More Bits ‘n Bobs with Rose
THE BALLYMORE EUSTACE HISTORY SOCIETYThe Committee Would like to thank all the local businesses who helped in the sale of our history book. Their help is very much appreciated and we are delighted with the sale of the book to date; as we have very few books left, we may have to order a re-run.Also, we repeat our request for photographs for an exhibition that we will be holding shortly. We will take great care of them and return them in good condition. We are sure that most people have some old and interesting photographs in boxes or in the attic which could be recorded for future books.THE EUROPEAN TRANSPLANT AND DIALYSIS GAMES 2010

The European Transplant and Dialysis Games, under the auspices of The Irish Kidney Association, will take place in Dublin from 8th - 15th August, 2010. This is the first time the games have come to Ireland. Over 400 athletes from 20 countries are expected to participate and they will be accommodated at DCU where activities will be held and at designated sports’ venues throughout North Dublin including the National Aquatic Centre.

As lots of help is needed, a meeting will be held at 8pm in Kilcullen Parish Centre on Tuesday 2nd February which will be addressed by Colin White, National Organiser for the Games. Volunteers and sponsors are sought - we appeal to all organizations to send representatives as all support is welcome. Further information - Colin White: 087-684 3644 and Phena Bermingham: 045 485 232 or 087-976 7531

Shirley Keogh, REHAB Kildare Award Winner 2009
And speaking of the Irish Kidney Association, I must mention a remarkable woman I met at last November’s Rehab Kildare Awards. Shirley Keogh of Kilmeade could best be described as a little ‘dynamo on wheels’. On legs or wheels, Shirley believes every person deserves equal opportunities in life, sporting and social activities. Having coped with Spina Bifida, Shirley joined the Spinal Bifida & Hydrocephalus Association in 1996 and helped start “Club 2000”, where members enjoy basketball, javelin, shot putt, discus and wheelchair activities plus annual sports’ days and weekend trips. In recent years, Shirley has had to undergo dialysis treatment three times a week and horrendous restrictions thereby imposed on her diet and lifestyle. Despite this, she tries to make club meetings with husband, Brendan attending in her absence.

In 1986, Shirley and Brendan were married and they have one son, Brendan Jnr. When her son was aged eight, Shirley reluctantly conceded to using a wheelchair but feels angry about the different way people treated her when she was ‘on wheels’. “I found people addressed family members when I was present eg. asking my son in a shop what I required. My legs gave way, not my mind….”

Through her experience as a wheelchair user and her history of coping with Spina Bifida and kidney dialysis, she understands both the frustration of youth coping with disability and the concerns of anxious parents. “People in wheelchairs should be encouraged to partake in all aspects of life and not be impeded by the physical restrictions of a wheelchair”.

2008 was a bad year health-wise for Shirley but it didnn’t stop her keeping house, gardening, pet minding nor partaking in fundraising and events with the association. A woman who has refused to allow the wheelchair to dictate her lifestyle and instead, the wheels go where Shirley takes them – I’d like to thank KTK Sand & Gravel for sponsoring Shirley’s award this year. It’s not easy in the current economic climate to secure sponsorship and KTK have been on board for the past three years – much appreciated.

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A BAD BREAK… The year before last, I went to work at McCarthy’s, The Elms Antique Furniture Showrooms. Aubrey and Fergal, sons of the late Geraldine and Denis, are exceptionally ‘decent’ people – very spiritual, kind and supporters of several organisations. One of those organisations is Teen Challenge’ rehabilitation centre at Tiglin, Co Wicklow which was opened officially by President McAleese last year. Originally, the building was pretty derelict but through good will, determination and the generosity of free labour and goods, the building was transformed into a modern, functional rehabilitation centre coping with adult males battling drink and drugs’ addiction.

As yet, the group have not secured any state funding (their sister centre for females in recovery, Shechem House in Newbridge, has been in operation for longer and is state funded) but Aubrey and members of Teen Challenge continue to raise funds and keep the centre in Wicklow going.
Laura from House of James is just one of the many benefactors who donated delph, cutlery and furnishings and organised further donations through her suppliers, sourcing discontinued lines etc.

There’s another article in the Tiglin history – and anyone who visits the centre is impressed by the ‘feel-good’ factor of staff and residents; indeed, it’s a real lesson, Readers – we think of addicts as those living on the streets or connected with the sleazy criminal underworld… But when you take the addict away from that environment and start to see the real person, you see them as they were before addiction sunk it’s tentacles; intelligent, articulate and talented individuals who made bad choices at a vulnerable time in their lives… It’s scary really because ‘there for the Grace of God…’

Anyway, all that is for a future article and I hope that Tiglin can continue to maintain its services because there are at least a dozen men who’ve completed the first year of recovery successfully and as many more beginning their recovery.

But back to Aubrey, he’s the big fellow, the tall auctioneer with the gift of the gab, still single and badly in need of a strong, bossy wife. On New Year’s Day, he was at the centre when someone jokingly pushed him forward in the snow. Aubrey, alas, is not ‘flexible’ and a simple fall resulted in his breaking his leg in four places. Ouch.

Not the best start to the New Year but who knows, he might meet a single nurse in there or secure some generous benefactors for the facility. For now, Aubrey, I hope the cast is set at last (surgeon couldn’t operate for at least two weeks, until swelling went down) and that you’ve found a knitting needle long enough to reach the itchiest part.
Anyone wishing to check out the work carried out by Teen Challenge, check out www.teenchallenge.ie


Ballymore Eustace GAA Club
Juvenile Football & Hurling
An Báile Mór
The Juvenile GAA Medal Night and Disco held on 11/12/09 in the resource centre was a huge success. Medals
were presented to all participants with special presentations made to the Under 14 Boys, Under 13 Girls, Under
12 Girls, under 12 Boys and Under 10 team. A very appreciative thanks goes to James Kavanagh and Leslie
Tutty, our two Senior County Players, for doing the medal presentation on the night. Also thanks to Janet
Deegan for organising the DJ and to all the committee and parents who helped out on the night.
Caolan & Conor James & Lesley
Harry & Tony Og David & Shane
Natasha, Aoife & Grace Shannon, Beth, Oonagh and Ciara
Coaching motto:Children first, Winning second
Ballymore Eustace GAA Club
Juvenile Football & Hurling
An Báile Mór
Frank, Cody Heather and Mick. Johnny, Stephen D, Stephen P & Dillon
You can see more photos of the night on the Ballymore Eustace Gaa
website.http://www.kildare.ie/ballymoreeustacegaa
St. Oliver Plunketts U15 Div.3 League
(Eadestown and Ballymore Eustace combined) played in the U15 league which commenced in early Oct.
Sallins, Kilcullen, St. Laurences, St Kevins, Castledermot and Monasterevin were the opposition in this group.
The lads had a very good win away against St. Laurences but were unable to repeat this in their other games.
With a promising panel on paper, injuries etc. left the squad struggling to get the minimum number of 13 players
out for the games.
A special word of thanks to Paul Woods and Mary Fitzsimons for co-coordinating and training
the squad.
Ballymore Players: Stephen Murphy, David Murphy, Robbie Boland, Patrick Langan, Mark Slevin, Conor
Davis, Michael Stewart Byrne. Thanks to Garry Mahon, Dylan Waters and Jake Meehan for togging out for the
Shield semi final and making it possible for this game to go ahead.
Membership
Membership for 2010 has been set at €30 for adults, €20 for students and OAPs and €80 for a family. A major
objective for 2010 is to increase the membership numbers significantly and a list of all members will be
published later in the year. Also people that use the facilities eg for walking and tennis, are encouraged to
become members. By increasing our membership and encouraging people to take pride in our facilities / club
we can reinvest in the club at all levels going forward.
Finally, we would like to wish all our players, families, supporters a happy and prosperous New Year and we
hope that 2010 will be as good to us this year as it was last (on the playing field!).
BME Juvenile Committee.
Coaching motto:Children first, Winning second