Second day trip to Enniskillen planned

Such was the success of a recent bus trip to Enniskillen in Co. Fermanagh, that a second excursion has been organised for this coming Saturday, October 25.A bus will depart from Delvin at 9am on Saturday morning to Fermanagh"s county town, a busy cultural and shopping district in Ulster.Passengers will be brought to Enniskillen for a number of hours before being brought back to Delvin in the late afternoon.A non-refundable fee of €15, must be paid in advance. Under 14s must be accompanied by an adult. To book your place on the bus, contact Michael Leonard in Delvin on (044) 9664484.Clonmellon Youth ClubThe Youth Club has started back up again and we will hold a Hallowe"en Fancy Dress disco in Clonmellon Community Centre on Friday, October 24. The Junior disco will run from 6.30pm to 8.30pm while the Senior disco will take place from 8.45pm. to 10.45pm.We will also be going to Causey on October 28.All parents who took shoe boxes are asked to return them during the first week of November.Delvin Friendship Club AGMThe Annual General Meeting of Delvin Friendship Club took place recently, and to start the meeting, members observed a minute"s silence as a mark of respect to the club"s former Treasurer, Mary Moran (RIP).It was immediately decided that the club"s next get-together, which takes place on Thursday of this week, October 23, will start with Mass to remember Mary and other past members, beginning at 11am. Anyone who wishes to attend is more than welcome.A new committee was elected for the coming year, and reads as follows: Chairperson - Alice Reilly; Vice-Chairperson - Therese Smyth; Secretary - Mary B. Smyth; Assistant Secretary - Margaret O"Shaughnessy; Treasurer - Kathleen Gilroy; Assistant Treasurer - Liz Mullen.At the club"s last meeting in September, a representative from Helplink South in Athlone came to give advice to members. With him he had a new device, a small personal alarm to be kept in one"s handbag or carrier bag while out and about shopping.Through the Friendship Club, members can purchase one of these alarms for €10, and to do so they should contact Mary B. Smyth or Carmel Doherty. Purchase is not compulsory.Hospice raised over €42,000 this yearYou have to hand it to the hard working volunteers behind Delvin Hospice Homecare. Every year they keep hitting new targets, supplying much needed funds for Westmeath Hospice, one of the county"s most worthy causes.Such enthusiastic and dedicated fundraising plays a huge role in maintaining high levels of palliative care in Westmeath.This year, the ladies and gents of Delvin Hospice Homecare have been extra busy with their fundraising activities. The major event of the year, as always, is the Ladies" Mini Marathon, but the group went the extra mile during the summer, organising a fantastically successful pig roast in Clonmellon, among other events.Last week, a Mass in memory of the club"s former Chaiperson, Mary Moran (RIP) was followed by a presentation of funds raised to Westmeath Hospice"s Marie O"Brien. It was revealed that the total monies raised by the Delvin group in 2008 was €42,447.83, and they"ll surely endeavour to break the €50,000 mark in 2008/9.No sooner has the 2007/8 fundraising year ended, than the group is preparing to embark on its next round of activities. On Friday, November 7 at 9pm, Delvin"s Hospice Homecare"s annual Table Quiz will take place in the Blue Hackle Inn (Dolores Gaffney"s), Delvin. Your support would be appreciated.Over €1,600 raised for Irish Heart FoundationDelvin girl. Margaret Bray has extended a note of sincere thanks to all those who supported the recent fundraising events in Delvin in aid of the Irish Heart Foundation.Earlier this month, Margaret organised a cake sale and walk to raise funds for this worthwhile cause, and they managed to collect a total of €1,630.Further information sought about proposed pig farmOn October 7, Westmeath County Council requested further information from Castlepollard-based firm Ballynegall Feeds Ltd. with regard to a proposed pig rearing unit at Bracklyn, Delvin.On August 14, Ballynegall Feeds Ltd. applied for permission for a unit to accommodate 744 sows, facilities to rear weaners to 30kgs, staff facilities, a proprietary waste water treatment system, percolation area and ancillary site development works.The total floor area of the proposed development is over 6,531 square metres, and permission is also sought for retention of an existing overground 4,550 cubic metre slurry tank and underground reception tank.Community GamesAnyone interested in playing Hockey please come along to St. Patrick"s Hall on Thursday evening of this week October 23, at 7.15pm. Please bring your Hockey Stick but one will be provided to anyone who is without oneTraffic CalmingCllr Paddy Hill called for traffic calming measures in Delvin during last week"s Strategic Policy Committee meeting in Kilbeggan.Responding to the request, Westmeath County Council"s Michael Connolly said a traffic plan which had been approved by the NRA needed to be changed because a large development planned for the village was now not likely to go ahead. The amended plan, although cheaper then the original, has still to be fully approved by the NRA, he said. According to Mr Connolly, the speed limits are being moved further outside the town in the interest of safety, according to Mr. Connolly.