Roundstone News 12th July 04

There really is very little news this week, except our best wishes goes out to Nora Keaney from Murvey, I gather there was a big surprise party in Keoghs arranged by all her family who came from the states and England, to celebrate her 70th Birthday, I heard it was a great event, anyway its never to late to wish you Nora a very happy birthday.

There are quite a few happening's this week in Roundstone for example tomorrow night in the Roundstone House Hotel at 8pm there will be an extravaganza evening of Fashion, from the house of Mag Aoide showing their summer collection of cloths, scarves, shoes, handbags and Jewellery etc, a glass of wine will be served there will be also a serious raffle, for three great prizes and Shelia informed me that the funds from the Raffle will go towards the Roundstone Youth Club, so thank you for that Shelia, but I should also add that for this particular evening there will be a 50% reduction on everything and for those that could not make the evening the same reduction will be made available all day Wednesday from 10am to Midnight, It will be a nice evening, some thing very different in Roundstone.and of course every body is welcome.


Film:
Also tomorrow there will be a funeral on the Gurteen Graveyard but the good news is that no one died, it is in fact part of a film "The Doubting Thomas Film Production Ltd" with a cortege from the car park down to the gates of the graveyard, and I have just heard they will also film in Ryan's as also part of the funeral scene in Roundstone.

Actually talking about films you all now who I mean by Bob woods, he was in the match maker the film that was filmed in Roundstone some years ago playing the part of the groom in the marriage scene and now low and behold I have seen him portrayed in two paintings, two of them captured by Tierney of which one of them hangs at Eldon's which by the way it also depicts Joan king, Lyn Hill, and Festus in on the Scene, and there is also another painting of Bob by Ben Salmon, which is adorning the wall of some ones house in England, and now again he is playing a large role for two days in this film, as well as many other local people, there is no title as yet for the film.


Roundstone News 5th July

Ronan Creane:
I would like to read out to you an E-mail that I received a couple of days ago, from our own Ronan Creane, as you might or might not know, Ronan has gone on his travels again back to New Zealand, and his heading of the E-mail was called "Ship wrecked"
We ended up staying on Norfolk for longer than expected.
The islands history might help.
Norfolk island is where most of the mutineers from the "Mutiny on the Bounty" ended up. The yacht is at a boat builders yard. His name is John Christian Bailey. He is a descendent of Fletcher Christian, the first mate.
The people of the island were amazing; they gave us a car and a house while we were there, also roast dinners and clothes!
We got the customs details all sorted but the New Zealander with us on board had no passport. He had applied for one but filled out the details wrong so the passport could not be sent to him in New Caledonia. We had to send him home, but as he had no passport we had to apply for special circumstances to put him on the plane. Anyway, we were about to leave Norfolk but we had to wait one more day to put him on the plane.
That night we broke anchor and came ashore on the rocks, I woke to an unusual sound 30 seconds too late. We got the engine started but had not enough depth. The breakers smashed us onto the rocks (3.30am Saturday morning); we sent out a mayday call and then got out of the boat carrying what we could. I lost all my clothes, cds, walkman (sorry Aoife, I still have the case though!!), torches, snorkelling gear and more (E800 worth approx) I managed to salvage ALL my fishing gear though, strange that. That was the end of that adventure but the start of another. The next morning we salvaged what we could. It was a truly sad sight, almost brought tears, to see the boat lying on her side on the rocks. The locals were amazing. They helped us with the salvage operation. They got the boat off the rocks using 2 excavators so now she's high and dry and thankfully repairable, one lady gave us a flat, another lady heard I lost my clothes and bought me loads, really incredible kindness. The kiwi barely helped out at all and he went home the next day. I am still on the island helping out; we are getting the boat on stilts today so repairs can start soon. I am flying to Brisbane tomorrow with no plans or friends there, so that should be fun. My other traveller is off home soon to make enough cash to come back and fix the boat. That's the craic anyway. We are famous here on Norfolk.
Ronan.
Ps. the sound of the keeling over and smashing on the rocks was a sound I will never forget. I will send some pictures later. Well there you are, quite an adventurer is our Ronan, and also a relief that he is safe. Hopefully he might e-mail some photos at a later date so that they can go the website
Mink butchery:
Some weeks ago I did mention a subject about mink being around and warned people that have life stock to be vigilant.
Well let me tell you Friday 4pm Mary Banotti called to the house and wanted to take some photos of the ducks that I have here at Errisbeg House, and as we walked to the Avery, to my horror staring at me and almost defying me, was a mink with one of my ducks pinned down struggling to get away, the mink was clinging on to the ducks head, I shouted to Mary not to move, while I ran back to the house to get my gun to shoot it, the duck had just died, the mink released its hold and tried to make a run for it, two shots later one dead mink, she was a female and carrying kittens, this said mink had slaughtered 15 of my ducks and wounded three this black mink had just killed for the sake of killing, the carnage was all over the place, if it was not for Mary coming to see me at that moment I would not have seen those ducks again until feed time, then I feel sure I would have lost the lot, the shot was not a lucky one, a mink will cling on until the said victim is dead, I was at the right place at the right time. Mink can breed twice a year, a female can breed at 16 weeks with a litter from seven to eight kittens, and so I will just let you think about that.
If anybody tells me that I am cruel for shooting a so-called furry animal like a mink, then take a look at the website, where you will see some photos of this destruction. Locally, people have been coming to me to see what a mink looks like, and asking what is the best way to catch them if one has no gun, some say sink a pipe in to the ground and bait it with fish, the mink will go in but can not make its way out, the only danger about this system as I see it, is that another kind of harmless animal might get caught. The simplest method is a special wire trap which can be purchased for about €30, next Monday Ger O'Donnell is coming to my place to show me how to set these mink traps and talking about Ger who he is warden for the Letterfrack National Park, if anybody needs advise or help on this subject there is no better man to help, and I might as well give you his telephone number 09541015 and Mobile 0872665217
The mink carnage pictures can be seen on the Community events pageCommunity events


A little update on the Errisbeg Mink Saga, I have been away for the last few days, since then two more ducks died, I new they were traumatised, You may think this is silly, but trust me when I tell you they wont even go into the pond as yet, you might also be interested in this, I asked Mary Banotti to give her impressions of the that fateful.
It's called:
"Minks and Dead Ducks". Mary Banotti M.E.P
Many years ago I did a parliamentary report on the fur trade.
My sympathies were all with the animals, though even then I had certain reservations about the farmed mink trade.
I recently had the pleasure of helping to oversee the arrival of 15 ducklings over a period of two days, I had heard that ducks tended to imprint in response to the voice of their carers. So for two days I talked to them particularly to the only little yellow one amongst the hatch.
Last week I visited "little Mary" (for we had christened her thus!). She had grown into a graceful white teen Indian Runner duck, and I wanted a photo taken with her for the family album. As we arrived in the duck pen a scene of total carnage met our eyes. Dead ducks lay everywhere then a small brown furry animal ran across the pen. In a short time one mink killed 17 ducks. Little Mary was still alive with ominous bloodstains on the head. All those who had survived the massacre were severely shocked and had to be cared for in the closed shed for several days. Nature is indeed brutish and cruel, and I had no regrets when the mink was shot.
Ger O'Donnell was down to me today with two traps, simple ones with an entrance but no way out, and he showed me how to set them. I have ordered a few more if any body wants the use of them please let me now; we do not want an epidemic of mink in the area. Two more died last night through delayed shock Tidy Towns: The village is looking pretty good and tidy at the and as part of the project all the work that has been so far done up by the cottages has been amazing, this is all due to the FAS boys, the area is taking on a new image, it is and will look great. Also as you come into the village the plot by Maggie Creane's, has now become a seating area with one of Donal Nees home made benches.


Mac Dara Day:
Friday 16th is Mac Dara's Day, and there will be a Mass on the Island for The Late Joe Conneely.
Dog Show:
This Sunday at Ballyconneely there is a dog show amongst other things, and the Mannion family from Murvey, well their youngest daughter Lucy to be precise is showing two terrier puppies, one smooth haired brown and white called "Lilly" and a wired haired Terrier called "Finn" from the same litter, sure winners, now just to fill you in Lilly is Lucy's and "Finn" is my new puppy from the Mannion collection, actually what I am trying to say to Lucy is good luck with these two champions and it is the first time that Finn and Lilly are making their debut in public, I have seen what has been done in the past with all those rosettes over the years, so please Mannions lets have one more and my and your reputations will be safe.
And finally to end off another date for your Diary a "Camel Race", a what says you, well yes in Ryan's Bar 9.30pm Saturday 17th a camel Race, this is an event to raise funds for the Summer fest, talking to Thomas King this evening, it seems that the plans for the forth coming summer fest it is going well with a good program and lots of variety, so its worth supporting the Race Camel night.
Richard de Stacpoole