ST JOHNSTON AND CARRIGANS NOTES ARCHIVE FOR YEAR 2009
Bazaar
St Johnston and Carrigans Family Resource Centre wishes to say thanks for all
your help with the bazaar. Proceeds from the bazaar held in November 28th 2009
came to an amazing 3900 Euro. Thanks to everyone who helped make it such a major
success Tony Tourish, Patrick Colhoun, Justin Mc Glinchey, everyone who donated
prizes or donations, collectors, ticket sellers, bakers, everyone who helped on
the night and especially to all of you who came along to the bazaar and
supported us in such a generous way. Go raibh mile maith agat.
Christmas Holidays
The Resource Centre will close for Christmas at lunchtime on Tuesday, December
22 2009 and will re-open Wednesday, Jan 6 2010.
The Grinch
The Resource Centre Christmas play is The Grinch. The play stars budding young
local actors and will take place on Saturday, 19 December. Door open 7.30 pm.
The play starts 8 pm. Please look at the posters locally for further information
or call 91 48551. The play is supported through Donegal VEC Community Education
Fund.
St Baithin’s N.S. News: Drug Awareness Evening: There was a Drug Awareness
Evening held in the school hall on February 24th, which was very successful. All
parents in the locality were invited and we would like to thank everyone for
taking the time to attend this evening. Amy Golden, who is now a past pupil,
designed a Drug Awareness poster when she was a pupil here in 6th class. This
poster was on display to highlight the dangers of drugs. Garda Paul Wallace made
a very interesting presentation on the issue and there was some interesting
discussion points raised on the evening. We would also like to thank our local
Garda Tony Moran for helping organise this evening. Ag Súgradh le Chéile: This
fun play day took place in the school hall for parents of children in Mrs
McElhone’s room on March 6th. Many parents and some grannies came into play with
their children. This ran over 2 sessions as the group was quite large. Great fun
was had by both adults and children. This was facilitated by Linda McGuinness
from the Fás le Chéile programme. Thanks again to all for their participation.
Confirmation: The Confirmation ceremony took place on March 24th at 6.00pm for
pupils in 5th/6th class. The bad weather did not dampen the spirit of those
celebrating the Sacrament. There were 72 children in total confirmed by Bishop
Boyce and they were a credit to their family and their schools. The Bishop
provided a lovely keepsake Prayer Book as a reminder of their special day. We
have come to the end of some very successful coaching sessions with Bosco
McDermott. He taught the children the fundamental skills of Gaelic football. The
children really enjoyed and benefited from these sessions. Comenius Project: The
second part of the Comenius project is coming up on April 1st when a group of
teachers from the school travel to Karlshamn, Sweden. The town of Karlshamn is
on the south coast of Sweden. Here the teachers will meet up with the partner
schools from England, Spain and of course Sweden, where they will spend time
seeing how the Swedish school operates. Preparations for this trip have been
ongoing. The children have made St. Patrick’s Day badges to bring over as gifts
for the Swedish children. A lot of work has gone into making a DVD about “A Day
in the Life of St. Baithin’s N.S.” Sporting and art activities have all been
captured on film. The children have learned Swedish words and phrases and they
cannot wait to be famous in Sweden. The teachers will also meet with the Mayor
of Karlshamn and the Royal Governor. Easter Egg Draw: The annual Easter Egg draw
will be held on April 3rd, the day of the Easter holidays. This draw is in aid
of Fr Oliver’s work in the Philippines. The children in 2nd, 3rd and 4th class
are participating in Gaelic Coaching with Paul Callaghan every Monday. We would
like to offer thanks to Newtown GAA club for organising this.
Rural Resource Information: Garvan Connolly, Rural Resource Worker with Donegal
Local Development Company (DLDC) Outreach Service, will be able to provide free
and confidential information and advice on various agricultural schemes and
social welfare entitlements for farming/fishing families. He can also provide
information on: Enterprise Start Up, Community Development, the Leader+ and
National Rural Development Programmes, CLAR, Community Based Youth Initiative,
Job Club, Job Initiative, Regional Employment Service and Rural Social Scheme.
Garvan will be available on Tuesday 24th March, 2009 between 2.30pm and 4.30pm
in the St. Johnston & Carrigans Family Resource Centre. Contact Garvan at 91
27056.
Anti-Social Behaviour: There is a lot of concern about anti-social behaviour,
vandalism, crime and other issues in St. Johnston. A number of residents are
interested in forming a Resident’s Group to work together to make St. Johnston a
better and safer place to live. A public meeting will take place in the Resource
Centre on Tuesday 31st March at 7.30pm. Everybody welcome!
Scoil an Linbh Íosa Notes: Enrolment day for children starting school Sept 2009
will take place on Tuesday 31st March 2009 from 1-2pm. Parents are asked to
bring with them copy of child’s birth and baptismal certificates. School will
close for Easter holidays on Friday 3rd April 2009 at 11.35am. School will
reopen on Monday 20th April at 8.55am. First Communion will take place on
Saturday 9th May 2009 at 11am in St. Baithin’s Church St. Johnston.
Congratulations to the pupils who made their Confirmation on Tuesday 24th March
2009. They are, Nicole Cuskelly, Kelly-Ann Brogan, Amanda Mc Gettigan, Bernard
Mc Gee, Chloe Brogan, Nicole Brown, Stacey Mc Gee, Patricia Brogan, Cathal
Clarke, Matthew Clarke, Shane Grant, James Devenney, Jordan McDaid, Dylan
McLaughlin, Andrew Mc Gettigan, Chloe Mc Fadden, Dermot Harrison and Conor O’
Donnell.
Craft Fayre & Car Boot Sale: To be held at St. Johnston Presbyterian Church Hall & Car Park on Easter Saturday, 11th April, 2009, from 11.00am to 4.00pm. Proceeds to Oncology, Letterkenny Hospital. More information on 07491 48198 or 48133.
Fisherman’s Inn Annual Fundraiser: The Fisherman’s Inn are holding their annual fundraising event in aid of the Donegal Hospice on Easter Saturday, 11th April, 2009. Prizes: 1st - Quad; 2nd - Child’s Bike; 3rd - Easter Hamper.
Planet Youth: After re-opening a new drop-in centre in May 2008, Planet Youth
has seen its membership increase dramatically through its lunchtime and evening
drop-in service and many youth programmes and activities. Planet Youth held a
successful ‘Stars in Their Eyes’ Christmas Special in the Villa Rose on December
30th, 2008. Sixteen acts pleased a large audience and raised a substantial
amount of money for the Youth Club. Contact Sean McGrory on 086 6033961 or email
sean.mcgrory@donegalyouthservice.ie for more information.
Job Club: A new Job-seeking Training Programme will be commencing in the new Job
Club offices at St. Mary’s Road, Buncrana soon. During the current economic jobs
climate, competition for job vacancies is high. Why not come to the Job Club and
learn the skills that will enable you put the best application forward? This
course is free to all. Call Aisling on (074) 9361376 for further details and to
book your place, or Fax: (074) 9361384 or email: jobclubbuncrana@eircom.net
Special Pilgrimage Package: (in response to local requests). 2nd to 9th May
only: 2 options: a) 2-9th May '09 - 7 nights Medugorje £499.00. b) 2-9th May '09
- 5 nights Medugorje plus San Giovanni. Optional midweek trip to Shrine of Padre
Pio in San Giovanni at additional supplement of £190 (Total £689) - includes
cabins on ferry crossings, coach and meals in San Giovanni. Places are strictly
limited and immediate enquiries / bookings are recommended. For details, contact
Marie Furey 07493 61625 (Buncrana) or, Pat Mullan 04871 301474.
Silver Circle Draw: St. Baithin’s N.S. Parents Association Silver Circle Draw
2009, 3rd Week Prize Winners are: €60 – Hannah Bovaird. €40 – Margaret McNulty;
€20 – Naomi Kildea. Promoters Ellie D. Toland - €15.
Art For Beginners: This is a 6 week course supported by the Donegal VEC
Community Educational Programme. There are still some places available before
this course can commence, so get your name in quickly to avail of this artistic
opportunity which is suitable for beginners or improvers! Contact .the St.
Johnston & Carrigans Family Resource Centre on 91 48551.
Youth Club Members: Are you 12 to 16 years old? We need you! Our Youth Club
wants to run activities for you but we need your input on what activities you
want. Come along and tell us! The Youth Club is held on Thursday nights from
7.30pm to 8.30pm. There are treats every week, such as day trips. Weekly
activities include music, computer & internet use, games and art, etc. The Youth
Club runs on Thursday nights. Group 1 (8-11 year olds) which runs from 6.30
-7.30pm is full, but membership will re-commence on September 2009. Group 2
(12-15 year olds) runs from 7.30 -8.30pm) and there are still a few placements
left. Entry costs €1 and internet access is €1 per hour. New Group 2 members are
welcome to join any Thursday night in the St. Johnston & Carrigans Family
Resource Centre. For more information contact 074 91 48551.
New Irish Dance Class: Although this has already started every Tuesday at 4.00pm
in the Family Resource Centre under the tuition of the McGill Academy, there may
still be places available. All new pupils welcome. Contact: 0044 78 57388293 or
0044 79 553 60132.
Driving Theory Test & Computing: Are you aged between 17 and 30? St. Johnston &
Carrigan’s Family Resource Centre is offering a programme ‘Preparing for your
Driving Theory Test and Basic Computers’. If you are interested, please contact
the Resource Office at 074 91 48551.
Maths for Parents Course: Do you find that Maths has changed? Do children ‘take
away’ and ‘add’ in a different way from when you learned it? Would you like to
learn the new Maths to help them with their homework? A 10 week ‘Maths for
Parents’ course will be held, one morning per week, in St. Johnston & Carrigans
Family Resource Centre (074 91 48551). If you’re interested, give your name and
telephone number at the Resource Centre. When we have enough names, we’ll
arrange a morning to suit most.
Stepping Stones Playgroup: There are still a number of places available in the
Playgroup. If your child is 2 years and 10 months and is toilet trained, they
can start our Playgroup. We are open from 9.00am to 1.30pm every weekday. There
is a registration fee of €10.00. You can contact the Playgroup on 074 91 48512
and talk to Mary or Anne. Please bring your child’s immunisation records.
Library Service: At St. Johnston and Carrigan’s FRC, we run a Taobh Tire Donegal
County Library Book borrowing service. This ‘taster’ library service includes
Adult and Children’s books, Music CDs, DVD's, Videos, Magazines and ‘Talking’
Books. In the computer suite we have a dedicated computer on-line service to the
main library. You can also join the Taobh Tire Donegal County Library from the
St. Johnston and Carrigan’s Family Resource Centre if you wish. In addition we
also provide our own second hand recycling book service. We welcome donations of
books in reasonable condition (space permitting) which are then offered free to
the public.
Appeal for Donations: If you have any unwanted gifts that could be used by the
St. Johnston and Carrigan’s Lunch Club to raise funds, we would be grateful if
you would drop them into the St. Johnston and Carrigans Family Resource Centre.
Thank you.
Stamps: If you have any used stamps, just tear them off and bring them down to
Maureen McLaughlin at the St. Johnston Post Office. Maureen was delighted at the
response over Christmas and hopes you’ll continue to bring her your used stamps.
She will make good use of them for charity.
Good Morning Service: Good Morning Inishowen, Maidm Mhaith lar Thuaisceart,
GoodMorning South West and soon to be Good Morning Donegal East are all part of
the Good Morning Service in Donegal. The service which is facilitated by
Volunteers who have been fully trained and vetted and is available to those
Older People (Clients) who choose to use it. Volunteers make a phone call to
these Clients daily or weekly at a pre arranged time. The first aim of the
telephone call is to ensure that the Client is safe and well in their home,
secondly Volunteers will help Clients with any queries they might have and
thirdly the call is a social contact for the Client. This service has been
operational in Inishowen since August 2006 and in the lar Thuaisceart area of
the County since December 2007. The service is due to commence in the South West
and in the East of the County in February 2009. The service is available to
anyone aged 65 or over, if you or anyone you know would like to receive a
telephone call from this service please contact Anne or Joan at 07493 21598. If
you are interested in becoming a Volunteer with this service you could also
contact Anne or Joan at 074 9321598. To date Clients who use the service have
been delighted with the telephone call and speak very positively of the service.
The service is confidential and available to anyone aged 65 years or over If you
have any queries m relation to any of the above please do not hesitate to ring
us at the number mentioned above. Look forward to hearing from you, Anne Gill,
Project Coordinator.
Special Olympics Ireland: Are you interested in volunteering at the Special
Olympics Ulster 2009 Regional Games in Letterkenny? 1,500 volunteers needed for
Friday 12th June to Sunday 14th June 2009. Sports include: Athletics, Aquatics,
Basketball at the Aura Leisure Centre, and Ten-Pin Bowling at the Letterkenny
Institute of Technology. For further information please contact us on 0818 313
045 (ROl), 00353 818 313 045 (NI) or email 2009ulstergames@specialolympics.ie or
locally through Ciaran Martin at 9194297 or Ciaran.martin@donegalcoco.ie
You are invited to ASIST: ASIST is the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills
Training. Make a difference, come to ASIST and learn suicide first aid. A two
day skills building workshop in suicide first aid will be held shortly subject
to sufficient numbers. Please contact the St. Johnston & Carrigans Family
Resource Centre on 91 48551.
Pilates: These are held every Wednesday night with Sadie Devenney from 7.00pm to
8.00pm in the St. Johnston & Carrigans Family Resource Centre. Everyone welcome.
Phone 91 45455 for details.
Parent & Toddler Playgroup: If you are the Parent of a young child or children
or are caring for a baby or toddler, then you might like to meet other parents
or carers in the area for a cup of tea and a chat, while the children play
together with a range of toys, games and activities. So, why not join the Parent
& Toddler Group at St. Johnston & Carrigans Family Resource Centre? The
Playgroup restarts on Wednesday 14th January from 10.00 to 11.30am. For more
information contact the St. Johnston & Carrigans Family Resource Centre on 074
91 48551.
Youth Club Committee: The St. Johnston and Carrigans Family Resource Centre is
working to develop a committee of volunteers and parents to guide the direction
of and volunteer with the Youth Club. If you are interested in volunteering with
the youth club or would like to join the committee, please contact 07491 48851.
Forever Crafts: We meet every Tuesday afternoon between 12.30pm to 2.30pm in the
Old Playgroup building in Church Lane, St. Johnston and for the next couple of
months we are concentrating on needlework, long stitch, cross stitch,
embroidery, etc. We would like to invite anyone who would like to join us, to
come along on any Tuesday afternoon for some craft work, a cup of tea or coffee
and some craic. You may wish to bring along a piece of needlework or something
else you are working on, to do at the group and get help if you need it. We are
a friendly group of crafty women who love to chat, (not just about craft) and
enjoy the company of each other. Please come along and join us.
Women’s Group: Our meetings take place every Thursday at 8.00pm in the St.
Johnston & Carrigans Family Resource Centre. We intend to hold a couple of
Women’s Health meetings with facilitators from the Donegal Women’s Network over
the next couple of months. One was held at the end of last year, which was
really well attended and very interesting. There is also a Women’s Book Club
that meets just before the Women’s Group at 7.30pm where they all take the same
book away to read over the following month. There is a warm invitation to anyone
who would like to come along and join us.
Wednesday Craft Group: We are a small group of women who enjoy meeting together
to work on craft projects together. In the past we have done card making,
decoupage, scrap-booking and quilting. We meet every Wednesday night in the St.
Johnston & Carrigans Family Resource Centre from 8.00 to 10.00pm. We would like
to extend a warm invitation to anyone who would like to join us to come along on
any Wednesday night.
Men’s Group: The Men’s Group meet on the first Tuesday of every month in the St.
Johnston & Carrigans Family Resource at 7.30pm. There will be an introduction to
computing on 7th April from 7.00pm to 8.00pm tutored by Eamonn O’Connor.
Everyone is welcome to come along and join us to plan and enjoy activities
ranging from a game of cards to a night’s bowling in Letterkenny.
Contact Details: The St. Johnston Notes/Community News can be contacted on 074
91 48551 at the St. Johnston and Carrigans Family Resource Centre. You can drop
articles into the Centre, or leave them at St. Johnston or Carrigans Post
Office. Outside office hours you can phone Eamonn on 087 917 1594 or email
articles to: epoconnor@eircom.net.