SEPTEMBER 1997

LOCAL SKILLED CRAFTSMAN

JOE CLOHERTY, a native of Waterdale, Claregalway has a unique talent in stonework. He has always had an interest in stonework and was inspired a few years ago when he saw a cottage made of stone in an English magazine. He copied this example and has gone on to make this beautiful replica of the Abbey Monastery which can be seen outside Dunleavey's Public House. It took Joe approximately 1 week to make this design, spending a few hours every evening working on it. He has also made a model of a cottage which can be seen at the Bank of Ireland in Eyre Square, Galway.
Joe is available to make any design people wish and can be contacted at (091)798637.

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SPECIAL NEWS

Birthday wishes to Michelle, Gerard and Darragh Kirrane of Cregboy who celebrate their birthdays in September.
Best wishes to Emmet Cotter of Lakeview on his early retirement. May he pursue all the leisures he has put on hold!
Congratulations to the following couples who were married during the month of August.

Gretta Concannon, Montiagh and Dan Hogan, Ennistymon - 1st August, 1997
Gemma Kelly, Ruanmore and Paul Dillon - 23rd August, 1997

Best wishes to the following families on their 'new additions'.
Kevin and Lorna Hynes, Carnmore on the birth of their son Padraic on 18th July..
Anthony and Geraldine Nally, Lydican on the arrival of Matthew on 31st July.
Mary and John Coyle, Cregboy on the birth of Daniel on the 10th August.
Norann and Micheal Keane, Cahergowan on the birth of their son, Brian on the 25th of July.
Geraldine and Ignatius Foy who had a baby boy, Cian in July.
FÁS supervisor Deirdre Doherty and Damien on the birth of their son on the 4th of September.
Emer and Nigel Trill, who had a baby boy, Kilian on 18th August.
Definitely, a Summer for the Boys!
Happy Birthday to Andrea Coyle, Cregboy, who celebrated her 5th Birthday on 6th September, and who has just started school. Andrea's sister Jennifer celebrated her 2nd birthday not so long ago, so the Coyle's is a busy household.
A big welcome to the community is extended to Mary and Bernard Griffin and their children who have recently moved into Cahergowan.

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OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF AUTISM SERVICES WEST
The Galway Branch of the Irish Society for Autism will have their official opening on Monday, the 15th September next. The service will be launched by Minister of State Mr. Bobby Molloy,T.D., The Branch have purchased a farm at Gortcloonmore, Claregalway and have named it Cloonmore Farm.
The idea originated from the "Dunfirth Method"- an organic farm at Dunfirth, a mile or two from Enfield, off the main Galway-Dublin Road. There are 36 autistic people there and it has proven very successful.
Autism is a condition in which the person is left without an ability to communicate. It is not a mental handicap, it is not a psychiatric illness. It is a condition where the sufferer is incapable of communicating in the normal way, though some can speak. Autistics tend to lock themselves in their own world, sometimes built around small obsessions like the need for everything to be left exactly the way it was in their room, or collection of small things like collections of plastics. They may also have aversions to everyday things and objects.

Until quite recently, some autistics found themselves in psychiatric hospitals, or classified among the mentally handicapped. Thankfully, that has been changing over the years. Cloonmore is the initiative of Mr. Christy Dooley. He was impressed with the Dunfirth method, and has great enthusiasm for Cloonmore Farm where he plans a similar project starting off with 6 residents initially. We wish Cloonmore Farm best wishes from Claregalway Community and hope they go from strength to strength in the future. In a special fund-raising effort, work is now finalised on a CD in aid of the services which includes the talents of Mairtin O'Connor, Frankie Gavin, Dolores Keane, Mary Coughlan, Louis Stewart, Honor Heffernan.

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ST. JOSEPH'S YOUNG PRIESTS SOCIETY
A branch of St. Joseph's Young Priests Society was inaugurated in Claregalway on the 21st May in the S.M.A. house. It is one of several branches in the Galway Diocese.
St. Joseph's Young Priests Society is a society of lay people founded by Mrs. Olivia Taaffe in 1895. The Society fosters vocations to the priesthood and religious life by prayer and helps financialy in the education of students to the priesthood.
Students for the priesthood in all Irish dioceses are helped by the Society as well as students in many other counties where the need exists for example in Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, Philipines, Sri. Lanka, South America and Africa.
You can help the Society by supporting the branch in your parish. A monthly meeting is held in the SMA House on the second Friday each month at 8 p.m. The next meeting was to be held on the 12th September, but there is a mini-vigil in Knock and most of the members are attending this vigil so it was decided to have the meeting on the 19th instead.

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Canon Callinan gave me a good tip for this month. He had a lovely display of sweet pea on mesh, still giving out a beautiful scent. He likes certain colours better than others and wants to collect the seed off them. When they go out of flower, it's impossible to tell what seed pod was what colour. The trick is to tie a little bag around the flowers of the colour you like, while still in flower. When the sweet pea has gone to seed, its collected in the bag and you end up with the seed of the colours you like.

That's it for now, happy gardening,
Bosco McDermott, Jnr.,
Glynn's Garden Centre, Lydican.

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MY EXPERIENCE AT EURO LANGUAGES COLLEGE, ENNIS, CO. CLARE.

On July 28th last, I set off for St. Flannan's College in Ennis for a 3-week intensive French Course. I was full of trepidation , as I had read the course programme and it sounded very strict. Parents were advised to say goodbye as soon as they left students to the Reception area and that is exactly what happened. However, I immediately met up with a guy my own age and we started chatting. We were encouraged straight away to converse in French and it's amazing how quickly the few words came out!
We were introduced to our Leaders and shown our dormitories which were fine. I was sharing with a guy from Cork. I must admit, I missed my walkman - we were encouraged to leave walkman's and reading material at home. Initially, I found all the rules rigid but I latched on fairly quickly. We were assessed on the day we arrived and put into classes accordingly. There were about 23 per class. We had a brilliant teacher named Sean. The classes started at 9:30 until 1p.m. with breaks in between at 10:30 and 11:45. Breakfast was from 9 - 9:30, lunch from 1 - 1:30, tea from 6 - 6:30. The food was plentiful and self-service. At meals, we were encouraged to mix and converse in French. Every Saturday, our tables were changed, so as to ensure new contact. After lunch, we had first activity which consisted of a number of choices which we selected during class. These were very enjoyable and included soccer, badminton, uni-hoc, rounders, etc. We had showers after the activities and then we had assembly from 6:30 - 7 p.m. We had Language Rich Activities after that which consisted of ice-breakers and generally increasing our French vocabulary. At around 9 p.m. we had activity four which was the most social and fun activity - we had discos, shows, table quizzes, etc. I made a lot of friends there and found the time really flew by. I feel my vocabulary has increased in French (especially my grammar) and will always remember my stay at St. Flannan's as unforgettable.
The course is quite expensive for 3 weeks at £475.00 but in my experience better than going to France, as supervision was strict and we had to speak French all the time.
Au revoir,
COMÁN DUKE-FARRELL.

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CLAREGALWAY LEISURE CENTRE

Work has commenced on installing the new floor in the Community Centre. This has resulted in its closure in recent weeks. It is expected that the centre will re-open at the end of September for all sports, recreational and meeting facilities. Bookings for the coming year are currently being taken at Tel. No. 798371

Mary Reidy

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RE: Townland Names - Baile Chlair/Baile Clar na Gaillimhe.
Claregalway Amenity Group received a letter from Galway County Council stating that Claregalway is described in Irish as "Baile Chlair". It was then forwarded to the Ordnance Survey Office in Phoenix Park, Dublin 8 and the following is the reply we received:

Tagraím do litir faoin Iogainm Baile Chláir/Claregalway. Socraíodh Baile Chláir mar an leagan dlíthiúil Gaeilge ar an ainm Claregalway ar ordú an Aire Airgeadais, tar éis dó comhairle a ghlacadh ón Choimisiún Logainmneacha, in Ionstraim Reachtúil Uimhir 133 de 1975 dar teideal An tOrdú Logainmneacha (Foirmeacha Gailege)(Uimh. 1)1975.
Bunaíodh an leagan Baile Chláir ar thaighde a rinne Brainse Logainmneacha na Suirbhéireachta Ordanáis agus foilsíodh é on Ainmneacha Gaeilge na mBailte Poist (1969). De réir an taighde sin, is léir gurb é Baile Chláir an leagan ba choitianta ag cainteoirí Gaeilge sa cheantar agus ba chirte de réir na fianaise stairiúla. Is mar aithris dheireannach ar an leagan Béarla, Claregalway, atá an leagan naemhoifigiúil Gaeilge, Baile Chláir na Gaillimhe, ann. Is fiú a rá nach bhfuil an leagan Béarla seo fhéin ann ach le corrach is dhá chéad bliain.
Tá súil agam go bhfreagraíonnn an míniú seo do cheist.

Is mise le meas,
Dónall MacGiolla Easpaig,
Ardoifigeach Logainmneacha.

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CUMANN LUTHCHLEAS GAEL -
BAILE CHLAIR NA GAILLIMHE

Minors Win League Final: Claregalway 2-11 Ml.Breathnach 1-8
In an exciting final at Oughterard on Wednesday May 14 our minors beat Ml.Breathnach by 2-11 to 1-8. In doing so, we recorded our first success at this level since we won the 'B' league and championship double in 1991. The 6 point margin does not reflect the closeness of the exchanges throughout because this game was in the balance from an early stage and it was only in the last 5 minutes or so that a win looked likely. Although we were first to score with a point, Ml.Breathnach responded with 1-1 and from there on, both sides traded scores to set the pattern for the game. Scores were level on a number of occasions and we held a 1-4 to 1-3 lead at half time. Eventually we established a 3 point lead with 10 minutes to go. But, Ml.Breathnach continued to attack and it was only when Gary Hurney scored his second goal near the end that the result was put beyond doubt.

Damien Noonan who was selected at full back in place of the injured Patrick Stephens settled down to give a good second half display and he got good support from Comán Duke Farrell and Derek Murphy. Up front, Derek Murray's tally of 7 points both from play and from frees deserves special praise. The Imperial Hotel Perpetual cup was presented to team captain Anthony Monaghan by Paddy Sweeny, Chairman, West G.P.C. and the team panel returned for reception and refreshments arranged by Sean Dunleavy, Nine Arches.

Team: Ronan McGrath, Coman Duke Farrell, Damien Noonan, Derek Murphy, Robert Lennon, Kenny Watson, Eoin Hynes, Anthony Monaghan (0-2), Keith Holland, Adrian Moran (0-1), Jude Ainsworth (0-1), Derek Murray (0-7), Paul Kenny, Enda O'Connell,
Gary Hurney (2-0). Subs: Patrick Walsh, Nicholas Fox, John Flanagan, Joseph Noone, Simon Kilgannon, Liam Hyland, Damien Stephens.
Team Manager: Fergus Madden, to whom the club is indebted for his work with the team.

Co.Minors: It was a unique distinction for Claregalway G.A.A. to have 4 club minors on the co.Galway team that played Mayo in the Connacht championship at Castlebar - Patrick Stephens, Anthony Monaghan, Derek Murray and sub Kenny Watson.

Co.U-16 Challenge: Galway City 3-12 Sligo 2-7
In preparation for the Inter-county Ted Webb Cup competition, Galway City U-16 footballers beat Sligo in a challenge match at the Leisure Centre on May 30 last. Several Claregalway players are on the panel - Damien Noonan, Nicholas Fox, Enda O'Connell, Robert Lennon, Anthony Davoren, Paul Kilgannon, John P. O'Connell.

U-16's in League Semi-final Although fielding a depleted team when beaten by St.Michael's at Westside in the last round of the league, Claregalway had already qualified for the knock-out stages. Claregalway play Oranmore/Maree in the semi-final.

U-14's: In the league Claregalway lost to both Spiddel and Oranmore/Maree and had a good win over Mervue which could put us in a play off.

U-12's: The league starts on Sunday September 7 when we play Moycullen away. Meanwhile, we travelled to play Fr.Griffins recently and gave a very encouraging display. Gerry Giles in goal, Michael O'Connor, Rory Dillon and Trevor Casserly in the backs, Phillip Raftery and Paul Loughlin at mid field, Ronan Mangan, Niall Gibbons in the forwards were especially prominent.

Galway v Mayo: The Juvenile Football committee organised bus transport for the U-14 and U-12 team panels to go and see the big match. Fifth players travelled and were accompanied by club mentors. Tuam Stadium, the cathedral of Galway football, was full of tension even before the throw-in and all who travelled confirmed that the outing was fully worthwhile.

U-10's: Annaghdown travelled to the Leisure Centre on Sunday morning, June 1 and we played them in 2 games.

Co.Development Draw tickets are now on sale. There will be 6 major draws held once monthly for the next six months for new motor cars. £1,000 cash prizes, holidays abroad etc. The tickets cost £60 each and there are special early 'bird prizes' for those paying the full amount at the start. Half of the proceeds are allocated to the club and half to the Co.Board.

Our players and followers now enjoy the facilities of our new club centre, ample evidence of the use made of funds raised to date. The club wishes to develop further for the Year 2000 and beyond. We therefore appeal to all our followers to support this draw which is such a vital source of income for us. Contact Committee officers, Tom Newell, P.J.McGovern or Tony Stephens (Tel. 798217).

Connacht Council/AIB Summer Camp. In conjunction with A.I.B. Coiste Oiliúna Co.na Gaillimhe are organising a series of Summer Camps again this year in football, hurling and camogie. Claregalway G.A.A. pitch is the venue for football from Monday June 30 to Friday July 4, 10 am to 2.30pm each day; lunch break 12.00-12.30; age limit 8 to 14 years; fee for the week £15. The Summer Camp will be organised and supervised by a fully qualified coach who will arrange the appropriate activities. Further details at the Leisure Centre on Sunday mornings.

Sean O Flannagáin

TÓN RUA or Lydican/Lydacan/Lydecan?

To have an address in Tón Rua or Tonroe may not seem so glamorous at first when "Red Bottom/Arse" could be a possible translation of this placename; some people may even prefer to opt for Lydican instead. But in fact the more accurate translation is not only much more earth friendly but it would seem that Tón Rua is in fact but a part of Lydican and those living there could be perfectly justified in claiming a Lydican address.

All of the standard Irish dictionaries give other meanings to 'tón/bottom' besides the anatomical one as in 'Tón an bhaile', the lower end of the townland, (Niall Ó Dónaill, 1977, page 1250). Dinneen has 'remote or lower part, low-lying ground' (1927, page 1230) and mentions several placenames such as 'Tón le gaoith, a wind-struck, bleak place' anglicised often as Tonlegee, which was my Great Grandfather's village. 'Rua' as in sionnach rua or madra rua is the red russet colour either of the soil or the grass, perhaps an area of rocky land covered in red fern. Certainly the Tonroe of Ardrahan has about 100 acres of red fern grasslands adjacent to it. The Tonroe of Clarinbridge is found in the turlough to the northwest whose grass would turn reddish in a dry season. Both however are situated next to castles, Castle Taylor and Creggana Castle respectively. The farmers of our Tonroe should be able to tell us why their land could be called red or russet coloured and then all we need to figure out is whether Tón Rua is the low-lying part of Carnmore or perhaps the rear section of the Lydican Castle estate.

Originally Lydacan Tower House belonged to the O'Flaherty's of Aughanure Castle but they made a strategic withdrawal from the east side of Lough Corrib and were out of Claregalway by the 1235 conquest of Connaught. I can find little enough information on the house/castle or on the other Lydacan castle on the Laban-Kinvara road. In the eighteenth century Lydecan(as it was then spelt) was a parish of its own under parish priest Fr. Tadhg Murphy until about 1805 when it was united with the parish of Claregalway under Fr. Malachy Mannion. Where the thatched church of Lydecan might have been would be interesting to ascertain?

Neither the census of 1851 nor the ordnance survey rateable valuation maps of the following years has mention of our Tonroe unless I am greatly mistaken but the earlier records of the Tithe collections of the Protestant churches has. These are collected in a volume called "The Applotment Book", now in the County library to the rear of Galway Cathedral. This gives the names of the landowners or bigger tenants in the area with the acreage of their lands whether of the first, second, third or fourth quality with a tithe levy of between one shilling and seven pence for the first quality down to a penny an acre for the fourth. The Commissioners, Samuel Shone and John Mahon, collected £240 for the two ministers, Rev. James Daly and Rev. Wiliam Beresford, this in 1827, when oats was ten shillings and sixpence a barrel.

The 250 acres of Lydacan Demesne is given as part of Andrew Lynch's estate but leased out to John Lynch Esq., as was 89 acres of Caherlea to Thomas Fox &Co., 98 acres of what appears to be Lisscananane to Philip Murphy &Co., 98 acres of Ballanacuffy to a John Colter (Qualter?) &Co. and 187 acres of Gortatleva to Henry Walsh &Co. John Colter has a further 60 acres on the next line but the townland name is difficult to decipher. Tonroe is mentioned next as being in the hands of Patrick Fahy &Co.(80 acres), James Lynch Esq.(80 acres) and Daniel Glynn &Co.,(10 acres). This amounts to a 100 acres more than the 1850's land survey as being in Lydan/Tonroe but perhaps the Lisscananane 98 could be excluded. Apart from showing that Tonroe was then reckoned as part of the Lydican estate, the great wall of which sorrounded Tonroe, it may be the only documentary proof for the Glynns and others named above of the names of their Great Grandfathers! More of the Applotment Books next month.

Aodán McGlynn

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JUNIOR BADMINTON CLUB

Claregalway U15 team, having won through in Connacht, travelled to Mosney to compete in the National Finals of the Community Games on Saturday 23rd September. This was the first weekend of the Finals, which were run over two weekends. The Badminton was played on Monday, 25th, so the children enjoyed the delights and fun of Mosney on the Saturday and Sunday, before getting down to serious business on Monday.

In their first match they were beaten by a stronger team from Dublin. In their play-off for the Bronze Medal they met Monaghan, representing Ulster. Claregalway were by far the better team in this match, winning 5 games to love. They were very happy to come home to a very enthusiastic reception in Galway, with their Bronze Medals. The torrential rain failed to dampen the spirits of three bus loads of excited competitors and their team manages, plus the welcoming party of the Lord Mayor plus families and friends who turned out in large numbers. The Mayor spoke inspiringly to the children and praised them for doing their County and Province proud at National Level. In the Mayor's own words, these children are a credit to their Community. We echo that sentiment.

Team Members:
Girls: Caroline Garrett, Cathy Casserly, Sandra Walsh, Elaine O'Connor

Boys: Christopher Keane, Ross Forde, Joseph Garrett, Kieran Moran

Congratulations to all the players who have done so well throughout the year.
Thank you to all the Parents, and friends who came to Galway for the homecoming.

We are very grateful to all our sponsors who helped defray the expense of taking a team to Mosney for a costly weekend.

Sponsors

The Local Community Games Committee
Allied Irish Bank, Tuam Road. Galway
Western Cellular, Tuam Road, Galway
Ulster Bank, Eyre Square, Galway
Dunnes Stores, Headford Road, Galway
McDonalds, Shop Street, Galway
Kynes Central Tavern, Loughgeorge.
Supermacs, Galway

Mary Forde

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COMMUNITY GAMES - Track and Field - MOSNEY

The National Finals were held in Mosney on the weekend of 29th August - 1st September.
Age groups from 7 - 17 assembled at Foster St. Bus Park on Friday morning in an air of great excitement. The majority of children traveled by bus and lodged in the Mosney complex while some of the younger children traveled by car with their parents.

Events began on Saturday morning at 9.00 a.m. to glorious sunshine. Heats in all track events were completed by 5.00 p.m. Susan Smyth, following her great performance in the 400m Hurdles at the World Championships in Athens this Summer, arrived at lunch-time and met with the competitors. Semi-finals and finals in the track events took place on Sunday in the pouring rain. The children were like ducks in a muddy pond but were not deterred from having a good time. President Mary Robinson arrived on Sunday evening to join in the Closing Parade with all the athletes from the 32 counties who participated in the Games.

Claregalway had three representatives competing over the weekend. Brian Moran, athletics, Elaine Harrington, athletics and Val Baynes, Shot Putt. All three performed extremely well and enjoyed a fun-filled experience.

On Monday evening the County Galway athletes arrived back to the Fairgreen to be met by the Lord Mayor.

The A.G.M. of the Claregalway/Lackagh Community Games will be held in Claregalway Leisure Centre on Thursday 18th September, 1997 at 8.00 p.m. This might be an opportunity to lend a helping hand in introducing new events from the area. Come along and join in.

Pauline Harrington
Secretary - Claregalway/Lackagh Community Games Committee

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CARNMORE LADIES CLUB

Carnmore Ladies Club re-opens on Monday September 8. New members are always welcome.

Our Annual Outing was most enjoyable, taking in the scenery of County Clare.
This year's sponsored walk was in aid of Motor Neurons Association and the club were pleased at handing over £870.00 for this worthy cause. The support of those who walked on the day and the sponsors is very much appreciated.

Set dancing practice on Wednesday 8.00 to 10.00 p.m. Come and enjoy the fun.

Margaret Cuddy

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CLAREGALWAY AGRICULTURAL SHOW

Rumour has it that every Child of Prague statue in the parish of Claregalway spent the night before their seventh Annual Show outdoors. The old well-known tradition of putting the statue outside, on the night before a big event, to ensure a fine day, certainly rang through on this occasion. Out of the blue, on Sunday the 24th August, came the most glorious sunshine - where such a day sprang from was the question on everybody's lips, considering the dreadful summer we have been experiencing.

The venue was Duffy's Claregalway Equestrian Centre again this year, which of course is ideal for the show. The crowds came in their droves and were not disappointed. Those who came, especially to see the ponies and horses, got value for their money. There were lots of fine animals in the showing classes. They were all put through their paces by the judges after which the winners were selected. The cattle and sheep sections were also very good, but it has to be said that the dog show was second to none. There were almost 350 entries - by far the biggest dog show Claregalway Show has ever had. Every size and breed of dog adorned the ring in the various classes. The judges had an extremely difficult job in selecting winners. The Agility Class, introduced to Claregalway Show for the first time this year, went down very well with exhibitors and spectators. The jumps and see-saw look spectacular. It proved to be a great attraction and will be expanded for future shows.

Indoor exhibits were of the usual high standard with a great display of crafts, photographs, art, vegetables, home baking and flowers - the latter looking like a rainbow of spectacular colour.

For the children there was a Bonny Baby Competition, Junior Miss and Mister, Twins and Best Dressed Lady Competitions, as well as face painting and amusements to keep all children entertained at all times during the day.

The threshing machine was in fine fettle - threshing away to the great delight of it's audience. This was never seen before by many of the younger spectators and rekindled old memories for the more mature spectator.

All in all, a brilliant show took place in Claregalway in the midst of beautiful sunshine - what more could an organising committee have hoped for!

Carmel Casserly

Thank you from the Chairman

Show Chairman, Paul Fleming and the organising committee wish to say 'thank you' to everyone who helped to make the show day such a great success. We are very grateful to all the stewards and helpers who turned up on the day to give willingly of their time to ensure the smooth running of the show. We are especially grateful to all sponsors and exhibitors, without whom there would be no show. We wish to express sincere thanks to the Duffy Family for the use of their grounds for the show. It takes a lot of time and effort to get organised for the show and it makes it all worthwhile when everything goes off smoothly. We hope everyone enjoyed the day.

Paul Fleming

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