Coolgreany/ Johnstown

SYMPATHY

The Johnstown/Thomastown community would like to extend their deepest sympathy to school principal Kay McGarry on the death of her brother in law Seán McGarry, Courtown whose burial took place in Riverchapel Cemetery on last Wednesday.

LOCAL NOTES

As we have come to the end of another year, and take a last glimpse of what we have left behind, it is now time to look forward to the coming year with some confidence and hope for better things to come, we wish everyone a prosperous 2017, and I thank you for all your support for the Coolgreany notes during the past year, and look forward with hope for the same loyalty in 2017. Happy 2017 to you all.

BIRTHDAYS

Congratulations to Sophie

Handball lotto this week is €8,400, tickets are available locally at €2 in Shorts, Coolgreany Post Office, O’Rafferty’s and Liam Clare. Select any four correct numbers to win or share the big money, or select three correct numbers to win or share €500. Next draw is on Tuesday night January 3. Your support would be very much appreciated. We would like to wish everyone a very Happy 2017.

GAA LOTTO DRAW

Castletown Liam Mellows GAA Club lotto draw results for November and December were as follows

November – no jackpot winner. Lucky Dip €50 Winners: Jim Byrne, Kilcavan Lwr.; Julie Holmes, Kilcavan Lwr.; Mary Thompson, Killiney; Kathleen Pierce, Gorey; Des and Mary Heffernan, Ballywilliam.

December – no jackpot winner. Lucky Dip €50 Winners: Kelvin and Deirdre Willis, Ballymoney; Brendan Barrett, Ballymoney; Pat Kavanagh, Clondarragh;

We extend best wishes from his many friends to Johnnie Cullen, Balleece, Rathdrum who is unwell at present and who is a very staunch member of the community and has been involved with Avondale GAA club and other organisations for many years. We also extend best wishes to the many other people in the area who are sick or unwell and wish them all a speedy recovery.

PATRICK KENNEDY RIP

The death occurred last Thursday of Patrick (Pat) Kennedy, five, Sunny Terrace, Rathdrum after a short illness. Pat lived most of his life in England where he worked as a Bus Driver and then in the Taxi business for a number of years. Before emigrating he played hurling with the local Avondale GAA club and was a very accomplished player.

He married his wife Cora (née Jordan) Station Road, Rathdrum and they raised a family of six children. Sadly their only son Kevin, passed away a year ago which they found very hard to deal with. After retiring Pat and his wife Cora came back to live at Sunny Terrace in Rathdrum the original homestead. He also had another property close by which he enjoyed up-keeping and maintaining.

His Funeral Mass took place last Sunday in St Mary and St Michael’s Church, Rathdrum which was celebrated by Fr Derek Doyle PP assisted by Fr Francis. Fr Doyle in the course of his homily said it was always difficult when trying to link religion with death but sadly this was the ‘pattern of life’ which we all find hard to deal with but somehow we get the inner strength especially through our faith to cope. He said Pat was a good family man and raised them through some very hard times and they would derive consolation from the memories created during his lifetime.

The ceremony was enhanced by the singing of Liam Kinsella and Rathdrum Parish Choir. The poignant strains of the song ‘Green Grass of Home’ was played as the coffin was leaving the church and this was very relevant as the family always came back to Rathdrum on holidays every summer. Burial took place after Funeral Mass in Rathdrum cemetery. Members of the local Avondale G.A.A. club formed a ‘Guard of Honour’ from the Church to the cemetery.

Sympathy is extended to his wife Cora, daughters Marie, Carmel, Grace, Martina and Cora, brothers Jim and Kevin, grandchildren, great grandchildren, extended family, relatives and many friends. May he rest in peace.

ANNUAL SET DANCING

The annual Set Dancing in aid of Fr Willie Walshe’s African Mission will take place in Avondale Sports Complex this Friday, January 6, starting at 9 p.m. with the O’Kane and Bass Ceili Bands which is always a great social occasion with seasonal treats and the best in music.

BLOOD DONOR AWARDS

Dolores Dempsey, Woodbine Cottage, Ballykilavale, Glenealy recently received a Silver Award for 10 donations of blood. Donal Byrne, Raheen, Roundwood received a Gold Award for 20 donations. There was a very good turnout at the Clinic on December 15 and all are thanked for their generosity.

CON CASHMAN RIP.

The death occurred recently of Con Cashman, Corballis, Rathdrum after a short illness. Con was a quiet, intellectual character and worked for most of his life as an Agricultural Adviser and was a very keen rugby fan. Cremation took place in Mount Jerome, Harold’s Cross, Dublin. Sympathy is extended to his wife Telia, son John and daughter Aoife, extended family, relatives and friends. May he rest in peace.

BINGO

Bingo returns this Friday night, January 6, in the RDA. Hall, Rathdrum with top prize of €300 plus Lucky Line and Raffle Sheet. First call 8.30 p.m. and supervised car parking.

GOLF SOCIETY

Jacob’s Well Golf society held their annual general meeting recently. The outgoing chairman, Brian Hagan thanked the committee for all their work during what was an enjoyable season and there was only one event affected by bad weather. He also thanked sponsors Noel and Helen Jacob for all their support and hospitality during the year.

The following committee was elected for 2017: chairman/ treasurer Mick Leonard; Cap-

The organisers of the Christmas Raffle in aid of Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin would like to thank everyone for their support and all the money raised will go towards renovating the Outpatients Department at the Hospital. The results of the raffle are as follows

First Prize – €200 Noeleen Doyle, Woodside, Rathnew; 2nd €100 – Karnl Knight, Wicklow Town; 3rd Christmas Cake and Pudding – Eleanor Hughes, Rathnew; 4th Christmas Hamper – Anne Johnston; 5th Bed Spread (Comerfords) Peter White, Carrig Court, Rathnew;

6th Multi Juicer (Suttons, Arrow) Vicky Doyle, Hacketstown; 7th Log Basket (Martsworth) May Byrne, Rathdrum; 8th Two Prints (Halpins) Stephanie Fox, Wicklow Town; 9th Yankee Candle (Ashford Pharmacy) Celina Kehoe, Wicklow Town; 10th Gift Set (Adrian Dunne Pharmacy) Kathleen Byrne, Wicklow town;

11th three prints (Adrian O’Brien, Arklow) Maura Heffernan, Glenmalure; 12th Gift Set (Avondale Sports) David Murray, Hacketstown; 13th Security Alarm System plus Gift (John Doyle) Ned Byrne, Rathdrum; 14th Gift (Avoca Pharmacy) Pauline Earls, Wicklow Town; 15th Ornaments and Jewellery Box (Powers) Kennedy children, Cullentra;

16th Set of Delph (Wise Owl) Roisin Fitzpatrick, Rathnew; 17th Voucher (Moore’s Butcher’s) Yvonne Keogh, Wicklow Town; 18th Pudding and Bottle Wine (Mr Fly) Liz Reynolds, Wicklow Town; 19th Quilted Shams and Retro Phone (RTV) Geraldine Wynne, Wicklow Town; 20th Ladies Hat (Tierney’s Pharmacy) Thomas Flynn, Dundalk.

DANCE WITH STARS

Seán Smullen, Greenane, Rathdrum will be representing the professional dancers in the new upcoming RTE series of ‘Dancing with the Stars’. Seán is the principal teacher at Greenane Dance Studio where he teaches social and competitive Ballroom and Latin American, Argentine Tango and Irish Set Dancing. He has won many awards including the Luxembourg Open Champions Rising Star 2014 and the 2015 Irish National Show Dance Champion and was also semi-finalist at the Grand Prix in Moscow. He is only 21 years of age and we wish him all the best in the series.