Roundstone News 27th September 04

I received a couple of phone calls some days ago, re some strange jelly like objects that had been swept on to the shore, and the people were wondering as to what they were, so naturally I went with my camera, to have a look for myself, they were oval shaped, translucent with blue borders, with a very thin delicate fin, I found out a few days ago, they were in fact ìBlown by the wind sailor fishî they skim like a sailing boat on top of the seas, hence the thin fin that acts as a sail, these fish are found in the west Indies, skimming across the waters in their thousands, they were in fact driven off course on to our shores with all the hurricanes, and I am sure we will find that in our own waters that there will be other strange fish. So there you are that at least answers that query.

V.E.C
You might remember some weeks ago, I mentioned the possibility of the V.E.C. (The County Galway Vocational Committee) taking over the lower Community Hall here in Roundstone as a centre for adult education to service Ballyconneely, Recess, and the surrounding areas, well work in the re wiring and the painting of the walls is about to commence, and as an added bonus, the little back room that was used as a play area and dump room has now been cleared out, in which computers will be installed, this room will also be used as a games room, from which the youth club will have full access.
Talking about the Youth club, its coming to that time of the year again, we will in fact re open on the Friday 8th October, not sure that we will have very many this year as a majority have reached their 18th birthday, time will tell.

Going back to Computer Training, I got an Email from Sue and Bridgie
Of the Cashel Development Office offering courses to community groups and individuals at the Cashel Training Centre, or they can travel to other community venues and bring their own computers if required. They specialise in Adobe Creative Software
Courses that can teach you how to work with computer text & graphics,
Photos and video to create professional looking newsletters, cards,
Posters, leaflets & booklets, websites and movies. Groups wishing to
Learn the software for a specific project will also receive assistance
To complete the project, including the use of the training equipment,
If needed. Also teach basic computer skills for beginners or more
Advanced Microsoft Office users. Funding is available from the VEC for
Community groups in disadvantaged areas to receive training in these
Skills and although the official deadline has passed, Eithne McDonagh
At the Galway VEC Community Education office is still accepting
Applications if they are forwarded to her in the near future. More
Information and application forms can be got from Cathy Keane at Forum,
Or Su or Bridgie at the Cashel Office (31052).

Pastoral Group:
This was set up some months ago with just five of us, then Paddy Browne joined us and now we would like to welcome Chris de Courcey, who did her first reading last Wednesday, we are now seven, I remember when Father Mac Carthy made me a minister two years ago, he said now we have the twelve disciples, we are getting close to twelve, it is helpful to have a few more, particularly one of us can not turn up on the Wednesday to read prayers, so if any body else would come on board in the role to protect our church, and as there is a serious danger of having no priest one day, we would very much like your support.
Clothing Collection:
I received a letter from Fr Charlie Beirne, to thank Roundstone for all the cloths that were given last week for the African missions, we had collected 82 bags, this is the best we have ever done for this worth while cause, needless to say the count would have been higher if somebody had not arrived to late for the collection, there was another ten bags left at the Hall, but never mind I will put them away until the next time.

Notes for the Diary:
9th to the 10th October Landscape painting art workshop with John Dinan, a well known Irish painter, he was also one of the Back Lane artists as part of the Arts week this year, just contact Starraic 095 35709.

As we speak, our own John Leyne will be in the town Hall with his new play ìFrankie and Johnnyî the play will run until the Saturday October 2nd, If anybody wants to go to Galway to support John, I will arrange for a bus, but I would need to now numbers, just ring me 095 35834 and arrangements will be made.

The 8th October
we will be having a walk on Dogs Bay to the point in memory of the late Joe Conneely, Beola, Roundstone, details will follow later on in the week.

Sunday the 3rd of October is the Childrenís International Day therefore there will be a disco in the Community Hall sponsored by the Galway County Development Board starting at 2.30 to 6pm and hopefully the disc Jockey will be Michael OíMalley.

Connemara Live, Connemara View:
To replace the Connemara Advertiser we now have the
Connemara View the Editor is Ellen McDonagh, of which Nicky Griffin and with a little help from myself will give the Roundstone News, sports News. Also coming on stream is a new monthly magazine called
Connemara Live and this time the editor is Colin Homburger from Murvey
In the Connemara Live magazine we will find a round up of local news, events, sport, life in Connemara plus features on health, gardening, recipes, food and wine, local cinema, film and music reviews.

Connemara live is a people to people and business magazine advertising local services and business.
The magazine is free and exists as long as there are advertisers.
The cost of advertising is low so that you can afford to advertise your business or service, actually I might as well give you his number, should you want
The magazine will be distributed all over Connemara
What I am getting at is that for Roundstone to support the paper and the Magazine, news is needed, any photos, that you might have, I would like to have them, and of course I will still put the News on the website, so thatís three outlets for Roundstone.

Richard de Stacpoole