Centenary calendar to launch next weekend

An A3 sized calendar depicting the history of the Parish of Kinnegad, with twelve images of well-known historical sites from the area - one for each month - will officially launch at the Hilamar Hotel, Kinnegad on December 13 after 7pm Mass at the Church of the Assumption.The calendar also features a montage of photographs of some of the parish"s more unusual historical sites, some of which people might not be aware of.Refreshments will be provided at the launch, and all are welcome to attend. The calendars will cost €5 apiece, and would make a wonderful Christmas gift for family and friends abroad, as a nice reminder of home, or indeed as a fitting momentum to have ahead of the church"s centenary year.The members of the Kinnegad Church Centenary Committee are: Fr. Tom Gilroy (P.P., Kinnegad), Eddie Costello, Phil Flynn, Gertie Costello, Kenneth Flynn, local historian Michael Geraghty, Margaret Quinn, Joseph Maxwell, Marie McEwan, Dominic Brannock, Cora Powell, Angela McCabe, Claire Giles, Nigel Boardman and Jacqui Wiley.The next Centenary Committee meeting takes place on Wednesday night of this week, December 3 at 8pm.'Monitor traffic' at new houses - callAt the recent meeting of Westmeath County Council"s Mullingar Area Committee, the committee chairman, Coralstown"s Cllr. Pat McLoughlin (Fine Gael), submitted a question asking the Council to monitor the traffic situation along the Boreen Bradach, Kinnegad.Cllr. McLoughlin"s calls came in light of the recent opening of the 'Bun Daire' Council housing scheme along the scenic Kinnegad walkway.Council officials said that as part of the new scheme, the Boreen Bradach was widened, a new footpath and public lighting erected, and a new roundabout constructed at the entrance to the estate, in a bid to facilitate the additional traffic generated by the new houses.In response, Cllr. McLoughlin said that he hoped to see some kind of traffic management put in place coming out of the housing scheme.Meanwhile, Cllr. Jim Bourke (Fianna Fáil) asked if the Council could improve the road and parking facilities at Clonfad Graveyard outside Kinnegad, in the interests of safety, and visitor access.'I"m not happy with its present state,' Cllr. Bourke said. 'It"s part of the old Galway road. It"s in an awful state, and extremely bad for visitors. I wonder if the Area Engineer could have a look at it?'Cllr. Bourke was informed that there are no plans or funding for these works.Kinnegad man to run for CouncilKinnegad"s Denis Leonard has been named on the Labour party ticket for the forthcoming local elections, and will run for alongside Cllr. Mick Dollard for a seat in the Mullingar East constituency.Mr. Leonard, who is secretary of Kinnegad Community Council, is involved with a number of groups and campaigns in Kinnegad. In 2004, he unsuccessfully contested the local elections as a third Labour candidate alongside Cllrs. Dollard and Dan McCarthy.He was selected to run in the 2009 elections at the recent Mullingar area Labour Party convention at the Newbury Hotel, Mullingar.Third Clonard jackpot on the horizonIf a jackpot winner is not found soon, the New Year will see the opening of a third jackpot in the Clonard GAA and Community Development Lotto Draw. The latest draw, which took place on November 24, featured two jackpots of €12,800 and €11,400, and there was no winner of either prize.There was just winner of the €150 prize pool for match three winners, Seachtin Ní Bhrádaigh. The numbers drawn were 6, 9, 25 and 26.Meanwhile, across the county border in neighbouring Kinnegad, there was no winner of the €8,600 jackpot in the Coralstown/Kinnegad GAA Lucky Numbers draw, which was also held on November 24. The numbers drawn were 10, 11, 15 and 17, and the match three winners - who share €200 - were: Pat Kangley, Sharlene Maguire, Katie and Arlene and "Gismo".