Glinsk Ladies Club

The first meeting of Glinsk I.C.A. was held in Ballincurry School on November 10^th 1970.  The monthly meetings have been held since.  In the beginning the meetings were held in Ballincurry School with the permission of school principal Alphonsus Mullaney and Fr. John Kelly C.C. Glinsk at that time, then when Ballincurry, Sonnagh and Toberroe Schools amalgamated we held our meetings in Glinsk School Hall and since September 1988 most of our meetings are held in Glinsk Community Centre.

In the late 1970’s we branched out on our own and formed The Ladies Club.             Looking over the Minutes Books we have been lucky with the wonderful variety of Guest Speakers we have had and classes covering many different topics such as Hairdressing, Crafts, Cookery Demonstrations, Flower Arranging, Solicitors, Doctors, Nurses, Herbalists, Painting & Decorating, Upholstery, Beauticians, Gardening, Curtain Making, Go-for-life, Environment, Information regarding Grants, Dancing Classes, Cookery Classes, Upholstery Classes, Patchwork Classes.  We learned a lot from each of these speakers about various Crafts, skills and Hobbies as well as about Finances and the Environment.  

Then for our annual Outings we have got to the length and breath of Ireland and on one occasion we took a trip to Chester, another time we even got to visit Áras An Uachtarán, as well as the audience of  the Late Late Show.  The Ladies Club have always been very helpful in the locality regarding catering for all the different events within the Parish such as First Holy Communion Day, Senior Citizens Party, Credit Union AGM, GAA Celebrations or any event where help in catering is needed. 

For the last few years we have been very lucky to receive Grant Aid from different sources such as  Galway Arts Council, Galway County Council, Community Foundation of Ireland, Go for Life,  Age & Opportunity and H.S.E. Those Grants have enabled us to arrange Dancing Classes to suit all ages  and Body Toning Classes.  Also to provide transport and meals for our Senior Citizens to travel to Knock on Pilgrimage and also on a shopping trip to Galway.  We were also in a position to host  a  Senior Citizens Party.  Those Grants have been a great help to our work and we are most grateful for them.

We just have one fundraising event  each year and that is our annual Waltzing Competition, this competition is now well established and competitors come from many different parts of Ireland, last year winners came from Tipperary.  This social event usually takes place in July each year.

At present we have over twenty paid- up members in our Club and the following are in office for 2009.

 Chairperson: Kathleen Quinn

Vice Chairperson: Maureen Kenny

Treasurer: Celia Dowd

Assistant Treasurer: Margaret Farragher  

Secretary: Beatrice Cuddy

Assistant Treasurer: Heidi Hannant

P.R.O.: Margaret Farragher

Committee: Ann Tighe, Lily Timothy, Mary Neary, Una Lohan 

Glinsk Waltzes to 21^st Anniversary.(July 2009)

The 21^st Anniversary Glinsk Old-Time Waltzing competition for the Mary Tiernan trophy was held in the Glencastle Lounge on Sunday night last.  A large attendance enjoyed a great night’s competition to the music of Dene Lane and Gracelands.  Glinsk Ladies Club have been successfully organising this competition since the untimely death of Mary Tiernan and so it was fitting that Husband Johnny Tiernan was in attendance this year as he celebrated his 90^th birthday with family and friends.

Adjudicators on the night were Mary Kelly(Kilkenny) and 2008 winners Olive and David Clarke(Tipperary)

The “Mary Tiernan Open” Old-time Waltz competition was won by Mary Small and Chris Beirne, Second place went to Ronan Kelly and Elizabeth Fallon, Third was Joe and Evelyn Kelly with Fourth going to Joe and Helena Fallon.

The “Mick McGann”(Confined) was won by Mary Small and Chris Beirne, Second was Joe and Helena Fallon, Third went to Joe and Evelyn Kelly with Fourth prize going to Marty and Margaret Farragher.

In the “Ladies Waltz” the winners were Mary Small and Evelyn Kelly, Second was Ann Kelly and Elizabeth Fallon and Third was Mary Gaffney and Melissa Newman.

The “Buck’s Waltz” went to Ronan Kelly and Marty Farragher, second was Joe Fallon and Chris Beirne and among the prize-winners were Michael Quinn and Liam Mannion.

Winners for 2009 in both the "Mary Tiernan" Open Old-Time Waltz competition and in the "Mick McGann" confined section were Mary Small and Chris Beirne seen here with Adjudicator, Mary Kelly.

Third Prize in the Open "Mary Tiernan" Competition went to Joe and Evelyn Kelly

They are seen here with Mary Kelly(Adjudicator - Kilkenny)

In the Mick McGann Competition, 4th Prize went to Marty and Margaret Farragher

seen here with Adjudicator, Olive Clarke(Adjudicator-Tipperary)

Winners of the "Ladies Waltz" competition were Mary Small and Evelyn Kelly.

Celia Dowd presented them with their trophy.

Winners of the "Buck's Waltz" were Marty Farragher and Ronan Kelly.

Among the Prize-winners in the "Buck's Waltz" were Liam Mannion and Michael Quinn.

Johnny Tiernan with daughter Marie and son, Michael who celebrated his 90th Birthday on the week-end of the Old-Time Waltz Competiton in July 2009.

Pat Neary received a "Hall of Fame" award at the 2009 Old Time Waltz Competition.  He is pictured here receiving his award from Mary Kelly Adjudicator - Also in picture is his daughter Marian and grand-daughter Fiona.