‘Baby it’s Cold Outside’ or as we would say in Irish it’s ‘Fuar’! However it was a good type of Cold/Fuar for David Kennedy as he booked his place in the Grand Final for Ireland’s search for their first entrant at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest. David Kennedy is 13 years of age and he comes from Eyrecourt, Co. Galway in the West of Ireland. His song that won tonight’s first Heat is called ‘Fuar’ – lyrics by David Kennedy and composers David Kennedy & Emma O’ Reilly. We caught up with David after his win tonight and he explained to us what his song ‘Fuar’ is about. As for the celebrations, well we are all invited to his local Fish and Chip shop that he tells us serves the BEST chips ever! David is a young man who likes and knows his Eurovision and tunes in each year so watch out Europe! We could have another Johnny Logan on our hands! Congratulations to David as he becomes the first finalist in Ireland’s quest to find their song for Bulgaria
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Due to a high demand in requests, the Town Team have agreed to EXTEND the deadline of submissions for the People of the Year Awards until Wednesday, October 14th at 10am.
Under the umbrella of BACD Ltd a “Town Team” has been formulised in conjunction People and Places Ltd in the UK. The Town Team is made up of a spectrum of volunteers across the business and community sectors covering Ballinasloe and its full hinterland.
Following publication of the Town Benchmarking Report, the town team are striving to carry out both short-term and long-term actions to ultimately improve & revitalize Ballinasloe and its hinterland. These awards are one of the projects being carried out under the bench marking process, with the aim to acknowledge the tremendous amount of voluntary work carried out in Ballinasloe which forms the backbone of our community.
In Association with Ballinasloe Credit Union
Supported by Shearwater Hotel & Ballinasloe Town Team
Town Team Mission Statement
“Our vision is to revitalize the town and its hinterland, enabling it to achieve its true potential, by creating awareness of all the positive assets we currently have in the townland and identifying new initiatives that will enhance and expand on what we already have. To encourage positive suggestions and interaction from all local sporting, cultural, voluntary, agricultural, educational and retail groups, along with local, regional and national agencies by progressing ideas and actions together and working in co-operation with one another. We will prioritise attainable objectives that will rejuvenate our town and help it achieve its true potential, making Ballinasloe a better place in which we live and rear our children - and foster a friendly competitive sustainable town to do business in and visit”
Many voluntary groups and individuals make invaluable contributions to our community. Our wish is that such people are formally recognised so that we can publicly acknowledge their efforts and achievements. It is also our wish to honour very special and talented individuals or groups who have achieved excellence and represented our community nationally or internationally.
Thank you to our Main Sponsor Ballinasloe Credit Union. The event is also being supported by the Shearwater Hotel and the town team. The 2015 People of the Year Awards will acknowledge outstanding people and organisations who, through their commitment to participating in community and voluntary activities, have had a positive and significant impact on the quality of life of their communities in Ballinasloe. There are so many people making a difference in our community this is an opportunity to formally recognise their achievements under the format of People of the Year Awards. We encourage you to please put their names forward for an Award.
What are the People of the Year Awards?
The Awards recognise and celebrate the voluntary work that individuals, groups, organisations & schools contribute to their community. There are 7 Award categories in total. We are now seeking nominations for each Award category.
What are the 7 Categories?
1. Social and Community Support AwardThis category covers a broad spectrum of activity from voluntary groups and individuals who work with specific groups such as people with disabilities, the elderly and people less fortunate that others. This award acknowledges those who contribute significantly to the fabric of our community. 2. Arts, Cultural and Heritage AwardThis category recognises the contribution of individuals, schools and groups to the continuing development of the Arts, Culture & Heritage in Ballinasloe. It covers a wide range of activities and events that contribute to the enhancement of the quality of life in Ballinasloe. 3. Sports and Recreation AwardThis category recognises individuals or groups in Ballinasloe who give their time voluntarily to support and encourage participation in sport and other recreation activities. This Award also includes specific sports teams and individuals who have excelled in their chosen sport and represented their town with distinction. Sports and Recreation is important in creating a healthier lifestyle for the whole community. 4. Young Person’s AwardThis category recognises the contribution that young people make in our community, through their work within different community groups. It also acknowledges the achievements of individuals or groups who proudly represent Ballinasloe in sporting, cultural or community events. (Age Limit 18 or under). 5. Civic Pride AwardThis category recognises voluntary individuals, resident associations and other groups in Ballinasloe that have shown a sense of civic pride within their community by undertaking a wide range of activities in their local area that has made a difference and who continue to work towards making Ballinasloe a better place to live. 6. Community Group Special Recognition AwardThis category recognises voluntary groups and individuals that have made a special contribution to life in Ballinasloe and hinterland through the works which they have undertaken which may be deemed to go above and beyond the normal call of duty. It may be in respect of ongoing work, or specific project that has made a significant impact on their community and its people. 7. Hall of Fame AwardThis category recognises individuals from Ballinasloe whom have achieved excellence and are successful in the field of either sporting, professional, business, entrepreneurial or artistic endeavours.
How do I Nominate?
1.There is one nomination form for all categories. Click HERE to download it a .pdf version. For a version in MS Word, click HERE. 2. You state which category you are making the nomination on the form. 3. You can make a nomination by downloading the nomination form, completing it and emailing or posting it back. 4. Read the questions carefully. Section A is information regarding the group or person being nominated. Section B is information regarding the persons making the nomination. Each nomination requires a proposer and a seconder to validate the nomination 5. You may submit extra information. The assessment will be based on the information provided on the form and any extra information given. 6. Closing date for receipt of nomination forms is 10am Wedesday 14th October 2015.
What Happens then?
1. The Awards will be independently assessed after the closing date and winners will be chosen. 2. All Shortlisted nominees will be invited to The People of the Year Awards Ceremony on the evening of the 12th of November 2015 where the winners will be announced and presented with their Awards. What is the Prize? All Shortlisted Nominees from each Category will be presented with a Scroll of Achievement and each category winner will be presented with a specially commissioned prestigious Award. Are there any Conditions? The following conditions apply: 1. The People of the Year Awards will be held on Thursday, 12th of November 2015 in The Shearwater Hotel. The nominees must be present on the night where the winners will be announced. 2. Groups and individuals may nominate themselves. 3. Nominations will only be considered on the official nomination form and received by the closing date on Wednesday October 14th 2015. 4. Nomination forms to be either submitted typed on the downloaded form and emailed to the email address given, or posted/dropped in to Ballinasloe Enterprise Centre. 5. For queries please contact: Lyn Donnelly Ballinasloe Enterprise Centre Creagh Ballinasloe Tel: 090 9646516 Deadline for receipt of Nominations is 10am Wednesday October 14th 2015
Ladies, your club needs you! Come along to Ballinasloe Rugby Club to have fun, make friends and play rugby. And if you were short of reasons to be part of the Ballinasloe Girls Rugby have a look at all the reasons below to play!
This was the positive message being delivered to all the students receiving their Junior Certificate results.
As part of the Ballinasloe Alcohol Strategy, the Western Region Drug and Alcohol Task Force, in conjunction with An Garda Síochána, facilitated interactive sessions with students and distributed hundreds of copies of a new leaflet called ‘Teenage Years – A teenager’s guide to protecting yourself on a night out.’ Emmet Major, Community Liaison Worker and Neil Wilson, Education support worker, both with the Western Region Drug and Alcohol Task Force explained that the Junior Certificate is a big milestone for Irish students. However, it can, and should be celebrated as a major achievement without the risk of injury, sickness or indeed, arrest, because of the harmful effects of alcohol. “We always want students to enjoy themselves on their big night out,” said Emmet. “They deserve it, they studied hard and now they are receiving the results for that hard work. However, we want them to know that they don’t have to have a drink to have a good time. In fact, they are more likely to have a better time without touching alcohol or drugs. Being alcohol free is by far the best option.” Speaking the following day, Neil added “It’s good to hear that there were only two arrests of under 18’s in East Galway last night. Although these are preliminary figures we hope this reflects well on the vast majority of students who enjoyed their big night out – and remembered it!” The new leaflet takes a straight-forward look at teenagers and alcohol. It tells teenagers how to keep safe on a night out, how to be prepared for pressure from others to drink, things to consider before you try drink and essential safety information in case someone has had too much to drink. As parents are the most important influence on teenager’s attitudes to alcohol, the WRDATF always encourages parents and guardians to take an active role in working with their children to ensure they stay as safe as possible when they go out.
. ‘Kodak Kiosk Connect’ is a free app which allows the customer to upload photos from their mobile phones or tablets to the kiosks in store and select what they would like to print. Images can also be sent to the shop via email for printing and collection at the customer’s convenience. Jackie and Sean are always happy to help their customers with any queries they may have regarding digital photography.
They understand that not everybody is comfortable with the new technology and they will help the customers through the process of printing from all types of media. Jackie and Sean are very grateful to their loyal customers who have supported them during very difficult times. They feel that business is starting to improve and believe the recession is starting to lift. “Ballinasloe has a lot to offer in terms of community spirit which was definitely evident in the lead up to the All-Ireland final when the town was decorated by the locals and a fantastic civil reception was held for the teams return home to Galway following the match”, mentioned Jackie. Jackie and Sean are also available for event photography for all types of occasions from christenings to special birthday parties, anniversaries and reunions. The Shop is open six days a week from 9.30am to 6pm and is open through lunch time. By Ciara Beresford
Her most recent job was for Winters Property management in Galway, where she was project manager for all of their developments. “Project managing is an all-consuming role and I felt that a 12 hour day working with engineers and contractors was not what I had returned home to do. I had hoped to spend more time with my husband, Brendan and our children. I wanted to have a job that I would really enjoy”, admitted Maresa. “When Hills Shop came up for rent it brought back fond memories of my childhood in Ballinasloe, of the ice-cream parlour that was there for many years”, mentioned Maresa.
Her parents Michael and Mary Dolan also had a shop and filling station in Cleaghmore or better known as the Ashtree, therefore ice-cream and sweets were always in Maresa’s life. Maresa hopes to bring good quality food to the people of Ballinasloe and at the same time support local suppliers where she can. Missy’s will offer a wonderful range of fresh foods, icecream, old style sweets, great coffee, teas and all of the usual great products you would find in a deli. She emphasises that the products used in Missy’s have been sourced locally where possible. Maresa will also be catering for outside events such as parties and weddings, provide cakes for occasions and also prepare picnic baskets for special lunches. In the near future, Maresa hopes to have a cafe set up in the shop. “I would have hoped to have this in place at our opening but planning permission is required and this takes time. We hope to have this in place as soon as we can so customers can sit down and enjoy a coffee and children can have a milkshake or a nickerbokerglory and make more happy memories together”, added Maresa. The latest Edition of Ballinasloe Life Magazine Oct/Nov is out now! This edition is filled to the brim with Ballinasloe news and was delivered to every house and business in the town on Friday 2nd October and is also available to view online here. If you have any comments or feedback on this issue or require more copies please contact Ballinasloe Enterprise Centre Happy Reading! Congratulations to the group of children from Scoil an Chroí Naofa, Ballinasloe who all received Honours in their music recorder examination under the Royal Irish Academy of Music.
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