Ramelton welcomes home All Ireland Champions... again  by John McAteer

Since their formation over fifteen years ago the Ramelton Town Band has won five All Ireland Fleadh Ceoil titles, including their second senior win on Sunday in Cavan. Therefore the big challenge is to make it three in a row in 2011 and they are already up for that task.

They returned home to Ramelton on Monday night and as usual they paraded down Church Street and along the Shore Road before arriving at Gamble's Square. That is their tradition and regardless of how they've done and no matter where they've played their final stop is always back in Gamble's Square.

A big crowd had gathered and the home coming committee as always had organised the platform, cordoned off the Square (PJ granted the closure permit at an hour's notice) and so the scene was set. Willie Joe McDaid, Paul McCahill, Norman Irwin and Kevin Coyle were the main workers and shortly after 8.30 the place was ready and all lit up. But we had to wait until after nine to hear the sound of the music as the band came over past McDaid's Bottling Stores. 

Young and old had gathered and many were already recording these precious moments on the mobile phones. Wee Claire Friel, from Castle Street is only seventeen months and her mum had just brought her back from hospital where she'd gotten her plaster renewed for a dislocated hip. I remember taking Claire's photo last year as a little baby and my goodness how she's grown and how pretty she looked all decked out in her best finery for the band and smiling at everyone.

Later I photographed the majorettes and some day soon Claire will be among this group. The band came into the arena to play their 12 minutes (11.56) actually of wonderful music and drill and one could identify the sense of pride and honour this group has brought to Ramelton. It was a bitterly cold night but the music and the great achievements in music of this small town is something that we'd stand out all night to enjoy.

There were nice speeches off the platform. Fr. Michael Carney, PP who knows more than most of us about music added his own words of congratulations, as did Cllr. Ian McGarvey.

The main man in the band (and other things in Ramelton) down the years is PJ Kavanagh and he was in fine form as he reflected good humouredly on the band's success. He recalled some fifteen years ago being asked to help out with the drill for the new band and now all these years later he's still at it and obviously loving it because it involves so many of the town's young people and their families.

The music tradition is a very old one in The Holy City and it dates all the way back to the foundations of the pantomime in the nineteen fifties or as Thomas Harte would say, to the days when Molly McBride was staging concerts in the Town Hall. The pantomime is so central to the development of the music and presentation and the kind of confidence it generates in children from five years of age is something that money could simply never buy.

Danielle McNamee who is the band leader had a lead role in the panto two years ago and so the legend goes. Since the band was founded they've played in so many parts of Ireland at competitions and they are in huge demand for St. Patrick's Day Parades. 

And for the record Benjo Ward from the Bridgend has been their number one man because it is his steady hand that has recorded for posterity every competition and every victory... where would they be without him?

PJ Kavanagh dedicated Sunday's victory to the hard working committee and that is so right. Because without the huge support and dedication of them it could not happen. Perhaps it is pride in the kind of community spirit that is so unique and so special.

And then the band members were called on to the stage to be presented with their certificates of victory. Hillary Gallagher made the presentations and that was so fitting because Sean and John had been closely identified with the band. And then we were all invited back to Durkans for a quiet cup of tea and everyone was safely tucked up in bed by eleven o'clock. Mind you I'm not saying if it was eleven that night or the next morning... 

And the Town Band will do it all again next year and here's to their future success.

CHARITY CONCERT

 A charity concert will be held on Friday 3rd Sept in the Milford Inn Hotel. This concert is being organised by the Jordan Family in memory of their wife and mother Esther Jordan. Proceeds will benefit the Donegal Hospice and the Oncology Dept of Letterkenny General Hospital. Ramelton's fast rising American country star Trevor Loughrey will be joined on the night by his friends Gary Gamble, Sharon Nixon and Cc Cooper. Doors open at 9pm and a buffet will be served at 10pm. Admission €15. A free bus will leave from Gambles Square on the night at 9pm. Your support would be greatly appreciated. 

Ramelton Tidy Towns 

Fundraising Draw

The Ramelton Tidy Towns fundraising draw will take place Friday, 17th September in the Town Hall where a top prize of €300 is up for grabs. All ticket books that have been sold need to be dropped into MacFaddens shop please by Thursday, 16th at the latest. Thank you to everyone who has generously supported the fundraising effort so far - ticket sellers and ticket buyers alike. Proceeds from the draw will go towards designing and landscaping the new Cup and Saucer community garden. Come along for the draw, enjoy a cup of tea and see for yourself the plans for the new garden, the future plans of the Tidy Town's Committee and a photo diary of the work shared by so many hands for this year's entry. The results for the Tidy Towns competition will be announced on Thursday 16th, September.

 Bin Your Butt

Smokers please take heed! Dropping your cigarette butt is littering. Sadly your actions are polluting the streets of Ramelton and making our town look dirty and uncared for. Please be aware that your cigarette butts are not biodegradable.  Dropping them on the street means that they can easily enter our water system, ending up in the Lennon and washed up on Rathmullan beach, where they are toxic to marine life. So the next time you are out for a quick smoke, please be considerate and bin your butt.

Clean-Up

This year's Tidy Towns competition is drawing to a close, but the work continues! While looking back on the huge transformation that has taken place over the past four months, we are also looking forward to 2011. Lend a hand, pick up a brush or stick on a pair of gloves and join us every Wednesday night from 7pm at Gambles Square for the community clean-up effort.

Soccer School

 ‘Swilly Rovers' Summer Soccer School' - difficult enough to say, yet alone organise!  But it was a great success for the 60 participants thanks to the work of Seanie Mooney, Denis McHugh, Packie Durning, Lawrence Toland, Kyle Black, Kyle McFadden, Monica Grier, Pauline Irwin, Julie McCloy and Gogie O'Donnell.  

Presentations were made by Swilly Rovers club captain, Marty McDaid.

Weddings

Congratulations to William Blaney and Chanel Diver on the occasion of their wedding last Friday and to Declan Friel and Nora Sweeney who were married on Saturday.

Sympathy

Deepest sympathy is extended to the family and friends of the late Laurence Boyce, Castle Street, aged 91 who passed away last week.

FAI Award 

Congratulations to Joe Duffy, Ardrummond Road, Ramelton on winning an award at the FAI AGM in Wexford. Joe was honoured for his outstanding services to Football. He was Chairman of the Donegal League, a member of the Donegal Referees Society for many years and a winner of the FAI Junior Cup with Swilly Rovers in 1962.

Swilly Rovers

The senior team will play at away to Drumkeen on this Thursday at 7.00p.m. The first division team are at home to Letterkenny Rovers on Saturday 28th August at 2.00p.m.  

Last week's sellers prize in the Swilly Rovers Lotto was won Johnny Roche. The €70 prize was won by Declan McGarvey. Lucky Number winners were  Sharon Boyce, Jimmy Hunter and Pucell Durning.  The winning numbers were 6,12,15,16and the bonus number was 2. Jackpot this week is €3540. Lotto's available at Steve's Café.

Bowling

The Ramelton Bowling Club will recommence its winter activities on Wednesday 1st September in the Makemie Hall at 8p.m. The first night will be a chance for any new members to come along, everyone welcome. 

GAA

Congratulations to Milford GAA under 14 team on winning the County title last week with a lot of local players taking part.

SVP KNOCK  PILGRIMAGE

The SVP Annual Pilgrimage to Knock is on Sat 11th Sept. Bus leaving Dunfanaghy 7.30am travelling via Creeslough, Kilmacrennan, Milford, Ramelton & Letterkenny. The cost is €45 includes bus fare, breakfast & evening meal on return journey. Booking or further details may be had by ringing Eddie Shiels @ the Regional office on 074-9173933 or 087-7909210.