Enrolments are currently being taken for Kilmagner National School for September 2012. Please ring the school on (025) 36802 between 11.30 am and 2.00 pm to obtain an enrolment form.

✿ Spring is in the air and to get everyone in the “Spring Mood” Kitty Scully , Horticulturist of RTE’s “HOW TO CREATE A GARDEN SERIES” will give a talk and demonstration on “Springing the Veggie Garden Into Action” and seed sowing and lots more. This is an event not to be missed and to have someone like Kitty Scully coming to the Club is a very big bonus for the new Year. Remember the date and everyone welcome.

✿ The Chairman and Officers will launch the 2012 Diary shortly and after a very brief preview, it would appear that the Club have a very exciting year ahead.

✿ New members very welcome.

Due to popular demand Avondhu Blackwater Community Connect will deliver basic computer training to older people and those in receipt of jobseekers benefit. The training will begin on Mon. 23rd January from 10am to 12 noon with a second class beginning at 2pm til 4pm. The course will be delivered at the Avondhu Blackwater office, The Showgrounds, Fermoy with plenty of individual attention. Choose from internet and e-mail, search the web, learn how to download your digital photographs, pay your car tax online or use Skype.

Delivered in three two-hourly classes, contact Mary at 025-33411 or give your name to Avondhu Blackwater Office,The Showgrounds, Fermoy.

The Barrymore Players production team of the new musical and drama extravaganza are looking for singers, musicians, dancers and anyone wishing to take part in drama.   This show will be staged in March and rehearsals will commence soon. This will be an exciting new venture for the Drama Group   Anyone wishing to be part of this production please contact any member of the Drama Group or 087 7403616.  Please note age limit is from Transition Year upwards.

The Picnic Park
The overhanging trees have finally been cut and pruned back thanks to Cork Co. Council. The geese and ducks have survived the danger period and they seem to be in great form because of it. Unfortunately Gussie, our gander, seems to have become a law unto himself. Having avoided the Christmas dinner Gussie seems to be revelling in his new found freedom so much so that he has laid claim to the picnic park and its environs and does not take kindly to trespassers!!! Several people have commented how he patrols the area and can be “intimidating” to say the least to would be feeders. Apparently he’s getting ready for the breeding season and is protecting his harem (Molly and Polly). It was agreed to put up signs to warn people of the problem and the possibility of fencing off some of the park will also be considered.

Yet another mink was seen in the park recently but with Gussie on patrol …..

The Website
A discussion also took place about having a website page for votes of sympathy and condolences for deaths in the parish and outside. Sinéad is to be contacted to see if this would be possible. Some felt that inadvertently leaving someone out could be a problem but in general it was felt that it would be a nice personal touch from the community to those bereaved.

Formation of a Youth Group
The Community Council are organising a meeting on Thursday Jan. 26th to try to form a youth group for the teenagers in the parish. The meeting will commence at 8pm and it is hoped that as many parents and/or 12-18 year olds as possible will attend. It would be great if enough people will get involved to help with outings and social nights for our teenagers especially during the winter months. We have contacted both Rathcormac and Conna youth clubs and both have very successful and active groups. We are especially looking for feedback on the night as to what teenagers would be looking for from such a group and what can be provided. It is a relatively safe and good community in which we live and this should not be taken for granted. Putting some time and effort into supporting our teenagers would be a priceless investment for any community.

Housing for the Elderly
A meeting of the above sub-committee is to be arranged shortly to discuss the future of the field and the group itself. Government funding will not be forthcoming for the foreseeable future and the project will need to be put on hold. More details after the Feb. meeting.

Superdraw
The next Superdraw will take place at the Abbey Bar on Sat. 28th Jan. at 9pm. All tickets and money to be dropped at the Community Centre on the previous Wed. night (Jan. 25th at 8.30pm) .No lines will be sold on the night and the last chance to buy a line in the draw proper will be the Feb. draw. Your continued support is very much appreciated and we apologise if we have missed calling to anyone. You can still purchase a line from any member of the Community Council for €10 per month.

Musical Extravaganza
A musical extravaganza by our own Barrymore Players will take place on Sat. and Sun. March 24/25th. More details later. Keep your diary free.

Treasurers Report
James Parker reported that the loan repayment now stands at €75,150 and this should reduce more as the Superdraw goes on.

February Meeting
The next monthly meeting takes place on Wed Feb 1st at 8.30pm at the Community Centre.

The Community Council are organising a meeting on Thursday Jan 26th to try to form a youth group for the teenagers in the parish. The meeting will commence at 8pm and it is hoped that as many parents and/or 12-18 year olds as possible will attend.

It would be great if enough people will get involved to help with outings and social nights for our teenagers especially during the winter months. We have contacted both Rathcormac and Conna youth clubs and both have very successful and active groups.

We are especially looking for feedback on the night as to what teenagers would be looking for from such a group and what can be provided. It is a relatively safe and good community in which we live and this should not be taken for granted. Putting some time and effort into supporting our teenagers would be a priceless investment for any community.

Christmas Masses
Christmas Eve     –    Castlelyons 7.30pm,       Coolagown 8pm

 
Christmas Day       –        Coolagown 10am,      Castlelyons 11.30am

Confessions
Christmas Eve      –       Castlelyons 11 – 11.30am,           Coolagown  12 – 12.30pm

There will be no Eucharistic Adoration this week.

Last night (Sat Dec 17th) the second monthly Super Draw took place at the Community Centre bar. Those that turned  up were treated to tasty refreshments and it was a lovely festive night.  As per last  month once the balls were counted and checked Seamus Geary along with other Community Council representatives got the draw under way. The hope at the moment is to reduce the current Community loan of €70,000 down  to €50,000 by the end of  the 12 months of this years draw (Oct 2012), and judging by the great support this draw is receiving we are very confident of achieving this. Thank you for your support.

The winner of the €1000 went to Noel Shinnick, Ballyhooly – seller was Michael Greaney, Castlelyons – well done to all – a very nice early Christmas present!   The full list of winners is as follows;

€1000 -Noel Shinnick, Ballyhooly

€500 – “The Desperate Housewives”, Castleleyons

€100 – Tríona O’Connor, Ballyhooly

€100 – Kevin O’Leary, Main Street, Castlelyons

€100 – Reinder & Siobhán Kouwenberg, Coole, Castlelyons

€100 – Eileen O’Doherty, Abbeylands, Castlelyons

€100 – Castlelyons Juvenile GAA Club

The January draw takes place on Sat January 27th. at the Abbey Bar.  Lines are €10/month and available from any Community Centre representative. Thank you again for your continued support.

"Desperate Houswives!" - €500 Winners - Siún, Ailish, Sinéad, Therese, Yvonne, Lourde and Lisa

Patsy Collins and Maureen Spillane drawing out the numbers.

Patsy Collins and Seamus Sexton drawing out the numbers.

Patsy Collins and Donal Quirke drawing out the numbers.

Some of the crowd at Decembers Super Draw in Community Centre Bar

Patsy Collin and Winnie Hallihan drawing out more numbers at December Super draw

A small attendance turned up at last nights (Dec.7th) monthly meeting. The issue of trimming the trees at the picnic park again came up and the chairman informed the meeting that he was awaiting clarification from Cork Co. Council before this could go ahead.

The staging of a “Cork Makes It” exhibition or similar event is to be looked into for the coming year.

With regard to the formation of a youth club, adult volunteers coming on board as supervisors is a big issue with only one person putting their name forward from the November newsletter report. It was then suggested that maybe a few bus outings a year to a cinema, Mahon Point, etc could be arranged rather than going down the formal route of forming a youth club and organising meetings. In any case it was felt that providing a social outlet for our teenagers was a good idea and if there are any interested youth or adults who would like to get involved in the formation of a youth group please contact any member of the Community Council or e-mail admin@castlelyonsparish.com and hopefully something positive will come out of the venture.

The Trout Angling club were thanked for the riverside clean-up which they undertook over the last couple of weeks thus lessening any flood risk.

Lines for the Superdraw can still be bought with 11 monthly draws still remaining. chairman thanked all the individuals who had bought lines and the sub-committees and sports groups who also supported the draw. The next draw (Dec) is on at the Community Centre lounge at 9pm on Sat Dec 17th with refreshments available for all who wish to attend. Thank you to those people who have offered to make sandwiches etc. It is hoped that the Community Council sub-committees will also come along on the night and especially of course our ticket sellers who have worked so hard over the last 6 weeks. A meeting to hand in money for the Dec draw will take place next Wed night at 8.30pm at the Community Centre please have all money and lines sold, in for this night.

For the new year all sub-committees will be asked for a report at each monthly meeting to inform people of what is happening in their various groups and also a treasurers report once a year. It was pointed out that the Community Council being the governing body would be liable for any debts incurred by sub-committees unable to pay these.

The parish website is steadily increasing in popularity with both Youtube and Facebook also being used more and more. The chairman commented that the success of the website will depend on news items continually being sent in on a regular basis and this was now happening with clubs and groups using the facility more and more. He also asked all groups to send in meeting/event cancellations (not just bookings) as the website is now becoming a one-stop shop for all parish information. Sinéad Hickey was thanked for her input into the website along with our sponsors East Cork Oil and McDonnell Bros.

The issue of the Housing for the Elderly project was raised as a few parishoners had brought it up during the door to door ticket selling campaign. It was felt that this needed to be discussed in the new year and a final decision taken on the future plans and uses for the field.  All associated costs need to be finalised and the issue put to bed.

The first meeting of 2012 will be held on Wed Jan 4th at 8.30pm at the Community Centre.

Coolagown Development Group Prize winners in Christmas Draw

 1st – Mrs C Caplice, Ballytrasna

2nd – Dave Coughlan, Garrynoe

3rd – Mrs Joan Mulcahy, Currabeha

4th – Jim Sheehan, Corrin

5th – Mrs A Hegarty, Glenarouske

6th – Mary Daly, Ballyhampshire

7th – Mrs C Caplice, Ballytrasna

8th – Ml Spillane, Ballyoran

We wish to thank all who supported us and those who sold tickets, Wishing everyone a Holy Christmas and a happy New Year