The annual Fiddlers Weekend starts on Friday 1st October and continues through Sunday 3rd. Fiddlers and other musicians from all over the country and beyond will be in town for the occasion. The Saturday night concert is the highlight of the weekend with many well-known musicians taking part. Free fiddle classes will be given on Saturday at 1.00p.m. and on Sunday at 12.30p.m. If you are a fan of traditional music then Glenties is the place to be this weekend.

Sincere sympathy is extended to John Mc Loone, Mully, Glenties on the death of his brother Bernard which took place recently in England. His remains are coming home and his funeral will be at the weekend.

Michael Fitzgerald originally from Dunkinelly and now living at 13 Dr. Mc Closkey Crescent, Glenties will be joining the Eamonn Coghlan team running in the Dublin Marathon at the end of October. Apart from all the training required to take on the marathon challenge of running 26 miles 385 yards, Michael has undertaken to raise a minimum of 1,000 Euro to help sick children. Your help is needed. There are sponsorship cards in the local Credit Union Office, Post office, Highlands Hotel and Olive’s Shoe Shop. He hopes to have cards in Ardara and other areas as well. Anyone wishing to make a donation may ring Michael’s home number – 9551044. All funds raised will go directly to Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin and a donation will be made to the Grace Nolan Foundation. Our Lady’s is one of the largest Hospitals in the world, devoted exclusively to children. There are over 105,000 child attendances annually. Children suffering from Cancer, Leukaemia, Spina Bifida, Cystic Fibrosis and major heart defects are cared for. Michael Nolan established the Grace Nolan Foundation in 2003 after the sudden death of his 9-year-old daughter Grace. Grace died from a genetic blood disorder named Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telang ectasia (HHT). The Foundation goals are – to support the National Centre at the Mercy University Hospital in Cork: to promote early screening for children: to educate the awareness of HHT to the public and HHT families. Any support you can give Michael in his challenge will be greatly appreciated especially by the sick children who will benefit from your generosity. This year is the 25th Anniversary of the Dublin Marathon and will be Michael’s 24th marathon, which is quite a record. We wish him well in this challenge.

Lorna Melee plays in the Cumann Na mBunscoil Competition at half time in the Mayo – Kerry clash at Croke Park on Sunday next. Lorna is the daughter of Maura and Marty Melee, Mayo and granddaughter of Maureen and the late Frank Mc Intyre, Ardconnell, and is a regular visitor to Glenties. Lorna was selected to play in June and little did the Melee family think then that they would have double reason to cheer on the day. We wish her and Mayo well.

The death took place in Letterkenny Hospital on Saturday 11th September 2004 of Jim Connolly, Mill Road, Glenties. His remains were brought to his home on Sunday and to St. Connell’s Church, Glenties on Tuesday morning. Fr. Paul Gallagher, Fr. Joseph Briody and Canon Leo Moore concelebrated Requiem Mass. Readings were by Jim’s son Pauric and grandson Carl. Bernard Brennan, Rachel Connolly and Cian Connolly read Prayers of the Faithful. Carolan Brennan, Dania Connolly, Reiss Connolly and Kirby Brennan brought the Gifts to the Altar. All are Jim’s grandchildren. Singing was by Nora Gallagher accompanied by Sr. Immaculata on the organ. Burial took place in the New Graveyard. He is survived by his wife Nancy, sons Pauric, Tim and John, daughters Noreen and Magdalene, grandchildren, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, other relatives and friends to whom sincere sympathy is extended. Jim Connolly, his wife Nancy and sons Pauric and Tim came to Glenties in 1956 when he took up his position as manager of Bord Ná Móna. Before joining Bord Ná Móna Jim served for a number of years in the Irish Army. He was on the organising committee of the Glenties “Homecoming Festivals” held in the 1970s, previous to the inception of the MacGill Summer School and when we had children’s Junior and Senior bands in Glenties his army service proved useful when he was training the band members how to march.

Congratulations to Deirdre Boyle, Glen Road, who graduated last week from N.U.I Maynooth with a B.A. (Honours) Degree in Geography and Sociology. Deirdre is a daughter of Hugh and Mary Ita Boyle, Glen Road, Glenties.

Congratulations to Debra Joyce, Ard Mc Gill who graduated last week from N.U.I. Maynooth with a B.A. (Honours) Degree in History and Geography. Debra is a daughter of Martin and Christina Joyce, Ard Mc Gill, Glenties and is currently doing her Higher Diploma in Liverpool Hope University in England.

Sincere sympathy is extended to Mary, Jimmy and Patrick Campbell, Main Street, Glenties on the deaths, which took place in Glasgow recently, of their aunt Mary Anne and her husband Charlie Gallagher; also to all the relatives and friends.

Congratulations to Michelle Watters who was selected as the Harvest Queen 2004 at the Festival Dance in the Highlands Hotel, Glenties on Saturday night. Michelle is from Ardara and was representing Watter’s Edge Hairdressing, Glenties.

Congratulations to our Minor Team who defeated Glenfin on Sunday in Ballybofey.

Best wishes for a long and happy retirement to Jimmy Mc Kelvey, Beaghmore, Fintown who retired from his job as Council Lorry Driver on Friday 10th September after 34 years of service.

Miss Ireland Natasha Ní Gairbheith opened the Harvest Fair Festival on Friday evening. There was a good crowd about town again this year for the Festival, especially on Sunday for the Float and Band Parade and on Monday the Harvest Fair Day. Stalls of all kinds lined the street on both sides on Monday; they were out the Mill Road, up the Glen Road, out the Station Road and down the Narin Road. There were fortune-tellers, games to play, prizes to be won and of course Mc Gurk’s Amusements and loads of other things to do. The weather was not so kind this year but in spite of that, people from all over the county and beyond still gather in Glenties for the Harvest Fair Day.

The death took place of Annie Shovlin (nee Brennan) on Sunday 5th September in the Community Nursing Home, Maynooth, Co. Kildare. Annie formerly of Stranaglough, Glenties, lived in Kildare with her daughter Mary and family for fourteen years, returning to Stranaglough every Summer until after the Harvest Fair. Her remains were brought to her home in Stranaglough, Glenties on Tuesday 7th September, where Fr. Paul Gallagher received them. Requiem Mass was concelebrated in St. Connell’s Church, Glenties on Wednesday morning. The main celebrant was Fr. Harper S.J, assisted Fr. Shiels S.J, Fr. Bradley S.J, Clongowes Wood, Fr. Nigel Ó Gallachóir C.C. Glenties and Canon Leo Moore. Readings were by Annie’s nieces, Jacqueline Floyd and Mary Long. Prayers of the Faithful were read by Sarah Maume, granddaughter, Kevin Maume, son-in-law, David Brennan, nephew, Anne Heron, niece-in-law, John Mc Shane, nephew-in-law, Richard Maume, brother of Kevin and Richard Mc Elwee, student of Clongowes Wood. Sarah Maume and Margaret Kennedy brought the Gifts to the Altar. Cantors and choir from Clongowes led by Fr. Peter Sexton S.J. Soloists Philip and Teresa Thomas and organist Anne Conaghan were from the Music faculty, Clongowes Wood. Burial took place in the New Graveyard. Her husband Dan predeceased her over twenty years ago and her brothers Davy and Thomas and sister Hannah also predeceased her. Annie is survived by her daughter Mary Maume, son-in-law Kevin and granddaughter Sarah, sister Mary Mc Loone, brother Phil Brennan, sisters-in-law Mary and Kathleen Brennan and brother-in-law Francie Mc Loone, nieces Jacqueline Floyd, Mary Long, nephews David, Donald, Raymond and James Brennan, other relatives and friends, to whom sincere sympathy is extended. Annie was well known for her craft in dressmaking and ladies tailoring. With other local women she joined the Apostolic Association and made vestments for the local and missionary priests.

Sincere sympathy is extended to the wife, family, relatives and friends of Jim Connolly Mill Road, Glenties, who died in Letterkenny Hospital on Saturday 11th September 2004.

Sincere sympathy is extended to Peggy Molloy, Mully on the death of her sister Celine Griffin, Mountcharles who died on Thursday 9th September 2004 and to all the relatives and friends.

The remains of Gladys Gallagher New York who died there on Saturday 4th September 2004 were brought to her home on Glen Road, Glenties on Friday 9th September and to St. Connell’s Church, Glenties on Sunday 12th. Fr. Nigel Ó Gallachóir C.C assisted by Fr. Paul Gallagher celebrated Requiem Mass. Readings were by her son and daughter John and Christine. Grandchildren Patrick, Shauna, Michael and Daniel Gallagher read Prayers of the Faithful and the Gifts were brought to the Altar by her son Joe and granddaughter Annemarie. Singing was by Cliona Heena accompanied by Yvonne Slowey on the organ. Burial took place in the New Graveyard. Gladys is survived by her husband Paddy (a native of Ardun, Glenties), sons John and Joe and daughter Christine, sister-in law Monica Kennedy, Narin Road, Glenties, brother-in-law James Gallagher, U.S.A. nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends to whom sincere sympathy is extended.

Congratulations to Sinead Mc Aleenan, Belfast and Paul Martin, Ballymena who were married in St. Conal’s Church, Kilclooney, Portnoo on Saturday 11th September 2004. The reception was held in the Lake House Hotel, Clooney, Portnoo. Sinead is a daughter of Mary Anne (formerly Kennedy, Main St. Glenties) and Michael Mc Aleenan, Belfast.

Sincere sympathy is extended to Sister Rosaleen, Glenties on the death of her mother Josephine O’Haire, Ballybofey, which took place at her home on Friday 27th August 2004.

Sincere sympathy is extended to Charlie Ward and Madge Reilly, Buncrubog on the death of their brother Peter Ward, which took place recently in London.

Sincere sympathy is extended to Fr. Prendergast on the death of his uncle, A.D. Kelly, Kiltoy, Letterkenny which took place last week.

Sincere sympathy is extended to Johnny Mc Loone, Station Road, Glenties on the death of his father, John Mc Loone, Rosbeg who died on Saturday 4th September 2004.

Sincere sympathy is extended to the family, friends and relatives of Gladys Gallagher New York who died last week in New York. Her husband, Paddy is a native of Ardun, Glenties. The family has a home on Glen Road and have been regular visitors to Glenties.

Sincere sympathy is extended to the relatives and friends of Annie Shovlin, Stranaglough, Glenties who died on Sunday last in Kildare.