23 September 2022 Roscommon People

WATCHINGPeople

With PAUL HEALY

PUBLIC ROAD

I live in a rural area and I do my best to keep my property clean and tidy. I am fed up how ever of other road users destroying the public road with clay, muck etc. Surely there is a law prohibiting this practice? Please advise me. Provisions within the Roads Act 1993 address the prevention of damage to public roads and the protection of people who use them. While most landowners are careful when using public roads for agricultural activities, there may also be in stances where roads are damaged through careless and unlawful activities.

It is an offence to allow any material, such as clay, slurry or fodder, onto a public road, where such material is, or could be a hazard to road users or interferes with the safe use or maintenance of the Landownersroad.

are obliged to ensure that:-

a. The transport of winter fodder over public roads is on the basis that there is no alterna tive off-road means of access.

b. Adequate measures are in place between gateways and storage locations to minimise the amount of clay that is carried onto the public road.

c. Tyres of tractors, etc. are regularly washed down to ensure that soil is not carried onto the public road.

d. Fodder, plastic or twines are not left on grass margins.

e. Livestock are kept and fed an adequate dis tance from the road so that road drainage is not interfered with and slurry is prevented from flowing onto the public road.

f. Any soil, fodder etc., which is deposited on the road is removed immediately.

g. Vehicles are not parked for long periods on the hard shoulder / grass margins of the pub lic road. Parking in this manner may cause damage to the public road and may also limit sight lines for roads users.

It is also an offence to deface, damage or dig up a public road without applying for, and receiv ing, prior permission of the County Council in the form of a Road Opening Licence. It should be noted that the public road extends from fence to fence and includes footpaths / grass verges and roadside drains.

Many farmers have no choice but to transport fod der on public roads and the vast majority do so carefully and considerately of other road users. If you have difficulty with a particular neighbour I would suggest that you politely mention your con cerns and try to resolve matters amicably in the best interests of all.

Well, how AWESOME was that? OUR NIGHT WITH GARTH!

I’m still not over it! So embarrassing!

You’re so ungrateful!

Look, I know it was amazing that we got direct access to him, but really, your behaviour…

He took it well!

Mmnn…

We’ll never forget that night! Can you believe I got backstage passes, and that we actually met Garth Brooks for half an hour before he went on stage!

Wow! To think we suddenly found ourselves in Garth’s dressing room… TheEndangeredSpeciesbarstoolboyos

NO! And you’ll have to tell me how you got those passes. Was it Joe Brolly? The Editor? Roscommon County Board? Was it Daniel O’…

I’m sorry, I REALLY cannot comment!

My lips are sealed!

Well they weren’t exactly sealed when we met up with Garth! SO embarrassing!

(They pause to stare at the photos they took with a slightly stressed looking Garth Brooks backstage at Croke Park on Satur day night)

What a night! You and I with exclusive access to Garth Brooks, as the crowds took their seats in the stadium…

Yeah, but the stuff you came out with… Oh come on! It’s awesome that I got those passes. Even the experience of gaining access to the VIP area in the backstage section was incredible.

True, I suppose…

Fancy us meeting Bono, and Bressie

too…I love those celebrities who are known by just one name

So you said to Twink…when you were at maximum grovelling!

Yeah, mind you, she went on a bit. I’m glad that dapper chap in the white suit rescued us, I’d say he was security…

That was Marty Whelan… Anyways, to think we then suddenly found ourselves in Garth’s actual DRESSING ROOM…

…because you insisted on posing as part of his entourage…

Sometimes you gotta be creative! Be sides, he liked us!

Yeah, at first…until you went on and on and on…

I only showed him two of the songs I’ve written!

Fancy showing him a song entitled ‘The Country King who lost the plot’!

Look, it was a satire on the events of 2014, I think he liked it!

Then you had the cheek to tell him his fivein-a-row at Croke Park is impressive, but that the Dubs did a six-in-a-row!

I think he got the joke! Garth’s got a sense of humour! By the way, he’s still very fit, he kept getting up and down off the couch when we were talking to him, then he started walking away and going around in circles! I guess it’s part of his pre-stage routine!

It might have had something to do with you inviting him to Roscommon!

I was only being sociable!

Yeah, but you asked him to headline a concert in The Square, followed by smaller gigs in Athleague and Knockcroghery!

He’d have some craic! I think he may be on for it! That’s when he called one of his security people over…I presume so they could take a note of my offer.

Eh…I think that’s when we were gently marched back to our seats!

PEOPLE writing headlines…

The Queen

Queen Elizabeth II continued to dominate the headlines worldwide, Britain’s longest serving monarch being laid to rest on Monday last af ter an emotional send-off which, unsurprisingly, culminated in a stunning State funeral

Paul Mannion & Jack McCaffrey

Oh dear, the Dubs have only gone and an nounced that former greats Jack McCaffrey and Paul Mannion will rejoin the Dublin senior foot ball panel next season

Michael McGrath

The rather impassive Minister for Public Ex penditure wants to become Minister for Finance when Leo Varadkar takes over as Taoiseach from Micheál Martin later this year. There have been murmurings from Fine Gael that Paschal Donohoe should remain in situ, but Fianna Fáil (and Michael) have their eyes wide open!

Lady Gaga

The singer and actress was in tears when an nouncing that she had to cancel the final concert (in Miami) of her tour due to bad weather. Okay, we admit it was a quiet news day on Sunday…

PIC OF THE WEEK: Nicola Mulligan, Gary Mulligan and Nicola Joyce pictured at the launch of Glenamaddy Agricultural Show at Glenamaddy Equestrian Centre last Friday. See feature in this week’s issue.

Pic: Mick McCormack

Roscommon teen tees off in Women’s Irish Open

< DAN DOONER

Roscommon teenage golfing sensation, Olivia Costello (14), will make her bow at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open in Dromoland Castle in Co. Clare today (Thursday) as the tournament returns to the sporting calendar for the first time in ten years.Olivia, who was just four years old when the last Women’s Irish Open was played at Killeen Castle, Co. Meath in 2012, said she was in spired to take up golf by dad, Michael Costello. Speaking to the Ro scommon People this week, Olivia said: “I started playing when I was around seven or eight years of age. Myself, my brother and my dad used to go up for lessons with Philip Murphy (golf pro). That was the start of it so it

was my dad who got me into playing. We used to call it ‘McDonald’s Tuesdays’ because on the way back we’d stop in at McDonald’s!“Atthestart I was doing it for fun and I wasn’t thinking about the opportunities it could give me. I don’t really know when I started thinking about it as more than that”.

The second year Con vent of Mercy student was preparing for the British U-18 Amateurs in Scotland earlier this year when she received word of her invite to this weekend’s Irish Open.

“I had just played the Home Internationals and myself and two other friends went down to the AIG Women’s Open in Muirfield and on the way back for the British U-18 Amateurs in Carnoustie, KPMG emailed about it. It hadn’t been something

I really thought about,” she said.

As she prepares for her first appearance at the Women’s Open, Olivia is ready to make the most of the experience.

“I’m really excited about the experience and I’m looking forward to seeing how the other players prepare and what they do,” she said.

“There are some really good players like Leona

(Maguire) and Anne van Dam and it will be great seeing how they prepare and how they get ready for it and I’m obviously excited about playing in it asOliviawell!”tees off at 8.50 am this morning alongside Lydia Hall of Wales and Ursula Wik strom of Finland. The Women’s Irish Open willbe televised on RTÉ and Sky Sports.

TEE TIME: See our videoOlivia’scelebratingrise…on Roscommon People social platforms now!

New water main to be installed in Lisnamult

< DAN DOONER

Irish Water has confirmed that it will begin the installa tion of a new water main measuring half a kilometre in Lisnamult on the outskirts of Roscommon town in the coming days.

The new main is replacing long service connections and Irish Water says customers will enjoy improved water pressure when works are completed at the end of Octo ber.“We are aware of the pressure issues for our customers in the Lisnamult area, and these works will ensure they have a much more reliable supply of water. Instances of bursts and water outages will be reduced, and these new pipes will also put an end to the loss of clean drinking water into the ground,” Irish Water’s Networks Regional Lead Declan Cawley said this week.

The section of works will take place along the L70524 and stop/go signals will be in place. However, Irish Wa ter says areas of work will be limited to short sections to minimise impact on customers. 48 hours’ notice will also be issued ahead of any short-term interruptions.

“Working with Roscommon County Council, we pri oritise works in the areas that need it most. Our custom ers in Lisnamult will see the benefits of replacing these old pipes first-hand. We understand that this type of work can be inconvenient for local residents, and we thank the community for their continued co-operation and pa tience,” Mr. Cawley added.

“Customers with questions about the project can call Irish Water on 1800-278278 or contact us on Twitter @ IWCare. For further updates please see the Irish Water website, water.ie”.

newsbriefs

Active Age meeting in Athleague

Athleague Active Age will hold its first meeting this year on Monday, October 3rd at 7.30 pm in the newly-refurbished Athleague Community Centre. All members both new and old are welcome.

Roscommon Garden Club meeting

Roscommon Gardening Club welcomes all back to our first meeting at 8 pm next Monday (26th) in the Abbey Hotel, Roscommon. Membership for the year is €25 and for nonmembers on the night €5. The speaker at next Monday’s meeting is Pat Thornton of the Irish Dahlia Society. All welcome.

Sliabh Ban Group meeting

A meeting of the Sliabh Community Group will be held in Frank’s of Ballybeg on Wednesday, September 28th, at 7 pm.

The purpose of the meeting is to try and get a Community Employment Scheme up and running in the area, so as to keep the locality tidy from litter and also to keep the grass cut in Lisonuffy, Cloonfinlough and Bumlin cemeteries.

The grass in the three cemeteries aforementioned is not being cut anymore due to lack of a scheme being in place, so anyone with relatives interred there should support the endeavour of this committee.

All persons interested in this general project are cordially invited to attend the meeting.

Free events at Roscommon Library

Mindful Living for Adults with Avril Mullally takes place at Roscommon Library on Tuesday, September 27th at 6.30 pm and on Tuesday, October 4th at 11 am. Mindful Movement and Creative Arts for Children with Avril will take place on Saturday, October 1st at 3 pm (ages 3 to 5), and on Saturday, October 8th at 3 pm (ages 6 to 9).

Spaces are limited so booking is advised. Email: library@ roscommoncoco.ie or phone 090-6637277 to book a place.

Up to 2,000 festival fans heading to Castlerea!

< PAUL HEALY

Up to 2,000 people will attend the first ever Night and Day Festival in Cas tlerea this weekend, in what has been hailed as a significant boost for the local economy. A team of

up to 30 people are cur rently putting the final touches to the spectacular site – on the grounds of Clonalis House – where three tented stages have now been erected.

The two-day camping festival, which takes its in

spiration from the autumn equinox – a time of equal periods of night and day – will feature music, com edy and political debate as part of a programme of family-friendly events.

The star-studded lineup will feature acts such

as Villagers, John Grant, The Mary Wallopers, The Zutons, Cathy Davey, Junior Brother, and Soda Blonde, as well as comedy from Danny Ryan, Ashlee Bentley, Steve Bennet and Eman Idama. Five Cabinet ministers and a number of TDs are amongst the guests who will participate in political debates.

Speaking to the Roscom mon People from the fes tival site on Wednesday, Craig Hughes of organis ers Cruachan Productions said: “Now that we have hit the home stretch, ex citement has set in. The crew have been here all week, and the preparations are going great!”

Mr. Hughes said the ven ue capacity is 2,000 and that well over 1,500 tickets had been sold as of earlier this week. Around “800

to 900” festival-goers will be staying on the site in campervans. He thanked the people of Castlerea for their great support over re cent

Localweeks.councillor Paschal

Fitzmaurice, a business man in the town, told the Roscommon People: “It’s a fantastic new venture and I wish it every suc cess. It’s very positive for the town. Naturally we hope there will be benefits for the local economy, and that many of the visitors will explore the town and county at some stage. I hope it’s a great success”.

The gates at Clonalis House open at 9 am on Saturday morning and the first act will be on stage at 2 pm. The programme of events continues through Saturday and Sunday.

Student Loan Applications Closing Friday 30th September 2022

The closing date for student loan applications for the 2022/2023

Members who are students, or parents of a student(s) can avail of our preferential lowrate student loan, with flexible repayments, no fees or charges, Free loan protection insurance, and the option to top-up the loan.Not a member not a prob lem, you can join today, and apply straight away! Simply visit us in branch, call us on 090 6626657 or email info@ roscommoncu.ie to become a member.Please visit our ustowww.roscommoncu.iewebsitespeakuson0906626657orvisitinanyofourfourbranchof

fices Roscommon, Ballaghad erreen, Elphin, Strokestown to learn more.

GAA apologises to clubs who had to ‘tog’ in Hyde Centre

< DAN DOONER

Roscommon GAA has this week issued an apol ogy after two clubs were forced to share the Hyde Centre as they prepared for an important Interme diate Football Championship at Dr. Hyde Park. Images on social media showed players from neighbouring clubs, Fuerty and Creggs, togging out in the hall which is usually reserved for elec tion counts or occasional functions. the

Athlone Road side of the county ground were out of commission last weekend due to unforeseen circumstances.Inastatement to the Roscommon People this week, Roscommon GAA said: “Roscommon GAA is aware of the situation that arose re garding the allocation of dressing rooms at Dr. Hyde Park on Sunday. We would like to sincerely apologise to the clubs who were af fected. We will ensure that this will not happen again in the future”.

ADVERTORIAL

Roscommon Credit Union Limited

This image posted on social media shows players from Fuerty and Creggs sharing the Hyde Centre ahead of their Intermediate Football Championship clash last Sunday. Pic: Rob Ralphs Twitter

PAUL HEALY’S WEEK

A column by Roscommon People editor paul@roscommonpeople.ie

Thursday

So, eight years on from Garthgate, how do I feel today about that epic controversy involving the country superstar’s no-show(s) in 2014? Much the same as I did then, actu ally! Readers will recall that Garth Brooks was due to play five concerts in Ireland in 2014, but when permission was only granted for three, he insisted it was ‘all or nothing’ and that he could not let down the fans who would miss out. Cue mass hysteria across Ire land. Personally, I thought Garth was petulant and greedy. When he threw his stetson out of the pram (so to speak), the entire visit was cancelled. We had joined the Garth craze in 1994 and ’97, but in 2014, I wasn’t impressed with Mr Brooks. My mind was made up: Greedy Garth and I were finished. For good.

Friday

We arrived at Croke Park shortly after 7.30 pm this evening…

Yes, it seems my sulk with Garth had dimin ished, my resistance somehow having wilted. Many months ago (when tickets for ‘Return of Garth’ were acquired for a party of ten, me included) I visualised attending in protest (over 2014), but obviously time heals!

We had travelled on the bus from Casey’s. Drawing the line at wearing a stetson, I joked about enjoying the day in spite of Garth, not because of him. “Nice to be heading off for the day early on a Friday afternoon” was my weak mantra, the thunder quietly rolling in my heart.

We had a few drinks and some tasty food in a bar about 25 minutes’ walk from Croker. It really was great to be out and about, and to inhale that distinctive Dublin pub vibe. The young barman announced (in all seriousness) that he’d never heard of Garth Brooks until the weekend of the recent first concerts. I could have told him so much, but, fortunately for the young man, the moment passed.

By now immersed in the feelgood atmo sphere, we joined the excited throngs – all ages, all styles of hats – smiles and antici pation merged on Jones’ Road. A friendly Garda obliged and took our photo, strictly for posterity.

Stepping into the Hogan as Garth Brooks emerged on to the stage was some experi ence, maybe the moment when any lingering (good-humoured) Garth grudges finally dis solved. It really was spectacular. Fiona and I had seen him in the ‘Point’ and at Croke Park in the 1990s, but I don’t remember the scene on either occasion being as visually mes meric as it was tonight. The 80,000 people packed into this famous stadium almost

unwittingly created a wonderful atmosphere, the visuals just amazing. The guy didn’t have much to do initially, other than bask in the adoration. Interestingly, there was a huge amount of young people present, as distinct from the many thou sands of us who were lost in the warmth of fond memories of now drifted youth.

When Brooks spoke (he spoke quite a lot) the sound wasn’t perfect (where we were), but that’s a minor quibble as the acoustics were fine for the actual singing.

It was a brilliant show, Brooks – in time-hon oured fashion – mixing the charm with the clas sics. His musicians were superb, particularly the chap on the fiddle. The audience sang along to the endless hits, including ‘The River’, ‘Shame less’, ‘Standing Outside the Fire’, ‘The Thunder Rolls’, ‘Ain’t Goin’ Down (‘Til the Sun Comes Up)’, ‘The Fever’, ‘Unanswered Prayers’ and ‘If Tomorrow Never Comes’.

When ‘Friends in Low Places’ electrified the stadium, the slightly elderly woman to my right looked like she was about to die happy (or better still, sing along to Garth for years to come). Maybe this is how she had been all night. In that moment, we realised a big part of what makes him special is…the sheer joy he gives people. I looked around…everyone was smiling, joyous, nostalgic…surfing on a wave of happiness.

“He’s full of plámás” a friend said to me a few days later. But we knew and know that. So be it. He’s some showman, some entertainer. And the songs are great. I drew a line at wearing a stetson, but I really enjoyed the concert.

As for 2014, it appears the thunder has stopped rolling, and Garth’s off the hook with me. Did I u-turn? Guilty. I feel like Groucho Marx, who said: “Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them... well, I have others!”

Saturday

It was apt that the first person I met today on arriv ing at the excellent new facilities of Ballyboro FC in the grounds of Lanesboro Community College was the club’s chairman, John Tynan. John and a few colleagues were tending to a few last-minute minor tasks on this special day for the club…perfectly capturing the essence of volunteerism.Manyyearsago

John and I played indoor soccer together; he has lost none of his passion for the game. With evident pride (and typical modesty) he told me about the excellent project being unveiled.

Ballyboro FC, a club which attracts players from Lanesboro, Ballyleague, Cashel, Killashee, Tarmonbarry, Cloontuskert and surrounding areas, was hosting the official opening of an enhanced traditional pitch and a superb all-weather Astro Turf playing area.

A few minutes later, I saw those new facilities for myself, and they are a credit to all involved.

Roscommon Town U-13s v Ballyboro U-13s was the first game of the day, and it was lovely to see the children express themselves on the new pitch. The official formalities followed later in the afternoon (see page 35).

Our columnist Ciaran Mullooly, one of a number of drivers of the project, has a thorough account of

the project in his column on page 16 in today’s issue. Central to Ciaran’s article is a poignant and timely tribute to the memory of the late Bernice Martin, who was such an inspirational principal at Lanesboro Community College and in whose memory a special bench was unveiled on Saturday.

The Ballyboro FC volunteers have done current and future generations some service. This is an example of community cooperation at its best.

Monday

After the long farewell to Queen Elizabeth II, the State Funeral today certainly lived up to expectations (I watched highlights).

The service at Westminster Abbey was as impressive as one might expect…full of pomp, pageantry, and an indisputable sense of history. The long procession which saw the Queen’s coffin being slowly driven to her final resting place at Windsor Castle was captivat ing, the respectful silence movingly punctu ated by the sound of the marching feet of the military personnel flanking the hearse every step of the way. An extraordinary moment in history, we won’t see anything like it again –even if the monarchy flourishes into the future.

Monday/Tuesday

The video, posted on social media late on Monday night, is quite shocking in terms of the brazenness it depicts. Mind you, com munity leaders say it merely reflects what has been going on for years, that communities are being terrorised on a nightly basis.

The video shows the scene in an estate at Cherry Orchard in Dublin. Two drivers are joyriding, watched by a group of youngsters. A Garda squad car, responding to reports of dangerous driving, drives into view. Some of the onlookers chant for the joyriders to ram the vehicle. At first there is no response, then one of the vehicles rams the squad car twice (to cheers).

I get the argument that greater education opportunities – and provision of services for communities – are vital in addressing crime, deprivation, anti-social behaviour. But I also recognise loutishness when I see it.

This lawlessness is inexcusable, the layabouts involved recklessly endangering Gardaí as they treat our State authorities with contempt. No injuries were reported in this incident, but the outcome could have been different, for Gardaí and/or members of the public. Some night it may be.

This country’s justice system is far too soft when it comes to sentencing. It’s all very well to talk of marginalised communities and lack of resources, but this thuggery needs to be faced down.

Garth Brooks: ‘The guy didn’t have much to do initially, other than bask in the adoration’.

Axe the (carbon) tax!

Fitzmaurice calls for end to ‘double levy’

Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice has called on the Government to reverse the carbon tax increase of €7.50 per tonne which was put in place in May and cease all further increases for the remainder of the energy crisis.

Deputy Fitzmaurice said strong consideration should be given to the abolition of the “regres sive” tax and said carbon tax was as outdated as the Universal Social Charge.

“Keeping this unfair and inequitable tax is fun

damentally wrong. Carbon taxes, penalising all as they do, impact disproportionately on ‘low income’ people. This tax was always wrong but they are utterly unfit for purpose in an age of energy poverty,” he said.

The TD says any justification for “what is essentially a tax on working people” has been swept away by the current energy crisis.

“It was always, at best, a blunt instrument from an administration that appears to take pleasure in punishing the working poor,” the TD added.

“However, in a scenario where people, es pecially pensioners, young families and the working poor are being increasingly forced to choose between food and fuel, there is no valid

case for its retention in its current form”.

Calling for the suspension of any increases, the Independent TD said the current market was carrying out the objective of limiting fuel use.“In

a scenario such as this, the carbon tax is now a double levy on the people. It is an outdat ed relic from the age of fiscal security in price and supply. Retaining it is simply purposely punitive and discredits the stated claim of its creators,” he said.

“The Government should be brave and should be bold. Carbon taxes hurt the people. Stop hurting people,” Deputy Fitzmaurice conclud ed.

Western Gaels supporters Jack Farrell, PJ Flynn and Sean McDermott pictured in Strokestown last Saturday. Photo: Mick McCormack

newsbriefs

Church Gate Collection for RSPCA

The Roscommon Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Roscommon SPCA) is holding their annual Church Gate Collection on the 1st and 2nd of October in Frenchpark andYourBallinagare.support,as always, would be greatly appreciated.

Glinsk Ladies Club to hold Hospice fundraiser

The Glinsk Ladies Club are inviting the public to join them in Glinsk Community Centre from 3 pm to 5 pm on Sunday, September 25th, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Galway Hospice’s annual fundraiser. Complimentary tea and coffee, as well as some sweet treats, will be provided on the day. The group are inviting the local community to do a virtual walk in aid of hospice, with all donations being entered into a free raffle. A donation box with the raffle tickets is available in Dowd’s shop, Glinsk.

Support is very much appreciated for this worthy cause.

Keadue Tidy Towns to attend Entente Florale finals

The results of the Entente Florale European competition will be announced this Saturday in Balatonfured, Hungary (24th) with members of Keadue Tidy Towns and Roscommon County Council in attendance.

The Tidy Towns committee have thanked the Keadue community for their goodwill and cooperation, and also Roscommon County Council who were involved in the preparation for the competition. They said it was a great honour to represent County Roscommon and Ireland in this prestigious competition.

Knockcroghery Hospice Coffee Morning

The annual Knockcroghery Hospice Coffee Morning will be held this Saturday, September 24th in Culleen Hall between 10 am and 1 pm. All Hospice money raised stays locally for Roscommon services. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, this is the first hosting of this fundraiser since 2019. Last year, the Knockcroghery Hospice Support group walked 1,000 miles for Hospice and were thrilled to raise a total of €4,145.99. There will be the usual delicious home bakes, a cake sale and the much-anticipated raffle for a quality hamper and many other treats and prizes on the day. Please support. Bring friends and family, mingle and enjoy the fabulous atmosphere with locals and lovely guests. Looking forward to seeing you all in Culleen Hall on September 24th.

Roscommon Solstice Choir practice resumes

Roscommon Solstice Choir are back in practice preparing for what promises to be a busy November and December. Both old friends and new members are very welcome to come along to Four Mile House Community Centre at 7.30 pm on this Sunday, September 25th, to join in. No audition is required – just a love of singing with a group!

Fundraisers

RoscommonforSPCA

Two fundraisers in aid of Roscommon Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will be held in the county this weekend. On Friday (23rd), a table quiz will be held in The Kilmore Inn, Ballinlough at 7.45 pm. Table of four €10 and raffle tickets will be on sale on the night.

The Roscommon SPCA will also host a car boot sale this Saturday (24th) at Casey’s in Roscommon town. Your support as always is greatly appreciated.

Youth Mass in Sacred Heart Church

The Roscommon Parish Youth Mass will recommence at 7 pm this Saturday, September 24th, in the Sacred Heart Church, Roscommon.

This mass has been especially designed for young people, by young people, but everyone is invited to attend, and benefit from the huge amount of work our young people have put into this community initiative.

Aoife Collins, Ann Fleming, Bernie Murray, Joan Mannion and Marie Keaveney pictured at the launch of Glenamaddy Agricultural Show at Glenamaddy Equestrian Centre last Friday. Pic: Mick McCormack

Chic City Weddings in The Heart of Ireland at the Luxury 4-star Sheraton Athlone Hotel

Bursting with style and sophistication, the Sheraton Athlone Hotel is a perfect location for a glamorous city wedding. Located in the heart of Athlone, the Sheraton is a unique and modern venue that will impress guests the moment they begin special the Sheraton Ath lone Hotel newly-engaged Showcase

from 12 pm to 5 pm. On the day, you will have an op portunity to meet with the wedding team, hear about the wedding packages, view the elegant ballroom, and experience the wonderful service.

The elegant Sheraton Athlone Hotel is furnished to the very highest standards with contemporary décor and subtle natural tones. The Hoey Suite is a roman tic, stylish ballroom with stunning Swarovski chan deliers, completed with sophisticated centrepieces and lighting to suit the happy couple’s unique taste. The suite is the heart of the celebrations that will bring your family and friends together for the happi est day of your life. The Terrace at Sheraton is exclu sive to you for the day – an urban oasis, perfect for both civil ceremonies and drinks receptions at spring and summer weddings. The professional and experi enced team at Sheraton Athlone Hotel will go above and beyond to ensure the day is unique for you both and that every detail of the day runs flawlessly and toGeneralperfection.Manager

Garrett McGuiness expressed that the priority is to make sure your important day is eve rything you imagined and more: “We are dedicated to making your day perfect and memorable. Excep tional food and outstanding service is a given and our promise to you. Your guests will talk about your day, the added special details and finishing touches for years to come”.

The cherry on top literally lies at the highest point in Athlone. The breathtaking two-storey bridal suite on the 11th floor boasts floor to ceiling glass windows and a bird’s eye view out over the River Shannon, and as far as the eye can see, capturing corners of four counties!

To attend the Wedding Showcase at Sheraton Ath lone Hotel, book your appointment with our wedding team on 090 6451000 or email weddings@sheraton athlonehotel.com. For more information, visit wed dingsbysheraton.com.

Simply stunning at the stylish and sophisticated Sheraton Athlone Hotel

The elegant Hoey Suite at Sheraton Athlone Hotel

News2022

G DThe page

New park plan boost for Ballyleague as Access For All wins national award

< DAN DOONER

The award-winning Lough Ree Access For All group in Ballyleague Lanesboro has an nounced this week that it is taking part in a national drive to promote local green spaces thanks to new funding secured through the AXA Parks Fund.

Access For All is one of the selected projects committed to enhancing community con nections and environments by improving local infrastructure and amenities along the River Shannon.People of all ages will have access to a new green space in a project being promoted

alongside Roscommon County Council’s Outdoor Recreation plan for the riverside park area inTheBallyleagueprojectwill see the intro duction of new Irish native trees and shrubs, new bird boxes in the area, and a new willow tun nel.Ciaran Mullooly from Lough

Ree Access For All told the Roscommon People this week: “We have been working with Roscommon County Council on this project for some time but the support of the AXA Parks Fund through The Community Foun dation for Ireland is a great help in turning our vision into reality.

“We are working with ecologist

Rachel attends

Ballyforan woman and St. Angela’s Col lege lecturer, Rachel Hastings, recently attended the IFHE World Congress in At lanta, Georgia, USA where she displayed a prize winning biodegradable garment.

The former Convent of Mercy student travelled with colleagues from St. Angela’s College, Sligo including President Amanda McCloat, after her Textile and Design sub mission entitled ‘Bamboozled as to why people are acting unsustainable’ was cho sen to be displayed at the event.

Rachel’s submitted garment was made of Organic Bamboo Silk Satin, sustainable material which is 100 per cent biodegrad able. She had received first prize for the display in St. Angela’s College and believes her attendance at the World Congress will help her in her future professional practice and academic studies.

At the congress, Amanda McCloat (Presi dent of St. Angela’s College) was elected IFHE President and also received the IFHE flag as the XXV World Congress will take place in Ireland in 2025.

Isabella Donnelly on the project.

Local green spaces are vital as sets which should be protected, promoted and supported. Our work now will not only deliver benefits for local people now but will help ensure the survival of our local biodiversity to be en joyed for generations to come.

“Over 3,000 people a year now

visit the park to use the Access For All boat and we hope they will enjoy the changes we are making”.Theproject is one of 84 be ing undertaken by community groups across Ireland with fund ing totalling €900,000 from the AXA Parks Fund.

Ballyforan woman and St. Angela’s College lecturer, Rachel Hastings, recently attended the IFHE World Congress in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Young Maura McGarry

Final RacesRoscommonofseason

It is that time of the year when we bring the curtain down on another successful season of racing in Roscommon, with the final fixture taking place on Monday, September 26th. It was great to see cus tomers back racing again this year and Roscom mon Racecourse would like to thank each one of them for their support this year.

Roscommon Racecourse also wish to thank all the owners, trainers, jockeys, and stable staff for running your horses at Roscommon. It’s fantastic to see such a variety of horses running.

Special thanks is also extended to all the loyal sponsors, who have been massively supportive and who stuck by through us thick and thin during Covid. The race sponsors for next Monday are The Dolan family, Thomas Murray’s Bar, Class Grass, Ballymore Group, EBF, and On-Course Vets. The best turned out prize in each race is sponsored by

Keen Print, and EBF have co-sponsored the best turned out prize in their races.

It is appropriate to end the season with the flag ship national hunt fixture, the Grade 3 Ballymore Group Irish EBF Kilbegnet Novice Chase. It will be a fast and furious race run over two miles!

Tickets offers are available on the Roscommon Racecourse website, and cash and card payments will be accepted at the gate. Free bets can be made on the Race Card Competition.

For more information, follow Roscommon Race course across all social media platforms and check out roscommonracecourse.ie.

In addition to all the racing excitement, there will be music in the bar following the second last race, so be sure to come along to Roscommon Race course’s final fixture of the season on September 26th when the first race begins at 1.50 pm.

Sean Creevy and John Compton pictured at the Roscommon Races recently. Pic: Michelle Hughes Walsh

Big-time crime: Hunting down the self-styled ‘untouchables’

This week the arrest of one of their big players (in every way, physical included) Johnny Mor rissey, who was allegedly laundering €350,000 a day for the Kinahans as well as millions more for different crime gangs, once again shone a light on the obscene wealth and lifestyles of the underworld gang members.

However, the Kinahans and their likes are only the figureheads of all these gangs, and there are huge numbers of lower profile figures making sure that drugs have infiltrated every part of our modern society.

I have to say that the world of organised crime fascinates me. When you read of the unbelieva ble wealth of people like the Kinahan gang from the distribution and sale of drugs, it’s hard for an ordinary ‘two and sixpence’ to take it all in.

Morrissey reportedly owns two villas in Spain, one worth €5 million and the other one worth €3 million, properties which he allegedly rented out to holiday-makers for €6,000 a week. By all accounts he thought he was untouchable. He was, however, mistaken – and is presently stuck in a small cell in a Spanish prison.

It is indicative of the way the drug culture has taken over that the seizure of almost half a million euro worth of cannabis plants in Ballygar last week barely got a few lines in the local papers, and none at all in the dai lies.Way back, when we were beginning to social ise, the only danger was alcohol, and even that wasn’t as tempting as it is now because there

were no shots or cocktails. But nowadays, the temptation to do drugs is everywhere, and it must be hard enough for our young people to stay away from them. Throw in the enormous sums of money that can be made from the drug trade, and it is hardly surprising that kids from all walks of life find themselves sucked into working as drug mules.

The good thing is that the Gardaí seem to be having lots of success against gangs like the Ki nahans. Hopefully in time they will get rid of them entirely. The only thing is that whenever a gangland figure bites the dust, it seems there is always someone new to step in.

And your hosts are…a special occasion at Creggs GAA Club

It’s Sunday evening as I write, and af ter spending last week in the red-hot temperatures of Spain, it was great to get back to normal. Back here in Creggs, it’s been a huge weekend of championship football.

On Saturday, as a sort of recogni tion for the superb new facilities that we now have, our club played host to a senior football championship encounter between Roscommon Gaels and Michael Glavey’s. While the game itself was not the close and exciting affair that we hoped for (the Gaels won comfortably), the occa sion was very special for all those who keep Creggs GAA Club alive and moving forward.

A large crowd turned up, but the stewards did a great job. The whole thing ran like clockwork, and there were no problems with traffic con gestion or parking. It all passed off as smoothly as we could have hoped for.A few years ago, the family of the late New York-based Patsy Keegan (brother of Creggs legend, the late Sean ‘Bags’ Keegan) donated very generous sponsorship to our club to erect a scoreboard in his memory. Saturday’s game saw it in place for

the very first time. In fairness, the Gaels made sure it was in perfect working order, as they posted the very respectable score of four goals and fifteen points to 2-8 from the Ballinlough men.

Sunday then saw us heading for the Hyde, where our local lads were tak ing on our neighbours, Fuerty, in the Intermediate Club Championship. The truth is we saw up close just why Fuerty are, along with St. Dominic’s, favourites to take the title.

At the final whistle there was ten points between the teams, and while certain things didn’t go our way, there could be no doubt that Fuerty set the bar very high and were well worthy of their win. I have no doubt they are the best team in the competi tion, and, a bit like Manchester City in the Premier League, it’s hard to see them losing.

As for our lads, they now go into the play-off draw for the quarter-finals. Three teams go into the hat, with one team getting a bye into the quarters, while the other two play each other in order to progress further. I hope we don’t get a bye and instead have another game next weekend to get this performance out of our system.

If we don’t win the play-off, we don’t deserve to go any further anyway. The game itself was uneventful and I kept my recent promise of never once shouting at the referee – one down, but hopefully many more to go.

*It’s now Monday morning as I write, and I’ve just heard that Creggs actually got the bye into the quarter-finals! So we just have to re-focus, get back on the horse as they say, and be ready for whoever we meet in a fortnight’s time.

All kinds of everything in the attic!

On Friday last, our son Paul and I started on what we thought would be a handy enough job, i.e. clear ing out the attic. As it turns out, nothing could have been further from the truth.

If ever we found out that we really are a nation of hoarders, we discovered it that day. You would not believe all the stuff that we had put up there over the years, from old discarded cases to cardboard boxes, all kinds of broken electrical items, bags of old shoes, and at least twenty bags of old clothes.

There were also some items which confused us; we had no idea when we bought them, or even what they were for! As Friday was a very warm day, by the time we were finished we had worked up a good sweat and were definitely a few pounds lighter. In the end anyway, we got most of it out of the way.

This all comes to mind as the good lads from Warm N Cosy Homes are currently here – in that very same attic – to do whatever they do! Actually, they’re busy insulating the attic and pumping the

walls to make sure we are warm and cosy (sorry lads) during the coming winters.

At the time of writing, I haven’t received any com plaints from the lads about said attic, but I am wait ing to hear from them – because we left a couple of items, including the Christmas tree, behind us.

Anyway, I think we will have them for a couple of days, but hopefully when all the drilling is done and everything is sorted, we will feel the benefit of it all when the ice and snow is on the ground.

money!andhotels,Garth,the

Once again it appears some in the hospitality sector outdid themselves when it came to increasing hotel prices around Dublin, with rates of up to €1,400 being charged for a room over the Garth Brooks concert weekends. Such greed should be stamped out. Is it any wonder some tourists regard us as a no go area?

Garth himself says he wants to come back at some stage. To be fair, if I generated as many millions as he did here (in my entire life, never mind five nights), I’d want to come back as well!

And finally…

Marie Fitzmaurice asks me to re mind you all that the Glinsk ladies group invite you to Glinsk Com munity Centre on this Sunday, 25th of September to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the annual Galway Hospice fundraiser. It’s all happen ing between 3 pm and 5 pm and the ladies will be providing free teas and coffees and sweet treats. They invite the community to partake in a virtual walk in aid of Hospice and all dona tions will be entered in a free raffle.

There will be a donation box with raffle tickets in Dowd’s of Glinsk. The ladies really appreciate your support. So don’t forget, head to Glinsk Community Centre on Sun day after the dinner; don’t bother with dessert as there will be loads of free goodies waiting there for you (just don’t eat too much!).

Our man Frank on the ongoing fight against serious crime; A big GAA weekend for Creggs; The greed of some within the hospitality sector…and the joys of cleaning out the attic!

Creggs’ Enda Conneran pictured trying to escape the clutches of Fuerty’s Jack Crehan and Cormac Lavin during Sunday’s IFC match in Dr Hyde Park.

Pic: Bernie O’Farrell

Council supporting ‘Make Way Day’

This year’s ‘Make Way Day’ will take place on Friday, September 30th. The initiative, which is sup ported by Roscommon County Council, was launched recently at a reception in Gleeson’s Town house, Roscommon town (Ro scommon People 9/9/22).

Campaign organisers the Dis ability Federation of Ireland, (DFI), have developed an online tool that campaigners can use to test and rate their local area along with using MWD stickers to highlight issues being faced by the public.

DFI’s survey of campaigners this spring showed that a number of challenges continued to persist

in compromising the mobility of people with disability such as cars parked on footpaths, bins be ing left out on footpaths and bad parking of bikes.

The tool will be available at www.makewayday.com. It is easy to use, can be downloaded to a phone and will be circulated widely on the campaign’s social media platforms.

The aim of the device is to have all neighbourhoods join up and to enable the compilation of one comprehensive map of access in Ireland. Make Way Day aims to feed them the information col lected to work together towards clearer streets.

€175k Clár funding for local projects

Local public representatives have welcomed Minister for Social Pro tection Heather Humphreys’ alloca tion of Clár funding of €175,000 for four projects in County Roscommon. Projects set to benefit include Bal lagh Community Hub (€50,000), Ballaghaderreen GAA Club (€50,000), Ballinameen GAA Club (€34,730), and Bealach Nua (€39,838).Welcoming the news recently, Fine Gael Senator Aisling Dolan said: “The €175,000 for four new projects is in addition to €324,000 allocated to eight projects recently. Twelve groups in towns and villages across Co. Roscommon will now ben efit from Clár funding announced by

Minister Heather Humphreys.

“Congratulations to the Ballagh Community Hub, who have won maximum funding of €50,000 to upgrade the parochial hall in the vil lage. This means a new heating sys tem, rewiring and insulation of walls and attic and will be a big boost to the local area. Funding has also been allocated to Bealach Nua to upgrade the building and surrounding area.

“CLÁR funding is also a way for sports clubs to look at how to make their clubs more accessible for eve ryone in the community of all abili ties especially older people who may enjoy coming to games or events.

“Ballaghadereen GAA Club have also been successful with €50,000

for disabled parking spaces at the pitch and to create a viewing area.

Ballinameen GAA club are also add ing disabled toilets and improving generalLocalaccessibility”.Ministerof State Frank Feighan also welcomed the an nouncement.“Iamdelighted to see a second funding allocation under the Clár programme for Roscommon. I want to commend the local community groups who work closely with Ro scommon County Council and identify really worthwhile projects, which in some cases may be small, but allow communities to bring ideas to fruition and improve their local fa cilities,” he concluded.

Martina Feehily and Patricia Rogers, Strokestown Support Group with Mike Smith, Chairperson, Mayo Roscommon Hospice and Paul Foxe, Director, pictured at the launch of Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning Social at Roscommon Hospice. Pic: Gerard O’Loughlin

Michael and Mickey Herbert pictured in Lanesborough on Saturday for the official opening of the new Ballyboro FC facilities.

Pic: Mick McCormack

Pictured at the

Miriam’s MUSINGS

Words of wit and wisdom with MIRIAM KERINS

Animal hoarding is a complex issue…and it’s on the rise

The other night, I came across a dis turbing TV programme which dealt with compulsive hoarding, a disorder which affects many people.

This programme reminded me of two articles I recently read, one of which reported how Dublin Fire Brigade had been called upon to ‘rescue a pensioner’ who had spent ‘14 hours on the floor after becoming trapped in his own home because of hoarding’. The poor man.

The second described the jailing of an ‘84-year-old woman’ (living in the midlands), ‘for 10 months after she was convicted on two counts of animal cruelty’ on foot of ISPCA inspectors discovering a number of dogs which were described as being ‘covered in faeces and urine’ at her home. The poor dogs!

The ‘hoarding’ article, reported by midlands103.com, described how this individual had ‘been charged with this (animal cruelty offence), on two previous occasions, which had

come with a court order prohibiting her from ever owning any animal again’. This person has been bailed pending appeal.

For someone like me, i.e. a selfconfessed ‘neat freak’, hoarding is a phenomenon I fail to understand.

However, as a former animal welfare officer, animal hoarding, (or as we called it, the Noah Syndrome), was a heartbreaking situation I would have dealt with on a regular basis. The call would come from either An Garda Síochána, the local authority, or a concerned member of the public who’d contact us (the Dublin SPCA), asking us to investigate and deal with incidents so disturbing, I cannot describe them in a family publication.

As someone who adores animals, the sights and the situations I came across very nearly broke me. I can tell you readers it took every ounce of my strength to keep my big mouth shut when calling at these homes,

farms and businesses; but keep it shut I did. You see, I knew it was very likely the individual inflict ing the pain and suffering on these poor innocent animals was possibly mentally ill.

I knew they’d somehow managed to accumulate a very large number of animals, usually cats, dogs, birds and guinea pigs, etc., failing to provide these poor creatures with even the most basic in food, sanitation or veterinary care. As you can imagine, due to the very nature of the findings, and the concentration of animal waste and sometimes human waste –both of which would carry potential diseases, not to mention noxious odours – myself and my fellow of ficers had to don full PPE gear.

For the sake of decency, I won’t go into any further detail other than to add that hoarding not only involves a very personal human mental health issue, it also greatly impacts on the local community and on the envi

ronment. However – and I’m being honest here – it was the animals who were my concern, they were the ones I had compassion for, not the hoarder who had caused their immeasurable suffering.Whenwe rescued and removed these pets to safety, we also had to set up a chain of custody, always be ing mindful not to break it during the animals’ transfer from their private hell to medical care, treatment and rehousing at the shelter.

I have, with the help of former colleagues, and An Garda Síochána, managed to successfully make many cases against individuals who’ve caused immeasurable pain and in flicted horrific suffering on animals.

I’ve appeared as an expert witness at their trials, and, where the court en forced a ban, prohibiting these cruel perpetrators from ever again owning an animal, many of them, (like that alleged 84-year-old abuser), dis gracefully went on to reoffend.

Why? Well folks, in cases I person ally investigated, I believe the two common denominators I identified were the perpetrator’s total denial and complete lack of understand ing regarding the pain and suffering they’d inflicted upon these poor creatures, and of the crises they’d caused. Two, they very conveniently viewed themselves as ‘rescuers’, nay ‘saviours’. I’m sure any reputable psychologist will disagree with me, but, given what I had to deal with, I viewed them as narcissistic abusers!

Well done to the ISPCA animal welfare officers and to An Garda Síochána who investigated and removed these poor suffering dogs from this reoffender. Also, a big thank you to Judge Desmond Zaidan who, according to the report, cautioned this woman that her ‘age is not a bar from going to prison’. Huge respect for your Honour; I wish you’d presided over the cases I dealt with!

It happencould anyone…to

There has been ‘nearly a 300 percent’ rise in the number of calls to the National Poisons Centre at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin regarding children accidentally drinking the liq uid contained in reed diffusers. For anyone unfamiliar with reed diffusers, these are popular home fragrance products which, when activated, emit a continuous scent throughout theCommentingroom.

on how scary this has got to be for any par ent, I self-righteously told hubby how, when my girls were small, I would’ve established a safety mechanism in our home to prevent them consuming anything which wasn’t safe! Still on my high horse, I added how it was pretty sil ly of any kid to guzzle down this liquid, saying I’d have thought the perfumed aroma would’ve alerted them that it wasn’t their average drop of Ribena! Hubby laughed and quickly reminded me about an incident which occurred during our honeymoon in Lanzarote. Waiting on our meal at a restaurant, and, being absolute ly famished (and a tad under the influence of alcohol), I reached into a bowl of crunchy Bombay mix sitting on our table. Helping myself to a generous handful, I munched on it hungrily before washing it down with a glass of wine. When the waiter, (who was pretty rude), finally arrived with our starters, I decided to remark how the chef’s Bombay mix was not only “stale”, it needed a touch more salt. Turning white with shock, the waiter rolled his eyes into the back of his head, stood up to his full height, and, in a voice loud enough for the entire restaurant to hear, an nounced… “That was not Bombay mix madam; you’ve just consumed an entire bowl of pot pourri”. Oops!

As of last week, women between the ages of 17 and 25 years can source contracep tion/birth control free of charge from doc tors, primary care centres and pharmacists who’ve signed up to the new scheme.

FantasticWhatnews!isn’t fantastic news however is that, (at the time of writing), it was reported only one hundred GPs had ‘inquired’ – as hadn’tinsignedyetup–

about this initiative. How very disappoint ing, especially given they’ll receive a €55 fee per Whileconsultation.thisschemecomes at a cost of €26 million for a full year to us, the taxpayer, (making it ‘one of the most expensive measures’ our Government has introduced), I’m sure I’m not alone in saying I’d like to see this initiative extended to the over-25s. In fact, why stop there, why not provide HRT free to menopausal women?

I do know that contraceptive meds and devices, (including emergency contra ception), and medical services, are free to medical card holders, as is HRT, with the Government charging a nominal fee per item; but what about those hardpressed women who don’t qualify for this service?Irish

mammies are real-life superhe roes, always placing themselves last on the list of their family’s priorities, therefore, by not extending the age cohort to the over-25s and meno pausal women, our Government isn’t just discriminating against them, it’s adding to their financial burdens during a time when the cost of living is sky-rocketing.

Mote Park Artists hosting Culture Night event

Mote Park Artists – comprising of artists from Roscommon and Ath lone – have organised a Culture Night event, which will take place from 5.30 pm to 8.30 pm in Knock croghery Community Hall on Friday, September 23rd

This free, drop-in event will include an art exhibition, live music, and poetry readings. The artists promise that there will also be a few other surprises in store on what is sure to

be an exciting evening. Mote Park artists, musicians, and poets include John Larkin, Marie Lough, Dee Mc Kiernan, Nessa McMahon, Patricia O’Connor, Kitty Phelan, Christina Waldron and Jessica Wedher.

Having held several successful exhibitions in the past, the group is looking forward to welcoming visi tors back to enjoy the arts. Much of the art on display will be for sale, pro viding an opportunity for you to pur

chase a unique and beautiful piece of art for yourself or as a special gift.

The artists would like to express their sincere thanks to the Roscom mon County Council Arts Office for their support with this event. Follow ing the event, the art will be on dis play again from 10.30 am to 1.30 pm on Saturday, September 24th

All are welcome to attend so be sure to come along for what is set to be a wonderful evening.

Gardaí appeal for help in missingtracingElphin man

Gardaí are appealing to the public for assistance in trac ing the whereabouts of 51-year-old Darren Greenfield who is missing from his home in Elphin, Co. Roscom mon.Darren was last seen on Sunday, September 11th in Drogheda, Co. Louth. He is described as being five feet five inches in height and of stocky build. He has brown, shaven hair and blue eyes.

Anyone with any information that can assist Gardaí in locating Darren is asked to contact Drogheda Garda Station on 041-9874200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800-666111 or any Garda station.

Delays as lorry strikes level crossing in Castlerea

Irish Rail said there were delays of up to an hour after a lorry struck and damaged level crossing gates in Castlerea on Thurs day afternoon last.

Gardaí attended the scene shortly after 2 pm on Thursday afternoon and Irish Rail confirmed the driver would be pursued for

the costs of the damage caused.

In a statement, Irish Rail urged all road users to approach level crossings safely and to observe warning lights when barri ers are beginning to descend.

Gardaí said that no injuries were reported and investigations were ongoing.

Next ‘Poetry in the Park’ is this Saturday

The next ‘Poetry in the park’ event is set to take place on Saturday, Septem ber 24th, at Kilronan Castle Lakeside and Woodland, meeting at 2 pm at the hotel carPoetrypark. in the Park is an opportunity for poets and lovers of poetry to meet, share their favourite po ems, and socialise, running once a month from April to September 2022. There will be a short walk, with stops along the way for the read ing of poems. Immediately after the walk (which will be about an hour), we will retire to the glorious interi

ors of Kilronan Castle for refreshments, maybe some more poetry readings, and plenty of chat.

You can bring along a poem that you have written, a poem you love, or you can come along with no poems in tow and simply enjoy the walk, the poems, and the chat. Nature poems are particularly welcome, but if your favourite poem is about a grandfather clock, or a mother’s love, or about anything at all really, that’s fine – as long as it’s suitable for sharing among young andThereold! is no charge for

these events and no re quirement to book. How ever, it would be helpful to have an idea in advance of the expected numbers, so do please let Gerry Bo land know if you’re com ing along, either by email (roscwir@gmail.com) or by phone (087 6397557). Gerry will also answer any queries you may have.

Getting creative for Jigsaw Roscommon

In planning for 2022, Jigsaw Roscommon decided to get creative with a project that would benefit the service and Youth Advo cates quickly got on board with the idea.

Convent of Mercy students, Katie Morgan and Niamh Escosio, enlisted the help of their technology teacher, Garrett Spellman, and an interactive table top for the Jigsaw service was created.

For young people receiving therapeutic support, the new creation can alleviate the stress or anxiety around expressing emo tions and help them to feel less alone.

Service users can read the different quotes and words of encouragement from other young people who have received support.

Parents of young people involved with the service have also left messages for other parents and the project is said to have fostered a renewed feeling of community within Jigsaw Roscommon.

Commenting on the project, Garrett Spell man said: “It is great to see young people take on the initiative and step up to cham

pion awareness for mental health. We are very lucky to have a service like Jigsaw in our community to support young peo ple. Nowadays, young people are so much more exposed to difficulties that could affect their wellbeing and it is a peace of mind to have a service like Jigsaw on hand”.Students

Niamh Escosio and Katie Mor gan, said they were only too happy to be involved in the project.

Niamh said: “This project will really en courage this feeling of community within Jigsaw Roscommon, which is so important for anyone dealing with a mental health is sue of “Feelingdifficulty.seenand heard is just as impor tant as therapeutic work when people are seeking support”.

Katie added that supporting young peo ple’s mental health is extremely important.

“Having Jigsaw, a service that is free to all young people aged 12-25, in our com munity is essential. This project creates a

way for young people coming into the hub in Roscommon to feel heard.

“I believe that seeing things that other service users have written creates a sense of understanding between all of our young people without having to meet face to face”.

Jigsaw Roscommon says it is indebted to Mr. Spellman and Convent of Mercy for their support.

To learn more about Jigsaw’s services, visit jigsaw.ie.

Garrett Spellman, Technology teacher, Convent of Mercy, Roscommon; Niamh Escosio, Youth Advocate, Jigsaw Roscommon; Yvonne Lowry, Community Engagement Worker, Jigsaw Roscommon; Katie Morgan, Youth Advocate, Jigsaw Roscommon; Eoghan Mac Domhnaill, Service Manager, Jigsaw Roscommon, pictured with the interactive table top at Jigsaw Services in Roscommon town.

The interactive table top in production by Convent of Mercy Technology students and teacher Garrett Spellman.

Western Gaels supporters Aoibhinn Hunt and Nicole Freyne pictured in Strokestown last Saturday. Photo: Mick McCormack

Western Gaels supporters John, Tom and Sean McDermott pictured in Strokestown last Saturday. Photo: Mick McCormack

CIARAN MULLOOLY

On The Back Benches

Remembering Bernice on Ballyboro’s special day

“You dream. You plan. You reach. There will be obstacles. There will be doubters. There will be mistakes. But with hard work, with belief, with confidence and trust in yourself and those around you, there are no limits”

The brave and inspiring words of the recordbreaking Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps opening our column this week after seven days when the true value and importance of sport in our lives was underlined with a very special and emotional event for the small community of Bal lyleague and Lanesborough and the surrounding areas.Ithappened on Saturday afternoon. There were no Olympians present (that I am aware of) at the official opening of the new 3G soccer pitch and playing grounds at Lanesborough Community College out by the Shannonside town, but there certainly were hundreds of young boys and girls there on the playing fields with the ambition for greatness and the will to win. I suppose that’s what Phelps was really talking about when he spoke those memorable words after the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. The American superstar won a staggering 28 Olympic medals in his career, to make him the most successful and most deco rated Olympian of all time. 23 of those Olympic medals were gold ones. When he won eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Games, Phelps broke fellow American swimmer Mark Spitz’s famous 1972 record of seven first-place finishes at any single Olympic Games. He was just awesome –yet, like so many other great sporting heroes of his generation, it had not been a bed of roses all along the way to glory. His parents divorced in 1994 when Phelps was just nine years old. He went through a very tough time at home and the American swimmer later revealed that the divorce had a heavy and severely negative impact on him and his siblings. Yet, he continued his swimming training throughout the whole trauma and finally mastered his sport – to become a man who was, undoubtedly, the greatest of all time in the swim ming

Thepool.atmosphere at Ballyboro FC on Saturday afternoon was probably a million miles away from that of an Olympic stadium in Beijing or London, yet I doubt if anyone who was there in the sunshine would accept that it was not just as important an arena to be in on the day. Saturday saw the amateur youth soccer club finally open its fantastic new facilities at the athletic track behind the community college on the Ballymahon road.

Four years

This is a development project that has been four years in the making. A meeting of parents away

back in the late summer of 2018 kick-started a plan to upgrade the local soccer facilities and produce an all-weather pitch for the long winter season. A hugely dedicated group of 14 local vol unteers took on the task. EU LEADER funding of over €175,000 was drawn down and the local school principal worked diligently with the com mittee to try and help raise the remaining €60,000 that was needed to pay for the new facility.

Bernice Martin was no ordinary school princi pal. Her first day at Lanesboro Community Col lege entailed setting a blistering pace at the annual school walk. It was evident from the outset that this lady was a force of nature – that’s according

to Hazel Hannon, who today holds the principal’s role at the school.

Hazel says Bernice was a proud principal who endeavoured at every step to ensure that the stu dent’s experience of excellence in education was to the fore. This included the co-curricular and extracurricular domains including the classroom, sporting field, music, science and the arts, to name but a few. She also worked tirelessly with Bally boro Football Club and LWETB (Longford West meath Educational Training Board) to bring the dream of an all-weather astroturf pitch to fruition.

Led from front

Bernice led from the front throughout the cam paign to raise the funds and get the new soccer pitches put into place, helping the Ballyboro club to achieve an effective operational licence for a 15-year period with LWETB – and then going on to roll up her own sleeves in fundraising and star ring in the big ‘Oskar’ Night film production as Kitty Kiernan in the Michael Collins film. I know from first-hand experience that Bernice never let the club down at any point and the brilliant new facilities that are in place today are a direct result of her support.

Regrettably, the young principal was not with us on Saturday last to celebrate that achievement. Her husband Eric and her young family lost Bernice from this life through illness and the Ballyboro club and school community was heartbroken in February 2021 to hear of her passing.

“Words cannot adequately describe the scale of the personal contribution made by this fantas tic lady to achieving this dream for our club, her school and the community” the Ballyboro FC

chairman John Tynan says. “Bernice, we will never forget what you did for us all here in Lanes borough. We will remember your contribution to day at our official opening with the unveiling of a special memorial bench with your name. We will remember Bernice again every time we come to the pitch and use this bench, and her legacy here will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, Bernice”.

The greatest blow of all from her tragic passing was obviously felt by Bernice’s family and it was poignant and heartwarming to see her husband Eric, her children Ella, Ava and Conor, her par ents Hugh and Bridget, sisters Gloria and Edel and brother Hughie with their families all there on Saturday to unveil that special memorial seat in her honour. Eric’s family was also by his side to mark the occasion. Lanesborough Community College has also marked her contribution to the school and the community with the most lasting legacy – called the Bláthu award, presented annu ally during the school annual awards ceremony. This award acknowledges an individual student’s journey and flourishing. Before her death, Ber nice had asked that the school might continue to keep her vision alive – and that’s why they had a memorial sculpture crafted from bog oak by the school’s woodwork department and presented to the award winner every year to acknowledge another student inspired by Bernice’s vision of all students blossoming into fine young adults.

Blossoming

It is well known that Bernice assisted many stu dents to find their way when times might have been tough, giving new direction and a sense of hope despite her brief tenure as principal. Her col leagues at the school say Bernice often spoke on the concept of students blossoming, like the way a flower will thrive if the conditions are right. She dedicated her time and energy in trying to bring out the best in every student. It has been remarked that in good times and bad, you could always count on Bernice to be supportive, helping stu dents to achieve their full potential.

Saturday’s ceremony at the official opening was hugely poignant and emotional for all the mem bers of the Martin and Treacy families, and for the entire community too. But it was also important to mark Bernice’s extraordinary contribution to the soccer club, the school and its pupils.

At the graveside where she is interred at Scramo gue cemetery, the ultimate tribute remains in stone:

Rest in peace, Bernice.

“Bernice, we will never forget what you did for us all here in Lanesborough. We will remember your contribution today at our official opening with the unveiling of a special memorial bench with your name. We will remember Bernice again every time we come to the pitch and use this bench, and her legacy here will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, Bernice”.

“Always remember, you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think”

Members of the Martin family unveil a bench in memory of the late Bernice Martin at last Saturday’s official opening of Ballyboro FC’s new facilities in Lanesborough. Photo: Mick McCormack. Inset on left is a photograph of the late Bernice Martin, R.I.P.

< DAN DOONER

The Glenamaddy District Ploughing and Agri cultural Show will make a very welcome return to Glenamaddy Equestrian Centre on Sunday, October 2nd following two years of Covid-19 lockdowns.

Speaking at the official launch of the show on Friday last at the impressive County Galway venue, show chairperson Bernie Murray said it was wonderful to be back organising the popular event.“I’dlike to welcome you all here this evening to the Glenamaddy District Ploughing and Agri cultural Show launch,” she said.

“On behalf of myself and my fellow committee members, team leaders and our entire team of volunteers, thank you for making the effort in coming tonight.

“It’s wonderful to be back organising the show again after two years of lockdown due to Co vid-19. It was a very hard time for everyone not being able to leave the house to attend shows and functions”.

In addition to all those who make the event pos sible, Bernie Murray paid a special tribute to the show’s loyal sponsors.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank our wonderful sponsors. This year we have two main sponsors, The Comer Group and Declan Lohan Group,” she said.

“I would like to sincerely thank Luke and Brian Comer for the generous ongoing support. And our second main sponsor, who we are delighted to welcome on board this year, is Declan Lo han, originally from Ballyhard and now living in London. His company is the Declan Lohan Group”.Thechairperson also thanked the show’s part ner sponsors, Ward and Burke Construction Ltd.

“Also, Glenamaddy and St. Jarlath’s Credit Union, who have now amalgamated as one, have supported the development and progres sion of our show since we first started back in 2014. We wish them every success and look

forward to continuing our working relationship with them,” she added.

Gold, silver, platinum, and bronze level spon sors were also acknowledged for their ongoing support.“Weare hugely appreciative and will never take your sponsorship for granted,” Bernie said.

Classes, demonstrations and entertainment!

The 2022 edition of the Glenamaddy District Ploughing and Agricultural Show, which takes place at Glenamaddy Equestrian Cen tre on October 2nd, boasts an impressive number of classes as well as live demonstrations andAmongentertainment.thehighlights are official NPA Ploughing competitions, an Indoor Cattle Show featuring com mercial and pedigree and dairy classes, new Breeders’ Choice classes, a top class Dog Show, horse and donkey ploughing, a sheep display, trade stands and live music and waltzingSloan,bydemonstrations,vintage,Thereentertainment.willbecookery,andploughinglivemusicJasonTraversandJennyaswellasajivingandcompetition.Therewillalsobeplenty

to keep children entertained on the day including GAA skills and activities, an art competition for local crèches, playschools and national schools, tractor and trailer rides, and a variety of chil dren’sManyentertainment.oftheeventswill take place indoors in the 40,000 square foot arena and there will be hot food including breakfast, dinner, a chipper, crepes, sweet treats, and a bar available.Admission is €10 for adults, €5 for students and OAPs, while children under 12 go free. Log glenamaddyshow.TwitterShoworcomwww.glenamaddyshow.ontoformoreinformationfollowGlenamaddyonFacebookor@

McCormackNicola

Bernie Murray also wished Glenamaddy Play ers the very best ahead of their 50th anniversary celebrations last weekend and the launch of the Confined Drama Finals on Saturday night last. Concluding, she said: “Our show is on Sun day, October 2nd. No better way to spend a day than at the Glenamaddy Show. See you all there!”

Glenamaddy Show Committee members pictured at the launch of Glenamaddy Agricultural Show at Glenamaddy Equestrian Centre last Friday (front row, left to right): Diarmuid Lee, PRO; Bernie Murray, Chairperson; Marie Keaveney, Secretary. Back row (left to right): Aoife Collins, Assistant Secretary; Pat Connolly, Vice Chairperson; Tommie Mannion, Treasurer, and Collette Reilly, Assistant Treasurer. Pic: Mick

Mulligan and Nicola Joyce with Catherine Gallagher, President, I.S.A. at the launch of Glenamaddy Agricultural Show at Glenamaddy Equestrian Centre last Friday. Pic: Mick McCormack

Equestrian Centre ‘centrepiece’ of Glenamaddy Show

As agricultural show venues go, Glenamaddy Equestrian Centre takes some beating! The vast arena and grounds will play host once again to the Glenamaddy District Ploughing and Agricultural Show on Sunday, October 2ndSpeaking

at the launch of this year’s show on Friday last, chairperson Bernie Murray paid tribute to those who con tinue to facilitate the popular event.

“I would like to thank Darragh Ger aghty, Aileen and all the Geraghty fam

ily for kindly allowing us to use their superb facilities. The 40,000 square foot arena and grounds are the centre piece of the show,” she said.

“I would also like to thank Martina Carr-Kilcommons for the use of the land and Tommie Gilmore who is farm ing the land currently”.

The Glenamaddy Show chairperson praised the event’s gracious hosts, and thanked them for being so supportive of this year’s return of the show after two years.

ISA President pays tribute to committee

< DAN DOONER

New song to promote the show!

Not every agricultural show inspires the release of its very own song…but the Glenamaddy District Ploughing and Agricultural Show certainly has!

The song – titled ‘The Glenamaddy Show’ has already received a warm reception, according to com mittee chairperson Bernie Murray.

“This year we have a song to advertise and promote the show, written by James Shevlin called ‘The Glenamaddy Show’,” she told last Friday’s launch.

“It’s a very catchy song and it was released by Julie Healy and the recording studio. The song got to number four in the Strabane Radio Voting Chart after just one week”.Thesong was played at last Friday’s launch while CDs were quickly snapped up by those in attendance.

As the song goes, people will “come from far and near along those country roads” for the Glenamaddy Show on Sunday, October 2nd

Speaking at the official launch of the show last Friday, Irish Shows Asso ciation President Catherine Gallagher paid tribute to the hard-working commit tee in SheGlenamaddy.saidshehad vis ited shows throughout the country and the indoor setting at Glenamaddy Equestrian Centre was one way in which to extend the show

“Showsseason.are very differ ent today and while they remain very much agricul tural-based, they must also accommodate urban and rural dwellers,” she said.

The ISA President said that ploughing was on the decline and she was glad that Glenamaddy had in cluded it in its programme ofSheevents.said shows were not possible without sponsors and praised those who had remained loyal to the event throughout Covid-19. At national level, she high lighted the support of FBD Insurance and Horse Sport Ireland.

“A lot of work has gone in behind the scenes over the last two years includ ing the ISA’s lobbying of Government ministers,” she added, thanking the various Government De partments for their support throughout the said:toGallagherConcluding,pandemic.Catherinepaidtributelocalvolunteersand“Youngpeopleare

definitely the future of shows and so it’s great to see this (their involve

ment) in Glenamaddy. “I wish the Glenamaddy Show the best of luck this year. This show is different in many ways and we need that variety to keep shows *Glenamaddygoing”.

Show Chairperson, Bernie Mur ray, thanked Catherine Gallagher for attending last Friday’s launch and the support she has shown local representative, John Jennings, since he joined the ISA board.

Committee members and team leaders pictured at last Friday’s launch of Glenamaddy Agricultural Show at Glenamaddy Equestrian Centre. In picture are Maureen Beams, Mary Fernie, Bernie Murray, Chairperson, Catherine Gallagher, President, Irish Shows Association, Marie Keaveney, Secretary, Carmel Comer, Joan Mannion, Darren Fernie, John Jennings, Diarmuid Lee, PRO, Gerry Feeney, Aoife Collins, Assistant Secretary, Gerry Small, Cllr. Peter Keaveney, James Murphy, Alan Beams, John Murphy, Frank Mulligan, Tommie Mannion, Treasurer, Matt Flanagan, Billy Comer, Pat Connolly, Vice Chairperson, and Elaine Quinn. Pic: Mick McCormack

Carmel and Billy Comer and John Jennings with the Comer Cup pictured at the launch of Glenamaddy Agricultural Show at Glenamaddy Equestrian Centre last Friday. Pic: Mick McCormack

Cllr. Peter Keaveney, Padraig Keaveney, Craig Dean and Michael Donelon pictured at the launch of Glenamaddy Agricultural Show at Glenamaddy Equestrian Centre last Friday. Pic: Mick McCormack

Padraig Geraghty, Michael Comer, Eve Deane and Ava Mannion at the launch of Glenamaddy Agricultural Show at Glenamaddy Equestrian Centre last Friday. Pic: Mick McCormack

Ballinasloe Horse & Agricultural Show

SeptemberSunday25th

183rd Ballinasloe Horse and Agricultural Show this Sunday!

The 183rd Ballinasloe Horse and Agricultural Show, one of the longest running agricultural shows in Ireland, is set to return to the Ballina sloe Showgrounds this weekend, commenc ing at 9 am on Sunday (25th).Theshow makes a welcome return fol lowing two years of Covid-19 lockdowns and will feature classes for in-hand and ridden horses and ponies, cattle, sheep, a dog show and many others. There will be five All-Ireland Champion ships to be decided on

the day: RiddenCupPonies,morialthepionKellyPonylightsship.BreedthepionFinal;FoalTheChampionshipIrishMarethree-year-oldConnemaraFillyandoftheFuture;TheDraughtColtFoalFinal;IrishDraughtFillyChampionshipAll-IrelandChamDonkeyFinal;andAll-IrelandNativeDogChampionAmongtheotherhighoftheHorseandsectionsarethePatCupforChamPonyoftheShow,FredKilmartinMeCupforRiddenandTheRaheenfortheChampionHunter.

There will also be classes in Cattle includ ing the €750 Breeder’s Choice Continental 4 and 5 star Breeding Heifer, Champion Bull ock, Heifer and Calf, Best in Show, and Best Young Stock Person.

The Sheep section will feature a special compe tition for Galway Sheep Breeders.TheDog Show is expected to be hugely popular once again this year with an array of prizes on offer.

For more information, visit www.ballinasloe show.ie or find Ballina sloe Show on Facebook.

‘Come along and enjoy the show!’Massive Dog Show Sunday!this

The PRO of the Ballina sloe Horse and Agricul tural Show has urged the people of Ballinasloe and surrounding areas to come out in force this Sunday for the 183rd instalment of the popular event.Gerry Stronge recently

took to social media to highlight some of the many attractions of this year’s show.

“We are encouraging everyone to come along and support this fabulous show this Sunday. It’s now one of the longest running shows in Ireland

and free parking will be available at the Fair Green on Sunday,” he said.

“There will be a wide range of stalls at the showgrounds this Sunday and there will also be kids’ entertainment and on-site catering available on the day. Everybody’s

Ballinasloe Horse and Agricultural Show will play host to what organisers have described as a “massive” Dog Show this Sunday at the Ballinasloe Showgrounds – with €400 in prize money up for grabs.

The show will commence at 2 pm and will feature a total of 15 classes including: Best Puppy, Best Gundog, Best Toy Dog, Best Working Dog, Best Utility Dog, Best Res cue Dog, Best Dog the Judge would like to take home, and classes in handling and fancy dress.

Highlights of the Dog Show include the All-Ireland Native Breed Dog Championship and Champion of the Show with a prize for Reserve Champion also.

Wag & Tails Pet Shops in Ballinasloe, Roscommon and Loughrea will sponsor the event this year and free parking will be available at the Fair Green.

welcome and we hope to see you all there!”

The organisers of this year’s Ballinasloe Horse and Agricultural Show have expressed their appreciation to all the show’s sponsors this year and thanked them for their continued support.

Ballinasloe Horse & Agricultural Show

The

Coffee Morning Social for Hospice is today!

…but you can hold an event any time!

Actor Brendan Gleeson recently called on communities across County Roscommon to gather in support of today’s ‘Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning Social’ in aid of Hospice (Thursday, September 22nd).“We are delighted Bewley’s Cof fee Morning Social for Hospice is back for another year raising funds

in support of Hospice in-patient and community services around Ireland,” Mayo Roscommon Hos pice CEO Martina Jennings said.

“The funds raised each year by the Irish public ensure we continue to provide vital support to indi vidual patients and their families everyHollywoodday”.

star Brendan Glee son said: “While your illness has defined you as a patient, Hospice care looks beyond your illness and sees you as a whole person with

wishes, goals, hobbies and inter ests.“Patients are so well looked after, allowing them to live as full and independent lives as possible for as long as Coffeepossible”.morning hosts are asked to get creative this year and donate to local hospices ingdonatewww.hospicecoffeemorning.ie/at.Coffeemorningsarebeheldacrossthecountytoday

as part of the office Big Coffee Morning Social but people are

invited to host an event at a time that suits them.

You can of course hold a cof fee morning on any day around this time – just register on a date that suits you at www.hospicecof feemorning.ie or callsave 0818995996. Hosts are provided with free coffee morning packs contain ing Bewley’s coffee, posters and invitations. Check www.roscom monpeople.ie for list of coffee mornings (that have been brought to our attention).

Actor Brendan Gleeson pictured with Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation CEO, Martina Jennings, at the launch of ‘Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning Social’ recently. Pic: Conor McCabe

Sheila McNeill, Aishling Gormley, Carmel Grady, Patricia O’Connor, Hannah O’Connor, Ann Connaughton and Marie Finan, pictured at the launch of Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning Social at Roscommon Hospice. Pic: Gerard O’Loughlin

Mary Cooney, Sheila Mulvihill, Marie McNamara, Maura Breheny (all Boyle) and Lucy Scanlon, Fourmilehouse, pictured at the launch of Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning Social at Roscommon Hospice. Pic: Gerard O’Loughlin

Mary Corrigan and John Towey, Castlerea Prison Service, pictured at the launch of Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning Social at Roscommon Hospice. Pic: Gerard O’Loughlin

Kathleen Rushe, Jo Connolly, Ballaghaderreen and Carmel Grady, Lisacul, pictured at the launch of Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning Social at Roscommon Hospice. Pic: Gerard O’Loughlin

Mary Dwyer, Grace O’Connor, Roscommon Hospital staff and Brigid McGurrin, Hospice Knock, pictured at the launch of Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning Social at Roscommon Hospice. Pic: Gerard O’Loughlin

Martina Brennan, Fourmilehouse; Nuala Rogers, Roscommon town, Geraldine Hoban, Margaret Mannion and Agnes Murray, Roscommon town, pictured at the launch of Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning Social at Roscommon Hospice.

Pic: Gerard O’Loughlin

Brigid McGurrin, Hospice; Margaret Fallon, Drum; Colette Harney, Drum; Martina Brennan, Fourmilehouse; Bridie Mee, Four Roads; Moll Lane, Athleague; Kathleen Mannion, Curraghboy; Mary Mulry, Four Roads; Marian Lynch, Curraghboy; Clodagh McNiff, Drum and Bernadette Burke, Brideswell, pictured at the launch of Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning Social at Roscommon Hospice. Pic: Gerard O’Loughlin

Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee.

Catherine Healy and Majella Hannon pictured at Ballygar Pharmacy on Monday. Pic: Mick McCormack

Justice Minister Helen McEntee to officially open Ballygar Pharmacy this Saturday

Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee.

Wide range of services available

There is a wide range of services available at Ballygar Pharmacy, including: blood pressure checks, cholesterol testing, blister pack medication system, vaccination services, a delivery service, photography printing, and information on medications and healthcare.

Preparations are well underway ahead of the official opening of Ballygar Phar macy by the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee this Saturday (24th) at 10.30 am.The pharmacy has been trading in Ballygar for almost a year since opening its doors at the end of October last year under pharmacist Catherine Healy.

Catherine has been a pharmacist in the County Galway town for the past seven years, having graduated from Trinity College, Dublin before completing her Masters at the Royal College of Sur geons and her pre-registration year with McGuinness’ Pharmacy, Roscommon. Having worked alongside some excel lent pharmacist mentors over the years, the Mount Talbot native returned to practice in Ballygar in 2014 and has been serving the community of Ballygar and surrounding areas ever since.

Saturday’s official opening will be fol lowed by some light refreshments in the old school building in Ballygar and all are very welcome to attend.

Ballygar Pharmacy is located between the Post Office, operated by Mary Delaney and team and the interconnect ing Bees Knees Health Store, owned and managed by Majella Hannon. Majella and Catherine work closely to provide a comprehensive healthcare offering to customers, ensuring that any herbal and supplemental medication is safely dispensed and agreeable with any other medications being taken. Majella recently sampled wonderful success when she was awarded ‘Natural Health Retailer of the Year 2022’ by a panel of expert judg

es in the nutrition and retail industries. This was an outstanding achievement, particularly given that the competition was open to both chain-store multiples and independent retailers nationwide.

The pharmacy offers a comprehensive range of products and services and is far more than just a traditional busi ness of its type. Catherine and Majella pride themselves on offering a profes sional, clinical service, in a friendly and amicable atmosphere, creating reassur ance and confidence for patients when relaying their healthcare needs. Among the wide range of services offered by Ballygar Pharmacy are blood pressure checks, cholesterol testing, blister pack medication system, vaccination services, delivery service, photography printing and medications and healthcare informa tion. Catherine has a particular interest in baby and young children’s health, since becoming a mother herself a couple of years ago, empathises with parents and aims to provide experienced advice in this area. As pharmacist, Catherine prioritises making herself available for medication counselling and healthcare advice and the private patient consulta tion area within the pharmacy allows for this to be conducted discreetly.

Over the past year Catherine and Ma jella have sought to establish a Wellness Hub on the premises. The following services are now available onsite: Re flexology with Maria Noone of Harmony Reflexology, Foot Care Clinic with Deirdre Moran Foot Health Practitioner and Nail and Brow Care services with Gemma Kelly of GemNails.

Catherine thanks people of Ballygar for their support

Pharmacist Catherine Healy has expressed her immense gratitude to the people of Ballygar and surrounding areas as Ballygar Pharmacy edges closer to one year in busi ness.The Mount Talbot native said the phar macy has gone from strength to strength since it opened last October.

“We had a great outpouring of support when we first opened and thankfully that has been maintained over the past year. We have gone from strength to strength and it looks very positive for the future,” she said.

Catherine said new services such as the Wellbeing Clinic and Foot and Nail services have received a warm reception in Ballygar.“Ourcustomers are delighted to be able to avail of services that weren’t previously available in Ballygar and they travel good distances to get here. Services like the Foot Clinic are now very accessible for older customers,” she said.

“I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has been supportive of the pharmacy this year. Thanks also to my par ents Mary and James, my husband Chris, and my sister Maeve and brother John, who have been really helpful with social media. Your help and support is greatly appreciated”.

Best wishes to Ballygar Pharmacy from

Official Opening of Ballygar Pharmacy

Wellness at Ballygar Pharmacy

Over the past year pharmacist Catherine Healy and Majella of Bees Knees Health Store have sought to establish a Wellness Hub on their premises’ – and the following services are now available on site: Reflexology with Maria Noone of Harmony Reflexology; Foot Care Clinic with Deirdre Moran Foot Health Practitioner; and Nail and Brow Care services with Gemma Kelly of GemNails.

In the coming weeks, there will also be a counselling and psychotherapy service available in store with Jacqueline Daly, IACP. Jacqueline is a registered

general nurse and has experi ence working with loss, grief, bereavement, illness, depres sion, anxiety, stress, relationship issues, self-esteem and trauma. She will provide a caring, con fidential and non-judgemental space for her clients.

Safe to say, the pharmacy has become a very enterprising and successful hub for women in business, within the thriving community of Ballygar. The pharmacy also displays and sells arts and craftwork by local ladies Shauna Hannon of Sha’s Crafts and Rosie McGuinness.

Earlier this year, as a communi

ty health initiative, Catherine and Majella organised and delivered information seminars in associa tion with Ballygar Community Development, on the topics of Menopause and Men’s Health, with a focus on blood pressure and cholesterol. These were very well received and the ladies hope to offer a further series of presen tations in the near future.

Indeed it is a wonderful tribute that the official opening of the pharmacy will be performed by such an esteemed figure as Minister Helen McEntee, who is an advocate for women in enterprise.

Pharmacist Catherine Healy pictured at work in Ballygar Pharmacy. Pic: Mick McCormack

Celebrating first anniversary… proudly serving community!

Ballygar Pharmacy is closing in on its first year in business, having opened at the end of OctoberLocated2021.between Bal lygar Post Office, which is operated by Mary Delaney and team, and the interconnecting Bees Knees Health Store, owned and managed by Majella Hannon, Ballygar Pharmacy is run by phar macist Catherine Healy. Since opening the premises, Catherine has worked closely with Majella of Bees Knees to provide a

competition was open to chain-store and independ ent retailers nationwide.

Ballygar Pharmacy offers a comprehensive range of products and services and Catherine says it is far more than just a traditional phar macy. Both Catherine and Majella pride themselves on offering a profes sional, clinical service in a friendly and amicable atmosphere, creating reas surance and confidence for patients when relaying their healthcare needs.

particularlymajortionexpertawardRetailerwithwhenencedrentlywithdispensedmedicationherbaltomers,healthcarecomprehensiveservicetocusensuringthatanyandsupplementalissafelyandagreeableanymedicationscurbeingtaken.Majellarecentlyexperiwonderfulsuccessshewashonouredthe‘NaturalHealthoftheYear2022’byapanelofjudgesinthenutriandretailindustries.Thisisconsideredaachievement,giventhatthe

As pharmacist, Cath erine prioritises making herself available for medication counselling and healthcare advice and the private patient consultation area within the pharmacy allows for this to be conducted discreetly.Sinceopening the doors of Ballygar Pharmacy, Catherine has harboured ambitions of providing care that goes beyond the dispensary and for the pharmacy to become a destination for both customers’ health and wellness.

Catherine Healy and Majella Hannon pictured at Ballygar Pharmacy on Monday. Pic: Mick McCormack Ballygar Mick McCormack

Best wishes to Ballygar Pharmacy from

Focus on services at the Wellness

Deirdre is a fully qualified Foot Health Practitioner, holding a Foot Health Care

GemmaGemNailsbyKelly

Gemma qualified as a Nail Technician in 2018 and started her business GemNails in 2019. She has completed numerous courses over the past few years, securing qualifica tions in ear piercing, last lift, brow tint and shape and hair upstyles. She offers these services to her customers from her home in Fuerty and from Ballygar Pharmacy. She thoroughly enjoys her in teractions with custom ers and seeing a smile on their face after their treatment.

Maria trained as a reflexologist through ITEC at Georgina Price College, Tuam Road, Galway and established her own business – Har mony Reflexology. She offers holistic reflexology treat ments, which focus on the entire person,

bridge College, UK. She specialises in the care and maintenance of your feet and can deal with all sorts of foot issues

including corns, callus, heel fissures, fungal nails, athlete’s foot, ver rucas and diabetic foot care.

eral nurse, having completed her training in St. Vincent’s Hospital in the mid-1980s. She is now specialising in counselling and psychotherapy.

Jacqueline has a vast amount of experiences working with vulnerable people and their families, who are often experi encing difficult and frightening times in their lives. She has experience working with loss, self-esteem and trauma. Her approach is integrative, whereby she incorporates

their lifestyle, diet, stress, work-life balance. Reflexol ogy has benefits.excellentIthelps increase circulation, relieves discomfort,joint/muscleders,respiratorydigestiveinsomnia,problems,disorbackproblems,boosts

immunity, improves nerve function and can relieve plantar fasciitis. It can al leviate threesymptomspregnancy(aftermonthsonly), help to reduce anxi ety and depression, relieve foot pain and reduce gen

Majella Hannon pictured at Ballygar Pharmacy on Monday. Pic: Mick McCormack

CultureEntertainment, & ArtsArts

Roscommon actor Jarlath stars in ‘The Chief’ at Backstage Theatre

Decadent Theatre brings audiences a brand new play, entitled ‘The Chief’, from Jimmy Murphy, author of The Kings of The Kilburn High Road. Roscommon actor, Jarlath Tivnan, took to the stage in Galway recently alongside a stellar cast which re ceived rave reviews from audiences. This week the ensemble take to the stage in Backstage Theatre, Longford

for a three-night run.  Premiering alongside the 100year anniversary of Michael Collins’ passing, ‘The Chief’ reveals the man behind the iconic historical figure. Set against the backdrop of the Irish Civil War, it focuses on the problems facing Collins and the Free State Gov ernment as they attempt to build a new Ireland and overcome the vicious

divide brought about by the Treaty. The play explores Collins’ intimate relationship with Kitty Kiernan, his dream for a united Ireland and his guilt at taking arms against former comrades. It reflects on the new Ireland that he imagined, alongside the tragic fate that Kitty Kiernan feared would soon over take him.

Fair

CentretonewactorCitybringsshowArts

This October, Roscommon Arts Centre is delighted to welcome actor Seamus Moran, AKA Fair City’s Mike Gleeson, to the stage with his new show ‘Dolly andDollyMick’.and Mick are returning from a gig. Mick (Seamus) is an unemployed fitter and a widower from Limerick, Dolly, his girlfriend, is a ‘retired’ singer and two-time divorcee from Arkansas. They have been in a relationship for several years, but they both know their relationship is in trouble.

As Mick drives, Dolly takes us into her confidence, recounting her version of how they met and what she thinks their problems are. But Mick insists on giving us his version too – in truth, Mick has become obsessed with the ‘act’, which has given him real purpose again, and although not intended, it has become more important to him than Dolly!Asthey tell us their stories, we soon realise that they both know the relation ship is in trouble, and while Mick thinks they just need a holiday in the sun, a month away together, Dolly knows that the only way to save their relationship is to give up the act. Finally, Dolly bites the bullet and breaks her unexpected news that shocks Mick and threatens to alter the course of their future together.

Dolly and Mick is a funny, engaging story with a poignant ending. The show comes to the Roscommon Arts Centre on Wednesday, October 5th as part of a nationwide tour. Tickets cost €16/€18 and can be booked via the box office on 090-6625824 or online at: www.ro scommonartscentre.ie.

Calling Roscommon’s top teen classical music talent!

There’s good news for Roscommon’s top teen music talent as the 2022 Top Security/Frank Maher Classical Mu sic Awards is now open for entries.

With a €5,000 prize for the winner, it is the largest such competition for secondary schools in Ireland. Marty Whelan is master of ceremonies for the competition night in Dublin at the end of LastOctober.year’s winner, 18-year-old pianist Stan O’Beirne (pictured) was at the photocall to launch details of the 2022 competition. He has been awarded an Ad Astra Performing

Arts Scholarship at UCD, which al lows top performing students to de velop their artistic talents while at the same time pursuing an academic degree.The Top Security/Frank Maher Classical Music Awards were created in 2001 by Emmet O’Rafferty, chair man of the Top Security Group, to honour the memory of his late teach er, Fr Frank Maher, a pioneer in the nurturing of musical talent in second ary schools. They went nationwide in 2012.The Awards are open to sixth year

post-primary students of string, woodwind, brass and piano. The €5,000 top prize will be used by the winner to attend a recognised place of tuition, a course of study in Ireland or abroad or on a purchase necessary for the development of their talent. The remaining finalists will each re ceive a €300 bursary.

The closing date for this year’s en tries is Friday, October 7th. The com petition night is Friday, October 28th in Dublin. Further information, rules and application form at maherclassicalmusicawards.com.www.frank

Tourism Officer with Roscommon County Council, Eimear Dowd and local authority Communications Officer Darragh Kelly, pictured with Dublin-based group ‘The Scratch’ at Roscommon Castle in Loughnaneane Park last week during a break in recordings for the ‘Ireland in Music’ series. The programme, which is filmed by TV production company

Arama, will be broadcast on RTÉ television and US TV network, PBS, later this year. Later that day, singer Winnie Ama performed on the shores of Lough Key, footage of which will also appear on the programme. The ‘Ireland In Music’ recordings were proudly supported by Roscommon County Council in association with Tourism Ireland.

Pianist Stan O’Beirne (18) from Terenure, Dublin, last year’s winner of the €5,000 Top Security/ Frank Maher Classical Music Awards, at the launch of the 2022 competition, Ireland’s largest for secondary schools.

Photo: Peter Houlihan

GOING OUT

MaryMcCormackConneally

Ann Davis, Martina Keaveny and Dympna McDermott pictured in Glenamaddy on Saturday to celebrate 50 years of the Glenamaddy Players. Pic: Mick McCormack

Mairead McNally, Joe McNally and Brigeen Fitzmaurice (Roscommon Drama Group) pictured in Glenamaddy on Saturday to celebrate 50 years of the Glenamaddy Players. Pic: Mick McCormack

Mary Conway, Patricia Walsh, Anna Flaherty and Mary Scahill Flynn pictured in Glenamaddy on Saturday to celebrate 50 years of the Glenamaddy Players. Pic: Mick McCormack

Seamus Donohue, Catherine Donohue and John Heneghan pictured in Glenamaddy on Saturday to celebrate 50 years of the Glenamaddy Players. Pic: Mick McCormack

Linda Beirne, Peter McCallig and Patricia Walsh pictured in Glenamaddy on Saturday to celebrate 50 years of the Glenamaddy Players. Pic: Mick

and Brid Walsh pictured in Glenamaddy on Saturday to celebrate 50 years of the Glenamaddy Players. Pic: Mick McCormack

Mary Donelon and Mary Kelly pictured in Glenamaddy on Saturday to celebrate 50 years of the Glenamaddy Players. Pic: Mick McCormack

Breada and Aoibhinn Keaveney pictured in Glenamaddy on Saturday to celebrate 50 years of the Glenamaddy Players. Pic: Mick McCormack

Billy and Carmel Comer pictured in Glenamaddy on Saturday to celebrate 50 years of the Glenamaddy Players. Pic: Mick McCormack

Mickey Maloney and Ann Davis pictured in Glenamaddy on Saturday to celebrate 50 years of the Glenamaddy Players. Pic: Mick McCormack

Padraig and Patricia Keady pictured in Glenamaddy on Saturday to celebrate 50 years of the Glenamaddy Players. Pic: Mick McCormack

Ballyforan Fair 2022 taking place this Saturday

Excitement is building in Ballyforan this week, as the annual Fair and Festival is set to take place on this Saturday, September 24th!

The annual fair was launched earlier this month, at an event held in St Aidan’s GAA Clubhouse on September 9th.

The launch was attended by com mittee members, local representa tives, fair sponsors, and members of the local community.

This year’s show will feature all the usual favourites, such as the horse, sheep, and poultry competitions, as well as the very popular Dog Show, which is sponsored by Petmania.

Registration for the dog show opens at 11 am, and the competition itself commences at 12 am.

Sheep judging will begin at 10.20 am, followed by a presentation of prizes at 11 am. Horse judging will also kick off at 11 am, with prize presentations taking place shortly afterwards at 11.30 am.

The winner of the Champion Horse of the Fair will win a cash prize of €200 and will also be awarded the new Tony White Memorial Cup.

Tony passed away earlier this year and is dearly missed by all at Bally

foran Fair. He is fondly remembered in particular for his contributions as treasurer and for his work with the horse section.

The committee would like to give special thanks to all of the fair’s sponsors, elected representatives, and the local community for their continued support.

Proud history

The present-day Ballyforan Fair dates all the way to the early part of the 19th century, when Hon Gonville Ffrench (a local landlord who resided in Claremont House in Ballyforan) was granted a patent on January 30th, 1836, to hold a fair in the village. The patent also allowed for a fair to be held on the third Monday of May, June, July, August, September, October and December, and granted a market to be held each Wednesday. The fair likely took place before this date, but 1836 was the first recorded instance of the event taking place as we know it.

Ballyforan Fair has enjoyed major success over the years, and this year’s fair is sure to be no different. So come along this weekend to take part in this wonderful event.

Pictured is the Tony White Memorial Cup, established in memory of a dear committee member, the late Tony White. The cup will be awarded to the winner of the Champion Horse of the Fair competition.

Committee members and sponsors pictured at the launch of the 2022 Ballyforan Fair, held in St Aidan’s GAA Clubhouse earlier this month.

Flashback Alan, and Rachel pictured at the Ballyforan Fair

waysupportscost‘Substantial’oflivingon–Murphy

Fianna Fáil Senator Eugene Murphy says the Government is set to intro duce ‘substantial’ measures in order to deal with the cost of living crisis. He said: “I openly admit that Gov ernment will not be able to pay every bill but the help that is coming will be recognised by the public as a major support. The package will hopefully spring into place without delay.

“I have also suggested to Minister Michael McGrath and Minister of Fi nance Paschal Donohoe that serious consideration be given to expanding and increasing the fuel allowance. The cost of fuel had rocketed in some cases and this is hurting some sections of our society.

“We are fortunate to have such a re turn from corporation taxes right now as it will allow the Government flex ibility in putting a pretty unique pack age in place”.

Gospel Reflection

Sunday, September 25th

The rich and powerful are visited with woe and exile in today’s Liturgy – not for their wealth but for their refusal to share it, not for their power but for their indifference to the suffering at their door.

The complacent leaders in today’s First Reading feast on fine foods and wines, revelling while the house of Joseph, the kingdom of Israel (see Amos 5:6), collapses around them. The rich man in today’s Gospel also lives like a king –dressed in royal purple and fine linen (see 1 Maccabees 8:14).

The rich man symbolises Israel’s failure to keep the Old Covenant, to heed the commandments of Moses and the prophets. This is the sin of the rulers in today’s First Reading. Born to the nation God favoured first, they could claim Abraham as their father. But for their failure to give – their inheritance is taken away.

The rulers are exiled from their homeland. The rich man is punished with an exile far greater – eternity with a “great chasm” fixed between himself and God. In this world, the rich and powerful make a name for themselves (see Genesis 11:4) and dine sumptuously, while the poor remain anonymous, refused an invitation to their feasts. But notice that the Lord today knows Lazarus by name, and Joseph in his sufferings while the leaders and the rich man have no name.Today’s Liturgy is a call to repentance, to heed the warning of one who was raised from the dead. To lay hold of the eternal life He promises, we must pursue righteousness, keep the commandment of love, as Paul exhorts in today’s Epistle.

“The Lord loves the just,” we sing in today’s Psalm. And in this Eucharist we have a foretaste of the love that will be ours in the next life, when He will raise the lowly to the heavenly banquet with Abraham and the prophets (see Luke 13:28), where we too will rest our heads on the bosom of our Lord (see John 13:23).

THIS WEEK... On The Political Beat

Just five IDA visits in three years

In the Dáil last week, it was revealed that the IDA has visited County Roscommon just five times in the last three years while neighbouring counties have benefit ted from 36 such visits this year alone.

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar announced the figures in response to a question from local Independent TD Denis Naughten.

It was revealed that the agency tasked with attract ing foreign investment into the county had visited Ro scommon just once last year and in 2020 and that the figures included e-visits.

This year, Roscommon has fared slightly better with a total of three visits taking place up until the end of June. This, however, compares to 23 visits to Galway this year and 13 to Westmeath.

Last year, Galway had 31 visits from the state agen cy, while Westmeath had 20. In 2020, Galway had 21 visits and Westmeath 14. Again, these include e-visits.

Speaking in the Dáil, Tánaiste Varadkar, said there were a total of 120 IDA-supported companies in the West region with 94 in Galway employing 22,801 and 10 in Roscommon employing 1,473.

“The FDI performance in this region has been strong over the past five years. There is a significant eco system of well-established Life Sciences companies, which has helped drive strong cluster development,” he said.

‘Minister must intervene on rural services’

Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice has called on the Minister for Social Protection to intervene follow ing a decision to close a number of community wel fare offices across Roscommon.

“It has come to my attention that more services are being withdrawn from rural Ireland, with the Depart ment of Social Protection deciding to stop providing Community Welfare Officer (CWO) meetings in the towns of Carrick-on-Shannon, Castlerea, Ballaghad erreen, Strokestown, and Elphin,” Deputy Fitzmau rice

“Locally,said. people who need these services will now have to go to Roscommon town where there will be two Community Welfare Officers on duty”.

The Independent TD said the current ‘hub’ system would lead to disarray and called on Minister Heather Humphreys to step in.

“Minister Humphreys talks about helping rural Ire land, yet this is another example of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael pulling services away from the most vul nerable people across rural parts of our country.

“I am calling on the Minister to reverse this decision. Why change a system that worked and is working, to a system now that is in chaos at the moment?” he concluded.

Kerrane talks up SF’s Alternative Budget

Sinn Féin TD Claire Kerrane has been talking up her party’s Alternative Budget ahead of its official launch onDeputyFriday.

Kerrane said the budget would include measures aimed at tackling the ongoing energy crisis including a significant increase in retrofitting supports and the establishment of Local Energy Action Fund.

Speaking ahead of a Dáil motion on retrofitting this week, Deputy Kerrane criticised the Govern

ment’s retrofit plan as “deeply inequitable”.

“We need a fair retrofit plan that will help meet our climate targets while also delivering wider social and economic benefits for workers and families,” she said.

Kerrane said that Sinn Féin would replace the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme with a new scheme and increase funding up to €182 million next year. She added that her party aimed to increase the budget for local authority retrofits by 50 per cent and intro duce a 75 per cent increase in the solar PV budget as well as tiered supports.

“In our Alternative Budget, Sinn Féin will be bring ing forward a host of costed, climate action initiatives, that would both cut our carbon emissions and reduce energy poverty and inequality in our society,” Deputy Kerrane concluded.

Five-point Rural Safety Plan launched

Minister of State at the Department of Justice James Browne this week launched the Rural Safety Plan 2022-2024 at the National Ploughing Championships in Co. Laois.

The plan is aimed at people and communities in rural Ireland and identifies five main priorities in relation to safety: Community Safety, Burglary and Theft, Roads Policing, Animal Crime, and Heritage Crime.

Speaking at the Ploughing Championships yester day (Wednesday), Minister Browne said: “People and communities in rural Ireland deserve to feel safe and be safe. I recognise that rural safety isn’t just about the number of Garda and that community safety is a whole of Government responsibility.

“I want to recognise the wide-ranging and impactful work to further people’s safety and welfare that is be ing undertaken in rural communities across the coun try. Much of this work is undertaken by dedicated vol unteers who admirably commit so much of their time to the benefit of our communities and our country.

“I wish to thank An Garda Síochána for their input to the plan, and the National Rural Safety Forum for their support”.

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

This week, local public representatives raise the issue of IDA support for County Roscommon; slam the removal of services from rural Ireland; highlight Sinn Féin’s Alternative Budget; and launch a Rural Safety Plan…

Pictured at Mayo Roscommon Coffee Morning at the newly-opened Roscommon Hospice building, from left: Martina Jennings, CEO, Mayo Roscommon Hospice; Seamus Hayden, Cllr. Tony Ward, Mike Smith, Chairperson, Mayo Roscommon Hospice; Deputy Denis Naughten and Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice. Pic: Gerard O’Loughlin

It’s been a GOOD week for…

Organisers of the National Ploughing Championships and all who participate in the mega-event, which has been attract ing huge crowds to the venue in Ratheniska, Co. Laois

Dublin GAA supporters, with the news that Paul Mannion and Jack McCaffrey are returning to the county’s senior football panel

In-form Arsenal, with an impressive 3-0 win away to Brentford maintaining the

Gunners’ position at the top of the English football Premier League (with Manchester City in close pursuit)

Garth Brooks fans, with the superstar indicating that he will relish any opportunity to perform in Ireland again, this following his five successful and spectacular concerts at Croke Park, the last of which took place on Saturday night

It’s been a BAD week for…

Under-pressure ITV presenters Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, with

the ‘This Morning’ duo facing a barrage of criticism after apparently ‘skipping’ the ex tremely lengthy queues while paying their respects to Queen Elizabeth II

The HSE, with a report from the Emer gency Department Task Force revealing that there have been over 40,000 breaches of waiting times – when patients were left waiting for over 24 hours – at Irish hospitals so far this year

Law and order, with social media footage of joyriders ramming a Garda patrol car at an estate in Dublin, amid claims by commu nity leaders that this merely highlighted the nightly terror to which such communities are being subjected

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! birthdays ... this week

For checkupdates,oursocialchannels

“TAKE

“What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Will Smith (American actor and rapper, will be 54 on Sunday)

Donald Glover (American actor and musician, turns 39 on Sunday)

Billie Piper (English actress, celebrates 40th birthday on Thursday) Tom Felton (English actor, turns 35 on Thursday)

Congratulations to Strokestown U-19 Ladies who were crowned Division Four champions last weekend.

Padraig Pearses supporters celebrate their team’s win over Strokestown on Saturday. Photo: Mick McCormack

Padraig Pearses supporter John Flynn pictured in Strokestown last Saturday. Photo: Mick McCormack

A big smile from baby Pippa Feehily…supporting Padraig Pearses against Strokestown last Saturday!

Photo: Mick McCormack

Long-time Strokestown GAA supporter Peter Shiel pictured at the SFC game against Padraig Pearses last Saturday. Photo: Mick McCormack Padraig Pearses supporters pictured in Strokestown last Saturday.

Photo: Mick McCormack

Your Health & Wellbeing

Roscommon Family Resource Centres and HSE team up to ‘Kick the Habit’

HSE Community Health care West and Fam ily Resource Centres have come together to provide a free stop smoking ser vice. HSE Stop Smok ing Advisors from the Quit Smoking West team in Health & Wellbeing will be available in eight Family Resource Centres throughout Galway, Mayo and Roscommon to help members of the public be smoke-free for Christmas.

For those who sign up, not only will your health and wellbeing improve, but you could also stand to save up to €1,600 between now and Christmas.

Free Nicotine Replace ment Therapy (NRT) is available to all smok ers who sign up between now and the end of the year. Your Stop Smok ing Advisor will give you one-to-one support (via telephone, face-to-face in

person or online). This new partnership be tween the HSE Communi ty Healthcare West and the Family Resource Centres is discussed on a podcast recorded at Gort Fam ily Resource Centre. The podcast is available to hear on Gort Family Resource Centre Facebook page.

Stop Smoking Advisors will be holding sessions at the following location in Roscommon: Boyle Fam ily Resource Centre (0719663000 with Anne Marie Murphy).Inaddition, Stop Smok ing Advisors also hold

Roscommon schools invited to compete for ‘Ireland’s Fittest’ title

For the second year in succession, a call has gone out to schools in Ro scommon, and elsewhere across the country, from Irish Olympians, sprinter Phil Healy and fellow ath lete, David Gillick, who have joined forces with Fyffes in a quest to find ‘Ireland’s Fittest School’.

Registration for the competi tion, which runs until March 31st, can now be made online at www. fyffesfitsquad.ie, with the overall

winner to be announced in April.

Coupled with monthly and spot prize rewards, one successful school will have the distinction of being chosen as ‘Ireland’s Fittest School 2023’, the prize for which will be a visit from Healy and Gillick and €5,000 worth of sports equipment.

Last year, North Donegal primary school, Scoil Na Croise Naofa, in Dunfanaghy, fought off stiff compe tition from the large volume of com

petitors to be crowned the overall winner.Thecommencement of the compe tition coincides with the resumption this month of Fyffes’ children’s fit ness programme of live school visits following a two-year break during Covid. The upcoming schedule will see some 7,500 pupils from schools throughout Ireland participate in an interactive Fit Squad session be tween now and March next.

sessions in HSE Primary Care Centres and Health Centres if they are more convenient for people to attend. Alternatively you

can avail of the service from your home or work location by choosing the telephone or online option. Whatever you choose,

please call 091-737262 or email quitsmoking.west@ hse.ie and take the first step on your quit journey today.

Sacred Heart Hospital launches ‘Magic Table’

Coincides with Dementia and AwarenessAlzheimer’sMonth

Roscommon Sacred Heart Hospital (SHHR) is a service provider for older people located in Roscommon town. The aim of the service is to provide high stan dards of care and to enhance the quality of life of residents in line with HSE policies andToHIQA.coincide with World Alzheimer’s Month (held in September) and World Alzheimer’s Day (September 21st), the SHHR introduced the Tovertafel Table (also known as Magic Table) to en hance the awareness of Dementia and Alzheimer’s for staff, residents and fam ily members. Globally, there is thought to be poor understanding and a great deal of stigma surrounding dementia, so the work of World Alzheimer’s Month is vi tal, as is targeting the stigma and lack of understanding and knowledge surround ing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia as well as supporting those suffering with the disease.TheMagic table is an interactive, userfriendly technology, which consists of a portable unit mounted to the ceiling that projects infrared sensors onto the surface

below. There are different levels of in teractive games for the users to enhance social, physical, sensory and cognitive functioning. The games that have been de veloped respond to hand and arm move ments, with light animations projected by Tovertafel.Anycognitive dysfunction can reduce or limit the individual’s interactions with oth er people and family members. The loss of common human communication can be stressful to individuals. Being present with other people – i.e. taking part in activities, having a bit of fun and laughter – is essen tial for all of our lives.

Residents at Sacred Heart enjoyed the training sessions with staff, and everyone has been able to actively participate. The different levels of activities are suitable for residents at variable cognitive abilities. The activity staff were delighted with the new interactive equipment and the feed back so far has been brilliant.

Isaac Bontha (Senior Physiotherapist, SHHR) stated: “During the activities, staff also noticed enhanced social interactions, which is great for group and individual focused activities. It was a moment of to getherness, a moment to have fun, com municate and laugh. Happiness was the feeling around the magic table”.

Gluten-free roadshow taking place in Tullamore

The Coeliac Society of Ireland have an nounced that their first ever Gluten-free Roadshow will take place on October 8th at the Tullamore Hotel in County Offaly. This will be the first in-person event the Society has organised for members of the public in three years.

The roadshow will provide anyone liv ing with coeliac disease or severe gluten intolerances with an opportunity to meet and speak with the experts who will dem

onstrate how to live a full and healthy life gluten-free.GillBrennan (Chief Executive of the Co eliac Society of Ireland) said: “We are ex cited to be back with a live and in-person event for the first time in three years. The Gluten-free Roadshow offers a fantastic opportunity for those individuals, whether diagnosed or who just suspect they may be coeliac or gluten intolerant, to talk to medical professionals”.

Pictured (left to right): Anne Marie Murphy, Stop Smoking Advisor, Community Healthcare West and Louise Moran, Project Co-ordinator, Boyle Family Resource Centre; pictured at Boyle Family Resource Centre recently for the launch of the HSE’s free stop smoking service.

A call has gone out to schools in Roscommon from Irish Olympians, sprinter Phil Healy and fellow athlete, David Gillick, who have joined forces with Fyffes in a quest to find ‘Ireland’s Fittest School’.

Roscommon Drama Festival hold AGM

The AGM of the Roscommon Drama Festival committee was held in Glee son’s Townhouse, Roscommon, on Monday, September 12th

During the meeting, the following of ficers were elected for the coming year: Mary Finn was elected chairperson, Mairead Nally was elected secretary, Caroline Egan and Joe Nally were elect ed treasurers, and Jimmy Hoban was elected as PRO.

Great satisfaction was expressed with the success of the Festival in 2022, with full houses on most nights and a feast of wonderful amateur drama on display. Chairperson Mary Finn said: “I am ab solutely delighted with the quality of the

drama in the Festival this year, and I look forward with great enthusiasm to our fes tival in 2023, which will run from the 3rd to the 11th of March”.

The committee wished to thank all the sponsors and advertisers for supporting the festival, The Roscommon People, Roscommon Herald, RosFM, Shan nonside, and photographers Michelle Hughes Walsh, Mary Lane and Mick McCormack. They also wish to thank the Roscommon County Council and Roscommon LEADER Partnership for their financial support, as well as Averyl and all her staff in the Roscommon Arts Centre. Finally, the committee wish to thank all the drama groups who provided

‘the very best in entertainment’ during the festival, as well as the wonderful au dience and supporters who come back year after year.

The committee thanks everyone who has contributed towards making Ro scommon Drama Festival one of the premier drama events in the country, and looks forward to the event’s continued success.

Roscommon Drama Group AGM

Following a very successful resumption of activities after Covid-19 with ‘A Lone Furrow, the story of Aleen Cust’ by Tom my Murray with a huge cast both on and

off stage, and Bookworms directed by Con Connolly, the Roscommon Drama Group will hold their AGM at Hannon’s Hotel on Tuesday, September 27th at 8

pm.New members will be very welcome –remembering that drama is not confined only to the actors on stage but also to a much larger ‘cast’ in the backstage crew including construction of set, props, make-up, etc.

If you have any interest in the stage do come along and join us, you will receive a warm welcome. We hope to stage further productions later this year and would love to be able to use new talent in all aspects of drama.

Ballyboro unveilfacilitiesnew

Manchester United or Liverpool?! Brothers Fionn and Rory Curran pictured in Lanesborough on Saturday for the official opening of the new Ballyboro FC facilities.

Pic: Mick McCormack

Mary Finn, RoscommonchairpersonDramaFestival

Faye Hogan, Michael Hogan, Micky Connaughton, Sean Hogan and Emma Feeney pictured in Lanesborough on Saturday for the official opening of the new Ballyboro FC facilities. Pic: Mick McCormack

Malachy Martin, David Kenny and Tom Hession pictured in Lanesborough on Saturday for the official opening of the new Ballyboro FC facilities. Pic: Mick McCormack

Tadhg and Cian Shea pictured in Lanesborough on Saturday for the official opening of the new Ballyboro FC facilities. Pic: Mick McCormack

Hughie, Tommy and Luca Martin pictured in Lanesborough on Saturday for the official opening of the new Ballyboro FC facilities. Pic: Mick McCormack

John Tynan (Chairman of Ballyboro FC), Adrian Greene (CEO, Longford Community Resources) and Liz Lavery (Longford/Westmeath ETB) pictured in Lanesborough on Saturday for the official opening of the new Ballyboro FC facilities. Pic: Mick McCormack

Audrey Sorohan, Michelle Shea and Joanne Shea pictured in Lanesborough on Saturday for the official opening of the new Ballyboro FC facilities. Pic: Mick McCormack

FRS Farm Relief to create 300 new jobs

< DAN DOONER

FRS Farm Relief, which has of fices in Boyle, Co. Roscommon, is set to recruit over 300 farm work ers ahead of expected growth over the next year.

The recruitment campaign was launched at the National Plough ing Championships at Ratheniska, Co. Laois this week with interested farm workers being encouraged to

sign up at the FRS stand.

The company currently maintains a panel of over 1,200 farm opera tives who support more than 5,000 farms across the country. Over the course of the next 12 months, the company is projecting significant growth in demand for farm sup port.

FRS will be placing a special fo cus on hiring more milkers as well as general farm workers, with the

greatest anticipated demand asso ciated with those two functions.

Speaking about the recruitment drive, Colin Donnery, Group CEO of FRS Network said: “As we look ahead to 2023 we are expecting a further surge in demand, with many of the farmers we are work ing with indicating they want to increase their use of our services, while our regional offices are also experiencing a significant level of

interest from further farms who are keen to benefit from FRS Farm Relief’s assistance.

“That is why we are now looking to hire another 300 plus farm work ers. We will have opportunities for farm work all over the country so we would encourage anyone who is interested in this type of work to come talk to us on at our stand or visit our careers’ page on www. frsfarmrelief.ie/careers”.

Farm Safety Minister launches machinery simulator investment

Minister of State with re sponsibility for Farm Safe ty Martin Heydon official ly launched the investment of €1.2 million in 18 farm machinery simulators for use in Teagasc agricultural colleges at the National Ploughing Championships this week.

The launch comes after driver operation was iden

tified both nationally and internationally as a major cause of incidents involv ing tractors and machinery.

Making the announce ment Minister of State Heydon said: “Improv ing the health, safety and wellbeing of farmers is a priority for me and I am therefore delighted that this investment of €1.2

million in 18 agricultural machinery simulators will ensure that students will get the best opportunity to develop their machinery operation skills early in their farming careers”.

The simulators will be available to students com pleting courses at the ag ricultural and horticultural colleges and to students at

the universities and tech nological universities who use the college facilities for practicalTeagasclearning.Director, Profes sor Frank O’Mara wel comed the support from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for the machinery simulators.

“Students in our colleges will be able to use these simulators to learn and be trained to use a range of machines safely. It will greatly enhance our capac ity to provide innovative training to a high number

of students in potentially dangerous work tasks.

I thank Minister Martin Heydon for his personal commitment to improving health and safety on Irish farms,” he said.

A demo model of the new simulators is on display at the Teagasc stand at the National Ploughing Cham pionships, which finish today (Thursday). Visitors are welcome visit the Tea gasc stand to view this new technology and test their tractor driving skills on the demo simulator.

600 animals presented for sale on Thursday last and, aided by the recent spell of good weather, trade and prices were maintained and in the case of the better quality stores improved.

The heifer ring witnessed excellent demand with the top quality stores making up to €3.60 a kilo while the heavier lots made up to €1,860. The weanling rings, with increased numbers on offer, saw the top quality bulls make up to €4.06 a kilo while the heifer weanlings topped out at €4.21 a kilo.

Cows with calves at foot noticed increased demand this week with lots making up to €2,750. The dry cow rings noticed more store cows on offer this week with the heavier lots making up to €2,130. Springers made from €1,080 to €2,280. Runners made from €230 to €790 for continental types.

The bullock sale resumed on Monday last with over 200 bullocks on offer with excellent demand on offer for both the stores and heavier lots.

Sales continue at Castlerea Mart today (Thursday) with our annual show and sale of weanlings in conjunction with our usual sale of heifers, cows, calves, runners, and weanlings.

All sales commence at 11 am.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue has this week announced that Areas of Natural Con straints payments totalling €182 million have com menced issuing to 85,000 farmers.Commenting, the Min ister said: “I am delighted to announce that advance payments totalling €182 million have issued to 85,000 farmers under the ANC scheme. The ANC scheme is crucial to farm families and I know the importance of getting pay

ments out to applicants as quickly as Ministerpossible”.McConalogue said the issuing of these payments in mid-Septem ber highlighted Govern ment commitment to pay farmers as early as pos sible.

“The ANC payments are a timely and significant financial boost for farm ers and for the wider rural economy,” he said.

“Payments will be vis ible in farmers’ bank ac counts in the coming days and my Department will continue to process, as

a matter of urgency, all remaining cases for pay ment as they meet scheme criteria”.TheMinister also con firmed that arrangements are being made by his Department to facilitate payment of the advance of 70 per cent under the Ba sic Payment Scheme from October 17th.

The issuing of €182 mil lion payment to 85,000 farmers is in line with pre vious years, with the same amount paid to 85,000 farmers at this stage last year.

Sample prices for heifers: Ch 410kgs €1480, Ch 420kgs €1280, Lm 410kgs €1170, Ch 375kgs €1150, Ch 485kgs €1480, Lm 485kgs €1400, Lm 645kgs €1860, Lm 605kgs €1780, Ch 600kgs €1740, Ch 625kgs €1740.

Dry cows: Lmx 775kgs €1950, Lm 690kgs €1840, Lm 700kgs €1830, BBx 885kgs €2130, Sim 905kgs €2120, Fr 715kgs €1430, Her 685kgs €1390, Hex 730kgs

€1550.Weanling

bulls: Chx 275kgs €1000, Ch 290kgs €980, Ch 275kgs €890, AA 290kgs €890, Ch 360kgs €1500, Ch 355kgs €1410, Lm 440kgs €1380, Ch 365kgs

€1300.Weanling

heifers: Ch 295kgs €1190, Lm 290kgs €850, Lm 280kgs €840, Lm 330kgs €1010, BBx 310kgs €1230, BBx 370kgs €1100, BBx 255kgs €810, Lm 225kgs €720, Ch 315kgs €950.

Bullocks: Ch 495kgs €1510, Lm 465kgs €1500, Ch 460kgs €1430, Ch 530kgs €1720, Ch 585kgs €1830, AA 550kgs €1610, AA 640kgs €1630, Lm 765kgs €2120, Lm 670kgs €2050, Lm 720kgs €2110, Lm 660kgs €1760.

Pictured at the launch of the farm machinery simulators is Minister Heydon and Teagasc Director Professor Frank O’Mara, Barry Keatley of Talentpool Virtual and Teagasc Chairman Liam Herlihy. in payments to farmers

ICSA Animal Health & Welfare Chairperson, Hugh Farrell, has reiterated that the body’s objective in TB talks is to ensure ‘fair play’ for farmers who have been affected by a TB out break.“Recent reports that an increase in the TB levy is being discussed lacks con text,” he said.

“We have made a fair package for farmers a con dition of our continued par ticipation in the TB Forum talks and our key asks are better Income Supplement, Depopulation, and Hard ship Grants, along with the removal of ceilings on compensation”.Mr.Farrellsaid the po sition is that a much-im proved package of pay ments for farmers was now on the table.

“ICSA has also put a lot of hours into removing the current compensation ceilings which are capped at €3,000, for all stock ex cept one stock bull (capped at €5,000 for pedigrees, €4,000 for non-pedigrees).

This has imposed huge hardship on farmers with high value stock especially pedigree herds and I know this from personal experi ence of helping members,” he“Insaid.that context, we accept that some increase in the levy paid on cattle slaugh tered (around 13c/head) might be warranted provid ed it is 100 per cent used for increased payments to farmers with bad outbreaks of TB. This would cover Income Supplement, De population and Hardship Grants, which has been a

long-standing sore for the farmers affected”.

The Animal Health & Welfare Chair said the ICSA works on the ba sis that farmer with a TB outbreak had suffered a devastating blow and more needed to be done for those affected.“Regarding the new Ani mal Health Law, which is making some pre and post movement testing compul sory, we have fought very hard to ensure that this is limited to a small cohort of animals,” he said.

“Contrary to some head lines, it is not two tests per annum for all farmers. It is a limited amount of testing for cattle such as breeding animals that are not be ing sold for finishing and which are more than six months from test.

“ICSA is insisting that this change will be funded fully by the Department. This is still the subject of major disagreement at the

TB Forum. Unless there is movement on this by the Minister the whole TB Fo rum process could be un dermined,” he concluded.

ICSA wants ‘fair play’ for farmers affected by TB outbreak Beef Vision Group told to focus on farmer incomes

ICSA Beef Chair Edmund Graham has said the association will not agree to any measures in the Beef Vision Group dis cussions unless the process is focused on farming“Farmersincomes.can’tbe expected to carry the load on their own, particularly as the Gov ernment’s Climate Action Plan envisages a total cost for the entire economy of €125 billion,” he said.

At a meeting of the Beef Vision Group on Thursday last (15th), ICSA insisted that no measure should even be considered with out proper economic assessment.

Among its other demands, the associa tion called for a voluntary scheme to be in troduced for earlier finishing, genotyping of all calves from the dairy herd destined for beef systems in Ireland, and called for recent factory price cuts to be reversed.

The ICSA also called on factories to fulfil their commitment to live weighing of cat

tle in factories and sharing this informa tion with suppliers.

The association also wants a commit ment that there is a guarantee of no en forced cuts to the suckler herd.

Concluding, Mr. Graham said: “There is no point expecting farmers in the cat tle and sheep sectors to deliver on climate action if they are losing money. Active beef producers have already lost out heav ily on convergence in the Basic Payment Scheme and will lose even more money in the coming years. That is the reality we are dealing with, so unless our beef, suck ler, and sheep farmers are profitable, they cannot be expected to carry the load on climate“ICSAaction.hasconsistently argued that if live exports of calves and weanlings are stopped, there is absolutely no hope of getting anywhere near the 25 per cent tar get”.

(Proudly serving farmers for over 63 years)

Property Services Providers Licence No. 001373

Friday, September 23rd at 11 a.m.

Special Sale of Heifers

100 Pens on offer – Yard opens at 7 a.m.

Also Bullocks & Dry Cows

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

Friday, September 30th at 11 a.m.

Special Sale of Bullocks

Also Heifers & Dry Cows

Bookings accepted up to 5 p.m. on Monday, September 26th

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

Tuesday, September 27th at 4 p.m.

Show and Sale of Weanlings

Also Suckler Cows

Bookings accepted up to 5 p.m. on Thursday, September 22nd

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Tuesday, October 4th at 4 p.m.

Special Sale of Weanlings

Bookings accepted up to 5 p.m. on Thursday, September 29th

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

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, September 24th at 11 a.m.

Sale for Breeding Ewes

& Hoggets

Gates open at 8 a.m.

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

Reminder

63rd Annual General Meeting

Thursday, September 29th at 8 p.m. in the Mart Canteen

Email:

Visit our website: www.roscommonmart.ie

ICSA Animal Health & Welfare Chairperson, Hugh Farrell.

Survey: Only one in ten employees without a pension have discussed retirement options

People outside Dublin are less likely to have a pension than those living in the capital, according to a new survey commissioned by Pensions Awareness Week with only one in ten without a pension having discussed retirement options with their employers.

The national survey showed a regional disparity between pension savers, with

63 per cent of people in Dublin holding some form of pension product, a figure that drops to 54 per cent of people liv ing outside the capital.

The research surveyed more than 1,000 people nationally in late Au gust and early September 2022. It was conducted by Behaviour & Attitudes (B&A) on behalf of Pensions Aware

ness Week 2022 (PAW22) ahead of the event which runs all this week until Friday (23rd).

The survey also found that more than two in five people in Ireland without a pension have either delayed starting one or delayed their planned retirement date due to the cost-of-living crisis.

And another four per cent have actu

ally cashed in their pensions in order to deal with soaring energy and other costs.

Final call for free ACORNS development initiative

This Friday (23rd) is the final deadline for early-stage female entrepreneurs in rural areas to apply for the latest cycle of the ACORNS business develop ment initiative.

This is the 8th year of the Gov ernment-backed ACORNS programme, which is support ed by the Department of Agri culture, Food and the Marine, under its Rural Innovation and Development Fund.

The call for new participants was launched last month by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McCo nalogue.Atotal of 50 new entrepre neurs will be selected from those who apply but applica tions have to be completed and submitted by midnight on Friday.

The ACORNS 8 programme is completely free to those se

lected to participate and will run over six months from Oc tober 2022 to April 2023.

More than 350 female en trepreneurs have taken part in ACORNS to date and a signifi cant portion are still actively involved.Anywoman with a new busi ness based in rural Ireland — or an idea for a new venture they want to get off the ground — can get more information and register to receive an appli cation form at www.acorns.ie.

This year’s voluntary Lead Entrepreneurs are Anne Reil ly, formerly Paycheck Plus; Caroline Reidy, The HR Suite; Deirdre McGlone, Hospital ity & Tourism Advisor; Eimer Hannon, Hannon Travel; Lar issa Feeney, Accountant On line; Mary B Walsh, Ire Wel Pallets; Triona MacGiolla Rí, Aró Digital Strategies.

Four awards for ATU at World Skills Finals

took place over three days in the RDS Simmonscourt, Dublin from the 13th to 15th of September and at ATUTheSligo.three-day competi tion is the country’s larg est experiential skills and apprenticeship event with over 15,000 visitors watch ing the finals, adding fur ther pressure on competi tors.President of ATU, Dr. Orla Flynn said: “Atlantic TU has a great reputation for apprenticeship and skillsbased learning and these awards are a testament to this. I’ve seen first-hand the pressurised environ ment of these competitions and these young people have achieved something incredible, in winning four categories and claiming second and third place in several others”.

ATU claimed first, second

and third places in the Join ery Category with Barry Gordon from Easkey, Sligo coming first in the World skills Ireland Joinery final in the RDS.

Dion O’Sullivan from Macroom, Co. Cork won the Automotive Technol ogy category for ATU while Hotel Management student at ATU and Sligo native Jordan K. Barrins came first in the Restaurant Service category.

ATU student Colm Healy from Lissarulla, Claregal way, now working for RPS won the inaugural Digital Infrastructure Design com petition.Meanwhile, Conor Whele han from Ballintogher, Co. Sligo came first in the Plas tic Die toolmaking com petition which was held at ATU Sligo campus, the only competition held out side of the RDS.

Worryingly, the survey also shows that just under two in five (38 per cent) already know they won’t have suffi cient money saved for retirement with the same number believing they will need to work longer than they intended due to an insufficient pensions.

Some of the key findings show that 43 per cent of people in Ireland hold no form of pension product, with almost two-thirds (63 per cent) of that cohort reporting that they can’t afford to both save for retirement and meet their monthly bills. That figure rises to 72 per cent among those aged 35-49.

Ulster Bank briefs business groups on phased withdrawal

Ulster Bank has confirmed it has met with business repre sentative groups to brief them on the phased withdrawal of the banking group from the Irish market.

The bank formally notified business customers of their six-month notice period back in April and is now urging them to move and then close their accounts.

Jane Howard, Chief Executive of Ulster Bank said: “As we will begin the first closures of personal and business current and deposit accounts in the coming weeks, we are urging our business customers to take action as soon as they receive their notice.

“The switching/closing process can typically take longer for a business customer as requirements are often more complex. Having a working current account is crucial for businesses to be able to pay their employees and suppli ers, receive payments, and carry out all of their financial

duties.“Weare

also conscious of how this might impact com pany dealings with the Office of the Revenue Com missioners with the Revenue Pay and File deadline approaching in October. If a customer has received a notification letter/email from Ulster Bank and has not yet acted, they should do so to ensure continuity of their day-to-day banking needs. We are also asking employers to ensure they have new bank details for any employees who have been Ulster Bank customers to date so there is no disruption to salary payments.

“In addition to our business customers, we strongly encourage personal customers who have received their notice letter or email, to start the process now to give as much time as possible for any unforeseen complexity and to allow for ample time to move direct debits, wages, subscriptions and we are very conscious of customers in receipt of Department of Social Protection payments, that they allow time to open a new account and transfer these transactions to continue to receive those important pay

ments.“Ulster Bank is focused on supporting our customers throughout our phased withdrawal process, with changes implemented in July allowing branch staff to focus on customers moving their current and deposit accounts. I’d like to reiterate my thanks to our colleagues for their con tinued customer focus throughout this process”.

Ulster Bank has also reminded customers that it will never ask for passcodes or online banking details and urged them to be alert as scammers may try to take ad vantage of the situation.

Minister Charlie McConalogue pictured with past ACORNS participant Niamh Dooley of BiaSol.

Hotel Management students at ATU; Jordan Kielty Barrins, Sligo (Winner Restaurant Skills), Jaden Mascarendas, Dubai, and Cathal Ó Fatharta, Inis Mór, Galway.

Atlantic Technological University (ATU) won in four categories at the Worldskills National Final in Dublin on Thursday last

(15th). ATU students won in the categories: Automo tive Technology, Joinery, Restaurant Service, and Plastic Die (Toolmaking).

A total of 25 Atlantic TU students competed against over 180 other young peo ple in the 2022 Worldskills Ireland (WSI) event which

Hayley and Cathy Hamill from Strokestown pictured enjoying themselves at Strokestown Agricultural Show recently. Pic: Mary Regan

Siobhan, Conor and Grace Hanly from Strokestown pictured at Strokestown Agricultural Show. Pic: Mary Regan.

Marian Callaghan-Coyne pictured with her prize-winning dog, Molly, at the Strokestown Agricultural Show which was held on the grounds of Strokestown House. Pic: Mary Regan.

Lucie Evans, Roscommon, appeared to be walking on water at Strokestown Agricultural Show recently! Photo: Mick McCormack

Pictured at Strokestown Show recently were Sophia and Catherine McGrath with ‘Barney’. Photo: Mick McCormack

Pictured at the recent Strokestown Show were Lauren and Charlene Banahan with ‘Phoebe’. Photo: Mick McCormack

Pictured at Strokestown Show recently were Joseph Farrell, Melissa Tarpey with ‘Archie’ and ‘Domnick’ and Enda Farrell. Photo: Mick McCormack

Pictured at Strokestown Show recently were Ann Marie Dennigan, Ronan Dennigan, Brian Carley, James Carley and Paddy Carley. Photo: Mick McCormack

Pictured at Strokestown Show recently were Michael Kelly, Marie Kelly and Finian Reynolds, Rooskey. Photo: Mick McCormack

Pictured at Strokestown Show recently were Anthony, Brian and Mark Rogers and John Fallon. Photo: Mick McCormack

Contract signed for Monksland developmenthousing

Roscommon County Council and Mulleady Properties, Longford, signed a contract on Monday (19th) for the turnkey construction of 27 housing units at Esker Lawns, Monksland, Athlone.Thedevelopment

bedroomed detached, semi-detached and terraced ‘A’ energy rated homes.

comprises of three- and four-

The project is funded by the Social Housing Investment Programme (SHIP) operated by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and is expected to be completed in 2023.

Prime Castleplunkett farm for sale with RE/MAX Team Earley

This week, Cathal Meares of RE/MAX Team Earley is delighted to present a prime farm of lands to the market, for sale by private treaty. The farm, containing approximately 30 acres, is located beside St. Paul’s Church in Kilmurry, Castleplunkett, Co Roscommon. Services for this property include water and a cattle holding pen and crush. The lands are set out in two lots (comprised in Folio RN16670F), and can be sold in one or two lots should market interest dictate. Lot 1 comprise of approximately 12.5 acres of quality land, at a price of €95,000. Lot 2 comprise of approximately 17.5 acres of quality land, at a

price of €130,000. The total 30 acres are priced at €225,000.The sale of these lands would offer all farmers a great opportunity to acquire lands in this highly-regarded farming area between Castlerea and Castleplunkett. Legal: Sean Mahon Solicitor, Mahon Sweeney Roscommon (090 6627350).

The auctioneer now invites immediate viewings and all offers to sell. For further details or to ar range an appointment to view, please contact Re max Team Earley, Stonecourt, Roscommon, on 090-6626579, email teamearley@remax.ie, or log onto teamearley.ie. Contact auctioneer Cathal di rectly on 086-1409158.

Pictured at the signing of contracts for the development of 27 houses at Esker Lawns, Monksland, Athlone were (left to right): Ciaran and Michael Mulleady, Mulleady Properties Longford; Cllr. Tom Crosby, Cathaoirleach, Roscommon County Council; Eugene Cummins, Chief Executive, Roscommon County Council; Ann McHugh, Senior Executive Officer, Roscommon County Council; Majella Hunt, Director of Services, Roscommon County Council.

Kilmurry, Castleplunkett, Co Roscommon

Nicola Mulligan, Gary Mulligan and Nicola Joyce pictured at the launch of Glenamaddy Agricultural Show at Glenamaddy Equestrian Centre last Friday. Pic: Mick McCormack

Oisin Keaveney, Nicola Joyce, Frank Mulligan and Brendan Healy at the launch of Glenamaddy Agricultural Show at Glenamaddy Equestrian Centre last Friday. Pic: Mick

Senan Glynn at the launch of Glenamaddy Agricultural Show at Glenamaddy Equestrian Centre last Friday. Pic: Mick McCormack

Padraig Geraghty and Michael Comer at the launch of Glenamaddy Agricultural Show at Glenamaddy Equestrian Centre last Friday. Pic: Mick McCormack

Bernie Murray, James Shevlin and Julie Healy pictured at the launch of Glenamaddy Agricultural Show at Glenamaddy Equestrian Centre last Friday. Pic: Mick McCormack

This property boasts front line panoramic views across the vast waters of the River Shannon.

Situated on a 2 acre site approx., this five bedroomed cottage style residence measures 116sq.m (1,248 sq.ft), this site extends onto the banks of the River Shannon al lowing potential for a jetty S.P.P. This is a unique property to come the market.

Lanesboro is situated at the top of Lough Ree between the towns of Longford and Roscommon, divided by the River Shannon. Longford and Roscommon towns are both within 15 minutes drive of this said

property with the Centre Parks Longford Forest Holiday Centre in Ballymahon only 30 minutes away. The town is well renowned for attracting a large number of visitors to the area with Angling as a top tourist attraction

Property is sold with the benefit of vacant possession. To register your interest get in contact with the sole selling auctioneers. The Auctioneer now invites viewings.

This is a charming 2 b/r residence on a fine site area of approx. 0.568 acres. Once one steps inside the home the quality of finish is apparent with solid wood kitchen cabinets and double glazing throughout this home truly is in turnkey condition. This is a fantastic opportunity to purchase a cottage styled residence with ample outbuildings.

The oubuildings and immediate surroundings of the house are a credit to the current owner occupier. Complete with fuel store, workshop and an extensive canopied area. The gardens are manicured and filled with various herbs, fruits and veg making for a wonderful setting. The property is located approx 12 km from Roscommon town

The Auctioneer now viewing all

Solid fuel stove in the sitting/living room to assist the OFCH heating system.

All mains services connected.

Septic tank sewerage system on site.

Character stone built storage shed of approx. 345 sq.ft.

The Auctioneer now invites viewing and all offers to sell quality family detached residence located in the Village of Granlahan .comprising briefly of reception/hallway, living room, kitchen, sitting room,4 bedrooms in all with master ensuite family bathroom, large garage/utility, standing on a site area of approx 0.5 of an acre with mature gardens set to front and rear with beautiful views of the countryside, Garage/shed set rear.

The auctioneers now invite immediate enquiries and all offers after €185,000 to sell.

ANCESTORSIRISH

TRACINGANCESTORSIRISH

I am trying to locate the Irish Ancestors of Mary Fannon, the daughter of John Fannon and Jane Fallon, baptised 24th April 1837, (sponsors: Patrick Mally and Mary Cunnan).

Found in Roscommon RC Baptisms, vol. 1, p272.

If anybody has information on my ancestors, can you please contact me at the below email or postal address. I would be very grateful for any information, anyone may have.

Marilyn J. Sachtjen 12917 N. North Park WashingtonNewmanRoadLake99025USA

Email: masksacht@yahoo.com

ROSCOMMONCOUNCILCOUNTY

We, Deeney Engineering and Planning Services, are applying to Roscommon County Council on behalf of Seamus Sharkey for:

1. Planning Permission for change of use of existing storage building to use as a vehicle maintenance workshop and store together with all ancillary site works.

2. Retention Planning Permission for 2 No existing shipping containers on site at Circular Road, Ballaghaderreen, 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.

DeeneySigned: Engineering and Planning Services Tel: 086 2503109

PLANNINGS

ROSCOMMON

COUNCILCOUNTY

We, Shane and Claire Gallagher, hereby give notice that we are applying to Roscommon County Council for full planning permission to construct a dwelling house and domestic garage and install a septic tank system and percolation area and all associated site works at Cooly, Castlecoote, Co. Roscommon.

Lo-HomesSigned: Mobile:Co.Tonamaddy,LimitedCreggs,Roscommon.0868551835

The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours and that a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the authority on payment of the prescribed fee 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.

ROSCOMMON Cloondarah,COUNCILCOUNTYMountTalbot,Co.Roscommon.

I hereby apply to Roscommon County Council on behalf of Peter Conboy for planning permission to construct a new dwelling house, a new domestic garage, treatment plant and polishing filter and all associated site works at the above location.

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 on payment of the prescribed fee of €20 within a 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.

NoelSigned:O’ Brien and Associates Mountbellew, Co. Galway Phone/Fax No: (090) 9679506

PLANNINGS

ROSCOMMONCOUNCILCOUNTY

I, Robert Cregg intend to apply to Roscommon County Council for planning permission for the construction of a dwelling house, domestic garage/fuel store, proprietary treatment system, percolation area and associated works at Willsborough, Ballinlough, 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.

PLANNINGSPLANNINGS

ROSCOMMONCOUNCILCOUNTY

We, Michelle Walsh and John Ryan intend to apply to Roscommon County Council for planning permission for the demolition of existing dwelling house, fuel store and part of farm shed, construction of a replacement dwelling house, domestic garage/fuel store, proprietary treatment system, percolation area and associated works at Cornaseer, Kiltoom, Athlone, Co. Roscommon.

ROSCOMMONCOUNCILCOUNTY

I, Eoin Mulheir am applying to Roscommon County Council for planning permission to retain as constructed extension at Drumatemple, Ballintubber, Co. Roscommon, F45 PW52, which differs to that granted under PD/19/120. Difference includes:

1. Building size and elevations.

PLANNINGS

Signed: Stephen Blake, M.R.I.A.I., Registered Architect Trihill, Ballinamore Bridge, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway T: 090 6624681 M: 087 635 8949

E: stephen@sbarchitect.ie

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.

2. Change of toexistingonlyaccessagricultural/domesticexistingsitetoagriculturaluseandtochangeofagriculturalaccessdomesticaccessonly

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.

Qualified registered architect with experience in domestic new build and commercial,extensions,agriculturalandbuildingreports.

also Planning Applications and Ancillary Certifier for larger projects.

Gerry Hynes M.R.I.A.I. White Cottage, RoscommonStrokestown,Doon, F42 DF10

Signed: Stephen Blake, M.R.I.A.I., Registered Architect Trihill, Ballinamore Bridge, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway T: 090 6624681

M: 087 635 8949

E: stephen@sbarchitect.ie

ROSCOMMONCOUNCILCOUNTY

Retention Permission and Planning Permission is sought from Roscommon County Council for the following development:

1. To retain existing storm shelter barrier bounding an existing open winter boat storage area. To retain, develop and complete small inner harbour on South West side of site.

2. Permission to construct a covered winter boat storage shed incorporating the storm shelter barrier into the North West elevation of the proposed covered winter boat storage shed, provide 2 No. over ground rainwater harvesting storage tanks and all ancillary site works necessary to complete the development at Tara Marina, Knockadaff, Knockvicar, Co. Roscommon for NW Lighthouse Marine Limited. 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 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.

O’Signed:Rourke Design and Planning Telephone: 071 9643042 Email: peter.ordap@gmail.com

Drumatemple,EoinSigned:Mulheir Ballintubber, Co. Roscommon Tel: 086 3521640

Acceptance of an advertisement or payment therefore is not to be taken as implying guarantee that the advertisement will be published. The right is reserved to refuse to insert any advertisement, without giving any reason; also to discontinue the publication of any advertisement previously published, without compensation for any loss or damage claimed for nonpublication. Publication of an advertisement cannot be guaranteed on a specific week or at all, whether or not a particular week has been stipulated by the advertiser, and the company will not be liable for any loss claimed by such omission, whether from all editions or any particular edition or editions of the paper. Right is reserved to alter any bysuchanywithoutadvertisementliabilityforcompensationforalteration.Further,thecompanydoesnotacceptliabilityforanylossordamagecausedanerrororinaccuracyintheprintingofanyadvertisement.

Email: GerryRegisteredgerryhynes01@gmail.comArchitectHynes

CHAZEY PROPERTIES: We require properties for waiting tenants, we advertise, conduct viewings, arrange ref erences, read meters, set up tenancy agree ments and arrange direct debit payments straight into your bank. We charge a one off fee only if we are successful in renting your property. If not no fees are payable.

Tel: 086 8212732

Phone: 087 2527290

Web: www.gerryhynesarchitect.com

PROPERTIES TO LET/ RENT/WANTEDPRIVATEGRINDS

< PIANO LESSONS: Ex perienced and dedicated 3rd level student offering piano lessons based in Ro scommon Town. Lessons for beginners and advanced students of all ages in prep aration for RIAM exams. Contact 0861607883 for further information.

< GRINDS: Leaving cer tificate and Junior certificate Irish grinds. Expert notes and sample answers pro vided, focus on exam tech nique to obtain the best mark possible. Every aspect of the course covered and I provide mock orals and mock exam papers. If you are interested please text Catherine on 087 3983399

< GRINDS: Online French grinds, Leaving certificate and Junior certificate. For more details Phone: 089 947 0991 or Email: tricolore@gmail.comtuteur

< MATHS GRINDS: Avail able for Junior and Leaving Certificate. Very experienced teacher. Department exams corrector, excellent results record. Exam technique and notes provided. Contact: 090 6662234 after 6pm or 086 4067270

GRINDS REQUIRED

PRIVATE LESSONS Naughton 403 7803

< GRINDS: In accountancy required for L.C. Mountbellew/BallygarRoscommon/Athleague/student,area.

Tel: 987 6410950

QUINE (nee Hoban) Agnes

BRENNANGerard

100 Acres, Co.Ballyhaunis,Cloonfad,Roscommon

Who died on 23rd September 2016. (6th Anniversary)

EileenDOHERTYandGerald

(3rd & 9th Anniversaries)

In loving memory of Eileen Doherty (nee Gillooly) who passed away on 26th September 2019, and her son Gerald who died 22nd July 2013.

PatrickCOX(Pakie) Killinorden,Roscommon.Scramogue, (1st Anniversary)

In loving memory of Patrick who sadly passed away on the 23rd of September 2021. R.I.P.

BRIANMEMORIALSMURRAY

• Superior Quality Headstones Restoration work carried out New Inscriptions added HAZEL

In loving memory of Agnes, who died on 20th September 2015

A day that’s filled with sadness returns to us today, to mark the day you closed your eyes and Youslippedquietlyaway.hadasmile for everyone, you had a heart of gold. You left the sweetest memories, this world could ever hold.

A smile can hide our sadness, tears can be wiped away, but the heartache of losing you, will never go away.

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

Sadly missed by her loving son Francis, daughters Cathy and daughter-in-lawMichelle,Mary, sonin-law John, granddaughter Emma, grandson Jamie, all her extended family and her many friends.

Anniversary Mass in St. Patrick’s Church, Cloverhill on Saturday, 24th September at 7pm.

THANKSGIVINGS

THE MIRACLE PRAYER

Dear Heart of Jesus in the past I have asked you for many favours. This time I ask this you for this special favour. (mention it). Take it Dear Heart of Jesus and place it within your own bro ken heart where your father sees it. Then in his merci ful eyes it will become your own favour, not mine. Say for three days and promise publication and favour will be granted no matter how impossible. G.H.

Sometimes we just sit quietly reflecting for a while, imagining your voice, your face, your warm and loving smile.

For it’s so lovely to recall the happy times we had when you played such a special role as both husband and dad.

And at this very special time we only wish you knew that we’d give all the world today for one more hour with you.

But we still have our memories and since we’ve been apart it comforts us so much to know that you’re right here in our hearts.

Always remembered and sadly missed every single day, by your loving wife Jeannette and daughters Caroline and Martina, brothers Frank and Michael, mother-in-law, brothers and sisters-in-law and nieces and nephews.

You always had a smile to share, A wonderful nature kind and true, these are the memories I have of you.

Sadly missed by Eileen.

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

Each of us in our own way, have special thoughts of you today, Always remembered by Linda, Michael, Niall, Zara and Glenn.

Gerard’s 6th Anniversary Mass will take place in St. Patrick’s Church, Cloonfad, on Saturday, 24th September at 8pm.

Your memory we treasure, loving you always, forgetting you never.

Always remembered and sadly missed by your loving family. Anniversary Mass for Eileen and Gerald will take place in St. Aidan’s Church, Monasteraden on Saturday, 24th September at 7.30pm.

MONTH’S MIND MASS

LOWRYRonald

Manor, Tulsk, Co. Roscommon

Who passed away 27th August 2022

Every day, in some small way, memories of you come our way. Though absent, you are always near, still missed, still loved, and ever dear.

Always remembered by your family.

Anniversary Mass will be celebrated in St. Anne’s Church, Scramogue on Sunday, 25th September at 10am.

TRAYERSJohn

Ardagh, Glinsk, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon (17th Anniversary)

Scrine, Athleague, Co. Roscommon

www.brianmuraystone.com E: brianmurraystone@gmail.com

We, Ronald’s siblings, Caroline, Tom and Milo, and together with our families, would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all who supported and sympathised with us on the loss of our beloved brother Ronald.

A sincere thank you to those who attended the Reposing, Funeral Mass and Burial, sent condolences either in person, via phone or online and those who sent Mass Cards and flowers, also to those who travelled long distances to be with us.

A special thank you to all his friends in both Elphin and Roscommon Active Age and Roscommon Bowling ThankClub. you to all of you who helped and participated in the Funeral Mass. To Fr. John Gannon for his consoling words and beautiful ceremony celebrating the life of Ronald. To Carmel Hackett for the beautiful music and Ahymns.special word of thanks to O’Connor’s Funeral Directors, Tulsk for all their help, professionalism and sensitive handling of his funeral arrangements.

To Dr. Silvie Blazkova and her Oncology team. To all the staff of St. Joseph’s Ward who cared for him while in University Hospital, Galway.

To all the staff in both St. Francis and St. Joseph’s Wards, Portiuncula Hospital for the wonderful care and compassion show to Ronald during his brief illness. To Caroline and Martina, Palliative Care Roscommon, to Niki, R.S.G. Derrane, to the Health Centre, Strokestown. A special thank you to McAuliffe’s Pharmacy, Strokestown.

Thank you to the staff of the Percy French Hotel for the lovely meal. To the grave diggers who prepared Ronald’s final resting place with such care and attention, thank you.

While it is not possible to thank each person individually for their kindness and support, please accept this acknowledgement as an expression of our sincere appreciation and gratitude. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass will be offered for the intentions of all.

Ronald’s Month’s Mind Mass will be celebrated on Sunday, 25th September at 11.30am in the Church of Sts Eithne and Fidelma, Tulsk together with the Anniversary Mass of our parents, Tommy and Bridie.

In loving memory of John who passed away on the 25th September 2005. Just a prayer from a family who loved you. Just a memory fond and true, in our hearts you will live forever, because we thought the world of you.

Loved and sadly missed by your loving wife Catherine, daughter, sons, grandchildren.daughters-in-lawson-in-law,and

Mass will be offered.

People who are dear to us are never far away. They’re always close in thought and heart, just as you are today.

Also remembering my brother John Who died on the 8th January 2013

When someone you love becomes a memory that memory becomes a treasure.

Remembered with love by their daughter Kathy and grandchildren Fiona, Michelle, Niall, Cathriona, Niamh and Ciara.

Mass offered

RUANE

Ned, Colm and Mary Lisnamult, Roscommon

Colm RuaneNed Ruane

In loving memory of Ned and Colm Ruane, whose 3rd Anniversary takes place on the 23rd and 25th of September 2022 and Mary Ruane who’s 17th Anniversary took place on the 8th June 2022.

We often sit and think of ye, and think of how ye died.

To think ye could not say goodbye, before ye closed your eyes. The blow was hard, the shock severe, to part with ones we loved so dear. Our loss is great, we’ll not complain, but trust in God we meet again.

Sadly missed by your heartbroken family.

Mass offered.

Oran, Donamon, Co. Roscommon (7th Anniversary)

CARR Jim and Kathleen Mount Talbot

Treasured memories of my parents Jim who died on the 2nd September 1996 and Kathleen who died on the 22nd September 2000

Mary Ruane

SportExtra

St. Aidan’s mentor receives hearing over proposed 96-week suspension

< DAN DOONER

The St. Aidan’s GAA men tor allegedly involved in an incident that left referee Kevin Naughton requiring medical attention at an U-17 match in Ballyforan in Au gust received a hearing by the Roscommon Competi tions Control Committee on Tuesday night.

The mentor had been in formed of the committee’s proposed 96-week ban last week, before his club noti fied Roscommon County Board that he wished to seek a Refereehearing.Kevin Naughton was hospitalised follow ing an alleged assault just seconds after the throw-in for the second half of the U-17 football championship

game between St. Aidan’s and St. Dominic’s on Au gustThe31st.incident led to all Ro scommon referees in men’s and ladies’ football and camogie withdrawing their services on the weekend of September 16th to 18th, leading to the postponement of championship matches.

A special Roscommon Competitions Control Com

mittee proposed the ban af ter Mr. Naughton submitted his report from the game. According to GAA rules, a 96-week ban is the mini mum suggested for a repeat offence of ‘striking or at tempting to strike or any type of assault on a referee, umpire, linesman, or side line official’. A first offence usually carries a minimum suspension of 48 weeks.

May the winds of Heaven blow softly and whisper in your ear how much we love and miss you and wish that you were here

Loved and sadly missed by your sons, daughters, sons-in-law, and extended family.

In loving memory of Danny, late of Shrove, Strokestown, who died on the 25th September 2007

He always had a smile to share, a laugh, a joke, a time to care, A wonderful nature, warm and kind these are the memories he left behind.

Forever in our hearts Mam, Dad, Séan, Aisling and Alan.

Work ongoing at Donamon fishing bays

Independent council lor Anthony Waldron has confirmed that work is currently ongoing to upgrade a number of ac cessible fishing bays in Donamon and said further outings to the amenity will be planned in the coming weeks.Speaking this week, Cllr. Waldron said: “Last year, the Suck Valley Way com mittee organised fishing for people with a disability at Donamon and I would like to thank Inland Fisher ies board member, Michael McGreal, and the CEO of IFI, Francis O’Donnell for their“Followingsupport. a visit by Mr. O’Donnell to Donamon recently, he agreed the need for essential works to

be carried out on the fish ing bays. In the next num ber of weeks we will be organising another outing to Donamon as the amen ity grows in popularity for

both fishing and kayaking.

“I look forward to further works being carried out by Roscommon County Council and Inland Fisher ies in the coming weeks”.

The works have included the refurbishment of eight fishing bays and the instal lation of a reinforced fibre glass surface to make the facility safer for users.

In loving memory of Kathleen who died on the 25th September 2017

Anniversary Mass in St. Joseph’s Church, Ballyforan on Sunday, 25th September at 10am.

HYNESDanny (15th Anniversary)

St. Faithleach’s supporters pictured in Strokestown last Saturday. Back, left to right: Katie Browne, Tricia Browne and Niall Keenan. Front, left to right: Jim Browne, Phil Browne and Helen Kelly. Photo: Mick McCormack

< DAN DOONER

SHC: Semi-Final Sunday!

Final places up for grabs in hurling championship

Kepak Roscommon

SHC semi-finals

The Roscommon Senior Hurling Championship is now at the semi-final stage with two mouth-watering clashes in prospect this Sun day in Athleague. Pádraig Pearses and Four Roads will be hot favourites to advance but Oran and reigning cham pions Athleague are both ca pable of causing an upset.

Pádraig Pearses v Oran in Athleague on Sunday at 2 pm

All form this year points to the men from Taughmacon nell and Moore to win this contest. They have answered most of the questions asked of them so far this campaign and they will be very disap pointed if they don’t get to the decider at least this year.

The likes of Shane Naughton, Matthew Comer ford, Eoghan Costello, Cathal Kelly and Daniel Glynn are just a few of the names that will backbone this Pearses team and with Glynn back to his best in terms of accuracy from frees and play, it looks a very strong Pearses outfit.

Oran were too good for St. Dominic’s in the quarterfinals but the loss of Gearoid Keenan who went off injured that day, will be huge. Jerry Fallon, Hugh Rooney, and the Kenny brothers will pro vide the guile and experience for Kieran Farrell’s men but it would be a surprise if Pearses do not prevail here.

Prediction: Pádraig Pearses.

Athleague v Four Roads in Athleague on Sunday at 3.45 pm

This was traditionally the clash of ‘the big two’ in Ro scommon hurling, however Four Roads will go into this clash as the hot favourites which is strange given that Athleague are the defending champions.However, Four Roads have found their mojo again this year and they have been very impressive. Noel Fallon, Cormac Coyle, Johnny Mo ran, Cathal Dolan, Brendan Mulry, Conor Mulry and Jack Donnelly have all been playing well and with the ev

GAA Results

Hodson Bay Hotel SFC (Group A) Oran 2-15 Elphin 2-7 Roscommon Gaels 4-15 Michael Glavey’s 2-8

Hodson Bay Hotel SFC (Group B)

St. Faithleach’s 1-15 Western Gaels 1-13 Boyle 4-18 Clann na nGael 1-11

ergreen Micheal Kelly still an inspiration from centre back, the Black and Amber look veryAthleaguestrong. have had a strange year. The champions will be the first to admit that they have

not been playing well, howev er against Tremane there were signs of an improvement, and they have been training hard for this match in recent weeks.

Dave Connell, Niall Connolly, David Delaney, Ben McGa

hon, Cormac Kelly, Eoin Ward and Gary Fallon have plenty of experience and hurling know how to get the job done on the day. But the reality is that Ath league will have to play out of their collective skins to have a

chance of winning this match. It could be closer than a lot of people expect but anything other than a Four Roads’ win would constitute a major shock.

Prediction: Four Roads.

Hodson Bay Hotel SFC (Group C) Pádraig Pearses 1-14 Strokestown 0-15 St. Brigid’s 1-10 Tulsk Lord Edwards 0-12

Callington Ltd IFC (Group A) St. Croan’s 2-12 Kilmore 0-9

Callington Ltd IFC (Group B) St. Dominic’s 2-19 St. Aidan’s 1-8 St. Brigid’s 1-11 Shannon Gaels 0-12

Callington Ltd IFC (Group C) Éire Óg 0-14 Castlerea St. Kevin’s 0-7

King and Moffatt JAFC St. Michael’s 1-12 Boyle 0-11 Strokestown 0-14 Ballinameen 0-11

King and Moffatt JAFC (Group B) Pádraig Pearses 1-15 Roscommon Gaels 1-9 Kilglass Gaels 2-14 St. Joseph’s 0-10

King and Moffatt JAFC (Group C) St. Dominic’s 3-14 St. Ronan’s 1-8

St. Barry’s 0-12 Western GaelsFrenchpark 1-9

Fixtures

Friday, September 23rd

Dermot Hughes Cars U-20 FC Division One Final

At Ballyforan: Pádraig Pearses v St. Brigid’s. 8 pm Junior B

ChapionshipFootball(Group A)

At Woodmount: Pádraig Pearses v Castlerea St. Kevin’s. 8 pm

Junior B ChampionshipFootball(Group D) (7.45 pm)

At Lisnamult: Oran v Kilbride

At Johnstown: Clann na nGael v Fuerty

Saturday, September 24th

King and Moffatt JAFC Play-off

At O’Rourke Park: Roscommon Gaels v Western Gaels. 4.30 pm Junior B ChampionshipFootball(Group A)

At St. Dominic’s v St. Michael’s. 4.30 pm

Junior B ChampionshipFootball(Group B) (5 pm)

At Ballyleague: St. Faithleach’s v St. Brigid’s. 5

At Orchard Park: Elphin v Tulsk Lord Edwards Junior B ChampionshipFootball(Group C) (5 pm)

At Ballinameen: Éire Óg v Shannon Gaels

At Nash Park: Kilglass Gaels v Michael Glavey’s

Sunday, September 25th Hodson Bay Hotel SFC Relegation Play-off

At Abbey Park: Western Gaels v Elphin. 1 pm Hodson Bay Hotel SFC Play-off

At Enfield: St. Faithleach’s v Michael Glavey’s. 1 pm

Callington Ltd IFC

Relegation Play-off

At Strokestown: Shannon Gaels v Kilmore. 2.30 pm

Kepak Senior Hurling Championship semi-finals

At Athleague: Four Roads v Athleague. 3.45 pm SEAMUS DUKE

At Athleague: Pádraig Peares v Oran. 2 pm

Arm wrestle! Cian Gavin pictured trying to dislodge the ball from the hands of Conor Devaney during Sunday’s IFC game between Kilbride and Clann na nGael.

Pic: Bernie O’Farrell

Horses for Courses by Tom Red

Racing at Listowel continues this weekend un til Sunday. This afternoon (Thursday) on the flat at 1.25 pm, tomorrow and Saturday over the sticks, tomorrow at 2.15 pm, and on Satur day at 1.55 pm.

There is also an evening meeting under lights over the all-weather at Dundalk on Friday, first race at 5.30 pm.

On Saturday, there is a flat card at the Curragh at 1.05 pm featuring the Group 2 Beresford Stakes for juveniles.

Sunday sees another flat card at the Curragh off at 1.25 pm featuring the Irish Cesarewitch and two Group 3 races.

On Monday, Roscommon stages an afternoon meeting, its last meeting of 2022, a national hunt card featuring the Grade 3 Kilbegnet Novice Chase and there is also a flat card down for deci sion at Down Royal.

There is cross channel racing on ITV4 and Virgin Media 1 tomorrow with four races from Newmarket and three from Haydock.

On Saturday, six races will be covered by ITV4 and Virgin Media 1, four from Newmarket, in cluding two Group 1 races the Cheveley Park Stakes and the Middle Park Stakes with two from Haydock.

Roscommon Review

The Roscommon card on Monday opens with the 2m Boyle Maiden Hurdle for horses that have not won any race under rules.

The second is the Athlone Handicap Hurdle also over 2m. The 2m 3f Mares Maiden is sponsored by Adrian Murray of Thomas A. Murray’s Bar, Roscommon.

Class Grass sponsor the 3m Handicap Hurdle, the last hurdle race on the card. The first over the major obstacles is the national hunt jewel in the crown of Roscommon national hunt racing, The Grade 3 Kilbegnet Novice Chase sponsored by the Ballymore Group and the Irish EBF over 2m. Irish Stallion Farms EBF sponsor the Mares

Beginners Chase over 2m 5f and the bumper, spon sored by Roscommon On-Course Vets, brings the meeting to a close.

The Kilbegnet Novice Chase was won last year by Jessica Harrington’s Exit Poll with Sean O’Keeffe in the saddle by a neck from Embittered and Jack Kennedy trained by Joseph O’Brien.

Listowel Report

Willie Mullins brought up a four-timer on the opening day of Listowel last Sunday. The opening two races were won by Aghaboy and Nikini, both ridden by Paul Townend. Mullins and Townend completed a treble on Easy Game in the penultimate race. Mullins’ son Patrick rode Polo Lounge to win the bumper and complete the training four-timer.

Elsewhere on the card, Run For Pat and Chemical Energy completed a double for Gordon Elliott and Davy Russell.

On Monday, Mullins and Townend made it five in the first with Carrigmoorna Queen and they completed a double on the day in the penultimate chase with Adamantly Chosen.

The Grade B Liam Healy Memorial Lartigue Hur dle went to Prairie Dancer, ridden by JJ Slevin for Joseph O’Brien.

Racing took place on the flat on Tuesday and the feature, the Edmund and Josie Whelan Memo rial Race, was won by the Joseph O’Brien trained Neptune Rock ridden by Shane Crosse at 9/1. Joseph G Murphy and Gary Carroll enjoyed a dou ble with Prophets Voice and Lord Massusus with Carroll rounding of the day completing a treble on Earls for Gavin Cromwell in the last.

Racing News

David Egan had a four-timer at Newbury last Saturday with a treble for Roger Varian includ ing exciting Sakheer in the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes. He also rode Exoplanet and Mit baahy to victory for Varian, won Hughie Morri sey’s Stay Alert between and completed the fourtimer on Sakheer, winning the first four races on the card. Varian also had a treble at Ayr and one at Newmarket, giving him seven winners across the cards.

The Barney Curley Charity Cup takes place next Wednesday at Bellewstown and team captains, Frankie Dettori and Willie Mul lins, have named their line-ups to compete in two races sponsored by Gannon City Recovery & Recycling Services Limited and The Gal lagher Group.

Dettori’s team consists of Jamie Spencer, Shane Kelly, Tom Queally, Seamie Heffernan, Billy Lee, Chris Hayes, and Siobhan Rutledge, while champion jumps trainer Mullins can call on Rachael Blackmore, Colin Keane, Wayne Lordan, Declan McDonogh, Shane Foley, Dylan Browne McMonagle and local apprentice Robert Whearty. Points will be awarded to the first eight placed horses on a scale of 15, 12, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4 and the team that accumulates the highest number of points across the two races in the challenge will win the cup.

Competition Time

Tickets for Roscommon on Monday have been won by Mary Gordon, Castlerea, Dominic Tobin, Creggs, and Bernie Heavey, Athleague and don’t forget to collect you tickets in the of fice in Abbey Street. That is it for another year and thanks to everybody who took part during the year and especially to Michael Finneran of Ro scommon and Paddy Dunican of Kilbeggan for sponsoring the tickets for us.

Athlone

Athlone will host the culmination of Golf Ireland’s inter-club season from September 29th to October 2nd with clubs competing for the last four All-Ireland titles available toThethem.Revive Active Women’s Four Ball, Men’s Four Ball and Fred Perry Men’s Trophy will all conclude the four-day event in the Roscommon venue.

The Flogas Irish Mixed Foursomes, which is the only event where men and women compete together, will also crown a cham pion in Athlone.

Golf Ireland’s Director of Championships, Mark Wehrly said: “The course presents an exciting challenge for players and its exceptional finishing stretch will be a great backdrop to the drama of the All-Ireland Finals”.

Both Men’s Captain, Thomas O’Connor, and Ladies’ Captain, Frances McGettigan, said they were delighted to welcome teams from all over Ireland to the venue.

On the course this week, Tom Meagher (29 points) won the Plumbers; Martin Gibson (33) topped the AWGS leader board; Noirin O’Rourke won the Ladies’ 18-hole Stableford; Bernie Watson won the 9-hole competition; Cathryn Mannion (24 points) was best of the ’97 Club and Gerry Rowlands’ 66 nett gave him victory in Jack O’Sullivan’s Men’s Open.

Boyle

Year remains very tight going into the final stretch. Pat Conroy still holds top spot with 70 points, just one ahead of Jim Callery on 69. Charlie McDonnell, Pat Brogan, Vincent Egan, Ciaran Beirne, Michael Simon, Adam Daly, Michael McHale, Tom Kearney, Martin Wynne, Tadhg Lowe and Mark O’Donohoe are all still in the fight if they place well in the final two competitions.

Jim Callery won the Thursday competition with 19 points while Owen Garvin was the winner of the 18-hole Stableford on September 11th with 38 points.TheMen’s Thursday competition continues while there is another 18-hole Stableford for Men this weekend.

Commiserations to Niall Kearney’s Connacht Shield team who were narrowly beaten by an experienced Tubbercurry team in the third round last weekend.Theclub is hoping to recommence the annual outing with a day’s golf away in October/November. Watch this space.

Carrick

The club would like to thank the McDermott Family for their very generous sponsorship of the recent Gents’ competition. Congratulations to Jason Loftus, winner with an excellent score of 44 points. Other results: Cat 1: Keith Duignan (39); Cat 2: Liam Bruen (42); Cat 3: Jimmy Deane (40).

Roscommon

The Men’s 18-hole competition on Sunday was won by Francis Ferguson with 65 nett with Francis Noone second (66). Liam Casey won the gross prize (71) and John McHale was third with 66 nett.

Congratulations to Aileen McConn who won the Ladies’ Masters Final on Sunday with 37 points and also to Therese Ray (24 points), who won the 9-hole competition.TheLadies’

Fourball competition was won by Joan Hannon and Bernie Browne with 46 points with Pat Pierce and Phil Murray-O’Brien second on 44.

The ‘Play in Pink’ competition in aid of national breast cancer research was a great success last Thursday. Results: Ladies: Helen Earley; Longest Drive: Sarah Burke; Nearest the Pin: Mary Lalor; Best Dressed Lady: Laura Griffith; Best Dressed Ladies Group: Mary Mellett, Ronnie Clarke and Detta Cox.

Men’s: Michael Relihan; Longest Drive: Ciaran Doherty; Nearest the Pin: Seamus Hayden; Best Dressed Man: JT Finn.

There was also a raffle on the day and the winners were Declan Browne, Martina Connellan and Martina Brennan.

The Captain and Lady Captain prizes to the Juniors were won by Leah O’Connor and Jamie O’Connor.

Well done to Peter Brady and Ollie Dempsey on reaching the final of the Smithwick’s Cup last Friday. Ollie was the eventual winner.

There was a good turnout for the presentation of prizes last Sunday evening with all prizes for the last few weeks presented. Well done to all winners and thanks to our very generous sponsors.

The past Lady Captain’s prize is due to be held this Saturday from 1.30 pm to 2.30 pm. If you have been a past lady Captain of the club then you are eligible to play. Book your time on the BRS system putts

Exit Poll and Sean O’Keeffe jump the last upsides Embittered in last year’s Kilbegnet Chase.

The order of merit in the Golfer of the

Pictured is Aisling O’Shea of P&G cards making a presentation to Olivia Costello of Roscommon Golf Club. Olivia is making her debut at the KPMG Irish Women’s Open in Dromoland Castle this week. Everyone a P&G Cards and Roscommon town are proud of her and no doubt she will fly the Rossie flag with pride as she tees off with some of the best female professional golfers in the world.

Mini Rugby

Mini Rugby starts back this Saturday (25th) at 10 am in Creggs. This also includes Leprechaun rugby for children aged five and up. Register online at www.clubforce.com www.creggsrugby.ie.or

Youth Rugby

The Boys’ U-14 team beat Carrick-on-Shan non 26-22 at home while the Boys’ U-15 Maroon team scored seven tries - three from James Trundle - in their Division Two match against Ballinrobe.

The Girls’ U-18 team played away to Clare morris Colts last Sat urday and scored six tries in a 27-10 win, in cluding two from Na dine Fitzmaurice, and one each from Megan Donohue, Gabrielle Kilcommons and Maryanne Jordan. Two

sets of sisters featured for Creggs: Maryanne and Ellen Jordan and Shauna and Caoimhe Walsh.OnSunday, Creggs hosted Ballina RFC for games against the Girls’ U-16s and Boys’ U-15s

Theteams.Girls played some great open run ning rugby in a highscoring game which finished 34-34.

The Boys White team, meanwhile, won their Connacht Divi sion One clash 23-15, having led 12-5 at the break. Dan Kelly’s well worked try sealed the victory late on.

gamesConnacht

The Connacht U-18 Girls had their game against Ulster can celled on September 10th due to the death of

Handball Carthy All-Irelandreachesfinal

St. Coman’s was a busy venue in recent times and last weekend it hosted the 60x30 Juvenile All-Ire land semi-finals between Connacht and Munster.

Star of the show from a Roscommon point of view was local youngster Eoghan Carthy, who won his way through to the U-16 All-Ireland final with a solid win over Cork’s Tomas O’Connor.

Having won the 2020 U-14 All-Ireland, Eoghan was regarded as a strong favourite going in and in the early going he proved why; showing a remark ably consistent serve punctuated with some spectac ular long-range killing. However, after racing into a 15-6 lead, he appeared to hit a concentration blip and let O’Connor back into the game. O’Connor came within two points before Eoghan regrouped and pulled away to win 21-15.

The second was a much more clear-cut affair, with Eoghan playing a much smarter brand of handball, keeping the small alley specialist at the back of the court for long periods before pouncing on any weak returns with clinical kills. Unlike the first, Eoghan never let up in this game, and ran out a comfortable winner 21-6.

Connacht Cup…

Queen Elizabeth II. Last Sunday, they played Leinster in Donnybrook with three Creggs girls in action and two in the reserves.

The Boys’ U-14 team travelled to Gal way on Saturday and overcame a well coached Mervue United side. Andrej Anic slotted home the opening goal af ter good build-up play on the left wing. Town had chances to extend their lead in the first half while the defence snuffed out the home team at the other end.

Mervue, however, levelled matters early in the second half but Town went ahead soon after. Anic flicked on for Aaron Mi ley who scored off his weaker foot - a smart finish. Moments later, Anic latched on to a weak Mervue clearance to lob the keeper. Mervue got a second but Town saw out the closing minutes to seal a fine win on a sunny Saturday afternoon in Galway city.

The Boys’ U-12 side played at home to Arrow Harps from Sligo. A thrilling, hard-fought and end to end game eventu ally saw Harps secure the win.

In a close first half, a fine volley gave Harps the lead. The game saw both

Connacht led by 7-5 at half-time but the hosts capitalised on a couple of errors in the second half and ran out 15-7 winners.

Creggs Firsts are at home to Castlebar RFC at 7.30 pm on Saturday evening in the Cawley Cup. All support welcome.

Fixtures

ReportRFCCreggs THE GAIN LINE Soccer

Also on Saturday, the Creggs Boys Ma roon team are away to Tuam in Division Two at 12 pm; the Girls U14s are home to Buc caneers at 12 pm.

On Sunday, the U-15s White team are home to Corinthians in Divi sion One at 12 pm and this game is followed by the Girls’ U-18s against Galwegians at 1 pm.

Hanly receives Irish caps

Pictured is Kilbride and Roscommon footballer Aisling Hanly being presented with her Irish caps by Republic of Ire land manager Stephen Kenny at FAI Head quarters in Abbotstown on Saturday last.

Aisling received the caps in recognition of her participation with the Irish Futsal squad in the European and World Cup Champi onships over the last four years. Aisling was complimented on being the youngest ever Irish player to take part and score in competitioninternational-witha total of 13 goals scored over both competitions.

She hopes to participate in some of the games in the upcoming European Futsal championships in Italy in mid October. She is currently jug

keepers making fine saves before Harps scored two further goals. Town respond ed with a goal from Conor Farrell and then Jonathan Greene finished off a fine move to set up a grandstand finish.

However, Town were unable to net the equaliser which would have sent the game to extra-time.

Closer to Home…

The Boys’ U-16 team will be hoping to turn things around in the quarter-final second leg of their Premier Division Cup game against Cloonfad United this week. Tommy Naughton hit the net for Town in the first leg.

The Girls’ U-16 team played in the First Division Cup Final earlier this week against Glen Celtic (photo and report next week).

In the semi-final first legs of the Boys’ U-14 Divisional Cups, Town I were away to Castlerea Celtic while Town II were at home to Ballaghaderreen. Town I were 6-2 down at one stage (con

gling her Leaving Cer tificate studies and the closing stages of the Ladies’ Football Cham pionship with her club Kilbride.

ceding two own goals) but showed admi rable determination to get back into the game. Castlerea take a one-goal lead into the second leg. Cian Kiernan, Marc Shal ly, Luke Shally, Ethan Turkington and Maison Hynes with the goals for Town. A young and depleted Town II team lost out to a bigger and more physical Bal laghaderreen side in Lisnamult. Joao Vi tor Santes scored three but the away side scored two goals late on to seal a 5-3 win.

At U-12 level, our two Boys’ teams were in action in the Divisional Cups. Rian Carty and Luis Fellipe da Silva scored for Town II but Cloonfad United progressed to the Afterfinal.drawing in their first leg, Town I competed courageously in the second leg of their quarter-final clash away to Bal linagare but the home team eventually prevailed.Acombined Roscommon Town team then played Ballyboro in an enjoyable challenge game on Saturday. This Friday in the U-11 CL, Town I are at home to Dunmore while Town II are away to Cloonfad United.

Unfortunately the final may clash with the county minor football final, which features Roscommon Gaels. Eoghan is a star player on this team, so in the long-standing handball tradition, he may have to concede home venue to his Kilkenny opponent in return for a re-fixture.

Eoghan’s two regular training partners, Gavin Kel ly from Galway and Leitrim’s Benoit McKiernan had mixed results. Gavin looked very impressive in easily winning his U-15 match against Tipperary’s Eoin Burke, while Benoit lost narrowly in a very good game to Tipp’s Evan Carey in the U-17 grade.

Kilglass’ Alanna Coggeran received a walkover and will now play a Tyrone opponent in the final.

Alanna’s father John and brother Adam teamed up to win the 60x30 Junior ‘C’ Doubles Connacht final, also held in St. Coman’s. They beat Sligo’s Simon Kavanagh and Roscommon native David Hannon in two straight games. John was the best player in the court and controlled most of the action, while Adam played his part in the front court. The Sligo pair tried hard but the result was never in doubt, Ro scommon winning 21-3, 21-10.

Soccer results

Norios Premier Division

Skyvalley Rovers 1 St. John’s Athletic 5 Moore United 1 Ballinasloe Town 4 Ballaghaderreen FC 3 Moylough 79 0

RDFL First Division

Shiven Rovers 4 Ballinasloe Town 1 Roscommon United 0 Ballymoe FC 0 Cloonfad United v Dunmore Town, abandoned due to injury.

RDFL Second Division

Dunmore Town 1 St. John’s Athletic 6 Rahara Rovers 7 Skyvalley Rovers 1 St. Cuan’s Ahascragh United 4 Glen Celtic 2 Women’s League Premier Division

Boyle Celtic 3 Ballaghaderreen FC 0 Cam/Dysart 9 St. Cuan’s Ahascragh United 1 Castlerea Celtic 2 Shiven Rovers 2 Colemanstown United 2 Kilkerrin United 4

Fixtures

Friday, September 23rd

Norio’s RDFL Premier Division

Kilkerrin United v Castlerea Celtic. 8 pm

RDFL First Division

Shiven Rovers v Ballinagare Manor United. 8 pm

Sunday, September 25th

FAI Junior Cup First Round (2 pm)

Ballaghaderreen FC v Castlebar Celtic

Conn Rangers v Moore United Manulla FC v Cloonfad United Ballinasloe Town v Kiltimagh Knock United Ballisodare United v St. John’s Athletic Coolaney United v Boyle Celtic Norio’s RDFL Premier Division

Skyvalley Rovers v CP Ajax. 2 pm RDFL First Division (11 am)

Ballinasloe Town B v Roscommon United Dunmore Town v Cam Celtic Dysart FC v Ballymoe FC RDFL Second Division (11 am) St. John’s Athletic B v Rahara Rovers St. Cuan’s Ahascragh United v Dunmore Town B RDFL Women’s Premier Division

Boyle Celtic v Colemanstown United. 2 pm

Cam/Dysart Celtic WFC v Castlerea Celtic. 2 pm

Ballaghaderreen FC v Shiven Rovers. 2 pm Ballinasloe Town v Kilkerrin United. 5 pm

The Creggs U-16 Girls’ team which drew 34-34 with Ballina in Creggs last weekend.

The Cam/Dysart Women’s team had a convincing win over St. Cuan’s Ahascragh United last weekend. They take on Castlerea Celtic next.

Fuerty and St impressDominic’sin IFC

< SEAMUS DUKE

Group A

Fuerty were the deserved winners of the local derby at Hyde Park, putting four goals past Creggs. Aengus Ly ons scored two as Fuerty remain unbeaten. St Croan’s secured their place in the quarter-finals with a compre hensive win against Kilmore in Strokestown. Kilmore now face Shannon Gaels in a relegation play-off this weekend.

Group B

St Dominic’s completed their group campaign in style, having 14 points to spare against St Aidan’s in Knock croghery last Sunday. Aidan’s now face Kilbride for a place in the last eight. St Brigid’s secured their playoff place with a narrow win against Shannon Gaels in Croghan. The Gaels now face a local derby relegation play-off against Kilmore.

Group C

I was in Hyde Park for the big match of the day in the IFC, Kilbride winning their first game of the campaign, having four points to spare against Clann na nGael. Conor Devaney turned back the clock with a brilliant dis play for Kilbride, scoring seven points (five from play). Alongside him, Alan Merriman was very impressive, with Albert Looby and Sean Hanly also prominent. Kil bride now face St Aidan’s for a place in the quarter-finals, but they will have to plan without Aodhan Looby who was helped off the field with a serious shoulder injury which could rule him out for a number of weeks.

In the other game, there was a mild surprise as top of thetable Castlerea St Kevin’s lost out to Éire Óg by 0-14 to 0-7 (however, there was nothing at stake in this fixture).

Darragh Kildea pictured in action during Sunday’s IFC match between Kilbride and Clann na nGael. Pic: Bernie O’Farrell

Fuerty’s

Eoin Ward and Creggs’ Ronan Dowd pictured during Sunday’s IFC match in Dr Hyde Park. Pic: Bernie O’Farrell

Darragh Heavey pictured in full flight during Sunday’s IFC match between Creggs and Fuerty in Dr Hyde Park. Pic: Bernie O’Farrell

Sean Hanly pictured in action during Sunday’s IFC match between Kilbride and Clann na nGael. Pic: Bernie O’Farrell

Cian Connaughton pictured during half-time at Sunday’s IFC match between Creggs and Fuerty. Pic: Bernie O’Farrell

Paul O’Grady pictured tackling Ross Naughton during Sunday’s IFC match between Kilbride and Clann na nGael. Pic: Bernie O’Farrell

SFC: Boyle, Oran and Roscommon Gaels catch the eye!

< SEAMUS DUKE

Group A

Oran maintained their unbeaten run with a comprehensive win against Elphin in Kiltoom on Friday night. First-half goals from Kieran Whyte and James Fitzpatrick set Billy Donnellan’s

men on their way and at one stage of the second half they led by 2-15 to 0-6. Two late goals from Elphin put a respectable look on the scoreboard from their point of view but now they must plan for a relegation playoff against Western Gaels next weekend.Bestperformance of the week end was arguably that of Ro

scommon Gaels who breezed past Michael Glavey’s in Creggs on Saturday. Goals from Cian Connolly (2) and Peter Gillooly, along with an own goal, saw the Gaels run up an impressive 4-15. Michael Glavey’s now play St Faithleach’s this weekend for a place in the quarter-finals.

Group B

The ‘Game of the Weekend’ be tween St Faithleach’s and West ern Gaels is featured this week. Meanwhile, Boyle turned in a fantastic display against Clann na nGael in Dr Hyde Park and the individual performance of the weekend came from rising

star Daire Cregg who scored a remarkable 3-4 of Boyle’s total of 4-18. Boyle remain unbeaten and are playing some great foot ball.

Group C

Strokestown made the cham pions Padraig Pearses fight all

the way in a thrilling match (see report). In the other fix ture, Tulsk battled all the way to the last kick of the game against fancied St Brigid’s, who had only a point to spare in the end. It means St Brigid’s remain unbeaten and Tulsk await the relegation play-off between Elphin and Western Gaels.

IN FRAMETHE photos

Supporters pictured at Dr Hyde Park for Sunday’s IFC match between Creggs and Fuerty. Pic: Bernie O’Farrell

Action from last Saturday’s Hodson Bay Hotel Roscommon SFC game between Strokestown and Padraig Pearses. Photo: Mick McCormack

Action from last Saturday’s Hodson Bay Hotel Roscommon SFC game between Strokestown and Padraig Pearses. Photo: Mick McCormack

Action from last Saturday’s Hodson Bay Hotel Roscommon SFC encounter between St Faithleach’s and Western Gaels. Photo: Mick McCormack

Niall Daly of Padraig Pearses shows typical determination in this phase of play during Saturday’s Hodson Bay Hotel Roscommon SFC game between Strokestown and Padraig Pearses. Photo: Mick McCormack

Pearses edge pulsating encounter with Strokestown

Hodson Bay Hotel Roscommon SFC (Group C) Padraig Pearses 1-14 Strokestown 0-15

< SEAMUS DUKE

Padraig Pearses returned to winning ways last Saturday, but the de fending champions were put to the pin of their collar as they sought to keep a well organised and skilful Strokestown side at bay in what was a superb contest.

In this encounter which was played in Strokestown the home side took the game to Pearses from the first whistle. With Colin Comp ton outstanding for Strokestown, Pearses were never particularly comfortable. Four points from Compton in the opening half helped his side into a 0-8 to 0-7 half-time lead. Pat Flanagan’s side were hanging on at times, although Ronan Daly was superb for them, scoring three super points from wing-back.

Pearses scored a vital goal when Conor Daly netted in the first minute of the second half, completing a super team move. Strokes town refused to lie down, and with Colin Compton and Diarmuid McGann on fire, they were soon level. There was parity on the scoreboard no less than five times in what was a pulsating second half.Asthe tension rose, Strokestown disputed a couple of crucial calls that they felt went against them. They still led by 0-15 to 1-11 go ing into injury-time, but Paul Carey levelled the scores with a free and then subs Conor Payne and Emmett Kelly pointed from play to give Pearses a two-point lead by the 65th minute. There was still time for Strokestown to win it but Mikey Kavanagh was wide in the 8th minute of injury-time with a great goal chance. Pearses had survived.

Padraig Pearses: Paul Whelan; Mark Richardson, Caelim Keogh, Lorcan Daly; Jack Downey, David Murray, Ronan Daly (0-3); Conor Daly (1-2), Niall Daly; Shane Carty, Niall Carty, Paul Carey (0-5, 3 frees); Jack Tumulty, Hubert Darcy (0-2, 1 free), Tom But ler. Subs: Conor Lohan for Keogh (h/t), Emmett Kelly (0-1) for Tumulty (40), Declan Kenny for Butler (44), Conor Payne (0-1) for S Carty (50), Conor Harley for N Carty (63).

Strokestown: Niall Curley; Timmy Gibbons, Luke Kelly, David Neary; Colm Neary, Sean Mullooly, Ciaran Regan (0-2); Paddy Brogan, Cathal Compton (0-1); Keith Murphy, Colin Compton (06, 1 mark), Cathal Lavin (0-1); Kevin Finn (0-3, frees), Diarmuid McGann (0-2, frees), Shane McGinley. Subs: Mikey Kavanagh for Lavin (48), David Butler for Finn (58).

Referee: Brendan Healy.

Man of the Match: Colin Compton (Strokestown)

Action from last Saturday’s Hodson Bay Hotel Roscommon SFC game between Strokestown and Padraig

Pearses.

Photo: Mick McCormack

Pearses scored a vital goal when Conor Daly netted in the first minute of the second half, completing a super team move. Photos: Mick McCormack

Late show seals thriller in favour of St Faithleach’s

On a perfect day for football, there was never much between the sides. They were level on five different occa sions in the first half and with Finbar Cregg and Ciarain Murtagh deadly ac curate from frees, Western Gaels went into the break leading by two points, 0-9 to 0-7.

The second half was ultra-competitive and great to watch for the neutrals. In side the first minute Mikey Dunne’s long ball was flicked to the net by Diar muid Murtagh and further points from Dave Rooney and a Ciarain Murtagh free opened up a three-point gap in fa vour of St. Faithleach’s.

Sometimes the ‘Game of the Weekend’ does not live up to its billing. That cer tainly wasn’t the case last weekend as the outcome of this ‘winner take all’ contest in Strokestown was in doubt until Dermot Lyons blew the final whistle eight minutes into injury-time.

It was a thriller from pillar to post and especially in the second half as these two proud clubs battled tooth and nail to secure the win that would keep them in the championship. Indeed when Western Gaels look back at the match this week they will know that a gilt-edged goal chance, driven wide by Cathal Cregg (who had a super match) in the 59th minute – when they were a point up – would prove absolutely cru cial. After that miss Faithleach’s went downfield and Diarmuid Murtagh (2) and Dave Rooney pointed in injurytime to give the Ballyleague men a dra matic victory.

Every time the Gaels looked down and out they responded brilliantly. In the 38th minute Luke Hester blasted home a great goal after a peach of a pass from James McDonnell. The sides traded points for the rest of the second half and they were level five times after that Hester goal.

Cathal Cregg was on fire for Western Gaels while Connell Kennelly was the star man for Faithleach’s. Seanie Mc Dermott was doing a good marking job on Diarmuid Murtagh and the tension rose even further as the winning post came into view.

Western Gaels edged in front in the 58th minute when Finbar Cregg raced through and fisted over. Then in the final minute of normal time, a brilliant team move saw Cathal Cregg in the clear –but his piledriver flew the wrong side of the post and Faithleach’s were still alive.

Then in injury-time, Diarmuid Murtagh, who had been subdued for most of the match, pointed a 30-metre free to equalise, before the same player lofted over a super point from 40 metres out to edge his side ahead. Then in the

and Ciaran Murtagh were outstanding for the winners.

For a gallant Western Gaels, Seanie McDermott James McDonnell, Finbar Cregg and James McDonnell played well, while Cathal Cregg was their lead ing light, the former county star rolling back the years with a superb display which included three excellent points from play. However, he will have to lead his team through a relegation playoff now.

St Faithleach’s: Michael O’Donnell; Karl Nerney, Mikey Cox, Adrian Murtagh; Paddy Farrell, Darren Nerney, Cian Glennon; Connell Kennelly (02), Dave Rooney (0-2); Brian Murtagh (0-2), Ciarain Murtagh (0-4, 2 frees), Mikey Dunne; Diarmuid Murtagh (1-3, 2 frees), Jonathan Hussey (0-2), James Browne. Subs: Cathal Gunn for A Murtagh (44), Lee Kilcoyne for J Hus sey (53).

Western Gaels: Adrian Hardiman; Tom my Devine, Seanie McDermott, Brian Cafferky; Conor Sampey, Cathal Cregg (0-3), Tommy Gill; Barry Creighton, Ci aran Cafferky; James McDonnell, Jack Higgins (0-2, frees), Kevin Higgins (0-1); Luke Hester (1-0), Finbar Cregg (0-7, 5 frees), Oran Hester. Subs: Rory Hester for L Hester (h/t), Alan Beirne for B Cafferky (56), Aidan Dowd for Sampey (59).

Referee: Dermot Lyons.

Man of the Match Connell Kennelly (St Faithleach’s)

Action from last Saturday’s Hodson Bay Hotel Roscommon SFC encounter between St Faithleach’s and Western Gaels. Photo: Mick McCormack

Hodson Bay Hotel Roscommon SFC (Group C) St Faithleach’s 1-15 Western Gaels 1-13

< SEAMUS DUKE

8th minute of injury-time Dave Rooney sealed the win with an excellent score.

So, after an almighty scare, Faith leach’s progress. Adrian Murtagh, Dar ren Nerney, Connell Kennelly, Dave Rooney, Brian Murtagh, Mikey Dunne

Western Gaels’ stalwart Seanie McDermott in action against St Faithleach’s in last Saturday’s Hodson Bay Hotel Roscommon SFC thriller.

Photo: Mick McCormack