Congratulations to Marguerite and Donal Mc Loone, Main St. Glenties on the birth on Monday 22nd September 2008 of their fourth child, a baby brother (Shane) for Brian, Daniel and Chloe.

Congratulations to Maria (nee Mc Loone) and Stephen Mc Dermott, Altar, Glenties on the birth last week of their first child a baby girl (Aoife).

The annual Labour Party Church Gate Collection will be taken up in Glenties and Edeninfagh on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th October.

Next Friday 3rd October the 26th Annual Fiddlers Weekend kicks off with sessions throughout the town. On Saturday free fiddle lessons with leading players will take place in the Highlands Hotel from noon to 1.30 p.m. A bus tour to landmarks of fiddling in the Glenties area will leave the hotel at 3.00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. The highlight of the weekend takes place on Saturday night at 9.00 p.m. when the annual concert with a good balance of Scottish and Donegal fiddlers takes place in the Highland Hotel. Ronan Martin from the Isle of Skye is a special guest this year. 

Preparations are at an advanced stage for the Edeninfagh School 70th Reunion, which takes place from 24th – 26th October. Copies of the Programme are available on the Glenties Website or from a Committee Member or in the Church. Tickets for the Dinner Dance on Sunday 26th are for sale in the Glen Tavern.

The Regional Employment Service are inviting parents in the home to participate in a “Skills for Life Programme” which will take place in the Tara Hotel, Killybegs, beginning in October 2008 for 10 weeks, 2 mornings per week (subject to funding). This programme will differ from other approaches in that it will be flexible and client focused. The objectives of the programme include allowing parents an opportunity to review the skills and talents already possessed, and to consider the skills and talents that they may wish to develop. The subject areas that the “Skills for Life Programme” will address include: Personal Development and Confidence Building, Communication Skills, Job Seeking Skills and Career Planning. Places may be limited so please contact Michael or Mary at the Regional Employment Service on 074 9128010.

A big Thank You to everyone that came to the Dance last Friday night 26th September in the Highlands Hotel, Glenties. A special thanks to all who bought tickets, gave donations and spot prizes and also to the staff of the hotel. The money raised will go towards the re-wiring of the Church.

The Friends of Letterkenny General Hospital wish to thank all those who gave so generously at their Annual Glenties Harvest Fair Collection. The amount collected was €1,331.10c.

Downstrands Family Resource Centre Night Classes:

• Computers for Men – Ardara Community Child Care Centre on Monday nights, starting on 6th October for 8 weeks. Cost € 65.
• Intermediate Computers – Downstrands Women’s Centre on Monday nights, starting 6th October for 8 weeks – Cost € 65.
• All computer classes are from 8.00p.m. until 10.00 p.m.
• Morning Exercise Class – ‘Stretch – Move & Relax.’ in the Dolmen Centre, starting on Monday 6th October 10.30a.m. – 12.00 for 8 weeks. Cost € 50. Suits all level of fitness.
• 3 – Day Occupational First- Aid Course (certified) – Ardara 22nd 23rd 24th October 10.00 a.m. – 3.00 p.m. Cost to be decided subject to availability of funding. For further information contact Ann / Bernie / Hazel at 074 9545879. Limited spaces available on all courses. Please book by Friday 3rd October.

If anyone is interested in a Glenties Marching Band reunion can you please contact Joe Craig on +353 (0)87 6766087

The sudden death took place in Carrigart of Davy Ward, Derryloughan, Glenties on Monday 15th September 2008. His remains were brought to Letterkenny Hospital later that day and to St. Connell’s Church, Glenties on Thursday evening. Fr. Pat Prendergast celebrated Requiem Mass on Friday morning at 11.00a.m. Readings were by Davy’s sister Catherine and his nephew, David. Catherine also read Prayers of the Faithful. Burial took place afterwards in the New Graveyard. He is survived by two sisters, Catherine and Teresa and one brother, Patrick, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends to whom sincere sympathy is extended.

Sincere sympathy is extended to John Gallagher, Strasallagh and Kathleen Boyle, Shallogans, Glenties on the death of their sister, Annie T. Dunleavy, Glenfin Road, Ballybofey, which took place on Wednesday 17th September 2008; also to her family, her nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

Sincere sympathy is extended to Peter Gallagher, Main Street on the death recently in Coventry, England of his niece Lynda Early.

The Glen of Glenties Tug O War Club is hosting a charity Tug O War competition this Sunday 28th September at 3.00 p.m. at the Glen Tavern. All proceeds are in aid of the Donegal Hospice. Pullers from some of the top clubs in the country will be competing. People are urged to come along and enjoy the crack while supporting a very worthy cause.

Congratulations to Connell, Jimmy and Donal Ward from the Glen of Glenties who won world silver medals at the recent World Tug O War Championships held in Sweden. Their brother, Brendan is also involved in the sport but could not travel to the championships due to work commitments. The Ward brothers are sons of John and Kitty Ward, Meenavale, Glenties. 

Registration for Glenties Youth Club will take place this Thursday evening 25th September at 8.30 p.m. in the Youth Club Building on the Rock. Any parents wishing to register their child must attend as places are limited. Registration fee is 10.00 Euro.

Congratulations to Michael Mc Dermott, son of Danny and Mary Mc Dermott, Meenagrubby, Glenties, who received 1st Class Honours in his Masters in Léann an Aistriúcháin (Translating Studies) in NUI Galway. Michael will graduate in October.

Congratulations to the Naomh Conaill U10 ‘A’ team who won the highly prestigious annual 9-a-side tournament organised by the St. Teresa’s G.A.C. in Belfast last Saturday. The team, playing against some of Ulster’s top clubs and St. Finbar’s of Dublin won the group stages handsomely, playing some excellent football. In the semi-final they defeated St. Enda’s (Belfast) comfortably. In the final they met Carryduff (Down) and in a much tighter match than the scoreline suggests, they emerged victorious 5-3 to1–3. Team captain, Kieran Gallagher accepted the Cup on behalf of the players, who were all stars on the day. The team enjoyed a rapturous homecoming on their arrival back in Glenties, a fitting tribute to an excellent and dedicated young team. Joe Mc Kelvey, Michael Quinn, Martin Mc Dyre and Damien Craig managed and coached the team.

Fiddle and Guitar lessons will start in the Primary School Gym, Glen Road, Glenties on Saturday 4th October at 10.30 a.m. For further information contact Ernan at 074 – 9541037.

Downstrands Family Resource Centre Night Classes:

• Sage 50 (computerised accounts) – Glenties Community Centre – Wednesday nights, starting on 1st October for 10 weeks – Cost 90 Euro.
• Computers for Men – Ardara Community Child Care Centre – Monday nights, starting on 6th October for 8 weeks – Cost 65 Euro.
• Intermediate Computers – Downstrands Women’s Centre – Monday nights, starting 6th October for 8 weeks – Cost 65 Euro. All computer classes are from 8.00p.m. until 10.00 p.m.
• Swimming Lessons – Mill Park Hotel, Donegal Town – starting Wednesday 1st October for 8 weeks. A Bus will leave Dolmen Centre at 7.00 p.m. Cost of bus -10 Euro per night – first 4 weeks paid in advance. Lessons 8 Euro per night – paid at hotel.
• Morning Exercise Class – ‘Stretch – Move & Relax.’ in the Dolmen Centre, starting on Monday 6th October – 10.30a.m. – 12.00 for 8 weeks – cost 50 Euro – suits all level of fitness.
• 3 – Day Occupational First- Aid Course (certified) – Ardara 22nd 23rd 24th October – 10.00a.m. – 3.00p.m. – cost to be decided subject to availability of funding. For further information contact Ann / Bernie / Hazel at 074 9545879. As spaces are limited on all courses, please book by 29th September. Information on more classes to follow next week.

On Sunday 28th September auditions for a New Choral School for primary school children from 3rd – 6th class will take place in the Bluestack Centre, Drimarone from 12 noon – 2.00p.m. For further information contact Barbara Edwards at 087 – 7825813.

Congratulations to the Glenties Tidy Towns Committee on the high achievement in the National Competition, receiving a Gold Medal Award. This is the 50th Anniversary of the competition and a special presentation was made to Glenties in recognition of the outstanding contribution which has been made by the town to the Tidy Towns Competition. Glenties were the first winners in 1958 and are the only town to have won the overall award 5 times.

Anyone wishing to send their child swimming this year should attend an information evening on Monday 29th September at 8.00 p.m. in The Highlands Hotel, Glenties. There are a few changes and swimming will be in Ballyshannon this year.

From 25th September the Weight Watchers Class will be on Thursday from 6.00 p.m. – 7 p.m. in The Highlands Hotel. There will also be a new leader. Contact Annette at 087 6486047 for further information.

Michael Fitzgerald, Dr. Mc Closkey Crescent, Glenties is training hard for the Dublin Marathon, which is on Monday 27th October. This will be Michael’s 28th marathon and this year he is running in aid of Donegal Hospice. Sponsorship Cards are in the local shops and in the neighbouring towns, so be generous and give your support to Michael and to this worthy cause.

Sincere sympathy is extended to Bella Toland, Ard Mc Gill, Glenties on the death of her sister, Sarah Ruane, Charlestown, Co. Mayo (nee Toland, Strasallagh, Glenties), which took place recently; also to all the relatives and friends.

Sincere sympathy is extended to Cathy Molloy, Castleknock, Dublin (nee Mc Gill, Glen Road, Glenties) on the death of her husband, Peter, which took place in St. Vincent’s Hospital on Friday 12th September 2008; also to her family, Peter, Renee and Niall and to all the other relatives and friends.

Congratulations to Sean Mc Loone, Glenties and Lorraine Diver, Ardara who got engaged recently.

Congratulations to Sandra and Derek Byrne, Lucan, Dublin on the birth recently of their third child a baby sister for Daniel and Mark. Derek is a son of Gerry and Bried Byrne, Ard Patrick, Glenties.

A Dinner Dance in aid of the Glenties Church of Ireland Repair Fund will be held in The Highlands Hotel, Glenties on Friday 26th September. Music is by Cannon and Ramsey. Dinner will be served at 8.00 p.m. Dancing is from 10.00 p.m.-1.00 a.m. and admission is 25 Euro.

A meeting of the Glenties Parish Council will be held on Thursday 18th September in The Highlands Hotel, Glenties at 9.00 p.m. Everyone is welcome.

A Fashion Show in conjunction with Naomh Conaill GAA Club will be held in The Highlands Hotel Glenties on Sunday 28th September. Fashions from Classic Casuals, Verve, All Sports and Elite Brides will be on show. Models will include local celebrities and entertainment will be by local artists. Doors will open at 7.30 p.m. and admission is 10 Euro.

The Annual GAP Challenge – Cycling, Swimming, Running and Kayaking will take place on Saturday 27th September. Teams will consist of four multi-disciplined, extremely fit individuals. Individual entries also accepted. For further information contact Ann on + 353 ((0) 74 9545455 or Adrian on + 353 ((0) 74 9541276. E-mail us at info@donegalgap.com or go online at www.donegalgap.com

A 5 week course will be starting on Thursday 25th September in Scoil Mhuire from 7.30 p.m. – 9.30 p.m. It includes topics such as communication with our children, self-esteem, managing difficult behaviour etc. For further information contact 086 4021079.

A 6 week course will be starting on Monday 22nd September in the Comprehensive School, Glenties from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. – Looking at Health, Stress, Drugs, Peer Pressure, Conflict and Needs of young people. For further information contact 074 9551172.