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Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
Back To School Tips
Ladies Day at the Boat Inn
Bronze Age Log Boat Found in Lough Corrib
• Connecting Communities Around Lough Corrib •
& Oughterard
Newsletter ONLINE ISSUE 04
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
2
Contact us on:
www.facebook.com/corribnews
www.corribnews.webs.com
Inside this issue:
August
Saturday 30th & Sunday 31st -
The Oughterard Show.
Saturday 30th Maam Women’s Group are organising a Net-working & Heritage Day at 11am, in Ionad Pobail an
Mháma.
September
Back to School!
Sat 13th—Corrribdale Duathlon
10am at the Boxing Club
26th—28th—Leenane Autumn Festival. See their website for further details http://www.leenane-
festival.com/
November
Completion of the Courthouse
Restoration Project
Completion of the new Teen Zone at the Corribdale
Grounds
The Corrib News is published by a group of volunteers as a service to the community. It is an open
access publication and will generally carry any material submitted to it as long as it is not
potentially libellous or scandalous. The views and opinions expressed in the articles are not
necessarily those of the Editorial Committee. In case of error of fact we will publish corrections
once we become aware of them.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS THE 9th OF SEPTEMBER
Editorial 3
Back to School Tips 4
Bronze Age Log Boat found in Lough Corrib 6
An Tuirne Mór – The Connemara Great Wheel 8
The 52nd Oughterard Show 9
Morale-Minding: a Programme 10
Memories of Marts & Fairs in Oughterard 12
Corribdale Duathlon 13
Ladies Day at the Boat In 14
The Moonlight Walk 16
Hiroshima and Nagasaki— A Trip to Japan 17
Brigit’s Garden Celebrating 10 years 20
Maam Women's Group Celebrating 20 years 22
Courthouse Update 24
Corribdale Park Update 25
Teen Zone Equipment Selection 26
Out & About 28
uachtarARTS Culture Night 30
Local Clubs Round-Up 31
The Last Word 40
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
3
Editorial
Welcome to the fourth online edition of Corrib News!
The Summer holidays are drawing to a close and the new school year is about to
commence.
What a great Summer it has been in terms of weather, entertainment and a con-
sistent influx of countless visitors throughout the summer months.
The town has been a hive of activity. We have seen plenty of new developments
with the commencement of the long awaited Courthouse Restoration Project, the
opening of new businesses including “The Greenway Restaurant & Cafe”,
“Camp Street Cafe” and also “The Connemara Lake Hotel” which has opened its
doors once again to welcome visiting guests for Bed & Breakfast. The Thatch
Pub continues to progress with noticeable and charming developments.
There is a distinct feeling of positivity and excitement in the air as the town
continues to advance and flourish again.
In this edition we offer some Back to School tips and we look forward to the an-
nual Oughterard Show and the second ever Corribdale Duathlon. We also look
back on the summer months; to the wonderful Ladies Day at the Boat Inn, The
Moonlight Walk, the many Club’s Sporting Achievements at home and abroad,
The Best of Angling for both the Juniors & Seniors alike & plenty of happy sun
filled days!!!!
Slán go fóill!
Sandra O’Farrell on behalf of the Corrib News Team.
The Cover Photo is a collection of shots from Jess Walsh, Tom Broderick, & Rynes Walker taken at: Ladies Day at the Boat Inn, The Moonlight Walk, The upcoming Oughterard Show and Corribdale Duathlon & Geroid Clancy going pro in Australia as well as the visit of the Six Nations Trophy’ to
The Boat Inn in July
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
4
Back to School Tips
By Cepta Stephens
Move over, summer--a new school year is here!
With the start of school, families face new
organisation challenges. School bells ring--and so
do early-morning alarm clocks. The move into Big
School from pre-school or the transition to
secondary is a major leap for your child. Here are
some tips to help pave the way.
Routine
Ease the family into a school year schedule. The
first day of school is no time for a drastic
adjustment of household sleep schedules.
Instead, ease children back into a school year
routine gradually. During the last two weeks of
summer, re-introduce a school year bedtime.
Begin waking late sleepers earlier and earlier,
closer to the hour they'll need to rise when school
begins.
Don't neglect mealtimes! Younger children, in
particular, need to adapt to new meal routines
before the school day demands it of them. Plan
meals and snacks to accustom little ones to the
rituals of the school day before the school year
begins. A balanced diet is essential- as your child
is growing rapidly!
Uniforms
Uniforms can be one of the biggest back to school
expenses. Ask your school or other parents to
see if there is a second-hand uniform sale
planned.
Check whether you are eligible for Back to School
Clothing and Footwear Allowance which helps
towards the cost of uniforms and footwear. You
can get more information on the conditions you
must meet to qualify and how to apply on the
Department of Social Protection website – http://
www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/home.aspx
Some websites or local groups on social media
sites also sell second-hand uniforms. Develop a
wardrobe needs list for each child. Check for
possible hand-me-downs from older siblings as
you make your list.
Keep an eye out for special promotions in shops
on school uniforms and try to shop around for
generic items of clothing like grey skirts or
trousers - just because the school crest appears
on the jumper doesn't mean you have to buy the
matching plain skirt or trouser from their exclusive
supplier. If your school requires you to buy an
item of clothing with a school crest, ask them if
you can purchase the crest and uniform
separately to save you money.
Some chain stores discount uniforms at the end
of September or October, so you could buy a few
pieces for your child for the following year in a
larger size.
Check hems of skirts and trousers to see if they
can be let down.
Check out your local charity shop. You might be
surprised by what you find, like school ties,
stationery and clothing.
If you can, buy a good quality rucksack/school
bag that will last for a couple of years. This will
reduce cost in the long run as you won’t have to
change it every year.
Books
Consider buying second-hand schoolbooks.
Before you do, you’ll need to check whether your
school specifies a particular edition of a given
textbook. Some schoolbook websites also sell
second-hand books or allow you to sell your
books through their websites.
Back to School Tips
By Cepta Stephens
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
5
All schools have Book Rental Schemes in
operation now so ask your Principal
If you have to buy brand new books, make sure
you shop around. You can compare prices in
bookshops with online retailers, as well as
specialised schoolbook websites.
Don’t forget you can get novels etc. from libraries!
Remember, you may be able to sell your child’s
old books if they are in good condition. Cover
books to protect them!
Stationery
Buying stationery in bulk can be cheaper than
buying items one-by-one. There are usually good
offers at back-to-school time, such as bundles of
copybooks, pens and notebooks, so, if you can
afford it, it might be worth buying what you will
need for the year.
Lunches
Packed lunches prepared at home are not only
cheaper than shop-bought lunches - they are
often more nutritious. Lunchbox products
targeted at children can contain large amounts of
salt and sugar and generally work out more
expensive. A little time spent planning lunches will
save a lot in the long term. Bulk-buy food. This
can be expensive initially but will last for several
days. However, do make sure to check shelf life
of what you buy. Buy foods that are in season as
they are normally cheaper. You can get tips on
making healthy lunches on the safefood website
Checkout the following websites for support ideas
www.npc.ie
www.scoilnet.ie
Get involved in your local school’s Parents’
Association, your support is needed and much
appreciated- plus your children love when you are
involved- believe it or not
Here’s to a successful, fun, stimulating road
ahead! Slán go fóill!
Go n-eirí an t-ádh libh go léir agus ná dearmad
labhair cúpla focail! Is beatha teanga í a labhairt!
Back to School Tips
By Cepta Stephens
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
6
I had heard of Trevor Northage a few years ago
when he first started working on producing a
bathymetry chart of Lough Corrib. More recently
he was in the news when the National Museum
made public some of the interesting finds he has
come across while surveying the lake.
I recently caught up with him when he came to
Oughterard to fish during the Mayfly festival. I
seized my opportunity to discover more about him
and his work over a cup of tea. I asked Trevor
how he got involved in cartography and in
particular charting the depths of Lough Corrib. He
explained that he has always been interested in
fishing, and in fact it was this passion that set him
off on the road of discovery he is now on.
“I was out fishing one day, and I destroyed the
Burlesque’s propeller on an unmarked shallow.
This persuaded me it was time someone
produced an up-to-date chart of the lake that
would run on modern navigation equipment and
would improve safety on the lake.” At that time
everyone had to rely on the old 1846 Admiralty
Chart of Lough Corrib or local knowledge to find
their way through shallows.
Of course it did help that Trevor is a mariner, a
ship’s captain who has expertise in charting
waters, and so he set about this enormous task.
He uses a technique called sidescan sonar and
video, which enables him to record the topogra-
phy of the lake very accurately. Trevor explained
that while he was doing this work he began to
discern obvious manmade shapes on the bed of
the lake.
Six years ago he made his first find, which was
identified as the wreck of a Victorian yacht. Since
then Trevor has made many more discoveries,
some dating back 4500 years. The discovery of a
boat near Annaghkeen, Headford and now
officially called “The Annaghkeen Boat” is
particularly important to Trevor. “It was a chance
discovery. I had been working on taking depth
readings and had decided to move on. Something
dropped to the deck, and I had to stop and drift for
a minute. I glanced at the sonar screen and saw
this amazing shape. Instantly, I knew it was im-
portant.”
The 4,500-year-old Annaghkeen Boat, dates from
the late Neolithic or early Bronze Age. It is 40 foot
long and beautifully carved. It is the oldest and
longest vessel yet discovered in the lake.
When the Underwater Archaeology Unit (UAU) of
the National Monuments Service dived the boat
and investigated it in detail, they noticed burn
marks inside the hull and in fact, when they
rubbed their hands along the inside of the hull,
some carbon came off.
The vessel was almost perfectly preserved. The
preservation qualities of the fine silt on the bottom
of the lake have proved to be remarkable. The
inside of the boat was incredibly smooth with a
raised cruciform carving running its entire length.
Bronze Age Log Boat found in Lough Corrib
The 4,500 –year-old , 40 foot long, Annaghkeen
Logboat, pictured above, was discovered by
Trevor Northage . You can clearly see the raised
cruciform carving running the length of the boat.
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
7
The raised carving divides the boat into a number
of sections – perhaps demarcating spaces for the
crew, or for storage. The logboat’s impressive
size suggests it was a special boat with a purpose
other than that of a fishing boat or cargo vessel.
The size of this vessel would have required a
large crew of perhaps 10-12 to paddle it
effectively, we can only hope they swam to safety!
Trevor is primarily interested in the lives of the
people who built and used this boat. He ponders
on the events the Annaghkeen Boat has
witnessed sitting quietly on the bed of this lake.
The Underwater Archaeology Unit is responsible
for all heritage sites in Irish waters. The UAU has
been compiling an inventory of the amazing
underwater discoveries on Lough Corrib. A dive
team, headed by Karl Brady, was sent to
investigate the logboats, as well as around 20
other anomalies picked up during the mapping
project.
Other finds include “The Carrowmoreknock Boat”,
which was discovered last year. It is now famous
for the Viking axes found within it which are
currently on display at the National Museum.
It is a Viking era boat, beautifully constructed, and
so remarkably preserved that the UAU divers who
first assessed it initially thought it was a modern
vessel. It was built for speed, perhaps as an
attack boat. Also found within the boat were a
work-axe and spearheads. The raiders in this
boat obviously were not just dropping in for a cup
of tea! They came prepared.
A cautionary note should be made at this point;
not just any one can do this work. Trevor locates
these vessels, but it is the responsibility of the
experts in the Underwater Archaeology Unit and
the National Museum of Ireland to decide to
investigate further. Nobody should attempt to
undertake any such work without the necessary
permissions. Lough Corrib is now considered to
be one of the major marine archaeological sites in
Europe.
The Rinnaknock boat, below, is the only one of
the Lough Corrib boats that has been raised to
the surface so far. It was raised because it was
submerged in shallow water which made it more
vulnerable to damage. It is yet to be dated but,
due to its shorter length it is thought to be
younger than
the other log-
boats. The logic
being that the
larger oak trees
had been
depleted by the
time this logboat was made. Thankfully, it has
since been resubmerged in a safer position.
Trevor has to be greatly admired. It is clear he
has a fantastic interest and passion for what he
does. One thing that struck me is that speaking to
Trevor makes you dip into the past and to wonder
what life must have been like many thousands of
years ago. We have a very rich history here on
the shores of Lough Corrib, and perhaps we
should think about creating a centre to showcase
it. Any ideas? Anyone know of a significant
building that is about to be restored?
Article by: Deirdre Forde
Photographs Courtesy of the Underwater
Archaeology Unit, National Monuments
Service .
Bronze Age Log Boat found in Lough Corrib
The Carrowmoreknock boat, above, is probably one
of the best-preserved logboats ever found in Britain
and Ireland. Inset, the Carrowmoreknock battleaxes.
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
8
An Tuirne Mór – The Connemara Great Wheel
By Orla O’Toole of The Sheep and Wool Museum, Leenane
The Tuirne Mór or Great Wheel was still in
common use in the Connemara area until the
1920s and continued to be used in isolated
cases until the 1970s. One woman is quoted
as saying “When I have the time the wool
and the knitting needles, why would I want to
buy socks!”
The Great Wheel is now a just a memory and
most of the last of the traditional home
spinners have passed away. There are only
five or so people in Connemara who can use
the wheel and only a couple who can use it at
an expert level. The wonderful tradition is
within a generation of dying out completely.
It is believed that The Great Wheel came to
Europe from Asia around 1232 and there is
pictorial evidence of it in use in Persia, Iraq
and the Middle East. Thread made on it
came to the great woollen markets of Italy
from Romania but, because it was less suita-
ble for weaving the fine clothes of nobles, it
was strongly resisted by manufacturers.
However, wool thread could be produced far
faster with this wheel than on the hand held
spindle and so it found its place in the making
of thread for strong cheaper cloth for workers
and for the less well off.
The Great Wheel eventually found its way to
Europe but began to be replaced by the fast-
er treadle wheel from the 1600s. The wheel
arrived in Ireland in the 1700s and, because
it could be cheaply and easily made, it was in
common use amongst the poorest Irish in
Kerry, Connemara, West Mayo and the
Joyce Country for over 200 years.
Only wool and wood were needed to make it
and it was well suited to the rough tweeds,
geansaithe and báiníni worn by the tenant
farmers and fishermen. With better standards
of living from the 1940s on and, because of
the amount of space needed to store them,
most of these Great Wheels were put into
sheds where they eventually fell apart or rot-
ted away.
The few women left who used them remem-
ber the hardship of the work. To make a
geansaí took about 1.5 kilometres of thread
while a blanket needed ten to twenty!
Weavers would also spin their own thread
and there are photographs of Leenane
weaver, Tom Kerrigan, busily spinning wool
beside the Leenane Hotel.
When my father, Michael O’Toole, set up the
Sheep and Wool Museum in Leenane 20
years ago, he put the word out that he was
looking for a Tuirne Mór. He eventually
located one in Mayo and was very surprised
that so many had disappeared in just 50
years.
It is a great wish of mine to teach more
women and men to use it and to keep the
tradition going. We have one beautiful old
wheel as well as a replica and several people
have said that they would like to learn. How-
ever, we would need to borrow or give a
home to two more wheels in order to run
classes. So, if there is anybody out there with
a Tuirne Mór tucked away in the attic, I would
love to hear from you and I am always happy
to chat to anybody who used a wheel in days
gone by. I can be contacted at the Sheep and
Wool Museum 095 42323 or by e-mail at
Go raibh míle maith agaibh.
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
9
Oughterard Agricultural Show
The 52nd Annual Oughterard Show
takes place on Saturday and Sun-
day 30th and 31st August.
The show kicks off on Saturday
with numerous ridden classes,
working hunter classes and the
revamped gymkhana which caters
for children, young people and
adults.
On Sunday 31st there are
numerous classes for horses,
ponies, cattle, sheep, dogs, pets,
poultry and domestic arts, not
forgetting the vintage section.
As usual there will be the Best
Dressed Lady and Bonny Baby
competitions and this year we have re-introduced the popular Tug of War.
We are delighted to announce the children's entertainment will be provided free on Sunday.
As usual we are hosting the Final of the Powers Quarry Ridden Performance Championship
and the Western Region ID Foal Final.
The Domestic Arts section will be held in the Community Centre where a kaleidoscope of
colours and skills provided by magnificent floral exhibits, handcrafted items, paintings and
photography. The children’s section is always very popular.
We would like to thank all our sponsors, supporters and exhibitors and not forgetting our hard
working team of helpers.
The Show Schedule and entry forms are available to download from the website
www.oughterardshow.com. Tel. 086 1517289.
Photo : Show Committee Members—Barbara Buckley, Eamonn
McGeough, Mary Nee, Frank Joyce and Mary Geoghegan.
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
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Morale-Minding: a Programme by Margaret Larminie
Our morale is worth minding because it’s what fuels us for what we can do. In unemployment it can all too easily go through the floor. But, even when it’s under siege from disappointment after disappointment, this is a simple programme that can stop it doing that.
It’s a plan you can follow each week, like a sort of menu for the week, and it doesn’t need money or qualifications to take it on. You choose, say on a Friday, what you are going to do for each of the ‘courses’ on the menu during the following week. It’s important to cover all the items because, like vitamins, they are all needed.
I constructed this programme during my own long unemployment in the previous recession. I’m not the best about following a regime, but I quickly discovered that my morale could do a nose-dive when I left something out. When I put the missing one or ones back in, it would bob up again.
The week’s ingredients are as follows:
1. Looking for a job means watching the ads, so the Library can be your newspaper resource. The local free papers’ news can signpost where jobs might be about to arise, so get your CV off to them with a note about why you are interested. That CV is very important, so be thinking about what you can add to it. Whether job-seeking or not, think of all
the things that you can do and keep a list of them and keep on adding to it. Never mind whether they have anything to do with “a job”. When a post does come up, or if that’s not relevant in your case, you can find that you have more to offer than you thought you had. And keeping up with the news gives you more to talk, growl or laugh about.
2. If you have come out from a job that has let you down badly, the hurt can be a stumbling block you will need to get over. Employers are wary of a ‘baggage-carrier’, and your morale doesn’t like it either! Talking to someone you can trust with your feelings can be useful, but you also need to be able to look it all clearly in the face and be prepared to let it go. Not easy, I know, but it will be a great freedom and your morale will welcome it.
3. Keep in touch with your friends. When you are de-financed, friends can find it hard to know what to do about you and you can feel left out because your budget doesn’t run to the activities you used to share. Take the initiative yourself and ask a friend to come for a walk, listen to some music together, have a coffee – whatever.
4. It’s easy to get very wrapped up in yourself and your own concerns, so now is the time to have a think about other people’s needs – and do something about it. It could be anything from picking up the paper for someone who can’t easily get out, to volunteer work in a hospital or getting involved with local voluntary organisations.
5. Earmark something each week that you’ve been meaning to do but haven’t – and do it. Not Grand Plans, just one small one, like finally clearing out a drawer, sewing on a button, taking the sellotape off the hem of your trousers and putting in a stitch instead. It’s amazing how good it makes you feel about yourself, and that’s certainly morale-minding!
6. You have more time to yourself now, so use some of it in new learning. It doesn’t have to cost. There’s the Library, where you can learn more about
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
11
Raymond McDonagh
Carpentry Services
House Renovations,
Traditional Dressers,
Fitted Furniture,
Floors,
Phone: 086-8364377
Morale-Minding: a Programme by Margaret Larminie
interests you already have and new ones you’d like to explore. There are plenty of ‘teach yourself’ books. You will be keeping your brain’s cogs turning, and also provid-ing more things to add to your CV.
7. Get some exercise. Couch-potatoing is counter-productive. Join a walking group or find a friend or two to come with you - or just explore the countryside – whatever your energies will stand. You could be the next marathon winner.
8. Last, but anything but least, give your-self a treat each week. Don’t wait for someone else to provide it for you. Choose it for the end of the week ahead, so you will always have something to look forward to. I used to get a cream doughnut when funds allowed and munch away happily on my own, or silence the phone and listen uninterrupted to music I love. There’s no self-indulgence in this. It’s You looking after You, and entirely necessary to minding your morale.
Here is a quick checklist to remind you for each week:
1. Can-do list, job-search where relevant
2. Problem-facing
3. Friends, keeping in touch
4. Other people
5. Doing the put-off things
6. New learning
7. Exercise
8. Own treat
I hope you find this useful in some way and encourage you to put some of the suggestions into practice—you might be surprised with the results!
Congratulations! Corrib News would like to congratulate
Shannon Biondi BL, from Oughterard.
Shannon was called to the Bar on the 17th of
July 2014.
The newly qualified Barrister will begin
devilling in the Criminal Courts of Justice in
October.
Pictured opposite: Shannon at the Four
Courts, Dublin.
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
12
Memories of the Fairs in the 1950s and 1960s
I started going to the fairs in 1952 with my late
father. In those days, the fairs were held on
streets in the towns or villages, at crossroads and
on road sides. There were no cattle marts in
those days. The cattle buyers were called
“jobbers” and they would meet the farmers com-
ing in on the outskirts of the villages and no mat-
ter what size cattle you had the jobbers words
were always the same; How much is the little bull-
ock or the little heifer? The jobbers might put a
low bid on, then walk away and maybe come
back in a couple of hours when they thought you
might have thawed out and raise the bid a little
bit. It was a kind of a psychological war. If you
were making a bargain with a jobber you had to
hold out your hand and the jobber would lift his
arm up and slap down on the palm of your hand
and say take it or leave it and if there was a
pound between the buyer and seller a third party
would butt in and hold a hand of both buyer and
seller and tell them to divide the difference.
In those days there was also a “luck penny” that
had to be paid to the buyer; it could be anything
from a half crown to ten shillings depending on
the price received. My late father used to travel to
the fairs with the late Harry Walsh who was the
top local buyer in those days. Our own local fair in
Oughterard was held on the second Thursday of
each month. They would travel to Maam Cross
where the famous pony fair is held every October,
and to Clifden and Derrynae near Carraroe and to
Spiddal and Galway City. If they bought cattle
they would have to walk them home. My late
grandmother Alice Fahy told me she often walked
cattle to and from Galway City.
The top buyers in those days included the
McGrael brothers from Westport and a buyer from
the North called McGuinness who was associated
with the late Harry Walsh and the Regan brothers
from Castlerea.
The first bullock to be sold for a hundred pounds
in Oughterard was owned by Paddy Morgan and
the top dealers in present day Oughterard include
Bartley Mc Gauley, Martin Walsh, Colm
O’Sullivan and Pat Walsh.
The local dealers in those days were mainly the
late Harry Walsh and Pakie Kyne and also
Padraic Ned from Maghera Beag and Tom Darcy
from Maghera Mor, Joe Healy and Paddy Joyce
from Glann along with Mairtin Thornton the boxer
from Spiddal.
The top sellers included my late father, the late
Tom McGauley, the late Joe Healy, Edwin
McDonagh and in later years Peter Joe Tierney
and Paddy Tierney. In those days it was quite
usual to have bullocks of a tonne or over and
local farmers known for their giant bullocks were
Paddy Morgan, Mick Molloy the athlete, Tommy
Dixon and Edwin Mc Donagh, and in more recent
times Pat Eddy Walsh and Michael Feerick. No
big cattle are kept anymore as all bullocks have to
be sold at 2 and a half years at the most.
.By Matt Molloy
4-Day Trip to Belfast The Culture and Heritage Group in
association with the R.T.A. (Retired Teachers Association) Galway are going on a 4-day trip to Belfast on the
3rd of September visiting The Titanic Exhibition, Stormont, The Giant’s
Causeway, Bushmills and returning by Brú na Bóinne visiting Newgrange and Knowth. Full board €289. If you would
like to join the group, contact Mary
Kyne on 091-552128 or 086-0779114.
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
13
Corribdale Duathlon
The second annual Corribdale Duathlon will
take place on the 13 September 2014 at
10:00am
Last years event was a great success and
this year we hope to make it even bigger and
better.
The course is a 4k run followed by a 13k
cycle and finally a 2k run home to the finish
line.
The first picturesque run is a flat technical
course over 4k which takes you along the
banks of the Owenriff River as it enters
Lough Corrib and back to Corribdale Park.
The 13k bike course takes place on the N59
which takes participants on a wide flat road
with only 2 inclines on the course, at the
beginning and the end of the bike leg, fast
times are guaranteed!
The final run leg will be a lung burner as it is
only 2k and again on a flat course which
allows you go "flat out". The event is run by
an experienced team well accustomed to
organising run and bike events.
No, you don't need to have all the latest
cycling gear and yes you can do it on a
mountain bike!! The distances make this a
very accessible Duathlon for anyone with a
reasonable level of fitness, if you start your
training now you could add a new achieve-
ment to your list of else a new personal best
along this course!
Registration starts at 8:00am in the
Oughterard Boxing Club.
A race briefing will be held at 9:40am and the
race itself will start at 10am from the GAA
Car Park.
Parking is available in the public car park in
Oughterard, with limited parking beside the
transition area in the GAA car park and also
limited on street parking.
Helmets must be worn, no exceptions.
Our event is a draft free event which means
you can't tuck in behind a faster cyclist and
let them tow you around!! Drafting penalties
will be applied where necessary.
The event is run on public open roads and as
such competitors must obey the Rules of the
Road.
Cyclists must be over 16 on the day of the
event. Again no exceptions made here as the
event is held on open roads.
The event is a fundraiser for the Corribdle
Park Development, Corrib Athletic Club and
Rás Chonamara
For updates see our Facebook page https://
www.facebook.com/corribdale.duathlon
Email [email protected] if you
have any queries!
Rás Chonamara https://www.facebook.com/
Raschonamara
Corribdale Park https://www.facebook.com/
pages/Corribdale-Park-
Oughterard/255699354447020
Corrib Athletic Club https://
www.facebook.com/pages/Corrib-Athletic-
Club/347577911939880
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
14
Ladies Day The Boat Inn in Aid of Galway Hospice
Thank you to everyone for a fantastic day at the 2014 Ladies Day at the Boat Inn. This was the second year the
event was hosted at the Boat Inn and we have a lot of people to thank for making it a wonderful event.
Thanks to John Gallagher for putting on a slide show, Johnny Smith, Nuala Joyce, Margaret McDonagh, Maria
Cahill, Pat McDonagh, Rynes Walker, Tom Broderick, Veronica Joyce, Sally Kinnevey, Mrs Phill Curran, Katie
Geoghegan, Patrick Conneely, Paul & Aidan Kenny. Thanks to all the sponsors, to Patrick Cusack for the signs and
of course to Adrian, Rory and the staff of the Boat Inn. To the dancers Mark Skuce & Sarah not forgetting the
Judges Fiona Ní Fhlaithearta & Kay Watson. Congrats to our best dressed lady, Mary Clancy from Glann, who
won a hat designed by milliner Michael Mullins & a painting by Vanda Luddy.
A special thanks
to John Mc
Donagh who
worked so hard
to make it all
come together
on the day .
Well done to
everyone! But
finally thank you
to all of you who
attended the
event—without
the community
support this
event would not
be possible .
Here are some
pictures of the
day!
Photos this page
Tom Broderick—
opposite page
Rynes Walker.
Lucy Walsh
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
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Ladies Day
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
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Moonlight Walk in Aid of Corribdale Park
Thank you all for
Walking with us!
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
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Hiroshima and Nagasaki— A Trip to Japan by Mary Kyne
Since early childhood we have all heard of the devastation caused by the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II. On August the 6th 1945, the United States used a massive, atomic weapon against Hiroshima, Japan at 8.15 a.m. The bomb the equivalent of 20,000 tons of TNT, flattened the city, killing tens of thousands of citizens. While Japan was still trying to comprehend this devastation three days later on August 9th at 11.02, the United States struck again, this time dropping another B-29 plutonium bomb on Nagasaki.
During my recent visit with teacher friends from different parts of the country, the last surviving member of the U.S. 12 man crew on this secret mission died at the age of 93. Theodore Van Kirk lived in Georgia and was the navigator on the Enola Gay, the B-29 – the first atomic bomb deployed in wartime over Hiroshima.
At 2.45a.m, on Monday August 6th 1945, the Eno-la Gay took off from Tinian, a North Pacific island in the Marianas, 1,500 miles south of Japan. Paul Tibbets, the pilot nicknamed the B-29 ‘Enola Gay’ after his mother and the name was painted on the side just before take off. Two other bombers carried cameras and a variety of measuring devic-es escorted the plane. The ten foot 9,000 pound atomic bomb hung on a hook in the ceiling of the plane. The crew named the bomb ‘Little Boy’. According to Van Kirk ‘As the ‘Little Boy’ fell to-ward the sleeping city, he and his crew hoped to escape with their lives. They didn’t know wheth-er the bomb would work and, if it did, whether its shock waves would rip their plane to shreds. Captain William Parsons was instrumental in the development of the bomb and he was responsi-ble for arming the bomb while in flight. It took 15 minutes to arm it. No warning was given in order to save face in case the bomb malfunctioned.”
The blast and its after effects killed 140,000 peo-ple in Hiroshima that day. 60,000 of the 90,000 buildings were demolished.
The crews that dropped the atomic bombs were seen by Americans as saviours for ending the war. August 15th Japan surrendered bringing World War 11 to an end. But over the years the
morality of atomic warfare and the need for bombings had been questioned. Van Kirk main-tained, ‘we were fighting an enemy that had a reputation for never surrendering never ac-cepting defeat. It is really hard to talk about mo-rality and war in the same sentence. Where was morality in the bombing of Coventry, Dresden or the Bataan Death March or the rape of Nanking or the bombing of Pearl Harbor?’ I believe he said, ’that when you’re in a war, a nation must have the courage to do what it must to win the war with a minimum loss of life.’
We visited the Peace Memorial Museums at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Peace Statue at Nagasaki is highly symbolic – the right hand points skyward to warn of the threat of nuclear bombs, the left hand stretches out horizontally to symbolise world peace and the lightly closed eyes represent a prayer for the repose of the souls of
all bomb victims. Each of the items displayed in the museums embodies the grief, anger, or pain of real people. Having now recovered from the atomic bomb disaster, Hiroshima’s deepest wish is the elimination of all nuclear weapons and the realisation of a genuinely peaceful and interna-tional community. As we signed petitions organ-ised by the high school students we were re-minded of President Obama’s desire to seek a nuclear free world when he said recently on Pra-gue, ‘So long as nuclear weapons exist, we are not truly safe.’
NEVER REPEAT THE SAME MISTAKE AGAIN! Mary Kyne August 2014
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
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Tuck’s Tyres
Laser Alignment
2 & 4 Wheel
Wheel Balancing
Tyre Repairs
Tyre Sales
Headlight Focusing
Mon - Fri
9 am - 6 pm
091 552335
Main Street
Oughterard.
Camp Street Café
Open 10 am ‘til late!
Homemade Soups, Breads, Salads,
Desserts, Gourmet Pizza, Burgers, Fish
Platters
Daily Specials
Take Out
091 866066
Free Customer Parking
AUCTIONEERS ,
VALUERS & ESTATE
AGENTS
Main Street, Oughterard
Tel: 091 866708 E-mail: [email protected]
Websites: www.dng.ie
www.myhome.ie
www.daft.ie
SALES –
Residential, Commercial & Land
LETTINGS
Houses Required in all Areas
VALUATIONS -
Carried out for all purposes
LOCAL EXPERIENCE
NATIONWIDE COVERAGE
Martin O’Connor
B.Sc. MSCSI MRICS
Dry Cleaning & Laundry Services
John J Rafferty
Dry Cleaning Done In-house
My team and I are proud of the
service we provide.
Serving Tourists, Residents,
Hotels, B&Bs and Nursing
Homes
Camp St.
Oughterard
Tel: 091 552057
Mob: 087 6473334
Rafferty’s
Laundrette
Camillaun Angling Centre &
Boat Hire
If you are interested in fishing or boating to explore an island, or just going for a
picnic, you can use one of our many boats moored at the
unique timber jetty floating in the garden.
We are equipped with all the facilities required by the
modern fishing enthusiast, including a large gear / rod
room and drying facilities and fly tying desk.
Greg & Deirdre Forde
091 - 552678 www.camillaun.com
The Square, Oughterard
Bar Food Served All Day
Parties Catered For All Major Sports Events Shown Live on
Our Big Screens and in HD.
Live Music at Weekends
Web: www.fahertysbar.com
Email: [email protected] Tel: + 353 (0) 91 552194 Fax: + 353 (0) 91 552194 Proprietor: Brian Higgins
FAHERTY’S BAR
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
19
Main Street, Oughterard, Co. Galway.
TEL: 091-552999
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.spencerauctioneers.com
URGENT PROPERTIES REQUIRED At Spencer Auctioneers we pride ourselves on offering a confidential, professional and personal service to those wishing to value, sell, let or purchase property or land in Connemara and the West of Ireland.
Due to an overwhelming demand Spencer Auctioneers URGENTLY requires rental properties and properties for sale.
We also have a substantial list of clients seeking grazing land for sale/lease locally and also in the wider Connemara area
The six nations trophy got a rousing welcome at the Boat inn ,Oughterard on Friday 4th July 2014.
Adrian O'Connor, proprietor of the Boat inn, and his wife, Mary and their triplet daughters,
Arianne, Keelin and Eva Rose were delighted to host the occasion. The triplet's great grandfather
J O'Connor from Castleisland once played rugby for Ireland.
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
20
Thanks for agreeing to do the interview Jenny.
Tell us a bit about yourself, where did you grow
up?
I grew up on a farm beside the sea in the South of
England, I am a farmer’s daughter and it was there
I developed my love of nature. I moved from
England in 1982 to Galway because of my then
boyfriend, now husband, like many a young girl!
Why Celtic, Why Brigit? Why Roscahill?
I had been living in Ireland for some years and I
had come to a point in my life when I was
beginning to consider a new direction, the children
were getting older, my background was in adult
education and I had developed a great interest in
Celtic mythology.
I attended a Brigit’s festival in Esker, near Athenry
on a few occasions and one morning I woke up
with the idea that I was going to create a garden
and call it Brigit’s Garden. It took 7 years to get
from the original idea to opening the garden to the
public. We picked Roscahill because we thought it
was the ideal place.
I didn’t want it to be a traditional formal garden
although my mother was a serious gardener and
loved the typical English garden. For me it is all
about nature and being in tune with nature. The
idea of creating a place where you can relax and
find a connection with nature appeals greatly to
me, and I think to our visitors. Brigit’s Garden is a
place where there is a creative mix of story-telling
and contemporary design, and it’s important to me
that the place can be enjoyed by both young and
old. People often comment on what a lovely atmos-
phere there is here.
10 years on, is it as you imagined?
It’s very close to what I had imagined. Brigit’s
Garden is a place where people find their own level
whether it’s a place to breathe, relax, meditate or
simply bring the family for a picnic. The place has a
life of its own, a spirit that appeals to people from
all over the world. It is a real team effort and my
role is as facilitator.
What would you say is/was your biggest chal-
lenge?
The business side is ten times more challenging
than the creation of the garden. We are a not-for-
profit organization; we need both volunteers and
staff to run the garden, but we are very inventive.
One thing I would never have imagined is the
variety of activities we are now undertaking, every-
thing from weddings and parties to summer camps
and Santa. The support of LEADER has been
crucial in our development, along with the support
from the local community.
What are your hopes and plans for the future in
Brigit’s Garden?
We have just received funding towards creating a
Brigit’s Garden 10 years on—Jenny Beale reflects
This picture of Jenny was taken for the Irish Times in
2004 shortly after opening
Corrib News recreates the original picture, taken in
the Samhain Garden ,10 years on .
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
21
renewable energy element to the garden.
The intention is to show how we can lower our
carbon footprint and set up lots of fun ways for
visitors to interact with solar, wind and other
devices. We like to see the garden keep changing
and always like to get ideas to help keep us fresh
and interesting, especially for local people.
Interview by Deirdre Forde
Corrib News would like to wish Jenny and all the
staff at Brigit’s Garden the very best for the next
10 years in business!
Keep up to date with all the happenings and
events at the Gardens on their website:
http://www.brigitsgarden.ie/
And also on Facebook at “Brigit'sGarden“
Brigit’s Garden 10 years on—Jenny Beale reflects
The Boat Inn & The Boat Inn & Wall Garden RestaurantWall Garden Restaurant
Open 7 days a week
Serving food from 8am till 9pm
3 course Sunday Lunch for €18.95
Now Taking Bookings for that
Special Event, Private Party or BBQ
in the Wall Garden Restaurant.
• Fri 31st of Oct—Halloween Fancy Dress Party , cash prices to be won!
• Fri 28th & 29th Nov—St. Vincent De Paul Fundraising Weekend
• Fri 12th & 13th Dec—Christmas Party Nights! Book now
• Wed 31st Dec— New Years Eve Ball in the Wall Garden Restaurant
Phone Rory on : 091 552196
e-mail: [email protected] ww.theboatinnconnemara.com
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
22
The Maam Women’s Group was formed in 1994
and now has 18 members. This year the Group
celebrate their 20th Birthday (1994-2014).
Activities include art classes, knitting & crochet,
demonstrations, workshops, and talks on various
subjects at the monthly meetings. Maam
Women’s Group organise networking events with
other women’s groups, as well as Heritage Days,
Art Exhibitions and fundraising for charity. Nine
members of the group went on a pilgrimage to
Lourdes in 2003.
Social events include going to the cinema,
theatre, outings to visit other groups, and a
Christmas celebration dinner which is open to all
women in Maam and the surrounding area. Every
year group members go for a relaxing weekend
away and also take part in Forum (Letterfrack)
Women’s Networking Event, and International
Women’s Day. Recently some ladies went to
Galway Town Hall Theatre to see the hilarious
play It’s The Real McCoy. “Brilliantly funny - an
amazing night of comedy theatre”. (Ticketmaster
review).
Nine women travelled to An Grianán, I.C.A. Head-
quarters, on a 3-day escorted tour in May. In
conjunction with Clifden I.C.A., Cleggan, Ballycon-
neely and Caltra, the Group travelled by coach to
Newry and met members of the Newry Women’s
Group. They went to the Downpatrick Centre and
had an audio tour on the life of St. Patrick. They
also visited Down Cathedral and saw the burial
place of our patron saint on the Hill of Down.
The Group won a Galway County Millennium
Award and in 2004 they made a film “Mná an
Mháma” with Galway Film Centre to celebrate
their 10th Birthday.
In 2007 the Group won a “Make it Happen” Award
for their voluntary work in the community. In
conjunction with Coiste Forbartha an Mháma and
other community groups in Maam they won a
”Pride of Place” Award, which is about the
participation of local people in community life. The
Group has won three awards in the Golden Mile
of Galway Competition and has been featured in
the heritage calendar.
Maam Women’s Group helped to set up the
community magazine Joyce Country Echo in 1995
and the Maam Children’s Playscheme in 1996.
Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of
every month in Ionad Pobail an Mháma, (Maam
Community Centre) at 8.30pm. New members are
welcome.
Contact :-Maam Women’s Group, Maam, Co.
Galway.Phone:-091.571108.
Email:- [email protected]
Maam Women’s Group are organising a
Networking & Heritage Day on Saturday, 30th
August at 11am, in Ionad Pobail an Mháma.
Art and Photo Exhibition, Workshops,
Demonstrations, Crafts, Music, Song and
Dance and lots more! Everyone is welcome.
Maam Women's Group Celebrating their 20th
Birthday.
An Grianán. (The Sunny Place).
An Grianán Adult Education Centre is a beautiful
Manor House near Drogheda, Co. Louth.
Formerly owned by the McClintock family it was
sold to a Mrs. Helen Lentagne in 1922. She
allowed the newly formed Irish Countrywomen’s
Association (Bantracht na Tuaithe) to use the
centre. Later the WK Kellogg foundation funded
a new extension at an Grianán comprising a
lecture room, library, concert hall, and leisure
centre. They can now cater for 90 visitors on a
residential basis and host over 7,000 visitors
annually on weekly courses, seminars, social
events etc. An Grianán celebrate their 60th year in
operation this year and we wish them good luck
and best wishes for the future. Rosemary Hanley
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
23
Need A Lift?
Call Liam Felton
Taxi Service
Safe,
Reliable,
Dependable Don’t Take A Chance—
Call Liam!
CONGRATULATIONS EVAN
Congratulations to Evan Welby,
who represented Oughterard and
Galway in the National Finals of the
swimming in Athlone in August.
Evan did really well. He had a
personal best of 33 seconds for 50
metres and timewise he came in
the top 10 out of 23 boys in the
final. He came 4th in his heat and
we are all so proud of this
wonderful achievement! He is still
in this age group next year so
you'd never know, he will definitely
be one to watch!
Evan previously won the gold
medal in the final of the freestyle
swimming under 14 at the
community games in June.
Well done Evan, you have done
your family & Oughterard proud!
Oughterard Handball
We have a wonderful New handball
facility in the new Oughterard
primary school. We are looking for
parents to help supervise the
training for the new club. It will take
approx. 1 hour per week. For further
details please contact Mike Welby
087 2798110 or 552836. Thank you.
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
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Courthouse Update Thank you all for your recent support for the latest fundraiser for
the Courthouse Restoration Project – ‘Dedicate a brick or slate –
the scheme has been very well supported by the community.
A target of €25,000 was set and, to date, €22,000 has been raised through this initiative. This
money goes towards the mandatory
matching funding for the FORUM
Connemara grant aid as well as to
meet the additional costs arising
from new building regulations not to
mention the considerable costs
associated with raising the bridging
finance for the project.
The first phase of work on the land-
mark building started on June 23rd
and thankfully the restoration work is
making significant progress. The
windows have been removed for re-
pair and inside the plasterwork has
been tackled. To the rear a new
toilet block extension is well
underway.
Under the terms of the grant aid, all
works involved in phase one of the
restoration project must be fully
completed by November 21 and the
committee is planning on having the
building ready for the return of the
library and a community event
before Christmas 2014.
We will have a further update in the
print edition of Corrib News in
September.
If you would like to help the
Oughterard Courthouse Committee
reach its fundraising target and
dedicate a brick or slate to your
family, you can do so by contacting
Margaret Donnellan at Fuchsia
Craft, Main Street, Oughterard or
e-mail us on :
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
25
It seems like this project has come along way in such a short space
of time. It is an amazing feeling to finally be able to write that we
have the approval for the Teen Zone as well as the first phase of
walking trails and Fitness Equipment!
The Teen Zone grant offer from FORUM
Connemara has been approved and the
project has been assigned a very tight
deadline of November to be completed! This
is a challenge, of that there is no doubt, but
we intend to make it happen.
The first public consultation for the selection
of the Teen Zone equipment took place on
August 20th and 21st. To see the pieces
selected check out pages 26 and 27
overleaf!
The Sports Capital Programme has also
approved funding for the walking trails and
adult fitness equipment to be installed. We
still need to raise funds for this part of the
development and ask people to continue
their kind support for all our upcoming
fundraising activities. The next fundraisers
will be the Corribdale Duathlon and the Jog
the Bog on St. Stephens Day.
The trails should be completed by this time
next year and we will continue to bring you
updates on our Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Corribdale-
Park-Oughterard/255699354447020?ref=hl
The project would not be possible without the
very substantial voluntary contributions from
Morgan O’Connor and Mike Power, two local
men whose generosity is unsurpassed.
These men are donating the materials,
labour and machinery in order to make this
project a reality for the community of
Oughterard. Sincere thanks to both Morgan
& Mike for their kind support.
Stay tuned for more updates!
Sinéad Grimes, Corribdale Park Committee
Corribdale Park Update
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
26
The first public consultation for the selection of the Teen Zone
equipment took place on August 20th and 21st and it was obvious
from the early stages that there were firm favorites among the public
who turned up to cast their votes. There were some other pieces that scored highly, however, the
top four pieces were clear winners on the day. The selected pieces will be ordered and construction
is hopefully going to start in late September with the whole project due to be completed in
November. Thanks so much to everyone who showed up to view the equipment and ask questions
about the project, it was lovely to meet so many positive people, especially the local teens who had
such enthusiasm for the development.
The four chosen pieces are as follows:
Corribdale Park Update
The ever popular
Cableway was a
big hit with
everyone who
turned up on the
day. This was the
first piece most
people voted for!
A firm favourite!
Again this came as no
surprise!
The most popular piece in
the existing playground
with the older age group is
undoubtedly the swings—
now the teens get their
own larger, stronger unit
so they can hang out with-
out fear of being moved
along!
The basket swing is also
suitable for those with
reduced mobility.
A great choice.
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
27
Corribdale Park Update
’The Viper’
An unusual
piece—but a clear
winner with 25
votes!
This one was
especially popular
with the males!
Lots of fun to be
had with this one!
And the most
popular piece
was this—the
Nexus Core!
This can be
enjoyed by all
ages really.
A honeycomb
ladder gives
access to
those less able
while the rock-
face is a true
challenge! This
piece
encourages
physical
activity while
providing a
great place to hang out on top! The sliding poles and banisters provide a thrilling
dismount! Can’t wait to see it in place and have a go myself!!
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
28
A fragment of an early Christian period, a quern stone, used for grinding, (possibly 5'th century A D ),
was found by David Luskin in the company of Co'l Tim DeGavre, (American air force) recently, on the
Lough Corrib island of Inchagoill. David, a co owner of Corrib cruises, which operates trips on the
Corrib from Cong and Oughterard, spotted the find in early August and reported the discovery to the
National Museum ,who sent Dr Maeve Sikora to investigate. Photo: Eva, William, Fiona, David and
baby John Luskin with Dr Maeve Sikora.
Thatcher's at
work on
Powers
Thatch bar
Both Photos:
Tom
Broderick
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
29
The ladies day fundraiser in aid of the Galway hospice which took place at the Boat inn, Oughterard last week
raised a total of €5,779.75 The cheque was presented by the organisers on Thursday 7-8-2014.
Photo:Maria Cahill, Nuala Joyce, Margaret McDonagh, Mari Gallagher ( Hospice ), John McDonagh, Lucy
Walsh, and Mary Thornton ( hospice).
Photo by Tom Broderick
The Youth Club
organised a trip
to Killary on
Wednesday
20th August,
Many thanks to
the Youth
Leaders,
Audrey
Casburn, Tara
Walsh and
Ester
Greenfield.
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
30
Don’t miss Culture Night 2014 which will be
held in Oughterard on 19th September.
The uachtarARTS community arts group have
planned a varied programme of events with
something for everyone to enjoy.
This year there is a focus on music,
musicians and the musical heritage of the
area.
The day begins with a ‘Cultured’ Coffee Morning featuring local writer, musician and writing
tutor Pete Mullineaux reading his poems and singing songs. To participate just bring along a
poem, song or recitation or come along and listen.
The uachtarARTS Gallery (beside the Thatch Bar) will feature an Exhibition of 6” x 4” works by
uachtarARTS artists and friends.
‘Museum on the Street’ is a music related Art and Heritage Trail curated by Kathleen Furey,
displayed in windows around town.
The Boat Inn Restaurant is the venue for various free drop-in workshops and events.
Move to the Music and dance with Caroline McFadden, join Denis Geoghegan and Patrick
Conneely in a Community Sing-along celebrating the life of folk icon Pete Seeger.
Leah Beggs, Cormac O’Neill, Renske Boef and Kay Synott will show you how to make ocarinas,
pom poms, a souvenir of Culture Night to take home or a wind-chime from natural materials.
These are drop in workshops, no need to book. Bring your parent or child along and join in the
creative fun.
Come along to the Boat Inn restaurant to participate in the Shakers and Music Makers
workshop with Anja and Pete Sammon. Book your place for this hands-on workshop now on
087 2446542.
Following the success of last years event the Open Mic is returning to the Boat Inn again this
year. Come along and join the Beat Club and friends and share your talent. Sign up at 086
8190908
Round off the night with an Open Trad Session at the Boat Inn Bar featuring Gerry, Saidhbh
and friends. All welcome to come along, join in, sing a song, or play a tune.
For more information, to sign up for the Open Mic or to book a place on the Shakers and Music
Makers workshop, please contact: 087 2446542. like us on facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/uachtarARTS and remember, all events are Free!
for further information contact Kathleen on 087 2446542
uachtarARTS News
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
31
Oughterard Rugby Club held their kids
summer camp in mid August. Blessed with
good weather (only had to dodge the odd
shower on one day) over 45 kids aged
between 6-12 had a great active week playing
games like rugby, rounders and rugby olym-
pics while learning new skills and making new
friends.
The rugby season has now started again, with
the mini and LEP sections training on
Saturday mornings at 10.30, with the Junior
(over 18s) training on Tues and Thurs at 7.30.
We always welcome new players and
members . So if you want to rekindle your
playing career or are a looking for a new,
inclusive and friendly sport either as an adult
or child, come along.
For further information please visit
www.orfc.ie or call 0866043963."
Matt Henderson
Oughterard Rugby Club News
"Happy Campers" - ORFC Rugby Summer Camp 2014
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
32
Oughterard GAA Club News
Oughterard U12 Team City League Shield Champions 2014
Oughterard won the U12 city league shield with a hard earned win over Carraroe on Fri 11th
July in Pearse Stadium. The final score was Oughterard 5-9 An Cheathru Rua 5-5
Carraroe started very well and were two points up in the first few minutes with the Oughterard
defence under huge pressure. Midfielder Gareth Molloy steadied the ship with some early
points. Molloy was a star of the game and alongside James Webb worked tirelessly for the cor-
ribsiders. A goal from team captain Brian Walsh also helped steady the team. The Carraroe for-
wards were providing a handfull for the Oughterard defence but great work from Cian Walsh,
Luke Fitzpatrick and Ben Clarke kept the scores to the minimum. Oisin Fleming and Adam Tier-
ney worked hard in attack for the winners. Brian Walsh linked well with his midfielders and got in
some great blocks when moved to defence in the second half. Bryan Molloy the Oughterard
goalie was very steady and his kickouts and clearances were top class. Indeed he saved an al-
most certain goal in the second half with an outstretched boot.The half time score read Oughter-
ard 3-7 An Cheathru Rua 3-4.
Carraroe got the first two scores of the second half and the game swung in their favour. Brian
Walsh was moved to defence and this along with the tireless running of Molloy and Webb at
midfield helped to stem the tide. Adam Tierney worked hard and won a free and Oisin Fleming
scored a great goal to get Oughterard back on track. Oughterard had to work hard for their vic-
tory and it will stand to them in future games.
Referee Tom Nally
Back Row L-R Cormac Walsh (Selector) Harry Walsh (Manager) Middle Row L-R Alex McDonnell, James Webb, Jim McCormack, Alan McDonagh, Cian Walsh, Darren Keeler, Gareth Molloy, Bryan Molloy, Luke Fitzpatrick, Brian Feeney, Rachael McGauley Front Row L-R Jan Ellis, Ben Clarke, Shane Finnerty, Eoghan Hanley, Adam Tierney, Brian Walsh (Cpt), Oisin Fleming, Sean Smyth, Aaron Lydon, Cillian Walsh. Missing from photo, Charlie Creighton (Selector), Daragh Creighton, Sean Geoghegan, Brian McHugo, Diarmuid McKeagney, Shay Molloy.
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
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Oughterard GAA Club News
Hurling Blitz
On the 28th of July Oughterard GAA hosted an
underage Hurling blitz.
Thanks to Declan & Siobhan D'Arcy for all
their hard work in organising it & too all the
parents who helped out on the day!! Great day
had by all!!! Oughterard GAA will be hosting
the Centra Hurling Day in mid-September.
Further details will be on the clubs website
and facebook.
Oughterard Minors
After a close fought lose to Mícheál
Breathnach earlier in the year, our minors got
their championship season back on track with
a great win against Clifden in the West Board
Minor B Championship Quarter Final. The
Result of the game was Oughterard 3-17
Clifden 1-08.
The Starting team for Oughterard was, Oisin
Smith, Killian Noone, Ciaran Hanley, Darren
Cormican, James McMahon, Tommy Finnerty,
Jordon Coyne, Rory O'Connor, Fred Kenny,
Liam Butler , Brian Lambert
Paul Walsh, Jack Geoghegan,
Eric Lee, and Daniel Kenny.
Subs were Sean Kelly, Eoin
Whitaker and Sean Walsh.
Due to circumstances beyond
their control Luke McQuinn,
Eammon Fox, Ryan Caine
and Paul Joyce were missing
for the game.
It was a much improved team
performance and while the
score line does flatter
Oughterard slightly, there was
much to be happy with. Some
of the highlights of the game
were the three key saves from
Oisin Smith in the second
half, the commitment and run-
ning of the ball of the defence,
the midfield passing and the
tackling by the Oughterard
forward line on the Clifden defence which lead
to two of the three goals. Goal scorers for
Oughterard were Eric Lee, Liam Butler and
Daniel Kenny.
The West Board semi-final is provisionally
fixed for the 27/08 and Oughterard will proba-
bly be playing Clonbur. Keep an eye on the
clubs website and facebook for the date and
location of the semi-final.
Oughterard GAA Lotto
Oughterard GAA would like to look to thank
everyone that is supporting our club lotto. The
jackpot is nearly €5000.Tickets are available
at all the local shops, bars and online at http://
www.locallotto.ie/Galway/OughterardGAA/
John Byrne
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
34
Oughterard Soccer Club
The inaugural John Kenny cup was held in New Village on July 12th.
Pictured below are members of the Kenny family presenting the captain of the winning team,
Kieran Caldwell, with the John Kenny Cup.
The event was a huge success with 16 teams playing some highly entertaining and skilful foot-
ball on the great New Village pitches.
Oughterard AFC would like to thank the members of the Kenny family who took the time to
weather the rain showers to attend the event and present the medals and trophies and to all
the teams who took part.
Follow us on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Oughterard-AFC/204742362873114?fref=ts
or see our website for more details http://www.oughterardafc.com/
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
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Oughterard Golf Club News
This summer has
been a very busy
time for all at the Oughterard Golf
Club. In this the anniversary of their
40th year the club has hosted sev-
eral very successful golfing events
starting with the Ladies Captain’s
day on 5th July followed by the
Captain’s day on 26th July.
The club hosted a pro-am golf
tournament on Monday 28th July.
The event drew a large attendance
from all over Ireland. The most
recent event was the President’s
day which was held on Sat 16th
August.
At the moment the junior camp is
taking place with Derek McNamara,
our golf pro, coaching all the
budding golfers. We are delighted to
see so many local children taking
part. Keep up the interest!
(front row) John Grant (capt'n), Laura Gore (president), Kay
Lydon (lady capt'n), Michael McComiskey (P G A ),
(Back) : Pat Egan, Martin Lee (hon sec'), Derek McNamara
(club professional ) and Mike Darcy
The Oughterard golf club hosted a pro-am tournament on Monday 28-7-2014.
Photo: Joe Healy, Phillip Walton ( pro, winner of the Ryder cup at Oakhill country club in 1995.),David
Healy and Aiden Healy.
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
36
Oughterard Angling Association
On Tuesday, 17th June, the Oughterard
Anglers & Boatmen's Assoc. presented
Mathew Tierney, Portacarron, with a life
long Honorary Membership for his years of
voluntary work for the Club.
The presentation took place at the Boat-
house and was preformed by Club member
Joe Healy, in the company of family
members and friends.
This award was well deserved and earned
for all of Mathew's hard work for the Club
over the years.
On behalf of the Oughterard Angling Club
congratulations and thank you Mathew.
On Saturday, 28th June, the Oughterard
Angling Club brought a group from the
towns Youth Cafe out on Lough Corrib for
fishing. There was lunch on Malachy's
Island where the group enjoyed sausages
cooked on an open fire.
Thank you to boatmen Micheal Donnellan,
Phillip O'Connell, John McCormack and
chef Joe Healy.
On Saturday, 5th July, the Oughterard
Angling Club held a childrens U12 angling
competition at Faherty’s Angling Centre on
Station Road, Oughterard.
The facility consists of 2 ponds stocked with
rainbow and brown trout and the 26 young
competitors had great sport catching and
releasing some fine trout.
The top 5 angelers were, Jim McCormack,
Calum Walsh, Emily Tuck, Darran Keeler
and Alex McDonald. Thank you to Mike
Faherty (Faherty’s Angling Centre),
members of the Oughterard Angling Club
Committee, and all of the children who took
part in the event.
Mathew receives his Honorary Membership form Joe
Healy
A group photo from the presentation
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
37
Oughterard Angling Association
On the 7th July the Oughterard Angling
Club took 20 pupils and teachers from 4th
class in Oughterard National school out for
a day's fishing and lunch on Malachy's
Island.
The Club organise this event every year
and both teachers and children have a
wonderful experience of a day on the
Corrib.
On Saturday, 19th July, the Oughterard
Angling Club hosted the annual Kevin
McQuinn Cup (U16s) on Lough Corrib. The
event took place from the boathouse, where
the weigh-in was held at 6pm and the 15
entrants brought 10 trout, 9 perch and 2
pike to the scales.
Considering that the day was hot, calm and
sunny, the catch was remarkable from the
budding young anglers.
Shane Joyce,
Oughterard, was
the winner with 4
trout weighing
4.18kg, and he
also won the
heaviest trout.
The result was as
follows:
1st Shane Joyce (Pictured above)
2nd Maeve Molloy (Pictured below)
3rd Ian Higgins (Pictured below)
Thanks to Committee members Niall
Walsh, Roger Thomas, the McMcQuinn
family and all the children who fished in the
competition.
Kevin Prunty, PRO, Oughterard Anglers
& Boatmen’s Assoc.
(www.oughterardanglers.com)
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
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On Friday the 18th of July in The National
Stadium Kieran Molloy of Oughterard BC won
the senior Cadet All Irelands at 63kg bringing
his All Ireland tally to 7. Kieran was up against
fellow Connacht boxer Colm Quinn of
Castlebar BC.
Kieran came into the bout with great
confidence given that he has been
undefeated for this year and is accustomed to
the National Stadium. Colm Quinn tried as
best to contain the Oughterard boxer
but Kieran’s strength and fitness meant he
was able to handle anything that Quinn had in
his arsenal. Scoring in amateur boxing has
moved in line with the pro game with rounds
been mostly scored 10-9. Kieran won all three
rounds and was named as the champion
unanimously. This is Kieran’s second title this
year and in winning secures his place in the
Irish Team that will compete in the European
Championships in Russia in September.
But what really stands out in all this is the fact
that Kieran suffered a cruciate injury knocking
him out of the World Championships at the
quarter final mark last August. Kieran had sur-
gery in early October and was given a six
month recovery time line by his surgeon.
Determined that he would be ready for the All
Irelands in April Kieran went about ensuring
that he followed the instructions from his
physio’s and stuck to the exercise plans they
had given him. He also stayed fit by
swimming. By rights he should only be just
about making a full recovery by now but such
was his will power he was given the okay to
go back boxing competitively only a few
weeks before the All Ireland Championships.
In order to be successful in any sport you
have to be driven and Kieran has shown this
in the manner in which he recovered from his
injury. Winning the cadets has finished the
year very positively for the Oughterard Boxer
and he hopes to improve on the bronze medal
he won in the Europeans two years ago.
Former Oughterard Boxer Geroid Clancy won
his opening pro bout on Friday the 8th of
August in the Punchbowl Sydney. Geroid was
an active member with Oughterard Boxing
Club up until he relocated to Sydney 5 years
ago and always popped into the club on his
visits home. Geroid had been boxing as an
amateur in Australia up until three months
ago. Since joining the FBI gym he was in-
deed the only amateur in the club and spent
most his time sparring pros in the gym gaining
great experience. He trains alongside PABA
super bantamweight champion Doheny and
prospect Jake Hanney , he becomes the lat-
Oughterard Boxing Club
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
39
est of a growing number of Irish punchers
turning Pro over in Oz. The Oughterard grad-
uate, who was trained by Raymond Lee,
Thomas Lee and Tony McQuinn.
“It’s exciting for me to be fighting pro over
here” Said Georid “All the Irish follow you and
get behind you which is great. Tony Devachio
(FBI coach) is looking after us Irish boys and
teaching us the art of the pro game, so there
is good support in that regard too.”
Georid faced Jai Soloman in the welterweight
division this being Solomans 3rd professional
bout having won one and lost one in his previ-
ous battles. Geriod was well supported on the
evening by his local GAA club St. Michaels
and entered the ring to great applause wear-
ing their club jersey. Once the bell went the
Oughterard man settled in well and wasn't
going to be distracted by the occasion.
Despite giving away a slight height advantage
he allowed his opponent to throw the lead
punches before stepping in and landing three
to four combinations at a time and landing
heavy punches to Solomans midriff. These
punches took their toll and it was evident by
the end of the second round that Clancy was
in control and his opponent hurting. In the
third round Geroid looked to finish the bout
early and this took from his controlled look in
the two previous rounds. His opponent by
now was relying on a big punch to end the
bout early and in the fourth round Clancy re-
turned to form waiting for his opponent to
miss and then land combinations.
The judge’s decision confirmed his domi-
nance of the fight scoring 40-37, 39-37, 40-37
in favour of Geroid Clancy and getting his pro
career off to a cracking start. The fight was
available to stream live with many family,
friends and club members being able to enjoy
and share in the moment. Geroid is now
currently taking a few days off and will then
prepare himself for his next bout on
November the 15th. A proud moment for
Geroid and his family but also for the boxing
club in Oughterard which has been enjoying
great success at amateur level over the years
and now sees one of our own go onto to be a
pro.
Oughterard Boxing Club
Corrib News Online Issue 4 2014
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The Last Word... We hope that you have enjoyed the 4th online edition of Corrib News.
Be sure to get in touch and tell us what you’d like to see in the next issue.
Sincere thanks to all our contributors and sponsors — without you there could
be no newsletter.
The next edition will be printed at the end of September and the
deadline for submissions is Monday September 9th. There will be lots of
new articles, recipes and club news to share with you, for example, we hope to
bring you:
Klondike—a report on the new movie being shot up at Glengowla Mines
Brendan O’Byrne – “An Fear Ceol” The resident pianist, guitarist and
entertainer at the world famous Ashford Castle Hotel and Country Estate
talks to us about his years as entertainer at the Castle.
A tribute to Mick Molloy our own local living legend!
Dr. Marie Harte writes about medical issues
Tracy Geraghty gives us some teen make-up tips
Finally if you would like to place an advert in the next edition please email
[email protected]. Please send us in your club events and news, your
points of interest, poems, stories and musings by September 9th—we’d love to
hear from you.
From the Team at Corrib News.
Margaret Larminie, Cepta Stephens,
Sinéad Grimes, Kathleen Furey,
Jess Walsh, Katy Conneely, Mary Kyne,
Leslie Lyons, Jack McCann,
Aoife O’Halloran, Geraldine Bresnihan,
Sandra O'Farrell and Deirdre Forde.
Corrib News The Community Centre, Oughterard
Email: [email protected]
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