Community notes St Johnston and Carrigans 2008
DACC
Donegal Action for Cancer Care (DACC) wish to thank most sincerely all
those who helped make their recent supper dance such a resounding success! The
supper dance was held on Friday, April 4 in Biddy Friel’s, Drumoghill. To date
there has been a profit of 2,075 Euro made and donations are still coming in. To
all of you who helped and supported DACC, DACC says thanks a million. Should you
wish to make a contribution or give some of your time to this very worthy cause
please contact Alma at 91 40186. Or you can contact the DACC Office at 91 28400
which is based at 13 St Columba’s Terrace, Letterkenny. The office is open from
Monday to Thursday 10.00 am to 1.30 pm. Susan, the office administrator, will be
more than happy to help you. Copies of the book by DACC called “You are not
alone” can be had from any member of DACC.
Photos Wanted
On Saturday December 15 2007, St Johnston and Carrigans Family Resource
Centre staged a production of Stumpy’s Brae starring local talent. The centre is
looking for copies of any photos you may have of the event. Regardless of
whether the photo is a physical photo or digital, we would like to copy it and
can give you back your original in seconds. If you would like to see your old
photo from times gone by in the St Johnston and Carrigans area on the website
www.stjohnstonandcarrigans.com please drop it into the centre and it will be
copied. We appreciate any help you can give.
Congratulations
Congratulations to Shannon Doherty who came third in the Ulster Karate
Championship on Saturday April 5. Also congratulations to Celene French the 2008
Ladies League Darts Champion. She was presented with the Maggie’s Tavern Dart
Shield by Alice Lynch in Maggie’s Tavern, St Johnston. Congratulations also to
Sean Coyle of Castletown who won Maggie’s Tavern Dart League 2008. Sean Ferry
presented Sean with the cup.
Parent’s Forum
Are you worried or concerned about the health and wellbeing of young
people in the St Johnston and Carrigans area? Are there issues such as drug
taking and alcohol abuse and anti-social behaviour and lack of support 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 call
Mary Crossan on 074 91 49551.
St Vincent de Paul
Two representatives of St Baithin’s Conference of St Vincent de Paul,
which is the local St Johnston and Carrigans branch, attended the St Vincent de
Paul Society members’ day which was held in Jackson’s Hotel, Ballybofey, Sunday,
May 11. It opened with tea at 9.30 am and there was training and information
presentations for members. We had a lovely lunch and then we participated in a
workshop. Mass by Father Rory Brady was celebrated at the end and St Baithin’s
Conference would like to say they found the experience valuable, enjoyable and
informative and to say thanks to all involved in making it happen.
Badminton
St Johnston and Carrigans Family Resource Centre are 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 on
Tuesday, April 1 at 7.00 pm. 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 8.00 pm, 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, 91 40186. We encourage you to come along and have a
good nights crack and also support this very worthy cause.
Meeting the President
The increased security, the gathering paparazzi and the growing
excitement signalled the imminent arrival of the guest of honour, President Mary
McAleese at Parkanaur Forest Park headquarters of the Speedwell Trust. Waiting
by their environmental display, were the four children invited to represent
Monreagh National School, Carrigans. The children were, Lucy McClintock, Melissa
Tinney, Joshua Roulston and Reece Duncan accompanied by their teacher Mrs
Buchanan. Also present were the children and teacher from their partner school,
St Davog’s Primary School. President McAleese spoke warmly to them and expressed
interest in their Wildlife and Waste Management programme and praised all
involved. For the schools, it was a moment of history and for Joshua Roulston it
was a moment of glory when he was selected to make a presentation to President
McAleese on behalf of Speedwell.
Monreagh National School
In recognition of World Wetland Day, Monreagh schoolchildren recently travelled
to Inch Lake to participate in an educational programme organised by Glenveagh
Education Centre.
From the recently constructed lookout, the children viewed and identified the
whooper swans, mute swans, grey heron and the coot through telescopes and
binoculars. They caught and learned about water minibeasts. In the woodland at
Inch Lake, the children took bark rubbings and identified the trees. Thanks to
Andrew Speer and all educational officers for an interesting and enjoyable day.
Over recent weeks, the children have had the opportunity to continue highland
dancing lessons with Bready Dancers. We thank James Kee for giving us permission
to join in the class at Newbuildings.
Monreagh School will close for Easter on Friday March 14 and will reopen on
Monday March 31. Swimming lessons begin on the first day back and we would
remind children to bring their swimming gear with them. We wish everyone in the
community a very happy and peaceful Easter.
Youth Activities
Youth Activities started in the St Johnston and Carrigans Family
Resource Centre in the first week in March. It will involve an After-School
Club, a Photographic Art Project, Badminton Lessons, Hip-Hop Dancing, Youth Club
and Drop-in Activities. The last day of the Youth Activities will be marked with
a community coffee morning on March 28. Registration is required and was
completed on 5th March. Information and timetables about the programme can be
obtained in the current edition of the St Johnston and Carrigans Newsletter
which is available locally.
Committee
Recently the St Johnston and Carrigans Family Resource Centre had a time
of farewells and welcomes to old and new members of the Management Committee.
The AGM took place recently and the current committee comprises, Chairperson –
John Mc Crossan, Vice-Chairperson - Angela Doherty, Secretary – Stephen McNamee,
Assistant Secretary – Leslie Matthews, Treasurer – Bernadette Moore, Assistant
Treasurer – George Friel, Public Relations Officer – Roisin Doherty. The new
committee members are Norman Moore, Elizabeth McKean, Susan Duffy, Rosaleen
Lynch, Ann Matthewson, Ian McCracken, Alex Carlin, Nuala Crossan, Jeanette
Curran and Olive Coyle. The outgoing committee members are Leona Friel, Evin
Devenney, Marian Sheppard, Paul Peoples, Eileen McCrossan and Deirdre Brown.
Maureen McLaughlin of the County Childcare Committee was one of the
founder members of the Playgroup. On Friday July 13 2007, at the 25th
Anniversary, she said during an event in St Johnston and Carrigans Family
Resource Centre to mark the occasion, “In the St Johnston, Trentaghmucklagh and
Killea are, the catchment area for the Playgroup – there are 188 children under
two years of age and that is a lot for this area. Stepping Stones provide the
childcare for these children. We would be advocating that every pre-school child
should have free access to pre-schooling. If you are talking to anyone with
regard to funding tell them that you want free access. She added that in 1981,
“the area was very polarised. There were the Catholics and Protestants, simple
as that. Things have moved on but I must pay tribute to the late Master Shannon
and Jim Roulstone for their help in the early days.” Playgroup Chariperson Emer
Houston acted as MC for the celebration. She unveiled a plaque commemorating the
Playgroup's quarter century of growing success.
Lunch Club Draw
The fortnightly lunch club for people fifty years young and over is a
great success. Its purpose is to improve socialising in the area and many people
have made new friends from the club. A free calendar of Lunch Club events and
times is available and will cover you for January and February.
There was a draw held on Wednesday, November 28 2007 at the Lunch Club
in the afternoon. The draw was for the Hand-Crochet Christening Shawl and Bonnet
which had been on display for several weeks in the reception area of the
Resource Centre. The winner was Linda Carlin from Raphoe. Congratulations Linda!
The total amount raised was 244 Euro and all proceeds go to the Lunch Club Fund.
A big thank you to everyone who bought tickets and who helped to sell them.
Carols
The Cross-Community Carol Service took place on Sunday evening, December
23, in St Johnston Presbyterian Church. The Church looked lovely for the
occasion with the tree and the crib. There was a great Christmas ambience and
community spirit. It was extremely well-attended and old favourites such as Hark
the Herald Angels Sing and Away in a Manger were sung by the choir and the
congregation. The choir was made up of the choirs of the local denominations.
Afterwards many of us went for a cup of tea to the Lecture Hall in St Johnston.
It is planned for the Service to be held in St Baithin’s Roman Catholic Church,
St Johnston this year.
Stumpy’s Brae
A stage presentation of the well-known local legend of Stumpy’s Brae
took place in the Resource Centre on December 15, 2007. We all know the story of
the peddler man who was killed and mutilated by a greedy couple and who returned
to haunt them. The play highlighted the talent of local children who were
assisted by Resource Centre Staff. Stumpy was played by Niamh Crossan, James the
old man who killed him was played by Dylan Kildea. Annie the old man’s wife was
played by Aoife Curran. The narrator was Michelle Doherty. There was a campfire
scene which comprised Lisa Wilson, Nikita Rodgers, Leanne Gibson, Aaron
Devenney, Roisin Crossan and Jodie Curran. There were zombies who were played by
Sarah Toland, Bernie Kildea, Alicia Howard, Amy Golden, Natasha Clarke, Taryn O
Donnell, Tamera McDevitt, Rachel Curran, Natasha Kildea. The play was a
tremendous success with an appreciative and responsive audience. Following the
play there was seasonal singing by the Youth Group, Staff and Management of the
Resource Centre. Nickita Rodgers performed a solo. Proceeds were donated towards
the St Johnston and Carrigans Summer Playscheme.
St
St Baithins National School Parents Association recently held its AGM in the school and the following parents were elected.
Chairperson was Grainne Fitzpatrick, Treasurer was Tina Bovaird, Secretary Rosemarie Sharkey, Vice-Chairperson was Mary Tinney, Assistant Secretary, Isobel Wilson. Committee Members: Angela Doherty, Adele McElroy, Rhona Campbell, Denise Wilson, Janette Curran, Catriona Doherty, Alice Lynch, Anne Marie Toland, Kate McGinty, Deirdre Lynch and Anne Marie Meehan (School Principal).
The school would like to extend a welcome to the parents who joined the committee for the first time this year. The outgoing committee would like to thank Ann Marie Toland for all her hard work during her year as secretary. The school would also like to thank Anne Marie Meehan and her staff at the school for their help during the year and for making the school available and welcoming the committee in organising and implementing various fundraising events.
The huge support of the children and parents of the school is always very much appreciated. Without their dedication and support during all our fundraising activities, the Parents Association would not be able to contribute towards the various projects in the school.
Congratulations to Ellie Graham who won the Sunsmart National Colouring Competition earning €20 for herself and €250 worth of PE equipment for the school.
To celebrate science week, the senior classes
attended an exhibition in Letterkenny Institute of Technology.
There was a really interesting display hosted by
The school would like to say a word of welcome to Miss Maeve McGinley to the school. Maeve is the new Learning Support Teacher and is a very welcome addition to the staff.
Forever Crafts
There was a group of ladies from Forever Crafts
on a shopping trip away in
The group did a course in Hand Quilting which
it says was a pure delight. Some beautiful pieces
of work were done. The group meets every Tuesday
in the
Congratulations!
Congratulations to Leslie Matthews supported by
Shaun Loughrey and Noel Donald who have produced a new DVD/video
called Don’t Give up on me, Lord. It is for
raising funds for Cancer Research Northern