Newtownmountkennedy
Newtown 2050 presents a night of discussion and ideas relating to the future development of our town. Simon Wall, well known as the driver behind regenerating Westport, County Mayo will be our chief speaker. The evening will inspire and invigorate your engagement with the planning and aesthetics of your local community. All welcome February 16. Doors open at 7 p.m. Parkview Hotel, Main Street, Newtown.
SCHOOL NEWS
BARRA MCGRATH – We are all heartbroken at the sudden death of our pupil Barra McGrath. Barra died after a short illness in Crumlin Hospital on Saturday, February 4. Our thoughts and prayers are with Barra’s parents, Tracy and Colm, his brother Jamie and sister Kayla as well as granparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and many relations and friends.
OPEN DAY – Our open day will be held on Wednesday, February 15, from 1 p.m. to 2.30 p.m. in the junior school building. All families with pre-school children are invited to attend.
MEN’S SHED
All excitement and energy at the moment is being directed toward our fundraising Garda band concert scheduled for Thursday, February 23, which promises to be an even better event with the latest announcement from the boy’s in the shed, concerning the appearance of a wee man from the community willing to perform among us. Yes folks we are proud to bring you with the kind permission of his parents, none other than the town’s own young singer/songwriter Bobby Dowling tipped to be the next Ed Sheeran. This planned performance may be the only chance to hear him for a tenner if the bush telegraph is to be believed, anyway be sure you come along and give him all the support in his spot alongside the big band sound of the Garda band and singers, tickets still available at the post office, hotel, or from any shed member.
A very informative article from none other than this paper’s regular columnist David Medcalf, explaining all that we in the shed are about, we are indeed indebted to David and his paper for such coverage of the work we hope to continue within our community with the people’s help and generosity.
Mumbles which were very hard to make out were also heard coming from around the stove yesterday morning, something on the lines of St Patrick’s day shenanigans, I’m not too sure but I think a horse was mentioned along with someone who makes matches, when I tried to move closer there was instant hush, and heads were dipped again into the tea cups, but I’m sure all will be revealed soon. We had a very successful and enjoyable social evening to Lynam’s of Laragh on Saturday evening last in appreciation of donations received from the family.
Our next planned outing will be in June, when we hope to arrange a trip to take in a tour of the great GAA headquarters ‘Croker’ those wishing to go please place names on list on shed notice board.
We must extend our thanks again to all our very generous donators who keep our engine oiled when you provide material, food, and most of all goodwill, a big thank you from the shed.
We would like also to offer our support to families within our community and surrounds who may be suffering a bereavement, sickness, or some other dark cloud, we hope the sunshine is not far from your door, and wish it will knock quite soon.
NEWTOWN JUNIORS FC
Weather conditions are a little unpredictable at the moment and while last weekend more of our teams played, some of them played in absolutely Baltic conditions. The under-8s hosted Wicklow Rovers on Sunday morning and after an hour’s football neither side could be separated on the scoreboard. On the mark for the 8’s were Ryan, Leighton, Leon, Lily, Aaron, David, Albie and Oisin. Among the players who starred were John Turley and Lucas Dowdall.
On Saturday our under-9s travelled to Bray to take on Ardmore Rovers and after a fantastic morning’s football we headed home for the hot soup. Good to meet up with a good friend of the club and former Newtown resident Jonathan Owens, who was one of the Ardmore coaches. His son Ryan, who was only a baby the last time we seen him had a fine game on the day. They played on Sunday morning at home to Wicklow Town and among the scorers for Newtown were Max, Frank, William, Mikey, Liam, Dylan, Aidan, Pat and Luke. Among the players who starred were Darren Fisher and Conor Thorn- ton. The under-11s suffered a rare loss as they went down to an 8-2 reverse away to Avonmore in blizzard like conditions. Ryan McMahon scored both Newtown goals while Patrick Martin and Aaron Hackett starred for an understrenght Newtown team.
The under-13s only had the bare bones for their trip to Aughrim due to illness, injuries and a couple of players who have gone awol. On the day though they lost narrowly on a 3-2 scoreline, the 11 players who played gave it their all and certainly deserved something for their efforts. The team trailed 2-0 but superb goals from Laragh Davis and Ryan Clarke restored parity but Aughrim won the game with virtually the last kick of the game. On the day among those who starred were Rebecca Gillan and Shane Synnott.
The under-15s had a good run out down in Greystones where goals from Luke Kelly, Andrew McMahon and Steven Coughlan ensured a 3-1 win. Thanks to the Greystones manager Colm for organising the game.
Unfortunately the under-10s game away to Wicklow Rovers was called off.
The following are the fixtures for the weekend of Saturday/ Sunday, February 18/19: under-8s away to Enniskerry ko to be confirmed; under-9s away to Greystones ‘A’ ko to be confirmed; under-10s at home to Arklow Town ko Saturday at 10.30 a.m.; under-11s at home to Arklow Town ko Saturday at 11.30 a.m.; under-13s at home to Arklow Town ‘A’ ko Saturday at 11 a.m.; under-15s at home to Arklow Town ‘B’ ko Saturday at 12.30 p.m. (fixtures and ko times are subject to change)
The Development Squad is back in action and they practise every Saturday morning 10.11 a.m. indoors in the Community Centre (Sports Hall). Cost per player each week is €3. Regards the Indoor Hall all players must wear indoor/astro runners and also must adhere to all rules governing goalpost safety etc.
The teams have confirmed their training times for the week beginning Monday, February 13: Dev. Squad on Saturdays 10.11 a.m. – (18th Feb); under-8s on Wednesdays 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. – (15th Feb); under-9s Thursdays 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. – (16th Feb); under-10s on Tuesdays 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. – (14th Feb); under-11s Wednesdays 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. – (15th Feb); under-13s on Wednesdays 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. (15th Feb); under-15s Thursdays 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. – (16th Feb)
Three players from the club is celebrating a birthday in the coming week and they are Dylan Dunleavy and Cormac Chance from the under-10s and Alex Byrne from the under-15s. Happy birthday lads from everyone at Newtown Juniors FC.
All members are reminded that the remainder of Membership Fees for the season 2016/17 are now due. Please organise any outstanding payment with your child’s respective coach or any committee member. Thank you.
We will be starting our next Last Man Standing competition on the weekend of Sat.4th/Mon. March 6. €10 per player and 50% of the money taken in go to the last man standing. Please support as all money collected go towards the youth of the area.
For further information on all matters ‘Newtown Juniors F.C.’ please contact the secretary at 087 6987653 or by email tohughienolan@gmail.com and you can also follow the club on our Facebook and Twitter pages.
GAA CLUB NOTES
The GAA club newsletter for January 2017 is now available; please see news section of the Newtown website.
Wicklow GAA is running an online Foundation Football course which is certified over the next few weeks, registration and instructions can be found onlearning.gaa.ie. If you would like to complete or know of anyone who wants even to be involved in a minor capacity it is a useful course to complete.
Two codes of behaviour courses have been organised by Wicklow GAA on Monday, February 13, and Monday, February 20, at 7.30 p.m. in Ballinakill Centre of Excellence. These courses are limited to 30 people. Bookings for this course are made through emailing County Games Manager Hugh Kennyhugh.kenny.gamesmanager.wicklow@gaa.ie Please provide your Coaches Name, club and team in which your coach is involved with for 2017. Cost for each person attending is €10 and must be paid on the night to our Code of Ethics Tutor.
We are delighted to have a large number of kids playing for our fast growing juvenile sides, more kids means more helpers so if you feel you are in a position to help in any capacity our future GAA stars then please get in touch as it takes much more than a manager to run each team. We are still short of help for some of our teams and may not be able to enter teams at all ages due to lack of mentors, please give Tom a ring at 087 6611480 or Shay at 087 2699620 for more info.
Some of our juvenile teams are back training and we would hope to have all our teams back within the next few weeks. The under-14 girls are training next Saturday and every Saturday at 11.30 in the pitch, while the under-16 girls are training on Mondays.
There were 11 match-three winners last week who won €20 each but no jackpot winner. Numbers drawn were 3, 11, 13 and 15. This week’s jackpot is €3,800.
There is a good stock of club gear now available to buy for any enquiries regarding club gear please contact Ruth at 087 7472682 or Amy at 086 3332195.
If you have any club related notes for inclusion in the weekly notes, please forward topronewtown@gmail.combefore Sunday 6 p.m. for issue the following week.
We would like to express our deepest sympathies to the extended family and friends of the late Dorothy Spellman. May she rest in peace.