2014 ST JOHNSTON AND CARRIGANS COMMUNITY NOTES

An Open Door: The book “An Open Door, Stories from St Johnston and Carrigans Family Resource Centre” can be purchased in the Centre and in many of the local retail businesses. It costs €10 a copy and all proceeds are in aid of the Centre and its work. The feedback about the book is excellent as its stories and photographs help many people wander down memory lane. The book is now available by mail order. Order from St Johnston and Carrigans Family Resource Centre, Chapel Road, St Johnston, Lifford, Co Donegal. Please make cheques or postal orders out to: St Johnston and Carrigans Family Resource Centre Ltd. Please add Postage and Packing - Ireland €7, UK €8, Overseas €11. If you wish to order a number of copies please telephone: 074 91 48551

Whist Drive: The next Whist Drive will be on Monday 27 January 2014 starting at 8 pm in the Resource Centre. €5 per person which includes a light supper.

Lunch Club: The Lunch Club meets every second Wednesday in the Resource Centre. The next Lunch Club date will be Wednesday 29 January from 11 am to 1 pm. New members are always welcome. The Lunch Club is open to all over 50s and young at heart. For more information please call the Resource Centre office at (074) 91 48551.

Walk and Talk Group: The Tuesday Walk and Talk Group leaves the Centre every week at 7.15 pm. Each week we go to a different destination (transport is provided) for an enjoyable walking experience. Afterwards some group members go for tea and a chat in the old playgroup. Examples of destinations for Tuesday evening walks are Derry, Strabane, Inch etc. The group enjoyed a Saturday walk recently to Fr Hegarty’s Walk, Buncrana. The next Saturday walk will take place on Saturday 22 February with minibus leaving at 8.30 am. The destination will be Glenveagh where we will walk the Bridal Path. A shorter route is available as well. There will be an opportunity for a meal or snack afterwards. If you wish to join us contact the Resource Centre on 074 91 48551 to book a place or for further information. Cost for the minibus is €7. The group is suitable for all abilities and speed.

Boxercise: Everyone is welcome to come along to the Boxercise class on a Thursday night at 8pm great exercise for the New Year why not come along and give it a try.

Jiving: Jiving Classes take place Wednesday nights in the Main Hall in the Resource Centre from 8.30pm - 10pm. €5 a class. Everybody is very welcome.

Pilates: The Pilates Classes are on Wednesdays at 7pm in the Main Hall in the Resource Centre.

Craft Classes: There are two classes available in the centre - Forever Crafts meet every Tuesday 1pm - 3pm in the Old Playgroup, Church Lane, St.Johnston, various crafts are enjoyed and shared along with some tea and craic. The Wednesday Craft group meet every Wednesday 8pm - 10pm, we attempt many different types of crafts we enjoy the company and the craic. Why not come along and give one of them a try?

Bluestack Foundation: The Bluestack Special Needs Foundation Church Gate Collection will take place at St Baithin’s Church, St Johnston, weekend of 1/2 February. Please give generously as the Foundation works to enhance the lives of people with special needs in Co Donegal.

Scoil an Leinbh Iosa: The enrolment day for children starting in September 2014 will take place on Wednesday 19 February 2014 at 1 pm. Parents are asked to bring birth certificate, baptismal certificate and PPS number.

Taughboyne History Group: The group met on Wednesday 22 January and it was a very fruitful meeting. We all practiced using the 1901 and 1911 Census website. Great newspaper clippings from the Derry Standard about the Legend of Stumpy’s Bray were scanned. Patrick Gormley will make the clippings available soon on www.stjohnstonandcarrigans.com. After some discussion it was agreed that we should research the history of the towns of St. Johnston and Carrigans and keep our Townlands study to a later date. The next meeting will be Wednesday 12 February 7.30-9.30 pm. If you would like to come along and see what we are about, please come along!

Notes: If you have any contributions for the community notes please leave them in St Johnston and Carrigans FRC or the Post Office St Johnston or Carrigans. Or email stjohnstonandcarrigans@yahoo.co.uk
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Family Health Programme: Motivate, educate and exercise together is a new and innovative family health programme open to families in the St Johnston, Carrigans, Raphoe Newtown and Manor area. There are two healthy lifestyle programmes in the MEET project. The first is a Prevention Programme for parents with children under 5 years starting and will start on Wednesday 30th April at 10.30 pm to 12noon. The second is a Management Programme for children aged 8 to 12 years and parents starting September 2014. Both programmes will include exercise, nutritional information and cooking. For further information contact Deborah at the Resource Centre on (074) 9148551. The incentive for participants will include, healthier lifestyle for the whole family, back-up support from professionals, build confidence and self –esteem to change, make healthier food choices for the whole family, increased knowledge of diet/nutrition, increased physical activity levels, having fun throughout the programme.

Clean Up: Have your say/ Community Clean up Public Meeting. A public meeting will take place in St Johnston and Carrigans FRC on Wednesday 30th April at 8.15pm. The aim of this meeting is to bring people together to organise community clean ups in different areas and townlands to make the country side litter free and more attractive in St Johnston and Carrigans. The meeting will also provide an opportunity to discuss and raise issues which people would like to highlight to candidates in the forthcoming Council and European elections. So please come along and have your say.

Workshops: The Re-invent/Recycle/Up-cycle Workshops will be held on Tues 29th April and Tues 6th May. Duration is two weeks. Time will be 7-9pm. Bring new life and create a new look for your clutter. Innovative ideas, practical and affordable, demonstrations on ways to up-cycle your wardrobe shoes and furniture. Cost: €10.

Walk and Talk Group: The next Saturday walk will take place on 26th April 2014, we will be meeting up with Mevagh Ramblers who will lead the walk in the Lough Salt area. The pace will be relatively moderate with a stop for refreshments, part of the walk will be on an old bog road and part on heather covered turf cutting bog (approximately 2.5/3 hrs) Walking boots, wet gear, refreshments, walking sticks and hopefully sun cream recommended. To book a place please contact the Resource Centre, €5 per person.

50/50 Bonus Ball: The winner of the 50/50 Bonus Ball Fundraiser of 5 April 2014 was Mary McNulty. Winning number was 21. Winner of 12 April 2014 was Rachel Curran with number 33. Congratulations Mary and Rachel. Why not buy a line? It is only €1 and next week it could be you. The Bonus Ball is a fundraiser for the Centre.

Silver Circle: The centre will be running a 5 week Silver Circle fundraiser for the Centre during the month of May, The draws will take place on Fridays the 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, and the 30th May. Cards and lines are available from the Management Committee and the Resource Centre office after the 11th April. The prizes follow. For the first four weeks: First Prize - €60. Second Prize €40. Third Prize €20. Promoter’s Prize €20. Final week, First Prize €100. Second €75. Third €50. Promoter’s Prize €40.

Clubs: The Homework Club and Fun Club for Third and Fourth class return on the 28th April. The Homework Club for Fifth and Sixth Class will return on the 30th April. Activity Clubs will return on the 1st of May.

IMNDA: Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (iMNDA) would like to thank the community’s generosity in the recent Ester Egg Draw. €400 was raised. Well done Susan! This very worthy cause is the primary support organisation in Ireland providing care for people with Motor Neurone Disease, their families, friends and carers.

Supplementary Welfare: Supplementary Welfare Clinic at Letterkenny Public Services Building. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 am to 12 noon. Areas covered St Johnston, Trentaghmucklagh, Killea, Newtowncunningham, Castleforward, Carrigans. Please call 074 91 94289.

Taughboyne History Group: The group had a meeting on Wednesday 9th April 2014 in the Resource Centre. There is very little information available regarding the significance of the Mummers Brig and the reason for it being so named. Any information would be appreciated. Colm had taken photos of several interesting ‘Lagan gates’. Many old gates and pillars have been removed to create the much wider access needed for modern agricultural machinery. Bernie researched old maps in the Library, Derry and although there were interesting maps of the area there was no further reference to Blue Ball. Bernie appreciated the assistance of the Librarian who was most helpful. The history of the Roman Catholic Church in the area was discussed and further research pre and post Reformation period is necessary. The Penal Laws of the 1700s which also affected the Presbyterian community impacted more so on Catholics. It is known that the distinctive rock known as Alterlee (Altor liath - Grey Altar) on the side of Binion Hill was used as a Mass Rock by the Catholic community and it is said that this rock was also used as a meeting place for the local Presbyterian community prior to the establishment of their own “Meeting House” at Ballylennon. Those were trying times for these two communities who had to revert to out of the way places to preserve their religious allegiances. Catholics also held “Station Masses” in private houses twice a year (during Lent and October). A household would be considered for a ‘Station’ only if they owned a good horse as the visiting Priest would arrive on a horse loaned to him by the previous Station house and when leaving the present house he required to be on a fresh horse. In this way he would be on a fresh horse at all times. There were few opportunities at that time for the Catholic Church to collect funds so the Priest would collect a Church stipend during the October Stations while a lesser collection would be taken up at the Lenten Stations. Carrying money would be another reason why the Priest needed to be on a fresh horse. If you would like information on the meetings and when they take place please email taughboynehistorygroup@gmail.com. Thank you.

Old Testament: The Old Testament Poetical in Irish Metre (English) has been published. It was written by Rev Philip Lynch C.S.Sp.. James Lynch writes,

“My paternal uncle was a scribe in the best tradition of the Irish bardic scribes and historians of the old monasteries of Ireland. He diligently versified the Old Testament in English, in Irish metre. This is his third book. Please visit www.Daylightorigins.com, for further information. Or email James Lynch Jaslynch1234@gmail.com.

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Craft Fayre: Forever Crafts Annual Craft Fayre will take place in the Resource Centre on Saturday 29 November. Commencing 12 noon. Admission is free and everybody is welcome. There will be a wide range of stalls with many Christmas items. On sale on the day, will be a wide variety of Christmas bakes so forget about baking a Christmas cake or pudding and just come along to the Resource Centre and you will have plenty to choose from. There will be a variety of items suitable for your Christmas present list. Scarves and other knitted items, candles, jewellery, pictures, paperweights and lots more to choose from. For the first time ever, a stall of hand turned wooden items will be available and these would make excellent gifts for Christmas. Tea will be available during the afternoon.

MEET Project: This Project aims to develop healthy eating and exercise habits as a means of preventing childhood obesity. It includes 6 weeks cooking/nutritional education and 8 weeks of exercise twice a week with a personal trainer. We are currently half way through the programme and have 8 families taking part in the project, 8 adults and 10 children. Progress to date is amazing, in particular the fitness level of participants has improved dramatically and the element of fun and camaraderie is fantastic.

Boys Club: The Boys Club will start back on Thursday 3rd December 2014.

Demonstration: A Christmas Flower Arranging Demonstration by Flower Craft and Design will be held in St Johnston and Carrigans Family Resource Centre. The date is Monday 8th December 2014, Time: 7.30 pm. Cost €7 per person. A light supper will be served. Tickets available at the Resource Centre and Mac’s Mini Mart (Sarah Hunter).

Whist Drive: The Christmas Whist drive will take place on Monday, December 15, at 8 pm in the Centre. €5 per person. A light supper will be provided. New members will be made very welcome.

Conference: The Value of Community Based Family Support Conference will be held on Thursday 27th November in the Grianan Hotel, Burt, to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the International Year of the Family. This conference is being organised by the nine FRCs in Donegal to highlight the work of the FRCs and their partner agencies within the new Child and Family Agency TUSLA. This event is open to all for more information please contact Moville FRC at 0749385548 or St Johnston and Carrigans FRC at 0749148551.

Irish Dancing: Meets Tuesdays, 5-6:30pm in the Resource Centre. Youngsters age 3+ years are invited to come along, get fit, make friends, and learn a new skill from Aisling McGill. Aisling is an all-Ireland and international champion dancer.
Walk & Talk Group: The group meet at St Johnston and Carrigans Family Resource Centre at 7:15 pm every Tuesday. We go by minibus to different places for an enjoyable walking experience, tea afterwards in the old playgroup. If you wish to join us contact the Resource Centre on 074 91 48551 to book a place. The last Tuesday walk of the year will be December 16, 2014.

Saturday Walk: The next Saturday walk will be this Saturday. The venue will be Glenveagh National Park, ‘Bridal Path’. A bus will leave the centre at 8.30am and return at approximately 3.30pm, cost: €5 per person. To book a place contact the Resource Centre on 0749148551. People from outside the area are welcome to come along. €5 per participant. There will be an opportunity to eat out after the walk. A shorter walk is available if you wish as all speeds will be catered for.

Christmas events: Santa Christmas train ride to Oakfield Park for under 5s will take place on Monday 3rd December at 11.30am. To book a place, contact the Resource Centre office 0749148551. Limited places early booking essential.

Stories: Christmas storytelling for 3-8year olds with Joe Brennan on Monday 1st December at 3.30pm in the Resource Centre. Supported by Donegal County Library.

Monreagh: Please come to Monreagh to celebrate an Ulster-Scots Christmas. You can visit the Victorian Green Santa at Monreagh Heritage and Education Centre at 2:30pm, Saturday 6 December. Cost: €2 - includes present. The multi-talented and multi-award winning Cantamus (mix voice) Choir will be performing live. Please visit www.monreaghulsterscotscentre.com if you would like further information.
RES: The Regional Employment Service can help long-term unemployed people to get back into fulltime employment, identify training opportunities, prepare CV and fill out application forms and much more. So if you wish to avail of our service: The Outreach Officer will be in attendance in The Resource Centre, St Johnston on Tuesday 2nd December 2014 from 11.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. No appointment necessary. Further enquiries to Helen or Mary 074 9128010. This Service is supported by DLDC and ICTU and is free and totally confidential.

Little Angels: A Santa Tractor Run in aid of Little Angels School will take place at Maggies Tavern, Carrickmore, St Johnston on Saturday 6 December. It will start 10.30 am sharp. There will be Irish Stew and refreshments afterwards in Maggies. Halfway, weather permitting, there will be a barbeque at Forthhill. If you would like further information please call 91 48318.

Taughboyne History: This is an update from the most recent meeting of Taughboyne History Group. An update regarding the visit from Derry City Council’s Maritime Museum Project will be prepared for next week’s notes. William Holmes had an extensive range of photos from the past and he gave a fascinating account of the quarry business, the Glentown Quarry, which had been operated by his father and an uncle. At one time there were 400 workers employed at the quarry. One man cycled from Drumerdagh (near Letterkenny) every day and another man, named Crossan, cycled from Newtowncunningham. Slates were exported to Scotland as well as sold in Ireland. These slates can still be seen on some buildings. The company was operating successfully and even operated a bicycle scheme for their workers whereby it purchased bicycles which in turn could be bought by the workers and gradually paid for by a deduction from their wages. At the onset of World War 2 in 1939, there was a collapse in building work and a lack of demand for slates resulted in closure of the quarry. If you have any information about the quarry that you would like to share please contact 91 48551 and leave a message for Patrick or email taughboynehistorygroup@gmail.com.

SVP: St Baithin’s Conference, Society of St Vincent de Paul, is holding two Christmas collections this year as advised by headquarters. The collections will be taken up on the way into St Baithin’s Church before Masses on 6/7 and 13/14 December. Due to the high unemployment locally and the effects of the economic downturn, funds are more important than ever. Any contribution will be appreciated.

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2014 ST JOHNSTON AND CARRIGANS COMMUNITY NOTES