Roundstone News 30 th May 2005

Intergenerational day 24 th May
Which was held in the National School in Roundstone, as I walked in there were five tables with the kids and an adult, one was Francis Keane who was teaching a very enthusiastic group to draw a Pucan, Kim O’Donahue, beadwork, Jenny Conboy Cross stitch, Michael Joyce Basket making, Nancy Taylor, Patch work and Michael Conneely with his wonderful model of a Galway Hooker, the energy in the class room was infectious, then at the end of the kids artwork a raffle was held which was won by Lee-Anne King and second came Cieran Connolly, much to their delight. Then next for the entertainment was with Ros Coyne who worked with the youngest Group 18 of them all told to sing songs and recite poetry, then to portray a sea theme as a play, then came another charming play called the “Golden Goose” written in fact by Ros’s mother Barbara Knowland. Out of the 33 kids in the school there was some great entertainment and believe me some up and coming future stars.

Some Photos of this event can be seen on the website

www.roundstone-connemara.com.

To end off the Day, some traditional Music with Marcus Hernon, Johnny Mórtin Lowry with Noreen Sullivan, John Gerard Welsh and

Fiachra O’Regan

The beauty of this session was how each musician gave a brief history of the song, dance and of course the instruments to the kids.

On behalf of the parents Assiotion they’re thanks to Siobhan Vaughan from the Roundstone House Hotel who supplied a great deal of food for all the troops.

The play school
Finished up last Friday until next September, the reason why I mentioned this because out of the nine kids, five of them are moving into their first year, Cathal O’Donnell, Alan Conneely, Mikey Ryan, Eamon Mongan and Dale Joyce, and sadly I am told that Lisa King who has been their carer for some time will not be able to return to Roundstone in September, Lisa will be missed, you could see that the kids had a great rapport with her, so hopefully some one equally as nice will turn up.

RDC News Letter;
The current Roundstone Community Development Council (RCDC) was established, following a local election, on November 29, 2004. The members are as follows:

Martin J Conneely Chairman, Thomas King Vice Chairman / Youth

Yvonne Keane Secretary , Nicholas Griffin Treasurer

Richard de Stacpoole PRO / Youth

Pious Delapp , John Sheridan , Josephine Mannion , Joe Mongan

Michael King , Bridie Davis , Ann Conneely , Rosie McGurran

Simon Ashe and Dr Aongus Flavin have been co-opted onto the committee recently.

Since its original inception in February 1998, the aim of RCDC has been to:

Promote economic and social development in the Roundstone area,

Improve local infrastructure e.g. sewerage, water, roads;

Improve tourism opportunities in the village and surrounding areas;

Implement RCDC three-year plan;

Work undertaken over the past three years :

Health Centre completed and in operation;

Monastery Road completed with €5,000 contribution from RCDC;

Inishnee Bridge completed and opened by Minister O Cuiv;

Car Park at Gurteen resurfaced and pedestrian access to the beach constructed;

Ervallagh pier repaired;

Christmas lights purchased and erected for past four years;

New public lights in the village;

Website set up and in operation www.roundstone-connemara.com

Dogs Bay and Gurteen cleaned up on a regular basis;

Roundstone twinned with Noyelles sous Lens, France in 2003 and the Youth Club members have visited four times and also have one visit to Poland;

Tidy Towns Committee has been set up;

Security lights around community hall;

Relocation of Bottle Bank;

Completion of Church Car Park.

RCDC meets on the first Monday of the month. If any member of the community has any issues that they feel should be addressed, please put them in writing and give to any member of the committee to present on your behalf.

Upgrading of Community Hall
The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs has approved a grant of €32,400 for upgrading of Roundstone Community Hall. A plan has been drawn up for the work and can be viewed in the Information office in the lower hall. Refurbishment work will commence in June and will be completed in September to accommodate the VEC Adult Education Programme, which is due to start in Roundstone in September 2005

Broadband
A sub committee was set up investigate the possibility of bringing a community broadband scheme to Roundstone. Despite having 30 – 40 subscribers, the cost of installation, coupled with the complex application procedure, led the committee to decide that the project needs more research and planning which will involve visiting a community who has an up and running broadband scheme in place.

Sports facilities / Tennis Courts
RCDC has applied for funding from the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism to upgrade the tennis courts area to make them a multi purpose sports facility. A decision should be reached on this application in June.

Playground proposal
In March 2004, RCDC submitted an application to Dormant Accounts Funds to finance a playground in the area adjacent to the tennis courts. A sub committee worked on this application with the Galway County Council (GCC) play officer. A playground designer consulted with parents and children in the primary school before drawing up the plan. In April 2005, the Dormant Accounts Board turned down the application and RCDC have requested a review of their decision. Meanwhile, an application is being made to Galway Rural Development co and Galway County Council to develop a smaller scale project, over two phases.

Planning and development
Planning and development is one of the key issues on the agenda of RCDC. A public meeting was held in March 2005, chaired by Cllr Seams Walsh, to discuss future development of Roundstone. The meeting was well attended and some of the issues highlighted were:

The absence of a Development Plan for Roundstone;

The difficulties around services such as water and sewerage, which rise to crisis point in the summer months;

Size and scale of recent planning applications, which would change the physical nature of the village;

The need for affordable housing in Roundstone to contribute to the year round population of the village;

RCDC took a decision recently to object to all large-scale developments until GCC assists us in developing a plan for the village, in which the community can have an input. RCDC are highlighting the need to prioritise affordable housing above holiday home developments, in order to rejuvenate the village.

Landscaping of Fairground area
The local Fast Community Employment (CE) workers have landscaped the Fairground area, painted the Senior Citizens houses and are currently building a stone wall at the Church car park. GCC, Clar and the community, through the local Lotto, funded this work.

Enterprise Ideas
RCDC are researching potential enterprise developments in Roundstone. A sub committee has initiated discussions with Enterprise Ireland, the IDA and some of our regular visitors are being approached for ideas on the best way forward to attract small enterprise to Roundstone.

Tidy Towns
Last year Roundstone was the cleanest village in Connemara, in its class with a score of 221 out of 300. The aim is to improve on this score and RCDC appeals to all residents to make a big effort for this year’s competition. Grass cutting, hedge trimming etc will be carried out in the coming weeks.

Other groups

Marina Committee

Roundstone Senior Citizens Group

Roundstone Lotto Committee

Roundstone Youth Club

Roundstone Playschool Committee

Tidy Town;
A small progress report, re the tidy town competition, the wall by the church car park is now finished, and with the purchase of a new community lawn mower sponsored by the Galway County council, the fair green has had all the verges and lawns mowed as well as the Green field.

This morning the tidy towns committee received a cheque from the Galway County Council as an amity grant for the sum of €2’500 to go towards as a refund of last years expenses.

Ann’s Delicatessen:
Ann opened her new venture of a Delicatessen last Friday, with a great collection of wines, jams, herbs and spices, and a lot of items produced by members of the community, such as free range duck and hen eggs, pastries and lots more. Betty Creane is working with Ann behind the counter.

True is the expression what goes around comes around because in the 50’s the site of the delicatessen if I am not mistaken was at one time a full-blown shop run by the Clogherty’s.

It is nice to have something new in the village and certainly we wish luck with the project Ann.

Corpus Christie:
Yesterday Sunday Father McCarthy led a procession, through the Fair Green, down to O’Dowd’s through the village, and back to the Church, with some of the kids and members of the Parish Council carrying the monstrance. On reflection a procession like this is a lovely tradition to have in the village, and brings the whole community out for the blessings of the village.

Its been some years since I was involved, and was some what surprised how it has changed from the old way, for example I remember there was always a benediction down on the new quay with a nicely painted wall with lots of flowers to bless the boats which was a ceremony in its self, call me old fashioned, I like the idea of some of the children dressing up and all the flowers around the village for the occasion also lacking was the canopy, which not so long ago, was carried by Michael Ferron, Sean de Courcey just to name a few, its absence was noticed, I gather it has been missed placed some time ago before Mc McCarthy’s time, rightly or wrongly there are so many parts in these sorts of ceremonies being done away with, which is a pity, maybe now that there is a parish council in place we should work closer with our parish priest to bring back a little more in to the Ceremony, I feel sure I do not stand alone with these thoughts.

Dates for the Diary:

Children’s Fun Run:
Its that time of the year again, god where does the time go, next Sunday 5 th June we have the fun run starting at 2pm, then we have the beat on the street with Michael O’Malley after the race, so your support and encouragement for the troops would be appreciated.

Starraic Gallery:
A collection of Photographs by Nick Hitchcock titled

“ Doorways to Pézenas “ will be shown at the Starraic Gallery in Roundstone on Saturday 4 th June at 6pm with a wine reception.

Actually, I know Nicks work, this exhibition trust me will be an interesting one.

Tom and Michael Sullivan:
As always it is nice to end off on a good note, congratulations to Tom and Michael Sullivan and young Sean Mullkerrins who came second out of nineteen in the under 18s three oar race in Rosmuc yesterday.

Well-done lads the pressure is now on, two things are now needed from you, a win and some good photos.