Kathleen Trolan wishes to sincerely thank the friends, parishoners, local businesses and especially the school children from local schools who supported and contributed so generously to her fundraising efforts for the Niall Mellon Township Trust. An outstanding total of £8,032 was raised. The needs of homeless people living in the shanty towns of Cape Town, South Africa, are great and your contribution will make a real difference to their lives. Kathleen will be departing on Thursday March 19th to work alongside 600 dedicated Irish volunteers on a week long Building Blitz in the shanty town of Mwbenti. The target is to build 75 low cost houses, one of which will be named Ballinascreen House and a once homeless family from the shanty town will have a permanent link with the generous people of Ballinascreen. Thank You!

Set Dancing Classes for children and juniors in An Ráth Dubh on Sunday 1st March from 3.30pm – 4.30pm. Admission is £1.

There will be a general meeting of the Sixtowns Cross Community Group in the Cross Community Centre on Thursday 5th March at 8pm. Everyone is welcome.

The Glasgowbury Music Group have just announced the date for the Glasgowbury Music Festival 2009. The date has been set for Saturday 25th July, and once again it all takes place in the stunning surroundings of Eagles Rock just outside Draperstown.

For those of you who don’t know, the Glasgowbury Music Festival continues to be the largest independent music event in Northern Ireland. Last years festival was the biggest and most successful yet, with the likes of Fighting With Wire and ASH amongst the acts.

If you’re in an up-and-coming unsigned band, and you think you’ve got what it takes, then you’ll be pleased to hear that the Glasgowbury Music Group are now accepting submissions from artists and bands for this years festival. As you’d expect, as the festival continues to grow year upon year, competition for slots on the bill is becoming increasingly intense – so get your demo CD’s and presspacks in early. The address to write to is:

Festival Submissions,
Glasgowbury Music Group,
5 Cahore Terrace,
Draperstown,
Co. Derry,
BT45 7LT

You can also get in touch with the folks at Glasgowbury HQ via email: smallbutmassive@gmail.com

More updates as and when we get them….

Glasgowbury HQ have been in touch to let us know that a G Session will take place in the Cellar Bar on Saturday 21st February. First up are a band who’ve played a few gigs in the Cellar Bar now and making their G Sessions debut – Jumping Orbit. Next up are musical four-piece who have been recording in London and Northern Ireland recently, they are The Stetz. To cap the night off are a band who have made a previous appearance at the festival in 2007 and 2008, they are none other than Oppenheimer – which is great because they played the one and only G Session that we’ve missed so far back in February last year (we were busy trying to catch a Space Shuttle launch in Florida as it happens), so we’re chuffed to bits that they’re back for another stint.

Doors open at 9pm and all this for just £3!

For information about additional upcoming G Sessions, why not pop over to the official Glasgowbury Music Group website.

Having been in the running for no less than 6 separate Irish Festival Awards, the hard-working folks at the Glasgowbury Music Group have gone up against the big boys and managed to come away with two awards – Family Festival Award and Best Service Award – recognition of the fact that it’s not just about selling tickets and packing them into the venue – its also about people enjoying themselves in a safe environment whilst not costing an arm and a leg for a wee bit of sustenance throughout the day.

We’re sure this is only the tip of the iceberg and there will be plenty more silverware sitting on the mantlepiece in the years to come! Congratulations!

With no less than two Ulster and one County Fleadh on our doorstep in the last decade, Ballinascreen is once again the venue for the County Derry Fleadh Cheoil on Saturday 6th June. Competitions will take place in St Colm’s High School from 9.30am. All entries must be submitted to the Fleadh Secretary not later than 21 days before the event. Application forms and further information can be found on comhaltas.ie

• An important meeting will be held in the Club on Tuesday 17th February at 9pm in relation to Child Protection matters. It is essential that all managers and any other individuals who may be involved with any underage team up to and including minors attends. Child Protection forms will be completed at this meeting, to which each individual must bring two forms of ID, at least one of which must be photographic. Failure to complete these applications would prevent the individual from working with underage teams in any capacity.
• A reminder that the Club Dinner Dance takes place in The Elk on Friday 20th February. A limited number of tickets, priced £20, are available from Ballinascreen Credit Union or committee members.

The UTV School Stars talent competition arrives at St Colm’s High School on Thursday 19th February at 8pm with doors opening at 7.30pm. Admission is by ticket only at £5 for adults and £4. Tickets available directly from the school.