DARC AGM

Community Alert AGM

The Dromahair Killargue Community Alert AGM took place on Thursday 25th October 2012 in The Depot, Back Line, Dromahair. 

Vanessa Clarke gave a presentation on The Text Alert System which is running successfully in many areas. It has proven to be of great support to the most vulnerable in society and is something well worth considering. However with a very poor turn out on the night it is difficult to know if the community would be interested or not. 

Retired Garda Peter Feely from Ballinamore gave a very good presentation on a security camera for external door monitoring. Peter had the camera with him and those present saw how effectively it works. It costs €300 euro approximately so if anyone is interested in getting more information please contact any of the officers. The committee may run another meeting and bring Peter back if enough interest is shown. 

Outgoing Chair Kevin McGoldrick said he was standing down this year as he had been holding the reins for 16 years and wanted new members to take on running of the programme in Dromahair and Killargue.  Vanessa Clarke chaired the election of officers and the result is as follows; Tommy Dolan, Chairperson, Derrick Healy, Secretary and Margaret Sharkey, Treasurer. 

It is hoped to hold up to 4 meetings annually and volunteers from different estates and townlands are asked to contact officers if they feel they have some free time to help out.  New Chair Tommy Dolan thanked Kevin McGoldrick on behalf of the committee and the community for the tremendous amount of work he has put in over the years. Kevin is willing to act as advisor to committee until we find our feet and Vanessa Clarke is to provide training for the group.

Don't forget the Fun Run/Walk!

Drama for DARC

The Blue Devon function room will be presenting three one-act plays in aid of DARC on Thursday November 29th and Friday November 30th in aid of DARC, the Dromahair Arts & Recreation Centre.

The shows start at 8.30pm. 

We want your clothes!

Drumlease National School Parents Association are holding a used clothing collection to raise much needed funds for the school. The collection will take place on Saturday 24th November in the Blue Devon function room. Bags can be dropped in from 12 noon until 5pm. 

All types of clothing will be accepted as long as they are re-wearable and in good condition. Shoes (in pairs), handbags and accessories will also be accepted. Please do not bring bed linen, duvets, curtains etc. as these cannot be taken.

So have a rummage through those wardrobes and create some space for the Christmas presents!

Shh!

Next Sunday, 11th November, will see five Dromahair ladies endeavouring to stay silent for two hours to raise funds for DARC, the Dromahair Arts & Recreation Centre. Shirley Gallagher, Roisin Campbell, Marie McGourty, Ger Kelly and Pat Dolan will be keeping it zipped, if all goes according to plan, in the foyer of the Clubhouse Bar from 12.30 to 2.30 pm. Of course there are those who say it can't be done - Father McTiernan says "it'll be a miracle" - and he should know! 

If you'd like to help with the fundraising, you can print off the sponsorship card below, or else just come along to witness this once-in-a-lifetime event and to support the girls.

Another old one...

Here's another one from the vault............again I have no idea what year this was taken.

Abbey Manor Hotel

Here's a more recent aerial photograph of the Hotel, taken by Kelvin Gillmor in 2006. See the changes?

When was this taken?

Here's an old postcard of the Hotel which recently came into my possession. Does anyone have any idea when this picture was taken?

Focus on our Past

Keeping it Local this Christmas

How about a few ideas for keeping our spending local as Christmas approaches?

This is an excellent opportunity to support and promote local businesses in the season when we often spend just a little too much.

Here in Dromahair we have;

Haidressers and Beauticians, all of which can supply vouchers for a treat for that special someone.

Jewellery makers who can create something really beautiful for your nearest and dearest.

A top notch restaurant, which can supply vouchers for that fine dining experiece.

A DJ to help your Christmas party go with a swing.

A Cake designer for your seasonal confections.

Guesthouses to accommodate your extra visitors, or to encourage next year's summer tourists.

Driving Instructors who can supply vouchers for that young learner.

A Gift Designer who can provide something memorable for any special occasion.

A Health Spa which can supply vouchers for that pampering day or weekend.

Holistic Treatment providers for someone who wants something a little different.

A Pharmacy with all manner of toiletries and gift sets.

Limousine Hire so you can arrive at the party in style.

A Tourboat on Lough Gill for a really special Christmas or New Year event.

Of course the above is only a small sample of what we have here in town. Consult the Diary's Business Directory at the top of the page for more ideas. Do you know somebody who would appreciate having their windows cleaned before Christmas? Could your car do with a valet before the visitors arrive? Has your chimney been cleaned this year?

It's not just gifts which are available in Dromahair. We have an excellent butcher and friendly local grocery stores. How about doing just a fraction of your Christmas shopping with them, instead of giving your hard-earned cash to the multiples? With the price of petrol and diesel, and the cost and hassle of parking, you may find that there is little to save by heading out of town. Buy your Christmas cards and your stamps here, from people who know your name. That way you support local jobs and your own community. All of us locally will feel the benefits.

Keep it local this Christmas!

Bereavement Support Group

A reminder that the Bereavement Support Group of STOP Suicide North West meets this evening in the Bee Park Resource Centre, Manorhamilton from 8pm to 9.30pm.

Another Party!

After the tremendous success of the Demons Festival Children's Hallowe'en Party in the Blue Devon last Monday, where a fabulous time was enjoyed by all manner of witches, ghouls, ghosts, skeletons and pumpkins, it's time for the grown-ups to don their costumes and turn out for the Demon's Ball......

See you there!

Party!

Flower Arranging Demonstration

The Diary recently received this notice from the parishioners of Drumlease;

We the parishioners of Drumlease parish church have tickets on sale at the moment for a flower arranging demonstration by the renowned Timothy Elliott to be held in the Bee Park Centre on Tuesday 6th November at 8pm. The tickets are available from Gillmor's shop and from all parishioners.  We would deeply appreciate if you could buy a ticket at €10 please.  We are trying to defray some of the cost of a recent refurbishment job done on our church.  We apologise for the timing but arranged this a long time ago .  There will be raffles and refreshments on the night also.  Thank you in anticipation - Drumlease Select Vestry.

G.R.A.S.P. Life

Local woman Mary McTernan this week launched a new website for her G.R.A.S.P. Life Foundation, which offers support and counselling to those affected by suicide, or having suicidal thoughts. Mary lost her son, Garry, to suicide in 2004 and has worked tirelessly in the intervening years to try to reduce the incidence of suicide in the North West. Unfortunately, as recent events show, the need for a service such as this is greater than ever.

www.grasplife.ie   

Tel: 087-4188053 or 086-6824760

Active Flag Raising

Some pictures from the recent Active Flag raising ceremony at Drumlease National School. One of only three schools in Leitrim to qualify, Drumlease NS was delighted to have Olympian Colin Griffin to assist in the raising of the flag.

Make your bed (but you don't have to lie in it)

The evenings are starting to draw in. I really love this time of the year, a time for contemplating what was good in the garden this year, what didn’t work and what you would like to do next year.  The seed catalogues will be coming out soon and we can sit by the heat of a crackling fire choosing the varieties of flowers, herbs and vegetables we would like to grow next season.

There is still much to do in the garden.  This week I have been tidying up the vegetable garden and making space for my autumn sown onion sets and garlic, I like to have them all in by the end of this month, but you can still plant garlic depending on variety up to the end of February.

I am basically very lazy, so like to make my life as easy as possible. I don’t enjoy weeding so there are methods I use to keep weeds to an absolute minimum in the garden, it may seem like a bit of work in the beginning, but it really does pay off in the long run.  I have my vegetable garden put down to beds, so it makes life a lot simpler.

I start by clearing the area of any weeds. There aren’t usually many so it doesn’t take long do this part. If the soil is a bit compacted, I stick the fork in and just loosen the soil, I don’t dig it or turn it.  Two or three wheelbarrows of my home made compost are then applied and spread out on the surface. 

Next get some newspapers or paper feed sacks (cut off the ends and flatten them out), you will need to dunk them in the water butt for about 30 seconds, this helps to stop them blowing away and makes it easier to dib through.  Put a layer of newspaper (2 sheets thick) or a single sheet of feed sack down until the area is neatly covered, then cover the paper with a layer of  either grass mowings, spoiled hay or silage or a bit more compost, it just keeps the paper in place so it doesn’t need to be too thick.

You are now ready to plant through the ‘mulch’ you have created.  Using a dibber or stick, you can make planting holes through the damp paper.  Autumn sown onions are very useful, they can be pulled next year when they have bulked up a bit and used in cooking or you could leave them to mature and they will be ready a good six or eight weeks before the main crop ones.  You can find onion sets in the shops now; look out for Radar, senshyu yellow and electric red. 

When planting onion sets, they only need to be put in a very shallow hole, you need to plant them with the blunt end downward otherwise they will grow upside down.  The correct depth is that you should be able to see the pointed top sticking out of the ground.  You may need to cover them with a net or fleece if you find birds are pulling them out, I have to cover everything up as the rooks destroy whatever I put in the ground.  Plant 3-4 inches (7-10cm) apart in all directions, when using beds there is no need to plant in rows so use equidistant spacing.

You can buy garlic now for planting.  Separate the bulb into cloves and plant them nice and deep, I try and put mine in at least 3-4” (7-10cm) deep again, I use equidistant spacing of 4 inches (10cm) in all directions.

Autumn leaves are falling and are a great resource for the garden.  Bang four posts into the ground and put wire round to make a container or you could collect them and put into the big bags you get stone and other aggregate delivered in.  If you can break the leaves up a bit all the better, pick them up with the lawn mower or get the children to jump around on them, this helps to make more edges for fungi to get going on.  Do not be tempted to put autumn leaves into the compost bin as they will not break down in this environment, compost is broken down by bacteria and dead leaves by the action of wet and fungi.  It is worth knowing that burning autumn leaves is very toxic to human health and can be tens of times more carcinogenic (cancer causing) than smoking.  When the leaves have broken down, they are a great addition to potting compost and a good source of humus for the soil.

You can contact me, Nelly Dean on cottagegardenerdromahair@gmail.com if you have any tips questions or comments

Demons Festival Halloween Events

Demons Festival Kids Halloween Party

Calling all Dromahair children!

Get dressed up and win prizes, dance at the devilish disco and grab a gonnie goody bag on Bank Holiday Monday (29th October) at the Blue Devon 4 - 5.30pm. Entrance fee €3 per child, includes goodie bag.

Demons Ball and Horror Quiz

Dromahair Adults Demons Ball at the Blue Devon, Saturday November 3rd, 9pm till late. Fancy dress ball to include Horror Pub Quiz from 9 - 11pm, followed by disco. Entrance fee €5 per person. 4 people per team for pub quiz.

Tea Party for Action Breast Cancer

It's that time of year again folks. Niamh McGowan is holding her 3rd annual Tea Party in aid of Action Breast Cancer in the Depot on Sunday at 12 noon. There will be tea, coffee and baked goodies for all, with a kiddies table to entertain the little ones. There is also a raffle with lots of prizes. So why not pop down for a cuppa and a chat in aid of this most worthy cause. See you there!