The 2015 BEST (Ballinasloe Entrepreneurial Skills Tournament) Awards ceremony, where the town’s best and brightest young people was held on Tuesday 31st March in Shearwater Hotel. In a marvellous display of entrepreneurial spirit, seven winners were chosen out of 14 finalists, who had already beaten 85 entrants to this year’s competition , The 14 projects were displayed on the night by the students and showed a remarkable high level of creativity and ingenuity from Ballinasloe’s young people. Sponsored by the Ballinasloe Credit Union and organised by the B.A.C.D the competition again this year was deemed a huge success. The prizes awarded on the nights as follows: Overall Winner (€1,000) Katie O'Sullivan - Holy Rosary College Mountbellew Snap&See -3D Lenses Katie developed a clip on 3D lenses similar to clip on sunglasses for use by people who wear glasses. Her idea allows glass wearers use a clip on 3D lens as opposed to trying to fit 3d glasses overt their own glasses. Runner Up (€500) Sally Parsons Ard Schoil Mhiure Dream Clean Duvet Sally developed duvets comprised of individual detachable/re-attachable segments that can be separated and cleaned in domestic washing machines. Prize Winner (€150) Leo White & Tony Finn - Garbally College Lidacan Leo & Tony developed an aluminium can lid for use on drinking cans to stop them spilling over. Prize Winner (€150) Joshua Naughton & Cathal Whyte - Garbally College Hurling Helmet Visor These students recognised the problem of glare for hurlers when playing into the sun. They came up with a neat solution of attaching a visor to the existing helmet. Prize Winner (€150) Hilary Bleahan - Ard Schoil Mhiure Cattle Trailer Harness Hiliary’s business idea was a harness for cattle that is attached to the roof of a trailer, which will prevent cattle falling over in transit. Prize Winner (€150) Rowan Harley -Garbally College Foodnow phone App Rowan developed a take away phone app which has menu's from local food establishments allowing you to order by phone. Prize Winner (€150) Lonan Broderick, Cathal Riddel, Fintan Parsons - Garbally College The Cert An Educational App with games based on Leaving or Junior Cert curriculum.

Addams Family Musical cast member  Brian Derrane – who played the much-loved comedic Uncle Fester –  reflects on the Addams Family experience…..

”Now that the dust has settled after bringing the house down (literally), in The Addams Family Musical, it’s time to reflect on the week just gone.

I begin with our fabulous and hard working committee (many of whom took to the stage). Your courage in choosing the show has to be admired as is your commitment and work rate. Thanks for all you have done. Without you there is no show or opportunity for us thespians, old and new, to tread the boards.

Our patrons sponsors and paying audiences deserve special mention as their continued support is vital for the financial success of the society and ensures it’s annual viability and continued existence.

To Kasia, Greg and all other photographers thanks for recording events for posterity. (Anyone who got photos taken by family and friends should tag the Musical Society facebook page in order that all photos are centrally available for download.)

What an honour it was to share the Ballinasloe stage with such a cast and crew.

From start to finish the stage crew gave us seamless scene changes and treated the packed audiences to some very special – special effects. Congrats to our set designers, painters and construction crew for giving us such a setting for the show.

Thanks also to our props dept for procuring props ensuring we had all we needed as we stepped out on stage.

We are also very blessed with our make up artists and helpers. All our volunteers gave of their time freely and their work is far from unnoticed and is certainly very much appreciated. (Particular mention to Denise and Richenda who had to keep topping up my make up between scenes throughout the shows run)

This show was stunningly visual and the hard work and miles travelled to secure costumes has to be commended.

Every musical needs a cast of many and what a group of talented people we have in the town and it’s environs.

From the oldest to the youngest, the smallest to the tallest, those of slightness and those of girth – we gathered a cast of principals and chorus of which the town should be proud. Thanks In particular to the cast members who had distances to travel. Your attendance, commitment and contribution was inspiring.

The chorus line was a fabulous mixture of age, youth, and experience. They performed with energy and enthusiasm and enhanced every scene they entered.

Gomez, our slick head of the family performed, with guise, pose and posture and delivered a beautiful cocktail of comic suaveness and toneful singing.

His beautiful wife Morticia kept the pace moving swiftly with deftly delivered lines, wonderful singing and memorable leggy dancing.

The young love interest of Wednesday and Lucas was beautifully played and Wednesdays songs were powerfully and spine chillingly delivered.

The youthful Pugsley was a treat to behold and listen to. His masochistic screams are forever etched in the psyche.

The wordless Lurch entertained with every entry and exit and his towering presence throughout and his haunting song at the shows conclusion are quite unforgettable.

Grandma’s was a study of comic genius and timing, and left many 90 year old hotties in the audience baying for more.

Mal and Alice were far from normal and treated us to some wonderful comic interludes with Alice sensuously delivering an audience favourite in the middle of the banquet scene.

We were treated to some beautiful music, lighting and sound throughout the week. Congratulations to our orchestra, sound and lights. Your contributions added significantly to the show.

Our wonderfully talented production team of Paul Norton, Shane Farrell , and Sarah Griffin teased every last move, note and step from each and every member of the cast in rehearsals that were always energetic and fun. They inspired and motivated us with their words of encouragement and direction.

To the casting triumvirate…… Thank you for casting me In the role of Fester. It was a peach of a role to get and I hope I did it justice. I very much appreciate the opportunity afforded me and the confidence you instilled with your words of encouragement.

A special word of thanks go to our fabulously receptive audiences. Your support, laughter and kind words of congratulations mean so much to all on stage. We fed voraciously off your reactions nightly which helped enhance our performances and contributed to our mutual enjoyment.

Finally a huge thank you to my wife Carol and daughter Lorna. Your continued love, support and understanding for my time-consuming hobby is very much appreciatd.

Looking forward to the review night to finally see what all the fuss was about…… and to catch up with all my old …..and new ……cast friends. ……..and letting my hair down……..!!!!!!!”


By Brian Derrane.

In conjunction with Safer Internet Day which took place recently, local Gardaí John Scully and Aidan Lonergan have been busy engaging with the youth of the community, delivering Internet Safety programmes and creating awareness among Primary and Secondary School students.



Here are some Internet Safety Guidelines:

1. NEVER tell anyone you meet on the Internet your personal details like;

• Home address
• Telephone number
• E-mail address
• Parents’ names or
• Photographs

1. NEVER arrange to meet someone you have met over the Internet, without telling a parent or teacher and only with their supervision in a public place.
2. ALWAYS tell a parent/teacher if you see or receive anything that you think is scary, threatening, and rude or that makes you feel uncomfortable.
3. ALWAYS keep passwords secret.
4. DO NOT accept files from anyone you do not know.
5. ALWAYS be polite to other people in chat rooms.
6. ALWAYS remember that someone you meet on the Internet may not always be who they say they are.
7. NEVER change system settings without a parent/teacher’s permission.
8. ALWAYS agree with and abide to parent/teacher rules and guidelines regarding your use of internet.

In a successful week of sport, Ballinasloe Rugby has come out on top on two occasions; one involving the Under 15’s Girls Team, and the second, an impressive win for Garbally Seniors.

The U15 Girls teams travelled to Terenure College on Saturday (March 7) to take part in the National Umbrella 7’s Tournament and once again came home with the winning trophy.

On a very blustery day, the final score of 6 – 4 against a highly fancied and very well drilled Railway Union team was a fair reflection of the match which ebbed and flowed and could have gone either way until the girls scored the final try with the last play.

In addition, a huge congratulations to the Garbally Seniors on getting through to the Connacht Senior Schools Final to be played on 18th March at the Sportsground v Summerhill, time to be announced.

The Connacht Indoor Track & Field Championship was held in AIT at the weekend. This was for U12 & older and the top 3 in each even event qualified for the National Indoor Track & Field Championship which will be held in AIT over the last two weekends in March.

U12 Relays
The boys U12 boys relay team made up of Conor Harley, Adam McGreal, Shane Fitzpatrick & Charlie Naughton all put in a magnificent performance coming in 1st to take the Connacht Gold. They had a fantastic time of 56.93 seconds which makes them serious contenders in the Nationals.



The girls U12 relay team made up of Shauna & Emma Mitchell, Mya Kelly, Ava McKeon all ran well and came in 6th place.

U12 600m
Conor Harley & Shane Fitzpatrick both performed strongly in the 600m amongst very stiff competition and they finished in 6th & 7th position respectively. Adam McGreal also ran well in this event.

U12 60m
Charlie Naughton had a superb sprint where he finished in 2nd place to get the Connacht Silver medal, he finished just .003 of a second behind the Gold medal winner. Shane Fitzpatrick also had a brilliant sprint finishing in 4th position just missing out in 3rd position and the chance to compete in the Nationals by 0.01 of a second. Conor Harley & Adam McGreal also had strong runs.

U15 60m

Rowan Harley performed well in the U15 60m, setting a new personal best.

Well done to everyone who competed and best of luck to the following who will now go on to represent Ballinasloe & District Athletic Club in the National Indoor Track & Field Championship at the end of March. The boys U12 boys relay team – Conor Harley, Adam McGreal, Shane Fitzpatrick & Charlie Naughton. Charlie Naughton will also compete in the 60m at the Nationals.

Visit the Ballinasloe Athletics Club Facebook page for more sports news!