Church News.

There will be Mass in Drumsna on Friday evening followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Holy hour duty Mary B. Duignan and Colleen Guckian.

9:30am mass on Sunday May 4^th Reader Pat Reid, Ministers Ella Gannon and Pat Reid.

Bingo

Bingo continues in the Centre Drumsna on this Thursday night April 24th at 9pm. Last week’s winners included Gerry O’ Reilly, Maura Mahon.  Raffle; Carmel Boles, Sharon Mc Tiernan, Charles Beirne. Free Books Rachel Murray and Marion Casserly.

County Fleadh.

The County Fleadh went off with a bang commencing with a wonderful night of singing from young and old in Taylor’s bar on Thursday night last. Friday night kicked off in Mc Loughlin’s bar with Sean Nos dancing competitions in the evening followed by a great tribute night to well known musician, teacher and mentor Padraig Sweeney. Padraig together with his wife Joan and son Gavin (who is now also famous in his own right) were joined by a host of family, friends pupils and musicians as Councillor Sinead Guckian, Chair of Drumsna Comhaltas welcomed everyone and later made some special presentations to Padraig, assisted by , Fionnuala Maxwell, Clare Bohan and Edwina Guckian.

On Saturday the competitions moved to the G.A.A. centre Annaduff followed by a children’s session of traditional music at the Centre in Drumsna at 6pm.

At 9:pm  Nancy Woods launched a new C.D. by Irene Guckian and Ronan Regan. who were joined by Mick Blake and Paddy Ryan. Sessions were then held in all three of the village pubs.

On Sunday morning there was a wonderful Fleadh Mass Celebrated by P.P. Fr John Wall with readings and prayers in Irish by Fionnuala Maxwell, Edwina Guckian together with Caoimhe Mooney who sang the responsorial. Anna Crossley and Caoimhe Mooney said the Our Father in Irish  and a host of young musicians played and danced with prayer. Aibhlinn Maxwell, Orlaith Guckian, Liam Taylor, Eimear Quigley, Antoinette Mc Guinness and Micheal O’ Dowd brought up the gifts for the offertory procession while Colleen Guckian read out the introduction.

Immediately after the 9:30 Mass  a magnificent  special memorial stone by local craftsmen, Fergal O Dowd and Enda Guckian of monumental Stoneworks Carrick, was Blessed by Father John Wall P.P. Annaduff and unveiled  by Maureen Mc Nabola, Maureen Quigley and Noel Duignan  commemorating the founding members of Drumsna Comhaltas,Thomas J. Mc Loughlin, Maureen Duignan both deceased and Maureen Mc Nabola  as well as  members past and present and all competitors and visitors to the Fleadh. Eimear Quigley great grand-daughter of Thomas J. Mc Loughlin, Cian Wrynne grand-son of Maureen Mc Nabola and Joanna Duignan grand -daughter of Maureen Duignan entertained the large crowd with a selection of tunes. Councillor Guckian then officially opened the Co. Fleadh, followed by an address by Paddy Ryan from Comhaltas who is no stranger to Drumsna.

The competitions for the day were held in the Drumsna Community  Centre and and in Maureen Quigley’s House. Music on the street on Sunday was a joy to listen to both before and after the competitions.

Congratulations to the hard working committee , to Nancy Woods and Maura Murphy for their invaluable help and advice, to Maura’s niece who manned the desk and whose name I don’t have to hand, to the adjudicators, secretaries,  all who manned the doors and helped in the kitchen, to everyone who sent in cakes buns etc., to Father John Wall P.P., Fergal O’ Dowd and Enda Guckian, to the Mc Loughlin , Mc Nabola, and Duignan Families, to all of the competitors and their families, to Brendan Bohan for judging the children’s art competition and to everyone who helped out in any way to make the County Leitrim Fleadh such a brilliant success. The winners of the art competition were Eimear Quigley, Rory O’ Connell, Aibhlinn Maxwell, Emily Gannon and Neasa Faughnan.

Golden Age Meeting.

There will be a Golden Age meeting in the Centre Drumsna on Wednesday next April 16^th  at 11am. Practise for the Bealtaine play  will take place and all taking part are requested to attend. All money for the holiday in Killarney is now due, and bookings are closed, please give money to Maura Faughnan 96 24540 as soon as possible to secure your place.

Bealtaine Festival.

Annaduff Drumsna Golden age group are holding their Annual Bealtaine festival celebrations in the Bush Hotel Carrick-on-Shannon on this Thursday night May 1^st with dancing to the ‘’ Drifting Cowboy’’ , There will be Finger food and the usual short drama by the group entitled ‘’ The Miracle’’, with Fred Gill as Tom Dooley ‘’the corpse’’ Mona Foley as his grieving widow Mollie, Mary Gilhooly his dutiful daughter Mary, John Fitzgerald his wandering son Martin, Bernie Gill is Martin’s long suffering girl friend Joan, Michael John Faughnan his drinking buddy Barney, Colleen Guckian Barney’s wife and Mollies best friend Maggie, Ella Gannon is Rose the nosy neighbour. Peggy O Rourke is Canon O’Rourke, Maura Faughnan is the dithering Doctor , Ann Walsh is Sister Ann, with Irene Daly, Nuala Kennedy, Liz Hughes as the helpful neighbours.

Everyone is welcome doors open at 8pm and admission is 10 Euro.

Drumsna Forioge.

Drumsna Foroige wish to thank all those who supported their Annual Easter Raffle and Cake sale in the Centre Drumsna on Easter Sunday last. Well done to all the prize winners who include 1^{st prize} Darragh O Conneely ,  Lily O’ Briens egg Hamper sponsored by  Donated by Drumsna Foroige. 2^nd Jim Moran Lily O’ Briens egg Hamper sponsored by Mulvey’s Carrick- on – Shannon. 3^rd Des and Mary Sammon, Box of dairymilk chocolate sponsored by Jim and Ella Gannon. 4^th Charles Beirne, Large Easter egg sponsored  by Glancy’s Supervalue, 5^th Connie Faughnan, Chocolate cake made lovingly by Mary Cox, also multiple egg prizes sponsored by Tesco. Guess the amount of eggs in the jar was won by Breege Egan. Much thanks to Father Wall for his support and to all who organised, baked, helped and supported the youth of the area.

Sympathy

Sympathy is extended to Rachel Kelly and family quay Street Drumsna on the death of her father Mr Tom Cusack the Green Rooster Mohill, also to the extended Cusack Family friends and relatives. May his soul rest in peace.