Baltinglass Jotter

The 11th annual Baltinglass Classic Car and Motorcycle Run will take place on Sunday, August 6. Registration is from 11 a.m. with cars on show on the street from that time. The Road Run gets under way at 2 p.m. All classic and vintage cars, motorcycles, vans, etc. are welcome, as are modern classics, sports cars and any interesting vehicles.

There will be special features to celebrate some important motoring anniversaries. These are: 100 years of Triumph cars, 75 years of the Morris Minor, and 40 years of Landrover 90/110, with prizes in three categories for each. In addition, there will be all the usual show prizes for Car of the show, Best Modern Classic (30 to 20 years old), Best 4x4, Best Motorcycle, Furthest Travelled, as well as the Katriona Deevy Memorial Perpetual Cup for Clubs and the Members Memorial Cup.

The entry fee is just €20, which includes one adult meal ticket, entry in a driver’s draw, run souvenir and, while stocks last, a goodie bag for each driver. Additional meals may be purchased at registration. A children’s art competition is also included to keep younger passengers occupied.

As always, the entire proceeds from this year’s’ event will be donated to very worthy local causes, West Wicklow Daycare will again benefit from the event as will the Réalta class for children on the ASD spectrum in Scoil Naomh Iosaf in Baltinglass.

For further information please contact Ned at 089 2160673 or Ciara at 087 3595469, email westwicklowclassics@gmail.com or look up Baltinglass Classic Run on Facebook or WhatsApp.

Bash at Clash

Balto Kayaking Club is excited that their inaugural ‘Bash at Clash’ event in Clashganny, Borris, Carlow is happening next Sunday, July 23. This is a day of junior multi discipline activity including Freestyle and Stand-Up Paddling (SUP) and other paddlesport activities. The event will form part of the Canoe Ireland ‘For the Love of It’ programme that celebrates all the disciplines and experiences that paddlesport in Ireland has to offer.

The event is for under-18s and participants who must have at least three months’ paddlesport activity experience and/or Level 2 skills. A raffle is up and running on Eventbrite to support the Irish Freestyle team to represent Ireland in the US later this year. There are some great prizes for paddlers such as a SUP session for eight people, donated by Fluid Flow, a Freestyle coaching session for six people donated by David McClure Coaching and plenty more prizes. You can also buy tickets on the day. People are invited to go along and watch some amazing freestyle antics demonstrated by Southeast Freestyle members representing Ireland in World competitions. I-Canoe will have a shop on location, allowing you to browse and even test drive some of the boats. Follow more updates on Facebook @Bash at Clash or B@C on Instagram.

With thanks

West Wicklow Day Care Committee of Baltinglass Community Hospital wish to thank most sincerely all the volunteers who helped with the bucket collection in Baltinglass and surrounding areas recently, and most especially all those who donated so generously. €9,500 was raised.

Bat conservation

Are you interested in learning about Bats on your local river or canal? Would you like to learn how to use a Bat Detector?

Bat Conservation Ireland is running an all-Ireland waterways survey in August and are providing online training on a number of different days in July to prepare for the survey. The online training is for is for 1.5 hours and the dates left are as follows: Thursday, July 20, at 7.30 p.m. and Saturday, July 22, at 2 p.m. If you would like to participate, email Tina at tinaa@batconservationireland.org. Coffee mornings.

Baltinglass and District Active Retirement weekly coffee mornings continue every Friday at 11 a.m. during the month of July in Horans. All are welcome to come along.

Tidy Towns Competition

Slaney Veterinary Centre is the new sponsor for the July Tidy Towns competition. Post a photo of you or someone litter picking, recycling, reusing or donating to a charity shop, to Baltinglass Tidy Towns Facebook or/and Instagram pages. You could be in with a chance to win €25.

Picnic

On Wednesday, July 26, at 3 p.m., weather permitting, Baltinglass and District Active Retired members are invited to gather for a Picnic in Tearmann Community Garden. You are requested to kindly bring along your own basket of goodies, eats, drinks and mugs.

Games morning

Baltinglass Library have a couple of ongoing events for children over the summer time. A Games and Magaformers morning for children takes place on Friday mornings from 11 a.m. to midday. Games include Scrabble, Hungry Hippos, Operation, Connect four, card games and more. Children must be accompanied by an adult. It will take place weekly in the library for as long as there is interest.

On Saturday mornings there is Storytime at 11 a.m. Free event with no booking required. No child too young to participate.

English classes

Baltinglass Library are looking for adults who are free on Tuesday evenings at 6.30 p.m. and would like to have conversations in English with other adults who are learning English as their second language.

Conversations will take place in a supportive and casual environment in the library where everyone can practice their English skills and engage in friendly chats.

Contact mbirchal@wicklowcoco.ie or call 01 2866566 if interested, or if you need more information.

Community Employment positions

There are a number of vacancies to be filled on the West Wicklow Community Employment Scheme: Environmental Worker (Ref: #CES-2285030 and Ref: #CES – 2289733 – two Positions) based in Kiltegan; Environmental Worker (Ref: #CES-2286825) based in Knockananna; Sports Grounds Worker (Ref: #CES-2285031) based in Baltinglass GAA; Sports Grounds Worker (Ref: #CES-2289731) based in Baltinglass Golf Club; Day Care Worker (Ref: #CES-2289754) based in Baltinglass Hospital; Caretaker/Gardener (Ref: #CES-2279900) based in Baltinglass Cemetery.

All positions are for 19.5 hours a week at Community Employment rates. Contact West Wicklow Community Employment CLG, The Green, Kiltegan, Co. Wicklow at 087 4497731 or 087 1404580 or ring the office at 059 6473330 or email westwicklowce@outlook.com.

Sad farewells

We express our condolences to the family of Kevin O’Hara from Ballynure, Grangecon following his death last Sunday, July 16, from Naas General Hospital. Deeply regretted by his wife Attracta and his children Dermot, Maria, John, Sandra, Kevin, Ann, Peter and Josephine, also by his siblings Patrick and Betty and all his extended family, relatives, neighbours and friends.

Requiem Mass takes place in St Oliver Plunkett Church, Grangecon this Wednesday at 2 p.m. followed by burial in Baltinglass Cemetery.

We extend our sympathy to the Grogan family at the loss of Susan Grogan (Mills) (née Kettle) from Slaney Park in Baltinglass. Susan passed away suddenly on Friday last. She was predeceased by her husband John and will be greatly missed by their children Carolyn, Clare, Amanda and William and all their extended family, relatives and friends. The funeral will take place this Wednesday, July 19, in St Mary’s Church, Baltinglass with burial at Slaney Park.

We express our sympathy to the Burke and Butler families following the passing away of Alice Burke (née Butler) from Rathmoon House, Baltinglass, and originally from Urlingford in Kilkenny. Alice passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her family last Friday. She was predeceased by her husband Martin and daughter Mary. She will be greatly missed by their children Joseph, John, Jimmy, Helen, Bernie and Cyril and all her extended family, relatives and friends.

Sympathies to the family of John Browne from Carlow and formerly of Baltinglass and Downings, Tullow, whose funeral took place last Thursday in St Joseph’s Church. John passed away from the Beacon Hospital after a long illness. Deeply regretted by his wife Noreen and children Thea, Jan and Fleur also his siblings Paddy, Peter, Ann, Cora, Margaret and all his extended family, relatives and friends.

We were very saddened to hear of the two deaths in Donard recently. Maureen Quigley (née Cryan), formerly of Ballina in Co. Mayo passed away last Thursday from Our Lady’s Hospice in Harold’s Cross. Maureen had been a committed member of the West Wicklow Voices.

The tragic death of a young mother of four, Melissa McGee who died suddenly at her residence in Donard has shocked the community there. Both Requiem Masses took place on Saturday and Sunday of last weekend in the Church of the Holy Trinity with burial in the adjoining cemetery. We extend our sympathies. to the families and the whole community for their loss.

Ar dheis Dé goraibh a nanam dílis.