Helping Lanesborough to Become Greener

Green Home, website www.greenhome.ie, was developed as a framework to support and advise householders on ways to save money on their household bills while protecting the environment. The programme focuses on the themes of waste, energy, water and transport and extends the Green-Schools message beyond the school gates into the wider community. The Green Home programme can be undertaken by an individual householder or as part of a group.

Getting involved in the Green Home programme couldn’t be easier. Using the Green Home Themes tab in the Green Homes website menu, you can access the most current and up to date tips, advice and action plans on ways to prevent and reduce waste and energy use in the home, conserve water and find out about sustainable travel options.

For added extras become a Green Home Member! To register your household, community group or business as member
You can help our community to become greener by registering to become a Green Home member on the website www.greenhome.ie. You can avail of the on-line Green Home survey, mentoring from the Green Home team and you will also be entered into the different competition that is run throughout the year. The Green Home Survey is a tool that enables you to monitor the progress your household has made while participating in the programme. All Green Home members are asked to complete the online survey when they become a member. A graph is generated and this provides the householder with a baseline figure of their household’s performance on the four themes. Participants are then encouraged to avail of the online resources and to revisit the survey on completion of these activities. This provides the participant with a pre and post Green Home programme status for comparison purposes as a means to assess any behavioural change.

Baby Massage Course

Baby Massage Course
Baby Massage 5 week course starting Saturday, 13th October, 2012 at Lough Ree Co-op, Main Street, Lanesborough.

Contact Emily Rooney on 086 442 8442 for details or to book. Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment. Suitable for babies from birth to pre-crawling.

This course is being run in association with Baby Massage Ireland, Irish Chapter of International Association of Infant Massage (I.A.I.M.).

Learn how to massage your infant. Oils and literature provided. Refreshments served after class. An opportunity to meet other parents and their babies. Infant massage is an ancient, beautiful and enjoyable art, which encourages learning about you, your baby and their needs. Benefits of baby massage and loving, positive touch include:

  • Wind and constipation relief
  • Improves baby’s sleeping patterns
  • Helps with Post Natal Depression
  • Stimulates weight gain and growth in premature infants
  • Nurtures bonding between parent and baby
  • Instills confidence in parents handling of baby
  • Relaxes both parent and baby
  • Aids Digestion
  • Stimulates circulation
  • Improves skin condition
  • Increases muscle tone

One to one baby massage instruction and colic relief instruction available on request.

Honda 50 Riders Raise Thousands for Breast Cancer

Honda 50 Riders in Ballyleague
Over eighty Honda 50 riders and the people of the Shannonside town of Ballyleague and Lanesborough teamed up recently to help raise thousands of euros in a major fundraiser for breast cancer research that was staged at the Waterways Ireland Marina in Ballyleague.

Motorbike enthusiasts from all over the country turned out for the charity ride around Lough Ree on the day – with the centre piece being a huge family fun event at the Waterways Ireland marina behind the old Sliabh Ban Hotel where over two thousand people attended events.

The cavalcade of over eighty bikes left the marina in Ballyleague just after noon and headed off over the River Shannon bridge in Lanesborough en route to Athlone via Ballymahon and returned just under three hours later through Kiltoom, the village of Knockcroghery and Kilteevan – thereby raising well over 2000 euro for breast cancer research. In advance of the Lough Ree ride the organisers had sold 300 tickets for a special draw with the winner collecting a very special Honda 50. The winner of the bike was Billy Diamond from Strokestown.

While the Honda 50 owners were away on their spin the Family Fun day got underway at the marina with over 30 activities offering fun for all the family. Some of the most popular activities included Paul Herety’s Hen Racing, Tom Price’s Spin The Wheel, A Pig On the spit from Terry’s Quality Meats of Lanesborough, and Joe Cribbin’s Aunt Sally and Cock A Doodle Poo. All of the funds raised by these events went to the National Breast Cancer Research Institute (NBCRI) with lots of family entertainment such as bouncing castles, face painting, pony rides, boat trips sailing and a daylong BBQ – thanks to the members and adult leaders of the Ballyboro Sea Scouts and Venturers.

The Family Fun Day was sponsored by Joe and Martina Cribbin from Top Oil/Day Break store in Ballyleague and there was also a live stage with band music on the day – catering for all musical tastes. Special thanks to Actin the Maggot, Friends of a Rock Star and the ever popular Jimmy Hussey. Thanks also to Glancys for the stage.

The organisers wish to thank all the local volunteers who helped out prepare the marina and run the events. Thanks also to Waterways Ireland for their co-operation, the Lough Ree Sub Aqua club, the Roscommon Equestrian Centre at Mountcashel, Alan Horohoe and Ventura, the Ballyleague Tidy Towns and Village Renewal committee and the Gardai for their assistance. The event could not have taken place without the kind sponsorship of Stephen Ormsbdy of Clarkes Bar and Bord Na Mona.

All monies raised are going to National Breast Cancer Research Institute (NBCRI) based in Galway, whose research team are working hard to find the causes and factors that influence breast cancer and therefore help to develop effective screening, treatments and medication to combat it. As so many more people were involved and it is impossible to mention everybody please accept this as a very sincere appreciation of your support and help. A presentation ceremony with the final charity amount raised will take place at a later date.

For more information contact Joe Cribbin at 086 382 3780 or Gerry Reilly at 086 825 1225.

Boost for Sub-aqua Club After Fire

New Van for Lough Ree Sub-aqua from Keane's VW

Frank Casey (3rd from left), Chairman of Lough Ree Sub Aqua Search and Rescue Club receiving the keys of a long-term loan Volkswagen LT van from Gerry Donlon (fourth from left), Sales Manager, John Keanes & Sons, Volkswagen dealers, Roscommon. Also, pictured are members and divers from the club.


A County Roscommon Volkswagen dealership has come to the aid of one of the country’s best sports clubs. Lough Ree Sub Aqua Club, based on the River Shannon at Lanesborough suffered a devastating fire to their premises, which caused over a hundred thousand euros in damage to the club house and equipment.

Lough Ree Sub Aqua search and rescue has helped to locate dozens of people who tragically have lost their lives on the waterways of Ireland so when John Keane and Sons, Volkswagen dealers at Lanesborough Road, Roscommon Town heard of the terrible damage done to the club’s transport in the July fire, they immediately responded by offering help with transport for the voluntary club and its divers.

A New Volkswagen LT van was immediately made available by the dealership to allow the Lough Ree Sub Aqua Club continue their work in search and rescue around the country. The dealership also offered help on an ongoing basis to ensure the club could get around and transport its divers to and from search locations and scenes.

“We were absolutely delighted when John Keane rang us and offered the help” said Francis Casey, Chairman of Lough Ree Sub Aqua club. “At the time we were still coming to terms with the damage caused by the fire so it was brilliant to be able to say we did not need to worry about transport – even though our old van was completely destroyed in the blaze.”

“We were pleased to be able to help,” John Keane said. “We know the tremendous work the Lough Ree Sub Aqua Club does for families who are waiting to try and recover the remains of their loves ones from the waterways when tragedy strikes. So we offered our assistance to the club and were delighted they could avail of the new Volkswagen LT immediately and a replacement van until they get back to normal”.

Lough Ree Sub Aqua club lost two rigid inflatable boats in the fire and had substantial damage caused to other equipment as well as their van. They are now fundraising to buy a replacement compressor pump for their club house which was also damaged by fire.

If you would like to give further help please contact Lough ree sub aqua club chairman Francis Casey at 087 9817784.

Slider 6 Dancers


Dancers at the Launch of the Lough Ree Summer Festival 2012