Parish Groups


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Church Groups

Altar Society

This group of parishioners is responsible for the upkeep of the altar area of the church. They take care of the flowers and the altar. A rota is organised on a monthly basis. Anyone willing to help should contact the parish office or the co-ordinator of the rota – Josie Branigan on 8256277

Na Glantoirí

Na Glantoiri are the cleaning group of about 20 parishioners who meet approximately once a month to clean the church. Theresa Murphy (8259552) is the group leader and she organises the rota. New volunteers are very welcome to help out.

Sacristans

Our two sacristans are Deirdre Mills and Patsy Mannering.

Parish Choir

The parish choir is an adult choir and sing at the 12.15pm Mass on Sundays and on other liturgical occasions during the year. The Choir’s rehearsal season runs from September to June on Tuesday evenings at 8.30pm in the Parish Church. New members are always welcome. All inquiries to the Parish Office or to Sheila Ryan at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Folk Group

This is a recently formed adult group who rehearse on Thursday evenings from 8.00pm to 10.00pm and they lead the singing at the Vigil Mass on every alternate Saturday. For further information, contact the director, Caroline McNally on 8256753

Cantors

The cantors lead the singing at the 11.00am Mass on Sunday. They are usually choir members, but others who cannot make a commitment to the choir often lead the congregation at this Mass. Deirdre Kinsella is the co-ordinator of the cantors and she can be contacted on 8257572

Organists

Mary Hederington is our regular organist at the 11.00am Mass and she can be contacted on 8259662 and Joey Crosbie plays at the 12.15pm Mass and she can be contacted on 8250193. Other organists who play in Ratoath are Sheila Ryan ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) and Ciara Vaughan (8011571). They also play at weddings, funerals, anniversaries etc.

Ceoltas

The Ceoltas Group play once a month at the 11.00am Mass and Catherine McGorman leads this group. Her number is 8256016

Liturgy Committee

They assist the priests in preparing the liturgies in the Chruch. They make recommendations for the various liturgies and they meet about every 6 weeks. Members are drawn in the main from the various groups who are involved in the liturgy in the parish.

Childrens Liturgy Committee

This group meet once a month and are responsible for preparing a liturgy for the children which is held on the 2nd Sunday of each month at the 11.00am and 12.15pm Masses. If you wish to volunteer to work with this committee, please contact the parish office.

Eucharistic Ministers

The parish has approximately 100 Eucharistic Ministers who assist in the distribution of Holy Communion at the Masses in the Parish and on occasions bring Holy Communion to the sick. As a general rule Eucharistic Ministers assist once every 5 to 6 weeks. Each Mass has its own co-ordinator- Des Brady (8259512) for the 7.00pm Vigil Mass; Noreen Browne(8259386) for the 9.00am Mass; Tom Boshell (8259070) for the 11.00am Mass and Ann O’ Reilly (8350880) for the 12.15pm Mass. If you would like to be a Eucharistic Minister or have served in your previous parish, please let us know.

Altar Servers

We have a rota of servers taken from the parish schools. Children from 4th, 5th and 6th classes are welcome to serve. Each child serves at least once a month. They receive training and older children assist and accompany the younger children. Children attending schools outside the parish are welcome to serve.

Ministers of the Word

The readers read the word of God at our liturgies. Each Mass has its own co-ordinator- Jim Kelly (8257226) for the 7.00pm Vigil Mass; Nick Killian (8256700) for the 9.00am Mass; Marie Hackett (8256448) for the 11.00am Mass and Suzanne Scroope (8256090) for the 12.15pm Mass. If you would like to be a Minister of the Word or have served in your previous parish, please let us know.

Basket Collectors

They are a group of parishioners who assist with the basket collection at the weekend Masses.

Parish Finance Committee

This committee consists of 11 members whose term of office is four years. The parish finance committee is responsible for overseeing the finances of the parish. At their meetings they review the income and expenditure of the parish. They oversee the general and development work in the parish and make recommendations on spending and implementation of projects. They monitor the annual distribution of the parish envelopes and they prepare an annual statement, which is presented to parishioners at Masses on a designated Sunday.

Community Groups

Ratoath Community Centre

Ratoath Community Centre, currently being redeveloped at a cost of €2.5m will shortly be reopening its doors and welcoming clubs, organisations and the residents of Ratoath.

The community centre has been designed to encourage all the residents of Ratoath to meet and socialise and bring life and a buss into the centre of our village. The centre can simultaneously cater for up to 7 different events at any one time. Its use is down to our imagination but includes:-

The Venue

The venue is a theatre, a concert hall, cinema or hall all in one. With retractable seating for 234 it provides an intimate but high quality venue for plays, musicals and videos. Yet within 30 minutes it will revert to a hall capable of holding a variety of events such for active age, yoga, martial arts etc. The venue has a high quality lighting systems with 40 theatre lights with the capability to incorporate more lighting if required. The sound system is close to broadcast level and it has two changing rooms.

The Bistro

To ensure that our residents and customers enjoy their experience at the community centre we have an 1100 sqft bistro. This promises to meet the standards of bistros in Dublin City were one can enjoy a social gathering, small meal or simply a coffee. It promises to ensure that you enjoy your visit to the community centre.

The Open Space

Over looking the village centre the open space, with its sprung floor and large windows and mirrors provides a high standard for a wide variety of activities, from keep fit, yoga, through to Irish dancing, ballet etc. The space is also wireless internet ready and we are looking at the demand for computer-based training. The use of the open space is only limited by our imagination. This room can be made into two rooms with its room divider

Youth Club

A key aspect of the community centre is how it will attract our youth. If the youth have little interest in active sports they can feel that the village has little to offer them. At night we are anticipating the youth of the area to establish a club with a range of activities that suit their needs.

Happy Days

Community based child care. The community centre will have both sessional childcare facilities and an after school club. The sessional centre will cater for 18 children, 3-5 year old both morning and afternoon. They will have their own play outside play area. The centre will also have an after school club with both a homework area but also areas that the children can chill out and relax with supervised access to the internet.

Ratoath Community Centre, in the centre of the village wants to become the social hub of the village and place of activity that is driven by you the residents of the village. So after Easter come and support your community centre; the heart of Ratoath.

The Community Centre website is at http://www.ratoathcc.ie/

Ratoath Foróige Club

Ratoath Foróige Club meets on Wednesday nights from 8pm - 9.30 pm in the youth room in Ratoath Community Centre. Foróige is a national voluntary organisation which promotes development and activities for young people in their teens. The purpose of the club is to enable young people to involve themselves consciously and actively in their own development and in the development of society. The young members run the club themselves with the formation of a committee, which is assisted by voluntary adult leaders who advise and supervise the members. This is the club's second year up and running and we have covered activities such as self defence, first aid, arts and crafts, drugs awareness to name a few, undertaken a community project to paint the hoarding around the community centre during its redevelopment and arranged trips to go bowling and ice skating plus a trip to Carlingford Adventure Centre.

To be eligible for membership you must be attending secondary school and aged between 12-18 years old.

For further information regarding the club please contact Deborah @ 086-1708208

Ratoath Chess Club

Ratoath chess club is open to all players of all abilities age 8 up. We play in Ratoath Community Center Every Monday from 7.30 to 9.30. Our web address is http://royalchess.blogspot.com. Contact Details: Laura Keating 01-8250293.

Ratoath Rugby Football Club

Ratoath Rugby Club is the newest sporting club in the village and came into being after several ex-playing members of St Mary’s College RFC held a meeting with some interested friends in the house of the founding president Derek Gillen. Also present at the meeting were David Marrinan, Richard Whitty, Tony Murphy, Dominic Kenna, Mark Coatsworth, Alan Crabbe and Stephen Mc Kenna.

The club was officially affiliated to the Leinster Branch of the IRFU January 7, 2005. The inaugural meeting of the club took place in the Auld Stand Public House, Ratoath County Meath.

We are running children’s teams to U14’s and a rugby nursery for U7’s and U8’s. As the evenings get longer we are facilitating Adult TAG on Wednesdays at 7.30pm, this is a mixed sport and ALL are welcome.

Find out more at www.ratoathrugby.ie or contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you wish to join or lend a hand.

Ratoath Harps Football Club

www.ratoathharps.com

Ratoath Athletic Club

Previously known as Oliver Plunkett Athletic Club, Ratoath Athletic Club was established in 1974. In spite of having only a small pool of athletes, Ratoath Athletic Club quickly became one of the strongest clubs in the county and has gone on to win in Meath, Leinster and at All-Ireland level. Ratoath Athletic Club is affiliated to the Athletic Association of Ireland. As well as games and fitness for younger athletes, the club members train in the full range of track and field sports from sprinting and middle distance running, hurdles and jumps, shot putt, javelin and discus. This diverse range of activities gives an opportunity for people with different talents to achieve their potential. During the winter it is cross-country running is the main focus at County, Leinster and National level. During the summer the emphasis is on track and field competition. Athletes take part in the Meath County Championships, the Leinster Championships and hopefully qualify for the National Finals. The club has at present over sixty members ranging from ten years of age to veterans of undisclosed age!

Look out for news of the new running track currently being developed by Ratoath Athletic Club in conjunction with Ratoath Community Centre and grant aided by the Lotto Sports Capital Programme and Meath County Council.

Training Times

From March to October, the club trains outdoors at Ratoath GAA ground at Brownstown from 7-8pm o’clock on Tuesday nights and Sunday morning from 12am-1pm. Training at Cushenstown A.C. Friday nights 7.30-8.30pm.

From October to March, the club trains indoors in the Community Centre from 7-8o’clock on Tuesday nights. Outdoor training on Sunday morning from 12am-1pm. Training at Cushenstown A.C. Friday nights 7.30-8.30pm.

Contacts

Gerry Finnegan 086 8504036
Phil Bateson 086 3410486 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Ronnie Quigley 087 2384551

Parent & Toddler Group

Ratoath Parent and Toddler Group meet on Monday and Thursday mornings from 10 a.m.- 12 noon. Venue: Ratoath Community Centre. All parents/carers welcome. The group is organised by parents and carers on a voluntary basis - (extra help is always welcome!). The group provides parents and carers with the opportunity to meet and develop friendships while their children play and socialise together in a safe and friendly environment. For further information contact Deborah Murphy on 086-1708208

Ratoath ICA

With over 30 years involvement in our local community, our guild is still very active and constantly reaching out to many new residents who have made Ratoath their home. The aim of ICA is to bring ladies together for a social gathering, We are the only group solely for women in our area, we welcome ladies of all ages and professions as well as well as “stay at home ladies”. Under our umbrella we have different groups within the guild, ie Book Club, Theatre club, Scrabble Club, and a Travel Club, who travel abroad each year. Our regular meetings include talks and demonstrations of various kinds always interesting and thought provoking. We meet on the first Tuesday of every month and newcomers are always made welcome. Contact Angela, Mary or Caroline.

Ratoath Garden Club.

Ratoath Garden Club was formed 15 years age when three enthusiastic gardeners met to form the group, many happy days have been spent in the most beautiful gardens around Ireland on the annual outings each year. The group meet on the 4th Monday of the month September / April inclusive at 8.30pm in the function room of the Ratoath Inn and new members are always welcome.

Bridge Club

Ratoath Bridge Club play each Thursday night in the GAA clubhouse Brownstown. Play starts at 7.30pm sharp and new members are welcome.

Meath V.E.C.

South Meath Adult Learning Centre

The South Meath Adult Learning Scheme holds classes in Basic English, Maths and Computers. Classes are on a 1:1 basis or in small groups. The classes are held at a time and place suitable to the learner. Classes are free and confidential. For more information ring 8011787. Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


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