Application forms for the National Student Bursaries Scheme for students attending Higher Education colleges are available from the Club Secretary on (028) 79628630 or online (Adobe PDF). Further information about the scheme can be found on the notice board at the entrance of the GAA Complex. Closing date for applications is Sunday 1st November.

The Friends of Lough Patrick group will be holding a presentation and discussion session at the Rural College on Thursday 29th October at 8pm. Everyone is welcome.

The monthly dance at the Sixtowns Cross Community Centre takes place on Wednesday 28th October from 10pm. Refreshments will be served and music is supplied by Country Legends. Admission is £5 and everyone is welcome.

Ballinascreen Early Years will be running a table quiz in the Market Inn on Friday 30th October at 9pm to help raise funds for the purchase of new play equipment for the group. Light refreshments will be served and there are prizes to be won. Everyone is welcome.

• Club members interested in the new Foundation or Level 1 coaching course should contact Eunan Murray before Friday 23rd October
• Underage Managers meeting on Thursday 22nd October at 9pm to arrange Youth Presentation and plan for 2010 – all managers must attend.

Naíscoil Na Spéiríní will be holding their Annual General Meeting on Monday 19th October at 7.30pm in the Naíscoil, An Ráth Dubh. Places are available for children aged 3yrs and upwards. Contact Brenda or Dympna on (028) 79627797

Ballinascreen Early Years are now accepting pre-school applications for September 2010. Contact (028) 79627303 for more information and to enrol your child.

In March of this year, Kathleen Trolan departed for the shanty town of Mwbenti, in Cape Town, South Africa to work alongside 600 dedicated Irish volunteers (on behalf of the Niall Mellon Township Trust) on a week long Building Blitz to help build low cost housing for those most in need, raising over £8,000 in the process. Once again, Kathleen will be leaving for South Africa to participate in a 1,000 strong team of volunteers in Wallacedene, Cape Town as part of Building Blitz 2009.

Wallacedene was formed in 1985 when the relaxtion of pass laws allowed people in rural areas to more readily migrate to urban centres. It has an estimated population of 68.000 people with approximately 9,000 shacks, a severe overcrowding problem and it one of the poorest townships in Cape Town – some of its inhabitants have been on housing lists for over 20 years. The levels of HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis are extremely high with 1 in 3 suffering from HIV (particularly in those aged 13 and over). Any contributions to this well deserved cause from the people of Ballinascreen and beyond will help to make a difference.

Niall Mellon Township Trust Flickr photostream.

• Irish Night on Friday 16th October from 9.30pm at An Scioból. Admission £2
• Children’s Set Dancing Classes on Saturday 17th October from 3pm-4pm at An Ráth Dubh. Admission £1