Roundstone News 6th September 2004

Well, what an interesting week it has been in Roundstone, for example on Wednesday morning an 80ft decommissioned consecrated trawler, which was commissioned by bishop Michael Cox who is an anti abortionist, known as the so called ìHoly Shipî this ìholy shipî was intending taking on the abortion ship known as the ìAuroraî the ìAuroraî is run by the ìWomen on Waves groupî any way the wheel house went on fire, the crew were lifted, safely out of danger the vessel eventually drifted and landed on Innislaken Island, the whole story was in Thursdays Irish times, but on a local level our own Paddy shoulders was helping the coast guard crew in conjunction with the Galway county Council in the wee hours of Thursday morning, and Pat Conneely was shadowing her for a few hours until she hit solid ground. It is interesting why this possible floating hazard was allowed to drift for so long particularly with an in shore wind and a rising tide, surely there is a way to control these burning vessels, which could cause further damage with in the area, anyway, no loss of life or further damage, thanks to all those that reacted accordingly, well done our own lads, also it has to be said cheers to the Aran Lifeboat, the Shannon air based rescue Helicopter and the Clifden Lifeboat.

Filling the Cup, Innishnee:
Saturday 4th September at Eldonís Hotel a small celebration of filling the three oar cup which was arranged by the Sullivan family of Innishnee for two reasons, the revival of the cup that was a perpetual Challenge cup for the under 16 teens that had gone missing for a few years, talking to Packey Cook who hails from Killkerrin (the Boys coach) was telling me that it was in 1965 that it was first won and looking at the cup the last name that was on it was in 1985, Michael and Tom Sullivan and Martin Hanue won their race some weeks ago, and the said cup is now in the Sullivan Household and because also of the boys win that the party was thrown, what a quality night of music and Sanos singing from Bridge and Barbara Mulkerrins, Michael Hanue (Father of Martin Hanue) and a host of other people, and of course with Bracken.

End of Season:
We have certainly have had our ups and downs in the village this year what with somebody falling off the village wall, thank god not killed, and then in the wee hours of Saturday morning, a car goes into the Harbour, with a young man at the wheel, the car landed upside down and if it was not for the vigilance Mary King who alerted Sean de Courcey, Sean fair play to him pulled this man out of the car, which was nearly totally submerged in the tide and pulled him to safety, what ever way you look at it, Sean saved his life, yet again another near fatal accident, and then I suppose on the slightly humorous side and to add insult to injury, a tow truck was called out to pull the car out, now get this, the truck fell in while trying to lift the car, no donít worry there was no one in it, it was remote controlled, but the machine was not heavier enough to lift the car out, therefore, a proper professional machine had to be called in, and the job was done, no loss of life, what was interesting the amount of people that came to have a look at this task you would think we had another social event going on .

I am just wondering if their had been a Garda presence could this accident have been prevented, or is it going to take a fatal accident for the powers that be to sit up and arrange for Garda Presence particular in the months of July and August, its time to fight again for a Guard, but I feel the whole community is going to have to have a strong input re this important matter this time, if we are going to improve on the villages image. Itís not all doom and gloom we have had some great events and fun for tourists and us alike.
All the events that did take place during the summer for our visitors and locals, feed back have been very positive.

Now for some local people news
Sunday the 29th August, the Oughtereard show, the champion stallion of the show was the overall winner known as ìCrusheen Cometî and was subsequently sold for a record price to a man in Clare Galway, the point that I am trying to make the said Stallion was bred locally, by Martin J. Conneely from Ervelough, that will look good on Martins CV

The Friday during the Clifden Show on the same track Paddy the yank sold a yearling filly known as ìRoundstone Kateî again for a record price which went to Wexford, two things happened here, Paddy it seems is following his fathers footsteps, in having an eye for the good and true Connemara pony, ah I wonder if ìRoundstone Kateî gave the funding for his boat, joke, but hey I am still wondering!

But it is also nice to know that our good stallions and yearlings are staying in the country, and not disappearing from our shores to foreign parts.

The Roundstone website is now being upgraded, you might like to have a look at it, and give me some feed back as to its progress, its important to have some feed back, as I have just said August looks after it self, we need to have ideas for the lower months, not just Roundstone but connemara as a whole, how we do this I have no idea, I am sure we all agree the internet is the way to go, so if the Roundstone website helps then we should all get together for the common goal. Photographs will play a key role on the site, so if anybody has some photos for me no matter whether they are old ones or modern, please pass them on to be to scan then they will be returned

Actually talking about the site there is an arts page where in time we will find all of Jim Vaughanís photos of the local community that he took some time ago and were on exhibition at the starriac gallery during the summer, I saw Jim on Tuesday giving out the said portrait photos to the approiate owners, nice one Jim.

Birthday wishes:
Theresa Mannion from Murvey who was 18 on Thursday 2nd September, and the day after tomorrow i.e Wednesday young Patrick McDonagh will also be 18, these guys have been involved with the youth club for some time, sadly its time for their departure from the club, well who knows perhaps they might get involved in some way, so not only do I wish them a very happy birthday, but also to wish them luck in the future, they now have to work hard for their leaving cert for June 2005.
Since I am wishing everybody well, with no exception to Neil MacKay for a speedy recovery; he is at this moment in St Vincentís hospital St Charles Ward, Dublin and is due to undergo some surgery, at the same time we would also like to welcome home Mike Mullen who had been ill in hospital for some time.

Community Games:
This was held yesterday on the Green field which was the brain child of Johnny Sheeane and sponsored by Johnny with a little bit of help from 7up and coca cola to have a Childrenís and Adults sports day, with Music Barbeque and a bouncing castle, all for free, what a concept, it was remarked to me and I quote ìwe have all been so busy during the summer, and here now is a chance to meet up again with neighbours and our children for some funî in all my years in Roundstone I have never had so much help locally the turn out was brilliant, from Maurice Ryan who ran the food end, Mary and Joe Mongen,, members of the youth club, Francie Sullivan and His Cousin Tom Faherty from Clifden for the Adult events, Paula de Courcey, the Dooley family, Martina Conneely, just a few to mention, it was fun working with them. Then there was a table quiz in the evening in Eldonís,
The winning team was with Joe and Mary Mongan, Thomas King and find out. Diamuth Conneely

As part of the games we had
Menís ìToss the half hwtî, going for gold John King ìJaffaî, Silver: Martin ìDooleyî Bronze: John ìDooleyî.
Male Youth toss two stone weight: Gold Patrick Conneely, 23ft 9 Silver: Christopher McDonagh 22ft 4
Ladies Two Stone: Gold: Trina OíToole 16ft 5, Silver: Joanne Conneely 16.4, mighty ladies all together.
Then to end off the games for the day we had ìToss the Wellieî
Menís:
Gold: John King ìJaffaî Silver: Francie Sullivan, Bronze:
Ladies: Gold: Nancy Conneely, Silver: Margaret Conneely, and after a stewards inquiry Martina Conneely, let me just say I would not like to any of these women throw a saucepan at me, far to accurate, good stuff les girls.
We also had the tug of war for kids and adults.
Huge thanks to Johnny Sheean, and hopefully we can make this yet another annual event in Roundstone.
And to end off on really good note and a great bit of news, this is not totally related to Roundstone, but never the less, this person has a huge assioation with the Roundstone with our young and with some of our adults, I have also worked quite closely with her, last weekend Marie Feeney got engaged to Ultan Joyce, its funny I am always the last to hear this sort of news, so Marie and Ultan, good on yer, and of course our congratulations. Oh by the way Marie, who has clipped whoís wings I wonder, sorry folks private joke, anyway guys be happy, now I feel a glass of wine coming on to celebrate this occasion.