THERE were great celebrations in Ballymote on Monday night August 16th when we welcomed home our U-15 girls soccer team who won the bronze medal in the national finals held in the IT complex in Athlone. The semi-final, against a strong Kilmallock team from Co Limerick, resulted in the Ballymote team surrendering their first half lead to eventually lose 1-2 to the Munster Champions. Our girls overcame the disappointment of their semi-final defeat to overcome the highly fancied Ulster champions from Fanad in Co Donegal in the 3rd/4th place play off played on Sunday morning. All the hard work by the team over the season, who are managed by Michael McMorrow and Sean Tansey, paid off, as this time they held on to their first half lead, played on the energy sapping all weather pitch, for a deserved 1-0 victory. The panel for the U15 team was: Roisin Cawley, Aoife Conlon, Shauna Conlon, Gemma Gurrie, Gemma Golden, Shauna Healy, Jennifer Judge, Deirdre Kerins, Sinead Langton, Nicole Martin, Rebecca Martin, Denise McGrath, Katie McMorrow, Claire Tansey, Karen Tansey and Sorcha Tonry. A SPECIAL thanks to Karen Tonry who looked after the girls between matches, and also to all the supporters who gave such great support over the weekend.

The committee would like to say a big thank you to those who sponsored the team on its journey to success; Eamon Scanlon, TD, who sponsored the kit for the finals, John Lavin of Lavin Outfitters, Kit suppliers, Micky Cryan, Kanes Supervalue, Coca Cola and Imelda's Picnic Basket. BALLYMOTE were represented at the Girls National Swimming Finals by talented local swimmer, Angela Nally, in the Girls U14 freestyle held in the Regional Sports Complex in Athlone on Saturday afternoon. Having qualified from her heats she unfortunately missed out at the semi final stage. Well done on another excellent performance.

Our other Connacht Champions will be competing in the finals to be held this weekend, again in the IT in Athlone. We wish the team and its managers, Michael McMorrow and Kenny Reynolds, the very best of luck. BALLYMOTE AREA Community Games will be fundraising during the next few weeks. As ever, your continued support is welcome and appreciated. BALLYMOTE AFTERSCHOOL Club will be hosting a Family Open Day on Saturday 28th of August from 2 to 6 pm at our premises on Sligo Road. Come along and have a chat with the Co-Coordinator and Staff Members and enjoy some light refreshments, while the children are having a fun time with their activities, looking forward to meeting you there. BALLYMOTE AFTERSCHOOL Club will be-opening on Monday 30th of August from 2 to 5.30 pm after the Summer break and we will be looking forward to seeing all the children and hearing all about their adventures during their Summer holidays. SCOIL MHUIRE gan Smal re-opens on Wednesday September 1st. COLEMAN TRADITIONAL Festival - 2010 this weekend, Ceoláras Coleman hosts the annual Coleman Traditional Festival, the dates are August 27th, 28th and 29th.

The Festival will be officially opened by Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council at 9pm on Friday, August 27th and there will be a traditional music concert featuring local and visiting musicians to follow. RURAL TRANSPORT service to music shows in Ceoláras Coleman, Gurteen on Wednesday and Saturday nights for August. This service is available to all within the greater south Sligo area leaving Ballymote at 8pm. CONGRATULATIONS TO the parents of Nicole Emily Porter, Branchfield and Stephen Mark Chandler, Emlagh who were baptised in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Ballymote recently. SYMPATHY IS extended to the family, relatives and friends of Michael James Mullen, who died in England. CONGRATULATIONS TO the parents of Amy Philomena Connaghan, Carrigans Lower who was baptised in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Ballymote recently. POSITIVE PARENTING is a course for parents of children aged 3 to 12 years. Topics covered will include communication, selfesteem, resilience, managing behaviour and "Good Enough" parenting. This course, which is free of charge, will take place on one morning per week over six weeks, starting in October, at Ballymote Family Resource Centre. For further information or to enrol, please phone Francis at 071-9197818 or call in to the Centre any weekday between 9am and 5pm. A COMMUNITY Coffee & Tea Morning takes place each Tuesday morning at Ballymote Family Resource Centre from 10.30am to 12.30pm. If you enjoy a chat over a cup of tea why not come along? It is free of charge and is open to everyone; you will be most welcome! THE BALLYMOTE Art Group meets with painter Paul Murray every Thursday morning from 11am to 12.30pm at The Ballymote Family Resource Centre. If you would like to join them any Thursday please phone Cassie Finn at 071-9183541 A NEW "Back to Education" course of twenty weeks will start shortly at Ballymote Family Resource Centre. This FETAC accredited, VEC sponsored, course will comprise Computer Skills, Study Skills & Information Technology Skills learning. The course is free of charge to any adult with a less than leaving certificate education, whether employed or unemployed, people in receipt of social welfare entitlements and medical card holders. To others the course fee will be €100. It will take place on Wednesday mornings from 10am to 12.30pm. If you would like to enrol or to find out more, please telephone Geraldine Tighe (VEC) at 071-9138412 or Francis at 0719197818, or drop in to the Centre any weekday between 9am and 5pm. THE BALLYMOTE Parent & Toddler Group meets every Wednesday morning in the Ballymote Family Resource Centre from 10.30am to 12.30pm. All parents, babies and toddlers welcome. THE BALLYMOTE Book Club meets at the Ballymote Family Resource Centre on the last Tuesday of each month at 3pm. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 31 August.