Village shortlisted for enterprising town award
Blackrock has been shortlisted in the 2018 Bank of Ireland Enterprising Town Awards. This national competition was initiated in 2016 to promote local economies by bringing business and community groups together to showcase the spirit of enterprise at work in the nominated towns and villages.
A judging panel will visit the village for three hours on August 30 and will view key enterprises, talk to local businesses and community organisations, and evaluate a 30 minute presentation on how the various groups in Blackrock work together for the benefit of the overall economy of the village.
Blackrock Tidy Towns are acting as the local liaison group, and a small steering group has been established to oversee the intensive preparations that will be necessary to ensure the village is portrayed in the best possible light on adjudication day. Members of the steering group include representatives from the retailers and service providers in the village, Blackrock Tidy Towns, Blackrock Tourism Group, sporting organisations, and the Community Centre Committee. All organisations that operate in the village will be contacted over the coming weeks to discuss how they can contribute on the day and in the preparation of the presentation.
The Bank of Ireland Enterprising Town Awards is a highly prestigious competition, and the fact that Blackrock has been shortlisted this year is testament to the success of the planning and effort that has been undertaken over recent years by local business and community organisations working together to raise the village to its current level of vibrancy and economic activity.
Nojoy
For the second week in a row players had no joy in the Geraldines lottery, with neither the jackpot nor the match’s three prize of €200 claimed.
The jackpot as a result has been increased by €400, and stands now at €6, 200.
The numbers drawn this week were: 5, 8, 21 and 25.
Doublelossfor society
The Green Gates society suffered a sad double loss in the last number of weeks with the passing of two long standing and popular members Peter Ritchie and David Freeman.
David was last year’s Silver Jubilee captain, and it was a role that he embraced with great enthusiasm.
The society cancelled this year’s captain’s prize, scheduled to take place on July 28.
David took ill at the latter end of last year, and went down hill in the past number of weeks.
Members had barely come to terms with the shock of the passing of Peter Ritchie. which a number were not aware of for some time afterwards.
Peter returned to England for a holiday only to suffer a bad turn from which he didn’t recover.
He moved over to Blackrock and settled down and was a popular member of the society. Like David he also was a member of Dundalk golf club.
He was an avid supporter of West Ham.
Oldgraveyard
The annual service of remembrance for those interred in the parish old graveyard on Old Golf Links Road takes place on Sunday next August 12, commencing at 7pm.
Pope’sMass
The two buses to travel to the Pope’s Mass in the Phoenix Park are now full. The parish is providing the two 54 seater coaches, and also have secured tickets for those travelling to attend the Mass on August 26 next at the close of the World Meeting of Families.
Those who are going and already had secured tickets for the Mass on line have been requested to return them to the office of the World Meeting of Families.
Itinerary for the parish trip will be announced this month.
FilmFestival
It’s one summer than everybody is loath to see end. Then as they say all good things must end, and unfortu- nately the sunshine.
But it can go out on with more pleasure and sweet memories, thanks to the Blackrock Tourism and Development Group.
The Group are to stage the’“Blackrock Film Festival’ over five nights from August 22 to August 26, showing popular movies.
The festival has grown from the “Cinema on the Sand” event which has run on Blackrock Beach for the past few years.
Last year the organisers expanded the event which started with the screening of blockbuster movies on the beach. The first was “Jaws” which drew an audience of 1,200.
Star Wars” and “Ghost Busters” subsequently were shown and proved highly popular.
Last year it ran over four days, with three films also shown indoors in different venues in the village.
The days of the silent movies were recalled with the immortal “Charlie Chaplain” being screened in Danny Hughes. Supporting theatre was laid on to add to the entertainment.
Another comedy attraction “Some Like it Hot” was shown in the Clermont Arms.
The Festival concluded with the “Commitments” the 1991 Irish-British-American musical comedy-drama based on the 1987 novel of the same name by Irish novelist, dramatist and screenwriter Roddy Doyle. The Neptune was the venue.
The plan this year is to continue to show a movie on the beach and others in different local venues. The programme is as follows
Wednesday 22nd August 7.30pm AOH, Cocklehill “The Quiet Man”
Thursday 23rd August 6pm RochSalt, Main St., Blackrock “Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights”
Thursday 23rd August 8pm Uncle Toms, Main St., Blackrock “Blazing Saddles”
Friday 24th August 9pm Blackrock Beach “The Greatest Showman”
Saturday 25th August 8pm The Clermont, Main St., Blackrock “The Blues Brothers
Sunday 26th August 8pm The Neptune, Main St., Blackrock ” Pulp Fiction”