Local News 12th Jan 2010

Mike ORegan,Eileen Simcox,Mary O Regan,Kevin Clifford

Tony Ftzgibbon,John English,Eamon McMahon, Richard O Donoghue,Seamus Murphy,Tony Sheehan

Brid Gorman, Jim Chawke, Patsy Power

Cast of Granagh Drama group staging Shaughaurn

Liam Houlihan,Carmel Clifford,Marylee Stapelton,John Bennett

GRANAGH  PLAYERS:

The time has crept up on us so quickly and now we only have a week and a half to go !!    The cast have been quietly rehearsing away

since October through frost, snow, ice and freezing fog.    Our play this year is  The Shaughraun,  by Dion Boucicault, the very same man

who wrote the Colleen Bawn, the story of which, we in Limerick are very familiar with.   Dion was born in Dublin 1820, the son of a French 

refugee and an Irish mother.    He wrote, acted in and directed scores of plays, over two hundred and fifty, according to himself. 

Written about one hundred and forty years ago, it takes place in a small town in Ireland called Suil-a-beg, where a remarkable  tale unfolds. It  centers around

“ Conn, the Shaughraun,  ( Jimmy Chawke ) the soul of every fair, the life of every funeral, the first fiddle at all weddings and patterns  -  in short,

the kind of fellow that everyone wants to know but that few would trust their daughters  with  !! “   His poor mother ( Brid O'Gorman ) has an awful lot to put up with, is forever chasing him,while Conn spends his time chasing Moya ( Patsy Power ), his sweetheart.

Robert Ffolliott, ( Liam Houlihan) a young Irish gentleman who, sometime before the play begins,  was framed as a Fenian and sent to prison in Australia.   His sister, Claire ( Marylee Stapleton ),  and her friend, Arte O'Neal, ( Carmel Clifford ) have been victimized by the evil Corry Kinchela ( Seamus Murphy ) during Robert's absence;  they are just a few weeks away from losing their home to Kinchela, and Arte -  in love with Robert- is being wooed by Kinchela as well.

As the play commences, Claire meets and falls in love at first sight  with a noble British captain, Harry Molineux ( John Bennett ), who has arrived in this remote Irish locale with his regiment  - led by Sergent Jones ( Tony Fitzgibbon ) - to track down an escaped convict, who (of course) turns out to be Robert.

 It must be noted that Molineux falls in love with Claire in even a more head-over-heels fashion,  than she with him.

Conn has helped Robert with his escape and now conspires with Claire, Arte, and Robert's guardian Father Dolan ( Tom Noonan ), to keep Robert away from the clutches of Molineux and his men.  When Kinchela  and his henchman Harvey Duff ( Richard O' Donoghue )  find out what's afoot, they get into the fray as well.   They have to call on the services of the local smuggler crew - Mangan ( Tony Sheahan) , Sullivan ( Eamon McMahon ) ,Reilly ( John English) and  Doyle ( Liam Kelly )  to help them in their dastardly deeds.

There are chase scenes, secret meetings, faked deaths, double crosses, and a wake with professional keeners ( Theresa Noonan and Emma Chawke . Through it all there's the forbidden love between Claire and her arch-enemy, the English soldier Molineux.     With all those goings  -  there will be plenty to keep you entertained.

Commencing  Friday 21st, Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd at 8.00pm and again the following weekend.

DEVELOPMENT   ASSOC:

A committee meeting will be held on Thursday night 13th at 8.30pm.

GRANAGH  UTD., F.C:

Lotto  Results:    No Winner in the Lotto Draw at the weekend. .  Numbers drawn  6. 8. 18. 19.

Lucky Dips Winners of € 20. each :-   Sheila Treacy, Granagh,  Pat Griffin, Ballyagran and Mairead O'Keeffe, Anhid.

Next weeks draw takes place in Hickeys Bar Croom for a Jackpot of € 8,700. 

Tickets available at O` Gorman's Foodstore Granagh, Hickeys Bar Croom, The Rock Bar Granagh, & Bennis'  Bar Ballyagran.

There was no Lotto draw done in the lead up to Christmas  as road conditions were treacherous, so all tickets purchased were

included in this weekends' draw.    

  

U12:  28/12/10:
Granagh Utd 2 Glantine 1
Scorers for Granagh were Richard Walsh 1 & Eimhin O` Regan 1.

U14:   30/12/10 :
Newcastle Afc 2 Granagh Utd 2
Scorers for Granagh were Edward Sheehy 1 & Stephen Hickey 1.

U14:  03/01/11 :
Newcastle Rovers 2 Granagh Utd 3
Scorers for Granagh were Seanie Cahill 1, Stephen Hickey 1 & Kyle Cotter 1.

In the Sean Fitzgibbon Memorial Cup Granagh Utd were 2-1 victors over close neighbours Ballyagran played on Sunday last.

COMMUNITY GAMES NOTES
On behalf of everyone involved in Ballingarry/Granagh community games I would like to extend the very best wishes for the coming year to all                                 who contribute in any way to the success of our club. After the Christmas break everything is back in full swing and whether it is draughts,                              cards, table tennis, our talent competition or handwriting there is something for every taste happening this month.                                                             DRAUGHTS:     On Saturday last our 3 draughts teams competed in round two of the 2011 competition.   The venue was Ballingarry.
Our U/12 team of Gearoid Lynch,Conor Lynch, Eoin Sheahan, Orla Lenihan, Sean English, Sean O Connor and Luke Flynn defeated                     Hospital/Herbertstown to qualify for the next round.
Our U/10 team of Sophie Alymer, Mark Sheahan, Michael Sheahan, Eve Higgins, Ciara O Connor, Molly Cagney and Orla Lynch                                     defeated Ahane/Castleconnell to also qualify for the next round. Our second U/10 team of Nessa Houlihan, Darren Curtis, Kathleynn Collins,                        Therese Noonan and Lisa Lynch put in a massive performance against Hospital/Herbertstown but sadly it was not to be.   These players                                      were always excellent at training and at matches and we hope to see them all next year again.                                                                                                    Many thanks to Michael O Brien who coordinated the event and also many thanks to all parents who supplied refreshments which were very                           welcome on such a cold day.
Training continues next Thursday in Ballingarry from 7 to 8pm for the two teams who remain in the competition
TALENT COMPETITION :Next Sunday in the hall Ballingarry anyone who can sing, dance , recite poetry or play a musical instrument will get their chance to strut their stuff.                          It will happen between 2pm and 4pm and any boys or girls who would like to compete must register their entry with Anne Higgins @ 087 9274241 or                 Marie Bennett @ 087 2942245 before the 14^th January.
The categories are Boys and Girls U/10 and U/14, Solo Music, Group Music, Solo Dance, Group Dance, Solo Recitation, Solo Singing and Group Singing.
Admission on the door – Adults €3, Children €1.
Please remember that entries must be with Anne or Marie on the Friday 14^th, no entries on the day.
PRIMARY SCHOOL QUIZ:Both schools in the parish will be participating in the Primary School Quiz which takes place in Ballingarry on Sunday 23^rd January at 1.30pm.                           We wish both teams the best of luck.　
CARD GAME 45:Any boys or girls who would like to play cards this year should contact Eddie @ 087 9922600 before Friday next.    Each area is only allowed                               to enter one team so anyone wishing to play this year should not delay in making contact. It is an U/14 competition.
HANDWRITING COMPETITION :This year sees the introduction of a new competition for boys and girls aged between 8 and 10 years of age.It is a handwriting competition                              which will be judged on correct letter formation, neatness, legibility and fluency.    More details next week .
YOUTH  CHOIR - BEST OF LUCK:Next Friday night the local youth choir and singing group “Take This” are taking part in Limerick 95FM Talent Search  in U.L. and we wish them all the very best of luck.   From this,the third semi-final,  three acts will go through to the final.   The judges will decide on two of the acts, but the third vote will be from the audience.   Therefore, they are hoping for as many people as possible to travel and support them.   Tickets available on the door.