Babhta Ceannais Scór na nÓg Ros Comáin a big success!

Last Saturday’s Scór na nÓg County

Final was a wonderful occasion, which truly showcased the talent in our Roscommon clubs.

A brilliant atmosphere of friendly rivalry exuded around the always hospitable Elphin Community Centre, where a packed house was treated to a spectacle of music, song, dance and drama.

The first event down for decision was the Tráth na gCeisteanna. After the initial stage round, Kilglass Gaels, St Michael’s and Athleague/Tremane emerged as the top three, advancing to the stage final, where Kilglass won. In the Rince Foirne, Athleague/Tremane,

Castlerea A and B, and Kilmore battled it out in a great contest. Castlerea B retained the title they won last year.

In a hotly contested solo singing event, Ciara Collins of Kilmore, Shauna McGrath, and Anna McGrath from Ballinameen, all gave excellent renditions of their pieces, but it was St Dominic’s’ Gemma Casey who took the spoils for a second successive year. Also pulling back to back titles was Matthew Ffrench of Kilmore. His performance in the recitation/storytelling category defeated the talented opposition that was Elphin’s Henry Gunn, Ailbhe Glynn-Desmond from Padraig Pearses, and Eabha Nally of Roscom- mon Gaels.

In the ballad group section, the Kilmore club claimed their second victory of the night and in doing so beat off superb deliveries from St Dominic’s, St Michael’s and Athleague/Tremane.

Undoubtedly the strongest competition of the night was the novelty act. Four very polished teams of actors from Padraig Pearses, Elphin and St Dominic’s really entertained the audience. The county title went to the St Dominic’s A team.

The Ceol Uirlise was a keen contest between Padraig Pearses, Kilmore, Athleague/Tremane and St. Michael’s. The title went to St Michael’s, a return ly people began calling for SPAR to end their partnership with her on the back of the scandal, it’s bad for business. to the winning ways in Scór na nÓg for the North Roscommon club. The night concluded with rousing footwork in the Rince Seit, where Elphin B emerged victorious as the expense of Kilmore, Castlerea and Elphin A. Roscommon GAA County Board Chairperson Brian Carroll presented all winners with their trophies, and for the first time, a County Champion Cup was given to each winning club.

It appears to me that Harrington hasn’t evolved her beliefs on immigration since October or since Monday; it just seems that after an embarrassing interview and a desperate lack of coaching on how to deal with (or avoid dealing with) more sensitive topics, her PR team have finally stepped in to try and put out the fire. And the solution they’ve come to appears to be Harrington keeping tight-lipped about political issues altogether from now on.

Harrington told Hannon in Monday’s now infamous interview, “You know me by now, and you know you’re going to get the truth off me”. Well, it would seem we know Harrington’s views on immigration by now, but we should also know we’re not likely to get the truth off her about them again very soon.

Coiste Scór Ros Comáin commends all of the competitors, their mentors and clubs, for their wonderful preparation and cooperation on Saturday night. They congratulate all winners and wish them good luck as they pre- pare for the Connacht Final on April 16th in the Town Hall Theatre in Ballinasloe.

Coiste Scór Ros Comáin also wishes to extend a huge thank you to Elphin Community Centre, Elphin GAA, and Northern Harps Ladies GAA, for the wonderful hosting of the event, and also to sound man David Nugent, Fear a Tí Cian Diffley, and to the adjudicators for ensuring the event ran smoothly.

South Roscommon IRA photo update…

We published this old photograph last week after it was submitted by reader Tom Kenny. It shows members of the South Roscommon Brigade of the IRA at a commemoration ceremony at Custume Barracks, Athlone. Our first duty this week is to correct a typo from last week; the photo was of course not from 1916, but from a commemoration event in 1966! Tom Kenny had identified that 3rd from left in the back row is William Mulrooney, and that beside him is Patrick Hughes (both men from Ballygar). In the second row, John Fitzmaurice, also from Ballygar, is third from left. Some readers have kindly been in contact with more information (and to point out that the photo dates back to 1966). One reader wrote: “Luke Duffy, Clooncagh, Strokestown, is 4th from right in the back row. Luke Duffy was vice-O.C. of the 3rd Battn. and also vice-O.C. of the flying column of the south Roscommon

Man’s death ‘a tragic incident’

The HSE says it cannot comment on an ongoing Garda investigation following the death of a young man in Roscommon town last Sunday. The death is being treated as a tragic incident.

Gardaí said they are investigating all the circumstances following the discovery of a body of a man in his 20s in Roscommon town on Sunday, 26th of March 2023. The body was removed to the mortuary at Roscommon Hospital. Gardaí said that a post-mortem will take place at a later date, the results of which will determine the course of the investigation.

Gospel Reflection

Sunday 2 April

“All this has come to pass that the writings of the prophets may be fulfilled,” Jesus says in today’s Gospel (see Matthew 26:56).

Indeed, we have reached the climax of the liturgical year, the highest peak of salvation history, when all that has been anticipated and promised is to be fulfilled. By the close of today’s long Gospel, the work of our redemption will have been accomplished: the new covenant will be written in the blood of His broken body hanging on the Cross at the place called the Skull.

CBS team from 1965…

Pictured is the Roscommon CBS team of 1965. Back row: Brother Lawlor, Seamus Martin, Sean Higgins (RIP), Seamus Brennan, Sean Finnegan (RIP), Owen McConn, Michael Conacur, Mark O’Gara, Tony McDermott. Front row: Luke Gregg, Gerry Fahy, Eamon Geraghty, Gerry Farragher, Jim Mulligan, Brian Mescal, John Gallagher, Ollie Hannon, Brian Neilan (RIP).

Roscommon Gaels, county minor champions 1962

Pictured is the Roscommon Gaels team that won the 1962 county minor championship. Back row (left to right):

Kennedy,

(left to right):

Michael Quigley, Raymond Mescal, Tommy Joe Carr, Denis Harlow, Jim Costello, John McDermott. The team was trained by Brother Dwyer. Five members of this team also won senior county medals that year with Roscommon Gaels. They were Anthony Brophy, Raymond Mescal, Gerry Flanagan, PJ Costelloe and Michael Costelloe. *Photo courtesy of Gerry Flanagan. This photo also features in Gerry’s recent book ‘Playing Against the Wind’ in which he reflects on growing up in Roscommon, his lifetime involvement in the GAA in Roscommon and Meath, and much more. Proceeds from sales of the book have been going to the Gary Kelly Cancer Support Centre. ‘Playing Against the Wind’ is available on buythebook.ie.

In His Passion, Jesus is “counted among the wicked,” as Isaiah had foretold (see Isaiah 53:12). He is revealed definitively as the Suffering Servant the prophet announced, the long-awaited Messiah whose words of obedience and faith ring out in today’s First Reading and Psalm.

The taunts and torments we hear in these two readings punctuate the Gospel as Jesus is beaten and mocked (see Matthew 27:31), as His hands and feet are pierced, as enemies gamble for His clothes (see Matthew 27:35), and as His enemies dare Him to prove His divinity by saving Himself from suffering (see Matthew 27:39–44).

He remains faithful to God’s will to the end. He does not turn back in His trial. He gives Himself freely to His torturers, confident that, as He speaks in today’s First Reading, “The Lord God is my help . . . I shall not be put to shame”.

Destined to sin and death as children of Adam’s disobedience, we have been set free for holiness and life by Christ’s perfect obedience to the Father’s will (see Romans 5:12–14, 17–19; Ephesians 2:2; 5:6).

This is why God greatly exalted Him. This is why we have salvation in His name. Following His example of humble obedience in the trials and crosses of our lives, we know we will never be forsaken. We know, as the centurion realizes today, that truly this is the Son of God (see Matthew 27:54).

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