Day Centre

The Day Centre will reopen on Tuesday 2nd September. We welcome all our clients back and look forward to seeing new clients also.

Neptune Cup Regatta Postponed

Due to unfavourable weather conditions the Arranmore Island Neptune Cup Regatta in aid of the RNLI will not proceed. The event is now postponed until next season. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

West Donegal Diaspora Event

Calling all West Donegal Emigrants!

Ionad an Mhachaire will host a 2 day Diaspora Event ''The homecoming' st Ionad an Mhachaire, Maghery, Dungloe, Co Donegal, on Friday 26th & Saturday 27th September 2014.

Ever wondered about your family roots and heritage? Would you like to know more about the seasonal workers of West Donegal such as Tattie Hokers, Herring Gutters, Miners and Hydro-electric dam workers? We will explore the reason for their mass exodus and the work conditions they endured. We will also examine how this impacted on social life and the Irish language.

What's in a name? There will also be a brief look at local surnames place names, town lands etc. We will have local historians on hand to assist with tracing your family roots, local names, place names etc. This event may assist and guide you in preparing your family tree. Want to know more about the event? Please call 0353 74 22724 or 0353 877733203 or e-mail us on ionadmaghery@gmail.com. Facebook us on Ionad Maghery. Please share with your overseas family and friends

Neptune Cup Regatta

There will be a regatta day held on Arranmore Island Saturday 30th August to raise funds for the Arranmore Lifeboat Station. The event, which will be a traditional punt and skiff regatta competing for the Neptune Cup, will take place in Aphort at 4pm. It promises to be a great day out so please spread the word! See you there!! :)

Ionad Chrois Bhealaigh Hours

The Ionad Pobail will resume normal hours 9am to 9pm, Monday to Friday, from Monday 25th August. Playgroup will return to the usual hours; 3pm-5pm Tuesdays and Thursdays. We will be resuming Saturday service in the coming weeks.

Back To School

The children in both Leabgarrow and Aphort National Schools will return to school on Tuesday 26th August.

High Nature Value Farming Meeting

An information meeting will be held for island farmers on HNV farming in Ionad an Chrois Bhealaigh at 7pm Monday 25 August with Caroline Sullivan of IT Sligo.

High Nature Value farmland or HNV farmland is typically extensive or low intensity farming frequently associated with high biodiversity as well as supporting a range of wildlife habitats.

EU Member States are required to identify areas with HNV farming practices and support them through Rural Development Programmes e.g. agri-environment schemes such as REPS or AEOS. This project aims to describe HNV farmland in the Irish context and to identify those areas likely to contain HNV farmland.

Bus Scoile

Anyone wishing to book a seat for the coming school year should contact Anna on 0872677725 before Friday 22nd August.

Darts Competition Results

Competition winner David Mullins and runner up Kieran Cox
with competition founder Séan Ó Gallachóir

Congratulations to David Mullins who took first place in the first John Mullins Memorial Darts Competition at the weekend in The Glen Hotel, and also to Kieran Cox who was runner up. A total of €876.90 was raised on the night between the raffles and the generous donations at the door in aid of the Donegal and Sligo hospices. Thanks to all who donated prizes for raffles, The Glen Bar for their hospitality and to everyone who turned up to support this worthy cause. See you all next year.

John Mullins Memorial Darts Tournament

The John Mullins Memorial Darts Tournament will be held this Saturday 16th August, at 9pm in the Glen Hotel. It will be a 501 darts competition and refreshments will be served on the night. The tournament will be held in aid of Donegal and Sligo Hospice. All Welcome. Hope to see you there.

Shaun McGowan Memorial Golf Tournament Results

A total of 9 golfers turned out for this the last Shaun McGowan Memorial Golf Tournament. There were 3 teams and very little separating them after 18 holes of golf. Winners: Manus Early, Rory O'Donnell and John Gaughan. Runners Up: Charles Gallagher, Thomas Rodgers and Danny Rodgers. Third Place: Mickey Dubh McHugh, Kevin O'Donnell and Patrick Rodgers.  Closest to the Pin Prize: Danny Rodgers. Longest Drive: Mickey Dubh McHugh. Thanks to all who participated!

Surfing with Narosa Life

We had such a great time with Narosa Life surf at the weekend we are thinking of organising another class for this weekend if there is enough demand. Please call 07495 20024 if interested.

Hughie Mháire Angling Competition

Thank you to all who took part in the 23rd Hughie Mháire Angling Competition last Tuesday. A special thank you to organisers Hugh Rodgers and Sean O’ Donnell, the extended Gallagher family, all of our sponsors and competitors, the boat owners, all who attended the presentation evening at Teach Phil Bán, bought raffle tickets and helped in any way. Your continued support is much appreciated. Results from the competition are below. 

Heaviest Catch
First Place – Frank Beag Boyle, 76.5kg. Hughie Mhaire Cup + €100 fuel voucher sponsored by Teach Phil Ban
2nd Place – Frank Winnie Rodgers, 67kg bottle vodka sponsored by Smugglers Nite Club.
Biggest Fish – Stephen Rodgers. with an 8lb 7oz pollock. John Mháire Cup & voucher sponsored by Arranmore Car & Passenger Fast Ferries
Tommy Rodgers with a 6lb 2oz pollock, bottle rum sponsored by Ferryboat Restaurant & Guesthouse
Most Species – Charlie Brian O'Donnell with 7 species. Sean Gallagher Cup & voucher sponsored by Arranmore Car & Passenger Ferry Service
2nd Place, Frank Winnie Rodgers with 6 species Bottle of rum sponsored by Mary Lanty.

Thank you also to all who donated prizes for the raffle:
Comharchumann Arainn Mhor Arranmore Cooperative, Sharkeys Mace, The Cope Dungloe, Teasie Ward, Killeens of Arranmore, The Glen Hotel, Neily's Bar.

A total of €1,030 was raised for Ionad an Chrois Bhealaigh. Míle buíochas.

The Anthon Gallagher Memorial Soccer Match

The Anthon Gallagher Memorial soccer match against Drumkeen will take place tomorrow, Saturday 9th August, at Rannagh Park. Kick off is 1.30pm. See you there!

Shaun McGowan Memorial Arranmore Open Golf Classic

The Arranmore Open Golf Classic will take place on Friday the 8th August on Cruit Island Golf Course.

Entry is €25 which will cover green fees, soup and sandwiches and a chance to win the prestigious Arranmore Open Golf Classic Perpetual trophy.

Entry is open to golfers of all abilities and it promises to be a great day out, all welcome. The ferry departs Árainn Mhór at 10:30am. First Tee Off is at 12 noon. For more information and bookings contact Mickey McHugh on 087 6612014.

The John Greene Memorial Townlands 7-a-side Football Cup

For the past 25 years, on the first Wednesday of August the John Greene Memorial Townlands 7-a-side Football cup has been played on Rannagh. This year in view of the fact that it is the 25th anniversary we have spoken to some of the original organisers and we all feel that the time has come to play the final game in John Greene’s name.

Our island has seen a lot of families loose loved ones over the years and we are very aware of how difficult it is to try and organize an event in memory of a loved one. With that in mind we feel that from next year it would be fitting to open up the day to everybody and have the townlands from August 2015 onwards in memory of your own family members or neighbours who are no longer with us.

So on that note we are inviting everybody who has played or participated in the event over the 25 years to come join us for the final John Greene Memorial Townlands 7-a-side football day on Wednesday 7th August at 1pm and help us have a great day. We hope to have a fun filled day for all the family and have a “BATTLE OF THE TOWNLANDS”.

We will of course have the usual 4 teams Leabgarrow, Aphort, Ballintra and of course Fallagowan contest the last ever tournament in John Greene’s name. We are also hoping to have an appearance from some of the lads who would have played back when the cup started in the late 80’s (if they are able!). There will be a bouncy castle for the children and there is even talk of a ladies rematch between the married and the single ladies if we get enough interest plus much more.

We are looking forward to making the last day in John Greene’s name a fun family day and one to remember for everybody. Hopefully we will see you all there!

Hughie Mháire Sea Angling Competition

The 23rd annual Hughie Mháire Sea Angling Competition will take place on Tuesday 5th August. Established in 1991, the competition commemorates Hughie Mháire Gallagher who died on the 27 June 1991 aged just 33. Presentation will be held at Teach Phil Bán at 10pm.

Paul Boyle Sea Angling Memorial

This years Paul Boyle Sea Angling Memorial Competition will take place on Monday, 4th August. Boats will leave Aphort and Leabgarrow Piers at 11am and return to Aphort at 3pm for weigh in. The presentation will be on Aphort Pier after the weigh in.