Rochfortbridge Round-up

This Thursday night will be a big one for the local Tidy Towns Committee in Rochfortbridge when they hold their AGM in the Community Hall at 8 o"clock.This year members are confident that the town can improve on last year"s mark of 220. The optimum score is 400, and towns are judged on their overall development approach, built environment, landscaping...wildlife and natural amenities, litter control, waste minimisation, tidiness, residential areas, roads, streets and back areas, plus the town"s general impression.Rochfortbridge residents were pleased with last year"s score considering the large amount of Village Enhancement works being carried out on the town, but now that these works are all but complete, they hope gain on their overall mark.'We have two roads left to complete, which are the Castlelost Road and the Mullingar Road out of Rochfortbridge,' said Tidy Towns Committee member Bernie Bradley.'Once the Council complete these, we hope we can improve on our mark. We also hope to get work started on a new playground for the area,' he said.If you would like to get involved in the Tidy Town competition this year, or have any issues concerning Rochfortbridge, Committee members are inviting everyone along on Thursday night.Rochfortbridge students speak their mindFour students from St. Joseph"s Secondary School have reached the regional final of the All Ireland Public Speaking Contest.Amee Dunne, Lisa Kirwin, Michelle Murray and Johanne Fox will speak tonight, February 24, in Moate on their chosen subject, Mental Health.The four girls won the county final in January and after tonight, they hope to go forward to the All Ireland final.The best of luck girls!Gardaí give chaseA chase ensued when four foreign nationals, suspected of stealing items from a shop in Rochfortbridge, failed to stop the car they were travelling in for Gardaí on February 10 last.Gardaí arrested the four when they abandoned their car somewhere between Clane and Kilcock. Property taken by Gardaí from the car is believed to have been.The four were brought to Mullingar Garda station where a file is being forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions.Hard luck!Hard luck to the Rochfortbridge Youth Group members, Kevin Walsh and Billy O"Flynn, who competed in the Regional Youth Services pool competition last week.Both lads made it to the semi-finals, only to be knocked out, but well done on getting that far in the competition.