Thursday 1 December 2011

COUNTY ROUND UP

IRISH CHATTER


Courtesy of IRISH CULTURE AND CUSTOMS

Regional round up from Antrim to Wicklow
All the news that probably won't make the national headlines. We hope you enjoy these bits and bobs from all over the country. You can read just the blurb we have here - or, if you'd like to read the story in full, click on the county name.




Antrim: St Catherine's to celebrate 300th birthday
The church in Killead will celebrate its 300th anniversary on St Catherine's Day, November 25 next year. A banquet was held to kick start a year of celebrations to be followed up by a series of other events throughout the year leading up to the anniversary.

Armagh: Local winners in schools' Anti-Bullying competition
Emily Frizell from Sacred Heart Grammar School, Newry was announced as a runner-up in the Poster (Post-Primary School) category while nine-year-old Orlaith McDonnell, from St Patrick's Primary School, Cullyhanna was a runner-up in the Poster (Primary School) category.

Carlow: New Hanover town centre gets green light
Last week An Bord Pleanála gave the go-ahead to the project, which is estimated to cost in the region of €60 million. Flagships stores such as Penneys and Debenhams will take centre stage in the development.

Cavan: Social Night in Mullagh
The event will be held at the Kilian Lodge Hotel on Saturday 3rd December. Everyone who helped in any way at the Hooley in the Park is invited to attend. Music by Jammin. Draw for €1,000 and lots of other prizes will take place.

Clare: Rice College heroes receive water safety awards
Bernard Cahill and Donough Curtin who rescued Ger Rogers and his eight year-old son, Gearóid, at Spanish Point beach on July 18 were recently presented with an Irish Water Safety award at Dublin Castle.

Donegal: Burtonport group looking to transform former Cope market
As part of a major effort effort to revitalise the coastal Gaeltacht village, the group will soon be looking for volunteers to help with painting the building for its new use as a tourist information point and cultural centre.

Down: Final withdrawal in Rathfriland
It was an historic day in Rathfriland on Friday as the Northern Bank closed its doors for the last time. As the clock struck 12 noon it brought to an end over 150 years of the bank's presence in the town. The landmark building will go on the market in the new year.

Dublin: Rush couple strike it lucky with €350,000 Lotto win
The delighted duo, who wish to keep the win private, picked their lucky numbers randomly. The lucky €8 ticket was bought on the day of the draw in Eurospar, Main Street, Rush.

Fermanagh: Shauna dedicates her win to big brother Cuaran
Lisnaskea Emmetts ladies team won the All Ireland Intermediate title at the weekend with a brilliant one point win over Stabannon of Co. Louth. Speaking after the game Shauna McCrystal revealed that it was her deceased brother who inspired her to get fit for the year.

Galway: Top award for local butcher
William Morgan of Roger Finnerty & Sons Family Butchers, Oughterard and Eyre Square has been selected as the Supreme Champion at the Craft Butchers Awards, which recognises only the crème de la crème of butchers across the country.

Kerry: Scores add up for young stars
The youngsters of north and south Kerry provided two nights of great entertainment over the weekend as they took part in the Scór Na nóg Chiarraí semi finals on Saturday and Sunday. The events took place at two different venues, where huge attendances were treated to entertainment of the highest standard.

Kildare: Adding Christmas cheer in Newbridge
The Town Council is joining with local businesses in a pre-Christmas project which will add to the town's festive atmosphere and at the same time raise funds for charity. The council is purchasing a 20-foot Christmas tree from Coillte, which will be lit up along with other Christmas lighting in the town, on the evening of 8 December.

Kilkenny: Festive fillies raring to go
Preparations for the 2011 Festive Fillies Fundraiser are now in full swing. The brainchild of a group of ladies from Mullinavat, this year's event will be held in the Rising Sun, Mullinavat on Saturday, 3rd December.

Laois: Bríd helps break world record
Brid Brophy from Ballylinan was one of over 300 participants who set a Guinness Book of Records for largest grouping of Leprechauns, beating a record set by Jay Leno of America's Tonight Show earlier this year.

Leitrim: Future of Ladies Football in doubt
And that's because all but one of the current Ladies County Board officers are standing down at their AGM next Sunday and no nominations have been received.

Limerick: City's iconic floating Christmas tree will not return
The 100 feet tree, made entirely of recycled metals - some from the stand in Thomond Park - has been a fixture at Christmas, but has had its problems, including toppling over earlier this year.

Longford: 2011 Person of the Year announced
John Farrell of Newtowncashel has been named this year's Longford Person of the Year. At a special ceremony held in the Longford Arms Hotel on Friday (November 25) last, John was awarded the county's highest accolade.

Louth: Festival will light up Boyne
Drogheda is to stage its most thrilling Christmas festival yet. A huge crowd is expected onto the streets on Wednesday November 30th from 5.30pm to 8.30pm to help the Local Heroes team 'Light Up Drogheda on the Boyne'.

Mayo: Castlebar Gospel Choir Christmas Concert
The evening of Friday, 2nd December will see Castlebar Gospel Choir sharing their own take on some festive favourites and much more during their Christmas Concert in Ballintubber Abbey at 8pm. Admission is €10 on the door with children, students and OAPs free.

Meath: Schoolgirls complete golf introductory programme
Students from O'Carolan College, Nobber, recently completed the First Tee Golf Programme, which aims to introduce more people to the sport of golf and the life skills associated with the sport.

Monaghan: Young people attend Dail Na Og
Five young people from the county travelled to Croke Park recently to participate in the annual Dáil na nÓg. The young people were selected by Co Monaghan Comhairle na nÓg – the county's Youth Council – to represent the views of the young people of Monaghan.

Offaly: Christmas lights switched on in Tullamore
Santa arrived at 5.30pm and then the lights were officially switched on by Rebecca Colsh in O'Connor Square on Sunday evening, November 27. St Colmcille's Pipe Band and the Tullamore Town Band also performed.

Roscommon: Elphin Community Centre Christmas fundraising concert
Country gospel singer James Kilbane will bring his seasonal Christmas concert to Elphin on Sunday December 11th at 8p.m. in support of the ongoing work and fundraising for the refurbishment of the centre.

Sligo: Aussie ambassador has a g'day in Sligo
His Excellency Bruce Davis was on his first visit to Sligo this week attending a series of lectures at Sligo IT as part of Science Week and taking time out of his busy schedule to experience some of Sligo's key tourism attractions and get a real sense of the county and its people.

Tipperary: Nenagh Community Garden Set To Bloom
A new project is to be launched in Nenagh town over the next couple of weeks following the signing of a six-year lease between Nenagh Community Garden Project and Maureen Meagher of Cudville, Nenagh.

Tyrone: Grandparents go back to school!
The Primary 6 pupils at Blessed Patrick O'Loughran PS Castlecaulfield have been involved in an Intergenerational Project funded by the Live & Learn Project, National Museums, Northern Ireland.

Waterford: The Freeze On The Quays
the Christmas ice rink trend has arrived in Waterford in spectacular fashion. The new ice rink which will be located alongside Flowers by Lucy on Merchants Quay, will be open from December 1 through January 8.

Wexford: Island Bar tops in rural quiz
The quiz team from the Island Bar in Our Lady's Island proved they have a great grasp of general knowledge when they won the Guinness Rural Pub Quiz recently.

Wicklow: Mysterious sightings on Wicklow beaches
After the recent rain and stormy weather the Marine institute have recieved numerous calls and e-mails from beach walkers after the discovery of logs and trees, that have been washed up covered in small sea creatures. 

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