29-04-2003

MACA BoyThat a boy, Mc Evoy!

TWENTY-SIX year old Mountmellick singer-songwriter Brendan Mc Evoy, described as one of Ireland’s newest and most talented emerging artists has just launched his first solo single on March 21 last, entitled “Goodbye”, a soulful ballad from his forth-coming debut album “Everything Changed”. Performing under the name Maca Boy, the former Mesner front man released the single at a launch held in Spirit in Dublin on March 20, which has been released on Brendan’s own label MACA Records.

Maca Boy is currently recording his debut album, from which ‘Good Bye’ is taken. Filled with heart felt experiences and inspired by the trials & tribulations of everyday life, ‘Everything Changed’ will be released later in the year.

Brendan describes music as the fuel for his heart and soul to live a happy life: “It’s the only thing that I have ever done that nobody can change; it is cast in stone forever and if it helps one other person understand things better then I am happy. Going it alone after six brilliant years in rock band Mesner wasn’t easy, but as soon as I did, it felt just right, expressing myself in the way I always wanted. Now, there is more range in my material from ballads to rock and it just comes together the way I intended it to.”

The release of ‘Goodbye’ will be accompanied by a nationwide Irish tour - dates are to be announced soon.

If you would like to hear a sample of Good Bye please click on the play Icon. The file is in MP3 format and is 162Kb in size.

LFL Midland Women’s League final

Mountmellick Utd 0......................................................... Portlaoise 4

HISTORY was made in Portlaoise on Sunday when the first ever LFL Women’s League final was played. The league was established late last year and has proved a huge hit with the players, attracting teams from Longford down to Kilkenny.

Home side Portlaoise shocked everyone to lift the inaugural league title and they did it the hard way, beating co-favourites Bealnamulla and Mountmellick in the semi-final and final respectively.

The final was a surprisingly one-sided affair, especially given that Mountmellick had beaten Portlaoise twice in the league this season.

But a goal after only three minutes from hat-trick heroine Jessica Curley indicated an upset was on the cards and when she hit the net again 11 minutes later Portlaoise were well in control.

Portlaoise ‘keeper Shona Phelan did have to make some saves before the break as Mountmellick, for whom Under 19 international Aileen O’Loughlin was carrying a slight injury, tried to make a comeback.

Just 51 seconds after the break the game was effectively put beyond them when Portlaoise’s Sylvia Gee, the former Leeds United and UCD player (she won the FAI Cup with the Students last season) who has nine Irish senior caps, surprised Mountmellick ‘keeper Breda Cleary with a superbly judged shot from near halfway.

In the 68th minute Mountmellick had a glimmer of hope when they won a penalty but the luckless O’Loughlin put her spot-kick over the bar.

With ten minutes left Portlaoise added their fourth when impressive substitute Maggie Murphy contested a high ball with Breda Cleary, won it and then saw Curley complete her hat-trick in a goalmouth scramble.

Shell-shocked Mountmellick will hope to salvage something from the season in the forthcoming Midland Women’s Cup while Portlaoise can now set their sights on the double.
It was also a disappointing league final for Mountmellick’s Clare Conlon who was recently called into the Ireland Under 17 women’s squad for a trip to Belgium.

Though Mountmellick had won the previous two meetings between the sides, the games were close - Portlaoise lost 4-3 and 2-1.

Mountmellick had topped Section One of the Midland Women’s League, ahead of Portlaoise, and beat Longford Town 4-3 in the semi-final.

Bealnamulla from Athlone topped Section Two and were expected to reach the decider but were the first side to fall to a surprise Portlaoise defeat, losing 3-0 in the penultimate fixture.

Portlaoise are managed by Kevin Burke and Paul McCormack while Mark Turner and Niall Westman are in charge of Mountmellick United.

Mountmellick Utd: Breda Cleary; Aoife Cleary, Nichole Dunphy, Aileen O’Loughlin, Ann Marie Hourigan, Mandy Bloomer, Grace Weston, Mags McEvoy, Rachael Farrell, Clare Conlon, Olwyn Farrell.

Portlaoise: Shona Phelan; Sile Loughrey, Richelle O’Neill, Trish Lalor, Niamh O’Rourke, Anna Connolly, Sylvia Gee, Liz Cahill, Jessica Curley, Claire Casey, Sinead Kelly. Subs: Maggie Murphy for Claire Casey (54 mins), Ann Marie Lowry for Richelle O’Neill (73 mins).

Referee: Tony Ward (Midlands Branch).

Special Olympics Art

Mountmellick will be a host town for athletes from Peru who are taking part in the Special Olympics in June.

Art exhibitions will be held throughout Mountmellick in shops, schools and halls and all schools and organisations are invited to get involved. Drawings, paintings, projects, models and collages from individuals and groups of all ages are welcomed.

The closing date is Wednesday, April 16. Artwork can be left into the MDA Office, Irishtown marked ‘Special Olympics Art’.

For any queries please contact Sheelagh Coyle or Florence Fennelly.

Special Olympics

There will be an important meeting of all volunteers involved in Mountmellick host town programme for the forthcoming Special Olympics World Games. The meeting will take place in the Macra Hall, Mountmellick on Monday, March 31 at 8 pm.

Reading With A Mission

St. Joseph’s GNS extend a big thank you to all the parents, relatives and friends who sponsored the girls participating in Reading for a Mission. The results have been overwhelming with €2,556 collected to date for the children in Zambia.

A special word of thanks also to Sr Mary for providing the certificates and to the parents council for sponsoring a small token for each participant.

Laois Writers Group

The above group will meet on Tuesday, April 1 from 7 pm to 9 pm in County Hall. The writers are preparing for the Bealtaine Festival when they will read in Cafe Latte, Portlaoise on Sunday, May 18. The women’s singing group ‘Ireland Unlimited’ will sing at this event.

Internet And E Mail

The MDA will soon begin a course in computer training in the Internet an E-mail. It will be held on three Thursday afternoons from 2 pm to 4 pm. For further enquiries please contact Imelda Burke.

Fine Gael

The local branch of Fine Gael held their AGM on Friday night, March 14 in the Town Hall. This well attended meeting proved to be very lively with many of the issues affecting Mountmellick discussed. The proposed inner relief road was discussed at great length.

It was asked if negotiations had been started with the landowners who would be affected by the new road. Cllr Dave Conroy stated that no negotiations had started and that only had been made available for the project. Due to the traffic problems in Mountmellick the branch called on Laois County Council to make more parking spaces available.

The out going chairman Jim Blanc thanked the officers for their hard work and wished the incoming committee the best of luck.

Cllr Dave Conroy presided over the election of new officers.

The following officers were elected: Joint Presidents: Mrs Mai Flanagan & Mr. Pascal Kearney; Vice President: Ms. Sadie Scott; Chairman: Larry Ryan; Secretary: Paddy Buggy; Treasurers: Margaret Bradford & Jim Blanc’ Organiser: Maeve Flanagan; Community Officer: Moyra Conroy; PRO: Paddy Buggy.

Those interested in joining Fine Gael should contact Paddy Buggy.

Mountmellick G.A.A. News

Committee Meeting:
Mountmellick GAA Club will hold a committee meeting in the club house at Acragar at 9 pm Thursday. All committee members are asked to attend.

Trip To Cavan:
A very enjoyable weekend was spent in Cavan by a group from Mountmellick GAA Club. The fine weather, the hospitality and the top class football match all combined to make it an excellent trip for all.