News archive for February 2001

27th February	Mr & Mrs Competition This Friday night sees the start of the eagerly awaited Mr & Mrs Competition which starts in the Nesbitt Arms Hotel this Friday 2nd March at 8.30 p.m. with the one and only Malachy Gallagher master of Cermonies. The show starts with the young talent of the Parish taking the stage for the first time performing song and dance. This is followed by the Mr & Mrs Competition and the evening is completed by the adult entertainers performing for the final part of the Show. A large crowd is expected so come along early. Table Quiz After the Show the very popular GAA Table Quiz takes place in the Corner House with the ever popular Vinny McConnell as Quizmaster. St. Patricks Day Parade Preparation for the St. Patricks Day Parade on Sunday 18th March is well advanced. Most of the Traders are preparing their own floats and anyone else wishing to put in a float is most welcome. The Committee have a numebr of Lorries available so anyone having difficulty getting a lorry should contact the Committee. A large number of bands have committeed themselves to the parade so it is promising to be a greater parade than ever this year. Fashion Show Tuesday 12th March the annual Fashion Show takes place in the Community Centre. The Show continues to be a major part of the St.Patricks Day Festival and this year is going to be bigger and better than ever with a large number of shops participating. There are a few novelty acts that will add to the occasion. So come early. Flotto This weeks Flotto jackpot stands at £3,800.00. Last weeks Numbers were 4, 8, 9 and 19 and the nearest were Mary T Byrne, Churchtown, kilcar and Eileen Gildea, Monargan. This weeks selling team is Eamon McNelis's team.


25th February	P.T.T.A. The Monthly meeting of the PTTA will be held in the Oratory on Friday evening. Schools Pioneer Quiz The annual Schools Pioneer Quiz for juveniles will take place on Sunday 4th March in the Community Centre at 3:00pm. Details have been sent to al the schools. Winners and Runners Up go forward to the Diocesan Finals on Sunday 11th March in Inver. Anyone interested in taking part in the Junior Quiz competition should give their names to Anne Moy at 41367. Care of The Aged The Chiropodist will be at the Community Centre on Tuesday 27th February from 2:00pm to 5:00pm. Anyone wishing to avail of this service please ring 41246. Transport can be arranged if you need it.


22nd February	Helen gets her cheque Helen Gildea from Drimaha, Ardara won £18,000 in last Saturday's (17th February) National Lottery Winning Streak TV Game Show held in RTE.
	She is pictured here at the presentation of cheques with from left to right: Columba Diver, The National Ticket selling agent from Main St., Ardara, Mr Ray Bates, National Lottery Director, Helen Gildea, Mrs Margaret Diver, The National ticket selling agent and Marty Whelan, Game Host.


	Dolmen Web Site As part of the Dolmen Centre web site, there will be a section on accommodation and tourist service providers. Any persons who are interested in including their business should phone the manager at the centre on 075-45010, between 10am and 6pm. Categories will include Hotels, Guesthouses, B&B's, Self Catering, Caravans & Camping and other Services/Businesses. The web site can be accessed under the address www.dolmencentre.com Tommy Retires Following many years of writing for the local papers, Tommy Maloney is officially retiring for personal reasons, this week. As well as the local papers, the National Press and Radio have also used many of the items Tommy submitted to them over the years. However it is no longer possible to continue with the report, but Tommy has found a very able replacement in the person of Susan Boyd. In future Susan Boyd of Loughros Point (075-41360) will be responsible for preparing 'Ardara Notes'. Information concerning future happenings and events etc., may be handed in with a signature and telephone number at Divers Newsagents before 11am on a Sunday, if you are unable to contact Susan personally. These announcements would then be included in the following weeks 'Notes' edition of Thursday's Donegal Democrat.


21st February	Ardara and Euro-Song 2001
	There is an Ardara connection with one of the eight finalists in this year's EURO-SONG contest. The assistant manager of the all-boy band InFOCUS is Connell Kennedy from Ardara. This group are thought to have a great chance of success in the contest, which will be broadcast live from RTE on Sunday night. The winner will be selected by a public tele-vote and Connell is hoping that the people of Donegal will give their support on the night by voting for InFOCUS. The successful finalist goes on to represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest which takes place in Copenhagen in May. John Pickering, the manager of InFOCUS, has promoted and toured such talents as Sharon Shannon, The Prodigy and Hot House Flowers and has taken many artists to venues in Donegal. InFOCUS band members are Keith, Jamie and Pewter from Blanchardstown, Alan from Artane in Dublin and James from Sligo.


20th February	Mr & Mrs Competition Exciting times ahead for Ardara with the formation of a youthful and energetic traders committee. Their first major event is the Mr & Mrs competition which starts in the Nesbitt Arms Hotel on Friday 2nd March. This is a great nights entertainment for all the family. The evening starts off with the children performing song and drama. This section is well worth seeing. This is followed by the Mr & Mrs Competition where local couples compete. The final part of the evening is taken up with adult entertainers from the present and past. Big crowds are expected so be there early. Fashion Show The Ardara Traders highly highly popular Fashion Show takes place on Tuesday 13th March. Due to the large numebr of participants this year the show will ge held in the Community Centre. Again it is important to come early. The show starts at 8.30 p.m. St. Patricks Day Parade On Sunday 18th March the St. Patricks day parade takes place in the town. Large numbers of bands and Floats are participating so again a great parade is expected.


18th February	Well done Helen Congratulations to Helen Gildea, who got to Spin the Wheel on "Winning Streak" last night. Helen won £18,000 in total. Card Game In Teague's Bar on Sunday 25th February, in aid of Temple Street Hospital. Game starts at 7:00pm. All welcome. Women's Group Meeting in the Community Centre at 8:30pm on Monday 19th February. Demonstration of Reflexology. All welcome. ANEW A support organisation for women recovering from alcohol dependency. This group meets every Thursday 8:00 - 9:00pm in Dungloe Hospital. For further details contact 075-21044 (ext. 251).


15th February	Winning Streak Good Luck to Helen Gildea when she appears on the Winning Streak Gameshow on RTE1, 8:30pm Saturday.


14th February	Seals head for freedom
	ON SUNDAY at Maghera Strand, Ardara, two seals rescued by the Irish Seal Sanctuary were returned to their natural environment. By Daniel Browne Mr. Frank Mulreany, a practising vet in Dungloe, who rescues and cares for stranded seals in his spare time, said he was "delighted" to see the seals being set free. One of the seals being released, Deena, was named after a local lady Celine McGill who found it washed up on the beach at Maghera last October. The three week old grey seal, which still had it's baby white fur, was lodged on a rock shelf six foot above the level of the beach where it had been left by the high tide. Celine was walking her dog along the strand when she discovered the animal which she said seemed to be suffering from injuries. She immediately contacted Frank in Dungloe, who is renowned throughout the county for his dedication to the seals. That evening at about 11pm Frank arrived at the beach and began to search for the seal. After walking the length of the strand he located the distraught animal and brought it back to his own mini sanctuary at his home in Dungloe. He said Deena, as the seal became known, was quite sick and required a great deal of attention over the next month. Due to a shortage of sprat in the area, which had tragic consequences for some of his other seals, he had to let Deena go down to the headquarters of the Seal Sanctuary in Garristown in north County Dublin. Under the watchful eye of Brendan Price of the Seal Sanctuary, Deena was nursed back to health and was ready for release. The sanctuary don't like to let one seal loose by itself so for Deena's release they found another seal due for release to keep her company.
	Part of the large crowd that watched the release of the Seals at Maghera Beach.
	"Freedom corridor" On Sunday crowds of school kids from the area massed on the beach to form a "freedom corridor" to escort the seals back to the ocean. The kids lined up either side of the release boxes - in two lines running down to the sea so everyone got to see the seals returning to the ocean. Frank said that six other seals found in Donegal have also been placed with the Seal Sanctuary in Dublin as a result of the shortage of sprat in the area. He is hopeful that over the coming months another batch of releases in Donegal will be possible. Mrs. Peggy McGill, Celine's mother said she was delighted to see the seals being returned to their natural marine environment. "There were lots of kids here for the day and it was great excitement", said Mrs. McGill who wished the seals well on their journey through the ocean.


11th February	Care of the Aged AGM of the Ardara Care of the Aged will be held in the Hotel on Wednesday next, February 14th at 8:00pm. All who are interested in the welfare of our senior citizens are welcome. Representatives of the North Western Health Board will be in attendance. St.Vincent de Paul The St.Vincent de Paul Society will be taking up a special collection next weekend in aid of the Earthquake victims in India. If you can spare a few pounds, your help is urgently needed. The society meets on Monday evening at 8:30pm in the Church Oratory. New members are always welcome. Aerobics Starting Monday, 12th February, 8:30pm - 9:30pm in Ardara Community Centre. For details, phone Michelle at 41470. Playschool Ardara Playschool is doing a survey for all the schools in the parish. Parents are asked to fill out forms on Monday and send back to school on Tuesday. Topic is for an after school club/homework club. Ardara Parish Council February meeting in the Community Centre on Wednesday 14th at 9:00pm. All welcome. Legion of Mary The Ardara Praesidium of the Legion of Mary meets on Wednesday at 8:00pm in the Oratory. If you are interested, please join them any Wednesday evening.


8th February		Graduate Jennifer Morrow, who recently graduated with a B.Ed. from C.I.C.E. and Trinity College. She is the second daughter of John and Rita Morrow, Loughros Point. Jennifer is currently furthering her studies at Trinity College.

	Sheltered Housing Plans are at an advanced stage for the provision of twenty units of sheltered housing for the elderly and an attached Day Care Centre in Ardara. The project is under the auspices of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. It is hoped that full planning permission will be applied for in the near future. Dolmen Centre The Gym is now open for 'pay as you go' sessions. Full yearly and 6 monthy memberships are still available also. For more details on opening hours contact the Centre. Care of the Aged Meeting in the Homward Bound on Friday the 9th February at 7:30pm. All welcome. Aerobics Aerobics Classes are starting in the Community Centre next Monday, 12th February from 8:30pm - 9:30pm. Beginners and Advanced will be catered for, full body workout, everyone welcome. For details call Michelle at 075-41470.


4th February	Ardara Care of the Aged Meeting in Homeward Bound on Friday 9th February at 7:30pm. All welcome. ICA The monthly meeting of the ICA will be held in the Community Centre on Wednesday 7th February at 8:30pm. New members welcome. Pro Life Trust The Pro Life Trust wish to thank all who contributed to their recent Church Gate Collection. Also appreciated are those who took up the collection. Seminar A Life in the Spirit seminar will be held in the Church of Mary Immaculate, Stranorlar, given by Fr.Ronan Cusack, beginning on Monday 19th February at 8:00pm, continuing for seven weeks. A bus will leave Diver's at 7:00pm. To reserve a place please book at Diver's. Flotto This week's Flotto team is John M.Byrne, J.D.Earley, Patrick Gallagher, John O'Donnell, Adrian Brennan and Don Earley. Poker Classic The Minor Board are holding a Poker Classic on this Sunday 4th February, in Doherty's at 8:00pm. Table Quizzes The GAA Minor Board Table Quizzes run as usual on Friday nights. Mr. & Mrs., Variety Concert and Fashion Show Mr. & Mrs. Competitions and Variety Concert begins on Friday 2nd March and Fashion Show on Tuesday 13th March. All organised by Town Traders. Cleaner required At the Dolme Centre, 2 hours per day, 5 days a week. Immediate start. Applications in writing to: The Manager, Dolmen Centre, Kilclooney, Portnoo. Further details 075-45010. The Dolmen Centre is an equal opportunities employer. Dolmen Centre Gym The Dolmen Centre Gym is now open for "Pay as You Go" sessions. Gym opening times are as folloes: Monday - Thursday: 10:00am - 6:pm ; 7:00pm - 10:00pm Friday: 10:00am - 5:00pm ; 7:00pm - 10:00pm Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday evenings are reserved for full members only. Full yearly membership and 6 monthly memberships are still available.


1st February	Day Hospital The day Hospital in Killybegs is now up and running, so if there is anyone over 65 years of age interested in attending, they should contact Nurse Boyle at 075-41548 or contact the day Hospital direct at 073-32136, so that transport can be arranged for them. Dolmen Centre The centre is currently accepting applications for the position of Cleaner. This position will require 2 hours per day, 5 days a week. Immediate start. If interested make application in writing to the Centre. From 1st February, the gym will be open to non-members on a 'Pay As you Go' basis. Opening hours for these sessions are as follows: Monday - Thursday 10am - 6pm, 7pm - 10pm Friday 10am - 5pm Saturday & Sunday 3pm - 6pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday evenings are reserved for full members only. For further information telephone the centre manager on 075-45010 between 10am and 6pm. Applications are invited for a basic computer course which will begin in early February. This course will also include research on local heritage matters. The programme is sponsored by FAS in conjunction with The Local Training Initiative Group. If interested please telephone 075-45966.

	EMPLOYMENT 1st February 2001	Day Centre for the Elderly at The Dolmen Centre Supervisor Required A Supervisor is required for the Day Centre at the Dolmen Centre on a one day a week basis initially. The Supervisor will be employed by the Rosbeg and Downstrands Care of the Aged Committee and will be responsible for the day to day management of the Day Centre. Experiance working with the elderly is desirable. Please apply in writing to: The Care of the Aged Committee Portnoo Co Donegal Closing date for the receipt of applications is Friday 16th February.

	News Archive February 2001