Blackrock Bulletin

Raft Race set to go ahead this June

The local Social Group spearheaded by Kevin Soraghan stepped in to take over the running of the event last year.

After the Tidy Towns Committee signalled that it was no longer able to take on with the task, having run the event since it’s inception in 1996 till the pandemic brought a halt to the staging of the race for a couple of years.

Kevin, the proprietor of Uncle Toms Cabin bar and bistro, and his energetic committee, took over responsibility for the staging of the village’s St Patrick’s Day parade on the national feast day earlier that same year. The parade also fell victim of the pandemic the previous two years.

It went ahead again this March with the Social Committee in charge, and they have confirmed that they will oversee the Raft Race again.

The June Bank holiday has been time chosen to stage it, as was the case last year. Only there is a change in the day.

The race will take place on the Monday, instead of Sunday which was the customary day over the years. The suitability of the tide as always dictated when to hold it.

Doubtless that is a prime factor this year, but a reason for going with the event on the Monday, June 5, is the local annual triathlon is scheduled to be held on the Sunday.

The organising committee met during the week to advance preparations and to get ready.

The Tidy Towns Committee while not directly involved in the organisation, lend their support and help out.

The committee inaugurated the event to generate funds to implement their plans for the village.

It developed over the years into a big family fun day that was a big attraction, drawing visitors from a wide catchment area, with a significant programme of supporting events on the beach, and various forms of entertainment, such as a recital from Dundalk brass band, and a flyover over by the Air Sea Rescue Service.

School playground to be re-modelled to help pupils

THE Parents Committee of Saint Oliver Plunkett School have been enabled to undertake the cost of re-modelling the front play ground of the school through the hosting of their recent fashion show in Dundalk golf club.

The funds generated from the show are expected to cover an outdoor classroom and two playhouses and other play attractions.

The intention is to make play time more interesting for pupils, with infants chiefly in mind, boys and girls in the younger classes in the school.

The outdoor classroom will be a facility for all pupils of the school to avail of and their teachers.

It will afford the opportunity for lessons and classes to be conducted outdoors when the weather is suitable.

The Parents Committee come up with the idea of making the yard more interesting for play, and hope to add more facilities, which could require arranging another fundraising event to cover the additional cost.

Jackpot now worth €7,000

THE jackpot is now €7,000 in the Geraldines lottery.

Players again failed to select the four lucky numbers which were 4, 5, 23 and 30 in last week’s draw.

Two players, Des Dunleavy and Mary Keenan, came closest by picking three of the numbers to share the €200 prize.

Pat D’arcy, one of the village’s longest residents

PATRICK (Pat) D’arcy whose death took place unexpectedly on May 1 was one of the village’s longest residents, who lived on Main Street all his life.

His family has deep roots with the village and is held with great respect.

Pat worked in the television business for virtually all his working career and was a talented musician like his late brother Frank.

He was a member of the popular local group The Breakaways and also played with Gerry and the Summerset which was fronted by his late brother-in-law Gerry Matthews.

He is survived by wife, Noreen (née Matthews), son, Patrick, daughter, Therese, sisters, Marion Woods and Rosaleen Watters, grandchildren, nephews and nieces.