21 October 2022 Roscommon People

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A prominent local county councillor has urged environmental group, Friends of the Irish En vironment, to come to the Lough Funshinagh area and see for themselves how local people are living “under duress” there.

Cllr. Laurence Fallon was speaking to the Ro scommon People as local people gathered out side the home of the Lyons-O’Meara family, which was demolished this week having been badly damaged by flooding over the years.

Appealing to the group who were successful in a legal action to halt a flood relief scheme in the area, Cllr. Fallon said: “Come down and see what’s going on. Come down and meet the people, some of whom are in their 80s. I think we have ages from six months to 84 years of age living under the duress of this lake,” he said.

“If you’re interested in the protection of the environment, and I would question whether you are, come and see the continued destruc tion that your action has taken on the environ ment and come and find a solution with us and we can work together to solve the problem”. See full story on page 4.

Tree Felling

I

concerned

Please explain my rights in relation to cutting trees on my property.

Under the Forestry Act, 2014, it is illegal to uproot any tree over ten years old or to cut down any tree of any age (including trees which form part of a hedgerow), unless a notice of intention to fell or uproot trees has been lodged at the Garda Station nearest to the trees at least 21 days before felling commences.

This notice of intention must be given in writing on a form known as a Felling Notice which may be obtained from any Garda Station. Upon receipt of a completed Felling Notice, an Order prohibiting the felling of the trees is issued. This protects the trees in question while considera tion is given to the issuing of a Felling Licence. The Act provides for two types of Felling Licence namely a General Felling Licence and a Limited Felling Licence.

The requirement for a Felling Licence for the uprooting or cutting down of trees does NOT apply in a number of circumstances including:

• A tree in an urban area

• A tree uprooted in a nursery for the purpose of transplan tation.

• A tree of the willow or poplar species planted and main tained solely for fuel under a short rotation coppice.

• The tree is standing within 30 metres of any building other than a wall or temporary structure;

• A tree less than five years of age that came about through natural regeneration and removed from a field as part of the normal maintenance of agricultural land (but not where the tree is standing in a hedgerow).

• Trees outside a forest – within 10 metres of a public road and which, in the opinion of the owner (being an opinion formed on reasonable grounds), is dangerous to persons using the public road on account of its age or condition.

• Trees outside a forest the removal of which is specified in a grant of planning permission.

• Trees outside a forest – of the hawthorn or blackthorn species.

• Trees outside a forest – in a hedgerow and felled for the purposes of its trimming, provided that the tree does not exceed 20 centimetres in diameter when measured 1.3 metres from the ground.

Penalties for illegal felling can be severe, ranging from fines of up to a maximum of €200 per tree or up to six months imprisonment or both on conviction in the District Court. Conviction in the Circuit Court will result in heavier penalties.

WATCHINGPeople

With PAUL HEALY

They say Liz could be gone soon…

Hey, don’t they say a week is a long time in politics?

They do!

They’re going to have to update that saying!

Huh?

Well, look at events across the water…

In London?

Yes!

Pretty dramatic alright…

Pretty chaotic!

I guess you think they should change it to ‘A day is a long time in politics’???

More like an hour is a long time in politics!

By the way, do you ever wonder who ‘they’ are?

Not really! But I see why you might ask!

(They pause to check if Liz Truss is still hanging on as PM in Downing Street; she is)

Well, she’s still in the hot seat…

In hot water, more like it!

But they’re sharpening the knives… There you go with your ‘they’ again!

Mmnn…anyways, Liz sacked her first Chancellor. Kwasi…

I disagree. I’d say ‘twas far from easy… No, I mean his name was Kwasi. Kwasi Kwarteng.

Oh right…

Species

Thebarstoolboyos

I’m guessing you’re right!

(They pause to see if new Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, is still in the job; he is)

It would never happen here!

Huh?

Such political chaos…

Oh we’ve had our share of political dramas…

More like political farce! The Taoiseach talking about Shane Ross’s book, merely boosting its sales!

Mmnn…

That time the Healy-Raes arrived outside the Dáil on top of a jeep – with their jubilant supporters –playing accordions and tin whistles. I think one of them was on the fiddle. That was years ago! And just to be clear, there’s no fiddling inside or outside the Dáil (Editor sighs with relief, holds off on calling legal adviser)

Bottom line: Liz is in trouble!

He’s gone after just 38 days… I guess Liz felt he was making all the wrong decisions…

Eh, not really, she AGREED with all his decisions.

Oh, I see. So I guess it was personal. They couldn’t stand the sight of one another?

Actually, they’re great friends… So I’m guessing she did it to try and save her own skin?

Yep, we can surely agree that an hour is a long time in politics in Westminster!

Yeah, they need…

They…again!

As I was saying, they need to find their mojo again!

Or find their Bojo again!

Boris? I say mojo, you say Bojo!

Yup!

Boris to return? Is that what you’re actually saying?

Well, that’s what they’re saying!

PEOPLE writing headlines…

Elon Musk

The Elon Musk/Twitter saga has taken a new turn. Having de clared last April that he wanted to buy Twitter, the high profile billionaire then tried to back out of the deal; now the social me dia company says Musk is under federal investigation in relation to the on-off €45bn takeover

And & Dec

The British TV presenting duo won ‘Best Presenter’ at the Na tional Television Awards for the 21st consecutive year – but were unable to attend the ceremony as they both currently have Co vid-19

Donald Trump

The committee investigating riots on Capitol Hill in Washington on January 6th 2021 has voted to subpoena former president Don ald Trump, meaning he is obliged to testify before them

Liz Truss

Britain’s new Prime Minister could be the shortest serving in history as speculation intensifies that mutinous Tory colleagues could try to remove her

PIC OF THE WEEK: Children pictured playing in the ball pit during the recent Lip Sync competition held in aid of Creggs NS. Pic: Mick McCormack

Victim of house fire to be laid to rest

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The Ballaghaderreen woman who tragically died following a fire at her home on Sunday night last (16th) will be laid to rest tomorrow (Friday).

Vivien Doohan (75), was pro nounced dead at the scene after Gardaí and emergency services responded to the blaze in the Priory Park, Friar’s Hill area of the town shortly after 9 pm on Sunday.

Fire service units from Bal laghaderreen and neighbouring Charlestown quickly brought the fire under control.

It is understood that neigh bours and her daughter’s part ner attempted to rescue Mrs. Doohan, who was living alone following the death of her hus band, Thomas, in 2014.

Roscommon Fire Service con firmed that a man had managed to escape the blaze and was treated for smoke inhalation before being removed to Sligo University Hospital.

“The other occupant, a lady in her 70s, was removed from the upstairs section of the dwelling during which mem bers of the Ballaghaderreen Fire Unit used breathing ap paratus in efforts to revive the

woman who was subsequent ly pronounced dead,” the Fire Service said.

The scene was sealed off on Monday as investigations con tinued.

Mrs. Doohan will repose at Sharkey’s Funeral Home, Balla ghaderreen this evening (Thurs day) from 5 pm until 7 pm. Re moval from the funeral home will take place on Friday at 10.30 am to St. Aidan’s Church, Monasteraden for Mass of the

Resurrection at 11 am followed by interment in Monasteraden Cemetery.

A fundraising campaign set up by neighbours to help Mrs. Doohan’s daughter Maddie and her partner has already raised over €1,800.

Organisers of the GoFundMe page ‘To help Maddie Doohan’ aim to raise €10,000 to support Maddie and Frank following the tragic death of Maddie’s mother.

Organisers said: “Not only have they lost a relative, but also their home and their belongings, so please any donation big or small will make a big differ ence”.

An appeal for information has also been made regarding Mad die’s beloved dog Marley, who has been missing since the fire on Sunday night.

Posting on social media on Tuesday, local resident Philomena Hunt said: “Maddie Doohan’s beloved dog Mar ley has been missing since the house fire on Sunday night. Please keep an eye out for her around the town of Ballaghad erreen and surrounding areas”. Those with information are asked to contact Philomena on Facebook, any of the residents in Priory Park or local Gardaí.

Local children

by State’

Sinn Féin TD Claire Kerrane has this week de scribed the number of children on waiting lists for therapies under Primary Care in County Roscommon as “shameful”.

Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Kerrane said: “Thousands of children who need additional supports are being neglected by the State. They are not getting the support they need when they need it, instead they are being moved from one waiting list to another.

“Children are first on a waiting list for an As sessment of Needs, then a waiting list for an initial assessment for a specific therapy, then another waiting list for further therapy. These waiting lists are taking years. In the meantime, children are being failed and the waiting times has a huge impact on every part of their lives”.

The Sinn Féin TD said that 170 Roscommon children are currently on waiting lists for Psy chology, 205 are waiting for a first time Oc cupational Therapy assessment, and 235 are awaiting Physiotherapy.

“There are 1,341 children waiting for an initial Speech and Language Therapy assessment in

both Roscommon and Galway with 666 chil dren waiting for initial therapy and 1,008 wait ing for further therapy – all under Speech and Language,” she said.

Deputy Kerrane said her party had brought forward a motion seeking a number of actions from Government including an increase in Budget funding.

“The fact that the Government announced just €29 million additional spend for Disability for 2023 says it all. This level of funding is a drop in the ocean when you consider the waiting lists. This is a crisis situation for children and their families,” she concluded.

Sinn Féin TD Claire Kerrane

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The late Vivien Doohan, (née Downes), R.I.P.

Another dark day for Lough Funshinagh as home demolished

Fallon issues challenge to ‘Friends’ group

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This week saw another dark episode in the recent troubles endured by Lough Funshinagh communities as one of the houses severely affected by flooding in the area was demol ished. The home, which belonged to the Lyons-O’Meara family, had been badly damaged following se vere flooding in 2016 and had been unoccupied in recent years.

Local people gathered outside the house on Monday as construction crews began the grim task of taking down the property.

Local councillor Laurence Fallon said it was another sad day for the local community.

“This is particularly tragic for the Lyons-O’Meara family but it is also tragic for everybody in the area be cause we have lost a family who have been here for a hundred years. This was the frontline of the flood ing and we protected it for a number of years but we lost the battle and now this house is destroyed. But it’s also only the next phase because now it moves on to the two Beattie houses which are only just across the road,” he said.

Cllr. Fallon said there was sadness and shock in the area, adding that it was “extraordinary” that the flood ing crisis continues due to “ambigu ity in law”.

“We are trying to marry two laws, the European legislation and the Irish legislation. Until they are in harmony there will continue to be judges taking what I would call the easy option and saying no to any ef forts to help the people and the en vironment. It needs to change and it needs to change quickly because it is unthinkable what’s happening,” he said.

Addressing the environmental group, Friends of the Irish Envi ronment, who were successful in a legal action to halt a flood relief scheme in the area, Cllr. Fallon said: “Come down and see what’s going on. Come down and meet the peo ple, some of whom are in their 80s. I think we have ages from six months to 84 years of age living under the duress of this lake,” he said.

“If you’re interested in the protec tion of the environment, and I would question whether you are, come and see the continued destruction that your action has taken on the environ ment and come and find a solution with us and we can work together to solve the problem.

“By your actions, you have caused the total destruction of the SAC (Special Area of Conservation), and total hardship to 40 families around the lake. There is no need for this and we can solve it in a very short time. We have 70 per cent of the pipe in and that will only take the excess water and the SAC will return to its natural form and everybody will be a winner, including Friends of the Irish Environment”.

Local resident Padraig Beattie, whose family home is less than 100 metres from the Lyons-O’Meara house, said the demolition was ex tremely upsetting.

“Our house could be like this house

in a couple of years’ time. We hope it doesn’t (end up the same) but if the pipe isn’t put in in time then it’ll end up flooded,” he said.

The Beatties, whose home was pro tected by pumps running 24 hours

a day at the height of flooding, are dreading another difficult winter.

“There’s nearly drought conditions during the summer and yet the lake is still there. It has gone back, but not enough. We’ll be pumping again

during the winter, there’s no doubt about it, whether it’s in December or February it will happen regardless”.

Geraldine Murray, secretary of the Lough Funshinagh Flood Crisis Committee, said that while the dem olition of the house was expected, it still arrives as a shock for local resi dents.

“The community is devastated and you can sense that as you walk around, it’s all doom and gloom on the faces of people as they wait for a digger to arrive to knock down a home. It’s absolutely horrendous and you’re wondering who’s going to be next,” she said.

Geraldine said that while fears re main over other houses in the local ity, the Office of Public Works have been supportive.

“The OPW have been working on this and they will meet with us again hopefully in a couple of weeks but we need more than the OPW, we need the whole multi-disciplinary group including the National Parks and Wildlife and Roscommon Coun ty Council,” she said.

“We need everyone to sit at a table and implement the plan that has al ready been initiated and that is the underground pump to pump the ex cess water off the lough. That facil ity is almost there. I am aware that there are legal issues but let’s get over them. There is nothing that’s not possible, especially if people are about to lose their homes – which we are”.

Local residents pictured outside the home of the Lyons-O’Meara family that was severely damaged by flooding in the area over the past few years.

The home near Lough

Funshinagh was severely damaged due to flooding.

Solstice Choir to perform in Galway Cathedral

The Roscommon Solstice Choir has been invited to perform in ‘A Night of Music for Galway Hospice’ at Galway Cathe dral on Thursday, November 10th.

This concert will feature Johnny Carroll, Marc Roberts, The Conquerors, Eimear Reynolds, and the Galway Tenors, along with the Solstice Choir, which has already raised a very large amount of money for charities and organisations both at home and abroad.

A great night of music and song is guaranteed for a most worthy cause. Tickets are €25 and doors open at 7.30 pm. Eimear Reynolds and Johnny Carroll.

New book on two landed families in Kilbegnet Parish

A new book entitled, ‘The Burkes and the Pollocks in the Parish of Kilbegnet (Creggs/Glinsk) on the Galway-Roscommon Border’, is set to be launched on Saturday, October 29th, in the Parnell Herit age Centre at 7 pm. The book was written by Martin Duffy, formerly of Milford, Creggs.

As the title suggests, the book is about two landed families who reigned in the parish from the period 1200 to 1910.

The book also discusses the life of Charles Stewart Parnell, his visit to Creggs in 1891, and the unveiling

of a plaque in his honour there in 1946.

The history of the transfer of the lands from landlord to tenant after the Land Act of 1903 is also discussed, with particular reference to the lands in Glinsk, the land clearances there, and the evictions arising.

The book will be launched by Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice, as part of the Creggs October Festival. Copies of the book will be on sale after the launch, as well as at O’Rourke’s in Creggs and Dowd’s in Glinsk.

Council pauses works in Frenchpark

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Roscommon County Coun cil has paused roadworks in Frenchpark village this week following recent criticism from local residents.

Residents in the area had raised concerns that the new-look road layout had left the village short of parking spaces while Sinn Féin TD Claire Kerrane described the project as “a monstrosity”.

In a statement this week, the local authority confirmed it “has paused works pending a further external review to ensure all safety concerns are addressed in accordance with standard proce dures”. The review is expected to take two weeks.

The Council’s statement also said that a previous review had highlighted concerns around the approach speeds of vehicles from the Boyle direction on the R361.

“Roscommon County Council acknowledges the scheme rep resents a change to the layout of the streetscape at this loca tion. To deliver these safety im

provements, a small quantity of on-street parking has been reas signed,” the statement read.

“The proposed scheme, due to its size and nature, does not re quire Part 8 planning permission and therefore was not advertised to the public.

“The Council’s Roads and Transportation Unit in response prepared a design in accord ance with the Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (DMURS). These measures seek to reduce the speed of oncom ing traffic while also making the junction with the L5638 safer for vulnerable road users”.

The local authority confirmed that following the commence ment of works, local residents and business owners expressed concerns to members of staff of Boyle Municipal District but said that many of these concerns had since been addressed.

“The new Frenchpark scheme”, the local authority emphasised, “was designed to maximise street car parking that could be facilitated within the area avail able to the design team”.

Martin Duffy

PAUL HEALY’S WEEK

A column by Roscommon People editor paul@roscommonpeople.ie

Thursday/Friday

‘Cracker’ – a very popular ITV crime drama in the 1990s – just happens to be one of those shows that I never saw much of. Channelhopping on TV late on Thursday night, I briefly stopped on a repeat episode, and was reminded of the screen presence of its star, Robbie Coltrane. Today came the sad news of his death at just 72 years of age.

In all likelihood, comedy capers ‘The Pope Must Die’ and ‘Nuns on the Run’ might not feature highly now on his career body of work, but it was via those movies that I first became aware of Coltrane! Of course he subsequently became internationally renowned for his role in James Bond movies, and especially as Rubeus Hagrid in the Harry Potter films.

Robbie Coltrane was a versatile and brilliant actor who had a great career in TV, film and theatre. He will be greatly missed. His legacy speaks for itself, and his TV work and mov ies will continue to be enjoyed long into the future.

A word too on legendary actress Angela Lansbury, who died earlier this week. While most of her long life (she died just short of her 97th birthday) was spent in America, Lansbury was born in London, her mother being Irish actress Moyna Macgill.

Lansbury had a wonderful career – over eight decades – and was rightly celebrated as one of the last stars of the golden age of Hollywood cinema. For all her film successes however, you won’t be surprised if I suggest that she will probably be most remembered in these parts for her iconic role as fictional writer and detective Jessica Fletcher in the long-running American TV series ‘Murder, She Wrote’.

What a star Angela Lansbury was. Again, TV repeats/YouTube etc. will ensure that the glow she brought into people’s lives will never fully fade.

Friday

One could be tempted to formally complain about how boring Irish politics is, relative to the conduct of some of our friends over in Westminster.

Today, UK Prime Minister Liz Truss (in office 36 days) summoned the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Kwasi Kwarteng (in office 36 days) back from the United States…and then sacked him.

It was an elaborate political move, known as

the ‘Someone else must go under the bus to save my skin’ manouevre.

Ever since their ill-fated mini-budget of a few weeks ago, Truss and the Chancellor she appointed have been under more pressure than a half-back line facing a rampant Limerick (hurl ers, that is).

There is speculation that the ‘new’ PM may not last much longer in Downing Street, that she could be gone by the end of the month. In fact she may not even make it to the rest of this column.

Saturday

Spurs are awarded a penalty against Everton, fi nally livening up a fairly dull match. The Everton defenders encircle the referee, protesting against the decision (it’s the same at every club). Why do players do this? Has a referee ever changed their mind due to being lobbied by players? (“Okay lads, in light of the points you have raised, I will of course reverse my decision”).

Sunday

The Sunday Independent has hyped an interview with the marvellously self-confident Health Min ister Simon Donnelly, who is slightly bizarrely asked if he has any ambitions to lead Fianna Fáil

(his answer is “No” – but no doubt he could be persuaded).

I have long treated Donnelly’s brand of selfserving spinning with amusement. He is one of those politicians – Leo Varadkar has a similar knack/cheek – who comfortably manages what should be the difficult trick of seeming to agree with criticisms of government, while quickly talking up what’s been done.

In the Sunday Independent interview, Slippery Stephen casually lists targets the HSE is currently missing (“they have missed targets on beds, they have missed targets on recruitment…”). Would it be reasonable at this stage to point out to Mr. Donnelly that he is the actual Minister for Health, with authority over the HSE?

As ever having it both ways, Donnelly has the audacity to tell interviewer Hugh O’Donnell: “I don’t think the public are too worried about targets”.

You can’t win with Slippery Simon!

Monday

“Can I ask you a favour?” some guy asked in an email to the office today.

I replied – because he might have wanted a news item in the paper, or to place an ad, or maybe he had a world exclusive for us. But then the cat fell out of the bag, because the follow-up email from him went something

like this: “It’s my niece’s birthday, I’m out of town, wondering could you be so kind to pick up an apple gift card for her in a local store. I’ve tried purchasing online but had no luck. I’ll refund you as soon as I get back”. Normally the rule has to be to not reply. Of course I would never dream of sharing card/ account details online or by text, etc. But I couldn’t resist making one little suggestion.

I replied that we’d be delighted to purchase the apple gift card – but asked the person to “send on the money to us” first.

They replied that they are having a “prob lem” with their bank.

Tragic.

In that same reply, they offered to refund me as soon as possible. I ended the relationship (by not replying).

A quick Google search revealed that this particular scam attempt has been raging for a year or more.

Be careful! Ignore anything that’s remotely suspicious.

Tuesday

It would appear that Liz Truss (UK Prime Minister) looks set to survive to the end of this week’s column (see ‘Friday’ reference). That of course is not her main priority. I am inclined to feel sorry for her, because while she has certainly made an accident-prone start, her every move or utterance is now being pounced on, often ridiculed. That’s not particularly fair. The media are lapping up all the chaos, and the Tories are at war. This latest sorry mess that the Conservatives find themselves in – with all the implications for the British public – can of course all be traced back to that fateful Brexit vote!

Wednesday

In other news, a lollipop lady has just rang Joe Duffy to ask if it’s safe for her to go out in the lightning with her lollipop (she works at a school in Dublin). Apparently the weather is very, very rough in Dublin (we’ll never hear the end of it!).

I don’t know how the lollipop lady and Joe got on, but neither do I know how we’d survive without Liveline. I suppose it might depend to some extent on what the ‘lollipop’ is made of.

Anyway, that’s why Joe’s there; I will leave him and the lollipop lady and the world’s woes. We’ve a newspaper to get out!

Eabha Kilcommons, Lauren Browne, Hannah Curley and Niamh Connolly pictured at the Lip Sync competition held in aid of Creggs NS. Pic: Mick McCormack

Roscommon CBS will host an open evening on October 26th. 6th class students from our feeder schools will have the opportunity to visit our classrooms and labs to see the school community in action. Sample classes will be scheduled from 6 until 8. At 8pm Mr. Kevin Scollan will speak about the virtues of Roscommon CBS and how your son can achieve his full academic and personal potential.

Parents of 6th class students are invited to attend for 8pm.

Local authority support Fire Safety Week

Running to Sunday, October 23rd this week is National Fire Safety week. The initia tive is run jointly by Fire Ser vices in all local authorities in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Ser vice. The aim of the campaign is to enhance fire safety, par ticularly in the home.

The main theme of this year’s Fire Safety Week is ‘Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives – Have you a plan if yours goes off!’ Roscommon County Council, through its dedicated fire service is proud to support this year’s campaign, endorsing series of initiatives.

This year Roscommon Fire Service, together with other fire services will not only be encour aging people to have smoke alarms and test them, they will also be supporting daily themes relating to Fire Safety. The lo

cal fire service is particularly mindful of the energy and cost of living crises and the impact this may have upon household ers in the county. Roscommon County Council through both its Facebook and Twitter ac counts will promote fire safety awareness throughout the week. Videos will also be available giving practical demonstrations and advice in the event of a fire emergency.

Chief Fire Officer with Ro scommon County Council John Keane says Fire Safety Week is an important campaign for the local fire service: “Through our dedicated fire personnel, we are acutely aware of our responsi bility to promote fire safety, par ticularly in the home.

Fire Safety Week began on Monday (Oct. 17th) with the theme ‘Working smoke alarms save lives – have you a plan if

yours goes off?’ This was fol lowed by Tuesday’s theme en titled ‘Smoke Alarm Day’ with advice on checking one’s smoke alarm and advice for when one’s alarm goes off.

The theme of Wednesday was ‘How Do You Plug In’. Here advice and illustrations were given on turning off ap pliances, unplugging phone chargers overnight and advice on not using tumble dryers and washing machines while one is asleep.

Wednesday’s promotion also focused on the themes of cor rectly storing lithium ion batter ies and e-scooters as well as cor rectly storing flammable liquids outside of the home in a safe container and location. These measures are underpinned by advice on saving energy in a safety conscious manner.

Thursday’s theme of Na

Roscommon Fire Service

Fire Safety Week 17th –

Oct

National Fire Safety Week, 17th October – 23rd October 2022, aims to enhance fire safety, particularly in the home. In the new blended working world many of us are spending more time at home so it is more important than ever that we are all informed as to the steps we can take to protect ourselves and our homes from fire.

This year for Fire Safety Week we will be focusing particularly on fire safety in the home and encouraging all homes to have smoke alarms and test them weekly. Statistics tell us that you are more likely to die in a fire if you do not have a smoke alarm.

tional Fire Safety Week is ‘Chil dren’s and Students’ Fire Safety’. Among the tips offered are never to stand close to an open fire or candles if wearing pyjamas’ or fancy dress costumes as well as offering best practice on keeping matches and lighters away from children.

Further advice includes keep ing charger devices away from beds and coaches as well as phones, laptops and other devices to be charged on hard surfaces with the availability of ventila tion. Information is also high lighted on the dangers of smoking in bed and the dangers of cooking late at night if returning from a night out.

Friday’s theme is ‘Safer To gether’ which emphasises the importance of collaborative or community responses in the event of a fire safety emergency. Helpful tips such as checking in on a vulnerable friend or rela tive, assisting other family mem bers, particularly those who are younger or elderly in the event of a fire and ensuring vulnerable neighbours are kept safe are em phasised on the day.

The penultimate day of Fire Safety Week is Saturday, October 22nd. On this day, there is a par ticular focus on ensuring chim neys are properly cleaned and serviced and the importance of regularly servicing stoves, boil ers and flues by a competent and qualified Engineer.

Managing one’s own do

mestic fire is another essential consideration throughout Fire Safety Week. Families and in dividuals are advised that be fore going to bed, they should ensure open fires and stoves have burned down and at all times, use a spark guard in front of an open fire.

Where a chimney fire oc curs in a household (which is usually accompanied by a loud banging noise), individuals are advised to leave the affected property immediately and to contact their fire service. Re

grettably chimney fires remain the number one cause of fires in the home.

The final day of National Fire Safety Week, is this Sun day, October 23rd. This day focuses on safety in the home with topics such as best prac tice when using chip pans and planning one’s escape plan in the event of an emergency. The safe use of candles, en suring they are secured in non-conbustible candle hold ers and not near flammable material is also emphasised.

PPN informative workshop

Roscommon PPN (Public Participation Network) and Roscom mon Volunteer Centre are running the second of two free inform ative workshops on supporting and engaging volunteers.

The final workshop will take place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. this Thursday October 20th in the Abbey Hotel, Roscommon and fol lows a very successful workshop that took place last Thursday evening.

The Workshops are designed to equip attendee organisations with the knowledge and skills to successfully secure and sustain volunteer engagement.

Members of community and voluntary groups, social inclu sion stakeholders, environmental groups, PPN Members and all relevant groups seeking volunteer engagement in Roscommon are invited to attend these important workshops.

Key topics that will be covered in the workshops include plan ning for involving volunteers, managing expectations, volunteer motivations and engagement as well as appropriate measures for volunteer screening and selection.

If you would like to participate or require further informa tion, please contact Paul Clabby or Oliver Lydon at 086-0478616 or email info@roscommonppn.ie in order to book a place. An Eventbrite link is also available on the Roscommon Public Par ticipation Network social media channels.

Live and Live performances continue

The ‘Local and Live’ live performance initiative in Roscommon has been an outstanding success with a wide and eclectic mix of events and initiatives tak ing place across the county since January. The shows have resonated strongly with local audiences who have supported these events with large attendances in locations as diverse as King House, Edmondstown House, Clonalis House, the new outdoor performance venue at Somers Park in Castlerea, Kilmurry Hall and a number of other locations.

This Thursday night, October 20th, acclaimed South Sligo singer Patrick Feeney performs his very own country and gospel show in the newly redeveloped Moore Community Hall in Ballydan gan with the show beginning at 8 p.m. Bookings can be made on 087-2607819.

Then this Saturday, October 22nd Edmond stown House outside Ballaghaderreen will host ‘Poetry and Music by the fireside’ hosted by ac claimed poet Jessamine O’Connor and friends. While on Bank Holiday Sunday, October 30th, the same venue will host ‘Elves and the Shoemaker’, a children’s opera. Tickets for both events available from 085-1817268.

Meanwhile, the twenty-fifth anniversary of an iconic event will be celebrated in St. Joseph’s Hall in Boyle on this Sunday, October 23rd with a cel ebration marking the establishment of local record label, ‘Racket Records’.

MOTOR TAX OFFICE 9.30am to 1.00pm only Monday to Friday.

9.30am to 1.00pm and 2.00pm to 3.30pm Monday to Friday. from 9.30am to 1pm and from 2pm to 5pm Monday to Friday.

This event will be see the great and the good of local traditional music perform including ‘At the Racket’, James Carty, Matt Molloy, Michael Mc Goldrick and a number of surprise guests. Tickets for this event are available on Eventbrite.

The penultimate event of the current ‘Local and Live’ strand takes place in the beautiful surrounds of Trinity Arts Centre in Castlerea where leading soprano and Longford native, Emer Barry, will perform. Emer has performed on many stages and has strong connections with the Ballaghaderreen area where her mother hails from.

On the night, Emer will be accompanied by pianist and violinist Mary McCague and Harpist and singer Teresa O’Donnell, who has regularly entertained audiences at the Percy French Summer School in Castlecoote. Tickets for this event are also available on Eventbrite.

‘The Green Lady’s Ghostly Trail’ will be performed in King House with Enchanted Croí Theatre from Saturday, October 29th to Monday, October 31st with performances taking place each evening between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. For details, visit King House on 087-1444739.

The ‘Local and Live’ initiative is funded by Roscommon County Council, supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media under the Local Live Perfor mance Programming Scheme.

Roscommon Rapid Response to hold public meetings

Roscommon Rapid Response is holding public meetings throughout the county to inform com munity members and defibrillator groups about the Community Emergency Response System.

The Community Emergency Response Sys tem enables a four/five minute medical re sponse (quality CPR and defibrillation) for cardiac arrest victims. This four/five minute response time has been proven by medical re search to achieve an up to 75% survival rate for cardiac arrest victims. The current survival rate in Ireland is 5%. We can save lives in every community throughout Co. Roscommon with a very simple community emergency response

system: the EmCall phone app, which can be downloaded for free today.

The upcoming public meetings will talk about the Community Emergency Response System, the EmCall app, CPR training, etc. Groups will be provided with a map of their defibrillator locations, which will enable them to identify blackspots and prepare a draft outline of a pro posal for grant aid.

All meetings last one hour and individuals/ groups are, after the meeting, free to discuss their individual issues.

There will be a meeting at 8.30 pm on Octo ber 25th at Roscommon LEADER Partnership

William’s book launch in Ballymoe this Saturday

Award-winning author and poet William Tiernan is set to launch his new book of poetry, ‘The Joys of a Second Rattle at Life’ in Ballymoe this weekend.

The launch will take place at 8 pm on Saturday, October 22nd in the Fr Flanagan Community Centre in Ballymoe, followed

afterwards by refreshments. All are welcome.

This is William’s third book to date following the publication of his first book ‘Greetings from Guilka, Ballymoe: Poems from the Head and the Heart’ in 2016, and ‘Bluesy Ballymoe: Pulse and Hearts above Zero’ in 2017.

(Lanesboro Road, Roscommon), a meeting at 8.30 pm on October 26th at the Kilglass Gaels GAA Clubhouse, a meeting at 8.30 pm on No vember 1st at St Joseph’s Resource Centre in Boyle, a meeting at 9 pm on November 2nd at Castlerea’s O’Rourke Centre, a meeting at 8.30 pm on November 8th at The Shambles in Ballaghaderreen, a meeting at 8.30 pm on No vember 9th at Monksland Community Centre, a meeting at 9 pm on November 15th at Moore Community Centre, and a meeting at 8.30 pm on November 16th at Ballyleague Hall.

For more information about Roscommon Rapid Response, find the group on Facebook.

Malachy Trainor and Edel Goodman pictured at the Roscommon Races recently. Pic: Michelle Hughes Walsh

NewsG DThe page

Roscommon student awarded €20k Naughton Foundation Scholarship

Roscommon student, Emily Glee son, was awarded a Naughton Foun dation Scholarship worth €20,000 at a ceremony at Trinity Business School on Dublin on Saturday last.

The award was presented by founding patrons of the Naughton Foundation, Dr. Martin Naughton, and his wife Carmel, who were joined by Simon Harris, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to award winning students with their accolades and cheques.

Supporting academic and innova tive excellence in Irish students, the Naughton Foundation Scholarship Awards are an investment in the future of Ireland’s reputation as a country with outstanding graduates promoting the study of engineer ing, science, and technology at third level.

The County Roscommon winner, Emily Gleeson, a former student of Scoil Mhuire Strokestown, has ac cepted a place studying Science at University College Dublin.

Since its establishment in 2008, scholarships worth over €6 million have been awarded to over 350 stu dents.

Emily joins 37 exceptional Irish

students who were awarded third level scholarships towards their studies in the areas of engineering, science, technolo gy, and maths. Emily’s former second ary school, Scoil Mhuire Strokestown was awarded a prize of €1,000 towards the school’s science facilities, for their support of these students. More than 250 schools have also benefited from this prize to date with some schools re ceiving it on more than one occasion.

Speaking about the growth and de velopment of the programme over the past 14 years, Dr. Martin Naughton has said: “We started supporting students in their science and engineering stud ies in Louth, Meath, and Monaghan in 2008 to give back to our local area. We never imagined what a wonderful community of connected young people the Naughton Scholarship programme would become.

“Our Alumni are an incredible group working in the best universities, re search institutes and businesses across the world. Each year we hear back from them on the value of this network to them and the connections it has giv en them across disciplines and Ireland. They are a wonderful group of young people that are all giving back to soci ety in their own way that we are very proud to be connected with”.

Lough Ree RNLI fundraising reaches community target for new lifeboat station

Lough Ree RNLI marked a significant milestone on Monday last (17th) when a cheque for €100,000 was presented to the RNLI as the local community contribution to the overall €1.2 million cost of the new lifeboat sta tion on a site donated by the Inland Waterways Associa tion of Ireland.

The presentation was made

by Michael Ganly, Chairman of the Lough Ree RNLI Ap peal Committee to Anna Cl asson, Head of Ireland, RNLI.

On her first visit to the new lifeboat station Anna Clas son said she was “really im pressed by the partnership be tween the RNLI and the IWAI and to see two great organisa tions sharing resources for the benefit of the community”.

The community contribu tion was the result of a fund raising campaign, which ran for more than twelve months, and was supported by com munity groups, the corporate sector, and a host of individu als for the lakeside commu nity and beyond.

Presenting the cheque, the Chairman of the Lough Ree RNLI Appeal Committee

Michael Ganly said: “The work of people like commit tee secretary Pauline Irwin and all others involved was crucial to the success of the venture”.

The new lifeboat station has been very active this year and has been a particular asset to the 46 volunteer crew as the charity and its lifeboat ‘Tara Scougall’ responded to 46

callouts in the year to date.

Reflecting on the success ful fund-raising campaign the Treasurer of Lough Ree RNLI Vincent Rafter thanked: “All the ‘Go Fund Me’ campaigns, tests of en durance and anonymous donors who contributed amounts large and small to this special community ini tiative”.

Liam set to run Dublin Marathon for cancer charities

Local businessman, Liam Ste phen, (above), will be running the Dublin City Marathon to raise money and awareness for Cancer Care West and the Irish Cancer Society. Liam, who is well known for running Klassic Cleaners on Church Street in Roscommon town for the past 30 years, commented: “Many of you will know the wonderful work these charities have done for so for many Roscommon people. They provide accommodation, advice and support to people af fected by cancer”.

To support Liam in his fund raising endeavours, simply click on the link on his Facebook page and donate to this wonder ful cause. Liam will also have a bucket collection at Klassic Cleaners on Church Street. We all someone who has been affected by cancer. Please sup port.

Thank you for supporting Truck and Tractor Run

James Creaton and family would like to say a big thank you to all who supported the Truck, Tractor and Vintage Run which took place in Loughglyn recently in aid of The Mater Foundation.

The organisers said: “Thanks to the organisers, to all those who helped in the lead up and to every one who helped and turned up on the day. Thanks also to everyone for their kind and generous dona tions to the Heart & Lung Trans plant Unit. We were overwhelmed with the kindness and support and truly appreciate it”.

A total of €38,490 was raised from the event and a presenta tion will be made to The Mater Foundation in Creaton’s, Lough glynn this Friday (21st) at 8.30 pm. There will be refreshments and music on the night and all are welcome.

Pictured are Seamus Donnelly, County Roscommon Scholar Emily Gleeson, Scoil Mhuire Strokestown, Minister Simon Harris and Naughton Scholarship founders, Carmel and Dr. Martin Naughton. Pic: Kieran Harnett

Lough Ree RNLI volunteers, supporters and staff at the presentation:

Front (L-R): Mary Hearty, Vincent Rafter, Pauline Irwin, Michael Ganly, Anna Classon, Kevin Ganly and Damien Delaney. Back (L-R): Tom McGuire, Peter Harty, Tony McCarth, Brian Wilson and Jude Kilmartin.

Fundraising underway for Ballymurray NS expansion

Halloween Fun Walk on 29th

< PAUL HEALY

A Halloween Fun Walk (for all the family) which will take place at Mote Park, Roscommon on Sat urday, October 29th next is a fundraiser in aid of the Ballymurray NS Develop ment Fund. All proceeds from the fun event will go towards developing new facilities at a school which is currently attended by ap proximately 100 pupils.

The fundraising being undertaken is to bridge the gap between grants received and rising build ing costs for the follow ing items: New classroom and corridor; new carpark at the school to improve safety; additional play ing area for the children; boundary fence; installa tion of a new treatment system to accommodate growing numbers of stu dents at the school.

The school currently has six classrooms and the ex tra one (which will be ap prox. 80 square metres in size) is being added due to

an increase in the number of pupils attending.

All at the school greatly appreciate funding support received through the fol lowing: Emergency Works grant (treatment system); Additional Accommoda

tion Scheme (classroom); Clár funding (carpark).

Thanks are extended to Kathleen Hegarty from Clár for her help on this scheme throughout the ap plication process. Special thanks to local resident

Dermot Winston for his cooperation regarding the surrounding land in the context of the school ex pansion.

About the walk

The upcoming Halloweenthemed walk will be held

at Mote Park on Saturday, October 29th. It’s an event for ‘all the family’ and people are encouraged to come along in fancy dress if they wish.

The walk will commence at 11 am on the day with

people meeting at the Athlone Road entrance to Mote Park. Ensuring a wonderful Halloween atmosphere, there will be face-painting, story telling, tricks or treats, etc. There will also be a Tea/Coffee stand and a raffle will be held.

Entry is €10 per adult and

€20 per family and while tickets are available on the day, they can also be ob tained from Ballymurray NS or www.eventbrite.ie (just search for Hallow een Fun Walk). Additional donations can be made to the Ballymurray NS De velopment Fund on www. gofundme.com

Tractor and Car Drive is this Sunday

The annual Mid-Roscommon Vintage Club Tractor and Car Drive will take place on Sunday, October 23rd from Church Street, Strokestown. The Drive is in aid of the Kilglass-based Sick Children’s Fund. Entry fee is €20 per vehicle and registration will take place from 10.30 am.

The classic/vintage car run will take the follow ing route: depart from Church Street at 12 noon, and proceed to Longford bypass, and take the N4 westbound towards Newtownforbes, continue to Rooskey and take the R371 for Strokestown via Scramogue.

The tractor run, which will leave immediately after the cars, will take the following route: proceed to the R368 to Sharkey’s Cross, take L1424 to Lismehy and L1425 to Tuam Cross, take left at Tuam on New Line to N63 via Kilnalosset Cross. On the N63 it will proceed to Lanesboro and take right on Rathclyne road. The route will then take a circle to Ballymahon road via Newtowncashel road and return to Lanesboro. It will return to Strokestown via Curraghroe and Scramogue Cross.

Vintage tractors are welcome to take part and their route is a shorter distance; proceed to Ballybeg via Sharkey’s Cross and Lismehy. After a short rest they will return on same route. Marshals will be on duty at all junctions to direct the tractors. Refresh ments will be served in the morning and a raffle will take place later that night in Compton’s Central Bar where generous prizes are to be won. Please support this very worthy cause.

As Strokestown is in the county senior football final which takes place at 3 pm we would ask par ticipants in the drive to be in position on time as the run will depart at 12 noon sharp.

New season bar food menu at Abbey Hotel

Afternoon Tea at the Abbey Hotel

At the 4 Star Abbey Hotel Roscommon our Award-Winning Chefs have crafted a tantalis ing Afternoon Tea experience for you to enjoy while relaxing in our luxurious lounge area.

Guests can enjoy a delightful selection of sweet and savoury treats including Goats Cheese, Cranberry & Pistachio Nut Bon Bon; Mini Brown Scone with Cream Cheese & Smoked Salmon; a selection of Finger Sandwiches including Egg Mayonnaise & Baby Spinach, Baked Ham & Mature Ched dar Cheese with Ballymaloe Relish, Chicken & Pesto Mayonnaise Wrap with Sun dried Tomato; freshly Baked Buttermilk Scones with Whipped Cream & Preserves. This is followed by delights such as Banoffi Tartlet, Carrot Cake, Fresh Fruit Meringue, Vanilla & Raspberry Ripple Cheesecake and Hazel nut Chocolate Truffle Slice. You can also add a glass wine or a snipe of prosecco or nonalcoholic cocktail.

Afternoon Tea is available Monday to Friday only. Minimum 2 persons. Booking is essential – email events@abbeyhotel.ie or telephone 090 6626240.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for further updates and special offers.

Ballymurray National School

FRANK BRANDON

FRANK BRANDON’S unique take on life ...

RTE documentary on killing of Fr Molloy did nobody any favours

Our man Frank on three contrasting TV documentaries, the success of Lip Sync weekend, and how Shane shone in the Dublin County Final…

Winter and the weather it brings makes it a time of the year that very few people like. The short days and long, dark evenings are often a recipe for negative feelings. As it happens, they are also the times best suited for catching up on TV programmes.

Last week I managed to watch three programmes I’d like to mention, all of which happened to be documentaries. The first featured the highly popular entertainers Foster and Allen, and focused on their efforts to integrate their special brand of music with several other different genres. They also teamed up with artists who were

very much younger than themselves, including a couple of rappers, a gos pel singer, and some other diverse influences. I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it.

It must be 50 years or so since I first saw them live. It was in Dowd’s in Glinsk, at a time when they were hardly known by anyone. Since then, they have become huge international stars, and have had massive hits in places as far away as Australia, New Zealand and America. Tony Allen does most of the singing, while Mick Foster plays the accordion, but as well as being very good musically, they are great craic. Foster, in particu lar, came across as a loveable char acter who doesn’t take himself too seriously.

Their interaction with the younger artists was very revealing, as despite being such big international stars, they made everyone feel very much at home, and all the youngsters seemed to really enjoy working with them.

‘Lip Sync weekend’ was great fun

Last week I told you of the Lip Sync concerts that were taking place in the school hall in Creggs over the weekend. As I write this, it’s Sunday evening, and the dust has settled on what turned out to be two hugely successful and entertaining nights of fun.

Nine wonderful acts lit up the stage in the school, and – for a couple of hours at least – lit up the lives of all of those who were lucky enough to be there.

Each act brought their ‘A game’ to the table, and although Bobby Jennings and his excellent group of dancing school children won on Friday night, and the rugby lads (Ronan Cahill, Ronan Dowd, Eoghan Coyle and Brian Diffley) as Westlife topped the voting on Saturday night, the truth is that any one of the nine acts could have claimed

The second documentary focused on an accident that occurred on March 24th 1968, when a Vickers Viscount aeroplane (Aer Lingus flight 712) took off from Cork Airport, heading for London – but never made it. Just short of Tusker Rock, almost seven miles off the south-east coast of Wex ford, the plane crashed into the sea, resulting in the loss of 61 lives.

Since then, despite all kinds of in vestigations and enquiries, no one has ever found out why the accident hap pened. The documentary focused on a number of people who lost family members in the crash, and the longlasting effects it had on their lives.

I was 17 years of age at the time and I can remember it quite clearly. Even then, there were several theories as to what caused it. One of the more popular ones was that it had been hit by some type of aircraft that had originated from Aberporth in Wales, which at the time was the most ad vanced missile testing site in Britain.

Other theories were that a small red plane had accidentally struck the Aer Lingus flight, crashing some miles away near the Saltee Islands.

However, 54 years later, there is still no definitive answer as to the cause of the crash. The featured families all feel a need for some type of closure, which sadly looks as if it will never come.

The third documentary focused on the killing of Fr Niall Molloy, who was found dead in Kilcoursey House in Clara in July 1985. Nor mally I love ‘RTE Investigates’ pro grammes, so when I saw the trailers telling us they had new evidence about the mysterious death, I was re ally excited to think that the country would finally find out exactly what happened to the beloved Castle coote curate that night. However, I was very disappointed, because, while quick to insinuate – through totally unsubstantiated claims – that Fr Molloy and Therese Flynn were

more than just friends (something that must have upset the Molloy family), there were absolutely no meaningful revelations.

Certainly there were some newly discovered documents which told us Richard Flynn had his doubts about the relationship between his wife and Fr Molloy. However, in my opinion there was nothing substantial here to directly link Flynn to the death of Fr Molloy (Flynn, who is now deceased, was charged in relation to the death of the priest, but was acquitted).

Everyone knows there was some thing highly suspicious about the whole episode, but having the TV constantly revisit the killing without producing any conclusive evidence as to who the guilty party might me in my opinion does no one any favours.

‘RTE Investigates’ is normally in cisive and interesting, but this time it felt little more than a waste of time and left me with a distinctly negative feeling.

Julie’s new CD

Julie Healy has a huge night lined up for Dowd’s of Glinsk on Friday night, the 28th of October, with the launch of her new CD.

I’m told that – remarkably – all the songs have been written by Glinsk’s own James Shevlin! I hear there are thirteen songs in all written by James, which is some achievement.

Julie has an amazing line-up of talent coming on the night, with music by Mick Flavin and a huge number of special guests, including the man with the golden trumpet (Johnny Carroll), PJ Murrihy, Carmel McLoughlin, and several more top quality artists.

Michae Commins of Midwest Radio is the MC, doors open at 7 pm, admission is only €15, and CDs are available at €10. There will be spot prizes and a raffle, and it promises to be a wonderful night of music and craic.

And finally…

the winner’s prize. Every one of them were winners, and the general consensus from the night was that the entertainment level was extraordinary and a credit to all involved.

I am reluctant to mention any of the artists individually, but I am making an excep tion in the case of the oldest performer on the night – Seamus ‘the lips’ Ward from the Commitments’ Band, a well-known musician in his own right, who, as well as performing, had his own group of Ukrainian supporters, who certainly made their pres ence felt and seemed to thoroughly enjoy the show.

Sometimes it’s easy to forget about all the work that goes into a show like this, but the people who did the amazing costumes, the make-up people and hair stylists, the sound

and lighting organisers, the doormen, the tea and coffee sellers, the ticket sellers, the man on the mike (Paul Browne), the wonderful MC Shane Curley, and of course the very knowledgeable judges (three of them, at least! I was the fourth) all played their part in making it a night to remember. Thanks also to all who helped with the excellent props.

Nothing can ever be a success if people don’t support it, so a big thank you to the people of the parish and beyond who came out in such big numbers and ensured that the hall was completely full on both nights. It may be hard to believe, but it’s five years (or so I’m told) since Lip Sync 1 took place, so all I can say is I hope it is nowhere near as long again until we have Lip Sync 3!

After all the controversy about his footballing transfer from Kilkerrin-Clonberne to Kilma cud Crokes, the whole country was wondering whether or not Shane Walsh could deliver in Sunday’s Dublin County Final. To his credit, he sure did deliver; to be the Man of the Match must have been very special for him.

As one who felt he should have got the Man of the Match award after the All-Ireland football final, I am delighted Shane got the recognition he deserved for Sunday’s performance.

Talking of the All-Ireland final, and especially after this week’s Connacht Championship draw, isn’t it time the Galway flags, posters, and good luck messages came down, and are put back into cold storage? Hopefully they can go back up again next year!

The Commitments: Seamus Ward, Kate Hanley, Nadine Archer, Sally Garvey and John Hanley pictured at the recent Lip Sync competition, held in aid of Creggs NS. Pic: Mick McCormack

Funding on way for walking and cycling projects at Rooskey – Murphy

Senator Eugene Murphy says he has received confirmation of provision of funding for walk ing and cycling ‘infrastructure’ near the River Shannon at Roo skey.

Speaking in the Seanad on Thursday, Senator Murphy raised his concerns regarding the safety of cyclists and walk ers on Rooskey Bridge.

He now says he has received a commitment from Minister of State at the Department of Pub lic Expenditure, Ossian Smyth, that the National Transport Au thority has granted funding for walking and cycling infrastruc ture across the River Shannon at Rooskey.

“A number of local people had

been in touch with me regarding the safety of cyclists and pedes trians at Rooskey Bridge,” said the Senator.

“It is now expected that a con sultant will be appointed before the end of the year to undertake the initial concept and feasibil

ity study for the provision of suitable measures at the Roos key location. This may involve a footpath, shuttle system, or other intervention.

“This will improve public safety and amenities for both locals and visitors to the area,”

Wedding Showcase at Radisson Blu Hotel, Athlone this Sunday (23rd)

Radisson Blu Hotel, Athlone, is inviting couples to attend their Wedding Showcase this Sunday, October 23rd, from 1 pm to 5 pm. This would be an ideal opportunity to see the hotel first-hand. Couples will get to view the magnificent Marina Suite fully set up in all its glory, enjoy a glass of bubbly on arrival,

and sample some delicious treats. The hotel’s dedicated Wedding Coordinator Claire will be there on the day to answer any and all ques tions couples may have at this very exciting time!

For more information, phone 090-6442600, or email weddings.athlone@radissonblu.com.

An Garda Síochána ‘allocation of Superintendents in Roscommon area’

An Garda Síochána has con firmed the following appoint ments in respect of Superinten dents for the Roscommon area, which took effect from October 17th, resulting from promotions and consequential allocations.

Superintendent Francis

Nicholson, Roscommon Garda Station, has been given responsibility for Roscom mon Community Engagement Functional Area.

Superintendent Thomas Calvey, Roscommon Garda Station, has been given respon

sibility for Mayo/Roscommon/ Longford Performance Assur ance Functional Area.

Superintendent Thomas Colsh, Castlerea Garda Station, has been given responsibility for Mayo/Roscommon/Long ford Crime Functional Area.

Sunday the 23rd October | From 1pm to 5pm

Join us on Sunday the 23rd for our October Wedding Showcase! Our stunning, riverside ballroom will be set up in all it’s glory and our dedicated Wedding Coordinator Claire, will be there on the day to guide you through the first steps of this very exciting journey.

RSVP - 090 644 2600 or weddings.athlone@radissonblu.com

Punters pictured at the last Roscommon race meeting of the year, which took place recently. Photo: Michelle Hughes Walsh

Miriam’s MUSINGS

Words of wit and wisdom with MIRIAM KERINS

My yellow card to critics of footballers singing THAT song…

My family received dev astating news last week, news which has quite liter ally broken our hearts and news which I will, when I feel able, share with you –because I know what hap pened to us has also very likely happened to many of my readers’ families.

However, as a result of our situation, we were kind of oblivious to the furore, the hoo-ha, and the commo tion surrounding what was a group of young ladies who’d just won an impor tant football match inno cently celebrating by sing ing a ditty in their dressing room.

As a proud Irish woman, I have to say the shenanigans didn’t escape me fully for the simple reason that it, er, hasn’t gone away due to hypersensitive people re fusing to allow it do so!

Yes folks, it seems our Republic of Ireland foot ball team’s 1-0 victory over Scotland to qualify for the Women’s World Cup has been turned into an interna tional scandal – not because these amazing ladies have made history, nay nay – be cause they had the temerity to celebrate by singing a harmless ditty.

The much-loved, tradition al Irish ditty at the centre of the scandal is the wonderful ‘Celtic Symphony’. It was written and performed by iconic group Wolfe Tones’ member Brian Warfield in 1987 in commemoration of

the centenary of Celtic Football Club, which fell a year later in 1988. This is a song I’ve sung myself many times and – may I add – it’s a song I will continue to sing!

Oh but it was not so much the song itself which upset the snowflakes. Nay, nay readers, rather it was the refrain, ‘ooh, aah, up the ‘Ra’, a line the tal ented Mr Warfield explains was taken from graffiti he saw on a wall in Glasgow, which read

‘we’re magic, up the Celts, ooh, aah, up the ‘Ra’, and was not referring to the Provisional IRA and the devastation and terrorism they carried out. It’s claimed it referred to the Old IRA, formed in 1919 and made up of members of the Irish Vol unteers and the Irish Citizen Army who fought against the British in our War of Indepen dence.

So there you have it! Inquisi tion closed. However, this well-

written little chorus has hurt the sensitivities of some people. To put some perspective on last week’s victory for our girls in green, the incident was a far cry from 2017 when fourteen play ers from the Republic of Ireland women’s football team were forced to make a stand at Dub lin’s Liberty Hall to highlight the dreadful treatment they’d been receiving at the hands of the FAI. ‘Treated like fifth class citizens’ was how they’d put it,

when, among other issues, they faced the ‘humiliation’ of hav ing to go into public toilets to change into official tracksuits for international games, chang ing back out of them again be cause they had to be ‘handed back for use by other teams’. Now, rather than being allowed to bask in their glory and sing a celebratory song, the team have not just been hounded by some of our begrudging neighbours, and by many politicians across

the border and across the water, they’ve also been thrown under a bus by the FAI.

By profoundly and pro fusely apologising for any offence caused by the Irish players singing the song in question, the FAI has shown its true colours…yellow!

These ladies were not in tentionally hurting anyone, they were singing a song in the same way as Scottish football fans sing Rule Bri tannia… a so-called ‘patriot ic song’, which by the way, could be construed as con taining perceived references to slavery and colonialism. Does the curse that was Cromwell, the Great Fam ine, the estimated 130,000 Irish people shipped into slavery in America and the West Indies during the years of 1651-1660 by the Brit ish ring a bell for anyone? I could go on and on, but I think I’ve made my point.

Celtic Symphony is a song which, like thousands of others, contains a few lines that some people dis like and find offensive (as is their right). But, how can I put it…get over it! It’s impossible to put a fig ure on the amount of Irish people who’ve suffered intolerable cruelties as a result of British injustice, and even though we know it was massive, we don’t make a federal case out of some of their teams singing their racist lyrics! Let’s stop apologising on this, now!

My tips for keeping your fur babies safe during Halloween

The Oíche Shamhna countdown is on, and with it comes trick or treat ing for the little ones, meaning our homes will likely be filled with loud noises, banging doors, ringing bells – and of course, lots of goodies that will likely prove hazardous to our pets.

It is with that sentiment in mind that as a pet parent, I’d like to offer, if I may, a few of my own useful tips for keeping those fur babies safe and well during what I call the festival of ghosts, ghouls, gobstoppers, gummy bears and mini-galaxy bars! Here’s what I suggest:

Your stash of goodies is for the kid dies, not the doggies or the kitties, so store them out of harm’s way. Re member, many treats are toxic to pets

with chocolate, in every form, espe cially dark and cooking varieties and sweets and bars containing the sugar substitute xylitol being particularly dangerous, causing serious health is

sues to dogs and cats if ingested – in some circumstances, even resulting in a pet’s death.

During the week, I’ve seen many a creatively carved, candlelit pumpkin

displayed in windows, but do bear in mind these can pose a fire hazard, es pecially if your curious kitty or puppy decides to investigate and accidental ly knock them over, resulting in the possibility of their little bodies getting burned or singed.

Ease off on the pets’ Halloween costumes folks, for the simple reason that if your fur baby doesn’t normally wear clothing, it may cause them a level of upset and distress, especially if it limits their movements. Cos tumes – due to dangly bits and bobs –are also a choking hazard as they can easily be chewed off and swallowed.

Strangers calling to your door wear ing masks can prove scary for your pets, so keep them calm and safe in a separate room far away from the

front door. If you’re walking your dog, keep him/her on a lead and make sure he/she has proper identification, and is microchipped; the same goes for your kitties who should be se cured and not allowed to roam during Halloween!

I’m merely sharing my pet safety suggestions with readers as a form of guidance, however please do seek the advice of your veterinarian, who is not just an expert in these matters, but who will be happy to help you to navigate your precious fur babies safely through the festivities. In ad dition, if you have farm animals or horses/donkeys, do make absolutely sure they’re safely secured and shel tered from the fireworks, the bonfires and the bangers.

‘Celtic Symphony’ was written and performed by Brian Warfield of the Wolfe Tones’ in 1987 in commemoration of the centenary of Celtic Football Club, which fell a year later in 1988.

Talk and unveiling ceremony regarding the Tully Lough Cross

On Saturday, October 29th, Aughrim Kilmore History Society will host a talk and unveiling ceremony in rela tion to the Tully Lough Cross.

Pictured is the Tully Lough Cross, which dates back to the 18th/19th century and was found in Tully Lough in Roscommon.

The Tully Lough Cross is a rare example of an Irish altar cross of the 8th/9th century. It was paraded on im portant religious feast-days and cere monial occasions, a traditional usage that attained a high point during the 12th century.

It was found by a diver in 1986 during an unapproved search of the

environs of a small crannog on Tully Lough near Kilmore village, and is currently on display in the National History Museum at Kildare Street, Dublin – alongside such iconic items as the Cross of Cong, the Ardagh Chalice and the Tara Brooch.

The day’s events will commence at 7 pm in the Parish Community Cen tre with a talk by Eamonn P Kelly.

Eamonn, also known as Ned, is an Irish archaeologist and historian who worked for the Irish Antiquities Di

vision of the National Museum of Ireland from 1975.

Eamonn’s talk will be followed by a question and answer session, after which refreshments will be served at the Kilmore Inn at 9.30 pm. At 10 pm, there will be an unveiling of a framed photograph of the Tully Lough Cross, also in the Kilmore Inn. To round off the evening, there will be local entertainment and a raf fle in aid of the Kilmore Old Church Restoration Fund (from 10.30 pm).

Monster Auction in Lecarrow coming soon

St John’s Community Centre, Lecarrow and committee are pleased to announce that their annual Monster Auction will take place on Sunday, 6th of November from 2 pm.

Following on from the success of previous events, this year’s showpiece is sure to be bigger and better than be fore.

Organisers are predicting a huge auction, with in the re gion of 350-400 lots expected. Donations are being sought for the auction and all items are welcome.

Goods in saleable condition are welcome and can be ei ther new or second-hand. Items welcome include working electrical equipment, furniture, services, livestock, vouch ers, fuel, bric-à-brac, unwanted gifts or cash donations.

If you have not already donated or would like to arrange collection of items for the event, please arrange to have them left to the community centre no later than 10 pm on Thursday, 3rd of November. To arrange a collection, please contact any committee member or David on (086) 8952283 or Arnold on (087) 6269443.

The auction will be conducted in the same format as in previous years, with pre-viewing on the morning of the auction from about 12 noon. All lots must sell on the day and will be without reserve. Food and refreshments will be available to purchase on the day.

People wishing to bid at the auction must purchase a bid ding number which will cost €3 and is available on entry to the hall. Don’t miss out is the advice and please arrive early for viewings on the day.

Roscommon Bridge Club

1st: Mary and Terry O’Keeffe; 2nd: Joan O’Shea and Carmel Plunkett; Gross: Joan Donnellan and June Halliday. Happy ‘71 Bridge Club

1st: Mary McDermott and Ann Kilduff; 2nd: Tommie Murphy and June Halliday; Gross: Larry Shine and Tresina Smyth. St Coman’s Bridge Club

1st: Mary Naughton and Ann Shine; 2nd: Theresa McDermott and Mary Lennon; Gross: Kitty Gately and Gertie Spillane. Ballymurray Bridge Club

North/South - 1st: Jill Farrell and Pat Lyons; 2nd: Pat Pierse and Breedge Weir; Gross: Kate Walshe and Mary Doyle. East/ West - 1st: Kitty Blighe and Fiona Neilan; 2nd: John O’Gara and George Bannon; Gross: Mary Naughton and Kitty Gately. Kilbride Bridge Club

1st: Bernie Fallon and Phil Murray-O’Brien; 2nd: Martina Fal lon and Pauline O’Donohoe; 3rd: Mary Kelly and Kitty Burke.

Gospel Reflection

Sunday, 23 October

Jesus draws a blunt picture in today’s Gospel.

The Pharisee’s prayer is almost a parody of the thanksgiving psalms (see for example Psalms 30, 118). Instead of praising God for His mighty works, the Pharisee congratulates himself for his own deeds, which he presents to God in some detail.

The tax collector stands at a distance, too ashamed even to raise his eyes to God (see Ezra 9:6). He prays with a humble and contrite heart (see Psalm 51:19). He knows that before God no one is righteous, no one has cause to boast (see Roman 3:10; 4:2).

We see in the Liturgy today one of Scripture’s abiding themes: that God “knows no favourites,” as today’s First Reading tells us (see 2 Chronicles 19:7; Acts 10:34–35; Romans 2:11).

God cannot be bribed (see Deuteronomy 10:17). We cannot curry favour with Him or impress Him – even with our good deeds or our faithful observance of religious duties such as tithing and fasting.

If we try to exalt ourselves before the Lord, as the Pharisee does, we will be brought low (see Luke 1:52).

This should be a warning to us – not to take pride in our piety, not to slip into the self-righteousness of thinking that we’re better than others, that we’re “not like the rest of sinful humanity”.

If we clothe ourselves with humility (see 1 Peter 5:5–6), if we recognise that all of us are sinners in need of His mercy, we will be exalted (see Proverbs 29:33).

The prayer of the lowly, the humble, pierces the clouds. Paul testifies to this in today’s Epistle as He thanks the Lord for giving him strength during his imprisonment.

Paul tells us what the Psalmist sings today – that the Lord redeems the lives of His humble servants.

We too must serve Him willingly. And He will hear us in our distress, deliver us from evil, and bring us safely to His heavenly kingdom.

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

The cast of The Greatest Showman pictured at the recent Lip Sync competition, held in aid of Creggs NS. Pic: Mick McCormack

THE BRIDGE CLUB

Auctioneer David Diffley

CIARAN MULLOOLY On The Back Benches

A lament for Creeslough: another test for our faith

What happened in Creeslough in County Donegal on Friday, October 7th has had a profound effect on the whole country. The death of ten people in one incredible incident on a quiet Friday afternoon is re ally difficult to comprehend. Amidst the mourning, many are still searching for answers in their faith as to what happened.

I am not a deeply religious person by any means but for the last three decades I have been a personal friend of Fr John Cullen – a priest in the diocese of Elphin who was in charge of religious program ming on Shannonside FM when I was Head of News there back in 1991.

John and I have from time to time enjoyed an open dialogue about the ways of the church and the ac tions of ‘his boss’ AKA God. We have debated the good, the bad and the ugly parts of the institution on a regular basis. I have to say he is a brilliant man to bat on the church’s behalf – making sense of many things I could never have previously understood or accepted.

I remember one particularly entertaining and emo tive argument in this vein that I enjoyed having with John. It was about the actor, broadcaster and writer Stephen Fry after his appearance on the ‘Would You Believe’ TV show with the late Gay Byrne.

Readers may remember that Fry had pointed to the callousness and unfairness of absolutely harrowing real-life events such as babies developing leukemia or dying with cancer tumours in their youth. In re ally strong and controversially outspoken language, he told Byrne he could never respect “a capricious, mean-minded, stupid God who creates a world … so full of injustice”.

Public outcry

There was a bit of an outcry about what Fry had said among those people of deep faith in this country. You may remember that one person even reported Mr Fry to the Gardai on grounds of alleged blas phemy and the Government subsequently changed a law in response to such occurrences. John and I continued the argument for many weeks as we had our own debate in a civil manner, by text and phone call, on how events of such a tragic and heartbreak ing nature could ever be interpreted as acceptable in a church which was allegedly endorsing a life where individuals should portray love and respect for one another (and the aforementioned God).

Last week was another one of those similarly

difficult moments for me and for some of the people around me. As we watched the funer als take place in Donegal our hearts sank to the point of despair as the relatives came forward to speak so passionately and so bravely – at the funerals – about the loved ones they had lost in such an indiscriminate manner.

I wasn’t actually speaking to John about the events in Donegal at all last week. Nowadays he is far from his old Roscommon duties. He is on a working sab batical in a ministry with the poor and the homeless on the streets of London. Yet, as if by telepathy, he probably knew what was going through my head (and in the minds of a few more people). He de cided to email me a copy of some deliberations he put together while speaking at an inter-faith prayer service in London last week.

I read it, and even though I still don’t agree with everything he says, I am big enough to admit that he has once again struck a chord that may well help and console people of faith in the aftermath of such horrific events as those we witnessed in Creeslough. So, with his permission, I am going to republish it here this week in my column in the People. I will leave it to each reader to interpret it as they wish.

‘A lament for Creeslough’

The sound of lament is heard throughout the Bible: cries of grief, distress, oppression, displacement, protest, pain, anguish and a time less expression of the weeping voice of God, in whose image and likeness we are all made.

Creeslough is twinned with Calvary. Together we stand at this station of sorrow. We all feel the searing pain of this moment in our collective and individual lament. We all cry for the loss of life and for the loss of a future. Our la ment expresses a painful paradox: that in the midst of life – we are in death.

In our time, the haunting sounds of lament are heard across our fractured world: Ukraine, Afghanistan, Syria, Pakistan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Thailand, Myanmar, Palestine, Nicaragua, the Uyghurs in China, the plight and danger endured by migrants in their search for a wel come and a home, and the victims of knife and gun crime across London... agus anois…An Criooslach... croíthe briste...

The Taoiseach, Micheál Martin solemnly read into the Irish House of Parliament (the Dáil), record, the ten names of those who died.

We name them here – believing God ‘calls each one us by name’ (Isaiah 43:1). A candle will be lit for each one of the names as they are called...Shauna Flanagan-Gar we, and her father, Robert Garwe, Leona Harper, Hugh Kelly, Jes sica Gallagher, Martin McGill, James O’Flaherty, Martina Mar tin, Catherine O’Donnell and her son, James Monaghan.

It is in the prophecy of Jeremiah that we hear the lament of Rachel echoing down the centuries to our own day, as she weeps for her children: “A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation and weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children. She refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more” (Jeremiah 31:15). The sound of lament is rooted in our ancient, biblical past. Rachel still grieves for all generations who have

known loss, grief, suffering, death and bereavement.

I hear muffled laments in London: in the voices of those who queue for food, in the voices of homeless, in the voices of the elderly, in grieving parents who face the suicide of one of their children, in a young person who is trapped by cocaine or another addiction, in a marriage break-up, in those impacted by the financial crisis, in those who have to beg for food for their families and in that unique quality of silence in a palliative care hospice.

The destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem is the subject of the Book of Lamentations. It was a catastrophic event for the people. It precipitated a tradition of lament that became part of the ritual of the people. It was a vocal expression of collective grief in response and in reaction to the dire loss and displacement that they felt and experienced.

The recent time of mourning for Queen Elizabeth united Britain’s different faiths, traditions and cultures. People gathered to sign Condolence Books, bring flowers and messages, to stand in silence, prayer and long, overnight proces sion queues to lament and honour her memory and service with respect. It was a reminder that the ancient language of lament is still expressive and that it has not, as yet, become a lost language, in a society that tends to be so preoc cupied and too busy to stop and face the reality of death.

As we lament in silence for Creeslough, we all share a Done

In association with: LOUGH REE ACCESS FOR ALL

gal accent that is now our univer sal mother tongue. But fluency is not a requirement for prayer or a biblical imperative as we mourn and lament the massive loss of ten precious lives. Jesus gives us a tip on how to pray – ‘do not heap up empty phrases when you are pray ing’ (Matthew 6:7).

Our authentic lament here at our inter-faith prayer service is grounded in the experiences of Irish people who have made Lon don their home. I also welcome the people who have joined us from other faith traditions, nation alities and cultures. Your prayer and presence with us is appreci ated. As we say in Irish...Céad Míle Fáilte.

Together, we believe that our lament for Creeslough is heard, held and healed by our God, ‘who is close to the broken hearted’ (Psalm 34:18). Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine. (In the shel ter of each other, people survive).

- John Cullen, October 2022

Fr. John Cullen

A member of the Gardai lays flowers at the scene.

Garda Youth Award winners revealed!

The annual Roscommon/Longford Garda Youth Awards took place recently at Aras an Chontae.

The first of the night’s award recipi ents was Adam Reddington in the individual category. Nominated by Fuerty GAA Club, he recently organ ised a fundraising run/walk in aid of Aoibheann’s Pink Tie and Childhood Cancer Foundation Ireland charities, helping the families of children who have been diagnosed with cancer.

Through his selfless efforts, Adam has highlighted the ability of young people to overcome their own obsta cles and to contribute to the whole community. Adam kept the online page up to date showing hundreds of young people in the area that there is an inbuilt goodness among his peers.

To date, Adam’s fundraiser has cur rently raised over €24,400 for the chosen causes.

Group award recipients Michael Gillooly and Ava Mulry were recog nised for their efforts in May 2019 when the Roscommon Gaels All Stars team was launched in Roscom mon Town. This was a summer camp for children with additional needs, aged 6 years and older to kick a ball, swing a hurl, play and to have fun.

Throughout 2021 Michael and Ava volunteered every week. They played with all the children, working hard to ensure the children attending had a positive, fun experience. Both Michael and Ava were nominated by Oliver Moran.

Nominated by Garda Linda O’Connell of Longford Garda

Station, Callum Clarke from Tulsk saved his grandad Sean when he got into difficulties in the water while both were out fishing. His calm and fast thinking was credited with saving his grandfather’s life. He re ceived a glass trophy and a voucher for €125.

Special Achievement Award recipient Geraldine Maughan suf fered horrific injuries and required hospitalisation which affected both her physical and mental health. As a result she required support from a number of agencies to help her regain her personal, physical and mental strength.

Nominated by Anne Kenny of Foroige’s ‘Big Brother, Big Sister’ programme in Granard, Geraldine recently completed the Darkness into Light and the Women’s Mini Mara thon. Currently she is training with the local Gaelic4Mothers&Others. She has also participated in the Gaisce President Awards.

Geraldine has also engaged with Foróige’s ‘Big Brother Big Sister programme’ and has helped out with her local tidy towns group, picking up litter or plant shrubs.

Nominated by Joanna Casey in the community safety award category, members of the county’s Comhairlena nÓg participated in a pilot consul tation with the members of Com munity Safety Initiative in Longford where were voiced their opinions on safety in County Longford.

The Community Safety Partnership is a new Government initiative that

brings different statutory services, voluntary and community sectors, local councillors, Gardaí and com munity members to work together and to tackle the safety issues affect ing local communities.

Master of Ceremonies at this year’s awards was Inspector David Cryan with Chief Superintendent Ray McMahon, Superintendent Fran Nicholson of Roscommon Garda Station and Superintendent Seamus Boyle of Longford Garda Station also in attendance.

Speaking at the awards, Cathao irleach of Roscommon County

Council, Cllr. Tom Crosby said the awards honour courage, bravery, civil mindedness and the profound impact of reaching out to others, very often those less fortunate. He said it was fitting An Garda Síochána support these awards as the qualities of our award winners are qualities shared by Gardaí, working on behalf of our local communities.

“I would like to warmly congratu late all tonight’s award recipients. Your courage, dedication and self lessness is something to be greatly admired and valued. You have also enhanced the lives of your families

and friends in a way that you can scarcely appreciate,” he said.

“Members of An Garda Síochána show tremendous leadership and discretion in the execution of their roles. Many children and young adults, often affected by addiction or from dysfunctional backgrounds, have been supported by Gardaí in a proactive, rather than reactive way, often helping to turn around the life of a troubled teenager”.

Cllr. Crosby also acknowledged the role of both Roscommon County Council and Longford County Council in supporting these prestigious awards.

John Donnellan collecting a Group Award on behalf of Michael Gillooly at the recent Roscommon/ Longford Garda Youth Awards. Michael was recognised for his voluntary efforts as part of the Roscommon Gaels All Stars initiative which was launched in 2019.

Adam Reddington was announced as the winner of the individual award at this year’s Roscommon/ Longford Garda Youth Awards which took place at Áras an Chontae recently.

Ava Mulry received a Group Award at the recent Roscommon/Longford Garda Youth Awards at Áras an Chontae in recognition of her voluntary efforts as part of the Roscommon Gaels All Stars initiative.

Callum Clarke received the Special Recognition Award at the Roscommon/Longford Garda Youth Awards at Áras an Chontae recently.

Geraldine Maughan, Special Achievement winner. Geraldine had previously suffered injuries which affected both her mental and physical health.

The judging panel for this year’s Roscommon/Longford Garda Youth Awards which took place at Áras an Chontae recently (left to right): Garda Inspector David Cryan; Turlough McGovern, Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council; Fiona Ní Chuin, Roscommon County Council; Sinead Hussey, RTÉ Midlands Correspondent; Cathal Cregg, former Roscommon senior footballer; and Garda Tanya Duffy, event organiser.

Longford Comhairle na nÓg were announced as the Community Safety winners at the Roscommon/Longford Garda Youth Awards at Áras an Chontae recently.

‘For women, life, and freedom’ – one woman’s death leads to unprecedented protests in Iran Let’s talk about ...

THE WOMEN’S PROTESTS IN IRAN (A student’s perspective)

Alannah Ita Healy

“For women, life, and free dom” – this is the battle cry that has been heard countless times over the past few weeks as an unprecedented wave of pro tests sweep Iran following the death of 22-year-old Iranian woman Mahsa (Zhina) Amini in police custody, a tragedy which has become a catalyst for a movement fighting for women’s rights and against corrupt policing.

Amini had travelled to Tehran (Iran’s capital) on September 13th with her family when she was arrested by morality police at a central metro station for ‘bad hijab’ (wearing her head scarf incorrectly). Two days after her arrest, Tehran police issued a statement saying that she had suffered a heart at tack while in custody and had been hospitalised, with official reports claiming she had epi lepsy/previous heart problems – claims her family insisted were completely false. She fell into a coma and on September 16th her death was announced.

Her injuries, including bleed ing from one ear, led to specu lation that Amini may have been badly beaten some time between her arrest and her hos pitalisation. However, police have continued to maintain that she died of a heart attack, and

that “there had been no physi cal contact” between the offic ers and Amini.

Amini’s tragic death resonated heavily with Iranian women, who took to the streets in the western city of Saqqez fol lowing her funeral, ripping off their own headscarves in solidarity. This would be the first of countless demonstra tions to take place, with recent weeks seeing instance after instance of protesters gather ing in droves in defiance of the Iranian regime.

It’s worth noting that Iran has seen similar movements happen before, cases where protests have been held pub licly against mandatory veil ing. However, for the large part, these instances were iso lated (limited to certain age/ class groups, etc., such as in 2009, 2017, and 2019), and in each case, they were dealt with swiftly and severely. What is happening in Iran at the moment is completely un precedented; large-scale dem onstrations held nationwide and attended by both men and women of all ages, women removing their headscarves in public at protests and during their everyday lives, women cutting their hair in public, schoolchildren cutting class

to demonstrate in playgrounds and in the streets… all doing so with the risk of being punished disproportionately for their ac tions, the risk of being killed.

Because, despite the momen tum that the movement con tinues to build, despite the un precedented show of support, the ongoing protests have not been able to take place without tragedy following in their wake. In their continued efforts to di minish support for the move ment, Iranian authorities have brutally cracked down on the protests, attempting to suppress them with violence. At the time of writing, Iran’s Human Rights Activists News Agency have estimated that over 200 peo ple have been killed in or after demonstrations, a figure which

includes 23 children.

Devastatingly (though due to Iran’s strict regime it’s dif ficult to identify those who’ve lost their lives), as the protests go on, we are seeing more and more names being added along side Amini’s as people who’ve fallen victim to Iranian authori ties as a result of fighting for their rights: 16-year-old blog ger Sarina Esmailzadeh who was beat to death with batons by security forces, 17-year-old activist Nika Shakarami who was tortured, raped, and killed for her participation in the pro tests, 33-year-old international climber Elnaz Rekabi who competed in a tournament with out a headscarf and at the time of writing, hasn’t been seen since… this list, heartbreak

Mary McAleese launches Holocaust commemoration project in Roscommon

On Monday, former President of Ireland Mary McAleese officially launched the Holocaust Education Ireland’s Cro cus Project, planting cro cus bulbs in her garden at home in Roscommon, with the help of local schoolchildren. The yel low flowers, recalling the yellow Stars of Da vid, will bloom around the time of International Holocaust Memorial Day on January 27th.

The Crocus Project commemorates all of the children who perished in the Holocaust, and aims to educate schoolchildren over the age of ten about

the Holocaust and the dangers of racism, and all forms of discrimination and hatred.

Schoolchildren from Cootehall National School, Woodbrook Na tional School and Car rick-on-Shannon Com munity School helped Dr McAleese plant the bulbs in the garden of her home in Roscommon. Also in attendance at the event were Holocaust survivors Suzi Diamond, Tomi Re ichental, and third-gen eration survivor Kayla Hertz.

Speaking at the launch, Professor Thomas O’Dowd (Chairperson

of Holocaust Education Ireland) said: “We are delighted to be joined by former President of Ire land Mary McAleese to launch our annual Crocus Project. The project is an important opportunity to introduce young people to the subject of the Holo caust, and teach the im portance of inclusion and respect for all people re gardless of their ethnicity, disability, sexual orienta tion or religious beliefs.

“Seeing the flowers bloom in the early new year ensures that the sto ries of the children who perished in the Holocaust are not forgotten, but are

passed on to future gener ations, all while educating our young people in a tan gible way about the perils of prejudice. The beauti ful flowers also remind us that, even after the most terrible events, new life begins again and we can have hope in the future”.

Mary McAleese said: “I am delighted to support The Crocus Project. The lesson of the Holocaust is one of the most impor tant lessons for children to learn and the Crocus Project is a gentle way to introduce young people to the subject. The pro ject will sow the seeds of inclusivity, justice and

ingly, goes on.

When you consider the 2009 protests and how – despite be ing attended by millions – they were ultimately quelled when authorities shot and killed a young woman named Neda Agha Soltan, an event which naturally sowed fear into peo ple ultimately leading to the end of demonstrations, it really does highlight the incredible magni tude of courage being shown by today’s protesters, despite the brutal crackdown and loss of life at the hands of Iranian authorities. The Iranian people at the forefront of these dem onstrations have displayed (and continue to) incredible bravery and resilience in fighting for their right to exercise bodily freedom and to not be killed for

exercising that right.

As Iranian authorities move to restrict internet access further, and continue to crack down on the demonstrations through violence and misinformation, it is more important than ever that we seek out and listen to Iranian voices…to listen to their experi ences, and to fight for what they want and need. These women deserve the freedom to decide whether or not they wish to veil, they deserve to protest and grieve for their fellow country women without risking their lives – they deserve to fight for their rights without being met with lethal brutality. They deserve support. They deserve freedom. They deserve more.

“Jin, Jiyan, Azadi”: Women, life, freedom.

acceptance into the minds of the next generation so that, through learning from the terrible mistakes of the past, we can build a more caring and inclusive Ireland”.

The Crocus Project is still

inviting schools to register to participate. There is no charge for participating in the Crocus Project. Holo caust Education Ireland provides teachers and ed ucators with crocus bulbs and a Teacher’s Hand

book, as well as guidance about the project that in cludes information and age appropriate material. For more information on the project, please visit holocausteducationire land.org/crocus-project.

Mary McAleese pictured with local schoolchildren on Monday for the launch of the Crocus Project, which aims to commemorate the child victims of the Holocaust.

2002…2022…

COULD IT BE AN OMEN FOR STROKESTOWN ON SUNDAY?

Roscommon People reporter, Dan Dooner, visited Strokestown on Monday where there was talk of a possible omen ahead of Sunday’s Roscommon Senior Football Championship Final against Boyle. Strokestown’s last two county titles arrived in 1992 and 2002, so will 2022 see The Town at the summit of Roscommon football again?

Frank Hanly, proprietor of Hanly’s Eurospar, said the whole town was looking forward to the club’s first final appearance since 2002, which saw Frank’s brother Donal captain the club to victory.

“There’s a lot of optimism about and the fact they’ve won it in 1992, 2002 and this year of course is 2022, so hopefully the lads will do the business this time,” he said.

“There’s a nice crop of players there and lots of lads getting plenty of experience so I definitely think their time has come and hopefully they can come up trumps on Sun day”.

Jim Mannion of Mannion Insur ance on Bawn Street says the ex citement has been building ever since Strokestown’s hard-fought semi-final win over Roscommon Gaels.

“The town is buzzing; it’s really come alive and everyone’s delight ed to see them in a final. We hope they do well now,” he said.

While many outsiders considered Strokestown underdogs ahead of their semi-final against Roscom mon Gaels, that view certainly wasn’t shared by those living in the town.

“Well there’s been confidence in them for a while now. They’re great lads and they work really hard and the town is right behind them,” Jim added.

Local Brothers of Charity team lead Audrey Murphy says Sun day’s final has really captured the imagination of staff and service users alike.

“The excitement is just unreal around Strokestown. They were out the other evening putting up bunting and our volunteers at the radio station were out interview ing people. The hype is something else,” she said.

“We have many people from different clubs but they are all Strokestown for the final. It’s all

about the football this week and there’s been non-stop talk about it”. Audrey, whose son Keith plays for the Black and Amber, says she’s quietly confident of a Strokestown victory over Boyle this Sunday.

“I think we’ll win…we’ll be posi tive! I see it as equal between our

selves and Boyle but I’d be hopeful that we might just win it by one or two points,” she said.

“I remember 1992 really well be cause I was ‘expecting’ – so I was chauffeur for getting everyone in and out of the pub! I had a clear head and I remember them reliving

the game every minute of every day and that went on for weeks afterwards. The celebrations were just unreal on both occasions (1992 and 2002),” she said.

“This means so much to any club and the lads can only go out and do their best on the day. We wish the best to both teams…but especially Strokestown!”

Sports presenters at local commu nity radio station Our Voice FM, Kevin Carroll and Peter Dolan, have had a keen eye on this year’s championship and both remain extremely confident that this is Strokestown’s year.

Kevin tipped The Town to win by five points while Peter was slightly more reserved in predicting a twopoint win.

“Hopefully Strokestown can do it and get over the line. I was at the semi-final against Roscommon Gaels and it was a great goal by Paddy Brogan (in the second half). Hopefully he can do it again against Boyle this Sunday,” Kevin said.

“I was expecting them to beat Ro scommon Gaels. They’re a good young team and hopefully they show it at the Hyde this Sunday. I’m really excited for this match and there’s a good buzz around the town this week,” he concluded.

Dylan Southwood, Peter Dolan, Kevin Carroll, Donna Kelly, Maria Brennan and Eimhin Leavy pictured at Our Voice FM radio station in Strokestown recently.

Jim Mannion pictured outside Mannion Insurance in Strokestown earlier this week. Pic: Mick McCormack

‘It’s like a festival or Mardi Gras for Boyle GAA’

Ahead of Sunday’s historic Roscommon

Boyle GAA members and local business people have been busy in recent weeks preparing the town of Boyle for what will be the club’s first appearance in a county senior final in 95 years.

Maroon and white flags and bunting fluttered in the breeze when the Ro scommon People visited on Friday afternoon last to sample some of the lo cal excitement ahead of Sunday’s showdown with Strokestown.

At Better Buy on The Crescent, proprietor Brian Kelly had an impressive selection of flags and other maroon and white items on display.

“There’s a great commu nity feel to it here and eve ryone has been out putting out the flags and bunting the last few days. They’ve been getting the local schools involved too with colouring competitions and decorating because it is history in the making af ter 95 long years,” he said.

“It’s just going to be a sea of maroon and white here now this week. It’s like a festival or Mardi Gras for Boyle GAA and of course you have the ladies win ning the intermediate title too so it’s just been a great few weeks.

“There are great people involved in Boyle GAA and it’s all voluntary. It’s great to see it in a small community especially at times like this when there’s a lot of doom and gloom out there”.

The front window at Mar

ian’s of Boyle features a various styles of maroon and white fashion, includ ing a bridal gown. Owner Perpetua McGee reckons the senior footballers are ready for their own big day.

“It’s brilliant, we’re all very excited, and as you can see from the town, all the flags and bunting and window displays are going in. It’s a great com munity effort and there’s a real sense of that. We are all looking forward to both the senior final and the la dies’ Connacht intermedi ate semi-final as well,” she said.

“After everything that’s happened (in recent years), it’s lovely to have some thing positive to look forward to so we’ll all be going to Hyde Park this Sunday to cheer them on”.

At Chemco Pharmacy on Shop Street, two staff

members have a particular interest in Sunday’s final.

Katrina Owens lives in Strokestown where she is married to former football er, Ronan Owens. From Boyle originally, Katrina will be getting behind the Black and Amber this weekend.

Mairead McKeon hails from Ballinameen but is a committed Boyle support er and will be at the Hyde to cheer on her son and tal ented Boyle forward, Cian McKeon this Sunday.

Both ladies agreed that there exists a friendly ri valry between the clubs – but not surprisingly dif fered in their predictions for Sunday’s final.

“Who’ll win? Strokes town definitely!” Katrina said. “Next Monday is booked off no matter what happens though”.

Mairead was slightly

more diplomatic: “May the best team win. It’s great to see it coming back to the north of the county anyway”.

A mammy’s work is nev er done and especially so in the week leading up to a historic county final, but Mairead wasn’t prepared to give away any insider information. “Cian is liv ing in Dublin but he comes home at the weekends. He’s cool as a cucumber this week…he doesn’t do nervous!”

Both ladies said relations in Chemco had remained cordial since the final pair ing was confirmed and they were enjoying the banter with customers and colleagues alike.

At Smith Kelly Scott Auc tioneers, Boyle manager Cian was hard at work but patriarch of the impressive Smith family, Mike ‘Jun

ior’ Smith, commented on the build-up to Sunday’s decider which will also see his sons Enda and Donie playing pivotal roles.

“It’s hugely exciting. I suppose we’ve never been there before so we don’t know how to react but in the last three or four days there has been a buzz and the flags and bunting have been put up and the school kids are getting involved so it’s exciting times,” he said.

“We had a poor start in the league but they got stronger as the year went on. They had players com ing back from injury and they’ve a good team which has slowly progressed and got better as it went on. There’s been a couple of hiccups along the way but they got over them”.

The excitement is cer tainly building among the Smiths as the three broth ers prepare for action this Sunday.

“There’s nearly an expec tation more than anything else. There’s a lot of foot ball talk going on at the moment but it’s good fun, it’s good banter. They’re taking it in their stride and let’s hope they perform on the day and that the man agement get it right on the day too,” Mike added.

“There’s pressure on them as well but it’s enjoy able pressure. It’s good to have pressure like this. It’s good to be in a final. A lot of clubs in the county and indeed the country would love to have this pressure,” he concluded.

Senior Football Championship Final, Dan Dooner paid a visit to Boyle to gauge the excitement level amongst the locals…

Perpetua McGee pictured at Marian’s of Boyle on Tuesday. Pic: Mick McCormack

Brian Kelly pictured at Better Buy in Boyle on Tuesday. Pic: Mick McCormack

Mike Smith pictured at Smith Kelly

Scott Auctioneers, Boyle on Tuesday. Pic: Mick McCormack

white. Pic: Mick McCormack

Two big days ahead for Donie!

Boyle captain will wed Laura next week

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Donie Smith will captain his side into Sunday’s county senior final, the first Boyle man to do so in 95 years. It’s a busy time for the Roscommon county star as he gets married to his fiancé Laura next weekend! But first things first!

“After the semi-final it was just pure elation. It was very emotional. But we went back training on the Wednesday…and you know what sport is like. It’s on to the next game. While this is huge for the club and for the town, we are players and we have to focus on the job in hand”.

Having slipped up a num ber of times at the latter stages of the championship in recent years Donie says that there are a number of reasons as to why they have reached the final this time around.

“Firstly we have had a full panel for most of the year. We have been unlucky with injuries over the years and at club level you need everyone to be fit. We also tweaked how we were playing and we changed our set-up a bit”.

He makes the point that the teams who beat Boyle in semi-finals and quarterfinals over the past few years went on to win the championship in most cases.

“For that reason, we fig

ured that we were not that far away. But the thing that annoyed us was the man ner of our defeat in some of the semi-finals. We just didn’t show up on the day. Cian (team manager) said to us before the Brigid’s game to go out and per form on the day and not worry about anything else. Thankfully we did that”.

He points to an inner belief in the team during the semi-final win against Brigid’s, a sense that they could prevail despite a poor start.

“We didn’t panic when we went five points down. The penalty was crucial. Daire (Cregg) did well to win it. It brought us back

into the game. We were disappointed to give away the three points before half-time but we said that if we kept doing what we had been doing in the first half that we could win it”.

So what’s it like having his big brother Cian as team manager? “The dy namic is good and to be honest Cian is harder on us (Donie and his brother, Enda) than on the rest of the lads. He is very de manding as a coach and especially on his younger brothers! In terms of in structions, we have to real ise that it’s all for the good of the team and we can’t let sibling rivalry or stuff like that get in the way. For

years it was just myself and Enda, and Cian hadn’t been playing, but it’s great that he is managing the club now and we are all going in the same direc tion. But we treat every thing forensically and we go through everything in detail”.

Donie is long enough on the road to know that they will be taking nothing for granted against a Strokes town side who are coming into form at just the right time.

“The way the champion ship is structured you have to be ready for the knock out matches. We know a lot about Strokestown. We have played them loads

Purcell is primed!

many years he was never tempted to call it a day.

Sean Purcell has been a regular on the Boyle team for over a decade and a half. He is an all round sportsman, having starred with Boyle Celtic for many years in parallel with his Gaelic football career. Sean was on the Roscommon senior team that won the Connacht ti tle in 2010. He has been the key man in the Boyle defence in recent seasons (at centre half-back) and is an inspirational leader in the club.

Despite playing for so

“The body feels good, I love playing and to see a crop of young lads com ing through is fantastic. Plus I want to get my hands on that cup!”

He points to the emer gence of some new young players as being pivotal to the team’s progress, that and the coming of age of some guys who have been around for a while.

“The team is playing more as a unit and the panel is now much strong er. There are 35 on the panel now so it’s competi

tive for places

“The lads really came of age against St Brigid’s (in the recent semi-final). We kicked on in the last 15 minutes and when we sensed that we had a good chance we really went for it”.

He isn’t surprised that Strokestown have made it this far. “I’m not surprised. I saw some of their match against Oran and I was re ally impressed with them that day. It’s amazing that Strokestown will go into this final in a similar way to Boyle in that they have always been a side with

huge potential. They are coming of age now too.

If you look through their team they have a lot of really great players who

of times over the years in underage finals and since then too. They have play ers who have represented Roscommon at various levels and they have a number of very good young players this year. They are a very well or ganised team. John (Rog ers) and Mark (Dowd) will have them ready, and they will be very tactically astute”. Finally, with those pend ing nuptials in mind, what happens if the final goes to a replay?

“I think the replay is two weeks later, at least I hope it is (laughs). I’ll be back. But the wedding is defi nitely going ahead!”

Michael

have plenty of county ex perience. I think it will be a ding-dong battle and who ever performs best on the day will win”.

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Donie Smith (14) celebrates at the final whistle in Boyle’s semi-final win over St Brigid’s.

Photo: Mick McCormack

Cian’s keen on date with destiny

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The eldest of the three Smith brothers who are involved with the Boyle team is Cian, now into his second season as the team’s manager. The All-Ireland minor title winner from 2006 had to give up club football in 2014 because of health issues. Since then he has been involved with Boyle as a selector and with a couple of other clubs as well, including Kilmore, where he was the team manager.

Cian says that reaching the final is huge for the club but that his players have shown great maturity since beating St Brigid’s in the semi-final.

“We celebrated on Sunday night after the match, but all the lads were out in Lough Key on the Monday for a recovery session. There is a maturity about them this year”. While vital guidance is provided by older lads like Sean Purcell, Roch Hanmore and Mark O’Connor, the manager says the 25 to 30 year olds in the group also have a lot of experience by now.

There is a great determination by all in volved to improve on last season.

“Last year we were beaten by Pearses. We were scratching our heads after that one, so this year we never mentioned anything about the championship. Our only goal this year was to perform in every game we played. To be honest I was sick and tired going to Boyle matches over the years and being embar rassed coming home because we simply didn’t turn up on the day. We have kept it simple this year. We wanted a performance in every game. Before the Brigid’s game I said to them ‘Take off the handbrake, what’s the worst that can happen? We have lost

four semi-finals (in recent times)…just go for it’”.

When Cian is asked is it hard to manage a team when his two younger brothers are such important cogs in the wheel, his answer is very interesting.

“The answer to that is yes and no. Before I took the job I asked the two lads (Enda and Donie) what did they think. In fairness they both said that they felt I was the man for the job and whatever you need to do we will do it. But you don’t really know until something happens. They are gone half the year with Roscommon, and I have no problem with that.

“But this year after the defeat against Clare in Croke Park, I know how gut-wrenching that was and especially for Donie as the captain, and also for Enda and for Cian (McKeon). I said to them I’ll see ye in two weeks. But the following Friday night they were all here at the training session, straight back into it. It says a lot about our set-up that that was the case”.

He was determined to have a good solid management team around him when he took the reins. Conor McGowan, a former Sligo player who has been living in Boyle for the past 15 years, came on board as a selector. Damien Tiernan, who had been a selector with Cian at Kilmore, was also brought in.

“The best thing I ever did was to get those two lads. Conor is a physio but this is his first time as a selector. The two of them are out siders. I have my ideas but they have their ideas too and we pooled those ideas. Then we got feedback from the players as to what we were doing and they had an input too. While I am the manager and have the final call, a lot of what we do is player-led. Gone are the

Rogers:

to deliver is now’

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John Rogers was part of the Strokestown team that won the senior title in 2002. Since his return as senior manager the belief amongst the players has soared. John says a number of factors have led to Strokestown’s improved form as the year went on.

“Our league form was not great and we had a lot of injuries and that affected us in nearly all the league games. But when the championship started the injuries were clearing up and we played well in the second half against St Brigid’s. We were happy with that. Against Tulsk it was a local derby and form goes out the win dow in those games and we were very lucky to draw it. Then against Pearses we played well and it boiled down to the fact that they took their goal chance and we missed ours.

“We had a bit of luck getting a bye into the quarter-finals and we had a real cut at it then. But it was when Ciaran Regan got that great goal against Oran that the lads really started to believe. I’m sick and tired of telling these lads that they are good enough to win a county final”.

John says there is a fantastic atmosphere between all the players at the club and family ties are strong. “There is a great bunch of lads here between young and older. There are ten sets of brothers in

volved in the panel. There is a very tight bond between us all. There has been stuff going on off the field too with various problems like lads losing friends and ad diction and other stuff, and we have been there to help them and it helps with the bond between us all. But when that great goal went in against Oran our lads started to really believe that this could happen.

“Against Roscommon Gaels we got the goals at just the right time. We weathered their purple patch early in the second half, and then Paddy (Brogan) stepped up with that great goal. It is great to be in the final now. But it’s not much good now if we don’t follow it up and get the silverware”.

Every year Strokestown are touted as a team with massive potential, only to go out of the championship prematurely. So it must be a relief that the team are in a final this year.

“You get sick of everyone saying that we have potential. We have play ers who have represented Roscom mon at all levels but some lads have realised that it is now or never and it has dawned on them that this is a great chance. The younger lads don’t know what the fuss is all about. They have been such a boost to the team. They have taken to senior football like ducks to water and they have led us over the line in the past couple of games. I don’t think they realise what

a big thing it is to get to a senior fi nal but the buzz around the town this week might change that”.

The fact that he actually has a senior medal for Strokestown is something that John is able to draw on when he is chat ting to his players.

“Well, I try to tell them what happened in 2002. In fact in 1992 I was under the big tree (behind the goal) at the Orchard Park as a follower when Strokestown beat Roscommon Gaels. I didn’t play well in the final in 2002 and I was taken off and I try to tell the lads not to get too nervous about it because at the end of the day it’s just another game of football”.

John says that there is a very healthy respect between the two clubs who will do battle on Sunday. “Don’t be surprised if it goes to a second day because there is a history of draws between the two teams over the years. If we were not there we would be supporting Boyle and if Boyle were not there they would be support ing us. I have loads of great friends in Boyle that I soldiered with over the years for the county. At the end of the day if it wasn’t for football we wouldn’t have those friendships and while we all will be trying our best to win the county title there is more to life than football. When you look at what happened in Crees lough and is happening in other places around the world there are more impor tant things”.

Football heritage runs in the blood for Barry

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Former Boyle GAA Chairman, Barry Feely, says he can trace his connection to the club all the way back to his grandfather’s time when he won a championship medal in 1890.

Barry’s father also has a championship medal from 1926 while Barry said his “hardest won” medal arrived via the Boyle Street Leagues.

Referencing his father Henry’s playing career, Barry says: “It’s extraordinary that his grand son Mark O’Connor and his great-grandson Luke McGrath are now on the panel”.

Barry himself has had a lifelong involvement with the club and served as its chairman in the 1970s.

“GAA has been in my blood because my fa ther brought me to matches and fortunately my wife is into the football so we now go to all the matches. There’s nothing that gives me bigger joy than to see a Boyle team play, whether it’s the ladies or the men,” he said.

“The ladies of course have won the interme diate championship and the boys are now on the cusp of winning the senior championship which would be just incredible. I despaired at times as to whether it would be won in my time”.

Barry says that Boyle has continued to devel op as a club since the 1970s and has been very lucky to have dedicated members throughout that time.

“It’s a wonderful club now. They have a bril liant pitch which we bought in the ‘70s through the prompting of a friend of mine, the Limerick hurler, PJ Keane. He was one of the organisers along with John McGowan and Tony Conboy, a great GAA man down through the years,” he said.

“Boyle has continued its development un der different chairmen and then of course we had the great fortune to have the likes of Sean Young here for many years. He had a passion ate interest in football and trained many of the present team, including the Smiths. John McGowan was a wonderful secretary of the club. In more recent times we’ve had Aidan Lavin as chairperson and many outstanding people over the last number of years,” he said.

Barry believes this year’s campaign is the

product of many years of hard work on and off the field and that the current Boyle crop can end the 95-year famine.

“Championship wins don’t happen by chance…it’s down to hard work and the club has been building all those years. They are now

in the throes of getting a second pitch due to the number of teams that tog out,” he said.

“It’s the blossom of all that great work down through the years which has produced this team”.

Barry Feely, Feelystone, Boyle presents the Player of the Match Award to Aisling Feely of the Boyle Ladies’ Intermediate team following their county final win over St. Ciaran’s recently. Pic: Mick McCormack

Can they do it? Yes they McGann!

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One player who has really blossomed this year is Diarmuid Mc Gann. He was a very talented underage player for Strokestown and Roscommon but injury and a loss of form saw him slip down the pecking order for a few years. He is now back to his best this year and a vital part of the Strokestown attack as they chase the Fahey Cup for the first time since 2002.

Diarmuid says that the group that Strokestown were in was a tough one. “We were in with the Connacht club champions (Pearses), the favourites for the championship (St Brigid’s), and our neighbours Tulsk, which was never going to be easy. We upped our performance level against Oran and again against the Gaels – and here we are now!”

Diarmuid has rediscovered his best form in the past two years. What does he put that down to?

“In the last two years I have been almost totally injury-free and that’s the difference. Since I was a minor I had a lot of injuries but since I have been injury-free it means I can do all the training and I am better prepared for games. I am enjoying my football too now which makes a huge difference”.

Diarmuid got a run with Roscommon seniors last year but in jury struck again. “I started the first game against Cork but the following Tuesday night I got injured when we were training in Dublin and it kept me out after that. Anthony (Cunningham) gave me every chance to get back and I was back in the panel for the championship. I loved being in with Roscommon. You are playing with the best players in the county so I love being with the county set-up”.

He is really enjoying playing with the younger players in the Strokestown set-up.

“It’s great to have the likes of Shane (McGinley) and Colm (Neary) on the team and it is great to have Shane in there in the full-forward line alongside me. I don’t mind taking the pres sure away from them if I can”.

The Strokestown attacker says that they fully realise what they will be coming up against in this final. “Boyle may have lost their first two league games this year but they have not lost a game since. They have knocked out most people’s favou rites to win the championship (St Brigid’s) and eserve to be favourites for this final – but we will relish the task of trying to beat them”.

From Queensland to the Hyde, Roch has waited for this moment

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Boyle midfielder Roch Hanmore says that after so many years of disappointment he is really looking forward to the biggest day in Roscommon club football.

“I’m really looking forward to the occasion. I didn’t know if it would ever come. In 2006 when we came up from intermediate we played in the senior championship and we were relegated. That winter I flew to Australia and I was away for seven and a half years. I came home on 2014 and started again. Boyle won the intermediate cham pionship in 2013 but I missed all of our time in the intermediate ranks.

“In 2009 Boyle played Kilbride in the final and it went to a replay and I listened to that match on

Shannonside in India in an internet café. When we won in 2013, I was listening in a cabin in Queensland, also to Shannonside. To be back here playing with my own club in a final is magic now”.

He is now enjoying his football more than ever. “It never crossed my mind to give it up because there is a burning desire there to succeed. I was confident that we could make something out of what we had. I just didn’t know when that was going to happen. That’s what makes this special. This was our fifth semi-final in recent years and we had lost two to Brigid’s before getting over the line re cently. That last 15 minutes against St Brigid’s was fantastic and the crowd were great too. I’ll never forget that”.

Diarmuid McGann.

Photo: Mick McCormack

Hodson

Neary pays tribute to ‘young guns’

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One of the most experienced players on the Strokestown team is David Neary, who has seen action with Roscommon at all levels over the years. The defender is having a great champion ship and has been instrumental in driving his side to their first final in 20 years.

David says that there was always a fair degree of belief in the Strokestown side every year but they just seemed to fall away at the vital times. Not this year.

“There is always great chat every year here in Strokestown about the potential in the team but we said over the past 12 to 18 months since John Rogers has been back in with us that it was time to deliver. We always felt that we were good enough and hopefully we are starting to show that now”.

David says that although they didn’t win a game in the group stages, there were signs that some thing special was around the corner. Then came the knockout stages.

“We had good performances against Oran and Roscommon Gaels and we had a bit of luck in those matches too. Mark Healy had a great chance for the Gaels at the end of that match and it just went wide so those are the fine margins that we are talking about”.

He continues: “We know the Boyle lads so well. We have played a lot of underage games against them. Ten years ago we played them in a minor final and it went to a replay. We played them in an U-21 semi-final the same year and that went to a replay too. For me Boyle are the team that

I would have played most against coming up along through the ranks. We have had a few great battles at senior level with them too.

“This will be a massive test for us. The Boyle attack is absolutely flying at the moment and they have a lot of experience around the field too. It’s going to be a tough battle but all we want to do is to go up there and give a good account of our selves”.

David says that two county final wins in 2021 for the club have been instrumental in their prog ress this year. “What has really stood to us this year is that in 2021 our Junior ‘B’ team won the county title and our U-20s won the division two title. We have got a lot of players into the panel from those teams. But it’s the younger players who are really driving us on.

“The likes of Timmy Gibbons, Ciaran Regan, my own brother Colm, and Shane McGinley, Cathal Lavin and other have been absolutely massive for us this year. The young lads have no fear. Against Oran when we went a man down I think it was Kevin Finn who said we have been here before and it was just about everyone stick ing to their task and in the end we got the win”. It’s 20 years since Strokestown contested a final and David is aware of the unique nature of this decider against Boyle.

“I was in primary school the last time Strokestown were in a final and I remember the cup coming into the school afterwards. It’s been a long time for us, but even longer for Boyle. It’s huge for both towns and for north Roscommon as well”.

2002 winning captain backs Class of ‘22

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Donal Hanly knows a thing or two about playing in county finals for Strokestown, having appeared in their previous five. He won the senior title back in 1992 and captained the last Town side to win the championship 20 years ago this year. The former goalkeeper believes the current crop of players can end another long wait for glory.

“This year we knew they were close enough. They ran Brigid’s and Pearses close and while they didn’t have a great performance against Tulsk, the game against Oran gave them a lift and they gave a massive performance against Roscommon Gaels in the semi-final,” he said.

The 2002 celebrations are still fresh in Donal’s memory and he says another win on Sunday would be a massive boost for the town.

“I was 19 in 1992 and 29 in 2002. The highlight of 2002 was when we came back into the town. My mother had stopped going to games in 1992 because she was too nervous. We arrived back in a cavalcade because there were no buses back then. I was in Seán Collins’ car at the front of the convoy and I saw my mother in the crowd and jumped out and ran across the roundabout and we just embraced. That was a magical moment after everything. I think sport is brilliant for that,” he said.

“The whole town was alive in the build-up to it that year and it’s the same now in Strokestown. We were down there last week putting up flags and bunting and there’s just a great atmosphere around the place”.

They weren’t to know it then but the

Strokestown footballing community would be forced to wait two decades for another final appearance.

“20 years is a long time. I suppose it wasn’t until after the final whistle of the Roscommon Gaels game that I remembered what it felt like. The feeling of elation was just massive.

I wouldn’t have experienced it as a spectator before so to meet people from Strokestown and to see the joy it brought them was something else,” Donal said.

County final appearances serve to inspire future generations and Donal believes Sunday’s decider will have a knock-on effect for years to come.

“Even to see my own nephews and how excited they are about it because

they would have never witnessed anything like this before,” he said.

“After the semi-final I was chat ting to a few of the players and Niall Curley, who plays in goals now, was there and he was telling me he remembered coming home from the semi-final in Tarmonbarry in 2002. He would have been only six or seven but he had the memory of that and I suppose that spurred him on.

“Diarmuid McGann was also our mascot that year and he’s one of the shining stars of this team. In 1992, Derek Hagan was our mascot and he went on to star in 2002. It’s funny how it gets passed from generation to generation”.

Donal believes this year’s decider,

featuring two teams from the northern end of the county, is good for Ro scommon football.

“Little did I think that two teams from the north of the county would be in this year’s final. It’s great because I always say to anyone that once you leave Roscommon town and start heading north it becomes a struggle for clubs in terms of numbers,” he said.

“I know Kilbride are struggling for numbers at underage level and we are too and you have Kilmore and Shan non Gaels amalgamating and talk of other clubs doing the same. Maybe this year papers over the cracks but it’s great to be there. I saw on social media that one of the primary schools

was having a ‘Strokestown jersey day’ so it’s great for the local kids too”.

As for the build-up to county final day, Donal says focus is key but urged the Strokestown players to enjoy the moment.

“I have to say I enjoyed the lead up to the 2002 final. We were focussed on what we had to do but it was still nice meeting people and seeing how excited they were. I don’t think there’s any better feeling as a player than waking up on Sunday morning and realising it’s county final day,” he said.

“Walking up to collect the trophy was an absolute dream come true for me. There had been a big gap between the two title wins so it just felt right. It’s one of those real highs in sport when nothing else matters in that moment.

“To look down and see your team mates and management and people from the town looking so happy… that’s something that no amount of money can buy. That’s the beauty of GAA, I don’t think you get that in any other sport and that’s why I can’t stress enough the importance of young people getting involved in sport”.

Looking ahead to Sunday’s show down with Boyle, and having secured county titles in 1992 and 2002, could another final appearance in a year ending in 2 be an omen for Strokes town?

“You would have to start wondering if it’s written in the stars because this has really come out of nowhere. That would have been mentioned…I sup pose when you look at it, Mayo have ‘the curse’ so maybe we have this!”

Donal Hanly (centre), Strokestown’s 2002 championship winning captain, pictured celebrating at the full-time whistle following the Roscommon SFC semi-final win over Roscommon Gaels at Dr. Hyde Park. Pic: Mick McCormack

Strokestown supporters Seamus Beatty, Bernie Lohan, Amy Leigh, Sean McDermott and George Lynch pictured in The Sportsman’s Inn, Strokestown earlier this week. Pic: Mick McCormack

Paddy Cummins and daughter Rosaleen Gallogly pictured at the Roscommon SFC semi-final between Strokestown and Roscommon Gaels recently. Pic: Mick McCormack

Strokestown manager John Rogers’ wife Attracta pictured with their children Lyla and Zac Rogers at the Roscommon SFC semi-final at Dr. Hyde Park recently. Pic: Mick McCormack

AbbeyHotelSeniorLadiesFCFinal: ClannnanGaelvKilbride

Groundhog Day for ladies as Clann chase back-to-back titles KILBRIDE HOPING TO RETURN TO SUMMIT

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It’s a form of ‘Grounddog Day’ for ladies football in the county with senior heavyweights Clann and Kil bride meeting again in the county final.

The transformation in the fortunes of the Clann na nGael ladies senior team will once again be evident on Saturday as the Johnstown women put their title on the line in a repeat of the 2021 final with Kilbride in the opposite corner once again.

Only a couple of years ago Kil bride were the undisputed queens of football in Roscommon, sweeping all before them as they dominated the senior scene, winning five titles on the spin (and in some style too). But since the appointment of Finbar Egan as manager, the arrival of star player Jenny Shine (formerly Hig gins) – and a renewed appetite for success – Clann have become the team to beat.

What looks like a rock-solid Clann outfit has breezed through this championship en route to the final.

Jenny Shine and Orla O’Neill form a formidable pairing in the middle of the park, but there are plenty of other influential players on the side such as Kelley Colgan, Ruth Finlass, Rose Lennon, Aine Con naughton, Fiona Scally and Sinead Farrell, to name just a few.

Clann have been putting up big scores and Kilbride will have to de vise a plan to restrict their attack.

Kilbride are into the final by the skin of their teeth with Aisling Han ly scoring a late goal to edge them past St Brigid’s. It’s a Kilbride team full of experienced players. Co rina Gormley, Fiona Tully, Yvonne Creighton, Niamh and Aisling Shanagher, Jennifer Fannon, Sinead Clabby and the multi-talented Ais ling Hanly are all top class perform ers who will relish going into this final as the rank outsiders.

In last year’s final Kilbride led Clann by nine points at one stage in the first half before the Johnstown women took over in the second half to sweep to a nine-point victory.

Clann will have been warned.

You can bet your bottom dollar/ euro that Kilbride will have a game plan to stop Clann and to hit them on the counter-attack. If the Kilbride attack gets enough ball they have the players to do damage, but in re ality anything other than a comfort able Clann win would be a major shock. They look too strong around the field.

Prediction: Clann na nGael

Roscommon LGFA Abbey Hotel SFC Final: Kilbride v Clann na nGael in Ballyforan on Saturday at 4 pm

Pictured are Aoife Tully and Caoimhe Glennon.

The Egan edge

‘We’ve improved, but we’ll still need to be at top of our game’ – Egan

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Finbar Egan, who led Clann to a very impressive win in the 2021 senior decider, will be at the helm again as they aim to retain the title in Ballyforan on Saturday. Despite being the very strong favourites to prevail, Finbar is very cautious in the run-up to the final and says that his team are preparing for a searching test from the former champions.

“We might be favourites to win in some people’s eyes but I can definitely say that any time we play Kilbride it is never easy – and we are expecting the same this weekend. We

have been training hard and we know what to expect”.

That said, Finbar says Clann have improved since last year’s title win, their first at senior level in 24 years.

“Yes, I think we have improved this year. We had a lot of players out last year through injury and other reasons, and a number of those players are back this year. That is a big boost. To add to that we won the Junior C title last year and that team will contest the Junior B final this weekend. It means that we have plenty of good players getting game time and who are ready to step up to the senior panel.

“We have a solid senior panel

of 24 players and any of those would be able to slot into the starting 15 and not weaken the team at all, so that’s very posi tive. I’d say we have improved 20 to 25% this year”.

Egan says that they will have to be able to cope with Kilbride’s game plan on the day.

“Kilbride are very hard to break down. They have some excellent forwards and they transfer the ball quickly from defence to attack. In last year’s final Kilbride led by nine points at one stage and it was just that we got a run on them after that. We know that we will have to perform at the top of our game to win it”.

How keen are Kilbride to regain the title following last year’s loss to Clann?

We are very keen to regain the title fol lowing last year’s defeat. There was huge disappointment after losing the county final. We sat down at the start of this year and de cided together that we would get back to the county final in 2022. We are in the final now and we are as hungry as ever to win it.

Where would winning this Saturday rank in terms of previous success such as the ‘Drive for Five’?

I think winning this Saturday would rank right up at the top in terms of our recent suc cess because we are going into this match as underdogs and are being written off.

Does that underdogs’ tag feel strange to a team that was so dominant for so long?

I think being underdogs has reduced the pressure a little maybe but with any county

final comes a certain amount of pressure anyway. We just want to play well on the day and represent our club as best we can.

Has there been a different approach this year at Kilbride?

We have a new management team in place this year and with that they have brought a fresh approach to training sessions. We have worked hard since last February on many aspects of our game and I think we are now well prepared for the challenge ahead.

Clann pose a formidable challenge but what do you see as the key to beating them?

I think the key to winning any game is doing the simple things right and working hard as a team and I believe we have the players and belief to compete with anyone.

-Dan Dooner

Captain’s Q&A Orla O’Neill, Clann na nGael

As reigning county champions, is there more pressure on Clann this time around?

Last year we went in as the underdogs but this year we are clear favourites so there is some added pressure. But I think it gives us confidence too. We’ve had a great run between this year and last year being unbeaten in the league and cham pionship and having two teams win county titles so it definitely gives us more confidence.

You’ve been in impressive form this year, what’s the feeling going into the final?

We’ve pushed on this year and put down some impressive wins. Drawing on the experience from winning two county titles last year we are confident we can get the job done.

Kilbride’s dominance was abruptly ended last year. What do you put Clann’s recent rise down to?

Finbar, Marie, Cathal and Joe have put in a lot of work developing the junior team. This has meant young players coming through have been training

and playing against adult level players for nearly two years now. Some of the girls who were junior last year have started on the senior team this year. It’s really created more competition for places, which is what was needed.

The manager has said that you didn’t do your selves justice in the Connacht semi-final last year. Is that at the back of your minds?

At the minute we are focusing on this weekend and the county final against Kilbride. But yes, we didn’t do ourselves justice after the Roscommon championship last year but we are stronger this year and so we are eager to have another crack at it.

What then would constitute a successful year for Clann?

A county title is always an achievement. Both our senior and junior teams winning again is our goal. After that, pushing forward in Connacht is definitely on our minds.

-Dan Dooner

Captain’s Q&A Jennifer Fannon, Kilbride

Brennan believes!

Tony determined to return Kilbride to top

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Tony Brennan is the man who will have the challenging task of try ing to guide Kilbride to what would be a surprise win in Saturday’s final in Ballyforan. They have of course got fantastic championship pedigree. It will be the seventh final in a row for the former champions and Tony is determined to see his players wrestle the title back from Clann.

Aisling Hanly’s late goal sent Kilbride through to the final as they edged out St Brigid’s in the semi-final. It may have been tight, but Brennan says that they were well worth their win.

“We are back where we wanted to be. Although it was tight in the end I thought we deserved to win it. We started very slowly but we finished strong and I was very happy overall.

“We are under no illusions about Clann. They are a very strong team and they are scoring a lot of goals in every match. They are unbeat en this year and last year in league and championship, so we are up against it. But make no mistake about it, we are going into this county final to win and I believe that we can do it”.

Tony says there is a quiet determination in his group to win another title.

“There has been some turnover of players over the years but there is a resilience that carries on from one year to the next here in Kilbride. This is our seventh final in a row so there is a lot of experience in our ranks!

“We are determined to put in a serious challenge on Saturday – and to cause an upset”.

Close contest on cards, but Four Roads can return to summit

Kepak Roscommon SHC Final: Four Roads v Padraig Pearses in Athleague on Saturday at 3 pm

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At the start of 2022 the general consensus was that these two clubs would reach the county SHC final. However, de spite looking the strongest two teams in the competi

tion, it has not been plain sailing for either club, with both being severely tested in their respective semi-finals.

Four Roads are back in the final for the first time since 2019. While for any other club there wouldn’t be anything remarkable about that, for the kingpins of Roscom mon hurling it’s quite the barren period.

Four Roads breezed though the championship this year up to the point where they met Ath

league in the semi-final.

The lopsided nature of the Roscommon SHC meant that Four Roads (and Pearses) were idle for seven weeks as they waited to discover who their semi-final opponents would be. Four Roads were rusty that day and almost paid the penalty.

However they were able to run out the six-point winners very late on. It was a margin that flattered John Cunniffe’s men.

Four Roads look a solid outfit this year with the

addition of young players like Mikey Lohan, Oi sin Campbell and Adam Donnelly adding a new impetus to their side.

That said, their team is still backboned by the likes of Noel Fallon, Micheal Kelly, Johnny Moran, Conor Mulry, Cormac Coyle, James Cunniffe, Cathal Dolan and Brendan Mulry. The overall panel looks strong too.

Pearses were in a similar position to Four Roads in that they came into the

semi-finals having been impressive and unbeaten in the championship. But against unfancied Oran they just scraped through, the width of a post separating them from possible defeat as Jerry Fallon’s penalty struck the woodwork in the dying stages of that contest.

There is a huge enthusi asm in the Pearses camp this year. This journalist attended one of their recent training sessions, and it was as intense a one as I have seen in a long

while. I went away very impressed.

The experienced Padraig Dolan will continue in goal while further out the field the half-back line of Eoghan Costello, Shane Naughton and Jamie Curley looks very strong. Up front, Matthew Comerford, Oisin Kelly and Darragh Finn are excellent attackers while the key man remains Dan iel Glynn. Pearses will be looking to the county star for scores from play and frees. On his day Daniel is a match-winner. This promises to be a very close battle. The respective free-takers, Cathal Dolan and Daniel Glynn, will have huge roles to play, but it is elsewhere around the field

where this clash of the neighbours is likely to be settled.

The Four Roads midfield duo Conor Coyle and Mikey Lohan were very impressive against Athleague. In fact young Lohan kept his side in the game when they were under pressure. Mi cheal Kelly will lead from centre half-back as usual, while Brendan Mulry has had a very good year for club and county.

Pearses have a fine side but they may just be a little too reliant on Daniel Glynn for their scores. I am going to give Four Roads a hesitant vote to regain the Mickey Cun niffe Cup with a narrow win.

Prediction: Four Roads

Shane hails work ethic

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Having managed his club to county final suc cess in 2020, former player Shane Sweeney is still the man at the helm. His passion and drive is very much part and parcel of the Pearses’ success story. Shane says he knew that it wouldn’t be easy to get back into a final this year.

“I know it’s easy to say now, but I knew that it would be a tight squeeze to get past Oran. We had a long gap back to our previous game. We were never going to go out and beat Oran easily. We were just glad to get out of there by a couple of points”.

He is pleased with the momentum in the Pearses’ camp over the past while.

“The atmosphere among the group is good. Everyone is happy and we are preparing hard now for the big day”.

The manager says hard work is the key to a good performance. “You have to work hard and take your chances on the day. If we don’t take our chances we won’t be winning”.

For this group of Pearses players, it would be an important achievement to add another title to the one they won in 2020.

“I came into the job in 2020 and I wanted to get 20 lads to dedicate themselves to hurl ing and put in the commitment…if they never

won anything I just wanted to see the effort being put in. In fairness we achieved that. You can see here tonight that there’s 27 or 28 lads here, which is brilliant. They are all competing to get on the team.

“We competed in the Galway league, the junior, the Roscommon league, and we have played lots of hurling. We haven’t won much this year so far, but all the lads are enjoying it which is the most important thing.

“The first year we won the championship, the second year we were beaten in a semi-final on penalties, and this year we are back in the final again. We will go in against Four Roads and give it our best shot”.

Shane Sweeney.

Photo: Mick McCormack.

Best wishes to Pádraig Pearses from all at

Calm Cunniffe is on the right road!

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John Cunniffe, the straight-talking no-non sense manager of Four Roads, takes a practi cal approach to the game and is well aware that his team had to work hard this year to get back into the county final.

“I know that it’s said by everyone and it’s a cliché,” he begins, “but when I took over at the start of the year I said that we would take things one game at a time. That’s why we are in this final now. We have a young team. We brought six new lads on to the panel and the blend of young and older lads is keeping us together”.

John says that they were expecting a tough match against Athleague in the semi-final.

“Athleague were the defending county cham pions and they were not going to lie down in front of us on the day. It will be the same way with Pearses in the final”.

He believes the seven-week gap to the semifinal made a big difference to the perfor mance against Athleague.

“There is no point in denying that we were rusty against Athleague. You can do all the training you like but there is nothing like a championship match for sharpness”.

The Four Roads manager has the height of respect for Padraig Pearses.

“Any time we play Padraig Pearses it is a tough match, whether a challenge game, a league game, or a championship match.

This won’t be any different.

Pearses are a fine young side and they will be very tough opponents. There will not be much in it on Saturday”.

Eoghan Cogavin of Padraig Pearses (pictured in action earlier in the season) will be keen to influence the outcome in Saturday’s final. Photo: Bernie O’Farrell

Action shot of Four Roads’ James Cunniffe who will feature in Saturday’s County Senior Hurling Final. Photo: Bernie O’Farrell

John Cunniffe

New blood a big boost – Pearses’ duo

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Eoghan Costello will captain Padraig Pearses on Saturday while Daniel Glynn will assume the mantle of potential scorer-in-chief. Both players spoke to the Roscommon Peo ple in the middle of a recent tough training session at Pairc an Piarsiagh.

EC: “Training has been going really well. The intensity is up and that’s what you want in the run-up to a county final. We have to be ready for the battle. We had a very tough game against Oran in the semi-final but we were expecting that. We had to be at our very best to beat them. The width of a post was the margin. We just had the bit of luck on the day – and you need that in any championship match”.

DG: “We have had a few disappointments over the past few years but there are some new young lads on the panel this year and they have freshened things up. I have to pay tribute to the management team who have got the panel all pulling together.

“There is not a lot between the teams in Roscommon. Any team can make it to the final and anyone can win it any given year. We are delighted to be in the final and we will give it a good rattle!”

EC: “We played Four Roads earlier in the year. It was a tight game all the way through but they won handy enough in the end. Four Roads are a very good team and they will always have a major say when it comes to the champion ship, but that game was two or three months ago and things have changed since then. You saw that Athleague and Oran gave us tough games in the semi-finals…you can’t really be looking at past results. We know that we will have to be at our best and everyone will have to perform on the day if we are to win”.

DG: “Winning the county title a couple of years ago was a great boost for this club. You come up here at night and you see the kids from U-6 to U-12s all out training. That’s what a win does. You have to have young people coming into the club…it’s great to see young players coming into the senior panel. Another title would be another major plus for the club and hopefully we can deliver on Saturday”.

Eoghan Costello in action for Padraig Pearses against Oran in the recent Roscommon SHC semi-final.

Kelly still in driving seat for Four Roads!

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It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Mi cheal Kelly is the heart and soul of the Four Roads team. The centre half-back has been an inspirational leader of the team for a decade and a half and is still driving his team on from his familiar position.

When Micheal spoke to the Roscommon Peo ple ahead of another county final, he reflected on what has been a long year.

“We have done a lot of work this year since February. We felt we let ourselves down badly last year in the semi-final and that’s what has driven us on this year. Against Athleague in the semi-final a couple of weeks ago we were lucky to have gone in at half-time level. We hung in there and drove on in the last few minutes, but we know that we won’t get away with that sort of a performance in the final”.

Micheal says that Four Roads were glad of such a tough test from Athleague in the semifinal.

“We won our three group games easily enough but we needed to be tested to show what we are made of. Athleague gave us a great game. We needed a game where we had to grind out a re sult”.

The Four Roads captain says that it was look ing like Pearses and Four Roads would be the final pairing from early on in the championship.

“Both sides fell badly at the semi-final stage last year and I think it has driven both sides on this year. We know that we are in for a huge battle this weekend”.

After all his time playing the game Micheal is just as enthusiastic about this latest county final as he has been about any in the past.

“Any time that you get to a county final is very special. I just love those days…to be part of it is very special. Hopefully we can go out and do ourselves justice on the day”.

Four clubs represented in intriguing

final

Dermot Hughes Cars Division Two U-20 FC Final: Elphin-Ballinameen v Michael Glavey’s-Éire Óg at Dr Hyde Park on Sunday at 12.30 pm

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Sunday’s curtain-raiser before the county senior final is an important fix ture for four clubs, with every promise of a crack ing game.

At stake is the Division

Two U-20 football title and interestingly the de cider will be contested be tween two amalgamated teams, with Elphin-Balli nameen taking on Michael Glavey’s-Éire Óg

When the sides met ear lier in the championship Michael Glavey’s-Éire Óg won by a point, so the signs are that a close

encounter awaits this Sun day.

The Michael Glavey’s-Éire Óg side will go into the game on a high after winning the Division One minor title recently, de feating Roscommon Gaels in the final.

Their team is jointly man aged by Declan Woods and Tommy Keane.

Speaking to the Roscom mon People in midweek, Declan Woods reported a very positive mood in camp.

“We have a lot of that successful U-17 team on our U-20 team. We have a solid side overall. Darragh Heneghan is back from

injury and that’s a huge boost for us.

“We played Elphin-Balli nameen early in the cham pionship and we won by a point. We were missing a few lads that day but there won’t be much between

the teams again this Sun day”.

Declan says that it was difficult to get time to pre pare the team for the final.

“Glavey’s (lads) were involved with the senior team and Éire Óg were involved in the minor –and they are in the inter mediate final too. A lot of the players have been involved with both, so preparation has not been easy. In fact six Éire Óg players are on the inter mediate panel that will contest the county final on Sunday week”.

Those familiar chal lenges notwithstanding, Declan says all is positive in the camp and everyone

is looking forward to Sun day’s final.

Aidan Main is the man ager of the Elphin-Ball inameen side. When he spoke to the Roscommon People he confirmed that they have a full squad to call on for Sunday’s game.

“We have no injuries, and we have been train ing away. This will be a very competitive match as there was just that single point between us earlier in the year”.

Elphin-Ballinameen de feated Kilmore-Shannon Gaels in the semi-final and now have momentum as they prepare for their big Hyde Park outing.

Aidan Main: “I’m thrilled that the players will get a chance to perform on the big stage on Sunday. It’s a great reward for all the hard work that they have put in all year.

“We have a nice mix of players between those aged 19 or 20 and lads who are a bit younger. We are very hopeful that we will do well on Sunday”.

It’s a big occasion for all four clubs and their sup porters and has the poten tial to be a cracking game at the HQ of Roscommon football. It looks quite evenly balanced. Best of luck to all involved.

Ballinameen supporters Ciaran and Keeva McCann pictured at the King & Moffatt Junior A Football Championship semi-final between Ballinameen and St. Ronan’s earlier this year.

this Sunday when Elphin-Ballinameen take on Eire ÓgMicheal Galvey’s in the Division 2 U-20 county final! Photo: Bernie O’Farrell

Declan Woods, manager of Michael Glavey’s-Éire Óg

Aidan Main, manager of Elphin-Ballinameen.

It’s been a GOOD week for…

All associated with the new Strokestown Park House and Famine Museum, which was officially opened last week by Minister Catherine Martin (hav ing had a soft opening on July 1st last)

Many excited GAA supporters countywide, as local clubs continue their preparation for a weekend which will feature a number of county finals

Local woman Michelle Daly, MD of Athleaguebased P & G Cards, who was awarded the title of All-Ireland Business Foundation Female Entrepreneur of the Year

Irish actor Cillian Murphy, who was amongst the winners at the UK’s National Television Awards, the Cork man winning the ‘Best Drama Performance’ category for his performance as Thomas Shelby in Peaky Blinders

It’s been a BAD week for…

Kwasi Kwarteng, who was sacked as the UK’s Chancellor by Prime Minister Liz Truss, this after just 38 days in the role

Rangers Football Club, who endured a humiliating night at Ibrox when defeated 7-1 by Liverpool in the Champions League

The status of water quality in Ireland, with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revealing in its Report 2016-2021 that only just over half of rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal waters are in satisfactory condition, and that, in general, water quality in Ireland has further declined

Taoiseach Micheál Martin (well, on one front), as he had to backtrack and admit that some of his claims regarding RTE’s decision not to broadcast an interview with Shane Ross (on his book on Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald) were not accurate

Employees of well-known pharmaceutical com pany Novartis, after news of plans to cut up to 400 jobs at its Dublin base

Roscommon Christmas lights go green!

Once again this year, Ro scommon town will be looking its very best for the festive season, with twinkling Christmas lights decorating the area. Now, as an eco-friendly meas ure and in response to the ever-increasing energy costs, the committee have enacted a plan for smart consumption of electricity.

Every single lightbulb has been replaced with a smart LED bulb, reducing the electricity required by an astounding 75%. The lights display on Main Street are being entirely re placed this year, to further

enhance the town centre. Also, as an additional en ergy saving measure, the Christmas Lights switchon hours will be reduced slightly.

The Roscommon Christ mas Lights Committee is already hard at work to en sure the popular Christmas Lights display is ready to switch on at the opening ceremony on November 26th.

“This is a really rewarding committee to be involved with,” said Declan Mol loy (Chairperson of the Roscommon Christmas Lights Committee). “It is a

great bunch of people and their enthusiasm is infec tious. We are always look ing for new members and volunteers to get involved, so if you’d like to help out, please don’t hesitate to get in contact!”

The volunteers will start putting up the lights this Sunday, October 23rd, at 8 am. Santa and his help ers will switch on the lights at a public ceremony on Sunday, November 27th, beginning at 5 pm. Eve ryone is welcome to come along and enjoy this feelgood traditional Christmas ritual.

‘Tunes for Peter’ – in honour of late musician

Musician Peter Horan passed away twelve years ago this week. A native of County Sligo, Horan was an accomplished fiddler and flautist, known for having developed a unique playing style.

To commemorate the anniversary of his death, a host of musicians, including some very special guests, will fill the music corner in Spells Bar, Ballaghaderreen, this Saturday

(October 22nd) for the annual ‘Tunes for Pe ter’ event.

Down through the years, Peter led countless sessions from this very corner in Ballaghad erreen, up until very shortly before his pass ing. Due to the pandemic, the last ‘Tunes for Peter’ took place in October 2019, so there will be lots of Peter’s music and stories to revisit this Saturday night in Spells.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Famous birthdays ... this week

For updates, check our social channels

“ The things people say…

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined”

-Henry David Thoreau

John Krasinski (American actor and filmmaker, will be 43 on Thursday)

Wayne Rooney (English football manager and exfootballer, turns 37 on Sunday)

Snoop Dogg (American rapper, will turn 51 on Thursday)

Andrew Scott (Irish actor, celebrates his 46th birthday on Friday)

Detective Inspector David Cryan pictured with his son Dylan following the recent Roscommon Special Olympics Club v Roscommon Gardaí soccer match at Lisnamult.

Pic courtesy of Mick Byrne

Mary Tarpey and Cian Mulry pictured following the recent Roscommon Special Olympics Club v Roscommon Gardaí soccer match at Lisnamult. Pic courtesy of Mick Byrne

Sean Vinney and family pictured following the recent Roscommon Special Olympics Club v Roscommon Gardaí soccer match at Lisnamult. Pic courtesy of Mick Byrne

Ursula Kilcoyne and Aidan Thomas pictured following the recent Roscommon Special Olympics Club v Roscommon Gardaí soccer match at Lisnamult.

Pic courtesy of Mick Byrne

Mick Byrne pictured with Mary Tarpey following the recent Roscommon Special Olympics Club v Roscommon Gardaí soccer match at Lisnamult.

Pic courtesy of Mick Byrne

Entertainment, Culture & Arts

O’Conor conference ‘celebrates one of Ireland’s most significant painters of modern times’

The Roderic O’Conor Conference was officially launched at a reception in Clon alis House, Castlerea recently. It was fol lowed by a full-day conference at the Ro scommon Arts Centre, with the unveiling of a public/historic information panel tak ing place in Castleplunkett.

The conference focused on the life and career of artist Roderic O’Conor, who was born in 1860 in Milltown, Co. Ro scommon, and who died in 1940.

The conference programme featured a range of international, national and local speakers, lecturers, and art historians, in cluding Jonathan Benington, Roy John son, Dr Kieran O’Conor, Pyers O’Conor Nash, Roisin Kennedy, Jody Moylan, Caroline Boyle Turner, Jessica Fahy and Ian Whyte.

The speakers explored O’Conor’s fam ily history, his own artwork collection, his development as an artist, his styles and his collaborations, and examined his legacy.

Speaking at the conference launch, Richie Farrell (Chairperson of the Roder ic O’Conor Conference Committee)

said: “Roderic O’Conor remains one of Ireland’s most important and significant painters of modern times. His story is a curious one and his life and work are as intriguing today as they ever have been.

“This conference is the first of its kind to be held in O’Conor’s native county, and the hosting of this conference has been inspired by the ambition to bring his story to a new audience, promote his connec tion to County Roscommon and to exam ine his position and reputation as an artist of international reputation.

“We hope that this conference will bring long overdue recognition to O’Conor and be the catalyst here in Roscommon to de velop an annual event”.

Also speaking at the conference, Cllr Tom Crosby (Cathaoirleach of Roscom mon County Council) said the confer ence recognised the influence that such a figure can have in shaping contemporary public engagement in the arts.

“It brings renewed focus on our cultural arts and heritage and enables us to con nect people of all ages with the rich fabric of our history” Cllr. Crosby said.

Speakers at the recent Roderic O’Conor Conference at the Arts Centre in Roscommon (back row, left to right): Pyers O’Conor-Nash, Caroline Boyle-Turner, Kieran O’Conor, Jonathan Benington. Front row, left to right: Jody Moylan, Richie Farrell (Chairperson, Roderic O’Conor Conference Committee) and Roisin Kennedy. Photo: Glynn’s Photography

Richard O’Conor Nash (Clonalis House), Penny Johnson, Jody Moylan (speaker and committee member), Sebastian Johnson (great-grandnephew of Roderic O’Conor), Richie Farrell (Chairperson of the Roderic O’Conor Conference Committee), and Eleanor Johnson pictured at the launch of the Roderic O’Conor Conference at Clonalis House. Pic: Glynn’s Photography

Marion Harlow, Teresa O’Leary and Kevin O’Leary pictured at the launch of the Roderic O’Conor Conference at Clonalis House. Pic: Glynn’s Photography

Pyers O’Conor Nash (Clonalis House), Rhona McGrath (Roscommon Arts Officer), Cllr. Anthony Waldron and Manus Tiernan pictured at the launch of the Roderic O’Conor Conference at Clonalis House. Pic: Glynn’s Photography Mary O’Connell (President of the Roscommon Historical Society), Eilish Feeley, Patricia Macklin and Mary O’Gara pictured at the launch of the Roderic O’Conor Conference at Clonalis House. Pic: Glynn’s Photography

GOING OUT

Caoimhe Murray, Bobby Jennings and Leah Connolly pictured at the recent Lip Sync competition held in aid of Creggs NS. Pic: Mick McCormack

Eabha Dowd, Sandra Elices, Ciara Dowd and Jenny Flynn pictured at the recent Lip Sync competition, held in aid of Creggs NS. Pic: Mick McCormack

Aine Rowan, Niamh Coyle and Laura Keegan pictured at the recent Lip Sync competition, held in aid of Creggs NS. Pic: Mick McCormack

Jolene Gacquin, Alma Delaney, Corina Delaney, Niall Connolly and Tracy Connolly pictured at the recent Lip Sync competition, held in aid of Creggs NS. Pic: Mick McCormack

Leanne Gibbons, Leonie Gibbons, Tina Gavin and Dympna Hurley pictured at the recent Lip Sync competition, held in aid of Creggs NS. Pic: Mick McCormack

Kate Hanley, Claire McKeague and Sally Garvey pictured at the recent Lip Sync competition, held in aid of Creggs NS. Pic: Mick McCormack

Boy George: Caroline Scanlon pictured at the recent Lip Sync competition, held in aid of Creggs NS. Pic: Mick McCormack

Trish Heavey and Linda McArdle pictured at the recent Lip Sync competition, held in aid of Creggs NS. Pic: Mick McCormack

Julia, Veronika and Anastasia from Ukraine/Donamon pictured at the recent Lip Sync competition held in aid of Creggs NS. Pic: Mick McCormack

Clodagh McKeague and Izzy Flynn pictured at the Lip Sync competition held in aid of Creggs NS. Pic: Mick McCormack

Widening gap with Export Benchmark Beef price not acceptable – IFA

IFA Livestock Chairman

Brendan Golden has hit out at what he described as “the op portunism of factories” in re ducing beef prices when the Export Benchmark Price com piled by Bord Bia shows mar ket conditions to be steady.

He said the continual price pressure exerted by factories over the past number of weeks has now dropped our price to 28c/kg below the benchmark price.

“The behaviour of factories is very irresponsible and oppor

tunistic, given the challenges beef farmers face. Factories and indeed retailers are acutely aware of the production costs on farms which have again been verified by the most recent Teagasc Situation and Outlook report,” he said.

The report shows input costs increasing by 29 per cent and FFI decreasing by €20/ha as a result of market failure to return these increased costs.

Mr. Golden said there is capac ity in the market place for high er beef prices and factories must

close the gap with the Bord Bia Prime Export Benchmark price.

Looking at the medium term, the IFA Livestock Chairman said factories must provide minimum price guarantees for winter finishers.

“Throughout this year, IFA highlighted the need directly to the factories to provide winter finishers with some certainty as investments are made in feeding cattle for the most ex pensive period of the year,” he added.

“Finishing cattle over the win

ter months will cost on average €6/kg based on Teagasc cost ings. This equates to €2,400 investment in a 400kg carcase. Beef finishers do not have the capacity to take on this level of risk without a minimum price guarantee from the market place.

“Farmers who are considering finishing cattle over the winter into next spring should demand price guarantees before com mitting to the level of invest ment required”.

Highlighting increasing frus

tration among farmers, the IFA Beef Chair criticised Minister for Agriculture Charlie McCo nalogue for failing to put mean ingful supports in place.

“IFA has consistently called for the provision of a rearing and finishing payment of €100/ head for beef farmers. The Min ister refused to include such a scheme in the CAP Strategic Plan, has not provided for one in the Budget and is effectively leaving beef farmers to fend for themselves as we face into our most expensive production pe

riod,” he said.

Mr. Golden recognised the ad vance payment announced for next year’s fodder scheme, but said beef farmers need immedi ate direct support for the cost of meal and other inputs associ ated with this finishing period.

He has again called on the Minister to come forward with supports for farmers feeding animals over the winter months to offset the unprecedented costs we are faced with in or der to maintain our production systems.

ICSA: ‘Winter finishing is finished!’

ICSA Beef Chairman Ed mund Graham has said that winter finishing is fin ished due to weekly price cuts by factories.

“We can forget about fin ishing cattle at two years of age out of a shed. In fact, the economics of any winter finishing system do not stack up as prices have fallen nearly a €1/kg since June. This week, facto ries are quoting as low as €4.55/kg which is totally unsustainable considering current escalating costs,” he said.

Mr. Graham said that ICSA has engaged with Teagasc on feeding costs:

“Some of our producers are calculating daily feed

costs (including all fixed and variable costs) of up to €9/day. Teagasc have a sum of €6/day but that in cludes a period of low-cost grazing in the autumn.

“Typically, we might as pire to a carcase weight gain of 0.6kg/day. At a price of €4.55/kg plus QAS bonus of 20c/kg, a typical R3 steer will fetch €4.75/kg. This works out at €2.85/day which makes intense winter finishing ut terly insane,” he said.

ICSA has urged winter finishers to make calcula tions and inform factories that they are not feeding cattle this winter to finish in springtime because “the figures do not stack up”.

“It will make a lot more sense to let cattle thrive more slowly and finish them off grass next sum mer,” Mr. Graham added.

“It is beyond belief that beef is still being offloaded in supermarkets at the exact same prices that consumers were paying three years ago. This is not economically sustainable. Farmers are being lectured continuously about what consumers want but su permarkets cannot expect that this can be delivered at a loss by farmers. If con sumers want more sustain able beef, retailers need to explain to consumers this comes at a cost,” the ICSA Beef Chair concluded.

There were 800 lots on offer on Thursday last with trade and prices remaining firm. The heifer ring report a similar trade to previous weeks with a good attend ance of buyers present as well as online, and Northern activity resulting in a good clearance.

The weanling rings noticed very strong demand this week for the quality calves with bulls making up to 3.78 a kilo, and heifer weanlings making up to 4.56 a kilo.

The cow trade, with bigger numbers on offer, was similar to last week with a good clearance taking place, while breeding stock and runners noticed increased farmer activity. Cows with calves at foot made from €940 to €2,050 while springers made up to €1,620. Young calves made from €150 to €310 with runners making from €300 to €820 for continentals.

There were 320 bullocks on offer at our recent bullock sale with a lot of top-quality stores presented for sale and sellers were very satisfied with an excellent trade. Top quality stores made up to 3.65 a kilo with heavier lots making up to €2,040.

Sales continue at Castlerea Mart today (Thursday 20th) when we have our weekly sale of heifers, cows, calves, runners, and weanlings. All sales commence at 11 am.

Sample prices for heifers: Ch 425kgs €1210, Lim 415kgs €1180, Sax 365kgs €1150, Ch 400kgs €1090, Lim 490kgs €1460, Lim 480kgs €1390, Ch 460kgs €1280, Ch 790kgs €2230, Lim 730kgs €2050, AA 655kgs €1720, Lim 655kgs €1880. Dry cows: Lim 850kgs €2090, Ch 805kgs €2080, Her 775kgs €1840, Sax 725kgs €1740, Lim 655kgs €1580, Ch 790kgs €1950, Ch 705kgs €1730, AA 685kgs €1590.

Weanling bulls: Ch 280kgs €1040, Ch 295kgs €1000, BBx 290kgs €1000, AAx 285kgs €990, Lim 330kgs €1240, Ch 385kgs €1250, Ch 325kgs €1230, Ch 370kgs €1230.

Weanling heifers: Ch 285kgs €1110, Ch 290kgs €1040, Ch 275kgs €970, Lim 265kgs €850, AA 270kgs €700, Ch 335kgs €1530, Sim 365kgs €1200, Ch 340kgs €1140.

Bullocks: Ch 470kgs €1720, Ch 485kgs €1540, Ch 535kgs €1840, Lim 545kgs €1740, BBx 540kgs €1710, Lim 570kgs €2040, Ch 610kgs €1690, Lim 670kgs €1880, Lim 660kgs €1860.

Castlerea

Niamh Geraghty is congratulated by Aidan Scanlon (Chairman) and Noel Heavey (Secretary) for winning the Best Weanling Bull category at Mountbellew Mart’s Autumn Show and Sale. Pic: Brian McHale

Marion Stephens-Daly presenting Denny McHugh with The Paddy Stephens Memorial Cup for winning the Bank Of Ireland sponsored Best Store Bullock category at Mountbellew Mart’s Autumn Show and Sale. Pictured (Left to right): Denny McHugh, Marion Stephens-Daly, and Noel Heavey (Secretary). Pic: Brian McHale

IFA: Irish Wool brand needed to stop the drop

Speaking following a re cent meeting with British Wool in Bradford, IFA Sheep Chairman Kevin Comiskey has said Minis ter of State at the Depart ment of Agriculture Pippa Hackett must do more to resolve the collapse in wool prices.

The IFA Sheep Chairman said the industry in the UK has led in developing a brand through British Wool and therefore max imised the value of the

product for UK farmers.

“Despite the undeniable environmental credentials of wool for upgrading from a waste material to a renewable resource for the production of multiple products, Minister Hackett spent €100,000 on a study that merely told us what everybody in the sector already knew and since the publication of the report has gone silent on the is sue,” he said.

He accused the Minister

of failing to take advantage of the opportunity to sup port farmers for shearing costs, and in the presenta tion of wool to optimise its potential, through supports in the Sheep Improvement Scheme in the CAP and subsequently in the budget.

Mr. Comiskey has called for the immediate conven ing of the Sheep Industry Group recommended in the report to advance the process of adding value to the wool we produce

and to put the structures in place that rewards farmers for this environmentally sustainable raw material.

“There are huge opportu nities to develop a unique brand for Irish Wool and this work must commence immediately,” he said.

“Discussions with Brit ish Wool show what can be achieved where a coordinated approach with Government support is provided in the promotion, marketing and processing

of wool. These are systems and structures that can and must be replicated for Irish wool”.

Friday, October 21st at 11 a.m.

Special Sale of Heifers and Breeding Heifers

116 Pens of Heifers on offer

Yard opens at 7 a.m.

Viewing 10.15 a.m. to 10.45 a.m.

Also Bullocks & Dry Cows

-

Friday, October 28th at 11 a.m.

Special Sale of Bullocks

Also Dry Cows and Heifers

Bookings accepted up to 5 p.m. on Monday, 24th October. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Tuesday, 25th October at 4 p.m.

End of the Month Special Sale of Weanlings

Bookings accepted up to 5 pm on Thursday, 20th October. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Tuesday, 25th October at 6pm

Special Entry of 48 Excellent Quality in Calf Heifers

Lim X, Sim X

(Right) The Best Store Heifer category winner Dermot Connolly is presented with his St. Jarlath’s Credit Union sponsored prize by Mountbellew Mart Chairman Aidan Scanlon at Mountbellew’s recent Autumn Show and Sale.

Pictured (Left to right): Noel Heavey (Secretary), Aidan Scanlon (Chairman), Dermot Connolly, Denny McHugh (President), and Padraig Naughton (Auctioneer). Pic: Brian McHale

There was a very large entry of stock on offer at last Friday’s gen eral sale with a strong trade for all classes.

Bullocks averaged from €2.87 per kilo up to €3.87 per kilo, heif ers fetched from an average of €2.43 per kilo up to €2.68 per kilo, and dry cows made an average of €2.13 per kilo up to €2.52 per kilo. There was a good attendance of customers at the ringside with on line bidders also active.

This Friday (21st) sees a special sale of heifers as well as bullocks and dry cows.

There was a very good entry of top-quality weanlings on offer at our weekly sale held on Tuesday evening last with a steady trade for both bulls and heifers.

Bull weanlings fetched from an average of €2.93 per kilo up to €4.24 per kilo, while heifer wean lings made from an average of €2.73 per kilo up to €4.22. We also had a full clearance of in-calf heif

ers on the night with the top price of €2,500 for both a Char X and Lim Heifer due the end of October.

There was a very good attendance of customers ringside with online buyers also active.

Our next sale of weanlings takes place next Tuesday (25th) at 4 pm. Bookings accepted up to 5 pm to day (Thursday).

We had a larger number of sheep on offer at this week’s sale of lambs and cast ewes. Prices for finished lambs peaked at €144 for 53.2kgs. Store lambs fetched up to €118 while the tops for stag ewes fetched €170.

Please note all sheep must be tagged with a full yellow EID Tag set. Next sale of lambs and cast ewes is next Wednesday (26th) at 11 am. Yard opens at 8 am and all stock must be penned by 10 am. Sale can be viewed live on www. livestock-live.com.

Sample prices for dry cows: Lim X 835kgs €2070, Lim X 785kgs

€1970, Hex X 845kgs €1900, Lim X 805kgs €1900, Char X 660kgs €1660, SHX 695kgs €1530, Char X 765kgs €1710, AAX 635kgs €1110.

Bullocks: Char X 865kgs €2460, BBX X 545kgs €1820, Char X 685kgs €2200, Char X 602kgs €2190, LIM X 615kgs €2170, Char X 605kgs €2160, Char X 615kgs €2140, Char X 545kgs €2070, Lim X 605kgs €1970, Char X 560kgs €1980, Char X 547kgs €1920, Char X 585kgs €1910, Lim X 555kgs €1860, Lim X 525kgs €1870, Char X 530kgs €1880, Char X 525kgs €1890.

Heifers: Char X 630kgs €1640 Lim X 555kgs €1490, Lim X 510kgs €1300, Char X 470kgs €1120, Char X 460kgs €1080.

Weanling heifers: Char X 395kgs €1270 - €3.22 per kilo, Char X 345kgs €1120 - €3.25 per kilo, BBX X 390kgs €1000 - €2.56 per kilo, Char X 300kgs €1000 - €3.33 per kilo, Char X 270kgs €980 -

€3.63 per kilo, Char X 265kgs €920 - €3.63 per kilo, Lim X 330kgs €890 - €2.70 per kilo, Char X 225kgs €910 - €4.04 per kilo.

Weanling bulls: Lim X 410kgs €1560 - €3.80 per kilo, Char X 320kgs €1260 - €3.94 per kilo, Char X 330kgs €1220 - €3.70 per kilo, Char X 320kgs €1150 - €3.59 per kilo, Char X 325kgs €1070 - €3.29 per kilo, LIM X 330kgs €1060 - €3.21 per kilo, LIM X 290kgs €1030 - €3.55 per kilo, Char X 295kgs €1040 - €3.53 per kilo.

Finished lambs: 53.2kgs €144, 56.3kgs €143, 53.3kgs €142, 52.8kgs €142, 51.8kgs €141, 50.3kgs €139, 50.2kgs €138, 50kgs €137, 48.4kgs €132, 47.5kgs €131, 47.7kgs €128, 46.9kgs €125.

Store lambs: 37.8kgs €118, 42kgs €116, 40.7kgs €116, 39.9kgs €116, 38.4kgs €115, 39kgs €114, 40.5kgs €111, 38.4kgs €108.

All Heifers calving down 30 to 36 months old in calf to Pedigree Limousin Bull calving from 1st November onwards

- - -

- - - - - - - -

Date for your Diary

Friday, October 28th at 7 p.m.

40 Outstanding

Springing Heifers

Tommie Regan’s Annual Sale of outstanding Springing Heifers with selection of Limousines, CHX and Belgium Blues. In calf to the easy calving A I Limousin 5 Star Bull (EBY) and (IVOR).

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

Lambs & Cast Ewes

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

- -

Saturday, October 22nd Irish Simmental Cattle Society

Premier Show & Sale Show at 8 a.m. Sale at 12 Noon

45 Bulls & 92 Heifers on Offer

ENQUIRIES

roscommonmart@gmail.com

website:

IFA Sheep Chairman Kevin Comiskey

Roscommon

Property Services Providers Licence

(Proudly serving farmers for over 63 years)

Tom Brannelly pictured being presented with The Geraghty Family Butchers Memorial Cup for winning the Best Weanling Heifer category sponsored by Sreene’s Bar of Guilka at Mountbellew Mart’s Autumn Show and Sale recently. Pictured (Left tor right): Aidan Scanlon (Chairman), Tom Brannelly, and Noel Heavey (Secretary). Pic: Brian McHale

Mountbellew Mart Chairman Aidan Scanlon presenting John Hynes with his St. Jarlath’s Credit Union sponsored prize for winning the Best Dry Cow category at Mountbellew Mart’s Autumn Show and Sale. Pictured (Left to right): Aidan Scanlon (Chairman), John Hynes, and Noel Heavey (Secretary). Pic: Brian McHale

PropertyPeople

FINAL OFFERS NOW BEING TAKEN FOR SALE BY PRIVATE TREATY

ROSCOMMON

RE/MAX Team Earley close sale on Oran residence

This week, Cathal Meares of RE/MAX Team Earley is pleased to advise that they

&

the sale of a four-bedroom detached property located

in Clooneenbaun, Oran, Co. Roscommon.

This two-storey resi dence was presented for sale in good condition but in need of modernisation.

Living accommoda tion on the ground floor comprises of an entrance hall, living room, kitchen and second living room/ dining room. Proceeding

to the first floor, there is a landing, main bathroom and four bedrooms.

The property is heated via oil fired central heat ing, a solid fuel range, and

a solid fuel feature fire place, and there are double glazed windows fitted throughout. Externally, the property is excellently maintained, with a mature site extending to ap proximately 0.6 acres. The gardens feature an array of landscaped shrubs, mature trees, manicured lawns and a concrete driveway with ample private parking space.

The property enjoys un interrupted views over the countryside to the front, and is located just ten minutes from Roscommon town.

RE/MAX Team Earley are currently looking for similar properties in all areas for cash buyers. For further details or to arrange a free consultation, please contact RE/MAX Team Earley, Stonecourt, Roscommon on 0906626579, email teamear ley@remax.ie or log onto teamearley.ie. Contact auctioneer Cormac di rectly on 086-3519492 or auctioneer Cathal directly on 086-1409158.

Prime development lands comprising

Zoned

The

The

previously

offers to sell.

FINAL OFFERS INVITED

3B/R SEMI DETACHED HOUSE LOCATED AT 44 CHURCH HILLS, COOSAN, ATHLONE CO WESTMEATH

AMV: €250,000

The development of Church Hills is a beautiful residential estate which was constructed in the early 2000’s This home is in excellent condition and tastefully decorated throughout. It would make an ideal family home or investment opportunity

The auctioneer now invites final offers

Clooneenbaun, Oran, Co. Roscommon

COUNSELLING

COUNSELLING & HYPNOTHERAPY

Mobile: 086

Complete

GARDENING

GARDENING

GARDENING

ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL

Significant Further Information.

Name of Applicant: Seamus Sharkey Planning Reference No PD/22/384

1. Retention of existing lean-to extension to existing building, as constructed, and all ancillary site works.

2. Retention of existing storage shed and office building as constructed and all ancillary site works. at Circular Road, Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon.

Significant further information in relation to the above application has been furnished to the planning authority, and is available for inspection or purchase 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 further information may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee of €20, not later than two weeks after the receipt of the newspaper notice and site notice by the planning authority. There will be no fee payable on a further submission/ observation if it is accompanied by a copy of the acknowledgement of a previous submission/observation.

Signed: Deeney Engineering and Planning Services Tel: 086 2503109

PLANNINGS PLANNINGS

ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL

We, Deeney Engineering and Planning Services, are applying to Roscommon County Council, on behalf of Thompson Butler Steel Ltd, for Retention Planning Permission for:

1. Retention of 9No Steel Storage buildings, as constructed, together with all ancillary site works and services.

2. Retention of existing band saw workshop, as constructed, and all ancillary site works and services. at Ballaghaderreen and Derrynacross, Co Roscommon.

This 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 to the authority in writing on payment of a prescribed fee within a period of five weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application. The planning authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

Signed: Deeney Engineering and Planning Services Tel: 086 2503109

ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL

I Keara Lennon intend to apply to Roscommon County Council for planning permission to erect a dwelling house, install a secondary waste water treatment unit with a soil polishing filter and to construct all ancillary site works to facilitate same at Keelty, 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: Keara Lennon.

ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL

Planning application is being made to Roscommon County Council on behalf of Ben and Tracy Gingell for: (1) the demolition of existing single story extension to the rear of existing dwelling house. (2) The construction of a proposed new single story extension to the rear of existing dwelling house along with all ancillary site works at Clooncraff Td. Clooncraff, Hillstreet, Carrick-on-Shannon, 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, €20, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the 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.

Signed:

MANNION | O’ NEILL Planning & Consulting Engineers Ltd. Killamonagh,Caherlistrane, Co. Galway.

PLANNINGS

ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL

I, John Paul Dunning intend to make application to Roscommon County Council for planning permission to construct single storey dwelling, domestic garage. effluent waste water treatment system and percolation area, associated site development works and services at Johnstown Demesne, Athlone, Co. 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, Jacinta McManus, intend to apply for planning permission at, Newtown, Drum (Bealnamulla), Athlone, Co. Roscommon.

The development will consist of a single-storey, four-bedroom dwelling, comprising of open plan kitchen and dining room, living room, evening room, accessible bathroom, w.c. and utility area, new waste water treatment system and ancillary 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 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: Jacinta McManus

PLANNINGS PLANNINGS

ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL

We Joann and Alan Daly, of Lisnagroob, Ballinlough, Co. Roscommon intend to apply to Roscommon County Council for full planning permission for: (A) A new single storey sunroom extension. (B) A first floor extension to include change from dormer to full height two storey structure, to include roof windows. (C) New single storey porch. (D) Modify existing hipped roof too gable roof.

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 the public opening hours of 9.30 – 16.30 Monday - Friday. 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 Roscommon County Council 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.

Signed: Vincent Durkin (Agent). www.DurkinDesign.ie Architectural Designs Tel: 086 83 72 933

ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL

We Niamh Roddy and Mahdi Alhindawi, of Bohalas, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon intend to apply to Roscommon County Council for full planning permission for: One new 1.5 Storey domestic dwelling c/w waste water treatment system to EN12566-3 P.I.A. approved associated percolation area, with new entrance driveway, entrance gate piers and wing walls, and connection to water mains, including all other associated site works as required.

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 the public opening hours of 9.30 – 16.30 Monday - Friday. 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 Roscommon County Council 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.

Signed: Vincent Durkin (Agent). www.DurkinDesign.ie Architectural Designs Tel: 086 83 72 933

ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL

Planning permission is sought for, a) construction of a new single story house, b) a new garage, c) a new vehicle access and d) all associated site works at 28 Hyde Court, Roscommon, on behalf of Mr and Mrs, Paul and Ruth McDermott.

Agent: Lester Naughton Architect Ltd.

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 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the 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

We, Eircom Limited (t/a eir) intend to apply for permission to Erect a 21m high monopole telecommunications structure (with 3 No. 3.9m high omni antenna giving an overall height of 24.9m), together with panel antennas, dishes and associated telecommunications equipment and remove a 15m high monopole telecommunications structure at the eir Exchange, Gorticmeelra (Td), Donamon, 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 to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee, €20 within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the 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.

PLANNINGS

Gerry Hynes MRIAI

Registered Architect

Qualified registered architect with experience in domestic new build and extensions, commercial, agricultural and building reports.

also Planning Applications and Ancillary Certifier for larger projects.

Gerry Hynes M.R.I.A.I. White Cottage, Doon, Strokestown, Roscommon F42 DF10

Phone: 087 2527290

Web: www.gerryhyne sarchitect.com

Email: gerryhynes01@ gmail.com

Design Consultation Planning Applications

New Build, Extend, Renovate Bespoke Design Domestic, Commercial & Agricultural

3482387 info@moleskinarchitecture.com

facebook.com/moleskinarch

Jacqueline Naughton PLANNING

PLANNING APPLICATIONS

NEW BUILDS, RENOVATIONS & EXTENSIONS

Lighting Design Schemes Mobile: 087 403 7803

Email: jacquelinenaughton @outlook.com

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Logstrup (Ireland) Limited is an international company engaged in the design and manufacture of critical power solutions for the global market.

Due to an increasing level of business at our Tuam plant we invite applications for the following positions: Work local…..less time driving…..less cost of travel

• Machine Shop Operators

Previous experience would be an advantage

• Assembly Operators

Previous experience in mechanical assembly would be an advantage

• Sub Assembly Operators

Full training given

• Press Brake Setter Operators

Previous experience required on Trumpf, LVD or similar.

• Stores Operators

Previous experience required in a warehouse environment

• Injection Moulding Machine Operators

your Classified online Send

< ASSISTANT HERD MANAGER: Assisting in the care and management of 400 dairy cows, two milking’s per day. The successful candidate will have at least two year’s experience in a herringbone style parlour. Candidates MUST have a current full driving licence and speak English. Working hours are varied but with a minimum of 39 hours per week, which will include some weekend work. The commen surate salary will be €30,000 per annum. Shared accommodation available to single person only. Apply with CV to Hanley Dairy Farm, Creggs, Co. Roscommon or email: brianhanley70@gmail. com

Previous experience required on setup and programming of Arburg, Sumitomo Demag, Engel or similar

• Maintenance Fitter CNC experience required

Replies to: info@logstrup.ie

Deadline for receipt of applications: Friday 28th October 2022

Logstrup (Ireland) Limited, Dunmore Road, Tuam, Co. Galway, H54 RR44 Tel: 093 70900 Fax: 093 70901 Email: info@logstrup.ie

Maintenance Technician

Part of CWS Group, Service Matters is one of Ireland’s largest providers in the Hygiene Rental sector We are recruiting for the following role:

Maintenance Technician

Service Matters have an exciting opportunity for a self motivated, value driven, enthusiastic person to join our Production team. In this role, the main purpose will be to work closely with the Production Manager and the entire production team to ensure all production equipment is operating to maximum efficiency with minimum downtime.

Candidates must be suitably qualified and have at least 5 years experience in a similar environment or comparable industry experience. The role is varied where both electrical and mechanical skills are required and candidates who show aptitude and ability in both disciplines will have a distinct advantage.

Please email CVs to: roscommon.recruitment@ cws.com

Golf Links Road | Roscommon | F42 DW26 | 090 662 7477 www.servicematters.ie

Van Driver with a HGV License

Van driver with an HGV license

Part of CWS Group, Service Matters is one of Ireland’s largest providers in the Hygiene Rental sector We are recruiting for the following role:

Van Driver with a HGV License

Van driver with an HGV license

Service Matters have an exciting opportunity for a self motivated, value driven, enthusiastic person to join our Distribution team. The successful candidate will be responsible for the professional and efficient delivery and collection of floor mats, hand towels, and workwear to our customers, providing excellent customer service and be a key part of the team managing the customer portfolio.

Professionalism with regards to attitude, image and performance is essential.

HGV licence essential. Initial 6 months contract applies. Please email CVs to: roscommon.recruitment@cws.com

Golf Links Road | Roscommon | F42 DW26 | 090 662 7477 www.servicematters.ie

M c GUIRE Frank Drumminmore, Rooskey, Co. Roscommon

Who passed away on the 22nd October 2020 (2nd Anniversary)

THOMPSON Gerry

Culliaghy, Ballyleague, Co. Roscommon

Who passed away on the 23rd October 2021

COLLINS Peggy

Glenvale, Castleplunkett, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon (2nd Anniversary)

O’BEIRNE Maureen Carnagh, Kiltoom, Co. Roscommon (19th Anniversary)

For us who loved him dearly and whose parting brought such pain, we will cherish his memory forever in a world that’s never the same.

Rest In Peace Frank

Forever loved, sadly missed and always remembered by his heartbroken family.

Anniversary Mass in Rooskey Church on Sunday, the 23rd of October at 11.30am.

CROGHAN Thomas

Late of Galway Road and Roxboro Roscommon. (4th Anniversary)

On this the First Anniversary of Gerry’s passing, we, his family and extended family, wish to express our gratitude to all who supported us at this time, especially our extended family, neighbours and friends.

We wish to acknowledge everyone who visited our home, who stood on the route of Gerry’s final journey and attended the Funeral Mass and the burial. Your presence was very much appreciated and comforting.

Thanks to all who sent Mass cards, phoned, sent messages, expressed condolences online, travelled long distances and to all who could not attend but watched the Funeral Mass online.

A very special thank you to Fr. Daniel who celebrated the Funeral Mass, Siobhan for her lovely music and singing and Noel for his beautiful music at the graveside.

Thanks to Pat Smyth, Funeral Director, for this support, guidance, professionalism and attention to detail throughout.

We have no words to express our appreciation for the great care and respect the Roscommon Palliative Care team and Daffodil Nurses showed Gerry throughout his illness and most importantly, in his final days.

Thanks also to Dr. David Harrison, Orla O’Brien and Martina Healy.

As it would not be possible to thank everyone individually, please accept this acknowledgement as an expression of our deep appreciation and gratitude.

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass has been offered for your intentions.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilis.

Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us every day.

Unseen, unheard, but always near, still loved, still missed and very dear.

Gerry’s First Anniversary Mass will be held in St. Mary’s Church of the Holy Rosary, Ballyleague on Sunday, 23rd October at 11am.

In Loving Memory of our dear Mother who died on the 24th Oct 2020 Rest In Peace

Remember me with joy and love, let gratitude fill your hearts. Thankful for the time we had, Gone…. yet not apart. Celebrate the life I lived, I will be watching from above.

I am always with ye, sending ye my light and love.

Sadly missed, always loved and remembered by her daughters, Mary, Kathleen and Margaret, sons, Mal and Liam, sons-in-law, daughterin-law, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

O’CONNOR Mary

In loving memory of Maureen who died on 8th October 2003.

R.I.P.

Lonely is the home without you, life to us is not the same. All the world would be like Heaven, if we could have you back again.

Sadly missed by your husband Colin, sons Ryan and Charlie and daughter Chloe.

Anniversary Mass in St. John’s Church, Lecarrow on Sunday, 23rd October at 11.30am.

Maureen

Always in our thoughts and prayers, loved and remembered everyday.

Remembered by Maura and all the O’Beirne families.

THANKSGIVINGS

PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN

In loving memory of Thomas who passed away on the 5th October 2018.

May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face, may the rain fall softly upon your fields. And until we meet again may God keep you in the hollow of His hand.

Sadly missed by his wife Joan, sons, daughters, sister, grandchildren, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.

Anniversary Mass in Derrane Church on Saturday, 22nd October at 7pm.

Cuimhníonn do theaghlach grámhar i gcónaí ort.

McNEILL Seanie (29th Anniversary)

Who passed away on 19th October 1993 R.I.P.

MURPHY Vincent

St. Theresa’s Tce, Roscommon (1st Anniversary)

In loving memory of a loving wife, mother, grandmother and sister who passed away peacefully on 24th October 2017

O Most Beautiful Flower of Mt. Carmel, Fruitful Vine, Splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. O Star of the Sea, help me and show me herein you are my Mother.

Athleague, Co. Roscommon

Headstones

carried out

brianmurraystone@gmail.com

., CUNNINGHAM

Michael & Kathleen

Fortfield, Four Mile House, Co. Roscommon (11th Anniversary and 6th Anniversary)

owned ... in the heart of the community

In God’s care you rest above, in our hearts you rest with love.

Quietly today your memory we treasure, missing you always, forgetting you never.

Loving you always, Mary, Aisling, Aoife and families.

Seanie will be remembered at Mass in the Sacred Heart Church, Roscommon on Saturday, 22nd October at 11am.

In loving memory of Vincent who passed away on the 22nd October 2021.

R.I.P.

Our lives are all so different now, from what they used to be, all because you are not here to share our company.

Sadly missed by his sister Mary, brother-in-law Paddy and his nephews Patrick, Declan and Sean.

Anniversary Mass in the Sacred Heart Church, Roscommon on Sunday, 23rd October at 9am.

Missing, your face, your smile, your voice, your sense of humour, your charm, your wit, your kindness, your way of making everything better, mostly, just missing you...

Lovingly remembered and sadly missed by daughters Lorraine, Aileen and Aine and sons David, Gordon and Padraig and all extended family.

Mass will be celebrated for Mary, and the late Patsy in St. John’s Church, Lecarrow, on Friday, 28th October at 7pm.

O Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succor me in my necessity (make request). There are none that can withstand your power. O Mary con ceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee (3 times). Holy Mary, I place this cause in your hands (3 times). Say this prayer for 3 consecutive days. M.S.

In loving memory of Michael who died on 4th of November 2011 and Kathleen who died on the 18th of September 2016.

You began life together with little in the eyes of the world “Five pounds and a few sheep”

With faith, love, respect and appreciation you connected each day as one. Bringing each of us to birth to share in your life and values. These values the world cannot give or no money can ever buy.

For these we are eternally grateful to you.

Loved and remembered by your family and their families, by Aggie and your neighbours, relatives and many friends.

Anniversary Mass in St. Brigid’s Church, Four-Mile- House on Sunday, October 23rd at 11am.

Notice

Memoriams and Anniversaries

If you wish to place acknowledgements, memoriam notices, birthday and anniversary remembrances, please email them to advertising@roscommonpeople.ie or call us on 090 6634633

by post, along with your name and contact details, to Roscommon People, Abbey Street, Roscommon

Don’t worry if you do not have a credit card. We value your business over the years and will make arrangements for payment at a later stage.

Carrigeen, Knockcroghery, Co. Roscommon (5th Anniversary)

THANKSGIVINGS

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 fa ther sees it. Then in his mer ciful eyes it will become your own favour, not mine. Amen. Say this prayer three times, for three days, promise pub lication and favour will be granted. Thanks to Padre Pio, St. Anthony, Saced Heart and Our Lady of Clonfert. M. & O.

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 fa ther sees it. Then in his mer ciful eyes it will become your own favour, not mine. Amen. Say this prayer three times, for three days, promise pub lication and favour will be granted. M.R.M

DUFFY

Jerry

10th Anniversary occurs on the 26th October 2022

Jerry A laugh A chat

A joke or two Is how we will always remember you.

Dearly loved always Julia, family and friends.

Anniversary Mass in St. Mary’s Church, Ballygar on Tuesday, 25th October at 7.30pm.

FITZMAURICE

Alan

Ardsallagh Beg, Roscommon Who

October 2007 (15th

MONTH’S MIND MASS

NOLAN (née Sweeney)

Josephine

Hermitage, Ballygar, Co. Galway

Who passed away on the 20th September 2022.

MONTH’S MIND MASS

KELLEHAN (née Doolan) Maureen

PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN

O Most Beautiful Flower of Mt. Carmel, Fruitful Vine, Splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Vir gin, assist me in my necessity. O Star of the Sea, help me and show me herein you are my Mother. O Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succor me in my necessity (make request). There are none that can withstand your power. O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee (3 times). Holy Mary, I place this cause in your hands (3 times). Say this prayer for 3 consecutive days. M.K.

UNFAILING NOVENA PRAYER TO ST. ANTHONY

Oh Holy St. Anthony, gentlest of saints, your love for God and charity for His creatures made you worthy, when on earth, to possess miraculous powers. Miracles waited on your word, which you were ever ready to speak for those in trouble or anxiety. Encouraged by this thought, I implore of you to ob tain for me (request). The answer to my prayer may require a miracle, even so, you are the ‘Saint of Miracles’. O gentle and loving St. Anthony, whose heart was ever full of human sym pathy, whisper my petition into the ears of the Sweet Infant Jesus, who loved to be folded in your arms, and the gratitude of my heart will ever be yours. Publication promised for a great favour received. M.K.

PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN

O Most Beautiful Flower of Mt. Carmel, Fruitful Vine, Splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Vir gin, assist me in my necessity. O Star of the Sea, help me and show me herein you are my Mother. O Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succor me in my necessity (make request). There are none that can withstand your power. O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee (3 times). Holy Mary, I place this cause in your hands (3 times). Say this prayer for 3 consecutive days. C.T.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 be come your own favour, not mine. Amen. Say this prayer three times, for three days, promise publication and favour will be granted. C.I.V.S.

PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN

O Most Beautiful Flower of Mt. Carmel, Fruitful Vine, Splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Vir gin, assist me in my necessity. O Star of the Sea, help me and show me herein you are my Mother. O Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succor me in my necessity (make request). There are none that can withstand your power. O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee (3 times). Holy Mary, I place this cause in your hands (3 times). Say this prayer for 3 consecutive days. M.S.

You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back, or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left.

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see him, or you can be full of the love that you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday. You can remember him and only that he is gone, or you can cherish his memory and let it live on.

You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back, or you can do what he would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

Forever in our hearts, Dawn, Emma, Brigeen, Gerry, family and friends.

SCANLON née Mulligan Mary (Mae)

Corlackin, Creggs, Co. Galway (6th Anniversary)

In loving memory of Mary (Mae) who passed away on 27th October 2016

May Mary Rest In Peace

Josephine’s son Damian, daughters Rosemarie, Carmel, Fidelma and Eimear and extended family would like to thank all who sympathised with them and supported them in their recent bereavement.

Thanks to all those who attended Josephine’s Removal, Funeral Mass and Burial.

We were very touched by the outpouring of support shown to us. Thank you to all those who contacted us, left messages of condolence, sent mass cards and sympathy cards.

We will be forever thankful to relatives, neighbours and friends who called with food, refreshments and supported us in so many ways over the funeral days.

Thank you to the doctors, nurses and staff of Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe for their kindness and wonderful care during Josephine’s short illness. To Dr. Martin Daly, Dr. Myriam Mangan and staff for their kind and professional care always.

Our heartfelt thanks to Fr. Michael Breslin for his support and for celebrating Josephine’s Funeral Mass in such a beautiful way. Thank you to Fr. Bernie Costello for concelebrating the mass. To the choir and those who sang beautiful hymns we so appreciated it.

Thank you to the members of St. Brendan’s and Moate Ladies Football clubs for the Guard of Honour and Moate Community School. A special word of thanks to David Moran, Funeral Director for his professionalism, guidance and support. Thank you to the gravediggers who prepared Josephine’s final resting place with such care.

Thank you to John and Noeleen Fallon for their support and the food they provided.

We so appreciated having access to the Mattie McDonagh Centre for refreshments after the burial. Heartfelt thanks to all those who kindly helped with catering on the day and to Sean of The Peppermill for the food.

As it would be impossible to thank everyone individually please accept this acknowledgment as a token of our sincere gratitude.

Josephine’s Month’s Mind Mass will take place on Saturday, 22nd October at 12 noon in St. Mary’s Church, Ballygar.

The Kellehan and Doolan families would like to extend a sincere thank you to all those who sympathised with us and supported us on the sad loss of Maureen.

To all who called to the house, provided food and comfort and all who attended the Removal and Funeral.

To all who sent mass cards, sympathy messages, posted condolences on RIP.ie and to all who provided a Guard of Honour, thank you.

To all the staff of the Community Palliative Care Service, Dr. Valerie Morris and Conlon’s Pharmacy for their support during Maureen’s illness, thank you.

Special thank you to Fr. Eugene McLoughlin, Fr. Christopher and Fr. Donnelly for celebrating the Funeral Mass.

A special thank you to Margaret and Sean who provided music during the Mass.

Thank you to the Funeral Directors and gravediggers for their service.

As it would be impossible to thank everyone individually please accept this acknowledgment as a token of our sincere gratitude.

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass will be offered for your intentions.

Maureen’s Month’s Mind Mass will take place on Saturday, 12th November at 7pm in St. Patrick’s Church, Athleague.

A silent thought, a quiet prayer for a special person in God’s care.

Missed each day and remembered by your family.

Anniversary Mass in St. Mary’s Church, Kilbegnet on Sunday, 23rd October at 11.30am.

Kilmore, Athleague, Roscommon. Who passed away on the 29th of September 2022

Draw: It’s Mayo and McStay…but who will lead the Rossies?

The 2023 Connacht Football Championship draw took place on Saturday afternoon and Roscommon have been handed the toughest possible route to the final.

Roscommon have been drawn to face former county senior manager Kevin McStay and his Mayo team in the quarter-finals and if they can overcome that challenge they will then have to face Galway in the semi-finals.

On the other side of the draw, London have been given a home tie against Sligo while Leitrim have to make the journey across the Atlantic to face New York.

Meanwhile, at the time of going to print it was still no clearer who would be leading the Rossies into the 2023 campaign with former

Kildare U-20 and Wicklow senior manager, Davy Burke, the latest name linked to the senior job.

There has been speculation this week that Burke, who managed the Kildare U-20 foot ballers to an All-Ireland title in 2018, has ex pressed an interest in taking the reins. Burke also led Sarsfields to a Kildare SFC title in 2019 before guiding Wicklow to promotion to Division Three in 2020.

It remains unclear, however, who, if anyone is favourite for the position but Roscommon GAA are expected to announce Anthony Cunnningham’s successor prior to Sunday’s senior county final between Strokestown and Boyle.

One thing is for certain, however, whoever is appointed will certainly have a big challenge on their hands to guide the team to another Connacht final next year.

2023 Connacht SFC Draw:

Quarter-finals: Roscommon v Mayo, Lon don v Sligo, Leitrim v New York.

Semi-finals: Roscommon/Mayo v Galway, London/Sligo v Leitrim/New York.

*Keep an eye on our social media platforms for updates on the Roscommon managerial search…

O’Rourke guarantees bronze at European Championships

Castlerea fighter Aoife O’Rourke has guaranteed herself at least a bronze medal in this year’s Women’s European Boxing Championships

in Montenegro.

The Tarmon woman was victorious in her quarterfinal bout against Turkish boxer Busra Isildar yesterday evening (Wednesday),

winning 4-1 on the judges’ scorecards.

O’Rourke grew into the bout and her quick darts inside paid dividends, forcing the tough Turkish fighter back

on a number of occasions. The reigning 75kg champion will fight again on Friday in the semi-finals, as her bid to defend her title continues.

Results

Fixtures

Saturday, October 22nd

October 23rd

Ladies fixtures

Friday, October 21st

Saturday, October 22nd

nGael II v Oran. 2 pm

Abbey Hotel Roscommon LGFA SFC Final

At Ballyforan: Clann na nGael v Kilbride. 4 pm

Roscommon’s Niall Murray pictured before the start of last Friday’s URC match between Connacht and Leinster at the Sportsground in Galway. Leinster went on to win the match 10-0. Pic: Bernie O’Farrell

Creggs RFC Report

THE GAIN LINE

Creggs make a winning start

Connacht J1A League: Creggs opened their J1A campaign with a 2619 home win against Tuam last Satur day evening.

The hosts were awarded a penalty try after just six minutes when Tuam were penalised for pulling down a driving maul led by Ciaran Purcell. Worse was to come for the visitors when Mark Dowd sent Shane Purcell over for Creggs’ second try a couple of minutes later as Purcell added the extras from the touchline.

Creggs remained on top for the re mainder of the first half but squandered a number of try opportunities to give Tuam hope going in at the break.

The visitors enjoyed their best period just after the restart with out-half Carl

Ward creating a number of chances before Ian Murphy crossed for a good converted try. Creggs responded in style, however, as Eoin Coyle got over for a brilliant solo try. Coyle then added another to give Creggs some breathing space but Tuam never gave up and a late Alan Finnerty try kept the result in the balance right up to the final whistle.

Development side defeated Creggs’ Development side suffered a heavy defeat in their opening league game against Galwegians Seconds on Sunday.

The Galway City side scored an early converted try before Mark Brandon hit back with a try and conversion from the sideline to level the scores after 15

minutes. Creggs remained competitive throughout the first half but trailed 26-7 at the break.

Galwegians pulled away gradually in the second half, scoring several tries to run out easy winners in the end.

Creggs travel to Carrick this Sunday in their second league fixture.

Youth Rugby

U-18 Girls’ Division One: Well done to Creggs U-18s White team who de feated Ballina 43-17 on Saturday last in the league. Creggs’ tries came from captain Megan Donohue (2), Sarah Purcell (2), Jemima Adams Verling (2), and Shauna Walsh (1, 4 conversions).

U-15 Boys’ Division Two: Creggs’

Boys’ Maroon team travelled to West port last weekend where they encoun tered tough weather conditions and well-drilled home side. The hosts got off to a quick start and were on the score board after just five minutes thanks to some direct play. As hard as the Creggs lads tried, they just could not breach the Westport defence and the game ended with the home side convincing winners as they sit top of the league with three wins from three.

U-18 Girls’ Division Two: The Girls’ Maroon team defeated Sligo RFC Black 34-17 at home last Sunday. Tries from Katie O’Connor, Emily Murray, Jean O’Boyle, Maryann Jordan and Sa rah Purcell helped secure the win in a very tight game.

Soccer results

FAI Junior Cup Round Two Conn Rangers 2 St. John’s Athletic 3

Boyle Celtic 1 Castlebar Celtic 3 Ballinasloe Town v Ballina Town, postponed. Connacht FA Cup First Round

Glen Celtic 7 St. Cuan’s Ahascragh United 3 Norio’s RDFL Premier Division

Ballaghaderreen FC 0 Castlerea Celtic 5 Moylough ’79 2 Kilkerrin United 1 RDFL First Division Shiven Rovers 1 Ballinagare Manor United 1 Dysart FC 2 Cam Celtic 5 Dunmore Town 2 Ballinasloe Town B 0

RDFL Women’s League

Cam Celtic 3 Ballinasloe Town 0 Castlerea Celtic 1 Ballaghaderreen FC 1 Kilkerrin United 1 Shiven Rovers 1 Colemanstown United 1 St. Cuan’s Ahascragh United 3

Fixtures

Friday, October 21st

RDFL Second Division (8 pm)

SFAI Saturday...

the lads in the coming weeks.

C’mon The Town (Roscommon Town Youth Soccer)

In association with the

On Saturday last, the Boys’ U-12 and U-14 sides were in SFAI Cup action. The weather was horrific but the boys keep play ing football, however Knockn acarra and Castlebar Celtic were just too slick and strong for The Town. Thanks to John Hannon and Austin for preparing the pitches. Post-match hospitality was provided to players, parents, supporters, coaches and officials and this was warmly appreciated by all, especially our visitors. Sincere thanks to those who as sisted in any way on the day. We look forward to more games for

Try & Buy Nights...

Umbro are our sportswear part ner and we are holding Try and Buy Nights this week in the clubhouse. This is a great oppor tunity for members to check out some of what is on offer. Coach es will be present each evening to assist. There is a 10 per cent discount on first orders by us ing the code WELCOME10 and a percentage of each item sold goes back into the club. A winwin all round. Perhaps you are thinking about a purchase for the festive season? Then, why not try and buy!

Check out the ‘Shop’ section of our website for the full range (roscommontownyouthsoccer. ie) or just Google ‘Umbro Ro scommon’ Support the Town in style!

GK SAVES...

A good goalkeeper is as good as a goal. Often a lonely position, the player between the posts has a big part to play in starting goals as much as in stopping goals.

Remember a GK SAVES:

S - Strong hands

A - Accept that mistakes will be made

V - Voice - Make yourself heard E - Expect the unexpected

S - Switch on and stay switched on

Stay in Touch with Us...

As the season concludes for many of our teams, stay tuned in. Check out the ‘News’ section of our website (roscommon townyouthsoccer.ie) and our Twitter and Facebook pages for regular updates. Email us also at info@roscommontownyouth soccer.ie.

Wise Words…

Winning is not everything but making the effort to win isVince Lombardi

Skyvalley Rovers B v St. Cuan’s Ahascragh United Glen Celtic v St. John’s Athletic B

Sunday, October 23rd

Norio’s RDFL Premier Division

Boyle Celtic v Kilkerrin United Skyvalley Rovers v Ballaghaderreen FC St. John’s Athletic v CP Ajax Moylough ’79 v Ballinasloe Town

RDFL First Division (11 am) Ballinasloe Town B v Cloonfad United Ballinagare Manor v Dunmore Town Shiven Rovers v Dysart FC Ballymoe FC v Cam Celtic

RDFL Second Division Rahara Rovers v Dunmore Town B. 11 am

RDFL Women’s League (2 pm) Ballinasloe Town v Castlerea Celtic Ballaghaderreen FC v Colemanstown United St. Cuan’s Ahascragh United v Kilkerrin United Boyle Celtic v Cam Dysart Celtic

The Creggs RFC Development team.

Roscommon Town’s U-16 team.

Horseracing starts this weekend today over the jumps at Thurles off at 2 pm. Tomorrow racing returns to the west at the Cleveragh in Sligo, their last meeting of the year, off at 1.50 pm with a meeting under lights over the all-weather at Dund alk, first race at 5.30 pm.

On Saturday, racing is on the level at Leop ardstown featuring the Group 3 Eyrefield Stakes starting at 1.25 pm. Sun day has flat racing at the Curragh, off at 1.25 pm, and there is jump action over the sticks at Green mount Park in Limerick starting at 1.50 pm, fea turing the Munster Na tional Handicap Chase.

There is cross chan nel racing on ITV4 and Virgin Media 1 on Sat urday when nine races will be covered by ITV4 and Virgin Media 1, four from Cheltenham, three from Doncaster and two from Newbury. There are four races covered on Sunday, three from Ain tree and one from Win canton.

There was a shock in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot last Saturday as the Wil liam Haggas trained 1/4 shot, Baaeed, lost his unbeaten record in this his 11th and last race.

Michael Stoute’s Bay

Horses for Courses

Bridge ridden by Rich ard Kingscote won by ½l from Charlie Appleby’s Adayar with My Pros pero a nose away in third. Baaeed finished a disap pointing 1¼l further back in fourth.

American Report

The €850 purchase at the Goresbridge Sales in 2017, Shark Han lon’s Hewick, added the $250,000 American Grand National at Far Hills in America last Sat urday. The Betfair365 Gold Cup Chase and Galway Plate winner was sent to the front early on by Jordan Gainford, the outcome never appeared to be in any doubt as the pair beat Noah And The Ark by 11½l with Ask Paddy a further 4½l back in third. Hewick could head straight to Chelten ham for the Gold Cup.

Leslie Young’s pair Song For Someone finished 9th and Pis tol Whipped pulled up. Young had received compensation earlier as Redicean won the condi tional hurdle race under Sean Flanagan. Gordon Elliott and Davy Russell enjoyed a double with The Insider in the 3-Y-O hurdle race and Ted Hast ings in the Champion

Hurdle to top off a suc cessful Irish raid.

Racing News

There have major changes to the National Hunt calendar next year with Navan and Punch estown holding top-class weekends of racing in November. Navan’s fix ture on the 18th and 19th will see the For Auction, Lismullen and Monks field hurdles and the For tria Chase and Troytown Handicap Chase run over two successive days. The

Punchestown fixture on the 25th and 26th will feature the Grade 1 Mor giana Hurdle and the Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase, brought forward from its traditional De cember date. These highclass weekends of racing will take place ahead of the traditional December Winter Festival at Fairy house.

This week, the Jockey Club decided that the Cheltenham Festival will remain a four-day af fair and will not extend to

a five-day fixture. Specu lation was rife that due to its continued success the Prestbury Park showpiece would become a five-day event in 2024 Will our festivals please take a deep look at this decision which on balance they feel 28 races over four days is the right format, a correct decision in the eyes of this writer.

The Gary Moore trained 6-Y-O, Goshen, could make his debut over fences at Ascot at the end of the month in Ascot Un derwriting Novices’ Lim

by Tom Red

Darts

League action returns

The Hannon’s Hotel spon sored Roscommon Darts League makes a welcome return this Friday night with the following fix tures: Cosy Bar v Holly Tree; Dalton’s v Village Inn; An Bothar Rua v The Hollywood; Flangan’s v McDermott’s. Spells Bar has a bye.

For further details and fixtures, check rosdarts. com or the Roscommon County Darts Facebook page.

Hurling Two Rossies in Team of the Year

ited Handicap Chase, a race the trainer won with Nassalam last year.

Point-to-Point News

There are three meet ings this weekend start ing on Saturday at Lough brickland in Co Antrim at 1 pm. On Sunday, there are two meetings, one in Ballycrystal near Kiltealy in Co Wexford and at Umma House north of Moate in Co Westmeath, both starting at 2 pm.

Roscommon senior hurlers Padraig Kelly and Daniel Glynn have been selected in the Ring, Rackard and Meagher Team of the Year for 2022. Kelly was chosen at wingback while Glynn was chosen at corner for ward.

Basketball New name for Castlerea basketball club

(News from local golf clubs)

Short putts

Athlone

The Gents’ competition on Oc tober 15th/16th was won by Mark Kelly with 41 points while the Ladies’ and Gents’ Open on Wednesday last was won by Denis O’Sullivan (41 points).

The AWGS went to B. Connolly with 28 points and the Plumbers was won by K. Clabby with 32.

Meanwhile, a large group from the Women’s Club travelled to Birr Golf Club last Saturday to play in Captain Frances McGet tigan’s Away Day competition.

Results: 1st: Celeste O’Regan, Rhona Fitzgerald, Marion Hen drick, and Marion O’Shea; 2nd: Lily O’Sullivan, Brid Kenny, Anna Walsh, and Alice Maher; 3rd: Evelyn Wright, Bernie Wat son, Nora St. John, and Linda Kilmartin.

The ’97 Club last Thursday was won by Anna Walsh with 24 points while Yvonne Walsh (23) and Helen King (22) were second and third respectively.

Ballaghaderreen

After eight years of asking, Bal laghaderreen Ladies finally got their hands on the coveted Ro scommon or ‘Claret Cup’ as it is more widely known. This is an annual competition between each golf club in the county, an event that was the brainchild of Sinead Devine and which has grown in popularity over the last eight years.

Congratulations to the Captain Pauline Gibbons and team and thanks to all sponsors including Devine’s and Golfstyle in Gal way.

Other winners on the day were: 1st: Mary O’Hara (Boyle); 2nd: Ann Egan-Farrell (Athlone); 3rd: Dolores Mulvey (Carrick-onShannon); 4th: Mamie Creaton (Castlerea) and Gross: Helen Curran (Ballaghaderreen).

Boyle

The second of our King Harmon Cup qualifying competitions took place recently and Adam Daly

guaranteed his qualification for the matchplay with another fine score of 43 points. Karl Keenan (39) and Brendan Gaffney (39) were second and third respec tively.

The club expresses sincere con dolences to the family and friends of the late Ingrid Stewart. Ingrid was a member of the club for a number of decades and served as its first Lady Captain in 1972, subsequently winning the Lady Captain’s Prize herself in 1976 before serving as Lady Presi dent in 2003. She maintained a strong interest in the life of the club in latter years and continued to show support at social events and fundraisers. May she rest in peace.

The club once again appeals to members to support the club draw. This is an important source of funding for the club on a monthly basis and your support is very much appreciated.

Carrick

Congratulations to Club Captain

Owen Gibney on winning the Gents’ competition on October 2nd with an excellent score of 39 points. Other results: Cat 1: Daniel Egan (37); Cat 2: Oli ver Duignan (37); Cat 3: David Clarke (32).

Ciaran Cafferky (39 points) was the winner on Sunday last while Cat 1 went to Philip Martin (35), Cat 2 to Finbar Cregg (39), and Cat 3 to Enda McDermott (38).

Congratulations to Luke Creighton who won the Gents’ Hamper with an excellent score of 44 points. Cat 1: Charlie Boyle (40); Cat 2: Anthony Noone (40); Cat 3: Cathal Dowd (39).

Roscommon

Congratulations to Peter Farrell (42 points) who won the Michael Craven Cup last Sunday. Johnny Coyne (41) was runner-up, Liam Bagnell (41) finished in third place, and Paul Hoare (32) took gross.

Sinead Benedetti (37 points) won the Ladies’ competition on

October 11th with Carmel Walk er (33) in second place. The La dies’ 9-hole competition was won by Margaret Egan with 21 points.

Men’s Senior results (13th): 1st: T. Murphy (38 points); Cat 1: M. Sharkey (35); Cat 2: P. Walsh (36); Cat 3: JT Finn (36); Cat 4: S. Brennan (34).

Women’s Senior results: 1st: Joan Moran, 2nd: Veronica Clarke, 3rd: Mary Mellett, 4th: Kate Walshe.

Congratulations to Convent of Mercy students, Leah Lennon and Olivia Costello, on winning the Connacht Schools Girls’ Sen ior Championship in Claremorris last week. A great achievement by both girls.

The club AGMs are due to take place on the weekend commenc ing November 11th. Both Ladies’ and Men’s are scheduled for Friday, 11th at 8 pm in the club house while the Club AGM takes place on Sunday, 13th at 5 pm. All members are encouraged to attend.

The basketball club former ly known as the Castlerea Kings has announced it will be changing its name ahead of the new season.

Posting on social media, the club confirmed that fol lowing a thorough voting process, it would know be known as Castlerea Cava liers.

“After 11 successful years as the Kings, the change represents a new era for Castlerea basketball,” the club said.

“As the women’s and men’s team have started to operate as the same club since last season, it was im portant for us to reflect this and present ourselves as such with a new name and new crest that represents all our clubs”.

The club will enter its first ever underage team, an U-16 boys group, into com petitions this year and says it aims to increase activi ties through the winter with plans in place for social basketball for adults as well as underage development sessions.

There was a shock in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot last Saturday as the William Haggas trained 1/4 shot, Baaeed, lost his unbeaten record in this his 11th and last race.

THE SPORTS STUDIO

Occasional sporting musings with Paul Healy

SUNDAY WILL BE A DAY FOR HEROES AND HISTORY

< PAUL HEALY

This is a county final that it’s virtually im possible not to be drawn to. How can you not relish the menu on offer at Hyde Park this Sunday? There is the novelty of an allnorthern final…the romance at the heart of this slightly unlikely pairing, the sense of an air of history shuffling in the shadows. We know the history books are waiting for the ink to drip.

The competing clubs have an aura that has something to do with where they come from. Boyle and Strokestown are two parts of our beautiful county which are steeped in history.

When my family moved to Strokestown for a couple of years in the 1980s, I was immediately smitten by the town’s charm and character. Those majestic wide streets, which lead to the gates of Strokestown House – the rows of houses and businesses standing proudly in line – were reputedly once the widest in Europe, and are still deemed to be the second widest in Ireland (after O’Connell Street, I gather).

Back in the 1980s, Strokestown was brim ming with characters. My family were in the hospitality business. The town had well over 20 pubs in those days; many more in previous decades. Only a handful remain now.

When I got involved with Strokestown United FC for a couple of very enjoyable seasons, I soon realised most of my team mates were starring for Strokestown GAA. It was obvious something special was brew ing; within a few years, the 1992 county title win was secured.

Boyle is close to my heart too, for reasons of a sentimental nature, I guess. My late father was a native of Knockvicar, Boyle. From time to time over the decades we made trips to the area, sometimes by wa ter. Arriving into Lough Key on a cruiser can take your breath away. Trips to nearby Cootehall were always enjoyable, time seeming to stall.

There is a great history to both towns; they are jewels in our tourism crown, so to speak.

I was amazed with the ‘stat’ that emerged from Hyde Park after Boyle stunned St.

Brigid’s recently. I had no idea that Boyle hadn’t even been in a county final since 1927, much less won the title. It seems hard to reconcile that bleak line from the history books with the decades of toil put in by proud Boyle Gaels, including the many fine players and teams there over the years.

Speaking to a few Boyle people this week, the sense of excitement, anticipation and hope was so evident. They are focussed on winning, but they’ve also allowed them selves to enjoy the build-up. They deserve this moment; the stylish, attacking team that carries their dreams came from amongst them.

There is great excitement in Strokestown too, where the aim is to bridge a 20-year gap. Traditionally, they play with swagger and flair. They too were great in the semi-final. History will be in all our footsteps at the Hyde on Sunday. Then it will rest on the shoulders of one team. They are two great finalists, two great clubs from special parts of our county. Every player will give their all. Ultimately, it will be a day for heroes and history.

High time we moved on from ‘Up the ‘Ra’ controversy

< PAUL HEALY

So, social media and its permanently offended cast strike again…

The reaction to the members of the Irish foot ball team singing ‘Up the ‘Ra’ in the dressing room in Hampden Park has really been over the top.

It probably wasn’t particularly wise of the play ers – who had just qualified for next year’s World Cup – to include the ‘Up the ‘Ra’ lyrics in their

celebration playlist. It certainly wasn’t wise to do so while being filmed.

But much more objectionable in my view was the ridiculous overreaction to the footage. The controversy has somehow overshadowed the team’s historic achievement. The ‘story’ ran and ran – despite prompt apologies by the players, their manager and the FAI.

Of course that social media commentary has been divided (as it tends to be), with some tweet ers claiming to be outraged, and others defending

the right of Irish people to sing rebel-type songs. In particular, Sky TV’s Rob Wotton riled many people, the presenter asking one Irish player if the episode highlighted the need for education “on issues like this”. On social media, a reason ably orderly queue quickly formed…with people pointing to the irony of an English media figure apparently advocating history lessons in this in stance.

The bottom line for me is that this was blown out of proportion. I think the apologies for any

offence caused were inevitable, but the players should never have been subjected to such a long drawn out trial by social media. It was a few lines from ‘Celtic Symphony’, one of a number of songs they sang in a dressing room bubbling with excitement and happiness. They’ve apolo gised to anyone who was offended. We should all have moved on at that point, while continuing to celebrate this team’s great success.

And maybe Rob Wotton needs to brush up on Irish history.

John’s new book on ‘100 Great GAA Controversies’

< PAUL HEALY

It was good to receive an email from prolific author (and Roscommon na tive) John Scally the other day. It con tained details of his latest book, ‘100 Great GAA Controversies’.

This is yet another journey into the heart of the GAA, with John’s keen eye and tireless pen focussing on vari ous controversies over the years. Our own Shane Curran is amongst those featured, with John recalling the fa mous penalty incident in the 1989

Connacht Minor Final. I was at that game in Castlebar, and still recall the drama and surrealness of it all.

John takes up the story (in the book): “The GAA needs characters. Shane ‘Cake’ Curran is certainly one of them. Curran first exploded on to the national consciousness in the 1989 Connacht minor football final. Roscommon trailed Galway by two points when they were awarded a penalty in the last minute. Peadar Glennon, corner-for ward with the Rossies, placed the ball on the spot and stepped (up) to take the

kick. Out of the blue Shane raced for ward and blasted the ball past the Gal way goalie. There was chaos. Roscom mon were presented with the cup but subsequently had the game taken away in the smoky GAA corridors of power. Eventually the Rossies won the replay ordered by the Connacht Council”.

The book also revisits John Maughan’s dramatic dropping of five Roscommon stars, including Curran, back in 2005.

Shane Curran: “We weren’t to know it but it was the end of numerous inter-

county careers. I remember vividly Sharon [his wife] coming in with The Roscommon Champion as it was at the time [saying], ‘Famous five have been dropped by new Roscommon manag er’”. Curran blames the County Board of the time for allowing an impression to take hold that five “troublemak ers” had been let go.

I wish John every success with a book which promises to be a very entertain ing read. ‘100 Great GAA Controver sies’ is now available in all good book shops.