Congratulations to our Olympians

Over the past few weeks all our Olympic hopefuls got some extra training in to be ready for their individual Olympic challenges. So over the past two weeks dates were set and times given out. I am delighted to report that everyone who trained reached their targets and in many cases exceeded them. Achievements in running, rowing, attending classes, push ups, press ups and step ups all featured. The fitness team are beaming with pride and are thrilled for everyone who successfully completed their challenges. They are also hoping our Olympians will inspire others to challenge themselves and with their help set achievable goals in improving their fitness. So remember there is no time like the present to turn over a new leaf and get involved in taking more exercise and making full use of the club’s facilities.

The successful Olympians are Gary Monaghan, Roisin Mc Ardle, Anne Califf, Marion Rogers, Shane Carolan, Fidelma Callan, Gerry Daly, Kate Hickey, Liam Boylan, Mary Butterly, Ann Austin, Rosa Mc Cabe Eamon Cunningham, Marion Maguire, Michael Arthur, John Grimes Eithne Hanratty, Gavin Kilcoyne, Emily Meade, Dara Maguire, Eileen Power and Gavin Monaghan.

New York Polyphony

We had the pleasure of hosting most of the members of New York Polyphony while they were performing as part of the recent Ardee Baroque festival. The vocal ensemble’s performance at Collon Church of Ireland was picked out as the highlight of the festival by many of its knowledgeable patrons. New York Polyphony’s programme included works by William Byrd, Thomas Tallis, William Cornysh and John Taverner.

The picture above shows them outside Smarmore Castle on Sunday morning before departing for Galway.

Dundalk’s beautiful game

While our Smarmore Castle blog usually reports on all things tourism related we cannot ignore the major sporting event of the year so far – Dundalk FC’s promotion back to the premier division of the league of Ireland.

Going into last Saturday nights final game of the season Dundalk trailed league leaders Shelbourne by one point. With only one promotion place available Dundalk needed to beat Kildare County and hope that Shels failed to beat Limerick 37.Over 800 people made the trek to Station Road in Newbridge to witness the epic battle of the lilywhites.
It was one of those nights when supporters went through every emotion imaginable and the following few paragraphs sum up what it was like to be there on the famous night.

Expectation. There’s a sizeable Dundalk contingent there with still half an hour to go before kick off. Anticipation. The players look focussed in the warm up. They know what they have to do. Nervousness. The teams come onto the pitch and we see Tony Cousins who has guided Kildare to a couple of impressive results since taking over – has our ex-player plotted our downfall? Excitement. The match kicks off and Dundalk are immediately on the attack. Optimism. A cheer goes up when news filters through that Shels have had a goal disallowed. Frenzy. The players realise that something is happening and up their game even more. Joy. Robbie Farrell gets his first on the night. He adds a second shortly after.

Hope. Half-time. Dundalk are two nil up and Shels are only drawing. Second half. Very professional display. Dundalk add two more goals. Despair. Shels have scored. Anto Flood. It had to be him. Our ex-player has fatally wounded our promotion dream. Regret. What if?. All those points that got away. Monaghan. Longford and Limerick. Will we be playing them again next year. Two more goals for us and one for Kildare. Polite applause. No news from Tolka. Time runs out Resigned to another year in the purgatory of division one. Game over. Jeers and cheers for the manager. Clap the team off the pitch. They did their best tonight. Head for the exit. A mighty roar. Stop. Amazement. It can’t be? Find someone with a radio. Elation. Limerick have scored in injury time. Concern. It’s not over in Dublin yet. Watch lad with radio. “They are still playing” he says. He throws arms in air. Shels have only got a draw. We’ve pipped them by a point. We’re going up. Champions. Onto the pitch. Over to the stand. Find the team. They’re engulfed by the crowd. Disbelief. Wait for cup to be presented. Exhilaration. Roll on next season.

Ardee Baroque starts today

Ardee Baroque 2008 gets underway tonight in Saint Mary’s Church of Ireland with a performance by the Irish Baroque Orchestra under the guidance of its artistic director and leader, Monica Huggett. The performance entitled ‘Baroque A-Z’, will feature works by Albinoni, Biber, Handel, Lully, Vivaldi and Zelenka. A unique feature of tonight’s event is the reception in Ardee Castle afterwards for the audience. Full details can be found on the festival's website but the following details from it give an overview what’s in store over the next three days.

Ardee Baroque’s programme this year will have a wide appeal. As the anchor ensemble of the festival, the Irish Baroque Orchestra return under the helm of their renowned artistic director and leader, Monica Huggett, to perform a programme entitled ‘Baroque A-Z’, featuring works by Albinoni, Biber, Handel, Lully, Vivaldi and Zelenka. The audience are invited to join the orchestra in a festival club reception in Ardee Castle following the opening concert in St Mary’s Church of Ireland – a regular feature of the festival programme. The co-founder of Irish Baroque Orchestra, Mark Duley, will give an organ recital on the Saturday evening which will feature organ works from the Baroque canon.

No strangers to early music lovers, New York Polyphony will perform at Ardee Baroque in what will be their European début. They are presenting a programme examining the development of ornate vocal music, leading the way out of the renaissance and into early Baroque. Performing a repertoire spanning a period of approximately 150 years, including Byrd’s O Magnum Mysterium, Tallis’s Mass for Four Voices, this particular focus on English Tudor Polyphony will surely be one of the highlights of the 2008 festival. On a totally different note and appealing to young and old alike, the Classic Buskers will be carrying out workshops in local schools, as the education programme of Ardee Baroque is an integral focus each year. They will also perform in a family concert in the atmospheric Grand Hall of Ardee Castle, combining a unique venue and what the group describes as a ‘painless introduction’ to music! Earlier that Saturday, the even younger members of the Ardee Baroque audience take part in a ‘Meet the Instruments’ workshop carried out by members of the Irish Baroque Orchestra.

Alongside the music programme, lectures by historians John Rountree and Fr Michael Murtagh will appeal to those with a historical interest in the Baroque era. Both Ardee and Collon have wonderful locations for a festival of Baroque music with venues which lend themselves acoustically to Baroque Music, and which provide highly atmospheric surroundings to absorb the music of the past. Memorable music, evocative venues, and a warm Irish welcome, Ardee Baroque promises a unique weekend of music and more. Ardee Baroque is an initiative of the Arts Office of Louth County Council, with support from the Arts Council, Ardee Town Council, and Fáilte Ireland. The Irish Baroque Orchestra returns to perform the closing concert on the final night of the festival.

Close but no trophy at Tourism Awards

We didn’t manage to win the most effective customer service award at the Meath Tourism Marketing awards last night. Despite getting to the final four in our category we lost out to Millrace hostel from Navan.

The black tie event held at the Knightsbrook Hotel in Trim had had a real Oscar’s night feel to it complete with red carpet entrance, champagne reception, lavish banquet and celebrity host.

Our category was the first to be decided and as the names were announced pictures of the four nominated businesses were flashed up on the big screens in the hall.

We were sitting at the same table as the gang from Meath Visitor Centre who were also in our category so there was disappointment all round when neither of our names were called out by Sharon Ni Bheolain from RTE. Despite not winning we had a very enjoyable night and hope to be back again next year to try and go one better.