Download Issue 17
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
An initiative of Ballinasloe Area Community Development Ltd. To get in touch with Ballinasloe Life online, visit us here: www.ballinasloeenterprisecentre.ie www.facebook.com/BallinasloeLife AN INSIGHT INTO THE AREA WE LIVE IN Vol. 3 IssueIssue 5 :06 Dec Feb/Mar ‘13-Jan 2012‘14 NEW MANAGER AT FREE PARKING IN TOWN PANTO SEASON AHEAD CARLTON SHEARWATER FOR DECEMBER Ballinasloe - Gateway To The West Gullane’s Hotel & CONFERENCE CENTRE Merry Christmas & Happy New Year From All at GULLANE’S FAMILY RUN HOTEL Main Street, Ballinasloe. Get into the Festive Spirit with Family, Friends or Colleagues, Join us for your Christmas Party Celebrate with us in an affordable and fun way with Seasonal Menus tailored to suit your palate and your pocket Special Accommodation Rates for Parties Restaurant Open every Evening. FOR SERVICE WITH A PERSONAL TOUCH YOU SHOULD CALL TO GULLANE’S HOTEL. Main Street, Ballinasloe, Co Galway Tel: 090 96 42220 Fax: 090 96 44395 Email: [email protected] Gullanes Iss5 FP.indd 1 16/11/2011 12:56 AN INSIGHT INTO THE AREA WE LIVE IN Vol. 3 Issue 5: Dec ‘13-Jan ‘14 REAMHRÁ WHAT’S INSIDE “Change is the flow of life, and those who look BUSINESS 04 Christmas Greetings only to the past and present are certain to miss the 06 T.D. in Profile – Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan future” – J.F.K. Christmas time always brings it home 09 Supervalu Store Revamp when we see the faces of the returnees in the pews Tough Year Ahead for Savers and pubs and wonder what the locale would be like, 10 Carlton Shearwater News if we even had a third of them back to help foster 11 New Year Big Dig Follow us on Twitter a future here. 12 New Oil Distribution Start-up 13 Diamonds Found in Ballinasloe @BallinasloeLife The air of local despondency is palpable but as 15 Ballinasloe Credit Union we face the sixth austerity soaked Christmas, the 16 Annual BEST Competition impending changes have to bring tidings of some good cheer. In 12 months 17 Broderick’s Pharmacy 20 Years in Business time we will no longer have our own Town Council beholden to Galway County COMMUNITY Council, nor a Mayor, or indeed have political family dynasties hoovering up 18 Shop Local Campaign Success votes from Galway East, we will be fully Balkanised as a new Constituency. 19 2013 Obituaries 21 Finding A Balance to Life Many worry what will become of us. New Home Renovation Scheme Reflecting on the past 25 years of “progress” under the previous infrastructure 22 Small Towns: A Breath of Fresh Air of supplication, the fruits of its uneven labours can be seen. In short we as 27 Country Market Christmas Fare 28 Social Services Mock Wedding a community, were perfectly tooled for the results we have achieved. Soon 29 Giving Locally This Christmas we will no longer have the bogeymen of TDs or a local Council to play the 22 Years of Town Twinning blame game. We can either shoulder the responsibility of working better 31 Still Going Strong at 90 and smarter to build a more sustainable community or continue to live in 33 St Brigid’s Chapel the faded glory days. 35 Breaking in is Pat’s Business CULTURE In this edition are some seeds of hope, we are a desirable location to live 36 Me & My Girl and raise a family in. Current firms are re-investing, new start-ups are 37 Ria Purcell’s Greek Connection advancing. Hard to believe that we have in our community €66million in 38 Panto Preview savings deposited in our Credit Union (probably more in the pillar banks) 39 New Cross for Creagh Cemetery getting less than 1% interest and apparently no local investment projects 41 Out and About that we could get a return with European, Municipal or State engagement? 42 Fair & Festival 2013 44 Ballinasloe Show 2013 Would this happen in modern developed countries where so many of our 45 Revamped New Inn Mummer’s Festival brightest and best are now? No, the Civic, Commercial and Community 47 Literary Day/Golf Club Groundsman Retires leadership would have rallied with ideas, creativity, resources and energy. 48 Nuala Ní Chonchúir Book Launch We are not yet in Ground Zero like many less fortunate in the Phillipines. 49 Matt Harris: Land and Revolution 50 20th AOIFE Conference We need to hear less of “ this town is gone” and more of “Is Feidir Linn”. SPORTS Colm Croffy, Ballinasloe Life Editor 51 Ballinasloe RFC’s New Sponsors 53 Hurling Review 2013 54 Ladies Football Champions Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our Underage Rugby News readers. It is an ill wind that does not favour someone and with the wind down of the Urban District Council CREDITS many organisations will have received good news Editor: Colm Croffy Reporters: Pamela Ryan, Ken Kelly, Pat Johnston, Valeria in the past few days of funding to upgrade their Bonazzi, Vanessa Clements and various other contributors. facilities with grants from the local Town Council. Graphic Design: David Cunniffe (KPW Print). Local retailers are looking forward to the next Print: KPW Print, Ballinasloe. Photos: Robert Riddell - robertriddell.com, J&S few weeks in anticipation of your support for our Think Local, Shop Local Photos - jsphotos.ie, Jordans - liamjordanphoto.com, Stronges - stronges.ie, campaign as you spend your hard earned money in the run in to Christmas. Alex Zardov - www.alexzardov.com, Mike Riddell and Evelyn Donnellan. I speak with many people who read Ballinasloe Life cover to cover and was pleasantly surprised by the number who read the adverts from our subscribers. This is very encouraging as these contain key information about what is available to meet your needs in the catchment area and you are supporting key contributors to the success of this publication. The community that is self sufficient is the community that will come out in the best health after this recession is over therefore I ask you to continue to support local business and enterprise. Wishing you and your families health Ballinasloe Enterprise Centre, and happiness though the forthcoming festive season. Creagh, Ballinasloe. Co. Galway T: 090 9646516 F: 090 9646517 Seamus Duffy, Chairman, E: [email protected] Ballinasloe Area Community Development www.ballinasloeenterprisecentre.ie Christmas Greetings Michael Kelly Caitriona Morgan Rev. George Flynn Fr. John Garvey MAYOR MICHAEL KElly Girl both taking place in the Town Hall REV GEORGE FLYNN Theatre and also to support the many As Mayor of Ballinasloe, I would like to Christmas greetings from the Church groups, organisations and clubs in their take this opportunity to wish everyone of Ireland extended parishes that endeavours, as they play such a vital role a peaceful and joyous Christmas. encompass churches of Aughrim Union: in our town and community. Christmas is a time for family, friends and the four churches of Holy Trinity Aughrim, community; a time to enjoy the simple With the impending abolishment of St Matthew’s Clontuskert, Woodlawn things in life. I would like to give a very Town Councils in 2014 I will possibly be and Ardrahan, and Creagh Union of two special Christmas greeting and warm the last Mayor of Ballinasloe to extend churches St John’s Ballinasloe, and St welcome in this year of The Gathering, Christmas greetings to the people of our Catherine’s Ahascragh. Our website to all who visit Ballinasloe over the town and its hinterland. As Mayor, and is [email protected] and festive season to spend time with family on behalf of my fellow Ballinasloe Town can be viewed each month to see the and their loved ones. Christmas is also Council members, I wish you and your schedule of services at which all visitors a time of goodwill and I would like to families a peaceful and joyous Christmas are welcome to attend. encourage people to give of their time and a happy and healthy New Year. to visit the elderly and those who live Let us at this festive time remember those CAITRIONA MORGAN Town Clerk alone and be a considerate friend to among us, our family or neighbourhood, those less fortunate than ourselves. As we approach Christmas I would like to who have had bereavements this past take this opportunity to reflect on what year. May their loved ones rest in peace. In the hectic weeks in the run up to has been another busy year in what is Christmas I would like to encourage I take this opportunity to thank the still a difficult economic situation. While people to support local businesses in community for all their support this past available resources are once again much the Think Local, Shop Local campaign year and wish all readers a very happy less than in recent years a lot was still by shopping locally. and peaceful Christmas and best wishes, achieved. I would like to acknowledge health and happiness for the coming Ballinasloe, like all towns, is going through the staff of the Town Council who have year. God Bless! challenging times and it is vital that we responded positively to the challenge support one another. As we look to 2014 of scarce resources and have displayed FR JOHN GARVEY I would encourage the community to flexibility in the continued delivery of As we approach Christmas 2013 the have a positive and optimistic outlook, services to the town and surrounding images from the Philippines of people we all have a part to play in promoting area. I would like to express my sincere seeking to rebuild their homes and their our town in a positive way as we face thanks to the elected members for their lives after the super Typhoon are still the challenges ahead.