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Abbeyfeld
Hotel Conference and Leisure Centre |
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Few
developments in Ballaghaderreen will be greeted with as much
public enthusiasm as the
new Abbeyfield Hotel Conference and Leisure Centre which is
due to open its doors to the
public next Spring.
For
many years, the town, an important market town with a large
hinterland in counties Roscommon, Mayo and Sligo was without
a hotel, meaning that the town lost out in business terms.
Now, all that is to be put right, with the creation of a state-of-the-art
four-star hotel designed by Architects ‘Turner Designs
Roscommon’ and ‘Westcon Engineering’
Oranmore , Galway ,incorporating a contemporary design with
all the facilities of an ultra modern hotel, while retaining
a traditional atmosphere and timeless elegance.
The
new hotel is built in an historic area of the town, on the
site of an old Abbey
which also formed part of the Bishop’s Palace in Ballaghaderreen
for over 100 years.
The
hotel which is being developed on an extensive 5.25 acre site
will have planted over 2,000 shrubs and trees as part of its
landscaping plan, and these will complement the mature trees
which already surround the site.
Until
now, local weddings have had to take place in a distant location,
but the Abbeyfield Hotel Conference & Leisure Centre will
provide the perfect backdrop for Roscommon nuptuals and as
the hotel will only host one wedding party each day, they
promise to give full attention to providing wedding guests
with the perfect day.
The
Abbeyfield Hotel is built to 4 star specifications, offering
70 luxurious bedrooms, comprising of 40 bedrooms in the main
hotel and an additional 30 contemporary executive and family
suites, each with their own living areas. As well as
the unrivalled Gray Suite, state of the art conference facilities,
a superb leisure and Wellness Centre and of course a top class
restaurant, Oscars Restaurant, is also promised.
Guest
rooms in the hotel will feature as standard plasma screen
with interactive TV,
free wifi access, club executive class beds, tea and coffee
hospitality tray, iron and
ironing board and hairdryer. Most rooms included individually
controlled air conditioning.
Elegant
banqueting suites will cater for every event from an intimate
dinner to a
large gala ball. The hotel will
have flexible conference facilities for 300 delegates and
can also facilitate smaller groups of 35-40 people and 15-20
people in its well-appointed meeting rooms.
The leisure centre features a 15-metre pool on the ground
floor. Guests and members can also look forward to a sauna,
steam room and spa bath. Upstairs features include air conditioned
gym with state-of-the-art equipment, an aerobic and exercise
studio and treatment rooms.
The developer of the new hotel project is local man
Martin Carty. Martin has been in
the construction business in the Ballaghaderreen area for
30 years, having completed a number
of housing developments, but this is by far the most prestigious
project undertaken to
date.
The hotel is being developed by Archhill Properties
Ltd and the contractors to the new hotel is Carty
Building (Ballaghaderreen) LTD, of which Martin is Managing
Director of both. The new hotel when fully
operational, will employ 75 people.
The hotel will be located on the main entrance to Ballaghaderreen
from the planned
new by-pass of the town, ensuring ease of access to both the
town and the N5 for
residents and guests.
A sales office for the new hotel is currently open
at Unit 3 Ballaghaderreen Business
Park, Dublin Road, Ballaghaderreen. The office will remain
open until the hotel is up and
running and staff can introduce facilities which will be available
at Abbeyfield Hotel Conference & Leisure Centre from Spring
2008.
For further information telephone (094) 98 62736, fax
(094) 98 62738, email
info@abbeyfieldhotel.ie
or visit www.abbeyfieldhotel.ie.
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Máíre
McDonnell Garvey to be honoured at Hyde Summer School |
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Ballaghaderreen native and well known Fiddle Musician and
Writer, Máire McDonnell-Garvey, will be honoured on
Wednesday night, July 4th at The Dr. Douglas Hyde Summer School
Gala Concert in Durkins in Ballaghaderreen. The presentation
is being made by Ballaghaderreen & Districts Development
Ltd in recognition of her lifetime contribution to Traditional
Irish Music. Máíre is well known in traditional
circles throughout Ireland and abroad. She is an authority
on Irish Traditional Music, its history, tunes and those for
whom it was composed. She is the author of “Mid
Connaught – Ancient Territory of Sliabh
Lugha” as well as “A Traditional Music Journey
1600 – 2000: From Erris to Mullaghban” and
“Cómhrá na dTonn: The Conversation of
the Waves”.
She
also re-issued the “Collection of Traditional Irish
Dance Music” which was edited and bowed scientifically
for the violin with 26 original compositions arranged for
piano or violin by P.J. Giblin, first compiled by Giblin and
published in Germany in 1928. Máire was a pupil of
Giblin and the reissue of this interesting work is testament
to her great interest in preserving Traditional Irish Music.
Her most recent work “Under the Shadow of the
Summerhills” gives an account of her formative years
growing up in Ballaghaderreen from 1927 to 1948 when she moved
to Dublin. This book presents a vivid picture of the
history, politics, social life, characters and traditional
music of the wider Ballaghaderreen area.
This
concert will feature the Summer School tutors including Breda
Smyth, Johnny McDonagh(Ringo), Michael Hurley, Marion Egan,
Mary Murray, Sacra Furey, Michael McNamara, Paul Smyth,
Brendan Larrissey, John McHugh, Bernie Geraghty, Junior Davey,
Michael Rooney, Marese O’Hora Tommy Doherty, John Regan,
Charles O’Connor, Jarlath Brennan, Shane Mulchrone,
Seamie O’Dowd and Sean Nós Singer, Mairéad
Ní Fhlatharta and Traditional Singer, Pat Prunty
as well as a host of visiting musicians from far and near.
The Hyde Summer School opens
on Saturday June 30th and continues until Saturday July 7th.
It offers tuition in Fiddle, Flute, Tin Whistle, Concertina,
Piano Accordion, Button Accordion, Banjo, Traditional
Guitar, Bodhrán, Harp, Sean Nós Singing, Traditional
Singing (in English) and Comhrá Gaeilge. The
Summer School also hosts an Art Exhibition of the Works of
Local and Visiting Artists. This year sees the introduction
of a bi-lingual Wood Turning Exhibition/Workshop which will
take place on the Square on Saturday June 30th. Also
new this year is a Busking Competition on the Square on Sunday
evening July 1st commencing at 6.00p.m
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Ballaghaderreen
Community Park |
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Great
progress has been made at Ballaghaderreen Community Park in
2006 with the 130m x 100m playing area now completed, and
the training/jogging track and fence due to be finished shortly.
The main contractor is ‘Emerald Pitch Services’
of Edenderry, Co. Offaly. Work began in late June and
progressed at a great pace during the beautiful summer weather.
Topsoil was removed and stored; the field laser levelled;
the soil replaced and mixed with Wexford sand; then the drainage
work carried out. The field was seeded in September
and is now sporting a lovely green carpet of grass.
The playing area should be ready for use in late summer 2007.
Early in 2006 the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism,
Mr. John O’Donoghue TD, officially launched the project
and turned the first sod, while Rev Dr Thomas Flynn blessed
the park and all who work and use it for recreation in the
future. St. Attracta’s School Band entertained
the attendants, which included local politicians, members
of the media, children, teachers and many other locals.
By this summer the field and track will be ready for use.
A very successful fundraising draw last spring raised a profit
of €50,000, while the company were successful in obtaining
an amenity grant of €4,000 from Roscommon County Council
in 2006. Almost all of this money has been spent to
meet the local contribution needed to supplement the €120,000
received from the Sports Capital Programme and €24,000
of Clar Funding. When this phase of the project is complete
it will have cost in the region of €200,000.
The committee are now concentrating on the provision of changing
facilities in a new Clubhouse, which it is hoped will be built
this year. A Walking Lane around the field is also planned,
while an Astroturf Pitch will complete the development.
The committee are hopeful they will be successful for another
grant under the 2007 Sports Capital Programme towards the
cost of the Clubhouse. Again however a local contribution
of 20% will be necessary to meet any allocation. The
committee have launched a ‘Sponsor a Block’ campaign,
whereby people interested in contributing to the building
costs of the Clubhouse may sponsor a block, or more than one
block, for €50 each. A receipt will be issued and
the sponsor’s name will be displayed in the Clubhouse
for future generations to see. The committee are appealing
for support for their fundraising campaign so that the dream
of a top-class sports and recreation facility for everyone
will become a reality. They would especially love to
receive any donations from Ballaghaderreen people living abroad
who would like to be associated with this project in their
native area and have that help recognised through the displaying
of all the sponsors names.
Those wishing to help may credit the account of Ballaghaderreen
Community Park at AIB, Main Street, Ballaghaderreen:
A/c No:
61348165
Sort Code:
93-25-58
The committee would like to thank
all who have contributed in any way to this project, and are
hoping for your continued support.
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Dr.
Douglas Hyde Summer School of Traditional Irish Music |
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Mr Noel Treacy T.D. Minister of State at the Department of An
Taoiseach will officially open the 11th Annual Dr. Douglas Hyde
Summer School of Traditional Irish Music in Durkins in Ballaghaderreen
on Sunday July 2nd 2006.
This will be followed by acclaimed musicians, Cora & Breda
Smyth, in Concert. This years Brochure includes a full programme
of Lectures, Recitals and Concerts which will provide the very
best of Traditional Irish Music and Song by some of Irelands
best performers. Classes will commence on Monday July 3rd in
St. Nathy's College. Tuition will be given in Tin Whistle, Flute,
Fiddle, Concertina, Button Accordion, Piano Accordion, Banjo,
Bodhrán, Harp, Traditional Guitar, Sean Nós singing
and Comhrá Gaeilge. There is also a Master Class in Tin
Whistle which will be given by Breda Smyth and a Master Class
in Bodhrán which will be given by Johnny McDonagh(Ringo).
The Comhrá Gaeilge classes are proving very popular with
Pre-Leaving Cert Students as preparation for next years Leaving
Cert Oral Irish Exam and is being taught again this year by
Máirtín O'Maicín. This year sees the addition
of an Art Exhibition which will feature the works of local and
visiting Artists.
. The style of music played in Ballaghaderreen fits into what
is generally known as the "South Sligo style" and
all of the excellent tutors who are engaged for the week use
this style. Tutors include Michael Hurley, Marion Egan, Mary
Murray, Sacra Furey, Michael McNamara, Paul Smyth, Brendan Larrissey,
Paddy Ryan, John McHugh, Bernie Geraghty, Junior Davey, Gráinne
Hambly, Tommy Doherty, John Regan, Charles O'Connor, Jarlath
Brennan, Shane Mulchrone, Seamie O'Dowd. Mairéad Ní
Fhlatharta teaches Sean Nós Singing. This years programme
includes very interesting lectures. Máire McDonnell-Garvey
will talk on "The Giblin Legacy". Maura published
a book on this subject last year. Paddy Ryan will give a Video
Presentation on "Faces from the Past" while Joe Byrne
will explore "Irish Traditional Music in Irish Culture".
Students who come to Ballaghaderreen are not only tutored by
the best musicians available but at night they are all very
welcome to refine their skills in the Seisiúns which
take place around the town. The welcome and encouragement which
is given to all young musicians at the Seisiúns in Ballaghaderreen
is what distinguishes Dr. Douglas Hyde Summer School from some
other summer schools and contributes to its success. One of
the many highlights of the week will be the Gala Summer School
Concert on Wednesday July 5th at which Paddy Ryan, well known
Musician and Broadcaster will be honoured for his lifetime contribution
to Traditional Irish Music. There is also a visit to the Dr.
Douglas Hyde Interpretative Centre and Burial Place of Irelands
first President where Curator, Ms Deirdre O'Gara, will give
a presentation on "The Life and Times of Douglas Hyde,
his contribution to Irish Language and Culture" The
enquiries this year, not only from all over Europe but much
further afield, have been more numerous than in previous years
and the number of firm bookings from outside Ireland is greater
than ever. The Dr. Douglas Hyde Summer School is not only
a cultural event but each year is becoming more important
on the Irish tourist calendar.
Ballaghaderreen and Districts Development wish to thank the
Rev. Dr. Martin Convey, President of St. Nathy's for giving
the use of the College again this year to stage the Summer
School. St. Nathy's is by far the best venue for a music summer
school in Ireland, and our students from overseas are always
most impressed by the facilities. B&DD also wish to thank
all our sponsors and patrons without whom this School would
not have developed and we trust that in coming years they
will reap financial rewards for the support they have given
to this venture.
Full details contact 086 8272300 or www.douglashyde.com
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