23-10-2004

An Post to issue commemorative stamp

To celebrate the 350th anniversary of Quakers in Ireland, An Post will issue a commemorative stamp on Thursday, October 21.

A special first day cover envelope which features the stamp and a special Mountmellick cancellation with the first day of issue will be available in Mountmellick Museum on Thursday, October 21 at 11am. For further information contact Storm Powell at MDA..

NCBI Table Quiz

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. Ron Lalor is quiz master on the night. Your support would be greatly appreciated.

Photography Society Table Quiz

Mountmellick Photography Society will hold their annyal table quiz in The Mellick Inn on Wednesday, October 20 at 9.30pm. Quiz master on the night is Michael Linehan. Your attendance and support will be very much appreciated.

Comhaltas AGM

Mountmellick branch held its AGM last week. The secretarys report reminded everyone of the very busy year just ending, which saw the branch hosting the Laois Fleadh in June and Echoes of Eireann in November 2003.

Members participated in the new county competition, the Credit Union day concert and other functions providing music for Mass on a few occasions.

The branch also organised an Irish day to help prepare members for the comhrá competition. The music classes, in the capable hands of Brian and Fiona are very successful and numbers have increased again this year.

The chairman thanked the committee for all their hard work, the parents for their co-operation and of course, the children, all of whom are doing so well. He wished everyone a successful year ahead.

Officers for the coming year: Chairperson - Brian Furlong; Vice Chairperson - Mick McCann; Secretary - Mary Bridget Culleton; Assistant Secretary - Margaret Culliton; Treasurer - Donal Williams; Assistant Treasurer -Gabriel Hogan; Youth Officer -Valerie Culleton; Auditor/Irish Officer - Mary Culliton; Delegate to the County Board - Joan Culleton and Brian Furlong; Joint PROs -Mary Culleton and Brian Furlong; Committee Members - Mick Fitzpatrick, Breda Culleton, James Hyland, Peter Culleton.

Castlebrack Cemetery Rosary

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

Jazz Ballet Classes

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

Laois Citizens Information Service

The above is in attendance every Wednesday at MDA Irishtown from 10am 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 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 on Monday. For further information please contact Harriet.

Guitar Lessons

Guitar lessons for beginners. Contact Noel.

Sinn Fein News

Members of the Cumann are presently involved in organising a fundraiser for the Columbia Three in The Whiskey Shop in Crettyard on Friday, October 22. Music on the night will be provided by Uisce Beatha. All support welcome.

Also the Willie Brock Cumann, in association with the James Fintan Lalor Cumann are organising a weekend away to Belfast. Anyone intersted in going should contact John Nelson.

Bridge Results

September 23 - N/S 1 B. Sheils and T. Lalor; 2 R. and K. Horan. E/W 1 V. Turley and A. Rochford; 2 A. Bergin and M.J. Carty.

September 30: N/S 1 B. Shiels and T. Lalor; 2 P. Storey and A. Flynn. E/W B. Egan and M. McCabe; 2 B. Meredith and M. Flanagan.

Community Care Whist

Top Score -Nellie Thompson; Ladis 1 Violet Bryan and Tina Lalor; Gents 1 Betty Coffey, 2 Sheila Duff; halves 1 Cecil Thompson, 2 Tom Kearns. Rita Fitzpatrick, Angela Walshe, Veronica Kearns, Maida Dunne, Betty Coffey, Cecil Thompson.

Old School Whist

October 7 - Top Score E. Moran; Ladies 1 B. Kennedy; 2. V. Kearns; Gents 1 M. Fitzpatrick; 2 J. Delaney; halves 1 L. Pierce; 2 D. Kelly. Best of three games M. Gowing, K. Kavanagh, S. Wilkinson. Hatching R. Cole. Lowest Score T. Gowing.

The committee appreciates your continued support every Thursday night in the old school, Pearse Street.

School Exhibition

Mountmellick Community School welcomed parents and friends to the school on Thursday night last to their annual exhibition. This showcases the students work throughout the year and the many exhibits on display provided evidence of the excellent standards achieved. Laois arts officer Muireann Ni Chonaill performed the official opening and all were then free to browse at their leisure. Students from the primary schools also visited the exhibition with their teachers during school time giving them an insight into the subject choices available to them at secondary level.

Mountmellick GAA Level

U16 Football League Final. For the third time this year the two top teams in Laois U16 ‘A’ football did battle. This time the league final was at stake and once agian both teams produced top class football in an epic encounter in Portarlington on Sunday morning, October 10.

Mountmellick started the game in a very determined fashion and were keen to erase the memory of their championship defeat earlier in the year by the same opponents.

They led by 2-2 to 0-5 at the interval but Stradbally equalised early in the second half and it was a titanic battle all the way to the end. With time nearly up Mountmellick had a goal disallowed leaving both teams deadlocked at the end on a score of 2-8 each. Tired bodies had to get up and go again for extra time. The lads continued to contest the game all the way and played themselves to a standstill and were bitterly disappointed to lose by a solitary point.

These young lads can hold their heads up and all in the club are proud of their achievements during the year. They are up there with the best and will continue to be the standard bearers for the future of the club.

Team: Conor O’Shea, Jason Hogan, Gearoid hanrahan, Darren McDermott, Eoghan O’Neill, Niall Gorman, Ciaran Rochford, David Tynan 0-1, John O’Loughlin 0-1, Brian Whelan, Diarmuid O’Flaherty 0-4, Colm Coss 0-3, Garry Kirwan, Eoin Gorman 2-2, Sam Barraclough, Shane Carter.

U14 Football

Mountmellick U14 footballers played the replay of the county semi-final against O’Dempseys on Saturday October 9. In the first drawn game Mountmellick were unluck not to come away with a victory after chances at scoring in the last two minutes of that game narrowly avoided the crossbar. The score in that game was O’Dempseys 4-2, Mountmellick 3-5.

The scene on Saturday evening was set for a close encounter. This proved to be very much the case as O’Dempseys emerged victors by one point in a very tight, extremely competitive game. Both games showed all that is good in the game of football. The level of skill and commitment by both sides was warmly applauded by the large crowd of parents and spectators that showed up for the game.

To the O’Dempseys team we wish them well against Stradbally in the final. The Mountmellick panel of twenty five players showed great commitment all through the campaign, their never say die attitude has become a hallmark of their game. A huge improvement in their skill and fitness level was apparent at Saturdays game. The fact that not one foul blow was struck in a hotly competitive game demonstrates the discipline that has been instilled in these players by their trainers.

To the lads who now move on to U16 and to the players who will compete in U14 again in 2005, we wish you the very best. This team made it to an U12 county final in 2004 against Portarlington and were beaten by 2 points. So as you can see they have everything to hope and work for in 2005 at u14 level.

Sarsfields Ladies Football

U12 B semi-final - Sarsfields went down to Park/Ratheniska in the long delayed Laois U12 B semi-final in Emo by 4-4 to 4-3. The team had trained over the summer under the guidance of Aileen O’Loughlin and Grace Weston as they awaited the outcome of an appeal which set back the concluding stages by three months. Despite their relative youth and size the Sarsfields girls gave a very good account of themselves and were very unlucky to lose a very tight game.

Team: Maeve O’Hanlon, Grainne McEvoy, Emer Dempsey, Amy Williams, Fiona Burke, Joyce Dunne, Emma Galvin, Laura O’Shea, Louise Bergin, Ruth Williams, Alison McEvoy, Jenny O’Shea, Hannah McRedmond, Ciara Burke, Aoife Walsh.

All Ireland seven a side: The annual All Ireland seven a side club championships - senior, intermediate, junior clubs - was held in Portmarnock GAA Club on Saturday, October 2 and attracted top teams from all over the country and Britain. Sarsfields were grouped in the No. 5 with very strong opposition including Rosso (Co. Down), Letterkenny (Donegal), Hollymount (Mayo) and Ballyslane (Longford).

Sarsfields had victories over the Down and Longford teams but went down to the girls from Mayo and Donegal. Their final game against Letterkenny was the crucial match in the series and a win here would have necessitated a playoff, but Donegal came through by four points.

Panel: Caroline Bermingham, Rosemarie Bermingham, Fionnuala Cleary, Claire Conlon, Ann Marie Hourigan, Emma McEvoy, Mags McEvoy, Jenny McEvoy, Amy Grehan, Claire O’Loughlin, Niamh O’Loughlin, Ciara O’Loughlin, Aileen O’Loughlin.

Minor Championship: The first round of the 2004 competition took place in Timahoe on Sunday October 10 where Sarsfields started the defence of their title against the local girls. This highly competitive game ended in a draw with a score of 4-11 each.

Sarsfields were losing by three points at the break but put in a very impressive third quarter to go ahead by 4-10 to 1-10 with seven minutes remaining. Then in whirlwind fashion, Timahoe got back three goals in the space of five minutes to level the match.

Sarsfields got back in front with a point by Rachel Mullen but Timahoe had the final say, six minutes into injury time and levelled the match.

Team: Cassie Dunne, Jenny McEvoy, Mary Hyland, Laura Quigley, Amy Grehan, Aine Gorman, Jules Culleton, Patrice Deffew 1-0, Siobhan Fitzpatrick, Aoife Cleary 0-3, Claire O’Loughlin 0-3, Emma Hayden, Claire Condon 3-3, Mags McEvoy 0-1, Nicole Dowling and subs Rachel Mullen 0-1, Lisa Guinane, Michelle O’Loughlin.

Macra News

The county rounds of the volleyball competition were held in Mountmellick on Sunday October 10. Well done to the Mountmellick team who will now go through to represent Laois in the All Ireland finals in Carlow on Sunday October 31. Team: Donna Le Blanc, Rory McEvoy, Matthew O’Byrne, Karl O’Byrne, Diane Lawlor and Marie Claire Fitzpatrick. Well done to the other teams and clubs who also participated in the county rounds.

Knitting Wool

Double knitting wool is required for a project by Mountmellick crochet group. If you have any surplus wool please drop it into the MDA.

GAA FUNDRAISER

No jackpot winner. €50 - Nick Kenihan; €20 - Maureen Conroy, C. Quigley, Des Dunne, M. Byrne.

AFC FUNDRAISER

No jackpot winner. €15 - Mary McDermott, Owen Smith, Ger Kearney, Colette McDermott.

ROCK FUNDRAISER

No jackpot winner. €20 - Terry Heffo, Marie Conlon, Iris Lawlor, Lena & Kitty, Oliver Ging.