Minister opens Casadh an Taoille

On Monday 21st October, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Éamon Ó Cuív, visited Currane to officially open Casadh an Taoille, our Enterprise Centre.
Rain and wind did not deter a large crowd who came to welcome the Minister to the area.
The Minister was officially welcomed by Mícheál Seoighthe, Chairman of Muintir a’Chorráin, who conducted a tour of the facility: the IT Centre, Doctor’s Surgery, meeting room, kitchen & laundry.
Afterwards, in Glór na dTonn, the Chairman spoke about the facility and how it, along with the other amenities that have been developed in the area in the last 15 years, had enhanced the lives of those in the community.
In his reply, the Minister praised Muintir a’Chorráin for the achievements and the sentiments he expressed on the loss of Donncha Ó Gallchobhair were shared by all those present. He acknow-ledged the central role played by Donncha in the develop-ment of the parish and how unselfishly he committed himself in this field when he retired from the national political scene.
The Minister also spoke of the findings from the Gaeltacht Commission’s report. He promised that every help and support would be given to the weak Gaeltachtaí to promote and strengthen the use of Irish there if that was their wish.
To thank him for visiting, Mícheál Seoighthe presented the Minister with a painting, “Daybreak in Currane,” by local artist Jane Steger-Lewis.
After the speeches and presentation, the Minster met with a delegation from Muintir a’Chorráin to discuss the needs of the community, including roads, piers and telecommunications.

What is Muintir a’Chorráin?

Muintir a’Chorráin Teo is the Currane development company. Although a limited company, it has no employees, just a voluntary committee comprising the Directors and other co-opted members.
The Directors are elected at the Annual General meeting, which is open to all members of the community. The Directors have a legal responsibility to ensure that the company is solvent and are liable for any debts incurred by the company.

Why have a company?

Any group of people can get together to develop an area. However, most State and EU agencies and NGOs will only provide grant aid to incorporated bodies (companies), so by forming a company we have been able to receive significant amounts of funding that would not otherwise have been available to us. It’s all down to being legally responsible.

So what do we do?

The remit covers any kind of development or activity that would benefit the people of Currane. So, for example, building the community centre and enterprise centre, running a community minibus and sponsoring job initiative and FÁS schemes are some of our achievements.
Current projects include repair of our piers, fighting for a continuation of the FÁS scheme, promoting the Irish language and culture, fundraising for dressing rooms at Griffin Park, and campaigning for upgrades to infrastructure such as roads and the telephone network.

How can you help?

Get involved. Come to the AGM and stand for election to the board or volunteer for a sub-committee. We meet only once a month, and an effort of just a couple of hours a week can make a real difference to all of our lives.

Your community needs you!

Buy your Currane Calendar 2003


A calendar has been produced to raise funds for Féile Fáilte Abhaile Pobal a’Chorráin 2003. The calendar is in the format of a large poster (610mm deep x 430mm wide) and is printed full colour on high quality stock. As well as practical information about the festival there is also a usable calendar and there are many photographs depicting life in Currane etc.
The calendar will therefore make an excellent christmas gift, giving owners a reminder of Currane to hang on their walls and take pleasure out of every day.
The design work for the calendar was donated free of charge by Currane.net. Special thanks go to Micheál Joyce at Waugh Print, Dublin for printing the calendars. All proceeds go directly to the Fáilte Abhaile committee.
The calendar will be on sale at Currane church following mass on Sunday December 15th.

Ann Sweeney – 14th December 2002

From: Ann Sweeney 14th December 2002
Hi All,

Hope you are all keeping well!!,

Well, what a mad 2 weeks we’ve had. I’m in Alice Springs in the Northern Territory at the moment. Perth was brillant we got to meet and know so many people. The first day we arrived in Perth was roasting we weren’t used to it with our Melbourne weather. We went to see the Perth Mint and how gold is heated down into gold bars, very interesting! The following day we went horse-riding, we had such a laugh my horse was a bit like me, doesn’t like to be controlled!!, He took off in a trot and of course your’e meant to be holding onto the saddle but being so excited my arms ended up around the horses neck and my right foot up in the arm!!, everyone was in the stitches laughing!!, the 3rd trot I was expert at horse-riding ready for show jumping next!!.

We went to check out the famous Irish bar here called the Bog, a great nite was had by all, we never left the dance floor.

The following day we took a ferry to Rottnest Island, we hired out bikes and cycled around the Island, there were some fantastic beaches there, white sand, blue and green waters beautiful scenery, we stayed the nite. We had our own BBQ and camped out . We had great fun.

On the Monday we booked a tour (Easyriders ) to bring us down South of Perth, we had an absolutely great time. We met so many people mostly Irish and Scottish girls. We saw lots of cute little towns along the coast and stopped to sample a few wineries along the way. The wines over here are lovely!!! To top off the evening we had a little champagne as we watched the sun go down, heaven!!! We stopped in a place called Denmark to do some canoeing it was really nice, we managed to see the Solar eclipse here it was amazing, we could see it so clearly.

By Friday we had made it down to a place called Albany to try our luck at surfing. It was the best craic ever, we looked the part anyway!! All I managed was to get to my knees, I tell ya its not easy!!!. I will definitely do it again!! Our instructor was great craic he couldn’t stop laughing at us. Well at least we were some entertainment for somebody. The harder I tried to get on the board the worse I was getting!!!!

We flew back to Melbourne and while on our flight they had a prize for someone who could either sing, or tell a joke so after persuading Helena we went up and sang “Leaving on a jet plane” – Well low and behold, we won the prize which was a nites accomodation in the Darling Harbour in Sydney, so that was a nice surpise so thats where we’ll be over a nite at xmas, its meant to be lovely with a great view of Sydny Opera House, happy days!!!

Came back to Melbourne on Sunday nite and went to work for 3 days. Wednesday, we took an 8 hour bus journey to Adelaide, we took the famous Ghan train to Alice Springs which was 20 hours, so here we are ready to do this big climb of Ayers Rock. Its absolutely roasting here at the moment so tomorrow we’re going on a 3 day tour to see Ayers Rock both at Sunset and sunrise. So looking forward to that. We’re leaving here on Tuesday for that famous 20 hour train journey and then on the bus back to Melbourne so its all go here at the moment . So, thats enough from me your’e probably all tired of reading at this stage!!!

All the best from very hot Alice Springs,

Ann
XX

Ann Sweeney – 25th November 2002

From: Ann Sweeney 25th November 2002
Hi All,

Hope all is well, gees I can’t believe its another week again. Time is going by so fast – I wish I could put a stop watch on it!! Had a great time last weekend, 14 of us went out for dinner, we had a great nite and the following day we spent with our adopted Aussie Family drinking some cold beer in their local pub, we finished off the evening listening to Christy Moore, it was grand!! we had as they say over here an awsome day!!

Work is going is great, finally got to meet this millonaire Yank with all the dollars called Steve!!, I got the shock of my life, he’s sooo not what I imagined!!, he’s so casually dressed, old jeans, t-shirt, abit overweight!!, so down to earth, money has not gone to his head, its nice finally to put a face behind the man but no I won’t be trying to charm him!!,

Really looking forward to seeing Perth, we fly next Tuesday at 6am in the morning for 10 days, I’ve got a contact already, one of the guys in the office has a cousin who lives there so I shall be ringing him, my long lost friend!!, so the next time you hear from me I shall be reporting back from Perth so stay close to your computers for some breaking news around the 8th of December, your not allowed to even go shopping on that day!!!

Friday nite I’m going to check out this niteclub that I work for called Zos, they put me on the guest list (VIP treatment only me!!) ya got to have some perks with the job!!, apparently theres only 2 niteclubs in Oz with special dance speakers and this niteclub is one of them so I must “check it out”!!, and don’t worry girls I’ll carry out the sound investigation for ye!!

Saturday we’re going to Phillip Island, its about 2hrs away from Melbourne, we’re going to see some penguins and all that touristy stuff, its meant to be really nice, and Sunday morning we’re all going canoeing in Albert lake, for all you grand prix fans (motor racing!!) this is the lake you will see in the centre of the race track, its really pretty so you can imagine me out rowing on it!!!

Anyway guys thats my plans for the weekend, I’m sure yours are just as good, take care and hurray I’m off to Perth. Sorry!!! I’m just so excited!!!

all the best
Ann from down unda!!

Ann Sweeney – 12th November 2002

From: Ann Sweeney 12th November 2002
Hi Everyone,

Hope you are all well. Sorry I haven’t emailed in a while but I’ve been very busy what with work and going out. Life is tough over here!!! Well my temporary job is going great, the people I’m working with are lovely. The guy who actually owns the Company is filthy rich – he only ownes a niteclub, his own plane, has his own indoor pool and a few companies in Melbourne but I know he’s not happy, he can’t be!!!

Well, on Tuesday we went to the famous Melbourne Cup that everyone talks about. Imagine a Country that takes a bank holiday for a 3 minute horserace? It’s great, its no wonder we’re here!!! We had the best day and craic!! We all wore our County jerseys. There were 2 from Kerry, 2 from Mayo, 1 Donegal and 1 from Galway and a poor unfortunate dub!! We never got so much attention in all our lives!! We must have met every Irish person at the Melboure Cup. It started off on the tram getting to the races, it was so funny!! We could have worn $2,000 suits but no one would have noticed us!!, The very first race, my horse came in 1st. I nearly lost my life! I won $66 and on the main race my horse came in but the odds weren’t the best god bless him so I won $40 not bad for a total beginner!! We took some great pictures of us all with sailors, cops people dressed as Vikings, you name it they were there!!! Of course we had to sample the champagne to celebrate our win!! I would highly recommend this day to anyone – brillant!!,

It’s all go here at the moment, we’re all going away this weekend to the Great Ocean Road about 2 hours from Melbourne, staying in holiday house which 2 girls from Melbourne parents own. I tell ya we have it sorted so looking forward to that!!

The weather is beautiful here at the moment. Today its 31. It was so hot inside. Hopefully our Summer is here at last!!,

Well, I have to go now and pack for the weekend, god its tough!!!,

take care everyone

Ann