Activities
Stoneyford Parent & Child Group
Mondays 10.30 – 12.30 (excl Bank Hols/School Hols)
History Of The Group
The Stoneyford Parent & Child Group was first set up in January 2003 and has proven to be a very valuable non-profit making community service for many local parents
Bingo
Bingo is held every Tuesday night at 8.30 pm in the Community Hall. It is attended by up to 90 people who turn up religiously every week. Both young and old enjoy meeting their friends and everyone hopes to win the Jackpot. There is a small shop open at the beginning of the night and also at the break to purchase Dabbers, markers and pens. Minerals, crisps, sweets and chocolate are also available.
Single books cost €3.50 with doubles costing €5. Extra sheets are also available plus a nightly raffle with a chance of wishing cash prizes or a book for next week’s bingo.
Great credit is due to the volunteers past and present who turn up every week to run the bingo and who often then sit down to play themselves. A rota is in place to ensure that everyone gets the odd night off.
If you would like to help and can spare a couple of hours a MONTH the please contact any member of the Committee.
STAGEDOOR
“Stagedoor” is a stage school run by local women Sheila Raggett and Rose Kelly. It caters for children from 5 years of age from Stoneyford and the surrounding areas. Founded in 1998 the group has gone from strength to strength and now look forward to celebrating their 10th birthday when they perform their annual show in the Watergate Theatre next May.
Back in 1988 Sheila gathered up a group of local children and prepared them for a variety show which they performed in Sheridan’s Lounge in Ennisnag that Christmas. Following the success of that performance she decided to put on a show the following year and so it became a regular thing with a show being performed every Christmas and Stoneyford Young Variety Group was formed. It was of great benefit to the group when Stoneyford Community Centre was built in 1990. Sheila asked Rose to include a group of set-dancers in her show each year and after a number of years Rose joined her as a tutor with the group. In 1997 they decided to stage a pantomime and so from September they had rehearsals two or three nights a week until early in the New Year when the group performed “Snow White” to a packed Community Centre. The following year the group performed the pantomime “Cinderella” and as usual great fun was had by all. Due to the demand from the parents of younger children to get their children involved Sheila and Rose decided to hold classes once a week in the Community Centre and so “Stagedoor” was born.
For the first number of years the group staged a Christmas and Summer Show each year in Stoneyford including another pantomime “Mother Goose” in 2000. In 2007 they decided to venture further afield and staged their Summer show in the Watergate Theatre.The variety show “Onwards & Upwards” was performed to a full house and the group thoroughly enjoyed the experience of performing on the “Big Stage”. Last year they took to the stage in the Watergate for two nights with their show “No Biz like Show Biz”.
Their aim is to provide children with life and social skills which will be of benefit to them throughout their life, while introducing them to “the wonderful world of theatre”. Classes are very informal with the emphasis on having fun. Rehearsals are well under way for their 10th annual summer show which will take place in the Watergate Theatre on Fri.8th and Sat. 9th May 2009.
Costumes for the shows are provided by local woman Teresa Lee of “Gold Star Costumes” and Teresa has been with the group from the beginning. Her costumes are always a highlight of the shows and no job is too difficult for Teresa to take on. Another local who joined the group a few years ago is Olivia Dunne from Kells. Olivia who is a very talented musician is musical director for the shows.
Registration for this year 2008/2009 is now closed.
Contact nos. Sheila 056 7728527 Rose 056 7728507
STONEYFORD YOUNG AT HEART GROUP
As a result of the efforts of Sandra Connolly and Helen Finnegan to provide a facility for the retired residents of Stoneyford and nearby addresses, a group of about ten got together in the Community Centre on October 3rd. 2007. Advice was sought from officers of Active Retirement Ireland and at subsequent meetings with their Regional Development Officer and the Secretary of the South East Region the group agreed to affiliate with Active Retirement Ireland.
Active Retirement Ireland, a Registered Charity, is a “Company Limited by Guarantee and not having a Share Capital”, with the aim of maintaining and encouraging independence and social contact, and thereby enhancing members quality of life. It is non-political and non-denominational. The benefits of being a member of the national body included group insurance and much advice, on national and local issues, activities and functions of other groups in the area.
Members have attended meetings given by a team from St Luke’s Hospital dealing with the prevention, treatment and coping with falls and other medical matters. Others are to follow. Outings have taken place and activities so far include croquet and putting, neither too stressful on backs. Instructions on basic yoga and relaxation techniques have also been included.
We aim to help with the Christmas Bazaar, and have arranged to have afternoon tea in Mount Juliet as a Christmas treat.
Officers for the year to November 2009 are Chairperson, Kathleen Fennelly; Vice Chairperson, John-Jo Wallace; Secretary, Basil Cook and Treasurer, Maura Wallace. Meeting are held on the first Wednesday of each month throughout the year. We are keen to welcome new members, and will endeavour to arrange transport for any interested persons who may have difficulties.
Stoneyford Football Club
In the summer of 2004, a small group of local parents decided to have an informal soccer “kick about” for kids aged up to 12 years old on a Saturday morning. Initially, 17 children showed an interest and the initiative continued for a while, often requiring the children to provide their own equipment and using the infamous “jumpers for goalposts”. However, over the course of a period of months, interest among the locally based children grew and the project really began to take root in the community. With the invaluable support of the local Senior soccer club, Stoneyford United FC, the Stoneyford Development Association and a broad range of local government, commercial and private concerns, the group greatly increased in size, purchased a large amount of equipment and set about establishing a juvenile community based soccer club. Before long, friendly matches, both home and away, were being organised and trips to Durrow and as far a field as Wexford were providing valuable experience for the new up and coming club. The newly formed Under 9 Girls team participated in an FAI All Girls Blitz and showed themselves to be force to be reckoned with for the future. Membership continued to grow as interest in the club began to spread to other villages beyond the Stoneyford area.
Currently, Stoneyford FC Juvenile Soccer club boasts in excess of 90 players, ranging in age from 5 to 12 years old, both male and female. The club have now dedicated sections aimed at Under 6’s, Under 9 boys, Under 9 Girls and Under 12’s. Each group are ably supported by group of properly FAI trained and qualified coaches. An Indoor Section has been added in the last 12 months and is primarily aimed at boy and girls aged 8 to 12 years old. An Indoor Mini-League proved a great success last season and plans are currently underway to replicate that success with the introduction of a similar Outdoor Mini-League prior to the end of 2008.
Stoneyford FC outdoor training takes place every Saturday morning from 12 to 1pm at the Community pitch in the village and indoor soccer is played in the Community Hall every Thursday evening from 7-8pm. Volunteers, assistants and sponsorship are always welcome and anybody interested should contact David Coombes at 086 8954426.
Notifications regarding future events and/or developments will be posted on the site as they happen.
