02 June 2023 Roscommon People

DIGITAL HEIR

I have a Facebook account and I wonder what would happen to my account if I died. I would like for my account to close immediately after my death. Also, I would not like my friends of family to see my name as a “suggested friend” after my death. Do I have to mention this in my will or how should it be dealt with? Please advise me.

Most of us now have a Facebook account and the question of what happens our account after our death is something that we don’t often consider. Facebook however offer a number of options to users.

Facebook now allows users choose someone who can manage their account after their death. Users can choose a “legacy contact” to post on their page after their death, respond to new friend requests and update their profile picture and cover photo. Alternatively, users can have their accounts deleted. Facebook advises that a legacy contact will not be able to see any of the user’s private messages.

If users do not name a legacy contact, but do name a “digital heir” within their will, Facebook will designate that person as a legacy contact. Facebook will also ensure that the account of a user who has died will not appear as a “suggested friend” or in other ways which may upset the person’s loved ones.

If the deceased did not select a legacy contact or digital heir then the named executor in a will or closest next-of-kin may contact Facebook and arrange for the account to be deactivated. A special request must be submitted to Facebook including a copy of the deceased person’s birth certificate, death certificate and proof of being the lawful representative of the deceased person, or his/her estate.

Google also allow users to select digital heirs for its Gmail accounts and cloud storage.

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

WATCHING People

With PAUL HEALY

Football musings and ‘craic with Dubs’

What a day…on Sunday!

Brilliant!

That Dublin pub was very quaint. Pity we had to rush those two last pints before the game…

Yeah, we were having such craic with the Dubs, we lost track of time…

We finished those pints impressively… two mouthfuls apiece. It was thirsty weather!

Eh…good value at €3.60 a mouthful, or €7.20 a pint!

Roscommon were excellent…that six-minute spell of possession drove the Dublin supporters mad!

If you were involved in a cycling accident contact Byrne Carolan Cunningham Solicitors

Yeah, the lads behind us were good craic. One fella said: “I’m going for a pint, send me a text when Roscommon play the ball up the field…”

Ha! It was actually a brilliant phase of controlled possession play!

That’s why I turned to one Dub and said, “Does this not remind ye of Pep’s Barcelona at their peak? Tippy tappy football!”

What did he say?

“Barcelona me arse” he says… “it’s six minutes, and ye’re going nowhere! It’s more like, I dunno, Bohemians!”

Ha!

Then his friend pipes up: “Bohemians?

More like Bohemian Rhapsody, it’s going on so long!”

We had the last laugh… Diarmuid Murtagh sped upfield, and when Ciaráin finished it off with a point, well the sheer joy of it!

Endangered Species

(They pause to check if Eamonn Holmes has challenged Phillip Schofield to a duel yet; he hasn’t)

Any other news?

Well, I had a bizarre but ultimately amusing exchange with the Editor on Monday evening. I met him while I was out walking…

AND?

I said “That was brilliant yesterday, the football…”

Yeah…

But he was acting kind of strange…

Huh?

He gave me a look… and said the football was a nightmare on Sunday!

Oh dear, doesn’t he realise how essential possession is, especially against a team like Dublin…

Wait, wait…next, he says: “A bad day at the office. That’s the end of Sam for us…”

Huh?

I said it was a great performance, but he looked at me as if I had two heads. “Rubbish!” he said!

You’re not serious?

“We need a change of manager” the Editor muttered.

Madness!

Next thing, he’s on about Sam again. “We may kiss goodbye to Sam after that letdown…”

What did you say?

I told him Roscommon had been brilliant, Davy Burke is doing great, and we are as entitled to dream about the Sam Maguire Cup as any of the other top teams! AND?

AND the Editor calmly reminded me that his beloved Leeds United were relegated on Sunday, that the Sam Allardyce gamble hadn’t worked… and THAT was the football nightmare/rubbish he’d been talking about!

It’s been a GOOD week for… ☺

The Roscommon senior football team, this after a superb performance against Dublin in Croke Park saw Davy Burke’s men draw their opening Round Robin championship fixture

Heroic Munster, who won a first trophy in over a decade, defeating Stormers in the BKT United Rugby Championship final courtesy of a magnificent late try

Ryan Tubridy, who received a fine send-off as he presented the Late Late Show for the last time, not to mention 50th birthday congratulations from his hero, Paul McCartney

Everyone who likes nice

weather, as the country continues to bask in beautiful sunshine

It’s been a BAD week for… ☹

Leicester City and Leeds United, who were both relegated from the Premier League (along with Southampton, whose fate

had been sealed before last weekend)

The Government’s housing record, with newly-released figures revealing that over 12,000 people were living in emergency accommodation in April

US Presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis, this after his muchhyped entry into the race was hit by a series of technical glitches after a Twitter livestream malfunctioned

PIC OF THE WEEK: Pictured at the Roscommon Races recently were Siobhan, Conor, Chloe and Martin Murray.

Photo: Michelle Hughes Walsh

Funeral of Offaly crash victim taking place today

The Roscommon man who died in a road collision in County Offaly in the early hours of Sunday last is being laid to rest today (Thursday).

John Fleming, a pedestrian in his 50s from Brenamore, Loughglynn and formerly of Lisacul, Castlerea, died at the scene of a collision with a car on the R446 at Marshbrook near the Westmeath border shortly before 2 am on Sunday.

Predeceased by his mother Helen, parents-in-law

Patrick and Teresa Flanagan and brother-in-law

John Ryan, the late John Fleming is mourned by his wife Margaret, father Nicholas, sisters Helen and Katherine, sisters-in-law,

Tributes as young Kilglass woman is laid to rest

The young mother of three whose sudden death sent shockwaves through Kilglass and the entire county last Saturday morning, was laid to rest in Scramogue yesterday afternoon (Wednesday).

“Her passing has stunned the entire community, and our hearts go out to her three little boys. Our prayers and thoughts are with the entire family at this devastating time”.

brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and Godson, extended family and many friends.

He will be laid to rest in Lisacul Cemetery today following Funeral Mass at the Church

Martina Senturk (neé Reynolds) of Carrigeen, Kilglass was found at her home shortly before 9 am on Saturday morning.

A native of Kilglass, Ms. Senturk, who worked as a midwife at Cavan General Hospital, lived locally with her husband Selcuk and their three young boys.

Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council Cllr.

Tom Crosby said Martina’s unexpected death had stunned the entire community. “I would like to extend my sincere sympathies to Pat and Helen (her parents) and all the Reynolds family on the tragic loss of their lovely daughter Martina,” he said.

In a statement, Kilglass Gaels GAA Club said Martina’s family was steeped in the GAA locally.

“The heartbreaking news of Martina Senturk’s (neé Reynolds) untimely passing has sent shockwaves through the parish. We cannot express how sorry we are for your massive loss.

“Martina represented the club in football and Scór for many years and now her children are keen footballers for the club”.

The club extended sympathies to Martina’s husband, children, parents, siblings and wider family. Martina’s family thanked everyone “for their kindness and support during this very difficult time” as she was laid to rest in

Scramogue Cemetery following Funeral Mass at the Sacred Heart Church, Kilglass yesterday afternoon.

The late Martina Senturk is mourned by her husband Selcuk, sons Oscar, Romeo and Milan, parents Patrick and Helen Reynolds, sister Joanne Rogers, brothers Thomas and Martin, further relatives, work colleagues and a large circle of friends.

Gardaí confirmed that a post-mortem was completed on Sunday last by the office of the State Pathologist, the results of which are not being released for operational reasons.

< DAN DOONER

The late Martina Senturk, R.I.P.

The late John Fleming, R.I.P.

Let Treacy’s expert staff inspire you!

With Albany stores like Treacy Décor, you will find staff who know about paint – how it is made, its application, what primers to use and where to use different finishes. As leading paint specialists, the Albany Group has its very own range of high quality Albany paints and primers. Ask in-store about the brands and ranges carried locally.

New-build or renovation project? Every day, Albany trained and experienced staff in Roscommon are helping customers with special renovation projects or new-build properties with quality products at discounted prices for new renovations.

Whatever the project is, Treacy Décor alongside the Albany Group are here to help and take the complexity out of the job for you. For on-site consults, please contact the store to arrange!

Whether the job is a domestic decoration scheme or a large commercial design scheme, our staff will advise you on surface preparation, base coat treatments, primers and appropriate finishes to achieve the right look, performance and protection.

Pictured at Treacy Decor on Friday evening last were Etain Hession, Dylan Treacy, Margaret Treacy, Thomas Treacy, Carol Tomas, Peter Somers and Katie Tomas. Photo: Michelle Hughes Walsh

Pictured at Treacy Decor on Friday evening were Brona Cloonan Hession and Jennifer Naughton. Photo: Michelle Hughes Walsh

Pictured at Treacy Decor on Friday evening last were Kamala Brennan and Anne Brennan.

Photo: Michelle Hughes Walsh

Pictured at Treacy Decor on Friday evening last were Ruth Sheridan and Elaine Hayes.

Photo: Michelle Hughes Walsh

Pictured at Treacy Decor on Friday evening last were Carol Tomas, Peter Somers and Padraic Kelly. Photo: Michelle Hughes Walsh

Pictured at Treacy Decor on Friday evening last were Thomas Treacy and Cormac Lyons (Fleetwood). Photo: Michelle Hughes Walsh

Pictured at Treacy Decor on Friday evening last were Etain and Teresa Hession. Photo: Michelle Hughes Walsh

Located on the Athlone Road in Roscommon town, Treacy Décor, a member of the Albany group, has a strong reputation for quality paints and wallpapers in Roscommon town and beyond.

Thomas Treacy took over the family-run business and has overseen a major renovation of the store in the last two years. The entire shop has been transformed into a new and modern paint and wallpaper showroom as well as a consultation space, offering a wide range of brands and exclusive products.

Treacy’s joined the Albany Home Décor Group in 2007 and added significant profile to the brand in the west of Ireland. This alliance with Ireland’s only specialist décor buying group allows for better sourcing of products and the ability to offer customers competitive pricing and value through promotions and deals.

Keeping up with the latest trends in interior and exterior decorating, Treacy’s is now Roscommon’s one-stop shop for Colourtrend Paints, Fleetwood Prestige, Frenchic Paints, Smith and Rogers, Two Fussy Blokes Accessories, and many others.

To mark its recent transformation, Treacy Décor hosted a very special ‘Shabby Chic’ event on Friday last which featured Aileen Hogan of Shabby.ie.

There was a good turnout for the event as Aileen offered ex-

pert advice and tips on painting and staining. There was also a raffle on the night with excellent prizes up for grabs.

Speaking to the Roscommon People on Friday night last, Treacy Décor owner, Thomas Treacy, said: “We were delighted to welcome over 60 people to our Shabby Chic event. It shows that there is real interest in DIY among the people of Roscommon and

surrounding areas. There’s also great support for the service we offer here and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their continued support.

“Treacy Décor prides itself in specialist customer service in aspects of colour consultancy and paint specifications whilst also keeping up to date with the latest trends and designs in the market”.

Pictured at Treacy Décor on Friday evening last were Thomas Treacy and special guest Aileen Hogan from Shabby.ie. Aileen hosted an Upcycling Evening. Photo: Michelle Hughes Walsh

Pictured at Treacy Decor on Friday evening were Margaret Treacy and her sons Dylan and Thomas. Photo: Michelle Hughes Walsh

PAUL HEALY’S WEEK

A column by Roscommon People editor paul@roscommonpeople.ie

THURSDAY

Tina Turner

It’s odd how strange coincidences manifest themselves from time to time…

Last night, we finished this week’s newspaper just before 10 pm, having taken a break earlier in the evening to attend the beautiful Graduation Mass for the Convent of Mercy Roscommon Leaving Cert class of 2023. Ready to unwind for an hour or two back home, I began TV channelhopping. Not keen on politics/current affairs after a busy day at work, I went nostalgic and settled on a BBC Four programme – ‘Tina Turner at the BBC’.

The interviews and clips of various performances over the years were a very enjoyable reminder of the superstar’s brilliance as a recording artist (and live), of her courage as a human being too.

I thought no more of this ‘Tina flashback’ until a ‘little’ after midnight, when our daughter returned home after some Graduation night socialising… and casually said that Tina Turner had died a few hours earlier. She had assumed I’d heard, but I hadn’t (and was shocked). It was one of those strange coincidence-type experiences we all have… as the show I’d just watched had long been scheduled, and had nothing to do with the star’s passing.

One of the greatest entertainment icons of all time, Tina Turner was ‘The Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll’. Her life story was amazing, and one can only feel immense admiration for the strength and resilience she showed in overcoming an abusive marriage to go on and become a superstar who was loved all over the world.

FRIDAY Ryan’s exit

I didn’t see Ryan Tubridy’s last Late Late Show, preferring to sit alone and listen to sombre music in a dimly-lit room while pining for the golden era of the programme (not really). We did

record it however, and might have a look at some stage.

Judging by social media, reaction to the big finale has been mixed, some people critical, many more complimentary. Anyways, having often criticised Ryan – but more so the outdated and ill-advised format of the show – I am happy to cease fire and wish the retiring host well. And it has struck me in recent weeks that we will probably miss Tubridy when he’s gone, because he had many fine qualities – and it can’t be easy to host a live show for over two hours every Friday night.

I gather that the presentation of a red Vespa (scooter/moped) and birthday greetings from the great Paul McCartney were amongst the highlights tonight. As for new host Patrick Kielty, I think it’s a good choice. Time will tell!

SATURDAY

Remaining nameless!

The inaugural meeting of the ‘Rossies who are bad at remembering

names’ club met at a secret location last night.

There was a small turnout, the chairperson wryly noting there would have been more present were it not for the fact that the executive couldn’t put names to faces very well, and accordingly had struggled when issuing invites. The meeting began awkwardly. The chairperson started his brief address as follows: “Ladies and gentlemen, you are all very welcome to the inaugural meeting of the ‘Rossies who are bad at remembering names’ club. Before we begin, I’d like to introduce you to my colleagues at the top table… but, er, I’m a bit stuck for their first names… anyways, thank you to everyone for coming”.

The meeting had been called after some locals informally shared a common problem. Mick and Gerry were chatting in the pub one evening. “I can never put names on people” Mick complained, “it’s a pure curse”.

“Sure I’m the same” Gerry replied, “I can remember faces no

problem, but do you think I can put a name to them?”

Shaking his head, Mick called out to the barman: “Eh…David (real name: Denis) you can start two pints”.

As the night went on, a few more locals admitted that their everyday lives are dogged by the problem. Hence the solemn agreement to set up a club for local people who are bad at remembering names.

At that first meeting, attendees shared their embarrassment. A neighbour of the chairperson put his hand up.

“Is it yourself?” said the chairperson, spluttering. “The man himself!”

Biting his lip, the audience member spoke. “Look, we’re all here for the one reason. We all struggle to put names to faces. It’s hard. A fella called to our door last night selling tickets for a draw. He knew my first name, but I couldn’t for the life of me think of his. I had to put on an act. I opened the door and exclaimed, in an exaggerated voice: ‘Well if it isn’t the

uncrowned king of the parish! I was just saying to the wife that I reckoned you’d be out selling tickets night after night, you’re a fundraiser without equal!’ Sure it turned out to be Martin Murphy, I know him as well as I know meself”.

Just then, the man sitting beside the speaker gave him an elbow and whispered “Martin is over there beside the door, he came in a few minutes ago”.

After an hour of discussion, the chairperson set a date for a new meeting. “Note all the minutes” he whispered to the secretary, who hadn’t a clue what names to put beside the contributions.

On the way out, everyone played safe and said a general ‘goodnight’. There were raised eyebrows when one fella, looking a touch confused and bashful, called everyone by their first name. It transpired he had a couple of drinks on him and had turned up at the wrong meeting by mistake. To spare his embarrassment, he shall remain nameless.

SUNDAY

A super performance

Today’s trip to Croke Park turned out to be more enjoyable than most of us were expecting! Roscommon played superbly against Dublin, this opening All-Ireland Senior Football Championship group game ending in a draw. You can read my take on it all on pages 38 and 39.

MONDAY Tic Tac generation

Each to their own: On this glorious, warm day, three schoolboys cross the pedestrian crossing in front of me in descending order (relative to their height). The two bigger boys have huge ice cream cones, reflecting the scorching hot day. The third, smaller boy, happily follows… clasping one of those small ‘tic tac’ boxes of mints!

€200k up for grabs in next Monday’s Club Rossie draw!

One lucky person will be €200,000 better off by the end of this June Bank Holiday as the winner of Club Rossie’s ‘Win 200 Grand’ is announced on Monday evening.

There’s still time to be in with a chance of winning this fabulous prize and some tickets are still available priced at €50 for one or €100 for three.

Speaking to the Roscommon People this week, Roscommon GAA Chairperson, Brian Carroll, said the fundraiser was vital if the county wanted to compete at the top level.

“Last Sunday, our senior football team went toe to toe with Dublin, winners of six of the last eight All-Ireland titles. This is the level we want to be competing at as a county,” he said.

“This is made possible by your continued support and we are very thankful for that support.

“Our draw to win a mighty prize of €200,000 takes place in just four days, on Bank Holiday Monday evening (5th). If you have yet to buy a ticket please consider doing so today at www.win200grand.com

“If you have already purchased a ticket, thank you very much for your support. Thanks again and see you this Sunday in Dr Hyde Park”.

*See advertisement on page 40.

Government ‘failing towns that welcomed refugees’

< PAUL HEALY

In the wake of recent protests in Dublin and Clare, Sinn Féin TD Claire Kerrane has accused the Government of failing rural towns that are welcoming refugees, such as Ballaghaderreen.

“There has been a lot of talk of protests… yet, if you look at the towns that did not protest, where refugees arrived without such scenes, look at how those towns have been treated by Government,” Kerrane told the Dáil.

Pointing out that Ballaghaderreen was one of the few towns to welcome Syrian refugees back in 2017, the TD said this generosity had not been matched by Government action. “In fact the town has seen nothing in additional resources and services” she said, pointing to a lack of inter-Departmental cooperation at Government level.

“Look at education in Ballaghaderreen… the town school has been approved for funding for a new-build, but are waiting now for a decision on design. Look at health: GPs are under huge pressure. You (the Government) can instruct the HSE to put additional health resources in place, use the local Health Centre, and contract in a nurse. These are the measures that are needed and they can be done.

“Rural towns like Ballaghaderreen have been let down hugely by Government,” she said. “I am again calling on Government to look at towns like Ballaghaderreen from a Department by Department basis and put in the resources”.

June Bank Holiday Sale

Holy flag: Sligo and Roscommon flags fly side by side outside the Sacred Heart Parochial House in Roscommon town.

Parish Priest Fr Kevin Fallon originally hails from Newcastle upon Tyne but moved to Sligo at the age of 12. It remains to be seen whose prayers will be answered this Sunday at Dr Hyde Park!

Cruinniú na nÓg events – all you need to know!

Details of this year’s Cruin- niú na nÓg were announced recently in Roscommon Arts Centre by Cllr. Tom Crosby (Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council) and Roscommon’s Cruinniú Ambassadors George and Isaac Naughton, together with members of Roscommon County Youth Theatre.

The event, a day of free creativity for young people, will take place on Saturday, June 10th. Events will take place across seven locations featuring theatre workshops, exhibitions, workshops, music and dance.

One of the highlights will be an exhibition of

stained glass artwork entitled ‘The Light in Archie’s Eyes’ in memory of Archie Naughton, whose brave battle with illness touched the hearts of so many people. This exhibition is created by artist Colette Langan in collaboration with the many school, team and fundraising friends who had the privilege of knowing the late Archie and his brothers Isaac and George. This exhibition is a fitting tribute to Archie’s short life, yet enduring legacy, and will be hosted by Roscommon Arts Centre from 2 pm that day. A wide range of outdoor events are scheduled for the official opening of the

Somers Park Performance Space in Castlerea including music for young children with Kyle Riley, circus skills, art projections, a live animation screening, and performances of excerpts from the County Roscommon Youth Theatre’s recent production of Romeo and Juliet.

On the day there will also be the completion of a wall mural by Roscommon Young Carers with artists Siobhan Cox Carlos and Emily Benninghove-Cudd in Castlerea Swimming Pool, concluding with performances by the Music Generation Roscommon Youth Band.

DÚNADH SEALADACH NA mBÓITHRE ACHT NA mBÓITHRE 1993, Alt 75 RIALACHÁIN BÓITHRE 1994, AIRTEAGAL 12

Tugann Comhairle Contae Ros Comáin fógra leis seo go bhfuil sé ar intinn aici an bóthar dá dtagraítear anseo thíos a dhúnadh ar feadh na tréimhse agus ar an gcúis atá sonraithe.

Bóthar le dúnadh: Beidh an L-6027-0 dúnta ar feadh thart ar 2,200 méadar idir a acomhal leis an L-60272-0 ag Eanach Beag agus a acomhal leis an L-60208-0 ag Corraslira. Rochtain Áitiúil Amháin

Bealaí Malartacha: Déanfar trácht a atreorú tríd an R368 ar aghaidh go dtí an L-6015-0 agus ar aghaidh go dtí an L-1412-0 agus vice versa.

Tréimhse Dúnta: 26 Meitheamh 2023 go 20 Iúil

Cúis le Dúnadh Bóithre: Príomhphíopaí uisce a leagan feadh an bhóthair phoiblí i mBaile Fearainn Eanach Mór mar chuid de Phlean Leagan Píopaí Grúpscéim Uisce na Corraí.

Bainfear úsáid as gach comharthaíocht cur chuige agus comharthaíocht atreoraithe is gá ag na láithreacha riachtanacha de réir an Phlean Bainistíochta Tráchta.

Déanfaidh an Conraitheoir teagmháil le cónaitheoirí agus cuirfidh sé é sin in iúl go díreach roimh an dúnadh. Cuirfear deireadh de réir a chéile leis an gcur isteach is lú is féidir ar mhuintir na háite. Tá léarscáileanna a léiríonn dúnadh/atreorú beartaithe ar fáil ar www.roscommoncoco.ie

There are also a number of other events taking place in King House Boyle, with a visual art workshop using scrim tape from 1.30 pm to 3 pm and again from 3 pm to 4.30 pm. Earlier, the Dance Act Sing Academy will perform from 11 am.

Meanwhile, Trinity Arts Centre Castlerea will host a prop making and drama workshops with Roscommon County Youth Theatre from 11am to 1pm and 2 pm to 4 pm respectively, while Roscommon Arts Centre will host a series of performances following an eight-week primary schools singing project with Donal O’Connor from Music Generation Roscommon.

Throughout the day, there will be an all-day art trail in Rooskey village and a unique display of kites at Croghan NS, created as part of the Go Fly Your Kite initiative. A showcase of arts and crafts with the Bitsy and Bobby Art Club will be held from 2 pm to 5 pm in the South Roscommon Family Resource Centre.

All of this year’s Cruinniu na nÓg events are supported by the Creative Ireland initiative which is supported by the Department of Tourism, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, in partnership with Roscommon County Council, Roscommon Local Creative Youth Partnership and RTÉ

Full details of all projects and events are available at cruinniu.creativeireland. gov.ie and via the Roscommon County Council Arts Office.

Féadfar agóidí a dhéanamh i scríbhinn i gcoinne na ndaoine thíos-sínithe maidir leis an dúnadh sealadach bóthair atá beartaithe le teacht tráth nach déanaí ná 4.00 pm an 6 Meitheamh 2023.

An Rannóg Seirbhísí Uisce, Comhairle Contae Ros Comáin, Áras an Chontae, Ros Comáin. F42 VR98.

Sínithe: Caitlín Conneely, Stiúrthóir Seirbhísí

Community Recognition Fund 2023

Roscommon County Council wish to announce an open call for Expressions of Interest from community & voluntary groups for delivery of projects under the ‘Community Recognition Fund 2023’.

The fund aims to support the development of community infrastructure and facilities in recognition of communities hosting new arrivals from Ukraine and other countries (Temporary Protection and/or International Protection Applicants).

To be considered for funding under this Programme, communities must have:

• Projects specifically targeted in communities/villages/towns where beneficiaries of Temporary Protection and / or International Protection are hosted, including towns identified for rapid build homes programme.

• ‘Shovel-Ready’ Projects, with all necessary permissions and consents in place

• Projects must directly address local needs and be capable of being delivered over the course of 2023 and 2024, in line with dates set by the Department of Rural and Community Development.

Projects situated in areas that do not have high levels of new arrivals will not be deemed eligible.

Closing Date for online submissions of expressions of interest has been extended to 1pm Friday June 9th. Late submissions will not be considered

Please Note: there is no guarantee of funding and eligible applications will be evaluated on a competitive basis against the assessment criteria set out in the Programme Guidelines and in particular the numbers of ‘new arrivals’ in the community.

Full procurement must be submitted with the online application form.

Please note previous funding may be taken into account when assessing applications

HOW TO APPLY

Applications must be submitted for the CSF through Roscommon County Council “My Online Services” at https://roscommon-self.achieveservice.com

or eligibility for the scheme can be emailed to: crf@roscommoncoco.ie or phone 09066 37375

Signed Fiona Ni Chuinn – A/Director of Services

Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council Cllr. Tom Crosby getting in some practice ahead of Cruinniú na nÓg, which takes place countywide on Saturday, June 10th, details of which were launched in Roscommon Arts Centre by brothers Isaac and George Naughton.

Photo: Brian Farrell

Slimming World donations in the bag for Roscommon and Irish Cancer Society

Generous slimmers in County Roscommon have been donating the clothes they’ve slimmed out of to The Big Slimming World Clothes Throw in support of the Irish Cancer Society.

The Slimming World groups in Co. Roscommon have collected bags of the clothes, shoes and accessories from members who slimmed out of their old wardrobes and feel confident they’ll never need their ‘before’ clothes again. With each 10kg bag worth around €25 to the charity, the slimmers have raised almost €10,000.

Since 2013, Slimming World members in Ireland have donated over €673,000 worth of clothes for the Irish Cancer Society thanks to this activity. The Big Slimming World Clothes Throw aims to increase awareness of how keeping a healthy weight helps reduce the risk of developing some types of cancer.

‘Felt liberating’ Jacinta Farrell, a member who has lost just over four stone since joining Slimming World says, “It felt amazing to donate all of my old clothes – liberating in fact! Bagging them up and saying goodbye was like a celebration of just how far I’ve come. I’ve lost 4 stone and not only do I feel like a new person, now I dress like one too and love going into a shop and choosing whatever I like. I always hated shopping before and just wanted to cover up and hide away. Not any more though!

“Thanks to the amazing support I get from my

consultant and the rest of the group each week, I know that this new me is here to stay. I feel much fitter, confident and healthier than I’ve ever felt before.

“The Irish Cancer Society is a fantastic charity and one that’s very dear to my heart. It’s great to know that the money raised from my donated items will help support life-saving research”.

‘So proud’ Consultant Pauline Bliss, who runs groups in Hannon’s Hotel, Roscommon, and St Joseph’s Resource Centre in Boyle, is so proud of her members’ fundraising efforts. She says, “The members never fail to amaze me with their weight loss results week after week, but now I have been blown away by their generosity; it’s been great to see so many bags of clothes donated through ‘The Big Slimming World Clothes Throw’ to such a worthy cause”.

‘Group was buzzing’ Trish Keegan, who runs the groups in Gleeson’s Restaurant and in the

GAA club in Castlerea, says, “This year’s Clothes Throw has been a fantastic success, and I can’t believe just how many bags my members, their friends and families have managed to collect. Our group was buzzing and when we collected the bags up and saw what a phenomenal amount there were altogether, and we realised what a difference we could make, the atmosphere was just electric”.

Helps on health

Carol Doran Joyce, who runs the groups in Kiltoom Parish Hall, says, “Lots of people don’t know that maintaining a healthy weight helps reduce the risk of developing some types of cancer. All of the wardrobes cleared and every donation made by our members, their friends and families will make a huge difference to the Irish Cancer Society and we’re so grateful for everyone’s support”.

Celebrating weight loss

Aisling Anderson, who runs the group in Ballaghaderreen, says “The Clothes Throw has been a great chance for the members who have done so well to celebrate their amazing weight losses by saying goodbye to their ‘before’ clothes! It is a fantastic opportunity for them to celebrate their weight losses, because they know that with our fabulous Food Optimising healthy eating plan along with the support they get in our groups, they’ll never need to see those sizes again”.

‘Feeling fantastic’

Sheila McLoughin, who runs the groups in Strokestown Community Centre, says, “When we meet each week we laugh together, share

challenges and tips for overcoming them, celebrate success and swap inspiration, share tips for getting more active and recipes that fit with our

Food Optimising eating plan. I am so proud to see our members say goodbye to those larger sizes and set targets for enjoying a healthier life

and summer, feeling absolutely fantastic”. Anyone who would like to find out more about Slimming World is invited to get in touch with

their local consultant. New members are very welcome, and all details of the local groups can be found on slimmingworld. ie.

Consultant Pauline Bliss, who runs groups in Hannon’s Hotel, Roscommon, and St Joseph’s Resource Centre in Boyle, pictured with bags of donations, ready to go off in the van to the local shop.

Trish Keegan, who runs the groups in Gleeson’s Restaurant and in the GAA club in Castlerea, pictured with bags of clothing donations.

Aisling Anderson, who runs the group in Ballaghaderreen, pictured with bags of clothing donations.

Carol Doran Joyce, who runs the groups in Kiltoom Parish Hall, pictured with bags of clothing donations.

FRANK BRANDON

FRANK BRANDON’S unique take on life ...

Lowlifes shouting abuse from stands should be banned for life

Our man Frank on the disgusting verbal abuse suffered by a League of Ireland manager; How Covid hasn’t gone away (you know)… and some Bank Holiday entertainment locally…

Soccer, or Association Football to give it its full title, has always had its share of bad publicity. All of us who are of a certain age can clearly remember when hooliganism almost ruined the game in England back in the late 1970s and early ‘80s.

For a number of years parents were afraid to let their kids go to matches, we had barriers erected all around a number of grounds to stop hooligans making their way onto the pitches, and all over Europe English hooligans wreaked

Local events this weekend

Talking of enjoying yourself, as this weekend is the Bank Holiday weekend I’m sure there will be lots of events taking place in your local villages and pubs. Certainly if you happen to be around Creggs you will have plenty of entertainment to look forward to.

On Friday night, 2nd of June, Creggs GAA Club are holding their first table quiz for a few years, and a new, young crew including Ronan Dowd and Gerry Keegan (well not so young) are going to set the questions, so they are sure to come up with some interesting and entertaining ones to test the mettle of the attendees.

Tables of four are only €40, there will be a raffle on the night, and it is all due to kick off at 10 pm or so – after the Junior B team take on (and hopefully beat) Oran in Creggs in their league match. Everyone is invited to head down to Mikeen’s after the game, and the good news (for me) is that despite the new youthful look of the table quiz committee, the position of quizmaster has not changed hands and yours truly has had his contract renewed for this time at least.

Then if you have any energy left after wracking your brains for the answers, on both Saturday and Sunday nights you can dance the night away up in Gannon’s, where Jenny has the brilliant Odd Sox band on Saturday and Clonberne’s own country music sensation, Jason Travers on Sunday. I also believe (although not confirmed as I write) that Mikeen may have an 1980s and ‘90s disco on Saturday night.

Also, just to let you know that the newlyappointed Minister for Bingo, Olivia Harris, tells me that last Friday night week’s Bingo was the best yet (sadly I missed it as Creggs had an 8 pm football game), and hopefully there will be another big promotion later in the year! Watch this space.

havoc in any cities where their favoured teams were playing.

The situation was so bad that in 1980, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said the three biggest ills that plagued her country were the IRA, the miners and hooligans.

During the 1970s and ‘80s there were several instances of unruly and aggressive behaviour, but it was the deaths of 39 fans at the European Cup final in the Heysel Stadium in 1985 that brought matters to a head. The game was between two giants of European football, Liverpool and Juventus, and to quote an English magazine, Sports History Weekly, shortly before kick-off a mob of drunken Liverpudlians charged their Italian counterparts and created a melee that led to the deaths of 39 fans (nearly all Italian) and caused serious injuries to hundreds of others.

The result of all of that was that football and law authorities finally came down heavily on clubs and their thuggish supporters and since

then the barriers have been removed and we see very little violence nowadays at any of the big soccer matches.

However, we now seem to have a new problem in the game and that is verbal abuse from the stands. The recent racist abuse that Real Madrid player, Vinicius Jnr has suffered in a number of games has highlighted how deeprooted the problem is. Here in Ireland, we would have felt that we were safe from all that type of stuff. I do not recall any major incident involving any of our League of Ireland clubs. That is at least until last week.

All changed on Friday evening last when supporters of Cork City taunted Shamrock Rovers manager, Stephen Bradley, about his nine-yearold son’s serious illness (young Josh had suffered from leukaemia). His father, who manages the League of Ireland champions, admitted that he seriously considered stepping down from his position. It seems he has had a huge amount of support since people heard of his son’s illness,

so to go to another League of Ireland club and be mocked about the illness by opposing fans must have come as an awful shock to Stephen and the Bradley family.

In my opinion that behaviour has to represent the lowest point on whatever scale you care to mention. Scumbags, thugs, and lowlifes are just a few of the milder names that come to mind for the cowardly abusers, and I am glad to say that everyone on Leeside, including Cork City, are intent on punishing the offenders. I hope they throw the book at them, and issue lifetime bans from Turner’s Cross.

As for Stephen Bradley, his wife Emma and son Josh, while I have never met them and probably never will, my thoughts and prayers are with them and I really hope young Josh makes a full and complete recovery.

Sport, by its very nature, is meant to be a relaxing way of getting away from life’s problems, but I doubt if Stephen Bradley is feeling that way right now.

And finally…

We all realise as we get older that sooner or later it will be our turn to leave this world. In the last week I have heard of the deaths of two men that I soldiered with in different ways in my younger days. First Mick Berry, a great Galway Corinthian who I played rugby with (for Corinthians) and against (for Creggs), passed away last week. If ever anyone epitomised what it meant to be a good club man, Mick did. Only last year I happened to run into him in Garavan’s in Galway and we talked of old times over a pint or two of the black stuff.

Covid hasn’t gone away (you know)

It’s a very warm Monday afternoon out here in Creggs as I write, and I am thinking how great it is to have almost returned to normal living!

On Sunday we had large attendances at a lot of the GAA games that took place around the country, and thankfully the wearing of masks seems to be a thing of the past.

All this would lead you to believe that Covid-19 is, like the Celtic Tiger, very powerful but relatively short-lived… and now gone but not

forgotten. And yet as I read my text messages this morning (maybe it was my emails) I was advised by the HSE that as I am a (very) senior citizen, I should get my spring booster vaccine before the end of May. They go on to tell me that the booster provides good protection against becoming seriously ill if I get Covid-19, so the obvious message is that Covid is still here, probably forever, and we still need to be careful.

And so, after I finish this week’s column, I am going to follow their

advice and book what I think will be my fourth or fifth vaccine. As it happens, despite having an abundance of underlying conditions, the one time that I contracted the virus I was hardly sick at all, so even though many people don’t believe in the vaccines and refuse to get them, I for one am convinced they helped me when I did get it, so I’ll be off to get my next shot as soon as possible.

So my message is keep enjoying life as best you can but don’t drop your guard.

Then last weekend I heard of the death of John Higgins who I worked with in the Bank of Ireland in Dundalk way back in the 1970s. He was part of a group of six or seven of us who were the best of friends back then in the border town.

John was the son of Cavan football legend, Mick Higgins, who was the sergeant in the Cavan village of Tullyvin. Many a time they gave me a lift to Longford on a Friday evening. They would be going to the greyhounds where Mick would have a dog or two racing, while I would be thumbing home in the era before I became a motorist. Anyway, they were two good ones and our world is a poorer place for their passing.

To all their relatives and friends, I offer my sincere sympathies. May Mick and John rest in peace.

Presentation by Dick and Esther Mulvanney to Tina and Martin Golden after Swiss Army Officer won the Dick Mulvaney Supporting Roscommon Racecourse Apprentice Handicap at Roscommon Races. Photo: Michelle Hughes Walsh

newsbriefs

Ballaghaderreen regeneration works’ update

50th edition of ‘Macalla’ officially launched

Convent of Mercy

Transition Year students

officially launched the 50th edition of the popular school magazine ‘Macalla’ with a little help from RTÉ journalist and author Carole Coleman on Monday afternoon.

This year’s version of the magazine, which was first published in 1973, is an impressive tome, containing reports on recent school events, celebrity interviews, photographs, and much more.

The 2023 team was led by Editor Shauna Carty and Deputy Editor Faye Reynolds with support from teachers and Macalla joint-coordinators James Wallace and Carmel Whyte.

Addressing Monday’s launch, principal Miriam Hunt paid tribute to those involved in putting the magazine together, describing it as a “wonderful chronicle” of the 20222023 school year.

She told those present

that the first edition in 1973 cost 40 pence, while the 50th instalment reflected the “vibrant and diverse” school community.

Joint-coordinator James Wallace thanked the students who opted to take part as well as school management and staff for their support. Mr Wallace also paid tribute to Fiona Healy, who was in charge of design, and publishers

The Roscommon People,

as well as Swift Print in Galway, who printed the magazine.

Mr Wallace’s fellow coordinator Carmel Whyte said the huge interest in this year’s Macalla was testament to the esteem it’s held in within the school.

She thanked Shauna Carty and the editorial team for their ‘Trojan efforts’ and lavished praise on the school’s “talented, polite and mannerly” students.

Shauna Carty said she was honoured to edit Macalla, adding that a lot of work had gone into the magazine over the previous nine months and thanking all contributors including Mr Wallace and Ms Whyte.

She reserved a special thank you to local businesses who had helped support the magazine through advertising.

Special guest Carole

Coleman said it was “an honour” to be asked to carry out the launch adding that it was “amazing achievement” to have continued the Macalla tradition for five decades.

Before officially launching Macalla 2023, she said the magazine was a “primary source and wonderful history” of the school and “something amazing for students to look back on” in the years to come.

Fine Gael councillor Liam Callaghan recently sought an update on regeneration works for the town of Ballaghaderreen during a Municipal District meeting. Cllr. Callaghan said a part 8 planning was passed over two years ago, and he was concerned that funding for capital projects may be under pressure in the future. However, Meetings Director Greg O’Donnell said the proposed works for Ballaghaderreen have been undertaken by the TII, and funded under the Active Travel Budget, and final documents were being prepared.

According to Cllr. Callaghan, such regeneration works will see upgrading of the town centre streetscape, footpaths, and bus stops, similar to town centres in Roscommon and Carrick-on-Shannon, where there has been very positive feedback.

‘Journey for Ger’ fundraising run/walk

The family and friends of Ger McMahon (RIP), Kilkerrin are organising a charity run/walk from Knock Shrine to Kilkerrin on July 15th next.

The event will begin with Mass in Knock Shrine followed by a sectioned run/walk where everyone is invited to join our journey in remembrance of Ger while raising vital funds for Galway Hospice Foundation.

You can take part in the Mass, walk or run. The walk/ run will be broken up into 5km/10km stages along the way.

Weekly updates will follow on their Facebook and Instagram pages ‘Journey for Ger’, and in local newspapers.

Lough Ree RNLI volunteers have a busy May

The Lough Ree RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew was on the water twice last weekend. The charity has been called to assist 23 people in six different incidents during the month of May.

At 4.30 pm on Sunday, the 28th of May, the Coast Guard tasked Lough Ree RNLI volunteer crew to assist three people in a fishing boat that was drifting off the western shore. The charity’s lifeboat ‘Tara Scougall’ with a volunteer crew of Stuart McMicken (helm), Kieran Scullion and Denis Begley was launched in sunny, calm conditions.

On reaching the scene, off Carna Military Range, at 5.15 pm, the crew found a 4.5m lake boat drifting without power. It appeared that the boat had struck rocks and suffered lower engine damage. The three casualties were unharmed and the RNLI lifeboat towed the stricken vessel to the safety of the jetty at Hodson Bay.

Earlier in the weekend, on Saturday, the 27th of May, just after 7.30 pm Lough Ree RNLI responded to a call for assistance from a boat which had run aground with six people on board. Launched at 7.45 pm, the RNLI lifeboat under volunteer helm Kieran Sloyan and with a volunteer crew of Billy Henshaw Jnr, alongside newly-graduated crew Paul Kelly and Ray Cregg, reached the stricken vessel in ten minutes. On arrival at the scene, east of Carberry Island, the crew found six people on board a 40 ft. cruiser, which had run aground. Following an inspection, the boat was towed off the rocks by the RNLI’s ‘Tara Scougall’, and continued under its own power.

This brought to twelve the number of call-outs Lough Ree RNLI has responded to in 2023.

Ahead of the June Bank Holiday weekend, Lough Ree RNLI volunteer Operations Manager Kevin Ganly has asked all those in charge of boats on the lake to be fully familiar with their navigation charts and pay particular attention to signage and guidance provided.

The public are reminded that in case of danger on the water it is important to call for emergency services at the earliest opportunity.

The 2023 Macalla Group pictured with Year Head Ms. Ruth O’Brien (back row, centre), coordinators Mr. James Wallace (middle row, left), Ms. Carmel Whyte (middle row, right), special guest, Carole Coleman and school principal Miriam Hunt (front row, centre) during the official launch of the Convent of Mercy Macalla magazine on Monday. Pic: Kieran Croghan

Mr. James Wallace, Macalla Coordinator; Shauna Carty, Editor; Carole Coleman (broadcaster, journalist and author); Darcey Farnon, and Ms. Carmel Whyte, Macalla Coordinator, pictured during the official launch of the Convent of Mercy Macalla magazine on Monday. Pic: Kieran Croghan

Special guest Carole Coleman being presented with a special gift by Convent of Mercy students Mary Hoare and Darcey Farnon during the official launch of the Convent of Mercy Macalla magazine on Monday. Pic: Kieran Croghan

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Special guest Carole Coleman (broadcaster, journalist and author) speaking to students during the official launch of the Convent of Mercy (Roscommon) Macalla magazine on Monday. Pic: Kieran Croghan

Testimonial by Abbey newlyweds

Recent Abbey newlyweds

Shanagh O’Dowd and Denis McCaffrey shared their wedding day feedback in conversation with Geraldine Grealy (Marketing and PR Manager at the Abbey Hotel Roscommon). Shanagh is from Boyle, Co. Roscommon, and Denis is from Cloone, Co. Leitrim

So tell us where you met…

We met in a shop in Carrick-onShannon 18 years ago.

And your engagement?

We got engaged on the 24th of December, 2021. Denis made a sign out of fairylights that spelt ‘Will you marry me?’. There were pictures of us through the years and he prepared mulled wine and had Ed Sheeran’s ‘Perfect’ playing. It was a big surprise and very romantic!

What made the Abbey Hotel special as your chosen venue?

We had looked at some previous hotels for our wedding, but when I (Shanagh) walked into the Abbey Hotel, I turned to Denis and said this is the one – that’s even before I looked around. It was so elegant and had such a warm homely feeling.

We were so lucky on our wedding day; the sun was shining, which allowed us to have an outdoor wedding in the Abbey’s secret garden. All credit to our suppliers and the Grealys and their staff in the Abbey who made sure our reception was everything we hoped it would be.

Shanagh, where did you get your stunning wedding gown?

I got my wedding dress from

newsbriefs

Pearls and Lace in Donegal. And all the suits were got in Lavin’s in Ballymote, Co. Sligo.

Who was your photographer/ videographer?

Our wonderful photos were taken

Car Wash in aid of Castlerea Show

Castlerea Agricultural Show are holding a fundraising Car Wash on Friday, 2nd of June from 10 am to 6 pm on the Square in Castlerea. All funds raised go to the running of the Agricultural Show on the August Bank Holiday Monday. All support is greatly appreciated.

Castlerea ICA meeting

The Castlerea ICA Guild will hold their next meeting in D Gaff, Barrack Street on Tuesday, 6th of June at 8.15 pm. New members welcome.

Investigation into criminal damage in Monksland

Gardaí say they are continuing to investigate an act of “criminal damage by fire” which occurred late on Thursday, May 18th at a building site in the Monksland Industrial Estate in Co. Roscommon.

Two excavators and a small digger suffered significant damage during the course of the incident. The fire was extinguished by local fire services and the scene was preserved and a technical examination carried out.

Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to this incident to come forward. Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling on the M6 motorway east-bound between Ballinasloe and Athlone on Thursday, 18th of May between 11 pm and midnight are asked to make this footage available to Gardaí.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Athlone Garda Station on 090-649 2600, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

by the fantastic husband and wife duo Viliam and Bibi at Revtakstudios. The results speak for themselves. They are brilliant at what they do.

What about special touches?

Shanagh found a very talented and funny magician online. Jack Wise was so funny and knew how to work the room.

Who provided the musical entertainment?

The band was the very talent Connor McKeon band. They got the party started. I still have guests that were at the wedding coming up to me and telling me how amazing the band was. For our ceremony music, we had the very talented Adam Daly from Boyle.

Were there any stand-out moments from the day you would like to share?

As a bride, you want everything to be perfect on the day. And the staff at the Abbey Hotel ensured that it would be and they wouldn’t settle for anything less.

From the chef who prepared our amazing food to the friendly waiting staff that were so polite and helpful. Lisa our wedding coordinator was just fantastic. Lisa was a dream to work with.

John Glynn AND HIS BAND

Kilbride Community Centre

Sunday 4th June, 10pm-12

Bar open / refreshments

Admission only €10

Sinn Féin (Castlerea) calls for mini-roundabout!

Sinn Féin members in Castlerea have called for a mini-roundabout to be installed at what they have described as a dangerous and busy junction in the town.

Patrick Conry Sinn Féin Castlerea have written to Roscommon County Council highlighting safety issues and long tailbacks at the junction of the Ballindrimley road and Main Street.

Cathaoirleach of the group, Henry Hughes, said: “This junction is not only dangerous

for vehicles exiting the Ballindrimley road going in the direction of Ballinlough, but is also causing long tailbacks of traffic, especially on Thursdays, when the mart is busy. A mini-roundabout would greatly help to resolve the issue.

“We, as the local Sinn Féin Cumann in Castlerea, are appealing to the relevant authorities to hopefully make this happen”.

Mr Hughes said a letter has been circulated to the relevant authorities in recent days.

– A very enjoyable, social night for dancers & music fans

Music and dancing at Kilbride Centre

John Glynn and his band will be playing at Kilbride Community Centre on this Sunday, 4th of June. Music from 10 pm-12. Bar open/refreshments. Admission is just €10.

A very enjoyable night for dancers and music fans on the cards. A great social night for all!

Patrick Conry Sinn Féin Castlerea have written to Roscommon County Council highlighting safety issues and long tailbacks at the junction of the Ballindrimley road and Main Street.

& Style

Ardcarne Garden Centre

At two great locations: Ardcarne, Boyle, Co. Roscommon

Tel: 071 966 7091

Lanesboro Road, Roscommon Town

Tel: 090 662 7700

Monster Auction in aid of Lecarrow Benevolent Fund

The annual Monster Auction in aid of the Lecarrow Benevolent Fund will take place outside Coffey’s Pub, Lecarrow from 8.30 pm on this Sunday, June 4th

There will be live music in a marquee prior to the auction (from 7 pm) and a raffle featuring ten great prizes will also take place on the night.

Lots up for auction include an Aberdeen

Angus calf, ewe lambs, live pig on foot, swimming pool and gym membership, a fuel voucher, drinks vouchers, dinner for two and much, much more.

Tickets for the raffle, priced at €5, are available on idonate.ie, from committee members and from Coffey’s Pub. Chairperson of the Lecarrow Benevolent Fund committee, Billy Kelly, expressed his thanks to sponsors and supporters this week.

“We are looking forward to our Monster Auction and raffle on Sunday and would just like to say a big thank you to Sarah Jane and everyone at Coffey’s for hosting us again this year. Thanks also to all our sponsors, ticket sellers and supporters for the backing they have given us over the years,” he said.

The Lecarrow Benevolent Fund was devised when a small group of communityminded people came together in 2001 to

assist groups and individuals in difficulty. Since then, the Fund has raised and distributed over €500,000 for worthy causes.

While a significant portion of the funds raised are distributed throughout the parish, Lecarrow Benevolent Fund has also reached out to a wider area, including Roscommon, Castlerea, Monksland, Dysart, Brideswell, Curraghboy, and as far away as Dublin.

The Fund has also paved the way for the

purchase of life-saving equipment, including the installation and maintenance costs of defibrillators throughout the area. The Fund was established to assist those who may find themselves in a difficult financial position through no fault of their own or in other cases where people are facing significant costs in relation to medical treatment. All support for this year’s Monster Auction at Coffey’s Pub in Lecarrow would be gratefully appreciated.

GOSPEL REFLECTION

Sunday 4 June

We often begin Mass with the prayer from today’s Epistle: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.” We praise the God who has revealed Himself as a Trinity, a communion of persons.

Communion with the Trinity is the goal of our worship – and the purpose of the salvation history that begins in the Bible and continues in the Eucharist and sacraments of the Church.

We see the beginnings of God’s self-revelation in today’s First Reading, as He passes before Moses and cries out His holy name.

Israel had sinned in worshipping the golden calf (see Exodus 32). But God does not condemn them to perish. Instead He proclaims His mercy and faithfulness to His covenant.

God loved Israel as His firstborn son among the nations (see Exodus 4:22).

Through Israel – heirs of His covenant with Abraham – God planned to reveal Himself as the Father of all nations (see Genesis 22:18).

The memory of God’s covenant testing of Abraham – and Abraham’s faithful obedience – lies behind today’s Gospel.

In commanding Abraham to offer his only beloved son (see Genesis 22:2, 12, 16), God was preparing us for the fullest possible revelation of His love for the world.

As Abraham was willing to offer Isaac, God did not spare His own Son but handed Him over for us all (see Romans 8:32).

In this, He revealed what was only disclosed partially to Moses – that His kindness continues for a thousand generations, that He forgives our sin and takes us back as His very own people (see Deuteronomy 4:20; 9:29). Jesus humbled Himself to die in obedience to God’s will. And for this, the Spirit of God raised Him from the dead (see Romans 8:11), and gave Him a name above every name (see Philippians 2:8–10).

This is the name we glorify in today’s Responsorial: the name of our Lord, the God who is Love (see 1 John 4, 8, 16).

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

Ballaghaderreen pool ‘to reopen in summer’ – Kerrane

The swimming pool in the Emergency Reception and Orientation Centre at the former Abbeyfield Hotel in Ballaghaderreen will reopen to members of the public this summer, according to Sinn Féin TD Claire Kerrane.

The pool has been closed since last December and works are now underway to carry out general maintenance, repairs and painting.

Deputy Kerrane said she was delighted with the news: “I am waiting for a reopening date and when I have that date

I will share it. I understand it will reopen over the summer,” she said.

“It is really important the necessary work is completed as quickly as possible to get the pool reopened”.

The Sinn Féin TD thanked those who helped play their part in the campaign to reopen the facility.

“I want to thank the over 1,500 people who signed my online petition seeking the pool to be reopened. Each and everyone of them played their part in achieving this,” she concluded.

Young participants pictured enjoying St Ciaran’s recent Fun Run.

St Ciaran’s Parents Association Fun Run

St Ciaran’s Parents Association would like to sincerely thank everyone who turned out in huge numbers to support their Fun Run on May 1st

This was one of four fundraising events that have been held during the school year to raise money for a new play area on the school grounds. The other fundraisers were the Christmas Raffle, Church Gate Collection and Cash for Clobber event.

This was the Parents Association’s first Fun Run since Covid’s arrival, and it was fantastic to see children, parents, grandparents and members of the local community in general enjoying the fine weather, chatting on the loop walk, and taking time to have some light refreshments afterwards.

Congratulations to all the winners on the day: Angela Naughton (first woman to finish), John Fitzmaurice (first man to finish), Aimee Lavin (first girl to finish), Matthew

Coyne (first boy to finish), and Martina Carr (first buggy to finish).

A massive thank you to all the sponsors who contributed: Farrells of Castlecoote, Class Grass, Autopia, Damien Neilan, Castlecoote Lodge, XLNT Signs, Castlecoote Stores and Dalton’s.

Aoife Connolly pictured presenting winner Aimee Lavin with her prize following St Ciaran’s recent Fun Run.

Pictured at the Roscommon Races recently were Tadhg Lyons, David Haugh and Cormac Dolan. Photo: Michelle Hughes Walsh

Farming Rathcroghan to feature at Bord Bia Bloom 2023

Farming RathcroghanEuropean Innovation Partnership have entered and been accepted as one of the Postcard Gardens to feature in the upcoming Bord Bia Bloom Festival taking place at the Phoenix Park in Dublin from June 1st-5th 2023.

This Postcard Garden illustrates the groundbreaking developments in sustainable farming in Rathcroghan, Co. Roscommon.

The Farming Rathcroghan project is an exciting new initiative with enormous potential for the future. It supports farmers to maintain and enhance this important national and international archaeological landscape, promoting sustainable and ecologically sound farming practices, benefitting biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and water quality.

The concept of the garden entitled Pastures

New was developed by Farming Rathcroghan Project Manager Richie Farrell in partnership with Rathcroghan Visitor

Centre in Tulsk, Co. Roscommon. The project manager stated that participation in Bloom 23 is an exciting opportunity not only to promote the success of the project and to bring its story to a wide audience but also to promote Rathcroghan area as visitor attraction. The Bloom Festival provides such a national focus with huge numbers of people attending over the five days of the June Bank Holiday weekend. The proposal is a concept miniature landscape garden with the Rathcroghan Mound model as centrepiece. It will also represent the archaeological nature of the landscape’s features, the farmland, and also reflect the importance of farming tradition and practices in helping to preserve our built and cultural heritage. The project is supported by funding and assistance from Roscommon County Council, Creative Ireland Programme, Local Enterprise Office & Heritage Office. Further information

from Richie Farrell on 086-1704113, email richie@farmingrathcroghan.ie, see www. farmingrathcroghan.ie

Richie Farrell, Project Manager and Gerard Healy, farmer at the Bloom Build day.

This Postcard Garden illustrates the ground-breaking developments in sustainable farming in Rathcroghan, Co. Roscommon

€1m GRETB refurbishment unveiled

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The Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB) recently reopened its sub-office and Further Education and Training Centre on Lanesboro Street following the completion of refurbishment works costing in the region of €1m.

Works had first started on the listed building in 2014 and its reopening was warmly welcomed by current and former staff at the official launch on Tuesday, 9th of May last.

Welcoming those present for the reopening, GRETB manager, Olivia Connaughton paid tribute all those involved in the works as well as CEO David

Leahy and Further Education and Training coordinator Sinead Morgan.

Providing a brief background into GRETB, Olivia said classes first began in Roscommon in 1927 and VTOS classes were eventually relocated to a building behind the current one in 1997.

In 2013, Roscommon Vo-

cational Educational Centre (VEC) amalgamated with its Galway equivalent to form GRETB. Services commenced at the current site at Easter.

GRETB Chairperson

Michael Maher said that due to the fact it was a listed building certain features had to be maintained including the main stairway and toilets, but that the heating system, security and lighting had been upgraded. A new lift has also been installed for accessibility. Mr Maher thanked Declan Glynn and all those involved in the refurbishment works.

Further Education and Training Director Sinead Morgan said the refurbished building represented a “new beginning” for further education in Roscommon.

“The challenge now is to expand and move forward and I look forward to that,” she said.

Vice-Chair of the GRETB, Cllr Kathleen Shanagher, said she was “happy and proud” to attend to reopening and acknowledged the work of former principals and staff. She encouraged prospective students and those returning to education to consider the GRETB.

Wishing staff and students well for the future, she said the reopening of the building was a “great day for Roscommon”.

Derval Flynn, Kathleen McNulty and Helen O’Connor pictured at the official opening of the newly-refurbished GRETB training centre in Roscommon Town. Pic: Kieran Croghan

Dolores McSharry, Eithne Fannon and Roscommon GRETB Centre Manager Orla Connaughton pictured at the official opening of the newly-refurbished GRETB training centre in Roscommon Town. Pic: Kieran Croghan

Pictured at the official opening of the newly-refurbished GRETB training centre in Roscommon Town were, front row (l-r) Marian Conway, Cllr Michael ‘Moegie’ Maher, Chairperson of the GRETB; Dolores Flynn. Back row (l-r) Bernie Adams, Martina Carroll and Carmel Nally. Pic: Kieran Croghan

Roscommon County Council launches climate action call

In conjunction with the development of Roscommon County Council’s Climate Action Plans, a major community call to action – the ‘County Roscommon Climate Action Call’ – was officially launched in Roscommon Arts Centre recently.

The event showcased a range of innovative and original climate mitigation and adaptation measures adopted by local communities, businesses and voluntary groups across the county in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner.

The measures resulted in the production of thirteen short videos which illustrate how small, yet progressive and environmentally friendly measures, can improve sustainability and biodiversity in local communities.

This initiative is one of a num-

ber of measures identified by Roscommon County Council’s dedicated Climate Action Team.

Presently, the local authority is commencing the preparation of its statutory five-year Climate Action Plan. The Plan will set ambitious and future-proofed targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the county’s carbon footprint.

The groups/organisations featured in last week’s presentation were Ballydangan Community Red Grouse conservation project, Ballyleague Men’s Shed’s Repair and Recycling campaign, Casey’s Filling Station’s solar power energy reduction initiative, Cloontuskert Development and Tidy Towns Association’s polytunnel, composter and orchard, Green Hub Garden Club Strokestown’s Community Seed

Hub, Hillside Organic Farm’s sustainable farming programme, Joe Connaughton (Lecarrow) supporting bee keeping as pollination, Kilteevan Tidy Towns’s woodland and peatland biodiversity and heritage trail projects, Mid-Roscommon Co-Operative Society, Tulsk’s ‘Let it Bee’ water quality initiative, Roscommon Women’s Network’s Textile Upcycling Social Enterprise project, St John’s Amenity Group, Lecarrow’s native tree planting and conservation, and also supporting native woodland cover and heritage, and Transition Towns Roscommon EcoWellness Centre’s zero waste community.

Speaking at the launch, Chief Executive of Roscommon County Council Shane Tiernan said climate change “is one of

the most pressing and challenging issues we face every day as a local authority”.

Cathaoirleach of Roscom-

mon County Council Cllr. Tom Crosby welcomed the launch of the Community Climate Action Call, which he hoped

would inspire other community groups to following in the footsteps of the thirteen pioneering participants.

Noel Carroll, Niamh Carroll, Adrian Smyth, Cllr Tom Crosby (Cathaoirleach, Roscommon County Council), Gerry Farrell and Michael McCormack (Mid-Roscommon Co-Op Society Ltd) pictured at the launch of the Roscommon Climate Action Call. Pic: Gerard O’Loughlin

Shane Tiernan (CEO, Roscommon County Council), Cllr Tom Crosby (Cathaoirleach, Roscommon County Council), Jim McCausland, Shannon and James O’Neill (Casey’s, Roscommon), Cllr Kathleen Shanagher and Cllr Tony Waldron pictured at the launch of the Roscommon Climate Action Call. Pic: Gerard O’Loughlin

Shane Tiernan (CEO, Roscommon County Council), Nora Fahy (Roscommon Women’s Network), Cllr Tom Crosby (Cathaoirleach, Roscommon County Council), Caitlín Conneely, Martina Hourigan, Maria Hourigan and Cllr Kathleen Shanagher pictured at the launch of the Roscommon Climate Action Call. Pic: Gerard O’Loughlin

Agnes O’Connor (Strokestown Gardening Hub), Shane Tiernan (CEO, Roscommon County Council), Cllr Tom Crosby (Cathaoirleach, Roscommon County Council), Anthony Owens (Strokestown Seed Service), Hannah Mole and Vanessa Cann (Roscommon Transition Towns Group) pictured at the launch of the Roscommon Climate Action Call. Pic: Gerard O’Loughlin

Michael Fahey, Shane Tiernan (CEO, Roscommon County Council), Patricia Hughes, David Gibbons, Cllr Tom Crosby (Cathaoirleach, Roscommon County Council), Ned Gilligan, Eileen Fahey, Barney Donlon, Marguerite Croghan, Susan O’Connor and Lena Coyle (Kilteevan Tidy Towns) pictured at the launch of the Roscommon Climate Action Call. Pic: Gerard O’Loughlin

Seán Butler, Marie Monaghan, Pat Feehily, Cllr Tom Crosby (Cathaoirleach, Roscommon County Council), and David Fallon (Ballydangan Red Grouse Project) pictured at the launch of the Roscommon Climate Action Call. Pic: Gerard O’Loughlin

Joe Connaughton, Paddy Hand (Rinduin Bees), Shane Tiernan (CEO, Roscommon County Council), Cllr Tom Crosby (Cathaoirleach, Roscommon County Council), Seán Butler (organic farmer), Cllr Orla Leyden and Jeremy Casey (Native Woodland Trust) pictured at the launch of The Roscommon Climate Action Call. Pic: Gerard O’Loughlin

Grainne is Ryanair’s 10 millionth passenger at Knock!

On Tuesday, May 23rd, Ireland West Airport were delighted to welcome Ryanair’s 10 millionth passenger on flights to/from Ireland West Airport.

Grainne Rushe from Boyle, Co. Roscommon, who was travelling to Lanzarote with her partner Tadhg McKenna, was the lucky 10 millionth Ryanair passenger,

Childminder drop-in clinics

Roscommon County Childcare Committee will host childminder drop-in clinics in Castlerea over the coming months (details below).

In a statement, RCCC said: “Childminders are a hugely important part of the childcare sector offering many families flexibility and a home from home experience”.

The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 aims to provide greater recognition for childminding, to support childminders in their work of providing high quality and affordable early learning and care and school age childcare through “…an incremental and supportive pathway to Government support and regulation”.

At local county level, Heather McColl, Childminding Development Officer with Roscommon County Childcare Committee, will be actively supporting childminders throughout County Roscommon.

The press statement continued: “If you are thinking of becoming a childminder or are currently operating as a childminder Heather can provide information and support as well as provide training opportunities and updates on the National Action Plan for Childminding”.

Heather can be contacted at childminding@roscommonchildcare.ie or on 087 4417373.

Heather will be offering childminder drop-in clinics in their offices in Castlerea on a monthly basis as follows: Where: Roscommon County Childcare Committee Office, Knock Road, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon, F45 P959. Times: 10 am-3 pm. Dates: 21st June, 12th July, 30th August, 26th September, 24th October, 14th November, 12th December.

and to mark the occasion, she was presented with a pair of return flights with Ryanair, and a bottle of Champagne and chocolates.

It’s been 37 years since Ryanair’s first flight from then Knock Airport departed to London Luton on December 16th 1986. The first passengers to disembark that

first flight included six-year-old Davinia Paul, who was heading to Boyle in County Roscommon for Christmas.

37 years later, the 10 millionth passenger to travel on a Ryanair service from the airport also happens to come from Boyle in Co. Roscommon!

ROBERT FLYNN

THE SQUARE, CASTLEREA, ROSCOMMON - Tel: (094) 9620028

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Plants: Broccoli, brussel sprouts, carrot, lettuce, scallion and cabbage plants also available.

Gerry Keenan returns to Castlecoote Lodge

The sun is beaming down on Castlecoote this week and if the forecasters are to be believed, it will shine continuously for many days to come. Everyone is in good spirits and we are particularly delighted that Gerry Keenan is back at Castlecoote Lodge this Saturday night, June 3rd, from 9pm. Gerry is acknowledged as one of the best entertainers in the music business; great music coupled with his great stories and jokes make for a night of fun and song. It’s not to be missed.

Firearms

Fully licensed firearms dealer - No longer want to license your firearm? We can store or destroy it for a small fee. Shotgun cartridges, bullets, clay pigeons, and all accessories are available.

Animals

Potatoes

Seed potatoes – Kerr Pinks, Records, Potato Blight Spray and Potato Weedkiller, Old Time Bluestone and Washing Soda, Roundup, Gallup, Mortone etc...

Try our new Wildflower Seed selection. – all available at Flynns Castlerea

Garden

Flower seeds and wild flower seeds - Hayseed acres and ½ acres, lawn seed, sulphate iron, or lawn sand for moss in lawns, all available. Summer flowering bulbs, gladiolus lily, and dahlia available.

2023 fishing season permits - large range of fishing tackle, rods, reels, spinners and spoons. Weak or orphaned lambs, you need Frisky by the bag or by the pound. Bottle tops, biestings, infra-red lamps. Wild-bird care, wide selection of peanuts, wild-bird seed, robin and songbird mix.

Keycutting service available for all types of keys – cylinder, mortice, padlock, etc.

Watch battery and strap replacement service also offered, as well as a photocopying service.

All Bee Keeping equipment available - Hives, Frames, Wax, Bees. All at Robert Flynn, the Square, Castlerea. 094 9620028.

Tadhg McKenna and Grainne Rush (Ryanair’s 10 millionth passenger at Knock) from Boyle in Co. Roscommon, who travelled to Lanzarote from Ireland West Airport with Ryanair recently, pictured with Joe Gilmore (Managing Director, Ireland West Airport) and Collette Concannon (Station manager, Ryanair, at Ireland West Airport).

Entertainment, Culture & Arts

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

Roscommon Town to host two-day open-air

Shannonside Northern Sound has this week confirmed to the Roscommon People that Roscommon Town will host a major two-day open-air Music Festival on the weekend of June 17th and 18th next.

Roscommon Racecourse will once again be the setting for the Midsummer’s Weekend with The Stars which will see some of the country’s best known entertainers perform at one of Ireland’s largest and most successful open-air music events.

“This year’s event will be a two-

Music Festival

day festival of live music which will see thousands of music fans descend on the county town, which in turn will give a huge boost to the local economy” stated Joe Finnegan when speaking to the Roscommon People earlier this week.

The Tumbling Paddies, who have in recent months taken the country by storm, will headline Saturday’s show along with Ruaile Buaile, Paul Kelly, One For The Road, and Rhythm +Sticks.

Sunday’s show will see some of the biggest names in country music take to the stage, including Derek

Ryan, Philomena Begley, Mike Denver, Jimmy Buckley, Patrick Feeney, Cliona Hagan, Robert Mizzell, and Claudia Buckley will lead the All-Star line-up.

Family entertainment will also be available on site free of charge. The concert will include free car parking and overnight parking for camper vans.

The organisers have confirmed that the Saturday show, which has been designated over 18, will admit children with a ticket, but they must be accompanied by an adult.

On Sunday, which is Family Day,

all children under 12 accompanied by an adult will be admitted free.

Joe Finnegan stated that the reaction to date has been phenomenal. Bookings are well up on last year and already all special weekend packages have sold out. Tickets for both the Saturday and Sunday are still on sale, but Saturday tickets can only be purchased at ticketmaster.ie. Sunday tickets can be purchased at local outlets and ticketmaster.ie. (See advertisement on page 17).

*More information on Shannonside.ie or Northernsound.ie

Launch of ‘Ever and Always: The Marvellous Story of Aleen Cust’

Mountbellew Agricultural College (ATU) was the venue recently for the launch of a new publication entitled ‘Ever and Always: The marvellous story of Aleen Cust’. The publication is a new bilingual primary school workbook which will also appeal to readers of all ages.

Niamh Ní Chróinín (TG4’s newly-appointed ambassador for children and presenter of the dedicated children’s channel Cula4), together with Cllr Michael Maher (Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council), launched the publication. The publication has added educational value as each section has an exercise to provoke searching minds, featuring quizzes, word games and artistic challenges. Copies of the workbook have been distributed to all primary schools and libraries in the county by the Roscommon County Council Heritage Office.

Aleen Cust was born at Cordangan Manor, close to Tipperary town in 1868 to Leopold and Lady

Local schools say ‘Welcome To the Jungle’

Three primary schools in the Aughrim Kilmore parish are collaborating on a creative new project which will see the staging of a musical, ‘Welcome to the Jungle’, this June. Aughrim, Dangan and Scrabbagh National Schools have been working together since February to develop the musical, which brings together 151 children from the three schools, and which will be staged in Dangan Community Centre from June 8th to 10th at 7.30 pm.

This is a unique opportunity for the three schools to work creatively together and is the result of Creative Clusters, a pilot initiative of the Department of Education led by and in partnership with the 21 education centres and funded through the Schools Excellence Fund – Creative Clusters Initiative.

An exciting mix of music, drama and dance, this production uses the expert knowledge of dance teacher Breda McNulty of On Your Feet Dance Company and Carrick Community School’s music teacher Yvonne Conroy. Aughrim Kilmore Development Association and members of the local community are providing assistance with prop construction, hair make-up and stewarding. Tickets for ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ are €10 each and are available from Clare Caslin (087 9471081) or Aileen Keane (087 9450722).

Cust. Despite being disowned by her family she went to the New Veterinary College in Edinburgh and graduated with merit in 1900. The Royal College in London refused her permission to sit their final examinations because she was a woman.

Undeterred, Aleen returned to Ireland and took a position assisting a well-known veterinary surgeon in Athleague, Co. Roscommon, William Augustine Byrne. In 1905,

Aleen obtained a controversial position as a Local Authority Veterinary Inspector for the Mountbellew District, which she held until 1915 when she drove her own car to France to treat injured horses during World War I.

‘Miss Cust’ or ‘Vet Cust’ is remembered for her integrity, intelligence, wit, charm and determination. The women who followed in her footsteps found employment difficult as societal prejudices and

economic depression were formidable barriers in the earlier years.

Veterinarians Brendan Gardiner, Donal Connolly and Ascinta Kilroy of the Aleen Cust Memorial Society, Marie Mannion (Heritage Officer of the Galway County Council), Nollaig Feeney (Heritage Officer, Roscommon County Council) and Róisín O’Grady (Heritage Officer, Tipperary County Council) managed and directed the project. This workbook was funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Decade of Centenaries Local Authority Funding); Galway County Council, Roscommon County Council and Tipperary County Council. The publication is an action of County Roscommon Heritage Plan as part of a series of Aleen Cust celebrations over 2022 & 2023. Further resources include ‘Aleen Cust: A Woman of Measure’ Podcast Series and ‘Aleen Cust: A Pioneer Remembered’ video.

Pupils from Aughrim, Dangan and Scrabbagh National Schools pictured getting reading for their upcoming musical performance, ‘Welcome to the Jungle’.

Pupils from Aughrim, Dangan and Scrabbagh National Schools pictured getting reading for their upcoming musical performance, ‘Welcome to the Jungle’.

Donal Connolly (Aleen Cust Memorial Society), Ascinta Kilroy (Aleen Cust Memorial Society), Eithne O’Halloran (author of workbook), Realtaoin O’Halloran and Brendan Gardiner (Aleen Cust Memorial Society) pictured at the recent launch of ‘Ever and Always: The marvellous story of Aleen Cust’. Pic: Jacinta Fahy Photography

Cllr Joe Murphy (Chairperson, County Roscommon Heritage Forum) and Marie Gillooly (historian and tour guide) pictured at the recent launch of ‘Ever and Always: The marvellous story of Aleen Cust’. Pic: Jacinta Fahy Photography

Mary, Sylvester, and Stephen Glennon (Athleague) pictured at the recent launch of ‘Ever and Always: The marvellous story of Aleen Cust’. Pic: Jacinta Fahy Photography

GOING OUT

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

Pictured at the recent Roscommon Gaels White Collar Boxing Event at Dr Hyde Park were Thomas Hanley, Patrick Fannon and Jason Hoare. Photo: Michelle Hughes Walsh

Pictured at the recent Roscommon Gaels White Collar Boxing Event at Dr Hyde Park were Ashline O’Malley, Tommy Garvey and Neill Calahan. Photo: Michelle Hughes Walsh

Pictured at the recent Roscommon Gaels White Collar Boxing Event at Dr Hyde Park were Robbie Walsh and Anthony Dolan.

Photo: Michelle Hughes Walsh

Pictured at the recent Roscommon Gaels White Collar Boxing Event at Dr Hyde Park were Megan Donohue, Sarah Purcell, Jennifer Morris and Caoimhe Walsh. Photo: Michelle Hughes Walsh

Pictured at the recent Roscommon Gaels White Collar Boxing Event at Dr Hyde Park were Aoife McLoughlin, Grainne Moyles, Annie McNally and Anna O’Gara. Photo: Michelle Hughes Walsh

Pictured at the recent launch of a new defibrillator at the Bank of Ireland in Roscommon were Michael Costello, Mayo & Roscommon Head of County for Bank of Ireland; Sheila Lenehan, Branch Manager, Bank of Ireland Ballaghaderreen; Anne Marie Beirne, Branch Manager, Bank of Ireland Roscommon; Orlaigh Bourke, Bank of Ireland; Sean Beirne, Bank of Ireland Roscommon and Bernie Farrell, Bank of Ireland Roscommon. Pic: Kieran Croghan

John Horan and Conleth Harlow pictured at the recent launch of a new defibrillator at the Bank of Ireland in Roscommon town. Pic: Kieran Croghan

Paul Coyle and Lisa Fayne from Lough Ree Access for All pictured at the recent launch of a new defibrillator at the Bank of Ireland in Roscommon town. Pic: Kieran Croghan

Jack Hegarty, Adrian Leddy, Sean Naughton, Cllr. Kathleen Shanagher and Anne Marie Beirne pictured the recent launch of a new defibrillator at the Bank of Ireland in Roscommon town. Pic: Kieran Croghan

Paul Foxe, Mayo Roscommon Hospice; Martina Jennings, CEO of Mayo/Roscommon Hospice; and Michael Costello, Mayo & Roscommon Head of County for Bank of Ireland pictured at the launch of a new Bank of Ireland fundraiser for Mayo/Roscommon Hospice. Pic: Kieran Croghan

Special Sale of Bullocks

Roscommon farmer recognised at Aurivo Milk Quality Awards

Aisling Ward of Kilbegnet

Dairy was recognised as the ‘Best New Entrant’ to dairy farming at the Annual Aurivo Milk Quality Awards recently.

Kilbegnet Dairy credits the award for Best New Entrant and its successful start in dairying to breeding selection, good grassland management and beginning with the best stock available on its 350-acre farm in Creggs.

As an Aurivo supplier, Aisling is following in the steps of her grandmother who first supplied milk to Aurivo in 1978.

Donal Tierney, Chief Executive of Aurivo acknowledged the huge commitment to quality and standard of the winning dairy farmer entrants.

“Now in its 16th year, the Aurivo Milk Quality Awards is an annual award programme which recognises a

degree of excellence in dairy farming. I am delighted to be here today to congratulate our eight Milk Quality

Award winners, who exemplify commitment to the highest quality of milk supply for both liquid and manufacturing milk,”

he said. “Our farming families’ remarkable commitment and dedication allows us to produce the best quality

milk and we are proud of the quality milk pool of our almost 1,000 suppliers in both the Republic and Northern Ireland”.

Special Sale of Heifers

Lambs

Grassland runner-up award for Rossie farmer

Roscommon farmer Michael Cunniffe was announced as the Drystock Enterprise Category Runner-up of the Grassland Farmer of the Year 2022 at an awards ceremony which took place on Wednesday last at Teagasc Moorepark in Fermoy, Co Cork.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue presented the awards on the night and there was €25,000 in prize money up for grabs across the various categories.

‘Forgotten Farmers’ left waiting

Sinn Féin’s Agriculture spokesperson, Claire Kerrane, has urged Minister Charlie McConalogue to provide details of his Department’s proposed scheme for so-called ‘Forgotten Farmers’.

Kerrane said the Minister’s stated timeframe of ‘a number of months’ was unacceptable and said the farmers, who lost out in supports due to the last recession, had already waited long enough.

Farm succession win for Macra

Commenting following a recent meeting with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Macra National President Elaine Houlihan and Agriculture Affairs Chair Liam Hanrahan said they were pleased with a commitment to review the association’s farm succession scheme.

Explaining that the scheme would financially reward landowners stepping back from farming, Macra said it was hopeful the scheme would be included in the next budget.

IFA delegation meets with Taoiseach

An IFA delegation led by Deputy President Brian Rushe met with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar recently with the proposed EU Nature Restora-

tion Law top of the agenda.

After the meeting, Brian Rushe said IFA had made it clear to Government that the law proposal must be opposed until a full impact assessment was carried out.

The delegation also questioned why the Brexit Adjustment Fund couldn’t be used for vulnerable sectors and voiced concerns over ‘unacceptable’ plans to delay other farm payments.

Farm families reminded of SUSI deadlines

IFA Farm and Social Affairs Chair Alice

Doyle has reminded farm families of the upcoming closing date and changes to the Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) education grants.

Ms Doyle said the grant is an “excellent opportunity” for families to reduce the financial burden around third-level education and highlighted the close dates of June 8th for grant renewals and July 6th for new applications.

“The SUSI Support Desk is open Monday to Friday (9 am – 5.30 pm), excluding public holidays. They can be contacted by phone on 0818 888777 or by email on support@susi.ie,” she added.

SCEP ‘first step’ in rebuilding suckler herd

IFA Livestock Chairman Brendan Golden has described the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) as the ‘first step’ in rebuilding the suckler herd, but said farmers must now be paid in full.

He said Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue, following last year’s Budget, talked about an additional €90/cow in this scheme.

“The Minister must now honour that and ensure the new scheme to be announced in the coming weeks provides an additional €90/cow for all cows farmers apply on,” he said before calling for SCEP costs to be kept to a minimum so that supports remain with suckler farmers.

Pictured (left to right) at the recent Annual Aurivo Milk Quality Awards were Raymond Barlow, Aurivo Chairman; Michael Ward; Aisling Ward; Michael Kenny, Aurivo Board; Killian Bannon, Aurivo Dairy Advisor; and Donal Tierney, Aurivo CEO.

Pictured in Teagasc Grassland Farmer of the Year Awards in Fermoy recently was Drystock Enterprise Runner-up, Michael Cunniffe, Roscommon, with sponsors Donal Whelton, AIB; Enda McDonald, Grassland Agro; Michael Berkery, FBD; Minister Charlie McConalogue; Professor Frank O’Mara, Teagasc Director; Aidan Brennan, Irish Farmers Journal; and Liam Herlihy, Teagasc Chairman. The Grassland Farmer of the Year awards is now in its sixth year and rewards the top grassland farmers in the country who are growing and utilising more grass on their farms in a sustainable manner. Picture: O’Gorman Photography.

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Castlerea MART WATCH

600 animals presented for sale on Thursday last with no major change in trade or prices as we enter the month of June.

Bullocks made up to €2,190, heifers topped out at €2,030 with exceptional demand for quality lighter stores. Lighter store bullocks made up to €1,590 or €4.41 a kilo while €2,230 (€7.82 per kilo) was forked out for a 285kgs BB heifer. Dry cows made up to €2,160 while cows with calves at foot made up to €2,300. Springers made from €1,480 to €1,910. Calf numbers on offer similar to last week with demand maintained especially for the quality lots. Lots made from €40 to €580 with an average of €275 paid.

Sales continue at Castlerea Mart today (Thursday, June 1st), with our weekly sale of bullocks, heifers, cows, calves, runners, and weanlings. All sales commence at 11 am with three rings in operation.

Sample prices for bullocks: Lm 488kgs €1690, AA 390kgs €1420, Ch 425kgs €1380, Lm 505kgs €1730, AA 545kgs €1640, Ch 580kgs €1700, Lm 750kgs €2190, Sim 650kgs €1760, Lm 675kgs €1780, AA 580kgs €1580.

Heifers: Lm 425kgs €1300, Ch 360kgs €1250, Ch 325kgs €1240, Lm 470kgs €1560, Lm 450kgs €1550, Lm 565kgs €2030, Lm 540kgs €1930, Lm 545kgs €1870, Lm 600kgs €1800.

Dry cows: Lm 490kgs €1560, Lm 710kgs €2160, Ch 730kgs €2070, Lm 735kgs €2140, Sim 435kgs €1080, Hex 435kgs €1110, Fr 615kgs €1280, Lm 655kgs €1840.

Weanling heifers: BBX 285kgs €2230, BB 270kgs €1570, Ch 290kgs €1220, Lm 235kgs €1010, BBx 315kgs €1780, BBx 305kgs €1410, Ch 320kgs €1400, Ch 410kgs €1340, Lm 400kgs €1220.

Weanling bulls/bullocks: Chx 295kgs €1110, AAx 295kgs €980, AA 262kgs €850, BBx 515kgs €2360, Ch 360kgs €1590, Ch 310kgs €1370, Lm 375kgs €1290, Ch 335kgs €1380.

Roscommon MART WATCH

There was a good entry of stock on offer at last Friday’s special heifer sale with a very strong trade for all classes. We had a good number on offer and they fetched an average of €2.95 per kilo up to €3.73 per kilo.

There was a strong entry of dry cows and they made an average of €2.45 per kilo up to €3.36 per kilo. There was a good attendance of customers at the ringside with online bidders also active.

We had a similar number of sheep on offer at our weekly sale of lambs and cast ewes. Prices for spring lambs made up to €180. The tops for stag ewes fetched €200. Please note all sheep must be tagged with a full yellow EID Tag set. Next sale of lambs and cast ewes takes place next Wednesday (7th) at 11 am. Yard opens at 8 am and all stock must be penned by 10 am. Sale can be viewed live on www. livestock-live.com.

Sample prices for dry cows: Char X 720kgs €2,420, Lim X 615kgs €1,860, Char X 995kgs €2,520, Char X 900kgs €2,460, Char X 855kgs €2,330, SIX 850kgs €2,280, Char X 835kgs €2,280, Char X 800kgs €2,240, Lim X 570kgs €1,570.

Heifers: Char X 400kgs €1,490, Char X 470kgs €1,500, Char X 445kgs €1,570, Lim X 495kgs €1,750, Char X 570kgs €1,810, Char X 525kgs €1,710, Char X 445kgs €1,490, AAX 485kgs

€1,400, Char X 420kgs €1,400, SIX 425kgs €1,380, Lim X 400kgs

€1,300, Char X 340kgs €1,140, Lim X 395kgs €1,240, Lim X 365kgs €1,210, Char X 305kgs €1,100, Char X 310kgs €1,000, Lim X 380kgs €1,190, Char X 445kgs €1,470.

Spring lambs: 62.5kgs €180, 56kgs €174, 54kgs €172, 52.1kgs

€170, 50kgs €165, 47.2kgs €160, 46.8kgs €160, 45.4kgs €158, 43.1kgs €156, 43kgs €155, 44.8kgs €151.

KEEP YOUR FARM SAFE

RWN to benefit from Circular Economy funding

< DAN DOONER

Roscommon Women’s Network’s CycleUp enterprise is among 13 projects nationwide set to benefit from €640,000 in funding aimed at promoting the fastgrowing Irish circular economy.

The funding allocation was announced recently by Minister of State Ossian Smyth under the second Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme.

The announcement was made at a ceremony to mark the opening of the Circular Economy Hotspot Dublin 2023 event in the Mansion House on Monday evening.

Congratulating the successful ap-

FSAI webinar on ‘Starting a Food Business’

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) will mark World Food Safety Day with a ‘Breakfast Bite’ webinar ‘Starting a Food Business – What you Need to Know’ on Wednesday, June 7th.

The ‘Breakfast Bite’ webinars are a series of free, informal virtual meetings for food businesses and for people who may be thinking of setting up a food business.

Participants will hear the FSAI’s Advice Line Team – Niamh Dowling, Chloe Coen and Kevin Rowland – outline best practice on setting up a food business, who you need to contact, and the

plicants, Minister of State Smyth said: “The scale of the challenge to become circular requires change at every level of our society. I am delighted to be able to support these projects which have been proposed from people active in making and advocating change. I look forward to realizing the ambition of these projects and building further on their success in the coming years of this scheme”.

The RWN CycleUp project is an environmental and training social enterprise which addresses the issue of textile waste. It trains individuals and groups in the repair and reuse of materials and produces upcycled items for sale as part of the circular economy.

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71% admit to bringing laptop on holiday!

THE BUSINESS BRIEF(S)

food legislation with which you need to comply. All types of food businesses are covered by the presentation, including food trucks and other mobile units.

The webinar is free of charge. For more information on the event and to register please visit www. fsai.ie

Ireland tipped for key role in digital health

Research by the Irish

Medtech Association and Connected Health Skillnet has shown that nine out of ten business leaders expect Ireland to play a key role in delivering digital health solutions.

The two groups recently published a first-of-its-kind digital health roadmap for addressing skill needs.

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney is equally upbeat about the Irish prospects in the sector.

“Ireland has the potential to establish itself as a leader in the digital health

sector which is projected to be worth in excess of $1.5 trillion by 2030,” he said.

“Ireland’s ecosystem already boasts the world’s top medtech, biopharma, and technology companies, complimented by dynamic startups alongside other key players such as design and research experts.

“Delivering industryled training with Skillnet Ireland will help Ireland’s knowledge economy compete globally by staying ahead of the latest trends in technology and business”.

According to a recent survey carried out by electrical wholesalers Curry’s, a whopping 71 per cent of people admit to bringing a laptop on holiday in order to work remotely.

The travel and technology survey also revealed that 82 per cent of people continue to track their fitness while on holiday and 83 per cent say they will invest in a luggage tracker following the baggage chaos of last year. Not surprisingly, 52 per cent of people with children say they bring tablets and headphones on holiday!

Pictured at a recent RWN CycleUp event held in Athleague were Paul Stapleton, Athleague Tidy Towns; Noelle Jeffreys, Roscommon Tidy Towns; Jonathan Jones, Roscommon County Council; Martina Hourigan, RWN CycleUp; Bobby McCormack, Development Perspectives; Dolores McSharry, GRETB; Nora Fahy, Roscommon Women’s Network; Cllr. Kathleen Shanagher; Ruth Wallace, Roscommon Women’s Network; Helen McGinty, Roscommon LEADER Partnership; John Larkin, Roscommon Tidy Towns, and Maria Hourigan, RWN CycleUp. The social enterprise is one of 13 nationwide set to benefit from a recent Circular Economy allocation. Pic: Kieran Croghan

Darkness into Light committee’s thanks

The Roscommon Town Darkness into Light committee wish to express their deepest gratitude to everyone who registered, donated, and participated by walking, talking, running, or volunteering in the 10th annual Darkness into Light event, which was held on Saturday, May 6th.

People came out in their hundreds to support this worthy cause, and it is very much appreciated!

The support shown clearly demonstrates the public’s enthusiasm for spreading the message of hope.

Special thanks to Roscommon Gardaí, Roscommon Fire Service, and the Civil Defence for their role in supporting the event. Thanks to all the local Roscommon Town businesses and individuals who supported the event by supplying various items such as refreshments, space for community registration days, transport, furniture, music, sound, lighting, waste disposal units, and car parking facilities, etc.

Thanks to readers Daire Feeley and Hollie Kilroe. Thanks also to the local media.

An extra special thanks to

all the local businesses who decorated their windows displays specifically for the event. The variety of displays was extraordinary. A tremendous effort was clearly made by all. The committee statement continued: “Thanks to the Convent of Mercy Secondary School for the use of ‘The Gym’ as our Darkness into Light venue. We are very grateful to have such a great space to host our participants. Thanks also to the students who assisted with registration day and hall preparation.

“Many thanks to everyone who organised successful fundraising events preceding and over the weekend, the proceeds of which go directly to Pieta House to provide 24/7 free counselling and support to those who need it.

“Finally, thanks to the hard-working committee for their contributions and dedication in organising this successful event in raising the much-needed funds for Pieta House, and to all the volunteers who turned up to assist with stewarding, and the busy team who assisted with serving beverages and snacks to the public – thank you so much. All the additional help goes a long way. Thank you”.

If you are in crisis, speak to a therapist now by freephoning 1800247247, or text HELP to 51444. To make an appointment with a therapist, call 0818 111 126.

The statement concluded: “Thanks again to everyone for their continued support. Looking forward to seeing you all again next year!”

Revealed: County Winners for Good Causes Awards 2023

An impressive four finalists comprising of local groups, sports clubs, community projects and organisations from Roscommon were recently announced as County Winners in the National Lottery Good Causes Awards 2023.

Initiatives recognised at the awards include Ballydangan Red Grouse Project, which is regarded as one of Ireland’s best practice examples demonstrating community-based conservation in Ireland and Ballaghaderreen

Men’s Shed, a community-based project, where men can come together to learn, share skills and make longlasting friendships together. The awards aim to honour, showcase and celebrate the inspiring work being carried out nationwide by thousands of projects, clubs and individuals who have received support from Good Causes funding. Nearly 30 cents of every euro spent on National Lottery games goes back to Good Causes all over the country.

Introducing… Ingrida Kristopaityte, Nail & Foot Care, Roscommon

Tell us a bit about yourself…

My name is Ingrida Kristopaityte. I was born in Lithuania and grew up in a small town in the west called Taurage, which is surrounded by woods and a beautiful river. I went to school there and moved away when I got into medical school. I have my mum and two younger sisters. My dad passed away suddenly four years ago.

When did you first decide to become a foot health practitioner?

I went to medical school and studied Rehabilitation Physiotherapy. I am trained in lower body rehabilitation. While I was a student, I trained in nail technology on the side. Doing nails was a great source of income. I was happy and proud

The four County Winners of the National Lottery Good Causes Awards from Roscommon are Strokestown United Football Club (for sport), Ballaghaderreen Men’s Shed (for health and wellbeing), Roscommon Young Carers Project from Vita House (for youth), and Ballydangan Red Grouse Project (for heritage).

This year’s event will take place on Saturday, October 21st 2023 in Killashee House Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare.

Hospice fundraiser as Derryglad Museum celebrates big 25th

Derryglad Folk and Heritage Museum are celebrating 25 years in business with a fundraiser in aid of MayoRoscommon Hospice, which is being held on Sunday, the 18th of June, from 3 pm to 6 pm. On the day, you will be able to view the in excess of

8,000 items on display in the celebrated museum. There will also be old-style country butter-making demonstrations, with butter being sold on the day. There will also be sean-nós dancing, music, storytelling, etc. All are welcome to attend.

to live and work in Roscommon’

that I was able to support myself and not have to ask for help from my parents.

After medical school I got a job in a rehabilitation centre which gave me life and work experience. Later I was employed by a prestigious private clinic and by age 23 I was the top physiotherapist and the head of the physiotherapy department.

I absolutely loved my work but I was young and decided to travel the world. I moved to Ireland a decade ago. I got a job as a physiotherapist in a nursing home. I did physiotherapy for around eight months before I decided to open a beauty salon with my friend in Longford in 2015.

When did you open your business and how has business been so far?

When I first came to Roscommon, I rented a little room in another busy clinic and offered nail and foot care treatments. I always wondered if there is a way to help people with connecting lower limb physiotherapy and foot care treatments. I thought it would be a wonderful way to help the patients by offering an all-in-one solution for any foot and lower limb issues including aesthetic, biomechanical, pathological problems. That’s how I decided to go back to studying foot care. A few years ago, I achieved a Diploma in Foot Care and started this wonderful journey of helping people.

A few weeks into lockdown I decided to research options of training and CPDs available and came across Queens Margaret University that was offering distance learning option for medicine studies. I applied and I got into university and now continue my training in Podiatry and Podiatric surgery. I am very happy to say that soon I will be offering minor

surgical procedures in my foot clinic on the Athlone Road in Roscommon town.

What has it been like doing business in Roscommon town?

I am very happy to live and work in Roscommon. People are lovely and very welcoming. As I am a foreign person there is always a doubt in the back of your mind if you’ll be accepted, but I have to say I have met so many lovely people here and they all make me feel very welcome. I can call Roscommon my home.

What services do you offer?

I offer a huge range of treatments including high risk foot and diabetic foot screening, various assessments for the lower limb. I treat heel fissures, corns, callus, skin and nail fungal infections, ingrown toenails, warts and verrucas, onycholysis. I also offer general foot tidy up and nail cut, pedicures. For people who suffer with loss or deformity of the nails I offer nail reconstruction. I treat musculoskeletal disorder. I also do padding, tapping, orthotics. I am using the latest technologies and have a variety of treatment options for a wide range of problems. My mission is to provide patients with the best possible care and bring comfort back to their life.

How can people avail of your clinic?

The clinic is open most weeks Tuesday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, but as I am a full-time medical student, sometimes I need to take extra time off, so it’s very important to book in advance as I do not offer walk-in services and am open only by appointment.

‘I am very happy

Gráinne Seoige pictured alongside Galway Sub Aqua Club, who were announced as one of the 133 County Finalists in this year’s National Lottery Good Causes Awards. Gráinne will host the awards ceremony for the fourth consecutive year, which will take place on Saturday, October 21st, 2023 in Killashee House Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare.

PropertyPeople

Stylish home at the foothills of Sliabh Bawn

Situated at the foothills, under the gaze of the Sliabh Bawn mountain, on an elevated site, is a stylish, comfortable threebedroomed detached home, with sweeping, panoramic views.

‘Radharc na Sléibhe’, Curraghroe, Co. Roscommon, is a 5-minute drive to the picturesque Shannonside village of Ballyleague, complete with schools, shops, sporting facilities, marinas, scenic walks, boating, fishing, etc. School buses pass the front gate for convenience.

A 9-minute drive will bring you to Tarmonbarry, its excellent eateries, and the Shannon-Erne Waterway. 5km north-west there is Strokestown, famous for its famine museum and walled gardens within the stunning environs of Strokestown Park House and Gardens.

Curraghroe itself offers a variety of cycling routes, not to mention the choice of looped walks, trails, picnic areas and panoramic views from the summit of Sliabh Bawn, Roscommon’s third

highest mountain, rising to just over 800 ft.

An added attraction is the proximity of two county towns, Roscommon and Longford, both within 15 minutes’ drive, while Ire-

land West Airport (Knock), Athlone, Carrick-on-Shannon and Sligo are all within convenient commuter access.

The house itself is bright, warm and modern, with lit-

tle or no alterations necessary should a buyer wish to move in immediately. The rooms are bright and airy, with an uninterrupted flow through the southfacing sunroom to the living room/kitchen/dining area, complete with granite-topped kitchen island, Stanley cooker, induction hob, modern, quality bespoke fittings and adjoining utility room. The washing machine and dryer therein are new and are included in the sale, as are all carpets, curtains, light fittings (should the new owner so desire).

A separate sitting room affords comfort and privacy with a cosy fireplace of attractive Italian marble, perfect for those winter nights. The owner has installed an electric fire in the aperture, which can simply be lifted out

RE/MAX Team Earley close sale on prime roadside farm

Cormac Sheehy of RE/ MAX Team Earley is this week pleased to advise that he has closed the sale of a prime farm in the Curraghboy area of south Roscommon.

The prime roadside farm is located at Rackins, adjacent to Curraghboy village in Co Roscommon and was sold in two separate lots. Lot

1 comprised of 26 acres while lot 2 comprised of approximately 7 acres. This sale represented a wonderful opportunity to acquire lands in the highly regarded farming area of Curraghboy.

Cormac has confirmed that RE/MAX Team Earley are now looking for similar type farms in all areas for cash clients

and disappointed under bidders.

For further details or to arrange a free consultation, please contact RE/ MAX Team Earley, Stonecourt, Roscommon on 090-6626579, Cormac on 086-3519492 or Cathal on 086-1409158. You can also email teamearley@ remax.ie or log onto www. teamearley.ie

and returned to its original use.

Two of the three bedrooms come with cleverly appointed ensuites. Indeed the current owner has utilised space very effectively.

A clever stroke of the imagination sees the use of a large mirror on the corridor opening up this space magnificently. In addition, there is a generous family bathroom incorporating a fully

operational Helo steam unit.

Tasteful presentation and clever use of space, an extensive paved patio, double-glazing, electric gates, tarmac driveway and a PhoneWatch alarm system all combine to add to the appeal of this property. Set on a 0.6 acre site in a choice location, this property is a very tempting prospect indeed.

NEW TO THE MARKET FOR SALE BY PRIVATE TREATY OR AUCTION LATER

PRIME ROADSIDE ROSCOMMON LANDS OF APPROX 78 ACRES LOCATED BESIDE ATHLEAGUE VILLAGE TOGETHER WITH NO. RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES (PER INSTRUCTIONS OF THE PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE ESTATE OF KATHLEEN GERAGHTY DECEASED)

LOT 1:

65.34 ACRES APPROX OF PRIME ROADSIDE HOLDING OF LANDS TOGETHER WITH A 4 ROOMED TWO STOREY DWELLING IN NEED OF MODERNISATION LOCATED ON THE ATHLONE SIDE OF ATHEAGUE VILLAGE, CO. ROSCOMMON F42 DY76 COMPRISED IN FOLIOS RN17454 & RN18733 (LANDS AND RESIDENCE CAN BE SOLD INDEPENDENTLY SHOULD MARKET INTEREST DICTATE)

LOT 2:

12.72 ACRES APPROX OF PRIME ROADSIDE LANDS LOCATED OUTSIDE ATHLEAGUE VILLAGE, CO. ROSCOMMON COMMANDING FRONTAGE ON TO THE RIVER SUCK COMPRISED IN FOLIO RN9273F

TOBERAVADDY, ATHLEAGUE, CO. ROSCOMMON F42 HN24

AMV: €250,000

4 B/R BUNGALOW STYLE RESIDENCE

3 BED/ 2 BATH RESIDENCE

SUPERB 4 B/R DETACHED RESIDENCE ON A LARGE SITE

LEGAL: CALLAN TANSEY SOLICITORS TELEPHONE 071 96 62019

AMV: OPEN TO OFFERS

€85,000 Enquiry Invited

ALCOHOLICS

ANONYMOUS

< ALCOHOLICS ANONY -

MOUS: Roscommon Town Group, Castle Street, Roscommon. Eir Code: F42

RP21 (1st Floor). Meet-

ings: 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

CHIROPRACTOR

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

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

Are you experiencing difficulties in your life? Such as depression, anxiety, life or spiritural crisis. Are you having difficulties in relationships at work? Have you experienced sexual abuse or abuse and need counselling to help you? Online counselling available. Please call Glynis on 085 2514394 email:

FARMING

GARDENING

GATELY

GARDENING

Four Roads, Co. Roscommon

• Landscaping

• Timber Decking

• Patios

• General Maintenance

Contact Liam on 086 8749550 or 090 66 27496

FRANCIS REGAN FENCING

LTD

e-mail: thomasneilan4@ gmail.com

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

FENCING/GATES

Submit your Classified online

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

Tree Removal

• Wood Chipping

• Fully Insured

For all your fencing needs.

l GLAS Fencing

l Grant Fencing

l Post Rail

Tel: 087 2172281

GARDENING

Mop & Mow

Ballaghaderreen Garden & Property Services

l Grasscutting

l Strimming/ Brushcutting

l Hedge cutting

l Weeding/spraying

l Light chainsaw work

l Cleaning

l Pressure washing

Husband and wife team offering the help you need at a price you can afford

Email: mopandmow@ icloud.com

Telephone: 085 868 4169

GARDENING SERVICES

Including:

• Hedge Cutting

• 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

CORBETT

TREE CARE & LANDSCAPING

l General Maintenance

l Dangerous Tree Removal

l Garden

• Hedge Planting

• Grass

Cutting • Spraying

• Strimming

• Weeding

• Garden Tidy-ups

• Planting

• Gutter Cleaning, etc.

Chainsaw work also available

Phone John on 087 2860428

GF Ground Works

l Landscaping

l Paving & Kerbing

l Foundations

Footpaths

l Drainage & Septic tanks

l Driveways

Telephone Ger: 086 8745180

Classifieds To advertise, telephone 090 66 34633 or email advertising@roscommonpeople.ie

PROPERTIES TO LET/ RENT/WANTED

CHAZEY PROPERTIES:

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

Tel: 086 8212732

PLANNINGS

ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL

We, Tommy & Joan Furey, intend to apply to Roscommon County Council for permission and permission for retention for development at Newtown East TD, Clonown, Athlone, Co. Roscommon. The development consists of planning permission for the upgrade of an existing septic tank and retention permission for two existing sheds and a change of site boundary previously granted under PD/89/17760.

This planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Authority, during its public opening hours.

A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Planning Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee of €20, within the period of five weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application, and such submissions or observations may 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: Tommy & Joan Furey

Design

New

PLANNINGS PLANNINGS PLANNINGS HAY FOR SALE

ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL

We, Vantage Towers

Limited, intend to apply for permission to erect a 24-metre-high lattice telecommunications support structure together with antennae, dishes and associated telecommunications equipment, all enclosed in security fencing, a proposed access track and a turning area at Carrowkeeny, 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 and that 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.

ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL

Martin and Fergal Tynan intend to apply to Roscommon County Council for Permission to construct (i) Slatted loose shed (ii) Concrete yard and all associated site works at Kiltymaine, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon. That the planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours and that a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

Signed: Martin and Fergal Tynan.

ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL

We, Cathal & Lorraine Costello are applying to Roscommon County Council for the following:

1. Planning permission to construct extension to side of existing dwelling house

2. Planning permission to retain as constructed extension attached to existing domestic garage

3. Planning permission to retain as constructed dutch clipped gables that differs to that granted under PD 99/479 And all site ancillary development works at Derrane Road, Four Mile House, Co Roscommon F42 CD89 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, Seamus McGuire, of Lisdaly, Croghan, Boyle, Co. Roscommon F52

A896 intend to apply to Roscommon County Council for full planning permission for: Installation of a new septic tank and percolation area to EPA CoP 2021/SR66.

The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the Planning Authority during the public opening hours.

A submission or observation in relation to the Application may be made in writing to the Planning Authority on payment of the prescribed fee of €20, within the period of 5 weeks, beginning on the date of receipt by Roscommon County Council of the Application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the Planning Authority in making a decision on the application. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL

CCA Motors Ltd. intend to make application to Roscommon County Council for planning permission for change of use of existing garage premises to HCV and LCV Test Centre, refurbish and extend existing garage premises to include new reception area, offices, waiting area, Garda technical room, store, service bay, associated works and services at Cloonybeirne and Ardsallagh More, Roscommon, Co. Roscommon.

Signed: Gaynor Architectural + Design Services Ltd.

Architects Fallon Avenue, Roscommon. Phone: 090 6626974 Mobile: 086 8115449

HOLIDAY LETS

< FOR SALE: 50 round bales of top quality hay. Baled this week. Kilteevan area. Tel.

LOST & FOUND

LOST on Friday 19th May near Roscommon Mart or surrounding area. If found please leave in Roscommon Garda Station. Reward offered.

PLANT

HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION IN THE ALGARVE

ALBUFEIRA, PORTUGAL

Luxury 1 or 2 bed apartments for rent, Sky TV, Shared Pool, long and short stays. Tel. Sean: 087 2371716

CLEANING

RCS SERVICES GET A FREE QUOTE TODAY

ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL

We, John and Anita McEnroe, wish to apply for Planning Permission for a development at this site in Creggan Townland, Cornafulla Athlone, Co. Roscommon. The development consists of, A proposed new 2 story dwelling house & domestic garage; new proprietary effluent treatment system and polishing filter; new gated entrance and all ancillary site works. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours and that a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

Signed, Adrian Lennon, Emerald Eco Homes Ltd (Agent).

ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL

I, Vincent Mulry, intend to apply for planning permission for a domestic garage/domestic Shed and ancillary site development works at Rahara, Athleague, Co. Roscommon. Eircode: F42YH97.

The Planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours.

A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee, €20, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the planning authority in making a decision on the application. The planning authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions or may refuse to grant permission.

Signed: Vincent Mulry.

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.

PLANNING

APPLICATIONS

Contact David who is a Chartered Engineer in regard to applying for your planning application. For further details, please contact any time after 6pm week days or any time on Saturdays on: 083 095 0732

BEng, BEng(Ord), High. Cert., MIEI, CEng. Chartered Civil / Structural Engineer

CONNOLLY Contracting

Camargo - 087 293 4756

CLEANING

Signed: Vincent Durkin (Agent). www.DurkinDesign.ie Architectural Designs Tel: 086 83 72 933

USEFUL

Tullys

Sarah

CB.Sc (Hons) Podiatry MScPI

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

For

Tel: Donal 086 2721812

(ALL AREAS) CATTLE & ANIMAL BEDDING AVAILABLE

Corlack

l

l

l Hydraulic Hose Repair

l Oil/Grease Lubricants

l OEM Hydraulic Components and Spares

CAN’T FIND

firewood. Ash, Beech, Birch and Whitethorn. We are safety certified and insured. Phone: 086 2437376

<

086 4100508

< TURF PLOTS FOR SALE. Clonsheever, Castlerea area. Roadside access. Tel. 086 8616577.

l Wheel Balancing

l 4-Wheel Alignment

l Batteries

l Adblue

l Accessories

< PLOTS OF HOPPER TURF for sale. Good quality turf. Ballaghaderreen area. Tel 087 681 0849.

< 9 HOPPERS of black turf for sale. Four Roads/ Ballyforan area. Tel 0868763227 or 090-6623333

TAROT READING

Would you like to know what 2023 has in store for you?

Come and have a Tarot Reading with Kerry Lee, for appointments call 089 4256426 Based near Glenamaddy.

TURF PLOTS: Plots of turf to let, Tulsk, Castlerea area. Now taking orders. Contact Chris

Classifieds To advertise, telephone 090 66 34633 or email

Please forward

PART TIME CARETAKER REQUIRED

for Ballintleva N.S. Curraghboy, Athlone, Co. Roscommon.

Effective from 28th August 2023. This is a fixed term post which entails general maintenance of school and grounds Application with supporting documentation to be forwarded by post to The Chairperson, Ballintleva N.S Board of Management, Tisrara, Four Roads, Roscommon. Eircode: F42A303 on or before Friday 16th June 2023

WE ARE HIRING

nternational are seeking an Accounts Administrator to join our busy office. Based in our head office in Roscommon Town, this role will suit someone in a of role, wishing to develop and learn on an international level, or interested in a career within a challenging, friendly and rewarding global business environment.

Administrator Key Responsibilities and timely Customer Invoicing intercompany Sales and Reconciliations

Debtors Management

-Issuing Statements and actively managing the Aged Debtors Ledger Shipping Lists and communicating any changes to Customers

-Monitoring Bank Receipts and Allocating Payments. Revenue returns including VAT, VIES and lnterstat.

Monthly Bank Reconciliations (Euro, USO & GBP).

-Assist and provide cover to Accounts Payable. cover where required to the Sofa Source Operations team. with all other Departments to identify improvements and streamline month-end and year-end close processes. with Year End Audit.

Requirements

The successful candidate will have/be: years' relevant work experience.

-Experience of multi-currency transactions desirable but not essential.

-Proficient in Microsoft Office with very strong excel skills required. attention to detail.

-Ability to work under pressure. time management and organisational skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks.

-Ability to work in a team environment and support colleagues when necessary. If you would like to become part of our dynamic team, please apply with your CV to michelle@imagefurnishings.com

Closing date for applications is Thursday 8th June 2023

BROTHERS OF CHARITY SERVICES

WANTED TO CARE FOR LADY

DAYS/NIGHTS. Carrick-on-Shannon area. Please reply to PO Box 3076 Roscommon People, Abbey Street, Roscommon Town.

FULL-TIME CARE SCHEDULER POSITION AVAILABLE

RHS Home Care are a not for profit cooperative est. 1996 Due to increased demand in community service, RHS Home Care are seeking a Full-time Care Scheduler to join our team in the Head Office in the Primary Care Centre in Roscommon Town. This is a great opportunity to join an organisation that provides excellent care services within the healthcare sector.

You must be able to work supervised and unsupervised to strict deadlines and co-ordinate well with our team of carers and supervisors in the community.

This position is a fast-paced critical role within the service we offer to clients in the community. The role involves having an open approach to problem-solving and a willingness to think outside the box is encouraged.

**This role is office-based only in our head office in Roscommon Town.

Essential:

• ECDL Certified and/or QQI Level 5 Qualification.

• Experience in a similar role.

• A min of 1 year of experience is desirable in an administration role.

• Location: Head Office, Roscommon Primary Care Centre

• Time: 9am-5pm Mon-Thurs, 9am-4.30pm Fri

• This is an office based role.

To be considered for this position apply by sending your CV to jobs@rhshomecare.ie or call 0906625988

IRELAND WEST REGION

PROVIDING SERVICES TO PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES

We wish to invite applications for the following posts:

2 X PERMANENT FULL-TIME TEAM MANAGERS (CNM2/ADMIN GRADE VI)

BOYLE AREA and ROSCOMMON TOWN AREA

JOB REF: 131/2023

To have your advert seen by over 80,000 people every week advertise with us!

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GAVIGAN Noel

Kilrooskey, Roscommon (who passed away peacefully on 11th April 2023)

Ó BRÁDAIGH Ruairí

Bóthar na Gaillimhe, Ros Comáin. In loving memory of Ruairí whose 10th Anniversary occurs on June 5th

McCORMACK J.J.

Cartron, Four Mile House, Roscommon Who passed away on 3rd June 2020 (3rd Anniversary)

We, Noel’s daughters and family wish to express our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to all those who sympathised and supported us on our sad loss of our dear father and grandfather.

We are truly grateful to those who visited our home and attended Noel’s funeral. Thank you to everyone who sent cards, messages and flowers and supported us over the past weeks. Thank you very much to our wonderful relatives, neighbours and friends who brought food and refreshments to the house.

We will be forever indebted to the wonderful, kind staff of Innis Ree Nursing Home for their excellent care of Noel and who cared for him with such kindness, compassion and dignity during Noel’s final weeks. Your kindness will never be forgotten.

Thanks to Fr. Dan for all his help in arranging the lovely Funeral Mass, and to Clodagh for the beautiful music. A special thank you to Pat and Gillian Smyth for taking care of the funeral arrangements in such a kind and professional manner. Thank you to the gravediggers who prepared Noel’s final resting place.

As it is impossible to thank everyone individually, please accept this acknowledgement as an expression of our deep gratitude. The Holy Sacrifice of the mass will be offered for your intention.

Noel’s Month’s Mind Mass will be celebrated on Saturday 3rd June at 8pm in St Mary’s Church, Ballagh

THANKSGIVINGS

PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN

(Never know to fail) O, most beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel, Fruit of the Vine, splendorous of Heaven.Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in this my necessity. O, Star of the Sea, help me and show herein you are my mother. O, Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succour me in my necessity. There are none that can withstand your power, O, show me here you are my mother. O, Mary, conceived without sin,pray for us who have recourse to Thee. Sweet Mother, place this cause in your hands. Amen. M.S.

THE MIRACULOUS PRAYER

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

THE MIRACULOUS PRAYER

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

THE MIRACLE PRAYER

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

“If but a few are faithful found, they must be all the more steadfast for being just a few.”

– Terence McSwiney.

Lovingly remembered and missed by Ruairí’s wife Patsy, Mait, Ruairí Óg, Deirdre, Conchúr, Eithne, Colm and their families.

Ar dheis láimh Dé go raibh a anam dílis i gcónaí

Though your smile has gone forever and your hand I cannot touch, I still have so many memories of the one I love so much. Your memory is my keepsake with which I’ll never part, God has you in his keeping, I have you in my heart.. Forever loved and deeply missed by your heartbroken wife, Chris.

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

We do not need a special day to bring you to our minds. The days we do not think of you are very hard to find. Our thoughts are always with you, your place no-one can fill. In life we loved you dearly, in death we love you still.

Always loved and sadly missed by Anne-Marie, Geraldine, Padraic, Michelle and Joe, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law and cherished grandchildren.

J.J.’s third Anniversary Mass will be held on Sunday 11th June at 11am in St. Brigid’s Church, Four Mile House

McDERMOTT Billy

Clooneenbane, Roscommon (4th Anniversary)

STEPHENS

Michael (Mickie)

Churchpark, Tremane, Roscommon (1st Anniversary)

Treasured memories of Billy, a devoted husband, father and grandfather who passed away on 1st June 2019, R.I.P.

Billy -

As each day dawns, we think of you. As each night falls, we pray for you. And throughout our lives, no matter where, in our hearts, you are always there.

Moydow, Athleague, Co Roscommon 50th Birthday

3rd June 2023

MURPHY

Tom Sheehaun, Curraghroe, Roscommon (3rd Anniversary)

HOARE

James

21 Circular Road, Roscommon (16th Anniversary)

Who passed away on the 6th June 2007

You were always there when we needed you. No task too great or small. With a loving heart and willing hands, for us you did it all

Lovingly remembered and sadly missed by the Stephens family.

never gone.

Always remembered this and every day by Avril, Kevin and Emmet.

In loving memory of Tom who passed away on 28th May 2020

Those we love don’t go away The walk beside us every day

Unseen, unheard, but always near Still loved, still missed and very dear

Sadly missed by Marian, Stephen, Tanya and Abbey

From sincere hearts and minds, Wonderful memories you left behind

Sadly missed by his brother, sister and families.

Anniversary Mass in St. Mary’s Church, Ballagh, Co. Roscommon on 22nd July 2023 at 8.00 p.m.

changes, no matter what we do. A special place within our hearts is always kept for you.

You left us beautiful memories, your love is still our guide, and although we cannot see you, you are always by our side.

Sadly missed by his sons and daughters; sons-in-law, daughters-in-law; grandchildren and great grandchildren. Mass will be held at a later date.

Your kind and gentle soul has passed but you will forever remain in the hearts and minds of your loving wife Ann, children, grandchildren, extended family and friends.

Anniversary Mass in Cloverhill Church on Friday, 2nd June at 7.00pm.

DONNELLY Gerry

Rahara, Athleague, Co. Roscommon (19th Anniversary)

In loving memory of Gerry who passed away on 5th June, 2004.

Rest In Peace

Sadly missed by his wife Teresa, daughter Orla, sons Luke, Anthony and Damien, daughters-in-law Ann, Siobhán, Helena and grandchildren Dylan, Evan, Keeva, Muireann, Róisín, Carly and Conor.

Anniversary Mass in Rahara Church on Sunday, 18th June at 10am.

Mickie’s Anniversary Mass will be celebrated in the Sacred Heart Church, Roscommon on Saturday 3rd June at 7pm

FINNERAN

Joe Lisgobbin, Roscommon Who passed away on 15th June 2021 (2nd Anniversary)

Joe, remembering you is easy, we do it every day. Missing you is heartbreak that never goes away, you are missed and will never be forgotten.

Sadly missed by Maureen, Olivia, Trevor, Shauna and Niall and your beloved grandchildren Niall, Emma, Abbie and Danny.

Anniversary Mass will be celebrated in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Derrane on Saturday, 3rd June at 7pm.

WALSH Pat (Paddy)

Ballymacfrane, Donamon, Co. Roscommon

DOWD Tommie

Ballybane, Galway and formerly Aughagad, Castlecoote, County Roscommon (6th Anniversary)

In loving memory of Tommie who died on the 8th June 2017

RIP 24/12/22

The family of the late Pat (Paddy) Walsh, would like to thank everyone who sympathised with them on Pat’s recent bereavement, including neighbours, relatives, friends, carers and wider community and thank you to all who attended his wake, removal and Mass.

We also thank the staff of Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe; the staff of Roscommon University Hospital and G.P. Dr. Valerie Morris for the wonderful care Pat received.

Thank you to Fr. Twomey for calling to Pat’s house the evening of the wake and for celebrating his Funeral Mass.

We thank the grave diggers who prepared his grave. Thank you to the Clooneycolgan choir and organist and to Smyth’s Funeral Undertakers for their assistance and professionalism.

As it would be impossible to thank everyone individually, please accept this acknowledgement as a token of our appreciation and thanks.

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass will be offered for your intentions.

Scrine,

We think about you always and talk about you too. We have such precious memories but we wish we still had you. Those special years will not return, when we were all together. But the memories that are in our hearts will stay with us forever.

Forever loved and deeply missed by your sisters Mary and Margaret; brother Michael; brothers-in-law, sister-in-law, nieces, nephews, grandnephews and grandniece.

Anniversary Mass will be held in Church of the Assumption, Castlecoote on Thursday, 8th June at 7pm.

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Sports PEOPLE

Burke: ‘Complacency won’t be a factor’

ROSSIES SET FOR SLIGO SHOWDOWN

All-Ireland SFC (Group 3): Roscommon v Sligo on Sunday in Dr Hyde Park at 3 pm

< SEAMUS DUKE

The roles are reversed for Roscommon next Sunday as they go from outsiders to hot favourites against their Connacht rivals Sligo.

While the hosts will be expected to win this match without any difficulty, they will need to guard against complacency to take the two points on offer.

The one worry about this game from a Roscommon point of view is that last Sunday’s draw with Dublin was tough on body and mind and management and players have a big task this week to reset and refocus.

Speaking to People Sport earlier this week, Roscommon manager Davy Burke said complacency won’t be allowed to creep into the camp.

“We have a lot of tired bodies but anyone who came off was suffering from cramp so we will be ready to go again on Sunday,” he said.

“Anyone who knows me will know that complacency will not be a factor. We just have to be smart the way we play the game. We have great lads who have been performing at the top level all year and we just have to be professional the way we approach it. We want to be very hard to beat in Dr Hyde Park and we are looking forward to the challenge”.

Looking at the other fixture in the group, Burke says Dublin will face a major challenge from Kildare in Nowlan Park.

“Dublin have a lot of tired bodies too and I

TALE OF THE TAPE…

Both Roscommon and Sligo have one point after their opening games in Group 3. Roscommon drew with Dublin in Croke Park while Sligo drew with Kildare in Markievicz Park.

Roscommon beat Sligo by twelve points in their most recent championship encounter last year.

think Kildare will give them loads of it. It will be a very interesting game too,” he concluded. Sligo football has seen something of a renaissance in recent years, particularly at underage level and they will travel to the Hyde this Sunday with hopes of causing an upset following their well earned draw with Kildare.

Roscommon will have to deal with the twin threat of Niall Murphy and Sean Carabine, scorers in chief for the Yeats County. However, on the evidence of last weekend, Brian Stack and company will be expected to snuff out any real danger.

Expect the visitors to come out all guns blazing and remain competitive until half-time, but Roscommon should be able to pull away in the second half and take another important step towards quarter-final qualification.

Prediction: Roscommon.

Form so far…

Roscommon

Roscommon 2-8 Mayo 0-10 (Connacht SFC Quarter-Final) Galway 1-13 Roscommon 1-9 (Connacht SFC Semi-Final) Roscommon 0-14 Dublin 1-11 (All-Ireland SFC Group 3)

Top Scorers

1. Ciaráin Murtagh 1-11 (0-5 frees);2. Diarmuid Murtagh 0-9 (0-6 frees); 3. Enda Smith 1-2 (1-0 pen).

Sligo

Sligo 2-20 London 0-12 (Connacht SFC Quarter-Final) Sligo 2-16 New York 0-6 (Connacht SFC Semi-Final) Galway 2-20 Sligo 0-12 (Connacht SFC Final)

Top Scorers

1. Niall Murphy 0-17 (0-6 frees, 0-1 ‘45); 2. Sean Carrabine 1-12 (0-4 frees); 3. Patrick O’Connor 2-4 (0-1 mark); 4. Pat Spillane 1-7.

Drawn together: Roscommon manager Davy Burke and Dublin manager Dessie Farrell shake hands at full-time after both teams played out a tightly contested draw in Sunday’s All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Round 1 match in Croke Park last Sunday. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Free admission to Lenebane today!

Horses for Courses by Tom Red

Racing this week starts this afternoon (Thursday) with action on the flat in Roscommon off at 2.05 pm, and free entry for all. This evening, Fairyhouse also has a flat card with first race at 4.25 pm.

On Friday, racing is over the jumps with six hurdle races and a bumper at Down Royal, off at 5 pm and sponsored by BoyleSports, and the first of a two-day meeting at Tramore, both national hunt meetings, off on Friday at 5.20 pm and Saturday at 5.30 pm.

Saturday also sees the first of a threeday Bank Holiday meeting at Listowel starting at 2.25 pm, on Sunday at 2.05 pm, both jumps meetings, and Monday on the flat at 2.20 pm.

There is national hunt racing in Kilbeggan on Sunday at 2 pm and on the flat at Gowran Park at 2.05 pm on Monday.

On Friday, there are five races being covered on ITV and Virgin Media 1 from Epsom, including both the Group 1 Coronation Cup and the English Oaks.

On Saturday, all eight races from Epson are covered on ITV, ITV 4 and Virgin Media 1 including the Epsom Derby at the early time of 1.30 pm to avoid a clash with the FA Cup Final.

Last weekend at the Curragh, the feature on Friday, The Emerald Mile Premium Handicap, was won by the Johnny Murtagh-trained Rahmi, ridden by Danny Sheehey. On Saturday, the first Irish classic, the 2000 Guineas, went to Paddington, giving Aidan O’Brien his 12th win in the race with Ryan Moore aboard.

On Sunday, the pair won the Tattersalls Gold Cup with Luxembourg, and the 1,000 Guineas went to the Dermot Weld-trained Tahiyra with Chris Hayes in the saddle.

Racing News

There is a very open card of racing today in Roscommon starting with the featured EBF Median Sires Series Maiden with 11 runners. The value may be Thia with Rory Cleary aboard. Jim Bolger’s charge is stepping up in distance.

In the third, Voice Of Reason catches the eye on his third outing behind 1000 Guineas runner-up Cairo and could be the value of the day.

Aidan O’Brien is three-handed in the 1000 Guineas with Ryan Moore taking the mount on Savethelastdance, who should account for the Gosden pair,

Soul Sister and Running Lion. Charlie Appleby has supplemented Eternal Hope at a cost of £30,000 and must be given consideration.

O’Brien’s Point Lonsdale will be there or thereabouts in the Coronation Cup, but Emily Upjohn is taken to give Detorri his winner. There are seven Irish runners in the field of 16 headed by Aidan O’Brien’s Auguste Rodin who will get most to do from Charley Appleby’s Military Order, winner of the Lingfield Derby Trial which was run on the all-weather. Jessica Harrington’s Sprewell looks the best of the other Irish runners and has been backed from 20s to 10/1.

Competition Corner

Our winners of the tickets for Kilbeggan on Sunday are John Egan, Ballinlough; Mick McGarry, Roscommon; and Elizabeth Kiernan, Drumlish who all know that Kilbeggan is in Westmeath and don’t forget to collect your tickets in the office.

Second chance to win tickets for Roscommon on June 12th, and all we want to know is which trainer enjoyed a treble in Roscommon on Monday, May 22nd?

We also have tickets for Kilbeggan on Monday, June 19th and to win those just tell us what is the only type of racing to take place in Kilbeggan? Answers please on a postcard to The Roscommon People, Abbey Street, Roscommon or by email to tomred17@gmail.com by 5 pm on Wednesday, June 7th for Roscom-

mon and June 14th for Kilbeggan. Don’t forget to include your name, address, and a contact phone number with all competition entries. Tickets will have to be collected in the office in Abbey Street, Roscommon. There was no competition for tickets for the rescheduled meeting at Roscommon today as entry will be free.

SPORTS DESK With Dan Dooner

(News from local golf clubs)

Short putts

Athlone

Athlone’s Junior Foursomes enjoyed a terrific win over Roscommon on Saturday last and team success continued on Sunday when the Junior Cup team had a dramatic victory over Loughrea on the 19th hole.

The Women’s 9-hole competition was won by Evelyn Wright (17 points). The nett prize in the Australian Spoons competition went to Noirín O’Rourke and Kay Delaney (43 points), while the gross prize was won by Catherine Fitzgerald and Siobhán McGrath (19).

Results of the ‘97 Club: 1st Patricia Kinahan (28), 2nd Kathleen McDonnell (27), and 3rd Olive Dolan (24).

Boyle

Commiserations to Michael Simon’s Seniors, who were narrowly defeated (3-2) by Enniscrone in the Fred Perry Cup last Friday.

Jason Beirne topped the leaderboard in the PGA Tankard qualifier with 40 points; Adrian King (37) was second, and Mark Feehan (36) was third.

Results from the Men’s 9-hole: 1st Lochlainn Conboy (21); 2nd Gabriel Lavin (18); 3rd Dessie Murphy (18); Brendan Gaffney won the 2s club. Carrick

Congratulations to Dylan Beirne and the Junior Cup team following their excellent win over Tuam last weekend.

Phil McWeeney (38 points) was the winner of the recent Ladies’ competition while last Friday’s Open competition was won by Kyle Flynn with 41.

Meanwhile, Michael Keville won the Seniors’ competition on May 18th with 38 points, and the recent Stableford competition was won by John O’Mahony, Johnny Martin, and Paddy Duffy with 49 points. The overall winner of last Thursday’s competition was Anthony Noone with 34 points.

The Seniors enjoyed a very successful outing

to Claremorris on Monday, May 22nd for a Texas Scramble competition.

The Landmark Classic takes place this Bank Holiday weekend with presentation on Monday evening from 9 pm. Members are encouraged to support this important fundraiser for the club.

Castlerea

The Men’s O’Connor Don Cup competition was played recently with Gerry McLoughlin coming out on top with a score of 59 nett. Michael Doyle was runner-up with 61, and Jimmy Joyce (62 nett), Padraic Gorham (65), and Michael Moran (64) won Cats 1, 2 and 3 respectively.

In the Ladies’ section, Mamie Creaton won the Mac Dermot Cup with 68 points. Maura Tully was second with 69 points on countback.

Thursday’s competition was won by Mary Ward (18 points) with Valerie Rabbitt second with 17.

Roscommon

The first major competitions are fast approaching with Club President Mary Cunningham’s Prize to the Ladies taking place on Tuesday and Saturday, June 13th and 17th. Participation in at least two 18hole competitions is required to take part.

The Men’s competition will also be two 18-hole strokeplay competitions on Sunday and Saturday, June 18th and 24th. The presentation will take place on the Saturday evening.

In team news, hard luck to our Mixed Foursomes teams who were in action against Dunmore last Wednesday evening, and also the Men’s Junior Cup team who were defeated by Castlebar. Both Ladies’ Intermediate and Minor Cup teams were also beaten against Co Sligo and Castlerea respectively last Sunday.

Finally, congratulations to Ann Gately (71), who won the Ladies’ 18-hole competition by two shots recently. Olivia Costello was runner-up and Jackie McCormack was third.

The Ladies’ 9-hole competition was won by Therese Ray (26), the Men’s Senior competition went to N Sharkey (40), the Ladies’ saw K Ruane emerge victorious.

Costello in German Open action

Roscommon town golfer, Olivia Costello, will represent Ireland in the 19th edition of the German Boys and Girls’ Open at the St Leon-Rot Golf Club near Heidelberg this weekend.

Olivia, who recently won the Flogas Irish Girls’ Amateur Open, tees off today (Thursday) and goes up against Europe’s best young golfers in a bid to be crowned ‘International German Open Amateur Champion’.

Shield victory for Cosy Bar

There were celebrations in Cosy Bar recently as the pub’s darts team brought home the Shield following their 4-3 victory over Village Inn in the Roscommon Darts League decider at Hannon’s Hotel.

The Shield section was contested by Cosy Bar (Castlerea) and Village Inn (Loughglynn) as well as Fla-

nagan’s of Castleplunkett and Roscommon town’s The Hollywood Bar.

It was the Castlerea outfit that came out on top following an entertaining final last Saturday week. The Shield and medals were presented to Cosy Bar captain, Matty Connelly, by Damien Hannon.

Ger’s ‘Swim Against Suicide’

Lough Ree Orcas swimmer Ger

Moore has been busy preparing for a long swim this summer in a bid to raise awareness and funds for two suicide prevention charities, Jigsaw and Pieta House.

The brave Cork native will attempt to swim from the top of Lough Allen all the way to Limerick City. He is setting off on June 18th and plans to complete his incredible journey in just two weeks!

Get behind Ger and support his heroic efforts in raising badly needed funds for two very worthy charities. You can donate by visiting www. idonate.ie/fundraiser/SwimAgainstSuicide. More on this next week.

Roscommon LGFA Golf Classic

Roscommon Ladies Gaelic Football Association are hosting their first ever Golf Classic on Saturday, June 10th as a novel fundraiser for the County Board.

Teams of four cost €120 while Tee Sponsorship is available from €100. For more information or to book your tee time at what promises to be one of the most enjoyable golf outings of the summer, contact AnneMarie Hynes (087-2211575) or Ollie Colgan (087-2988132).

Windmill Wheelers’ Annual Club Cycle

Windmill Wheelers’ Annual Club Cycle takes place on Sunday, June 11th and features two great routes of 80km and 50km.

The event starts at Elphin Community Hall (F45 K336) and participants can sign up at eventmaster. ie. Follow Windmill Wheelers on Facebook for updates.

Auguste Rodin and Ryan Moore.

The victorious Cosy Bar team which took the Roscommon Darts League Shield title back to Castlerea recently.

Camógs off to winning start!

The Roscommon camogie team got their Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Premier Junior Championship campaign off to a winning start last Saturday with a 2-9 to 1-10 win over Tyrone in Garvaghey. A brace of first-half goals from Claire Curley contributed to a 2-7 to 0-4 half-time lead, and while the hosts mounted a courageous comeback after the interval, Roscommon held on to top their group. Roscommon’s next match will see them entertain Louth on Saturday week in a group that also includes Clare.

GAA Results

5th & Mad - East Side, New York Division One O’Rourke Cup

Roscommon Gaels 2-12 Western Gaels 1-11 Elphin 2-10 Fuerty 3-7

Clann na nGael 3-20 St Faithleach’s 1-8

Pádraig Pearses 2-12 St Dominic’s 1-10 Oran 2-15 Boyle 0-11

St Brigid’s 1-12 Tulsk Lord Edwards 0-12

Leydon Bros London Division Two O’Gara Cup

Creggs 1-12 St Brigid’s 0-12

Michael Glavey’s 1-10 St Croan’s 1-10

Castlerea St Kevin’s 4-15 Kilbride 0-3

Éire Óg 2-15 Shannon Gaels 0-11

Strokestown 1-14 Kilmore 0-8

Pádraig Pearses 3-9 Clann na nGael 0-13

Atlantis IPS Division Three Tansey Cup

St Barry’s 1-8 Kilglass Gaels 0-9

St Aidan’s 2-10 Castlerea St Kevin’s 1-9

Western Gaels 1-12 St Dominic’s 3-5 St Ronan’s 1-14 Oran 3-7

Cora Systems Division Five (Section A)

Strokestown 1-14 St Michael’s 1-11

Junior Hurling Championship

Four Roads 0-13 Roscommon Gaels 0-12

Fixtures

Friday, June 2nd

Sidero AFL Division Four (8 pm)

At Kiltoom: St Brigid’s v St Faithleach’s

At Lisnamult: Roscommon Gaels v Elphin

At Kilmore: Kilmore v Boyle

Cora Systems Division Five (Section A) (8 pm)

At Pairc Naomh Bearra: St Barry’s v Ballinameen

At Croghan: Shannon Gaels v Éire Óg

At Kilronan Park: St Ronan’s v Tulsk Lord Edwards

At Ardcarne Park: St Michael’s v Kilglass Gaels

Cora Systems Division Five (Section B) (8 pm)

At Creggs: Creggs v Oran

At Johnstown: Clann na nGael v Kilbride

At Enfield: St Croan’s v St Aidan’s

At Knockcroghery: St Dominic’s v Pádraig Pearses

Saturday, June 3rd

Kepak Senior Hurling League (Group A)

At Tremane: Tremane v St Dominic’s. 7.30 pm

At Woodmount: Pádraig Pearses v Athleague. 8 pm

Sunday, June 4th

Kepak Senior Hurling League (Group B)

At Lisnamult: Roscommon Gaels v Oran. 11.30 am

U-17 hurlers lose out in Celtic Challenge final

Electric Ireland Celtic Challenge (Corn Jerome O’Leary) Final Westmeath 0-25

Roscommon 1-12

Roscommon’s U-17 hurlers fell at the final Celtic Challenge hurdle when they suffered a ten-point defeat in the derby decider played at Oliver Plunketts’ GAA Club in Mullingar last Sunday morning.

Ten points from Pádraig Casey proved to be the difference as Westmeath ran out comfortable winners in the end.

Roscommon, under Michael Fallon, fought bravely in the second half having trailed by eight points at the break despite an early goal from Eoghan Canning.

And while they showed signs of improvement as the second half wore on, this young Roscommon team always struggled to get to grips with a talented Westmeath attack.

Westmeath: C Óg Fagan; E Murray, A Flanagan, D O’Malley; J Dolan, S Hayes, S Gavigan; C Ward (0-1), M Davis (0-1); D Corrigan (0-3), P Casey (0-10, four frees, one ’65), M Sinnott (0-2); R Williams (0-4), R O’Brien, L Myler (0-1). Subs used: C Foy (0-1) for Gavigan (23 mins), C Ormsby for Sinnot (42 mins), C Cruise for (0-2) for Myler (48 mins), C Maloney for O’Malley (50 mins), C Lee for Flanagan (50 mins), C Purcell for Corrigan (50 mins), E Gallagher for Murray (54 mins), C Traynor for Dolan (54 mins),

On the Pitch…

C’mon The Town

(Roscommon Town Youth Soccer)

In association with the

All three Roscommon Town U-14 sides were in action on Monday evening last. Rovers comfortably beat St John’s Athletic 4-0 in Lecarrow. Rian Grogan, Aaron Miley, Lewis Smyth and Eoin Naughten scored for the Town while Conor Keaveney was the star player. The Real side lost out away to St Cuan’s. Jacob Szela scored two while Luis Fellipe da Silva and Senan Grogan also netted.

Atletico took the lead at home to Ballymoe through Niall Timon but Ballymoe eventually ran out winners.

Both U-12 teams were in league action on Tuesday. Town 1 were in Glenamaddy while Town 2 were away to Castlerea.

The U-16 girls’ team were away to Skyvalley and came away with the three points.

The girls played some fine football on a pristine pitch and took a commanding half-time lead. Daniella Kerr impressed in midfield while Isabelly Sussuarana and Lucy Coyle netted braces in a 4-2 win.

The Town 1 U-16 boys’ side comfortably beat St John’s in Lecarrow.

Jonathan Ben Martin scored twice as Town powered to a 5-1 win. Town 2 lost out at home to Dunmore.

Gerard Greene impressed for what is a young side.

C Maher for Davis (60 mins), S Maloney for Foy (60 mins).

Roscommon: E Murray; E Kelly, D Mooney, E Morris; J Kelly, J Tully, S McDermott; R Glynn (0-2, 1 free), D Bolger (0-2); L

Mulry, G Staunton (0-1), B Killion (0-4, 4 frees); C Morris (0-1, free), E Canning (1-0), C Mulry.

Subs used: R Coyle for McDermott (15 mins), G Meares for L Mulry (28 mins) O Rogers (0-1)

for C Mulry (48 mins), A Beckett (0-1) for Canning (49 mins), K Naughton for Staunton (56 mins), J Reddington for J Kelly (56 mins), T Biesty for Killion (56 mins).

Player Profile

Name: Lucy Coyle

Team: U-16 Girls

Position: Striker

Three words that describe me: Sporty, Creative, Motivated.

Skill strength: Shooting

Skill weakness: Rainbow flick

Favourite team: Manchester United

Favourite player: Cristiano Ronaldo

Favourite Irish player: Stephanie Roche

Best stadium in the world: Bernabeu

Messi or Ronaldo or Neither: Ronaldo

PlayStation or Xbox or Neither: Xbox

Favourite film: Enola Holmes

Pictured is the Roscommon Town U-16 Girls side. At U-11 level, Town 1 were away to Kilkerrin. The EL team drew while the CL team won comfortably. Town 2 were at home to St Cuan’s. The EL lads won while the CL side lost. The Town 3 EL and CL teams won their games at home to Ballaghaderreen.

Goal of the Week

Goal of the Week this week came from Rian Grogan against St John’s. A fine finish after a good team move.

TG4 coming to Town!

Roscommon Town has been invited to participate in the new series of TG4’s CLUB series. This is exciting news and we look forward to welcoming the cameras to the club to meet our members – young and old! More information to follow in due course.

Wise Words

Failure is success in progress - A. Einstein

Favourite food: Fish and Chips

Favourite song: 4Runner

Favourite book: Diary of a Wimpy Kid

What makes me happy: Sports/PE

Person you admire the most: Ronaldo

Why I play soccer: I love the game and enjoy learning new skills and meeting new people.

Hopes for this season: To win the cup and to score a hat-trick.

Games Promotion Officer, Proinsias Killion, and U-17 manager, Michael Fallon, pictured at a recent training session, have overseen an encouraging Celtic Challenge campaign which ended in defeat to Westmeath last weekend. Pic: Kieran Croghan.

GAME ON… Character and class as Roscommon match Dublin in Croker opener

On that 5 minutes and 45 seconds…

In years to come it will probably be said that Roscommon held on to the ball for ten minutes (or longer) against the mighty Dubs in 2023.

Actually, the commentator on The Sunday Game has already (in fairness, unwittingly) started the fake news element by stating Ciaráin Murtagh’s 37th minute point came after… about TEN minutes of continuous Roscommon possession.

In fact, the remarkable spell of ‘keep ball’ lasted a mere 5 minutes and 45 seconds. Of course it wasn’t ‘pretty’ – but this is the modern game, and this is how most teams are now playing.

(Critics of Roscommon’s brilliantly executed possession game in the first half on Sunday should be wary of leaving themselves open to accusations of hypocrisy. At their peak under Jim Gavin, Dublin played exciting football, but it was their game management in the closing stages of tight All-Ireland finals that sucked the life out of opponents).

What’s encouraging for Roscommon is that very few teams are executing this template as efficiently as Davy Burke’s players are.

The phase of play reportedly consisted of 77 Roscommon passes, with goalkeeper Conor Carroll involved 19 times. As frustrated Dublin supporters began to boo, Roscommon – by now living dangerously close to their own goal – finally broke free. Diarmuid Murtagh sprinted through the middle like a foot soldier carrying an extremely important message to the frontline during the war.

On receiving the good news (that a successful breakout had been masterminded) his brother Ciaráin provided the fitting finale with a great score. Roscommon were announcing themselves as a force to be reckoned with in Championship 2023.

Mark my words…

I usually roll my eyes in embarrassment when supporters claim there’s some sort of agenda against their heroes.

We’re not immune to it here in Roscommon. Every county has its share of paranoid/thin-skinned/blinkered fans! In fairness, it is all good, harmless fun.

Say Roscommon lose a game… completely illogically, someone might say “that referee never liked Roscommon”.

Or Roscommon have a big win, and (God forbid) The Sunday Game highlights aren’t considered comprehensive. Someone might say: “If it was Mayo, it would have been the first game on!”

I suppose the easily aggrieved might actually be right some of the time. Anyways, I may be about to join the very club that has often made me cringe!

Beginning a Gaelic football review on ‘The Last Word’ on Monday evening, Matt Cooper specifically said there had only been one football game on Sunday (Dublin v Roscommon). He added that Roscommon had almost caused a sensation, then asked guest Marc Ó Sé if ‘The Last Word’ had been guilty in their preview the previous Friday of completely underestimatingÓRoscommon.

Sé, despite being specifically asked about Roscommon, proceeded to comment solely on Dublin’s apparent woes. For up to ten minutes Ó Sé analysed Dublin AND Saturday’s games, without any reference to Roscommon’s heroics. Wouldn’t have happened if it was Mayo who drew with Dublin!

Say it’s so, Joe!

Speaking on Off The Ball on Monday, Joe Molloy –now the country’s best sports presenter – effortlessly produced this line as he ended the show’s opening segment with a gentle dig at the Dubs: “Roscommon’s point after six minutes of possession…a beautiful ‘have a bit of your own medicine’ moment”. Ouch!

-Paul Healy

All-Ireland SFC series (Group 3) Dublin 1-11 Roscommon 0-14

< SEAMUS DUKE

It’s a measure of the progress of this Roscommon senior football team this year that the overwhelming feeling leaving Croke Park last Sunday was that this was a missed opportunity to record a first championship win at GAA HQ in 43 years.

It was another magnificent display of disciplined, controlled and intelligent football from Roscommon, and save for a few crucial misses late on, a famous victory would have been claimed.

Roscommon manager Davy Burke was hugely frustrated and disappointed at the end. Asked for his reaction, Burke said: “Huge disappointment, to be honest. We came here with a plan to try and get two points on the board and we didn’t do

that, so we’d be very disappointed in there.

“With five minutes to play we were two points down, so it was good that we came out with a point I suppose. But look, we led for most of the way, conceded the goal and showed character afterwards”.

On a perfect day for football, Roscommon were sensational in the opening half. They ‘out-Dublined Dublin’ and played the game largely on their terms. Roscommon held on to possession and waited for the openings to appear, the players showing incredible patience and confidence as they frustrated the Dublin team and fans alike.

Burke explained that the plan was indeed to frustrate Dublin. “I’m not sure Dublin like other teams controlling the play. I think Kildare gave everyone the template there a few weeks ago…on how maybe to frustrate them a little bit. I thought we might be able to take that on another step, and we did for a while. Louth gave us all an exhibition on what not to do here against them. It worked for a lot of the time,

but ultimately it didn’t work in the end”.

Two early points for Ciarán Lennon set the tone, and although Dublin did have points from Cormac Costello and Con O’Callaghan, Roscommon were dominating, and proceeded to build up a handsome lead.

In the 17th minute Mick Fitzsimons was given a black card for a foul on Diarmuid Murtagh and Roscommon responded by establishing a four-point lead with scores from Ciaráin Murtagh (free), Enda Smith, and Diarmuid Murtagh (another free).

There was one incredible passage of play late on when Davy Burke’s men held on to the ball for 5 minutes and 40 seconds. It drew loud boos from Hill 16, but the Rossies finished the sequence with a magnificent point from Ciaráin Murtagh to send his side into the break leading by 0-9 to 0-5.

Dublin were much better in the second half. They pushed up on the Roscommon kick-out, an approach that started to pay dividends. Ciaran Kilkenny and Niall Daly exchanged early points before Dublin got in for a crucial goal in the 43rd minute.

After Ben O’Carroll was caught in possession in the middle of the field, Dublin surged forward. James McCarthy looked to have been fouled but the ball spilled to John Small who bundled it home. Dublin’s best player, Cormac Costello, followed up with a point to level the scores at 1-7 to 0-10 and from there to the finish it was a frantic affair.

Ciaráin Murtagh and Costello exchanged points twice, and by the 63rd minute it was all square again, 1-9 to 0-12. The Dubs looked to have made a decisive burst for victory with points from Costello (a free) and Sean Bugler, and with two minutes of normal time to go they led by two.

But this Roscommon team would not hear of defeat. In the 69th minute Conor Carroll made a great save to deny sub Tom Lahiff, and in injury-time Roscommon sub Conor Cox landed a super free to narrow the gap to one.

In the fifth minute of time added on Cox was fouled out on the left wing and stand-in referee Brendan Cawley awarded Roscommon a close-in free which was tapped over by Donie Smith, levelling the scores.

In the 77th minute Roscommon were awarded a free 55 metres from goal but Conor Cox’s effort skewed wide and the sides had to settle for a share of the spoils. In hindsight maybe it was a chance for Conor Carroll to have a go off the ground.

Indeed both sides had claims that they should have won it late on. Roscommon’s Donie Smith missed two chances he would normally score, while Brian Fenton and sub Dean Rock were off target for Dublin.

For Roscommon, Conor Carroll, Brian Stack, Niall Daly, Enda Smith, Ciaráin Murtagh and Ben O’Carroll were excellent, but the best player on the field last Sunday was Cian McKeon. He covered every blade of grass in Croke Park and his intelligent passing and support play was phenomenal.

Davy Burke sought to balance his disappointment with the encouragement he will take from his team’s performance.

“The Rossies haven’t won here since 1980 in the championship… there’s too much quality in that dressing room for that to be hanging over them, and I thought I’d be able to help them with that! But I couldn’t unfortunately! You don’t get too many chances to beat top teams here. But we do think

Conor Cox celebrates after kicking a late point during Sunday’s All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Round 1 match between Dublin and Roscommon in Croke Park. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

away while under pressure

3) game between Dublin and Roscommon in Croke Park last Sunday. Pic:

we’re improving. Our Connacht form and our Division One form showed that.

“We didn’t really know coming in how (far) forward we were because we had a five-week break and it’s hard to really know where you are. I think we showed that we’re still there, which is very positive”.

Teams & scorers

Roscommon: Conor Carroll; Conor Hussey, Brian Stack, David Murray; Niall Daly (0-1), Eoin McCormack, Dylan Ruane; Eddie Nolan, Enda Smith (0-1); Ciaráin Murtagh (0-5, 2 frees), Ciarán Lennon (0-2), Cian McKeon; Diarmuid Murtagh (0-3, 2 frees), Donie Smith (0-1, free), Ben O’Carroll. Subs: Keith Doyle for Lennon (46), Conor Daly for Ruane (48), Cian Connolly for O’Carroll (51), Conor Cox (0-1, free) for McKeon (64), Ruaidhrí Fallon for Nolan (64).

Dublin: Stephen Cluxton; Daire Newcombe, Michael Fitzsimons, David Byrne; Brian Howard, John Small (1-0), Lee Gannon; Brian Fenton, James McCarthy; Niall Scully, Seán Bugler (0-2), Ciaran Kilkenny; Paul Mannion, Con O’Callaghan (0-2), Cormac Costello (0-7, 2 frees, 2 ‘45s). Subs: Cian Murphy for Byrne (9), Colm Basquel for Mannion (52), Lorcan O’Dell for Scully (60), Dean Rock for Kilkenny (63), Tom Lahiff for McCarthy (69).

Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry) first half; Brendan Cawley (Kildare) second half. (Cassidy retired injured at half-time).

Stat Attack

Wides: Dublin 6 (2, first half); Roscommon 6 (1, first half)

Red cards: 0

Black cards: Dublin 1 (Mick Fitzsimons, 17); Roscommon 0

Yellow cards: Dublin 2 (Lee Gannon, Niall Scully); Roscommon 0

Attendance: 30,802

Man of the Match: Cian McKeon (Roscommon)

THIS FELT LIKE A DECLARATION OF INTENT PAUL

HEALY

View from the (Hogan) Stand

King Charles was only crowned a couple of weeks ago… the man in front of us was crowned many years ago, and by popular consent too.

On a glorious May day, Croke Park was a wonderful place to be. Just below us in the Hogan Stand, ‘King Henry’ Shefflin watched with furrowed brow as his Galway hurling charges stuttered and spluttered against an inspired Dublin. The sliotar soared and sailed through the air, all eyes on its trajectory. Shefflin, lean and toned, looked like he could still leap high, claim that sliotar and grace the stadium with some of the old magic.

Pointing to the king (we were out of the earshot of Galway supporters), I told my son the man in front of us is arguably the greatest hurler who ever lived. In a thrilling second half, Galway reeled in a 10-point deficit, the game ending in a draw. Roscommon and Dublin emerged. As they took their places, Roscommon manager Davy Burke and his backroom colleagues all looked very relaxed. Did that notable air of relaxation reflect the fact that this was the so-called ‘free shot’ at the mighty Dubs? Or did it point to a strong inner conviction that the Rossies would show they can now compete with opposition of this quality and experience?

O’Callaghan during

Roscommon got off to a good start, Ciarán Lennon scoring two excellent points. Dublin struggled to find any early rhythm, Roscommon composed, controlled, patient. Most teams are now playing to a similar template; under Davy Burke, Roscommon are mastering it.

The style of play may test supporters’ patience at times, but it is the bedrock of Roscommon’s current high status. Roscommon are now excelling at game management, and the manner in which they executed their game plan in the first half on Sunday was flawless, stunningly so.

And when Roscommon transition into attack, there is lots of flair to admire. Below us, Davy Burke watched intently, joining dots in his head… measuring and gauging how well the plan was working. Every now and again, when a phase of play evolved in perfect accord with the game plan, he clenched a fist, broke into a smile, or shared a knowing glance with a management colleague. Results matter, but Burke knew that last Sunday was also very much about performance, about belief in what is possible.

The lengthy possession spell before half-time –capped by a superb Ciaráin Murtagh score – felt like a declaration of serious intent by Roscommon. Dublin deactivated Roscommon’s control of the game early in the second half. Applying pressure on the Roscommon kick-out, they attacked in familiar style. Small’s goal was a big moment. You worried Roscommon might be toppled by blue waves. Not so. Some great turnovers and a spate of attacks saw Roscommon draw level with two late scores. Indeed they had chances to claim a famous win.

It was a magnificent display. Conor Carroll, Brian Stack and Niall Daly led a ferociously hard-working and disciplined defence, Enda Smith made some superb surging runs, Diarmuid Murtagh had some fine moments, Eddie Nolan carried possession with great effect, Cian McKeon was excellent, and Ciaráin Murtagh ignited the stadium with his class. Davy Burke told the media afterwards that he was very disappointed – but he was smiling broadly as he walked off the pitch in front of us.

‘Small’s goal was a big moment. You worried Roscommon might be toppled by blue waves. Not so’

Diarmuid Murtagh gets the ball

from Dublin’s Con

the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Round 1 (Group

Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Roscommon’s Eddie Nolan in action against Con O’Callaghan of Dublin during the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship game between Dublin and Roscommon in Croke Park on Sunday. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile