Moate Matters

Tony Drago Exhibition: "The Tornado" or "Maltese Falcon" Tony Drago will be appearing in The Auld Shebeen, Moate on Thursday, February 26th. On this day from 8pm, Tony will play 12 local players in a series of short matches. There will be a number of competitions held around the county. Win one of these to book your match with Tony, for your chance to play Tony contact Robert Malynn at 086 3769452 or Liam Claffey at 087 2499800. Midland Intermediate Alliance The Midland Intermediate Alliance outing in Glasson which is cancelled for February 8 has been rescheduled to Glasson on February 22. Friends of St Lukes The Friends of St Lukes have organised a dinner dance in the Shamrock Lodge will take place in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel on Saturday next. Dinner is at 8pm followed by dancing to Streetwise. Tickets are available in Hartens Gift Shop and your support would be appreciated. For further details please contact Paula Finan at 085 1676083. Ireland France International Tickets for the U20 international against France in Dubarry Park, Athlone, which takes place this Friday evening are available in Moate through Hartens. Warriors Under Lights Preparation continues for the Midland Warriors U16 squad as they look forward to their Connacht Cup match with Loughrea. This evening the team travel to Creggs where they will play the locals under lights, another first for this team. Players are asked to meet at the Carmelite Church at 6.30pm. Dun na Si News The new FAS scheme has already begun and there is a lot of activity around the place at the moment with some vacancies still to be filled. Night classes continue every night, Monday to Friday, with the Annaly Ceili Band hosting the next Ceili which will take place on Friday, February 6. The Annual Mass for deceased members takes place on Friday, February 13, at 8.30pm. Everyone is welcome to attend. Mount Temple Foroige Club Help to celebrate the 21st anniversary of Mount Temple Foroige Club. Mass is being held at Corpus Christi Church at 8pm on Friday, February 20. Refreshments will be served in Mount Temple Community Hall after the Mass. All past leaders and members are invited to join with us to celebrate this memorable occasion. Mount Temple Foroige Club are participating in the Funky Feet Campaign in aid of the Cappagh Orthopaedic Hospital. The members of Mount Temple Foroige Club are selling Funky Feet Laces for €2 a pair. If you are interested in purchasing a pair, please make contact with any member of the club. Moate Bridge Club Last week"s winners were 1st net, Michael O"Halloran and Seamus Buckley; 1st Gross, Joe Creggy and Larry Flanagan; 2nd net, Vincent Cronolly and Ann Killian; 2nd gross, Sheila Flanagan and Eileen White. Picture Response The picture of the Moate selection that played against the Jimmy Magee All Stars in 1966 certainly created a high level of discussion. I would like to thank all those people who contacted me with names and stories connected to the picture. The identity of the player at the back left which was suggested as Eugene Mulligan is that of All-Ireland winning Louth captain and accordion virtuoso, the late Dermot O"Brien. Standing beside him is current county Scor chairman George Hatton and the player second from right is Tom Fitzgerald, although Damien Delaney was also suggested as a possibility. The player second from right in the front row is Paddy Duffy as stated, although there was a suggestion that it may have been his brother Mick. My favourite story of the week was recounted by Jo Carberry who scolded me for causing her a lot of trouble. Puzzled, I asked her why and she proceeded to tell me that she had received phone calls to make sure she saw the picture of her late father, Jack Carberry, a Rosemount legend and a member of the Westmeath GAA Hall of fame, in a Moate All Whites jersey!! Thanks for that one Jo and many happy returns for the occasion you forgot to mention to me. St Brigid"s Day is celebrated for many different reasons. Moate Minor Board Calling all U8 footballers, the all Whites are resuming training on Friday night in the Moate Community Centre, starting at 8pm. The club is anxious to invite as many young players as possible to come along and if you know anyone who is new to town please tell them they will be very welcome to come along and meet new people in a friendly atmosphere. Best Wishes to MCS Footballers The level of excitement which has started to surround this Moate Community College team is growing with every day that passes. The enthusiasm of the student population is infectious and the speed at which the news of the great victory in Navan was relayed around the town was a throwback to the days of old. The team mentors will be quick to point out that there are no medals in any pockets as yet but I am told there is a sense of camaraderie and determination around this team which suggests that it will take a strong outfit to stop them. We wish them every success in Portlaoise on Saturday and hope that a large crowd will travel to support the team. Taster Programme for 5th and 6th Class Students in Moate Community School Every year more than 50,000 young people in Ireland move from primary to post-primary education. What helps them to settle into their new school? What enables them to do well? Studies show that having contact with the post-primary school and having a good idea what to expect, helps to reduce students" anxiety about moving to a new school. Armed with this information, Moate Community School has introduced a "Taster Programme" for 5th and 6th class students in our catchment area, in an effort to make our school a familiar place for them to visit, almost a "home from home". The programme offers the children a chance to carry out experiments in Science, participate in Sport and sample each of the three European languages on offer in our school, helping them to make an informed choice for next September. The Taster Programme runs every Monday evening from January to April, from 4 -6 pm. Students will enjoy sporting activities under the watchful eyes of Mr Tormey, Ms Nolan, Mr Flanagan, Mr Digan and Mr Dolan, an interactive Science module facilitated by Mr Flanagan., Ms Keenan, Ms Hogan, Ms O"Sullivan, Ms Mandal and Ms O"Hara, and finally sessions in French, Spanish and German with the help of Ms Ward, Ms McElwaine, Ms O"Brien, Ms McLoughlin, Ms Peredo and Ms Canton. A huge thanks to all involved for making this new venture so enjoyable and informative for the students and such a success for the school. The first taster programme in the subject area of Science was held on Monday February 2nd. The next Monday evening programme will be held on February 9th and will be concerned with the exciting Spanish programme. MCS Basketball On Tuesday last, three teams of Moate Community School students travelled to Athlone Community College for their first games of the season. Hopes were high as the teams are being very well trained. The first game of the day was played by the First Year boys team. The Moate side started off strong, scoring two baskets in the first minute of play. They continued like this throughout the game and almost had the win secured by the end of the third quarter. Athlone were a strong team and provided good defence. However, the Moate boys came out on top at close of play with a score of 34 - 16. Up next were the First Year girls. The girls showed good defence throughout the game, putting pressure on the Athlone side. These teams were both very strong and supplied good opposition for each other. A tense but enjoyable game was had by all. The final game of the day was played by the Second Year girls. The Athlone side started off strong but Moate kept the momentum going. Moate showed good offence and came out of the game with the three points needed to continue in the league. Mock Examinations 2009 in MCS The Mock Examinations will begin for Third Year students on Thursday, February 5, until Friday, February 13. The Mock Exams for Leaving Certificate students will take place from Monday, February 9, to Friday, February 13. Parents please take note for the duration of the week of the 9th to the 13th of February the class period timetable for first and second years will change to allow the completion of the Mock Exams undisturbed. Moate Museum & Historical Society AGM The Annual General Meeting of Moate Museum and Historical Society will take place on Monday, February 9 in the Grand Hotel, Moate at 8.15pm. The AGM will be preceded by a showing of a DVD on a topic of local historical interest. Non members are very welcome to attend. This year the annual Mass in remembrance of deceased members of the society will be held in the Carmelite church at 10.00am on Monday, February 9. Moate All Whites G.A.A. Lotto Results Draw held on January 26, numbers drawn were 3, 8, 9, 13. No Jackpot Winner. Thirteen match three winners, Sham Dolan, Martina c/o M Rattigan, Pat Dolan, Kevin Heavin, Olive Behan, Joanne & Nigel, A & T Allen, Denis Hynds, Teresa & Bon Malone, Kay R c/o Mulhalls, Carmel Claffey, Michael Digan, Eilish Curtin. Promoters Prizes: Bó Allen. Attendance Prize: Mary Heavin. Carmelite Notes Recently Deceased Geraldine Quirke, nee Norris Ballintubber, Rosemount and Burncourt, Tipperary; Micheal (Mick) Allen, Mount Temple and Coosan, Athlone; Jim Tone, Ballintubber, Rosemount; Johnny Ward, Rosemount. Sincere sympathy is extended to their families and loved ones. May they rest in peace. Dates to remember this week; Wednesday, February 11th is World Day of the Sick. A Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes commenced on February 3rd and concludes on her Feast day February 11th. Zimbabwe A Country in Crisis: A Carmelite Response An illustrated talk by Dr Alan Maire on the desperate situation facing the people of Zimbabwe, how the Carmelites are responding and what we can do to help will take place in the Carmelite Pastoral Centre, on Friday, February 13th at 7.15pm with an exhibition of photographs which will continue until Sunday, February 15th. Copies of these can be ordered in the Pastoral Centre. Proceeds raise will go to help the Carmelite Relief Fund for Zimbabwe. Dates for Your Diary Wednesday, February 25th, Ash Wednesday. Relics of St Thérése The Carmelite community is looking forward to the return of the reliquary of St Thérése. There will be an opportunity to venerate these relics everyday between the 20th and the 27th of March inclusive. St Brigid"s Feast Day February 1st Brigid was one of the most remarkable women of her time, and despite the numerous legendary, often extravagant, and even fantastic miracles attributed to her, there is no doubt of her extraordinary spirituality, her boundless charity and compassion for those in distress. She died at Kildare on February 1, 525 A.D. This is also the traditional date of her feast day. Called "Mary of the Gael" she is buried at Downpatrick, with two other great Irish saints: St Patrick and St Columba. She shares the title "Patron of Ireland" with St. Patrick.