MAYO ABBEY COUPLE THANK THOSE WHO SUPPORT BUILDING PROJECT
Michael and Kathleen Vahey, Bridgemount and Helen Murphy, Castlebar thank those who supported them in their fundraising for the Nial Mellon Trust Fund. They spent 10 days on the building project in South Africa in November. They worked in the township of Khayelitsha, 40 km from Capetown. Transport to and from work for the 2,180 workers was by bus. This is a tough week, both physically and mentally, but great fun. As well as building 253 houses, there is also the experience of seeing first hand the conditions that the inhabitants live in. You come home tired but full of pride at the end of a remarkable 10 days, with many lasting memories. Particularly as on the last day many of the workers take off their boots and come back to the hotel barefoot, because the second-hand boots are so valuable to those they are leaving behind. Working clothes are left behind to be given to the inhabitants. Today Khayelitsha has a population of over 500,000 people, practically all living in broken-down and leaking galvanized huts. One consolation from this weeks work is that the building will be continued by local people trained by the Irish workers. Since the project was set up in 2002 there is now a workforce of approx 2,000 South Africans trained by the trust building homes all year round. Last year they built about 4800 houses after the Irish came home. Another group of Irish workers will travel out in March.
SOCIAL DANCING CLASSES
Social Dancing classes are held in the Mayo Abbey centre on every Wednesday night from 8-30 to 10-00p.m.
Waltz, Jive, Fox trot, Quick step etc. Beginners and advances dancers welcome.
END OF YEAR DRAW.
The last Mayo Gaels GAA club lotto draw of 2008 saw five people win €100 each in the 3-number end of year draw. They were, Ann Marie Brett, Mayo Abbey, Chris Ruane, Ballinafad, Willie Fitzgerald, Mayo Abbey, Keith Grant, c-o C. J’s Ranch, Claremorris and Martina McNamara, Mayo Abbey.
All lotto results and club news can be got on the website; www.mayogaels.com
MEMBERSHIP
Mayo Gaels GAA club membership will be taken in the clubhouse on Sundays 12-15 to 1-15 until the end of January.
CHILDHOOD MEMORIES:
‘Mayo Abbey Childhood Memories’ A book written by members of Mayo Abbey Active Retirement is on sale in Mayo Abbey Resource centre. Cost €10. The centre is open 9-00 to 6-00 Monday to Friday.
