Castlerea clubs join forces for charity
Castlerea Celtic and Castlerea St. Kevin’s will come together to compete in a charity soccer match at Celtic Park at 2.30 pm on St. Stephen’s Day.
This challenge match will act as a fundraiser for a local charity to be decided in the next few days.
It is hoped that this challenge match will become an annual event alternating between soccer and Gaelic football each year.
The organisers hope that the people of Castlerea and surrounding areas will come out and support this event which will see all money raised staying locally.
The pressure is on Castlerea Celtic to take the spoils this year as they look forward to joining forces with Castlerea St. Kevin’s to support a worthy local cause. Your support would be appreciated.
Nollaig na mBán in Ballinasloe
Nollaig na mBán celebrations will take place in Gullane’s Hotel, Ballinasloe on Sunday, January 7th and Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai has sent a message to those attending.
She was fascinated to learn how Ballinasloe group Girls4Girls Education have combined the traditional festivities of ‘Women’s Christmas’ with concern for women in Africa and how the fundraising event will help to educate young girls in Tanzania where Kilconnell-born Sr. Annette Farrell has worked for the past 35 years.
In her message, Malala says: “There are many problems, but I think there is a solution to all these problems; it’s just one and it’s education. Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child and one teacher can change the world”.
Malala who is now studying at Oxford has been to Ireland already. The Pakistani schoolgirl who was shot in the head by the Taliban for campaigning for girls’ education was presented with the Tipperary International Peace Award in 2013. It is hoped she may be able to include a visit to Ballinasloe in the future.
The annual Nollaig na mBan celebration takes place in Gullane’s Hotel on Sunday, January 7th from 3 pm to 6 pm. There will be music, song and dancing as well as plenty of tea and treats. One of the highlights of the event is the raffle with a huge number of prizes. Malala has given a signed copy of her latest book as a raffle prize.
Organisers say that this is a wonderful opportunity for women of all ages and generations to celebrate together in a tradition that is as old as time, when women got together for a much-needed rest after the stress of the Christmas season.
Monthly winners in Lisnamult
The winners of the Lisnamult monthly draw are as follows: Maura Cronnolly (€100), Mary Banahan (€100), Jack Hegarty (€50), Bernadette Lyons (€25), Bernadette Higgins (€25), Gillian Owens (€25).
The winners of the Christmas Draw were as follows: Patsy Costello (€25), Mary Foxe (€25), Josie Ryan (€25), Josephine Kilmartin (€25).
Derry O’Donnell, Helen Farmer, Patricia Manning, Paddy Joe Burke, Patsy Costello, Maura Reddington and Thelma O’Donnell each won spot prizes.
A thank you from Cuisle!
The Irish Wheelchair Association’s Cuisle Centre sincerely thank staff and volunteers who so generously gave of their time to pack bags in Dunnes Stores, Roscommon town on Friday, December 15th.
This fundraising effort raised €1,034.80 so a very special thank you to everyone who contributed money. We wish you all a Happy Christmas and good health for 2018.
RSPCA Church gate collection
The Roscommon RSPCA will hold Church gate collections at Four Roads Church this Saturday and Sunday (23rd and 24th of December).
Your support is greatly appreciated and all monies raised goes directly to animal welfare in the county.
Charity Quiz in memory of Jason
Campbell’s Pub in Ballinlough will host a charity pub quiz in aid of Ballintubber man Jason Egan who sadly passed away in London a few months ago.
The quiz will take place on Saturday, December 30th at 7 pm and proceeds will go to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust in memory of Jason Egan.
There will be a raffle on the night with live music to follow. Donations can also be made online by clicking onto www.idonate.ie/jasonegan. Your support is very much appreciated.
