Sympathy
Sincere sympathy is extended to the wife and family of Johnny Browne, Askeaton, Co. Limerick, (formerly of Ardconnell, Glenties), who died last week, to his brother, Patrick, Derries, his uncle Johnny O’ Donnell, Stranalough, his aunt Madge Gallagher, Station Road, Glenties, his sisters and brothers and to all the relatives and friends.

New Arrival
Congratulations to Lorraine and Raymond Brennan, Station Road, Glenties on the birth recently of their second child, a baby sister (Sophie) for Annie.

Playgroup / Afterschool
Winners of the Playgroup / Afterschool Draw were – 1st Prize – A Hamper – Martin Mc Dyer. 2nd Prize – Medium Hamper – Angela Mc Dyer. 3rd Prize – Small Hamper – David Fuller. 4th Prize – Homemade Christmas Cake – Mary Boyle and 5th Prize – Chocolates & Wine – Donal Mc Closkey. Thanks to everyone who supported us throughout the year, the Firemen, who hosted our Christmas Party and everyone who donated items for the Hampers. A special thanks to Martin Breslin and Kieran Kennedy who sponsored the Turkey and Ham. Happy New Year to everyone. Pre-school / Afterschool will reopen on Thursday 7th January 2010.

Thanks
The recent Care of the Aged Collection in Glenties amounted to €1, 016 and in Edeninfagh to € 60. Sincere thanks to everyone who gave a donation. The Committee also wish to thank anyone who helped in any way to make the Parish Social such a success; those who donated spot prizes, gave cash donations or assisted in any way. A special thanks to the Priests who said Mass and administered the Blessing, Frank Mc Ghee for the music, the Highlands Hotel for the tasty meal and everyone involved in making the function so enjoyable. Thanks to everyone who put so much into the Parish Carol Service, on the Sunday before Christmas. The collection, which was taken up amounted to € 770. This will be donated to the families in our own country who were left homeless due to the recent flooding.

Glenties Community T.V.
Within the past for weeks the television reception of BBC 1, BBC 2, ITV and Channel 4 has been very poor in the area of Glenties. This is due to interference affecting the whole of the Northwest Region, and is beyond the control of the Glenties Community T.V. Committee. As a result of this, there will be no Channel 4 until further notice and probably after the New Year. Further bulletins will be published by the Committee on the matter.

Bingo
The winners at the Tuesday night Bingo in the Community Centre, Glenties were – Anne Quinn won the Jackpot of € 400. Kathleen Mc Cabe, Binbane, Bernadette Gallagher, Frosses, Anne Furey, Glenties, Mary Ward, Mary Ward, Fiona Boyle and Fay Moore won € 100 each. Rose Mc Groarty, Frosses, Teresa Meehan, Drimarone, Patsy Brown, May Kennedy, Kilraine, and Jean Boyle, Ardara won € 50 each. Johnny D. Earley, Ardara, B. Roarty, Glenties, Bernadette Gallagher, Frosses, Nora Mc Hugh, Glenties, Charles Mc Carron, Dungloe, Anne Kennedy, Dungloe won € 25 each. May Mc Gowan, Killybegs, Rose Mc Groarty and Kate Carron, Burtonport won € 20 each.
New Year Bingo will be on the 29th December and lots of Spot Prizes will be given out on the night. Thank you for your continued support.

Thanks
The recent St. Vincent de Paul Church Gate Collection amounted to € 1,740.00. The Conference wish to thank everyone who donated so generously to the Christmas collection and also all those who donated to our monthly collection during the year.

Sympathy
Sincere sympathy is extended to the family, relatives and friends of Paddy Mc Donnell, Brockagh, who died last week in St. Joseph’s Hospital, Stranorlar. Paddy came to Glenties in the 40s as a young Garda and married local girl, Rose Mc Nelis, (sister of Packie Mc Nelis and Nora Rutledge). Rose predeceased him about ten years ago.

30thAnniversary Monster Card Drive
Sunday 20th December will be the 30th anniversary of the Annual Monster Card Drive, which takes place in Leo’s Bar, Glenties at 5.00 p.m.

Cake Sale in aid of Habitat for Humanity
Two local girls, Stephanie Hegarty and Melissa Byrne are having a Cake and Book Sale in the Community Centre on Saturday 19th December at 8.00 p.m. in aid of Habitat for Humanity. This is a worldwide non-profit organisation that works in partnership with families in need of shelter, to build simple decent homes. Melissa and Stephanie are going to Africa in the Summer as volunteers with this organisation.
Any contributions would be greatly appreciated. Contact Melissa on 087 2289027 or Stephanie on 087 7558582.

Parish Carol Service
As a Preparation for Christmas a Carol Service ~ prepared by Choirs, Readers, Musicians and Schools of the Parish, will be held in St. Connell’s Church, Glenties on Sunday 20th December at 7.30 p.m. As we are all aware, a lot of families in our country have been left homeless this Christmas, because of the recent flooding. A donation box will be made available at the back of the Church, during the Carol Service for anyone who would like to donate to this very worthy cause.

Church Crib
This year the money collected in the collection box at the Crib will be donated to Maria Rafferty’s work in Ethiopia.

Care of the Aged
The Annual Church Gate Collection for the Care of the Aged will take place at all Masses next weekend 19th and 20th December.

Town Christmas Lights
A Church Gate Collection in aid of the Town Christmas Lights will take place at all the Masses for the Sunday after Christmas 26th and 27th December. Your support would be greatly appreciated.

Bin Collection
Donegal Waste & Recycle Bin Collection for Christmas and New Year period is as follows – Christmas Week – The collection which usually takes place on Friday (Christmas Day) will be on Thursday 24th December (Christmas Eve) and on the following week it will be on Saturday 2nd January instead of Friday 1st (New Year’s Day). Collections will return to normal on Friday 8th January.

Thanks
St. Thérèse Building Project in India raised € 565 in the Church Gate Collection taken up on 28th and 29th November. Thank you for your very generous contribution.

Diploma
Congratulations to Mairead Cranley. Derries, Glenties, who graduated recently with a Diploma in Local Government Studies.

Since there are still a large number of homes in the community that either are unable to get standard boradband or who don’t want to have to put in a phone line, this may be of interest.

WiMax is here!

Register now and if you are in coverage we will give you a call!
The rollout of Imagine’s National WiMax Network has already begun. Once WiMax comes to your area and your home is WiMax certified, you can benefit from fast reliable broadband, an advanced phone service and no line rental charge.

We are upgrading 15 areas around the country every month to WiMax. So every month more and more people across the country will benefit from WiMax.

Register now and get your community WiMax certified.
We will deliver WiMax to the community who want it most.

The more people in your community that get together and register, the quicker we will deliver WiMax to your area. ! 

For more information see www.imagine.ie

Hennessy / Joyce Wedding
On Saturday 21st November 2009 Deborah Joyce and Gary Hennessy were married in St. Connell’s Church, Glenties. Fr. Pat Prendergast officiated and celebrated Nuptial Mass. Deborah is a daughter of Martin and Christine Joyce, Ard Mc Gill, Glenties and Gary is a son of Tommy and Ella Hennessy, Askeaton, Co. Limerick. Her father gave the bride away and her sister Bernie Molloy and her niece, Hannah Molloy attended her. Kenneth Hennessy, brother of the groom was bestman and a friend, Dermot Lynch was groomsman. Ciara Hennessy, Megan Hegarty and Michaela Joyce were flowergirls. Adam Molloy was a pageboy. Readings were by Ronan Molloy, brother-in-law of the bride and Carol Jones, sister of the groom. Michael and Martin Joyce, Fidelma Toland and Paul Gallagher read Prayers of the Faithful. The Gifts were brought to the Altar by the mothers of the bride and groom, Christine Joyce and Ella Hennessy. Music and singing was by Pat and John F. O’ Donnell, Sinead Finn and Ben Craig. The reception was held in the Mill Park Hotel, Donegal Town and the honeymoon was spent in Cancun, Mexico.

Drama
Glenties Drama Group presents “Happy Birthday Dear Alice” a comedy by Bernard Farrell in The Community Centre Glenties on December 11th, 12th and 13th at 8.30 p.m. Admission is €10 for adults and € 5 for children. Looking forward to seeing you all there.

Club Céilí na Gleantaí
The Annual Christmas Party is on Saturday 19th December in the Community Centre, Glenties. Music is by Martin Duggan. Admission is € 8 ~ Christmas Buffet served ~ 9.30p.m. ~ 12.30 a.m.

Youth Choir
The Youth Choir will meet on Saturday 12th December at 4.00 p.m. This is in preparation for Mass on Sunday 13th at 11a.m. at which the Glenties / Ardara Brass Band will also be present. The choir practise on Sunday 13th December will be at 6.30 p.m. and not at 3.00 p.m. as originally planned. This is to facilitate the arrival of Santa in town.

Christmas Carol Singing
The Transition Year Students in St. Columba’s Comprehensive School are organising Christmas Carol Singing in the school canteen on Monday 14th December at 8.p.m. in aid of the upcoming musical ‘Les Misérables’. Admission is € 5 for adults and € 2 for children. Your support would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
The Glenties Playgroup / Afterschool wish to thank the Mid West Tractor Society for the generous cheque given to them by the Society. It was greatly appreciated. A special thank you to Gerry Doherty who maintains the Playgroup grounds throughout the year.

Scoil Mhuire Carol Service
The Annual Scoil Mhuire Carol Service ‘Simply Carols’ will take place on Thursday 17th December in St. Connell’s Church, Glenties at 6.30 p.m. It will be followed by Tea / Coffee in the Community Centre. Everyone is welcome.

SVP Christmas Collection
The Annual Christmas Church Gate Collection for the Glenties Saint Vincent de Paul Conference will take place on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th December before all the Masses.

Parish Social
The Annual Parish Social which was held in the Highlands Hotel, Glenties on Sunday last was as usual a great success. Thanks to the organisers and everyone who helped in any way to make the evening so enjoyable.

GAA Meeting
A meeting to elect managers for the underage teams for 2010 will take place in the Club House on Thursday 10th December at 8.00 p.m. Anyone interested in becoming a manager needs to attend this meeting.