DRUNG CHURCH

ST COLUMBA’S CHURCH OPENS ITS DOORS

St Columba’s Church, Drung re-opened its doors this Sunday after being closed for a year for refurbishment, with a rededication of the church celebrated by Bishop Seamus Hegarty.

“We are absolutely delighted to get back into the church again,” said Father John Farren who has been Parish Priest at St Columba’s since 2002. “It is a good day for the Parish and people are very glad to be getting back again after being out for a year.”

For the last year parishioners have been using the community centre at Quigley’s Point and Fr Farren is very grateful that they were able to use the centre. “The management committee were very accommodating at the centre and it was great to have a home while the work was going on, but it is lovely to have the restoration finished,” he said.

GENEROUS
Fr Farren feels the beautiful refurbishment and repairs is a reflection of the generosity of the people of the Parish who have been so supportive with raising the funds for the work.

“All parishes including churches in Muff, Iskaheen and Drung have been giving money through local church collections as well as running functions and having a draw. The Greenbank Presbyterian Church in Moville ran a function to raise funds for the refurbishment so it was great to have cross community support as well.”

The main source of donations, the church collections will continue to ease the €1.2 million costs of the refurbishment.

A MOST BEAUTIFUL SETTING
“It was an extensive renovation,” said Fr Farren, “Everything was refurbished from the roof to the floor including new marble sanctuary furnishings and replacing timber beams that had dry rot or woodworm. It is a protected historic building and all the work had to be in keeping with the original style as possible. The project was managed by James Doherty, a contractor from Straboe in Buncrana and Michael Hegarty from Derry, was the architect,” he added.

The church is an attractive building and has one of the most beautiful settings locally. Now that it has re-opened Fr Farren reports that there will be a run of weddings. Every Saturday is booked for the next few months, with 24 marriages already booked in for the rest of the year, ” he smiles. “Some people did postpone their weddings until we got back into the church.”

MARY D'S IN QUIGLEYS POINT

Mary Doherty will be busy today keeping her St Patrick’s Day customers satisfied with top quality food from Mary D’s take-away in Quigleys Point. Mary has recently taken over the business (formerly McCreadies) and has been busy expanding the menu, sourcing first class ingredients as well as starting an outside catering service offering great grub for birthday parties, confirmations and special events.

“I love what I do,” Mary explains. “I really enjoy working with the food and having the craic with the customers.” It is not just about fun for Mary though. She aims to set very high standards in the food she offers.

Quality
“I buy the best quality ingredients available. The potatoes are chipped fresh every day and I buy the highest graded spud you can get. The burgers are made from minced steak. It is 100% Irish beef and all the meat is supplied by local butchers,” she says with pride.

Buying locally to support the community is important to Mary. “I think in the times that’s in it we need to shop locally and give every-one a wee bit of a chance,” she explains.

Low Prices
Mary has the same supportive attitude toward her customers. “Although I have been improving the quality of food, I am keeping the prices the same as I want to suit the customers pockets in these days,” she says.

She has also been expanding her menu and offering the customers a wider range of options adding chicken breasts and spicy beef amongst others to her usual fare of take away, pizzas and kebabs.

Qualifications
Mary, originally from Burnfoot, now lives in Ture. She had been working in the take-away before she took it over and had previously been in hotels for about twelve years. She started off washing dishes in the Inishowen Gateway and then moved on to working with the chef in the kitchen and managing the accommodation. In her spare time Mary went to the North West Regional College in Derry where she got her qualifications in catering. As if she wasn’t busy enough with her new business, Mary is planning to return to college. “I am planning to go back and complete my higher levels,” she says.

Support
So how was it for Mary taking over the business? “I felt very nervous at the beginning,” she confides. “You know, taking on a new project and all. But I have to say it is really working out well.” She pauses for a moment, thinking.

“I have to say that I have had great support from my family and I am really lucky with Emer, who works with me –she is not just an employee, she is a friend too and is always there. The customers have been great too.”

If you would like to contact Mary for her outside catering service you can call her on 0874187530

5 MINUTES WITH - TRACY HARLEY

Tracy Harley is originally from Chasetown in Staffordshire in England. She moved over to Ireland 16 years ago after living and working in Greece. He sister was working in the Citizens Advice Centre in Derry and asked her to come over for the Trip-to-Trip summer festival (now O2). The festival came and went but Tracy stayed and fell in love with both Ireland and Paul, her husband who runs Castle Silver Jewellers in Ferryquay Street in Derry. She lives in Quigley’s Point with Paul and they have three children, Joseph, Seamus and Eden.

Tracy is in her 2nd year as Chairperson of Childrens Point Childcare Centre. The committee that runs the playgroup consists of parents of children that attend the playgroup, they are elected each year at their A.G.M. The work of the committee is on a voluntary basis and is a great way of meeting other parents and neighbours. The Playgroup recently moved to new premises located within Quigleys Point Community Centre and has a large room for educational activities and a smaller wet room for all messy play. They also have an outdoor play area and use of the large hall. Their move to the new premises was due to the hard work of previous and present committees and the co-operation of the Community Centre Committee. The Playgroup has some places available both am and pm and are taking registrations for Sept 2010! Give them a ring on 086 0802153 for more information


What music are you listening to at the moment?
I tend to listen to the radio more that CD’s now that I have children. The radio just keeps going and you don’t have to think what to put on. BBC Radio 2 can be entertaining with DJ’s like Chris Evans in the afternoon.

What book are you reading?
My mum gets old library books that have been taken off the shelves and gives them to me, so I read whatever I am given. It can be anything from a trashy novel to a reference book. I can hang on to the books which is just as well, as I am really bad at getting library books back on time.

What was your favourite childhood game?
I loved playing Tig, which we used to call Ackie 123. The rules are the same, you hide from people or chase them, and ran back to a post if you were spotted or found someone… Hours of fun.

What section of the newspaper do you turn to first?
I get the Sunday papers and just read the glossy magazines; they don’t require a long attention span, which is ideal when the children are running around.

What would you never throw away?
Childhood toys. I have an old style Jack in a box and Fisher Price radio that I adored. I gave them to my children and they are now a bit worse for wear, but still loved. My old cassette tapes are special to me as well. I have collected compilation tapes from friends over the years and their choices of music reflect past times and memories, I wouldn’t throw those away.

Most embarrassing moment of your life?
We did a fundraiser for the playgroup a while back and someone suggested a charity boxing match. It seemed like a good idea at the time but I had to fight a very determined 6-foot woman. Some people loved it, mainly those that saw us get flattened.

Favourite TV programme?
Larkrise to Candleford is very good and I enjoy the Victorian farm series, it’s a reflection of simpler times. My sons and I also watch Masterchef together.

What job did you want to do when you were a child?
I was influenced by Peter Pan, so was quite happy being a kid. I did take an interest in photography when I was a bit older though.

Where was your best holiday and what made it special?
We have a campervan and we had a lovely driving holiday through France recently. It was like Ireland in a way. We also love our annual trip with friends to Gweedore for an Easter egg hunt.

What do you do for a special treat?
Simple pleasures like going to the beach in Moville with the children and popping into the Cosy Cottage Café for a hot chocolate are special treats for me.

Favourite animal?
I am a big animal lover and have a dog called Rudi, which is short for Rudolph. We found him at Christmas, so it was either Noël or Rudi. Noël would be a bit of a strange name for a dog…..We also have a cat called Fluffy, he gets on great with the dog.

Biggest Challenge?
Setting the playgroup up would be the biggest challenge for me. It was a big learning curve. There was such a lot of negotiating with government bodies for funding and it is a full time job. You have to learn quickly.

What was the best present you ever got?
I got a fabulous digital camera and try to make loads of photo opportunities so I can use it.

What was the last thing you bought just for yourself?
I bought a swimsuit. I was going away on a pampering weekend with some of the girls from the playgroup committee.

What charity do you support?
Since having children I tend to support children based charities, the more local the better.

The world’s most irritating/most useful invention?
The electric juicer I have falls into both categories. It can be extremely useful and beneficial for giving the children some nutrition, but it does take up a lot of cupboard space.

Most memorable Christmas present?
I have always had good presents given to me. One of my most memorable was when a friend bought me my first rabbit. I didn’t think that my parent’s would let me have one so I thought if someone else bought it they would have to let me keep it. It worked, and the rabbit was called Biscuit.

Which period in history would you most like to have lived through?
I liked the Victorian Farm series for its simplicity but also enjoy different things from different era’s. I would take the best from periods in history and make up my own period I think….

What do you have for breakfast?
Porridge, raisins and seeds, usually sesame or sunflower seeds, they give you plenty of energy for the day.

Do you have a favourite cartoon character?
I loved Noddy… My kids love it too. It can be educational as well as sometimes he has a go at teaching the children French… Say it with Noddy…

What was your first paid job?
I worked in a photo processing shop as a sales assistant for two years. I learnt a lot about photography and the art of printing. The owner decided to get rid of us just before our 2 year YTS scheme came to an end, which saved him having to pay us himself.

Best/worst household chore?
My worst is mopping. I like the word, but find doing it very exhausting. My favourite would be ironing. Invest in a good iron and it’s a pleasure. I have a fancy iron where the water is in the base; it’s worth every cent…

What is the best/worst piece of advice you have been given?
A good marriage is like a fire it needs to be tended to regularly or the flame or spark will go out.

Personal philosophy?
Treat people as you would like to be treated yourself.