Roundstone News
14 th March 2005

Roundstone certainly came alive this week end what with the opening of the Shamrock Bar, the Starraic Gallery with a solo exhibition by Stephan Blayds, which was opened by Ann Conneely and then opening of Ann's Bed and Breakfast in Eldon's.

But before we get into the news I would like to read out a message from Catherine and Michael Ferron

The Ferron Family:
You will remember that two weeks ago Catherine and Michael retired from the shop, and I was talking to them both some days ago they both wanted me to read out something on their behalf and I quote

"We would like to take the opportunity to thank the many well wishers who, over the past few weeks, shared thoughts, kind words, all the gifts and cards to mark our recent retirement.

Our many customers and friends over the years have made the occasion a sad but a supportive one.

We are now looking forward to what we hope will be a long and happy retirement, thank you everybody.

Signed Michael, Catherine and family

Public Meeting:
Last Monday we had a very well attended public meeting with councillor Sean Walsh, Sean was formerly an engineer and a very experienced planner, Sean also chaired the meeting for us. Mondays meeting was looking towards the forward planning area and developing a town plan for Roundstone, and to listen to the local people on their thoughts re the village with its boundaries. We are going to the Galway County Council for a village plan and hopefully they will favour us by having a town plan drawn up.

There were lots of questions being asked re planning, of which it would take me much to long to go into, but the bottom line is that while we can not stop building, the development council, and the community as a body should be able to have a big say in what buildings go up particular to those that are being built for profit.

We also need to have a serious look at the sewage and water situation its getting seriously strained with all this building. And the fact that local people who want to settle here are being turned down to build a home, something is seriously wrong so therefore we need our voice's to be heard over this issue

Broadband;
An update on the broadband progress, stage three we will be holding a public meeting in the community Hall on the 11 th April 8pm open to Cashel and Ballyconneely as well of course.

We will have two guest speakers one will be Catriona Mc Quillan who is the Broadband coordinator, with Galway County Council, also as guest speaker we will have Fergus Cameron in the role of consultant for the implementation of broadband Fergus is from Inverin, Galway. So if anybody would like to know more about broadband here is the opportunity to have all our questions answered, and the sooner we can move on to have this service placed in the area, the better. For the future it's the way to go, particuly if our visitors want to keep in touch with their business while on holiday.

The Shamrock Bar:
Had their opening on Friday with the help of various members from the Inish Bofin Ceile Band. The Shamrock has been taken over by Philip Keane who is a brother of Sheena with Stephan Blayds behind the bar as barman. Stephan was telling me that they had a great turn out and support on Friday, and wished me just to say thank you to one and all who came that night, also nice to know that there will good bar food as well as restaurant food, badly needed. I noticed that the décor has been changed quite a bit, its been made very comfortable. Any we wish you luck Philip for the forth-coming season.

Eldon's:
We will have a new venture coming into the village; in the restaurant dinning room of Eldon's, is now going to be turned into a delicatessen and a wine shop and Ann is hoping to be set up some time in May. It will be nice to have another shop front so to speak in the village, and not having to go to Galway to buy those few special luxuries, cheeses, and salamis and coffee etc and to be able to sit outside weather permitting with a salami or Salad role, with a glass of wine, great idea and something new.

Youth Club:
The Youth Club went up to the Ellis hall in letterfrack for the annual inter club Table Quiz on Friday, we did not win it this year Renvyle did, but Roundstones honour was still held by coming second, thanks to Joseph Mannion, David McDonagh, Cathal Mullen and Lisa Coyne, they each received a voucher for €15 from Gannon Sports, Roundstone was still in the winning league by coming 5 th with Cathal Nee, Chris McDonagh, Katrina Keane and Marion McDonagh, they received a voucher for €10 each sponsored by Office Chat.

France:
As we are on the subject of the Youth Club, 8 members of the youth club with Geraldine Coyne and my self are off to our twinned village in France for a week leaving Saturday morning where there will be some educational tours plus a few days in Paris, and to one of the biggest science museums in Europe this trip has been made possible through fund raising efforts with the generosity of individuals such Shelia Magee with her fund raising efforts and her various spot prizes, the cost of the bus from the local Lotto to Shannon and back and the kids parents of course. So thanks to all those concerned, believe me there is quite a programme for them, should be fun

Happy Easter:
I would like also to take this opportunity to wish a few ladies in Ballyconneely a very happy Easter, why Ballyconneelly you might say, well I will tell you, every Friday as part of the job is to pick certain ladies to go to mass and do their weekly shopping in Keoghs and bring them back home again, they are a lively bunch and they have lots to say believe me, and I am talking about Nonie Burke, Mary O'Malley, Josephine Conroy they are part of the Ballyconneely Senior Citizens Social Club, and the other two of my group who I have not met yet i.e. Mary Flaherty and Mary Guy they are in fact in hospital for the time being so we wish them well and to wish the other ladies have a happy and holy Easter, and I must not forget, the leaders so to speak, Mary Margaret Reilly, Nora Walsh and Geraldine Kelly, have a good one all.

Lotto:
Winning numbers were 5, 6, 14, 19, now stands at €1,400, next Sunday the lotto will be held in the Shamrock Bar, and on the same night there will be an Easter Egg Draw, talking about Easter Eggs, I am on the scrounge again, if anybody has any spare eggs that they would like to donate, I would be very grateful to receive them for the annual Children's Easter Egg Hunt up at my place on Easter Sunday.

Last year we had over 50 kids running all over the garden, god knows where they all came from, there could be a few more this year so as you can see all eggs donated would be very helpful.

Well that's
all I have for you for the time being Ann will be with you for the next two weeks, As I'm off with the youth club troops on Saturday. Don't forget that tomorrow's bin collection is the green bag that has to be put out for collection, have a great St Patrick's Day and a very Happy Easter to everybody.

-Richard de Stacpoole