegal. Places limited advance booking essential. To register please email spabireland@gmail.com before 24th July.

Thanks: The organisers of Walking Churches - St Baithin's Chapel to Ballylennon Presbyterian Church fundraiser walk - are grateful to everyone who supported the 6K. The weather was perfect for the event. It was a great community day out with walkers coming from surrounding areas. A special thanks to all the helpers. Thanks to the Sharkey family for the water stop and thanks to Tanya and Garvan Keyes and their family who served refreshments along the way and to all who provided afternoon tea in Ballylennon Church Hall at the end. Approximately €450 has been raised for the valuable work of Carrigans and St Johnston Social Services.

Kildrum Tigers: Kildrum Tigers Youth is holding a fundraiser draw. The first prize is a large hamper. The second is an overnight stay for two. The third prize is a meat voucher for €25 for Watson’s Butchers, Main St, St Johnston. The fourth prize is a MacDonald’s Family Meal voucher for €25. The fifth is a Macs Mini Mart voucher for €25. €2 per line. Draw will take place at the Damien O Donnell Memorial Cup Tournament on 26 August. A partnership jersey is up for grabs for the person who sells the most lines. Lines available at local outlets chemist, shops etc and beyond.

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Identical Notes to attached file Below

Memorial: The annual Memorial Mass for those buried in the graveyard of St Baithin’s Church and the Old Cemetery will be held on Sunday afternoon the 16 July at 4 pm. Everybody welcome.

History: Taughboyne History Group is off for the summer and will resume in September in the Resource Centre. We would love to obtain new members at the start of our year which is in September. taughboynehistorygroup@gmail.com.

Collection: A local collection for the Irish Wheelchair Association will take place prior to Masses at St Baithin’s Church at the weekend of 8 and 9 of July. Please give generously.

Memorial: As a tribute to the four boys who drowned locally in the 1917 tragedy the index page of stjohnstonandcarrigans.com has been temporarily changed to the page dedicated to their memory. The centenary was marked on Friday 30 June exactly one century since the tragedy.

Mindfulness: Mindfulness will be on at 10 am this Friday in the Main Hall of the Resource Centre. All are welcome.

Homecoming: Fr Joseph Gillespie has come back to the St Johnston and Carrigans area from his mission in the United States for a visit. Fr Joseph will celebrate the 25th anniversary of his ordination at 11 Mass on this Sunday 9 July followed by afternoon tea in St Johnston and Carrigans Family Resource Centre. Everyone welcome.

Quigleys: In relation to the recent centenary memorial for the 1917 multiple drownings, a request came in from a relative of one of the victims. My name is Sharon Fischer nee Quigley. I live in Ontario, Canada. I visited Ireland last year to research my grandfather john Quigley. The research brought me to St Johnston to the mercantile store my great uncle Sam Quigley had on Main Street which is now a pharmacy. My grandfather worked there as a young man before he went to war. His cousin was James Lynn Quigley, Sam’s son, who died at the Somme. Grandpa's sister was Martha Quigley who married David Roulston in 1914. They lived at the Main Street. Martha died young and David remarried. I talked to the Presbyterian minister St Johnston who introduced us to people who keep the burial records and who were kindly were able to show us the unmarked grave of Sam Quigley and many of his family. However Martha is not there. I believe I may find her in the Reformed Presbyterian graveyard elsewhere. I found three Roulston children, John, May and Jim but can't find birth records for any of them to see if any were Martha’s children before her death. I read an article by John Scott on Georgina Quigley, Sam’s daughter, who was John Scott’s grandmother on stjohnstonandcarrigans.com. Georgina named John's father after her brother James who died at the Somme. James Lynn Quigley and William Quigley (cricket club) are both first cousins of mine thrice removed. I have created a family tree originating with James Quigley from Fawney. His son Andrew was my grandfather’s dad. They lived in Crossballycormac. I found the Fawney farmland where my grandfather lived. And found lower Cumber church where grandpa attended. The Reverend showed us original baptism records. Andrew died in Strabane and Martha was there but after searching a number of cemeteries I still can't find where he or his wife Hannah are buried but will be back to Ireland to continue searching! Glendermott church near Derry might hold clues as well. There may be baptisms recorded in St Johnston as well? I am hoping maybe I can get directed towards anyone who might have information on the Quigley’s or Roulstons in St Johnston. It is important if somebody can help me locate my relative John Scott. Please email stjohnstonandcarrigans@yahoo.co.uk if you can help and I will forward your info to Sharon. No matter how small your contribution is, it can be very important.

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Thanks: The organisers of Walking Churches - St Baithin's Chapel to Ballylennon Presbyterian Church fundraiser walk - are grateful to everyone who supported the 6K on Saturday 17 June. The weather was perfect for the event. It was a great community day out with walkers coming from surrounding areas. A special thanks to all the helpers. Thanks to the Sharkey family for the water stop and thanks to Tanya and Garvan Keyes and their family who served refreshments along the way and to all who provided afternoon tea in Ballylennon Church Hall at the end. Approximately €450 has been raised for the valuable work of Carrigans and St Johnston Social Services.

Centenary: The 100 years Drowning Tragedy Memorial Service on 30th of June will mark the 100 year anniversary of the tragic drowning of four local boys. The community has come together to organise a memorial service and tree planting ceremony on that date. The service is to remember these boys and others who have lost their lives in the river. The service will be held at the St Johnston cricket pitch and tea will be served afterwards in St Johnston and Carrigans Family Resource Centre. This event is open to all and the clergy from the four local churches will lead the prayers. The service will begin at 6.30pm.

Reading: The Summer Stars Reading Programme will start on Monday 3rd July until August 31st in your local Library at St Johnston and Carrigans Family Resource Centre. To participate please call in to the centre to register and chose your book from a wide range of exiting books. Summer Stars is a free programme, open to all children and teenagers. Each young reader who registers for Summer Stars at their local library joins in the fun of reading lots of exciting books during the summer. Children will receive their own Summer Stars Reading Card to record their progress and the Summer Stars Reward Stamp will be added to their card at the library for each book read. Fun rewards will be provided along the way. At the end of Summer Stars, all children who have participated will be invited to attend a celebration awards event in September 2017.

Ulster Bank: Customers of the Ulster Bank in Raphoe who belong to the St Johnston and Carrigans area regret the closure that took place on the 16 June. However your local post office can take care of your banking needs in relation to your Ulster Bank account. You can access the following services. Lodging cash or cheques. Pay your Ulster Bank Credit Card. All Ulster Bank customers that use credit books for their banking services will need to order a new barcoded credit book to use An Post Services. Please contact your local post office for further information.

Channel: Please check out the Monreagh Ulster Scots Centre’s youtube channel. You can see this year's Flax Crop after two months' growth. Last year they filmed the whole process from seed to linen.

Monreagh NS: Monreagh NS held their prize-giving on Monday 19th June. The Junior pupils sang some songs and the Senior pupils performed their play: A Lemonade Bottle for Clabberin’ Hitler. It was an excellent day and the children who achieved high standards in various areas were rewarded with certificates, prizes, vouchers and trophies. We had our school trip to Ards Forest Park on Friday 9th June. The children enjoyed a walk around the forest in Ards, playing on the beaches there, collecting shells and climbing rocks. We went to Marblehill beach and enjoyed a nice ice-cream there. The day ended with a wee dip in the sea at Marblehill. It was a fantastic trip! We had our Monreagh’s Got Talent Finale on 16th June. The acts had all practiced really hard and the judges were so impressed with the quality of talented kids in the school. We had our own Ant and Dec, who hosted the show and introduced each performer. The winning performers got a €20 voucher and the runners-up got sweets. Congratulations to Reece Gillen in 6th Class on being awarded the Barnabas Award 2017. The person chosen for this award is someone who is kind, helpful and who encourages others. He was presented with the award by Professor Woodside recently. Reece is a very worthy recipient!

Parish Records: The RCBL has released online transcriptions of the surviving registers for three of the Taughboyne parishes (Taughboyne, Craigadooish and Killea) in the Laggan Valley of north east Donegal. The painstaking transcription work has been carried out by the rector, the Reverend Canon David Crooks. Please visit the Church of Ireland’s website www.ireland.anglican.org to access the records. In the left frame, click RCB Library. Then click parish records. Reverend Crooks said, “Although it is time-consuming, the task of transcribing the records onto disc was very interesting, opening up a window into the lives of our ancestors who worshipped in this same place. Modern technology makes the whole task infinitely easier, and the finished product makes the task of obtaining information very much easier, too."

Homecoming: Fr Joseph Gillespie will be returning home to the St Johnston and Carrigans area from his mission in the United States on Saturday the 24 June 2017 for a visit. Fr Joseph will celebrate the 25th anniversary of his ordination at 11 Mass on Sunday 9 July followed by afternoon tea in St Johnston and Carrigans Family Resource Centre. Everyone welcome.

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Meeting: There was a Memorial Meeting at St Johnston and Carrigans Family Resource Centre recently to work out how to mark the memory those who have tragically lost their lives on the St Johnston stretch of the Foyle. On the 30th June this year it is the 100 year anniversary of four boys from St Johnston who tragically drowned while bathing in the Foyle at a place locally known as the Widgeon Hole. The boys were Arthur James Dowds (aged 9), James Orr (aged 13), George Quigley (aged 13) and Patrick O’Donnell (aged 9). A fifth boy, James Burnside (aged 14), survived after turning back after realising the water was too deep. The tragedy fell heavy into the hearts of the whole community. The inquest that was held in St Johnston at the time by Mr Edward Gallagher, coroner for East Donegal. Witnesses said that on Saturday 30th June 1917 about noon the boys all went to the river to bathe. They first went to where a boat man named James Lynch was tarring his boat. They had intended to go bathing there but there was not sufficient water there so moved to the channel where the tragedy then happened. A public meeting took place on Tuesday 25th April at the Resource Centre to discuss a fitting remembrance for the tragedy which happened one 100 years ago and to those who have lost their lives since. It was proposed to get feedback from the local community on what they would feel would be a suitable memorial and the possibility of a remembrance service near the shore. If you have any views about a suitable memorial and its form please contact St Johnston and Carrigans FRC on 074 9148551 or email the centre on stjohnresource@eircom.net or receptionresource@yahoo.ie by the 22th May.

Stretch and Grow Club: This afternoon club at the Centre introduces young children to a healthy, active lifestyle. Stretch and Grow Club 1 for Junior and Senior Infants meets from 2-2.45pm, Stretch and Grow Club for 1st and 2nd Class Students meets from 3-3.45pm. Registration fee is €5.

Arty Party: The Arty Party Children’s Art and Craft Club is a group for all National School aged children meets on the second Saturday of the month 10am-noon, at the Centre, €15 per child (sibling discount available). Club co-ordinators have been fully Garda vetted and adhere to a strict child protection policy. Call (087) 659 3005 or (079) 771 2431 (NI) to book.

Homework Club: Support and encouragement with homework is available at the Centre. Homework Club 1 for 3rd and 4th Class students runs on Mondays, 3-4.15pm. Homework club 2 for 5th and 6th Class students runs on Tuesdays, 3-4.15pm. Registration fee is €5.

Forever Crafts Group: One of many creative outlets at the centre! This group meets each Tuesday, 1-3pm in the Old Playschool Building. They cover a variety of crafts and are always open to learning new skills and helping out if a project is going wrong. New members are always welcome.

History: Taughboyne History Group meets every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the calendar month in the Computer Room of Resource Centre from 7.30—9.30. Our group welcomes anyone from the wider area with an interest in learning about local history and discussing personal memories. For more information, please email us at

taughboynehistorygroup@gmail.com. The next meeting will be 10 May.

Mental Health: Mental Health First Aid Ireland with funding from the HSE and in partnership with Connect Mental Health are running 5 Mental Health First Aid Courses in Donegal this year. The courses, which run over two consecutive days from 9.30am – 4.30pm and is free to register for, will take place over the following dates:

20/21 May – Moville Family Resource Centre in Inishowen. 23/24 June – St Johnston and Carrigans Family Resource Centre. 12/13 Oct – Dunfanaghy Family Resource Centre. 18/19 Nov – Portnoo Family Resource Centre. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is the initial help given to someone who is developing a mental health problem or who is in a mental health crisis. The first aid is given until appropriate professional support is received or until the crises resolves. The MHFA programme is available in 23 countries worldwide. Emerging mental health problems covered in the course include: depression, anxiety, psychosis and substance misuse. The course also covers mental health crisis situations including: suicidal thoughts and behaviours, self-harm, panic attacks, traumatic events, severe psychotic states, severe effects of alcohol or other drug use and aggressive behaviours.

Walk and Talk: The Walk and Talk Group will meet every Tuesday at 7.15pm at the Centre. We take part in a variety of walks locally or in Derry etc and once a month further afield on a Saturday. The next Saturday walk will be on Saturday 20 May leaving the Centre at 9 am. Cost €10 per person for the bus. Please bring a packed lunch and some money for a bite to eat after the walk. For further information contact Deborah at the Centre (074) 91 48551. The destination for the next Saturday walk has not been decided yet.