Merry Christmas!

Here are some more of Kelvin Gillmor's amazing shots of a snowy Dromahair to take us into the festive season.

The Diary wishes a very merry Christmas to all Dromahairians, their families and friends, at home and further afield.
Be kind to each other. Have a good one!

Christmas Refuse Collection

The Diary has been informed that Joe McLoughlin Waste will be collecting household refuse (black bin) tomorrow, Saturday 22nd December. There will be no collection on Tuesday 25th, as the binmen will be busy opening their presents.

Drumlease N.S. Race Night

The staff of Drumlease National School have asked the Diary to pass on their thanks to all who contributed to making their recent Race Night such a success. More than €5,000 was raised for the school. Special thanks to the sponsors, who are listed below, and to all who attended on the night.

Sponsors;

Linnane Accountancy Services, Drumlease Rd

John Gillmor, Dromahair

Louise Carroll Designs, Dromahair

Cedar Lodge Health Centre c/o Doreen Connolly

Kerrigans Quarry, Killargue

Brian Kearns, Chartered Accountant, Forest Park, Dromahair

Sprint Education, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal

Alpha Omega Consultants c/o Oonagh Monaghan, Dromahair

Sean O’Reilly & Co. Accountant & Registered Auditor, Carrowcrin, Dromahair

C.J. Fallon Educational Publishers, Liffey Valley, Dublin.

Seamus & Patti Reynolds, Killargue

Michéal Flanagan, Electrician

TME Services c/o Derrick Healy, Drumlease Rd.

Tommy Siggins, Dromahair

Tommy Hannon Cleaning, Killargue

McTernan Carpets, Ballast Quay, Sligo

Joe Carthy, Taxi, Dromahair

D.M.Auctions, Dowra & Manorhamilton

Dromahair Pharmacy

Fowley’s Garage, Dromahair

Riverbank Restaurant & Club House Bar, Dromahair

City Tech, Sligo

Bizzprint Leitrim c/o Simon Twigg, Dromahair

Cllr. Frank Dolan

Hong Ying Chinese Martial Arts c/o Liam Akkermans, Edergole, Dromahair

Wesley Rowlette, Boihy, Droamahair

Beauty on Your Doorstep c/o Niamh McGowan

Gerry McGovern, Solicitor

The Velvet Rooms, Sligo

Cllr. John McTernan, Dromahair

Paul Gavin, Satellite Systems, Droamahair

The Green Dragon Karate Club c/o Michael Sweeney, Sligo

D & P Packaging c/o Dalton Power, Castlecourt, Dromahair

Ard Nahoo, Mullagh, Dromahair

Seamus Harkin Building Contractor, Killargue

Supervalu, Manorhamilton

Ciaran Clinton Taxi, Dromahair

Ivan Hamilton, Building Contractor, Dromahair

Leslie Hamilton, Building Contractor,

McPadden Construction, Dromahair

Gerard McGourty, Builder

Londis, Dromahair

Benny McTernan Haulage, Dromahair

Ann’s Cutting Corner

Connacht Gold

Dr. Gerry Ballantine, Dromahair Primary Care Centre

Sen. Michael Comiskey

A Cut Above ~ Siobhan’s

Fr. John McTiernan, P.P. Dromahair

St. Patrick’s Church Parish Area, Dromahair

Terry & Siobhan Smith c/o Eadaoin O’Brien

Eamonn Devaney Butchers, Dromahair

Ann & Domhnall McLoughlin, Dromahair

Drumlease N.S. Parents’ Association

Pauric Speers, Plumber

In Tandem Web Design

Eugene O’Neill Architect

North Leitrim Driving School

St. Bridget’s Church Killargue Parish Area

Harmac Mechanical, Killargue c/o Michael Harkin

Parkes Fuel, Ballisodare

Anonymous Donation

Hamilton Young Architects c/o Trevor McDaid

Doodles Childcare, Dromahair

Texoil, Aughamore, Sligo

Wedding Day Silver, c/o Jean Whitfield

Drama in Dromahair

Drama for DARC recently presented three one-act plays in aid of the DARC project. The plays were presented on two nights in the Blue Devon. All present were in agreement that the productions were of the highest order, from the cast and directors to the sets and supporting crew.

Special credit must be given to David Kilgannon, author of two of the pieces, A Holy Show and Remember December. David, at 20, is surely a talent to watch for the future. He has a grasp of dialogue well beyond his tender years, and a gift for comedy which had us rolling in the aisles at times.

A Holy Show starred the comedic talents of Fiona O'Loughlin-Keuhl, Stephanie Kelly, Martina Devaney, Vivian O'Loughlin and Mick Kilgannon (father of the author), and was directed by Caoimhe Gleeson. Remember December was brought to us by Martina Devaney, Stephanie Kelly, Vivian O'Loughlin and Mick Kilgannon, again directed by Caoimhe Gleeson. The third play was The Tinker's Wedding by the inimitable J.M. Synge, which was superbly  interpreted by Dolores Hannon, Mairead McMorrow, Gavin Sharkey and Martin Dolan, under the watchful eye of director Gerard McKenna.

The backstage crew comprised Gerry Fowley and Jim Meehan, who constructed the stage which was very kindly loaned by the Glens Centre, Manorhamilton for the shows; Anna Farrelly, Paul Gavin, Niall Farrelly and Caoimhe Gleeson who were responsible for stage props; Mick Kilgannon and Caoimhe Gleeson who took charge of lighting; and Anna Farrelly who designed and produced the promotional posters for the production.

The Drama for DARC event raised more than €2,000 for this most worthwhile cause, but also showcased the talent which is here in Dromahair. Whether writing, acting, directing or helping out backstage, this was community drama at its very best. 

The only question remaining is; when will we see our Drama Group up and running again, for the entertainment and benefit of our entire community?

DARC Mobile Cinema

Development Association Website

Dromahair Development Association has launched its new website.

Residents and other interested parties will now be able to keep up-to-date with all the activities of the Association at

dromahairdevelopment.com

The site looks fabulous - well done to all concerned!

Library Opening Hours

Our Librarian, Georgina Oates, has been in touch to let us know that Dromahair Library will be closed on Tuesday 25th and Friday 28th December along with Tuesday 1st January.

The library will re-open on Friday 4th January 2013

Dromahair Christmas Celebrations 1586

When Brian O'Rourke came to his castle in Dromahair to celebrate Christmas 1586, he was in a state of seething resentment. Tudor rule had made considerable inroads into his territory of Breifne. All around him other chieftains, such as the O'Connors of Sligo and McWilliam Burkes of Mayo, had made their submissions to Queen Elizabeth. His campaign of resistance had petered out, but he held on to his gallowglass soldiers. The English tried to sweeten him by granting him a title. He was now Sir Bryan O'Rourke. He could retain his castles at Dromahair, Newtown and Leitrim by agreeing to pay rent to the Queen. It was extremely galling for a man described by Sir Nicholas Malby "as the proudest man living on earth"

During the festivities at Christmas O'Rourke and his soldiers staged a pageant. An image of a woman, carved of wood, and believed to have been stolen from a church, was tied to a horse's tail and dragged though the mud. Excited onlookers asked who it was, and were told it was "an old Cailigh(hag) from across the water" Later, a witness said the name Elizabeth was written upon it. The soldiers hacked it with their axes in a ritual execution while reviling it with insults.

The insult to the Queen was reported to Lord Deputy Perrott who decided to ignore it and took no action. The incident was to have grave repercussions for both men at their subsequent trials for treason. Perrott was replaced and sent to the Tower.

In 1591 Brian O'Rourke, on trial for sheltering survivors from the Spanish Armada, also faced a charge of "lese-majeste" which stated that he "caused her Majesty's name to be set on the image of a woman, tied to a horse's tail and dragged through the mire"

Five days later on 3rd November 1591 "Bren O'Royrke was drawn to Tyborne and there hanged, his members and bowels burned in the fire, his heart taken out and holden up by the hangman, naming it to be the archtraytor's heart, his head stricken off and his body quartered'

The wretched death reserved for traitors.

Many thanks to Mary Weir for the above piece.

Winter in Dromahair

A couple more of Kelvin Gillmor's brilliant pictures of snowy Dromahair...

Winter in Dromahair

Another of Kelvin Gillmor's wonderful pictures of snowy Dromahair...

Talk for Life

Following recent tragic events, local teenager Alannah Davis decided that she'd had enough: it was time to do something. With the help of some friends and the wonderful people at STOP Suicide, she has organised an event called Talk for Life, which will be held at the Bee Park Resource Centre, Manorhamilton on Saturday and Sunday next, 15th & 16th December at 6.00pm.

In Alannah's own words: 

The aim of the event is to get through to teenagers, from other teenagers. Teens listen to other teens more than they do adults. So maybe we can get through to some people. Another aim is to help teenagers realise that asking for help and talking to people is OK. This is becoming too familiar and something needs to be done. We cannot let this happen again.

Admission: Under 18s - €5, Adults - €10. Family rates available

All proceeds from the event will go to STOP Suicide.

This is such a worthwhile cause: it deserves your support.

Christmas Storytelling

Dromahair Library will be hosting a Christmas-themed storytelling show for pre-school children on Tuesday next, December 11th from 4.00pm to 5.00pm. 

The show is for children aged 6 and under, and admission is free!

Cakes for DARC

Dromahair Ladies GAA are holding a Cake Sale in The Depot on Sunday next, 8th December in aid of DARC. The sale begins at 12 noon with doors opening at 9am for dropping off goodies. There will also be a bric-a-brac stall with books, toys, CDs etc. and a raffle with some great prizes.

Come along and sample some fabulous home baking in aid of a great cause!

50,000 Views!

The Dromahair Diary has now exceeded the princely total of 50,000 views since its inception in June 2012. 

Things have been a little hectic lately, so posting has been slow, but The Diary should be back up to full capacity within the next couple of weeks.

Thanks to all who contributed with news and views.

Most of all, thanks to you, the readers, both home and abroad!

Winter in Dromahair

Kelvin Gillmor has sent the Diary some wonderful pictures of snow in Dromahair.

Here's one to start us off - more to follow between now and Christmas.

Thanks Kelvin!

Race Night

Drumlease National School is holding a Race Night on Friday next, December 7th at 9pm in The Blue Devon. You can help by sponsoring a horse or a jockey on the race cards which are available from parents or the school. Alternatively, if you wish to sponsor a race, you can do so by contacting the school directly on 071-9164586. A great night out is guaranteed, with lots of fun and prizes. All proceeds will go to the school.