05-07-2003

Further Education Centre Enrolment

Mountmellick Further Education Centre at Harbour St. is holding its enrolment for courses this September this evening, Wednesday, July 2, from 7.30 pm to 8.30 pm.

There are four courses on offer. The first course is a Certificate of Childcare Level 2 which prepares students to work with young children in a variety of childcare settings.
This includes child development, early childhood education, caring for children aged 0 to 6, working in childcare, occupational first aid, work experience, communications, information technology and personal and interpersonal skills. Graduates of this course are eligible to apply to Institutes of Technology for follow on courses.

The second course is a Certificate in Childcare Level 3 which prepares students to work with young children in a variety of childcare settings in a supervisory/management position. This involves supervision in childcare, child development, social and legal issues in childcare, early childhood programme, information technology, occupational first aid, safety and health at work and food preparation. The graduates of this course are also eligible to apply to Institutes of Technology for follow on courses. The Certificate in Hairdressing Level 2 gives students a broad view of hairdressing as a career choice. The course includes hairdressing science, theory and practice, customer service, communications, information technology, work experience, personal and interpersonal
skills and occupational first aid.

The final course is a Certificate in Youth work Level 2. This course is for students who may be looking for employment or further education in the area of youth work. The course includes working with young people, understanding youth work, communications, work experience, social studies and after schools support skills. Graduates of this course are eligible to apply to Institutes of Technology for follow on courses.

Full details of these courses are available from Patricia Cullen the co-ordinator.

The courses are grant aided where applicable and grant forms are available from Laois VEC.

Cemetery Mass

Mountmellick's annual cemetery Mass will be held on Saturday, July 19 at 7.30 pm, not Sunday, July 20, Please note the change. There will be no Mass at 7.30 pm in St. Joseph's Church that evening.

PTAA Knock Pilgrimage

The annual PTAA pilgrimage to Knock takes place on Sunday, July 6. The bus will leave the square at 9 am. Cost: adults €10 and child €5.

Please contact Ollie Kelly at 050224531 or John Dowling at 050224194 or any member of the Pioneer Council.

Tennis Club

The first summer camp is now in progress and the second one will run from July 7 to July 11. This is open to members and non-members. Children must be aged between 6 and 12. The cost is e38 for members and e40 for non-members. Qualified coaches run the camp. Numbers are limited so book early. Adults tennis takes place every Monday and Wednesday from 7.30 pm. For more details on joining the club or the activities in our Junior Tennis Academy contact Bryan.

GAA Summer Camp

Mountmellick's GAA summer camp takes place in Parc Acragar from Tuesday, July 22 to Friday, July 25. This is a combined camp featuring football, hurling and camogie. It is open to all children from 2nd class up to 6th class.

The cost is €30 per child with family reductions. Each child will receive a T-shirt, a fun size football or all weather sliotar, a baseball cap, sports socks, sports bag and a sport water bottle.

Coaching will take place in Gaelic football, hurling and camogie and the children will enjoy quizzes, bench ball and visits from inter county stars. Application forms can be obtained from Fiona.

Grow Group

A Grow Group has begun in Mountmellick. If you are someone who experiences depression, anxiety attacks or who is simply in need of company do come along.
You will have an opportunity to meet others, share your problems in confidence, get support and make new friends. All are welcome.

Meetings will take place in the MDA, lrishtown at 3 pm every Monday. For further information please contact Harriet.

Laois Citizens Information Service

The above will be in attendance every Wednesday at MDA lrishtown from 10 am to 12.30 pm or else may be contacted at the Portlaoise office. Anyone who would like help with tax problems, social welfare entitlements, health, housing or any related problem are welcome to attend.

Juvenile Soccer

Mountmellick Juvenile Soccer Club are holding a presentation night on this Friday, July 4 at 8.30 pm in the Owenass Hall. All players and their parents are asked to be there on the night for the presentation of awards.

Robert Emmet

The Pike People's Parade takes place in Dublin on Saturday, July 13. For more information on bus details please contact John Fitzgerald.

St. Joseph’s Young Priest Society

The above will hold their AGM on this Friday, July 4 at 8 pm in the convent. All members are asked to attend, the meeting will be over by 8.45 pm sharp.

Creative Computer Training for Children

The above course will start shortly in the MDA. Children will be shown how to use various desktop publishing software titles. For more information please contact Imelda Burke.

GAA News

Ul6 FOOTBALL: Mountmellick's u16 footballers got their championship off to the ideal start when they put on a power packed performance against Ballyroan on Saturday evening last, June 28.

Keyed up by the fact that they had to play without some of their regulars, Mountmellick set about their task from the throw in. With the assistance of the wind the town lads kicked some great scores form all angles and were in a commanding lead at the interval with a score of 1-14 to Ballyroan 0-2.

In the second half the Mountmellick boys continued their dominance and ran out worthy winners with the final score being 3-19 to 1-7. While this was a good all round performance they know that tougher challenges lie ahead but that is for another day, as they play the Heath in the next round.

Scorers: Ollie Dickson 2-7, Michael Holland 1-1, Bernard Rochford 0-3, CoIm Coss 0-2, John O'Loughlin 0-2, NialI Gorman 0-2, Diarmuid O'Flaherty 0-2.
Team: Jason Hogan, Ciaran Rochford, David Tynan, Eoin Gorman, Keith
Clinton, Michael Bermingham, Gearoid Hanrahan, Diarmuid O'Flaherty, Bernard Rochford, CoIm Coss, John O'Loughlin, Niall Gorman, Paul Stapelton, Oliver Dickson, Michael Holland and subs Eoghan O'Neill, Darren McDermott, Robert Challoner, Colin Dunne and Sean Culliton.

Intermediate Hurling: Mountmellick's intermediate hurlers suffered their second defeat in this year's championship as they were badly beaten by Castletown in Mountrath. This was a very poor performance but the lads battled gamely but it was not to be.

The Rock GAA

The U8’s playing away to Gracefield on Thursday last produced another great performance but were narrowly defeated on this occasion as the home team emerged winners on a final scoreline Gracefield 2-5. Rock 1-3. Great performances on both teams who served up great entertainment for the large crowd. The Rock panel was: Christopher Gormon, Conor Flynn, Arron Dowling, Anavil Storey, Kiara Burke, Callum Byrne, Eimear Carroll, Niamh Allen, Rebecca Mullen, Sarah Delaney, Conor Allen, Niamh Coss, Amanda Dempsey, Hanna McRedmond, Sarina McGrath, Fiona Dempsey, Joyce Dunne, Mikayla O’Connor.

Thanks

The Oncologyl Regional Breast Care Unit at Portlaoise Hospital would like to send a sincere note of thanks to Bernie Carroll and Peggy Delaney for their generous donation of €801.26 following their participation in the Womens Mini Marathon.

Camogie Ladies Football

The first championship outing, at adult level, for the newly formed O’Moores Camogie Club took place at the week end when the team played St. Brigids in Acragar Park.
Despite being their first game in the championship as a unit it proved to be a very successful start to the campaign as they came away winners by 0-9 to 0-5. O’Moore’s struggled in the first half to find a rhythm and were level at the break, but in the second half they were clearly the dominant side and should have won by much bigger margin.

They will however be very satisfied to have a win under their belt as they face Harps in the second round on Monday July 7th in Durrow.

Team: Marguerite Sythes, Josie Dowling, Caroline Bermingham, Catriona Heffernan, Catriona Downey, Niamh O’Loughlin, Theresa Phelan, Cyrellene Duff, Caroline Heffernan, Elaine Downey, Fiona O’Donnell, Anne Phelan, Lorraine Hill, Anita Dooley, Sinead Lanham. Subs: Emma McEvoy, Sara Murphy, Kathleen Morris, Rene Heffernan.
In Ladies Football, Sarsfields open their junior championship campaign with a match against Park/Ratheniska on Thursday evening in Ratheniska at 7.00pm.

Congratulations to the U14 team on reaching the Laois county final where they went down to Portlaoise by 6-7 to 1-4. Despite the heavy defeat the team and their trainer David Hayden deserve major credit for huge amount of work put in to bring the squad to the final.

Team: Jenny McEvoy, Amy Grehan, Laura Quigley, Caroline Lynch, Aisling Walsh, Joanne Scott, Michelle O’Loughlin, Carol Whelan, Claire O’Loughlin (Capt.), Lisa Clinton, Rosemary Bermingham, Rachel Williams, Rachel Mullen, Mairead Furlong, Emma Lynch.

Diabetes Day

Butlers Pharmacy, Market Street, Mountmellick, will be holding a Diabetes Day on Monday July 14. A diabetes nurse will be available at the pharmacy to offer practical advice to people with diabetes in relation to diet, lifestyle and exercise.

Free diabetes testing will also be available. A simple blood test is carried out to detect how much glucose is in the blood. It is estimated that 200,000 people in Ireland have diabetes and that approximately 50% of this group are unaware that they have the condition. If you would like more information or if your are interested having a test for diabetes, please make a free appointment at the pharmacy.

5 Day Club

Mountmellick Methodist Church are holding a ‘5 Day Club’ in the Hall behind the Methodist Church. This will take place from Monday July 13 until Friday July 18 from 2.30pm until 4.00pm each day. There will games, singing, Bible stories, drama etc. All children from ages 4 to 11 years are welcome. Come and join the fun.

Awards Night

Mountmellick Juvenile Soccer Club will hold their awards night on Friday in the C.Y.M.S. Hall at 8.30pm. The committee hope to see all players and parents there.

Robert Emmet 1803 – 2003

Pikepeoples Parade in Dublin on Sunday July 13. For more information on bus details contact John Fitzgerald.