13-11-2004

Want to be a writer?

A Two day workshop exploring creativity, ideas, style and confidence with Ursula Aspill de Brun MA (PJ O’Connor winner, Francis McManus winner, Ballykissangel writer) will be held on Saturday and Sunday November 21 and 22 from 10 am to 4.30 pm each day.
The workshop will be in Mountmellick Museum and the cost is €80.

Afternoon Dance

The Active Retirement Group are holding an afternoon dance in ICA Hall on Sunday, November 21 from 3 pm to 6 pm. Admission 5 including light refreshments. The proceeds are going to help Ann Conroy, Derrycloney who is going to Japan in February for two weeks to work as a volunteer with the Special Olympics Teams.

Set Dancing

Winter set dancing in St Mary’s hall, Clonaghadoo on Wednesdays at 8.30 pm. All welcome.

Jazz Ballet Classes

The above classes are being held every Wednesday in Mountmellick Macra Hall. Under 10s from 5 pm to 6 pm and 10 years and over from 6 pm to 7 pm. Contact Michelle for details.

Laois Citizens Information Service

The above is in attendance every Wednesday at MDA Irishtown from 10 am to noon 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. GROW GROUP: A Grow Group meets each week in Mountmellick. If you are someone who experiences depression or 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 take place in the MDA, Irishtown at 3 pm on Monday. For further information please contact Harriet.

Community Care Whist

1st Cecil Thompson, B O’Brien, Breda Cooley, Tom Gowing, Paddy Dolan. Halves 1, Veronica Kearns, 2, Alice McRedmond and Jim Delaney.

Sinn Fein News

The trip to Belfast which includes visits to various historical sites, is going ahead on the last weekend in November.

Also the 2005 Republican Resistance Calendar is now available and as 2005 is the 100th anniversary of the founding of Sinn Fein this year’s calendar contains both historical and topical illustrations. Anyone interested please contact John Nelson.

Old School Whist

October 28 - Top score J Delaney. Ladies 1, S Wilkinson; 2, V Bryan; B Kennedy. Gents 1, Mary Gowing, T Kearns. Halves 1, T Gowing, M Gorman; 2, S Duff. Best of three. B O’Brien hatching M Ryan, D Byrne. Lowest score A Mahon. Your continued support is appreciated every Thursday night.

PTAA

The regional dinner dance is being held in the Hazel Hotel on Friday November 19. Ticket holders please contact Brother Bosco Mountrath Before November 12 for hotel number for meals.

Clonaghadoo Parent and Child Group

The above has resumed on Wednesdays from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm in St Marys Hall Clonaghadoo. Cost 2 per family. All are welcome.

Blood Donors

At the clinic in Mountmellick there were 157 donors on October 7, 2004. The following received silver awards Martin Delaney, Ann Dowling, and the following received gold awards Doris Bagnall, David Farrell and Kevin Joyce.

Thanks

Ailish Dunne and her family would like to thank everyone for their support and for all the prizes at the table quiz for the national council for the blind and the Laois centre for independent living on Wednesday, November 27. Thanks also to quiz master Ron Lalor and to Vincent Mullen of the Mellick Inn and his staff. The quiz raised €1,060 on the night.

Our Lady’s Sewing Guild

The above would like to thank all who supported their sale of work on Sunday, October
24. Raffle winners 1, 150 Charles Dunne; 2, Mary Dalton; 3, Sheila Crawford; 4, Joe Egan; 5, Lena McCann.

Fit Kids Club

The fit kids club returns during the second week in November. This year it will cater for 4 - 10 year olds. Application forms available from Bryan.

Mountmellick Cemetery Committee

The above group are holding their annual church gate collection next weekend on Saturday and Sunday, November 13 and 14. Your generosity would be gratefully appreciated.

Community Care

Anyone wishing to avail of chiropody through Community Care please contact Claire Conroy on 0502 24853. The community care annual dinner party will be held in the Hazel Hotel on Sunday, January 23 at 2 pm. Further details at later date.

Macra News

Mountmellick Macra soared to victory in Macra’s first all Ireland bowling competition in Cork recently. The team of six macra members beat off stiff competition to become the eventual winners of the tournament.

Best of luck to the club members who are through to the finals of the club of the year which will be held in Carlow at the annual rally. Hard luck to Mountmellick Macra volleyball team who represented Laois on Sunday October 21 in DCU.

Comhaltas News

Mountmellick CCE held a musical session in the Macra Hall on Sunday, October 17 from 2 to 6 pm. The event was well attended by musicians, singers and dancers from the various branched of Comhaltas in Laois.

The idea behind the seisiun is to bring together young artists from Laois and for them to provide entertainment with their music, song and dance. the event was organised by Laois Youth Officer Mary Brigid Culleton and chairman of Mountmellick CCE Brian Furlong and Mountmellick CCE committee.
Chairman of Laois CCE Brendan O’Reilly and his wife Eileen attended. Brendan praised the young people on their performances and thanked the parents and audience for making the evening such a success. Mountmellick branch hosted light refreshments for all attending.

The next session will be held on Sunday, December 5 between 3 and 6pm at the Heritage Centre, Clonaslee.

Laois County Board of CCE in conjunction with Mountmellick branch will hold an honours night on Friday November 12 at the Manor Hotel, Abbeyleix. The guest of honour on the night will be Mary B Culleton of Mountmellick branch.

Mary B as she is known to all her friends, wears many hats one of these being Irish officer for Laois County Board of Comhaltas. The night follows the success of recent years where Laois Comhaltas had honoured such people as Stephen Conroy, Peter Hogan, Donal Deegan and Brendan O’Reilly.Music will be provided by the Clodiagh Valley Trio and musicians and singers from Laois Comhaltas.

Soccer

Midland schoolboys girls league, u-13 boys major - Clara 2, Mountmellick 1; U-16 boys - Killeigh 2, Mountmellick 0; u-9 girls -Bealnamulla 4, Mountmellick 4; u-17 Bealnamulla 2, Mountmellick 0.