Notes 23/09/2013 - Newtowncashel - Co. Longford

TIDY TOWNS
Well done to the local Tidy Towns Committee and indeed all parishoners who helped secure 308 marks and retained the Silver Medal for our Village at the recent awards ceremony . Derryhaun,scored 229 marks,a significant increase on last year's mark.For an in depth report you can visit the Tidy Towns website for details.Well done to all concerned.

CAKE SALE
The Annual Cake Sale and Raffle in aid of St.Joseph's Young Priests Society takes place in The Hill this Saturday the 28th and Sunday the 29th of September,after Mass.Donations of home baking and farm produce would be greatly appreciated.Support will be very welcome.

RURAL TRANSPORT
Rural Transport arrives I Lanesboro before 11am and Departs at 12.45. The Provider is Farrelly’s (3322222) and the present Driver is Peter Hudson (087-2739193), either party can be contacted directly with enquiries or to myself here in LCRL at (3345555). All services are “door to door”.
It has been noted in recent weeks that Passenger numbers have dropped significantly, this in the main is due to sickness/illness and the age-group that travel. For Free Travel Pass holders, the Service is FREE, and others is €3 Single and €5 Return. I gather that the Post Office is changing hands, but passengers can travel on Friday from that region for shopping – chemist etc.
With Reference to the recent Plans for Restructuring the Rural Transport Programme by Government and the NTA, existing RTP Groups/Companies are being Amalgamated by the commencement of 2014. Longford with Westmeath and the New Transport Co-Ordination Unit (TCU) to be set up under the Local Authority. Here in Longford, we will be battling to keep the TCU in Longford Town as will Westmeath for Mullingar.
You will have noticed that the amalgamation of the VEC, Fire Services and the recent setting up of the Irish Water Services have ended up in a Mullingar venue. Geographically, the Longford venue is well suited to managing and controlling this new proposed Programme and has the record to prove it since the Initiative commenced in 2003.
The only fear is that if Passenger numbers on Services decrease/reduce and are below a certain figure, then they may lose out under the new proposals. This is why we wish to “highlight” this particular No.19 Service in to Lanesboro on Fridays. We can see on a day to day basis how difficult it is for Businesses/Shops in Towns/Villages to keep going, we should do all we can to support Local, so our problem is, “If we don’t use it – we lose it”.!

STATION MASSES
The Autumn Station Masses will be celebrated from the 1st to the 31st of October.Householders who are to host the Stations may arrange dates when convenient if the have not already done so.

CONFIRMATION
The Sacrament of Confirmation will be administered on Saturday the 22nd of March,2014 at 12.00 noon.Fr.James Mc Kiernan will speak to the parents of children for Confirmation ,in The Hill,this Thursday the 26th of september,at 8.00 p.m.The fathers and mothers of the children are expected to attend.