Go Gasta

This is a 1 hour family entertainment show for TG4 screening this Autumn. It is a new fun healthy socially engaging outdoor family entertainment format unique to TG4. This is ‘Ireland’s Fittest Family’ meets ‘Cross Country Challenge’. Two locals villages go head to head to settle old scores once and for all on a course littered with challenges and obstacles that goes from one village to the other. Part “off-road” part on road. Let’s get Down & Dirty.They set out a course that joins two rival villages together from a well known spot in each. This is where the Start & Finish lines are. Their experts will design a route between the villages littered with challenging obstacles, water hazards, puzzles, and some straight forward running or cycling stretches The course is clearly defined by their markings and signposts. Viewing spots are provided where villagers can gather to encourage their teams. Each village picks a team made up of Females & Males to represent them. The last person over the finish line is when the race is won, so each team has to work hard and really pull together as a unit. It’s not about the best individual on any one team, its all about the team, the village, the desire to win.This Friday 2nd of August we pitch Glenties against Ardara in a race to settle any old scores that may linger between the towns. They will race on a course designed and littered with obstacles along the way.The series is being filmed by Abú Media who are responsible in the past for IFTA award shows such as Jockey Eile, An Klondike and 1916 Seachtar na Cásca. The Producer, Pierce Boyce is originally from Rathmullan now living in Galway since 1983. Each team will be assigned a presenter to to mentor them – Maire Trease Ní DUbhghaill and Conall O Mairtin. Series Director is Evan Chamberlain the man behind the Hector travel shows and Francis Brennan series.This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase Ardara at its best and get substantial TV coverage for the area. Please support the Ardara Team on this venture and cheer them on along the route at every opportunity. The route to be defined this week. 

Dolmen Centre receives Swimming Pool planning approval

After many years of work, the Narin, Portnoo, Rosbeg Community Co-Operative Society Ltd. (Dolmen Centre) is proud to announce that Donegal County Council have granted planning approval for our 25m x 10m Swimming Pool at Kilclooney, Portnoo.There is a 4 week period before we get official Planning recognition (subject to any of the bodies who raised ‘an interest’, lodging an objection). Considering that these bodies have already looked at the project and deemed it appropriate, this is unlikely.We are indebted to the Committee (in particular Tony Kitterick, who project managed this feat from the start), and to you the Community who stood by us when we ran fundraisers to engage Design Teams, create a Feasibility Study, source Natura Impact Statement etc. There are some conditions which we will have to observe, but these are not insurmountable and we look forward to progressing to the next stage of the project.We always hoped to have our Planning Permission this side of a General Election, and we would encourage you all to use your democratic right to influence any prospective T.D’s when they are canvassing our area.This Planning Permission is a bold statement by our Community, which states that we the people of this area believe that this will act as a ‘Flagship Project’ which will bring much needed investment to our area. We have spent nearly €100,000 to date on this development and it is now appropriate that the Funding Bodies and Government in general get behind us on this worthwhile project.We will be preparing a funding plan in the Autumn which will see us prepare for any future progress.Watch this space for further action! 

Blessing of the Graves

The annual blessing of the Graves will take place on Sunday 4th August at 2.30pm 

Set Dancing Classes

Set Dancing Classes continue every Monday night from 8.30pm to 10.30pm in the Heritage Centre.Clement Gallagher calls the sets.Tea and home bakes served. Admission €5 

Ardara GAA 10 Week Draw

The eighth draw in the Ardara GAA Development Draw took place on Monday 29th July. The winners were:

• 1st prize €1000 – Ticket No 37 Nadine Gildea, Tullintaine, Bruckless
• 2nd Prize €500 – Ticket No 93 Eabha & Ruadhan Curristan, Drumbarron, Ardara
• 3rd Prize €400 – Ticket No 854 Connie & Eileen Molloy, New York, USA
• 4th Prize €300 – Ticket No 120 Vincent Cranley, Derries, Glenties
• 5th Prize €200 – Ticket No 407 Hugh Barrett, Ballykilduff, Portnoo
• 6th Prize €100 – Ticket No 304 Dylan Gallagher, Doohill, Ardara

 

GAA Flotto Results 29th July

The numbers drawn were 3, 20, 26 and 30 and the two nearest were:  Sue Watters, Meentinadea and Kevin Molloy, Ardara. 

Duchas Calling

It’s the time of year to get started writing any articles for the Duchas magazine. Articles and photographs can be left in Diver’s Newsagents or West End House for collection. 

Anniversary Masses

For those viewing on the Church of the Holy Family webcam

• Tuesday at 10.00am – Anniversaries of Joe & Brigid O Donnell, Maghera
• Wednesday at 7.30pm – Anniversaries of deceased members of the Mooney & Cunningham families
• Friday at 10.00am – Anniversary of Gerard Breslin 
• Friday at 7.30pm – Anniversary of Peg Kennedy and deceased members of the Kennedy Family, Cashel
• Saturday at 11.00am – Anniversaries of James & Bernie Sweeney, Beagh
• Saturday at 7.30pm – Anniversaries of Mary & Peter O Donnell

 

Sympathy

The sympathy of the community this week goes to:Neil Gallagher, West End on the death of his brother Packie in Kilcar.The McGill family, Glengesh on the death of Fiona McGill in London. ARDARA WEATHER