Finola, daughter of Joe and Mary Quinn, Tiernea and  Frankie, son of Frankie and Rhona Lyons, Kelly’s, were married recently. Bridesmaids were Kate Quinn and Linda Haugh. Groomsmen were Martin Lyons and J.J. Fahy.  Lily Mai and Frankie Lyons were flowergirl and pageboy and the couple were joined at the Old Ground Hotel by family and friends for the reception. 

On Saturday last at 11am in St. Mary’s Church, Ruan, Amira O’Grady, Emily Haugh, Grace O’Halloran, Isabelle Quirke, Lorna Casey, Lucy O’Halloran, Maisie O’Malley, Sophie O’Loughlin, Nathan Steigerwald and Max Sheehan received their First Holy Communion from Fr. Pat O’Neill. 

The Parents Association laid on breakfast in the Halla, in Ruan School, and families adjourned there after the ceremony.

At St. Tola’s Church, Dysart at 1pm, on the same day Luke Flanagan, Danny Griffin, Luke Gibbons, Gavin Hassett, Callinan Lynch, Adam Pegg, Shauna Vaughan, Fionn Bane, Tomas Barry, Cathay Brohan, Adam Casey, Liam Clancy, Siofra Moran and Fionn Casey also received the Sacrament, also from Fr. Pat. 

Refreshments were organised  by the Parents Association In Toonagh  Hall afterwards and everyone enjoyed the gathering. 

Great credit is due to the children, their Parents and Teachers, as all the preparation led to a great sense of inclusivity in the community, and the children participated fully in the ceremony, leading to them having very happy memories to store in their minds.

The u14 team has qualified for the u14B final, after a great performance in Shannon on Saturday last, when they overcame Kilmaley.  This was the second time both teams met in the championship. The Ruan girls. Ow go on to play Kilkishen/Bodyke on Sunday, May 26, at 3pm in Fr. McNamara Park.

The Junior Ladies team came out on top Sunday afternoon at home to Whitegate.  This was a good ending to the 2019 Div. 4 League Campaign, and credit to the girls and team management on their participation.

On Saturday, May 25, at 8.00 pm in St. Mary’s Church, Ruan, the evening mass will be a special one to remember all those who will be sitting exams this year. Students are invited to take a break from their studies and join the congregation on the evening.

The death has taken place of Micheal Lynch of Toormore, Ruan, at his home,  following an illness.  Michael, originally from Crusheen, with his wife, Sheila (nee Tierney) came to live in Ruan over 40 years ago.  He was, for many years, a long distance lorry driver, driving regularly to the Continent and ably navigating the windy roads from Ruan in his big truck. In later years Micheal worked locally, driving a bulldozer and trucks, and his prowess in making arable land of crag was often remarked on. He had an old Massey Ferguson 133, which he tended with great care, and loved attending vintage Tractor Runs on it. He had a great fondness for animals, and kept ponies and donkeys in Ruan. His Friday night’s game of cards at Morty’s with his friends was one of the highlights of his week. 

Micheal’s remains reposed in St. Mary’s Church, Ruan and, following requiem mass, he was laid to rest in the adjoining graveyard. 

He is survived by his wife, Sheila, daughters Martha, Sandra, Janette and sons Sean, Brendan, David and Eugene, his sisters Maureen O’Brien, Connie Loughnane and Pauline McEachern and brothers Cyril and Tomas, grandchildren, relatives and friends.

Ruan G.A.A. Club has now delivered letters to all the homes in the parish outlining their development in the hurling field and fundraising to complete the task. The Club is very grateful to all who have responded to date and, as this is only the beginning of the fundraising campaign, it is hoped that everyone will respond positively, in whatever way they can to bring this development of a new Stand, Gym and Meeting Room to completion, as it will be of huge benefit, not only to the G.A.A. but to the Parish, as a whole.

On Thursday, May 16, there will be a very important meeting in Tubber Hall at 8.00pm to discuss the mass times across the churches in the Imeall Boirne Cluster.  It is vital that all parishes in the Cluster are represented, and all are welcome, to have their say in this matter.

There will be a Lay led Liturgy in Dysart Church on Sunday next, May 12 at 10am. 

Tractor Run for Tidy Towns.

Teach Spraoi, the Toonagh preschool, run by Nora Custy, entered their garden in the Community pop-up section at the Ennis Garden Festival. The theme this year was ‘Gardening For Mental Wellbeing’, and the brief laid down to schools’ who entered was to interpret “Gardeners’ Friends’ Garden”. Teach Spraoi set up an interactive sensory garden, where worms, butterflies, ladybirds and honey bees are ‘best friends’ and the children are ‘best friends’ as they plant, water, talk nice to the plants and weed the garden.  With great help from the parents, the children were encouraged to plant in the Dome at the preschool in February, and given the slow growth that has taken place this year, they had to have great patience and look after the seedlings very well.  Their hard work paid off and, with great delight, they’ve seen their seedlings sprout in recent days.

When they entered the competition the garden had to be inspected, then they had to take it into the show on Sunday last.  Gary Graham from Bloom was very impressed with the children’s efforts and everyone was thrilled and delighted when they were awarded first prize in the Schools’ section.

Nora  appreciates the help they received from parents who gave of their time and ideas for the garden, and the preschool and after-school children who enthusiastically looked after it.

First Holy Communion.

First Holy Communion was celebrated in St. Mary’s Church, Ruan on Saturday last.  The theme of the ceremony centered on “God’s Beautiful World”.  Fr. Pat O’Neill facilitated a beautiful ceremony with the children - Isabella Baxter, Luke Curtis, Orla Cusack, Jack Duson, Paige Linnane, Molly McGibney, Emma O’Connor, Ross O’Connor, Anna O’Halloran, Ciaran Parnell, Gerard C. Queally, Isabel Ryan and Sam Sheehan. He encouraged the children and their parents to be active in the life of the church and to be present at mass as much as possible. 

 All the children participated in singing, reading and prayers and were ably prepared by Ms. de Bruin and Ms. Corbett. The choir was led by Ms. Ni  Chonaighle. Mr. Lyons, Principal and Assumpta, school secretary were also thanked for their help and support with the ceremony. The Parents Association laid on a fabulous tea in the school afterwards. It was a memorable and very happy day for all who participated.

On Saturday last, in St. Tola’s Church, Dysart, Sinead, daughter of John and Mary Cotter of Knockreagh, Maurice’s Mills married John,  son of the late James and Mary Whelan of Barefield, Ennis.  Bridesmaid was Noelle Cotter and Bestman was Aidan Whelan.  The reception was held at The Bellbridge Hotel, Spanish Point. 

Local girl, Zara Cronin, from Dysart and a pupil at Toonagh National School, was recently diagnosed with a rare condition, Ehlers Danilo’s syndrome, which is a genetic connective tissue disorder, and she is currently in a wheelchair.   Zara is on a waiting list to attend the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dublin.  Her mother, Ann O’Gorman, and friends of the family, have embarked on a fundraising campaign to help defray costs which Zara will incur in travelling to London for a specialist MRI and for further treatments. The local community has gotten fully behind her cause, as Zara has touched the hearts of everyone whom she’s ever come into contact with, she’s a happy, content girl with a positive outlook, which has gained her many friends of all ages.  

There’s a huge night planned for Treacy’s Hotel on Friday, May 4, from 8pm, when ‘Twice Shy’ will provide music, followed by a disco. Tickets are available locally, and from Donnellan’s Centra, Loughville, Minihan’s Centra, Corofin and Lynch’s Centra, Gort Road, Ennis.