Sunday, August 23, 2009

Tim’s Diary.


It is with a heavy heart that I have to tell you about more vandalism in the locality. The CLM contractors have done their best to landscape the Barrack Street Close houses. Their work was undone a few weekends ago when someone decided to break a lot of the young trees on the approach. Some types of anti-social behaviour, like graffiti or bridge demolition may be able to be explained by those more versed in the workings of the human mind, but I challenge anyone to see any merit in the destruction of trees. So sad.
I bet that Fergal Toomey has his ticket booked already but my workmates are very excited at the prospect of (Un)Real Madrid’s proposed visit to the Hoops.
A Happy Fathers Day to all beleaguered dads for last Sunday!!
Look out for new Garda Reserve on the Sunday night RTE thing “Garda Blues” shortly.
Great to hear of the appointment of Monsignor John Wilson as PP for the parish. The shoes of the last Monsignor were big and will be hard to fill, but good luck to him.
The Ballymore Eustace Tidy Towns have acknowledged a donation of one thousand euro from the Ballymore Bugle. Rose and I have no doubt that the money will be well spent and it is a tribute to all of our contributors, advertisers and readers that we can continue our support of this group and the Senior Citizens Committee.
The football championship is playing out nicely. It would be great to see the Lilywhites go for the Dubs in the Leinster Final. C’mon James.
Matt’s Memories

New House

Recently, I met Geraldine Lawler and was admiring her new home on Barrack Street. Geraldine lives there with her husband Liam who has retired from teaching. Some 20 years ago, Geraldine was Editor of our then newsletter, the Ballymore Echo, and I used to submit handball pieces to her for publishing. Back then; I had not spread my wings!

Emails
I gather from Kay Kavanagh that she is a regular user of emails to keep in touch with her family. She finds it great for that purpose and can view her family even though they are far away from her. In days gone by, her husband Gus served on the Handball Development Committee. Gus also went to Newbridge College. Years ago, their sons were involved in a band and I followed their progress through the Bugle.

Anniversaries
On April 4th Christy Reardon, Jack Dooley, Hilda Headon and John Kearns were all prayed for to mark their anniversaries. Mary Deegan, the Dooley Family, Kay and Lynda Headon were all in attendance with their aunt, Joan (over 90) - the last of the Gorrys of Naas who was a sister of the late Hilda. The Kearns Family may also have been there but I don’t know them.

The Leinster Leader of April 2 carried an acknowledgment in regard to the late Ivy Barrett whose Anniversary Mass was held on Sunday April 5th. The last clear memory I have of Ivy was when she and the late Paddy attended the wedding of Jacinta and Tom O’Rourke in 1982.

Gorrys of Naas
The late Hilda Headon was a Gorry of Naas, a daughter of Joe and Minnie Gorry and there were 14 children in the family. The Gorrys were sports enthusiasts especially golf. Joe had a pharmacy in Naas and my late father who was a G.P. dealt with him for many years. After Joe’s time his son John took over the pharmacy. Paul Gorry of Baltinglass is a Genealogy expert and is related to Joe
A Good Samaritan
Recently while attending St Mary’s Cemetery I met Collette Cowley and her daughter Thelma (married name Roche). Thelma was carrying out maintenance work to her grandparents’ grave under Collette’s supervison as Collette was recovering from a hip operation. Kindly, Collette gave me a lift down to our house.


Lillian

The Leinster Leader of April 2 carried a photo of School Principal Lillian Murphy (nee Hanlon) and Jack Boothman at the official opening of the Blessington No. 1 School. Jack was President of the GAA from 1994 – 1997. As luck would have it I also saw Lillian’s husband Harry driving in Ballymore Eustace. Another to appear in that week’s Leinster Leader was Julie Keenaghan who is Garret Keenaghan’s mother. Julie was supporting the St Mary’s School Show in Naas. Johnny Peters and his wife Mary also appeared in that week’s Leinster Leader. Johnny was due to perform in Paddy Murphy’s on the Wednesday of Punchestown week.

Another Visit

On the weekend of April 3, James gave me a lift down to Ballymore Eustace. It was also Grand National weekend so I had the job of trying to pick a winner. Sadly, I failed. I did however have a good place in the fourth race and thanks to Ned Deegan I had a winner at Newcastle too. Overall however I lost but live to fight again! I guess I was lucky to have a good place bet the day before.

Millbrook Cup

The Millbrook Cup is a six-mile athletic race run at Punchestown on Walking Sunday. Over the years it has yielded many good athletes. The first of these that I knew was Jackie Cummins of Killashee, a farrier who shod my late father’s horses. Jackie won the race at least once but was usually scratch man in this handicap race. Another winner was our own Eddie Hubbard. Amongst other local winners were Sean Garvey and the late John Murphy (Longhouse). My former school colleague, Tim Counihan, was a regular participant – did he win it? I can’t remember…….My cousin, Ted Keegan (Two-Mile-House), won the race on 5 different times. In the second part of the sixties the Leinster Leader brought out a Supplement that carried a photo of Ted in it. Ladies won the 2007 and 2008 races.

The Thatch

On Sunday April 19 I had dinner with my brother James at The Thatch and met Jimmy and Ann McLoughlin there. I also saw Betty Deegan with her nieces Margaret and Bridget Keogh (I’m afraid I don’t know their married names), Eddie and Nuala Hubbard, Mrs Sarah Tracey, Paddy and Breda Hudson.
Sunday Independent

I see from the Sunday Independent of April 12 that my former lecturer, Seamus Henchy, died aged 91. From 1972 to 1988, Seamus was a Supreme Court Judge. The Sunday Independent of April 19, carried news of the deaths of Clement Freud aged 84 and James Bowe aged 77. Clement was a regular on the Late, Late Show in days gone by while James was a horse trainer and father of Micheal who trained such horses as Limestone Lad, Solerina and Sweet Kiln.

More Horses

I see where Sean Mulryan’s Ambobo won a good race at Punchestown at 11/1. Sean’s Clarkey was just beaten in the North


© Matt Purcell (May 28, 2009).
BALLYMORE EUSTACE WOOLLEN MILLS

WELL-KNOWN LOCAL INDUSTRY
(from our special reporter)

A wish to find Irish work for local hands was the beginning of the once flourishing woollen mills situated in the sequestered town of Ballymore Eustace. But alas! in common with many other industries of the kind in Ireland, of later years those mills have fallen into decay and the story of their prosperity is fast becoming but a memory. With the object of placing before the readers of the “Leinster Leader” some facts in connection with this diminishing industry, at a time when an effort is being made to resuscitate the industries of the country, a representative of this paper visited the mills at Ballymore Eustace on Saturday last. Ballymore Eustace, with its wealth of scenic beauty, is prettily situated on the Liffey about five miles from Naas, and eighteen miles south-west from Dublin. Situated in a deep vale, shut out from the rude world by gently-sloping hills, the scenery surrounding this pretty little hamlet is of as diversified a character as can be found anywhere in Ireland. All round can be seen a stretch of beautiful valley net-worked with beautiful hedgerows, deep blue groves of palm, white homesteads, leaping cascades, and rustic bridges, while over all prevails that deep silence and even melancholy which seems to come and grow out of the very soil of Ireland. Away in the distance the hills of Wicklow tower to an altitude of close on 1,000 feet, and as their craggy sides stand out in bold relief, specked with white houses, they form a truly picturesque background to the valleys beneath. Through this smiling land flows the winding Liffey, giving to the fairy picture all of perfection it could have required. According to Lewis’s Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, Ballymore or Ballymore Eustace, is situated in the barony of Upper Cross, County of Dublin. The town, which signifies the “great town of Eustace,” derived its name from that family, a branch of the Fitzgeralds. It is situated on the River Liffey, over which is a handsome stone bridge of six arches, and consists of one principal and three smaller streets. The great southern road formerly passed through it, but it has been diverted through the parish of Kilcullen by the construction of a new line to the town. A market granted by James I. to the Archbishop of Dublin has fallen into disuse. The parish, according to Lewis “was the head of a Lordship and Manor belonging to the Archbishop of Dublin, and comprising the parishes of Ballymore, Ballybough and Ballybut; Coughlanstown, Yague, Tipperkevin, and Tubber in the County of Dublin; and of Milltown, Tornant, and part of Rathsalla in the County of Wicklow. The system of agriculture is improving. Mount Cashel Lodge, the property of the Earl of Mount Cashel, is pleasantly situated, and is now in the occupation of Mr. Drumgolle.” (The ruins of Mount Drumgolle are still to be seen.) “The other principal residences are Ardenadoe, the residence of E. Hornan, Esq., of Mrs. O’Brien, Season, and P. Doyle. Esq., of Wellfield. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Dublin and Glendalough. The tithes amount to £145, 11s. 1d., of which £87 10s. 7d. is payable to the lessee of the dean and chapter; £39 2s. 7d. to the vicar, and the gross tithes to the benefice amount to £137 2s. 3d. The church is a plain building with an embattled tower, surmounted in pinnacles, erected in 1820, by the late Board of First Fruits. The churchyard is of great extent, and contains the remains of the old church and numerous ancient tombstones. In the Roman Catholic division this parish comprises also the parishes of Ballybut, Coughlanstown, and Tipperkevin. The chapel of Ballymore is a substantial and commodious building, and there is another in Hollywood. The parochial school is supported by subscriptions, and there is another school, for which a schoolhouse was erected by subscriptions in 1835 at an expense of about £400. About a mile from the town the River Liffey forms the celebrated cascade of Phoulaphuca, or “the demon’s hole,” consisting of three successive waterfalls 300 feet in height. The chasm is only 40 feet wide, and is skirted on each side by perpendicular masses of rock, and when the river is swollen by heavy rains the water rushes down with tumultuous impetuosity into the circular basins of the rock.”
The woollen mills of Ballymore Eustace were built by Mr. Christopher Drumgollee in the year 1802, and when in full swing employed 700 hands. They are situated at the lower end of the town, overlooking the Liffey, which river supplies the water power for the working of the mills. The pioneer of the movement, as we have said, was Mr. Drumgollee, who began the work in a small way, but in a comparatively short space of time the industry went ahead very rapidly, and on Mr. Drumgollee’s death the mills were a source of employment for practically everyone in the town. Ballymore was then one of the most prosperous towns in Ireland, and the woollen mills were famous throughout Leinster. But her prosperity has of late passed away; the only industry of which the pretty little town could boast has all but vanished, and her population is fast diminishing. When the mills came into the possession of the late Mr. H. L. Copeland, brother of the present proprietress, whose hands were as open as the day melting in charity towards his neighbours, the history of this woollen industry in Ballymore was still one of progress. A large number of hands were still employed, and although Mr. Copeland’s enterprise was not recognised in Ballymore in the manner it might have been, yet for many years the mills continued to give a large amount of employment to the people of the neighbourhood. The woollen industry at Clane and Celbridge became extinct about 11 years ago, but, mainly owing to the splendid business capacity of Mt. Copeland, and his manager, Mr. P. Mc Grath, the mills at Ballymore still continued working, and notwithstanding the fact that the mills were in later years being worked at a dead loss, yet Mr. Copeland still continued to fight the apathy which began to prevail amongst the people towards the support of home industry, and the mills continued to go on working up to his death in 1903. But there were too many destructive influences at work, and the Ballymore woollen mills were not immortal, and so we find that a short time before Mr. Copeland’s death the manufacture of tweeds dropped, and blankets were the only goods turned out for a few years after. About half a dozen hands were at this time only employed in the mill, and it really looked as if the industry would disappear in the same manner as the woollen industries of Clane and Celbridge had disappeared a few years before. The people were not vigilant as to the enterprise in their midst, and the once prosperous industry was decaving in a manner that might well appall those who were solicitous for the future welfare of Ballymore. The drifting process was proceeding rapidly, and to the people of the neighbourhood it looked as if the woollen industry in their midst would soon be numbered amongst the things that were. But there was one in Ballymore who saw that the prosperity of the town would fade with its industry. He had seen the mills in the days of their prosperity, when employment was given to close on 100 hands, and it was mainly owing to the excellent business capacity and energy of Mr. P. Mc Grath, the present manager, that the mills were saved from complete extinction. On the death of Mr. Copeland, Mr. Mc Grath obtained permission from the present owner, through her solicitor, to carry on the working of the mills provided he could make it pay; and that he succeeded in doing this may be judged from the fact that, although when he again set the machinery in motion last July, wool, owing to a variety of circumstances, was scarce in the country, yet, despite all these obstacles, he never flagged in his determination to show that the industry could be made pay, and that those wishes of his have been realised can be proved when it is shown that the mill is not only now paying its way, but is being worked at a profit, which even though small, is still a proof that there is room for such an industry in the country. Miss Copeland, the present owner of the place, whose charitable and pious disposition is well known, also takes a deep interest in the working of the mill, as she does in everything connected with the welfare of those with whom her family have for generations lived in perfect amity. Since Mr. Mc Grath took over the management of the mills in June last ten hands have been employed, and in the coming spring it is hoped that employment will be given to double that number.
The mills are at present in a remarkably good state of preservation, and all the machinery is in perfect order. Our representative was shown over the factory by Mr. Mc Grath, who explained to him the several processes through which the wool went before being converted into flannels, blankets, rugs, and horse sheeting, all of which are now turned out in the factory. The wool is first put into the willowing machine in a raw state, where it is thoroughly cleansed, after which it goes to the carding machine, which converts it into a very fine rope. The ropes are then conveyed by self-acting threads into the second carding machine, and it is then removed to the condenser, where it is turned out in fine robbing for the spinner. This robbing is then removed to the spinning-room, and spun into yarn by a self-acting mule. This latter process is a very interesting one, the spindles being driven by a cotton band, and when the wool has here been converted into yarn it goes to the warping machine, where it is warped for the looms. It then goes to the looms to be woven into cloth. The cloth is carried to an immense scouring machine, and there scoured, and afterwards carried to the milling machine to be tucked into cloth by two rollers. It now goes back to the scouring machine to be finished off. The tenzle gig is then brought into requisition, where the wool is raised on the cloth. The shearing machine next shears off the wool to show the pattern of the piece; it is then brushed on the brush mill, and then carried to the press shop to be pressed. The friezes then go to the napping engine to be napped. There is also a special machine for making the friezes waterproof. The wool has, in all, to go through fifteen processes, and if the industry were in a flourishing state at least 150 hands could be employed in the factory. There is no questioning the superiority of the woollen goods turned out in the mills, as can be judged from the fact that in the years 1865, 1872, 1865, and 1866 four medals were obtained at the Dublin Shows for the tweeds and friezes turned out at Ballymore.
The history of this industry, short and incomplete as it must be in a sketch of this kind, should give an object lesson on what the people of the county might hope to gain by self-reliance, and suggests the prosperity that might be increased by patronage of the products of local manufacture in preference to those of the foreigner. As we stated before, there is no questioning the superiority of these products or the reasonableness of their price, and both quality and price compare favourably with those imported. Surely, therefore, the patronage of the people of Kildare and surrounding counties should be given to this local manufacture in preference to others. The industrial revival movement is now strong in the country, and the apathy that prevailed amongst the people, towards the support of home industry is departing. Apathy in the past has been the principal obstruction to the development of Irish industries, and out of it has sprung many destructive influences. If the people were vigilant to internal enterprise in their own country, there would be loss of the decadence that exists. Importation will increase as long as it is permitted to go unchecked, and as importation increases, necessarily home products decreases. The farmers of the country should recognise that in sending their wool to the mills at Ballymore they are encouraging Irish manufacture, and giving employment to Irish hands, who would otherwise have to leave the country to find that work which was denied them at home.

An Article from the Leinster Leader of January 1906, encouraging local support of the woollen mills.
[Compiled by Mario Corrigan; typed and edited by Niamh Mc Cabe]
Ballymore Eustace Proud Handball Record – Part 12

P.J. McGrath, who was a good two-handed player, was the first Ballymore Eustace player to win the All-Ireland Under 16 soft singles title when he won that championship in 1989. P.J. is a son of Joe who was himself a good handballer as was his Uncle Mick who represented the Club in the minor championships in the fifties. Following a stint in Australia, P.J. works in London.

Daragh Ward won the 1994 All-Ireland minor hard singles title and two years later he teamed up with Trevor Winder to win the Under 21 soft doubles title. Daragh's success in the minor hard singles was particularly impressive as it was achieved at the expense of the highly rated Cavan player Michael Finnegan. In 2002, Daragh won the All-Ireland junior hard singles title.
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Frank Dooley and his daughter Maura have been involved in the Club for many years and live over at the Curragh. Maura has been successful in racquetball while Frank has achieved All-Ireland success in 1996 and again in 1998. Both his successes were gained in singles and both were first time successes for the Club. In 1996 Frank won the Emerald Masters "B" Soft Singles and in 1998 he won the Diamond Masters "B" 40 by 20 Singles. In 1999 Frank reached the All-Ireland final against Roscommon's Michael Naughton.

Dermot Howard and Anthony Campbell won the 1998 Golden Masters "B" Soft Doubles and Golden Masters "B" 40 by 20 Doubles - both successes were firsts for the Club.

On top of our All-Ireland successes our players have won many provincial and county titles. But for the scourge of immigration our successes could have been greater. Lost to handball in this way were: the late Tommy Leahy; the late Willie Grace; the late Dan Murphy; the late Jim Bolger; Liam and Joe Evans; Eddie Whelan and Tom Doran, Michael and Jack Winters, Seamie Curran; Tony Daly; Pat Clarke; Peter and George McGuire; the late Mick Tackaberry; the Daly brothers, Ray, Dessie and the late Jerome Lynch; John and Gerry Kelly; Jack Boylan and the late Joe Nugent.

Apart from our All-Ireland winners in the above list, Michael and Jack Winters displayed considerable promise while Peter McGuire and Pat Clarke were especially use­ful players. Pat Clarke was a very good softball player who had a high degree of ball control. The late Joe Nugent was a son of the late Tommy Nugent of Ballybough and Joe represented the Club on many occasions after returning from England.

Successes such as our Club has enjoyed require a lot of hard work. Credit for these successes must go to the following: the late Ned O'Rourke (Senior), the late Pat Connor, the late Jimmy McGrath, the late Jim Byrne, the late Jack McGee, the late Myles McGee, the late Peter Nugent, the late Myles Lawlor (Senior), the late Christy Byrne, the late Bernard Purcell and the late Mick McDonald,

Others who helped were: the late Mickey, Margaret and Michael Dowling, Bobbie Grattan, Jim Doyle (Sillagh), the late Mel Sullivan, Billy Doran, Seamie Curran, Tony Evans, the late Paddy Monaghan, the late Willie, the late Brigid and James Purcell, the late Eddie and the late Maisie Deegan, Eamonn Deegan, Ned Deegan, Bren Hennessy, Joe Marshall, the late Joe Nugent, the late John Deegan, Martin Deegan, Anthony and Mary Campbell, Larry Glancy, Barry Slattery, Billy Gobbett, John Browne, Tom Geoghegan, Pius Winder, Vincent Kavanagh, Tom and Rita O'Rourke, Tom O'Rourke, Jim Clarke, Margaret Pearse and Ollie Deegan.

The truth is everyone in the area at one time or another has lent a helping hand as an example of this I came across an old notebook relating to the sixties and found that John Queally, the late Johnny Murphy and the late Tom Hanlon amongst others helped out with transport in connection with a flag day way back then.

Hardball which was originally the premier form of handball and which up to the early sixties, was accorded equal standing with softball has had a precarious existence since then. Ballymore Eustace has supplied most of the recent hard­ball makers. These were the late Tommy Byrne, the late Joe McDonald, the late Paddy Nolan, the late Jim Evans and Anthony and Mary Campbell. In addi­tion to the above people who have made hard­balls over a long number of years the Club is indebted to the late Eddie and Martin Deegan, Mark Doyle, the late Paddy Monaghan and John Browne all of whom have done their bit to keep the game alive. Despite setbacks, hardball continues to survive.

Apologies: I forgot Eamonn Deegan’s second All-Ireland success with John Browne in 2000. Ollie Deegan’s two All-Ireland wins with Pat Coffey of Moone were achieved in 2002 and not 1992.

© Matt Purcell (May 28, 2009)
Ballymore Ladies GFC

Challenge Match vs Donard
Ballymore Ladies were invited to play Donard to celebrate the opening of their new pitch. Well done to all the new players who did themselves proud in their first game. Aoife O’Toole played well in the half back line but prefers her more stationary role in the goals! Thanks to Siobhan Murphy for keeping the scores.

Donard 1-5 Ballymore 3-5

Challenge Match vs Robert Emmets
Ballymore travelled to the Eire Og pitch near Mondello on Tuesday 9th June. I think all we can say about this one is that the sun kept shining!

Scorers for Ballymore
Aisling Hubbard 4-0
Dawn Murray 0-1

Robert Emmets 3-12 Ballymore 4-1


Challenge Match vs Castledermot
A much better display by Ballymore saw a great game of football the following night (Wed 10th). Castledermot travelled to the pitch without a full 15 so a number of the ladies switched between the 2 teams over the 60 minutes. Ballymore dominated much of the game and the visitors only really got going in the last third of the game when Ballymore allowed a number of their backs to play up front.
It was great to see the new girls gaining confidence on the pitch and the old stalwarts relished the opportunity to play in different positions. Fran Burke scored her first point for Castledermot and is hoping to get an invitation to their dinner dance!
Stacey Balfe and Aisling Hubbard again put in strong performances and Karen Archibald was unlucky not to get her first score for the ladies.

Scorers for Ballymore
Lesley Tutty 0-4
Dawn Murray 0-3
Aisling Hubbard 0-2
Michelle Hubbard 0-1
Teresa Gorman 0-1
Fran Burke 0-1 (for Castledermot)

Ballymore 0-11 Castledermot 2-5








Bungee Jump
The ‘Jump for the Juveniles’ raised a massive €2,000 for the Feile. Well done to all involved.

Last Man Standing Competition
Last man standing was jointly won by Darren Whelan and Fergus Aspell. Both survivors graciously decided to split the winnings in the fear of coming away empty handed. We hope to see you all in the competition next season!!!

Lesley’s progress with the Lilywhites
Following an injury Lesley is now back training with the county. She was given the all clear for her first game on Sunday 7th June against Longford and was delighted to play for the last 15 minutes.
While the men’s team are out in Carlow in the championship the Ladies have challenge games against Leitrim and Kerry on the weekend of the 13th\14th.
The next game for the B group is June 21st away to Cork in the Aisling McGing Cup. Good luck to Lesley and Kildare from the team.

Paint Balling
Dawn organised a team outing to go paint balling. 13 girls got up early on a cold damp Saturday to travel to Bray. It was a busy place with many other groups of people also there. The girls made the decision to divide into 2 teams that were playing against each other. A bit of rivalry never hurt anyone! The girls played 3 games and the result was 2-1. Everyone got into the spirit of things with some teams becoming very tactical! Others aimed at anything that was moving including their own team. We won’t mention the people who enjoyed aiming for and hitting the people who were retreating having already been hit-an easy target doesn’t count! By the end of the morning many of the girls had quite an impressive array of bruises and it was discovered that hits on the helmet resulted in coloured hair and scalps! A good day was had by all and practice makes perfect for any future outings.

Notes
The team and club’s thoughts and prayers are with the Byrne and Hudson families during this tough time.

We forgot to say Good Luck last month but hope that the Leaving Cert exams went well for Marilena Norton, Sheena Hubbard, Stephanie Harney and Michelle Nolan.


Deirdre & Sharon
Ballymore Ladies GFC PROs


Ballymore Eustace GAA Club
Juvenile Football & Hurling
an Baile Mor
News
We have arranged with Colgan’s Sports in Monread, Naas
to sell the Ballymore club jerseys. They will be available
in all sizes from Under 6 up to adult and will be on sale
from the end of June. Club shorts, socks and hoodies will
also be available.
This years Cul Camp will run from Monday 6th July to
10th July (10.00am to 2.30pm), for children from Senior
Infants to Sixth class only. We need people to help out
during the week so anybody interested please put your
name forward to any member of the Juvenile committee.
There was great celebrations in the Kelleher household
this month, with Martin and Madeleine's 40th birthdays
and the Senior School team winning the final in Lexlip.
Football News
The Girls.
Feile Team news
The girl's played in the Feile blitz in Ballymore on 23
May. The score Ballymore 2:01 Sarsfield (2) 4:03.
Ballymore 0:03 Rathangan 3:03, they then played a full
match in league on 27 May Ballymore 3:01 Castledermot
6:07.We played in a very wet and blustery Sarsfield on 6
June. The girl's tried very hard in the conditions and were
unlucky in both game's. Ballymore 0:00 Sarsfield 1:01
Ballymore 0:00 Round Towers 0:01. We also had a
challenge game against Dunlavin on 11th of June, it was
a very exciting match with Dunlavin by a score of 3:02 to
2:02.
Remaining matches 13th of June blitz in Carbury, 17th of
June League match at home against Castledermot and
then we have on 20th June a blitz in Carbury.
U12 Team News
The under 12's played two game's in division 5,
Ballymore 6:17 Athgarvan 0:00 and Ballymore 7:08
Robert Emmets 0:03.They play Confey on Monday 15th
at home with both team's needing a win to progress to the
final.
Féile Peil na nÓg
The Féile Peil na nÓg is finally here and we would like to
welcome the girls from New York and the boys from
Clonmel to Ballymore. The boys and girls will be staying
in Ballymore with local families who have volunteered to
host them and we hope they enjoy their stay in our
village. The serious business of the competition will take
place over the weekend of 3rd to 5th of July:
Friday July 3rd
2:00 Girls Round 1: BME V’s New York
2:45 Boys Round 1: BME V’s Clonmel Commercials
Saturday July 4th
9:30 – 14:30: Boys Round 2 and 3 in Ballymore Eustace
9:30 – 14:30: Girls Round 2 and 3 in Castledermot
16:30: Boys and Girls Semi-Final (venue yet to be
decided)
Sunday July 5th
Finals in County Grounds and Moorefield.
This should be a great event and everybody is welcome
to come along and enjoy the games on both days. All of
the teams competing would be delighted to receive your
support either in Ballymore or Castledermot.
Boys Football Update
The Under 10 team have played 2 matches to date.
Unfortunately the team has lost both games narrowly to
Two-Mile-House and Ballykelly. This is the first
competitive competition for most of these lads and its
great to see new talent such as Jordan Deegan, Eoin
Murphy, Glen Rooney and Luke Maguire emerging.
The Under 12 team have played 3 matches in their
league to date. The campaign started with a loss away to
Kildangan on a very hot evening and has been followed
by victories over Moorefield and Milltown.
The Under 14 football team have played 5 games in their
league to date and so far have a 100% record after wins
against Clane, Maynooth, St Edwards, Nurney and Naas,
they have now qualified for the league playoff stages.
Hurling News
We started of the Biltz's in Dunlavin on the 16th May, a
horrible wet and windy day ! We had a full team for the
Under 8's but for the Under 10's we only had 3 ! As
Blessingtons numbers were like ours, our sporting lads
help Blessington out with great success. The clubs that
togged out were Strafford, Blessington Dunlavin and
Ballymore.
Well doe to Cian Duggan, Caolan Halpin and Robbie
Noone for “helping” Blessington out !
Coaching motto: Children first, winning second
Ballymore Eustace GAA Club
Juvenile Football & Hurling
an Baile Mor
We had another Hurling Blitz in Nurney for the Under 12
on Saturday 6th of June, again, another horrible day but
the lads did themselves proud. We played teams from
Nurney, St. Laurences and Castledermot and won all our
matches.
School Hurling Team
Congratulations to the Boys school team on winning the
Cumann na mBunscoil senior boys Division 4 hurling
competition for the first time on Thursday 11th of June.
We believe this is an historic event in that this is the first
hurling title ever won by a Ballymore team.
The final, against Straffan, was played in Confey grounds
on a pitch that was ideal for hurling and the lads made the
most of it by starting as they meant to go on, chasing and
tackling everything but also showing their skills. The first
half was a tight affair with Ballymore leading 2-1 to 1-0
at half time. An early goal in the second half settled the
nerves of the lads (and supporters) and they ran out
winners by 6-6 to 1-0 in the end. Captain Darragh
Kelleher collected the cup on behalf of the team. On the
day, where everybody played their part, there were fine
performances from Darragh Kelleher, Dylan Waters, Niall
O’Neill, Shane Barrett Craig Byrne.
We would like to thank Martin Kelleher, James Noone
and Mairead O’Flynn for their efforts in coaching and
encouraging the lads over the last number of years, it’s
great to see the years of hard work paying off.
Darragh Kelleher, Harry Murphy, Niall O’Neill, David
Mc Atamaney, Dylan Waters, Joshua Burke-Hayes. Craig
Byrne, Declan Davis, Adam Murphy, Thomas McGuirk,
Shane Barrett, Tadhg Dooley, Rossa Doyle, Tom
Murphy, Stephen Doyle, Robbie Noone
Our Under 8's in Dunlavin
Daire Clarke, Kevin Kelleher, Dillion Smith, Colm Daly,
Jake McNulty.
Keelin Clarke, Dara Gilroy, Conor Gilroy, Ben Noone and
Tadgh Barrett.
Well Done Darragh and the rest of the team
Coaching motto: Children first, winning second
Ballymore Eustace GAA Club
Juvenile Football & Hurling
an Baile Mor
Coaching motto: Children first, winning second


Monthly Draw

The club are holding a monthly draw starting from July. Only 100 tickets are available and the first two months will feature 2 All-Ireland hurling tickets for one month and 2 All-Ireland Football for the other, with €50 for second and third and a signed Kildare jersey for third. The following month’s prizes will be 1st €150, 2nd and 3rd €50 and 4th a signed Kildare jersey.

Sponsorship

The club wish to thank John Holland for his recent donation to the club. It is very much appreciated.

Kildare Star!!

Well done to our own county star James Kavanagh for his efforts with the Kildare Senior team this year. James has been in scintillating championship form and after a super display against Offaly James won the ‘RTE Man of the Match’ for his superb performance against Wexford which included 1-03 from play. We also all enjoyed the goal celebration!! Best of luck to James and the lads against Laois in the Leinster semi.

Summer Camp

The annual kid’s summer camp is taking place this year from the 6th-10th of July.

Féile 2009

Club members are currently cleaning up the grounds in preparation for the Féile 09 taking place in Ballymore. Ballymore will be entering two teams (check juvenile notes) and it runs on the second and third of July.

Training

Despite so many injuries the senior team is experiencing at the moment training is still going strong in preparation for the 1st round of the championship against Eadestown which has been fixed for the weekend of July 17th-19th.




Senior League Division 2

Ballymore 3-08 Straffan 0-6

Ballymore recorded a comfortable victory over a gutsy Straffan side in terrible conditions on Saturday evening. The home side got off to a flyer playing with the breeze with Tommie Archibald pointing in the first minute curling over from thirty yards. It wasn’t until the tenth minute for the next score to come and it was to be a goal for the home side with full forward Mark McCarville blasting home after interchanges between Eoin Kavanagh, Gareth Clarke and Tommie Archibald. Eoin Kavanagh scored a pointed free on fifteen minutes followed soon after by a good point from Tadhg Grace under pressure to leave the score 1-03 to no score. It took Straffan until the twenty sixth minute to open their account with a free from Séan McAlwaynne. Eoin Kavanagh then responded with a free to keep the momentum with the home team. Austin Allen scored to keep Straffan in touch but on the stroke of half time Gareth Clarke scored a goal to leave Straffan facing a mountain to climb in the second half, the goal coming after great work from Olly O’ Neill, Eoin Kavanagh and Steven Dwyer. Half time score 2-04 to 0-2.
Straffan started the second half brightly and Scott Neville pointed from an acute angle to reduce the deficit. Eoin Kavanagh then pointed a free for the home team to keep the gap at eight points. Steven Dwyer then got the score of the game drilling the ball into the top corner from twenty one yards after being set up by Tommie Archibald. Straffan never gave up and Austin Allen raised a white flag in an effort to get back into the game. It wasn’t to come however as Ballymore hit three in a row on fifteen, eighteen and nineteen minutes, the scores coming from Eoin Kavanagh (free), Mark McCarville and Tommie Archibald to kill off the game. Straffan to their credit never gave up and finished with two points from centre forward Kenny Byrne. Best for the winners were Eoin Kavanagh, Jamie Balfe and Tadhg Grace while for Straffan Scott Neville, James Devane and Rob Fagan tried hard.

Ballymore 1-04 Raheens 0-9

Raheens travelled to Ballymore on Sunday evening and continued their impressive league form by taking all the points on offer. It was the home side who started brighter with Eoin Kavanagh opening the scoring on two minutes followed soon after by a point from Tommie Archibald. Keelan Noone then hit two in a row for the visitors on eight and ten minutes to level up the scores as Raheens started to come into the game. The visitors then took the lead with a free from the reliable Ross McMahon and full forward Shane Cook added one soon after to put some day-light between the teams. The home team then put together a quick counter attack and after good link up play between Brian Moore and Tommie Archibald it was Eoin Kavanagh who dispatched the ball to the net to put Ballymore one point up. The goal did not deter the Raheens team however and they finished the half the stronger of the two with two frees, one a piece from Ross McMahon and Shane Cook to leave the interval score 0-06 to 1-02 in favour of Raheens. In what was turning out to be a close tight encounter with low scoring it was Eoin Kavanagh who levelled the score five minutes into the second half with a brilliant effort on the outside of the boot from thirty-five yards. Shane Cook who was impressive throughout hit two in quick succession, one on either foot as Raheens started to get on top. Steven Dwyer then put the minimum between the teams with ten minutes remaining as he drove over from thirty yards after good work from Colin Clarke and Pat Browne. Both sides then missed great chances to finish the game off with Ballymore keeper ‘Moggy’ Murray pulling off a spectacular save during this spell and in the end a free from Ross McMahon was enough to ensure the visitors went home happiest. Final score Ballymore 1-04 Raheens 0-9. Best for the winners were Noel Byrne, Shane Cook and Shane Power while Ballymore had good displays from Eoin Kavanagh, Jamie Balfe and keeper Maurice Murray.

Upcoming Fixtures

Senior League Division 2
Sat 27th June Eadestown (home)
Sat 11th July Two Mile House (home)
The championship first round vs Eadestown is fixed for the weekend of July 17th-19th

Ballymore Junior Team

The Junior team are starting to put together some good performances after an indifferent start to the league. With more players togging out the lads had narrow defeats against Suncroft and St. Kevins and a brilliant seven point win over Maynooth.

Player Profile

This month it’s the turn of Colin Clarke who wants to set the record straight after recent criticism of his dress sense.

Favourite Player: Maurice Fitzgerald
Player you would most like to have on the BME team: Séan Cavanagh
Best Player ever played against: Tommy O’ Neill (St. Laurances)
Career High: Winning Leinster with Kildare Juniors
Career Low: Losing the All- Ireland semi to Leitrim and losing the intermediate final.
Biggest influence on you as a player: Vinnie Kavanagh
Best BME player ever played with: In the backs Pat Browne, midfield Andy Dooley and forward would be Jarleth Gilroy.
Best BME player ever: Used to love watching Paul Murphy when I was younger
Best Manager ever played under: Won Leinster with Jarleth at the helm and won the Kildare u20 championship with BME with Jarleth as manager so he mnust know something.
Worst dressed on the team: Photo-finish, Shane Kavanagh wears tights to training and Brian Moore wears some ridiculously pink t-shirts
Worst trainer on the team: Keith Conway, it’s as if he’s deaf
Who spends the longest getting ready after training: Timmy Gorman, the routine usually involves some body lotion, a tub of brylcream and a can of deodorant
Gretta Clarkes cooking out of ten: 9 because if I gave her full marks she would get complacent
Who would you most like to go on a date with: Hayley from Home and Away
What you would like to see in your lifetime: Kildare for Sam
Favourite Drink: Heineken
Favourite Film: Remember the Titans
Favourite Song: She’s a vision by All Eyes with Owen Clarke in his boy band days
Who eats the most at the Clarke dinner table: Gazza has been known to eat a six person Lasagne on his own
Worst Dancer: Tadhg Grace. Always gets some funny looks but that could be because he always wears jeans that are too short
Most intelligent on the team: Tommie Archibald is a genius at ‘Who Wants to Be A Millionaire’
Community Games County Finals
Ballymore Children battle the elements and do us proud
It felt like half the County was decending upon Newbridge on 5th and 6th June last with traffic backed up way past Cox's Cash and Carry. Why the commotion? The Community Games County Finals caused a flurry of eager parents and young hopefuls to make their way to the athletic track on the first Friday evening and Saturday in June. The area final medals had been proudly received weeks earlier, the athletics training had been attended religiously and now, the time had come to seek County glory (or at least give it their best shot and try and keep within the freshly painted lanes- which for some of the younger boys and girls, was the first time they had seen such lines on grass at all!)
Despite the icy wind, two County medals were brought home on Friday evening by Maria Clarke for coming second in the girls U-16 100 metres and by Margaret Hayden who came 3rd in the girls U-14 shot put. Shannon Doyle put in a great jump to come fourth in the girls U-14 long jump as did Sean Murphy who finished fourth in the boys U-12 ball throw.
Ballymore entered into the relay that same evening for the first time in many years with girls U-12 and boys U-14 teams competing and although they weren't placed, all ran very well and it was great experience for next year.
Sadly, Saturday's event was literally a wash out with heavy wind and rain and after the U-8 boys and girls heats had taken place, the County Board wisely decided to call it a day for health and safety reasons - the children were sopping and frozen and the risk of slipping was all too great on ground that was fast becoming soggy. I don't think there was a parent or child who wasn't relieved to make a hasty retreat to the shelter of their cars from what can only be described as an endurance test! So a huge thanks to all the boys and girls and their parents for braving the weather conditions and let's hope, the re-scheduled date's weather is a lot kinder.
Swimming Finals
Just a handful of children took part in the County Finals Swimming in Athy last Saturday. Competition was very stiff on theday and a very determined Darragh Kelleher came home with a certificate for 4th place in the boys U-14 freestyle finals. Well done to Darragh and everyone who participated. It would be great to see more getting involved in swimming next year.
The re-run of the County Finals Athletics is scheduled for Saturday, 27th June, at 10am. Any boys and girls who did not qualify in the U-8 heats on Saturday, 6th June and who would like another chance to compete in better conditions (hopefully) will be allowed to race again on the day if they wish to do so. The County Board decided that due to adverse weather conditions previously, it was only fair to give the children who wanted it, another chance. Everyone who ran and qualified already in the U-8’s heats need not run again as their qualification still stands.
Let’s hope for a much finer day second time round! Ann Murphy


Stonebrook Pet Farm
Stonebrook Pet Farm near Ballymore Eustace is now open from 11 am - 5 pm each weekend in June.

The farm is also open Monday to Friday for group tours, by appointment only and for birthday parties all week by appointment. Children can collect eggs from the hen and duck house, see the baby piglets, feed pet lambs and calves, hold baby chicks and ducklings and meet Elf, Stonebrook's miniature Shetland pony, Steve and Bertie the goats and Podge and Rodge the miniature pigs. Afterwards children can enjoy a picnic and have fun in the play area. The setting of the pet farm in the picturesque Stonebrook Farm, which has been in the Ronaldson family for generations, is a treat in itself. For information or to make a booking please call Jackie on
"The streets of Ballymore Eustace will soon be displaying street name signs in both Irish and English. This is a project a long time in the hatching; it was first mooted well over fifteen years ago! Everything comes to those who wait - or so my old Dad used to tell me! The signs have been made by Sean Deegan of SD Signs, and he has generously donated them free of charge. A big thank you to Sean from Ballymore Eustace CDA on behalf of the whole village."
We had recieved a €2,000 donation from the KTK KCC Levy Fund which means that all costs of erecting the signs and additional signage required is now covered and hopefully, you will soon be seeing the signs around the village.
On Tuesday May 26th the Community Playgroup and the Early Years Parent and Toddler group joined forces for a sponsored walk around the Ballymore GAA pitch. The aim of the walk was to raise funds for the DANONE BIG TODDLE FOR BARNARDOS. Fortunately the rain held off and we had a beautiful morning for the walk. Some of the smaller members were pushed around in the buggies! All in all a great morning was had and over 800 euro was raised. A big thank you to all who sponsored the "athletes". Thanks also to those who organised the event and last but not least, thanks to the parents who came along to support the kids! Every cent raised goes directly to the essential work Barnardos does with vulnerable children in Ireland. Please find attached two photos: one of the members of the Community Playgroup and one of the Early Years Parent and Toddler group. Una Bagge (of the Early Years Parent and Toddler group)
Village Green Garden Club
Garden Club members had a real treat in May as we visited Josephine Hardiman’s garden and art studio in Punchestown. Josephine showed us two garden sculptures, her paintings, and her collection of photographs of flowers, fields, sunsets, and trees, in fact all of nature. She draws on all she sees around her for her inspiration, and also on her love of poetry which she weaves in to her art through calligraphy. We also had a glimpse of how a flower was painted in watercolour, and how pastels were used and blended. We had time to stroll in Josephine’s lovely peaceful garden, and enjoy a delicious tea. A magical evening for all.
In June we had a lovely afternoon visiting two members gardens in Naas, and finished the day with a barbeque cooked up south African style by Estelle’s husband Alastair .
Next Garden Club meeting is on the last Thursday in September at 7.30 in the Resource Centre. New members always welcome.
Bits ‘n Bobs with Rose

BALLYMORE BABEWATCH
Well, Readers – you’ve seen the thirteen Marathon Babes on page one who walked the mini-marathon on June 1st in aid of various charities – well done, all of them. With the golden weather this year, the sun factor and shades were on, as opposed to the plastic macs and tracksuits they usually train in! The men of Donnybrook Fire Station helped them stay cool by spraying participants with water so most people took advantage of that. Isn’t it hilarious – we spend three quarters of our lives complaining about being soaked in the rain; first bout of sunshine and the fire brigade are out hosing us down to keep cool!

The spectacle of 40,000 women together, all dressed in very colourful T shirts, each one doing their best for their chosen charities is a spectacular sight. The Ballymore Babewatch were joined by a few "questionable ladies with questionable designer boobs" so there was lots of good humoured banter and I wouldn’t think our ladies were a bit shy about entering into the fun.

Ballymore’s finest finished in record time with no injuries reported, collected their medals and arrived home about 7pm, tired but with a sense of achievement. Well done, Ladies – and already some of them are in practise for next year.

Punchestown Crowned Ireland’s Best Race Track
Punchestown was today officially crowned as Ireland’s best racecourse at the 2009 Sports Betting Awards ceremony in the Burlington Hotel, Dublin recently. The Home of Irish National Hunt racing prevailed in the hotly contested category against a total of eight other finalists from around the country.
The judges were particularly impressed by Punchestown’s ability to meet the selection criteria through their dynamic and innovative commercial approach this year. What that means, Readers, is that despite the downturn in the economy, the massive drop in Corporate bookings for 2009, the sales team at Punchestown worked their asses off this year to secure steady ticket sales through the gates for all five days’ racing.
This year’s National Hunt Festival provided a much needed boost to both the racing and betting industries by attracting a huge audience both on and off course for what is considered the racing highlight of the Irish calendar. The personal service and the comraderie between staff and management is marvellous; they are a great bunch out there and Dick O’ Sullivan can be rightly proud of his team from the office, sales & marketing, groundsmen etc.
“We are thrilled to receive this award” said Dick. “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all those who contribute to making our racecourse the success it is, especially our loyal sponsors and dedicated racegoers”.
I heard it ‘on the grapevine’ that the racecourse crew went out to celebrate and rightly so; but ‘twas the women who made it into work the next mornin’, business as usual……… Ah Liam, where’s your energy?
Punchestown’s next race meeting will take place Wednesday 14th October. www.punchestown.com



Isn’t Education great?
Ireland supposedly has one of the best education nations in the world with a high level of third level graduates amongst our workforce. Recently, my sister in law, Bernie and I popped into Paddy Murphy’s on a Sunday afternoon, met up with Ethna and Fergus and decided to make an afternoon of it. Joined by her daughter Hayley, Bernie suddenly remembered the animals in her house needed feeding.

“I will ring Murph” offered Hayley, Murph being her boyfriend, a grand chap who has just finished his first year in college. After a long monologue as to the feeding needs of Ruby and Daisy, the dogs; Bubbles the rabbit; Millie the lamb who thinks she is a dog with curly white hair; Dotty and Aggie, the pot bellied pigs; Rupert the goldfish; Felix and Billy, the house cats, Hayley told Murph where to find the lamb’s feeding bottle……..

“WHAT?” reacted Murph. “You mean she doesn’t drink it out o bowl like the rest of them?? I have to pour it into a bottle - ah, for God’s sake….”

Obviously, Murph is not aiming for a career in animal or veterinary care.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

THE PERFECTOs at Punchestown
Well, Readers, our Bugle has now become so popular, we are now “the victims of our own success”. Our edition is so heavily in demand for editorial and advertising, that several articles and photos have to be dropped each month, the Perfectos Day Out at Punchestown being one of the casualties in our May edition. Suffice to say, we had a great day but we were down in numbers this year as ‘Cinta was only back from Australia the day before and others opted for the comfort of watching the races in Paddys.

But Jackie, Ann, Sylvia, Anna, Louise, Mary, Christine, Mary and Linda with Linda’s Mam in Law plus Sheila- cum-Bridie put on the style and braved the elements – along with yours truly, of course. First person we meet going through the gates was George Washington himself, the performer not the president………and Jackie himself and Sheila decide to do a Trio……….. a €1 apiece and they won nearly €1,300 between them! Great start to the day and their luck continued; Jackie O should be workin’ as a tipster – she studied the form and was more accurate than Ted Walsh on the day!

I didn’t think that Wednesday’s racing was as crowded as normal but I did leave the Enclosure to meet up with Margaret, Marie and Renee Murphy and I saw Pat Lawlor and Johnny and more of the clan about. Missed Meahall this year, Bless him and with the elections yet to follow, I would have enjoyed a ding-dong slaggin’ match with him – he’d a sharp wit, had the late Meahall.

Well, the Perfectos, cold or not, enjoyed their day and when Vinnie collected us to take us to Paddy’s, the boldness got into the Tipster O’Neill and Canary Bridie and they ‘forced’ us to head into Naas, swearing blindly to Vinnie that we’d be ready for collection at 11pm for Ballymore. Well, I bumped into ‘My Don’ so my loyalties were divided between The Perfectos and Don Juan and I was back and forth between the two like a revolving door. Seems poor ol’ Vinnie did come back and made several attempts to round up the Perfecto Possee but nothin’ doing and only Linda availed of the lift home. Apologies Vinnie but you should have put ankle tags on us…..anyway I blame the Tipster and The Bridie One, they were the ringleaders………….



My Don left me home before midnight as I was working the next morning. The Perfectos made it home around 3am……Good for them! ‘Cinta, Mary H and Biddy, ye may come back and join us next year as they need a little decorum……..



Fluttering the Fan
It is seldom now that we see ladies utilizing what was once an essential item of their finery – a fan. To the artful user, it may be a wand of whimsical charm, of coy enticement, or perhaps disdain. The following is a letter by Addison to The Spectator, June 1711. He called it a satire upon ‘several fantastical accomplishments’ of ladies.

Mr. Spectator.
Women are armed with fans as men with swords, and sometimes do more execution with them. To the end therefore that ladies may be entire mistresses of the weapons which they bear, I have erected an academy for the training of young women in the ‘exercise of the fan’, according to the most fashionable airs and motions that are now practiced at court. The ladies who ‘carry’ fans under me are drawn up twice a day in my great hall, where they are instructed in the use of their arms, and exercised in the following words of command: Handle your fans; Unfurl your fans; Discharge your fans; Ground your fans; Recover your fans; Flutter your fans. By the right observation of these few plain words of command, a woman of tolerable genius, who will apply herself diligently to her exercise for the space of but one half year, shall be able to give her fan all the graces that can possibly be entered into that little modish machine.
But to the end that my readers may form to themselves a right notion of this exercise, I beg leave to explain it to them in all its parts. When my female regiment is drawn up in array, with every one her weapon in hand, upon my giving the word ‘to handle their fans’, each of them shakes her fan at me with a smile, then gives her right-hand woman a tap upon the shoulder, then presses her lips with the extremity of her fan, then lets her arms fall in an easy motion, and stands in a readiness to receive the next word of command. All this is done with a close fan, and is generally learned in the first week.
The next motion is that of ‘unfurling the fan’, in which are comprehended several little flirts and vibrations, as also gradual and deliberate openings, with many voluntary fallings asunder in the fan itself, that are seldom learned under a month’s practice. This part of the exercise pleases the spectators more than any other, as it discovers on a sudden an infinite number of cupids, garlands, altars, birds, beasts rainbows, and the like agreeable figures, that display themselves to view, whilst everyone in the regiment holds a picture in her hand.

Upon my giving the word to ‘discharge your fans’, they give one general crack that may be heard at a considerable distance when the wind sits fair. This is one of the most difficult parts of the exercise; but I have several ladies with me, who at their first entrance could not give a pop loud enough to be heard at the further end of a room, who can now ‘discharge a fan’ in such a manner, that it shall make a report like a pocket-pistol. I have likewise taken care, in order to hinder young women from letting off their fans in wrong places or unsuitable occasions, to show upon what subject the ‘crack’ of a fan may come in properly: I have likewise invented a fan with which a girl of sixteen by the help of a little wind which is inclosed about one of the largest sticks, can make as loud a crack as a woman of fifty with an ordinary fan.
When the fans are thus ‘discharged’, the word of command in course is to ‘ground your fans’. This teaches a lady to quit her fan gracefully, when she throws it aside in order to take up a pack of cards, adjust a curl of hair, replace a falling pin or apply herself to any other matter of importance. This part of the exercise, as it only consists in tossing a fan with an air upon a long table, (which stands by for that purpose) may be learned in two days time as well as in a twelvemonth.
When my female regiment is thus disarmed, I generally let them walk about the room for some time; when on a sudden, like ladies that look upon their watches after a long visit, they all of them hasten to their arms, catch them up in a hurry, and place themselves in their proper stations upon my calling out – ‘Recover your fans!’ This part of the exercise is not difficult, provided a woman applies her thoughts to it.

The ‘fluttering of the fans’ is the last, and indeed the masterpiece of the whole exercise; but if a lady does not misspend her time, she may make herself mistress of it in three months. I generally lay aside the dog-days and the hot time of the summer for the teaching of this part of the exercise; for as soon as ever I pronounce – ‘flutter your fans’, the place is filled with so many zephyrs and gentle breezes as are very refreshing in that season of the year, though they might be dangerous to ladies of a tender constitution in any other.
There is an infinite variety of motions to be made use of in the ‘flutter of the fan’: there is the angry flutter, the modish flutter, the timorous flutter, the confused flutter, the merry flutter and the amorous flutter. Not to be tedious, there is scarce any emotion in the mind which does not produce a suitable agitation in the fan; insomuch, that if I only see the fan of a disciplined lady, I know very well whether she laughs, frowns or blushes. I have seen a fan so very angry, that it would have been dangerous for the absent lover who provoked it to have come within the wind of it; and at other times so very languishing, that I have been glad for the lady’s sake the lover was at a sufficient distance from it. I need not add, that a fan is either a prude or coquette, according to the nature of the person who bears it. To conclude, I must acquaint you that I have from my own observation compiled a little treatise for the use of my scholars, entitled ‘The Passions of the fan’, which I will communicate to you, if you think it might be of use.
P.S. I teach young gentleman the whole art of ‘galavanting the fan’. Michael Ward.
Elections and other Matters.

Doing my duty t’other day and casting my vote I spoke with a local councillor who suggested that I write an article on elections. My immediate thought was, -- boring, but I didn’t say so to him as I had no wish to cause offence. However, on giving the matter some thought I says to meself why not, for these people who run for election deserve a mention. Like travelling salesmen they hike from door to door giving spiel and spoof selling a product to a fickle public. If yer man or woman is running for high office they get the use of the airways to sell themselves, but this method has it’s disadvantages, for no matter how well you may speak on TV if the fickle public don’t like the look of you you’re wasting your breath. Why your looks should have an influence on your abilities beats me, but it is so, especially among the female voter. I’ll get a rap on the knuckles for saying so from Herself and probably every other female of my acquaintance but I still maintain that it is so! If you can’t make it on TV there is always the election poster. Hanging from every wall and pole available it’s another gimmick to keep the public aware of your presence. Sometimes they hang there long after the election is over, but a better effort is made nowadays to have them removed. Going from door to door is another hazardous occupation. If the householder is of like mind as yourself then that’s fine, but be prepared for a tongue lashing if the opposite is the case. It’s not that the householder has anything against you personally; its who you represent is the problem. They’ve built up a head of steam since the last election and all their woes and grievances come tumbling out when they get a listening ear. With burning ears the only option is to make a hasty but diplomatic exit. Come the big day and the aspiring politician is flat out. Going from polling station to polling station doing a quick check here a quick check there; a hand and back slap to those you know and those you don’t know, especially those you don’t know! The ‘floating voter’ or the ‘don’t knows’ are always a concern for the aspiring politician, for come the counting of votes the floating vote can cause unexpected results; upsetting the apple cart so to speak. Poaching on fellow candidates territory is not unknown either! But the biggest worry of all is the re - jigging of boundary lines by strategists in the Dept of the Environment. These lines are changed because of shifts in the population; least that’s what we’re told, but it seems to be done in a very arbitrary fashion or wherever the ruler falls on the map. This change of boundary puts the hard working would be councillor into ‘no man’s land’. Knocking on doors of complete strangers explaining who you are and what you’re about is no easy task. We Irish are still a parochial people and putting your trust and vote to someone not well known to you can put the candidate into the ‘don’t know’ or ‘floating voter’ category. It was Tip O’Neill that famous American politician who made the profound statement. ‘All politics is local’!
And how does the aspiring politician either local or national go about engaging the interest of the youth? That’s a tough call. On June 3rd Alison Healy had an interesting article in the Irish Times about the youth vote. “Election hopefuls fail to impress the young” was the impression she came away with, having done a small survey of people aged between 18 and 25. Meanwhile the National Youth Council has proposed lowering the voting age to 16! Make sense of that if you can. And yet we see on TV t’other night two young folk standing for election and completing their Leaving Cert at the same time, so hope springs eternal.
As the man said, ‘its all over bar the shoutin’ and we can settle down to normality. Well almost, we Irish love to ‘argue the toss’ and we have the post mortem to discuss. The present shower in power got hammered, and have been asked to do the honourable thing and resign. Not a chance. Margaret Thatcher’s clarion call, Out, Out, Out, has fallen on deaf ears Brazen as brass Biffo and a couple of his spoke persons appear on the Box and radio telling us all as to how they are going to clear up the financial mess we are in. Did the interviewer not think to ask them who created the mess in the first place? Basking in the arms of developers, builders and bankers, since elected, nobody shouted STOP. Now with the country up shit creek it’s a bit late in the day to be putting Plan B, if they have one, into action. The Cowen Command that replaced King Bertie hasn’t made a whit of difference. He insists that he has the voters mandate to stay in office. Have I read the recent election results wrong? One of us is living in Cloud Coo-coo land.
Getting back to where I started elections do give us a choice. The outcome may not always be to ones liking but that’s democracy for you. One can grouse and bitch about the result, but you won’t be picked up and thrown into jail, or worse! As Winston Churchill once said; “Democracy is a damn bad form of government until you try something else” Bear that in mind when the party of your choice does not make the grade at the next election!! Yrs Jeffers.
A GOOD READ

I had been keenly awaiting Colm Toìbìn’s new book “Brooklyn” (Penguin: Paperback:15.65) as I had really enjoyed his last two offerings “The Master”- which was truly wonderful- and the book of short stories “Mothers and Sons”. Brooklyn tells the story of Eilis Lacey, a young native of Enniscorthy, in the recessionary times of the late 1950’s. The novel evokes the period convincingly, and in fact the sedate depiction of a quiet provincial life did leave me feeling a little restless in the opening chapters. Following prompts from her formidable older sister Rose, Eilis finally follows in the path of emigration already taken by her older brothers, except she finds herself not on the way to England for work, but on the boat to New York.

I really enjoyed this part of the story, as again the evocation of the place at a particular time, the cusp of the swinging sixties, is interesting and stimulating. Toìbìn’s portrayal of Eilis’ new “family” in the shape of her housemates and work colleagues in a large store is rich and diverse, and notably most of the most compelling characters in this novel are female. He is very good at penetrating the female psyche and as a result the character of Eilis herself, which I had found a little dull at the outset, really grew on me as the book progressed. Eilis is unexpectedly called back to her home town, and there follows a fascinting juxtaposition of her perspectives on home and New York. This calls for choices on her part and the dilemma she faces is very movingly revealed. This subtle and understated novel is definitely worth a read – it is a beautiful story of the diaspora of the heart.

There was certainly nothing calm about my second choice- “The Tenanat of Wildfell Hall” by Anne Bronte (Paperback: Wordsworth Editions:5.99) Anne is often overshadowed by the towering literary achievements of her sisters Charlotte and Emily, but this book demonstrates that she was a major talent in her own right.
The story is told in a typically dramatic Victorian way, and like many of her contemporaries she has quite a feminist streak , in that it deals with the misfortunes of a proud and beautiful heiress at the hands of her feckless husband. Helen Huntingdon is also an artist, demonstrating women’s ability to carve out careers for themselves in an era when this was not a particularly popular view. Bronte gives us a window into the Huntingdon’s dysfunctional marriage that must surely have been controversial when the book is first published, as there are some quite shocking insights into the depths of her husband’s depravity.

Again typical of its genre, the novel is told in alternating perspectives: firstly we hear from Gilbert Markham, neighbour to the new tenant of Wildfell Hall. Gilbert gradually falls under the spell of this mysterious woman, who unbeknown to them has left her husband and is trying to make her way independently. This then alternates with Helen’s diary account of her courtship and marriage. The novel cracks along at a great pace and as in all the Bronte’s work is characterised by a vivid, painterly landscape, reflecting the bleak and beautiful North Yorkshire moors where the Bronte children grew up. If you fancy a good bit of gothic escapism, this is a super read.

Angie Thompson


Magical Music at Russborough

May witnessed on of the most inspiring concerts yet in the beautiful saloon of Russborough house. We were lucky enough to watch not just one, but two exceptionally talented pianists. First the internationally acclaimed Margarete Babinsky, native of Austria wowed the audience with her gifts, playing a riveting combination of Haydn, Mozart and Schubert. We were then entertained by a young local talent (from Ballyknocan I believe?) Fiachra Garvey, who has recently been placed in the Dublin International piano competition. Fiachra played Debussy and Lizst for us , followed by a second session from Margarete featuring an Austrian composer – Schiske, and ending with Chopin. Janet and I were lucky enough to be seated near the front, so it was wonderful to observe the intensity and skill of these artists at such close quarters. After performing a lovely impromptu encore, dedicated to her Friend Father Kevin Lyon, Margarete teamed up with Fiachra for an electric finale- what a delightful evening! Well done Russborough – the gorgeous Steinway piano looked and sounded fantastic in the hands of these artists….

Angie Thompson
The Editors and Contributors of The Ballymore Bugle wish to extend their condolences to the family of the following who died recently. Please note, we are happy to accept Acknowledgements or Tributes for future editions. Our deepest sympathy to you all – Rose and Tim

The Late Ossie Hunter
A huge turnout for the late Ossie Hunter of Donode, Ballymore-Eustace who passed away recently; well known and respected within the farming community, Ossie was also a founder member of the Senior Citizen’s Association and had been one of a committee to be awarded the Ballymore People of the Year honour for the dedicated work they carried out. In latter months, Ossie had suffered poor health and was a patient in the Curragh Ward in Naas General Hospital at the time of his death.

He is survived by his wife Muriel, daughter Olivia (Hatton), grandchildren Sara, Gavin and Johanna, great-grandchildren Freddie and Flynn, son-in-law John, grandson-in-law Kevin, extended family, neighbours and his many friends from the community of St John’s. The large attendance at Ossie’s funeral service was indicative of the affection in which he was held in both religious communities – a true servant of Ballymore Eustace, may he rest in peace, amen.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT PLEASE in a separate box, please
To the people of Ballymore-Eustace,The family of Osmond Hunter, late of Donode, would very much like tothank their wonderful friends and neighbours for all their kindnessand support during our sad loss. We would also like to pay tribute to the generosity of the Ballymorecommunity in their donations to the Senior Citizen’s Fund which hasraised approximately €1,200.Yours sincerely,Muriel and Olivia Hunter and the extended Hunter family.
The Late John Brosnan, Bishopland, Ballymore-Eustace and late of Ventry, Co. Kerry who died on June 13th peacefully at Naas Hospital. Possibly Ballymore’s oldest citizen was aged in his one hundredth year – an extraordinary achievement. Pre-deceased by his wife Helen, he will be sadly missed by his loving daughter Mary, son Paddy, son-in-law Tommy, grandchildren, great-grandchild, granddaughters-in-law, nieces, nephews, neighbours, relatives and friends. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.

The Late Louie Murphy of Longhouse, Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare and formerly of Ballinatona, Manor Kilbride who died on June 15th after a brief illness in Naas Hospital. This has been a sad time for the Murphy family what with Brendan dying so suddenly last year and Louie’s wife Gertrude the year before, Louie was also pre-deceased by daughter Anna and grandson, Oisín. A lovely man and well respected within the farming community, Louie is survived by his loving children John, Louie, Noel, Kevin, Trudy, Harry, Joe and Paul, sisters-in-law, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, relatives and friends. An absolute gentleman, Louie was laid to rest with his late wife in Manor Kilbride Cemetary. May they rest in peace, amen.

The late Desmond ‘Des’ Kennedy, late of Chapel Street, Ballymore Eustace and formerly of Blessington, Co. Wicklow who died on June 14th peacefully in hospital. He will be sadly missed by his wife, Jo; children Carol, John and Desmond Jnr; sisters Helen and Mary, son-in-law Seamus, Desmond's partner Kimberley, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends. Des’s funeral saw a Guard of Honour led by Sean Power TD and local councillors and his many friends within Fianna Fail. At Thursday’s funeral mass, there was strong representation from Naas Credit Union to which Des dedicated his time and energy for years. He will be sadly missed by his many friends in Ballymore. May he rest in peace, amen.
on passing by- again

I know I touched on this a while ago but its getting harder and harder not to believe that the petrol companies in Ireland are involved in a wholesale rip off of the general public. Last year when the price of a barrel of oil was touching one hundred and forty eight dollars we were being charged up to one euro and twenty nine cents a litre for unleaded petrol. Today, June 19th, the price of a barrel is just pushing past sixty seven dollars and yet unleaded petrol is pushing one euro twenty cents a litre. Are we really to believe that a difference of eighty dollars per barrel equates to less than ten cents a litre? If we are paying this price on a sixty seven dollar barrel surely last years prices should have been phenomenal, given the barrel price. I am more inclined to believe that the oil companies have decided to chance their arm and see exactly how far they can go before there is a public backlash. With so many people becoming more and more worried about debts and their employment, both current and prospective, petrol prices appear to be something that is annoying but not something you can do much about. This sentiment has obviously percolated into the petrol retailers and they have decided to make the proverbial hay while the sun is trying to shine on joe public. Just for pig iron I e-mailed the office of the Director for Consumer Affairs to see what their opinions were on the situation. Their eventual reply was somewhat on the lines of what I had expected, if a little more blunt. Regardless of the wholesale price of oil the Director of Consumer Affairs and the Government are powerless to intervene in the market. It is official Government policy to allow the market to set commodity prices and this should in turn foster competition. This is all very fine and seems to be working in the grocery sector but apparently the oil companies have all set an independent price for their products and through no fault of their own they have all come up with nearly the same price. Far be it from me to cast aspersions but to paraphrase Mr Shakespeare, there is something rotten in the state of the oil companies.
Some time ago Bank of Ireland held its annual general meeting. This has normally been quite a genteel affair with the board applauding themselves for yet another year of bumper profits. This year however things were of an entirely different nature. Large holders of the banks stock usually don’t bother to attend but a significant number of the public who do attend are elderly and were using their holdings as a pension provision. These people were both angry and afraid because of the massive drop in the value of their shares and many were fearful for the future. The answer from the top table was that the board was sorry for their troubles but that at this stage things were outside their control and they would just have to grin and bear it. This is why I find the following both disturbing and immoral. Bank of Ireland, along with the other banks, operates a share buying scheme for their staff. Employees are entitled to buy shares at a preferential rate and some of them had invested up to twenty one thousand euro to buy shares at less than eleven euro. Given the nosedive in share value these employees are now in the same boat as the pensioners although I am sure most of them are suffering less than the pensioners. Actually what I should say is that they were nursing losses. With a huge sense of largesse the Bank has agreed to compensate employees for their losses by repaying the full amount to any of their staff who took a gamble, at a reduced rate, and now find that it backfired. So its one set of circumstances for them and another set for the rest of us. Then again I suppose its easy to spend money to keep the staff happy when the taxpayer has already had to advance three and a half billion to Bank of Ireland. I am just delighted to see that they are spending it wisely.

I have been absolutely shocked, as I am sure have the vast majority of the population, at the Ryan report into child abuse. Some of the parts I have read have been more like a horror novel than a factual report. To think that this abuse went on for so long is an absolute disgrace but to find out that the religious orders concerned were aware of the situation and did absolutely nothing is scandalous. To compound the scandal we find out that the people who should have been supervising the Orders, the Department of Education, were also aware of the abuse but appear to have chosen to ignore it. The Ryan report found that officials of the Department treated the Orders with blind deference and accepted the answers they were given when any complaints were raised. When eventually the stink became too much to ignore the Government was forced to think about an enquiry. This suggestion resulted in a flurry of legal activity by the Orders, who were obviously aware of what the findings would be. The worst offender on the legal front was the Christian Brothers, who appear to have spent more money on legal bills than they have on compensating victims of their heinous abuse. They started off by challenging the Governments right to set up an enquiry. When this challenge failed they threatened to have nothing to do with the enquiry at all. Rather than tackle them head on the Government eventually agreed that no Christian Brother found to have abused children in their care would be named, even those who had been found guilty in a court of law. Throughout the enquiry the Orders were frequent visitors to the court to attempt to impede its progress. After decades of abuse they were only too well aware of the can of worms which was about to be opened. When we eventually found out the whole sorry tale the Orders attempted to put their own evil spin on it. Yes, certain people were abusing children but we were not aware of the full extent of the abuse. Yes, it shouldn’t have happened but those were different times. Yes, these children were in our care but you have to remember that most of them were convicted criminals.
Just to demonstrate how little they valued the children they destroyed the Christian Brothers put all their property and assets into Trusts soon after the enquiry started. This was the reason they could give no more in compensation, according to them .The other Orders pleaded similar penury And yet when the full horror of their actions was revealed, and the extent of the public backlash became clear, they suddenly found that they did after all have other assets. After giving living hell to the children while preaching to us about heaven, it’s the least they could do. May God forgive them, because I can’t.


All for now. Mike Edmonds. June 09.
As our year comes to an end, we reward all members for their achievements in 2008/2009, with our best ever annual club tournament. Held at Ryston Newbridge on Sunday 24th May, all members played their best and really enjoyed our day out (See full results below).
Many laughs have been shared and enjoyed by everyone at the band hall each Thursday and parents have kindly expressed delight at the progress made by so many members. Our aim for next year is to put “Badminton” first and improve the skill and quality each member has to offer. Current members have been informed of changes at the club from September 2009 and any new members wishing to join are asked please to contact the number below.
Badminton ends on June 25th 2009/ and returns on September 10th 2009.

Thank you
_______________________


Ryston 2009 Results
(82 members – 7 Groups – 3 Courts – 6 Hours)


Player of the year 2009

This award is aimed to merit any member of our club who stands out from all others. Great attendance, co-operation, skill, progress and fun put so many members in with a Big Say! The cheer from fellow members when this year’s winner was announced confirmed the clubs decision. “Harry Murphy” was very surprised but stepped up to proudly accept the cup. Harry has made huge progress on the court over the past year and has become one of the hardest players to beat; His doubles match with Amy Kelly in the Community Games against Confey will be remembered by all for a long time. (They turned the match around to win 2-1 amidst great pressure) Son of Henry and Noelle, Brother to Stephen and Grandson to Billy and Marie, his family were again at Ryston to support all at our club and we thank them. Harry has not only progressed to become a strong player, he is also very popular with fellow members and supervisors who wish him well on his well deserved award congratulations Harry!

Group 1

Ciara Mahon Zoe Rigney, Brian Crowe, Michael Byrne, Molly Butler, Hannah Molly, Laura Gallagher.
The youngest members of our club were not intimidated by all the games around them and gave their best mix of serves and champions to ensure their placing for trophies. Well done to all for trying so hard.

1st Brian Crowe 2nd Zoe Rigney 3rd Hannah Molloy



Group 2

Chloe Fisher, Kim Kelly, Colm Daly, Katelyn Gallagher, Sophie Byrne, Emma Slevin Doyle, Rachel Byrne.

Playing along with group 1 for serves, champions, and one match each, all scores counted and trophy placing were well deserved Kim was strongest overall; Chloe has made the most progress, Sophie the strongest back hand while Colm, Emma and Rachel will go for every shuttle no matter how hard it is to get to!

1st Kim Kelly & Rachel Byrne 2nd Chloe Fisher & Emma Slevin Doyle
3rd Sophie Byrne & Colm Daly

Group 3

This group were all connected to “First Holy Communion” celebrations the day before our tournament and as many would be unavailable to play, it was decided to play this group’s games over 3 Thursday’s at the club. They served, they rallied, they played the best and they didn’t miss a Thursday! All scores counted and despite being so competitive, many laughs were enjoyed by all.

Anna Conway, Michael Tutty, Jamie Mahon, Katie Gilroy, Abby Foster, Mary Kate Langan, Daire Clarke, Zara McMullan, Conor Gilroy, Daragh Gilroy, Marina Mason, Eoin Clarke.

Playing a mix of serves and champions over 3 weeks:
Best Serves: Michael, Abbey, Daire, Zara
Best Improver: Marina, Eoin, Daragh, Mary Kate, Anna
Strongest Shot: Conor, Jamie, Katie,

1st Abbey Foster 2nd Zara McMullen 3rd Katie Gilroy
4th Jamie Mahon 4th Anna Conway


Group 4
Split in to 2 groups (A+B) these members gave their very best for matches to 21 playing a “Round Robin” system. Mixed together for all games, it was very competitive and enjoyable for all to watch

4(b)
Simon Murphy , Thomas Byrne, John Charles Lawlor, Owen Murphy, Tommy Marsh, Amy Horan, Cian Duggan, Rayanne Butler






Best Matches: Cian & Amy V’s Tommy & Simon (21-20)
Owen & Tommy V’s John Charles & Cian (21-20)

Best Overall: Simon & Amy
Best Improver: Cian & John Charles
Strongest Shot: Owen &Tommy
Best Smash: Simon

1st Simon Murphy 2nd Amy Horan 3rd Owen Murphy 4th Cian Duggan


4 (a)
Laura Darby , Lee McMullen , Aoife Lucan, Saoirse Byrne, Jemma Molloy, Cillian Barrett, John Daly, Sean Crowe, Sarah Mullay.

Best Matches: Cillian & Sean V’s Lee & John (21-20)
Sean & Laura V’s Sarah & Lee (21-20)

Best Overall Laura
Best Improvers: Cillian & Aoife
Strongest Shots: Jemma, Sarah, john, & lee
Best Smash: Laura & Jemma

1st Laura Darby 2nd John Daly 3rd Cillian Barrett
4th Lee McMullen & Sarah Mullay


Group 5&6
Were mixed together to make the most of the time available and it proved a success with each member playing 6 matches to 21 points. So many laughs were had during games as fellow members became referees and many decisions were questioned! This age group (10-13) have probably made the most progress at the club as many have been members since the start in Jan 2005. Well done to all for a great effort mixed with fun, your matches were enjoyed by all and your co-operation with events on the day was very much appreciated by all at the club.

Rowan Hamilton, Tiernan Cody, Sophie Moore, Lynn Barrett, Joe Hayden , Clodagh Barrett, Enda Stewart Byrne, Margaret Hayden, Hazel Stewart Byrne, Heather Sammon, Mark Daly, Ciara Langan, Shannon Slevin Doyle, Kiva Sammon, Fionnuala O’Connor, Lucy Field, Anna Mae De Cleir, Grace Kerr, Natasha Murphy, Ryan Wilson Black, Joanna Burke Hayes, Carl Jones, Lauren McNamara , Jennifer Mahon.






Best Games: Ciara & Shannon V’s Lucy & Tiernan (19-21)
Heather & Ciara V’s Sophie & Fionnuala (21-18)
Clodagh & Lucy V’s Lynn & Hazel (21-18)
Shannon & Sophie V’s Ciara & Fionnuala (21-18)
Rowan & Tiernan V’s Sophie & Joe (21-17)


Best players: 6 out of 6 for Lucy & Tiernan
Best improver: Margaret, Mark, Kiva, & Heather.
Best smash: Sophie, Lucy, Enda, Fionnuala, & Ciara.
Best “use of court”: Shannon, Tiernan, Lucy and Rowan.
Best Funny Bits: Lynn (game 1), Clodagh (games 3) Hazel (Game 4)
And Joe Balancing his head trick!

1st Lucy Field, Tiernan Cody, Sophie Moore, Fionnuala O’Connor

2nd Heather Sammon, Enda Stewart Byrne, Lynn Barrett, Shannon Slevin Doyle

3rd Rowan Hamilton, Ciara Langan, Kiva Sammon, Margaret Hayden

4th Hazel Stewart Byrne, Clodagh Barrett, Joe Hayden, Mark Daly.

Amy Mahon, Amy Kelly, Siobhan Murphy, and Harry Murphy were needed from group 6 to play for Ballymore against Ryston in Group 7. Thank you to these members for “stepping up”!

Group 7

Ballymore Eustace Ryston / Naas
Danielle Kelly Andrew Whittle
Amy Mahon Anthony Davidson
Amy Kelly Marcel Morarie
Siobhan Murphy Timmy Byrne

Stephen Murphy Ian Armstrong
Sean Kelly Emmet Heather
Patrick Langan Paddy Hemming
Harry Murphy Josh Uddin

Absent: Orla Whelan, Simon Ellis, Laura Cullen, Jay Curley, Shane Murphy, Molly Cullen, and Emma Blake.















Winners Ryston/Naas

Many matches played and tho we won a few, our opponents held the upper hand at all times and it was a great experience for our members in their first ever competitive competition.

Many thanks to Nuala McCann for giving us the experience to play against such qualified lads; we hope it’s the first of many to come! Thank you and well done to Ryston/Naas selection for well deserved win. Well done to all eight players from Ballymore who never gave up and really gave their very best for all games. Thank You!
PAGE 2
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for acknowledgements, births, anniversaries, wedding photos, birthdays etc,
Come on, we would be delighted to print your family’s special photo – wedding, christening etc.


WELCOME HOME!!
I never saw a happier Mammy than Eira Gorman when her eldest lad, Timmy arrived home from Australia recently to surprise her. Well, you did surprise her, Timmy but I’d say it was better than any Christmas present she’s ever received. Tanned and happy out, Timmy says he is going to knuckle down now and get stuck into training for the Championship, after the celebrations of his homecoming……..after many a night celebrating his homecoming……… and soon, Mammy Eira will be heard “Timmy, get your bloody football boots off the bathroom floor, I nearly broke my neck…….”

Birthdays - Happy birthday to Luke Pearse who recently celebrated his 10th birthday recently and to Peter Kavanagh currently living in Co Wexford who celebrated his 75th.

We seem to have a shortage of birthdays and anniversaries this month – is there no one out there who has celebrated a 21st or ‘big birthday’ recently??

Congratulations
To the children of Scoil Mhuire who recently celebrated the sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confession.

Congratulations
To Pat O’Neill who has won the coveted “Brave Man of The Year Award” – seems he collected a clatter of rowdy women from the recent ‘Take That’ concert at Croke Park but alas, as much and all he was pleased to accept his award, he was devastated not to receive a Jackie Sandwich this year……….Shame Pat, could we offer you the price of a roll in Fogarty’s Deli…………….

TEE’S OFF to Paddy’s Golfers who are off down the country for their annual summer outing, all well behaved and models of decorum. Oh, that’s another golf society……..


In a small box


IN a small box:

Householders – Beware!
There have been a number of robberies in the locality recently; please be alert to strange cars in the area and particularly, vehicles which enter and exit your property as though they had entered by mistake. Take the number if you can and report it to your local Garda Station. Be Vigilant and let your neighbours know if you are away or the house is left vacant for a period of time.

The following as adverts with music symbols & car graphic, please

Joe Dolan Night!

The official Doe Dolan Tribute Band

At: Reid’s Pub, Blessington

On: Friday 24th July at 8.30pm

In aid of C.R.O.I. (Adult Sudden Death Research)

A fab night guaranteed – bop, hop or do some sweet rock ‘n rollin’ with the late artist’s nephews, Ray and Adrian who are part of the band. This is the most authentic tribute band for Joey Dolano fans…….Not to be missed!

Admission is €20, tickets available from Mace Supermarket, Ballymore Eustace and the Office Shop, Hennessy’s and Cottage Garden Flower Shop in Blessing ton.


__________________________________________________________________________


CAR BOOT SALE
At: Cross & Passion College, Kilcullen
On: Sunday July 5th

Gates open for at 9am with sale ongoing to 3pm.
One car space - €10::one van space €15.

All support appreciated!

________________________________________-


In Reverse print, please
We offer our condolences to Tom and Adrienne O’Keefe and family on the death of Tom’s mother ‘Teasie’ Theresa O’Keeffe, late of Naas. May she rest in peace, amen.

The O’Keefe family ran Apollo Travel on South Main Street, Naas for decades and Tom senior
was a major tour operator for trips to Lourdes, Fatima etc. (Coincidentally, when Apollo Travel closed, one of his
most experienced staff members, Margaret went on to work with Toolin Travel in Clane which sad to note, ‘went under’ recently).
To Theresa and Eamonn O’Rourke on the death of Theresa’s father, Joe Byrne, late of Ballintubber, Hollywood, Co Wicklow. Predeceased by his wife, Anne, Joe is survived by his daughters Anne and Theresa, son Joe and their families plus members of the extended family. May he rest in peace, amen.
To Jennifer Stewart Byrne on the death of her Dad, John ( Jack) Stewart. John worked for the Housing Dept in Dublin Corporation before his retirement to Tipperkevin. He was an active man and volunteered in Cheeverstown following his retirement. Pre deceased by his wife Eithne he is survived by Jennifer, son-in-law Mick and grandchildren, Michael, Hazel, Enda & Fionn.
Sincere condolences to the family of the late Christopher ‘Kit’ Mahon, late of Knocknadruce, Valleymount, Co. Wicklow who died recently. He was pre-deceased by his wife, Nancy and survived by his daughters Freda and Esther, son Pat, grandchildren, daughter and son-in-law; brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. May he rest in peace,amen.
This has been a sad couple of years for the extended Mahon family with the passing of Kathy, Pascal and Jason.
To the families of the late Ossie Hunter, John Brosnan, Louie Murphy, Des Kennedy – see obituaries

Scoil Mhuire senior Hurling team who gave us the best day ever by winning the school hurling final. They beat off all their opposition and played some excellent hurling against Straffan to clinch the title, winning by a number of goals! The coach Martin Kelleher has given all his time, energy and patience to the team training at the school and he was delighted to be leading the victory parade through the streets of Ballymore that evening. Darragh Kelleher of sixth class was a deserving captain and we may see some of these lads in the near future playing hurling for Kildare.
The Lord Mayor of Kildare, Senan Griffin, along with local politician Billy Hillis came to Scoil Mhuire on Thursday 11th June to perform the flag-raising ceremony for our green flag. Teacher Siobhan Barry who co-ordinates the Green school committee along with members of the pupil committee gave a detailed and colourful presentation to the invited guests in the hall before proceeding to the front lawn where our second green flag was raised by the Lord Mayor. Mr. Griffin then addressed the assembled pupils and parents and praised them for their tireless work in being awarded a second green flag for energy awareness.
Rachel O'Reilly got a surprise when she won first prize in her section in the Punchestown Art competition. Rachel's art was chosen from thousands of entries. She is in second class and is already a keen artist. She was delighted to win some beautiful arts materials as her prize
Tuesday 16th june was celebrated as Latvia Day in Scoil Mhuire. Following the success of Polish Day, Jane Kalnberza, who is a first class pupil presented a very comprehensive and colourful project about her home country of Latvia.The Latvian flag was raised for the special day and Jane did a great job of presenting the project.