Oulart& TheBallagh

KEEP OULART TIDY

The area around the recycling bins in the village has, in recent times, been left in a very unsightly state due to thoughtless people leaving stuff on the ground when the bins are full. This is illegal dumping and it is inexcusable. If you arrive at the bins and they are full you are expected to bring your materials home with you and not leave them on the ground outside the cemetery, opposite the school. Return when the bins have been emptied and put your recyclables in the correct bins. Oulart village has a hard-earned reputation for tidiness which it intends to maintain with the co-operation of residents and visitors. The authorities have been notified and will be monitoring the situation.

LOCKDOWN

With schools, sports organisations, community centres, churches, local organisations etc closed and their activities suspended on account of the.

Covid-19 pandemic there is little or nothing to report except to encourage people to adhere to the HSE and government regulations. We hope that all readers and contributors to these Local Notes, and their loved ones, continue to stay safe and that our community is spared the ravages of the pandemic. In the meantime, I hope that you enjoy looking back at some of the items and personalities that made the news in former years.

SUPER DECADE

The following extract from a Wexford GAA programme dated October 8, 2000, makes interesting reading: ‘Since the foundation of the modern club in the mid-fifties Oulart-The Ballagh has always paid particular attention to its underage section and this policy has paid rich dividends over the years.

During the nineties, the club enjoyed unprecedented success, winning eight Under-12 hurling titles, two under-12 football titles, four minor hurling titles, two juvenile hurling titles, and one Under-14 hurling title, making a total of 14 Bord na nÓg championship wins.

In primary schools’ competition, four Rackard League titles as well as seven mini-sevens hurling were won, while in Community Games, four football and two hurling county titles were captured. Surely, the icing on the cake was the winning of two all-Ireland Féile na nGael hurling titles in 1994 and 1997. (Féile was won again in 2001)

During that special decade, pre-millennium, Oulart-The Ballagh underage teams were also runners-up in 11 county finals, bringing to over 40 the number of county finals contested by the young red-and-black brigade in a 10-year period’.

SLANEY HURLING 1982.

Páirc Charman was the venue for the Slaney Hurling Festival, May 22 to May 23 1982. Oulart-The Ballagh led the parade behind the Artane Boys Band and the club Banner was carried by Tommy Kirwan and Peter Kennedy. The team got a walkover from Cloughbawn in the first round and defeated Ferns in the semi-final (four goals three points to one – one. The scorers were Liam Dunne (1-2), Liam Rossiter (two gls), Martin Dempsey (one goal), Henry Cleary (one point). Oulart-The Ballagh lost the final to Our Lady’s Island but won the prize for the best banner.

GAA/CAMOGIE HERE TO HELP

Oulart-The Ballagh GAA and camogie personnel are available to help people in the local community with shopping, collecting medications etc or in any other necessary way and assure you that help is only a phone call away. Be assured that a member is always available to help. Contact GAA chairman, Bartle Sinnott (087 2041896), camogie chairperson Patrick Fortune (087 9339950) or Coiste na nÓg chairperson, Liz Freeman (087 7560871) all of whom will make sure you get the help you need.

GIRLS’ FOOTBALL 1982.

Oulart-The Ballagh girls’ football team competed in the Community Games in 1982 and lost to Clongeen by the narrowest of margins, one goal to two points. Anna Prendergast and Fiona Dunne scored a point each. The Oulart team was: Joan Redmond, Barbara McGrath, Margaret Prendergast, Eileen Murphy, Elizabeth Keating, Ellen Murphy (captain), Dawn Murphy, Caroline Kehoe, Fiona Dunne, Lucy Roche, Anna Prendergast, Marion Rossiter, Ailish Dunne, Deirdre O’Grady, and Emer Doyle. The subs were Deirdre McGrath, Jacqueline O’Connor and Hannah Quigley.

JOIN TOGETHER BY STAYING APART

The Irish Life Step Challenge runs from June 3 till June 30 and members of the community are encouraged to take part. As an incentive, vouchers valued at €2,500 can be won by GAA clubs who participate. You can get details of how to join the challenge by downloading the My Life app from the App store or Google.

Play store. Further details can be had from our Healthy Club Officer, Breda Flood, who has registered our club to take part. More participants aged 18 and over are needed for the challenge. Why not join and step your way to health and fitness?

CAMOGIE CLUB 1798 KM

Oulart-The Ballagh GAA and camogie will Walk/Run/Cycle 1798 km from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Bank Holiday May 30/31 to raise much-needed funds for the Hope Cancer Care Support Centre, Enniscorthy.

As a club and community we would aim to cover as many kilometres as possible over the two days. All donations/contributions can be made through a dedicated Facebook page in the coming days till June 3. To keep a record of the distance all participants must post their kilometres on the Facebook page. You are encouraged to wear your club colours as you take part.

Please remember that all government and HSE guidelines must be adhered to at all times. This 1798km is the initiative of the camogie club and their officers are to be commended for their innovative idea.

LOCAL NOTES

If you want coverage of your organisation, club or family’s important occasions or successes please contact your Local Correspondent, Breda Jacob by phone, text (086 1686978) or email mickjacobjr@yahoo.co.uk no later than 8 p.m. on Thursday prior to publication. In these difficult days we all need positive stories to cheer us up so if you have any good news to relate we would be more than pleased to include it here. There is no charge for including an item in the Local Notes.