Ten days to Christmas. I must say so far the village is looking really bright and cheerful what with the best decorated window competition, sponsored my Michael Reynolds, Christmas lights have appeared, the village tree is now up in its full glory by the flag poles, talking about the tree, Father Jarleth will come to bless it, on this Sunday coming at 4.30pm as this year we will have the red ribbons placed on the tree in memory of our departed relatives and to officially put on the lights.

Country Market: Once again for this year, the country Market will be open for the day on Sunday 19^th December from10am to 4pm, being the last market for the year, there promises to be a few more extra stalls so that we will all have the chance to prepare for Christmas.

Children’s Christmas Party: What is now becoming an annual event, on the 19^th December the Children’s Christmas Party in the Community Hall commencing at 1pm, the entrance fee will be €5.00 per child, with Bouncing Castle, disco food and loads of sweets, and lots more entertainment, with the High light, of Santee’s visit to his grotto in the Hall, to give a little present to all good children, not quite sure when Santee is arriving, its a busy time for him, let us not forget the adults, no charge for them, a glass of mulled wine and cakes tea & Coffee will be offered.

James Conneelly’s retirement Party: After many years, as the school bus driver from Roundstone to Clifden, James Conneelly will retire, on Saturday 18^th December so arrangements are being made for a presentation to be made to him from the Roundstone Community at 5pm in the Lower community Hall for his dedicated care of the Kids getting them to School and back home again, so everybody is welcome to attend, I am sure there are some wonderful stories, about James and the Bus trips over the years, not just transporting kids, all will be revealed

Shay Conneelly and Anne Davis: Last Friday Shay Conneelly and Anne Davis were married to a beautiful classical musical wedding in the Parish Church, and when the bit came, and I pronounce you husband and wife, true to Shay’s form he turned around to the crowd and raised his arm in the air as a salute, it’s done. So well done and many congratulations, and of course let us not forget to congratulate the Bride and Bride Grooms Parents.

Cancer Care West: Here is another novel event for Saturday 18^th at the Shamrock bar commencing at 8.30, its a mouse race, we have had every sort of other races, relating to animals but never a live mouse race, these mice will be in tubes, 10 tubes in all, shown on a full screen, the race will be professionally run with the mice’s owners, this event is being arranged by Katrina Kane and Marrion McDonagh to raise funds for the cancer west fund, and in conjunction for the St Patrick Parade in Roundstone for the year 2011, its such a cool idea, and sounds very intriguing , there will be the usual raffle and a surprise visit from Santee. It seems it’s a must. Could be a good way to clear the pub, should the mice escape ha ha ha

FAS Scheme: Donal Nee informed me this morning, that we will in Roundstone have the FAS Scheme for the year 2011, which is really good news, therefore you may remember some months back I mentioned the possible Landscaping of the old Presbyterian site, beside O’Dowd’s lane, well we have just received a letter from the Presbyterian Church in Belfast giving us permission to clean up the area and to preserve and Maintain the Kirk site, however for the moment we can not put in paths and seating at this stage, which was part of our plan for the visitors, but hopefully this might come later, so having the FAS scheme this will be one of their projects.

RDC : The community council committee members have just completed their three year term, well it will actually come to an end in March 2011, with new elections for a new committee, but mean while the present team still have a fair bit of work to do relating to Traffic Management, sewage, roads and water, and talking to Michael Reynolds this morning who is by way the present chairman, he was telling me about the incredible difficulty and frustration he is having with the GCC in trying to tidy up loose ends particulaly with the items I have just mentioned, which has been on going for years, we seem to be continuously fobbed off

Roundstone Water supply: Quite a few people have been asking me if the water is being turned off at night, the answer is yes it was from 10pm to 8am , but as from tonight the water will not be turned off, you can in fact check the up dates on the GCC website www.galwaycoco.ie under “Update on disruptions” where Roundstone features, since us house holders and business are not being informed with regular bulletins in the village, this the only way to stay in the loop, times for cut off’s will change possibly next week with further bad weather on its way. Ann mentioned the new pump house at the Toombeola cross roads which contains a new pump to push water to the reservoirs, was not connected, however, I have been in touch with Liam Gavin from the water department, he informs me it is now connected as from a few days ago, and the reservoirs are full, so the turning off of the water supply will stop for the time being, but of course even with the new pump, if we drip are taps etc during a possible next weeks freeze up the supply will be turned off again

Lotto; The local Lotto is now standing at € 11,400. There will be the Christmas bumper draw in O’Dowd’s next Sunday, with all sorts of surprises, talking about the lotto, every year €200 has been donated to St Vincent de Paul charity, but this year in these extraordinary political climate the local committee members have donated from the people of Roundstone, to St Vincent de Paul this year the sum of €500, nice one for this worthy cause, a thought has just popped into my head, it was at the local lotto in Roundstone two years ago that Ann and Shay met, now could this be a good omen for them to attend next Sunday .

Well that all from me for this week, next week will be a busy one but a fun one in Roundstone. Ann will be with you next week, to give you all the details. As I won’t be doing the news again until after Christmas, I would just like to wish a very Happy Christmas and New Year to every body out there.

To all that reads the news on the website, across the water happy Christmas to all the friends of Roundstone.