Ballybay Monaghan Ireland

Children from the parish won five medals including three gold at the Community Games Athletic finals. The committee would like to congratulate all the children who represented the parish each doing their very best.
Gold medals were won by:
Neasa Doherty - 80m U8.
Aideen Drury - 80m Hurdles U14
Jayne Drury - 200m U16.

Silver medals were won by:
Tom Doherty - 600m U12
Daire Sheridan - 1500m U16.

Excellent performances were given by:
Mark Drury - 100m U10
Eoin Sheridan - 100m U12
Katie Glynn - Ball Throw U12.

Our Gold medal winners will now go forward to represent County Monaghan at the Community Games National Festival in the National Sports Campus, Dublin in August.

The Ballybay Outdoor Bowling Club has a very busy few weeks ahead with upcoming games in the Border Counties league and also competing in the Mc Guirk Shield. We won the shield in 2013 and again last year so we will be putting in a big effort to retain it this year. The champion of champions competition will be held on Saturday 2nd September at the Omagh club. In order to get the representative from our club we will hold a singles day on Saturday 1st July with the pairs taking place on Saturday 22nd July. All games will start at 11am. If you want to compete you need to put your name on the list in the club pavilion. The draw for the outdoor cup was made last week and there was some very interesting pairings which is as follows: Corcaghan v Muckno, Cootehill v Ballybay White, Ardaghey v Derryvalley, Scotshouse v Ballybay maroon, St. Michaels v Keady, Latton v Shercock while Clontibret Saffron have a bye. These games will take palce on any day by arrangement with the committee.
On June 27th we will host a number of Special Needs groups. This has become an annual event and we are all looking forward to having them.

Latton O'Rahilly GAA will welcome Clontarf G.A.A. Club (U14 boys) and San Francisco G.A.A. (U14 girls) for the finals of the 2017 John West Feile Peil Na nOg. Over 5,000 participants are being hosted by Clubs across Counties Monaghan, Cavan and Fermanagh. Games commence tomorrow, Friday 23rd June, with Latton playing at Cremartin at 4pm, followed by a reception for the Clontarf and San Francisco visitors in the O'Rahilly G.A.A. with refreshments and entertainment. On Saturday Latton play games in Crematin at 11am, 12 noon and 3.30pm. Later that evening the Monaghan v Down game will be shown live in the G.A.A. Centre from 6.30pm and there will be music from 9pm. On Sunday morning Latton participate in the parade and Finals in Clones at 11am. Everyone is invited to attend all games and events in the G.A.A. Centre a marvelous exhibition of Gaelic Games and activities in Latton for Centenary Year.

As the Latton O'Rahilly Club continues the Celebrations of their Centenary work continues on The Museum of G.A.A. Anyone with photographs, newspaper articles or any materials connected to Gaelic activities in the Latton/Bawn Area are requested to bring them to the G.A.A. Centre on any Monday between 10.00am and 12.30pm,where the materials will be scanned and returned immediately. If you know of any materials relating football, hurling, camogie, ladies football, handball, scor, etc please contact Patrick Hamilton on 086-2686619 or Seamus Coyle on 087-6814067 or call to the GAA Centre on Mondays between 10am and 12.30pm. Centenary Ties are available from the G.A.A. Centre. These are limited and are specially engraved for 100 years of Latton G.A.A. Centenary Flags are available by contacting Seamus Coyle on 087-6814067 or from the G.A.A. Centre. There will be a Club Committee Meeting on Thursday 29th June at 9pm.

Mary Mc Guinness was like the cat that got the cream last weekend as she witnessed the christening of her great grandson Ruan. The proud nanny seen the child christened in the same robe she wore 89 years ago. Congratulations to Ruan and his parents Donna and Colin.

On Friday 21st July Ciaran Rosney will perform in The O'Rahilly G.A.A. Centre to launch his latest Music Video. A lot of the new video was recorded in the Latton area. Doors open at 9pm and a wonderful night is guaranteed.

A great big thank you to MS Ireland for their very kind donation to Christ Church following Trad on the hill held in Christ Church Ballybay on Sunday 4th June, a very enjoyable evening of traditional music that was thoroughly enjoyed by all, many thanks to Kevin Curran who organised the event and to all involved.

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural & Gaeltach Affairs, Heather Humphreys,pictured with Rev Neal Phair and tradional musicians at the Trad on the Hill concert in Christ Church BALLYBAY on Sunday June 4th

Saturday last the 10th June saw the first of the trophies played for at the Ballybay Outdoor Bowling Club when almost 30 members competed for the Jimmy Gibson Memorial Shield. On one of the hottest days of the year play started at 11am and was finished just after 5pm. This was played in a singles format with all throwing 4 bowls. The final game was outstanding and featured Matt Mooney and Jocky Gibson and it was very fitting to see Jocky take home the Shield with what he said was the best bowls he ever played. The Chairman Benny Smyth made the presentation to Jocky at the end and said it was very fitting that Jocky won it as he played superb bowls all day and had established himself as one of the leading bowlers in the Border Counties league.
Our next competition will be the singles in the Champion of Champions which will take place on the green on Saturday 1st July starting at 11am so now is the time to put your name down on the draw sheet in the club pavilion. The Town Tournament is still on-going with most teams reaching the second round more about that next week.

A number of locals have expressed concern that the local Bank of Ireland branch will no longer be offering cash, foreign exchange and coin services from 9th August. It has been suggested that locals while in the bank should voice their disapproval and ask that the bank reconsider their actions. There is a lot of concern that this could be the beginning of the end for banking in the town.