13 January 2023 Roscommon People

Local politicians have called for greater use of Roscommon Hospital as an immediate response to the growing pressure on health services nationwide. Deputy Denis Naughten and Cllr. Tom Crosby – the latter the current Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council – both say the HSE could alleviate some of the pressure by better utilising Roscommon Hospital.

Amid growing concern over a lack of hospital beds nationwide, Deputy Denis Naughten says the HSE and the Minister for Health should allow ambulances to transport non-urgent patients to Roscommon University Hospital’s urgent care centre. Such a step, he said, would immediately ease overcrowding in emergency

departments across the region. Deputy Naughten noted that protocol has already been agreed between the National Ambulance Service and the HSE to transfer patients to Ennis General Hospital to help ease pressure on the emergency department at University Hospital Limerick. He said there is no reason why an appropriate protocol cannot now be put in place for Roscommon Hospital.

Cllr. Crosby went further – calling for the reopening of Roscommon A&E, which was controversially closed over a decade ago.

“The closure of Roscommon A&E is a decision that should never have been made, and it should be reopened immediately to access all possible resources and help take pressure off other hospitals at this time,” he said. See page 4.

Pictured at the St Brendan’s Ladies & Men’s Football Presentation and Social Night at the Shearwater Hotel on Saturday night were Laura Shaughnessy, Aoife Martin and Eimear Shaughnessy. Photo: Michelle Hughes Walsh

WATCHING People

With PAUL HEALY

Road traffic accident –dos and don’ts

If I am involved in a road traffic accident with another motorist what should I do or not do. Please advise.

Do

1. Ensure that you and the other people involved in the accident are not injured. If anyone is injured call an ambulance. Be courteous and polite to others involved in the accident regardless of who is at fault.

2. Call the Gardai. Depending on the seriousness of the accident they may or may not attend the scene.

3. If it is a serious accident do not move your vehicle and ask the other motorist involved in the accident not to move their vehicle either until the Gardai arrive. If it is a minor accident and if it is not possible to leave the vehicles in the crash position due to the fact that the crashed vehicles are obstructing the road and holding up traffic then simply move the vehicles to the left of the road in a safe position. Try to take good photographs of the accident scene noting the position of and damage done to the crashed vehicles.

4. Take details of all vehicles involved in the accident to include: insurance details; vehicle registration numbers; names, addresses and phone numbers for all drivers.

5. Take names, addresses and phone numbers of independent witnesses who witnessed the accident.

6. Take note of the name and station of the Garda who attends the accident scene.

DON’T

1. Don’t admit liability at the scene of the accident. It is a condition of many insurance policies not to admit liability following an accident. If you are obviously at fault it is simply best to exchange insurance details and tell the other party that you will report the matter to your insurance company.

2. Don’t leave the scene of the accident until particulars have been exchanged.

3. If the other motorist tells you that he is going to move his vehicle and return to the scene, don’t believe him. Make sure that all details are exchanged before anyone leaves the scene.

A person should always contact their solicitor to obtain legal advice specific to their own situation. The above column contains general information and cannot be relied upon as legal advice. * In contentious business, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement

I really think I’m on to something!

Look, I know we’ve often talked about going into partnership together, but… But what?

Well, I actually think your idea has some merit – but it’s too ambitious!

NO, I DISAGREE! A new year is a time for new ideas…and I honestly think we could run a pub together!

Yeah, but pubs are finding it tough going… My plan addresses that! Look, our age group – and older – are not going out as much as in the past.

Agreed!

And it’s creating societal problems…lack of social interaction, loneliness, etc.

Very profound!

Men in particular – arguably – are at a loss. Well, some men. Hence all these new men’s sheds!

A great development!

Agreed! But I want us to create a pub which will encourage middle-aged and older people to socialise even more…both men and women!

Mmnn…

Generation Z have their own social lives, they’ll be welcome in our pub, but we’ll specifically cater for middle-aged and older! Hear me out…here’s my seven-day plan!

(They pause briefly to check for the latest

Thebarstoolboyos

young fella’ themed night. Everyone’s free to rattle on about how life was better in their day! No contemporary conversation allowed! If anyone talks about the present day, we’ll turn Elvis up – full blast!

Wednesdays?

Look away, Generation Z… here’s my seven-day plan for our dream pub! Endangered Species

Wednesdays will be ‘Second Honeymoon Night’ whereby couples who’ve been together 30 years or more go on a date night and end up in our bar where you will have devised a series of romancebased fun activities.

Eh…

Thursdays will be ‘You can’t say anything any more’ nights where customers will be allowed vent over political correctness…

You can’t do that…

Prince Harry revelations)

Monday night’s theme: ‘GAA Gripe Night’. We play All-Ireland finals of the past on loop, plaster the walls with photos of Michael O’Hehir and Mick O’Connell…and offer a free pint to every old GAA player who comes in and whinges about the modern game!

And Tuesdays?

Tuesdays will be our ‘When I was a

On Fridays, we’ll chill to hits from the 1950s onwards. Saturday will be ‘Early Bird’ evening, with everyone invited in before the young crowd come out!

And Sundays?

Eh…Sundays will be for live sport on TV, with everyone giving out about the officials!

So, just like normal Sundays now?

Yes! Look, think about it! It can work! This will be the perfect response to the march of Generation Z!

(Editor: Yeah, your own Generation Zzzzz!)

PEOPLE writing headlines…

Prince Harry

Oh dear. First the Oprah interview, then that recent Netflix series…now he’s back in the news with a very revealing memoir. Revelations in the estranged prince’s book commanded headlines all over the world

Anne Rabbitte & Ciaran Cannon

The two Galway TDs went to a routine planningrelated public meeting. Whatever about the quality of the debate, they weren’t expecting to have ‘bags of cow dung’ thrown at them – but that’s what one attendee contributed. It was a bizarre and disturbing act

Enoch Burke

He knew he shouldn’t do it, but he couldn’t help himself. After being over 100 days in jail for contempt of court, suspended teacher Enoch Burke thought the best way to spend his new-found freedom was to head for Wilson’s Hospital School, whereupon he spent his time confined to a corridor (surely an embarrassment and distraction for pupils and teachers)

Conor Devaney

He won an All-Ireland minor title with Roscommon in 2006, and went on to have a distinguished senior inter-county career. Now Kilbride’s versatile, flying Conor Devaney is hanging up those inter-county boots. This great servant departs the stage with our congratulations and good wishes

Byrne Carolan

Cunningham Solicitors

and Galway.

Byrne Carolan

PIC OF THE WEEK: Andrea Fallon from Roscommon getting in a little practice during half-time of the Connacht Hurling League Final between Roscommon and Galway Development last Saturday. Pic: Bernie O’Farrell

transport non-urgent patients to Roscommon University Hospital’s urgent care centre to help ease overcrowding in Emergency Departments across the region.

“Protocol has already been agreed between the National Ambulance Service and the HSE to transfer patients to Ennis General Hospital to help ease pressure on the emergency department at University Hospital Limerick and there is no reason why an appropriate protocol cannot be put in place for Roscommon Hospital,” stated Denis Naughten.

The Medical Assessment Unit at Roscommon Hospital can treat chest pain, respiratory (breathing) conditions, fever, seizures and headaches, and suspected illnesses such as pneumonia or chest infections.

“There are many patients lying on trolleys for

hours in hospitals across our region with similar medical issues, while there is available capacity at Roscommon Hospital,” added Denis Naughten.

“There has been significant investment in facilities and staffing at Roscommon Hospital and it is now imperative that these staff are made available to help cope with the crisis across our hospital system.

“The urgent care centre and medical assessment unit at Roscommon Hospital provide rapid assessment, diagnosis and early treatment based on patients’ needs, and can provide more appropriate and timely care for medically ill patients. Is this not far better for the patient than sitting on a chair for a weekend in A&E?

“The proper use of Roscommon Hospital takes additional pressure off the other local emergency departments and ensures patients who are not a medical emergency can get timely care in Roscommon,” says Denis Naughten.

Pharmacies facing medicines shortage as flu season wreaks havoc locally

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The nationwide shortage of medicines including antibiotics, cough bottles, cold and flu remedies, and steroids has led to increased pressure on local pharmacies in recent weeks.

There are now over 200 products listed on the Health Products Regulatory Agency’s medicines shortage list, which has resulted in many local businesses running out of stock of popular remedies.

Catherine Healy of Ballygar Pharmacy says the situation has become increasingly difficult in recent weeks and warned that there is currently no end in sight to the crisis.

“There has been a shortage of cough bottles and other medicines since the beginning of flu season last November but it has really peaked in the last few weeks,” she said.

“People are quite ill with flu and other illnesses and there is an unprecedented demand for cough bottles, cold and flu medication and even steroids.

“There was a reduced demand

during Covid-19 when there were fewer incidences of flu but it is spiking terribly again and manufacturers have been caught out”.

Catherine says the shortage has put extra stress on local pharmacies, who were already under extreme pressure this winter.

“It has definitely added a lot

of stress in recent weeks when it comes to sourcing medicines and while we have been able to substitute certain products, it has been very difficult,” she said.

“There doesn’t seem to be an end in sight…I can’t remember witnessing such demand and wholesalers are unable to give us a definite date for orders”.

Catherine says that while many customers have been proactive in getting flu and Covid booster vaccines, the nationwide shortage is having a knock-on effect.

“It’s a nationwide issue and I don’t think it was anticipated… people have been doing what they can in terms of vaccines but we’re in the thick of it right now,” she said.

Nial Tully of Tully’s Pharmacy in Castlerea says the shortage is adding to the already heavy workload of those in community healthcare services.

“These shortages effectively mean some doctors are seeing patients twice at times,” he said.

“A patient will arrive with a prescription and if the product is not available the pharmacist must go back to the doctor in

order to offer an alternative. It’s difficult enough to get an appointment at times and so it doesn’t help if doctors have to do the same job twice”.

Nial believes the adoption of a regulated prescription system already in use in the UK would ease the burden on GPs, pharmacists, and patients alike.

“As pharmacists we can suggest alternatives to over-thecounter medications but prescriptions are a different kettle of fish,” he said.

“A number of medications are

out of supply or are slow in coming in because they are unevenly distributed across the country.

“What would help are the Serious Shortage Protocols they use in the UK. It’s a system where the pharmacist can recommend an alternative prescription if the original isn’t available”.

Nial says that while geography and lower drug prices mean the Irish healthcare system will always experience shortages on some level, the current crisis is short-term.

“We’ve been told the shortage

of antibiotics will be over by the first week in February, but it’s hard to know how accurate that is,” he said.

“Some wholesalers will give a date to pacify people but we can’t be sure because it’s a European-wide issue.

“In the longer-term, shortages on some level are here forever more because Ireland is on the outskirts of Europe and has some of the cheapest drugs when compared to other EU countries…which is good and bad,” he concluded.

3,074 people with long

Crisis could collapse the health service –Naughten

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There are currently 3,074 people living with long Covid in County Roscommon, according to the results of a survey by Ireland Thinks.

Independent TD Denis Naughten says that 492 of those people have been badly impacted by symptoms after becoming ill with the virus and the crisis could lead to the collapse of the national health service.

The figures, taken from self-declared incidence of long Covid in Ireland, are based on a survey commissioned by the Roscommon-Galway TD.

“The reality is that such a large num-

ber of long Covid patients presenting to our hospitals with complex health conditions at a time when the system is already overwhelmed, could lead to the collapse of the health service,” Deputy Naughten claimed.

“We cannot just sleepwalk into a crisis of chronic illness, which will push people waiting on treatments since before the pandemic even further down already horrendous waiting lists. We need to see this surge of long Covid patients managed with a coordinated response from Government”.

The Independent TD recently called for long Covid to be recognised as an occupational hazard for frontline workers and urged the Government to treat patients presenting with ongoing symptoms with the same urgency as the initial wave of infections.

Data from the Ireland Thinks poll showed that six per cent of adults

living in Ireland have self-reported symptoms of long Covid in excess of 12 weeks.

Covid in Roscommon Crosby calls for A&E to be reopened

63 per cent of patients claim that long Covid is having some impact on their daily lives while 16 per cent say it has had a major impact.

Deputy Naughten said the figures correlate with previous data based on research published in The Lancet by a team of Dutch researchers.

Commenting on the results of the most recent survey, Denis Naughten said the findings were the first comprehensive report into the prevalence of long Covid in Ireland.

“While the mechanism behind the disease has yet to be fully defined, given the proportion of the population in Ireland living with long Covid, it is imperative that evidence-based treatment pathways be explored as a priority,” he said.

Any strike action by the Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) would have stark consequences for members of the public, Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council Cllr Tom Crosby has warned.

Cllr Crosby also called for the reopening of Roscommon A&E Unit as a measure that would take pressure off other hospitals.

Asserting that the health service is presently “in crisis”, Cllr Crosby said industrial action would add “even further chaos in a clearly already unworkable situation”.

Speaking to the Roscommon People this week, Councillor Crosby said that the current trolley problem was not just a local issue, but “a state of emergency, which as of

last Sunday, saw a total of 209 people on trolleys or chairs waiting for a bed in acute hospitals across the country, many of them waiting over 24 hours for same”.

Councillor Crosby continued: “This week, the HSE visited all acute hospitals to provide practical support in the midst of mounting pressure. It’s quite clear that the country is in a crisis situation, with greater demand on medicines for respiratory illness and pharmacies even running low of stock.

“The closure of Roscommon A&E is a decision that should never have been made, and it should be reopened immediately to access all possible resources and help take pressure off other hospitals at this time,” he concluded.

Catherine Healy of Ballygar Pharmacy

“We’ve been told the shortage of antibiotics will be over by the first week in February, but it’s hard to know how accurate that is”. Nial Tully, owner of Tully’s Total Health Pharmacy in Castlerea, pictured on Wednesday. Pic: Kieran Croghan

Public warned to be vigilant following burglary spree

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Local public representatives have warned people to be on the lookout for any suspicious activity following a number of breakins in the Castlerea and East Galway areas in recent days.

The warning comes following a number of break-ins in the Williamstown, Castlerea, Tulsk, Ballintubber, and Castleplunkett areas last week.

Local Gardaí also issued an alert to people in the area to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity or vehicles to Castlerea Garda Station on 0949621630.

Posting on social media, Williamstown-based Galway County Councillor Declan Geraghty warned homeowners of a gang targeting vacant houses in the area in recent weeks.

“This is a gang that’s targeting houses that are vacant, where they see no lights on and they’re going in and plundering the place. These people are parasites and are no addition to society. They are going in and destroying people’s homes and turning the whole place upside down,” he said. Cllr Geraghty warned homeowners to take preventative measures such as leaving lights/TV on when away from their property.

Local Fianna Fáil councillor Paschal Fitzmaurice this week encouraged local residents to be proactive in the fight against rural crime and report any suspicious activity to the Gardaí.

“In the first instance, I would encourage homeowners to ensure properties and sheds are locked up and alarms and security lights are in use, particu-

larly throughout the dark winter months,” he said.

“Don’t be afraid to report any suspicious activity to the Gardaí and pass on registration numbers and descriptions even if it might seem trivial. These details can prove very helpful to those investigating such crimes”.

Meanwhile, Gardaí are currently investigating the theft of heating oil from Tibohine National School in Co. Roscommon sometime between 4 pm on Friday and 11 am on Saturday morning last.

They have appealed to anyone in the area who may have noticed any suspicious activity and/ or a vehicle acting suspiciously in the Tibohine area of Ballaghaderreen at any time on Friday evening or late Friday night to contact them in Ballaghaderreen on 094-9860002.

We are continuing to close accounts

Ulster Bank is closing, and our team are continuing to close current and deposit accounts, along with some of our branches. If your six month closure notice period has passed and your deadline is reached, your account is now queued for closure. You must take urgent action now. All personal and business account deadlines are fast approaching. If you are still relying on your bank account and in need of support, please contact us immediately.

PAUL HEALY’S WEEK

A column by Roscommon People editor paul@roscommonpeople.ie

THURSDAY

Worth a watch…

We’ve been catching up on two shows on Netflix, both of which first aired in 2016.

Motherland, a British sitcom, focuses on the challenges of motherhood, as faced by a group of middle-class women, who are (sort of) friends. I wasn’t aware of it until recently. This slick sitcom features great writing and a superb cast. It’s very enjoyable.

We also came across Designated Survivor, a far-fetched but entertaining thriller, in which Kiefer Sutherland plays a man who suddenly becomes President of the United States after a terrorist attack wipes out virtually the entire government. While it’s cliched at times – and features many implausible sub-plots – it’s a very entertaining, fast-paced thriller, which I think many readers would enjoy.

FRIDAY

Harry’s book

There’s nothing quite like Liveline. Just now, a caller rang in to Katie (sitting in for Joe), joining the queue to join the Prince Harry Lack of Appreciation Society.

Someone had made the point that Harry’s tell-all book was justified as he’d received a $20m deal from the publishers. After all, the Corgis have more Royal income options than Harry has now.

The caller was having none of it. “Why doesn’t he get a proper job…like set up a carwash or something?”

All suggestions should be given consideration, but surely Harry’s done enough washing in public for now?

SATURDAY

Two lads chat (barely)

The problem with setting very high

standards – in any walk of life – is that people expect you to maintain them every time. And that’s not realistic.

A great actor produces Oscar-rated performances in a few movies, then has a bad film or two…and suddenly he’s deemed to be past it, washed up, to have lost what he once had.

I see people saying John Cleese is no longer funny, when they should in fact still be expressing thanks for the genius of Monty Python and Fawlty Towers. Then there’s this odd thing whereby some people think everything a brilliant artist does has to be categorised as, well…brilliant. They can’t see any flaws in their hero.

I thought of all of this when the new series of the Tommy Tiernan Show began tonight (RTE One). Firstly, landing Roy Keane was a great coup for the show. As a football pundit with Sky Sports, Keane is box office…straighttalking, sometimes intimidating, often very funny, frequently explosive. In his role as a divisive Irish legend, he’s box office too.

Given Tiernan’s deserved reputation as a great interviewer – a great listener, certainly – we might reasonably have hoped that what was to follow would be TV gold. It wasn’t.

Not that you’d think that from some of the reaction on Twitter, where some viewers hailed the musings of Roy and Tommy as another epic example of Tiernan’s ability to get inside the heads of his guests. It wasn’t; that’s the myth messing with reality.

It’s okay to say that this wasn’t vintage Tiernan, that this interview was at times excruciating. I’m well aware that part of Tommy’s brilliance is the fact that he really listens to his guests, embraces pauses, has no fear of reflective periods of silence. But the silences that punctuated this stop-start interview were merely awkward silences, not profound moments.

The reality is that Tiernan struggled to get into Roy’s head, which is fine. The main reason this wasn’t the revealing interview we’d all have liked is because Roy had no intention

of letting that happen. As someone said on Twitter, he wasn’t going to be psychoanalysed. Tiernan recognised this, suggesting to Roy that he was very guarded.

As it turned out, the second half of the interview was much better than the first (Roy might say that’s what matters in football games). Roy finally began to relax, and Tommy – previously frustrated, still slightly bemused – seemed to relax too, once he had accepted that there was a wall of sorts around his guest.

It ended with Tommy lauding Keane’s greatness, perhaps the clearest evidence that this interview didn’t quite go as the host would have wanted.

That then was when Tommy met Roy. It wasn’t vintage Tiernan, because Keane just wouldn’t allow himself to be vulnerable (which is fine). It was entertaining at times, awkward and boring at other stages. Keane is still an enigma of sorts, Tiernan is still a fascinating and brilliant chat show host.

SUNDAY

Help! It’s DWTS

Browsing through the Sunday papers, and aware that Sky’s live golf coverage hadn’t started yet, to my horror I found myself in the same room as ‘Dancing with the Stars’.

I scrambled in search of a long article in the Sunday Times –maybe juicy Tory backstabbing, or a magazine special on a friendly vicar who turned out to be a serial killer – but my eyes and ears were occasionally drawn to the almost insufferable silliness.

Maybe it was all a dream, but I’d swear I saw ex-rugby international Shane Byrne dancing to Help! by The Beatles, and former State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy strutting her stuff to a Billy Ocean classic.

The contestants are actually grand, it’s the exaggerated positivity I struggle with! Everyone loves everyone, they all gush about one another, and the post-dance interviews are torture. Soon they’ll be saying the whole experience has been life-changing…and that they’ve made friends for life. What it needs is a little bit of the tension and rivalry that made Big Brother (and ‘I’m A Celebrity…’) so popular with viewers.

*I wish to clarify that, to the best of my knowledge, there are no friendly vicars engaging in such activity.

MONDAY

What’s up…punk?

According to the RTE News website today, Johnny Lydon – the artist also known as Johnny Rotten (of the Sex Pistols) – wants to represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest. Johnny has Irish connections. His band (Public Image Ltd) is on a shortlist of six to represent Ireland.

Johnny Rotten in the Eurovision is a somewhat embarrassing prospect…for the image of punk rock, that is.

HAVE YOU TOPPED UP YOUR PROTECTION?

COVID-19 and flu viruses are circulating in the community. Keeping up to date with your recommended vaccines will make sure you have the best possible protection from serious illness.

People aged 18 to 49

Everyone aged 18 to 49 can now get a second COVID-19 booster vaccine from a HSE vaccination centre or a participating GP or pharmacy.

Other groups

It’s especially important to keep up to date with your vaccines if you have a health condition that puts you at high risk of serious illness from COVID-19 or flu, you’re pregnant or aged 50 or over.

If you’re a healthcare worker, getting your recommended vaccines is the best way to protect yourself, your colleagues and your patients this winter.

More information

See what vaccines are recommended for you and your family and make an appointment today. See hse.ie or call our team in HSELive on 1800 700 700 for information.

newsbriefs

Healing Mass in Curraghboy

A special Healing Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady Star of the Sea Prayer Centre, Curraghboy, Athlone on Friday, January 13th, commencing at 8 pm. The celebrant will be Fr Luke Ohiemi. Confessions will be available from 7 pm and the Rosary will begin at 7.30 pm. Individual Blessings for Healing will take place after Mass. All are most welcome to attend.

Lisnamult Christmas Raffle winners

The winners in the recent Lisnamult Annual Christmas Raffle were as follows – 1st prize, €500 voucher (sponsored by Fleming’s SuperValu): Michael Flahive; 2nd prize, €150 voucher (sponsored by Time Pieces): Matevsz Blasgczk; 3rd prize, €100 voucher (sponsored by McGuinness’ Pharmacy): Joan Mannion; 4th prize, €100 cash (sponsored by Liam Stephens of Klassic Cleaners): Angela Morelli; 5th prize, €100 (sponsored by Ivan & Martin Connaughton): Angela Morelli; 6th prize, €100 (sponsored by John Gaynor): Roisin Dillon; 7th prize, €100 voucher (sponsored by Gleeson’s): Sarah O’Shea; 8th prize, €100 (sponsored by Lisnamult Tenants & Residents): Ronan Boyle.

Winners of spot prizes were as follows – 1st: Alex Doolan; 2nd: Martin Bance Senior; 3rd: John Donlon; 4th: Ben Mahon; 5th: Esme Butler; 6th: Nicky Wilmott; 7th: Joe & Marty; 8th: Natalie Halford; 9th: Karen Mulligan; 10th: Ciara Naughton.

Thanks – The Lisnamult Residents and Tenants Association would like to express their sincere thanks to everyone who supported the Annual Christmas Raffle. A special thanks to all the local businesses for sponsoring prizes and spot prizes. Congratulations to all the winners. Your support is very much appreciated.

Clooneycolgan committee’s thanks

The Clooneycolgan Community Centre committee has expressed its sincere thanks to the four local businessmen – John F Hanley, Emmet Featherston, Martin Conlon and Nicky Corcoran – who sponsored the recent Christmas Bazaar at the centre.

The committee also wishes to thank all those who organised the Bazaar and especially those who attended and supported the event on the night.

The committee wishes all its patrons a very Happy New Year.

Gospel Reflection

Sunday 15 January

Jesus speaks through the prophet Isaiah in today’s First Reading. He tells us of the mission given to Him by the Father from the womb: “‘You are my servant,’ He said to me”.

Servant and Son, our Lord was sent to lead a new exodus – to raise up the exiled tribes of Israel, to gather and restore them to God. More than that, He was to be a light to the nations, that God’s salvation may reach to the ends of the earth (see Acts 13:46–47).

Before the first exodus, a lamb was offered in sacrifice and its blood painted on the Israelites’ door posts. The blood of the lamb identified their homes and the Lord “passed over” these in executing judgment on the Egyptians (see Exodus 12:1–23, 27).

In the new exodus, Jesus is the “Lamb of God,” as John beholds Him in the Gospel today (see 1 Corinthians 5:7; 1 Peter 1:18–19). Our Lord sings of this in today’s Psalm. He has come, He says, to offer His body to do the will of God (see Hebrews 10:3–13).

The sacrifices, oblations, holocausts, and sin-offerings given after the first exodus had no power to take away sins (see Hebrews 10:4). They were meant not to save but to teach (see Galatians 3:24). In offering these sacrifices, the people were to learn self-sacrifice – that they were made for worship, to offer themselves freely to God and to delight in His will.

Only Jesus could make that perfect offering of Himself. And through His sacrifice, He has given us ears open to obedience and made it possible for us to hear the Father’s call to holiness, as Paul says in today’s Epistle.

He has made us children of God, baptized in the blood of the Lamb (see Revelation 7:14). And we are to join our sacrifice to His, to offer our bodies – our lives – as living sacrifices in the spiritual worship of the Mass (see Romans 12:1).

-Scott Hahn Ph., www.salvationhistory.com (courtesy of Sacred Heart Church, Roscommon)

Roscommon town reclaims

‘clean’ status in latest IBAL litter survey

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Roscommon town reclaimed its ‘clean to European norms’ status in the final Irish Business Against Litter survey of 2022, the results of which were announced this week. Roscommon finished in 26th place in the ranking of 40 towns and cities nationwide.

Naas in Co. Kildare once again topped the overall rankings while Longford disappointingly fell from 5th place to 27th this time around. Cleanliness levels nationwide improved by 6 per cent in 2022, with Kilkenny and Maynooth making up the top three.

For the third year in succession, Waterford was the cleanest city, ahead of Galway. Urban areas improved by 12 per cent, yet they continue to occupy the lower positions in the IBAL rankings.

The An Taisce report for Roscommon read: “A great improvement for Roscommon, with seven out of the ten sites surveyed getting the top litter grade. With so many top-ranking sites, a few deserve a special mention: Main Street was very freshly presented and maintained, excellent with regard to litter.

“The Square is a lovely town centre environment which was not just spotless but attractively presented with lovely paving, planting, etc. There was a notable improvement at the Bring Bank on Golf Links Road – this time around it just missed the top litter grade.

“Similarly, the laneway beside Roscommon

Fire Station was worthy of the top litter grade.

The laneway off Main Street was much improved but still somewhat littered”.

The report added that by far the most heavily littered site was the laneway beside the Fire Station which wasn’t just littered but was subject to dumping.

IBAL’s Conor Horgan said the results reflected a pattern of improvement since the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“In particular we are seeing local authorities concentrate their efforts on ridding areas of heavily littered sites. We have no reason to believe this improvement will not be sustained. Cleanliness is a virtuous circle: clean streets beget clean streets, inspiring a pride and consciousness of the environment among people”.

Plastic bottles and cans continue to be a major source of litter, second only to sweet wrappers.

IBAL believes the findings bolster the case for a deposit return scheme, which is due to be introduced this year, and which will see consumers pay a deposit which they can reclaim on returning their containers to a retailer or other collection point.

“Based on this data the scheme is sorely needed and stands to rid our streets of a significant amount of litter. The same applies to the proposed coffee cup levy,” commented Conor Horgan.

“We welcome the announcement that cigarette manufacturers will now be contributing to the cost of clean-up, but we really need to see pre-

ventative measures such as widespread butt disposal facilities alongside innovative packaging which can store butts,” added Conor Horgan.

Shanagher welcomes improved status

Local councillor and Roscommon Tidy Towns Chairperson

welcomed the news of the county town’s improved standing.

“I’m glad that we have reclaimed our status as ‘Clean to European Norms’ and it’s obvious that a lot of work has gone into keeping Roscommon town clean in recent months,” she said.

“The latest survey is testament to the hard work of local businesses, Roscommon County Council outdoor staff, the Tidy Towns, TÚS workers and other volunteers in the area”.

Cllr Shanagher did however highlight that judging in the IBAL Litter League takes place throughout the year and called on local business owners and residents to be mindful of this.

“It’s important to remember that IBAL judges can visit Roscommon at any time so it’s vital that we continue to be vigilant and work to keep problem areas free of litter,” she said.

Kathleen Shanagher

Aerial view of The Square, Roscommon town.

Abbey Hotel to hold wedding showcase this Sunday

The Abbey Hotel in Roscommon, the Midlands’ premier family-run wedding venue, are extending an open invitation to all newly-engaged couples to join them on Sunday, January 15th, from 2-6 pm for their annual wedding showcase.

Enjoy a glass of bubbly and light refreshments upon arrival before meeting the Abbey’s dedicated wedding manager, chefs and wedding banquet team, as well as a selection of recommended wedding suppliers. There will be a 10% discount off select wedding packages on the day.

Viewings can be arranged in advance by appointment on 090 6666211. Couples are invited to register their details and be entered in a free draw to win a ‘His & Hers’ hamper by emailing weddings@abbeyhotel.ie. There are limited spaces still available for wedding supplier stands, for which bookings can be made by phoning 086 3276584.

Follow the Abbey Hotel on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for further updates.

Testimonials from our wedding couples!

met and that the day went exactly how we wanted. We got so many comments from our guests about how friendly and helpful the staff were. The food was absolutely amazing and there was so much to go round.

“Our day was so amazing and that’s due to Lorna and the staff at the Abbey. We can’t recommend the Abbey enough. They made our day so special and I don’t think it would have been the same anywhere else. Thanks so much!”

Evening Bar & Bistro Menu

Dee and Martin Keoghan “I would like to thank The Abbey for being so understanding and supportive with all the date changes we had due to Covid. Everyone was always so accommodating and nothing was too much hassle.

“Lorna was amazing with us from start to finish, making sure all our needs were

Rebecca and Ray “We got married in the Abbey Hotel on 23 September 2022. Being from Roscommon, I was of course very familiar with the Abbey as a renowned wedding venue. My husband from Dublin (less familiar) was happy to view it as a potential venue, and from the moment we walked in the door, we were blown away.

“We hadn’t intended to book our venue there and then but there was something very special about the Abbey and we were delighted to find a date we wanted was still available! Every part of planning the wedding was stressfree thanks to the team at the Abbey; we felt so confident that everything was under control from day one.

“Lorna, the wedding coordinator, is absolutely out of this world! She is an amazing person to deal with – organised, efficient, enthusiastic, warm and more than accommodating. She really made sure every part of our vision was achieved.

“It was all of the personal touches and little extras that made the day so perfect and we cannot say thank you enough to Lorna and her team. On the day of the wedding, we were blown away by how special everyone at the Abbey made us feel – the greeting upon arrival by Lorna along with numerous staff members such as Adrian Grealy – going above and beyond to ensure that our day was absolutely spectacular.

“Stuart, the bar manager, made sure everything ran smoothly on the day and couldn’t have been more helpful in the run-up. We were lucky enough to get a dry and sunny September day, and got some beautiful pictures on the grounds; the setting is just stunning.

“The food was absolutely delicious and beautifully presented. Darren and his team were fantastic both during the tasting and on the day, accommodating a huge amount of different dietary requirements (from our guests) as well as providing and increasing the vegetarian options for the bride.

“The friendliness our guests encountered from every member of staff was phenomenal. Our wedding day was truly the best day of our lives and it is really down to the incredible team at the Abbey and the Grealy family who made the day unforgettable. Thank you so much!”

Dee and Martin Keoghan pictured cutting the cake at their wedding reception in the Abbey Hotel in August 2022.

Ray and Rebecca pictured cutting the cake at their recent wedding reception in the Abbey Hotel.

Connacht star shaves mullet for charity

Connacht and Buccaneers Rugby star, Darragh Murray, made his first home start for the Connacht senior team in the win against South African side Cell C Sharks in the BKT United Rugby Championship at Galway Sportsground on Saturday last.

The young Buccaneers player made his senior competitive debut away to Brive in the Challenge Cup recently and then teamed up in the second row with older brother Niall against Leinster at the RDS.

To mark his first home start, the South Roscom-

(RIGHT)

Hair today, gone tomorrow: Roscommon hairdresser Siobhan Lyons shaves Darragh Murray’s mullet following the rugby star’s first home start for Connacht last weekend.

(BELOW)

Connacht star Darragh Murray

mon native had his mullet shaved after the game by Roscommon hairdresser Siobhan Lyons (Curl Up & Dye), ably assisted by Darragh’s mum Bernie, dad Aidan and brother Niall. The now famous locks were donated to the Little Princess Trust while GoFundMe pages are open for donations to his two preferred charities, the LauraLynn Foundation and Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation.

Darragh’s aunt Maureen Kellehan (sister of his mother Bernie) passed away due to cancer last September, hence his

choice of charities.

The 21-year-old’s noble gesture is certainly worthy of widespread support and donations can be made to the nominated charities on GoFundMe by searching ‘Cancer Care by Darragh Murray’ and ‘Darragh Murray’s Hair Donation’.

At the time of writing, €12,000 has been donated to the LauraLynn Foundation with a further €5,000 donated to the Roscommon/Mayo hospice. Donations can be made until the end of March so your generosity is urged for these most worthwhile charities.

News

mum Bernie prior to his head shave in aid of Mayo Roscommon Hospice and the LauraLynn Foundation.

Scoil Bhride pupils raise over €1k for charity

In September 2022, Fr Patrick Devine visited Scoil Bhride in Four Mile House to give an inspirational talk to the pupils about his charity work in Kenya.

Fr Devine set up a charity organisation called the Shalom Centre, which is a conflict resolution and rec-

onciliation group. Countless children benefit from the educational resources and supplies through funds raised for the centre. Fr Devine visited the school with Ciaran King, promotional officer and adviser with the Shalom Centre.

The pupils at Scoil Bhride were so motivated by

the work that the Green Schools Committee decided to organise a ‘bring and buy’ sale to raise funds for this worthy cause; children helping children.

As a result of this fundraising initiative, €1096 was raised. This initiative linked in with the school’s current theme, ‘Global

Citizenship Litter and Waste’, which focuses on achieving 17 ‘Global Goals’.

If any other school in the county are interested in taking part in initiatives with Shalom Centre for Conflict Resolution, please contact info@ shalomconflictcenter.org.

‘Pride of Connacht’ award for Roscommon Harriers

DAN DOONER

Roscommon town athletics club Roscommon Harriers was recently honoured by Connacht Athletics for its outstanding work with the Join Our Boys Trust.

The provincial governing body announced this week that the award was presented to the local club led by Frank Murphy and Sinéad Gannon for their “inspirational work” on the Team Archie project.

Posting on social media earlier this week, Connacht Athletics said: “Ar-

chie, George and Isaac Naughton were diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in 2012. The Join Our Boys Trust was established in 2014 and since then enough money has been raised to build a house to cater for the boys’ needs. Archie accompanied the team for three Dublin Marathons among the many fundraisers held over the years.

“Sadly, 16-year-old Archie died in July of this year. His brother Isaac accompanied the team for this year’s marathon. The group raised more money, as the fundraising continues

to meet ongoing costs, and again brought great colour to the Dublin Marathon in their brilliant orange”.

Both Roscommon and Leitrim County Boards were also honoured for their “outstanding work in organising the Connacht Cross County Championships”, which took place under challenging circumstances last winter at Roscommon Racecourse and Drumshanbo respectively.

Connacht Athletics said the awards would be presented to the winners at an online ceremony in the near future.

Roscommon Arts Centre receives funding boost

Roscommon Arts Centre has been listed among the beneficiaries of yesterday’s (Wednesday) Arts Council announcement of a €9,486,140 allocation for 42 organisations across the country.

Commenting on the announcement as part of its Arts Centre

decisions for 2023, Arts Council Director Maureen Kennelly said: “The infrastructure of arts centres, jointly supported with local government, is essential in enabling people of all ages and backgrounds in every part of the country to experience the very best of the arts. It is also

essential in providing resources to artists in the development of their work.

“In addition, we are delighted to increase our support to Ealaín na Gaeltachta which supports arts audiences and artists in Gaeltacht regions in partnership with Údarás na Gaeltachta”.

The purpose of Arts Centre funding is to invest in and support the infrastructure of arts centres required to sustain and develop the arts in Ireland.

The Arts Council currently provides programming and revenue supports to over fifty arts centres throughout the country.

Along with this stream of funding, the Arts Council will also allocate the following: €19 million in individual artist awards; €28 million towards arts grant funding, project awards, festivals and touring; €4 million towards partnerships with each lo-

cal authority and to Ealaín na Gaeltachta; €13 million for developmental projects including Creative Schools, Creative Places, Creative Europe and Culture Night, and towards the Arts Council’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion plans.

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pictured with

Scoil Bhride pupils pictured presenting a cheque for €1096 to the Shalom Centre following their fundraising initiative. Pictured in the front row are pupils Harry Elliott, Jamie Shanagher, Senan Dolan, Roisin Mularkey, Daithi Farrell, Chloe Suffin, Ronan Deningan, Ruth Deningan, Caoimhe Mularkey and Kian Shanagher. Pictured in the second row are pupils Roisin Lohan, Thomas Lohan, Mark Naughton, Jake Donlon, Ben McHugh MacRory, Zara McDermott, and Sadhbh Shally. And pictured in the back row are Ciaran King (Shalom Centre), Principal Shane O’Donnell, Mar Kelly, Fr Padraig Devine of the Shalom Centre, and Helena King.

Roscommon BOI branch to be upgraded this year

Bank of Ireland has announced plans to invest €11.5 million across its nationwide branch network in 2023, with the branch in Roscommon part of the upgrade plans.

The planned network investments include refurbishments and enhancements to the branch network, upgrad-

ing of branch services including ATMs in a number of locations, and ongoing maintenance works.

Additional works as part of the investment will include the installation of new external and internal ATMs in a range of branches.

As part of this investment, Bank of

Ireland also plans to install energy-efficient LED lighting in each of its 169 branches in 2023, including all four of its County Roscommon branches. Commenting on the planned investment in its Roscommon branch network, Susan Russell, Director, Retail Ireland said: “Our branch network of

169 locations across Ireland, including the four branches we operate in Roscommon, is a very important part of how we serve our customers – whether that be for routine cash, cheque and coin transactions or more detailed conversations about loans, mortgages and pensions.

“That’s why we continually invest in this network, and 2023 will be no exception. I’m especially pleased that our location in Roscommon town will be upgraded during this year, and that we are also making further investments in ATM technology in our branches nationwide”.

Are you recently engaged? Congratulations!

A wedding like no other is our promise to you in the Radisson Blu Athlone

The 4-star Radisson Blu Hotel Athlone, located on the banks of the Shannon river, offers a unique location and facilities, all combined to ensure your wedding day exceeds your wildest expectations.

At the Radisson Blu Hotel, you’ll find that our warm hospitality and impeccable personal service combined with experience and passion for weddings ensures your wedding day will be a truly unforgettable day. Imagine sitting at the head table overlooking a grand ballroom where

management and staff have just two goals, to make your wedding the happiest day of your lives and to ensure your guests are totally pampered.

Let our experienced and dedicated team of professionals guide you through the specially designed packages and the entire planning process and we are certain that if you afford us the opportunity, we can prove that our actions speak even louder than words.

Start your planning today with our wedding coordinator Claire who will be there every step of the way with you. Claire will provide you with guidance and reassurance – and above all ensure your every wish is delivered, making your day a fairytale to remember.

Pictured in JJ Harlow’s were Nicola Geraghty, Nicola Brehony and Michelle Kelly. Pic: Michelle Hughes Walsh

FRANK BRANDON

FRANK BRANDON’S unique take on life ...

Rugby chiefs have to act on serious injuries in the game

place at all, or might it fall foul of the weather on two counts. Firstly, could we too lose our power supply, causing us to have no lights? And secondly, if the lightning continued, would the match have to be postponed on safety grounds?

As it happened, by kick-off time at 7.30 pm the storm had abated, and the game, which our lads won 21 to 17, went ahead.

It’s about 7 pm on Saturday evening and we are experiencing a pretty awesome thunderstorm – the lightning literally lighting up the sky – when my son Paul arrives in from Galway and tells us that Moylough and Newbridge are both without electricity. We wondered whether our big rugby game against Dunmore would take

Now I’ve never made any secret of the fact that I am a rugby man, and that I played it for a number of years. But I have come to the conclusion that the powers that be really need to tackle the ongoing problems with head-related injuries.

Earlier on Saturday, I read about Carl Hayman, widely recognised as one of the best and most powerful prop forwards who ever played the game. Hayman was a highly regarded All

Health service woes

Out there in the increasingly chaotic world of the health service, past decisions to downgrade facilities in so many of our smaller hospitals (including Ennis, Nenagh and Roscommon) have come back to haunt us, and we now have a huge shortage of hospital beds. The situation in the Mid-west is so grave, that having downgraded Ennis and closed its emergency department in 2009 – directing all patient care to Limerick – they are now redeploying ambulances to Ennis (after appropriate triage care) to avoid Limerick Hospital, but without augmenting any services in Ennis Hospital.

A friend of mine in the ‘hospital world ‘says everyone saw the overcrowding problem coming, but the present ‘solution’ of using old hospitals without increasing bed numbers or staff is like trying to fix a broken leg with a sticking plaster. Way back in 2009 – fourteen years ago – a Professor Lenihan said that UHL should have 600 beds – today, all these years later, it has 530! That’s 70 beds short of the target for 2009. In the meantime, our population has grown significantly, and we have now an extra responsibility to our Ukrainian refugees, so it’s fair to say that if Professor Lenihan was to do his survey now he would conclude that UHL would need much more than 600 beds. However, as well as bed shortages, we have a huge lack of doctors and nurses. I read last week of six highly qualified Ukrainian doctors who are living in Bundoran, and I thought to myself that we could surely make use of their expertise. But various restraints mean they are currently working as cleaners and bar staff, as it seems regulations mean they cannot work as doctors here in the foreseeable future.

Now obviously the public have to be safeguarded against unqualified medical personnel, but surely there should be some way to fast-track the process to enable these people to do what they are qualified at. Another six doctors in any area would be a huge benefit, especially at a time when most GPs are overrun and not taking on new patients. It would make a great difference to the overall health service in a given area.

Of course Limerick is not the only hospital that has an acute shortage of beds, as it is a problem in all of our hospitals. How to go about solving the problem may seem like a big conundrum, but the simple answer is we need more doctors, more nurses and more beds – so all our politicians have to do is deliver them, whatever it takes!

Black who played 45 times for New Zealand and had a hugely successful spell in Europe, culminating in a fiveyear stint in Toulon, where he won a Champions League medal. By playing in Europe for so long, he lost out on several All Black caps due to the policy of not picking anyone who wasn’t playing their rugby in New Zealand, but even so he is one of the most revered figures in All Black history. In 2015, Hayman retired from professional rugby at the age of 34, but since then he has revealed he is suffering from early onset dementia and CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy). He has spoken about the hugely dramatic effects it has had on his life; anger issues, forgetfulness, depression, and alcohol abuse are all things that Hayman has suffered from and he now blames his illness for them all. Tellingly, he says that had he known

the toll all the hits were having on his brain, he would’ve retired from the game much earlier.

Head injuries have become much more common in recent years; just last week we saw Johnny Sexton getting his cheekbone fractured when he tackled Connacht’s Jared Butler. In my opinion, as it was a head-on-head collision, he should’ve got at least a yellow card or maybe a red, but either way he suffered what was his umpteenth head injury in recent years. Since that incident, we have seen two top English internationals, Owen Farrell and Manu Tuilagi, get away with definitively head-high dangerous tackles. The cynical side of me wonders if referees are going easy on top international players at the moment, on account of the Six Nations tournament being only a couple of weeks away.

But whatever the reason, all three

Riveting chat between Tommy and Roy

I have told readers several times that I am a Roy Keane supporter. I love his directness when it comes to his soccer punditry on television, and we all know that he never holds back when he feels he needs to have a go at underperforming players – especially if they happen to be on the payroll of his former club, Manchester United. However, his personal life has always been protected from the prying eyes of the media, and so it was a huge surprise when he turned up as Tommy Tiernan’s first guest on the new series of his Saturday night show.

I have only recently come to like the Meath man as a comedian, although I have always enjoyed his TV chat show. No one else would take the chance of not knowing who his guests are until he actually sees them come through the curtain (seeing Keano walk out must have nearly been a terrifying experience for the host).

As it transpired, it was a riveting interview – although some of the silences between the two seemed to stretch on forever – but both

have been involved in incidents that have resulted in separate serious injuries to two players. It is surely now time to implement proper changes to the legitimate tackle. Back in our day, you were taught to tackle low, and it seems to me it’s time to go back to that less risky type of tackle.

Even at our amateur local level, things have changed dramatically since our day. Players are much fitter, and have muscles in places none of us ever had, and the tackles and hits at that level are very intense. I just think something has to be done to ensure maximum safety for the players. I realise that the international boards will all say that they are doing everything to improve the game, and they trot out all kinds of statistics to back them up, but the truth is there are still too many injuries and too many lives are being ruined by dangerous, illegal tackles.

And finally…

Spare a thought for two local politicians, Anne Rabbitte and Ciaran Cannon, who allegedly had bags of cow dung thrown at them during a meeting in Gort last week.

Feelings were running high at the meeting, which was being held over a proposed bio gas plant in the area, but nothing excuses such a premeditated act. While the supposed perpetrator says he has no regrets over his actions, in my opinion he should have.

men coped exactly as you would expect. Keane was guarded in his answers, sometimes to his host’s obvious frustration, while Tommy probed into Keane’s private life as much as he could.

The story he told of his first date with his wife Theresa, which he said didn’t go so well, provided us with a side of the footballer we seldom see. He was also very adamant that he was not a great footballer or a great leader, and that he was surrounded by great players and leaders in all his clubs, and in the Ireland set-up. As always, he came across as someone with a slightly sardonic look at life.

He no longer takes alcohol, leads a very simple life, and seems to be totally at peace with himself and his family life. I really admire Tiernan for doing the show the way he does it – though I bet by Sunday morning he was wishing he’d known Keano was coming on! However, all in all, it seems the reaction to the interview has been pretty positive, and I must admit I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Politicians can sometimes be accused of all kinds of stuff, but I cannot understand how anyone would take on a political career; a life that has no regular hours, huge travel, and a capacity for outrageous abuse from everyone and anyone. Financially, if you get to the Senate or the Dáil, you will be well looked after, but even that cannot compensate for the huge negatives of being totally dependent on the whims of the public vote. I have to say I wouldn’t go for public office in a million years.

I hope the two politicians recover from their unpleasant ordeal quickly, as no one deserves to be treated like that!

Our man Frank on the ongoing concerns about the physicality of his beloved rugby; When Tommy met Roy; The crisis in our health service… and the unpleasant treatment meted out to two politicians in Galway

Roscommon Women’s

Network to host debate on women’s role in local politics

Roscommon Women’s Network (RWN) aims to raise awareness of women’s role in local politics with a discussion entitled ‘Promoting Women’s Participation in Politics in Co. Roscommon’ at Gleeson’s Townhouse, The Square, Roscommon (F42 WA22) on Thursday, January 19th at 6.30 pm. Only eleven women have been elected onto Roscommon County Council since the State’s foundation and RWN wants to play a role in addressing this. With that in mind, the network invites women living in the county to reflect on the participation of women in local politics in Roscommon and to plan an International Women’s Day 2023 event in collaboration with Roscommon County Council.

This will be an informal event and will allow for discussion on the opportunities and challenges of participating in politics and to brainstorm ideas for International Women’s Day 2023. The event will be facilitated by RWN Board member, Rita Kearney.

The event will feature four female Roscommon County Council members

who will talk about their experience in politics. The four councillors are part of the first Regional Women’s Caucus in the country, made up of female councillors from 13 local authorities in the Northern, Midlands and Western regions. The Caucus was established in response to the fact that women are seriously under-represented in this region. In collaboration with local authorities and Women’s Networks, the Caucus is coordinating events for International Women’s Day on March 8th

The Caucus is fortunate to have a strong secretariat resource from the Association of Irish Local Government (AILG) and See Her Elected (SHE).

The SHE programme is a rural strategy to address the under-representation of women in politics in rural Ireland As noted by the programme, only 26 per cent of county councillors throughout Ireland are female.

Rita Kearney, RWN Board member says that figure is even lower in Roscommon with “just 22 per cent of councillors being female – just four out of eighteen elected members”.

RWN is involved in a wide range of activities and services promoting inclusivity and involvement in education, training and development including its well-renowned Cycle Up project as well as provision of guidance and signposting services. The website is at https//www.rwn.ie.

The event is free of charge and all women living in Co. Roscommon are welcome.

Cllr. Orla Leyden is one of four female councillors who will talk about their experience of political life.

A group of young friends pictured in their festive clothing for the switch-on of the Christmas lights in Ballaghaderreen over the holidays. Pic: Mick McCormack

Locals pictured out and about in Ballaghaderreen over the holidays for the big switchon of the Christmas lights. Pic: Mick McCormack

Miriam’s MUSINGS

Words of wit and wisdom with MIRIAM KERINS

I’m sick of Harry and Meghan’s ‘please pity me’ act!

Although I bear them no ill will, I am not, never have been and never will be a fan of the British Royal family. It’s for this reason I have zero interest in (what I call) the publicity-seeking junkie formerly known as Prince Harry, and his I’ll-never-inherit-aKingdom-so-I’ll-monetise-my-position-as-a-mediocre-fame-hungrysaddo-by-going-on-a-score-settlingbitter-as-hell-crusade!

Neither did I watch last month’s ‘Harry and Meghan’ six-part docuseries containing a ‘never before seen’ look into the ‘personal and private’ lives of himself, aka ‘the Spare’ (see book of same name), and his missus, aka ‘the Minx’ – a title allegedly bestowed upon her by step-mama-in-law Camilla!

Nonetheless, sensation sells, and somebody is interested, because I’ve been stopped by readers asking my opinion on the pair who, in 2020, ‘stepped away’ from the spotlight, and ‘stepped back’ from royal duties in a bid to begin ‘a new chapter’ in their lives.

My own life is peppered with enough drama, therefore I didn’t feel the need to watch a series about a pair of filthy-

rich, pampered whingers desperate for attention. That said, this publication wouldn’t be able to boast the biggest readership of any Roscommon newspaper (reaching 80,000 people every week), if it wasn’t giving loyal readers what they wanted, now would it? Therefore, as you’ve asked for my take on this ‘Megxit’ saga, I’m going to give it to you.

In a nutshell, (having casually dipped in and out of the docuseries), it’s my belief it has all the hallmarks of a low budget version of ‘young, dumb and living off mum’ – but without the hair extensions and the fake tan.

The addition of what I believe to be ‘self-taped video diaries from as far back as 2020’ suggests to me that stepping back was possibly never part of the overall plan, rather it was the opposite, as in, dare I assume, a carefully crafted quest for vengeance!

Personally, I’m sick of this mildlyattractive pair’s please-pity-poor-me act! At the same time, I adore the fact they’re humane enough to adopt a senior Beagle dog called Mia from a shelter where she’d been taken by the Beagle Freedom Project (in California) having been saved from one

Attack on politiciansis repugnant and disquieting

On foot of the recent and, may I say nauseating, ‘poo-gate’ attack on Fianna Fáil junior minister Anne Rabbitte and Fine Gael’s Ciarán Cannon which occurred in neighbouring County Galway, TDs and senators have been issued with ‘detailed security advice for their own protection’. Receiving this advice is both understandable and vital, especially given the fatal attacks on British politicians Jo Cox and Sir David Amess in recent years.

What I don’t think is vital however, is that ‘State funding is being sought to finance (these) urgent security measures for TDs and senators’. Why are we, the already hard-pressed taxpayers, being once again turned upside down and shaken by the ankles to fund someone else’s personal home and workplace security measures?

All citizens of this country, whether public or private, have an equal right to feel safe and to

of those horrendously cruel animaltesting hellholes.

I haven’t viewed episode six of the series, but I’m told that, on foot of what I call the pair’s saccharine-sweet sit-down with Oprah, (something I did watch), a text from Beyoncé ‘reaching out’ to Meghan – a woman she’s apparently only casually acquainted with – was revealed.

I’m paraphrasing, but here’s the gist. Beyoncé wanted Meghan ‘to feel safe and protected’; she ‘admires and respects’ Meghan’s ‘bravery and vulnerability’ believing she ‘was selected to break generational curses that need to be healed’.

Aaaw sentimentalism at its best, or ‘pass the sick bag’ territory at its worst; you decide. However, I have to tell you something folks; like Meghan, I don’t trust easily, meaning while I have many acquaintances, I can count my trusted, inner circle of friends on one hand.

Also like Meghan, I believe this inner circle to be made up of a group of wonderful, dependable, loyal and reliable people.

Unlike Meghan however, my ‘trusted’ pals would have to be kidnapped,

be safe. Anyone who believes that right is being violated should of course discuss their concerns with the local crime prevention officer and not just take the necessary measures, but be financially and personally responsible for them.

The fact that anyone would be so repugnant and so calculated as to collect excrement, pack it, transport it to a gathering and fling it at a fellow human being, publicly elected or not, is very disquieting.

I’m glad the incident is being taken seriously by investigating Gardaí. I’m also glad both victims are recovering from their horrific ordeal. That said, I don’t understand why you, me, and every other poor sod struggling to make ends meet –and who can’t afford to install panic buttons or James Bond-style ‘man-trap double doors’ in our own homes – will be forced to foot the bill.

You get my point; the melodramaticcasual-acquaintance-Beyoncé-message-mush seems all very calculated

and convenient; pulled out of the hat to lend the self-promotional, selfaggrandising, attention-seeking pair’s bombshell-revelations a dash of credibility!

I think the time has come for the dirty-laundry-airing-grudge-holding Sussexes to stop milking the hype, and instead, to place a focus on counting their millions and move on.

Minister Donnelly needs to step up to the mark

As cases of flu and other respiratory conditions are rising across the country, it’s reported that the supply of cough syrups, and other over-thecounter (OTC) medicines are falling, with pharmacies left ‘scrambling’ to source alternatives.

In addition, according to something called the Medicine Shortage Index, there’s also a scarcity of some widely used, what I’d call ‘household name’ antibiotics like Amoxicillin and Penicillin – leading me to ask, how are those suffering from respiratory infections going to cope and recover?

Coupled with this worrying revelation is the very serious issue of our overcrowded emergency departments; a trend and a crisis that’s worsening across

all hospitals…oh except for Roscommon University Hospital, because apparently we’re not deemed worthy of having an emergency department to become overcrowded.

Given the severity of this threat-to-life situation, I want to know why our health minister’s response to this disaster is not to have implemented a plan to deal with it, but instead to deliver what I’d call a litany of lame, wishy-washy statements acknowledging it!

I’m sure the minister feels overwhelmed by the fact that a record 931 patients were left without hospital beds last week. I’m also sure he’s equally concerned that many of them were vulnerable senior citizens. Nonetheless, blaming this national crisis on what he calls a

“perfect storm” caused by Covid, RSV and the flu is not just a cop-out, it’s also, in my opinion, a cock-up, therefore, I find his words to be more insulting than consoling.

As far as I know, (correct me if I’m wrong), Ireland recorded its first case of Covid-19 in February 2020; Stephen Donnelly has been Minister for Health since June 2020, therefore he knows the score. He knows that the autumn/winter season is a very challenging and critical time for both the HSE and citizens alike, meaning he’s not really facing anything new. To that end, my advice for the Minister is this…if you’re not growing or progressing in your position sir, now may be a good time to review your options and stand aside.

Harry and Meghan pictured during the recent Netflix documentary sack thrown over their heads, bundled into a car boot and taken to a KGB black-ops torture facility, get strung up, and have electrodes attached to their unmentionables, before they’d say something that deep and meaningful about me!

Local woman loses almost 4 stone with Slimming World

Kerry Browne from Ballyforan is thrilled to have lost nearly 4 stone with Slimming World.

She says: “In 2019, I was unhappy with my weight and decided to join Pauline’s Slimming World group. I soon got stuck in and was delighted to see the pounds fall off and start fitting back into my clothes again.

“Then I became pregnant with my daughter, Pheobe. We had the pandemic thrown in there as well for good measure, and like so many people back then, the weight piled on.

“After Covid, I knew I could go back to Pauline’s group again, and there would be no judgement or humiliation, only a warm welcome back. I absolutely love my group; we have the best fun every week, and discuss what lovely recipes we cooked during the week. When I leave group, I pop into my local shop, Maureen’s in Ballyforan, and they will always ask how I got on in group that week. Everyone is behind me in my weight loss journey and is so happy for me.

“All of my family eat

the same food I eat. As we are a family of five, this is really important, as I don’t have time to be cooking separate meals. I love to cook spaghetti bolognese, chicken kebabs and creamy chicken pasta.

“I was also thrilled when, just before Christmas, I was named our Slimming World’s 2022 Miss Slinky. I have so much more energy now, which is really important, as I have two children under five years and I also look after children as well, so you definitely need all the energy you can get. A few weeks ago, I went into the attic and took down all my old clothes, it was just amazing to be able to fit back into them”, she concluded.

‘So proud’ Pauline Bliss, who runs the group in Hannon’s Hotel and St Kieran’s Community Centre in Athlone, says: “We are all so proud of Kerry and her incredible weight loss.

“When members with families join us and realise they don’t have to cook separate meals, they are de-

BEFORE AFTER

transformed both inside and out by becoming healthier, happier, slimmer, more confident, and who look great. It’s also a special award as it’s the group members who vote for the winner .We have a party in group on the night of the award ceremony, so there is always a great atmosphere, and the winners are made to feel really special”.

Peer support

alone in the challenges they face.

lighted. They just have to make a few simple changes and then they can continue to make their family favourites, like roast chicken, pasta bolognese, chilli con carne, and shepherd’s pie. Everyone will enjoy the same meals, the only difference is that our members go on to lose weight effortlessly”.

Carol Doran Joyce, who runs the group in Kiltoom Parish Hall, says: “Slimming World

Trish Keegan, who runs the group in Gleeson’s, says: “The power of the group and the peer support members give one another is what sets Slimming World apart. Our members become part of a community, something special, which helps them to realise that they are not

“That’s combined with our personalised approach – called IMAGE Therapy – which helps every member discover more about themselves as a slimmer, identify their own pitfalls and danger zones, and create plans to overcome them. As well as following our healthy eating plan and becoming more active, members are encouraged to dig deep into what motivates them, and to set realistic weekly goals to help them achieve their weight loss target”.

To join your local Slimming World group, see the ad in this paper or log onto slimmingworld.ie for more details.

spag

Contact your local Slimming World Consultant and join a friendly and super-supportive group today!

Kerry Browne from Ballyforan is thrilled to have lost nearly 4 stone.

McGuire’s of Rooskey celebrates 1st anniversary of

McGuire’s of Rooskey is celebrating a successful year of trading following the highly anticipated reopening of the landmark business last year.

The well-known local filling station/shop had been a mainstay of the business landscape for a number of decades before closing in 2011.

A decade on from that closure, the McGuire family last year unveiled a magnificent new state-of-the-art premises including fuel and forecourt, convenience store, bakery and deli, complete with attractive seating area overlooking the River Shannon.

It was a proud and poignant moment for all associated with the business as it came just over a year after the death of Frank McGuire, who first developed the family business after acquiring the property back in 1979.

Frank’s grown-up children worked hard to realise their late father’s dream in 2021 as they reopened the business under the family name. Frank’s wife Elizabeth, who was postmistress in Rooskey Post Office, later joined the venture when the post office relocated to McGuire’s filling station.

Frank’s sons Francis and John have been the main driving force behind the project over the past year, ably assisted by their sister Eilis in the first few months of trading.

John says the business has since gone from strength to strength with plenty of new services added to what had been a very successful enterprise in the past.

ing, the McGuire family linked up with Gala, one of Ireland’s leading convenience groups, which boasts over 200 stores nationwide. They were also delighted to join forces with DG Oil/Sweeney Oil…two alliances which shelcompliment the excellent, professional service at this state-of-the-art business.

The new-look McGuire’s features a 240 square metre convenience store including a shop and deli and fresh bakery, which have all proved very popular with customers.

The filling station/shop is wheelchair-accessible with excellent parking facilities for all

vehicles and is a popular stopoff point for both passing traffic and locals.

John says there are plans for further expansion in 2023.

“We have an attended car wash with a valeting service available on site,” he said.

“We also have planning put in for an off-licence which will hopefully go ahead later this year and that will be a welcome addition,” he said.

With a delivery service also available for coal, gas and briquettes, the renowned McGuire’s of Rooskey has quickly become a one-stop shop for all food and refueling needs!

“It has been a good year in business and we were rewarded for our efforts when we won the award for Small Forecourt of the Year from Shelflife magazine,”

he said. “We are now doing a lot of in-store baking with fresh apple and rhubarb tarts, pound cakes, breads and scones on offer each day.

“The relocation of the post office to the filling station since the reopening last year has also been a good boost for the business”. Ahead of last year’s reopen-

BREAK

FRIDAY 13th

Have no fear… read all about it!

< DANIEL TIERNAN

The dreaded date of Friday the 13th falls at least once every year and sadly it beckons upon us tomorrow. Often considered as an omen of misfortune and bad luck, it is widely recognised across the world as an unlucky date.

The history of Friday the 13th stretches back centuries, as far back as the Early Christian Era. It is believed that during the Last Supper in which Jesus shared a meal with his Apostles there was 13 people eating on Maundy Thursday, and according to the Bible that is the night

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Famous birthdays ... this week

Judas betrayed Jesus. The day after this event happened to be Friday the 13th on which Jesus was punished with death by crucifixion.

The yearly ‘event’ is widely recognised in pop culture as there is a very successful horror movie franchise called ‘Friday the 13th’ which sees hockey mask-wearing killer Jason Voorhees seek revenge for his misfortunes as a child on teens at a summer camp. The film franchise has grossed over $468 million at the box-office worldwide. The series of movies is so popular, videogames and board games have been made which are based on the infamous horror movie killer.

Many people hold outlandish superstitions over the date. The fear of the date Friday the 13th is called triskaidekaphobia – which can be quite a mouthful to pronounce. Superstitions surrounding this date include some people feeling it’s not safe to attend work(!), knocking over salt is believed to be especially unlucky on Friday the 13th, others fear going for a haircut on the ‘unlucky date’ will result in the death of a family member. Thankfully none of these crazy superstitions have been proven to be true.

Many unfortunate events have taken place on this date. Bob Renphreys walked through a plate glass door, got dismissed from his job and hos-

pitalised his wife after a game of fetch with his dog went wrong.

Meanwhile, it is estimated that $800 to $900 million is lost in America alone each Friday the 13th as consumers are afraid to go shopping.

Astronomers believe an enormous asteroid will zoom past earth on Friday, 13th of April 2029. This will be visible to the naked eye in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Whether you are looking forward to this or are in fear of the upcoming event it is sure to be quite the spectacle.

It is estimated that 11% of Europeans believe Friday the 13th is an unlucky date while just over 50% are sure it is not unlucky!

It’s been a GOOD week for…

All associated with The Banshees of Inisherin, this after the film won three awards at the Golden Globes on Tuesday night – Best Picture, Best Screenplay (Martin McDonagh), and Best Actor (Colin Farrell)

Derry side Glen, after they reached the All-Ireland Club football final for the first time in their history, defeating Galway’s Moycullen to set up a clash with Kilmacud Crokes

Kevin McCarthy (just about), this after the Republican Party leader eventually got over the line as new Speaker of the US House of Representatives (following a marathon 15-vote saga)

The publishers of a certain new book called ‘Spare’, this after Prince Harry’s explosive memoir dominated the media landscape over recent days

Stevenage Football Club, this after the League

Two side dumped Aston Villa of the Premier League out of the FA Cup, two late goals sealing a remarkable 2-1 win

Fans of Dancing with the Stars, with a new series

of the popular RTE show commencing last Sunday evening (with contestants including drag queen Panti Bliss, retired State pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy, and former rugby star Shane Byrne)

Fine Gael, after the party rose 2 per cent in the latest Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks opinion poll, thus closing the gap on Sinn Féin (SF: 32 per cent; Fine Gael 25 per cent)

It’s

Popular jockey Jack Kennedy, this after he broke his leg in a fall at Naas on Sunday, a setback which will keep him out of action for a prolonged period (we wish Jack a speedy recovery)

Chelsea manager Graham Potter, who is at risk of being sacked despite only being in the role since September, this after a very poor run of form continued with a 4-0 hammering by Manchester City in the FA Cup

“ The things people say…

Zayn Malik (English singer, celebrates 30th birthday this Thursday)

Jeff Bezos (American businessman, will be 59 on Thursday)

Patrick Dempsey (American actor, will turn 57 on Friday)

Dove Cameron (American singer, turns 27 on Sunday)

“People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do”

-Isaac Asimov

Pictured at the Mickey Cunniffe Memorial Match at St. Aidan’s GAA Club recently. Past and present players from Four Roads hurling, camogie and Ladies’ football and St. Aidan’s GAA togged out in memory of one of the legendary figures in Roscommon hurling, with proceeds going to Palliative Care Services Roscommon.

Marie Glennon-Kelly, Helena Cunniffe and Cáit Kenny, pictured attending the special Mickey Cunniffe Memorial Match in St. Aidan’s GAA Club on December 30th.

Now more than ever, educating children on gender issues from a young age is vital

Let’s talk about ...

THE NEED TO EDUCATE CHILDREN ABOUT HARMFUL ONLINE CONTENT

(A student’s perspective)

Alannah Ita Healy

Last summer, after making headlines for his violent and misogynist comments, kickboxer-turned-influencer Andrew Tate found himself banned from all mainstream social media. This controversy of course didn’t stop him from getting an audience with Piers Morgan just last month, when he joined the presenter on his show, ‘Piers Morgan Uncensored’ (for the second time) to discuss his worldviews, online career, and opinions on various other social and political issues.

But the major news relating to Tate currently would come shortly after, on December 29th, when he and his brother were arrested in Romania on charges relating to human trafficking and rape. The news didn’t come as a total shock for anyone familiar with the former kickboxer; reports of his being investigated were already widely circulating months ago, at a time when Tate was at the peak of his notoriety as an influencer. One would assume that his being arrested and the nature of the allegations against him would be the last nail in the coffin, finally establishing him as a person with undefendable worldviews. This prediction

however, while perhaps accurate for the general public, has not come to full fruition. Despite the criticisms, and the fact that serious criminal charges have been levied against him, support for Tate has not disappeared. And while it would be easy to write off those who continue to defend, support, or excuse Tate – in the same way one writes off the overlycommitted fans of any harmful influential figurehead – that would be to ignore one key detail shared by many of his lingering supporters: their age.

Tate does indeed have many fans in their late adolescence or young adulthood, for whom age cannot be used to totally excuse or explain away their blind support for the disgraced influencer. But what’s become obvious is just how many younger adolescents, and even children, are buying in to content like Tate’s.

It’s been known for a while that social media regularly exposes young users to this kind of content, with an Observer study in August revealing how TikTok aggressively promoted Tate’s videos to younger male viewers. And in recent weeks, Irish teachers and youth workers have spoken out about hearing Tate’s comments being re-

peated in classrooms and among peers – particularly with younger age groups.

This entire debacle is, of course, only symptomatic of a much wider issue, one which has been bubbling in the background for quite some time now – the undue influence harmful online content is having on young people’s worldviews.

Given how much time young people spend online, the material they’re exposed to is going to be hugely influential. And while older adolescents and young adults may well be old enough to have the critical thinking skills to recognise the blatant flaws in ideologies spread online by people like Tate, younger age groups don’t, and by comparison are hyper-susceptible to buying into harmful ideas; young boys who only know Tate as the ‘rich Bugatti guy from TikTok’ aren’t thinking critically about, or perhaps even noticing, the harmful nature of the ideas he spouts in between talking about his newest car and ‘shutting down’ his latest adversary.

Again, while Tate is a relevant example, he is only part of a larger phenomenon, more specifically the recent rise in manosphere ideology – manosphere referring to an online community that combines male-centred self-help advice with casual and sometimes violent misogyny. If Tate’s existence was wiped clean from the internet tomorrow, some other conduit for this kind of harmful ideology would just crop up in his place. It’s reflective of the times we’re in, and the rising tide of ‘anti-wokeness’ we’ve seen gaining traction more and more lately.

The problem lies in the fact that so many young people are being exposed to this kind of

content en masse online without ever having been educated on these issues elsewhere. Content moderation on some of the most popular platforms for younger users, such as TikTok, so often takes a back seat to boosting engagement, and adolescents and children are only accessing these platforms younger and younger.

The amount of time we spend online and the age range of those spending time online is ever-increasing. There’s a lot to be said about the benefits and disadvantages of this, but to some degree it’s inevitable. Better content moderation and imposing restrictions to safeguard what children are exposed to online would go a long way, but this is difficult to regulate, and parents, though they can (and should) try to, aren’t able to fully control everything their child sees online.

A more immediate solution needs to be found elsewhere.

Last week, Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman suggested transgender issues should form part of the primary and secondary school curriculum. He commented that “the discourse, particularly on social media, has become incredibly vicious towards members of the trans community in recent years”, and that it was important to refine the school curriculum to ensure pupils “are getting an understanding of diversity”.

The aforementioned rise in ‘anti-wokeness’ that we’ve seen in recent years has led to countless examples of real world harm, fostering misogyny, transphobia, and other forms of bigotry, as well as leading to increases in violent attacks on members of these groups. This revived culture of

intolerance exists and thrives online, and as we saw with Tate, hyper-susceptible younger children are being exposed to it every day without the educational tools to help them avoid being unduly influenced.

Gender issues – from gender identity to gender inequity –have become hotbeds of debate online, with too many spaces platforming and advocating harmful, extremist viewpoints, all of which young people are being exposed to, without caveat, on the daily. Since we can’t expect parents to control what their kids see online forever, and since we do not have appropriate moderation/restrictions in place at the moment, educating them at a young age on the importance of tolerance and acceptance, and to think critically about what they see online, is the best thing we can do.

Pictured at the St Brendan’s Ladies & Men’s Football Presentation and Social Night at the Shearwater Hotel on Saturday night were Enda Holmes, Regina Naughton, Cillian McDaid (Galway footballer), Emma O’Malley, Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice, Geraldine Kelly, Michael McHale and Gerry Kilcommons. Photo: Michelle Hughes Walsh

GOING OUT

St Brendan’s Ladies & Men’s Football Presentation and Social Night

Pictured at the St Brendan’s Ladies & Men’s Football Presentation and Social Night at the Shearwater Hotel on Saturday night were Linda Booth and Sinead Kelly. Photo: Michelle Hughes Walsh

Pictured at the St Brendan’s Ladies & Men’s Football Presentation and Social Night at the Shearwater Hotel on Saturday night were Peter and Olive Daly.

Photo: Michelle Hughes Walsh

Pictured at the St Brendan’s Ladies & Men’s Football Presentation and Social Night at the Shearwater Hotel on Saturday night were Niamh Langan, Sinead Cunningham and Millie Holmes. Photo: Michelle Hughes Walsh

(Above) Pictured at the St Brendan’s Ladies & Men’s Football Presentation and Social Night at the Shearwater Hotel on Saturday night were Lucia Daly, Izzy Daly and Ria Connelly. Photo: Michelle Hughes Walsh

Pictured at the St Brendan’s Ladies & Men’s Football Presentation and Social Night at the Shearwater Hotel on Saturday night were Linda Booth and Colin Ryan. Photo: Michelle Hughes Walsh

Pictured at the St Brendan’s Ladies & Men’s Football Presentation and Social Night at the Shearwater Hotel on Saturday night were Grace Scanlon and Jemima Adams Verling. Photo: Michelle Hughes Walsh

Pictured at the St Brendan’s Ladies & Men’s Football Presentation and Social Night at the Shearwater Hotel on Saturday night were Leanne Walsh and Nora Ward.

Photo: Michelle Hughes Walsh

Pictured at the St Brendan’s Ladies & Men’s Football Presentation and Social Night at the Shearwater Hotel on Saturday night were Michelle Delaney, Niamh Lohan and Aoife McDonagh. Photo: Michelle Hughes Walsh

Pictured at the St Brendan’s Ladies & Men’s Football Presentation and Social Night at the Shearwater Hotel on Saturday night were Caroline Mitchell, Niamh Bury and Rachel Farrell. Photo: Michelle Hughes Walsh

(Right) Pictured at the St Brendan’s Ladies & Men’s Football Presentation and Social Night at the Shearwater Hotel on Saturday night were Ciara Mooney, Nicola Crane and Sinead Kelly. Photo: Michelle Hughes Walsh

Embrace FARM launches New Year campaign to support farm families

Embrace FARM, Ireland’s only support network for those impacted by sudden trauma or death in farm families, has launched a new campaign to tell the stories of some of those the charity has helped in the last ten years and to highlight the continued support available.

The #TakeOurHand campaign is being launched after the Christmas period which can be a really difficult time for grieving families. The new campaign aims to remind those affected of the supports available, no matter where they are on their journey after a sudden death or trauma on the farm.

Since its inception in 2014 by husband-and-wife team Brian and

Norma Rohan, Embrace FARM has supported more than 300 farm families with a range of free supports and initiatives.

Norma Rohan, Co-Founder of Embrace FARM said: “We know that the Christmas period for many farm families who have been impacted by trauma or death on the farm can be a very challenging time and facing into a New Year is not always a welcome thing. We want those feeling bereft to know that they are not alone and that we can take their hand and guide them to the supports they may need at this time. We think that by sharing the stories of some of those we have worked with over the years, we can highlight the range of sup-

ports we have available and hopefully help a family or individual who may be struggling”.

In addition to a range of peer-topeer support services and hosting an annual Remembrance Service, last year Embrace FARM launched the Encircle Programme funded by the European Innovation Partnership (EIP), through the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The Encircle Programme is an extension of Embrace FARM’s existing supports and offers one-to-one supports for individuals and families in the aftermath of any type of sudden death in the farm family.

These supports are available to farmers and farm families all over

the country through a nationwide panel of professional mentors encompassing the full spectrum of legal, financial, agri and emotional issues that individuals and families contend with in the aftermath of these sudden situations.

It has been developed by a dedicated operational group which is led by Embrace FARM, and the programme supports are informed by industry specialists including IFAC, Agricultural Solicitors, Agricultural Consultants Association, Rural Support, HSE National Office of Suicide Prevention.

In order to avail of the many supports offered by Embrace FARM visit www.embracefarm.com or call 057-8510555/085–7709966.

ICOS launches national farming survey

ICOS, the policy and representative body for the co-operative sector, has invited farmers nationwide to take part in a survey around challenges and opportunities for Irish agriculture, relating mainly to sustainability and the bioeconomy.

The research is funded by the Golden Jubilee Trust, the philanthropic

trust whose objective is to improve and develop all aspects of Irish agricultural and rural life.

All farmers from all sectors and all farm sizes are invited to take part.

The survey is online, entirely confidential and takes about ten minutes to complete.

Farmers are urged to visit the news section of

the ICOS website to take part. The research project follows a recent gathering of co-operative industry leaders and environmental experts at an initial national ‘bioeconomy workshop’, organised by ICOS, which discussed the progress already being achieved by the industry and the potential for this to be further accelerated.

From that meeting, ICOS is establishing a ‘co-operative framework’ for Irish co-operatives to share information and best practice on sustainability and the bioeconomy. The results of the research will be combined with the recommendations of the national bioeconomy workshop and the co-operative

framework intended to drive strategy and a series of measures that ICOS will deliver in 2023 and onwards.

John Brosnan, Bioeconomy Executive of ICOS said: “It’s essential for us to hear directly from farmers in every community across Ireland so that their views can be included in our future co-

operative processes aimed at ensuring the sustainability of Irish agriculture now and for the future.

“This forms part of our larger research programme into farmer attitudes and intentions on sustainability measures and the bioeconomy generally which has been supported by the Golden Jubilee Trust”.

ICSA Sheep chair Sean McNamara has said there is no legitimate reason why sheep prices are currently €1/kg behind where they were at this time last year.

“I am furious, and every sheep farmer I know is furious. Over the last year our costs have gone through the roof, yet the meat factories somehow think it is acceptable to pay us significantly less than this time last year. It’s an absolute disgrace,” he said.

“On January 5th 2022 we were getting €7.30/kg on average, now the average is €6.30/kg. How are sheep farmers expected to survive when the price we are getting paid bears no reflection

on what it actually costs to produce the product? Beef prices are ahead of where they were this time last year; all we are looking for is a bit of fair play for sheep farmers”.

Mr. McNamara said rumblings of further price cuts are causing even more worry and anger.

“Sheep farmers are already in a precarious position and factories threatening to pull prices even more next week just makes the situation even worse. There is true value in having a vibrant sheep sector for economic and environmental reasons and this needs to be recognised. The sector needs to be supported not decimated”.

Reopening of Chinese market to Irish beef exports welcomed

The recent announcement that Irish beef exports to China will resume in the coming weeks has been warmly welcomed by farming groups and local public representatives.

Last week, it was confirmed by Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue that beef exports to China would resume for the first time since 2020.

Beef shipments were suspended following confirmation by the Department of an isolated case of atypical BSE in May of that year.

ICMSA President Pat McCormack said the Minister deserved credit but that the job of resuming exports was “only half-done”.

Mr. McCormack said that development and growth of food exports to China must be a priority and that the only question was whether this opportunity would translate back into a return for farmers.

“We have been here far too often, where a new market is announced or a re-opening of temporarily closed market is confirmed, without any underlying effect or message for the people who will be doing the work and producing the food that will be exported to that market,” he said.

“Unless farmers get a better price for their beef to a degree that makes it feasible to produce that beef, this whole project will remain just a positive PR spin as opposed to

meaningful development.

Ensuring that that happens is no less the business of Government than were the negotiations with the Chinese officials that were successfully carried out”.

Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil

Senator Eugene Murphy said the announcement was very welcome.

“This process highlights the supremely high standard of Irish beef and the quality control within the sector. Irish beef is second

to none and this is well recognised in the world’s markets. The Chinese market is a developing one for Irish beef exports and I look forward to seeing it grow over the coming years,” he concluded.

ICSA demands urgent Government rethink on land sell-off to foreign investors

ICSA President Dermot Kelleher has said he is alarmed at proposals encouraging the sale of Irish agricultural land to a British investment fund to meet our national climate targets and has demanded an urgent rethink of government strategy when it comes to achieving forestry goals.

“Any proposals that centre around selling Irish farmland from under the feet of Irish farmers are unacceptable to ICSA,” he said.

Mr. Kelleher made his comments following revelations that up to 50,000 hectares of agricultural land deemed suitable for forestry could be acquired for planting in a deal between Coillte, the Irish Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) and a British investment fund.

“Such a deal would inevitably adversely impact farmers in the west of Ireland as well as others on poorer land. As such it

would also disproportionately affect suckler and sheep farmers and make land availability – which is already a problem – even worse,” he said.

“At the time of its recent publication, ICSA stated that the Climate Action Plan was long on aspiration but short on specific funding strategies. One thing is for certain however, nowhere in the plan did it mention the sale of land equivalent to 1,500 average size farms to foreign investors meet our goals. Neither did it mention driving environmentally sustainable drystock farmers off the land but that is exactly what these proposals would do by pricing local farmers out. It would amount to a suckler, beef, and sheep cull in everything but name”.

Mr. Kelleher said the Irish Strategic Investment Fund should be used to support Irish citizens and it was “deeply concerning” that it was involved in this deal.

There was a large number of sheep on offer at Roscommon Mart’s first lamb and cast ewes sale of 2023, which took place yesterday (Wednesday 11th).

Prices for finished hoggets peaked at €142 while the top stag ewes fetched €168. There

“ISIF should support investment by Irish citizens not foreign investors, especially when it comes to land that took many centuries for us to regain our sovereignty over,” he said.

“ICSA is clear that any trees planted must be

planted by Irish farmers and must be done so on a voluntary basis and for the benefit of Irish farmers. It is also vital that any carbon credits accrued from such planting are secured for the benefit of those farmers and no one else.

“It is beyond unacceptable that any sitting government should facilitate the large scale purchasing of land by foreign investors at the expense of Irish farmers and a rethink on the whole forestry strategy is now urgent”.

was also a special entry of inlamb ewes with prices ranging from €140 to €210. Cast ewes made up to €168, ewe with two lambs at foot made up to €270, and ewe with one lamb at foot made up to €220.

The next sale of lambs and cast

ewes takes place on Wednesday next (January 18th) at 11 am. Please not that all sheep must be tagged with a full yellow EID Tag set. The yard opens at 8 am and all stock must be penned by 10 am. The sale can be viewed live on www.live-

stock-live.com.

Sample prices for finished hoggets: 52.5kgs €142, 53.1kgs €140, 52kgs €140, 50kgs €138, 49.1kgs €137, 51kgs €135, 50kgs €134, 49.6kgs €132.50, 47.6kgs €130, 45kgs €122, 45.6kgs €120.

Friday, January 13th at 11 a.m.

Opening

Sale of

Bullocks and Heifers

Also Dry Cows

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Tuesday, January 17th at 4 p.m.

Opening

Sale of Weanlings

Booking accepted until Monday, January 16th at 5pm - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Lambs & Cast Ewes

Each Wednesday at 11 a.m. Stock must be penned by 9.30 a.m. – Gates close at 10 a.m.

Wednesday 18th

Special entry of 48 In Lamb ewes due the 1st of February to the purebred Texel and Suffolk Ram.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Friday, January 20th at 11 a.m.

Special Sale of Heifers

Also Dry Cows and Bullocks

Booking accepted until Monday, January 16th at 5pm

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Date for your Diary

Tuesday, January 31st

< DAN DOONER

Excellent 4 bedroom dormer style residence (2 ensuites) positioned in a quiet cul de sac of only 5 houses, within walking distance to Roscommon Train station, Abbey Hotel and all town amenities.

Spacious property with private back garden, this quality dwelling house comprises entrance hallway, sitting room, open plan kitchen/ dining room with patio doors to rear, utility, 3 bedrooms (one ensuite) and family bathroom. Upstairs, open plan office together with large ensuite bedroom with walk in wardrobe Early viewing of this select property on the sought after Galway Road is advised by the Auctioneers. Price Region: € 275,000 BER Rating: D2

Charming 3 bedroom bungalow situated on a mature private site overlooking the entrance to Mote Park Avenue. Situated 2 miles from Roscommon Town and convenient to Athlone Town centre, the property comprises entrance hallway, open plan kitchen/dining room, large sitting room with brick fireplace, 3 double bedrooms and family bathroom. Outside, mature hedges with detached garage to rear.

Mote Park is a highly sought after residential area offering numerous walks and trails in this scenic 650 acre forest formerly the seat of the Crofton Family. Water enthusiasts can enjoy the River Shannon at nearby Portrunny Bay and Marina.

Price Region: € 180,000 BER Rating: F

Ballybride, Roscommon, Co. Roscommon F42 DP29

Charming 4 bedroom bungalow on c. 1 acre of manicured grounds situated in a highly desirable residential area with commanding views over the surrounding countryside, just c. 1 mile from Roscommon Town centre. A quality residence finished to a high standard with exceptional gardens incorporating water fountain, large paved area and numerous out offices. This property comprises entrance hallway, sitting room, kitchen, dining room, sitting room, 4 large bedrooms and family bathroom.

There are many extras including CCTV cameras installed, fibre broadband, water softener etc. Early viewing is recommended as a property of this calibre will not be available for long.

Situated on an elevated site with excellent view over the surrounding countryside, this impressive property comprises entrance hallway, sitting room, living room, open plan kitchen/ dining room with utility and guest toilet off. First floor, 4 large bedrooms all with built in wardrobes (master ensuite) and family bathroom. There is a fully serviced attached garage with cobble lock drive and mature gardens. Viewing is recommended by the sole selling agents.

Price Region: € 270,000 BER Rating: D1

Church Street, Roscommon Town, CO. ROSCOMMON

Superb family home new to the market

New to the market this week with Oates Auctioneers is this superb family home complete with five bedrooms, located at The Spinney in Roscommon town (F42 E778).

This property is presented for sale in immaculate condition by its present owners with no expense spared.

The spacious property is situated in an established and sought after residential area adjacent to the Abbey Hotel and within walking distance of all town amenities including the railway station.

Accommodation consists of five bedrooms (two en-suite) including an en-suite ground floor bedroom, sitting room, kitchen, dining room, utility and family bathroom.

Outside, the property is serviced by manicured grounds with a private rear garden and a steel shed. Viewing is highly recommended. Price Region: €350,000. BER Rating: C2.

For more information or to arrange a viewing, contact Oates Auctioneers, Church Street, Roscommon on 090-6627878 or email info@oates.ie.

Attractive bungalow in prime location!

Oates Auctioneers are offering new to the market this week, an attractive four-bedroomed bungalow located in a premier, mature residential area in Roscommon town.

Located at Antogher Road (F42 1638), this recently renovated bungalow, which is presented in turn-key condition, is adjacent to the Abbey Hotel, Roscommon Train Station and all town amenities. This attractive four-bedroomed property comprises of an entrance porch, reception hallway, open plan kitchen/dining/living room, four double bed-

rooms and a family bathroom.

A unique feature of this property is a large office/ playroom with separate toilet facilities and rear access. This is ideal for numerous uses and will appeal to those working from home.

Early viewing of this exceptional property is recommended by the auctioneers. Price region: €265,000. BER: C3.

For more information or to arrange a viewing, contact Oates Auctioneers, Church Street, Roscommon on 090-6627878 or email info@oates.ie.

RE/MAX Team Earley close sale on bungalow at The Green development

This week, Cormac Sheehy of RE/MAX Team Earley is pleased to report that they have closed the sale of an attractive two-bedroomed, semi-detached bungalow, set in one of the best locations at The Green development in the Shannonside village of Lanesboro.

Located to the rear of the development, No 42 The Green offers wonderful privacy and potential. The property has mains sewer-

age and mains water supply, central heating, and is located within walking distance of all amenities, including schools, church, supermarket etc. The property also benefits from being located within commuting distance to Athlone and Roscommon town centres.

The BER rating for this property is G.

RE/MAX Team Earley are currently looking for similar properties in the

Ballyleague-Lanesboro areas for underbidders and cash buyers.

For further details or to arrange a free consultation, please contact RE/ MAX Team Earley, Stonecourt, Roscommon on 0906626579, email teamearley@remax.ie or log onto teamearley.ie. Contact the auctioneers directly by contacting Cormac on 0863519492 or Cathal on 0861409158.

17% increase in price of three-bed houses in Roscommon for 2022

There was a 17 per cent increase in the price of an average three-bedroomed semi-detached house in Roscommon in 2022 with prices expected to remain static in 2023, according to a recent survey by Real Estate Alliance.

Three-bed properties in the county now cost an average of €205,000, up from the December 2021 average of €175,000, the REA Average House Price Index shows.

However, house prices in the county were static in the last quarter of 2022 as rising interest rates and cost of living increases combined to dampen the market. REA agents believe that this will continue to be the case in 2023.

The survey concentrates on the actual sale price of Ireland’s typical stock home, the three-bed semi, giving an up-to-date picture of the second-hand property market in towns and cities countrywide.

First time buyers made up 80 per cent of the market in Q4 2022, with 50 per cent of sales coming from out-

side the county.

Across the county, this quarter has seen the average time taken to sell at five weeks, with Roscommon town prices at €240,000 and Castlerea prices at €170,000.

“We still have a significant shortage of stock, and we believe prices will at least remain the same if not increase,” said Seamus Carthy of REA Seamus Carthy. “We do not envisage prices decreasing, purely down to a significant shortage of stock”.

The actual selling price of a three-bedroomed semidetached house across the country rose by 0.36 per cent over the past three months to €291,667 – representing an annual increase of 8 per cent.

However, house prices in Dublin have fallen slightly by -0.34 per cent in the same period, as mortgage interest rate rises and cost of living increases stem the stream of potential homeowners.

REA agents throughout the country expect prices to

rise by just under 3 per cent on average in the next 12 months.

The property market is expected to enjoy a calmer 2023 as mortgage interest rate rises and cost of living increases affect buying ability, according to the nationwide survey.

The majority of REA members feel that the scheduled changes to the Planning Acts will have little effect on market supply in 2023, due to the time lag between legislation and enactment.

In Dublin city, which is

currently experiencing small price drops in certain areas, agents anticipate modest increases of 3.6 per cent across the year.

This comes off the back of a 2022 which saw average house prices rise by 8 per cent nationally and 5 per cent in the capital.

The country’s large towns experienced 10 per cent growth last year, with 1.2 per cent in the final quarter, and REA agents say that this will continue throughout next year, albeit at a slower pace.

& HYPNOTHERAPY

PLANNINGS PLANNINGS

Roscommon County Council.

I, Colin Glynn wish to apply to Roscommon County Council for permission to construct 01 no. Dwelling, garage, waste water treatment system and polishing filter and new entrance onto public road and all associated site works at Garrynagawna, Athlone, Co.Roscommon.

The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee of €20 within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application and such submission or observation will be considered by the planning authority in making a decision on the application. The planning authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

Signed: David Marshall I MRIAI

Architect

John Madden & Associates

Blackhall St., Mullingar Co. Westmeath

T: +353 (0)44 9344347

F: +353 (0)44 9347868

E: info@johnmadden.ie

W: www.johnmadden.ie

ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL

I, Olivia Kelly intend to make application to Roscommon County Council for planning permission to form pedestrian access from rear of existing dwelling No 2 Castle Park, Castle Street, Roscommon onto Cloonbrackna Drive, Ballypheasan, Roscommon.

Signed: Gaynor Architectural + Design Services Ltd.

Architects Fallon Avenue, Roscommon.

Phone: 090 6626974 Mobile: 086 8115449

The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of a fee of €20 within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the planning authority of the application and such submissions or observations will be considered by the planning authority in making a decision on the application. The planning authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions or may refuse to grant permission.

ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL

I, Aidan Kelly Agricultural Design & Planning Services (ADPS, 085 7466211, www. adps.ie ) intend to apply to Roscommon County Council on behalf of my clients Thomas and Peter Varley.

Permission to construct (i) Shed over existing roofless cubicles and all associated site works. Permission for retention of roofless cubicle and slatted tank extensions are also required at Emlaghmore House, Emlaghmore, Donamon, Co. Roscommon.

That the planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours and that a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

Signed: Aidan Kelly

Agri Design & Planning Services Molough, Newcastle, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary. E91 VK64 WEBSITE: http://www.adps.ie Mobile 0857466211, 062 43908

Email: aidan@adps.ie or aidankelly2000@yahoo.ie

ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL

We, Caroline and Liam Johnson intend to apply to Roscommon County Council for planning permission to erect an extension to the front of our dwelling house with ancillary site works at Ardkeenan, Drum, Athlone, Co. Roscommon.

The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee of €20 within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application and such submission or observation will be considered by the planning authority in making a decision on the application. The planning authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

Signed: Caroline & Liam Johnson

ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL

Planning permission is being sought to retain a domestic garage and also site layout as constructed which is different from original grant of permission 00/1748 for dwelling house, garage and septic tank at Toberpatrick, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon.

The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee, not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours and submissions or observations in relation to the application can be made to the planning authority in writing, on payment of the prescribed fee, within a period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

Signed: John Tully

ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL

I, Joe Dillon wish to apply to Roscommon County Council for permission for development at Roosky, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon. Works to include alterations and extension to existing dwelling house including demolition of existing rear extension with provision for new site entrance and installation of a new proprietary wastewater treatment system and infiltration system with all associated site works.

The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours. A submission orobservation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee, €20 within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority ofthe application and such submissions or observations will be considered by the planning authority in making a decision on the application. the planning authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

Signed: Joe Dillon

MONTH’S MIND MASS

Ballinleg, Fuerty, Co. Roscommon

Who passed away 18th December 2022

KILLORAN Harriett

Ballyfarnon, Boyle, Co. Roscommon. (1st Anniversary)

Who died on January 10th 2022

PROPERTIES TO LET/ RENT/WANTED

Gerard, Noreen, John, Patricia and Anne wish to express our gratitude and appreciation to all who helped and supported us on the recent sad loss of our beloved mother. A special word of thanks to all who travelled to the Removal, Funeral Mass or sent messages of condolence.

Thanks to Fr. Christopher, Fr. Donnelly, Fr. McLoughlin and Fr. Breslin for officiating at the Funeral Mass.

A big thank you to our neighbours, relations and friends who helped in many ways including providing food and refreshments.

Special mention to Pat Smyth Undertaker for all his help, delivered in a caring and professional manner. We are also very grateful to the grave diggers for their efforts and attention to detail.

Many thanks to all who cared for our mother and in particular to Dr. Elizabeth Sweeney McSharry and her team who provided excellent care.

As it is impossible to thank everyone individually please accept this acknowledgement as a token of our heartfelt appreciation.

Kathleen’s Month’s Mind Mass will be celebrated on Friday, 20th January at 7pm in the Church of the Assumption, Castlecoote.

We, the family of the late Harriett Killoran, would like to express our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to all who sympathised and supported us during our loss. Of course, Harriett’s illness and aftercare all leading up to her death occurred during Covid, so it was particularly difficult, as it was for so many other families.

We wish to acknowledge with thanks our neighbours and everyone who contacted us and sent messages of support. Harriett was a great community and parish worker and so was known by so many people far and wide.

Also, a big thank you to her ex-colleagues from the Bank of Ireland who she kept in touch with.

We would like to start by thanking her many carers especially Nuala McNamara, Marie Burke, Dr. Cogan and the Public Health Nurse, Fiona Barry and her colleagues. Thanks to the staff of Sligo University Hospital, St. John’s Hospital, Sligo and Abbey Haven Care Centre and Nursing Home Boyle for their care and kindness to Harriett. We wish to thank Fr. Cathal Faughnan and Fr. Brendan McDonagh for officiating at her Funeral Mass. Thanks to Tommy and Teresa Shivnan Funeral Directors for their support, guidance and professionalism.

As an expression of our sincere appreciation, we have donated to charities Harriett supported, Nazareth House Sligo and North West Hospice.

Harriett’s First Anniversary Mass will be held in St. Patrick’s Church, Ballyfarnon on Saturday, 21st January at 7pm.

KELLY Kathleen

KENNY

Darragh

Late of Gort, Lecarrow (10th Anniversary) Died 15th January 2013

MALONE

(née Hennessy)

Kathleen

Cloontuskert, Lanesboro, Co. Roscommon (3rd Anniversary)

In loving memory of our beautiful, gentle, loving Mother Kathleen who passed away on 15th January 2020

In loving memory of Darragh Kenny DARRAGH

You left us quietly your thoughts unknown but left us memories we are proud to own. So treasure him Lord in Your garden of rest because here on earth he was one of the best.

Sadly missed by Liam, Fidelma, Catriona, Sarah, Michael and Ciara.

Anniversary Mass in St. John’s Church, Lecarrow on Sunday, 15th January at 11.30am.

CARTY

Frank and Una

Ballyleague,

When God was making Mothers, he must have made a fuss, he spent a lot of time on one and gave that one to us.

Of all the gifts in life however great or small, to have you as our Mother was the greatest gift of all.

Because you were so special no words can ever say how much we love and miss you today and everyday.

Always a smile instead of a frown, always a hand when one is down, always true, thoughtful and kind, wonderful memories she left behind.

FARRELL

Matthew (Mattie) & Mary Clooneyourish, Athleague (17th and 12th Anniversaries)

In loving memory of Mattie, who died on 30th December 2005 and Mary, who died on 13th January 2011

In loving memory of Frank, who passed away on the 19th December 2013 and his wife Una, who passed away on 4th January 2007 You know that we will always be with you, even if we don’t see each other for months or years.

Sacred Heart of Jesus I place all my trust in thee. Sometimes our lives are touched by people who are so special that we are happier just because we know them, and you were both very special people. Sadly missed by family and friends.

Anniversary Mass in the Holy Rosary Church, Ballyleague on Sunday, 22nd January 2023 at 11am.

Your smile we miss, your laughter we treasure, loving you always, forgetting you never. Loved, cherished and dearly missed every day Bernie and Eamonn. xxx

Many a lovely moment, many a silent tear, but always treasured memories of parents we loved so dear. We hold you close within our hearts and there you shall remain, to walk with us throughout our lives until we meet again.

Always remembered by Seamus, Kieran, Marie and Sean, relatives and friends.

O’BRIEN Kathleen

Milltown, Kiltoom, Athlone. (6th Anniversary)

CAHILL Seamus

St. Ciaran’s Park, Roscommon Who passed away on the 17th January 2017 (6th Anniversary)

BROOKS

Enda (18th Anniversary)

Antrane

FINNERAN Paddy

(10th Anniversary) Onagh Taughmaconnell

In loving memory of Enda and his granddad Paddy

Will those who think of them today, a little prayer to Jesus say.

Loved and remembered by all the family.

Anniversary Mass in St. Ronan’s Church, Taughmaconnell on Sunday, 15th January at 11am.

In loving memory of Kathleen who passed away on the 21st January 2017

Deep in our hearts your memory is kept to love, to cherish and never forget.

In loving memory of Mammy Though your smile is gone forever and your hand we cannot touch we have so many memories of the one we loved so much.

Your memory is our keepsake with which we will never part, God has you in His keeping, we have you in our hearts.

Loved and remembered by your son Johnny and daughter-in-law Nuala.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

In loving memory of Granny Granny your life was full of thoughtful deeds, forever thoughtful of our special needs.

Today and tomorrow my whole life through we will always love and cherish you.

Loved and remembered by your grandchildren Lisa and Alan.

Kathleen’s Anniversary Mass will be celebrated in the Church of The Holy Rosary, Ballyleague on Saturday, 14th January at 7pm.

Sadly missed by Tom, Helen, children and grandchildren, nieces, nephews, neighbours and friends.

R.I.P. Anniversary Mass in St. Bridget’s Church, Curraghboy on Sunday, 22nd January at 10am.

May Seamus Rest In Peace. Sadly missed by his loving wife Máire and the Cahill family.

Seamus’s Anniversary Mass will be celebrated in the Sacred Heart Church, Roscommon on Tuesday, 17th January at 11am.

GATELY

Catherine and Paddy

Correal, Four Roads, Co. Roscommon

In loving memory of Catherine who passed away on 23rd December 2017 and Paddy who passed away on 9th January 2018

We hold you close within our hearts, and there you shall remain, To walk with us throughout our lives, until we meet again. So Rest in Peace dear loved ones, and thanks for all you’ve done, we pray that God has given you, the crowns you’ve truly won.

Catherine and Paddy’s Anniversary Mass will be held in Tisrara Church on Sunday, 15th January at 11am.

Roscommon (9th and 16th Anniversaries)

MAYOCK (nee Murray)

FITZPATRICK

Michael

It does not take a special day to bring you back to mind.

For a day without a thought of you is very hard to find. You were very special, generous, kind and true, you will never be forgotten, we thought the world of you.

Loved and rememberd always by your sisters, brother, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Anniversary Mass in St. Bridget’s Church, Four Mile House, on Sunday, 15th January at 11am.

Rest In Peace

DOLAN

Esther

Mount Plunkett, Lecarrow, Roscommon. (26th Anniversary)

Always remembered with love by Kay, Maura, Nuala and

Anniversary Mass in St. Mary’s Church, Ballagh, on Saturday, January 14th at 8pm.

FALLON

NEILAN Michael

MULLOOLY

James Carrowmore, Kilteevan, Co. Roscommon (4th Anniversary)

McDERMOTT Mairead

Tarmonbarry & Strokestown Co. Roscommon

Treasured memories of Mairead who passed away on January 12th 2020 (3rd Anniversary)

GATELY

Alan

Fearbreagues, Knockcroghery, Co. Roscommon (16th Anniversary)

Treasured memories of a very special son, brother, uncle and best friend, who died tragically on January 11th 2007

HEGARTY

the

Late of Amstetten, Germany and formerly of Castlecoote, Roscommon (7th Anniversary)

In loving memory of James Mullooly who passed away on the 13th January 2019

Our lives go on without you but nothing is the same we have to hide our heartache when someone speaks your name. Sad are the hearts that loved you silent are the tears that fall, living here without you is the hardest part of all. You did so many things for us your heart was kind and true. and when we needed someone we could always count on you. The special years will not return when we were all together but with the love we hold in our hearts you will walk with us forever.

We miss you more than anyone knows, as time goes on the emptiness grows. We laugh, we talk, we play our part, but behind our smiles are broken hearts.

Precious memories, tears unseen, wishing your absence was only a dream. Simple words, yet very true, we will always love and remember you.

And the songbirds are singing, like they know the score, and I love you, I love you, I love you, like never before.

Sadly missed along life’s way, quietly remembered every day. Out of our lives you may be gone, but in our hearts you still live on, with a sweet remembered smile. Always remembered and loved by his heartbroken parents Jimmy and Chrissie, brother David, sister Tara, sister-in-law Sandy, Ken, nephews, relatives and many friends.

Anniversary Mass will be celebrated in St. Patrick’s Church, Knockcroghery on Saturday, 28th January at 7pm.

THANKSGIVINGS

In loving memory of Jack, who went to Heaven on the 14th January 2014

Time slips by and life goes on, but from our hearts you’re never gone. A ray of sunshine came and went, a beautiful treasure only lent.

Also at this time we remember Jack’s twin brother Thomas, who is also with the Angels.

Loved and missed every day, from Mammy and Daddy, your brother Patrick and all your family. xx

9th Anniversary Mass will be celebrated in Donamon Castle Church on Saturday, 14th January at 9.30am.

Loving memories never die as years roll on and days pass by in our hearts a memory is kept of the ones we love and never forget.

Loved and sadly missed by his family.

Will those who think of Esther today, a little pray to Jesus say.

Also remembering her recently deceased husband Austin.

Loved and sadly missed by her family.

Anniversary Mass will be celebrated in St. Patrick’s Church, Knockcroghery at 7pm on Saturday, 4th February 2023.

Anniversary Mass will be celebrated in St. Patrick’s Church, Knockcroghery at 7pm on Saturday, 14th January 2023.

CORBETT

James (Jimmy)

Mount Prospect, Fuerty, Roscommon. (6th Anniversary)

Who passed away on 10th January 2016

Will those who think of Michael today, a little pray to Jesus say.

Remembered by his brothers and sisters. Rest In Peace

BIRTHDAY REMEMBRANCE

HAMILL

Tom

Cloonslanor, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon

In loving memory of a much and always loved son and a great brother from his mother Mary, father Peter, his three sisters Dara, Margaret, Laura, godson Luke and niece Lucy.

Sorely missed and loved by Paul, Ali, mother Mary, Sharon, Sandra, Tracey, Noel, Ronan, Barry and their families. Relatives and many friends.

Anniversary Mass was held on January 8th in Strokestown Parish Church. R.I.P

TIERNAN Margaret

Late of Cartron, Kilrooskey (12th Anniversary)

In loving memory of Margaret, who passed away on 14th January 2011

PRAYER TO ST. EXPEDITE

For urgent need...

Our dear martyr and protector, Saint Expedite, you who know what is necessary and what is urgently needed. I beg you to intercede before the Holy Trinity, that by your grace my request will be granted. (Clearly express what you want and ask him to find a way to get it to you.) May I receive your blessings and favours. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen. If Saint Expedite grants your request, place fresh flowers beside his statue in your home or in the church. Also place an ad in the newspaper thanking Saint Expedite, so that his name and fame will grow. M.C.

THE MIRACULOUS PRAYER

Dear Heart of Jesus in the past I have asked you for many favours. This time I ask this special one. (mention it). Take it Dear Heart of Jesus and place it within your own broken heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour, not mine. Amen. Say this prayer three times, for three days, promise publication and favour will be granted. G.F.

Whose birthday occurs on 18th January 2023

A dear Husband and Father

Jimmy we love and miss you so much God bless. “Our hero.”

Veronica, James and Martin.

A smile for everyone, a heart of gold, the very best this world could hold. Never selfish always kind, these are the lovely memories you left behind.

Always remembered by your loving daughter, Kathleen, son-in-law John and grandsons David and John.

R.I.P. Grandad

No matter how life changes no matter what we do a special place within our hearts is always kept for you.

Always remembered and sadly missed by your loving family. xxx

Patrick (Paddy)

Culleen, Knockcroghery, Roscommon Who passed away on

11th January 2013 (10th Anniversary)

Jack

Glinsk, Castlerea, Co. Galway (9th Anniversary)

In loving memory of our dear parents Michael and Mai. Parents who were always caring, loving and kind. These are the happy memories you both left behind

extended family..

(Sonny) & Mai Cappagh, Curraghroe, Co. Roscommon.

(Michael- 41st Anniversary)

(Mai - 5th Anniversary)

Ann Clare, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon (2nd Anniversary)

In loving memory of Ann who passed away on 21st January 2021

Martin

Mountbellew, Co. Galway info@mhla.ie www.mhla.ie

Providing free, confidential and impartial information, advice and advocacy services to the public on social services, rights and entitlements.

Community Employment Scheme

Eligibility for the post and pay scales are based on Community Employment criteria and subject to Department of Employment and Social Protection (DEASP) funding and approval. All applicants must confirm their eligibility for the Community Employment scheme with DEASP prior to submitting their application.

Community Employment Programme Details

Employer: Roscommon & District Soccer League C.E. Scheme Ltd Position: Receptionist

Location: Roscommon Citizens Information Centre

Hours per Week: 19 ½ hours

Job Type: Community Employment Start Date: To Be Confirmed

Wages: Community Employment Programme Rates

Role:

• Client facing role – reception duties (good understanding of written and spoken English)

• Administrative duties

• Oversee and manage public reception area

• Manage appointment schedules

• Attending meetings and required training

• Maintain post book and manage telephone and recording system

Candidates seeking further information should contact David Kelly on 086 1960342 or by email at: roscommonsoccer@yahoo.co.uk

A curriculum vitae with the names of two referees should be sent to:

By Post: C.E. Supervisor

Roscommon & District Soccer League Office, Culleen, Knockcroghery, Co. Roscommon

Closing date for receipt of applications is 5pm on 3rd February 2023

Roscommon & District Soccer Club League CE Scheme Ltd. is an equal opportunities employer.

This position is funded and supported under the Employment Services Programme by the Department of Employment and Social Protection.

Acceptance of an advertisement or payment therefore is not to be taken as implying guarantee that the advertisement will be published. The right is reserved to refuse to insert any advertisement, without giving any reason; also to discontinue the publication of any advertisement previously published, without compensation for any loss or damage claimed for non-publication.

Publication of an advertisement cannot be guaranteed on a specific week or at all, whether or not a particular week has been stipulated by the advertiser, and the company will not be liable for any loss claimed by such omission, whether from all editions or any particular edition or editions of the paper. Right is reserved to alter any advertisement without liability for any compensation for such alteration. Further, the company does not accept liability for any loss or damage caused by an error or inaccuracy in the printing of any advertisement.

< CHILDMINDER :

Tulsk Community Childcare Ltd St. Fidelma's Childcare Centre Corbally, Tulsk, Co. Roscommon Tel: 071 9639202

WE ARE HIRING – MANAGER POSITION

St. Fidelma’s Childcare Centre is currently recruiting for the following positions:

Rewards

Cleaner

•

•

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Duties & Responsibilities will include but not limited to:

• Operational

10 hours per week Monday-Friday after 6pm.

• Health and Safety

• Staff Management

• Supporting Parents

This position is subject to Garda vetting and Reference validation.

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE MUST HAVE

Education & Qualifications:

If you are interested in applying then forward your C.V. to: Acting Manager: Pauline Flanagan, St. Fidelma’s Childcare Centre, Corbally, Tulsk, Co. Roscommon or Email tulskchildcare@gmail.com

• Must hold a minimum Level 7 qualification in Childcare awarded by the National Council for education awards or equivalent).

Relief Staff – Early Years Educator

• Relevant Qualification in supervision of childcare facility.

We are also currently looking to develop a panel of: Relief Childcare Workers

• In-depth knowledge of Child Care Act (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016, Tusla’s Quality and Regulatory Framework, Síolta (Quality Framework) and Aistear (Curriculum Framework).

Candidates are required to have minimum:

• Understanding of relevant child development, pedagogical, organisational and leadership theories

Fetac Level 5 qualification in childcare or equivalent and Lots of initiative and enthusiasm

• Understanding of requirements by Tusla, Pobal, Dept of Education and Skills and environmental health.

• Knowledge of relevant funding (ECCE, NCS, Core Funding) and experience using funding platforms (Early Years Hive, Tusla Portal).

• Be a good team player

• An interest in community childcare

• Ability to lead a team to achieve Organisational mission, goals and objectives.

• Excellent spoken and written English Skills and Experience:

• An interest in supporting and empowering children and their families.

All members of the panel will be subject to Garda Clearance and reference validation. Staff training will be provided

• A minimum of 3 years relevant experience in crèche facility.

If you are interested please Send Your CV by post to: Mrs Pauline Flanagan Acting Manager, St Fidelma’s Childcare Centre, Church Road, Tulsk, Castlerea, Co Roscommon or email: tulskchildcare@gmail.com.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• A proven level of computer literacy.

• Ability to provide exceptional customer service and handle complaints professionally

• Applicants must be outgoing, friendly, have a genuine love of children and strong work ethic

• Applicants should apply with CV to: tulskchildcare@gmail.com

• HOURS: 9.00 am to 6.00 pm Monday – Friday

Closing date for applications: Friday, 27th January, 2023

Directors: Seamus Conway, Michelle Keaveney, Jennifer Payne, Orla Carty.

Ballinagare Health & Leisure Centre Ltd invites applications for Full-Time Position (Temporary) & Part-Time Position (Temporary)

GYM INSTRUCTOR

StepIn Supported Living Networks CLG supports people with intellectual disabilities to live independently in their own homes in the heart of the community.

StepIn Supported Living Networks supports people with intellectual disabilities to independently in their own homes in the heart of the community.

We are recruiting a person to fill the role of

Supported Living Facilitator

and facility.

Assisting Manager organise events i.e. children activity camps, fundraisers etc.

Essential requirements: Gym Instructor Qualification ITEC, NCEF, NCEHS, ASSM. Or equivalent. Fitness Class qualifications and experience in teaching a wide range of fitness classes.

Desirable qualification in Nutrition for weight loss plans, sports performance food plans.

Applicants need to be on social welfare payments to qualify for this position.

All Applications are welcome, please be available to start in January/February 2023.

For further information call us on 094 98 70777

The role includes 12 hours per week direct support to network members and 7 hours per week coordination/ administration

We are recruiting a person to fill the role of Supported Living Facilitator

Rate of Pay:

19 Hours per week at an hourly rate of €16.27 per hour i.e. €16,074.76 per annum subject to ongoing availability of funding.

The role includes 12 hours per week direct support to network members and 7 hours week coordination/administration

The post is based in Roscommon town. Please contact: patricia@stepin.ie for a detailed job description.

Rate of Pay:

To apply for the position please send your Curriculum Vitae and a cover letter outlining why you are interested and qualified for the post.

19 Hours per week at an hourly rate of €16.27 per hour i.e. €16,074.76 per annum to ongoing availability of funding

Closing date for receipt of applications is 5.00pm on Friday 27 January 2023.

Applications by email only to: patricia@stepin.ie. www.stepin.ie

The post is based in Roscommon town.

Please contact patricia@stepin.ie for a detailed job description.

To apply for the position please send your Curriculum Vitae and a cover letter outlining you are interested and qualified for the post.

Closing date for receipt of applications is 5.00pm on Friday 27 January 2023

Applications by email only to patricia@stepin.ie.

Proposed legislation threatens rural pubs – VFI

The Sale of Alcohol Bill could undermine the entire rural pub trade, according to Vintners’ Federation of Ireland Chief Executive Paul Clancy.

While many elements of the Bill have been welcomed by the trade, publicans are concerned by the proposal to abolish ‘extinguishment’ – the licensing system that allows a new pub

to open only when another pub permanently closes.

VFI Chief Executive Paul Clancy says the move will create a deregulated on-trade where the number of licences will potentially be unlimited.

“The Department of Justice says proposals for the deregulation of the licensed trade are being introduced in response to the

Kilronan Castle nominated for two wedding awards

Kilronan Castle in Ballyfarnon has been announced as a finalist for two SaveMyDay.ie Irish Wedding Awards for 2022.

According to SaveMyDay.ie, the awards celebrate the best of the Irish wedding industry and showcase the best venues across a range of categories.

The luxurious Roscommon venue has been announced as a finalist in two award categories including ‘Ireland’s Best Castle Wedding Venue’ and ‘Ireland’s Best Historic Wedding Venue’.

Shell Holden, wedding expert and co-owner of SaveMyDay.ie commented: “We are proud to announce the truly well deserved 47 wedding venue finalists from 19 counties across the island of Ireland.

“The annual SaveMyDay.ie Irish Wedding Venue Awards showcase the wonderful wide range of wedding venues on offer across our country to cater for all couples and their preferred styles”.

This year’s winners will be selected by a panel of SaveMyDay.ie Judges and announced in February.

decrease in rural pub numbers. It says the move will stimulate growth of new pubs in areas where they are in decline for over 20 years but, in our view, this proposal will completely undermine the trade,” he said.

“Pubs are in decline in rural areas not because of any barrier to entry but for a number of other reasons, including demographics

and changing consumer habits.

“Deregulation will precipitate the closure of many pubs as the owners decide to exit the business in the face of unsustainable competition. While the adage ‘the market will find its level’ is strictly true, it fails to take into account the cultural and community value of the existing pubs”.

Ifac: Keep records in order and budget for new statutory sick pay

This January, farming, food and agribusiness specialist Ifac is advising Roscommon employers to ensure records are kept in order when it comes to employee sick leave and to budget for the additional payroll costs for the new statutory sick pay.

New legislation comes into effect this month which aims to improve the rights of employees who currently do not receive sick pay from their employer and/or are not entitled to illness benefits from the Department of Social Protection.

The Sick Leave Act requires employers to provide employees with up to three days of statutory sick

pay in 2023, rising to ten days per annum by 2026.

To be eligible, employees must have worked for the employer for a minimum of 13 weeks and obtain a medical certificate. Employees who require additional sick leave after the statutory sick pay period expires may qualify for illness benefit from the Department of Social Protection if they have paid the necessary PRSI contributions.

Ifac’s Head of HR & Payroll Services, Mary McDonagh, said: “As is always the case when managing people, employers need to ensure that they keep accurate sick leave records which they

can rely on in the event of a Workplace Relations Commission investigation. These records should include the employee’s service history, statutory sick leave dates and payments made”.

Under the new legislation, the minimum standard of statutory sick pay that employers must provide is set at 70 per cent of the employee’s wage, subject to a daily maximum threshold of €110. The Act does not prevent employers from offering more attractive sick pay benefits.

Employers who do not already provide paid sick leave will need to budget for the additional payroll costs of complying with

the new legislation, while those who do provide paid sick leave should check how their existing employee contracts may be affected.

“Further information is available from Ifac’s HR and Payroll Services team on www.ifac.ie or 1800 714 050,” Mary McDonagh concluded.

Sports PEOPLE

Devaney calls time on inter-county career

One of Roscommon’s most decorated footballers in recent years has announced his retirement from inter-county football.

Conor Devaney made his senior debut for the county in 2007 and went on to represent the Primrose and Blue 117 times, notching up 14 goals and 108 points in the process.

The Kilbride man was also on the fabled minor team that defeated Kerry after a replay in Ennis to win the 2006 All-Ireland Minor Football Championship.

During his time with Roscommon, Conor won two Connacht Senior Football Championships in 2017 and 2019, two National Football League Division Two titles in 2018 and 2020, and two FBD League titles in 2018 and 2019.

New era: Burke takes the reins for FBD clash

He received an All-Star nomination in 2017 and was appointed captain of the senior team in 2018.

Paying tribute to “one of the finest players to wear the Primrose and Blue”, Roscommon GAA Chairperson Brian Carroll thanked the former captain for his dedication and commitment.

“Conor’s skill and flare on the pitch was very evident from a young age and that magical left foot lit up many of the 117 games that Conor played in for the Primrose and Blue,” Carroll said.

“I wish Conor and his family the very best of luck in the future and I also wish to thank Conor’s club Kilbride for all their work developing Conor from a young age into the fine footballer he was”.

Friday at 7 pm

< SEAMUS DUKE

Roscommon senior footballers start a new era under Kildare man Davy Burke when they face Sligo in the FBD League semi-final this Friday night. While the result of this match will not feature in the 2023 end of year highlights, it will be very interesting to see what Roscommon team is fielded given that there is a huge game just two weeks later against

Speaking to the Roscommon People on Monday, new Roscommon manager Davy Burke says that he is very satisfied with how the players have responded since he took over the position before Christmas.

“We have been training away and the players have been improving all the time and we can’t ask for any more than that. We have been working with a panel of about 45 players up to now but we will be cutting that down to 40 or fewer in the next couple of weeks,” he said.

Injuries and a packed fixture list are fast becoming issues for the Roscommon boss: “We have a number of key players carrying knocks

and we hope that they can return soon. We also have a number of our younger players playing Sigerson Cup matches over the next few weeks and that will affect our selection too but we will have to see how that goes,” he added.

Burke says Roscommon will be fielding their strongest available team on Friday night.

“We will have the strongest team that we have for the game against Sligo. The first round of the league against Tyrone is only two weeks away and that will be our major focus. We would hope to start with a win against Sligo,” he concluded.

Ultan Harney (travelling) and Ronan Daly (working in Dubai) are definitely out of the panel but on the plus

side

Sligo, under Tony McEntee, will be hoping to cause a surprise on Friday night. They were well beaten by Mayo in a challenge game in Ballina last week but they will hope to have a stronger team available for this clash.

In the second semi-final, Mayo face Galway on Saturday night at 7 pm following Galway’s big win against Leitrim last weekend. The final is fixed for Friday, January 20th.

Injury rules O’Rourke out of Nationals

sion and was forced to undergo surgery in the run up to this weekend’s event.

a broken thumb.

O’Rourke sustained the injury in a sparring ses-

The Tarmon fighter was due to compete at welterweight and a potential showdown with fellow world champion Amy Broadhurst was highly anticipated.

Broadhurst was recently shortlisted for the RTÉ

Sportsperson of the Year Award while O’Rourke was nominated for Young Sportsperson of the Year.

O’Rourke was also recently nominated for Whoop sponsored ‘Young Athlete of the Year for 2022’ by Hersport.ie. Members of the public can vote for Lisa by visiting www.hersport.ie.

Rallying the troops: Roscommon senior hurling manager Francis O’Halloran gives a final team talk before throw-in ahead of the Connacht Hurling League Final between Roscommon and Galway Development last Saturday at the Connacht GAA Air Dome. Pic: Bernie O’Farrell

FBD League Semi-Final: Roscommon v Sligo at the NUIG Connacht GAA Air Dome on

Tyrone in the opening round of the National Football League.

Tadgh O’Rourke and Cian Connolly have returned to the fold. There are a number of young players who have joined the panel this year, but with many of them playing Sigerson Cup over the next few weeks, their availability is not certain for the FBD League.

< DAN DOONER

Castlerea’s world boxing champion, Lisa O’Rourke, has been ruled out of the National Elite Boxing Championships with

< DAN DOONER

Magical left foot: Former Roscommon captain Conor Devaney (pictured in action against Mayo in the 2017 All-Ireland quarter-final at Croke Park) has announced his retirement from inter-county football. Pic: Andrew Fox

Horseracing this weekend racing was scheduled to start this afternoon at Powerstown Park in Clonmel, but a proposed inspection scheduled for this morning was brought forward yesterday after heavy rain and the meeting has been postponed to Tuesday, Januaray 17th with new entries by 12 pm today (Thursday).

Tomorrow evening racing is under lights on the all-weather at Dundalk, first race at 4.30 pm. Saturday action is at Fairyhouse, racing away at 12.27 pm and features the Grade A Dan and Joan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase.

Sunday sees the first day of a two-day meeting at Punchestown in the Co. Kildare

Horses for Courses

with the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle and the Grade 3 Kildare Novice Chase off at 12.40 pm. Racing starts on Monday at 12.50 pm.

On Saturday, ITV racing is covering four races from Warwick including two Grade 2 races, the Hampton Novice Chase, and the Ballymore Leamington Novice Hurdle and three races from Kempton including the Grade 2 Silviniaco Conti Chase.

Racing Review

On Sunday at Naas, the first Grade 1 race of the year, Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle, was won by the Willie Mullins’ second string Champ Kiely ridden by his nephew

Danny. He beat Irish Point and Dawn Rising by 2¼l and 7l, with the favourite, Mullins’ Grangeclare West, another 1¾l away in fifth. Mullins trained a double having earlier won with Supreme Novice Hurdle winner Appreciate It under Paul Townend, who maintained his unbeaten record over fences, by making all to easily win the fiverunner Rathmore Stud Irish EBF Novice Chase, at 1/9 favourite. He beat Gaelic Arc and Francin by 21l and 5½l. Gordon Elliott’s Top Bandit fell at the fourth fence and was fatally injured, with jockey Jack Kennedy suffering serious injury again. Mullins completed a treble when Hunter’s Yarn won the EBF Maiden Hurdle.

Racing News

Winner of the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Kempton on St. Stephen’s Day, Emma Lavelle’s evergreen Paisley Park is among the 28 entries for his fifth attempt at the Stayers Hurdle. The 2019 winner may run in the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle at Prestbury Park later this month on the 28th.

Trainer Emmet Mullins has the Gold Cup-Grand National double in mind for reigning Aintree hero Noble Yeats. Still only an 8-Y-O, the bay gelding pulled up on his seasonal debut at Auteuil in October but wins in Wexford’s Listed M.W. Hickey Memorial Chase and Aintree’s

putts

Boyle

The day after St. Stephen’s Day means one thing in Boyle Golf Club, the annual Christmas Scramble. Well done to all those who turned in less than ideal weather. The winning team was that of Lorcan Egan, Michael Simon and Gabriel Lavin. Second prize went to Mary Brogan, David Wynne and Lochlainn Conboy. Congratulations especially to Mary on her first trip to the prizes table in the club.

The other event of the festive season in the club is the Bonanza competition. Due to a prolonged cold spell before Christmas it was postponed several times and eventually played as a 9-hole Stableford re-entry in the week between Christmas and the New Year. Results: 1st David Wynne 21 points; 2nd Terry Canning 21 points; 3rd Gerry Nerney 18 points; Nearest the Pin Gerry Nerney; Longest Drive Terry Canning. The 2s club was shared between Mark Whelan, Gerry Nerney and Terry Canning. The prizes were presented in the clubhouse on January 8th by our new Men’s Captain, Liam Whyte.

The final of the King Harmon Matchplay saw Terry Canning taking on Martin Sweeney. This is highly sought prize has been competed for on annual basis since the 1930s. Both men had exhibited periods of good form in 2022 with some thinking Terry’s experience may win out, but Martin pulled off a great win and the King Harmon Cup will be crossing the county boundary to reside in Geevagh for the next 12 months.

Carrick

The results of last weekend’s Gents’ Singles Stableford were as follows: Gross winner John O’Mahony 23 points; Cat 1 Damien Quigley; Cat 2 Paul Tiernan 19 points; Cat 3 Leo Noone 25 points.

Competition continues each weekend, please put your name on the timesheet before you play. The Spring League for Ladies and Gents will commence shortly.

The club has a new web site, log on to www.carrickgolf.ie for more information.

Roscommon

Happy New Year to all our members and let’s hope we all have a good golfing year. Due to the weather our competitions have been limited but some men’s competition’s did take place recently.

Results of the Senior Men’s competition on December 22nd: Winner L Bagnell 41 points; Cat 1 A Fallon 31 points; Cat 2 F Nally 33 points; Cat 3 P McGarry 30 points; Cat 4 T Fallon 31 points.

J Finn was the Senior winner on January 5th with 35 points. Cat 1 M Sharkey 34 points; Cat 2 M Dolan 33 points; Cat 3 L Bagnell 30 points; Cat 4 M Relihan 29 points.

Results of the Men’s 15-hole competition: 1st Andrew Lawlor 35 points; 2nd Sean Collins 34 points; 3rd Albert O’Connor 34 points; Gross Tommy Grehan 30 points.

The Ladies’ Winter League competition continues during January. Cards from December and January are amalgamated and counted towards your team score. The top four teams at the end of January will then continue into a matchplay competition.

Many Clouds Chase have put him in the frame for the Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival in March. The horse is entered in the Fleur De Lys Chase at the Winter Million meeting in Lingfield on Sunday week. All going well it is onto Prestbury Park. A Randox Grand National defence is still on the agenda, with the Robert Waley-Cohen-owned gelding hoping to emulate Golden Miller and L’Escargot, the only two horses to win both the Gold Cup and the Grand National.

The ups and downs of a jump jockey was never more clearly visible than last Sunday at Naas. Top jockey Jack Kennedy, who is leading Paul Townend by 18 winners, and

by Tom Red

having his best season ever, was cruelly brought down to earth again, when Top Bandit, trained by Gordon Elliott, crumpled at the fourth.

Kennedy, whose career has been blighted by injury, was flying on all fronts going into Sunday’s meeting at Naas. The 23-year-old Dingle native was already 18 winners ahead of reigning champion Paul Townend in the race for the Jockey’s Championship when disaster struck again.

Kennedy suffered a broken leg for the fifth time in his short career.

In his seventh year riding he has spent at least two of them on the injury list. Hopefully he can make a quick recovery again and gets a run of luck that will allow him to put his name on the Champion Jockey’s trophy for the first time.

Elliott is confident that he will recover to ride most of his fancied string of horses at Cheltenham in under nine weeks’ time. When Kennedy won the Gold Cup on Minella Indo two years ago at 21, he was one of the youngest jockeys in modern times to do so.

Point-to-Point News

Two meetings this weekend in Turtulla near Hollycross in Tipperary with 89 entries and Carrigarostig between Midleton and Youghal in Cork with 79 entries, both meetings scheduled for a 12.30 pm start.

(Above) Christmas Bonanza winner David Wynne receiving his prize from Men’s Captain Liam Whyte at Boyle Golf Club recently.

(Right) Christmas Bonanza winner Terry Canning pictured receiving his prize from Men’s Captain Liam Whyte at Boyle Golf Club recently.

(News from local golf clubs)

Champ Kiely and Danny Mullins win the Grade 1 Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle.

Noble Yeats and Sam Waley-Cohen, near side, in last year’s Aintree National.

Two key victories for Buccs!

Creggs earn narrow league win

Connacht J1A

Creggs 21 Dunmore 17. Creggs Firsts enjoyed a narrow home league win over Dunmore in wet and windy conditions last Saturday evening.

Mark Purcell opened the scoring after just four minutes following a great break with brother Shane added the extras.

Playing against the win in the first half, the visitors responded with a try in the right-hand corner with 20 minutes played. The conversion was missed, however, and Creggs held onto the lead.

With just minutes to go to half-time, it appeared as though Creggs had extended their lead when a Mark Purcell clearance kick was gathered by Tom Fetherston who sprinted to the Dunmore line for a great try.

However, the try was controversially ruled out when the Dunmore linesman flagged for a foot in touch in the buildup. With no TMO at this level, the referee consulted with the linesman before disallowing the try.

Creggs were back on the scoreboard within seconds of the kickoff when Danny Arnold made a great tackle to force a penalty on the Dunmore ten metre line.

Shane Purcell slotted over to extend Creggs’ lead to 10-5.

Dunmore never gave up, however, and turned the game on its head with a converted try to take a 13-12 lead.

Creggs responded well and some superb pressure led to Ciaran Purcell scor-

ing the hosts’ second try to make it 18-12 before Shane Purcell put the game beyond doubt with a penalty.

There was still time for a Dunmore consolation try but by then it was too little, too late and Creggs held on for a hardfought victory.

Creggs have two matches remaining in the league and will take on Buccaneers and Castlebar in the coming weeks.

Connacht J1C League: Tuam 29 Creggs 23. Creggs Seconds were defeated in Sunday’s vital league game in Tuam. The hosts opened up an early 10-0 lead with a penalty and a converted try. Mid-way through the half Creggs were awarded a penalty try to reduce the deficit to 10-7 but Tuam added three further penalties before crossing for a wellworked try just before half-time to go in 24-10 ahead.

A Mark Brandon penalty started a Creggs second-half revival before Tommie Devine added a try which Brandon converted to leave just four points between the teams with ten minutes remaining.

Just when it appeared that the momentum was with Creggs, a Tuam try extended their lead to 29-20. Another Brandon penalty earned a losing bonus point but Tuam held on to leapfrog Creggs in the table.

Creggs and Tuam meet in the J1C Cup next Sunday with Creggs enjoying home advantage on this occasion.

Mini Rugby

Creggs Minis made their long awaited return to training last Saturday following the Christmas holidays. Santa was clearly very busy delivering rugby gear to our talented young players as they shook off the Christmas cobwebs in front of very supportive parents and coaches.

Youth Rugby

Boys U-15s: Creggs 28 Carrick RFC 19: Creggs U-15 White got back to winning ways at home on Friday night in Connacht League Division One with

a well earned 28-19 win over Carrick. Tries from Cian Trimble (2), Luke Shally, and Dan Kelly which were all converted Kaylum Curran.

This win sealed a league semi-final spot ahead of Creggs’ final league game against top of the table Sligo RFC.

Boys U-16s: Galway Bay 19 Creggs 28. Creggs travelled in good numbers to Galway last weekend where they overcame the hosts thanks to tries from Liam Butler, Matthew Beirne and Leo Anic (2). All tries were converted by Ger Healy in very blustery conditions.

Next Saturday, Creggs travel to Sligo RFC to play their final round in the league.

The Town

Battle of Ballymoe…

Roscommon Town U-14s went down fighting in the SFAI Trophy last Saturday as they suffered a heartbreaking extra-time defeat to St. John’s of Sligo.

Sam Walsh opened the scoring for The Town before St. John’s scored a fortunate equaliser just ten minutes before the break.

The second half remained scoreless but Sligo hit two quick-fire goals in the first half of extra-time.

Town responded when Lucas Silva was on hand to get the ball over the line with five minutes remaining to set up an exciting finish. But despite their best efforts, the Roscommon side couldn’t bring it to penalties.

Thanks to those who came to support this young team on the day. Helen Kerr provided both teams

with treats post-match which were greatly appreciated.

Finally, thanks also to Ballymoe FC for hosting the game at their fine facility.

FOOT in the Game...

Whether you are a player or a coach, it’s important to keep it simple. For each game, have one aim as a coach and one action as a player.

Think FOOT - Focus On One Thing.

Volunteer with us…

If you would like to contribute to our club in 2023 as a sponsor or volunteer (coach, IT, media, admin/registration, shop, etc.) contact us at info@roscommontownyouthsoccer.ie.

In association with the

Connacht J1A League: Buccaneers Seconds 83 Monivea 0. Buccaneers Seconds finally hit the form they are capable of to inflict a crushing 83-0 defeat on struggling Monivea in their Connacht Junior 1A League game played at Dubarry Park on Sunday.

Buccs were totally dominant from start to finish against a visiting outfit that could not get any momentum.

The hosts led 40-0 at half-time thanks to tries from Harry Balsiger (2), John Why, Mathias O’Neill, Rory O’Connor, and Eoin O’Reilly and five conversions from Andrew Evans.

Evans got in on the try scoring early in the second half before Ross Murphy-Sweeney secured a hattrick and O’Connor, Why and Evans added to their tally to complete the rout.

Connacht J2A League: Buccaneers Thirds 23 Galwegians Thirds 21. Buccs snatched a dramatic late victory at home last Sunday to move up to third in the standings.

The hosts led 15-7 at the break thanks to a Darren Costello penalty and tries from Declan Brady and Rory Grenham. The second half was a much closer affair as the visitors gained a foothold.

Galwegians appeared to have won the match thanks to a try late on but the Pirates snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a last-gasp try from Karl Turley.

Firsts entertain Naas this Saturday

Perhaps you have recently arrived in the area. If so, we warmly welcome you. Check our website and social media channels for more information.

Nós precisamos de vocês…

Feliz 2023 pra você e toda sua família. Sabemos que o Brasil é o Pais do Futebol. Se você mora em Roscommon e gosta de jogar futebol, venha fazer parte do nosso time como jogador ou como voluntário. Para maiores informações entre em contato com Michael: info@roscommontownyouthsoccer.ie.

Wise Words…

Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less - C.S. Lewis

Buccaneers Firsts are at home to Naas in the Energia All-Ireland League this Saturday. Naas ended Buccs’ impressive seven-match winning streak in the return fixture but the Athlone side remain top of the league. Kick-off is at 2.30 pm.

Seconds travel to Connemara

Buccs Seconds are away to Connemara in the Connacht Junior Cup this Sunday at 2 pm. The Midlanders couldn’t have asked for a tougher draw to kick their campaign off as they square up to the current holders.

Thirds tackle Castlebar

The Third team are also on the road on Sunday as they head to Cloondeash to take on Castlebar in the Connacht Junior 2A League at 2.30 pm.

Crunch tie for U-20s

Completing a busy weekend of fixtures is the crunch J.P. Fanagan Leinster League Premier 2 clash between Buccaneers and Corinthians at Dubarry Park on Sunday at 2.30 pm.

Best of Luck!

Congratulations to outhalf Harry West on his inclusion in the Ireland U-20 squad.

The Roscommon Town U-14s which took part in the SFAI Trophy recently.

League:

(Roscommon Town Youth Soccer)

Hurlers looking to NHL opener after Connacht League loss

Will play Tyrone challenge ahead of Mayo date

Connacht Senior Hurling League Final Galway Development 1-25 Roscommon 1-20

< SEAMUS DUKE

Roscommon senior hurlers are now setting their focus firmly on the start of the National Hurling League in a few weeks’ time following last weekend’s Connacht League final in which they lost by five points to a Galway Development selection. Roscommon will face Mayo in Castlebar in their league opener.

In Saturday’s Connacht Senior Hurling League final at the GAA Air Dome in Bekan, Roscommon got off to a good start when Brendan Mulry goaled in the 4th minute. Roscommon matched their opponents in the opening

quarter but a sudden scoring burst by the Galway men yielded 1-6 in the 12 minutes prior to half-time, turning the game on its head. Galway led by 1-16 to 1-7 at the break.

The eventual winners were always in control thereafter, but Roscommon finished strongly, producing the last five points of the game to reduce the margin to five. Enda Lawless, Padraig Kelly, Brendan Mulry, Paddy Fallon, Mickey Joe Egan and Matthew Comerford stood out for Roscommon.

It was a frustrated Roscommon manager Francis O’Halloran who spoke to the Roscommon People after the game. “I’d say the three games in six days took its toll tonight, but we will kick on from here. This match tonight won’t define our season”.

O’Halloran noted that a few of the younger players will be switching their

focus to football “for a few weeks”. “There are a couple of lads with the U20s and Conal Kennelly, Aengus Lyons and Niall Kilroy are with the senior footballers”.

Referencing the recruitment of Kilkenny legend Richie Power as an addition to the backroom staff, the Roscommon manager said he would be joining the set-up this week – last night (Wednesday) – and all involved will work on devising a plan for the coming weeks. Next up for Roscommon is a challenge match against Tyrone.

Roscommon: Enda Lawless; Darragh Mullen, James Dillon, Mark Ward; Joe Brennan, Conor Cosgrave, Padraig Kelly (0-1); Padraig Brennan, Jack Dowling; Ryan Conlon, Eamon Flanagan (01), Conor Mulry (0-1); Brendan Mulry (1-1), Paddy Fallon (0-10, 7 frees), Mickey Joe Egan (0-3).

Subs used: Matthew Comerford (0-2), Mikey Lohan, Gearoid Egan, Adam Donnelly, Kevin Brennan, Cormac Mulry (0-1), Michael Brennan.

Galway Development: Ben Murphy; Gerard McGuinness, Sean Burke,

Mac Dara O’Bearra; Dinny O Heallaithe (0-1), Enda Naughton, Bryan Horgan (0-1); Donnacha O Murchu (0-1), Niall Cox; Donall O Cualain (0-4), Dara Newell (0-1), Sean Joyce (0-1); Sean McDonagh (0-6, 5 frees), Eamon

Trayers (1-3), Ryan Folan (0-3).

Subs used: Ryan Duffy (01), Shane Kelly (0-1), Jack Mitchell (0-1), Brendan O Congaile (0-1), Keith Gleeson, Tom Collins.

Referee: Michael Connolly (Sligo).

Charity match in memory of Mickey Cunniffe

One of the legendary figures of Roscommon hurling and a treasured son of the parish of Ballyforan/Dysart/Tisrara was celebrated in a special charity match in St. Aidan’s GAA Club on December 30th, when past and present players from Four Roads hurl-

ing, camogie and ladies football clubs, as well as St. Aidan’s football club, togged out in aid of Palliative Care Roscommon.

On the 20th anniversary of the death of Mickey Cunniffe, the Four Roads ‘Dads ‘n’ Lads’ and the St. Aidan’s ‘Golden Oldies’ took on the ladies

of Four Roads Camogie and Four Roads LGFA, in a contest that was inspired by Sheila Coyle from the Four Roads Healthy Club Project.

While the weather was sharp and the action regularly fell short of the quality that one would associate with a man who

was a very talented footballer and arguably the county’s best ever hurler, the spirit of community and generosity on show from supporters, players and well-wishers was both in keeping with the season, and a fitting way to honour the great man.

Tommy McDonnell, James Cunniffe and John Cunniffe pictured with the special portrait of Mickey Cunniffe, donated by Paul Connolly, at the recent memorial match to celebrate the Roscommon legend in Ballyforan.

Pictured at St. Aidan’s GAA Club for the Mickey Cunniffe Memorial Match on December 30th: Phonsie Tully, John Cunniffe and Gerry Mulry hold the Mickey Cunniffe Cup, won by Four Roads Hurling Club with John as senior manager in 2022.

Pictured (Left to right) were Sheila Coyle (Four Roads Healthy Club), Gerry Mulry (Four Roads Hurling Club), Marie GlennonKelly (Four Roads Camogie), Valerie Hynes (Four Roads LGFA) and Aidan Thompson (St. Aidan’s GAA) with the special portrait of Mickey Cunniffe at the recent memorial match to celebrate the Roscommon legend in Ballyforan.

Roscommon’s Paddy Fallon lines up a free during Saturday’s Connacht Hurling League Final between Roscommon and Galway Development.

Pic: Bernie O’Farrell

Roscommon’s Joe Brennan gets his strike away as Seán Joyce from Galway Development attempts to block his shot during last Saturday’s Connacht Hurling League Final held at the Connacht GAA Air Dome. Pic: Bernie O’Farrell

THE SPORTS STUDIO

Occasional sporting musings with Paul Healy

Maybe the best, definitely the King

< PAUL HEALY

Whether or not Pelé was the greatest ever player of the most popular sport in the world (which is impossible to definitively determine) isn’t that important just now. What matters is that he was football’s greatest icon…indisputably. His death on December 29th last (aged 82) caused millions of people worldwide to pause and reconnect with warm memories of distant days.

Maradona thrilled the world, while spiralling through a sometimes tragically self-destructive existence; Best shone like a comet for the briefest time, exquisitely mastering mortals but shadowed by demons that never gave up the chase; Messi has captivated for two decades with feet and mind in magical unison; Pelé graced the stage with unparalleled dignity…football’s king, sporting royalty, the game’s first world star.

I liked what John Giles said on Newstalk. Asked if Pelé was the greatest player of all time, Giles replied: “There was nobody better than him”.

Whether or not he was the best ever (and many observers still leave the accolade at his feet) Pelé was certainly the

king of football, its greatest ever star, a sporting ambassador who was celebrated all over the world.

I grew up on stories of his great feats, including those record-setting three World Cup wins, and an extravagant goalscoring record for club and country, the details of which left us breathless. Then there was the legend of his goalbound header, so miraculously tamed by the great Gordon Banks during the 1970 World Cup, and quickly dubbed by the British press as ‘The greatest save of all time’. Okay, no goal, but Pelé was making magic moments, as with his famous dummy of the Uruguayan goalkeeper at the same tournament.

No young boy could fail to be mesmerised by the grainy footage of Pelé tormenting defences, with his powerful runs, superb vision, great close control, dribbling and heading skills, passing ability, and killer instinct in front of goal. This beautiful, athletic figure was such a stunning combination of speed, skill and strength.

Like Muhammad Ali, he exuded charisma. An abiding image of Pelé –throughout his entire life – is of his seemingly permanent smile, his aura, the

dignity with which he carried himself.

Perennially hailed as the greatest player to ever play the game, he arguably wasn’t really challenged for that title for decades, not until the passage of time and the emergence of first Maradona and then Messi hinted that some revision might not be a sacrilege.

Maybe others too – such as Best – could do everything Pelé could, but were unable to make quite the same global impression due to shorter careers, and less World Cup exposure.

The ‘best ever’ debate is largely pointless anyway, because old men who saw Di Stéfano or Duncan Edwards or Puskas might talk to you into the early hours until everyone gives in to the futility of trying to bridge the decades and resolve such arguments.

What surely isn’t in any dispute is this: Pelé was football’s global ambassador, its first and greatest superstar. He was the King of football, who – as much for all he symbolised as for his incredible skill and achievements – merits recognition as the greatest football figure of all time.

He was football’s most recognisable face and name. A face that always smiled, a name that will always bring smiles.

Rampaging Rahm!

Jon Rahm is one of those captivating ‘momentum golfers’ who can electrify a tournament (and spectators) when he gets on a run.

Rahm is perhaps the golfer you least want chasing you down the back nine – when you’re still ahead but he’s suddenly in the zone.

On fire, he’s a birdie machine, a putting monster who makes the hole look bigger than it is.

Teeing off round four of the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii on Sunday, Collin Morikawa led by six shots. Then Rahm went hunting.

What do you do when Rahm is on a birdie charge? You try to play your own game, to block out the roars, the shadow of the Spaniard. And it looked like Morikawa would hang on on Sunday, but then he began to wilt. His first bogey of the week came on his 68th hole (the 14th). He then bogeyed the 15th and 16th. You could see the confidence drain from his face.

All rampaging Rahm had to do was finish his opponent off, which he calmly did, winning by two shots. It was ruthless, and riveting. Most of all, it was another insight into the unique pressure that descends on great golfers over the last nine holes in a big golf tournament.

Tasty club final in store

slow start and a general lack of penetration in attack. It was a fine encounter and a contest that will do Glen the world of good!

Inspirational Lee exits the stage

Sport can be cruel. Lee Keegan ending his career without an All-Ireland senior football medal feels so unfair. He was a Rolls Royce footballer, and an army jeep one too when required. In full flow, he was the heartbeat of Mayo teams that came so close to the pinnacle of Gaelic football year after year.

New Mayo manager Kevin McStay, who has to be dismayed that attempts to persuade Keegan to play on for one more season were unsuccessful, paid a fitting tribute to the legendary Lee after confirmation that he’s calling time on his inter-county career.

“Lee has represented Mayo with great distinction,” McStay said. “He was indestructible and defiant: on the biggest days, he walked tall and proud. Lee embodied the resilience of Mayo. The example he set will continue to inspire Mayo for many years to come”.

Without question, Keegan joins the ‘One of the greatest players never to win an All-Ireland’ club. He may not have got his hands on the Sam Maguire, but will always be spoken of as one of the GAA greats.

Moycullen, managed

Roscommon’s Don Connel-

a

I didn’t see the earlier game. Kilmacud will start the final as favourites – but I saw enough of Glen to suggest that they could cause an upset.

Here in Roscommon, the dynamic, versatile Conor Devaney is also calling it a day. His long career with Roscommon was marked by many outstanding displays. In whatever position he played, and whenever called upon, Devaney always left everything on the pitch; he had the skill (and eye for goal) to go with his commitment and will to win.

Two close All-Ireland Club Football semi-finals on Sunday have resulted in an intriguing final pairing, with Kilmacud Crokes of Dublin set to face Glen of Derry.

by

lan, pushed Glen to the limit, but were left to regret

Mickey Joe Egan in action for Roscommon during last Saturday’s Connacht Hurling League Final between Roscommon and Galway Development at the Connacht GAA Air Dome. Pic: Bernie O’Farrell

Tonya I wish you all the best in the new job. I have really enjoyed working with you the last 10 years Jano (Network engineer)

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Been a pleasure to work with Tonya over the past 15 years. Health and happiness for the future

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Great working with you Tonya, Best of luck in your new job

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You'll be missed on a Thursday! All the best in the new role, ReeceEngineer)(Network

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Pleasure working with you Tonya, the very best of luck with your new role. Anita, Sinead Derek & Laura (Cavan Team)

Very rare to find people so dedicated to what they do these days, you'll be dearly missed. Smash it.

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I have had the pleasure and privilege of working with Tonya over the past 10 years. As a pivotal mainstay of this local company, Tonya has worked diligently and with supreme dedication to drive the success of Eurona Brisknet. We pride ourselves on delivering affordable broadband to the community and Tonya has committed herself to this ideal. We will miss her dearly and wish her the very best in her new employment.

Thanks Tonya.

Barry (Managing Director)

Tonya, who can be seen running and swimming the length and breadth of Ireland (and the world), has become synonymous for her fundraising. Specifically for the JOIN OUR BOYS campaign raising awareness of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. We take this opportunity to highlight this incredible cause