BocRos Summer
Newsletter 2011
Brothers of Charity Services Roscommon
JUNE 2011
COOGEE LANE, ROSCOMMON.
COOGEE LANE DROP-IN
CENTRE
Service Users from the Brothers of Charity have set up a
Drop-In centre in Roscommon
town called Coogee Lane. It is
located in the prefab building
behind Cherry House which
has been recently revamped
into a funky drop in centre
which will be run by the Service Users from Open Doors
Day Service. The Service Users plan to use the facility as
a drop in service and for
other events, activities and
meetings. It has two main
rooms, wheelchair accessible
bathroom, flat screen TV,
DVD, Nintendo Wii, tea/ coffee facilities, vending Machine, computers with internet access and a computer
with assistive technology for
people with a disability who
find operating a computer
difficult.
Coogee Lane is a very convenient base that is centrally
located within the town. Many
of the Service Users work in
local businesses in the town
so it is very handy hang out
spot for lunch time and evenings or whenever someone
feels like some down time or
a place to chill out with
friends. The Services Users
are planning to run community based activities in
Coogee Lane in the future so
watch out for more details on
this in the future.
Recently, Stacey Myers held a
coffee morning in Coogee
Lane in aid of The Irish Heart
Foundation which was a great
success, well done to Stacey
and thank you to everyone
that supported it.
Inside this issue:
Coogee Lane
Computer Training
1
The Hub Fashion Show
The Rossie Hit NYC !
2
Aoife’s Polish Experience 3
―Attack of the Edible Alien
Bubbles‖ facebook School
Age outreach
If you are looking for a venue
for activities or meetings,
why not consider Coogee
Lane. Feel free to drop in anytime to see the place and
have a coffee and chat. Please
contact Open Doors Day
Centre on 0906626057 and
the Service Users would be
delighted to assist you.
Rights Review Committee
Film Review
4
Speech & Language Dept
Alive with the Sound of
Music in Siamsa.
5
Roscommon Rural Transport Launch.
6
6
SKYPE / COMPUTER TRAINING—CASTLEREA SERVICES.
Brothers of Charity Roscommon have just completed a series of Computer/Internet/Intranet
Skype Training workshops with Castlerea Services. The training took the form of Brief introdu
tion to Computers & Microsoft ®Windows Operating System, Brief introduction to Internet /
Internet access, Setting up email address for place of work, Training in supporting service users
to set up Google E-Mail address & how to access their emails whenever they want, Training on
how to access Intranet: bocros.org via internet and its contents & setting up and using SKYPE.
Staff are now able to support Service Users to use email, internet, facebook & skype. Keep an
eye out for this training coming to your area soon. Training is currently taking place in Boyle.
Pictured above are Castlerea service staff during training session.
John Feeney,in Croke Park recently,
at the National League Final between Roscommon and Longford.
THE HUB SMOOTHIE BAR, STROKESTOWN.
The Hub Smoothie Bar in Strokestown held a Fashion Show on Friday 15th April in the Percy French Hotel. It was a great success
with the proceeds from the night going to the Hub Smoothie Bar. Our models that representd the Smoothie Bar on the night were
from the School Age and Adult Services and children and adults from the community. We would like to thank the following people
who supported us on the night:- Anthony Beirne, Jim Mannion Insurances, Strokestown GAA Club and Percy Hanlys Spar, Calla Floral Design, Blush Day Spa & Beauty Clinic, Annas Hair Salon, Angelika's Beauty Salon, Centra, McHugh's Gift Shop, Dawn til Dusk,
Noel Dockery, Eithne Kelly, Annmaire Hourigan. We would also like to thank Ellen Collins who so kindly gave her time and put together the powerpoint presentation and to David Pierce from Blackhole Studios Frenchpark who took some wonderful photos of
the models on the night and all the people who helped backstage. Pictured below left to right are Sorcha Hegarty, Sarah Flynn,
Francis Courtney
THE ROSSIES HIT NEW YORK CITY !
On the 29th of April 2011, I flew
with Delta Airlines to JFK airport in
New York to see the Roscommon
team take on New York. I stayed
in the New Yorker Hotel in Manhattan which was beside the Empire
State Building. On the first night I
went to Astoria in Queens to attend the GAA banquet. The next
day, I got the Subway up to Woodlawn in Yonkers. This is an Irish
neighbourhood north of Manhattan. We went to pubs called Ned
Devines, JP Clarkes and McKeon’s
(which is owned by a Rossie!!). I
had an early night because the
next morning was the day of the
big game.
A bus left from our hotel and we
made the journey north up to
Gaelic Park in the Bronx. The sun
was shining, we had a good feeling
about the game. The match was
played on astro-turf.
They played the Star Spangled Banner and Amhrain na bfhiann before
the game. The final score was
Roscommon 3-21 New York 1-11.
We were delighted with the win.
There was a huge crowd at the
game and the atmosphere was
great. Castlerea man Donal Ward,
pic below left, won man of the
match. After the game we went to
Terry Connaughton’s Steakhouse
in Riverdale. Later on, we went
back to Rooney’s bar in Manhattan
where the team were socialising. I
got the opportunity to meet some
of the players including Donal
Shine (my favourite player). They
were all very friendly. I also met
Fergal O’Donnell who is a very
pleasant man. It was a long day
and a very late night but definitely
a day to remember. The next two
days I enjoyed seeing all the sights
of Manhattan. The highlight was
Ground Zero as Osama Bin Laden
was killed the previous day so
other was a lot of excitement down
there with lots of news reporters
and police everywhere.Seamus Conry
Aoife Hegarty Experince in Poland 2011
Monday 2 May
I left the house at 2.45 a.m. The bus left the VEC centre at 3.00am. When I arrived at Dublin airport at 5.00 a.m. I checked in and
then had something to eat. Then I got on the plane in time for it to leave Dublin at 7:00 a.m.
When I arrived at the hotel I checked into my room. We went for lunch and then relaxed. After we met our guide he took us on a
walking tour around Krakow. I saw two churches and I saw another church where they had chains where they used to punish people for doing wrong. I also saw where the man played the trumpet in different directions. It was an interesting experience.
Tuesday 3May
This was the day I visited the Auschwitz concentration camp.
I saw photos of Jews who were brought from their homes to Auschwitz in Poland. I also saw photos of people with no hair on their
heads because it was shaved off them. I also saw where they brought the Jews by train to the death camp, where they were sent to
the gas chamber to be killed straight away. Then I saw where the house had bad conditions. Then in the next stage I saw things
belonging to the people. For example, I saw two tons of hair, shoes and cases and other things belonging to the Jews in the
camp. Then I saw where they used to put wooden planks on the windows so that they couldn't see what was happening outside
the buildings. Then I saw a wall which is the wall of death where they used to use guns to kill the Jews . It was an experience that I
won't forget. I will always remember that day of that visit to the death camp.
Wednesday 4 May
We also saw of sculptures of people made from salt. Then I saw a church which was made of salt like for example the lights and
some of the stairs where made of salt. The floor looked like marble, because it was shiny. I walked 40 flights of stairs. When I got
to the next level I heard lovely music played. I had to answer a few in order to get the lift back up to the top. It was a very good experience. We also went to the Jewish quarter where I saw the wall that surrounded the building where they took the Jewish people
from their homes and placed them into death camps. I saw the graves where the Jewish people are buried. The men had to wear
red hats so that they can't see the back of their heads. It was an interesting tour.
Thursday 5 May
I went to visit Schindler's factory. Where Schindler saved 1,200 Jewish people by giving them jobs. That meant that they weren't
sent to their death . He was a very brave man to do that for the Jews. I saw photos of the Jews in the war. It was an interesting experience. After that I had free time to shop. I bought myself a new top and a pair of socks. Then I went back to the hotel to get
ready for the night out. I went to a restaurant where I had a two course meal and when I was eating my dinner there was a concert.
I enjoyed the meal and the music very much. After that I went to an Irish pub and had a few drinks with my friends from the VEC.
Then we went back to the hotel and sat at the bar for a few minutes. We had great fun that night. Home tomorrow !
School Age Outreach Update
A school age group recently participated in making a stop-motion animation
"Attack of the Edible Alien Bubbles", with David Pierce at Black Hole Studio,
Frenchpark. The group devised their own story and set about creating all the
characters and sets they needed. As stop-motion relies on taking lots of photographs to document the movement in the piece, participants were offered the
opportunity to learn a lot more about digital photography, lighting, and all the
technology that goes with creating a short movie. They also created their own
sound affects to enhance the production. You can see the results of all the hard
work by looking at the link on http://www.youtube.com/creativenetworkunder
"aero bubbles". Use the same link to check out "The Nativity" made by another
school age group for christmas 2010.
June 21, 2011
FILM REVIEW: “THE KING’S SPEECH”
By James Conway
I recently went to see this movie and enjoyed it immensely. It tells the story of George IV’s
struggle with public speaking. The title is a reference to the king’s 1939 war declaration
speech, and also to a book on the subject, called: The King’s Speech: How One Man Saved
the British Monarchy.
Following his brother’s abdication in 1936, King George VI (played by Colin Firth), who had
previously been Duke of York, suddenly finds himself in charge of the British monarchy. With
a severe speech impediment, the king has a huge difficulty with his public speeches causing
him serious irritation even before his appointment to the throne. Since 1926, he had been in
contact with Australian-born speech therapist Lionel Logue (played by Geoffrey Rush), with
the aim of solving his speech trouble.
In this movie, released in January 2011, the king and his interactions with his speech therapist are described in detail. The king’s wife, who makes frequent appearances in the movie,
is played by Helena Bonham-Carter. The movie storyline begins in 1924 with the opening of
the Empire Exhibition at Wembley Stadium in London, where the Duke of York makes a
broadcast, and continues through the Duke of York’s earliest communications with Lionel
Logue in 1926, and King Edward VIII’s abdication in December 1936. It then describes King
George VI’s coronation in June 1937, and ends with King George VI’s notable speech on the
BBC Home Service on the declaration of the Second World War in September 1939.
This film is a must see for anyone interested in this period in history. It was nominated for
12 Academy Awards and won four, all in major categories: Best Picture, Best Director for
Tom Hooper, Best Actor for Firth and Best Original Screenplay for David Seidler. It is now
available on DVD.
Speech & Language Dept.
MUSIC IN SIAMSA, E.C.S. , FRENCHPARK
During May and June, Siamsa was alive with the “Sound of Music” every Wednesday. Rachel and Mandie, from the Creativity Mill in
Castlerea visited Siamsa to carry out Kindermusik Lessons. The session lasts for 30 minutes, for a duration of 5 weeks. Both staff
and children loved these music sessions.
Kindermusik is an International Programme of Music and movement for children and their families. Kindermusik includes listening,
singing, dancing, games, stories and playing instruments.
The course covers 5 themes—Beats & Rhythm, Musical concepts and contrasts, the Voice, Instrumental families & ensemble.
WEEKLY BUSES TO YOUR TOWN
Boyle, Carrick on Shannon, Ballaghaderreen, Castlerea, Longford and Roscommon*
RRT pilot summer travel service.
Five Roscommon Rural Transport (RRT) services have been targeted for a pilot programme to
encourage people to use the local public transport in their areas. The new summer bus services will
operate weekly from late June to the end of August.
The areas served are:BALLAGHADERREEN
Cloontia - Cloonmna - Cloonlumney -Hawkford - Ardkill
Kiltimaine - Lisacul - Curraghard - Cloontowart - Loughglynn - Moyne - Buckhill - Lisdrumneill X
Frenchpark - Mullan - Banada
CARRICK BOYLE
Ardcarne Parish - Boyle on Thursdays
Arigna - Altoghil - Strandnooan - Greaghnafarna - Keadue - Ardcarne - Drumshanbo - Leitrim Village
Aughrim - Dangan - Cortober - Kiltoghert - Jamestown – Drumsna
CASTLEREA
Druninagh - Loughglynn - Demesne - Cloonbunny - Ballyglass East - Eden
Mullaghashee - Leitrim - Cloonfinglas - Lisanny – Cloonarragh
LONGFORD
Route 1: Tully - Glen - Legan - Lagan - Ballykilcline Knockhall - Kon – Tiki Cross - Rooskey
Route 2: Tully - Ruane - Ballymoylan - Cullaghmore - Moher - Slatta
Slattamore - Cloonshannagh - Clonfad - Derrymoylan - New Rooskey
ROSCOMMON
Creemully - Donamon - Kilbegnet - Creggs - Fuerty
Runabracken - Ballymacurly - Runamote - Cloverhill
Jamestown (four roads) - Ballyforan - Rahara - Athleague
More details of the summer services are available on Facebook under ―Roscommon Transport‖
For further information please contact:
Dick Hinchy Roscommon Rural Transport – 0879002752
Howard Preston Roscommon Co. For a Development Officer, 087 9954993
LEAN AR AGHAIDH.
Handbag Heaven !
Easter Saturday was a hive of excitement in Gleeson’s Town house Roscommon as the
―Friends of Lean Ar Aghaidh‖ were hosting Handbag Heaven. This was a sale of pre
owned handbags and jewellery that was generously donated.
Bargains galore were available and everyone went home happy with their bargains.
Many celebrities donated bags such as Philomena Lynott, Lisa Duffy, Mary Kennedy,
Mary O’Rourke and many more.
Philomena Lynott’s handbag did not reach the reserve price in the auction and was not
sold. Philomena has said that she would like the bag to be raffled and that she would
love it to be kept within the county.
We still have some more bags to sell and we will have another handbag sale in the autumn.Watch this space………..
Page 6
BocRos Summer
Newsletter 2011