March is the month when soil temperatures climb back up and with it growth begins in earnest. The old saying that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb is very true. The end of February and early March has been in marked contrast to the fine mild weather we had previous to this. So we must temper our enthusiasm practically and do only the jobs that are necessary and can be done.
For those of you who ask about transplanting and moving shrubs you have about another two weeks in which to do so, before the plants burst into growth. If you wish to do any bareroot planting, it must be done now, you can plant any of the bareroot trees, conifers and hedging plants, which are always a little cheaper than the potted plants. (more…)
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Across from the Friary and near Claregalway Castle is the bridge over the River Clare. It was first mentioned in 1349 and was a wooden structure. The bridge of the Nine Arches was erected in stone probably in the early eighteenth century. In 1765 John Bodkin, a landlord from Lackagh, changed the course of the River Clare and diverted it away from the old bridge in order to improve the drainage of the area, but also to deepen the river to make it navigable up to Tuam. The present bridge, built in the early 1950, replaced Bodkin’s one and a record of his work is preserved on two stones in the wall of the bridge.
Claregalway Amenity Group have undertaken the challenging task of unveiling the Nine Arches. (more…)
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Good luck and every success to Marian Connolly on the opening of her new restaurant “Bruach na hAbhann”, formerly “The Abbey Restaurant”,Claregalway. Looking forward to sampling the culinary delights of your renowned chef Owen McArdle!!
Birthday wishes to Brian Moran, Lakeview, who will be 8 on the 24th December.
Birthday wishes also to Nicola Newell, Lakeview, who will be 9 on the 24th December.
Best wishes to Siobhán McAndrew who celebrated her 8th birthday on December 13th.
Best wishes to Emmet Farrell, Cregboy, who celebrates his 8th birthday on January 4th. (more…)
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Scouting in Claregalway started in May 1991 with 15 Beavers, 12 Cubs and 5 adults.
Scouting is about developing young people to realise their full potential so that they become responsible, resourceful and enterprising members of their Community.
The Scout Method is based on the: -
- Use of the outdoors – young people are faced with real situations which provide opportunities for them to work together and make decisions, i.e. what to do when the tent gets blown down or flooded? How to light a fire and cook a meal for seven, in the pouring rain?
- Working in small groups – safety in numbers. Here they can discover their own qualities and limitations. A chance to motivate and to lead. It provides the individual with an identity and a sense of belonging.
- Learning by doing – this means encouraging young people to discover things for themselves and to cope with their successes and their failures; to develop life skills such as creativity, teamwork, confidence, decision making.
- Commitment to a set of values. (more…)
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Very little is known about the Famine of 1847 apart from the mass emigration in the West of Ireland, Claregalway included. Many people went to America from Claregalway on ships. One such case for example was that of 2 brothers from Clogher. One died on the way and was thrown over-board. The other brother got across and settled there and in later years bought a Pub there. Houses also fell in numbers around the Parish. For example there were 108 houses in Carnmore West before the Famine and after it there were only 96. In Carnmore East before 1847 it had only 1 house and after 1847 there were 8 houses. In Cahergowan before 1847 it had 98 houses and after 1847 only 86 houses remained. In Curraghmore before the Famine it had 3 houses and after only 1 house remained. It is also believed that some 80 to 90 people from the Tuam and Corofin area died that year under the old Nine Arches Bridge at Claregalway. There were no coffins at that time and people were buried with mats of straw as coffins. In Claregalweay Friary there is only one memorial slab on a young girl, aged 16 years, that has the 1847 date, but there is no evidence that her death was in any way linked to the Great Famine of 1847.
“Ar Deis Dé go raibh a n-ainm dílis is linne iad a beannacht”
Johnny Casserly, Cahergowan. (more…)
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JOE CLOHERTY, a native of Waterdale, Claregalway has a unique talent in stonework. He has always had an interest in stonework and was inspired a few years ago when he saw a cottage made of stone in an English magazine. He copied this example and has gone on to make this beautiful replica of the Abbey Monastery which can be seen outside Dunleavey’s Public House. It took Joe approximately 1 week to make this design, spending a few hours every evening working on it. He has also made a model of a cottage which can be seen at the Bank of Ireland in Eyre Square, Galway.
Joe is available to make any design people wish and can be contacted at (091) 798 637. (more…)
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The garden can be a very enjoyable place at this time of the year; sometimes rewarding, sometimes frustrating, but never dull.
There is still lots to be done, so if you are planning on holidays – don’t forget your plants, indoors or outdoors. People go on holidays and get somebody to mind the house, feed the cat, etc. but not their plants. Get a friend/neighbour to water your house plants, hanging baskets, tubs, window boxes, if dry!! This will avoid having to look for replacements.
Continue regular mowing of your lawn. In dry weather mow less frequently and raise the height of your cut. Consider watering the lawn, if the dry spell is prolonged.
Your bedding plants will benefit now from regular watering and feeding. Feed with any liquid fertiliser (Miracle Gro, Phostrogen, Algoflash, Tomato Food, etc.) roughly every 10 days. Also dead head any old flowers and leaves. (more…)
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Croagh Patrick – On the 11th May a large group of Claregalway Scouts assembled at Claregalway National School at 7 a.m. We were all prepared for the bus journey to Croagh Patrick to complete a task which we had set ourselves over a year ago. As usual, everyone full of enthusiasm for the trial ahead! We arrived at the foot of the reek at 9 a.m. everyone well decked out in their rain gear and walking shoes for the climb ahead. It was very overcast when we arrived and none of us were able to see the summit. Having inquired from the Met Station, I was satisfied that the haze would clear. All the Scouts except for one or two had never climbed the reek before and it had been some ten years since I had climbed it and at that time I found it hard so I was not relishing the thought of the climb ahead. The climb started, and in true Scout fashion the starting pace was fast. Joe O’Connell, one of our leaders, managed to keep ahead of the posse and he made sure that all were safe as we climbed. (more…)
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A delegation from the Community Action Group attended an Area Meeting of the County Council recently. This Area Meeting was attended by the six local Representatives, Council Engineers and Officials.
The delegation made a presentation to the area meeting regarding the unfinished state of Claregalway Village. They stated that despite numerous promises and undertakings the village is left in a mess and this is unacceptable to the local community.
The main issues highlighted were:-
- The state that the footpaths have been left in. The delegation stated that the paths are in a dangerous condition and that is impossible for the local community to even walk on these paths.
- That the Public Lighting would be extended to Dunleavey’s and to the Bridge if possible.
- That the Warning Lights at the School should be erected as undertakings were given that these lights were to be erected at the beginning of the current school year last September.
- That the Hard Shoulder at the School should be re-surfaced.
- That on-going maintenance would be undertaken as indicated at previous meetings. (more…)
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April – long evenings and the weather changing from the grimness of winter to the throes of summer. If you are a gardener or a farmer you long for these days to arrive.
Everything in the garden can be done now.
In the vegetable garden you can sow seed potatoes, maincrop varieties from now such as Kerrs Pink, Records, Roosters and Golden Wonders. Sow onion sets and shallots, cabbage plants (early york varieties). You could also start sowing direct with carrots and parsnips. Those with the carrot fly problem sow the variety Parano. Also if you sow early, and pick early and by sowing garlic cloves or onion sets between the rows of carrots; this also helps to prevent the carrot fly. Other plants such as lettuce, scallions, tomato plants, etc are best left to be planted towards the end of the month.
Sowing a lawn in April is ideal, as the soil temperature is high and the seed germinates a lot quicker. Sow a lawn with a no. 2 seed mixture at a rate of 2 ozs to the square yard or 35 gms to the square metre. Rake the seed in lightly after sowing and roll lightly afterwards. (more…)
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The A.G.M. of the Claregalway Leisure Centre was held on March 5th, 1997. The following officers were elected:
Chairman: Tony Clarke
Vice-Chairperson: Gerry Moran
Secretary: Mary Reidy
Asst. Secretary: Mary Forde
Treasurer: Hubert Newell
Asst. Treasurer: Tom Lennon
P.R.O.: Josette Farrell
General Committee: Mary Casserly, Mary Duggan, Tom Duggan, Mary Horgan, Tom McKenna, Kevin Duffy, Celia Lennon.
Tony Clarke thanked the outgoing Committee for their contributions over the past 5 years. With the recent grant allocation secured by the outgoing Committee towards the new floor, it is hoped to complete the project during the next few months. (more…)
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Fr.David Cribbin was ordained on the 4th January.
This special event was followed by Fr.David’s first Mass on Sunday, the 5th January which was a very moving occasion both for his family and the entire community. The presence of students and lay missionaries from a number of countries brought a truly international flavour to the ceremony.
After the Mass, Fr. David gave his first blessing in the S.M.A. House where Fr. Noel Mullin presented him with a camera, on behalf of the community. We look forward to publishing some of his photos from the Philippines in the future!!
A very enjoyable evening followed, where local talent provided the entertainment, including our own Fr.Tommy on the harmonica!
We wish David the best of luck in the future and look forward to hearing from him. (more…)
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