What now for Filan's Follies?

After it emerged earlier this week that Shane Filan, of Westlife and Shafin Developments, was declared bankrupt by a court in Kingston-upon-Thames, the question must be asked: What effect, if any, will this development have on Mr. Filan's erstwhile projects here in Dromahair?

The unfinished Stonebridge, fast becoming an eyesore, despite the efforts of its residents, and the Breffni Centre are important focal points in Dromahair's townscape. The banks, we are told, have taken control of these assets of Shafin Developments, the company once controlled by the Filans, as security for monies advanced to the company. What though is to become of these assets?

Shane Filan's bankruptcy will be discharged by June of next year, as having claimed to be a resident of the UK he was declared bankrupt under UK rules, which are more lenient than our own. He will then be free, we imagine, to embark upon a highly lucrative solo career. Do we imagine that the problems of the residents of Stonebridge will be similarly discharged?

A very rare species indeed.......

Ornithologists and bird-watchers the length and breadth of the country have been in a flap this week at the news that one of Ireland's, some say Europe's, rarest vagrants has been spotted on the shores of Lough Gill. The Dromahair Duck (Anas Ardvarneyus) was photographed this week by local twitchers.

Easily recognisable by its bright yellow plumage, common to both the male and the female, and its large size (it is the world's biggest duck) the Dromahair Duck has been recorded in this area during the months of May and June over the past 4 years. Numbers however are not known, and it is feared that the specimen photographed this week may be one of the last of the species.

In previous years our intrepid local bird-watchers have attempted to ring one of these rare birds, but without success. Their numbers appear to be ex-directory. While we know little of the Duck's nesting habits, its feeding habits seem highly unusual. Seeming to prefer liquid feed to solids, The Duck is highly gregarious outside of the breeding season and has been photographed outside several of the pubs of Dromahair.

What really sets the Dromahair Duck apart from others of the sub-genus Anatinae is its total inability to swim. Nature has however compensated wonderfully for this cruel trick of evolution by seeing that the Duck is able skillfully to pilot a boat.

 

As the male and the female of the species are rarely seen together, little is known of the Dromahair Duck's breeding habits. No nesting sites have been discovered in the immediate area. No-one to date has reported seeing eggs being laid, or indeed hatched, although large numbers of plastic ducklings appear in the village of Dromahair around the end of June each year.  Unlike the adults, these youngsters are excellent swimmers and can be seen racing on the river Bonet during festival weekends.

 

Unable to fly, due to a complete lack of wings (the result of a particularly nasty scrap with the Ballintogher Budgie), this most exotic of creatures still likes to winter in warmer climes and has been spotted as far south as Knock, boarding a flight for Lanzarote.

Although the Dromahair Duck is not thought to present a danger to humans, there have been reports of aggressive behaviour outside Stanfords (usually around closing time). Nonetheless, and with scant regard for personal safety, your Editor will endeavour to get "up close and personal" with this creature on your behalf. Report to follow......

Carrie's Cat got the Cream

 

 

Carrie McDaid of Drumlease National School was yesterday announced as the winner of the inaugural 'Children's Poet of the Year Competition' which was organised by the Hawk's Well Theatre. 

Carrie got to read her poem out in front of a large group of people at a Yeats Day ceremony at Drumcliffe. She was presented with her prize by Jimmy Deenihan TD, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. 

 

 

 

 

The prize is a specially designed trophy and a free place on the Hawk's Well Theatre's Summer Drama Camp with Fiona McGeown from Monday, 2nd to Friday, 6th July. Carrie's winning poem will also be printed and displayed in The Cat and the Moon Shop, Castle Street, Sligo and in the Hawk's Well Theatre.

Drumlease National School will receive a €100 voucher from the Hawk's Well Theatre.

 

 

Carrie receiving her prize from the Minister. Also pictured are Senator Susan O'Keeffe and Marie O'Byrne, Director of the Hawk's Well Theatre.

 

 

 

 

Angela Merkel and the Dromahair Connection

Possibly the most famous flag in Europe today - and there's a Dromahair man standing in front of it!

Thanks to David Cassidy for the picture.

Yeats Day

On 13th June 1865, William Butler Yeats was born in Dublin.
Some years later he immortalised the village of Dromahair in his poem
"The Man Who Dreamed Of Faeryland"


HE stood among a crowd at Dromahair;
His heart hung all upon a silken dress,
And he had known at last some tenderness,
Before earth took him to her stony care;
But when a man poured fish into a pile,
It seemed they raised their little silver heads,
And sang what gold morning or evening sheds
Upon a woven world-forgotten isle
Where people love beside the ravelled seas;
That Time can never mar a lover's vows
Under that woven changeless roof of boughs:
The singing shook him out of his new ease.

He wandered by the sands of Lissadell;
His mind ran all on money cares and fears,
And he had known at last some prudent years
Before they heaped his grave under the hill;
But while he passed before a plashy place,
A lug-worm with its grey and muddy mouth
Sang that somewhere to north or west or south
There dwelt a gay, exulting, gentle race
Under the golden or the silver skies;
That if a dancer stayed his hungry foot
It seemed the sun and moon were in the fruit:
And at that singing he was no more wise.

He mused beside the well of Scanavin,
He mused upon his mockers: without fail
His sudden vengeance were a country tale,
When earthy night had drunk his body in;
But one small knot-grass growing by the pool
Sang where -- unnecessary cruel voice --
Old silence bids its chosen race rejoice,
Whatever ravelled waters rise and fall
Or stormy silver fret the gold of day,
And midnight there enfold them like a fleece
And lover there by lover be at peace.
The tale drove his fine angry mood away.

He slept under the hill of Lugnagall;
And might have known at last unhaunted sleep
Under that cold and vapour-turbaned steep,
Now that the earth had taken man and all:
Did not the worms that spired about his bones
proclaim with that unwearied, reedy cry
That God has laid His fingers on the sky,
That from those fingers glittering summer runs
Upon the dancer by the dreamless wave.
Why should those lovers that no lovers miss
Dream, until God burn Nature with a kiss?
The man has found no comfort in the grave.

Gala Fashion Show

Gerard Fowley has travelled to South Africa each year for the past four years to build houses with the Niall Mellon Trust and hopes to return later this year. In keeping with Gerard's fundraising events in earlier years, this Fashion Gala promises to be an extravaganza!

TV3’s Noel Cunningham will compere the show and additional entertainment will be provided by Leitrim's own Eurovision winner, Charlie McGettigan (eat your heart out Englebert!).

All proceeds from the event will go towards funding Gerard’s work with the Niall Mellon Trust.

The show starts at 8.30pm and tickets (€12) are available directly from Gerard Fowley (086-8564282) and local outlets in Dromahair and Ballintogher.

Grow your own Gourmet Salads

We’ve all bought them, those expensive, commercial salad bags.  They promise a lot but in reality, it’s all a bit of a disappointment.  The truth is, those salads have been picked (mostly in far off lands), washed in a sort of bleach to kill off any germs and then gas flushed in the bag to stop them oxidising on their long journey to the shops.  Of course, once opened and exposed to the air, they quickly start to break down, going limp and then browning on the ends.  After just a few days, your expensive bag of salad is now only fit for the bin and you only managed to eat half of it. 

Why not grow your own gourmet salad, right outside your back door.  Fresh, convenient and you only pick what you need at that moment. 

Lettuce does not need to ‘head up’ before it can be used.  Once it has started to produce five or six leaves, you can start picking, ok they may be small, but you can be on trend with your micro salad.  Take a few leaves off each lettuce plant, using scissors if you want or just pinch them off at the base taking care not to pull out the young plant.  You will not harm the plant and it will keep on producing leaves for you to harvest for a good number of weeks. 

You can grow in a large pot or box.  I always find it is best to grow in a good sized container for the best results.  You don’t need to spend a lot of money on your container.  The local shops often have polystyrene boxes they just throw away which are very good or the sort of plastic boxes for storing toys etc. are perfect.  If you want something a bit more decorative you could use old galvanised buckets or wash tubs.  The only limit is your imagination.  Make sure you put drainage holes in the bottom of your container and then a layer of stones or broken clay pots, this helps to stop your container from becoming waterlogged.  You could also stand your container on bricks or feet of some kind to keep it off the ground completely.

You will need some soil, multi purpose compost or a mixture of compost and garden soil would be fine.  Now you can either directly sow some seeds into the container or into a small pot of compost for transplanting when large enough.  If you choose to directly sow, before doing so, give the pot a really good watering until the water is running out of the pot, then thinly sow your seeds onto the surface, give another light watering and then cover with a very thin layer of compost.  If you sow into a little pot, do the same thing, water the soil first then sow the seeds and cover.  I usually do this method and in hot weather, I pop the pot into the fridge overnight as a cold spell helps with germination as lettuce don’t germinate well in hot weather.  If you sow seeds every two to three weeks, you will have a constant supply of delicious fresh leaves.   Try wild rocket, coriander and oriental leaves for an interesting and zingy addition.

Don’t forget, you can contact me on cottagegardenerdromahair@gmail.com with any questions or information.

The Importance of Doing Business Locally

 

If I can get it cheaper in Enniskillen, Sligo, or Manorhamilton then why should I do business in Dromahair?

Local shops invest more in communities. Local businesses are proportionally more generous in their support of local charities, schools and community events. So supporting local businesses means a financial contribution to our community.

Keeping your custom local creates jobs. Businesses in our village create local employment and self-employment. These people in turn spend in the local economy.

Shopping locally saves you time and money. You travel less, saving on time and fuel.

Doing business locally protects our community. People don’t like losing shops and services in small villages but don’t equate this with how they spend their money.

Shopping locally retains our distinctiveness. Independent shops create different shopping experiences and stock different products. Local businesses respond more quickly to the needs of local customers, providing products and services to meet changing local needs.

Shopping locally saves the environment. Local shops often stock a high percentage of locally sourced goods that do not require long-distance transportation, helping to reduce our global footprint.

Local shops are for everyone. Most people can get to their local shops easily. This is especially important for the elderly, young people and others who rely on public transportation.

Local businesses value you more. Evidence from numerous surveys shows people receive better customer care and service locally. These businesses survive by their reputation and repeat business, which means you get a higher standard of service.  

So the next time you think of spending, bear in mind not just the immediate benefit which the product or service you're paying for will give you: think also of the effect it could have on the community around you, now and in the future.

 

Cakes all gone

Drumlease National School Parents Association cake sale, held this morning in The Depot, was a resounding success by all accounts. More than €450 was raised, thanks to the generosity of the buyers, the bakers and the sponsors, McGoldrick's Londis and Connacht Gold. Thanks also to Marti Devaney of The Blue Devon for her generous donation.

Raffle prize-winners: 1st - Sarah O'Rourke, 2nd - Theresa Kelly, 3rd - Trevor McDaid

Thanks again to all who made the sale such a hit.

Young Dromahair athletes make their mark in Connaught Team Event

North Leitrim Athletic Club U9, U10 and U11 competitors took to the track yesterday in Galway to compete in the 2012 Connaught Team Events. The Dromahair area was well represented with a number of athletes having qualified from the County Leitrim finals which took place in Carrick-on-Shannon in May.

One North Leitrim AC team qualified for the national finals to be held in Cork, with the U10 team of Diarmuid Giblin and James Clinton winning Gold in the 60 metres race. This is the boys' second year in a row to qualify for the national finals, having claimed silver in the U9 60m All-Ireland race last year.

The Dromahair juveniles who took part in the Connaught finals in Galway were Ella McDaid (U10 60m & 500m), Diarmuid Giblin & James Clinton (U10 60m & 500m), Carrie McDaid & Rachel McPartland (U11 60m & 600m) and Eoghan Kearns & Emmet Quinn (U11 60m & 600m). Well done to all who competed and represented North Leitrim AC so well. Best of luck to Diarmuid and James in the All-Ireland finals.

Words and pictures courtesy of Trevor McDaid.

The Polish Connection

The Irish team has gone to Poland for the Euro 2012, well supported as always by the Green Army. Here in Dromahair we have our own Polish connection, in the form of Adam Czyz, proprietor of the Village Café, which is gaily decked out for the championships in the colours of both countries. See you in the final Adam!

Blue Devon Darts Final

Marti surrounded by the contestants for the Blue Devon Darts Final which took place last night. The winner was Sean McGowan - well done Sean!

Forget Botox!

Well, the sun is shining again in Dromahair and it seems like several of the local business premises have had a little work done. Forget Botox - it appears that full facelifts have been the order of the day......

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Gillmor's looks clean and smart with its new sign and fresh paintwork........

Dromahair's prettiest pub, Stanfords, is looking more inviting than ever in its new livery.........

And The Blue Devon, as promised, is sporting the green, white and orange in support of the Irish team at the Euro 2012 Championships.

The village looks marvellous! 

Just one little complaint though: A note to our local Sinn Féin people - your referendum posters should have been down by Thursday.

Business Directory

The Dromahair Diary Business Directory is now available.

Just click on the tab at the top of this page.

At present the Directory simply consists of a listing of contact details for businesses with a Dromahair connection. Perhaps in the future it could be more detailed, with business descriptions and pictures or advertisements.

Of course there may be errors or omissions, as with any amateur publication, so please feel free to contact the Diary at dromahairdiary@gmail.com with any corrections.

Community Notes

DROMAHAIR COMMUNITY NOTICES

Bingo

The local Bingo is on Mondays at 9 o’clock in The Blue Devon lounge, Dromahair.   Each line €30.00, 5th and 10th line €50.00, each house €100.00 and last house €200.00

The Depot Office

The Depot Community Centre Office is open every morning; Services available are typing, photocopying (black & white or colour), faxing, and Internet access, we also now offer laminating for both A3 and A4 sized pages.

All these services are available at very reasonable rates.  Please telephone & Fax: 071 9134986 for more information.  e-mail: dda.tidytowns@gmail.com.

Local Notes

Items that you wish to include in the Community Notices can be forwarded by The Depot Office.  Please telephone 071  9134986 or e-mail dda.tidytowns@gmail.com.  Please have any notice in The Depot office by 11a.m on Monday mornings.

Jack & Jill Appeal

Do you wish to recycle your old mobile phone, camera or ink cartridges and help the Jack & Jill Mobile Phone Appeal?  Please call into the Depot and pick up your Freepost envelope.  Also there is now a box available to recycle your old ink and printer cartridges.  Please call The Depot Office for more information on 071 9134986.

Get Fit Classes:

Fitness class with Sue in the Depot! Mondays Boxercise 7.15, Aerobics 8pm. Thursday Boxercise 6.45. For bookings and enquiries contact Sue on 086 2542505. 

A Container has been placed in the grounds of The Depot Dromahair for the collection of unwanted clothing ~ ladies', gents' and children's ~ shoes in pairs, leather goods, sheets, blankets & curtains.

Please put the above items in plastic bags.

Access to the facility is from the Backline and through the steel door leading into the Depot grounds. Only the right—hand door of the container opens. Turn the lever fully to the left before pulling the door open ~ and you'll need to use a little strength!

If you find it too difficult to open the door of the container and are leaving a bag outside, please make sure it is sealed and rain - proof.

Proceeds from these collections will aid parish funds

Please do not put toys, computers or other such items in the Container.

FRIENDLY CALL CENTRE: Would you like a telephone call to see if you are OK or just to have a friendly chat?  If you are interested in receiving the free call or know of anyone who might benefit from this service please ring the call centre on 071 9302721 anytime.

    Dromahair Development Association are looking for donations of plants and flowers for tidy towns competition, to replenish what was destroyed during the harsh weather of the last few winters. If you are thinning out your shrub beds or are wiling to donate slips off plants, or wish to make a donation towards planting please drop your donation to The Depot, or contact 071 9134986 for details.

   Community Employment to Self-Employment: Sligo LEADER Partnership is running a six-month scheme covering all aspects of becoming self-employed for those who are long term un-employed, have a self-employment idea, and eligible for FÁS CE  Application Form from 071 91 20636 or download from www.nextmove.ie

  Parents of Children who attend classes in the Depot are asked to please check the premises for forgotten coats and jackets, as there is a large collection of these being left after classes.

  Dromahair library opening hours Tuesday and Fridays 2:30 – 4 and 4.30 – 8pm both days.

Business Directory

Our new Dromahair Business Directory will be launching tomorrow.

If you'd like to be included, or if you don't want to be included, email dromahairdiary@gmail.com

Blue Devon Competition

Buy a drink during any of the Euro 2012 games and enter the draw to win a 2 night break away.............

sorry not in Poland! 

Draw will be made at half time during the Final of Euro 2012.

 

Eco-renovations and extensions with Colin Bell and Mike Harris

Self-builder Mike Harris and architect Colin Bell will guide you through the process of renovating and extending an existing building using low-impact materials.
Run at Mike’s home, where Colin Bell was the architect, this is an ‘at home’ course where you will get a good feel for the process and result from both the self-builder and architect’s perspective.
Mike and Colin will cover the benefits and pitfalls of non-standard materials and processes and go through the various stages, from inspiration to perspiration, that you will encounter in a self-build project.
Expect loads of practical advice and insight on building and on how a good working relationship between client and architect can be beneficial to both parties.
Where: Mike’s home, Dromahair    Times: 10am-4pm
Cost : €60 to include lunch, tea and coffee.
Email jo@inspirationalhomes.ie or ring 087 778 1914 to book, or for more information.

Blue Devon this weekend

Friday night -     BIG DARTS FINAL €1,400 IN PRIZE MONEY.
Saturday night - Local girl Niamh Fowley makes her first appearance with her new band CELTIC NOTE
Sunday  -           IRELAND V CROATIA

To get in the spirit of Euro 2012 we will be painting the front of the pub GREEN, WHITE & ORANGE......weather permitting!

Business Directory

A Dromahair Business Directory will be launched here on the blog on Saturday next.

This will include contact details (phone number or website link) for local businesses.

If you'd like to be included, or if you don't want to be included, please contact The Demon.