25 August 2023 Roscommon People

Aengus Oates Financial Services

Plan your future today

Tel. (090) 6627878. Mobile (086) 2573358 info@oates.ie • www.oatesfinancialservices.ie

Accident on Holidays

I recently returned from my summer holidays in Spain. Due to circumstances outside of my control I spent a few days of my holidays at the local hospital. To cut a long story short my foot went through the wooden decking attached to our accommodation. The decking was old and some of it simply gave way when I walked on it. My leg was badly cut from my ankle to above my knee. I booked my package holiday through a tour operator but their representative did not offer me any advice regarding compensation for my expenses. Do I have to hire a Spanish lawyer to help me?

If you booked your holiday as a “package holiday” through a tour operator you may be able to make an injury compensation claim against the tour operator for your injuries and any related financial losses.

A package holiday is defined under the Package Holidays and Travel Trade Act 1995 (the “Act”) as a combination of two or more of the following, when sold or offered for sale at an inclusive price:- (i) transport; (ii) accommodation; (iii) other significant elements of a tourist service nature.

Under the Act a tour operator may be held responsible for all of the services provided as part of a package holiday including holiday accommodation. Consequently, the tour operator may be liable if the accommodation fails to comply with the standards of health and safety in that country.

Legal proceedings may be brought before the Courts in the country where the injured party resides or where the incident occurred. Obviously, it is preferable to bring proceedings in your own country.

It is important to engage a Solicitor as soon as possible to advise you on the best course of action to take. Please feel free to contact Byrne Carolan Cunningham dedicated Litigation Department in confidence for expert advice.

This column is prepared by Dolores Gacquin, Solicitor. Byrne Carolan Cunningham have offices in Athlone, Moate, Lanesborough and Galway.

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

Byrne Carolan Cunningham

SOLICITORS

Telephone Central Line 090 6478433 info@bccsolicitors.ie www.bccsolicitors.ie

Pilgrim Walk in aid of Athlone Meals on Wheels

A Pilgrim Walk to Clonmacnoise in aid of Athlone Meals on Wheels was recently launched by the Knights of St Columbanus in Athlone

The walk takes place on Pattern Sunday (September 17th), commencing at 11 am in Clonbonny. Mass will be celebrated at 3 pm by the recently ordained Bishop of

PIC OF THE WEEK ...

Ardagh and Clonmacnoise, Paul Connell.

Ray Joyce, Grand Knight, urged people to come out on the day and support a very worthy cause, Athlone Meals on Wheels who provide around 150 meals per day to local people across Athlone, Castledaly, Ballinahown, Moate, Ballymore,

Roscommon CBS past pupils’ golf outing

The 53rd annual outing of the CBS Roscommon past pupils’ union Golf Society will be held at Roscommon Golf Club on Saturday, September 9th.

This years’ competition is an 18-hole stableford. Tee times are available between 8.30 am and 2 pm (with the exception of 10.30 am to 11.30 am which is reserved for a society) and there is a time sheet in operation. The committee would ask local members to play as early as possible.

Drumraney, Tang, Glasson, Drum, Ardkeenan, Brideswell, Curraghboy, and Taughmaconnell.

“Sponsorships cards are available,” he said, “So I would urge people to get one from any member of the Knights of St Columbanus and please support this very worthy cause. All support would be very much appreciated”.

The President this year is Liam McNeill and the Captain is John Carr. The prizes will include the Gerry Mahon Cup for first prize and the Mahon family have kindly sponsored the prize again this year. There will be the annual Union, Tony Kearney Memorial, Bill Hourican Memorial and Gerry Dolan Memorial prizes for the various categories.

There will be a visitors’ prize for friends and relatives of members who would like to take part and members of Roscommon Golf Club who are not past pupils of Roscommon CBS can compete for the visitors’ prize for a €5 entry fee.

The AGM of the society will be held at 7 pm in the clubhouse followed by the presentations.

If you know any past pupils who might want to participate bring them along on the day and if they don’t have a handicap, they will be allocated one on the day. Contact any of the committee for further details: Albert Looby, Des Mahon, Michael Connaughton, Brian Feely, Mark Kearney, Anthony Duignan, Cathal McConn, Robert McConn, Paul Hoare or Seamus Duke.

For the week that’s in it, we’ve gone for this photograph from the Mick McCormack archives. According to former Roscommon People Deputy Editor, Pauline Scott, a close friend of Mick’s, “‘Gloria’ made an appearance at a match in Longford, and she was always going to survive because her companion was called ‘Gaynor’! These are the ‘nuggets’ of information that Mick would return to the office with, if you’ll forgive the awful pun but Mick loved nothing better than an awful pun!”.

Pictured at the launch of the Pilgrim Walk to Clonmacnoise, organised by the Knights of St Columbanus, in aid of Athlone Meals on Wheels were (left to right): Fr Patrick Murphy, Administrator St Mary’s Parish; Ailish McManus, Principal, St Mary’s Primary School; Cieran Temple, Knights of St Columbanus; Pat Tiernan, Treasurer, Athlone Meals on Wheels; Ray Joyce, Grand Knight, Knights of St Columbanus; Padraic Dunne, Secretary, Knights of St Columbanus; Mags O’Donnell, Manager, Athlone Meals on Wheels; Sean Leydon, Knights of St Columbanus.

Liam and friends raise €9,171 for Hospice

Organisers and Mayo Roscommon Hospice have issued a heartfelt thank you to all those who supporter the recent Liam McManus fundraiser for Hospice.

The event was held to coincide with Liam’s 60th birthday and in memory of his late wife Geraldine. A total of €9,171.00 was raised for Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation.

There was also a special word of thanks to all event organisers including Ann Marie Bance, Donie Farrell, Eamonn Cummins and Carl Garvin,

and all those who gave of their time to make the day such a success.

Thanks also to caterers Stephen O’Dowd and staff, and helpers Alannah, Saoirse, Caoimhe and Donnacha.

A word of appreciation too for Donal and Vera Rattigan for all their assistance, and to Padraig Farrell and Fanfare for the music on the night.

Thanks also to all those who helped erect the marquees, and finally to all who gave so generously to the fundraiser.

LARGE SELECTION OF RELIABLE FRUIT TREES PLANT NOW

Pictured at the presentation of a cheque or €9,171 to Mayo Roscommon Hospice following a fundraiser in memory of Geraldine McManus were (Back row, left to right): Martina Jennings, Mayo Roscommon Hospice CEO, Liam McManus, Ann Marie Bance, Eamonn Cummins. Front row (Left to right): Donie Farrell, Alannah Dolan, Donnacha Garvin, Saoirse Garvin and Carl Garvin. Missing from photo: Caoimhe Bance

EXCITING OPPORTUNITY TO WORK IN MEDIA IN ROSCOMMON

The Roscommon People is one of the few independently owned regional newspapers in Ireland

…and now offers a multimedia service

We want to strengthen our team across news/sport and digital journalism

If you are interested in acquiring a role in news/sport & digital journalism with the Roscommon People, apply now to: paul@roscommonpeople.ie

Crowds gather for sad farewell to Mick McCormack

4-page tribute (pages 19-22)

Large crowds attended the funeral of well-known press photographer Michael (Mick) McCormack in Ballaghaderreen yesterday (Wednesday).

Mr. McCormack, of Main Street, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon, died on Sunday last at University Hospital, Castlebar, with his family by his side. His untimely passing –following a short illness – led to an outpouring of tributes as people of all walks of life expressed their sorrow at the loss of one of the county’s bestknown personalities.

A proud Ballaghaderreen man and a renowned Roscommon GAA supporter, the late Mick McCormack was widely known through his work as a freelance photographer over many years.

Numerous GAA clubs locally led tributes following the shock passing of Mick, who was aged just 59. Roscommon GAA County Board also paid tribute, as have many other community organisations.

Mick’s work appeared in numerous publications over the years, including

the national press, his phenomenal output documenting the social and sporting trajectory of a county and its people. In particular, his photographs appeared over many years in the Roscommon People and the Roscommon Herald.

Roscommon People Managing Editor, Paul Healy, spoke of the shock and grief at the loss of a much-loved colleague.

Mr. Healy said: “On behalf of everyone at the Roscommon People newspaper (past and present) we extend our deepest sympathy to the family of Mick McCormack following his sad passing on Sunday.

“We are all devastated at the sudden loss of our work colleague and friend. It is surely fair to say that Mick was one of the most recognisable faces in County Roscommon (and across GAA venues nationwide too). In his work as a photographer, Mick was a familiar presence at GAA games most weekends over the past 30-odd years. His enthusiasm on these occasions was without equal, Mick’s natural warmth, friendliness and generosity of spirit meaning he went ‘the extra mile’ in his engagement

with players, mentors and supporters. “The people of Ballaghaderreen and the people of County Roscommon have lost a unique personality. Mick was kind-hearted, generous, fun-loving and a raconteur without equal. We will miss him terribly and remember him with a smile”.

Management and staff of the Roscommon Herald have also paid warm tributes this week to their former colleague and friend.

Mick is mourned by his mother Phyllis (Phyll), brother John, sister Maria Walsh (Renmore, Galway), nephew Rory, nieces Laura, Aoife, Michelle, Ciara, Niamh and Dearbhla, grandnephews and nieces Jack, Eva, Alison, Kate, Conor, Caden, Luke, Léana, Thea, Elliot and Evan, brother-in-law Gabriel, sister-in-law Patricia, cousins, relatives, neighbours and friends.

The late Mick McCormack reposed in The Sharkey Funeral Home, Ballaghaderreen on Tuesday. Removal took place on Wednesday to St. Nathy’s Cathedral, Ballaghaderreen. Mass of the Resurrection was followed by interment in Kilcolman Cemetery.

Pictured are members of the Guard of Honour as the hearse leaves St. Nathy’s Cathedral in Ballaghaderreen following the funeral of the late Mick McCormack. Pic: Kieran Croghan

The scene outside St. Nathy’s Cathedral in Ballaghaderreen as mourners gathered for the funeral of the late Mick McCormack. Pic: Kieran Croghan

Tributes as ‘wonderful lady and doctor’ is laid to rest

The community of Ballygar has paid tribute to a ‘wonderful lady and doctor’ following the recent passing of retired GP Dr Madeleine Kharé Daly.

The much-loved doctor from Ballygar and formerly of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving children and grandchildren on Thursday, August 17th and was laid to rest on Sunday last following funeral mass in St Mary’s Church, Ballygar.

Born in Shimla at the foot of the Himalayas in 1937, Madeleine Kharé was the only daughter of loving parents who recognised that she had an intelligent and enquiring mind. She was brought up Catholic, and was educated by German and Irish nuns in a very conservative India.

Because of the Irish connections – her great grandfather was an O’Brien from Tipperary, who managed railways in British India in the 1800s - and the

fact that Ireland was considered a safe place to live and study, she came to the Royal College of Surgeons in 1954.

While studying medicine she met her future husband, UCD medical student Joe Daly from Castleblakeney, and the pair were married in 1962, the same year Madeleine qualified as a doctor.

The couple worked in a number of hospitals in Northern Ireland prior to the Troubles before returning to Ballygar in 1967.

While working in Ballygar, Dr Kharé Daly provided much needed women’s health services to her patients at a time when contraception was illegal in Ireland. She always felt strongly about female autonomy and was convinced control of fertility was absolutely central to a woman’s self-independence and destiny.

While not a public campaigner, it is said she affected a quiet revolution in women’s health in a rural conservative community,

much to the benefit of her patients. Testimony to her enduring popularity with her former patients was the constant stream of people who approached her at social and community events. Tales of her kindness to the marginalised and vulnerable, told privately, remain a source of great pride to her family.

Dr Kharé Daly was predeceased by her beloved husband Joe, her darling son Luke and her adored parents Horace Michael Kharé and Madeleine DeSouza. She is mourned by her heartbroken children Martin, Michele, Peter, Joanne, Madeleine, and Aisling.

She is also sadly missed by her loving family, sons-in-law Barry, Raymond, Michael and Doran, daughters-in-law Myriam, Olive and Jacquie, her much-loved 23 grandchildren and great grandson, sisters-inlaw Deirdre O’Boyle, Miriam McGann and Mary Heskin and her wide and diverse circle of friends.

Creggs Rugby pays tribute

Creggs Rugby Club has paid tribute to Dr Madeleine Kharé Daly, who passed away last week. A statement

from the club read: “Maddie was the wife of past President Dr Joe Daly. Both were great supporters of the

club. We at the club send our heartfelt condolences to the Daly family. May she rest in peace”.

South Roscommon FRC’s Family Fun Day a huge success!

< DAN DOONER

South Roscommon Family Resource Centre has this week issued a heartfelt thank you to all those who made its recent Intercultural Family Fun Day a roaring success. While weather conditions sadly forced the cancellation of some outdoor events, the local community turned out in numbers in a show of incredible support for the event.

South Roscommon FRC Project Co-ordinator, Sarah Brennan said the team was grateful for all the support.

“We at South Roscommon Family Resource would like to sincerely thank all those who turned out for our Intercultural Family Fun Day on Saturday, August 19th,” she said. “Despite the weather conditions, and having to cancel some of our

planned outdoor activities, we had a great turnout from the community, and incredible support for the whole event.

“Lisnamult Community Sports Park is a wonderful venue, and we were fortunate to be able to move most activities indoors. Great fun was had by all with balloon modelling, face painting, Lego, board games, arts and crafts, a sensory space, visit from An Garda Síochána, and a massive spread of delicious homemade food from around the world

“Our awesome volunteers were

once again out in force, generously giving up their Saturday to show us what exactly community means. We are beyond grateful for their ongoing support of everything we do.

“We were also proud to celebrate our Young Carers Project’s recent announcement as National Finalists in the National Lottery Good Causes Awards, which showcases the value of the project, and the value of the work these young people do within their homes.

“Thank you, once again, to everyone who supported us in any way to bring this event together”.

Pictured at the recent South Roscommon Family Resource Centre’s Intercultural Family Fun Day which took place in Lisnamult Community Sports Park.

Pictured at the recent South Roscommon Family Resource Centre’s Intercultural Family Fun Day which took place in Lisnamult Community Sports Park.

Pictured at the recent South Roscommon Family Resource Centre’s Intercultural Family Fun Day which took place in Lisnamult Community Sports Park.

LOSE UP TO 2 STONE IN 10 WEEKS

The TRUTH is there are 3 keys to a genuine weight loss (real fat loss) plandiet, exercise and metabolism correction. All 3 keys interconnect, one will not work without the other. Your metabolism is the most powerful of all the 3 keys. It is the ‘switch’ that controls everything else.

In most people this ‘switch’ is off.

Metabolism problems like Slow Thyroid, Type 2 Diabetes, Sluggish Liver, Hormone Imbalances, PCOS, Endometriosis, Infertility and Digestive Problems like Constipation, IBS and Diverticulitis will limit or stop your weight loss, no matter how much dieting or exercise you do .

Work on fixing your metabolism problems for amazing results. Combine this with a reasonable diet and exercise and you will get the best, the fastest and the easiest weight loss ever.

THE SYSTEM 10 PLAN INCLUDES:

• An analysis of your metabolism

• Nutritionist designed highly balanced food plans of normal, natural foods, no pills, bars or shakes.

• An exercise plan (home - walk, jog or bike) or gym plan including toning.

• Nutritional supplement recommendations to rapidly repair your system.

• Private weigh-ins, motivational tips and support throughout the programme.

• We can guarantee that every pound you lose is a pound of fat (you don’t lose water or muscle like most plans).

You will lose 2-3lbs every week and because our programme is designed to speed up your metabolism, you will keep the weight off when you finish your plan. Programmes available for men and women.

WEEKLY CLINIC AT THE HIVE, DUBLIN ROAD, CARRICK-ON-SHANNON EVERY WEDNESDAY. BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL

Significant rise in patients leaving Portiuncula ED without being seen

< DAN DOONER

A total of 610 patients left Portiuncula University Hospital Emergency Department without being seen in the first five months of 2023, according to data from the HSE.

That figure represents a significant rise in the number of patients leaving the hospital without treatment when compared to 422 such cases in 2018.

Sinn Féin TD Claire Kerrane this week responded to the data from the HSE, claiming that the current situation is a result of long waiting times of 6.8 hours on average so far at the hospital.

Deputy Kerrane has called on Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly to carry out an emergency review of capacity at Portiuncula University Hospital and to invest in communitybased alternatives such as outof-hours GP services and late night pharmacies.

“The high number of patients leaving emergency departments without being seen is highly concerning. Patients are attend-

ing emergency departments because they are in need of urgent care and have nowhere else to go,” Deputy Kerrane said.

“Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have brought the health service to its knees, with waiting times worse than ever. GP practices are bursting at the seams. Hospitals are grappling with a lost decade of underinvestment. This is heaping more pressure on emergency departments”.

The Sinn Féin TD said the hospitals crisis should be a priority for Government and claimed her party would take measures such as ramping up training places, increasing staff numbers, and engaging with healthcare workers.

“They (Government) have not made the investments in beds and staffing that are needed.

Young graduates continue to emigrate in their droves. Meanwhile, there are record levels of spending on outsourcing to the private sector instead of building public capacity. The Minister for Health needs to get to grips with this crisis,” she said.

Mid-Roscommon Vintage Club has plans for unique spectacle at Strokestown Show

Following last year’s threshing display which attracted a lot of attention, this year the Mid-Roscommon Vintage Club hopes to have another novel event at the annual agricultural and industrial show.

It is hoped that this year we will see a vintage stone-crusher in action, the first ever of its kind to appear at the show. Club members have been busy over the past few weeks planning for this display.

Also appearing at the show will be a black-

Train delay after vehicle hits level crossing

A train was delayed by over an hour on Saturday afternoon after the level crossing in Knockcroghery was struck by a vehicle. Iarnrod Éireann confirmed

a barrier was struck and damaged by a car towing a caravan and needed to be replaced.

The 13.10 Westport to Heuston train was delayed by

over an hour as a result.

Gardaí attended the singlevehicle collision at around 2.30 pm on Saturday afternoon but no injuries were reported.

smith, mobile forge and much more. There will be an array of vintage vehicles, machines and other such implements that were part of farming life in former times.

People with vintage articles of interest are free to put them on show at our vintage site. There will be more details published next week, so keep an eye on local press and our Facebook page. Save the date for the second weekend in September to see Mid-Roscommon Vintage’s display at the Strokestown Show.

with a full tank of petrol according to wltp model shown: Renault Austral iconic esprit Alpine, RRP €52,295 exclusive of delivery and related charges. Renault recommends renault.ie

TEMPORARY CLOSING OF ROADS

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

Roscommon County Council has decided to close the road set out in the schedule hereunder for the periods and the reason specified.

Road to be closed: L-14261 at Mountdillon to its Junction with the L-6076 in Curraghroe, Roscommon

Period of Closure: 1st September to 6th October 2023 (5 weeks)

Alternative Routes: Diversion via R371 – L1426 – L6076

Reason for Closures: To facilitate Mountdillon Bridge Rehabilitation works

Greg O’Donnell

A/Director of Services Roads

COUNTY ROSCOMMON JOINT POLICING COMMITTEE

COUNTY ROSCOMMON JOINT POLICING COMMITTEE

COUNTY ROSCOMMON

JOINT POLICING COMMITTEE

PUBLIC MEETING

PUBLIC MEETING

PUBLIC MEETING

A public meeting of the County Roscommon Joint Policing Committee will take place in: Abbey Hotel Roscommon, Monday, 11th September at 7.30pm, in The Fortfield Suite.

A public meeting of the County Roscommon Joint Policing Committee will take place in :

Abbey Hotel Roscommon, Monday 11h September at 7.30pm in The Fortfield Suite

All members of the public are invited to attend this public meeting.

A public meeting of the County Roscommon Joint Policing Committee will take place in : Abbey Hotel Roscommon, Monday 11h September at 7.30pm in The Fortfield Suite All members of the public are invited to attend this public meeting.

All members of the public are invited to attend this public meeting.

The Joint Policing Committee was established under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and includes elected members of Roscommon County Council, Oireachtas Members, Garda representatives, representatives from the community and voluntary sector and officials of Roscommon County Council. The function of the Committee is to serve as a forum for consultations, discussions and recommendations on matters affecting the policing of the local authority’s administrative area.

The Joint Policing Committee was established under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and includes elected members of Roscommon County Council, Oireachtas Members, Garda representatives, representatives from the community and voluntary sector and officials of Roscommon County Council. The function of the Committee is to serve as a forum for consultations, discussions and recommendations on matters affecting the policing of the local authority’s administrative area.

The Joint Policing Committee was established under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and includes elected members of Roscommon County Council, Oireachtas Members, Garda representatives, representatives from the community and voluntary sector and officials of Roscommon County Council. The function of the Committee is to serve as a forum for consultations, discussions and recommendations on matters affecting the policing of the local authority’s administrative area.

Members of the public have the right to attend the meeting, to have their views heard and to put questions to the committee. All questions concerning the policing of County Roscommon should be submitted in writing to:

Members of the public have the right to attend the meeting, to have their views heard and to put questions to the committee. All questions concerning the policing of County Roscommon should be submitted in writing to:

Bridie McHugh Community Section Áras an Chontae, Roscommon or by e-mail to bmchugh@roscommoncoco.ie

Bridie McHugh, Community Section, Áras an Chontae, Roscommon or by e-mail to bmchugh@roscommoncoco.ie

Members of the public have the right to attend the meeting, to have their views heard and to put questions to the committee. All questions concerning the policing of County Roscommon should be submitted in writing to:

Questions should be received no later than Monday, 4th September and must include the name and address of the person submitting the question, which will be kept confidential. Questions will be accepted from any person affected by the policing of the area. Those who require alternative arrangements for the submission of questions may contact 090-6637278

Questions should be received no later than Monday, 4th September and must include the name and address of the person submitting the question, which will be kept confidential. Questions will be accepted from any person affected by the policing of the area. Those who require alternative arrangements for the submission of questions may contact 090-6637278

Bridie McHugh, Community Section, Áras an Chontae, Roscommon or by e-mail to: bmchugh@roscommoncoco.ie

Please note that the Joint Policing Committee may not consider matters relating to a specific criminal investigation or prosecution or matters relating to the security of the State. In addition to this the Joint Policing Committee will not consider a matter if:

Please note that the Joint Policing Committee may not consider matters relating to a specific criminal investigation or prosecution or matters relating to the security of the State. In addition to this the Joint Policing Committee will not consider a matter if:

o It would endanger the security of one or more individuals.

o It relates to an individual.

o It would endanger the security of one or more individuals.

o It relates to an individual.

o It involves information received by the Garda Síochána or the local authority in confidence.

o It would, or would be likely to, prejudice the prevention or detection of crime or the apprehension or prosecution of offenders.

o It involves information received by the Garda Síochána or the local authority in confidence.

Questions should be received no later than Monday, 4th September and must include the name and address of the person submitting the question, which will be kept confidential. Questions will be accepted from any person affected by the policing of the area. Those who require alternative arrangements for the submission of questions may contact 090-6637278

o Individuals shall not be discussed or named. An individual’s right to privacy and the provision of the European Convention on Human Rights Act 2003 must be adhered to.

o It would, or would be likely to, prejudice the prevention or detection of crime or the apprehension or prosecution of offenders. o Individuals shall not be discussed or named. An individual’s right to privacy and the provision of the European Convention on Human Rights Act 2003 must be adhered to.

o It is deemed prejudicial to a Garda operational matter.

o It is deemed prejudicial to a Garda operational matter.

Please note that the Joint Policing Committee may not consider matters relating to a specific criminal investigation or prosecution or matters relating to the security of the State. In addition to this the Joint Policing Committee will not consider a matter if:

o The public is advised that in some circumstances, for legal reasons, it may not be possible to provide information requested.

o The public is advised that in some circumstances, for legal reasons, it may not be possible to provide information requested.

o It would endanger the security of one or more individuals.

Fiona Ní Chuinn

o It relates to an individual.

Fiona Ní Chuinn

A/Director of Services,

A/Director of Services,

o It involves information received by the Garda Síochána or the local authority in confidence.

o It would, or would be likely to, prejudice the prevention or detection of crime or the apprehension or prosecution of offenders.

o Individuals shall not be discussed or named. An individual’s right to privacy and the provision of the European Convention on Human Rights Act 2003 must be adhered to.

o It is deemed prejudicial to a Garda operational matter.

o The public is advised that in some circumstances, for legal reasons, it may not be possible to provide information requested.

Fiona Ní Chuinn

A/Director of Services,

Judging for this year’s Pride of Place Competition will take place on Thursday 31st Au gust. This year’s competition judges are John Briggs, former Chief Executive in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council and Tim Caf frey former Chief Executive with Longford County Coun cil.

to be recognised was the -

tiative who were runners up in Community Tourism Initiative. The Lisnamult Tidy Towns and Residents Association were runners up in the Urban Neighbourhoods category who-

Housing,

Community, Arts, Library Service and the Ukrainian Humanitarian Response Project and Roscommon MD Area Manager.

This year Roscommon County Council has nominated two community groups to represent the county, namely the Dysart Community and Development Association in South Roscommon in category one of the competition for communities with a population up to 500 persons.

Castlerea Town Team mean-

operation Ireland and spon sored by Irish Public Bodies Insurance. The awards recognise the efforts made by community groups over the country, particularly during the post pandemic period in 2022.

Earlier this year, the county was honoured in two of the three categories for the 2022 competition. The first of those

viding local sporting, cultural and educational facilities.

The county’s final representative in last year’s awards was The Melting Pot service, in category seven of the Community Wellbeing awards. The service provides a safe space for people to meet and engage with socially featuring an Internet Café, a Charity Shop and a ‘Dinner 4 U Delivery service’.

Louise’s Beauty Studio celebrates 20 years in business!

Louise’s Beauty Studio will celebrate 20 years in business on Tuesday, August 29th, a major milestone on what has been a quick but amazing journey.

When I first opened in 2003, I was the fifth salon that had opened in Roscommon town within three years and there were 21 salons within a mile of me…it was a fast growing industry but there was still plenty of room for everyone!

Before opening up, I worked in Dublin where I researched brands that were different and not available in Roscommon or in the west…and that was key to my success!

The amazing Repêchage skincare range and product brands from New York have been the main part of the salon business since day one, along with Nee Makeup Milan, a He Shi Spray Tan system, a Future Pro Detox Machine and many more treatments and products I have added over the years.

I will continue to add as many new treatments and products as possible every year to keep up with all the latest trends.

The only major obstacle I have hit during my 20 years in business was the Covid-19 lockdown and I’m happy to say that all my clients stood by me once I re-opened. Looking back now, it actually gave me time to set up an online store, research new products and complete extra training, which has since led to a number of awards and even a quick trip to New York and Milan for training last year.

In January this year, I completed an Oncology Aesthetics Training course, making me one of the few salons in Ireland qualified to now safely treat cancer clients going through, or having previously gone through, cancer treatment. There is also a specific selection of nice pamper products for these clients in the Repêchage range.

I’m so incredibly grate-

ful to each and every one of my clients. Most have been with me since the day I opened and I’m always gaining new clients which means the salon is now busy all year around.

Just last weekend I was doing make-up for a bride who had come to me for her grad make-up 14 years ago! Bridal make-up is a fabulous part of the business. There isn’t an area in Co Roscommon or beyond

I haven’t been to on the morning of a wedding. It really is a part of my business that I love.

A big thank you also to my family, especially my parents and close friends. Like anyone who is selfemployed, it really is 24/7. My phones never stop and you need a little army behind you to make all this happen.

I’m a total workaholic and, being honest, I don’t

take much time off. The reason for this is because I have the most amazing, appreciative clients that anyone could ask for, I am so lucky.

I want the anniversary to be all about thanking my clients and not about me. They have supported me so much though my journey. So from today (Thursday) until midnight next Tuesday (29th), the day of our 20th anniversary, there will

be:

10% off all Repêchage products in the salon and online at louisesbeautystudio.com – just quote ‘Ros10’ at checkout. Any Nee makeup product bought will receive a free make-up gift. There will also be €5 off any He Shi product with a spray tan or €5 off a spray tan with any He Shi product. Finally, each and every one of my clients over the

last 20 years will be put into a free draw for various prizes of treatments and products that I have put together. The winners will be announced on social media next week and I will personally thank all my clients over the next few weeks. There are lots of new treatments and products to come before Christmas and early in 2024 so keep an eye on Louise’s Beauty Studio on social media!

Roscommon ladies swim from Europe to Asia!

Two intrepid ladies, both veterans of Roscommon Sub Aqua Club and members of Lough Ree Orcas, completed a 6.5-kilmetre swim from the European side of the Bosphorus river to the Asian side in Instabul last Sunday thus swimming from one continent to the other.

Bernie McCarrick and Deirdre Jones prepared for their Europe to Asia adventure in Roscommon lakes and the River Shannon. They noted that the while the water temperature back home rarely made it above 14 degrees Celcius, the temperature in the Bosphorus was a balmy 24 degrees.

Over 2,000 swimmers from all over the world took part in the event in one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.

The two brave Roscommon ladies each completed the 6.5kms in about 75 minutes, well within the alloted time. Congratulations to Bernie and Deirdre!

newsbriefs

Active Retirement group resumes

The Roscommon Town Active Retirement meetings will resume on Tuesday, September 5th at 2.30 pm in the Hyde Centre. All welcome.

Castleplunkett Community Clean Up!

Calling all residents of Castleplunkett Village and surrounding areas. We will be holding a village clean up on Sunday, September 3rd from 2 to 5 pm, weather permitting.

We really need your help to make our village shine!

What you need to bring if possible: Yourself; Gardening tools (strimmers, hedge clippers, spades, shovels, wheelbarrows, gloves etc); High-Viz jacket or vest. Children are welcome but must be supervised. Meeting in the centre of the village at 2 pm. Refreshments afterwards.

For further information and to keep up to date, check out our brand new Facebook page Castleplunkett Community.

Comhaltas session in Beár an Ráille

Roscommon Town branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann will hold its next music session in Beár an Ráille (The Railway Bar), Abbeytown, this Thursday at 8 pm sharp. These popular, early sessions are held on the second and fourth Thursday of each month and finish at about 10.15 pm. Admission is free.

Evening of Prayer in Curraghboy

An Evening of Prayer of Intercession for Our Faithful Departed will take place this Friday, August 25th, at Our Lady Star of the Sea Prayer Centre, Curraghboy, Athlone (N37W704), from 7 pm to 10 pm.

The Evening of Prayer will be hosted by Aidan Bond and the Holy Souls Ministry/Crusade. Confessions will be available from 7 to 9 pm and Holy Mass will commence at 9 pm with Celebrant Fr. Billy Molloy from Roscommon. After Mass there will be individual blessings with the First Class Relic of St. Nicholas of Tolentino (Patron of the Holy Souls). There will be refreshments afterwards and all are most welcome. Enquiries to 087-9084047/0864054489

Local woman in line for ‘Make it Happen’ award

< DAN DOONER

A local woman has been shortlisted for an Outstanding Achievement Award at the ‘Make it Happen’ awards which take place following a two-day business seminar next month in Dublin.

Athlone woman, Maeve Kelly, a former resident of Knockcroghery, Co Roscommon, was chosen from hundreds of people across Ireland and the UK.

According to organisers, the Outstanding Achievement Awards were established to recognise the tremendous efforts and excellence demonstrated

‘Chew n’ Out’ campaign launched in Roscommon

The new ‘Chew n’ Out’ campaign is a nationwide campaign to promote the proper disposal of chewing gum in our towns and villages.

This Department of the Environment initiative was launched recently in Loughnaneane Park in Roscommon town and is proudly supported by the management and members of Roscommon County Council.

by people in business and everyday life.

“In particular, those who have shown dedication, perseverance, resilience, commitment, and determination to serve and grow through difficult times,” a spokesperson for the awards added.

Maeve and her teenage daughter survived a road traffic collision on the Athlone Road just outside Roscommon which took the life of one other person in 2016, and since then has gone on to serve her community through her work with Athlone Access Awareness. She has also campaigned for stricter measures

around the issuance of driving licences to those with a history of serious mental illness. Maeve has even taken her fight to Europe, addressing a European Commission workshop on drivers’ licences.

Commenting on her nomination, Maeve Kelly said: “I am delighted to be nominated for this award.

I have very fond memories of living in Roscommon and I want to thank Garda Stephen McDonagh from the Roads Policing Unit in Roscommon for helping both herself and the ambulance service in putting together a road safety commercial as part of a recent campaign”.

Athlone woman Maeve Kelly has been nominated for an Outstanding Achievement Award for her work within her local community. The awards are part of a twoday business seminar which takes place in Dublin next month.

ADVERTISEMENT

Pictured at the launch of the new ‘Chew ‘n’ Out’ campaign last Friday in Loughnaneane Park, Roscommon were (left to right) Conor Fallon, Acting Senior Executive, Environment and Climate, Roscommon Co Council; Shiva Dubey, Gum Litter Task Force; Adam Victory, Gum Litter Task Force; Cllr Kathleen Shanagher; Caitlín Conneally, Director of Services; Cllr John Keogh, Cathaoirleach, Roscommon Co Council; Danny McHugh, Litter Warden, Roscommon Co Council; Sam Victory, Gum Litter Task Force and Cllr Orla Leyden. Pic: Gerard O’Loughlin

Roscommon Sub Aqua and Lough Ree Orcas members, Deirdre Jones and Bernie McCarrick, pictured after swimming from the Asian side of the Bhosphorus to the European side in Istanbul last Sunday.

New bus service to be launched on Monday (28th)

TFI Local Link Longford Westmeath Roscommon is launching a new bus route, which will improve connectivity between Athlone and Mullingar, from next Monday (August 28th).

This new route is part of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan which is a major national public transport initiative developed and funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA) as part of the Transport for Ireland (TFI) Network.

Swim raises

Route 819 which will operate five return trips seven days a week, is the second of two new rural regular routes which the NTA and TFI Local Link Longford Westmeath Roscommon launched this summer. The route will connect villages and areas such as Castletown Geoghegan, Loughnavalley, Ballymore, Drumraney, Mount Temple and Baylin.

The new route will offer a peaktime service for commuters as well as late evening services. It will also provide improved connectivity to

regional bus services and the wider TFI Network with connections at Mullingar and Athlone Irish Rail station to facilitate onward travel to Dublin, Sligo and Galway, along with serving the FÁS Centre in Garrycastle and the Fardrum stop will connect passengers to the Athlone campus of the Technological University of the Shannon.

Speaking ahead of the launch, TFI Local Link Longford Westmeath Roscommon General Manager, Damien O’Neill said: “We are de-

lighted to launch this important link between the towns of Mullingar and Athlone. This route is a priority for our area, and it will play an important part in developing reliable connections for our passengers.

“We all know the importance of using sustainable modes of public transport from an environmental point of view. It is also vital that passengers have a frequent bus service which they can rely on to travel to work, college, training, sightseeing, or meeting family and friends”.

€2,400

for ‘Joseph’s Journey’

Lanesboro Triathlon Club members recently organised a 3km swim from Kilnacarrow to Lanesboro in order to raise funds for local charity, ‘Joseph’s Journey’. Pictured is organiser Ger Moore presenting a cheque for €2,400 to the Belton family on behalf of Lanesboro Triathlon Club. Funds raised will go towards support of Joseph Belton, who is undergoing cancer trials in New York.

FRANK BRANDON

FRANK BRANDON’S unique take on life ...

Creggs: Cultural Capital of the West!

Our man Frank on Creggs’ emergence as a West of Ireland cultural hub, Keith Earls’ rise to international rugby greatness, the passing of a wonderful lady in Ballygar, and moving on to more important matters following the RTÉ scandal…

It’s Friday evening and you would think the angels above are emptying buckets of water down on top of us so heavy is the rain, and I am thinking about the concert that is taking place a little later in the school hall.

Now I would be telling a bit of a fib if I said I was looking forward to facing out into the elements, and as the rain gets even heavier and the wind gets stronger, it becomes more and more attractive to stay in the warmth of the recently insulated house.

However, we are made of stern stuff, and shortly after 8 pm we head off to Creggs and, battling through the incessant downpour, we arrive safely, if not exactly dry, into the sanctuary of the

school hall.

The concert, staged as part of Heritage Week, featured Orlaith Keane, a member of the famous Keane family from Caherlistrane and a superb guitarist and singer; Martin Coyne; and our own local multi-instrumentalist, Colm Naughton.

Shortly after 8.30 pm, the show kicked off and for the following two hours or so we totally forgot about the inclement weather as we were fully immersed in the wonderful music the trio provided. Orlaith is similar in every way to her worldrenowned aunt Dolores Keane and every song went down a treat with those in attendance. Both Colm and Martin are brilliant musicians but they were also very adept at keeping us entertained

100 not out for Moyross man Keith!

‘Fight or Flight’ is the name of an autobiography written by Tommy Conlon and Keith Earls, which was released in 2021. It is essentially the story of Irish rugby star Earls and it deals with his upbringing in Moyross in County Limerick, an area renowned at the time of his youth for crime, poverty, and violence.

In the book, Keith pulls no punches as he describes his battles with mental health as he tried to adjust to the success his rugby talent brought him at a very early age. Coming from such a challenging background meant he found it hard to adapt to the professional rugby playing world and even as he was offered his first full-time Munster contract, he said his ambition was still to “complete an electrical apprenticeship and play club rugby for Thomond”.

Thomond, with whom Creggs had a

very good relationship back in the 80s when the clubs used to play friendlies, were one of the best junior clubs in the country at the time. But, while they have since graduated to the senior ranks, it is not where a potential top rugby player would aspire to end up. However, despite his outstanding talent and ability, young Earls was never fully comfortable with it all and was on the brink of packing it all in.

And so to see him win his 100th cap for Ireland last weekend and score a superb try in in the process is one of the great sporting moments of recent times. The reaction from the Irish players when he scored was a real testament to the standing he holds in the camp. As long as Andy Farrell has been in charge of the Irish team, I have never seen him as excited as when the latest centurion got his try, so after all the trials and tribulations of his career

it must have been one of Earls’ greatest moments too.

Watching him being interviewed the other day, he said that no one from Thomond had made the international set-up since his emergence, and he hoped his story might inspire someone from the area to realise that, wherever you come from, anything is possible. Whether or not he gets on the plane to France for the World Cup is still not known, but whatever happens, the young man from Moyross has become a legend of Irish rugby.

Of all the players that have represented Ireland over the years only nine of them have got 100 caps or more, so well done Keith you have joined a very elite group of Irish rugby talent. And as there is no word of any impending retirement, hopefully we will see many more tries for Munster and Ireland in the future.

A bright light goes out in Ballygar

All of us who are old enough to remember the early days of Creggs Rugby Club are well aware of the huge impact the Daly family from Ballygar played in making the club the success it is today, and every single member of the family was heavily involved in some way or other.

The late Joe Daly was President for many years, and his wife Madeleine helped out with lots of the less glamorous jobs that were associated with the fledgling club, including cooking and cleaning and producing the delicious

with stories and chat, and the overwhelming feeling was that the concert was a huge success.

This was the second concert we have had in the village in recent times, after Ultan Conlan’s appearance in the Heritage Centre, so maybe Creggs is on its way to becoming the ‘Cultural Capital of the West’.

When it was finished, we ventured back out into the appalling weather but somehow after such an uplifting show (and a few pints in Mikeen’s) things just didn’t seem quite as miserable.

I don’t know how often the three of them play together, but if you get a chance to see them, make sure you go and don’t allow even the worst weather conditions to put you off!

And finally…

I have to say I was greatly relieved when I saw no mention of Ryan Tubridy in the Daily Mail earlier this week. There are lots of other things happening that warrant our attention but for the past number of weeks everywhere I looked I saw his face.

Irish stew that fed many a hungry rugby player back in those very carefree days. On Sunday last, Madeleine was laid to rest in Ballygar and all of us are worse off for her passing. She was a really lovely lady and an excellent doctor and looked after so many of us so well down through the years. To the Daly family, friends and relations, we extend our deepest sympathy and as so many people said over the weekend: “It really is the end of an era”. May she rest in peace.

To be honest, I couldn’t care less about Tubs and his salary saga and I am pretty sure that whatever the future holds for him he will never be short of a few bob, but it’s high time it all drifted off into oblivion so that we can read about more important matters.

In local sporting matters, our Creggs footballers lost to Pádraig Pearses in the intermediate championship in Ballyforan and while we never seem to win a game up there, we cannot blame the ground or the grounds staff as everything was shipshape and a credit to all involved. So many clubs have really good grounds in the county nowadays and St Aidan’s are certainly one of those!

’Til next week, bye for now

Irish rugby international, Keith Earls, celebrates scoring a try against England on his 100th appearance.

Kick the fad diets and make weight loss for life, with Slimming World!

This September, as the children go back to school and everyone settles back into the their familiar routines, many mums and dads think about themselves, their health and their weight and fitness levels. Around this time, many thousands of people think about losing weight. And local Slimming World consultants are urging dieters in the area to ditch the fad diets and choose a weight-loss plan they can sustain.

Breanne Farrell, our newly trained Slimming World Consultant, who is relaunching the Slimming World group in Strokestown, says “Faddy diets aren’t the answer. Lots of people start September with the best of intentions but by the end of the month so many of them have given up, defeated by

hunger, boredom or feelings of deprivation”.

“I want people to know that losing weight doesn’t have to be that way, that not all slimming attempts are doomed and not all ‘diets’ are the same. It’s easy to be wooed by the plans that promise the fastest loss, but it’s really important this September that slimmers in Roscommon think sensibly about which plan they choose and look at which offers the most chance of longterm success. Diets based on deprivation can be very unhealthy and are almost impossible to keep up, meaning you’re bound to throw in the towel and will probably be left feeling like a failure by October!”

Pauline Bliss who runs the group in Hannon’s Hotel says: “The key

instead, is to choose a realistic healthy eating plan and get support to make lifestyle changes”. And

Pauline is urging slimmers to choose Slimming World after recent figures show that Slimming World is Ireland’s number one weight loss organisation. People found Slimming World’s Food Optimising plan easier to follow and simpler to stick with in the long run.

Carol Doran Joyce, who runs the group in Kiltoom Parish Hall says: “Slimming World’s Food Optimising eating plan encourages members to satisfy their appetite on hundreds of healthy ‘Free Foods’, including fruit and veg, pasta, rice, potatoes, lean meat, fish, eggs, pulses and fat-free dairy, freely without the need for weighing, counting

SLOW-COOKER CHICKEN CASSEROLE

Serves 8

Ready in 3½ hours

Ingredients:

Low-calorie cooking spray

1kg skinless and boneless chicken thighs, all visible fat removed, cut into chunks

3 large onions, chopped

2 chicken stock pots

500g carrots, sliced

2 medium leeks, sliced

4 celery sticks, sliced

2 tsp dried thyme

2 tsp yellow mustard seeds

Method:

Spray a large non-stick frying pan with low-calorie cooking spray and put it over a high heat. Brown the chicken in batches, then tip it into a three-litre (or larger) slow cooker. Repeat with the onions. Browning the chicken and onions first really boosts the flavour but if you’re short of time you can skip this step.

Stir the stock pots into 300ml boiling water and add to your slow cooker with all the other ingredients and a little salt and pepper.

Cover and cook on high for three hours or until the chicken is cooked and the vegetables are tender. Divide into two equal portions.

Tip: If you don’t have a slow cooker, put everything in a large, covered casserole pan or ovenproof dish and cook at 190˚C/fan 170˚C/gas 5 for 1-1½ hours, topping up the stock if necessary.

*Recipe taken from Slimming World’s ‘Cook, Slim, Save’ cookbook.

and measuring. It means they can enjoy all their favourite meals just by making small changes to the way they shop, cook and eat and still eat the same healthy dishes as the rest of their family”.

Aisling Anderson, who runs the group in The Fiddlers Elbow in Ballaghaderreen, says: “The beauty of Slimming World’s plan is that it addresses the psychological needs of slimmers: When people think about losing weight they expect to feel hungry and deprived, but since it began in 1969 Slimming World’s plan has always been about helping people to lose weight without feeling

like that.

“Human nature means that the minute something’s forbidden you only want it more, so with Slimming World no foods, even high-fat snacks and alcohol, are banned, they’re just limited. Because you can satisfy your appetite on ‘Free Foods’ you don’t ever have to feel hungry and it’s easier to reduce the amount of unhealthy foods you’re eating so, over time with the right support, this new balanced way of eating becomes second nature”.

Trish Keegan, who runs the groups in Gleeson’s Restaurant and in the GAA Centre in Castlerea, says: “Support is as im-

portant as changing eating habits: There’s no denying that changing the habits of a lifetime can be challenging and there will be times, perhaps when your weight loss slows down or a ‘bad week’ leads to a temporary gain, when it can be tempting to give up. That’s where getting support week in, week out to make changes and keep them up comes in.

“At Slimming World members develop the skills and tools to overcome the psychological and emotional challenges that every slimmer faces at some point, including learning to be kind to yourself and get ‘back on the horse’ when you

do have a blip. Anyone who wants to lose weight this September will find a world of support at any of our Slimming World groups”.

To find your local Slimming World group, see the advertisement in this paper, or log onto www. slimmingworld.ie or call 01-656 9600.

Strokestown

Strokestown Sports and Community Centre

“NEW CONSULTANT”

Saturday, 9.30am

Call Breanne 086 086 7377

Slimming World Ballaghaderreen

The Fiddlers Elbow

Every Tuesday at 5.30pm

Call Aisling 086 3622924

Slimming World Roscommon

Gleesons’s Restaurant

Wednesday, 7.30am & 9.30am

Trish 087 8581325

Slimming World Castlerea

O’Rourke GAA Centre, Castlerea

Wednesday, 7pm

Trish 087 8581325

Hannons Hotel Roscommon Every Thursday 5.30pm & 7pm

Call Pauline 087 1878701

Ballybay Hall, Kiltoom Athlone

Saturdays 9.00 am

Call Carol 086 6006866

FB Carol’s Slimming World Athlone

20th August to 9th September 2023

BackToSchool/FurtherEducation/Courses

Learner Fund Bursary for Early Learning sector

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) has now launched the Learner Fund Bursary for Graduates and Childminders in the Early Learning and Care sector who are registered with Tusla and hold a Level 7/8/9 (Graduates) or Level 5/6 (Childminders)

Level 7 Psychology course at Vita House

Accredited by Maynooth University and run by Vita House, Level 7 Psychology is a certificate level course designed to provide participants with the opportunity to develop an understanding of psychology and to explore its relevance to the individual, family, community, and wider society.

The course draw a wonderful cross-section of people of all ages and from all walks of life. The venue is the Vita House building on Abbey Street in Roscommon town, but the course

offers a blended learning experience which means participants can attend classes in person or attend classes online. However, you will be expected to attend Saturday workshops in person.

Speaking of their experience of the course, a past student said: “The curriculum was wellstructured, delving into a diverse range of psychology subjects such as attachment theory, psychology of the brain, and the fundamentals of psychology itself.

“The six Saturday workshops,

including topics like grief and loss, inner child exploration, and mindfulness, added practical dimensions to the theoretical knowledge.

“Particularly enriching were the two Saturdays at Maynooth University, which provided valuable insights from a broader academic perspective”.

For more information about the Level 7 Psychology course at Vita House, call 090-6625898 or visit our website at www.vitahouse.org. Closing date for enrolment is September 8th.

award on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) and achieved in the academic years 2015 - 2023. The bursary amount for eligible Graduates/Childminders is €750. Please see Roscommon County Childcare Committee website and Facebook for further details including full eli-

gibility criteria and application form: www.roscommonchildcare.ie.

You can also contact a member of the team on 094-9622540 or via email as below.

Completed applications should be sent to:

Roscommon County Childcare Committee CLG, Knock Road,

Castlerea, Co. Roscommon or graduate applications should be emailed to info@roscommonchildcare.ie

Childminding Applications should be emailed to childminding@roscommonchildcare.ie

Marked: Learner Fund Bursary 2023. Closing date is 5 pm on Friday, September 29th.

Pauline Lyons (teacher), Fr. Pravin and Catherine Mullarkey (Principal) pictured with Ivo Dostal and John Dolan from Cloverhill National School on the occasion of their First Holy Communion recently. Pic: Mary Lane

Louise Gallagher (teacher), Fr. Pravin and Claire Casey (Principal) pictured with Edel Greene, Maddison Keogh and Saoirse Casserly from Ballinaheglish National School on the occasion of their First Holy Communion recently. Pic: Mary Lane

BackToSchool/FurtherEducation/Courses

Carers Course at Coláiste Mhuire, Ballygar

Coláiste Mhuire Ballygar is currently offering a Carers Course that includes Special Needs Assisting.

The Carers Course is QQI Certified Healthcare Support Level 5 and the Special Needs Assisting is QQI Levels 5 & 6. The course will run from September to May taking place each day from 9.40 am to 1.20 pm.

This course is designed for recent school leavers or adults. We offer an opportunity to adults wishing to upskill or change their career path to return to education. This can lead directly to skilled employment or can be an alternative route to higher or further education.

The course includes the following modules: Care Skills, Special Needs Assisting, Care Support, Care of the Older Person, Safety & Health at Work, Anatomy & Physiology, Infection Prevention & Control, Work Experience, and Communications.

As part of the course stu-

dents will complete Manual Handling and Cardiac First Responder Training. Work experience is an integral part of the course and requires the candidates to be Garda vetted. Students who complete the course will have a fantastic opportunity to find work in their chosen sector as a carer or in the area of Special Needs Assisting.

Students can take all the modules to receive a full Healthcare Support Award or can receive certification in individual modules.

The Department of Education no longer charge a fee to learners wishing to take part in PLC Courses. We charge a registration fee at the start of the course of €50 for administration and photocopying and a QQI certification fee of €50 is payable in March.

Medical Card holders are exempt from certification fees.

Learners will also require Cardiac First Responder Training and Manual and Patient Handling Training. Students can

apply to SUSI for a grant to complete the course. Further information about this grant can be obtained on www.susi. ie.

Students who successfully complete the course will have the qualifications and skills necessary to take up employment as Special Needs Assistants in Educational settings or as health care workers providing personal care in residential and non-residential settings and in clients’ homes.

Graduates also work in hospitals, nursing homes, in community settings or centres for people with special needs. Eligible graduates may also progress to higher education.

Application forms and further details can be obtained on the school website www.colaistemhuire.org, on www.fetchcourses.ie or by contacting the school at 090-6624740. Early application is advised as places are limited. Alternatively applicants can call to the school and meet with us by appointment.

TUI says schools ‘struggling’ with teacher recruitment and retention

The Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) has said that schools are struggling with a real and severe teacher recruitment and retention crisis as the precarious employment status of second level teachers is driving graduates away from the profession.

The TUI is calling on the Government to use Budget 2024 to provide the required

resources to tackle the issue by increasing the teaching allocations to schools allowing teachers to be recruited on a full-time basis.

The TUI said the Department of Education must immediately announce that it will allow schools to employ teachers on a permanent basis after the traditional

cut-off point of the end of October.

TUI President Liz Farrell said: “Schools are struggling with a very real, severe teacher recruitment and retention crisis, so the time for sticking plaster measures has long since passed”.

“It is now time for a completely new approach to teacher recruitment so that

Ireland can compete for graduates, who are increasingly looking at international options”.

The Department of Education has acknowledged that problems persist when it comes to sourcing teachers.

It said extra supports were in place for post-primary schools, among them a pi-

lot teacher-sharing scheme allowing two schools to collaborate on high-priority subjects.

Other measures include an upskilling programme to boost the number of Irish language teachers and encourage retired teachers to take up short-term substitute positions.

Fr. Christopher Edebianga and Ms. Fahy pictured with the children from Fuerty National School on the occasion of their First Holy Communion recently. Pic: Mary Lane

Entertainment, Culture & Arts

To feature in this section, call 090-6634632 or email advertising@roscommonpeople.ie

‘A Future Distant Memory Calls’ at Roscommon Arts Centre

‘A Future Distant Memory

Calls’ is a new body of film and sculpture works produced by Dublin artist Laura Skehan, which opens at Roscommon Arts Centre this Friday (August 25th).

Skehan extracts moments of time and myth, notions of progress and explores materiality within the physical landscape to illustrate the impact agriculture, colonialism, architecture, climate and the quest for knowledge has had on the relationship of the human and non-human, of nature and technology, and of culture and science.

Inspired by the rock and hydrological cycles, Skehan asks, without a cohesive timeline, what is our relationship to the earth around us? This exhibition also features collaborations, including hand-painted tarot cards by artist Serena Caulfield.

The soundtrack for the film

A Drowning Melted Persistent Memory has been made with contributions from with three international composers, Clíona Ní Laoi, Masaya Ozaki and Banu Çiçek Tulu, who produced sonic responses to Skehan’s 2022 sound works made using plant data collected in Ireland and abroad.

Laura’s practice focuses on the relationship between human and non-human entities in the landscape, prompting phenomenological and philosophical questions about the human condition. Working predominantly in moving image, sound and sculpture installation, she explores how human-centric behaviours and technologies impose on the balance and harmony of this relationship.

Her current research examines modes of observation, collection

and display of objects and organic material in public sites and institutions to discuss the volatility and fragility of our human relationship to the surrounding environment and unpack historical narratives of control, progress and ownership.

As part of the exhibition launch at Roscommon Arts Centre on Friday 25th, Laura Skehan has invited Clíona Ní Laoi to perform for the opening of A Future Distant Memory Calls. Clíona Ní Laoi is an Irish experimental artist working with sound based between Ireland and Berlin. Her work encompasses electroacoustic compositions, performances, installations, radio, and moving-image work.

A Future Distant Memory Calls opens at 6 pm on Friday 25th August and all are welcome to attend. The exhibition continues until October 21st.

Book on the life of Charles Owen O’Conor

A newly-released book uncovers the world of Roscommon’s Charles Owen O’Conor, the O’Conor Don (1836-1906), one of the most prominent Catholic landlords and Liberal MPs of his generation.

The book was written by Aidan Enright, who holds a Phd in History from Queen’s University Belfast and is currently an associate researcher at Leeds Beckett University.

Boyle Musical Society rehearsals

Rehearsals for Boyle Musical Society’s forthcoming production of the spellbinding and enchanting musical, ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ will begin on Monday, September 4th in St. Joseph’s Hall at 8 pm.

Everybody is welcome to join up for twelve weeks of music, drama and dancing along with some serious fun.

The society are looking forward to seeing plenty of new and familiar faces on the night but wish to note that, unfortunately, there are no parts for students attending second level school this year.

Based on the Victor Hugo novel from 1831

and including songs from the 1996 Disney animated feature, The Hunchback of Notre Dame has become an instant classic and audiences will be spirited away by the magic of this truly unforgettable musical, which will be staged from November 22nd to 25th.

This is a show that will require a large choral cast, so if you are interested in choral singing, along with performance and drama, this just might be the show for you.

For more information on Boyle Musical Society, please follow them on Facebook or visit their website www.boylemusicalsociety.com.

The scion of the last High King of Ireland and one of a long line of politically active O’Conors, Charles Owen O’Conor was a wealthy, fair-minded landlord who served as MP for his native county between 1860 and 1880. In Parliament, he supported reforms in education, juvenile care, factory law, Sunday closing, the Irish language and landownership.

However, as a loyalist, unionist and imperialist, he was out of step with the mood and aims of popular Irish nationalism, especially on the issue of Home Rule. Indeed, although he was a devout Catholic, proud Irishman and critic of the union, his liberal Catholic and unionist outlook ensured that he became an increasingly marginalizsed figure as Irish politics polarized along Catholic nationalist and Protestant unionist lines.

The book is available now in hardback from Four Courts Press priced €50. Charles

Participants taking part in the Heritage Week event organised by Lisacul Tidy Towns on Saturday 12th August pictured with Shiela Murphy, ecological consultant and Hannah Mole, Earthcare Design. During the event the participants learned about hedgerows, including the flora and fauna, and how best to conserve this vital resources in our countryside.

commence on September 4th

TELEPHONE: 094 9620300

Email: info@castlerealivestockmart.com

Web: www.castlerealivestockmart.com

THURSDAY WEEKLY:

SALE OF BULLOCKS, HEIFERS, COWS, CALVES, RUNNERS AND WEANLINGS

FORTHCOMING SALES:

MONDAY 11TH SEPTEMBER:

BULLOCK SALES RESUME ON MONDAYS

THURSDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER:

CONTINENTAL WEANLING SHOW AND SALE

MONDAY 25TH SEPTEMBER:

CONTINENTAL BULLOCK SHOW AND SALE

THURSDAY 28TH SEPTEMBER:

BELGIAN BLUE WEANLING SHOW AND SALE

CONTINENTAL HEIFER SHOW AND SALE

MONDAY 2ND OCTOBER:

ABERDEEN ANGUS BULLOCK SHOW AND SALE

THURSDAY 5TH OCTOBER:

ABERDEEN ANGUS HEIFER SHOW AND SALE

FOR ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT MART OFFICE OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR DETAILS.

CASTLEREA MART WATCH

400 lots presented for sale on Thursday last with better quality stock presented for sale and this was reflected in trade and prices with sharper trade all round for stock.

The bullock ring saw prices top out at €2,060 with quality lighter stores an improved trade. The heifer ring had a similar tone with lots topping out at €1,880 with more farmer activity for the stores this week.

The dry cow trade saw lots peak at €1,950 with a good clearance of lots, while the weanling rings witnessed the bulls peak at €3.40 a kilo while the heifer weanlings peaked at €3.60 a kilo.

Cows with calves at foot made up to €2,100 while the calf ring with fewer numbers on offer recorded a full clearance. Young calves made from €290 to €330 while the runners were making from €290 to €670.

Sales continue at Castlerea Mart today (Thursday 24th) with our weekly sale of bullocks, heifers, cows, calves, runners and weanlings.

All sales commence at 11 am.

Sample prices for bullocks: Ch 480kgs €1650, Ch 450kgs €1390, AA 490kgs €1390, Lm 445kgs €1390, Chx 505kgs €1560, Ch 510kgs €1550, AA 525kgs €1360, Lm 590kgs €1560, Lm 640kgs €1840, Sim 755kgs €2060, Lm 705kgs €2000, Ch 740kgs €1880, Lm 610kgs €1600.

Heifers: Lm 345kgs €1450, Ch 395kgs €1260, Lm 415kgs €1220, Ch 470kgs €1380, Lm 465kgs €1360, Lm 440kgs €1340, Lm 765kgs €1880, Lm 640kgs €1760, Lm 535kgs €1570.

Dry cows: AAx 870kgs €1950, Lm 780kgs €1930, BBX

695kgs €1890, AA 740kgs €1790, Sim 715kgs €1780, Fr 760kgs €1270, Fr 555kgs €870,

Weanling bulls: Lmx 405kgs €1300, Lm 350kgs €1190, Ch 338kgs €1080, Ch 340kgs €1060, Ch 210kgs €660.

Weanling heifers: Lm 290kgs €1000, Ch 255kgs €920, Lm 300kgs €1030, Ch 320kgs €870, Ch 390kgs €1090, AA 298kgs €780, AA 290kgs €850.

Ifac urges farmers to take up succession planning grant

Ifac, Ireland’s farming, food, and agribusiness specialist professional services firm, has welcomed this month’s announcement by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue of the launch of the new Succession Planning Advice Grant, a new grant to incentivise succession planning on farms.

Marty Murphy, Head of Tax with ifac said: “This is a very welcome move for the future of Irish farming and rural communities. The new grant is to encourage farmers aged 60 years and above to seek succession planning advice, potentially helping many farm families to avoid future financial hardship.

“We would urge older farmers to take up this incentive and seek professional advice on how to best safeguard their own financial security while also look-

ing after the next generation and securing a viable future for their farm”. When planning for succession, it is also important that farmers make a will. Once in place, succession plans and wills then need to be reviewed at least once a year and updated when necessary.

The Succession Planning Advice Grant opens for applications on September 19th and will cover up to 50 per cent of vouched legal, accounting and advisory succession planning advice costs, subject to a maximum payment of €1,500. To apply, farmers must be aged 60 years and above, farming at least three hectares of land, and farming for a minimum of two years before making their application. The grant does not apply to farmers currently in a succession farm partnership.

ROSCOMMON MART WATCH

There was a good entry of stock on offer at last Friday’s special heifer sale with a stronger demand and improved trade. Heifers fetched from an average of €2.72 per kilo up to €3.39 per kilo. There was a smaller entry of dry cows and they made an average of €2.30 per kilo up to €2.74 per kilo. There was a good attendance of customers at the ringside with online bidders also active.

There was a good entry of topquality weanlings on offer at our sale held on Tuesday evening last with a very strong trade for both bulls and heifers. Bull weanlings fetched from an average of €2.79 per kilo up to €3.53 per kilo, while heifer weanlings made from an average of €2.70 per kilo up to €3.48. There was a very good attendance of customers ringside with online buyers also active.

We had a larger number of sheep on

offer at our weekly sale of lambs and cast ewes. Prices for finished lambs made up to €150. The tops for stag ewes fetched €185. Please note all sheep must be tagged with a full yellow EID Tag set. Show and sale of lambs is Wednesday next (August 30th) at 11 am.

Next Wednesday: Kindly sponsored by Paddy Coffey & Sons Lecarrow, Roscommon - Class 1: Best Pen of 10 or more Store Lambs; Class 2: Best Pen of 10 or more Ewe Lambs suitable for breeding; Class 3: Best Pen of 10 or more finished lambs. Prizes - 1st: €100; 2nd: €60; 3rd: €40. The Phelim Kerin Perpetual Cup (kindly sponsored by the Society Auctioneers) will be awarded to the winner of the Champion Pen of Lambs. Yard opens at 8 am. All stock must be penned by 10 am. Sale can be viewed live on www.livestock-live. com.

Sample prices for dry cows: Lim X

Comiskey hits out at lack of sheep support

IFA National Sheep Chair Kevin Comiskey has heavily criticised both meat factories and Government for what he describes as “a lack of meaningful support to sheep farmers”.

He said the crises in the sheep sector is deepening as prices continue to lag behind last year’s levels with an estimated €10.5 million wiped of farmers’ incomes in 2023 to date when compared to the price differential from last year.

“Farmers cannot continue to sustain this level of cuts. Confidence in the sector is extremely low and farmers are exiting the sector due to the lack of support,” the IFA National Sheep Chair said.

“Factories and the Government are acutely aware of the loss-making situation sheep farmers are in but refuse to support them”.

Minister urged to put slurry plan in place

After weeks of heavy rainfall Agricultural Contractors have requested the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage of Ireland Darragh O’Brien, and Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine Charlie McConalogue, to extend the period for slurry spreading to October 15th, as they claim the current deadline would be “impossible to achieve due to ongoing poor harvesting conditions for grass silage and tillage crops”.

The Association of Farm Contractors in Ireland (FCI) has written to both Ministers requesting that they immediately use the powers available to them under SI 113 of 2022, to extend the period for slurry spreading from October 1st to October 15th. FCI is looking for the Ministers to put a National Contingency Plan in place now,

show was postponed for health and safety reasons last Saturday and will now take place on Saturday, September 16th.

Roscommon Agricultural Show will now take place on September 16th

The Roscommon Agricultural Show will now take place on Saturday, September 16th at Hannon’s Field beside Hannon’s Hotel on the Athlone Road.

730kgs €2,000, Lim X 830kgs €2,160, Char X 740kgs €1,950, SIX 770kgs €1,870, Char X 760kgs €1,850, LIM 730kgs €1,790, Char X 745kgs €1,770, SIX 730kgs €1,670, LIM 655kgs €1,590.

Heifers: Char X 630kgs €1,890, Char X 550kgs €1,710, Lim X 595kgs

€1,890, Char X 510kgs €1,550, Lim X 560kgs €1,710, Lim X 495kgs €1,540, Char X 490kgs €1,500, Char X 475kgs €1,500, Char X 475kgs €1,460, Char X 440kgs €1,390, Char X 375kgs €1,270 Char X 385kgs €1,250, Char X 380kgs €1,200, Char X 330kgs €1,020, Char X 375kgs €1,140.

Heifer weanlings: Char X 290kgs

€1,010 - €3.48 per kg, Char X 300kgs

€1,000 - €3.33 per kg, Char X 330kgs

€990 - €3 per kg, Lim X 350kgs €960 - €2.74 per kg, Char X 445kgs €1,200 - €2.70 per kg, Char X 435kgs €1,150 - €2.64 per kg, Char X 390kgs €1,070 - €2.74 per kg, Char X 240kgs €710€2.96 per kg.

FARMING DESK

rather than waiting until the end of September.

Suckler herd must be ‘treated fairly’

ICSA president Dermot Kelleher has said it is now time for the Government to decide if they value the suckler herd as much as the dairy herd.

“ICSA does not accept that the suckler herd is a major cause of global warming and we want to see any decisions around climate action reflecting that fact and demonstrating that suckler farmers need fairness in all decisions around climate and funding,” he said.

He added that the findings of a recent survey indicating that 63 per cent of suckler farmers say they would be open to a cow reduction scheme “lays bare the lack of any real support for the suckler sector and renewed frustration at beef price cuts”.

“The ICSA view is that we would engage

The committee had taken the “very difficult” decision to postpone the 51st show last Saturday morning for health and safety reasons due to poor weather conditions.

Bull weanlings: Lim X 380kgs €1,340 - €3.53 per kg, BBX 400kgs €1,280€3.20 per kg, Lim X 280kgs €840 - €3.07 per kg, Lim X 280kgs €840 - €3 per kg, Lim X 435kgs €1,240 - €2.85 per kg, BBX 420kgs - €1,190 - €2.83 per kg, Char X 350kgs €990 - €2.83 per kg, Lim X 325kgs €940 - €2.89 per kg, Lim X 305kgs €910 - €2.98 per kg, Lim X 305kgs €900 - €2.95 per kg, Lim X 325kgs €920 - €2.83 per kg, Char X 395kgs €1,100 - €2.78 per kg.

Finished lambs: 51kgs €150, 50.4kgs €150, 51.3kgs €150, 55.8kgs €149, 50.5kgs €144, 49.6kgs €143, 48.9kgs €143, 48.7kgs €141, 45.8kgs €141, 47.4kgs €140, 48.3kgs €139, 46.2kgs €137.

Store lambs: 39.7kgs €111, 38.8kgs €110, 39.6kgs €108, 38kgs €107, 38.1kgs €106, 38.8kgs €104, 33.7kgs €103, 33.5kgs €101, 34.6kgs €100, 33.9kgs €97, 34.3kgs €95, 33.2kgs €93, 31.4kgs €90, 33.5kgs €88.

with the Government if there was a willingness to bring a financial proposal to the table that would pay each suckler cow reduced on the same level as a dairy cow. We will not tolerate this being a debate about how much a suckler cow is worth in income, the only metric is how much emissions are reduced by each cow surrendered,” he concluded.

ICMSA: Gap between UK and Irish prices ‘jaw dropping’

The Chairperson of ICMSA’s Livestock Committee, Des Morrison, has said the already ‘jaw dropping’ gap between Irish and UK beef prices has widened once again.

Morrison said that no one – least of all the factories themselves – had been able to produce any kind of coherent reason why such a gap had opened up since ICMSA highlighted it in July.

“It’s vital that we all grasp that these are official figures, these are the figures according to Bord Bia,” said Morrison.

“As of August 5th, an Irish R3 heifer was making €4.72 excluding VAT. The UK equivalent was making €5.35 excluding VAT. That is a jaw-dropping difference of 59 cents per kg for the same animal.

“It’s even more shocking for an R3 steer: again, as of August 5, the Irish steer is €4.72 per kg excluding VAT, the UK R3 steer is making €5.36 excluding VAT. That is a difference of 64 cents per kg and might translate to approximately €250 per animal.

“ICMSA is asking now on behalf of Irish farmers how that difference is possible between almost identical animals, almost identical slaughtering processes and regulations and almost identical markets?”

Nicola Featherstone, AIB Agri Advisor and Lorraine Kerrane, AIB Business Customer Advisor pictured at the recent launch of Roscommon Agricultural Show in Hannon’s Hotel. The 51st

Pic: Kieran Croghan

FarmingPeople

Business

Friday, 25th August at 11 a.m.

Special Sale of Bullocks

54 pens of Bullocks on offer

Also Dry Cows and Heifers

Friday, 1st September at 11 a.m.

Special Sale of Heifers

Also Dry Cows and Bullocks

Bookings accepted until Monday, 28th August at 5 p.m.

Tuesday, 5th September at 4 p.m.

Show & Sale of Weanlings

Weanlings must be born in 2023 in exhibitors’ own herd

Prizes: 1st: €100, 2nd: €60, 3rd: €40

Class 1: Best Weanling Bull

Class 2: Best Weanling Heifer

Champion Weanling of the Show

Bookings accepted up to 5 p.m. on Thursday, August 31st

Lambs & Cast Ewes

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

Wednesday, August 30th at 11am.

Show & Sale of Lambs

Kindly sponsored by Paddy Coffey & Sons Lecarrow, Roscommon

Class 1: Best Pen of 10 or more Store Lambs

Class 2: Best Pen of 10 or more Ewe Lambs suitable for Breeding

Class 3: Best Pen of 10 or more Finished Lambs

Prizes: 1st: €100, 2nd €60, 3rd: €40

The Phelim Kerin Perpetual Cup (Kindly sponsored by the Society Auctioneers) will be awarded to the winner of the Champion Pen of Lambs

Friday 25th August

West Region Texel Club

Premier Show & Sale

Show 6 p.m. | Sale 7 p.m.

60 Pedigree Texel Shearling Rams & Ram Lambs

Saturday, 26th August at 11 a.m.

Breeding Ewes and Hoggets

Each Saturday - Gates open at 8 a.m.

Local Blas na hÉireann finalists announced

< DAN DOONER

Three local businesses have been announced as finalists in the 2023 Blas na hÉireann Food Awards, which take place in Dingle, Co Kerry from September 28th to 30th this year.

The finalists shortlisted from County Roscommon across a range of different categories are Do Me A Flavour, Oliver Carty & Family, and Waldron Family.

Now in its 16th year, Blas na hÉireann saw its highest entries from across all categories along with many new producers entering the awards for the first time this year. During the judging, which took place over June and July, over 3,000 entries were judged, the highest on record.

“I am delighted to see that three very high quality producers are through to the final stages,” said Louise Ward, Head of the

Six in ten workers feel childcare is unaffordable

Six in ten workers feel the cost of childcare is unaffordable, according to a nationwide survey conducted by leading recruitment specialists Excel Recruitment.

The survey of 563 workers also found that 58 per cent of couples with children said one partner had to give up work due to the cost of childcare. In 62 per cent of these cases, the person that left the workforce was female.

Commenting on these findings, Nikki Murran, Director of Grocery Retail at Excel Recruitment said: “The latest sector research reported the average weekly fee for a full-time childcare facility in Roscommon coming in at €162. Given the level of inflation in Ireland, it would probably be safe to assume that this has gone up even further in the two years since the research was conducted”.

One recent study showed that Ireland was the third most expensive country in the European Union for childcare.

Local Enterprise Office, Roscommon.

“I really understand and appreciate all the hard work and dedication that these companies do on a day-to-day basis, constantly improving their offerings to a seriously high standard. Roscommon is lucky to have them. I wish them every success at Blas

and throughout their journeys. They are the core of job creation and putting Ireland on the food map”. Speaking as the finalists were announced, Blas na hÉireann Chairperson, Artie Clifford said: “After last year’s success, we are thrilled to be back again. The Blas village and Eat Ireland in a Day tents were

a fantastic addition and created brilliant awareness for the finalists and winners to both the public and key industry people.

“Seeing so many new producers enter this year is testament to the fantastic produce Ireland has to offer and I am looking forward to celebrating past and new finalists and win-

THE BUSINESS BRIEF(S)

Moreover, parents in urban areas, especially in Dublin, face exorbitant crèche fees that often surpass €1,350 per month and beyond.

Athlone Chamber’s ‘Critical Skills’ report

Athlone Chamber of Commerce recently submitted a comprehensive report to the Department of Enterprise in response to a recent request for public consultation on the review of Critical Skills.

The review of the Critical Skills Occupations List, initiated by the Department of Enterprise, aims to identify and address gaps in the local workforce’s skillset, ensuring alignment with the dynamic demands of the rapidly evolving business landscape.

“Our members are at the heart of our local economy, and their success hinges on having access to a skilled and adaptable workforce,”

stated Alan Shaw, acting President of Athlone Chamber of Commerce.

“Our report is a collaborative effort that reflects the collective wisdom of our business community. We believe that by contributing to this consultation process, we are helping to address the shortage of skilled labour in our town and its economic prosperity”.

Mr Shaw added that the Chamber eagerly anticipates the opportunity to engage in further collaboration with the Department of Enterprise to ensure the implementation of strategies that will benefit both businesses and individuals within the town.

Roscommon businesses receive Online Retail Scheme funding

Minister of State for Busi-

Flashback to 2022: Daragh Waldron and Amy Curley (Waldron Family)

ness, Employment and Retail at the Department, Trade and Employment

Neale Richmond has this week announced that a total of 98 retailers have been approve for funding under the Online Retail Scheme, which is administered by Enterprise Ireland.

Ardcarne Garden Centre, Paul Byron Shoes and Ganly’s Hardware and Heating have all been approved for the grant which will see successful applicants share in a total of €2.3 million. The Roscommon businesses will receive amounts ranging from a minimum of €10,000 to a maximum of €25,000.

Announcing the funding, Minister Richmond said:

“I want to congratulate the 98 retailers across Ireland who will benefit from this funding. Retailers are at the heart of our communities across the country and the Government is delighted to support them in their transi-

ners again this year”. This year’s Blas na hÉireann awards in Dingle will see the return of last year’s new additions including the Eat Ireland in a Day tent and the Blas Village where the 2023 finalists will get the opportunity to showcase their products, engage with customers and meet key industry buyers.

tion to online retail.

“An online presence allows retailers to improve their service for existing customers, attract new customers at home and abroad, as well as futureproof their operations”.

Roscommon residents to celebrate Nursing Homes Week (21st to 27th)

County Roscommon nursing homes will join staff and residents across the country in hosting music-themed celebrations to mark Nursing Homes Week 2023, which runs from August 21st to 27th.

Nursing Homes Week is the national celebration of nursing home care, celebrating residents and staff in our nursing homes and its role in Irish society.

This year, music is the theme for the celebrations. Nursing homes will be participating in an online Music Speaks festival. A highlight will be the broadcast of music performances by nursing home residents.

with Artie Clifford, Chairman, Blas na hÉireann/Irish Food Awards and David Henderson, Henderson Food Machinery at last year’s awards. Waldron’s were Gold winners and named best in the county at last year’s Blas na hÉireann Awards. Pic: Don MacMonagle

The late Mick McCormack: A commemorative tribute

We won’t see his likes again, and we won’t forget him

< PAUL HEALY

We were on holiday in France when the news came to us on Sunday evening. Although we knew from the previous day that the outlook was bleak, confirmation that Mick had died just shook us to the core. Many times since Saturday, both Fiona and I have scrolled through our phones, linking the recent threads of our precious relationship with this most special of men.

I hope he had some inkling of how very highly he was thought of, and by so many.

Since Christmas, he had faced health challenges. Before Christmas, he had worked as normal for the Roscommon People, powering around the county with his ever-ready camera – his effortless charm, good humour, kindness and decency underpinning all his work as he recorded for posterity the everyday life of a county and its people. He loved the build-up to Christmas, and his photographs showed that.

After Christmas, as in previous years, Mick wanted a break. Needed a break, and deserved a break. This year, he faced challenging health issues. We kept in contact, enquiring as to his welfare, while Mick, typically selflessly (and unnecessarily) apologised for not being available for work. In these conversations he always spoke with love and pride of his mother, for whom he was devotedly caring.

On a good night, the phone call with Mick was flavoured with his often outrageous humour, with stories wondrously woven in the style that was unique to this gifted raconteur. More on that later.

On the 6th of April, out of the blue, Mick texted to say he might go to the match on the forthcoming Sunday. Guess who Roscommon were playing, guess which team had prompted the possible comeback? Mayo, of course!

With Mick now back doing the odd game, as recently as June I texted suggesting it might not make sense for him to cover an upcoming match, as it was a very long journey. I hoped he wouldn’t mind.

Mick replied: “You read my mind. Probably take me two weeks to get back!”

We’ve worked with Mick for about 27 years, and what a journey it was. Like all who knew him, we are stunned that he has now departed, at just 59 years of age, (he would have been 60 next Monday, August 28th; his birthday fell one day

after our son’s, and he used to joke to Fiona that she should have “hung on for one more day”). We became friends and work colleagues in the mid-1990s. At the time, I was working with both the Longford NEWS and the Roscommon Champion. Mick began to work in Longford, and he made a predictably big impact there. I recall him being great friends with the late TD Peter Kelly (a fellow raconteur), but then Mick made tremendous, joyous friendships anywhere he went. At one stage, with the newspapers under some strain, management types hauled everyone to an emergency meeting in Longford. A prospective Editor-in-Chief (not me, and the appointment never went ahead) had a number of ideas which might help to freshen up the paper(s). In those predrone days, he suggested that Mick take aerial photographs of Longford town from a helicopter (Mick wouldn’t be piloting). To be fair, it wasn’t a bad idea, but nobody had much enthusiasm for it, the idea met with glum silence.

A while later, one of the ‘bosses’ was tut-tutting about the need to curb the travelling expenses of journalists/ photographers, and suggested some cooperation between staff in Roscommon and Longford could help achieve this. Mick wasn’t going to miss an open goal.

“Eh, I wonder could we start on cutting travel expenses by forgetting about the helicopter?”

The breadth of his photography output was remarkable. He operated as a freelance, working for a variety of regional and national newspapers. When Fiona and I set up the Roscommon People in 2007, Mick covered the west of the county, with Andrew Fox and Michelle Hughes Walsh covering the mid-south region.

Mick supplied the Roscommon Herald for many years too, while primarily working for the People in recent times.

He was an absolute joy to work with, unfailingly obliging. The only problem was, Mick took so many photos it was impossible to publish them all. Such was Mick’s desire to accommodate the people he had photographed, he often expressed polite frustration to me about the ones that ‘got away’ (the photos we didn’t include). He loved making people happy by photographing them for the papers. He had a fantastic eye for a good photo, and took

great pride in presenting quirky or funny ones for consideration. The fact that he appeared to know most of the population of the county helped! Mick would email in a photo with an enthusiastic recommendation attached: “Your man is a mighty character, I had a job getting him to pose, but I got him just right. He’d love to see himself in the paper!”

Readers will be familiar with the sight of Mick walking most blades of grass in the Hyde (and other venues) as he tirelessly (and happily) gleaned memorable action shots and vibrant supporter photos from the proceedings. He loved this part of his work, this marriage of the sporting competition and the interaction with club stalwarts and fans from every parish in the county. At intercounty level Mick covered

many great Roscommon wins and his knowledge of and passion for the GAA (and sport generally) was evident to all.

His generosity with his time and his incredibly obliging nature at GAA functions and other such events has rightly been referenced by many of those paying tribute to Mick this week.

Mick also loved covering election counts (local and national). He enjoyed the buzz and the bloodsport-type atmosphere, not to mention the challenge of trying to capture the photographs that would best convey the drama, the triumphs and the heartbreak.

All of his prolific photography work was marked by the hugely endearing personal interest Mick took in the subjects of his photographs. He was, after all, as consummate

home (or later).

Back to his storytelling: Mick in full flow amongst friends in a bar was some sight, and if there was a Mayo-ite within hearing distance to be slagged, all the better. He had what appeared to be a never-ending bank of stories on which to call – depending on the occasion and audience – and these he told with a great flourish. His own laugh – joyously delivered at the end of one of his great (and often outrageous) stories – was something to behold.

So many times over the years he regaled us with hilarious stories of characters from Ballaghaderreen, few of whom we knew. His pride in Ballaghaderreen was very evident and he took great pleasure in tipping us off about people who should be interviewed or featured in the paper from that neck of the woods.

One year, I think it was 2005, sixteen Roscommon Champion staff members went on a Christmas Party. One night only. To Brussels. Absurd as it might sound, we got good value, arriving early on a Saturday morning and flying back on the Sunday evening.

a people person as you could wish to meet.

It was Mick’s joie de vivre that connected him with people so brilliantly. Somehow, when working or socialising, he found time for everyone.

Always the friendly word…at a minimum; usually it was garnished with some inspired but always playful slagging, often it was memorably enhanced further by one of Mick’s epic stories.

His prowess as a raconteur was legendary. Everything stemmed from his friendliness, his love of people, of banter, of humour, of parish, county, country. He was a true patriot. He had a wide range of interests and could talk on international politics, Irish history, drama, sport and the culture wars ‘til the cows came

Mick was the life and soul of the party. We all enjoyed a few drinks early on the Saturday, before gathering for dinner at around 7 pm. No sign of Mick, who it turned out was entertaining all and sundry in a quaint local bar. When he eventually arrived in the restaurant, sporting his trademark grin, he passed our table (of sixteen, one seat vacant) and joined two bemused couples (French and Belgians) at their table and proceeded to entertain them for a while. He was a one-off, a character to whom people were effortlessly drawn, such was the warmth of his personality.

The collective Roscommon media are numbed by his passing. We will miss him terribly. Our thoughts are with his family, who have suffered such a great loss. I hope they will be comforted by the knowledge that Mick was so very highly regarded, with such affection and warmth.

When I think of Mick now, I think mostly of his generosity and kindness. He looked out for people, saw the good in them, and then sprinkled his own goodness into their path. His humour brightened so many days. We won’t see his likes again, and we won’t forget him.

Rest in peace, Mick.

Photographer Mick McCormack, R.I.P.

The late Mick McCormack: A commemorative tribute

Memories of Mick: Genuine, likeable, and very (very) unique

< NOEL D WALSH

Three years isn’t a big age gap, but at school it can be, and so it was with Micky McCormack. He was three years older than me. It meant I never really knew him until we’d left school.

It was October 1986, and I found myself digging holes in Liverpool Street, London, after having failed my first Arts summer and autumn exams in Galway. On an awfully wet winter’s day, I heard, amid all the traffic noise, someone roaring and jeering. It was Micky, shouting down from four storeys up on a building site scaffold. He came down to where I was digging, me covered in muck, looked at me and said, “I hear you’re flying it at college”, followed by the big belly laugh.

We had many a great night in London, Galway, Dublin and Ballagh over the years and Micky’s genuineness and likeability was there to be seen from day one. It all stems of course from the inherent decency he (and his siblings Maria and John) inherited from parents Phyllis Morley and Pa McCormack. You don’t get such qualities from the wind.

I even heard during the week someone say, “Jaysus, even the Mayos liked him”. Sure how could they not? I mean, he might chastise them for not knowing where they’re from (too right too!) but there was no falling out. Micky was of course a staunch Rossie supporter.

About twenty years or so ago, Micky had contemplated opening a pub. It never came to fruition, but I asked him a while after, if he had a name in mind for the pub (had he opened it). Was it going to be ‘McCormack’s’, or ‘Micky’s’, or ‘Micky Doodles’, or what?

Not at all, he said to me, all those suggestions were way too predictable, he had some other name in mind. The name he had in mind was “Mayo Me Arse”. Maybe it was for the best it didn’t happen!

Micky was, in more ways than one, larger than life. He had the ability to walk into a pub he’d never been in before and have everyone within be enthralled by him in a couple of minutes.

I honestly don’t know of anyone else that can do that. He was very intelligent and so witty. He

had the ability to laugh at himself and could be deliciously self-deprecating.

We were sitting outside the Quays Bar in Galway one Saturday evening about fifteen years ago. A pint in front of me, a pint and a brandy in front of Micky and me, for some reason, smoking a cigar. An American woman was passing by on her way into the pub and said, “Oh my God what are you guys celebrating?” Of course we weren’t celebrating anything, just a regular

Saturday evening, but Micky replies to her, “We’re celebrating a most wonderful victory”.

The American was wondering what this victory was, as was I, so she asked, “what victory is that?”, to which Micky replied, “after a long struggle, I’ve finally overcome my anorexia!”

The American woman just burst out laughing as did the two of us, Micky in his own trademark way. She then asked Micky what he worked at. He told her that he had enough money to keep himself going for the rest of his

life! She was well impressed with this. But then Micky added, “mind you, that’s provided I die by next Thursday!”

Folks, the above encounter happened before our pints had even fully settled. That’s the type of craic you’d have with Micky.

Micky had the typical Irishman’s sense of humour. That sense of humour can be difficult to define, never mind to get across to an audience. It doesn’t seem to work in movies or sitcoms but it works perfectly in plays. No wonder Micky loved

plays. He’d land in Galway, acquire Druid tickets off his first cousin Garry Hynes and head off to The Leenane Trilogy. All three are great but Micky particularly loved The Lonesome West. He could recite quotes from it for weeks and months afterwards.

I landed back in Ballagh one evening from Galway and went to Spells pub. Micky was sitting with a few others in a semi-circle at the bar. Cocktail sausages had been left out on the counter and at tables earlier and as I entered, Micky was in the process of taking the last cocktail sausage out of a basket. When he looked up and saw me, he held out the sausage to me and said, “I saved the last vol-au-venteen for you Valeen”. Very few present might have got that line from The Lonesome West but I always marvelled at how splitsecond his timing was to have even thought of it.

Micky McCormack was the best conversationalist and the best company you could hope to have on a night out. He was also a great storyteller, a hijacked word nowadays for narrative spin nonsense. I valued his friendship immensely and will miss him terribly.

We were taught at English class never to use the phrase ‘very unique’ because there are no degrees of uniqueness, either something is unique or it’s not. Micky McCormack was unique. I think that if those who drew up the rules of grammatical english had ever met Micky, they’d have written the rule as, “don’t ever say very unique, unless you’re referring to Micky McCormack. Then you can use very. Or two verys”.

Micky McCormack was very very unique. May he rest in peace.

We’ve lost a diamond… a one-off with heart of gold

< SEAMUS DUKE

It was the sudden nature of the passing of Mick McCormack last weekend that has taken us all by surprise. Tribute pieces like this are, by their very nature, laden with clichés, but as someone who knew Mick well, worked with him, and socialised with him, I must say he was a total one-off and one of life’s great characters. You couldn’t but like Mick McCormack. His positive demeanour and sunny disposition meant that you were hooked from the start. He covered everything under the sun for the Roscommon papers over the years, but was most at home at the big GAA matches. Instantly recognisable in his short-sleeved shirt (regardless of the temperature), he loved the banter with the crowds. He’d amble around the sideline before the game and also

at half-time – chatting and having the craic with the fans – laughing and joking, but getting his photos too. A chat with Mick was better than any halftime entertainment!

But behind all the jokes and the craic, Mick was an excellent photographer.

He took some cracking snaps over the years and I know he was very, very proud of the one which captured Gerry Lohan’s winning goal in the Connacht final in 2001.

Mick had a heart of gold and he would do anything for you. When I was writing a book a few years ago he promised me any photo he had in his collection at no cost. Indeed he came down to Roscommon especially to take the photos that were used for the cover of the book, and he wouldn’t take a shilling.

Of course he was mighty craic socially, and anyone in Ballaghaderreen

(and much further afield) will testify to that. He always had a number of great stories and yarns to tell. He was a great storyteller and superb company.

He loved the banter surrounding the Mayo-Roscommon rivalry, and boy did he savour the few times that Roscommon beat their rivals over the years.

He was a great colleague and friend and I will always remember his support and phone calls when they were needed over the years.

The media business in Roscommon, the town of Ballaghaderreen and the county of Roscommon have lost a diamond with the untimely passing of Mick.

To his mother, brother, sister, extended family and friends, I offer my deepest sympathy.

Rest in peace, old friend.

Young Roscommon fans pictured by the late Mick McCormack.

Pictured in Tommy O’Gara’s bar in Dublin in October 2021 were Fergus Gallagher, Noel D Walsh (author of this article), Mick McCormack (RIP), Riki Morelli and Tommy O’Gara.

The late Mick McCormack: A commemorative tribute

‘I might take a few snaps’

la! He would always find faces in the crowd that he knew (especially Elphin people for some reason) and get a cheer from the Rossies in Croke Park.

< PAULINE SCOTT

There are some people that simply can’t be defined by words and Mick McCormack is certainly one of them. ‘Funny’ and ‘generous’ are the first two words that spring to mind, but then there are words like irreverent, enthusiastic, and loyal.

He’d love me to go all out here, ‘Throw the dictionary at me!’ he’d say, ‘effervescent, ubiquitous, self-deprecating’. But ‘Marmalade’ was his favourite three-syllable word.

For almost 30 years he travelled the highways and byways of this region, in search of his ‘snaps’, the characters, the lesser-spotted varieties of humans and animals, the oddball, the quirky and the downright funny.

Mick McCormack was part of the cast of characters in public life in County Roscommon, known to event organisers, PROs, members of the public young and old, sports stars, umpires, stewards, politicians and of course the many ‘characters’ he loved to photograph.

He’d arrive in a fluster at an event, park in what we’ll call an enterprising manner, and emerge from the car with shirt tails flapping, camera in hand and a ‘Howya Darlin’ for everyone in the audience.

I first encountered Mick on my first day in the Longford NEWS on Earl Street, Longford in the mid-90s. He had left the OPW, or Board of Works as he called it, and a permanent pensionable job to take up the position of staff photographer and opt for the life less ordinary. He was due to work with his long-time friend and colleague Joe Flaherty, with whom he had worked on the buildings in London, but Joe had moved to the Longford Leader and Mick had to make his own way in the world, which he was more than capable of doing!

And thus began a career in photography that was to last almost 30 years. He travelled the highways and byways of Longford in his trusty green Opel and photographed young and old, cajoling them into standing for a photograph while he got them to laugh by telling them some outrageous joke.

He had a great fondness for the ploughing fraternity in Longford, the loy diggers of Aughnacliffe, Eamon Egan and his tribe of ploughmen and

women. He was a big fan of the Gowl Gob, the Mayo-style loy (must be the Mayo connection) and the ploughing launch nights with the committee behind the ‘God Speed the Plough’ banners. The celebration with the pike men and women in Ballinamuck to mark the bicentenary of 1798 was a particular highlight and he was known to all in Ballinamuck, if not north Longford, by the time it finished.

Agricultural shows, summer festivals, school openings, sports matches, Sheridan family gatherings, Queen of the Harp in Granard, he captured them all. He loved nothing more than going out and about in north Longford capturing hundreds of pictures, all of which he wanted published because there was a story behind each one.

He saved my bacon on more than one occasion. While waiting for the newspaper to be ‘put to bed’ so that we could adjourn further down the street, he was reading the Drumlish local notes when he delighted in discovering that a group of women from Drumlish were going on a ‘sex-day holiday’ and suggested that perhaps it was a typo, but then again maybe not!

After his stint in Longford, his focus returned to his native Roscommon and Mick returned to Ballaghaderreen (‘The savage loves its native shore!’ as Mick would say). And love Ballaghaderreen he did, with all its cast of characters. He would regale us regularly with stories of the citizenry of Ballaghaderreen past and present, and if you had to go to the town for an event, such as the Cabinet meeting held there in 2000, it was like going into the twilight zone – you were never sure when you would get out of it. As a freelance photographer Mick was always on call. He captured the most important news stories, photographed visiting dignitaries and politicians, attended book launches, community events, St. Patrick’s Day parades and came up with many quirky photos.

In my experience, the more po-faced or self-important the dignitary, the more off-colour Mick’s jokes were, he was never going to feature in the regiments of the woke brigade. It’s a good job there were no royal visits is all I’ll say… ‘Forty years a cowboy and never rode a cow!’ he would roar at some unsuspecting line-up of committee members at the launch of the local festival and the

picture would emerge with them either laughing or looking at him quizzically. At matches, he would nervously flick back and forth through the pictures on the camera to see if he had secured the crucial split-second moment. He was thrilled to have captured Gerry Lohan’s goal as Roscommon played Mayo in 2001 and that was just one of a multitude of important scores that he captured perfectly during his career. I’m sure the fact that it was against Mayo also helped!

The late-night homecoming of the Roscommon minor team in September 2006 was another memorable night and Mick took hundreds of pictures and distributed as many of them as he could to proud mothers and grannies and uncles and aunts in the months that followed. He never seemed to feel the cold. You’d see him roaming the sideline in the Hyde and elsewhere in the bucketing rain trying to get the best shot, oblivious to the rain and cold. He would always be in short sleeves, winter and summer. I remember Hugh Lynn tweeting in recent years that it must be very bad weather indeed because Mick was shielding the camera with an umbrel-

Generosity was a hallmark of the man, generous with his time and his talents. He always stopped for hitchhikers and emerged into the office with their interesting life stories. Travelling with Mick was an adventure in itself. He once drove over my foot after stopping to pick up a hitchhiker on a bare stretch of road in north Longford!

He loved to laugh and had an abundance of wit. He delighted in the Roscommon-Mayo banter and often emerged on derby weekends to find his car ‘vandalised’ on Main Street – covered in red and green flags after a Mayo win!

Seeing the tributes to Mick on social media reminds us of the many lives he touched, how obliging he was to club members up and down the county, the GAA socials he turned up at, the agricultural shows that he photographed in the pouring rain, the proud parents he obliged by taking pictures of their children. He would always try and get back with a special photo after the death of someone in the local community. He had a multitude of friends, of all ages and backgrounds, and he loved being in the company of good friends.

Mick’s love for his family was apparent to all his friends, the stories about his father Pa and his love for the land and the bog, his mother Phyll and his brother John and sister Maria. He talked fondly and proudly of his nephew and nieces and we felt we knew them individually.

He has left behind a treasure trove of work, surely there is a cast of thousands since he began working in the Longford NEWS in the mid-90s. More important than any of his snaps are the many happy memories we all have of Mick. You can’t but smile when remembering Mick, the mad antics, the funny stories, the Mick-isms that we still use to this day.

To his sorrowing family we extend our deepest sympathy and our thanks for sharing Mick with us for so many years. Condolences to his mother Phyll, his brother John, his sister Marie, his nephew Rory, nieces Laura, Aoife, Michelle, Ciara, Niamh and Dearbhla, grand-nephews and nieces, in-laws, relatives, neighbours in Ballaghaderreen and many friends. On this occasion, it’s true to say, ‘Ní bheidh a leithead ann arís’. Ar dheis Dé to raibh a anam uasal.

Deputy Michael Fitmaurice hard at work – as captured by the inimitable Mick!

Mick and his cousin Cormac celebrating St Patrick’s Day.

One of Mick’s many memorable pics from ‘the ploughing’ – this one taken in Creggs.

Mick often emerged on derby weekends to find his car ‘vandalised’ on Main Street – covered in red and green flags after a Mayo win!

The late Mick McCormack: A commemorative tribute Mick’s pics: Some of the best over the years…

A Mick McCormack photograph which featured on the front page of the very first edition of the Roscommon People newspaper on the 12th of February, 2007. Hands up! Enda Kenny pictured with local TDs Denis Naughten and Frank Feighan in 2007.

GAA legends (both now deceased) Brian Mullins and Jimmy Murray pictured by Mick in Murray’s Bar in Knockcroghery.

Celebrations at the final whistle as Roscommon beat Down in the U-20 All-Ireland semi-final in 2021.

Superstar Michael Flatley, Matt Molloy and Seamus Tansey were ‘captured’ by Mick as they enjoyed a session in Spells Pub, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon back in 2017.

THE PIC MICK WAS MOST PROUD OF: Gerry Lohan scores the winning goal for Roscommon in the 2001 Connacht SFC Final against Mayo at Dr Hyde Park.

Fintan Cregg kicks the all-important point as Roscommon beat Mayo by a point at MacHale Park to finally end their 33year Connacht SFC winless streak in Castlebar back in 2019.

Celebrating a famous Connacht final win. Roscommon and Galway get ready to do battle ahead of the 2019 Connacht Senior Football Final.

PropertyPeople

NEW TO THE MARKET

112 Abbeyville, Galway Road, Roscommon, Co. Roscommon F42 V252

Spacious 4 bedroom residence situated in a sought after site on the outer leaf of this development with large rear private garden. Located in a popular residential area on the Galway Road within walking distance to town center, train station, schools and shops.

Accommodation includes entrance hallway, sitting room with inset solid fuel stove, open plan kitchen/dining room, large utility with w.c. off. First floor, 4 large bedrooms, 2 with built in wardrobes and master ensuite together with family bathroom. Early viewing advised as this property is priced to sell.

Price Region: € 235,000

BER Rating: B3

NEW TO THE MARKET

Bungalow and Apartment on c. 0.8 acres with option to buy adjoining c. 1 acre

Carrowroe, Athlone Road, Roscommon

Unique property situated on the Athlone Road, just 1 mile from Roscommon Town centre in a scenic countryside setting overlooking Molloy’s wood and convenient to Mote Park Forest.

Spacious bungalow comprising entrance hallway, sitting room, kitchen, dining room, 4 bedrooms all with built in wardrobes, and 2 with WHB together with family bathroom.

Attached to the side is a 1 bedroom self-contained apartment, with independent heating and electricity.

Spacious site area with 2 large sheds/workshops to rear, ample parking and large back garden.

Price Region: € 249,000 BER Rating: C3

NEW TO THE MARKET

Gortgallon, Ballyleague, Co. Roscommon

Majestic 5-bedroom (3 ensuite) house set on c. 1.5 acres of landscaped grounds with mature trees and hedging located in a quiet countryside cul-de-sac just 3 miles from Lanesboro town. Lanesboro is a very popular town on the River Shannon with excellent water facilities including two large marinas, excellent schools, shops, bars and restaurants; Athlone, Longford and Roscommon town are readily accessible. This is a rare opportunity to purchase an exemplary house comprising 5 bedrooms, 3 of which are ensuite, large open plan kitchen / dining room with conservatory off, a spacious utility room, 2 large bathrooms and attractive sitting room.

Price Region: € 425,000 BER Rating: C1

NEW TO THE MARKET

Prime Development Sites with FPP

Woodberry Court, Roscommon Town

Exceptional ready to go building sites with full Planning permission for attractive 4 bedroom 2 storey residences c. 1972 sq.ft. on excellent site overlooking Roscommon Golf Club in a premier residential location. There are only 2 sites remaining which are being sold on an individual basis with all services connected.

Price Region €100,000.

Prime roadside farm in Carrick-on-Shannon

Cathal Meares of RE/MAX

Team Earley is delighted to present to the market, 60 acres (approximatey) of prime roadside lands located at Lisgreaghan, Carrick-on-Shannon, and comprised in Folios: RN30082 & RN27858.

This is an opportunity to acquire a sprawling expanse of top-quality agricultural land set amidst the scenic beauty of Lisgreghan, Carrick-on-Shannon.

The land spans an impressive 60 acres approximately and is thoughtfully organised into well maintained paddocks, each equipped with electric fencing and a water supply.

The lands also benefit from a seven-bay slatted shed which is

spacious and its well-designed structure boasts not only ample storage capacity but also features a strategically positioned crush and layback area, ensuring ease of handling and care for livestock.

Nestled within the idyllic Lisgreghan area, this parcel of land boasts a strategic position with easy access to Carrick-on-Shannon and its essential amenities. The surrounding beauty of the countryside adds to the allure of this remarkable property

This is a rare chance to acquire a substantial tract of top-quality lands in one complete package. Whether you’re an established farmer looking to expand your operations or an astute investor

seeking a secure and potentially lucrative asset, this offering is tailor-made for you.

The auctioneer now invites viewings and offers. The sale of these lands must offer all buyers a great opportunity to acquire lands just off the N4 Boyle to Carrick-on-Shannon route

Legals: Leonie Hogg, McGovern Walsh Solicitor 071-914 4363. Price Guide: €650,000. For further details or to arrange an appointment to view, please contact RE/MAX Team Earley, Stonecourt, Roscommon on 090-6626579 or Cathal on 086-1409158, email teamearley@remax.ie or log onto www. teamearley.ie.

PropertyPeople

Four-bed Rahara home new to the market

New to the market with Oates Auctioneers this week is this extremely attractive four-bedroomed residence with garage attached, built in 2010 and located in Rahara, Co Roscommon (F42 ET04).

The property is nestled on a mature and private 2/3 of an acre, situated only nine minutes from the picturesque village of Athleague, 14 minutes from Roscommon, 15 minutes from Athlone and only a five-minute walk to the local primary school and church.

Ground floor accommodation comprises of entrance hall, living room, large open plan kitchen/dining room, sunroom, gym, utility room, WC and attached garage.

On the first floor there is a master bedroom with ensuite and built in wardrobe, three double bedrooms, hot press and family bathroom. Price region: €450,000. BER: B3. To arrange a viewing or for more information, contact Oates Auctioneers on 090-6627878 or email info@oates. ie.

Escape to serenity: Cox & Walsh present idyllic countryside rental homes

Cox & Walsh Estate Agents, esteemed for their meticulously curated properties and local expertise, are now offering an exclusive range of rental homes for those longing for the calming embrace of the countryside. With properties designed to cater to various needs, these homes promise an unparalleled lifestyle amid nature’s bounty.

Find your perfect retreat: Two-bedroomed farmhouse outside Mohill: Envision starting your day surrounded by lush landscapes, relishing the crisp country breeze, and basking in tranquillity that only a countryside abode can bestow.

Four-bedroomed family farmhouse outside Strokestown: Seeking an

expansive haven for your loved ones? This charming four-bedroomed farmhouse seamlessly blends comfort and elegance, nestled in picturesque surroundings.

Why entrust your dream to Cox & Walsh?

Quality assured: Our properties are maintained to impeccable standards, ensuring clean and comfortable homes tailored precisely to your aspirations.

Guidance from local experts: With years of mastery in the region, our dedicated team is well-positioned to steer you to the ideal rental abode.

Viewing at tour convenience: Schedule an online appointment at a timing that

aligns with your schedule, and embark on the first step towards your dream dwelling.

“We believe in more than just providing shelter; we offer homes that resonate with your soul,” shares a representative of Cox & Walsh.

“Our countryside rentals are more than bricks and mortar; they are sanctuaries where memories are made, where families grow, and dreams flourish”.

So don’t let the chance to experience country living at its finest slip through your fingers! Discover these homes and more on CoxandWalsh.ie (https://www. coxandwalsh.ie/auctioneers-dromod-property-letting.html), or connect with us on Facebook using the hashtag #CoxAndWalsh.

ALCOHOLICS

ANONYMOUS

< ALCOHOLICS ANONY -

MOUS: Roscommon Town Group, Castle Street, Roscommon. Eir Code:

F42 RP21 (1st Floor).

Meetings: Tuesday 8pm to 9pm, Wednesday 1pm to 2pm, Thursday 8pm to 9pm, Friday 8pm to 9pm, Saturday 8pm to 9pm, Sunday 12 noon to 1.pm.

CHIMNEY CLEANING

Complete

Chimney Services

Chimney Cleaning

• Power brush and vacuum technology for cleaning chimneys, stoves, ranges and open fires

• Removes up to 50% more than traditional methods

CCTV CAMERA INSPECTIONS

• Firebacks replaced and flues repaired

• Can be cleaned from the bottom up

• Chimney cowls and crow guards fitted Power washing and gutter cleaning services.

Telephone: 087 2798704

CHIMNEY CLEANING

Creighton

Chimney Cleaning

Fireplaces, Stoves, Ranges etc.

Modern Rotary Chimney

Cleaning equipment used from the bottom up. Much cleaner than brushes, CCTV check if required.

Areas covered: Castlerea, Strokestown, Elphin, Castleplunkett, Tulsk, Lanesboro, Roscommon Town, Killashee, Carrickon-Shannon, Scramogue, Rooskey, Kenagh, Tarmonbarry, Ballymahon and all surrounding areas. No climbing on roofs, tiles or slates, no mess, no fuss.

Fully Registered.

Call Dave on 085 8888833

CHIROPRACTOR

COUNSELLING

COUNSELLING & HYPNOTHERAPY

Are you affected byAnger Issues, Bullying, Bereavement, Confidence/self-esteem issues, OCD, Stress, Depression, Eating disorders Panic/Anxiety, Relationships, Exam pressure, Sexual Abuse Contact: Billy 094 96 59966 Mobile: 086 0675433 or visit www.billybrogan.com

Kathleen’s Mobile Footcare

Professional and friendly footcare in the comfort of your own home.

Kathleen Wynne MCFHP, MAFHP Foot Care Practitioner 086 3562718

kathleenwynne63@gmail.com www.kathleensmobilefootcare.ie

CONSTRUCTION

Stephen Casey Construction

l General Building

l Extensions & Roofing

l Groundworks

l Renovations

l Chimney CCTV Inspections

l Chimney Repair

- Insurance Claims Strokestown, Co. Roscommon 087 9268424

stephenrockcasey@ gmail.com

FARMING

BOOM SPRAYER TESTING SERVICE

COUNSELLING

COUNSELLING

Are you experiencing difficulties in your life?

Such as depression, anxiety, life or spiritural crisis.

Are you having difficulties in relationships at work?

SUBMIT YOUR CLASSIFIED ONLINE

Send your Classified advertisement to advertising@ roscommonpeople.ie or alternatively call 090 66 34633

• Sprayers tested on owners premises

• Test report & D.A.F.M. stickers provided.

• Small stock of parts available and can be fitted on sprayers

FARMING/LIVESTOCK

FENCING/GATES

Des Kelly Fencing

Over 30 years in business

All types of fencing supplied and erected Including:

• Agricultural Fencing

• Site Fencing

• Security Fencing

• Post & Rail Fencing

• Concrete Fencing

• Grant Approved Fencing

No job too big or too small Just give us a call on 087 2346364

GARDENING

• Tree Surgery

• Dangerous Tree Removal

• Wood Chipping

• Leylandii hedges reduced and shaped

Comprehensive Insurance Cover. I.S.A. member. Tel: 086 6077307 or 086 8125165

www.parklaw treeservices.com

GATELY GARDENING

GARDENING

JOE HEALY Tree Services

• Hedge Cutting

• Dangerous Tree Removal

• Wood Chipping

• Fully Insured

Phone: 087 2721193

CORBETT

TREE CARE & LANDSCAPING

l General Maintenance

l Dangerous Tree Removal

l Garden Hedges & Trees reduced and shaped

l Wood Chipping

l Fully Insured

Contact Alan on 087 6558597

www.corbetttreecareandlandscaping.com

Kerins Plant Ltd

Tree Care & Plant Hire

Residential & Commercial Tree Care

GARDENING

GARDENING SERVICES

Including: • Hedge Cutting

• Hedge Planting • Grass Cutting • Spraying

• Strimming • Weeding

• Garden Tidy-ups

• Planting • Gutter Cleaning, etc.

Chainsaw work also available Phone John on 087 2860428

FRANCIS REGAN FENCING LTD

For all your fencing needs.

l GLAS Fencing

l Grant Fencing

l Post Rail Tel: 087 2172281

GARDEN MAINTANCE

Lawns cut, hedges trimmed, strimming, general garden maintenance ... Reasonable rates Roscommon/ Lanesboro/ Strokestown area.

Call John 085 108 6215

GRINDS

Have you experienced sexual abuse or abuse and need counselling to help you?

Online counselling available. Please call Glynis on 085 2514394

email: downeyglynis@yahoo.co.uk

web:

www.psychotherapyglynisdowney.com

All sprayers tested in 2016/2017 are now due re-test

Contact: Thomas Neilan on 087 2395171 or 090 6663069

e-mail: thomasneilan4@ gmail.com

D.A.F.M. Approved Reg No: EI000083

Contact Liam on 086 8749550 or 090 66 27496

l Tree removal

l Tree crowning

l Site clearance and mulching

l Wood chipping

l Stump grinding

l Fully insured and certified

Telephone: 087-3477546

Email: kerinsplantcivilsltd @gmail.com

< FRENCH GRINDS: For Junior and Leaving Cert available. Grinds can be in person or online. For more information visit my page at: https://www.facebook. com/tuteurtricolore. Tel: 089 9470991

< ONLINE MATHS, FRENCH AND IRISH GRINDS: AVAILABLE: experienced teacher. Contact Alana on: 120228076@umail.ucc.ie

< GRINDS: For Junior Cert Maths and Science, Leaving Cert Maths and Biology. Tuition available at Ordinary and Higher Level. Roscommon Town area. Contact Emily: 083 8022220

< FOR SALE: 3 Fresian Bullocks, 1.5 years old, 400 - 420 kilos approx. €2.00 per kilo. OFFERS TO: 087 2580882

ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL

I, Patrick Donohue intend to apply for Planning Permission and Retention Permission at Ballycreggan Townland, County Roscommon.

The Development will consist / consists of: Retention Permission for horse stables consisting of a steel shed on a concrete foundation slab.

Planning permission is also sought for a horse exercising arena, new vehicular entrance, front boundary wall and gates and all associated site works at Ballycreggan Townland, Co. Roscommon.

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

Signed: Patrick Donohue

ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL

We, Brian and Aisling Galway are applying to Roscommon County Council for planning permission to retain mobile home as temporary accommodation on site for a period of 2 years at Kilcloghan, Elphin, Co. Roscommon, F45 YV67. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee, €20 within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the planning authority in making a decision on the application. The planning authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

Signed: James Lohan Consulting Engineer Ltd.

Unit 5, Ballypheasan House, Circular Rd, Roscommon, F42 C982

M: 087 8228529

M: 087 9595520 T: 0906634365

Email: james@jlce.ie - aaron@jlce.ie www.jlce.ie

ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL

We, Declan and Mary T Molloy intend to make application to Roscommon County Council for planning permission to construct Granny Flat with connection to rear of existing dwelling, associated site development works and services at Cloonbrackna, Castle Street, Roscommon, Co. Roscommon.

Signed: Gaynor Architectural + Design Services Ltd., Architects, Fallon Avenue, Roscommon. Phone: 090 6626974. Mobile: 086 8115449 The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of a fee of €20 within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the planning authority of the application and such submissions or observations will be considered by the planning authority in making a decision on the application. The planning authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions or may refuse to grant permission.

ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL

I, Tommy Mullaney am applying to Roscommon County Council for full planning permission for the following:

1) Demolish derelict dwelling house.

2) Construct new housing development consisting of 4 No.4 Bed Two Storey Corner Units, 2 No.4 Bed

Two Storey Detached Units, and 10 No. 3 Bed

Two Storey Semi Detached Units, together with all boundary treatments, road services, site development works and all ancillary site development works and connection to public services at The Walk, Clooneybeirne, Roscommon Town, Co. Roscommon. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee, €20 within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the planning authority in making a decision on the application. The planning authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

Signed:

Unit 5, Ballypheason House, Circular Road Roscommon, F42 C982.

Ph: 0906634365 Mob: 0878228529

E: james@jlce.ie & aaron@jlce.ie Web:www.jlce.ie

Architectural Designs – Consulting Engineers

ROSCOMMON, COUNTY ROSCOMMON FURTHER INFORMATION

Applicant: Siobhan Appleby Application address:

15 Upper Marian Road, Boyle, Roscommon Planning reference: PD/23/193

Development: Permission to demolish existing 2 storey house extension to the rear of the existing dwelling and rebuild new 2 storey extension with ancillary works and services.

1. Significant Further Information in relation to the application has been furnished to the Planning Authority and is available for inspection or purchase at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the Authority during its public opening hours, and

2. A submission or observation in relation to the Further Information may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee of €20 not later than two weeks after the receipt of the newspaper notice and site notice by the Planning Authority.

3. There will be no fee payable on a further submission/observation if it is accompanied by a copy of the acknowledgement of a previous submission/ observation.

Signed: Siobhan Appleby

ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL

I, Damian O’Reilly am applying to Roscommon County Council for planning permission for the following:

1 – Planning permission to retain as constructed extension

2 - Planning permission to amend front boundary wall and entrance

3 - Planning permission to upgrade existing septic tank to a Tertiary Treatment system with a percolation area and all site ancillary development works at Lisagallan Townland, Co. Roscommon.

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

Signed:

Unit 5, Ballypheason House, Circular Road Roscommon, F42 C982.

Ph: 0906634365 Mob: 0878228529

E: james@jlce.ie & aaron@jlce.ie Web:www.jlce.ie

Architectural Designs – Consulting Engineers

ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL

We, Philip and Frances Manning are applying to Roscommon County Council for planning permission for the following:

1. Planning permission to demolish out building to rear of dwelling.

2. Planning permission to construct extension to rear of existing dwelling house.

3. Planning permission to upgrade existing septic tank to a Tertiary Treatment system with a percolation area and all site ancillary development works at Cloonslanor, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon. F42 HP60 The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee, €20 within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the planning authority in making a decision on the application. The planning authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

Signed:

Unit 5, Ballypheason House, Circular Road Roscommon, F42 C982. Ph: 0906634365 Mob: 0878228529 E: james@jlce.ie & aaron@jlce.ie Web:www.jlce.ie Architectural Designs – Consulting Engineers

ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL

I, Michael Stokes intend to apply for Planning Permission and Retention Permission at Rooskagh Townland, Ballynamona, County Roscommon. The Development will consist /consists of: Retention Permission for the placing of hardcore resurfacing material, erection of fencing, the erection of a potting shed, vehicular entrance and all associated site works Planning Permission is also sought for a front boundary wall and gates and all associated site works at Rooskagh Townland, Ballynamona, County Roscommon.

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

Signed: Michael

ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL

Full Planning Permission is being sought from Roscommon County Council for the proposed replacement of an existing septic tank system with an onsite sewerage system with polishing filter in accordance with EPA Code of Practice 2021 and all ancillary works at Termon Beg, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon for Mr. John Larkin. 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 it’s public opening hours and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

Signed:

Cunningham Design & Planning Limited Block C, N4 Axis Centre, Longford, Co. Longford

ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL Significant Further Information/Revised Plans

Name of applicant: Niamh Roddy & Mahdi Alhindawi

Reference number of the application: PD/22/628

The development applied for consisted of the following: planning application for permission for one new 1.5 storey domestic dwelling c/w waste water treatment system to EN.125663 (P.I.A. approved) with associated percolation area with new entrance driveway, entrance gate piers and wing walls, and connection to water mains including all other associated site works at Bohalas, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon; “the proposal also includes a revision of the proposed vehicular entrance location”.

Significant Further Information/Revised Plans have been furnished to the Planning Authority in relation to the above stated application, located at Bohalas, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon.

Significant Further Information/ Revised Plans has/have been furnished to the Planning Authority in respect of this proposed development, and is available for inspection or purchase at the offices of the authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the Significant Further Information or Revised Plans may be made in writing to the planning authority within the statutory time limit. A submission or observation must be accompanied by the prescribed fee, except in the case of a person or body who has already made a submission or observation.

Signed: Vincent Durkin Design Ltd. T: 071 9622129 M: 086 8372933.

E: Vincent@DurkinDesign.ie W: www.DurkinDesign.ie

< Established Take Away, good income with 11 year lease €75,000. Tel: 089 233 6050

< TO RENT: 1 bed, self contained unit ro rent in Lanesboro. Suitable for one person, no pets, no smoking. New, cosy and economical. Tel: 086 3223976

Stokes

PODIATRIST

Tullys

Podiatrist/Chiropodist

Sarah Fleming

CB.Sc (Hons) Podiatry MScPI

Sarah will be in Tullys Totalhealth Pharmacy, Castlerea on Monday and Friday and Boyle Totalhealth Pharmacy on Tuesdays.

l HSE Trained and Approved

l Home visits available

For any of your foot issues call: 094 9620009

PODIATRIST

For all foot ailments

Corns, calluses, ingrown toenails, verruca, orthotics, diabetic assessments and treatment.

Siobhan Murray BSc (Hons) Podiatry M.Ch.S.I.

Department of Health Approved

Kearney’s

POWERWASHING

Byrne DIP CHFP

USEFUL SERVICES

USEFUL SERVICES

Corlack Mechanical Maintenance Services Ltd

Ballintober, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon F45Y320 Phone: 086 - 8944363 or 086 - 0872166

l Hydraulic Cylinder Repair and Testing

l Hydraulic Hose Repair

l Oil/Grease Lubricants

l OEM Hydraulic Components and Spares

CAN’T FIND ANYONE

to do that small job, or you haven’t got the time ... WE

l Tyres - Car, Van and 4x4

l Wheel Balancing

l 4-Wheel Alignment

l Batteries

l Adblue

l Accessories

SEPTIC TANKS EMPTIED DRAINS/SEWERS CLEANED PERMIT NO: WCP - MO - 09 -

- 01 COVERING ROSCOMMON AREA TELEPHONE MICHAEL HAVERTY: 086 8381227 or 086 1997815

PHYSICAL THERAPY

Roscommon Physical Therapy Clinic

Movement Matters

20 years experience treating babies to adults. Everyday aches & pains to sports injuries.

Physical Therapy

CranioSacral Therapy

Medical Dry Needling

Tar & Chip Driveways

Harpur Bros,

JOHN 086 4679798

Do you have a house or shed that you want cleaned out and all unwanted items removed?

If so ring: 087 9657933 or 090 66 33084

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

Castlecole, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon

GARDENING

David Duffy 087 9662678

Alan Duffy 086

www.westsidegardening.ie

GARDENING: Lawns mowed and seeded, Leylandi and Laurel Hedge Cut and Shaped, Tree Felling, Fencing, Posts and Panels, Decorative Stone, Bark Mulch, Power Washing and Waste Removal.

CONCRETE: Kerbing, Paving, Patios, Concrete Slabs and Base, Stone Walls and Plastering

DIGGER: Foundations, Land Drainage, Ditch and Hedge removal

STEEL: Sheds, Gates, Cattle Crushes and Pens, all Welding repairs available

C2 Registered & Insured. Free Quotations

AtYourService

PROPERTY

PLANNING EXTRA ....

ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL

On behalf of the Clann na nGael GAA club I am applying to the above Authority for Planning Permission for the following works:

1. To develop a 2nd playing pitch with a 1.4m high metal fence surrounding.

2. To erect 4 no 26m high poles to provide flood lighting of 450 Lux standard.

3. To erect a 45m seated stand.

Specialist in Bathroom Renovations

4. To construct a 2m wide walkway around the boundaries of the grounds, 950m length with solar lighting .

5. A Sensory Garden

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

Signed:

Gerard Pettit Chairman.

ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL

We, Darren and Annemarie King, intend to apply to Roscommon County Council for Full Planning Permission for the demolition of existing shed to side and utility to the rear with replacement single storey living and dining room extension with adjoining spiral staircase to existing basement floor and proposed single storey extension to the west gable with bedroom and ensuite including all associated elevational modifications and site works at Moyvannan, Kiltoom, 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/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.

Signed: Darren and Annemarie King

ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL

We, James and Crystal Crenshaw, are applying for Planning Permission for 1. The demolition of an existing rear partially collapsed shed and the construction of a single storey extension to the rear of an existing dwelling house.

2. Partial demolition, re-roofing and conversion of an existing outbuilding to a proposed new living area with the addition of a porch to link it with the existing house. 3. Re-roofing and alterations to front facade of existing dwelling house and 4. The proposed widening of the existing Entrance Gate with connection to the existing Public Sewer and all associated site development works at Toomanagh Td., Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon.

Signed: AOL Design Ltd.

Consulting Engineers

C/O Albert Looby, Killeenboy, Kilteevan, Co. Roscommon.

Tel: (090) 66 28184

Mobile:(086) 8167365

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

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

THANKSGIVINGS

PRAYER TO ST. ANNE

(To obtain some special favour)

Glorious St. Anne, filled with compassion for those who invoke you, and with love for those who suffer, heavily laden with the weight of my troubles, I cast myself at your feet and humbly beg of you to take the present affair which I recommend to you under your special protection.

Vouchsafe to recommend it to your Daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and lay it before the throne of Jesus, so that He may bring it to a happy issue. Cease not to intercede for me until my request is granted.

(Here ask for favour you wish to obtain). Above all, obtain for me the grace of one day beholding my God face to face, and with thee and Mary and all the saints, praising and blessing Him through all eternity. Amen

Good St. Anne, mother of her Who is our Life, our Sweetness and our Hope, pray to her for us, and obtain our request. (Three times). A.K.

THE MIRACLE PRAYER

Lord Jesus, I come before Thee, just as I am, I am sorry for my sins, I repent of my sins, please forgive me. In Thy Name, I forgive all others for what they have done against me. I renounce Satan, the evil spirits and all their works. I give Thee my entire self, Lord Jesus, I accept Thee as my Lord God and Savior. Heal me, change me, strengthen me in body, soul, and spirit. Come Lord Jesus, cover me with Thy Precious Blood, and fill me with Thy Holy Spirit, I love Thee Lord Jesus, I praise Thee Lord Jesus, I thank Thee Jesus, I shall follow Thee every day of my life. Amen.

Mary, My Mother, Queen of Peace, all the Angels and Saints, please help me. Amen.

Say this prayer faithfully, no matter how you feel. When you come to the point where you sincerely mean each word with all your heart, Jesus will change your whole life in a very special way. You will see. A.K.

THREE

DAY MIRACLE PRAYER TO OUR LADY

Oh most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity.

O Star of the Sea, help me and show me here you are my mother. Oh Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech Thee from the bottom of my heart to secure me in my necessity. (Make your request) There are none that can withstand your power.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee. (repeat three times) Holy Mary, I place this cause in Your hands. (repeat three times) A.K.

NOVENA TO ST. JOSEPH

Glorious St. Joseph, foster-father and protector of Jesus Christ! To you do I raise my heart and hands to implore your powerful intercession. Please obtain for me from the kind Heart of Jesus the help and graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare. I ask particularly for the grace of a happy death, and the special favor I now implore (insert intention).

Guardian of the Word Incarnate, I feel animated with confidence that your prayers in my behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God.

V. O glorious St. Joseph, through the love you bear to Jesus Christ, and for the glory of His name, R. Hear my prayers and obtain my petitions. A.K.

PRAYER TO ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the malice and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do you, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the divine power, thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen. A.K.

PRAYER FOR THE INTERCESSION OF ST. PIO OF PIETRELCINA

Dear God, You generously blessed Your servant, St. Pio of Pietrelcina, with the gifts of the Spirit. You marked his body with the five wounds of Christ Crucified, as a powerful witness to the saving Passion and Death of Your Son. Endowed with the gift of discernment, Pio labored endlessly in the confessional tion of souls. With reverence and intense devotion the celebration of Mass, women to a greater union with Jesus Christ rament of the Holy Eucharist. Through the intercession of St. Pio of Pietrelcina, grant me the grace of (here state your petition). Glory be to the Father… (three times). Amen.

MURPHY Patrick (Pa)

Renefarna, Ruskey, Co. Roscommon (3rd Anniversary)

In loving memory of a dear father and grandfather who died on 27th August 2020

O’DONNELL Ada

I thought of you today but that is nothing new I thought about you yesterday and days before that too.

For in my heart there is a place that only you can hold filled with loving memories far more priceless than gold.

I know that you still hear me Dad so please know this is true that everything I am today is all because of you. Your memory is a keepsake from which I’ll never part God has you in his arms I have you in my heart

Lovingly remembered and missed by Ann and Liam and your beloved grandchildren Laura, Rachel, Rebecca and Chloe. xx

Those special memories of you Dad will always bring a smile if only I could have you back for just a little while. Then we could sit and talk again just like we used to do you always meant so very much and always will do too.

The fact that you’re no longer here will always bring me pain you’re forever in my heart until we meet again.

Sadly missed and always remembered by Michael.

He never looked for praises he was never one to boast he just went on quietly working for the ones he loved the most his dreams were seldom spoken his wants were very few. And most of the time his worries went unspoken too he was there…a firm foundation through all our storms of life a sturdy hand to hold onto. In times of stress and strife a true friend we could turn to when times were good or bad one of our greatest blessings the man that we call Dad.

Lovingly remembered forever by Pauric Gone is the face we loved so dear, silent is the voice we loved to hear. Too far away for sight or speech, but not too far for thought to reach. Sweet to remember him who once was here and who, though absent, is just as dear. Always lovingly remembered and missed by Vinny, Monica and your much loved grandchildren, Eoghan, Aaron and Kilian.

You held my hand when I was small you caught me when I fell. You are the hero of my childhood and my later years as well and every time I think of you my heart still fills with pride. Though I will always miss you Dad I know you’re by my side. In laughter and in sorrow in sunshine and in rain I know you’re watching over me until we meet again Sadly missed and lovingly remembered by David and Geraldine.

I think of things you used to say and all that you would do at some point every single day my thoughts will turn to you to lose you was a bitter wrench. The pain cut to the core I cried until my tears ran out and then I cried some more. That wouldn’t be your wish for me that I’d be forever sad.

So I try to remind myself of the happy times we had I know that I can’t be with you now and you can’t be with me but safe inside my heart you’ll stay that’s where you’ll always be.

Love and miss you Daddy xxx Teresa, Ollie and your little woman Mia.

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

Always loved and remembered by Colette and Noel.

The love we have for Grandad will never fade away, we’ll think of him, our special friend throughout each passing day. We’ll walk into the room and see his empty chair, although we know he’s resting we’ll feel his presence there.

The memories of his laughter his warm and loving smile, his eyes so full of happiness his heart that of a child Memories we will treasure through all the coming years.

Rest easy Pa, lots of love from Laura, Rachel, Rebecca, Chloe, Eoghan, Aaron, Kilian and Mia. xx

Anniversary Mass will be celebrated on Sunday, 27h August at 11.30 in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Ruskey

Edel Vale, Circular Road, Roscommon (12th Anniversary)

In loving memory of Ada, who died on 27th August 2011

Lovingly remembered and sadly missed by Derry and family.

Anniversary Mass in the Sacred Heart Church, Roscommon on Friday 25th August at 11am.

McGOWAN

Padraic (18th Anniversary)

In loving memory of Padraic, Carrownabrickna, Roscommon, who died on the 27th August 2005. Will those who think of Padraic today, a little prayer to Jesus say. Loved always by his mother, and sisters.

Anniversary Mass in the Sacred Heart Church, Roscommon on Saturday, 26th August, 2023 at 10am.

FINNERAN

Gerry & Mae

Ballinagare, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon (9th Anniversary)

Mae, whom God called home on 1st May, 2014 Gerry, whom God called home on 26th July, 2014

Dear Mum & Dad

Ye will never be gone, as we will always remember the times that you both cared for us, protected us, cheered us on, picked us up, kissed and hugged and believed in us; the moments you both made us laugh, made us think, and held us.

We will always remember your laughter, the love in your eyes, We remember when ye were both young and beautiful and full of life.

We remember as you both got older, the way ye dealt with pain and suffering.

You both had great faith in God, which we are so thankful to have now.

The way you both lived your lives to the full, softens the pain of losing you.

But we have so many beautiful memories that will always live in our hearts and can never be taken from us.

We embrace you both in death as lovingly as you both embraced us in life.

Remembered fondly and loved by their son, Micheál, their daughter Martina, their son-in-law Daniel and their daughter-in-law Rose. Also our Aunts – Elizabeth, Patricia and Jeanette, our cousins, extended family, neighbours and friends.

Anniversary Mass for Gerry and Mae will take place in the Sacred Heart Church, Ballinagare on Friday, 25th August at 7pm.

FAMILYNOTICES ....ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND ANNIVERSARIES

FLANAGAN Brendan

Cornashinagh, Fourmilehouse (10th Anniversary)

COMPTON Patrick (Pat)

Newtown, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon

In loving memory of Pat who passed away on August 31st 2019 (4th Anniversary)

DOLAN

Evan (7th Anniversary)

In loving memory of Evan Who fell asleep on 31st August 2016

DOORLY Heather

Ashbrook, Scramogue, Co. Roscommon. (14th Anniversary)

Treasured memories of a dear wife and mother, who passed away on August 28th 2009.

R.I.P.

Rogers Funeral Directors Rooskey

(Covering

30th August 2013

It broke our hearts to lose you but you didn’t go alone, for part of us went with you the day God called you Home. Those we love must someday pass beyond our present sight, must leave us and the world we know without their radiant light. But we know that like a candle their lovely light will surely shine to brighten up another place, more perfect, more divine.

And in the realm of Heaven where they shine so warm and bright, our loved ones live forever in God’s Eternal Light.

Forever missed and loved by his wife Mary, sons John and Martin, daughters Jacqueline, Tracy, Elaine, Leonie and Ashling, sons-in-law Ian and Oisin, brother Patsy, sisters Ita, Madeline, Anne and Jean and extended family and friends.

Anniversary Mass will be held in Four Mile House Church on Sunday, 27th August at 11am.

NOVENA TO ST. CLARE

Ask St. Clare for three favours, one for business, two impossible and nine Hail Marys for nine days with lighted candle. Pray whether you believe or not. Publish on ninth day.

Powerful Novena. Say

‘May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised, adored, glorified now and forever, throughout the whole world. Amen’. Your request will be granted no matter how impossible it may seem. Prayer must be published. B.W.

Never more than a thought away, loved and remembered every day. Will those who think of Pat today, a little prayer to Jesus say.

Lovingly remembered by his wife Pauline and family.

Anniversary Mass on Sunday, August 27th at 11.30am in The Church of the Immaculate Conception, Strokestown.

May his gentle soul Rest In Peace

LOWRY

Ronald (Ronnie) Manor Tulsk Co. Roscommon (1stAnniversary)

Who passed away on the 27th of August 2022.

When the stars shine up in the sky, we miss you When the sun rises and sets everyday, we miss you. When the rain falls and everything looks bright and beautiful, we miss you. Every day, every hour in every way, in everything we do, we miss you.

Your loving parents, Robbie and Marian your brother Cian and sister Aoife.

Anniversary Mass for Evan will take place in The Sacred Heart Church, Roscommon on Saturday, 26th August at 10am.

DOLAN

Evan

(7th Anniversary)

31st August

In loving memory of Evan

A heart too gentle, a mind too deep, a beautiful soul, forever asleep. Eyes full of sparkle, a heart full of love, now shining brightly from Heaven above. Will those who think of Heather today, a little prayer to Jesus say.

Dearly loved and missed everyday by husband Michéal, daughters Rachel and Rhona, sisters Sharon and Lorna, family and friends.

Anniversary Mass in St. Anne’s Church, Scramogue on Sunday, 27th August at 10am.

A silent house, an empty chair, something missing everywhere. Life goes on we know that’s true, it broke our hearts to lose you. But you didn’t go alone, part of us went with you, the day God took you home.

Forever missed by Caroline Tom and Milo, brother-inlaw, sisters-in-law, nieces nephews, partners, relatives, neighbours and friends.

First Anniversary Mass will be celebrated on Sunday, 27th of August at 11.30am. in the Church of St’s. Eithne and Fidelma, Tulsk.

A beautiful memory, dearer than gold, Of a grandson whose worth can never be told. Those we love don’t go away, They walk beside us everyday, Unseen, unheard but always near, So loved, so missed, so very dear. Loved and missed Granny and Grandad. Your memory in our hearts this day, means more to us than words can say. Unseen, unheard, but always near, Loved, remembered and ever dear. From Barbara, David and family.

The years may pass, But still you stay, As near and dear, As yesterday.

Always loved Brenda. xx

To us you were someone special, What more is there to say. Wishing with all our hearts, That you were here today.

Always remembered Ailish and Aidan.

If I had one wish today, I know what it would be, Just to see your face again, Would mean the world to me. I look up to the sky, When it’s a starry night, And know that you’ll be there, The biggest star shining bright. Loved and always remembered, Noelle. x

KELLY Annie

Four Mile House, Roscommon (8th Anniversary)

In loving memory of our dear Mother Annie, who died on 22nd August 2015

A whisper on an August day, you heard a gentle call. You took the hand of Jesus and quietly left us all. It’s now your anniversary, you wouldn’t want a fuss. Just to be remembered and prayed for by all of us.

Sadly missed by her loving daughter, son, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and extended family.

Anniversary Mass will be held on Friday, 25th August at 8pm in Four-Mile-House Church.

MULVEY (née Dowd)

Evelyn

Lisnagabra, Four Roads, Roscommon

KEAVENEY Liam

Roundforth, Athleague, Co. Roscommon

Who passed away on 2nd September 2022.

HANMORE

Jack

Harristown, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon

In loving memory of Jack who passed away 25th of August 2021 (2nd Anniversary)

On the First Anniversary of the passing of Evelyn Mulvey, we, the family wish to express our sincere gratitude to all who sympathised with us and supported us through our sad loss. We are truly grateful to everyone who attended Evelyn’s Removal, Funeral Mass and Burial, those who sent messages of sympathy and Mass cards. Thank you to those who could not be with us but kept us in their thoughts and prayers.

We wish to acknowledge with gratitude the excellent care Evelyn received over the years from Dr. Martin Daly and the staff of Ballygar Health Centre and the doctors, nurses and staff of Portiuncla Hospital Ballinasloe. We are most thankful to Dr. Parland and the staff of Apree Living Ballinasloe for their kindness, professionalism and wonderful care given to our mother in her final days.

We would like to thank Fr. Eugene McLoughlin for the celebration of Evelyn’s Funeral Mass. Thanks to Gerry Dowd and Grace Hevehan who provided such beautiful music to accompany the Mass. Heartfelt thanks to Michael Dempsey Funeral Directors for your professionalism and compassion at such a difficult time. To Evelyn’s neighbours and those who prepared her final resting place we are most thankful. To Fr. Francis Beirne, Evelyn’s Parish Priest, we thank you for your meaningful Month’s Mind Mass and the years of Pastoral Care she received.

There were so many gestures of kindness and goodwill that we as a family deeply appreciate.

As it would not be possible to thank everyone individually, please accept this acknowledgement as an expression of our deep gratitude.

Evelyn is sadly missed by her daughters Philomena and Helena, sister Mary, sister-in-law Kathleen, sons-in-law, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, neighbours and friends.

First Anniversary Mass for Evelyn will be held in the Church of Christ the Good Shepherd, Four Roads at 7.30pm on Friday, August 25th.

CONRY

Farrell & Fr. Anthony (Tony)

Brazil

On the First Anniversary of Liam’s death, his wife Margaret and family wish to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation for all the kind expressions of sympathy and support we have received.

We wish to express our appreciation to all those who attended the house, Funeral Home, Funeral Mass and Burial. A special thanks to the people who travelled long distances, sent Mass cards and sympathy cards, floral tributes, online condolences and to those who donated to the Irish Heart Foundation.

Sincere thank you to Fr. Christopher Edebianga, Canon Eugene McLoughlin and Liam’s cousin Fr. Benny Flanagan for celebrating his life with a beautiful Funeral Mass. To Margaret and Sean Kiernan for the beautiful music during the Funeral Mass.

We would also like to thank Dr. David Harrison in the Primary Care Centre, along with his staff, for their expert medical care over the years.

We would like to thank the wonderful staff of St. Claire’s and St. John’s Wards and ICU Unit of Portiuncula Hospital for their care and compassion shown to Liam and family members over the last week of his life, it will never be forgotten.

Thanks also to Niall and Rena Flanagan of Flanagan Undertakers for their professionalism, kindness, support and guidance with attention to detail at all times and also for arranging the online broadcast for those who could not travel to the Funeral.

Thanks also Henry Hamrock’s Funeral Home for the use of the Funeral Home and for providing refreshments for the grave diggers and on the evening of the Reposing. Thanks to the grave diggers who prepared Liam’s final resting place so carefully.

Our heartfelt appreciation to our great neighbours who lined the road outside our house on the evening of his Removal. Thank you to the members of Tremane Hurling Club for the thoughtful Guard of Honour on his arrival to the Funeral Home and from the church to the graveyard on the day of his burial, a gesture that is truly appreciated.

Our sincere thanks to the Abbey Hotel and staff for their catering and hospitality on the day of the Funeral. Also, we wish to thank Athleague Community Centre for the use of their resources, chairs, tables and catering equipment after Liam’s Month’s Mind Mass, it was very much appreciated.

We would also like to thank all the friends, relatives and neighbours who have continued to show such tremendous kindness and support to us over this past year.

Since it would be impossible to thank everyone individually, please accept this acknowledgement as an expression of our heartfelt gratitude.

“Never more than a thought away, loved and remembered every day”

He is sadly missed by his wife Margaret, his three children Michael, Enda and Lisa, Enda’s partner Carretta, his son-in-law John, grandchildren Mia and Jack, brothers-in-law, sister-in-law, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, relatives, friends and neighbours.

Liam’s First Anniversary Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, 2nd September at 7pm in St. Patrick’s Church, Athleague.

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 broken heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful 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. R.G.

Gone but not forgotten. Love from John, Claire, Mary, Mark and Anna. Mass has been offered.

KELLY Mary and Paddy Ballinleg, Ballymurray, Co. Roscommon. (21st and 30th Anniversaries)

In loving memory of my parents. Mary who died on 26th August 2002. Paddy who died on 9th October 1993.

Always in our thoughts and prayers. Sadly missed by your son Paddy and daughter-in-law Marian.

FITZPATRICK

Joseph (Joe)

Kilrooskey, Co Roscommon

In loving memory of a dear husband, father and grandfather who died 15th August 2019 (4th Anniversary)

Quietly your memory we will always treasure. Loving you always forgetting you never.

Always remembered and loved by your wife, sons, daughters, daughters in law and grandchildren.

Anniversary Mass will be held on Saturday, 9th September at 8pm in St. Mary’s Church, Ballagh.

QUINE Agnes and Michael (8th

and 2nd Anniversaries)

In loving memory of our dear parents Agnes and Michael late of Oran, Donamon, Co. Roscommon who passed away on 20th September 2015 and 1st July 2021.

Of all the gifts in life, however great or small, to have you as our parents was the greatest gift of all. Please put your arms around them Lord and treasure them with care, for you have in your possession parents beyond compare. Your gentle nature, your kindly ways leave golden memories of bygone days. Never selfish, always kind, what happy memories you left behind. Will those who think of mam and dad today, a little prayer to Jesus say.

Lovingly remembered by their son Francis, daughters Cathy and Michelle, daughter-in-law Mary, son-in-law John, grandchildren Emma and Jamie and extended family.

Anniversary Mass on Saturday, 26th August at 7pm in St. Patrick’s Church, Cloverhill.

MIND MASS A Month’s Mind Mass will be held for Farrell Conry, Corbane, Elphin and his brother Fr. Anthony (Tony) Corbane, Elphin and Sai Paulo, Brazil on Saturday 26th of August in St. Catherine’s Church, Killina, Tulsk at 11am.

Killina, Elphin - Tulsk - Sao Paulo,

In loving memory of Farrell Conry, Corbane, Elphin, Roscommon/Tulsk, Roscommon who passed away in July and Fr. Anthony who passed away recently in Brazil.

Fr. Anthony (Tony) Conry Farrell Conry

Reporting to the Customer Care Manager, the successful candidate must ensure that a positive and professional image of the company is presented to all customers.

Duties to include:

l Working as part of the Customer Service Team managing inbound calls /emails.

l Respond in a timely manner to customer queries and answer complaints effectively to customer satisfaction ensuring all cases are logged in Salesforce.

l Liaise with customers regarding orders and deliveries whilst also working closely with other departments in order to provide excellent customer service.

Candidate Requirements:

l Professional telephone manner

l Good communication skills

l Computer literacy. Candidates must be proficient in Microsoft and web based systems.

l Experience with Salesforce and CRM system is desirable.

Role info: 9.00am – 5.30pm (Monday-Friday) with Hybrid option To apply, please email CV’s to: roscommon.recruitment@cws.com

EXPERIENCED SCHOOL CLEANER WANTED

10 hours per week

(2 hours per day after 3pm Monday to Friday.) September to June 2024. Summers negotiable Minimum wage to start.

BUS ESCORT WANTED

Scramogue Co. Roscommon 1 hour per day. 30 mins morning and 30 mins evening. 5 hours per week. School Terms (September to June excluding school holidays.)

Email CV to: interviews@ballyfeeneyns.ie Or call 071 9633855

Ballyfeeney N.S Scramogue, Co. Roscommon F42W594

THE DISTRICT COURT (An Chuirt Duiche) No 86.3

Public Dance Halls Act, 1935

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A PUBLIC DANCING LICENCE

District Court Area of Roscommon District No. 4 Thomas J Grealy - Applicant

TAKE NOTICE that the above-named Applicant Thomas J Grealy of Abbeytown, Roscommon, Roscommon intends to apply to the District Court at Roscommon District Court on the 19th Sepember 2023 at 10.30am for the grant of an Annual Dance Licence a Licence to use a particular place, to wit: LOCATION Ballroom, Abbey Hotel Roscommon situate at Roscommon, Roscommon, Roscommon in court area and district aforesaid, for public dancing.

Signed:

Mahon Sweeney Solicitors LLP

Solicitor for Applicant

The Square, Roscommon, Roscommon

To: The Garda Superintendent, Castlerea Garda Station, Castlerea, Roscommon, F45 YX06 CourtPresenters.RosLong@garda.ie

To: The Fire Officer, Roscommon County Council, Roscommon, Roscommon, F42 VR98 fire@roscommoncoco.ie

To: The Co Council Official, Church Road, Roscommon Town, Roscommon, F42VR98 info@roscommoncoco.ie

Sports PEOPLE

Heather the homecoming hero!

Irish World Cup star returns to Ballinasloe

< DAN DOONER

Republic of Ireland Women’s star, Heather Payne, received a hero’s welcome back to Ballinasloe Town on Wednesday evening last following her return from World Cup duty in Australia.

The 23-year-old Creagh native, who has been heavily linked to Women’s Super League team Everton this week, told People Sport she was thrilled with the reception.

“It was great…I still can’t really comprehend it all; I’m still getting used to it! But it was great to see the amount of kids there – boys and girls. It’s great to know that now young girls can actually play football because when I was younger I had to play with the boys’ teams. It’s great for them to be able to watch a team on TV and be able to look up to them. It’s huge for the women’s game in general,” she said.

Heather said that while the team had hoped to go further in the competition, the World Cup was an experience they would never forget.

“The opening game against Australia was unreal! Walking out at the beginning of the game was something I’ve never experienced before with a crowd that size. That was definitely special and something I’ll remember for a long time,” she said.

“I think we were just unlucky with a tough group. If you look at the results, Australia went all the way to the semifinals and we only lost to them by a penalty. We weren’t far off and if we’d been in a slightly kinder group we might have qualified for the round of 16. It’s good to have that experience now and hope we can keep qualifying for World Cups and European Championships as well”.

The former Roscommon Ladies minor footballer said the level of support the team received Down Under was top class.

“There was a ‘fan zone’ in Brisbane just around the corner from our hotel and so we went down to see the fans one afternoon before the Nigeria game. The crowds for each of our games in Perth, Brisbane and Sydney were unreal,” she said.

Heather also received plenty of support from family and friends: “My sister Lorna was living in Canada for a year with her boyfriend so they made the trip over. So did my mom (Gráinne), my dad (Brendan)

and my brother (Conor) and I also had an aunt and uncle who made the trip too so I was well supported over there,” she said. “They definitely enjoyed the experience. I was chatting to my mom and I feel like it’s different on the outside because when you’re involved you probably don’t feel like it’s such a big deal. I still can’t comprehend that it was a World Cup; it felt like just another camp to me!”

And while there were rumours of a falling out between head coach Vera Pauw and star player Katie McCabe, Heather said team spirit was high throughout their time together.

“We’re all close and there are no real cliques. You can sit at a table with anyone and have something to talk about so I think the team spirit in general was very good,” she said. Asked about her next steps in the sport, Heather remained coy over rumours of an impending move to Everton in the Women’s Super League.

The Roscommon woman was a free agent following her graduation from Florida State in May and is expected to sign for The Toffees in what would be a major milestone in her already impressive career.

Final four hopes on the line!

Kepak SHC quarter-finals this Sunday in Athleague

< SEAMUS DUKE

Roscommon Gaels v Oran at 2 pm

Roscommon Gaels are in the rarefied atmosphere of a senior quarter-final and are in the play-offs on merit after a string of fine performances this year. They have been transformed in 2023 under the guidance of Ronan O’Meara and will be confident that they can reach the last four. They pipped Sunday’s opponents in their group game and a semi-final appearance would mean a wonderful season for the town side. Oran have been beset by injuries and absentees this year, however Ciaran Farrell’s men will be determined to reverse that earlier result.

This promises to be a hard-fought match with very little between the teams. The Gaels have the wind in their sails and they might just have enough to get through.

Prediction: Roscommon Gaels

St Dominic’s v Tremane at 3.45 pm

Another tight match predicted here. Tremane struggled against Pearses for long periods to qualify for the play-offs before Michael Brennan led a final quarter blitz. They will need to be in top form on Sunday and will be hoping that Niall Kilroy will be back for the match. Dominic’s have not been setting the world on fire but they will be very competitive. These two drew when they met in the group stages earlier in the championship so there is not much between them. With Peter Kellehan back, and if Kilroy plays, Tremane are the choice to make it to the last four.

Prediction: Tremane

Staying dry: Pictured at the Roscommon Gaels v Western Gaels Hodson Bay Group SFC game in Lisnamult last Friday were Brendan Doolan, Allie Mae Doolan, Kevin Keegan, Shane Hoare and David Kelly. Pic: Michelle Hughes Walsh

Tully takes national Wall Ball title

St Coman’s’ Fiona Tully overcame long-time rival, Catriona Casey, for the very first time to take the National Wall Ball title last weekend in Kilglass.

Fresh from an opening round Ladies Senior Football Championship match with Kilbride, Fiona defeated the Cork woman 2511 in the Elite Ladies’ final.

The atmosphere in Kilglass was electric as Fiona received a standing ovation before celebrating her memorable victory with family and friends.

There were tears of joy and sadness, of course, but Fiona’s late mother was surely smiling down as her daughter finally got over the line in a national decider.

Elsewhere, Carragh Kennedy and Alanna Coggeran met in the final of the Ladies ‘B’ grade. There was little to separate them be-

Creggs RFC Report

fore Carragh winning 1716 just before time ran out. Meanwhile, Sharon Grehan lost out in the final of the Ladies’ Challenger grade after defeating the returning Katie Heneghan in the semi-finals.

In other notable results:

Sean Raftery won the Men’s C Plate; Eddie Conboy was defeated in the Men’s B Plate final to Lee Fagan; Brian Mannion went down to Cathal McNamee in the Men’s C semi-final; Seán Hall lost the Men’s Challenger Plate final to Eoghan Morgan; John Coggeran was defeated in the Silver Masters Plate by Josian Oskoz.

Finally, well done to all the underage players, who performed brilliantly in their events. Some were competing for the very first time and showed excellent skills and plenty of promise for what’s to come.

THE GAIN LINE

Creggs in Cawley Cup action

Creggs Rugby season is now up and running with the senior team away to Ballinrobe in the Cawley Cup this Saturday at 6 pm.

Meanwhile, training continues for the Women’s and U-18 girls teams on Mondays at 8 pm. The adult team will take part in an Invitational Cup playing against Westport, Sligo and OLBC, starting in two weeks’ time. Training

Buccaneers RFC

Season kicks off!

Buccaneers and Corinthians served up some decent fare as club rugby action for season 2023-24 kicked off on Saturday when the teams squared up in the opening round of the Bank of Ireland Connacht Senior League.

On home soil at Dubarry Park, the mainly diagonal swirling breeze was the only blight on the playing conditions as Buccs got the defence of their title off to a winning start, coming out on top by 24-14.

Buccs away to Galwegians

Buccaneers head west along the M6 on Saturday for the second round Bank of Ireland Connacht Senior League fixture away to Galwegians. Kick off for this encounter at Crowley Park is 2.30 pm.

Scallon Cup on Sunday

Meanwhile, Buccaneers U-20s taste action for the first time this season when they host Enniskillen in the Scallon Cup at Dubarry Park on Sunday. This Cup was revived last season and it is good to see that it is being continued between the two clubs who had a strong relationship prior to the advent of the All-Ireland League. Kick-off in Athlone is 1 pm.

Leo’s long-awaited cap

There was great pride and joy in the club last Saturday when Leo Galvin was finally presented with his Ireland international cap 50 years after his appearance against Argentina. Congratulations Leo on this long overdue recognition.

Condolences

Deepest sympathy is extended to the Henshaw family on the passing of Billy Senior. Heartfelt condolences to the Gildea and Nally families on the death of Michelle Nally whose father-in-law Peter is current groundsman at the club.

In association with the

for the girls U-14 and U-16 commences on Mondays from 7 pm.

All our underage groups are now back in training, while Mini Rugby recommences on September 23rd. Keep an eye on our social media and the Roscommon People for details.

U-18 girls represent Connacht

Last weekend saw some of our female players

represent Connacht at senior and U-18 levels. Ivana Kiripati came on in the Senior Interprovincial match against Munster in Cork. Connacht were well beaten on the day. In the U-18 Girls’ game, Connacht had a great 13-5 win versus Munster. The team was captained by Sarah Purcell, daughter of Club President Dave. Also representing Creggs were Ciara Corrigan, Isabelle Quinn, Merisa Kiripati with Jemima Adams Verling and Siofra Hession playing too.

On the pitch…

On Monday last, a depleted U-14 Rovers team lost away to Dunmore while our Real side were beaten at home by St Cuan’s.

On Tuesday, our Town 1 U-12 lads were in Kilkerrin while Town 2 were at home to Dunmore. Our U-16 girls made the short journey out the road to Lecarrow on Wednesday evening.

Today (Thursday), both of our U-16 boys teams are away from home. Town 1 are in Castlerea while Town 2 visit Moore.

The action continues also for our U-7, U-9 and U-11 boys and girls teams this weekend as we enter the closing stages of the 2023 season.

World Cup Draw winners

Spain emerged victorious in the Women’s World Cup Final last Sunday. The following club members will receive a gift from our Club Store soon: Anthony (U-7s), Diarmuid (U-9s), Shay (U-9s), Ruth (U-11s), Ethan (U-11s), Culann (U-11s), Pierce (U-11s), Bobby (U12s), Luke (U-14s), Dwayne (U-14s), Leo (U-18s), Mike Ryan (volunteer).

Galway Cup

Well done to Olímpia, Jonathan Greene and Mathew Towey who represented the club and the RDYSL at the recent Galway Cup. We are proud of you.

Wise Words

‘In the end, it’s not the years in your life that counts. It’s the life in your years’ - Abraham Lincoln

St Coman’s’ Fiona Tully overcame long-time rival, Catriona Casey, for the very first time to take the National Wall Ball title last weekend in Kilglass.

The Creggs girls who played with Connacht U-18s against Munster recently.

SportsPeople

200/1 Lenebane winner for Galway native

Horses for Courses

Punters had the better of the layers in Lenabane last Tuesday as three favourites and two second favourites won the first five races starting with the 7/4f Khafaaq winning the opener for trainer Andrew Slattery and jockey Cian Horgan. The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden was won by the second favourite Beauty Thunder at 11/4, and in the Irish EBF Auction Series Race odds on Nemonte 5/6, trained by Joseph O’Brien won under Connor Stone-Walsh.

Johnny Murtagh and rider Ben Coen won the Murray Ambulance Fillies Maiden with second favourite Hazalaya beating the evens favourite Muhaarar’s Girl by 3¾l.

The Londis Roscommon Handicap went to the joint favourite Yermanthere at 100/30 trained by Andrew Kinirons under Sean D Bowen.

The bookies repaired some of the damage in the penultimate race, the Connolly’s Red Mills Apprentice Maiden, as the 200/1 shot Navajo River trained in Dunboyne by Glenamaddy native owner/breeder Luke Comer won in maroon and white silks under a driving finish by Paddy Harnett. He beat the well backed odds-on favourite, the 8/11 Joseph O’Brien trained, Fisherman’s Beach by a head. Another of

Comer’s horses finished third another ¾ l away also at 200/1.

Racing closed with the Tony Martin market drifter, 11/4 to 7/1, winning the Sean Cleary Memorial Handicap from Narlita backed in from morning price of 33/1 to 17/2. Ben Coen recorded a double on the day on bord this one.

Weekend action…

Racing this week begins this evening

(Thursday) with the first of a three-day meeting in Killarney starting with national hunt racing at 4.20 pm and on the flat in Leopardstown at 4.35 pm.

Tomorrow (Friday) racing at Killarney is on the flat, away at 4.15 pm and over the jumps at Kilbeggan at 4.35 pm.

by Tom Red

Meeting at Cork on next Wednesday afternoon, August 30th, details to be announced.

On the box…

Terrestrial television coverage this week starts today (Thursday) with five races from York’s Ebor meeting including the Group 1 Yorkshire Oak. Tomorrow (Friday), there are five races including the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes, and on Saturday five races from York including the Group 2 City of York Stakes, and three from Goodwood featuring the Group 2 Celebration Mile Stakes, all races in ITV and Virgin Media 1.

Racing News

On Saturday, the first race of a national hunt card at Killarney is off 1.55 pm and in the evening flat racing is at headquarters in the Curragh featuring the Irish Cambridgeshire and three Group 3 races, at 4.05 pm.

On Sunday, Naas is off at 1.30 pm featuring the Group 3 Irish EBF Ballyogan Stakes. Racing on Monday afternoon is in Downpatrick with a national hunt card, at 2.05 pm and in the evening back in the west at Ballinrobe also with a national hunt card, first race at 5.05 pm.

In yesterday’s Group 1 Juddmonte Stakes at York the favourite, Aidan O’Brien’s Paddington with Ryan Moore aboard, was beaten into third place by Mostahdaf ridden by Frankie Dettori to make every post a winning one for the Gosden father and son team who also supplied the runner-up with the filly Nashwa.

Way, the Gosden’s odds-on favourite Gregory under Dettori finished only third.

gan on Friday knowing Kilbeggan is in Co Westmeath.

Short putts

Athlone

Angela Veldon won the 18-hole Stableford last weekend with 42 points. Margaret Byrne was second (41) and Evelyn Wright was third (40).

The recent 9-hole competition was won by Chris Fuery (20 points) while Nuala Hamilton was runner-up with 19. Deirdre Connolly was best of the 97 Club with 26 points and the Women’s Open Day Gala was won by Anne O’Sullivan with an impressive total of 39 points.

Boyle

The overall winner of Men’s Captain’s Prize last weekend was Colin Whyte, son of the delighted captain himself, Liam. Other results: 2nd Brian Furey; Gross Jason Beirne; 3rd Sean Purcell; 18 nett David Wynne; Past Captain Gabriel Lavin; Seniors Paddy McLoughlin; Category 0-13 Tom Kearney; 14-20 Killian Cox; 21+ Dessie Murphy; 1st 9 Paul Brown; 2nd 9 Enda Smith; 3rd 9 Karl Keenan; Visitor Paul Whyte; Nearest the Pin Paddy McLoughlin; Longest Drive Joe Whyte. The winning team of the Captain’s Scramble consisted of Joe Whyte, Paul Whyte, Jonathan Egan and Karl Keenan.

Carrick

Congratulations to Patrick Martin who has been selected for the Connacht U-14 team for the upcoming Interprovincials. This is a fantastic honour for Patrick and great recognition of the hard work and great golf he has been playing this summer. Last weekend’s Ladies’ competition

HRI has announced an additional Flat

Dettori was recording his sixth win in the race, passing the five ridden by the great Lester Piggott. O’Brien and Moore earlier had some compensation in the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes with Continuous winning from Castle

DARTS

was won by Monica Shannon with Ann Keenan second, Frances Molloy third and Phil Emmett winning the gross prize.

Our Jack O’Sullivan team were unlucky to lose 3-2 to Ballaghaderreen in the first round. Here’s hoping for better luck for our Junior Cup team in the All-Ireland in Monaghan this Friday!

A massive congratulations, meanwhile, to our Connacht Shield team who won their first round game against Co Sligo. In the Seniors’ section, the overall winner last Thursday was Michael Comerton with a score of 38 points. Other results: Cat 1 PJ Sharkey; Cat 2 Damien Duignan; Cat 3 Ken Moran; Front 9 Kevin O’Rourke; Back 9 Leo Kavanagh.

Roscommon

Congratulations to Olivia Costello who won once again invited to take part in the KPMG Women’s Irish Open from August 29th to September 3rd at Dromoland Castle.

It will be great to have Olivia represent Roscommon Golf Club at this prestigious event with all the top European lady professional golfers. Wishing Olivia the best of luck at this event.

The Men’s 18-hole competition last weekend was won by R Keogh with 44 points while the Ladies’ competition went to M Cribbon with 76 nett. The Ladies’ 9-hole was won by Y Creighton with 23 points while P Walsh was best of the Senior Men with 36 and J Garvan topped the Ladies Seniors’ leaderboard.

A reminder that Roscommon Golf Club will be hosting an Open Weekend from today (Thursday) until Sunday.

Dual British champion jockey Paul Hanagan, 2010 and 2011, has announced that he will retire tomorrow, Friday, after riding for 25 years. He suffered a serious injury in 2010 in a fall at Newcastle and will retire after he rides Wooton’Sun for his former boss, Richard Fahey, in the first at York.

Competition Time

Cian Heavey, Fuerty, Mick McGarry, Roscommon, and Marie Keane, Ballymurray have won tickets for Kilbeg-

To win tickets for Roscommon on September 4th we want to know what is the name of the 200/1 winner in Roscommon on last Tuesday, August 22nd? Answers as usual please on a postcard to The Roscommon People, Abbey Street, Roscommon or by email to phone number tomred17@ gmail.com by 5 pm, Wednesday, August 30th, and as always do not forget to include your name, address, and a contact with all competition entries. As usual all tickets will have to be collected in the office in Abbey Street. (News

Fleming takes top prize!

Sean Fleming defeated Paul Carton to emerge victorious from the cup final following an ultra competitive Hollywood Bar Darts Superleague finals night last Friday in Roscommon town.

Fleming had beaten Wayne Harries 4-0 in the quarter-finals before edging David Concannon 5-4

in a thrilling semi to reach the decider. For his part, Carton had seen off Mick Egan (4-1) in the last eight, and Thomas Concannon (5-4) in the semi-finals. The final itself was a one-sided affair with Fleming finishing with a flourish including visits of 134 and 121 to

ease to a 6-0 win on the night.

Credit to both players on a great final which was much closer than the scoreline suggested, with both bringing the best out in each other.

The organisers gave special thanks to all the players who took part, both on the night and across the

previous eight weeks. All players played their part in helping to create such a high standard throughout the event. Finally, many thanks to The Hollywood Bar management and staff for their sponsorship of the event as well as the hospitality shown throughout the event.

Anthony Flaherty of Connolly’s Red Mill’s presenting Trainer and Owner Luke Comer after his horse ‘Navajo River’ won the Connolly’s Red Mills Apprentice Maiden at the Roscommon Races on Tuesday evening. Pic: Michelle Hughes Walsh

Roscommon Darts Superleague Cup winner Sean Fleming (right) pictured with runner-up Paul Carton last Friday night at The Hollywood Bar.

All square in ‘Battle of the Gaels’

Hodson Bay Group SFC Group A (Round 2) Roscommon Gaels 0-5 Western Gaels 0-5

< SEAMUS DUKE

A draw was a fair result in this ‘Battle of the Gaels’ at Lisnamult on Friday night last as both teams had to endure some of the worst conditions you could imagine as torrential rain and gale-force winds dominated for most of the match and it meant that any kind of constructive football was impossible.

To have completed the match at all was a miracle such was the ferocity of the weather and there was a strong argument to be made that the game could have been abandoned as the second half went on.

Western Gaels played with the elements at their backs in the opening half and they led by 0-2 to no score after seven minutes with Kevin Higgins (mark) and Niall Higgins on target. However, with Cathal Dineen, Scott Oates and John McManus playing well, the home side were always in contention.

Rory Carthy pointed a free and a ’45 in the 11th and 14th minutes to level the scores, and it was the town side who looked the better side from there until half-time. Jack Higgins converted a free for Western Gaels in the 17th minute but points from Kieran Kilcline in the 19th minute (a fine effort) and a converted free from Richie Walsh in the 27th minute saw Roscommon Gaels go in leading by 0-4 to 0-3 at the break.

The conditions deteriorated significantly as the second half went on and by the time the game ended the players were splashing around in pools of water. Western Gaels dug in and coped well in the circumstances. Kevin Higgins (who was excellent) pointed in the 32nd minute to level the scores.

Rory Carthy edged the home side into the lead with a point in the 36th minute but there were very few

Hodson Bay Group SFC

scoring chances after that as the ferocious conditions worsened.

It looked like Roscommon Gaels would edge it until Kevin Higgins was fouled in the first minute of injury-time and Finbar Cregg pointed from 35 metres into the storm. It was no more than Western Gaels deserved on the day.

This result, and Boyle’s win against St Faithleach’s, means that all four teams in this group are in with a chance of progressing in the last round of group games.

Roscommon Gaels: James Fetherstone; Ronan Gleeson, Senan Lambe, James Connolly; Ciaran O’Reilly, Scott Oates, Cathal Dineen; John McManus, Mark Purcell; Rory Carthy (0-3, 1 free 1 ’45), Ethan O’Reilly, Kieran Kilcline (0-1); Richie Walsh (0-1, free), Cian Connolly, Peter Gillooly.

Subs: Ryan Conlon for C O’Reilly (h/t), Paddy Fannon for C Connolly (42), Paul Gleeson for R Gleeson (57).

Western Gaels: Adrian Hardiman; Tommie Devine, Seanie McDermott, Conor Sampey; Dylan Kennedy, Ciaran Cafferky, Tommy Gill; Kevin Higgins (0-2, 1 mark), Barry Creighton; James McDonnell, Cathal Cregg, Niall Higgins (0-1); Jack Higgins (0-1, free), Finbar Cregg (0-1, free), Rory Hester.

Subs: Oisin Ward for N Higgins (48), Orin Hester for Sampey (50).

Referee: Dermot Lyons

Man of the Match: Kevin Higgins (Western Gaels)

Note: This was the first game that the brand new Paddy Connolly memorial stand was in operation at Lisnamult. It is a fantastic facility and it certainly gave the few hundred supporters shelter on a terrible night. Well done to all at Roscommon Gaels and everyone responsible for this super new spectator stand.

Brigid’s, Clann and Oran into last eight

< SEAMUS DUKE

Group A

The results over the weekend mean that all four teams in this group are still in contention.

Roscommon Gaels’ draw with Western Gaels (see report) and Boyle’s win against St Faithleach’s ensures that both final round games will decide who goes into the quarterfinals.

Boyle edged out St Faithleach’s in Ballyleague by two points. Daire Cregg and Enda Smith scored some crucial scores as last year’s beaten finalists recovered from their heavy defeat against Roscommon Gaels in round one.

Group B

St Brigid’s coasted into the quarter-finals with a very comfortable win against neighbours St Dominic’s. Eddie

Nolan scored the only goal of the game as the championship favourites eased to a facile victory.

Pádraig Pearses were also impressive as they accounted for Michael Glavey’s. Jack Tumulty scored a cracking goal while Eoin Colleran was on the mark with Pearses’ other goal. Struggling Glavey’s got a late consolation goal from a Gary Patterson penalty.

Pearses will join St Brigid’s if they can beat St Dominic’s in their final game while Michael Glavey’s look set for a relegation battle unless they can defeat St Brigid’s in their final group match.

Group C

Clann na nGael and Oran were both impressive at the weekend. Clann put Tulsk to the sword with Fearghus Lennon, Sea Henry and Kieran Connaughton getting the goals in Tulsk.

Meanwhile, Oran put Strokestown to the sword in Strokestown, winning by 12 points (see report).

This group is now straightforward with

Oran and Clann na nGael already through to the quarter-finals. They meet in the final group match to see who finishes first or second.

Defending county champions Strokestown now face a battle with neighbours Tulsk to see who will be in the relegation battle.

GAA Results

Hodson Bay Group SFC (Group A)

Roscommon Gaels 0-5 Western Gaels 0-5 Boyle 0-10 St Faithleach’s 0-8

Hodson Bay Group SFC (Group B)

St Brigid’s 1-19 St Dominic’s 0-4

Hodson Bay SFC (Group C)

Oran 1-19 Strokestown 1-7 Clann na nGael 3-14 Tulsk Lord Edwards 1-8

Callington Ltd IFC (Group A)

Éire Óg 1-12 Shannon Gaels 1-2

St Brigid’s 1-11 Kilmore 2-7

Callington Ltd IFC (Group B)

St Croan’s 0-10 St Aidan’s 1-6

Fuerty 3-13 Kilbride 0-7

Callington Ltd IFC (Group C)

Castlerea St Kevin’s 1-8 Elphin 0-6

Pádraig Pearses 3-12 Creggs 1-16

Dermot Hughes Cars JAFC (Group A)

Kilglass Gaels 1-14 St Dominic’s 1-4 St Ronan’s 0-13 Roscommon Gaels 0-12

Dermot Hughes Cars JAFC (Group B)

Clann na nGael 2-10 St Joseph’s 0-9

St Barry’s 0-15 Western Gaels 1-11

Dermot Hughes Cars JAFC (Group C)

St Michael’s 4-11 Tulsk Lord Edwards 2-4

Strokestown 1-7 Ballinameen 1-6

Fixtures

Friday, August 25th

RosGal Loss Assessors Ltd JBFC (Group D) (8 pm)

At Kiltoom: St Brigid’s v Pádraig Pearses

At Strokestown: Strokestown v St Faithleach’s

Saturday, August 26th

RosGal Loss Assessors Ltd JBFC (Group A) (6 pm)

At Orchard Park: Elphin v Kilbride

At Abbey Park: Boyle v Michael Glavey’s

RosGal Loss Assessors Ltd JBFC (Group B)

At Kilteevan: St Michael’s v Clann na nGael. 5.30 pm

At Mulhern Park: Fuerty v Shannon Gaels. 6 pm

At Kilmore: Kilmore v St Aidan’s. 6 pm

RosGal Loss Assessors Ltd JBFC (Group C) (6 pm)

At James Timothy Park: Éire Óg v Oran

At Enfield: St Croan’s v St Ronan’s

Sunday, August 27th

Kepak Senior Hurling Championship Quarter-Finals

At Athleague: Roscommon Gaels v Oran. 2 pm

At Athleague: Tremane v St Dominic’s. 3.45 pm

Roscommon Manager Davy Burke pictured with Leo Tierney from his coaching team and Gerry Wynne during Sunday’s SFC Championship game between Tulsk Lord Edward’s and Clann na nGael. Pic: Bernie O’Farrell

This image, taken during last Friday’s Hodson Bay Group SFC match between Roscommon Gaels and Western Gaels at Lisnamult, shows the dreadful conditions both sides had to contend with. Pic: Michelle Hughes Walsh

Strokestown manager, John Rogers (file pic), was left with plenty to ponder following his side’s second straight loss in the Hodson Bay Group Senior Football Championship last weekend. The 2023 champions could yet be dragged into a relegation play-off following a comprehensive defeat at the hands of Oran in Strokestown last Sunday.

Hodson Bay Hotel Roscommon SFC Group C (Round 2) Oran 1-19 Strokestown 1-7

< SEAMUS DUKE

Oran blitz dumps champions out! game of the weekend

Oran turned on the style in the second half to overwhelm defending champions Strokestown in Strokestown on Sunday and now John Rogers’ side face a showdown against neighbours Tulsk to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle. Played in breezy but humid conditions, the first half was a lively and enjoyable affair. Oran were by far the better side in the first quarter and after

18 minutes they led by 0-7 to 0-3.

Ciaran Lawless was on target with three points while Charlie Carthy scored two. But Strokestown got a grip of proceedings and they came powering into the match before half-time. Diarmuid McGann pointed in the 19th minute and two minutes later a superb pass from Kevin Finn found Shane McGinley in space and he finished expertly to level the scores. McGann and Lawless (frees) swapped points before McGann’s free in the 30th minute saw the sides go at the break with Strokestown ahead by 1-6 to 0-8. But Oran took over completely on the resumption and Strokestown could only manage one further point in the contest. Points from Lawless, Carthy, Darragh Walsh and James Fitzpatrick opened a three-point gap by the 44th minute, and a minute later came the score that settled the game as a contest.

Ciaran Lawless and Shane Walsh did the spadework and Charlie Carthy finished to the net at the second attempt.

Strokestown replied with their only second-half score, a point from Shane McGinley, but Oran closed

Callington Ltd IFC

out the game in emphatic fashion with a string of fine points. Mike Dwyer, Colin Walsh, Charlie Carthy, Ciaran Lawless and Darragh Walsh were excellent for Oran while for a very disappointing Strokestown, Dylan Owens, Colm Neary and Shane McGinley were best. So Oran sail through to the quarter-finals after two wins but Strokestown are now facing a big match against neighbours Tulsk to see who finishes bottom of the table. The glory days of 2022 are now a distant memory for the Black and Amber.

Teams and Scorers

Oran: Shane Regan; Mike Dwyer, Cathal Kenny, Kevin Concannon; Mark Gunning (0-1), Colin Walsh, Cormac Regan; Colm Earley, Mike Staunton; Charlie Carthy (1-4, 3 frees), Ciaran Lawless (0-5, 2 frees, 1 ’45), Shane Walsh (0-2); James Fitzpatrick (0-1), Darragh Walsh (0-5, 2 frees), Jack Casey. Subs: Thomas Featherston for Earley (43), Evan Keane (0-1) for Casey (43). Strokestown: Niall Curley; Timmy Gibbons, Dylan Owens, Cathal Brogan; Ciaran Regan, Colm Neary, David Neary; Keith Murphy, Kevin Finn, Mike Fallon; Shane McGinley (1-1), Colin Compton (0-1, mark), Diarmuid McGann (0-5, 3 frees).

Subs: Mikey Kavanagh for Finn (45), Keelan Beirne for Cusack (51), Cathal Lavin for Murphy (51), Evan Moran for P Brogan (59).

Referee: Ian Monaghan

Man of the Match: Ciaran Lawless

Quarter-final places still up for grabs!

< SEAMUS DUKE

Group A

Éire Óg are one of the form teams in the Callington Ltd Intermediate Football Championship and they had a very comfortable win against Shannon Gaels on Friday night (1-12 to 0-2) with Conor Cox scoring 0-7. They are now through to the quarter-finals. St Brigid’s pipped Kilmore by a point on Sunday and that means that Kilmore must win their final game against Éire Óg to avoid being involved in the relegation play-offs. The game between St Brigid’s and Shannon Gaels will decide who finishes second in the group.

Group B

Fuerty and St Croan’s have qualified for the quarter-finals following the weekend action. Fuerty put up another big score (3-13 to 0-7) against Kilbride, while St Croan’s edged home against St Aidan’s by a point (0-10 to 1-6).

It means that St Aidan’s and Kilbride will now have to battle it out to avoid finishing bottom of the table when they meet in their final game.

Group C

Castlerea St Kevin’s were the five-point winners (1-8 to 0-6) in the big game of the day in this group against Elphin with Adam McDermott scoring the vital goal. It means Castlerea are through to the quarter-finals with a game to go.

Pádraig Pearses scored a narrow win against Creggs in a thrilling, high-scoring match (3-12 to 1-16). Creggs’ Ronan Dowd scored 0-12 but it wasn’t enough to save his side who are now without a win in two matches. Their clash with Elphin in the final round is now a big game for both sides.

Eire Óg’s James McGreal stretches to collect a pass during last Friday’s Intermediate Football Championship game against Shannon Gaels. Pic: Bernie O’Farrell