Connect with us

Ireland

Around the districts: Manorhamilton, Merville Centre, Riverstown and Skreen-Dromard #districts #Manorhamilton #Merville #Centre #Riverstown #SkreenDromard

Published

6 days ago

on

New Year’s Tractorcade

The Manorhamilton IFA’s highly anticipated 14th annual New Year’s Tractorcade, featuring a large cavalcade of local farmers and tractors, will begin on Thursday, January 1, 2026 at 2 p.m. from the Manorhamilton Mart.

Regarding the New Year’s Tractorcade, Liam Gallagher from Manorhamilton IFA said that “this year the charities benefitting (from the Tractorcade) will be the Gavin Glynn Foundation and the Mater Hospital Helping Hand Fund with a donation of €1,000 to the Áras Cadeaufni Patient Comfort Fund.

“The Gavin Glynn Foundation helps families of children battling cancer to travel abroad for treatment not available in Ireland, by supporting both the purchase of treatments abroad and helping families with the logistical and financial aspects of traveling abroad.

“The Mater Hospital Relief Fund helps lung transplant patients and their families cope with the challenges of having a transplant. Áras Cadeaufni today celebrates 50 years of serving the community in this region by providing accommodation and care to those who are unable to live independently.

“For all patient comfort activities such as outings or entertainment, Áras Cadeaufni does not receive any HSE funding and relies on donations to provide these extras which make such a difference to the people in its care.

“This is the 14th edition of the event which, thanks to the support of the farming community and the general public, has raised significant sums of money for various charities and this New Year’s Day, the organizers are once again counting on this support continuing.

“All costs associated with organizing the event are sponsored by local businesses, meaning every penny contributed by the public is donated to nominated charities. This year the tractor procession will follow the usual format of gathering at the Manorhamilton Mart premises, leaving at 2pm. “The tractor procession will follow the usual route via Boley Hill and the R280 Carrick Road before turning at Boggaun to return via the old road and Bennett’s Hill. The route will then take tractors to Castle Street and head down the street. Bee Park Road and back to the Mart.

Level 5 healthcare course

Bee Park Community Center will host a healthcare support course promoted by the North Leitrim Women’s Center QQI Level 5, which will begin in January 2026.

The QQI Level 5 Healthcare Support course will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 3pm each day. To find out more about the QQI Level 5 Healthcare Support course and to book a place, please contact the North Leitrim Women’s Centre, telephone 071 9856220.

Christmas masses

The Cloonclare-Killasnett Parish (Manorhamilton-Glencar-Mullies) service schedule for Christmas Eve, December 24 and Christmas Day, December 25, is as follows: Christmas Eve, Family Mass at St Clare’s Church, Manorhamilton at 6 p.m.; Church of the Annunciation in Mullies at 8 p.m.; St Osnat Church in Glencar at 10 p.m.; Christmas Day, December 25 Parish Christmas Mass at St Clare’s Church, Manorhamilton at 11 a.m.

District News Deadline

Please email all notes for next week’s Sligo Champion Manorhamilton District news to PJ Leddy – leddypatrick10@gmail.com by 6pm on or before Thursday 25 December.

Merville Center

CHRISTMAS VACATION

Merville Community Center and Dreamchasers Childcare Services will close its doors for the Christmas and New Year holidays from close of business on Friday, December 19 and will reopen at 9:15 a.m. on Monday, January 5, 2026. A peaceful Christmas and a prosperous New Year to all our customers, friends and the Merville community at large. In Síochánta Nollag and Bliain Nua Shona.

Condolences

The Management Committee, staff and the wider Merville community would like to express our sincere condolences to the families and friends of Pearse Henry, Rocklands Tubbercurry and formerly of Treacy Avenue, who passed away recently. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Riverstown

Mile Goal

The Shamrock Gaels Healthy Club committee will once again organize the Gaol Mile at Riverstown Park on St Stephen’s Day at 11am. It has now become an annual event with much needed funds raised for Goal. Buckets will be available for donations that day. If you would like to order a t-shirt for the event, you can register online at Goal Mile 2025.

SEE THE SUNRISE

A check presentation took place recently in Riverstown where a check for €3,356 was presented to Nicola O’Connor of North West Stop, proceeds from the See the Sunrise event held in the village at the end of September.

Thanks again to everyone involved

GAËLS Clover

The annual Miners’ Merit Awards will take place on Saturday January 10 at Riverstown Hall. The annual dinner dance will take place on Sunday, February 1, a public holiday weekend.

COMMUNITY NOTES

Please email carrowcashel@eircom.net or alternatively text or call Iris on 086 8258525 for new articles to be included in Riverstown Community News.

Skreen-Dromard

Christmas religious services

The Christmas Mass times for Templeboy Dromard and Skreen are as follows: Christmas Eve Mass at Templeboy Church at 6:30 p.m.; Christmas Eve Mass at Skreen Church at 8:30 p.m. Christmas Day Mass at Dromard Church at 9:00 a.m.; Christmas Day Mass at Templeboy Church at 10am and Christmas Day Mass at Skreen Church at 11:30am

Dates for your diary.

The Skreen-Dromard Drama Group is in rehearsals for its upcoming production “One Wife Too Many,” a hilarious three-act comedy by Jimmy Keary.

Their production will be presented at the Skreen-Dromard Community Center on January 3 and 4, 2026.

Tickets for this event can be purchased at the door.

On January 10, the play will be performed in Keadue, County Roscommon, followed by the Hawk’s Well Theater Sligo presentation on January 17 and Culfadda County Sligo on January 24.

Tickets for the January 17 show are now on sale at the Hawks Well box office. This would make a great Christmas gift.

Church of Ireland December Events

The annual Christmas service was held in the Church of Ireland in Skreen on Sunday 7 December, and from that time the Christmas lights on the Christmas trees in the Avenue of Light, along Rectory Avenue, were switched on.

Everyone is invited to come and enjoy the Avenue of Light which will remain lit at night.

Dromore West sings concert

The Dromore West Sings concert will take place on 13 and 14 February 2026 at Templeboy Church. Tickets are now on sale from Saturday November 22. Links to purchase tickets will be posted on all their social media pages from this date or tickets can be obtained by searching for ‘Dromore West Sings’ on eventbrite.com.

Indoor walking football

Following a successful Walking Football demonstration day, a weekly class will begin in the new year.

The start date for this event will be Thursday, January 8, 2026, at noon at the Skreen-Dromard Community Center and will continue every Thursday for five weeks.

The price for this event is €25 paid on the first day or €7 per lesson. All interested people are encouraged to commit to attending in order to have enough people participating.

If you or someone you know is interested, contact the community center office on 087 6649635.

Skreen Garda Barracks

Skreen Barracks is now open every Tuesday, with hours from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Parish Christmas party

Sincere thanks to Patsy Kennedy, Kathleen Kelly and Anne Marie Lacken for organizing a very successful parish Christmas party on Sunday 7th December at the Sligo Park Hotel.

Their hard work to make this a very enjoyable event for all is truly appreciated.

Active retirement Skreen-Dromard

Skreen-Dromard Community Care Active Retirement Group has resumed chair yoga with Elle at Skreen Health Center starting Wednesday, September 3, from 11 a.m. to noon and will continue every Wednesday.

These are gentle chair exercises, therefore suitable for all levels.

Walking group

The Walking Group continues its walks every Monday at 11 a.m. For more details contact Anne Marie on 087 7566514 or Ciara on 087 4183759.

Marriage

Congratulations to Eimear Kelly Finwater and Thomas McConigley on their wedding at Dromard Church on Friday 19th December.

Beltra Country Market

The Beltra Country Market will take place at the Skreen-Dromard Community Center for the duration of the Beltra Hall roof renovations.

The market will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday morning in December. Orders are now being taken for Christmas cakes, puddings, tartlets and Christmas crafts.

Come and see the wonderful display of artisan cakes, treats and gifts. You are assured of a warm welcome.

Please support your local market.

Sympathy

Our deepest sympathies are extended to the following families for the recent bereavements: To Karen Gough and the Gough Dromard family on the recent death of her father Liam Gough, late of County Navan, Meath.

To Martina Kearins and the Kearins family, Dromard on the passing of her brother Stephen Monds, the late Lucan and Dromore West.

To Eva Hughes and the Hughes Farnaharpy family on the recent death of her father Larry Byrne, late of Sligo. To Mary McMunn and the McMunn Skreen family on the passing of her mother Nora Kinirons, late of Limerick.



Source link

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Ireland

The meeting discussed the use of anti-terrorism laws to combat paramilitary flags and murals #meeting #discussed #antiterrorism #laws #combat #paramilitary #flags #murals

Published

13 hours ago

on

December 30, 2025

By

A file held at the Public Record Office in Belfast includes the minutes of a meeting which took place at Stormont House.

A meeting at Stormont discussed the use of anti-terrorism laws to combat displays of paramilitary flags and murals in 2004, according to declassified files.

The papers reveal that a senior PSNI official said “comprehensive case law” could be developed within the courts to establish a “clear line between what is acceptable and what is not”.

A file held at the Public Record Office in Belfast includes the minutes of a meeting which took place at Stormont House on March 2, 2004, attended by PSNI representatives, civil servants and representatives from the Community Relations Unit (CRU) and the Community Relations Council (CRC).

The minutes indicate that a previous meeting concluded that a “community approach to the flag issue was preferable to a police-only response.”

Senior officer Gary White told the meeting he had had a discussion with the Crown Prosecution Service regarding the use of the Terrorism Act 2000.

The minute read: “Again, the question of what is and is not acceptable behavior has become an issue, but GW (Gary White) believes that the DPP is in favor of using this provision generally and this is easiest where a flag or mural illustrates an explicit level of support for a paramilitary organization.

“Obviously there will be areas where there will be doubts about what a flag is.

“GW suggested that this issue should be left to the courts and that comprehensive case law could be developed to establish a clear line between what is acceptable and what is not.

“He also reminded the group that there is great sympathy for the idea that what was acceptable during the worst phases of the Troubles may not be acceptable now.”

The minutes indicate that the meeting recalls a test case relating to the display of paramilitary flags in Hollywood, which resulted in the conviction of four people under section 13 of the Terrorism Act.

It was subsequently learned that the CRU had commissioned research from the Institute of Irish Studies at Queen’s University into the issue of flags and emblems.

The CRU’s Billy Gamble said “his preference was for the community to resolve these issues on their own”, but he felt there “had to be a threat of final sanction”.

The minutes state: “The group was clearly impressed by the approaches of the CRU/CRC and expects the outcome of the policy document in June.

“It is clear, however, that there will be times when the community simply cannot stop the paramilitaries from engaging in this activity.

“In such circumstances, the PSNI is content to have the necessary powers under the Terrorism Act to deal with the situation. In short, there is no universal policy that can solve the flag problem.”

For all the latest news visit the Belfast Live homepage here And sign up for our daily newsletter here.



Source link
#meeting #discussed #antiterrorism #laws #combat #paramilitary #flags #murals

Continue Reading

Ireland

Eddie Hearn pays tribute as two members of Anthony Joshua’s team die in car crash #Eddie #Hearn #pays #tribute #members #Anthony #Joshuas #team #die #car #crash

Published

14 hours ago

on

December 30, 2025

By

Anthony Joshua was involved in a car crash in Nigeria on Monday, leaving two people tragically killed in the incident and the former heavyweight champion was rushed to hospital.

12:47 a.m., December 30, 2025Updated at 00:47, December 30, 2025

Eddie Hearn, chairman of Matchroom Sport, has paid tribute to two men who tragically died in a car crash involving British heavyweight Anthony Joshua in Nigeria on Monday.

The victims were identified as Kevin Ayodele and Sina Ghami, while Joshua was taken to hospital with minor injuries following the collision.

The incident occurred on Monday morning on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, just outside Lagos, when a black Lexus Jeep collided with a stationary red Sinotruck commercial vehicle.

The accident claimed the lives of Ayodele, also known as Latz, and Ghami, both close friends and members of Joshua’s team. Two other men in the vehicle were said to have escaped unhurt.

Hearn, chairman of Joshua’s promotional company Matchroom, was among those who paid tribute to both men when news of their tragic deaths was confirmed.

“With the heaviest of hearts,” he shared in an Instagram post. “Two great men. Rest in eternal peace Sina and Latz. My deepest thoughts and prayers are with everyone.”

Boxer Chris Eubank Jr also shared a heartfelt message, saying: “Thank God our heavyweight champion survived this horrific car accident. And pray for the two fallen soldiers, Latz and Sina, and their families.

“I knew they both…were truly good men. Rest in peace boys.”

Slim Albaher of Misfits Boxing also paid tribute, adding: “Sending prayers for Anthony Joshua and the two brothers who died tragically in the car crash. I can’t believe Latz was one of the guys involved… he was such a good soul and supportive brother. Allah Yerhamu, may Allah grant Latz and Sina Jannah.”

Another fighter, Mutah Beale, also said: “From Allah we return sad and shocking news regarding the death of our dear brother Abdul-Latif following a car accident. May Allah have mercy on him and grant him Jannah, and may Allah ease this difficult time for his family. We also wish the champion a speedy recovery. »

OnestoplistDubai shared a touching message: “May Allah forgive your faults and grant you the highest level of paradise. Ameen. Nothing but good memories when we were together.

“My condolences go out to your family and loved ones Sina @258mgt @anthonyjoshua. A gentle reminder to all brothers and sisters. From him we came and to him we will return. Now at peace, Sina.”

Click here to sign up to our sports newsletter, bringing you the biggest news and headlines from Ireland and beyond.



Source link
#Eddie #Hearn #pays #tribute #members #Anthony #Joshuas #team #die #car #crash

Continue Reading

Ireland

President McAleese’s husband’s contacts with the UDA took ‘a life of its own’, ambassador heard #President #McAleeses #husbands #contacts #UDA #life #ambassador #heard

Published

15 hours ago

on

December 30, 2025

By

Contacts between the husband of former Irish president Mary McAleese and UDA leaders in Northern Ireland took on “a life of their own”, a British government official said in 2003.

Declassified files show Martin McAleese had arranged a coach for loyalist leaders to attend a golf outing, but they refused, fearing it would be “too much like a UDA day trip”.

A senior civil servant noted that “there were a few surprises” in contacts but that Dr McAleese was determined to expand the list of his “loyalist friends” to include the UVF.

One of the files released under the 20-year regime concerns Dr. McAleese’s efforts to force loyalist paramilitaries from the margins of the peace process during his wife’s first term as president.

HISTORY CENTER

If you are interested in this article, you will no doubt enjoy exploring the different historical collections and content in our historical hub. Find out HERE and enjoy reading

The extent of his contacts is contained in a confidential memo written to the then British Ambassador to Ireland, Stewart Eldon, by senior civil servant Chris McCabe in September 2003, entitled “Loyalism and the Irish: Lunch with Martin McAleese”. Mr McCabe said he had a “private conversation” with Martin McAleese over lunch.

The memo said: “Martin McAleese is very candid about his contacts with high-ranking loyalists. Impressive in both their breadth and depth. Well aware of the potential pitfalls, but so far things have gone remarkably well.

“Determined to persevere for as long as possible, expanding the list of his loyalist ‘friends’ at every opportunity.”

Mr. McCabe added:

This allowed us to hear firsthand what Martin was doing: although we were already aware of much of what he told us, there were a few surprises.

The note stated that Dr McAleese had received a letter from “South Belfast UDA Brigadier” Jackie McDonald in February 2003.

“Once Martin verified that there would be no political objections to such a personal initiative, the first meeting was arranged. Since then, the meetings seem to have taken on a life of their own.”

The memo details a list of contacts, including a meeting in Áras an Uachtaráin “involving 50 unionists/loyalists who focused on cross-community issues”. It also included “several meetings with UDA brigadiers (including a “jovial” Jim Gray) and others in which Jackie McDonald was clearly primus inter pares”.

The note continues: “Social events, including golf outings, in which some or all UDA brigadiers and their associates were involved. On one of these occasions, Martin called for a coach, but the brigadiers refused him on grounds of collective security and because it would be too much like a UDA day trip.

“Alternative transportation in a fleet of minibuses was agreed; each vehicle was checked for ‘bugs and bombs’ before its guests boarded!”

The note said Dr McAleese had “admitted to being relatively innocent abroad”, but added that he was struck by “the sincerity of everyone he met and would tend to take them at face value until he knew otherwise”.

The note adds: “For our part, we welcomed his initiative and the progress that has been made. We said that, given the provenance of some of the figures involved and the need for transparency, accountability and inter- and intra-community equality, we could not hope to match his activities on this side of the border.

“But that shouldn’t bother him, quite the contrary.”

The memo was copied to Secretary of State Paul Murphy and other Northern Ireland ministers in direct power. The note concluded by stating that Dr McAleese also wanted to make contact with someone on the “military side” of the UVF.

It said: “To ensure the PUP/UVF stays on board, he would have dinner with the party’s chairman, David Rose, and secretary, Dawn Purvis, later this week.

“He hoped this would lead to direct contact with someone on the military side. He also has tentative plans for some sort of dialogue with members of the DUP.”



Source link
#President #McAleeses #husbands #contacts #UDA #life #ambassador #heard

Continue Reading

Trending