• Jan/ Feb 2008
  More tidy towns success as Ballynacally are inited to recieve more awards at functions in Ennistymon and Ennis. Planning permission for the proposed new playground is submitted. The location is to be the rear of the fair green.
  
  
  
• November 2007
  Some of the current Tidy towns committee recently attended a function at the Radison sas hotel in Limerick recently to accept the endeavour award for the greatest points increase in the county this year. More details on the Tidy Towns page.

• October 2007
  Architects have been out to the community Centre to access the condition and prepare a specification of works to protect the buiding from damage from damp and rain. The committee will seek quotations from building contractors for these works and then when the costs are known, fund raising will need to begin to raise this money if the costs are higher than the €13k grant aid recieved. Further works will also be necessary in the hall including replacing the heating system and flooring etc.
  Click here to view the architects report (2.2 MB)
  
  
  
• October 2007
  A Bullying awareness night was held on Thursday the 4th of October in The woodstock Hotel, click for more detail
  
  
  
• September 2007
  Architects were out on the 25th of September to survey the community centre with a view to drawing up plans for the refurbishment/rebuilding of the hall into a multi-purpose centre. More news will be posted when available but it is likely this project will be a big one and take many years to accomplish.

• September 2007
  The tidy towns committee are delighted with the 21 point increase on last years result which earned them the endeavour award for 2007, click here for details
  
  
  August 2007
  The new meeting room located in the blue cottage, which is the end cottage in the range of houses in the fair green. This comfortable modern facility will serve as a meeting room until the hall is developed. The committe have invested some of the money raised in recent festivals to refurbish the room and make it into a modern comfortable meeting room for all the community to avail of. New flooring, painting, lighting conference table and seating was provided and a lot of voluntary work by members of the committee.
  Please contact 086 2628152 or 6838189 to book the room.
  
  See some pictures of the meeting room here 1... 2... 3... 4... 5...
  
  
  
  
  August 2007

  At a recent meeting the Chairman Jamer Maher announced that we have been successful in securing €54'000 for the development of a new playground facillity in the village. The agenda of the meeting was where the park should be located and how we can raise another €54'000 to match the grant monies awarded by the council, the council will only grant 50% of the total cost to a maximum of €54'000.
  If anyone has any ideas on where the park can be located or is in a position to donate some land please let us know. Also if would like to donate some money or if you have any fund raising ideas please contact us, we cannot do this on our own and we must raise the money and start works within 12 months or we will lose the grant.
  

• August 2007
  
  The committee are also pleased to announce that they have recieved €1100 to hold a drug awareness night which they hope to run in the autumn in a hotel in Ennis
  
  
  
• March 2007
  
  The development Association have been sucessful in securing a grant in the region of 12--13'000 Euro's from the heritage department of the council for the re-plastering of the "old school" section of the community centre which is necessary to prevent dampness and decay. Also the monies are to be used to repair sections of the roof which are leaking.
  
  
  
• The association hope to re apply for more grant aid this year to replace the first floor of the old school which many feel is not structurally safe to use.
  
  
  
• The group met on the 1st of March to discuss the annual work plan. It was decided to begin the application process for the grant available for a community playground and a sub-group was set up to tackle this projest with a closing date of the 16th of March.
  Sheila, Dolores and Ann to work on this projest
  
  
  
  
• The production of a newsletter was agreed with all present members and the first issue should be March 2007. Copies to be distributed through school childrens school bags, the church and local business,s.
  James Maher, and Martin Kelly to work on the first edition and thereafter the FAS community services may be able to continue production on a 3 to 6 monthly basis.
  
  
  
• The renovations of the blue cottage as a multi-function room was discussed and it was decided to tackle this project as soon as possible.
  James Maher and Martin Kelly to work on this project (COMPLETED)
  
  
  
  
• The proposed information evening on bullying was discussed and it was decided to put this back until autumn, see annual work plan for more detail
  Deidre Convey, and the parents council to liase and work together with All the development group on this project
  
  
  
  

• The group met again early May and the tidy town initiative was discussed, a sub-group was devised to start the planning process. A new green area adjacent to the forge was suggested for development as well as the suggestions of the adjoudicators report from 2006.
  

OLD NEWS ITEMS

Candy Capers is demolished

Its an end of an era in Ballynacally as demolition work was completed on candy capers on the 1st of June to make way for an attractive garden area. The once sweet shop and Petrol station started off as a simple shed on the site in 1955 selling petrol. In the early 60’s the building as we know it today was erected to cater for a small garage for fixing punctures and selling tyres etc. It was then modified to a shop at a later stage and became Candy Capers, selling petrol sweets and light provisions . The building has been un-occupied for many years now and required frequent care to maintain its appearance. Local publican Eugene Daly says he is somewhat sad to see the building demolished but believes it has served its purpose and should make way for the proposed garden area which he says will enhance the village and help in the Tidy Towns effort. Good on ya Eugene, make us proud! (the editor)

{UPDATE}........... and he has... nice Job, lets see if the Tidy Towns panel notice the big change in this years feedback!!

Pictures By J. Maher.....2 mega pixels... Professional cameramen not available on the day......

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German Music group

Ballynacally has moved to Germany!

In 2004 whilst attending a course in ennis we made contact with a German group called "Ballynacally" pure Irish folk.
The band is famous in their region of north Germany and is made up of 5 native Germans. The band play traditional Irish music and their Website is accessible through the link below. They tell us the came up our village name and thought it sounded like a cool name for a band.....We are honoured guys!!!

Downloadable tunes are available on their site. Right click on the site and select "Translate to English

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****PUBLIC MEETING****

A public meeting took place in Ballynacally community centre on Tuesday 14th of March at 9.00pm regarding the proposed erection of a mobile phone mast and ancillary equipment in Lisheen.

All Public representatives were in attendance on the night and pledged their support in opposing the mast proposed by O2 to increase mobile phone coverage in the area.

Many speakers voiced their concerns over potential health issues regarding these masts especially for young children and also stated that it would be visually obtrusive on the planned site which is one of scenic beauty.

The feeling was that we are content with our low levels of coverage we receive currently as it means reduced radiation levels and no negative impact on the landscape!!

52 Planning objections have been lodged to date by concerned local residents but advice suggests that the main hope for success is to get the landowner to back down and refuse O2



More recently Clare County Council have granted planning permission for the mast and local residents have appealed to an Bord Pleannála which delayed any move by O2 until well into 2007.

An Bord pleannala have unfortunately given the go-ahead to O2 to proceed with the mast as seems to be the policy nationwide. Lets hope it does not cause harm or look too unsightly. Well done to the committe for their valiant efforts.

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Computers for the Montessori school

The development association have obtained 2 computers and software for Marie Cronins Montessori school in the village fair green. The computer will be used to introduce the concept of learning with play at an early age and help develop co-ordination and motor skill amoungst the pre-school children. A spokesman for the development association has reported that they hope to obtain more computers for a special training room in the near future for adult computer training in the village, see the annual work plan for more details.