Congratulations to all the students in St. Columba’s Comprehensive School, Glenties who received awards at their annual Presentation Dance in the Highlands Hotel on Friday 23rd May 2008, especially Irene Boyle, and James O’Malley, who got the ‘Student of the Year’ awards. Irene is a daughter of Pat and Barbara Boyle, Glen Road, Glenties and James is a son of Seamus and Bernie O’Malley, Station Road, Glenties.

Congratulations to Theresa and Philip Boyle, Dooey, Lettermacaward on the birth in Letterkenny Hospital, of their first child, a baby boy on Friday 2nd May 2008. Mary is a daughter of Danny and Mary Mc Dermott, Meenagrubby, Glenties.

Sincere sympathy is extended to the wife and family, relatives and friends of Patrick Molloy, Fintown, who died in the Donegal Hospice, Letterkenny on Wednesday 21st May 2008 and was buried in Fintown on Saturday.

Sincere sympathy is extended to the relatives and friends of Tommy Campbell, Glasgow and formerly of Lugnagillew, Glenties who died in Glasgow recently and was buried in Edeninfagh Graveyard on Wednesday 21st May.

Glenties Youth Club would like to thank everyone who gave so generously to their recent Church Gate Collection. The amount raised was 828.50 Euro.

Nurse Fiona Mc Dyer wishes to thank all Patrons who supported the Coffee morning at the Glenties Day Centre in aid of the Alzheimers Society. A grand total of 400 Euro was collected on the day. Sincere thanks to all those who made the event such a success.

Congratulations to the pioneers who were presented with their Gold and Silver Pins on Friday 16th in St. Connell’s Church, Glenties. Fr. Paul Gallagher presented Teresa Gallagher, Narin Road, Glenties, Rose McGill, Fintown and Teresa O’ Donnell, Derries, Glenties with their Gold Pins and Denis O’Haire, Kilraine and Daniel Kennedy, Letterilly, with their Silver Pins. Three young girls, Roisin Bonner, Glen Road, Natalie Hegarty, Ard Patrick and Stacey Carr Kennedy, Station Road, Glenties were received into the Association. 

The New Sports Centre and the refurbished St. Columba’s Comprehensive School, Glenties was officially opened on Friday 16th May 2008 at 11 a.m. by Tánaiste, Mary Coughlan. An Ecumenical Service with Bishop Philip Boyce, Bishop of Raphoe and Bishop Ken Good, Bishop of Derry and Raphoe followed. The guests were entertained afterwards by the students of the school with a sketch about St. Colmcille (The Myth of St. Colmcille). After a tour of the school they had a meal in the Highlands Hotel.

The Tánaiste also opened the New Sports Hall and refurbished Gairmscoil Chú Uladh, Ballinamore on Friday afternoon.

Sincere sympathy is extended to Sadie Ward, Dr. Mc Closkey Crescent, Glenties on the death of her aunt, Bridget (Biddy) Campbell, Doochary which took place recently.

Sincere sympathy is extended to Fiona Gallagher, Station Road, on the death in Derry of her aunt, Sr. Philomena Cunningham, which took place recently.

Mass will be celebrated in the New Graveyard in Glenties on Sunday 20th July at 3.00 p.m. Mass will be celebrated in Edeninfagh Graveyard on Sunday 10th August at 3.00 p.m.

Sincere sympathy is extended to Ann Moore and family, Station Road, Glenties on the death of Ann’s mother, Mary Bridget Keegan, Mullingar, which took place recently.

An Information and Registration night takes place in the Playschool Building on Monday 19th May at 8.30 p.m. Any member of the public who would be interested in becoming a director is invited to attend. Parents intending to use the facility in the new term are obliged to be present.

A Pioneer Mass will be celebrated and Presentation of Pins will be take place in St. Connell’s Church, Glenties next Friday 16th May at 7.30 p.m.

Our new Tánaiste, Mary Coughlan paid a visit to the town on Sunday evening, where she was greeted with a warm welcome and many congratulations. Well done Mary.

The Corpus Christi Procession is a continuation of the Celebration of the Eucharist. Immediately after Mass the Sacred Host, consecrated during the Mass, is borne out of the Church to allow the Christian faithful to “make public profession of faith and worship of the Most Blessed Sacrament”. At the end of the 11 a.m. Mass on Sunday 25th May we will process from the Church to the Grotto for Benediction (weather permitting). The people who are usually involved in the carrying of the canopy are asked to make themselves available, as well as those who usually steward the procession. The First Holy Communion Children are invited to walk in the Procession in their First Holy Communion Dress.

The death took place, on Friday 25th April 2008, at the home of her daughter, Breidín Keeney, Drimnacrosh, of Josie Houston, The Rock, Glenties. Her remains were brought to St. Connell’s Church, Glenties on Sunday morning. Fr. Paul Gallagher, Glenties assisted by Fr. Philip Daly, Kilclooney concelebrated Requiem Mass. Readings were by Josie’s son Sean and daughter, Rosaleen Devally. The psalm was sung by Nora Gallagher. Grandchildren, Alan Devally, Marion Corduff, Kevin Cunningham, Shaun Sutton, David Keeney and Olga Waite read Prayers of the Faithful. Breidín and Kevin Keeney brought the Gifts to the Altar. Music and singing was by John F. and Pat O’ Donnell and Nora Gallagher. Burial took place in the New Graveyard. Cuana Kerr, granddaughter, played a slow air on the tin whistle during the interment. Josie is survived by daughters, Mary, Rosaleen and Josephine, Galway, Kathleen, Dublin, Breidín, Drimnacrosh, Glenties, sons, Sean, Stranorlar, Francis, Glenties, sisters, Teresa Mc Mullin and Mary Mc Hugh, Ardconnell, Glenties, brother, Tommy, USA, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, in-laws, other relatives and friends to whom sincere sympathy is extended. Josie’s husband Francie predeceased her in December 2003. Her sisters, Nan, Aggie, Chris, Rosha, Kathleen and Bridie and granddaughters, Cathy Sutton and Roisin Keeney also predeceased her.

The death took place at his home on Monday 28th April, of Neilie O’ Donnell, Meenahalla, Glenties. His remains were brought to St. Connell’s Church, Glenties on Thursday morning. Fr. Paul Gallagher C.C. Glenties celebrated Requiem Mass. Readings were by Neilie’s nephew, Brendan O’ Donnell and a family friend, Breid Byrne. Dessie O’ Donnell, nephew, grandchildren Thomas Anthony, Gerard and Marguerite O’ Donnell and Stephen Brennan read Prayers of the Faithful. The Gifts were brought to the Altar by grandchildren, Conal and Tara O’ Donnell. After Communion Neilie’s daughter Rita spoke about her father and thanked all who helped during his illness and during the wake. Music and singing was by John F. O’ Donnell, Peter Campbell, Denise Boyle and Siobhan Browne (Mc Elhinney). Burial took place in the New Graveyard. Neilie is survived by his wife, Maggie, sons, Columba, Seamus, Gerard and Michael, daughters, Mary and Rita, sister, Cissy Furey, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, in-laws, other relatives and friends to whom sincere sympathy is extended. He was predeceased by his daughter, Ann Carmel who died in her teens in 1980 and two other children who died as babies. His brother Jack died in 2001.

Sincere sympathy is extended to the relatives and friends of Peter Mc Loone, The Croaghs who died last week in hospital in Dublin and was buried in Edeninfagh on Saturday last. Sincere sympathy is extended to the relatives and friends of Annie Quinn (nee Gallagher), Fintown who died in St. Joseph’s Hospital, Stranorlar and was buried in Fintown last week. Before Annie got married she worked for a number of years in Glenties.

The Downstrands Family Resource Centre is having its Official Opening on Thursday 8th May at 4.30pm. We would like to invite everyone in the community to come along and join us in our celebration. All of our activities will be on display. There will be arts & crafts activities and face painting for the children with suitable refreshments. Adults are welcome to enjoy a finger buffet and refreshments. Everyone is welcome.

I.N.T.O. Retired Teachers Function. A retirement function has been organized for Friday 23rd May in The Clock Tower Restaurant, Killybegs. Everyone is welcome. Tickets are 30 Euro and are available from Kilkenny N. S. 074 9544270 and Scoil Mhuire 074 9551521.

Community Employment Scheme Participants are wanted for Glenties Tidy Towns Scheme, starting in mid-June. Applicants must satisfy specific eligibility criteria for FÁS. Anyone interested please ring 9551833 or 086 1209524.

Fintown Parochial Bazaar will take place in the New Sports Hall at Gairmscoil Chú Uladh, Ballinamore on Sunday 18th May at 2.30p.m. Everyone is welcome.

A meeting of the Museum Committee will take place this evening Thursday 8th May at 8.30 p.m.

A meeting of the Care of the Aged Committee will take place on Monday 12th May at 8.30 p.m.

Eddie Stones will conduct a day of prayer and healing in Emmanuel House of Providence on Saturday 31st May. A bus will depart from the chapel Car Park in Stranorlar at 6 a.m., Donegal Town at 6.30 a.m. and Ballyshannon at 6.50 a.m. Please bring a packed lunch and the cost for the day is approximately thirty five Euro. To book a seat contact 074 9551440.

An Engaged Encounter Weekend is a communication workshop designed for couples preparing for marriage. The weekend is non-residential and will take place in The Thornhill Centre, Derry on 14th – 15th June. Early booking is advised. For more information contact 048 71350612 or 048 27638512 after 4.30 p.m.

The annual Dolmen fundraising Golf Classic was held on Saturday 19th April at the Narin & Portnoo Golf Club. The chairman and committee would like to express their sincere thanks to each and every one of you who helped in any way to make it such a great success. We would especially like to thank Patrick and Mary Mc Loone of Sash Windows who were our main sponsors on the day and also those who sponsored teams, tees and prizes and all who made donations. A big ‘thank you’ to Narin & Portnoo Golf Club and all the players.

Congratulations to the twenty five boys and girls from St. Riaghan’s N. S. Kilkenny N. S. and Scoil Mhuire, who received their First Holy Communion in St. Connell’s Church, Glenties on Saturday 26th April 2008; St. Riaghan’s – Tanya Harvey, Ellie Mc Innes, Eileen Elizabeth Conway, Caoimhe Mc Grenra, Caoimhe O’ Donnell, Chloe Mc Nelis, Zachary Gillespie and Daire O’ Donnell; Kilkenny – Alisha Kee and Theresa Melly; Scoil Mhuire – Michaela Boyle, Shane Mc Devitt, Conor Breslin, Nicola Mc Loone, Kevin Gavigan, Gwendoline Byrne, Dion Bonner, Jamie O’Donnell, Dara Beth Mc Loone, Cian Bennett, Niamh Brennan, Cian Doherty, Ronan Molloy, Josha Perraton, and Kirsty Gallagher.

Sincere sympathy is extended to the family, relatives and friends of Josie Houston, The Rock, Glenties, who died on Friday last at the home of her daughter, Breidin Keeney, Drimnacrosh.

Sincere sympathy is extended to Margaret Byrne and family, Glen Road, Glenties on the death in England recently, of Margaret’s aunt, Julia Martin (originally from Castlefin); also to all the relatives and friends.

Sincere sympathy is extended to Olive Mc Kelvey and family, Station Road, Glenties on the death on Sunday night of Olive’s mother, Mamie Gallagher, Meenagran, Inver in St. Joseph’ s Hospital, Stranorlar; also to her husband Augustine, the other members of the family and all her relatives and friends.

Donegal YMCA is hoping to bring an ‘early school-leaver’ training course to the Glenties area. There is an application in with the Department of Education, and we need to see who might be interested. Are you in a rut, unemployed, a lone parent, or lacking qualifications? If you are 16 – 25, STEP – Support, Training and Enterprise Programme – is for you. Leaflets and posters have been distributed in the area. An allowance is paid to all trainees and the course lasts 23 weeks, offering EDCL, Communications, Work Experience, Personal Effectiveness and more, leading to a full Level 5 FETAC Certificate. Currently running in Letterkenny, if interested in this programme, please contact Noel at 074 9161485 or Stewart at 087 9728904.

A Night at the Races in aid of the Lifeboats will be held in Paddy’s Bar, Glenties on Friday 2nd May at 9.00p.m. The R.N.L.I. is a charity, whose purpose is to save lives at sea. It provides a 24 – hour service. Approximately 750,000 Euro a year is spent training the volunteer lifeboat men and women who operate our lifeboats here. It depends on voluntary contributions, donations and fundraising events, so please come along to Paddy’s Bar on Friday night and support this very worthy cause and have a good night’s fun at the same time.

The Downstrands Family Resource Centre is having its Official Launch of the Project on Thursday 8th May at 4.30 p.m. in the Dolmen Centre. We would like to invite everyone in the community to come along and join us in our celebration. Come and see displays of our work – you might be in them! There will be arts and crafts, activities and face painting for the children, with suitable refreshments. Adults are welcome to enjoy a finger buffet and refreshments. We look forward to seeing you all there as the Family Resource Centre is here to work for everyone in the community.

Dungloe Hospital will be celebrating 50 years in existence this July. “We will be running some fundraising events to go towards a new recreational garden area for the clients of the hospital. A Booklet is at present being compiled, and we would like if anyone has any old photos or information, that would help depict the story of the last 50 years, to please contact Maeve O’ Donnell , Mary Ellen Hyland or Mary Gillespie as soon as possible. We are also holding a Garden Fete at the Hospital on Sunday 27th July. The success of previous Fete depended on the great support we got from the community and we hope we can call on that support again. We will be needing donations of good quality items for sale and raffles, (no jumble or clothes please)”. Contact the above named at the hospital – 9521044 if you can help.

A “Safe Pass” course will be held in the Dolmen Centre on Monday 12th May. For further information ring Tim on 087 2458839 or Deirdre on 086 6033927.

A Community Employment Scheme starts in the Dolmen Centre on Monday 26th May. Anyone interested in applying to be a participant should contact the Centre on 074 9545010 or Tim on 087 2458839. FAS rules apply.