Registration Night for playing Gaelic

March 13, 2012

Registeration night being held for all girls interested in playing gaelic this year. Age groups U12, U14, U16 and Minor. Meeting at Cullentra Centre on Friday the 16th of March from 7pm to 8pm. If there are any inquries please contact 087 641 3660.

Gala Festival Meeting

March 12, 2012

There will be a Festival Meeting on Wednesday, 21st March at 8.30pm. All welcome.

North Leitrim Women’s Centre

March 12, 2012

NORTH LEITRIM WOMEN’S CENTRE:

Helpers needed to raise funds for the North Leitrim Women’s Centre on Good Friday 6th April and Easter Saturday 7th April, bag packing in Dunnes Stores, Cranmore, Sligo. If you could give an hour on either of those days please do contact us on 071 9856220. We really appreciate your help and all funds raised will go towards the running costs of the centre, making sure that the doors stay open.

Glenfarne notes

March 12, 2012

Glenfarne notes

Olde Tyme Dance
There will be a fundraising “Olde Tyme Dance” in The Ballroom of Romance, Glenfarne on Sunday, 18 March. Dancing to “Country Legends”, 9 – 11.30pm. All proceeds to The Rainbow Restoration Fund. Your support is always appreciated.

Glenfarne Community Celebration March 18th
Join historians, musicians, dancers walkers and talkers invited by Glenfarne Development Trust to take part in a community celebration on Thur mountain and in the Rainbow Ballroom Glenfarne.
Recreate the old custom of the people of Cornmore in climbing to the top of Big Thur for music and dancing. If you dont feel like walking, just come to the Rainbow Ballroom from 4.30 for music, dancing, tea and chat with local historians. You will also be able to view the exhibition of showband memorabilia. Bring a musical instrument and your dancing shoes.

Walks depart from the Rainbow and are as follows:
Long hill walk on Thur, departs 11am, duration 5-5.5 hours
Short hill walk on Thur departs 1pm, duration 3.5 – 4 hours, easy pace
History walk in Glenfarne Demesne departs 3pm, duration 1-1.5 hours on paths, easy pace.

Longer version

Come join a celebration of Thur Mountain

Glenfarne Development Trust is having a community day on March 18th in Glenfarne, all welcome. As part of the occasion there will be a revival of the old tradition of the people of Cornmore, town land of Sean MacDiarmada, where walkers once met for a day out on Big Thur with musicians and dancers gathering to celebrate on the top of the mountain.

There are three walks followed by singing, dancing, music and a chance to hear about the local history and traditions. All walks depart from the Rainbow Ballroom Glenfarne. Here are the details

Walk 1, Long Hill walk departs 11am

This walks starts at Blackmountain on the West side of Thur Mountain, It will follow an old bog road for 1km and then enters a very fine example of mountain blanket bog, where the walker will find common
bog plants such as sedges, bog myrtle, ling heather, sphagnum moss and bog cotton. Keep an eye out for mountain birds such as red grouse, sky lark, curlew, wood cock and snipe. You should also find mountain
hares and foxes. The walk will veer South to Cullentragh Lough and then continue for about 2km to the East side of Thur, where there will be spectacular views of Lough McNean. Walkers will then walk Northwest to the summit of Thur, 442 metres (1450ft). Here will be fine views of Sheeaun Mountain and Lough Melvin to the North, Munakill Lake and O’Donnell’s Rock to the South, Manorhamilton and Benbo Mountain. The walkers from both groups will meet on top of Thur for music and dancing (weather permitting)
Duration 5-5½ hours including music on top.

Walk 2, Short Hill walk departs 1 pm
You’ll ascend from the West Barrs side of the mountain on a rough road. The first part is steep but the pace will be easy. You will enjoy stunning views of Lough McNean, Munakill lake, Lough Melvin and even a distant glimpse of Lough Erne. See the stone where the giant left the
track of his seat, hear about the long trek across the mountain to
Kilmakerrill cemetery. Walk to Cullentragh lake and maybe even spot a rare red
grouse. Meet the walkers from the long walk on top of Thur for music and dancing (weather permitting)
3½-4 hours including music on top.

Walk 3, History walk in Glenfarne Demesne, departs 3pm
The terrain is flat and there is a path all the way so this walk is suitable for the not
so fit and for children. Dogs on a lead are also welcome on this walk.
Duration 1-1½

Bring the usual, waterproofs, strong boots for the first two walks, strong shoes ok for the 3rd one. Bring a musical instrument and a change of shoes should you decide to stay on at the Rainbow for the Old Time Dancing to Country Legend at 9pm: http://www.rainbowballroomofromance.ie/

Following the walks, everyone will return to the Rainbow, Glenfarne where more musicians, dancers and historians will join the celebrations over a
cuppa and visitors will also get the chance to peruse the exhibition of show band memorabilia at the Ballroom of Romance.

Glenfarne Social History
Glenfarne / Kiltyclogher G.A.A. Club is currently compiling a social history of the two areas as told by local people. Anyone wishing to contribute or who knows of anyone who may wish to be included should contact Philomena Burns at 071-9853324 or Margaret Keaney at 0719854303.
Bothar
Bothar annual church gate collection takes place on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th March . Bothar are happy to accept old foreign or punt money. Thank you for your support.

St Patricks Day Parade
The Annual Blacklion/Belcoo Saint Patricks Day parade will take place on Sat 17 March from 4 pm, anyone entering a float or Pipe band should come to the starting point of the filling station Blacklion at about 3pm. A large number of clubs, groups, families and businesses have already their names entered, if you wish to put a float in the parade please contact Linda on 086 851 2534 or Sean on 087 224 7517 entry is free. Our local internationally renowned celebrity chef Nevin Maguire will be there on the day with samples of some of his food as well as face painters, musicians and also RTE will have their cameras ready to catch any interesting floats or events, so you might even see yourself on TV later. Murrays that provided the children’s Funfair at the 2011 Fleadh in Cavan will be in the village from Fri 16th to Mon 19th Please come support and enjoy our day.

Coming 30th March
Jimmy Gralton’s Dancehall is coming to The Rainbow Ballroom of Romance on Friday, 30th March 2012. Check out www.rainbowballroomofromance.ie for more details. You can also follow all that’s happening at The Ballroom of Romance on Facebook and Twitter.

Community Notes
Do you have any local news that you would like to share with the community? Glenfarne Development can forward your notices to The Leitrim Observer and include your news on the community website- email info@glenfarnecommunity.com or ‘phone Juliette on 071 9856831.

Alice Flynn – Ireland of My Heart

February 28, 2012

We found this beautiful video on You Tube. There are four in total.

Alice Collette Flynn, who is a great-grandaughter of Peter Flynn and Bridget Keaveney Flynn, Glenfarne has given us her permission to put it on The Glenfarne and The Rainbow websites, also Facebook.

Many thanks to Alice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqeR30zkO5I

 

AGM Reminder

February 27, 2012

The Annual General Meeting of Glenfarne Community Development Trust Ltd will take place in Cullentragh Centre on Tuesday, 28th February at 8pm. All residents of Glenfarne are welcome to attend and we would appreciate a good turnout.

For One Night Only! A Show! A Dance! A Live Band! Tea and Buns!

February 24, 2012

Jimmy Gralton’s Dancehall is a celebration through art, theatre, music and dance of the vision and spirit of Leitrim’s Jimmy Gralton. Tickets €5 (conc. €3)

The story: Jimmy Gralton returned from New York to his homeplace Effernagh Co. Leitrim in 1921. He organised the building of a community hall in a field of his father’s. When he wouldn’t give control of the hall to the Catholic clergy, he was denounced from the pulpit and people were warned to stay away. It became an extremely popular dancehall.

In 1932 opposition to Jimmy Gralton’s Dancehall grew. One night, the hall was raked with gunfire while a dance was on. On Christmas Eve night 1932, it was burned down. Soon a deportation warrant was issued against Jimmy Gralton. He went into hiding. He was captured in August 1933 and deported as “an undesirable alien”. He died in New York in 1945.

The artists creating Jimmy Gralton’s Dancehall are musicians Seamie O’Dowd, Rossa Ó Snodaigh, Dee Armstrong, Seanan Brennan, Dan Bodwell, Margo Barrow, Ciarán Wilde and Brian Fleming, visual artists Jackie McKenna and Édaín O’Donnell, theatre artists Sorcha Fox, Des Braiden and Donal O’Kelly, as well as a hot group of swing dancers.

Swing dance class with Paul Neary of Galway Swing in Source, Sligo, 11am-2pm, Sat 3rd March! Only €10! Have fun learning the Charleston and the shim-sham! And come and be a part of Jimmy Gralton’s Dancehall in the Rainbow Ballroom Glenfarne, on Friday 30th March.

Jimmy Gralton’s Dancehall is a metaphor for what Ireland might be, a place where people are welcome to dance in a spirit of respect for civil liberties, named after the only Irishman deported as an undesirable alien, Jimmy Gralton.

Jimmy Gralton’s Dancehall, a place where everyone has a right to dance and a solid floor to dance on.

Jimmy Gralton’s Dancehall is supported by an Arts Council Theatre Development grant, by Foras na Gaeilge, and by the peace and justice organisation Afri.

Further information: Sorcha Fox 086 8413270 Donal O’Kelly 087 6734773 Email benboproductions@gmail.com

Produced by Benbo Productions, Jimmy Gralton’s Dancehall premiered in the Leitrim Sculpture Centre Manorhamilton on 20th January 2012, where it received a rapturous reception.

Flower Arranging Class

February 22, 2012

Get creative with your flower arrangements
For St. Patricks weekend and Easter

Wednesday 7th March 8-10pm
North Leitrim Women’s Centre

Cost €20 including materials

To book your place contact The Women’s Centre on 071 98 56220 or email nlwrg@eircom.net