16-10-2004

Table quiz for the blind

There will be a table quiz on Wednesday, October 27, for NCBI (National Council for the Blind of Ireland) and the Laois Centre for Independent Living in The Mellick Inn at 9.30pm. Your support would be greatly appreciated.

Comhaltas

Music classes have resumed in the community sports centre behind the community school every Tuesday evening from 7 to 9pm. The musical tutors are Brian and Fiona Ryan. All categories from beginner to advanced are catered for. Existing and new members are welcome. For further information contact secretary Margaret Culliton or assistant secretary Joan Culleton.

Castlebrack Cemetery Rosary

The Rosary will be recited every Sunday evening at 7pm in Castlebrack cemetery for the month of October. All are welcome.

Jazz Ballet Classes

Classes are held every Wednesday in Mountmellick Macra hall - under-10s from 5 to 6pm and 10 years and over from 6 to 7pm. Contact Michelle for details.

Citizen's Info

Is in attendance every Wednesday at MDA, Irishtown, from 10am to noon or may be contacted at the Portlaoise office. Anyone who would like help with tax problems, social welfare entitlements, health, housing or any related problem is welcome to attend.

Grow Group

A Grow Group meets each week in Mountmellick. If you are someone who experienced depression or anxiety attacks or who is simply in need of company 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 3pm every Monday. For further information please contact Harriet.

Line Dancing

Do you want to keep fit while having fun this winter? Then come along to line dancing every Wednesday night in the Owenass hall from 8.30 to 9.30pm. Admission is 3.

The Rock Juvenile GAA

The under-8s competed in a blitz on Saturday, October 2, at Emo. The Rock played in group one along with St. Broughan’s and host club St. Paul’s, Monasterevin and St. Joseph’s played in group two. The opening game in group one between St. Paul’s and The Rock was a thriller with St. Paul’s just edging it by two points, 1-3 to 1-1. St. Paul’s easily accounted for St. Broughan’s in their second game to qualify for the final.

The Rock had a good win over St. Broughan’s in the final game of the group to reach the runners-up final against Monasterevin, who finished second in their group. Playing some great football, The Rock proved too strong in the final against Monasterevin and ran out convincing winners.

Well done to every player on the panel, all of whom played their part. The Rock panel was presented with their medals immediately after the game by St. Paul’s chairman James Doyle. A word of thanks to host club St. Paul’s for their hospitality on the day.

The Rock panel: Graham Hilliard, Roisín Dunne, Christopher Gorman, Cormac Joyce, Wesley Bergin, James Hilliard, Eoin McGrath, Brendan Murphy, Conor Flynn, Callum Byrne, Kiera Burke, Anavil Storey, Niamh Allen, Aaron Dowling, Amanda Dempsey, Fiona Dempsey, Mikayla O’Connor, Rachel O’Connor, Fionn Kirwan, Sarina McGrath, Aoife Carroll, Eimear Carroll, Darragh Byrne, Aaron Cullen, Kevin Haughton.

Juvenile training continues every Monday evening at 7pm. New players welcome.

Late Dorene Ward

Widespread sadness greeted the news of the death of Doréne Ward at her home in Manor Court on Wednesday, September 29, following a long illness. Doréne was a much respected and popular person, better known to many as Doréne Browne of the Browne School of Irish Dancing in Roscrea. Removal from her residence to St. Cronan’s Church, Roscrea, took place on Friday evening. Requiem Mass was celebrated at 12.30pm on Saturday, with burial afterwards in Dungar cemeery. Doréne is mourned by her husband Tommy, sons Joseph and Emmet, mother Margaret, family, relatives and friends, to whom the sympathy of the community is extended.

Athletics News

Congratulations to Mountmellick ladies novice team who won in the cross-country held in Clonreher at the weekend. The team members were: Mandy Bloomer, Carol Bloomer Hughes, Edel Furlong and Deirdre Bloomer Daly.

Retirement Group

The group would like to thank all who attended the whist drive in Portlaoise on September 28. Special thank to all who donated prizes for the raffle. Thanks to St. Fintan’s for donating the venue. The whist drive was a great success and all the proceeds go to Ann Conroy, Derrycloney. She is a member of the Special Olympics and is travelling to Japan in February 2005 to work with the team for two weeks.

Community Care Whist

Top score, Nellie Thompson; ladies - 1, Violet Bryan and Tina Lalor; gents - 1, Betty Coffey; 2, Sheila Duff; halves - 1, Cecil Thompson; 2, Tom Kearns.

GAA Fundraiser

No jackpot winner; €50: Darren and John; €20: Breda Connolly, Agnes Lalor, Mrs. C. Murphy, Bridie Fitzpatrick.

Rock Fundraiser

No jackpot winner; €20: S, T and E. Dempsey; Three Ladies, Joe Dunne, Deirdre Flynn, Hazel Finn.

Bingo

Every Sunday night in the Owenass hall at 8.30pm. There are great prizes to be won. Why not come along with your friends and enjoy a good night out.

Parent's Council AGM

The AGM of St. Joseph’s GNS parents’ counci will take place tonight (Wednesday) at 8.30pm in the school hall. Parents are encouraged to attend and new members are welcome.

Old School Whist

September 30 - top score, A. Mahon; ladies - 1, L. Pierce; 2, V. Bryan; gents - 1, C. Thompson; 2, D. Kelly; halves - 1, T. Kearns; 2, L. Kavanagh; best of three games, M. Gorman; hatching, E. Moran; lowest score, A. Walsh. The committee appreciates your continued support every Thursday night.

Juvenile Soccer

Mountmell-ick Utd u-9s had their first outing of the season on Saturday, October 2, in St. Aengus, Mountrath. On a fine day, Mountmellick went down 4-1. The goal was set up by man of the match Eric Nicholson and finished coolly by Adam Brennan. Despite the scoreline, everyone was in great spirits and looking forward to the next match. Team: Conor Allen, Stephen Hibbitts, Ethan Lawlor, Jason Caffrey, Eric Nicholson, Joseph Keating, Adam Brennan, Jordan Murphy, Kevin Dunphy, Evan Kearns.

GAA News

The minor hurlers took on Abbeyleix/Ballypickas in the semi-final of the championship on Saturday, October 2, in Colt. Mount-mellick played against a strong wind in the first half and found themselves in big trouble early on as Abbeyleix went on a scoring spree. By half time things looked desperate for the Blues as they were behind 5-7 to 1-1. On the resumption the opposition scored another goal. From then on the Mountmellick lads got into full swing and started a remarkable comeback. For the remainder of the game they put the Abbeyleix/Ballypickas goal under siege and scored at regular intervals. Alas, time ran out when they had the margin down to three points. Final score: Abbeyleix/Ballypickas 6-9 Mountmellick 6-6. Hard luck to the lads - they played their hearts out.

Scorers: Michael Bermingham 2-3, John O’Loughlin 1-2, Robert Molloy 1-0, Diarmuid O’Flaherty 1-1, David Tynan 1-0. Team: Jason Hogan, Brian Whelan, Niall Gorman, Gearóid Hanrahan, Ciaran Rochford, Eoin Gorman, Conor O’Shea, John O’Loughlin, Diarmuid O’Flaherty, Paul Stapleton, Bernard Rochford, David Tynan, Seamus Stapleton, Michael Bermingham, Niall Molloy, Robert Challoner.