CHILDCARE CENTRE: Crossabeg community Childcare centre welcomed its first clients to its new facility at Sion on Monday, August 30.Located close to the primary school it caters for children of all ages from 6 months to 12 years. The centre which opens from 8.30 a.m to 6 p.m daily provides services ranging from pre-school to full day care to after school care.

For further information or to avail of the facility, parents can contact the centre manager Ali O'Connor on 91-28000 or email childcarecrossabeg @eircom.net.

55+ CLUB

Crossabeg's 55+ club wil reopen its doors on Tuesday, September 7.

The members meet at Kyle Forge from 2-4 p.m. weekly on a Tuesday with all the usual activities. New members are always welcome.

The club is preparing for their trip to Westport, Co. Mayo, which takes place on Sunday, September 19. The bus will depart from Crossabeg church at 9 a.m. Due to cancellations there are a few seats now available, so if you are interested in travelling, please contact Mary on 0872737233 for further details.

NEW ARRIVALS

We send our congratulations and good wishes to David and Suzanne Cullimore, `Silver Mist`, The Deeps, on the recent birth of a baby daughter.

Congratulations to Siobhan and Johnny Cloney, Kyle, on the birth on Friday last of their first born, a son.

DANCING CLASSES

Irish dancing classes in Castlebridge community centre on Mondays at 4.30 p.m. commencing on September 6.

WEDDING BELLS

Congratulations and every good wish for the future to Michelle, youngest daughter of Philomena and the late Michael, Garrywilliam, Crossabeg, on the occasion of her marriage on Friday of last week to Mr. Tom Dalton which took place at Crossabeg church.

Congratulations to Aodhain, daughter of Aidan and Eleanor Power, Turkyle, Ballymurn, on the occasion of her marriage to Graham Scallan, Newcastle Upper, Crossabeg, which took place on August 7 last.

ATHLETICS NEWS

St. Killians AC will recommence training tomorrow evening, Thursday, September 2. The training will be at the new Crossabeg/ Ballymurn community field in Crossabeg and training is from 7-8.15 p.m. The training is for boys and girls aged 11 years and upwards.

As of next week, training will be on Monday and Thursday evenings from 7-8.15 p.m. until further notice. The cost is €2 per child and maximum of €5 per family. Newcomers most welcome.

WHIST

Results of play at the community centre last week as follows:

Polly Maher (top score) ;Kathleen Higgins (1st gent) ;Frances Morris (2nd gent); Pat Sexton (3rd gent); Mary-Anne Dunne (1st lady); Stella Nolan (2nd lady); Kathleen McDonald (3rd lady); Michael Galvin (best half gents); Caitriona Cullen (best half ladies); Trish Furlong (last 3 games gents); Nellie Donegan (last 3 games ladies); Lily Devine (hatchers); Joe Delany (lowest score); Joan Pierce, Trish Furlong, Kathleen Hayes, Mollie Murphy, Michael Galvin (raffle).

STRESS MANAGEMENT

A 6 week fun approach to stress management programme will take place in Kyle Forge. It will be delivered by a local lady, Patricia Byrne, who is an experienced lecturer.

If you are interested please go along to the Forge on Wednesday, September 15 at 8 p.m. Contact Patricia on 086-244086 or Mary Fox on 086-8722866 for further details. All are welcome.

COMMUNITY GAMES

Over the weekend of August 20-22 a group of youngsters representing the Castlebridge/Crossabeg Community Games area participated in the national finals in Athlone IT.

We congratulate all the children who performed to the best of their abilities against the best in the country. Competition was of the highest standard over the weekend and medals were hard to come by.

However, the area did have success with Conor Devereux and Bill Eviston (Crossabeg) taking home the bronze medals in the Under 16 Marathon. The boys worked as a team with the other members James Kells from Enniscorthy and Adam Horan from the Bree/Davidstown area and Conor came home in 10th place, followed by James in 14th, Adam in 16th and Bill in 20th to see them clinch a very good bronze medal. Well done lads.

Peter O`Shea from Ballybeg, Screen, won a fourth place Medallion in the under 12 Ball Throw with a final throw of over 61 metres. Peter is a newcomer to athletics and although he has thrown further than this, nevertheless this was a superb performance by him and we look forward to seeing him in action in the coming years.

The area also had Mikey Cullen competing in the Under 14 Long Jump competition, but alas he did not make it to the last 8 jumps while Jane Shovlin had to withdraw through illness from the 100M under 14 event.

A team of Aoife O`Keeffe, Rianna Cullen, Katie-Anne Neville, Damien Reck, Ronan Devereux and Evan Kinlough competed in the under 13 Mixed Relay event. The team came through their Heat and progressed to the semi-final where they lost out on a place in the final. Nevertheless a very good team performance by the youngsters.

SOCCER

Crossabeg AFC teams are back in action. The first junior games of the new season took place on Sunday last with the A team defeating Cloughbawn 1-0 with Conor Keeling scoring the all important goal; the B team defeated The Ballagh 31 with goals coming from Mick Codd, Mark Holohan and James Carley while the C team lost out 2-0 to Stoney Rovers.

FIT FOR LIFE CLASSES

Fit for life classes continue on Wednesdays from 8-9 p.m in Ballymurn hall. An excellent class for all fitness levels under the care of a fully qualified instructor. Excellent class with guaranteed results. Newcomers welcome. Contact Debbie on 086-8122535 for further details.

FAMILY FUN DAY

The sun brought out the supporters at the first family fun-day for the community of Crossabeg/Ballymurn on Sunday afternoon last. Not only was there a lot of fun but it was also a useful fundraiser for the local committee.

Billy Walsh was on hand to perform the official opening and that proved to be a great attraction, At the end of the day he and his wife Christine found it difficult to get out of the field such were the number of people waiting to shake his hand and stop for a chat.

The Chairman welcomed all present and had a special word for Billy and Christine as well as Fr. Jim Finn, PP who blessed the grounds and all those who would use them. Billy acknowledged the work of the committee poinitng out that it was a great achievement for a rural community and a great facilitty to have in the parish.

As a mark of appreciation the Chairman presented a token of thanks to Billy and a bouquet of flowers to Christine. All stalls and stands were sold out and the committee expressed their thanks to all the supporters.

The Chairman had a special word of thanks for Trinity Hire who provided the generator, to Michael Cummins for the scaffolding, to the barbeque team who never got a break all day, the Gardai and all who helped out and made it possible. The walking track is now open and all are welcome to use it and there is no charge for same.

LADIES FOOTBALL

Crossabeg/ Ballymurn Ladies football club would like to thank everyone who helped out with their bag packing fundraiser last weekend and also those who supported their social night in Foleys. By all accounts this was a most enjoyable occasion.

The ladies junior A team are playing their championship final on Sunday next, September 5 at 10.30 a.m in Wexford Park where their opponents will be Gusserane. The U12s are playing their semi final on Saturday next, September 4 at 11 a.m and they will take on Ballyhogue in Ballyhogue. Best of luck to both teams.

GAA NEWS

Crossabeg/ Ballymurn GAA club had no winner of last weeks Lotto jackpot and one match three winner, Margaret Doyle, Ballylucas. The numbers drawn were 7, 20, 23 and 27. This week's jackpot is €9,400.

Congratulations to the junior B hurlers who beat Kilmore in the District final last Thursday. Playing with the wind in the first half Crossabeg/Ballymurn got off to an early 0-5 to 0-0 lead. However midway through the first half Kilmore fought back to level terms (1-5 to 2-2). It was all Crossabeg/Ballymurn for the rest of the half and they lead 1-12 to 2-2 going into the break.

In the second half Crossabeg/Ballymurn stretched their lead by 12 points (217 to 2-5) but Kilmore came back with three goals to close the gap. However Crossabeg/Ballymurn deservedly held on to win on a score line of 3-17 to 5-5. It was a good team performance with everyone working hard for the victory.

The team consisted of CJ Murphy, Brian O'Connor, Jimmy White, Daithi Redmond, Matt Sludds (0-1 free) Michael A. Doyle, David Scallan, Robert Corish, Mark Roche, David Bury (1-1) Sean Kehoe (capt 0-1), Josh Whitehead, Jim O'Leary (0-1) Liam Kehoe (0-9, 0-8 frees) Kevin Sludds (2-4) and the subs introduced were Seamus Carroll for J. O'Leary, Emmet Kehoe, John Sludds, Sean O'Connor and Michael Redmond. Well done to the players and their mentors D. McDonald, Felie Cummins and Gerry Bernard.

The U18 hurlers play Carrig Rua Gaels in the semi final on Friday next, September 3 in Monamolin at 6.45 p.m. The U16 footballers play either Gorey or Ballyhogue at home in the semi final on Tuesday next, September 7 at 7 p.m, while the U14 hurlers play Taghmon away in the semi final on Saturday September 4 at 12.30 p.m. Best of luck to all teams. Please give them your support. The U12 hurlers played Blackwater at home on Tuesday.

The Beginners, U8s and U10s train on Tuesday evenings at 6.30 p.m in the pitch and new players are welcome. Thanks to all who helped the underage section with their bag pack fund raising last Thursday.

CHURCH NEWS

Daily Masses on Wednesday and Friday mornings at 9.30 a.m. Adoration every Monday from 2-7 p.m. Confessions on Saturday morning at 10.30 a.m. Friday next is the First Friday of the month and the sick and housebound of the parish will be visited as usual.

STORY HOUSE

The next session at Kyle Forge takes place on Sunday next, September 5 at 8 p.m. No admission and refreshments are also served.

IRISH MUSIC

A reminder that the next session of traditional music playing takes place at Kyle Forge to-morrow evening, Thursday (September 2) If you would like to listen to good music or even bring your own instrument along, then you would be most welcome.

YOUTH CLUB

Registration night for members of Crossabeg Youth club will take place on Friday, September 10 at 8.30 p.m in the community centre. The club will hold their annual general meeting on Friday, September 21 at 8.30 p.m in the community centre.

ITEMS FOR COLUMN

Send those reports or news items to redcow2@eircom.net by Sunday evening or by 12 noon on a Friday in the event of a bank holiday weekend. You can also contact Anne on 086-1980775.