Ballybay Monaghan Ireland

The first GAA action for months takes place this weekend with all local clubs in action. Latton are first out as they are away to Castleblayney on Saturday evening at 7pm. On Sunday the long awaited meeting of Ballybay and Clontibret will take place in Ballybay at 2pm while Drumhowan will travel to Toome also for a 2pm start. Good luck to all. Remember due to covid rules the maximum number allowed at a game including the teams and officials is 200.

The annual Blessing of the Graves in the parish usually takes place on the last Sunday of July however this year owing to the Covid-19 Pandemic it is being postponed. It is with a heavy heart that a decision has been taken to defer the annual blessing until 2021. The local priests will privately and without any gathering of people visit the three graveyards in the parish and sprinkle the individual graves with the blessed water. Families are encouraged to visit their own plots over the course of the next few weeks.

Local journalist John Graham was asked by the Belfast based newspaper the ‘Irish News’ to select the six key players for Monaghan over the past 10 year. It will come as no surprise to locals that Paul Finlay made JP’s top six. Here is what the Killeevan man had to say about JAP – “When Paul Finlay called time on his 14 year inter-county career a couple of seasons ago, he left the big stage with his place among the all-time Monaghan greats safely secured.

One of the most prolific forwards of his generation, Finlay scored a whopping 5-544 in 168 appearances for his county. He first came to prominence as the top scorer on the Monaghan Vocational Schools team that garnered All-Ireland honours in 2001, and then won a Sigerson Cup medal with Sligo IT the following year.

The stylish Ballybay clubman played a starring role in Monaghan’s 2005 Allianz League Division Two triumph, which was the Farney county’s first national title in 20 years.

He had to wait until 2013 to emulate his late father Kieran by winning his first Ulster SFC medal and followed that up two years later as Monaghan defeated Donegal in the provincial final.

At club level, he led Ballybay to a Monaghan senior title in 2012, which completed a full collection of medals at junior, intermediate and senior level.

The other five key players named by JP are Conor Mc Manus, Darren Hughes, Owen Lennon, Rory Beggan and Vinny Corey.

Ballybay Library have introduced a new service called ‘Click and Collect’. On Wednesdays and Thursdays between 10am and 1pm you can telephone the library and discuss your reading preferences. The staff will then put together a selection of books and you can come along and collect them at an agreed time.

The Tidy Towns committee have organised a Thursday Evening Tidy Town clean up. It may mean litter picking, weed picking, sweeping etc. Volunteers can meet at the Square at 6.30 pm and do what they can for an hour or two. Extra helping hands would be very welcome with the general upkeep of the town and if you are coming maybe bring some gardening tools that could be helpful. Last week the group cleaned Lower Main Street, around the old clinic and down towards the bridge at Riverdale. Tonight the group will be concentrating on the Castleblayney Road. If possible they would like residents from this area to come out and help for an hour.

With the better weather over the past week we have all games in the outdoor league finished and we are now waiting for the final between a Monaghan Select and Clontibret A. That game is now scheduled to be played on Monday 27th July starting at 7pm. Playing for the Monaghan Team are Patrick Mc Elvaney, Brendan Og Magennis, John Sloan and Daniel Hawthorn. Playing for Clontibret are Shane and Brendan Magennis, Gerry Moen and Malachy Traynor.

This week will see a lot of the outdoor cup games being played and we will publish a full list of the second round games next week. The Jimmy Gibson Memorial Shield will be played for on Saturday 15th August on the outdoor green starting at11am. This is a singles competition and numbers are limited so now is the time to get your name on the times sheet in the pavilion.

There has been several enquiries about the Town Tournament when a number of businesses in the town put forward a team of three and the bowling club assigns an experienced player. This will start in two weeks time.

Each Tuesday evening the green will be available for beginners and improvers. Anyone wishing to partake can come along at 7pm.

Cuan Mhuire, Ballybay will host a car boot sale on Bank Holiday Monday (August 3rd). The sale will commence at 8am and the cost per car is just €10. Food and refreshments will be available and social distancing will be observed.

It is with deep regret and sadness that we record the passing of Mary McGuinness (nee Mc Phillips), 24 Loch Mor Avenue, Ballybay on Sunday last. Mary died peacefully at the residence of her Daughter Brid and son in law John Rutledge, Edenaneane. Ballybay Pearse Brothers provided a guard of honour at Mary’s funeral on Tuesday. May her gentle soul rest in eternal peace.

The Credit Union has extended its opening hours as the country starts to get back to normal. On Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday the office will be open from 10am until 4-30pm (closed for lunch 1 to 2) and on Saturdays from 10am until 2pm. Remember support local – borrow local.