At the quiz! (photo: Connemara Advertiser)
'Flying High'
A large delegation from Cashel, Roundstone, and Clifden Youth Clubs attended
a performance of the Connemara Theatre Company’s production 'Flying High'
at the Black Box Theatre in Galway recently. The club leaders were Bernard Lee
(Cashel), Richard de Stacpoole (Roundstone), and Eily Vaughan and Damian Mannion
(Clifden). This play was supported by the Western Health Board among many other
sponsors and its theme was the devastating effects that befall a family when
one of them succumbs to the temptation of taking an ecstacy pill. The stage
setting of discotheque, family home and lonely graveyard all in one gave strong
visual images to the assembled audience. The Youth Clubs were impressed with
the play and its theme and the clubs leaders were given a resource pack for
their members to study at their future meetings. The two directors of the Connemara
Theatre Company, Anne Henning Jocelyn and Maire Holmes, were very pleased with
the success of the show which ran for four days at the Black Box venue.
The play was directed by Fiona Kelly, who is well known in Cashel from directing
the 'Fair Wind', which was the first production of the Cashel Drama Group 'Aisteoiri
na Seanscoil'. The group are hoping to start rehearsals for a new play after
Christmas. Anybody with an interest in acting, set making, lighting and sound,
etc. should contact the Cashel office at 095-31052.
There are no boundaries on this drama group so people from Carna, Kilkieran,
Rosmuc, Recess, Roundstone, Ballyconneely, Clifden and other areas may show
an interest and would be most welcome to participate.
Foroige National Training
A delegation of six people from the North Connemara District Council area travelled
to Sligo Park Hotel for a Foroige Conference and training weekend on 30th November.
The goup were, Marie Feeney, Mary Gannon, Eily Vaughan, Damian Mannion, Michael
Mullen and Bernard Lee - and all are involved in youth work in their different
areas. They met with Youth Club leaders from around the north west area of the
country such as Donegal, Sligo, Monaghan, Roscommon, Mayo and East Galway. There
was a full day’s training session on the Saturday, with the emphasis on
interpersonal skills - such as guiding, facilitating and mentoring. The end
result is hoped to make participants carry out their role as youth leaders to
more effectively achieve the fundamental purpose of Foroige, which is mainly
personal development of its young members. This can be best achieved by a development
of worthwhile and relevant club programmes throughout the year. The club programme
is a series of activities designed to meet developmental needs of young people,
and it is a process of involving them in deciding what these activities are.
The group enjoyed the weekend and came back with some new ideas for their respective
groups. There is a strong bond forming between the Connemara youth leaders and
it’s hoped to lead to much more inter-club activity and inter-club support
in the coming year.
Sam comes to Carna-Cashel
The annual dinner dance of the Carna-Cashel G.A.A. Club takes place on Friday,
21 December at 7.30pm in Carna Bay Hotel. It is guaranteed to be a great night
with a strong representation of the Galway All Ireland winning team expected
to bring Sam McGuire into the heart of the Gaeltacht. There will be plenty to
celebrate for the club themselves, after a very fruitful year at underage level
and plenty of silverware should be on show on this night. The Under 21 Team
have also just qualified for the West board final against Moycullen and could
land another trophy for the club. This is a tribute to Paraic og Corbett who
is in his first year as their manager. The Intermediate Team did not have a
hugely successful year by their standards, but injuries and lack of availibility
of key players meant a strong showing was going to be difficult. They should
come good again in 2002. The tickets are on sale for £15.00, with music
by Duirling and a bar extension.