Mountmellick News

BALCONY CINEMA

Wednesday April 30 8pm Philomena. Saturday May 3 8.15pm Anchorman 2. Sunday May 4 3pm Aladdin.

KNOCK

The parish joins with the Kildare & Leighlin pilgrimage to Knock in on Sunday June 1 with bus leaving St Joseph’s Church at 8.15am. Cost €10 per seat. Book in parish office.

PTAA

The Council thanks Mountmellick and Clonaghadoo parishes for their generous collection on April 19 & 20. Amount collected was €1018.00.

ICA

Federation AGM was held in ICA House on Wednesday April 23 with 23 Guilds attending. The agenda included the choir which will entertain at St Vincent’s Hospital on Wednesday May 14 at 2.30pm.

A representative from Laois Domestic Abuse attended and was presented with a cheque for €2,295 for the charity of the year from all the Guilds. Abbeyleix Guild was presented with a certificate for their 100 years membership. Ann Cass of Spink Guild was presented with a gift for her work as International Officer.

Laois Week in An Grianán is from June 16 to 20, bus leaves Maldron Hotel at 2pm. Charity walk is aid of the Cuisle Centre is on Sunday June 15. Produce day is Castletown is on Saturday May 10 from 10am to 4pm. A warm welcome was extended to Lily Sheeran on her return following illness.

The winner of the recent flower arrangement competition was Ann Devine not Annie Kelly as stated last week.

CASTLEBRACK ROSARY

Rosary will be recited in Castlebrack cemetery each Sunday evening at 7pm. The cemetery mass will be celebrated at 7pm on Sunday May 25. All welcome.

EXHIBITION

Mountmellick Camera Club will hold their exhibition in the library gallery for the month of May. All are welcome.

PAPERMAKING

Children’s papermaking workshops for 7 to 10 year olds will take place on Thursday May 1, 8, 15 and 22 in the library. Please note that if reserving a place you must be able to attend all four sessions. For reservations call 057 8644572.

BEALTAINE AT LIBRARY

Wednesday May 7 at 2.30pm: Delia Murphy Show. Delia’s niece, Carmen Cullen will sing some of Delia’s favourites accompanied by musician Gerry Anderson. Carmen will give a dramatised reading from her novel ‘Two Sisters Singing’ based loosely on Delia’s life. Light refreshments will be served.

Wednesday May 14 at 11am. ‘Musical Sensations’ by the Butterfly Theatre Group. This is a music and drama performance for Mountmellick Active Retirement Group. With their magical backdrops, professional artists and their many dazzling costumes, they bring the theatre to you.

BEALTAINE AT HOSPITAL

On Tuesday May 14 the residents and day care attendees at St Vincent’s Hospital will be treated to a concert of musical memories by Laois ICA Choir. This is invitation only.

BEALTAINE DANCE

On Wednesday May 28 from 2pm to 5pm the Retirement Association will host a dance, facilitated by Maureen Culleton, in the Macra Hall. Admission €5, tea will be served.

BEALTAINE AT BALCONY CINEMA

Wednesday evenings at 8pm during May films aimed at an older audience will be shown. The cinema has free parking and a lift, making it wheelchair accessible. Admission €5. May 7: Shirley Valentine. May 14: The Music Man. May 21: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. May 28: The Searchers.

CIORCAL COMHRÁ

Ciorcal comhrá (Irish conversation group) meets in the library on Thursday mornings from 10am to 1am. All ages and levels welcome for a friendly chat ‘as Gaeilge’ in a relaxed atmosphere.

SARSFIELDS

Training times U10 Sundays 11am. U12 Tuesdays 6.45pm & Fridays 6pm. U14 Tuesdays 6.30pm & Fridays 6pm. Adult Tuesdays 8pm & Fridays 8pm.

THE ROCK GAA

U8, u10, u12, and u14 football training on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7pm. New players welcome.

O’MOORE’S CAMOGIE

O’Moore’s Camogie Club thanks all supporters of their table quiz fundraiser. There was a good attendance and €691 was raised for the club.

COMMUNITY GAMES

Well done to Mountmellick area and those who competed in the county talent competitions. All performed so well and we took silver in the group Irish dance and the group disco dance. Next are the county finals of the table quiz and swimming. Dates printed as soon as they are available or call 085 713 8940.

LAOIS MARTIAL ARTS

Classes for juniors, seniors and adults available daily mornings and evenings. Ladies classes and bootcamp kickboxing also available. Fully matted professional studio. Classes taught by a 4th degree black belt coach and qualified fitness instructor. Call 086 3399287 or Facebook at Laois Martial Arts.

COMBAT KICKBOXING

Classes in the sports complex. Tuesdays and Thursdays: Junior (5 to 14) 6pm to 7pm. Senior (14 +) 8pm to 9.30pm. Ladies bootcamp on Tuesdays from 7.15pm to 8pm. Ladies core & kettlebell workout on Thursdays from 7.15pm to 8pm. New members welcome, contact Tommy Delaney 086 8496205.

AWARE

The Aware Support Group for people experiencing depression, anxiety, stress and other mood related conditions meets every Tuesday at 7.30pm in St Peter and Paul’s Parish Centre Portlaoise. Free service, no referral and no booking required. Call 01 6617211 or www.aware.ie or the local Helpline 1890303302.

KNITTING GROUP

Knitting circle meets every Tuesday from 10.30 to noon in the library. Bring along your needles and wool and join us for a cuppa and a chat.

WHIST

April 16. Community care. Top score B Cooley. Lady 1 C Martin. 2 B Keegan. Gents 1 F Keenan. 2 J Harrison. Half lady 1 A Walsh. 2R Cole. Half gents 1 T Kearns. 2 T Casey. Lowest score P Stephenson. Hatcher S Wilkinson. Raffle A Walsh, T Casey (x3), A Rochford, J Harrison, B Hogan, C Martin, L Pierce, B Keegan, P Stephenson & T Dunne.

April 17. Old school. Top score M Gowing & S duff. Lady 1 B O’Brien. 2 K Kavanagh. Gents 1 P Dowling. 2 J Delaney. Half 1 D Kelly. 2 J O’Shea. Best of three T Kearns & E Moran. Hatcher R Cole. Raffle H Kelly, D Kelly, J Harrison & L Kavanagh.

PARISH LOTTO

April 16. Numbers: 14, 17, 18, 28. No jackpot winner and no Mountmellick match 3s.

BRIDGE

NS 1 A Colgan, T Joyce. 2 C Walshe, L Tynan. 3 T Lalor, B Sheils. EW 1 I Power, Sr Rosarii. 2 K Horan, M Fennelly. 3 M McCabe, B Egan.

CONNECT IRELAND

Connect Ireland is a government initiative to secure jobs for people in Ireland. Connect Ireland with Laois Community Forum is holding a meeting for key community personnel on Tuesday April 29 at 7pm in Council Chambers Portlaoise. For information call Theresa Bergin. 057 8664227 or email tbergin@laoiscoco.ie

Business success

Congrats to Hinch’s MACE Mountmellick received one of retail’s highest honours at the recent MACE Excellence Awards. Retailers from all over Ireland gathered at the Sheraton Hotel, Athlone, for the prestigious awards ceremony run by BWG Foods.

Well done also to Ray Wilkins and his business partner, Darren Kavanagh both from Mountmellick appeared recently on the RTE Dragon’s Den programme.

the former construction workers, made redundant in 2010, with no sign of employment, they decided to create our own employment.

In March 2012 they launched their business www.totalgiftz.com and now produce and supply a range of personalised sports gifts.