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South Galway

John Nolan watches the flooding as it rises over his farm at Corker, Kiltartan. In the background, haulier Michael Lynskey locks up John’s cattle in a truck for evacuation from the slatted house before the water comes in.

Water creeping towards 2009 levels

By Nicola Corless FARMERS are calling on the OPW and Galway County Council to clear drainage channels leading from Kiltartan to the sea at Kinvara, as high water levels have left hundreds of acres of land flooded. According to Councillor Gerry Finnerty, “There are a number of houses and a number of farm sheds under threat”. “In the Tarmon, Cahermore, Ballylee, Peterswell, Ballinastague and Coole areas, there is very, very high ground water levels,” he explained. “Anywhere the small schemes have been done, like in Shanaglish, and with the clearing of the river in Gort, things have improved. They are very small schemes but they have been very effective. When you see the bigger picture though, when the water is going down from Gort to Kiltartan, acres and acres of land has been flooded in Kiltartan and Cahermore. The water is blocking the road at Cahermore and Ballinastague and that is only three miles as the crow flies from the …

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Rosie named San Francisco Rose

Rosie Keehan, daughter of Beagh musician Vincent Keehan, has been selected as the San Francisco Rose to compete in this year’s Rose of Tralee. The 22-year-old graduated from University of San Francisco last year and recently started a new job in the city. Although born and raised in San Francisco, Rosie and her brother, Michael, have strong connections with Ireland and their father, Vincent, returns regularly. As her party piece at the San Francisco Rose selection last week, Rosie sang Working the Streets, a song written by her father and recorded by Ann Kirrane. Rosie, and her family, will travel to Ireland in May where she will compete in the Rose of Tralee regional finals in Portlaoise.

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Home calling for Monsignor Muldoon

A YOUNG Brendan Muldoon left Currenrue five decades ago, but the Florida Monsignor’s links with the area have never dwindled. Though from the parish of New Quay in County Clare, Brendan and his family always felt more connected with nearby Kinvara and Galway, attending school there and playing for Galway inter-county teams at various grades. “We are from the parish of New Quay, about three miles west of Kinvara, right on the Clare and Galway border really. Most of the land is on the Galway side but the house is on the Clare side,” he states. Brendan was ordained on June 21, 1964 at St Patrick’s College in Maynooth. From there he returned to Galway, though to the other side of the bay. The young priest was appointed to Rossaveal where he spent four years in the Gaeltacht parish and was heavily involved in Coláiste Chonnacht in Spiddal before a spending a year ministering in Galway City. “Rossaveal was a …

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Raising awareness of Sliabh Aughty Famine heritage

By Nicola Corless A COMMUNITY heritage group in South Galway will host a table quiz in Gort next week to raise funds and awareness for its work. The Sliabh Aughty Famine Working Group is in the process of researching and documenting the Famine heritage of the region. The group was initially established to host the 2014 national Famine Commemoration  but Galway was unsuccessful in its bid. Nevertheless, the group decided to continue work on projects about the Famine in South East Galway, by researching Famine history especially pertaining to the Sliabh Aughty area “The group was developed under the umbrella of Slogadh Aughty. The group comprises different individuals from communities around the Sliabh Aughty Mountains that have a community or heritage interest in the area,” explained Dr Christy Cunniffe, Galway County Council Field Monument Advisor and group member. “The group comprises of people with very different interests. My main area of interest is the archaeology or the features in the …

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Rally to drive South Galway economy

THE  Galway International Rally will drive business in South Galway and raise awareness of local charities, according to organisers. The Colm Quinn BMW Galway International Rally 2014 takes place on February 7, 8 and 9 and will see drivers compete over 13 stages in the vicinity of Gort. Kieran Donohue of Galway Motor Club explained why so many people are likely to attend. “Stages will be based around Gort over the two days are servicing will be here.  We would encourage people to come out and support the event and cheer the competitors on. We already have 110 entries and more are expected. Confirmed so far are seven WRCs or world rally cars. The leading drivers so far would be Irish Tarmac Championship winner from last year Gary Jennings, Donnagh Kelly, national champion Declan Boyle, Peadar Hurson, Enda McCormack, Sam Moffatt and expected entry from Eugene Donnelly. There will be a few lads from around Gort and some from Clare too,” …

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De Danann play their part for Ballinderreen Centre

DE  Danann will perform in South Galway next week, as a fundraiser for refurbishment works on the Ballinderreen Community Centre. The hugely popular traditional music group will take to the stage on Saturday, February 1 in the intimate South Galway venue. “We had an old building, built in the early seventies and it was very run down and had been a bit neglected. A group came together in 2011 to see if we could have a building that the community could use that didn’t have a bar in it, people wanted somewhere for all the family. So we gave ourselves 12 months to do that. The building needed new heating, new toilets, new insulation, a disabled toilet, new storage shed and new footpaths and we made all those improvements by raising money and getting a loan from the Kinvara Credit Union so we are trying to pay that loan off. “We want to continue the improvements with a new porch, …

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24-stone drop raises €11,000 for Kinvara pitch

THE RTÉ show may have started last week but in Kinvara, a group of 11 men began their Operation Transformation just over six weeks ago and with life-changing results. “Last November, 11 local men approached the club willing to help raise funds for the new pitch development,” explained Michael Bermingham of Kinvara GAA Club. This idea was based on Operation Transformation, so on Saturday, November 23, 10 men weighed in to begin their six-week programme of diet and exercise. Three days later, another man joined their group. The starting weights ranged from 16st 8lbs to 24st 1lb and so the transformation began. “The lads changed habits of a lifetime, exercised and changed how, what and when they ate. The commitment of the 11 lads was so much that they survived Christmas Day and each of the individuals lost weight during Christmas week,” Mr Bermingham outlined. “The final weigh-in was carried out at The Pier Head on Saturday, January 4 and …

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Gort pupils go back to the ’50s

GORT Community School pupils will bring audiences to 1950s America this weekend as they stage the hugely popular musical, Grease. More than 100 pupils have been working hard since September to bring the fictional Rydell High School of more than five decades ago to the stage. The story follows the fortunes of a group of teenagers as they find their way around love, rebellion and growing up and features hit songs including Summer Nights, You’re The One That I Want and Hopelessly Devoted To You. Music teacher Tara O’Carroll is the director and choreographer of the production. “One hundred and four students are involved in the show. Some are on stage, some in the band and others have been involved in different capacities. There will be about 80 students on the stage on each of the nights,” Ms O’Carroll explained. For 17 years, Gort Community School has held concerts to exhibit the musical talents of its pupils but this is …

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