January '03 News
It's All Smiles at Youthreach!
Over two hundred people were present at the ceremony to confer certificates
and awards on students of Youthreach, Education Centre, Letterfrack, which
took place just before Christmas. People there to witness the proceedings
included students' families and friends as well as many representatives
from business, voluntary groups and Galway County Council. Kevin Walsh,
Chairperson of Galway County Vocational Education Committee (VEC) was
among the guests, as were the VEC¹s Chief Executive Officer, Philip
Cribbin, and Deputy CEO, Sean McLaughlin, who were also able to see an
exhibition of students' work.
Clifden Community School 'Basket
cases' Win Special Young Scientist Award
Clifden Community school has won a special Award in the Esat BT Young
Scientist Awards held in the RDS, Dublin. This year saw over 900 schools
submitting entries for the Esat BT Young Scientist Awards. Of these only
480 were accepted, which included nine schools from Co Galway. Among the
nine was Clifden Community School's first year group of four girls, Aoife
Brady, Siona de Lappe, Eithne Mullen and Claire Mullen, under the guidance
of their science teacher Ms Olivia Staunton. This group of four decided
in September to submit their project titled, "Are We Basket Cases?
- The Versatile Willow in Ireland".
St. Caillín's day Celebrations
Each November, St Caillín's Well, at Errismore, near Slyne Head,
Ballyconneely, attracts visitors and pilgrims who come to come to pray
in honour of St Caillin, the local patron saint of fishermen. In times
past, celebrations went on for three days at a time, with house dances
going on all night until morning. Nowadays, November 13th, St. Caillin's
Day is a more measured occasion and people visit the well and do the Stations,
which are often performed in bare feet. Than, as now, local people leave
their doors open to strangers on St Caillín's night.
Roundstone Report by Richard
de Stacpoole
THE NEW YEAR! Well, we are truly into the New Year, even though Roundstone
is really deserted for the time being. Martin J. and Michael Conneely
have taken down the Christmas trees and lights in the village and things
have started to settle down and it is business as usual. The Roundstone
Development Council have had the first of the New Year's meeting and the
agenda included ideas for further projects for the year. The Marina Committee
also met on Wednesday 15th January. News and updates will be given on
this project as the weeks follow.
West Coast Utd. Report by
Paul Gannon
Tuam Celtic 1 - West Coast United 3 (26.1.03)
West Coast United saved their best performance of the season for Celtic
Park, Tuam, on Sunday last, when they comprehensively outplayed the joint
leaders recording an emphatic win in the process. This was West Coast¹s
first away win of the season and it¹s also the first time they¹ve
ever beaten Tuam Celtic at Tuam during their eighteen year history.