The St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Kilteevan on March 16^th were a great success.  After months of planning it was good to finally see the finished product. Prior to the commencement of the event it was lovely to see the local children arriving, each with their own interpretation of St Patrick’s Day fancy dress.

 The day started at 3pm with a variety of songs from a small ballad group consisting of Emma Healy, Enya Reilly and myself.  Next to showcase their skills were the Sean Nós duo of Éabha Dolan and Róisín Coyle who really got the crowd going with their dancing skills. Finally to close the first section of the entertainment was Enya Reilly accompanied on keyboard by Rebecca Mooney, singing a medley of tunes.

The Grúpa Ceoil played out the rest of the afternoon with a variety of Jigs, Reels and Hornpipes. This group consisted of: Roberta Jeffreys, Aoife Garvey, Della McGuinness, Ciara Garvey, Aoife Feeley and Roddy McGuinness. The day was really a showcase of the wealth of talent from young people in our local area.

The imaginative art work from the children in Kilteevan Primary school was on display for all to see on the day. The colourful exhibition was a credit to the students and staff of the local school.

Cúchulainn

  I undertook this project as part of my Dermot Earley Youth Leadership Initiative. The initiative is organised by the National University of Ireland, Galway, Foróige and the GAA and aims at enabling young people to achieve their full potential. In order to meet the requirements of the course, I had to participate in 20 hours of community work. Until now I would never have thought I would be able to organise such an event such as we had in Kilteevan on March 16^th.

The skills I have learned with the Initiative are second to none and I will take them with me throughout the rest of my life. What I saw shine through this event is the community spirit and the willingness of the people of my community to help out and support. This is one of the great advantages of living in such a small and tight-knit village.

I sincerely want to thank everyone who helped out in any way, especially the local community who turned up on the day to support me.  Laura Croghan, 18 March 2014

Grúpa Ceoil 

Councillor Orla Leyden with Laura Croghan, Event Organiser, "Ceol Craic agus Caint"

Photos of Student Art work posted with the kind permission of Kilteevan National School.

Happy St Patrick's weekend to everyone in Kilteevan and to all our family, relatives and friends.  Very special greetings to everyone overseas with Kilteevan roots and connections.

We wish fifteen year old Laura Croghan the best of luck with her event Ceol, Craic agus Caint in the Community Centre on Sunday March 16^th at 3pm.

Don’t forget to support St Joseph’s on Sunday 16^th March in their match against St Ronan's. Venue: Ballyfarnon at 1pm.

Best of luck to Roscommon Senior Footballers also in their match against Offaly Venue: Hyde Park at 2pm.

We will leave you on this special weekend with a traditional Irish blessing

May the roads rise to meet you,
May the wind be at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rain fall soft upon your fields,
And, until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

For those of you who are following us all over the world we want you to know that spring is in the air in Kilteevan! Today Friday, 7 March 2014 ,was a beautiful, sunny and calm afternoon.

Flood waters are beginning to recede, buds and new growth are bursting out all over and the melodic bird song would lift any heart. There are lots of Lesser Celandines in the hedgerows now. Our remarkable native shrub Gorse, Furze or Whin (whichever you prefer to call it) is in bloom on our bog landscape today.

It was a strange winter here in Ireland. According to Met Eireann ( Irish  Meteorological  Service) the winter of 2013/ 2014 was the wettest on record.

The south and west of the country were particularly badly affected. Newport, Co. Mayo had only 10 days without rain in the three months of winter.

Valentia Observatory in Co Kerry recorded 33½ inches of rain in December, January and February. This is the highest figure recorded since records began in 1866.

On the bright side because of the south-westerly winds, it was also an extremely mild winter in Ireland.

We look forward to the possibility of a good summer!!!!!

"Beidh an lá dúl chun shíneadh",  (Antaine Ó Raifteirí 1784-1835). The days will be lengthening.

By popular demand, Social Dancing Classes will continue every Thursday night, through March and April at 9.00 p.m in Kilteevan Community Centre. Admission €7 .All Welcome