DIAMOND ANnIVERSARY: We wish to add our congratulations to the many received by Sean & Tess McGuinness,Drumboy Mohill who celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with family and friends at Lough Rynn Castle Hotel last weekend. It was a momentous occasion thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended. Sean and Tess as you celebrated this special milestone in your life’s journey may you always know how much happiness you bring to the lives of those around you and may you always remember how much you are loved. Wishing you all the blessings and happiness you deserve now and for many more years to come.

MONTHS MIND: The months mind mass for the late Nancy McGivney Kiltyclough will be celebrated at 8pm on Friday 17 Feb in Holy Trinity Church Ballinalee.

Fine Gael: The annual General meeting of the Killoe branch will be held in the old Forge on Monday night 20 February at 9pm. All members please attend, new members welcome. Local Councillor will also be present.

Local news for your area

BLOOD DONORS: There is an opportunity to give blood at the IBTS mobile clinic in St Brigids Community Centre, Loch Gowna Wednesday 14th March 2012 & Thursday 15th March 2012 from 5pm – 8.30pm.Please note days & clinic opening times. Help ensure essential blood supplies are always available by giving blood regularly. For further details please contact our lo-call donor information line 1850- 731137 or John Healy ,area manager at our Ardee Regional office 041 6859994 or www.giveblood.ie.

CLOTHING COLLECTION: A clothing collection will take place in St Marys NS Finea on Wed 15 Feb next. Anyone wishing to contribute clothing may bring them along anytime during the week please.

WATER CHARGES: No water charges for well owners. Domestic well owners in county Leitrim can breathe a sigh of relief after the European Commission confirmed that those who use their own wells for their water supply will not have to pay a further water tax. It had been feared that a European Directive would lead to the imposing of a flatrate levy or metered fee on well owners. But this has been averted. However the position in relation to those on private water schemes is not as clear cut. Many householders in rural Leitrim are on such schemes and a significant number pay between 60 euro and 100 euro a year for their water supply. Many people are asking the question are we ruled now by Europe and telling us what we should and not do, the recent case of not allowing the Irish people to cut and win their own turf which has been done for hundreds and if not thousands of years by generations. Many wonder what Irish people would have done if this terrible rule was to be had in the war years when no coal or oils were coming into Ireland . People would die of cold. The government should not stand idly by and let this happen to the Irish people.

FEAST OF ST MEL: Tuesday last 7th February was the feast of St Mel. He is said to have been a Briton who came to Ireland with St Patrick,his uncle with whom he worked until he was ordained in Ardagh.He is one of the earliest Irish saints and gave the religious veil to Saint Brigid. He is the patron Saint of our diocese and is commemorated in the name of our cathedral in Longford. He died in 488.

DEATH: The late Mrs Paricia O’Neill. The death ocurrd onnFRiday Jan 27last oa St Canullas Nursing Home Killiucan of Mrs ParickO’Neill nee Murtagh ‘The farm” Dubbllin Rd castlepollard and a nativee off Williamstown Finnea.patsy as she was affectoanttely known passd away pafeefullly folowing a l;ong illness bravely borne an will be saddly misssd. Of a very pleasant & inoffeensive dispotiion,she was a wondefful caring person who hellpeedouuttinmany paish activvitiies &other eevents reglarly. Heer reemaiins were removedto St Michaels Church,, Castlapollard on Sat evenning at 7.300pm,.Burial took pplace inlocal cemetery followinng requiem mass the nxt mmorrniing at 11.30am.the atndance at bboth remmoval & funneal waas very larrge & wuidely respesenntauve of the esteem in which the late Patsy was held. Deepest sympathy is extended to her loving husband Eugene sons Martin Finbar Joseph & Eoin daughter Claire sisters Mary Margaret Lily & Catherine,grandchildren daughters in law nephews nieces & extended family. May she rest in peace.

DEATH OF MRS MARY BRIGID MURRAY: There is widespread regret in the area and surrounding parishes at the death of Mrs Mary Brigid Murray,Gortermone Carrigallen which has occurred at the general hospital Cavan following a brief illness with cancer which she kept on the bright side at all time going about her usual work and looking after her beautiful garden of flowers and her beautiful home in which she was so proud of. Known to her numerous friends and neighbours as Mary B. She made friends easily which were to last and made many visits to all her neighbours to see could she do something to help them. She endeared herself to everyone after her marriage to her late husband Noel, the couple emigrated to England for a number of years and returned later to Longford and he was employed by the ESB for a number of years. After his retirement the couple and family returned to Mary Bs native Gortermone for to look after her ageing parents which she adored. Her hobbies included gardening ballroom dancing and bingo in which 4 generations attend namely her late mother Brigid herself daughter Cathleen and granddaughter Cathleen and on Sunday at Carrigallen bingo there was a minutes silence as a mark of respect in her honour. May her gentle soul RIP. She was predeceased by her husband Noel parents and brother Eugene. Sympathy is extended to her daughters Mrs Mary Murray, Manchester England, Mrs Cathleen Curran Corrigan, Mrs Judy Mulligan, Lanesboro Co Longford, brother Mr Tommy McIntyre Wales 13 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. The removal of remains and funeral following requiem mass in Saint Marys church Carrigallen was very large and representative. Very Rev D Murray PP officiated. Burial took place in adjoining cemetery.

CLASSES: Pilates classes will take place on Wednesday evening in the Canon Donohoe Hall Mohill from 7pm till 8pm.

ST PATRICKS CHURCH: The Ministers of the Eucharist for February 2012 are on Saturday Rose Keegan Irene Reynolds. Sunday Theresa O’Callaghan Roisin Keegan. Readers Saturday Rosalyn McCrann David Logan. Sunday Kathy Keegan Ciara Keegan Collectors Saturday Stephen Flynn Eamonn Connolly Jim Rogers Sylvestor Kivlehan David Gordan Brian Faughnan Peader Flynn. Sunday Gerry Walsh Tim Slevin Tony Feeley Eileen Boyle Michael McGrath Tom Cusack Sean McGowan . The altar Society for February are Helen Faughnan Bridie McIntyre. There are important celebrations this week wednesday 1st February Feast of St Brigid Thursday 2nd feast of the Presentation, candles will be blessed at 10am Mass Eucharistic adoration 10.30am – 10pm. Friday 3rd feast of St Blaise throats will be blessed at the 10am mass. It is also the First Friday. The usual arrangements for Masses and confession. The sick and housebound will be attended. Confessions after 10am mass on Thursday ,Friday mass 10am – 8pm.

LOTTO: 7,17,18,19. No jackpot winner. 5 X 20 euro Sean McEoin, Patrick Brady Tullybawn; Mary Tully Carron; Eilish Carrigy Seamus Hughes Whitehall. Sellers prize Dessie Lennon. Jackpot 3600 euro.

CONDOLENCE: Sincere sympathy is extended to the Miller families Scotland, Bridie Browne and families Treanlawn Killoe, Burke families Clifden, Co Galway on the sad bereavement of Bridie’s sister Mary Miller (nee Burke late of Clifden, Co Galway) who was laid to rest last week. Burial was held in Scotland. May she rest peacefully.

Community Charity shop: Are looking for any unwanted clothes, shoes, handbags and bric a brac for there shop in ballymahon. We are also pleased to offer an ironing service. Mini Marathon Training now takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from Skelly’s in Ballymahon. We are looking for people to take part in the event to raise funds for the local community groups. Sponsor cards are available from Richard in the shop or phone 09064 52615 for more details.

CLONDRA VILLAGE ENHANCEMENT PROJECT: The Trails element has now been completed by Matt Burke, Ivo Brett and Humphrey Murphy. Many thanks Matt for organising this. The remaining parts of the plan need to be put together so we are asking everyone involved to come to a meeting in the Old School on Tuesday 7th February at 8.30. It is important that the whole project be completed promptly. Many other issues emerged at the exhibition in November and these will be looked at in the coming months. Hopefully it will be possible to implement as many as possible. Help is always needed so anyone who is free to offer any time would be welcome at our meetings.

CONGRATULATIONS: Congratulations to Ciara and Kevin Lyons Sharavogue on the recent birth of their first baby, a bouncing baby boy called Darragh. Congratulations are also extended to the proud grandparents Celine and Gerry O’Rourke.

KILCOMMOCK: Plot holders and committee members are asked to come to the cemetery on Saturday next February 4th at 2pm to share ideas and discuss the future of the cemetery and do a little clean up especially on plots where there is no one left to care for them. Some work has been done on an extension to the existing graveyard. We understand that extra land has been secured for the proposed extension but work seems to have come to a standstill possibly due to lack of funds. Longford County Council don’t appear to be interested in bringing the project any further so it remains for the local community to provide funding and voluntary work to complete the job.

FIRST FRIDAY: This Friday is the first Friday of February and Holy Communion calls to the sick and housebound will take place at the usual times on Thursday and Friday mornings. Friday is also the Feast of St Blaise and blessing of the throat at morning mass at 10am in Legan and St Annes Ballycloghan at 7pm.

ELECTION FEVER: Sixty four years ago this week the Irish electorate were caught up in a welter of excitement as voters visited their polling station to cast their votes in the country’s general election. The Fianna Fail party led by Eamon de Valera had completed sixteen years in office having been first elected to power in 1932 and returned to office in the general election of 1933 1938 and 1943 and 1944. But shrewd political commentators confidently predicted that a change of government was imminent. They based their prediction of the widely held belief that the recently founded Clann na Poblachta party led by Sean McBride were sweeping the country and receiving massive support in all constituencies. In Ballinagh and surrounding districts there was enormous interest in the campaign mainly due to the fact that three candidates whose names would be on the ballad paper were regarded as local. Outgoing Cavan Fianna Fail Deputy Michael Sheridan - a native of Drumcrow had served the constituency for all of sixteen years having been first elected in 1932. Patrick O’Reilly from Castlepoles representing the Cavan farmers party who was contesting his first election and captain Peader Cowan Solr representing Clann na Poblachta and seeking a seat in a Dublin constituency. The campaign which lasted all of six weeks is generally regarded as the most fiercely contested in the history of the state. Election rallys were held every night in all towns and villages with large gatherings assembled at all venues to hear the candidates of all parties speak. After Mass meeting on Sunday mornings outside churches were fully availed of by candidates. On occasion town candidates of opposing parties would arrive to a church and this could lead to heated exchanges between the speakers with each endeavouring to ‘speak first’. Monthly fairs were held in the majority of towns and villages and here farmers would offer livestock (cattle horses sheep and pigs) for sale and political parts availed of this opportunity to address the agricultural sector. In those days heckling of speakers ad shouting abusive comments often led to ugly scenes among rival supporters. The efforts to secure the very last votes continued up to polling day on Wednesday February 4th with polling stations open from 9am to 9pm. On Thursday morning Cavan courthouse the court centre for the Cavan constituency was a hive of activity as the checking of ballot boxes under the supervision of the returning officer Mr John P Dowd and his staff got under way. Throughout the day there were rumours and counter rumours of candidates ‘doing well’ and of others in difficulty.The approach of midnight saw final results announced in Cavan with the four successful candidates Patrick Smith FF outgoing minister for agriculture Sean Tully (Clann na Pobblachta) Michael Sheridan (FF) and Patrick O’Reilly (Cavan Farmers party). In Ballinagh there were scenes of jubilation and a massive bonfire as news filtered through that the three candidates already described as local had all been elected the 13th Dail. It was the early hours of Sunday before final counts were completed when the new Dail assembled on Wednesdays 18th February the change predicted became a reality as Fine Gael Deputy John A Costelloe was elected Taoiseach with the Labour party leader and Deputy for Carlow Kildare Wiliam Norton named Tanaiste and Minster for Social Welfare. The Cavan constituency did not have a voice at the cabinet table but deputies from our two neighbouring constituencies received ministerial appointments. General Sean MacEoin the legendary blacksmith of Ballinalee and Fine Gael Deputy for Longford Westmeath was named Minister for Justice and Independent Deputy and poll topper in Monaghan James M Dillon appointed Minister for Agriculture. And so the curtain came down on what is generally regarded as the most hard fought general election in the history of Irish Free State