PAUL HEALY’S WEEK

A column by Roscommon People editor paul@roscommonpeople.ie

THURSDAY Masters at work…

The Masters – the most glamorous of golf’s four major championships – provides glorious entertainment for TV viewers. We are transported to Augusta National, a golf course of Disney-like beauty. There, the world’s greatest players take on the unique challenges of the course, vying with their peers, pressure, and the shadows of giants who have gone before them. This year’s tournament began today, inviting golf fans to plot marathon sessions in front of the TV. As ever, there are more sub-plots than in the most far-fetched Netflix series.

Can Tiger Woods defy time and his weary, battle-scarred body yet again? Fresh from golf’s civil war, how will the PGA Tour regulars react to the inclusion of the stars who followed the money trail and joined the breakaway LIV series? Will Scottie Scheffler or Jon Rahm or Rory McIllroy – the three jockeying for top spot in the world rankings – claim the famous green jacket? Rory. Nine years and counting since his last major. Can he end the drought?

Let the fun begin…

Friday

Big Apple bites back

Dismay for millions of TV viewers, yours truly included, with play abandoned at the US Masters this evening after the weather turned nasty.

Consolation (for bereft sports’ fans) comes via a GAA thriller in the Bronx, where Andy Moran’s Leitrim team ran into the roadblock that every Connacht county has become increasingly wary of over the past decade or so. After a seesaw battle – followed online with great enthusiasm by GAA fans here – New York won a less than textbook penalty shootout to achieve their first ever win in the Connacht Championship.

As usual, the wags had their say on Twitter. I was reminded of one of Roscommon’s trips to Ruislip to play London in the Connacht Champion- ship. It was many years ago. As the plane circled above London, a wellknown Roscommon supporter from Rooskey looked down at all the houses in the city suburbs and quipped: “God, we’re up against it… these lads have some pick of players!”

SUNDAY Green machine

The golf? Tiger made the cut, then withdrew, injured. Phil Mickelson (LIV poster boy) finished second and couldn’t stop smiling. Rory sort of imploded (he needs to be a touch less arrogant). Jon Rahm went home wearing green.

ALL WEEKEND Beautiful reign/rain

It was a good week for Roscommon people.

After all these years, with the show teetering over a cliff and another host’s era soon to close, we finally dispatched our famous barber, Paddy Joe (Burke), to the Late Late Show studio. He sat in the audience in the Roscommon jersey and his trademark bandana. As ever, his message to the world was clear: basically along the lines that Roscommon are on the march, and, come hail (rain in particular) or shine…the Rossies are coming…to Castlebar.

Ryan looked a touch bemused, even confused, but we knew what Paddy Joe meant. We didn’t need anything decoded. We knew how much Castlebar 2023 meant to Roscommon football, irrespective of the fact that there’s a new championship format this year.

On Sunday, there was a great buzz in Strokestown as the town with the famous wide streets and renowned hospitality hosted its annual Easter Parade. The County Fleadh continued there over the weekend too.

In Roscommon town on Monday, the rain took a timely break just prior to the start of the Easter Parade. The event was an excellent showpiece for our community, enjoyed by a massive crowd.

For many people, all roads led to Castlebar on Sunday. Paddy Joe had said something slightly cryptic about the ‘beautiful rain’ in Castlebar in 2019, when Roscommon stunned the home side, the bridesmaids in primrose and blue storming the altar. Now the beautiful rain fell again. And we dared to hope.

Early on in Sunday’s match, our warriors rode their luck, before settling into magnificent game management.

Enda Smith was a Chieftain. His calm penalty, and a great first-time finish by his brother, Donie, left Roscommon perfectly poised at half-time, 2-2 to 0-4 in front.

Roscommon were men inspired in the second half, emerging from defence time after time, epic turnovers the stunning symbol of this tour de force. When heroic defence transitioned into attack, Diarmuid Murtagh was on hand to sprinkle magic dust.

This was a great win by our men. Mayo probably aren’t that put out by their Connacht exit. They will regroup, and are just as relevant to the race for Sam Maguire now as they were before throw-in. For Roscommon, it was a superb victory, a coaching masterclass indeed, a performance that leaves Roscommon people everywhere beaming with pride.

Prince sang of Purple Rain, Paddy Joe spoke of Beautiful Rain. Meanwhile, with great exuberance the Church Street philosopher bookended the weekend with a cameo in the stand at MacHale Park, which many people will have seen on social media. On this occasion, Paddy Joe gives a rousing and joyful ‘battle cry’… ‘The Rossies! The Rossies! The Rossies! Football’s coming home!’

There’s a long season ahead. So, perspective is advised. That said, in terms of setting down a marker for where this developing team is at, Roscommon achieved a win for the ages on Sunday, in Beautiful Rain.

RECENTLY… Namechecking Dermot…

At a conference in Roscommon last week, the first person I got speaking to was Independent Senator Tom Clonan, a very affable Dublin native. On hearing that I’m a newspaperman based in Roscommon, Tom went straight to an anecdote about the NUJ (National Union of Journalists) and the late Dermot Earley (Roscommon GAA legend and Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces).

The very next person I spoke to was Cllr. Pat Fitzpatrick, Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council. I introduced him as the afternoon’s first speaker. Keen to establish some Roscommon link with the audience, Pat began by recalling happy memories of watching Dermot Earley grace the GAA fields of Ireland.

Thirteen years after his untimely death, the great man remains the ‘go to’ person for so many people when they think of Roscommon. What a tribute to him.

The second annual Suck Valley Way Conference, held at two locations in Roscommon town last week, again discussed ways in which the county’s economic, tourism, sporting, cultural and industrial potential might be further realised.

The brainchild of Cllr. Anthony Waldron, the conference’s overall 2023 theme was ‘Inspiring Rural Creativity’.

Day one had a particular focus on how the creative arts – in particular, music therapy – can promote health and wellbeing and help people with disabilities.

Speakers also covered the broader issue of support for citizens with disabilities, with Senator Tom Clonan declaring that Ireland is one of the worst countries in the EU in terms of how we treat people with disabilities and their families.

Guest speakers on day one (held in Gleeson’s) included Independent Senator Clonan, Fabian Joyce (co-founder of Anam Music Thera- py), Paula Naughton of the Join Our Boys Trust, and Cllr. Pat Fitzpatrick, current President of the Association of Irish Local Government.

On day two, held in the Abbey Hotel, a number of guest speakers addressed the conference. Topics under discussion included

‘Opportunities for rural tourism’ and ‘Protecting the rural landscape’. Renowned author Michael Harding was amongst those who spoke last Thursday. The conference was also addressed by Martina Earley, CEO, Roscommon LEADER Partnership.

Temporary Closing Of Roads

ROADS ACT 1993, SECTION 75 ROADS REGULATIONS 1994, ARTICLE 12

Roscommon County Council hereby gives notice of its intention to close the road referred to hereunder for the period and the reason specified.

Road to be closed: The L-6171-0 at Ballinderry will operate on Stop/Go for 400 metres between its junction with the L-6166-23 at Ballinderry Cross and the L-60974-0 at Dooherty.

The L-6166-23 at Ballinderry & Derrycanan will be closed for 1,200 metres East of its junction with Ballinderry Cross.

The L-61661-0 will be closed for 500 metres from its junction with the L-6166-23.

Alternative Routes: Traffic will be facilitated as much as possible for the duration of the works. Any diversions found to be necessary will be communicated to the residents directly.

Period of Closure: May 15th 2023 until June 16th 2023.

Reason for Road Closure: Laying of water mains along the public road in the Townlands of Ballinderry & Derrycanan as part of the Mid Roscommon Water Scheme pipe laying Contract. All necessary approach signage and diversion signage will be used at the required locations as per Traffic Management Plan.

Residents will be contacted and notified directly by the Contractor in advance of the closure. Closures will be phased to ensure minimum disruption to locals. Maps showing proposed closure/diversions are available on www.roscommoncoco.ie

Objections may be made in writing to the undersigned in respect of the proposed temporary road closure to arrive not later than 4.00 p.m. on Friday 21st April 2023.

Water Services Section, Roscommon County Council, Aras an Chontae, Roscommon. F42 VR98

Signed: Caitlin Conneally, Director of Services.

Nominations open for Garda Youth Awards

Once again this year, Roscommon County Council are delighted to support the Roscommon-Longford Garda Division’s fifth Annual Garda Youth Awards in conjunction with Longford County Council. Nominations are open to young people aged between 13 and 21 years of age who by their activities have made their community a better place to live in or who have shown great determination in their lives, often in the face of adversity. Nominations are now open and application forms are now available on www.roscommoncoco.ie or from www.garda.ie or from any local Garda Station. The closing date for receipt of nominations is Wednesday, May 31st.

Mid

Major concert for King House

An exciting performance by Claudia Boyle, soprano, accompanied by Niall O’Sullivan on trumpet and Conor Linehan on piano will take place in King House Boyle on this Sunday, April 16th, beginning at 8pm.

The concert will feature a programme of works which includes Mozart, Handel, Haydn, Donizetti, Kurt Weill, Piazzolla and Gershwin.

Tickets are priced €20 with a concession rate of €18. Bookings are now being taken online at https://roscommonartscentre.ie/event/claudia-boyle-niallosullivan-brian-connor/ or by telephoning 087-1444739.

Temporary Closing Of Roads

ROADS ACT 1993, SECTION 75 ROADS REGULATIONS 1994, ARTICLE 12

Roscommon County Council hereby gives notice of its intention to close the road referred to hereunder for the period and the reason specified.

Road to be closed: Antogher road will be closed for 300 metres from its junction with the L-1812 Golf Links road.

Alternative Routes: Traffic will be diverted via L-1812 Golf Links Road on to the Circular Road and left onto the N63 Galway Road and vice versa.

Period of Closure: From 15th May 2023 to 02nd June 2023.

Reason for Road Closure: Laying of sewers along the public road as part of the Roscommon Town Main Drainage Scheme.

All necessary approach signage and diversion signage will be used at the required locations as per Traffic Management Plan.

Residents will be contacted and notified directly by the Contractor in advance of the closure. Maps showing proposed closure/diversions are available on www.roscommoncoco.ie

Objections may be made in writing to the undersigned in respect of the proposed temporary road closure to arrive not later than 4 .00 p.m. on Friday 21st April 2023.

Water Services Section, Roscommon County Council, Áras an Chontae, Roscommon. F42 VR98

Signed: Caitlin Conneally, Director of Services.