Its certainly has been a week of activities and entertainment in Roundstone with the two day rowing regatta, traditional music, also last night in the community Hall a group of 70 American gospel singers from California who are staying in the village for two days, in fact its their third time to be in Roundstone, anyway the group sang in the Community Hall introduced by our Christina Lowry and joining her with our own traditional music with 8 young lads from Carna who are part of the Colltas under the eye of Marcus Hernon, they gave an incredible performance, I gather their opening piece that they played, was part of a competition of which they came second also some Sanós dancing, young Maeve O’Neil did the brush dance, who is only 11 years of age, the elegance and confidence of this young lady, was really something to behold, we also had our local ladies giving a demonstration of some reels and again our own Joe McDonagh who by the way has just reached his 80 birthday rendered a couple of Sanós songs.
I have to say what an incredible evening it was, we were all seriously blown away, what with the cultural exchange of people with the music and song. I took some photos which should be up on the website in a day or two.

St Patrick’s day parade 2011

As part of the on going raising of funds for the St Patrick’s, day parade in Roundstone next year in conjunction with Cancer Care West.

So dates for the diary, 25^th July coffee morning after Mass, in Eldon’s Hotel, Poker night on the 28^th July 9.pm in the shamrock Bar, just give Paul Delapp a call for more information, (0876471182). Now here’s a good one on the Saturday 7^th August again in the Shamrock bar at 8pm a live auction with guest auctioneer Colm O’Donnellan, Colm will be setting up for auction a wide range of goods and services, just to give you a taste of what’s to be auctioned, a tractor load of Turf, Picnic Bench, wide screen HD TV, Top Soil or a load of Gravel or Sand, Car valet Service, Soft furnishing and upholstery cleaning and for the time being 4 days gardening, it is hoped that there will be lots more to come on the night, so mean while if any body has some good or Services to offer, I am sure Katrina Keane and Marion McDonagh the young organizers would love to hear from you for this really worth while cause if there is something you can offer.

Tour de Bog:

Then we have the Tour de Bog, which is the 20^th Anniversary, this year it will be sponsored by www.2wheels.com, these are young guys who have opened a few bicycle shops in Dublin within the last year, they are at the moment designing the T-shirts for the 20^th Anniversary which will go on sale for €10, the monies collected will go to part three on the refurbishment of the community Hall, we also have been sponsored by Ted Sherwood a very different type of medal for riders in various categories . We thank both our sponsors to bring some funds in the community.

Father Jarleth Heraty:

Well, sadly as very body knows now, our well loved Father John has gone to knock to retire, he certainly left very quietly in the early morning. We welcome Father Jarleth Heraty to Roundstone he is a nice and caring man, and he will do his very best to fill the needs of the parish with our help.

Farther Jarleth our new administrator was really thrown into the deep end within the last few days what with funerals and extra Mass’s etc and of course the fear of the unknown. There is no doubt about it come September there will be changes, for example there will be no Saturday Mass’s, this has to happen, its a big parish, also the Pastoral Council will have a lot more work to do, it is quite possible there will be a few more pastoral prayer services during the week, better than nothing folks, communion can still be received, I feel sure it will all pane out in the end, it will of course all depend on the Arch Bishop of Tuam to look favourably on the parish to bring us a permanent priest, we just have to go with the flow

Nora King of Innishnee:

We have lost another character from the village of Roundstone this week, Nora King (Babie) of Innishnee, Nora was buried in Gurteen on Saturday, it has to be said the late Nora King was an extraordinary tough Lady in so many ways, one new where you stood with her, her love of the farm life, and of course the motor bike trips to do her shopping dressed in macho gear larger than life, and I am also told that Nora was strong with the oars. So our condolences’ on behalf of Roundstone and of course myself to all her immediate family and relations. You now I was just thinking, I bet she had some amazing stories to tell, you now it’s the same old story one never gets around to talk to that generation and record their lives of these extraordinary people. May she rest in peace.

Bridie Doherty who died in New York who was a sister to Chris De Courcy of Errisbeg. May she also rest in Peace.

Noyelle sous Lens youth:

As part of our Twinning village in France, ten French youth with their leaders have arrived in Roundstone for the week as part of the cultural exchange and are all staying with me at Errisbeg house, to tour around showing them the delights of Connemara; they will be interacting with our own youth over the next few days. This morning we all went to the smoked Salmon Factory in Ballyconneely, and were give a tour with Graham Roberts, it was impressive, then tomorrow, trooping off to the Allawee caves. Over the next few days they will being going to Kylemore, Killary, shopping in Galway and cycle tours, luckily I do not have to be them on the cycle tour, god gave me legs to walk. They will all be with me until Saturday24th, from which they will all have a few days in Dublin until they return to France. In August 42 adults will also spend a few days in Roundstone; there you are the cultural exchange is really working, not only that a few bob is being spent into the area.

Here is Ann’s news Roundstone News 12^th July 2010

Ann Conneely

As weeks go this has probably been the most hectic in Roundstone. We had Regatta and Pony Show & Fr McCarthy’s retirement, so much and everything overlapping.

The Irish night

Which started last Wednesday night was a huge success, Christina who does Bean an Te was worried because this is the first time ever putting on the show without Marcus Hernon, but she need not have worried Marcus’s two sons Pernicious and Brendan were more than capable with Mike Fahy, John Joe Ford, Laurus, and this year young Conan Flaherty on the flute. A host of dancers and singers were there to entertain also Joe McDonagh who has just turned 80 was presented with that lovely cup that had been donated in memory of Chrissie Vaughan by the Vaughan / Devane family.

Friday Night

We had the selecting of the Roundstone Pony Show Queen in the Shamrock bar and the lovely Rosin McQuinn from Oughterard was the chosen one. She will preside over all the shows for the summer and will later go forward to the Galway Rose

Saturday

The first of the Regatta days. Things are a little topsy turvey this year.

Paddy McDonagh tried to tell me why this is happening as I understood the Roundstone Regatta always fell on the 3^rd week-end of July but as there is only 4 Sundays, this year it is a bit mixed up so therefore we must have it over two week-ends

Hookers, Glotogues, Leat Baids and Pucans 25 plus sailed on Sat afternoon and again on Sunday. It was a spectacular sight so see all those boats in the bay. We really should have got our Marina. The Government has a lot to answer for. What it would do for Roundstone. A lot of people came to watch the sailing.

On Sunday morning

Fr Mc McCarthy’s last Mass in Roundstone was a lovely but sad affair. Fr. John spoke kindly about his time in Roundstone and the goodness and kindness of his flock particularly during his term of illness. Richard spoke about the great legacy which Fr John has left behind him introducing ministers of the Eucharist and Mass readers in Roundstone and Cashel. Richard also read a poem that the poet Paul Durcon wrote after the “Fr McCarthy Mass experience” and he called it the fastest Mass in the west. Oh Boy will we miss him, Fr Jarlath Heraty takes over on Friday next 16^th July for a few months, and really he is on a short lease. Fr.Jarlath has a hard act to follow.

A presentation was made to Fr. John in the community hall after the mass; the ladies of the area did everyone proud with the spread that was provided. Fr John received a nice Hand shake from his people and Roundstone visitors with a nice painting to remind him of his time here and also his retirement check collected from local and visitors. We wish him all the very best in his retirement and if you are in Knock keep an eye out for him, The Man in the anorak with the runners going for his daily stroll.

PONY SHOW

Once again the show was a huge success and the rain kept away till after the parade of the horses through the village which is one of the highlights of the day. The Show Ground improves each year full seating right around the main ring. It must be up there with the best of the shows at this point and better than most. Loads of parking for all the cars and trailers. Stalls of every description with food, ice cream anything you wanted. Horses in the main ring, Dog show in another and a sheep show in another part of the grounds. Paddy McDonagh Yank had done a fantastic job and it is full marks to him. The Dog Show is on Monday of the August Bank Holiday week-end and The Champion of Champion Show on 12^th of Sept those are dates to look out for. The raffle for the car will go on till New Years Eve.

On Sat and Sun:

This coming week-end we shall have part two of the Regatta and it will be currach rowing with currachs coming from all over Ireland to take part, so again it will be a great week-end enhanced with live music on the Sunday.

A group of Slovakians :

Arrived for a five day visit to Roundstone, amongst the hub of activity on Sunday afternoon.

They are staying at Eldon’s where they will partake in all kind of local activities, tonight it is tin whistle lessons tomorrow Irish dancing lessons Wednesday they will attend the Irish night. On arrival at the hotel yesterday they treated themselves to some Guinness but before drinking stood and sang the Irish National anthem in Irish, Fair play to them.

Congratulations to Clara Mongan on going through to the All Ireland Fleah Ceoil

In Cavan in August. Clara is the daughter of Joe and Mary and she plays the keyboard..