Streete and District Notes

The reader at the 8p.m. Vigil Mass in Boherquill this Saturday, 21st is Niamh Devaney. The Mass is in memory of the late Declan McGerr, Kilfintan.Ash Wednesday - Ash Wednesday is next week, 25th February and Lent begins.Pastoral Council - A Pastoral Council meeting takes place this Wednesday, 18th February at 8p.m. in the Parochial House. Members please attend.Adoration - Adoration takes place in St. Mary"s Boherquill each Tuesday 7-8p.m. followed by Mass at 8p.m.Sympathy - Sincere sympathy is extended to John Dunne, Streete on the death of his uncle Paddy Flynn, Dalystown and Meedin who, in his 91st year died in the Regional Hospital, Mullingar on February, 8th.Mr Flynn"s removal took place on Tuesday from Mullingar to the Sacred Heart Church, Meedin with burial on Wednesday following Mass in Meedin. Paddy is survived by his brother, Joe, sisters Anne and Chris, nieces, nephews and a large circle of friends. May he rest in peace.Poker Classic - The Knights of St.Colmbanus, Mullingar hold their Annual Classic in aid of Mentally Handicapped and other local charities with €1500 in prize money.The venue is Annebrook House Hotel, Mullingar on Friday next, 20th February, at 9p.m. sharp.Tickets including supper which is served at 8p.m., are €40. This classic has been held annually for a number of years and the committee will be grateful for any support for this venture so maybe you might buy a ticket or sponsor a prize for the raffle. Any details phone Paddy O"Brien 086 2571645.Lotto - The numbers in last week"s Streete Parish Park lotto draw were 11, 16, 24 and 25 with no winner of the jackpot which will amount to €9,100 next week when the draw takes place at bingo on Monday night.The three €40 winners were: Seamus and Nora, Streete; Anne McDonagh, Edgeworthstown and Dan Nugent, Maynooth.Please remember if you"re not in you can"t win. Proceeds from this help run our Sports complex which is used by all age groups so we say thanks for your continued support.Céilí - Jimmy Brady has organised another afternoon Céili in Streete Parish Park on Sunday, 19th April but more details and a reminder nearer the date.A.G.M. - Clann Gaels Ladies" Football Club"s A.G.M.takes place this Sunday, 22nd February at 2.30p.m. in Tormey"s of Bunbrosna.Birthday - Congratulations and many happy returns to Thomas Duffy, son of Kieran and Gretta who celebrated his 21st birthday with family and friends in Fiddlers" Green, Streete last Saturday night.Table quiz - Burke tells me Ringtown Club are holding a Table Quiz in Meehan"s, Coole on Friday, 27th February in aid of the Club. Tables are €40 each and hopefully many spot prizes for the usual raffle. A table or two from this parish or anyone who reads these notes will be greatly appreciated.Party - The writer has just come from Streete Parish Park where Streete Social Services and friends entertained us senior members of the parish with a full four course meal consisting of soup, a choice of beef or turkey and ham etc, a choice of desserts and tea or coffee with a choice of cakes.The Social Services ladies distributed invitations to all and more than 80 replied to Margaret Tighe and Mary Dodd and turned out for this wonderful meal which was cooked in the Centre kitchen once again by Loreto Newman helped by Social Service ladies and many members of her family including Kevin and Patricia Brady.Many ladies from the parish helped out with serving the meal etc. so I won"t single out anyone and I say a sincere thank you to all. The meal ended with a free raffle for prizes donated. All who helped in any way were thanked and the day ended with music by Johnny Keary, Bernie Tighe and Jimmy Leavy.Many were happy to sit and listen and have a drink. Mgr. Earley and Fr. Ned O"Hara attended and it is safe to say a great day was had by all. Thanks to John White, Chairman Streete Parish Park and the Committee for the use of the facility.G.A.A. - St. Fintan"s, Multyfarnham are holding their annual general meeting this Sunday, 22nd at 6p.m. in Streete Parish Park.Playground - Streete Playground Committee will be fundraising this weekend by bag packing in Dunne"s Stores, Mullingar this Friday evening and all day Saturday. If you can come along and help by giving a hand for any length of time at all over the two days the organisers will be very grateful. To volunteer, call Edel 086 8203702; Ber 086 8696385 or Breege 043 85241.Streete Bowls - Streete Bowls Team travelled to Kiltoom on Monday night last to play the home team. Playing their best bowls of the season so far they easily overcame the opposition.TEAM 1 Martin Fagan, Martin Gaynor, Bill Harvey and Gerry Cleary.TEAM 2 Seán Flood, Bill Bennett, Thomas Sullivan and Seamus Moran. Sub used Don Heard. On Tuesday night next they play League Toppers, Mullingar in the last home game of the League.Sunday, 1st March sees Streete Bowls Club host the Westmeath Singles Competition in Streete Complex. This promises to be a treat for all bowls enthusiasts. More details next week.Boherquill Ramblers - At about this time each year, Oliver Usher leads the Ramblers on a walk starting and ending at Drewstown House near Clonmellon. Last Sunday, February 15th was this year"s date for the walk which has become known as 'The Snowdrop Walk', a very appropriate name as there were snowdrops in profusion during the walk.The first stage was through the woods beside the White Lough, next to Drewstown House where the dappled shade provides the right conditions for the snowdrops to flourish and bloom before the trees come into leaf and the shade becomes deeper later in the spring. The group then moved on and left the estate to visit Mrs. Connolly"s garden in Clonleason.The visit to this beautiful garden is always a highlight of the walk and as in previous years the carpets of snowdrops under the trees were joined by masses of white and red cyclamen flowers and hellebores ranging from white to dark purple.The next part of the route took on a much wilder tone as the Ramblers followed the route of an old coach road into Girley Bog.The previous week"s snow made the going very soft in places but the weather had changed from snowy winter to milder spring during the week and with the sun breaking through the clouds at times and the sound of birdsong in the air there was plenty to be enjoyed in the wide open spaces.The route through the bog has now been designated as a National Looped Walk and the red arrows on their black posts provide clear guidance to the walker.The group continued through the forest at Drewstown Great and then emerged onto a lane leading back to Drewstown House to end a walk which held many contrasts on its route. Back in the House the Ramblers were treated to tea, sandwiches and a selection of cakes prepared by Aideen Usher.Aideen deserves our thanks for all her hard work, also John Bailey of Drewstown House for the use of the facilities in the house and Mrs. Connolly of Clonleason for allowing the Ramblers to visit her delightful garden. Special thanks to Oliver Usher who organised and led the walk and provided many interesting snippets of information along the way.Members are reminded that the Ramblers" AGM will be held in Newcastle House near Ballymahon on March, 1st after a walk in the adjoining forest. There have also been some changes to the calendar of walks for the year: the Dublin and Glasson walks have been swapped so now the Glasson walk with Brian Nerney will take place on March 8th and Oliver Usher"s Dublin walk will be on April 5th.Later in the year the Mote Park walk will move to May 17th and the Boyne Valley walk will be on May 24th.Patricia Bruton is still taking bookings for the Ramblers trip to Strangford from the 14th to the 17th of March for the St Patrick"s Day break and has asked that those who intend to join the party should pay the cost of €250 per head a week or two before the trip.From next Sunday, February 22nd, the starting time for walks will return to 2 p.m., so for next week"s walk in Derrycassin, cars will leave Boherquill at 2 p.m. Paddy Croghan will also leave the church in Edgeworthstown at 2 p.m. with anyone who is from that area.