Playground opening ceremony 2009

Ballynacally development association were very pleased to host the official opening of the Ballynacally Village Playground "Childrens Paradise" and the newly landscaped fairgreen. The event which was held on the 1st of August at 6.00pm began with a mass celebrated by Fr. Tom O'Dea. Frank Gavin (MC), Oliver Garry Local Councillor), Mr. Henn and chairman James Maher addressed the congregation, made up of local people, politicians and some members of the Henn family. Fr. O'Dea blessed the playground and after the Mass Councillor Oliver Garry, acting Mayor, officially opened the playground with the help of Allison Kelly and Sarah Maher.

The unveiling of a special stone sculture by Shane Gilmore was conducted by Mr. Henn and his wife who travelled from England for the event. The scultpture which can be seen below has images of Paradise house, Dangan castle, the Five arches and the Galatea carved onto its sides. This beautiful sculpture and the fairgreen landscape works were funded by the Clare Local Development Company. CLDC is a new county-wide organisation formed by Rural Resource Development, Eiri Corca Baiscinn, Ennis West Partners and the LDSIP section of Obair, Newmarket-on-Fergus. (More info here). Meanwhile the children were entertained with a lively disco while some of the adults who were not dancing retired to Griffins or Daly's bar for refreshments.

The pictures below tell the story of the event from a week prior when the clare people arrived to take a picture of the playground, through the preperation works and on to the event itself with some pictures in Daly's bars after the event. The final pictures below show a framed Picture presented to the people of Ballynacally by the Henn family of the Galatea boat which William Henn used to compete in the World famous America's cup race, this picture is displayed by Danielle and Lucy with Martin, Joe and Lee looking on.

Mums look on		Picture for the Clare people		Carmel Sheehan and her boys		Friends spinning		1 dalmation
Heading for the opening		Preperation works		Repairing broken wiring		Delivery of the sculpture		Cathal unloads the sculpture
Teleporter in action				Care taken on route		Final positioning		Pat, Oliver, John & Micheal
Mass begins		Chairmans address		Distinguished guests		Bernie sings		Fr. Tom Blesses the park
Connor reads the 5 arches		Frank addresses the crowd		John video's the event		Oliver makes a speach		Neighbours gather
Friends chat		The official opening		New rules		Well done to all		Pj and Eamon chat
Mr. Henn		2 nice ladies		Shane Gilmore		Mr. & Mrs Henn		Crowd admires sculpture
New lanscaped area		Brid, John & Ann		Darren & Cian		Local Ladies		Distinguished guests
Mary & Marie		Admiring the sculpture		Mrs Henn & Marie		Mr Henn & Eugene		Pj and the girls
Que for Trina to face paint		Lee checks the paint job!		Final touch ups		Burgers & hot dogs for all		Fiona, Pat, and Annmarie
Dangan Castle		Galatea		Top view		Paradise house		The five arches
John, our website sponsor		The Girls		Bernie & Mandy chillin out		Lucy & Shona		Ruth & Dorothy
Orla & the Gilmores		Galatea collage		Disco fun in the playground		Sarah, Danielle & Lisa		The Henns & the Gavins
Train- ing in the playground		A well earned pint for Martin		Eugene & Carla		Absent friends		Oliver talks to the ladies
Happies kids pose		Sorcha enjoys a drink		The girls havin a chat		Lisa, Sarah, Sheila & Marie chat		Sing song starts
The gang hangin out		Mike & Pat		Edel & Dave from Tyrone		Share the joke Kitty		The boys at the bar
Kitty and Mike		The Galatea presented to locals		The Galatea close up		Also presented by the Henns		William Henn

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Pictures taken by M. McMahon

Ballynacally Development Association, Ballynacally, Ennis, Clare, Ireland.
Fax: +353-65-6826005 E-mail:info@ballynacallydevelopment.com

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