50th edition of ‘Macalla’ officially launched

Convent of Mercy

Transition Year students officially launched the 50th edition of the popular school magazine ‘Macalla’ with a little help from RTÉ journalist and author Carole Coleman on Monday afternoon.

This year’s version of the magazine, which was first published in 1973, is an impressive tome, containing reports on recent school events, celebrity interviews, photographs, and much more.

The 2023 team was led by Editor Shauna Carty and Deputy Editor Faye Reynolds with support from teachers and Macalla joint-coordinators James Wallace and Carmel Whyte.

Addressing Monday’s launch, principal Miriam Hunt paid tribute to those involved in putting the magazine together, describing it as a “wonderful chronicle” of the 20222023 school year.

She told those present that the first edition in 1973 cost 40 pence, while the 50th instalment reflected the “vibrant and diverse” school community.

Joint-coordinator James Wallace thanked the students who opted to take part as well as school management and staff for their support. Mr Wallace also paid tribute to Fiona Healy, who was in charge of design, and publishers

The Roscommon People, as well as Swift Print in Galway, who printed the magazine.

Mr Wallace’s fellow coordinator Carmel Whyte said the huge interest in this year’s Macalla was testament to the esteem it’s held in within the school.

She thanked Shauna Carty and the editorial team for their ‘Trojan efforts’ and lavished praise on the school’s “talented, polite and mannerly” students.

Shauna Carty said she was honoured to edit Macalla, adding that a lot of work had gone into the magazine over the previous nine months and thanking all contributors including Mr Wallace and Ms Whyte.

She reserved a special thank you to local businesses who had helped support the magazine through advertising.

Special guest Carole

Coleman said it was “an honour” to be asked to carry out the launch adding that it was “amazing achievement” to have continued the Macalla tradition for five decades.

Before officially launching Macalla 2023, she said the magazine was a “primary source and wonderful history” of the school and “something amazing for students to look back on” in the years to come.

Fine Gael councillor Liam Callaghan recently sought an update on regeneration works for the town of Ballaghaderreen during a Municipal District meeting. Cllr. Callaghan said a part 8 planning was passed over two years ago, and he was concerned that funding for capital projects may be under pressure in the future. However, Meetings Director Greg O’Donnell said the proposed works for Ballaghaderreen have been undertaken by the TII, and funded under the Active Travel Budget, and final documents were being prepared.

According to Cllr. Callaghan, such regeneration works will see upgrading of the town centre streetscape, footpaths, and bus stops, similar to town centres in Roscommon and Carrick-on-Shannon, where there has been very positive feedback.

‘Journey for Ger’ fundraising run/walk

The family and friends of Ger McMahon (RIP), Kilkerrin are organising a charity run/walk from Knock Shrine to Kilkerrin on July 15th next.

The event will begin with Mass in Knock Shrine followed by a sectioned run/walk where everyone is invited to join our journey in remembrance of Ger while raising vital funds for Galway Hospice Foundation.

You can take part in the Mass, walk or run. The walk/ run will be broken up into 5km/10km stages along the way.

Weekly updates will follow on their Facebook and Instagram pages ‘Journey for Ger’, and in local newspapers.

Lough Ree RNLI volunteers have a busy May

The Lough Ree RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew was on the water twice last weekend. The charity has been called to assist 23 people in six different incidents during the month of May.

At 4.30 pm on Sunday, the 28th of May, the Coast Guard tasked Lough Ree RNLI volunteer crew to assist three people in a fishing boat that was drifting off the western shore. The charity’s lifeboat ‘Tara Scougall’ with a volunteer crew of Stuart McMicken (helm), Kieran Scullion and Denis Begley was launched in sunny, calm conditions.

On reaching the scene, off Carna Military Range, at 5.15 pm, the crew found a 4.5m lake boat drifting without power. It appeared that the boat had struck rocks and suffered lower engine damage. The three casualties were unharmed and the RNLI lifeboat towed the stricken vessel to the safety of the jetty at Hodson Bay.

Earlier in the weekend, on Saturday, the 27th of May, just after 7.30 pm Lough Ree RNLI responded to a call for assistance from a boat which had run aground with six people on board. Launched at 7.45 pm, the RNLI lifeboat under volunteer helm Kieran Sloyan and with a volunteer crew of Billy Henshaw Jnr, alongside newly-graduated crew Paul Kelly and Ray Cregg, reached the stricken vessel in ten minutes. On arrival at the scene, east of Carberry Island, the crew found six people on board a 40 ft. cruiser, which had run aground. Following an inspection, the boat was towed off the rocks by the RNLI’s ‘Tara Scougall’, and continued under its own power.

This brought to twelve the number of call-outs Lough Ree RNLI has responded to in 2023.

Ahead of the June Bank Holiday weekend, Lough Ree RNLI volunteer Operations Manager Kevin Ganly has asked all those in charge of boats on the lake to be fully familiar with their navigation charts and pay particular attention to signage and guidance provided.

The public are reminded that in case of danger on the water it is important to call for emergency services at the earliest opportunity.