Issuu

The BIGGEST readership of ANY Roscommon newspaper! Readership is now 80,000 people every week!

Contacting THE PEOPLE

www.roscommonpeople.ie ABBEY STREET, ROSCOMMON Tel. (090) 66 34633

on If you have enquiries t a story advertising, or wan 54227, email covered, call 086-80 people.ie or paul@roscommon monpeople.ie advertising@roscom

advertising@roscommonpeople.ie news@roscommonpeople.ie sport@roscommonpeople.ie 08 May 2020

The Local Paper iles and athrooms Golf Links Road, Roscommon (090) 66 37620

Spring Sale Now On

Frances’ Finishing Touches

Large range of Ready-made curtains HALF PRICE

Open from 12 to 4pm For orders and enquiries contact Frances on 087 6500931 The Square, Roscommon

Tel.: 090 6626270 or 087 6500931 Email: francesfinishingtouches@gmail.com

VOLUME: 680

Sharp rise in Covid cases in Roscommon < PAUL HEALY

Concerns are growing that some non-native members of the community may be exposing themselves, and others, to Covid-19. County Roscommon has experienced a significant increase in the number of people infected, with 31 more confirmed cases in the past 24 hours. There are now 212 confirmed cases in the county. There are now mounting calls for a co-ordinated national approach to Covid-19 infections in meat processing factories nationwide. Kepak (which has a plant in in Athleague, Co. Roscommon) has confirmed that a number of its employees nationwide are self-isolating in line with Government guidance on Covid-19. There is no suggestion that there are any confirmed cases aligned to any meat plant in Co. Roscommon. On Wednesday, local TD Denis

Naughten met with senior HSE management to discuss the situation in meat processing plants. Later, he raised the issue with the Taoiseach’s office. Deputy Naughten said: “We have seen the impact of the delay in reacting to Covid infections in nursing homes…unless the HSE acts swiftly, we could have a similar story in meat processing facilities across the country”. There is growing concern that some non-native workers in Roscommon and nationally may not be following HSE guidelines. Deputy Denis Naughten: “I’ve asked the HSE to ensure that staff, particularly non-Irish staff, are given the proper information in person and in documentation in their native language”. Cllr. Tony Waldron has called on the HSE to urgently commence a PR campaign aimed at non-Irish workers.

TOMMIE KELLY ELECTRICAL Athleague, Roscommon – 090 6663385 ROSCOMMON TOWN – 090 6634465

To order essential goods, delivery & service,

PLEASE TELEPHONE

Shave or Dye…over €50,000 raised!

090 6634465 PHONE & COLLECT SERVICE FOR: Farm Supplies, Maintenance Essentials & Fuel. Tel. 090 6626172 9-1pm & 2-6pm (SHOP CLOSED)

Wards Circular Road, Roscommon town Tel. 090 6626172

Roscommon footballers Colm Lavin, Finbar Cregg and Conor Cox (see story page 8). Picture: Michael McCormack

www.GreenEnergyPartners.ie

Roscommon-Galway Constituency

ATH LON E Ι M OATE LANESBOR OU GH Ι GA LWAY

For all your Home Heating & Fuel Needs, call Jason McEvoy: Tel: 087 1888114 Joe McEvoy: Tel. 087 1888115 Vótáil Matt Devane: Tel. 087 1882288 Aidan Casey: Tel. 087 4006004 David O’Connor: Tel. 087 9824500

Eugene

Murphy

* In contentious business, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement

090 647 8433

www.bccsolicitors.ie

MOTOR ACCIDENTS If you were involved in an accident that was not your fault contact

Byrne Carolan Cunningham Solicitors

Real Solutions for Rural Ireland

Finn Electrical Goff Street, Roscommon Tel. 090 66 25573

Shop temporarily closed but business as usual Any queries

090 66 25573

Stay Safe – Please adhere to safe distancing

“I am committed to helping to improve the quality of life for people in rural Ireland which has largely been left behind- we need to build a future where people can live, work and enjoy the many benefits of rural living”

Eugene Murphy No 2: Orla Leyden

Senator

Eugene Murphy

An Ireland for all In the present difficult

Fighting back on behalf of the people of Roscommon/Galway Constituency Offices:

cirumstances, please be Ballinasloe, Market Square, Roscommon Townavailable Co. Galway reassured that I am Co. Roscommon at all times if you have any  087 435 3834  071 963 3000  090 662 5722 concerns or issues

Elphin Street, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon

McGUINNESS

Pharmacy

 eugene.murphy@oireachtas.ie

MOBILE: 087 1668775

Working with your local Fianna Fáil team: Cllr Michael Connolly, Cllr John Cummins, Cllr Paschal Fitzmaurice, Cllr John Keogh, Cllr Orla Leyden, Cllr Marty McDermott, Cllr Joe Murphy

Main Street, Roscommon T. 090 66 26193 F. 090 66 28789

CASEY’S ROSCOMMON

Now Delivering

Contact 090 66 38000 Deliveries from 3pm to 8pm daily

Please ring the Constituency Office in advance to make an appointment, tel: 090 66 28479 or email michael.fitzmaurice @oireachtas.ie

Michael Fitzmaurice TD

Mob.: 086

1914565 Michael.Fitzmaurice@Oireachtas.ie

Business As Usual Non-prescription items, Skincare and Haircare also available

Hynes Pharmacy Castle Street, Roscommon.

Tel. (090) 66 34147

Roscommon People Friday 08 May 2020

NewsPeople

People WATCHING AT H L O N E Ι M O AT E L A N E S B O R O U G H Ι G A LWAY In contentious business, a solicitor may not calculate DOLORES*GACQUIN – SOLICITOR fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of Tel: 090 6478433 • info@bccsolicitors.ie any award or settlement

090 647 8433

www.bccsolicitors.ie INHERITANCE TAX ADVICE

I hope you can advise me on a sensitive matter. My wife sadly passed away five years ago and I believe that her parents have made a will leaving me a large sum of money. They had originally made a will leaving this sum to my wife but when she passed away they changed the will to benefit me instead. Will I have a very large tax bill when I receive this inheritance? A person is entitled to receive an inheritance up to a certain value without being liable for inheritance tax. The amount of tax payable depends on the value of the inheritance and the relationship between the parties. The tax-free amount, or threshold, varies depending on your relationship to the person giving the benefit. For tax purposes the relationships are categorised into three different groups namely Group A, B and C. Group A applies where the beneficiary i.e. the person receiving the gift or inheritance is a child of the person giving that gift or inheritance (disponer). Group B applies where the beneficiary is a grandparent, grandchild, great-grandchild, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, nephew or niece of the disponer. Group C applies to any relationship not included in Group A or Group B. The amount that can be received tax free is known as the threshold. The threshold for Group A (a child) is €335,000. The threshold for Group B (such as a nephew) is €32,500. The threshold for Group C (everyone else) is €16,250. However, an exception applies in your particular circumstances. Because you will receive an inheritance from a relation of your deceased spouse, you can be assessed with the same group as your spouse would be if they were receiving the benefit from their relation. For example, if someone receives an inheritance from a spouse’s parent, the group threshold would be Group C. But if you receive an inheritance from your spouse’s father, and your spouse is deceased, then the group threshold that applies to you would be the same as for a child receiving an inheritance from a parent .ie. Group A.

CYCLING ACCIDENT

With WithPAUL PAULHEALY HEALY

Go on, explain it to me again…

If It’s you quite were involved a cycling simple! in Five phases! Five phases accident and, all goingcontact well, we’re back to normal…

YouByrne mean the ‘New normal’? Carolan Sorry, yes, I meant the new normal! Cunningham Solicitors

So, phase 1? Are you serious? Yes…please. Well, phase 1 means we can go to hardware shops and garden centres, plus we could meet people from outside our own home. From this week? No! From May 18th! Is that phase 2 then? No, it’s phase 1… What about the phase between now and May 18th? Er…that’s not a phase, that’s the current lockdown continuing. With some changes? Well, yes, now we can exercise up to 5 km from home, as opposed to 2. It’s too far for me to walk…I prefer 2 km. Look, that’s not the point! The point is you can exercise within 5 km of your home, if you so wish! And the over-70s? Over-70s can be out and about within 5 km of their home. Proper order! And phase 2? Restrictions will be relaxed a bit more. Some more places can reopen. And you can visit someone else’s house… I may not want to… Then don’t! I’m getting used to Zoom… Getting used to Zoom? It took you three or four minutes to answer your mobile phone properly just now! Well, there was a video coming in on WhatsApp, it’s Donald Trump’s head

Endangered Species The barstool boyos

superimposed on to Kim Jong’s body… it’s very funny… He’s not well. No, he’s crazy! Dictator. Absolutely. Talking rubbish on the TV every night. But Kim Jong hasn’t been seen for weeks, or have you North Korean TV? When I said he’s crazy, and a dictator, I wasn’t talking about Kim Jong-un, I meant Trump! Oh. (There’s a pause on the line)

Did you see our great leader on the TV the other night? He was all over the place… Trump? No, Leo! Tubridy had him in knots, and Tubs isn’t exactly Vincent Browne. Leo had to pull a piece a paper from his pocket, he had to check his notes, it was embarrassing! Ah, it wasn’t that bad….I think Leo’s playing a blinder. He must be wrecked. He’s doing a good job! Mmnn… No, seriously, it’s not easy leading a country through a pandemic. Fair enough. Anyways, what about the rest of those phases? Look, we’re not going to spend this entire phone call talking about ‘the phases’, all the information is online. What phase gets us back into the pub? Phase 5. Oh dear, when is that? June? July? Eh…10th of August. You’re joking… Wouldn’t joke about something like that… Mmmn. What’ll we talk about? There’s no sport… You know perfectly well, we’ll talk about Covid to start with. The new normal? Yep. Last questions…how do we define the new normal? What happens when phase five is over? When can I get a haircut? Eh…just a second… Hello? Are you still there? What’s the hold-up? I’m holding the mobile with one hand… and trying to get this piece of paper out of my pocket with the other!

What we liked…

President Michael D. Higgins published a new poem for May Day, or International Workers’ Day, 2020. We should continue to cherish this man!

What we didn’t like…

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

Businesses: Reach your target market! 18,000 COPIES PRINTED WEEKLY

PIC OF THE WEEK: Pictured are Tommy Cooney, Martin Mullen and Sean Cooney on the job and having a chat at Rath, Ballintubber. Picture: Michael McCormack

What PEOPLE are talking about People are talking about…Leo’s embarrassing moment on the Late Late Show (when the Taoiseach awkwardly checked his notes); the new TV series ‘Normal People’, based on the Sally Rooney novel, has been the subject of much comment,

almost all of it positive (well, except from some contributors to a lively Liveline discussion); meanwhile, the Government’s five-phase plan to ‘reopen Ireland’ has been the main talking point of the week.

The former journalist Gemma O’Doherty verbally abused a Garda at a checkpoint near the High Court. In fact two Gardai were subjected to an obnoxious rant from the controversial conspiracy theorist/‘campaigner’, all of which was duly posted online. Castlerea native John Waters, who has aligned himself to the self-styled anti-establishment provocateur, was in the passenger seat (but did not engage).

Roscommon People Friday 08 May 2020

STAY SAFE

Roscommon People Friday 08 May 2020

PAUL HEALY’S WEEK A column by Roscommon People editor

paul@roscommonpeople.ie

A diary of the times that are (part 8) Thursday 8.20 am. I bring some parcels of the Roscommon People into the office, and then lock the door from the inside…our new normal. I browse through the latest edition of the Roscommon People. As I told Dan Dooner in an interview with RosFM later on Thursday, we’re trying to balance Covid-19 coverage with some humourous content and some nostalgia too. Most of all, we’re engaged in the very challenging task of trying to ‘publish in a pandemic’. The economic tsunami is devastating for the local media, as it is for so many small businesses. But we’re determined to try to steer a course through these choppiest of waters. We’re very grateful to local agencies, SMEs and individuals for their ongoing support. Quite apart from the fact that we’re a locally owned small business – invested in the fate of all that we’ve built and worked to grow – we’re proud newspaper people, who are determined to provide a quality service to our loyal readers and the wider community. And we’re very grateful for the loyalty of those thousands of readers. Back in the very quiet office, it’s revealing to note how the email activity has diminished. Where we used to receive hundreds of daily emails, sometimes it’s down to 40 or 50 a day now. Almost all of them are Covid-related. They range from very important updates from the health authorities and industry spokespersons, to emails from businesses or charities who are desperately trying to salvage something from this wreckage. But the incoming emails are much smaller in number than before, much less varied, reflecting the stalling of normality. Life is very, very grey. Even that Nigerian prince who used to email offering us a multimillion euro share of his inheritance – if only we’d forward our bank details – has stopped emailing. Just when we needed him. Typical.

9 am. It’s a glorious morning – so that’s wonderful. Plus, the bins have been emptied again (yippee). So, a beautiful 1st of May, yet we know that Leo will soon be rehearsing his lines for ‘Lockdown: The Sequel’. This wonderful weather we’ve been having…it’s like we’re in a very upmarket restaurant, browsing a fabulous menu…but with the kitchen door locked and the cookers redundant. The weather’s been great but we can’t maximise our enjoyment of it. Still, there is the garden, and for many of us, an opportunity to walk outdoors and savour and appreciate the beauty around us. With our lives currently defined by lockdown, these excursions bring us closer to nature, in all its magnificence. It’s so superior to the rat race that Covid-19 abruptly turfed billions of people out of. But of course the rat race gave you a chance to pay bills, when you finally got a draw your breath.

the keyboard warriors predictably poured scorn on Leo’s lapse. But the critics should show a bit more empathy. Late Late Leo was a tired man, and that’s hardly surprising. After yet another long week, he probably could have done without another late (late) night. During the same interview, Leo caused a bit of a stir by suggesting that the All-Ireland(s) could (possibly) be played this year. Cue raised eyebrow from Ryan. “Of course that’s a matter for the GAA” Leo quickly clarified, as ‘GAA people’ across the country sat up in their chairs and wondered if they’d heard the Taoiseach correctly. Few enough share Leo’s apparent belief that the GAA season can be rescued from the off-the-ball challenge of Covid. On Twitter, a few of the many bewildered were quick to bluntly point out that the last people they’d confidently take GAA/sport advice from are Ryan and Leo. But it could be even worse. What if Shane, the Minister for Constituency Garda Stations and Sport, is advising Leo?

Friday evening

Saturday

The Taoiseach’s address this evening seems to have been well received. It was clear over the past ten days or so that while people have generally been compliant with the restrictions, the public wanted to see some light at the end of the tunnel. That’s why our under-pressure leaders have unveiled a ‘Reopening the country’ plan…basically a series of phases over the next three months or so, each one (hopefully) inching us closer to normality, or at least to that dubious ‘new normal’. The detail of each phase will take a bit of getting used to, including for the Taoiseach, who had an uncomfortable few moments on the Late Late Show (where they insist on force-feeding us ‘Covid content’ every Friday night). The embarrassment began when Leo firstly struggled to answer a question, and then rather awkwardly tried to rescue the situation by sheepishly fishing a scrap of paper from his pocket. On Twitter,

Honestly, the dreams you have during lockdown! Unbelievable! It would appear, from debates I’ve heard on radio, that many people are having more dreams during the Covid crisis, and stranger ones too. Of course people’s normal schedules have changed, our mindsets have been turned upside down, there’s additional stress in our lives. Plus, someone said that because we might have less to do during the day, our subconscious is going into overdrive, with an inevitable impact on our sleep pattern, and on the nature of our dreams. One of the more straightforward ones that I can recall was last night, when I dreamt that someone had launched a third newspaper in Roscommon! Of course I scanned the newspaper (in the dream), page by page. It was really bland, except for one magical touch. As I held it in my hands, the main headline kept disappearing and being replaced.

Friday

If I’d had that dream a few decades ago, I’d be claiming credit for inventing the Internet…

Sunday/Monday The endless media coverage, while sobering/depressing/enlightening/ necessary (take your pick) is a reminder…for now, Covid’s always here, in our midst, and there is no room for complacency. We talk about ‘the figures’, but we need to be aware that ‘the figures’ are human beings. The death toll in the UK is horrendous, in America too. There is the sense here in Ireland, if one can use the term, that we are ‘managing’ the virus. But there is no room for complacency, and there is already a wall of sadness built up…grief, loss, heartbreak. With the deaths, indeed with all deaths at this time, the surreal reality that a traditional funeral cannot be held. Our hearts go out to those who have suffered, who are suffering, who have been bereaved. To cocooners, we say, you are in our thoughts. Please ask for help (local helpline: Freephone 1800 200 727) if you require it. And we all need to continue to follow the guidelines.

“

Even that Nigerian prince who used to email offering us a multi-million euro share of his inheritance – if only we’d forward our bank details – has stopped emailing

Roscommon People Friday 08 May 2020

NewsPeople Kerrane wants all laid off Bord na Móna workers ‘treated equally’

Sinn Féin TD Claire Kerrane has called for all Bord na Móna workers who have been laid off to be treated equally and paid through the Wage Subsidy Scheme. Deputy Kerrane said: “Seasonal and contract workers were as impacted by Covid-19 as full-time workers. The virus has directly affected their livelihoods and they should be treated equally. “I have contacted both Ministers Bruton and Donohue to request that they instruct Bord na Móna to include seasonal and contract workers in the Wage Subsidy Scheme and I am publicly calling on Bord na Móna to do this”.

Klassic Cleaners

Church Street, Roscommon.

RE-OPENING ON Tuesday 12th May hours Temporary new opening Tuesday to Saturday 10 am to 2pm.

TOUR DE ROSCOMMON! Catherine Doyle, James Doyle and Ronan O’Donnell pictured in Roscommon. Picture: Michael McCormack

Phone 090 6625995 or 083 8589206 We are listed as an essential service by Government

O Beef Market Taskforce VOTE N 1 must reconvene via Video Link – Fitzmaurice

‘We’re being hoodwinked’ – Murphy

Expressing deep disappointment with Bord na Mona’s response to An Bord Pleanála’s decision to allow for peat harvesting, FF Senator Eugene Murphy said: “The Bord na Mona debacle must now become a major issue in any Programme for Government. “In my view, the community in this region have been hoodwinked by Bord na Mona and the Government. The story has constantly changed and I’m very unhappy about this. Unless the Government acts, this whole area will be become a total economic blackspot”.

The Beef Market Taskforce must reconvene for a meeting via video link, according to Roscommon-Galway TD Michael Fitzmaurice. The taskforce has not met since January of this year. While it was hoped that a meeting would be arranged for some time in March, the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic put a stop to it.

Speaking on the matter, Fitzmaurice said: “It is imperative that the taskforce is reconvened as soon as possible. A number of public representatives logged on recently to discuss a variety of issues with the Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed, and his officials. “Beef prices are languishing around 340c/ kg at present and farmers are finding it diffi-

cult to sell cattle due to livestock marts operating limited services due to the restrictions in place in light of Covid-19. “While the Department may be liaising with the stakeholders on a one-to-one basis, it is imperative that constructive discussions and debate can be facilitated between all of the stakeholders in order to devise a roadmap for the sector”.

Poetry in a Pandemic… Covid-19 has ‘inspired’ a number of our readers to write some poetry! We’ve received some excellent poems, a few opinion pieces, and even a song! We will publish all poems, etc. received to date, starting next week! Apologies to those who have submitted poems, please bear with us!

NAUGHTEN Making it through, together DENIS

INDEPENDENT

Mind your mental & physical health

If you are finding it difficult to cope with your new daily routine, advice and tips #LocalJobs on looking after your mental and physical #LocalHealthServices well-being are available at O

VOTE N 1

www.gov.ie/together

Denis is available to assist you and can be contacted on

NAUGHTEN DENIS www.DenisNaughten.ie

Call: (090) 6627557

INDEPENDENT

Call: (090) 6627557 Email: dnaughten@oir.ie

090 6627557

www.DenisNaughten.ie Email: dnaughten@oir.ie

Roscommon People Friday 08 May 2020

#ResilientRoscommon

ROSCOMMON RESPONDS Supporting People and Communities in Roscommon

Supporting People and Communities in Roscommon

Roscommon LEADER Partnership recognise the many challenges and difficulties that people Supporting and communities are facing right across County Roscommon due to Covid-19. We want you to People and Communities in Roscommon know that we are working on a range of community supports and measuresRoscommon while weLEADER are Partnership recognise the many challenges and difficulties that people communities are facing right across County Roscommon due to Covid-19. We want you to extending many current services to reach the wider community. These supports and include…

Roscommon LEADER Partnership recognise the many challenges and difficulties that people and communities facing with righttheacross Roscommon duein to Covid-19. We want youPeople to A Roscommon Chamber of Commerceare initiative, support County of Roscommon Leader, and association with The Roscommon know that we are working on a range of community supports and measures while we are Extending our “Friendly Call Service” to those inAs isolation/living To the people of Roscommon: a community, we need to respond to the Covid-19 crisis. Our health is the extending current services alone/elderly offeringmany a friendly voice from trained volunteers. to reach the wider community. These supports include… know that we are working on a range of community supports and measures while we are

extending many current services to reach the wider community. These supports include… Extending our “Meals on Wheels” Service to additional areas of need and working with existing similar service providers in the Extending our “Meals on Wheels” Service to additional areas of county. need and working with existing similar service providers in the county.

Extending our “Friendly Call Service” to those in isolation/living alone/elderly offering a friendly voice from trained volunteers.

paramount concern. We must also keep Roscommon Town ‘moving’ to ensure that we can live as normally as possible. For many years you have come to townExtending toinformation shop. services Now, with Roscommon Responds, the town will come to you! Extending our supports under the volunteer our “Meals on Wheels” Service to additional areas of programme to existing voluntary groups and giving advice to volunteers on how they can stay safe while volunteering during the crisis.

Extending our supports under the volunteer information services programme to existing voluntary groups and giving advice to volunteers on how they can stay safe while volunteering during the crisis.

need andResponds working with existing similar service providers in the Roscommon participant list ...

During the full lockdown essential services have full priority and county. in busy periods the vulnerable, cocooned and isolated are serviced first. and working in collaboration with Government Departments and Please note that all non-essential businesses listed are We are currently identifying areas with gaps in service provision other Agencies in Co. Roscommon to support the unemployed & available for emergencies and or essentials that you require. Please call the business direct to discuss your requirements. All products supplied and delivered from businesses will comply with current working in collaboration with Government Departments and the self employed including additional admin support. otherduring Agencies in Co.19. Roscommon to carry support the restrictions unemployed for & delivery through this system (i.e. cigarettes alcohol), discuss this directly with the individual businesses. HSE regulations/guidelines COVID Some items strict the self employed including additional admin support.

Category

Business

Products/services

All activities will be carried out with strict adherence and compliance with HSE guidelines and Social Distancing Practices. Roscommon LEADER Partnership is here to help you through this crisis, should you require information on any of the above or if you have a query on any of our existing services please contact us on any of the following numbers:

Contact

Telephone: 090 6630252

& Health

Tomás: 086 0460176

Molloy’s Pharmacy

Chemco Pharmacy

Tattie Hoaker Health Store

Meat

090 6637604

090 6634147

Pharmacy

Optician

090 6626193

Contact

Health

Dentist

090 6627707

Tool hire service

090 6630700

Electrical goods and service

090 6634465

Home

& Garden

Keaveney Dental Care RM Tool hire

Tommy Kelly Electrics, Roscommon

Finn Electrical

Electrical goods and service

090 6625573

John Gilleran

Plumbing, heating & renewables

086 8888573

Donnellan Lady

Ladies fashion and essentials

086 6083650

Extending090our supports under the volunteer information services 6665800 Garveys supplies programme to existing voluntary groups Home andand Building giving advice to090 6627722 090 6630492 Building Merchants Clothing Donnellan & Co Menswear, Mens, Womens during and volunteers on how they can stay safe while volunteering the086 6083650 090 6626220 & Shoes Childrens shoes crisis. 090 6626360 Spirit Clothing Mens, Womens and Childrens wear. 086 8696262 090 6665524

Madden’s meats

Butcher shop

Castlemine Farm shop

Butchers shop and cooked meals

Harte’s Butchers

Pharmacy Health

Claddagh Optical

Products/services

Tomás: 086 0460176

Volunteer Information: Mena 086 0499394

Pharmacy & Health

Rosmed Pharmacy

Gail: 086 8532915

Hynes’ Pharmacy Pharmacy, Health, & Best for Baby Baby McGuiness’ Total Health

Category Business Gail: 086 8532915 Volunteer Information: Mena 086 0499394

Extending our “Friendly Call Service” to those in isolation/living Currently closed but available for urgent requests ESSENTIAL SERVICES alone/elderly offering a friendly voice from trained volunteers.

Telephone: 090 6630252 All activities will be carried out with strict adherence and compliance with HSE guidelines and Social Distancing Practices. Roscommon LEADER Partnership is here to help you through this crisis, should you require information on any of the above or if you have a query on any of our existing services please contact us on any of the following numbers:

Pharmacy

We are currently identifying areas with gaps in service provision

Butcher shop

086 6052505

Skincare Skincare and Health Spa Guinot skincare products, We are currently identifying areas with gaps in service provision090 6626041 and Beauty Jane Iredale make up, Wella hair products 087 2526195 086 3277941 Eden Skincare Skincare products and supplements and090 6625904 and working in collaboration with Government Departments and Laser Clinic Frances’ Homeware 087 6500931 Supporting People and in Roscommon other Agencies in Co. Roscommon toCommunities support the unemployed &090 6626520 Finishing Touches (open from 12 to 4pm) Learning, art, Cormican’s Office, School and Art Supplies Roscommon LEADER Partnership recognise the many challenges and difficulties that people Molloy’s Artisan Bakery Freshly baked breads, cakes, the 090 6625940 and communities are facing right across County Roscommonsupport. due to Covid-19. We want you to craft, office, additional self inemployed admin Supporting People and groceries Communities Roscommonincluding pastries, newspapers, 090 6625964

Gannons Farm shop Poultry, Eggs & local produce Household/ Crafts, etc. Bakery

Roscommon LEADER Partnership recognise the many challenges and difficulties that people

Grocery, deli, Casey’s Londis and communitiesGrocery, take out food, Fuel, are facing right across County Roscommon due to Covid-19. We want you to news, fuel Ticketmaster, newsagents 090 6638000 know that we are working on aOff-licence, range of community supports and measures while we are

know that we are Keen workingPrint on a range of community supports andgraphic measures whilesignage we are Household Printing, design,

090 6625787

Sports

086 6091660

extending many current services to reach the wider community. These supports include…

Roscommon Sports

Sports wear, workout gear

Extending our “Meals on Wheels” Service to additional areas of

needguidelines and working existing similar service providers Practices. in the activities will beservices carried out withcommunity. strict These adherence and compliance and Social Roscommon Gift and with HSE Time Pieces with Gifts Distancing and Home 087 7827171 extending many current reach the wider supports include… Timothy’sAll Londis Grocery, Deli, to Lotto, newsagents 090 6626809 county. LEADER Partnership is here to help you through this crisis, should you require information on any of the above or if you have a query Home ETL Giftware, Jewelry, Irish art, cards 087 9678432 Extending our “Meals on Wheels” Service to additional areas of McNeill’s Grocery, Deli, Lotto, newsagents 090 6626481 need and working withplease existing similar service us providers in theof the following numbers: on any of our existing services contact on any Extending our “Friendly Call Service” to those in isolation/living Molloy’s Carry-out Off-licence, 090 6626120 county.Western Union,

Strict delivery terms apply to alcohol

Telephone: 090 6630252

Home Klassic Cleaners

Dry cleaners, Extending our

Tomás: 086 0460176

8589206 “Friendly Call Service” to those083 in isolation/living alone/elderly offering a friendly voice from trained volunteers.

ds’ spo Volunteer Information: Mena 086n 0499394 e R n o m m o c s o ‘R will come to you! alone/elderly offering a friendly voice from trained volunteers.

Gail: 086 8532915

– for now the town

Extending our supports under the volunteer information services programme to existing voluntary groups and giving advice to volunteers on how they can stay safe while volunteering during the crisis.

Extending our supports under the volunteer information services

to existing voluntary groups and Roscommon giving advice to We are lookingprogramme for all businesses in town thatWewant toidentifying get involved contact: are currently areas with gaps into service provision volunteers on how they can stay safe while volunteering during the and working in collaboration with Government Departments and crisis. other Agencies in Co. Roscommon to support the unemployed & Brendan Allen – 087 2231202 president@roscommonchamber.com the self employed including additional admin support. We are currently identifying areas with gaps in service provision and working in collaboration with Government Departments and or Cait McConn – 086 0859275 secretary@roscommonchamber.com other Agencies in Co. Roscommon to support the unemployed & the self employed including additional admin support.

Thank you – and stay safe All activities will be carried out with strict adherence and compliance with HSE guidelines and Social Distancing Practices. Roscommon LEADER Partnership is here to help you through this crisis, should you require information on any of the above or if you have a query on any of our existing services please contact us on any of the following numbers:

Telephone: 090 6630252

Tomás: 086 0460176

Gail: 086 8532915

Volunteer Information: Mena 086 0499394

Telephone: 090 6630252

Tomás: 086 0460176

Gail: 086 8532915

Volunteer Information: Mena 086 0499394

(please follow HSE guidelines re: Covid-19)

To our CAREGivers providing essential services all over Sligo, Leitrim & Roscommon People Friday 08 May 2020 07 Roscommon, we say thank you for your dedication.

NewsPeople

Would you care to make a difference in the community? We are looking for more kind-hearted and caring people to join our wonderful team at Home Instead.

Help us to help older people stay safe in their own homes. Join us and experience ‘The Home Instead Way’.

Are you a caring individual who’d like to bring your natural skills into the professional caregiving community, or an experienced carer who’s looking for a change? Home Instead Senior Care, Ireland’s biggest provider of non-medical care for older people, is hiring 30 new and experienced carers across Roscommon county. The long-established home care company is

inviting applications from caring and compassionate people who want to make a difference in the lives of older people and their families. The company provides a wide range of home care services, from companionship and personal care to dementia care. Home Instead CAREGivers get fantastic support from their offices, including ongoing, world-class training and access to QQI training programmes. Pay is competitive,

newsbriefs ‘Shave or Dye’ fundraiser a massive success The ‘Shave or Dye’ fundraiser undertaken by members of the Roscommon football panel and management over the past few weeks has been a major success. On Sunday night the official figure raised was €51,165, with some funds still to come in. The initial target was €30,000. The fundraiser was organised by goalkeeper and Eire Og club man Colm Lavin.

and offices show their appreciation for CAREGivers in many different ways. The flexible working hours offered by Home Instead means CAREGivers come from all kinds of backgrounds. We have career CAREGivers who work full-time, we have former health care professionals and other retirees who spend a few hours a day giving back to a community doing a job they love, and we

have nursing students who work part time at weekends. Whatever your aspirations in care, we have a role for you. Make a difference to the lives of older people, their families and even your own life by joining our winning team today. Call 071 931 7051, write to jodie.molloy@homeinstead.ie or apply directly online at HomeInstead.ie/Become-aCaregiver

Learn more at HomeInstead.ie/Sligo-Jobs, email sligo@homeinstead.ie or call our local Sligo office on 071 9317051

The best home to be in is your own. Home Instead offers in-home, personalised care. PERSONAL CARE | MEMORY CARE | EXERCISE | MEALS AND NUTRITION

Murphy calls for action on urgent surgery care FF Senator Eugene Murphy has said the Government needs to immediately find a way of allowing people who are in great pain and in need of urgent surgery to be treated as a matter of urgency. Senator Murphy said he had a number of constituents seeking hip replacements, but even though they have health insurance and are able to find a consultant, there is no hospital for consultants available to carry out surgery. “We need to deal with these patients, because if we don’t, we are storing up huge trouble with all waiting lists into the future. “The problem has arisen because Government has taken control of private hospitals but failed to sign off on the deal with hundreds of consultants”. Senator Murphy said that he accepts that the Government and HSE were right to build up bed capacity in the event of a major increase in coronavirus sufferers. However he believes now is the time to “open up some of those hospitals so as people can have their surgery”. He added: “There are many middle income families who each year pay substantial money for health insurance and right now they cannot attain urgent medical needs”.

Crosby welcomes €380,000 boost for Rooskey Following his representations, local councillor Tom Crosby has been informed by Roscommon County Council that the replacement of footpaths and paved areas between Rooskey Bridge and the canal, which is funded under the Village Enhancement Scheme, is expected to be completed in the next 4-5 weeks. Cllr. Crosby was also informed by the Council that as soon as the replacement of footpaths and paved areas in the village is complete, works will commence on the CLÁR-funded project which will provide a pedestrian crossing with ancillary footpaths and carriageway reconfigurations around the national school. Cllr. Crosby says he also secured agreement and confirmation from the Council that €157,000 will be provided out of the 2020 roadworks funding programme for a tarmacadam surface throughout the village and that these works will commence this month/or early June, depending on the coronavirus pandemic restrictions. Cllr. Crosby said in a press release that he has lobbied over the years to have a proper and adequate public lighting system throughout Rooskey Village, as the current lighting system is “totally inadequate” and raises serious public safety issues. Cllr. Crosby has now got confirmation from the Council that the necessary ducting is being installed prior to any pavement finishings so that a new LED lighting system will be provided throughout the village on a phased basis. Cllr. Crosby says the total expenditure in the village in this current year (2020) will be in excess of €380,000.

D E R I U Q E R Y L T N E G CARERS UR ovided Training Pr

In extraordinary times, older people deserve extraordinary care. In extraordinary times, older people deserve extraordinary care. To our CAREGivers providing essential services all over Sligo, Leitrim & Roscommon, we say thankessential you forservices your dedication. To our CAREGivers providing all over Sligo, Leitrim & Roscommon, we say thank you for your dedication. We are looking for more kind-hearted and caring people to join wonderful team at Home and Instead. We are our looking for more kind-hearted caring people

to join our wonderful team at Home Instead. Help us to help older people stay safe in their own homes. Join us to and experience ‘The Way’. Help help older people stayHome safe inInstead their own homes. Join us and experience ‘The Home Instead Way’.

Learn more at HomeInstead.ie/Sligo-Jobs, email sligo@homeinstead.ie Learnmore more HomeInstead.ie/Roscommon-Jobs, Learn atat HomeInstead.ie/Sligo-Jobs, or call our local Sligo office on 071 9317051 email roscommon@homeinstead.ie email sligo@homeinstead.ie or call our local office on 071 9317051 or call our local Sligo office on 071 9317051 The best home to be in is your own. Home Instead offers in-home, personalised care. The best home to be in is your own.

Roscommon People Friday 08 May 2020

NewsPeople

With your support, these Roscommon footballers raised a hair-raising €51,000… The ‘Shave or Dye’ fundraiser undertaken by members of the Roscommon football panel and management over the past few weeks has been a major success. By Sunday night last, the official figure

raised was an amazing €51,165, with some funds still to come in. The initial target was €30,000. The fundraiser was organised by goalkeeper and Eire Óg clubman, Colm Lavin.

Finbar Cregg, pictured before and after shaving his head for the ‘Shave or Dye’ fundraiser. Pictures: Michael McCormack

CLAIRE KERRANE TD

If you require any assistance during this difficult time, please do not hesitate to get in touch anytime

Tel. 087 1945254 Email: claire.kerrane@oireachtas.ie

Colm Lavin, pictured before and after he shaved his head as part of the ‘Shave or Dye’ fundraiser. Pictures: Michael McCormack

Conor Cox, pictured before and after dyeing his hair blond as part of the ‘Shave or Dye’ fundraiser. Pictures: Michael McCormack

Roscommon People Friday 08 May 2020

NewsPeople

Roscommon Gaels supporting Pieta House ‘Darkness into Light’ Roscommon Gaels ladies and men’s adult football, hurling and camogie teams are coming together to help raise funds for Pieta House’s ‘Darkness into Light’ campaign. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the annual ‘Darkness into Light’ campaign cannot take place this coming weekend. Each member of the Roscommon Gaels senior and junior squads will undertake to Run/Walk 5km over the coming week. A GoFundMe page has been set up by the club to raise vital funds for Pieta House. Now more than ever, Pieta House needs to be able to stay open to provide their essential services to those who are in need during these challenging times. You can get behind the teams and show your support for this worthy cause by donating to the Pieta House Darkness into Light GoFundMe page http://gf.me/u/xzj6t2

The Roscommon Town Darkness into Light Committee are extremely grateful to Roscommon Gaels for this initiative to support a great and worthy cause.

DECLARATION OF PUBLIC ROADS ROADS ACT 1993, SECTION 11 ROADS REGULATIONS 1994, PART 2 PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT ACT 2000 (AS AMENDED), SECTION 180 LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM ACT 2014, SCHEDULE 3 Roscommon County Council proposes to declare the following roads to be public roads: ■ Road located at Kilcooley Cemetery, Boyle, County Roscommon ■ Road located at Tullyval, Knockvicar, Boyle, County Roscommon

Boyle Municipal District Office, The Crescent, Boyle, County Roscommon F52 X436

Maps outlining the said roads may be inspected at the offices of Roscommon County Council, Áras an Chontae, Roscommon Town F42 VR98 and at the offices listed above during normal working hours for the period from Friday 8th May 2020 to Friday 5th June 2020. Objections or representations in relation to this declaration may be made in writing to the undersigned or emailed to roads@roscommoncoco.ie no later than 4pm on Friday 19th June 2020. Shane Tiernan Director of Services

Date of Notice: 8th May 2020

O’Carolan Harp Festival, Summer School cancelled

Andrew and Darra Hill pictured working on a roof between Castlerea and Ballintubber. Picture: Michael McCormack

The committee of the O’Carolan Harp Festival and Summer School wish to announce that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this year’s Summer School and Festival will not take place. Chairperson of O’Carolan Harp Festival and Summer School, Declan Noone said: “We are in unprecedented times

Dear Customers, We hope you and your loved ones are safe and in good health at this time. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our staff here at Fleming’s SuperValu as they continue to go above and beyond every day to ensure that our shelves are stocked, and our customers are looked after. We are extremely proud of all the hard work they are doing, and we appreciate their huge efforts at this time. Staff and customer wellbeing have always been our top priority. We will continue to take the necessary steps to ensure the safety of all in our store. I want to thank all our customers for their continued support and cooperation during these challenging times. We will continue to help you in any way we can. Rest assured we will be there for you.

Shane & Orla Fleming, Fleming’s SuperValu

Fleming’s

Main Street. Phone: 090 6626196

and the health and safety of our tutors, performing artists, visitors and community is most important. Stay safe, and we look forward to seeing you in 2021”. Provisional dates for the 2021 Summer School are from 26th- 30th of July, and 30th of July -2nd of August 2021 for the Festival.

Roscommon People Friday 08 May 2020

NewsPeople

HORAN’S RESTAURANT Racecourse Rd., Roscommon Town

From our home to yours!

Takeaways & Deliveries

Tuesday to Sunday 12 to 3pm Should you need to avail of our service, please ring the numbers below to order. Thank you and stay safe

See our Facebook page for updated menus Call John on 090 6626380 or 086 8538519 With over 30 years’ experience, Aengus Oates Financial Services provides expert financial advice and bespoke financial solutions to our highly valued clients

Aengus Oates Financial Services Plan your future today

Coronavirus Notice

For the safety of our valued customers and staff, our offices will be closed for this lockdown

Perhaps now would be a good time to have a financial review of your Pension, Life Cover or Income Protection Contact Aengus by email at aengus@oates.ie or by phone on 086 2573358

New online programme open to Roscommon’s food entrepreneurs An innovative new online food programme from the Local Enterprise Offices, which is open to entrepreneurs across County Roscommon, is set to boost the number of Irish food start-ups. The Digital School of Food is the first of its kind in Europe and gives food entrepreneurs expert advice and guidance, from their home, office or kitchen. The new Digital School of Food was piloted in the Dublin region in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland and Bord Bia. Following the successful pilot, it is now available to those with an idea for a food business in County Roscommon run by the Local Enterprise Offices. The online programme is an e-learning initiative that brings producers from the idea right through to start-up and grow stages. The programme will give food entrepreneurs an education in planning a product journey and route to market, through thinking about finance and how to grow sales, right up to expanding the business. It includes support from experts in the field as each course has a real producer who contributes tips and advice throughout. The programme includes contributions from trade buyers in SuperValu, Musgraves and Spar, along with the likes of Domini Kemp of ITSA Food Group and food producers who have been through the system. Entrepreneurs who complete the Digital School of Food are then primed to move on to take part in Food Starter programme offered by the Local Enterprise Offices and subsequently Food Academy, which gives producers the opportunity to get their product on retail shelves. Local Enterprise Office Roscommon has supported successful food businesses in the region with training supports, e.g. Start Your Own Business, Food Starter & Food Academy. Heather Humphreys, T.D., Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, commenting on the new programme, said: “We have a proud heritage of producing world class food in Ireland. Now, more than ever, it is vital that we

completion, participants can move on to more advanced programmes such as Food Starter and Food Academy, as well as further supports such as management development and assistance in raising funding for their small business. The Digital School of Food is a game-changer for food entrepreneurs and will enable aspiring entrepreneurs to learn best practice in setting up a food business”. The Digital School of Food is the latest support established for food entrepreneurs in Ireland by the Local Enterprise Offices, following on from Food Academy and Food Starter. For more information on the Digital School of Food go to www.DigitalSchoolofFood.ie Heather Humphreys, T.D., Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation

support our food firms and particularly budding entrepreneurs with ambitions to start a new business. As needs have evolved, these programmes have evolved and the online Digital School of Food is a testament to that. Aspiring food producers can now begin their journey from their own home”. Louise Ward, Head of Enterprise said: “Irish food is renowned the world over and we enjoy an enviable reputation for high quality food production. It is important that we continue to cultivate new food entrepreneurs and start-ups, particularly during these challenging times. “The Digital School of Food is an excellent first step for anyone with an idea to establish a food production business. It will help them mould that idea to bring it to the next stage. This is particularly significant now, with many potential entrepreneurs at home, they can access this programme from anywhere. “Starting a food business can be straightforward but growing it can be challenging. The Local Enterprise Offices are there to support those who take the programme. Following

Local Enterprise Offices & Covid-19 response

The network of Local Enterprise Offices have a suite of supports to help small businesses during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. These include the Business Continuity Voucher, which gives businesses sector specific consultancy for their company to plan to deal with and recover from the current market issues. The Trading Online Voucher helps companies to get their business online and establish a way of selling their products to a wider network. The scheme has also been expanded to allow companies apply for a second Trading Online Voucher if they have previously received one. Local Enterprise Offices are also providing free business planning and mentoring to all small businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. More information on all the supports can be found on www.localenterprise.ie/roscommon.

Businesses: Reach your target market! 18,000 COPIES PRINTED WEEKLY Pictured enjoying themselves in the good weather are Aisling Faughnan and Darragh O’Donnell. Picture: Michael McCormack

Roscommon People Friday 08 May 2020

NewsPeople

Reeling in the ARCHIVES

News, views and something to amuse… Opening of Lake O’Flynn amenity area

8 YEARS AGO ‘I’d love trip to space’ – winner of €250,000 in Athleague

< EOGHAN YOUNG-MURPHY

Unseasonably heavy rain refused to dampen the spirits of the west Roscommon community who attended the official opening of the Lake O’Flynn amenity area in Ballinlough on Wednesday, April 30. The function was due to take place at the amenity’s carpark, on the lakeshore, but the weather conditions forced the large attendance to switch location to the Time Out Café, Ballinlough. There they were treated to refreshments and a variety of speeches which marked the official opening of the facilities. Fishermen, walkers, cyclists and the general public will be highly impressed. The official opening was performed by Councillor Martin Connaughton, the Mayor of Roscommon County Council, who claimed: “Roscommon has many tourism gems and this is surely one of them”. (From 9 May 2014)

< SEAMUS DUKE

A person who won €250,000 in the Lotto after purchasing her lucky ticket in Keane’s of Athleague has her sights set on travelling to space – or Australia at least! The winner purchased her lucky ticket in Keane’s Centra store in Athleague, Co. Roscommon on the day of the draw. It was a €4 Quick Pick ticket. The lucky winner, who collected her prize with her husband on Wednesday afternoon at Lotto Headquarters, did not wish to be named. She revealed that this is only the second time she had ever purchased a Lottery ticket. Over a glass of champagne, she told the National Lottery: “I don’t normally play Lottery games at all, my husband does regularly. But I had a dream that I won €13 million and the dream was so real, I thought to myself that it was worth giving it a go. So I purchased a ticket in the Centra Store in Athleague on that day and here I am today, all because of my dream,” laughed the lucky lady. Asked about her plans for her big win, she said: “I’ve always wanted to travel in space so I may well put this money towards making that dream come true, seeing as my other dream led to me winning this prize to begin with. We’d also like to go scuba diving in Australia, and visit the Barrier Reef”. Mags Keane, who runs the Centra Store in Athleague with her husband Bernard, said that she was delighted that the prize was collected and she wished the lucky lady and her family all the best with their good fortune. (From 6 January 2012)

From Seamus Duke column: Pope Francis is so refreshing

The more I see and read about Pope Francis the more impressed I am with him. He is the most refreshing thing that has happened to the Church in many decades and he may well be the man to stop the massive decline in the interest in the Church that is now a fact of life. In fact that decline looked irreversible until his election earlier this year. The Church had become a monster and was no different to any massive organisation where power and money are the major influences. Despite great work continuing on the ground at grassroots level, there was little or no leadership at the top – but that has now changed. (From 8 January 2014)

From 2012: Roscommon Lamb Festival.

From Frank Brandon column

By now it was Crystal Swing day, as on Friday the family group from Cork were appearing in Dowd’s of Glinsk, in a fundraiser for the local ladies football team, and it was an astounding success. We had booked Tommy Ford’s fabulous bus for the short return trip to Glinsk, and at shortly after 10 o’clock 15 of us left Creggs for a night of dancing, entertainment and a pint or two. Now there was an amazing crowd in Dowd’s and while the purist could say the band were too loud, and maybe not the best vocalists in the world, nobody could dispute that Crystal Swing were fantastic entertainment. The energy levels were unbelievable and for two and a half hours they barely had a minute’s break. It was like the carnival days all over again with the floor choca-bloc with jivers, waltzers, high steppers and buck-leppers. (From 6 January 2012)

6 YEARS AGO From Miriam Kerins column: If I could turn back time…

For some parents, playing with their child for hours on end is the most natural thing in the world. For others, it can be a source of frustrated

3 YEARS AGO From Paul Healy column: Jim’s done state some service

From 2012: Amanda McGlynn (sponsored by Ruby King), Aoife Kenny (sponsored by The Hodson Bay Hotel) and Christabelle Feeney (sponsored by Roscommon Racecourse) pictured at the launch of the Roscommon Rose of Tralee 2012 held in Oscar’s Bar, Roscommon town. Pic: www.hursonphotography.com

clock-watching. This is due to the stress of juggling motherhood with career. And, sadly, as I fall into the latter – simply because I live in the real world alongside my mortgage, school fees, car loans, mouths to feed and mounting credit card debt – I, like most mothers, simply didn’t have the luxury of time. Now as I heart-burstingly, proudly (and tearfully) watch while my beautiful youngest daughter earns her wings and takes to the skies with our national airline to embark on an exciting new career, I remember when she was a cheeky, chubby, adorable six-year-old taking her first dance classes – when I’d literally have to break the speed limit to drive (during my lunch break) from RTE in south Dublin to Malahide in north Dublin to collect her from school, get her to class

on time, rush back to studio, then back again three hours later to pick her up; and all in mad, crazy traffic. During this time I remember looking with envy at mothers whose kids were independent teenagers, with the ability to transport themselves here and there. Back then, I yearned for a time when life would be physically less taxing and filled with a little more freedom, a little ‘me time’. I hadn’t yet anticipated a time when both my girls would reach that age where their broken hearts and mini dramas could no longer be repaired with a massive cuddle from me, ten minutes on my lap and the promise to totally annihilate the little fecker who’d upset them. (From 21 February 2014)

I was delighted to hear the news that Jim Callery of Strokestown House (and Famine Museum) renown had been chosen for a major European Award. Jim has always been a good friend of the Roscommon media and, more importantly, of the wider community. What he and others have achieved in Strokestown over the decades is simply phenomenal and will impact positively long into the future. When a cousin of mine from London and some friends of his visited Roscommon a few years ago, I brought them to Strokestown Famine Museum. Two thoughts stayed with me after the visit: (A) How fascinated they were by the famine museum and (B) the sense that many of us in Roscommon almost certainly don’t fully appreciate how remarkable and truly historic a place it is. Jim Callery is a Roscommon hero and a man who has done the Irish State some service. (From April 2017)

Roscommon People Friday 08 May 2020

NewsPeople newsbriefs Athlone Flood Alleviation boost Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, left, Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW) and Flood Relief, has welcomed progress on works on all eight cells being progressed as part of the €12 million Athlone Flood Alleviation Scheme.   Minister Moran said: “I am delighted to acknowledge the progress to date of works on all of the locations which form part of the Athlone Flood Alleviation Scheme. Despite high water levels over the winter period, the significant flooding event earlier this year, and the current restrictions in place due to Covid-19, we have already seen the protection provided by elements of the scheme which have been completed”.

Bruton wages war on dumping! Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Richard Bruton has ring-fenced €1m from an existing Anti-Dumping initiative to tackle a reported increase in illegal dumping during the current Covid-19 crisis. Welcoming the funding, Sligo-Leitrim Fine Gael TD Frank Feighan said he is concerned about reports of an increase in illegal dumping nationwide, including in County Roscommon. Deputy Feighan said that waste removal and the installation of CCTV or other monitoring and surveillance equipment will be among the activities supported by this funding. “By providing local authorities with advance funding we will ensure they can respond quickly and decisively. Illegal dumping is committed by a minority but is a scourge on local communities”.

Who’s saying what on Tweet Street ... every single citizen is an infallible genius in medicine, economics, mathematics, politics, speechmaking, sociology, science, sport and most of all whingeing. #StayHomeSaveLives – But, but…but…sure we have to be complaining about something! Good tweet, Mr. Gray. By the way, there’s only one ‘k’ in Varadkar…

Paul Healy’s take on top tweets! Roisin Ingle @roisiningle It’s July 20th when the hairdressers can open. They should make it a Holy Day. #NationalHairDay – The Irish Times columnist on the ongoing hair crisis Emma x @EmsKieran Only in Ireland would you be watching a show that has Niall Horan, Paul Mescal, the Taoiseach, Picture This, and a girl and her chickens #LateLateShow – Damn it! We were channel-hopping… completely missed the chickens Lucy O’Shea @lucyoshea The same people saying that Leo is all spin, rehearsed etc are the same people now complaining that he doesn’t know every single point of the measures off by heart. People are NEVER happy. He’s a human being doing a job that no Taoiseach has had to do before #LateLateShow – The fumbling (for paper in his pocket) Taoiseach was defended by some over his lacklustre outing on the Late Late Show…

VOTE N 1 O

Donal O’Keeffe @Donal_OKeeffe I’m not a fan of Leo Varadkar, but can you imagine Trump or Johnson pulling out a big sheet of paper to make sure they had their facts straight? Actually, can you imagine either of them getting into the granular detail of anything at all? #LateLateShow – Eh…good point Hugh O’Connell @oconnellhugh The Taoiseach pulling out a massive sheet of paper as he tries to explain lifting the lockdown doesn’t inspire confidence... #LateLateShow – Some journalists are never happy! Leo Gray @leonotjim It must be difficult for Varadkkar to be the leader of a country in which

Sean McGoldrick @SeanMcGoldrick1 I cannot think of any other Irish public figures who know less about how the GAA works than Leo Varadkar and Ryan Tubridy. Hence the Taoiseach’s daft statement that the All-Ireland final could go ahead this year without spectators goes been unchallened by Tubridy #Covid_19 – The veteran sports journalist Sean 1-0; Leo and Ryan 0-0 (played behind closed doors) Michael Foley @MickFoley76 One of my favourite stories from the 1982 All-Ireland football final. On the Monday the Kerry lads were in Mulligan’s having a few. Con Houlihan was in his usual spot. Presumably seeking some consolation, Pat Spillane asked Con who was the best team he had seen in 1982. ‘Italy’ Con replied. – The Sunday Times’ sports journalist remembers the good old days…(well, in Offaly, certainly)

Os sintomas comuns do Coronavírus incluem:

NAUGHTEN

· Febre (alta temperatura - 38 graus Celsius ou mais) DENIS INDEPENDENT

· Tosse - pode ser qualquer tipo de tosse, não apenas seca

VOTE N 1 #LocalJobs

·O Falta de ar ou dificuldades respiratórias

Se você tiver algum destes sintomas, deve se comportar como se estivesse com o vírus e se auto-isolar por 14 dias. As pessoas em sua casa precisam ficar em casa tambem. Você precisa entrar em contato com o seu médico.

#LocalHealthServices

Se você precisar de ajuda financeira porque não pode trabalhar devido ao coronavírus, envie um email para: dnaughten@oir.ie

NAUGHTEN DENIS www.DenisNaughten.ie

INDEPENDENT

Call: (090) 6627557 Email: dnaughten@oir.ie

www.DenisNaughten.ie Email: dnaughten@oir.ie

Roscommon People Friday 08 May 2020

NewsPeople Take a Chilli pill!

Ingredients 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 medium yellow onion (diced) 1 pound of minced beef 2 1/2 tablespoons chili powder 2 tablespoons ground cumin 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 2 tablespoons tomato paste 1 tablespoon garlic powder 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper 1 (15 oz.) can diced tomatoes 1 (16 oz.) can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed 1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce

FIVE MOVIES FOR TEENS…

Clueless Clueless is a 1995 American comingof-age teen comedy film written and directed by Amy Heckerling. Cher, a high school student in Beverly Hills, must survive the ups and downs of adolescent life.

TOP & RIGHT: Donors pictured supporting the Feed The Heroes campaign fundraiser. BOTTOM: A courier for the Feed The Hereos campaign!

Edge Of 17 The Edge of Seventeen is a 2016 American coming-of-age comedydrama film written and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig. High-school life gets even more unbearable for Nadine when her best friend, Krista, starts dating her older brother.

Method 1. Add the olive oil to a large soup pot and place it over medium-high heat for two minutes. Add the onion. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. 2. Add the ground beef to the pot. Break it apart with a wooden spoon. Cook for 6-7 minutes, until the beef is browned, stirring occasionally. 3. Add the chili powder, cumin, sugar, tomato paste, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne. Stir until well combined. 4. Add the diced tomatoes (with their juice), drained beans, and tomato sauce. Stir well. 5. Bring the liquid to a low boil. Then, reduce the heat (low to medium-low) to gently simmer the chili, uncovered, for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally. 6. Remove the pot from the heat. Let the chili rest for 5-10 minutes before serving

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is a 1986 American teen comedy film written, co-produced, and directed by John Hughes. A high school slacker pretends to be sick to skip school and have an exciting day off alongside his girlfriend and his best buddy through Chicago, while trying to outwit his obsessive school principal and his sister along the way.

Perks Of Being A Wallflower An introverted freshman is taken under the wings of two seniors who welcome him to the real world. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a 2012 American coming-of-age drama film written and directed by Stephen Chbosky.

Before I Fall Samantha Kingston lived a perfect life. Great friends, great boyfriend, and great family. And then one day everything changes. She has to relive the day of her death over and over again. Sam must confront friends, do what’s right, and say her final goodbyes.

Local fundraiser for ‘Feed The Heroes’ raises over €600 When Les Petites Tartres in Athleague opened its doors on Sunday morning, March 15th, Anita Bruneteau, the café’s owner, did not imagine that by 4 pm that evening, she would have decided to close the café due to Covid-19. On closing, and due to the ongoing challenges to the nation’s health, Anita, like all other café and restaurant owners, was unsure when exactly their doors will reopen. With this in mind, Anita considered what to do with some dry goods in her back store. She heard of the Feed The Heroes campaign, and with neighbours, friends and family in the

frontline, Anita decided to offer her dry goods to the public for free and asked for a donation to the Feed The Heroes fund in return. Anita, complying with the Government/HSE guidelines, set up a table outside her home in Ballyhard, Glenamaddy. Thankfully the weather was good, with the sun shining. Anita posted details of her fundraiser on social media. Word spread fast, visitors called steadily throughout the Saturday and Sunday, with incredibly generous donations. Social distancing was maintained with hand sanitiser, gloves and paper towels also provided. Some people rang with pledges

of money. In fact, some cocooners who heard about the fundraiser from Spain, rang in their orders and had their goods delivered in an ecofriendly way by bicycle courier! As of 10 pm on that Sunday evening, Anita’s fundraiser had raised €638 for Feed The Heroes, proving once again the unfailing generosity that abides in our communities. Anita would like to thank all who donated very generously and looks forward to the time when we can all meet again in our local café for a chat and to catch up – there will be lots to talk about! Meanwhile, stay home, stay safe and take care.

Roscommon People Friday 08 May 2020

NewsPeople

Reflections on a death during a pandemic < GLYN CARRAGHER (BALLYGAR)

He was by all accounts a very popular man, but when death came, it arrived at the end of a difficult year of slow decline and progressively challenging personal circumstances. Nobody came to his funeral. I helped push his coffin across the road from the undertakers to the church, followed by his aged brother and sister, both in their late 70s. We had to push the coffin on a trolley because no more than four are allowed to be in close proximity to each other, rendering the standard practice of six people carrying a coffin obsolete. In the town Square a few people who refused to stay away stood by their cars and bowed their heads, a former guard, an old friend, a neighbour. Forbidden to enter the church, they were gone when we emerged to push his coffin to the graveyard at the back of the church and lower him into his final resting place. His surviving brother, with whom he had lived, in the age-old tradition of a country funeral, offered the four grave diggers a drink and a bite to eat at his sister’s house off the town square. Backing away, without shaking hands, they politely declined. Eager to escape home and return to lockdown. The very origin of the word lockdown is distasteful, the sealing of a prison during a riot by the inmates, yet Ireland has willingly submitted to this oppressive practice with disturbing self-imposed vigour. Sweden, on the contrary, has decided not to follow the world with a lockdown. Their state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell, has deemed it unnecessary, with the Swedish Prime Minister saying that all that is required, is for “the elderly and vulnerable to protect themselves by staying at home” and for “the Swedish population to be trusted to behave like adults”. On the matter of lockdowns, Mr. Tegnell

was quoted as saying that he was “very sceptical of lockdowns altogether” but that if you do them, “you should do them at an early stage”. This is because, as Mr. Tegnell explains “at certain times they can be useful, [for example] if you are unprepared and need more intensive care facilities”. With this in mind, Ireland, according to the OECD, has one of the lowest bed to populace ratios in the world. In relation to ICU beds ratios, we rank 45th in the world, while Spain is ranked at 31. Therefore, is our ‘public health unpreparedness’ the reason that the ‘best medical advice’ in Ireland has recommended a lockdown and obliteration of all economic and social activity? Lest we forget, it was this time last year the nurses were forced to take strike action to highlight just how precarious our health service had become. The Minister for Health, now applauding our frontline staff, at that time responded by threatening to stop their pay unless they ceased protesting. Suffice to say, after the protest ended the destruction of our health service continued until the unwelcome arrival of Covid-19. With that arrival, this latest ‘unprecedented’ crisis eventually resulted in a lockdown, not at the ‘early stages’ as suggested by Mr. Tegnell, but when it became apparent that even a medium outbreak would overwhelm our strained and broken health service. The historical responses by our political leaders in a time of crisis demonstrate, time after time, a track record of poor judgment. For example, after the banking crisis, the only response deemed suitable was austerity. Austerity was the only thing that could save the nation, we were told. They were wrong. The protracted suffering and damage caused by the imposition of austerity is still with us today, it was, as one academic noted, just a failed experiment on the people of Europe, the very same people who continue to pay the price to this day.

The only winners of the last crisis were those who imposed the austerity – the former leader of the Irish government is now a non-executive director of the private Beacon Hospital. The Beacon is one of the private hospitals which stands to profit handsomely from the no doubt lucrative deal with our present leaders to provide health services during the current emergency. As ever, the winners and losers are always the same. So when this ends, if the facts dictate that Sweden was right and that a lockdown was only necessary because of our undermined and strained health service, will the thousands who have “pulled together” still feel as if “we were all in this together”? Will these very same people feel that whatever new taxes and increases in the USC follow are “well worth it” to pay for the mistakes of the few who will get through this time of crisis with very little loss or discomfort? The few who both own and can well afford private health care. If the actions of Sweden are proven to have been effective, will those same few who are responsible for the momentous impositions which have changed Ireland forever be held to account? Or on the other hand will we all be too busy returning to our normal lives, rebuilding the nation, perhaps rehashing that great catchphrase “going forward” onward with privatisation, rationalisation and the almost endless transfer of public wealth from the public masses to the private elite? Will rewards of non-executive positions be handed out to the thousands of frontline staff, or perhaps the chosen few? Whatever the outcome, some things are certain, the small bouquet of daffodils on the grave behind the village church will have withered and rotted, the grave diggers will never get their drink or a small bite to eat and Ireland will never be the same again.

VFI and LVA have ‘acted irresponsibly’ – Castlerea publican < PAUL HEALY

Efforts by organisations representing publicans in Ireland to convince the Government and health officials that pubs should be allowed to reopen by the end of June have been sharply criticised by a Castlerea publican. Lorna McGourty of McGourty’s Bar says that the VFI (Vintners’ Federation of Ireland) and LVA (Licensed Vintners’ Association) do not speak for all publicans. She says those two representative bodies have “acted irresponsibly” by lobbying for pubs to be allowed to open earlier than outlined in the Government’s roadmap for reopening the Irish economy. Ms. McGourty said that the pandemic will “completely change the pub industry” and

that it was important to think of the impact on so many people, including musicians, DJs, etc. On Friday, the Government indicated that pubs and nightclubs would be allowed to reopen from August 10th, subject to social distancing guidelines being observed. In contrast, restaurants and cafes can open from the end of June. Ms. McGourty told the Roscommon People: “The VFI and LVA do not speak for all publicans, and certainly their proposals will not work for small rural bars in counties like Roscommon. “These organisations have outlined their own proposals, calling them radical measures. They claim it is unfair to treat pubs differently to restaurants, but restaurants are completely different to pubs. We find it irresponsible of these organisations to have

issued this statement, given the crisis we are all living through”. She added: “We want to distance ourselves from their statement. We only listen to the public health experts, who will rightly decide which sectors open first”. The Castlerea publican continued: “Like all businesses, we want to get back to work and hope to reopen – as announced in the Government’s 5-phase plan – on August 10th, but only if the medical experts say it is then safe to do so”. Ms. McGourty said that rural publicans will not be rushed into reopening and will only do so when customers have full confidence in them. “When we do reopen we will be adhering to all the guidelines and advice. Our priority is the welfare of our customers, staff and their families”.

Virtual Williamstown Tidy Towns launched! While the National Tidy Towns competition has been cancelled for 2020, a ‘virtual Williamstown Tidy Towns’ has been set up where locals can share what is being planted and grown in gardens, on front steps and in windowsills across the area. People are invited to capture and share snapshots of nature and wildlife during their 2km zone walks. To start off, a little competition is being held for such photographs, which can be added through Facebook for the chance to win one of the five copies of the beautifully illustrated book, ‘Gardening for Biodiversity’. See Williamstown- Galway- Virtual Tidy Towns on Facebook for more information.

‘The Lone Woman Among All Creatures Great and Small’ RosFM are delighted to announce a broadcast date of Tuesday, 12th of May (4 pm) for the premiere of a new radio documentary of local interest. ‘The Lone Woman Among All Creatures Great and Small’ explores the life of trailblazing Irish Vet Aleen Cust, who in 1922 became the first registered female Vet in Ireland and Great Britain. Aleen Cust was well known at the time for her work in Roscommon with renowned Vet Willie Byrne of Castlestrange, and then for her own practice at Fort Aleen Cust Lyster House, Athleague. On completing her Veterinary studies while attending University in Edinburgh, Aleen Cust was not allowed to sit her final exam to become a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons due to her gender, and worked in Roscommon for many years without membership of the RCVS until legislation changed in 1919. ‘The Lone Woman Among All Creatures Great and Small’ looks at Aleen’s family, her studies, her work in Roscommon and the difficulties that women faced entering the professional world at that time. This engaging story is told through interviews with Veterinary Inspector Elizabeth Clayton, who originally hails from Athleague, local historian Albert Siggins, Mary McAuliffe, Assistant Professor in Gender Studies at University College Dublin, and is narrated by Martina Larkin (Mimar Media). The programme also follows a day in the life of recently qualified Roscommon Vet, Hannah Staunton, in a profession that nowadays often has more female graduates than male. Roscommon-based media production company Mimar Media, produced this documentary.

Roscommon People Friday 08 May 2020

POLITICAL PEOPLE

Key talks on new Government today… but will our Independent TDs see red over Greens? Fitzmaurice hints at rural revolt over 7% emissions’ cut < PAUL HEALY

Formal talks on a programme for government will begin today (Thursday) between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party. It is understood that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have given written assurances to the Greens in relation to their demand that Ireland must achieve an annual 7% reduction on emissions. The Greens’ demands may scup-

per the prospect of either (or both) of Roscommon’s high profile Independent TDs joining/supporting the new Coalition Government. Deputies Michael Fitzmaurice and Denis Naughten have both expressed fairly strong reservations about the Greens’ expectations. The two Roscommon/Galway Independent TDs have both held separate exploratory talks with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael around the issue of Government formation. Both parties, even if they do business with the Greens, would like to secure the support of some Independent TDs, in order to ensure that the new Govern-

ment has a workable majority and credible prospects of serving a full term. While Deputy Fitzmaurice has neither ruled entering government in or out, most of the speculation has been on the nine-strong ‘Regional Group’, a loose Independent alliance of which Deputy Naughten is Convener. There has been strong speculation that most, or all, of the Regional Group of TDs may be willing to support a new Coalition Government. However, the Greens’ insistence that Ireland must reduce its annual greenhouse gas emissions by 7% could be

a step too far for rural-based Independents. Deputy Fitzmaurice, as quoted in the Irish Independent’s Farming Independent: “If the inclusion of the Green Party is going to decimate Irish agriculture and the main parties decide to sell us out for the sake of power or jobs, then we in rural Ireland will have to rally together to oppose this venomously”. Denis Naughten, quoted in the same article: “If we slaughtered every single animal in this country, we would still not achieve the five-year target that the Greens are setting out here”. Let the talks commence…

When friends fall out…

Today FM ‘Sunday Roast’ presenter Mario Rosenstock, right, had his good buddy, the great Eamon Dunphy, as a guest at the weekend. As ever, ‘The Dunph’ was good value. During the interview he had a jibe at his former friend Shane Ross, whom he said should not still be in government three months after losing his seat. Meanwhile, Dunphy described President Donald Trump as “a goon” and “an energetic Shane Ross”. Ross & Dunphy is not the only (slightly) odd couple which is in danger of not being what it once was. I see where Piers Morgan, currently leading the charge against the Conservatives’ handling of Covid-19 in the UK, has turned against his old buddy, President Trump. Morgan has been blasting Boris Johnson and Trump, which, in the latter case, is fairly impressive, given that Piers has understandably often made much of his close friendship with the US President. But now, whatever affection Morgan had has for Trump hasn’t stopped him from condemning the latter’s handling of the Covid crisis. Trump, being Trump, has actually noted the crosscontinent attacks – and has responded. Morgan wrote at the weekend: “President Trump unfollowed me on Twitter overnight…he’s unhappy that I’ve been repeatedly torching him for his dreadful handling of this crisis…”

Talking scents…?

Poll blow, but Micheál still set for top job If a week is a long time in politics, three months is a very, very long time! What an opinion poll result that was at the weekend. Fine Gael has soared to 35%, Sinn Féin is on 27%, and Fianna Fáil are languishing on a pitifully low 14%. (This compares to the outcome of the February 2020 General Election: Sinn Féin 24.5%, Fianna Fáil 22%, Fine Gael 21%).

Why has the FF vote fallen so dramatically? It may be a temporary little arrangement/judgement. This is essentially a (merited) Covid-19 dividend by the public for the caretaker Government (as in, ‘we may have given you a kicking in February, but on mature reflection…’). I think Leo Varadkar’s assured handling of the Covid-19 crisis has for

the most part been statesmanlike, while frontline ministers have been sure-footed too. By contrast, Micheál Martin has come across a touch awkwardly as he tries to balance showing sincere support for the caretaker government’s handling of the pandemic with being unable to resist trying to score the odd political point. Still, that tightrope act Micheál’s

been working on, and that abysmal poll showing, will all be forgotten about fairly soon (assuming we avoid another election!). Micheál (even with his party on a paltry 14%) looks set to be rescued by fate. Over recent weeks he may at times have looked like yesterday’s man – but he’s likely to be tomorrow’s Taoiseach.

Barry Cowen (@ CowenBarry) on Twitter at the weekend…. For some entering government with FF may be a last resort, might be same for us and irrespective of who else might have to hold their noses, it’s time to get the hell on with it. Public compliance and solidarity have got us this far, their jobs & livelihoods are now at stake.

Roscommon People Friday 08 May 2020

The

D News page

My Favourite ...

... Brian Carroll

My favourite holiday destination…Can’t beat a good trip to Elland Road to see the mighty whites in action! My favourite TV programme…Have a good liking for Reeling in the Years! The scary part is I’m remembering more and more of the events that are now on it! My favourite social media platform/ website...Would be a good fan of Twitter or Facebook, although I wouldn’t be a good fan of the constant negativity that some people like to put up! My favourite author...Wouldn’t really have a favourite author but would be a big fan of any sports biographies, or Irish political books. My favourite food…Hard to beat the Chicken Caesar salad in the Silver Eel pub and restaurant in Grange near us here in Kilmore. My favourite sport…Would like the soccer and the horse racing, but my favourite would without doubt be the mighty GAA. My favourite way to relax...to sit back, relax and watch any of the 2010, 2017 or 2019 Connacht finals on Sky box! My favourite saying/term I use…I would have a fair habit of using the word ‘Mighty’. My favourite celebrity and why…A tough one. Dermot Earley and Gerry O’Malley were two mighty men and two whom I admired greatly. Unfortunately both have passed away. When you were in their company you always felt you were in the company of someone very special. Currently I’d say there would be three: Gerry Connellan, a great on the GAA pitch and a very down to earth, honest and hardworking individual and a proud Kilmore man; Simon Harris, a person who is giving every minute of his day to do his best for the country with this coronavirus; and finally, our own Cathal Cregg, a man who has worn the Roscommon jersey with pride for many years – and a top fella off the pitch too. My favourite part of Ireland and why…again this would be a double answer, first would be our mighty community of Aughrim/ Kilmore, a lovely place to live with the finest of people in the area, and of course second would be the county of Roscommon. There’s nothing better than when you are outside the county and someone asks where you’re from and you can say Kilmore in Co. Roscommon! Brian Carroll, from Kilmore, is a well-known GAA administrator, sports’ enthusiast and community activist

Looking forward to GOAL-Den days… We’re ready…when you are! Passionate Roscommon GAA fans, brothers Padraig and Jason Sharkey, will definitely be ready when the GAA season resumes, post-current Covid-19 restrictions. The boys have been busy decorating their ‘Rossie Den’ in their garden. When Roscommon footballers are back in action, Padraig and Jason will be there to cheer them on! In the meantime, they’re building up the atmosphere at their den! Well done, boys…and up the Rossies!

Eloise (8) and Lucia raise over €28,000

Eloise and Lucia McDonnell’s 10k: mum Caitriona and well-wishers pictured supporting the girls along the way. Pics: Michael McCormack

< PAUL HEALY

The proud mother of two young sisters who have raised an astonishing €28,000 through a novel 10km Walk/Run has thanked the local community for the phenomenal support received. When the Roscommon People spoke with Caitriona McDonnell on Wednesday afternoon, her pride in her daughters’ wonderful initiative was clear. As was Caitriona’s appreciation for the great generosity of so many people. Caitriona and her daughters, Eloise (8) and Lucia (10) live in Kilmovee, Co. Mayo. The girls attend Ballyfeeney NS in Co. Roscommon, where their mum is Principal. Earlier this year, due to Covid-19, the annual Kilmovee 5k/10k was called off. Eloise was due to make her First Holy Communion last Saturday, but that big event was also postponed due to Covid-19 restrictions. However, last Saturday, the girls undertook their own Kilmovee 10k. Eloise wore her sister’s First Communion Dress for the duration of the walk/run! Caitriona explained that her daughters took on the challenge in memory of their late Dad, and as a fundraiser for Roscommon/Mayo Hospice. Their father, Michael McDonnell, passed away in 2012, from a brain tumour, when Eloise was just seven months old. Each year since, the girls have presented the Michael McDonnell Memorial Shield at the annual

Eloise McDonnell, being waved off on her 10k run by her mum Caitriona and her grandparents Olive and Alex. Also pictured is her sister, Lucia, who ran with her all the way. Eloise has some beautiful lillies, which she placed on her Dad’s grave at the end of her run.

10km. Now the girls will be making their own presentation of funds to Mayo/Roscommon Hospice, in memory of their much-loved Dad. Caitriona said the response of locals was amazing. “When the girls were on the route, neighbours were out cheering them on, providing refreshments, and support. As we speak, the project had raised €28,000 for the Hospice. We are blown away. We were hoping

to maybe reach €1,000! The response has been overwhelming”. Caitriona says: “Eloise means strength, and Lucia means light. We hope to bring some strength and light to those who need it and we will be forever grateful for the kindness and compassion shown to our family in 2012”. The proud mum concluded: “I am so proud of the girls, and so grateful for the support. I think it’s given the whole community such a lift”.

Roscommon People Friday 08 May 2020

NewsPeople

Roadmap for reopening Roscommon: But will it be business as usual?

No matter what our plans post-lockdown, it’s true that every single Rossie is now looking forward to doing all of those things they once took for granted. And as our government has introduced a roadmap for reopening the country, we thought we’d catch up with some service providers to see how they’re planning to come to terms with the new, and the very necessary, strict suite of measures! MIRIAM KERINS REPORTS…

Respectful of restrictions, Larry sees light at the end of the tunnel! < MIRIAM KERINS

Pubs are not scheduled to reopen until August while cafes and restaurants have a proposed planned reopening at the end of June. However, in light of the Licensed Vintners’ Association’s (LVA) and Vintners’ Federation of Ireland’s (VFI) correspondence with government to discuss the situation as a ‘matter of urgency’ we caught up with Larry Brennan, a local publican and co-owner of Roscommon town’s Down the Hatch to get his views. Larry Brennan

What do you think of the latest suite of phased measures? Well I’m not even sure that a pub as small as ours will be able to open under their (government) restrictions. We want to open as soon as possible, but in some smaller bars, like ours, this will be difficult if you’re confined space-wise. The measures are pretty strict; how will you implement them? Well having the number of people sitting at a table confined to six with no more than four people per ten square metres, and allowing table service only, will be very difficult for us to implement. At a rough estimate, we could possibly accommodate fifteen to twenty people maximum at best, because we have no other facilities, (like an outside area or a rooftop bar/beer garden).

How will the restrictions affect staffing levels? You’ll need two staff at all times; one behind the bar and one at the door outside to monitor social distancing; making sure it’s being adhered to, and to make sure too many people don’t come inside. It’s different in a restaurant or in a pub that does food, because a table can be booked; people usually might stay for two hours and they’ll probably go; then you can sit the next booking/diners, but in a small pub that’s different. If strategies aren’t implemented properly, people will vote with their feet and move on; they’ll be worried about their health and turn and walk out the door, so it must be done right. You were looking forward to your business celebrating its silver jubilee next year – has this put a dampener

on things? We’re still looking forward to it, but while the restrictions around pubs reopening will work for some, as in the big ‘super-pubs’, they won’t work for everyone, like the smaller traditional local pubs. We want to open as soon as possible and hope this will be viable, but we will be guided by the regulations and the recommendations. Under the restrictions, how soon could you be up and running? If authorities do accede to the (LVA & VFI) request, it’d only take us a week or ten days to get ready and be open by mid-June at the earliest. Although I’d imagine the authorities will stick to their plan and it’ll be mid-August. That said, there is light at the end of the tunnel and it’s easier (given the phased proposals) to at least work towards a plan to reopen.

It’s all about responsibility, accountability and ensuring staff and client safety for Barber Bobs! < MIRIAM KERINS

The fourth phase of the government’s plan involves the loosening of restrictions around what’s deemed to be ‘higher risk services’, and specifically ones necessitating direct physical contact between individuals, i.e. hair salons and barbers, etc. The date for this is set at 20th of July. I caught up with Barber Bob’s Robbie Connaughton to find out how his business is coming to terms with the new guidelines. Men may be becoming more acceptable of their longer, lockdown locks, but is a July 20th reopening too much for clients to accept? Well it’s a huge blow to us because we thought we were going to be allowed to open sooner. My shop will be closed for five months by then. Could you realistically open your shop earlier? Yes, I could open earlier, but only by following strict protocols around health and safety and restrictions, etc. I would have to have less staff, and they would be wearing masks, gloves and PPE, all of which would have to be changed between each client. We would only be allowed to have four barbers in the shop at a time, and that means that already my staff has gone down from six to four. Working with less staff will be a nightmare. Would clients be expected to wear a mask? We’re thinking of asking them to do this because if people are going to see anyone at such close quarters, then they

should really be wearing a mask; otherwise they could possibly be open to cross-contamination. Wearing a mask will prove to be very difficult for some people, including children coming into the shop. We will also have to move workstations to comply with the social distancing rules. How will you deal with the demand from regulars beating a path to your door? We’re looking at alternative precautionary measures like providing a waiting area that would allow clients to be at least two metres away from each other. In fact, we may have to introduce a booking system because it’s not going to be possible to have a waiting area in the shop and still adhere to the two-metre distance between clients’ queuing. According to reports, the ‘black market’ trade in hairdressing/barbering has been erupting in some counties…what are your thoughts on this? Look, people need their hair done, it’s an element of feeling good and it’s a human necessity in my opinion. However, if salons don’t reopen until July, then I’d be worried the ‘black market’ will explode and then there’ll be a real danger of a possible cross-contamination situation, which will bring more problems. What’s the bottom line for Barber Bobs? There’s no reason why I can’t reopen by the end of May or at the beginning of June. However, I do not want to open if the deaths from Covid-19 are still happening and if the risk of contracting the virus is still at the same level. I’d prefer to see the rate declining before we reopen in order to maintain the safety of my staff and my clients. So, while I want to reopen as soon as possible, it’s all about responsibility and accountability for me.

Barber Bob’s, Monksland

Roscommon People Friday 08 May 2020

NewsPeople

From lockdown in Malaysia to my cottage in Roscommon < MICHELLE FALLON

Sunday, 26th April Today I woke up in my own bed, in my cottage, at home, and I can honestly say I have never in my entire life felt such happiness. Home. Such a small word, but right now, just saying the word and typing it out – H.O.M.E. – I am physically shaking and my heart is actually bursting. Why? Because I have just spent two days travelling through five airports to get home from Malaysia, where I got stuck due to Covid-19. I can honestly say I have never in my entire life been this happy. Rewind to Tuesday, 14th of January where I was beyond excited packing my case to head off on a long overdue holiday to visit an old school friend in Malaysia! I’m trying to remember if I was even aware of Covid-19 when I initially travelled, and I honestly can’t recall. I think the first time I became aware of it was in January when we travelled to Johor for the Chinese New Year, with my friend and her family. We had arranged a day trip to Singapore and tried to get masks everywhere, but there were none to be had. I remember feeling really anxious about travelling, and we were all very conscious about washing hands, using sanitiser and not touching things. I don’t think I gave it much thought until we returned to Kuching. That was when things really changed. Notifications were appearing on social media and at local schools and churches, advising people to wear masks, ‘notify us if you have travelled to China’, etc. Then it seemed to settle down again and I travelled to Australia in February to see my brother and his family. I did wear a mask, but looking back I don’t think I was overly concerned. Well, apart from the man in the aisle opposite me that coughed and sneezed for the duration of the flight, and the crazy guy in front of me, who halfway through the flight told me he had drugs in his bag and didn’t know how he was going to get it past immigration. Seriously, this only happens to me!?! Bridget Jones, eat your heart out!! I arrived in Sydney to torrential rain but eventually the sun came out and I had a lovely normal holiday with my brother and his family.

Then, as it got closer to the time for me to return to Malaysia, there were more and more reports of Covid-19 and talk about travel being affected. On my flight back to Malaysia I wore a mask again – this time the majority of people on the flight were wearing them too. I returned to Kuching and things went back to normal. Then I got sick! My flight home was on March 14th, but I was so sick I couldn’t even get out of bed, let alone to the airport. I have no idea whether it was Covid or not. I had all symptoms apart from shortness of breath. I did go to see a doctor, who said it was viral and prescribed antibiotics and medicine. It was nothing like anything I’ve ever had before. All I can say is my entire body ached and I had extreme fatigue. I didn’t leave my bed for several days. So, I missed my flight home. I thought, no problem, I’ll just book another one. Yes, it was an expense, approx. €400 for a single flight, but little did I know then that was peanuts in comparison to what I was going to pay. Then things changed. On March 16th, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Muhyiddin Yassin, made a televised speech and announced that the country would be under a Movement Control Order (MCO) from March 18th. Lockdown. Nobody was allowed to leave their homes, only the head of the household for essentials. All travel was banned and a curfew was implemented. There were police-guarded roadblocks and constant news reports of people being arrested for breaking the MCO. Whilst it sounds scary, I will honestly say I felt safe. Then lockdown was extended twice, and with each extension my window to get home got smaller and smaller. March 16th was the last day I left the house I was staying in until Friday, 24th of April, when I started my journey home.

‘Home is more than a place – it’s a feeling – and right now it’s the best feeling in the world!’ Michelle, back at her cottage.

I was anxious about flying and felt I would be going from the safety net of lockdown to the eye of the storm. My mum is a severe asthmatic and I did not want to risk ‘getting it’ and bringing it home. It was a hard decision. On top of all that, I was petrified about being put in quarantine. I had spent weeks on lockdown in my friend’s house, and to be honest, didn’t have enough hours in the day to do all the things I wanted. I was painting, sewing, recording content for my YouTube channel, doing online courses. I filled each day, no problem. Thoughts of quarantine genuinely terrified me, so I stayed where I was. The last week is a bit of a

blur. One minute I was sitting outside my friend’s house enjoying the sun on my face, and then I was in this whirlwind of phone calls with the Irish Embassy, airlines and my family, making the decision to try and get home. A few weeks ago I had so many choices, whereas now there was only two options, both costing over €2,000. Another issue I had was getting from Kuching to Kuala Lumpur – there was only one flight a week and the flights from Kuala Lumpur to London were on different days. I had to wait until I could fly into and out of Kuala Lumpur on the same day to avoid quarantine, so it was like a game of chess. Eventually I found my

move, booked the flights and had less than two days to get things arranged. Very stressful. My heart is racing because I’m now getting to the part about the actual journey home. I was petrified. I know that in the big scheme of things being put into quarantine isn’t the worst experience perhaps, but for some reason that was my biggest fear. On the morning of my first flight (Friday, 24th of April) my friend drove me to the airport, where we were stopped by armed police. It was like being in a movie! Thankfully, I had all my paperwork (from the embassy) so we were okay to get to the airport. Once we got there I checked my luggage in and got all my boarding passes except the London to Dublin one, which they told me I could collect in Kuala Lumpur. It was a very tearful goodbye. We had just spent 37 days together in a house. I have been promising my friend for 26 years, since she moved to Malaysia, that I would visit. I will never forget it, Edel. I had the best of times with you during the worst time. Kuching Airport was eerily quiet. Everyone on my flight was wearing a mask and/ or gloves, and a few people were in hazmat suits. It was very strange. On arrival in Kuala Lumpur I made my way to the transit area, only to be met by darkness and armed police and told to make my way out via the baggage claim area. I had visions of being escorted off to quarantine, but I wasn’t. The whole area was empty. It was 1.30 pm and my flight wasn’t leaving until 02.25 am. I explained my situation and they told me I had to wait until 11 pm for the airline desks to be open before I could do anything. It was then that I went to the toilet and had a panic attack. I have never in my life felt so scared and so alone and so helpless. Thank God my brother rang me and talked

The rest is just a blur of desolate airports, eerily quiet, walking through empty spaces, shops boarded up, not a sound, no laughing, no excited people going on holidays. You could feel the tension in the air

me out of it (and my sister too). So lucky to have the best siblings. Thank you John and Tara. To say the wait in that departure lounge was agonising is the biggest understatement ever. There were no restaurants open, no shops, nothing. I felt very unsafe, but I had no choice but to sit and wait. I started sewing! All the times I have posted on my social media about mindful making and how relaxing sewing is, how good it is to calm the mind, etc. I always meant it, but I can now confirm one hundred and fifty per cent that it does. Eventually it got to 11 o’clock. Even after all that waiting I still didn’t get my boarding pass from London to Heathrow, so I had to just do it. I had to face immigration. You guessed it...it was a breeze! They just asked me where I was travelling to, looked at my passport and that was it. The relief! The rest is just a blur of desolate airports, eerily quiet, walking through empty spaces, shops boarded up, not a sound, no laughing, no excited people going on holidays. You could feel the tension in the air. Eventually I got to London and finally got my boarding pass to Dublin. I was exhausted – mentally and physically. Before I knew it we had landed in Dublin. You guessed it, I cried. At the airport, there was no interrogation or any questions about how I was getting from the airport, or anything like that. I hired a car and am self-isolating for two weeks at home, on my own, in my cottage. So I drove home. It was the most beautiful evening. The smell of the air, the colours of the fields, the sounds of the birds, every little detail is just an explosion to my senses. It was so hard calling to my mum and talking to her from the car with the window halfdown. Not being able to hug here after all this time. Then…driving down the road to my cottage! I kissed my pink door and I went from room to room like a kid at Christmas. Happy is just not enough of a word to describe how I feel right now. I am overwhelmed with relief. I know so many of you are sick to death of being at home, but for me home is more than a place – it’s a feeling – and right now it’s the best feeling in the world! #stayhome #staysafe

Roscommon People Friday 08 May 2020

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Roscommon People Friday 08 May 2020

WeekendPeople

FRANK

FRANK BRANDON’S

BRANDON

unique take on life ...

Ah, those ballroom days… A night in the Sound of Music in Glenamaddy might not have ended with romance, but there was always a burger liberally covered with tomatos auce and onions… A friend of mine recently reminded me of bygone days when the carnivals were coming to an end and ballrooms were springing up all over the country – a lot of them owned by the Reynolds brothers from Rooskey, of whom Albert was later

to become Taoiseach. Out here in Creggs, we used go to the Casino in Castlerea, the Fairyland, later the Wagon Wheel in Roscommon, and especially the Sound of Music in Glenamaddy. For us, a trip to the Sound of Music would start with a few pints in Creggs, a few more in John L Garvey’s in Glen, and then off to the dancehall in the hope of finding a bit of romance. A couple of hours of pushing and shoving would follow, usually with very little success. Every night, Joe O’Neill, the proprietor, would take to the stage to thank the band for playing, and to thank all of us for being there, and he would tell us what band would be coming the following week, and if you were still single by then it was time to pack

it in for that night and head for one of the mobile chippers that were always outside the front door. Health and safety didn’t feature much back then, and some of the bags of chips would have enough grease on them to run a small engine, but after the few pints nothing could be more delightful, and along with a burger liberally covered with tomato sauce and onions, you would be more than ready for the journey home. One of our acquaintances used to often have as many as six burgers on a good night, and the mystery was that he didn’t self-combust. The burger vans were a hot-spot in every way…oftentimes you’d have the mother and father of a row while waiting to be served. Thankfully there were

no knives used back then and a sore jaw or a burst nose was usually the worst that would happen. The other thing that used happen regularly was that your driver might have “got a woman”, and they’d be gone for a bit of a court, and so we would have to try to thumb a lift home – but being young and enthusiastic, that was never a problem. We (nearly) always made it home, and by the following weekend we were all ready for another trip to Glen. As with the marquees, the ballrooms were to die out as well, followed by the new world of discos, but for us, a trip to the Sound of Music on a Saturday night was one of life’s great adventures.

Covid, creamy pints…and corner-backs It’s Saturday morning of the Bank Holiday weekend and last evening our Taoiseach, still Leo Varadkar, gave us the blueprint for getting out of this extraordinary lockdown, and it seems that most people are a bit happier now that there is finally a potential end date to all of this craziness. The funny thing is that I am more concerned than ever, because there can be no doubt that if the idiots – of whom there are apparently quite a number out there – continue to ignore the safety guidelines that have been laid down by all the health experts, then we will find ourselves continually hitting obstacles that keep on delaying our return to the horrible thing that the media likes to call our new normality. However, I suppose the good news is that at least there is a plan, and if all the blocks fall into place – while I know there are more important things to look forward to – on the 10th of August I will finally get my hands on a nice creamy pint of Guin-

Kieran Fitzgerald, four-time club All-Ireland winner with Corofin and county winner with Galway in 2001

ness and I’ll drink to the passing of this unbelievable pandemic. As we head into the month of May, everyone who has anything to do with club football would be getting ready for the championship, and Leo Varadkar seemed to open the door slightly to the return of Gaelic sports some time this year. I do not think it will happen, as trying to social distance on a football

or hurling field would be nigh on impossible, and there is no self-respecting corner-back anywhere who will give his opposite number two inches, never mind two metres! I hate to say it, but in my opinion we will not see any contact sports this year. Talking of self-respecting cornerbacks, hidden in the Covid-dominated newspapers last week was the fact that

Kieran Fitzgerald, four-time club AllIreland winner with Corofin and county winner with Galway in 2001, had hung up his boots. Leaving county considerations aside, his career had to be one of the most inspiring of all time. He was only 20 years of age when he won his All-Ireland medal with Galway, and by the time he was 33 he still had that solitary All-Ireland medal. In the last six years he won four club All-Irelands with the extraordinary club side that is Corofin, and in their latest success, at 39 years of age, he played all 90 minutes of a game that went to extra-time. His dedication to fitness, nutrition and training is legendary, and I suppose even supporters of the Rossies would wish him well in his retirement. For me, he played a big part in a game that will always rank up there as my best ever sporting occasion, the 2001 victory over red-hot favourites, Meath. To this day I still get goosebumps at the second-half display of the Padraic Joyce led forward line. Anyway, good luck Kieran, thanks for

Memories of Bosco! In these strange times a bit of nostalgia is a great thing, and as I tuned into some early morning TV programme last week, who did I see but the one and only Bosco, still with his high-pitched voice, and even after more than forty years, still living in his box. In this modern world of gadgets and iPads and iPhones and such technology, it’s hard to comprehend what a massive impact a little puppet born in RTÉ and brought to life in a couple of manufacturing units in Strokestown had on the Ireland of the late 1970s and early ‘80s, but for eight or nine years back then Bosco was the must-have toy of the era and there was nothing else to compare with him in terms of popularity.

During the height of his popularity one of my children was desperate to get Bosco for Christmas, but he was sold out everywhere, and not even the great man himself, Santa, could get his hands on one. With time running out, and in complete desperation, I took myself off to Strokestown on the 23rd of December and got my hands on their very last Bosco, just as the showroom closed for the holidays. I have never forgotten my debt to those wonderful people in Strokestown for getting me off the hook, and Bosco was duly delivered on Christmas morning and all was well. It was truly special to see and hear him again, still hale and hearty after all these years. It looks as if, pandemic or no pandemic, Bosco will go on forever. Long may he live.

the wonderful memories, and keep safe over the next few weeks. I will give you the other games that make up my all-time top ten, so I bet you can’t wait for that!

Farewell to Vinnie Finally for this week, sadly on Friday we had another of the new-style family-only funerals, when Vinny Keaveny was laid to rest. It would take a full page or two to do justice to Vinny, who was a musician, a poet, a regular contributor to Old Moore’s Almanac and Ireland’s eye, and one of the most talented people you could ever hope to meet. He was also a man who, for years, long before anyone thought of designated drivers or Social Spin, would bring people home from Creggs when they had a few pints, and he contributed enormously to the wellbeing of our parish. For many years he played the accordion at musical gatherings in our local pubs, and only a few months ago he launched his book of poems, ‘By the Banks Of Lough Ouver’, a beautiful compilation of his work, with all proceeds going to the Galway Hospice. It is a fitting tribute to his memory. Farewell Vinny, you will long be remembered around this area, may you rest in peace.

‘Till next week, bye for now

Roscommon People Friday 08 May 2020

PropertyPeople

TP Walsh

Spacious bungalow on large site at Fairymount, Castlerea

Property Sales

Cagglebeg & Tully, Fourmilehouse, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon

Connaughton Auctioneers (Athleague) are pleased to advise of a spacious three-bedroomed bungalow available for sale in the popular area of Lisdrumneill, Fairymount, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon. Sitting on a large corner site of c. 1.14 acres with an extensive range of outbuildings, this residence affords excellent views of the countryside. Internally this property is finished to a very high standard and is ready for occupation. The accommodation includes a reception hallway, sitting room, living room, back hallway, kitchen/ dining room, utility room, three bedrooms (master ensuite) and a main bathroom. Externally this property has

119 ACRE RESIDENTIAL FARM SELLING IN ONE OR FOUR LOTS

Offers now being accepted. Viewing 7 days a week by appointment.

TP Walsh Auctioneers Main Street, Dromod and Rooskey. Contact: 087 7691518 / 071 96 58652 Email: info@tpwalshauctioneers.ie, Website- www.tpwalshauctioneers.ie

greenhouse and polytunnel for the keen gardener. Reduced in price for an immediate sale. For further information contact the office on 090-6663700 or email: info@connaughtonauctioneers.ie

Four-bedroomed house for sale at Knockcroghery

A prime farm containing 119 acres, the said lands are ideally located on the Strokestown/Roscommon road, ten minutes from Roscommon livestock mart and 20 minutes from Castlerea and Elphin livestock marts.

For further information please contact:

a host of features such as patio area with canopy over, laid lawns, etc. The outbuildings are all in excellent condition and include fuel shed, stables, workshop, garden shed. There is also a

Connaughton Auctioneers (Athleague) are pleased to present new to the market a delightful four-bedroomed semi-detached home in excellent condition located in the much sought after area of Knockcroghery. No. 30, Dun Ă rd comes to the market ready for immediate occupation and has a host of additional features. The property is bright, modern and in excellent condition. For further details or to arrange a viewing contact the office on 090-6663700 or email: info@connaughtonauctioneers.ie.

Planning to BUY or SELL? FEELING TRAPPED?

Now is the time to plan Call 090 6663700 today For professional advice email: info@connaughtonauctioneers Also available to meet virtually on ZOOM at https://bit.ly/MeetIVAN

No Sale No Fee! l

PSRA Licence: 001350

PROPERTY SALES

LETTINGS l VALUATIONS

Athleague, Co. Roscommon. Tel. (090) 6663700. Mob. (086) 8985013 â€˘ www.connaughtonauctioneers.ie

Roscommon People Friday 08 May 2020

NewsPeople

John Earley’s Farm Sale of the Week John Earley (FIPAV) of Property Partners Earley is this week pleased to advise that he closed the sale of a most attractive farm of lands containing approx. 36.8 acres located at Carrowduff Upper, Ballinturly, Ballymacurley, Co. Roscommon for a very satisfactory price. John commented: “Due to demand, we are now seeking properties in all areas for disappointed underbidders and cash buyers. We welcome all submissions and offer a free appraisal service”. For further details or to arrange a free consultation, please contact John Earley (FIPAV) at Property Partners Earley, Roscommon on 090-6626579, email: jearley@ propertypartners.ie or log on to www.propertypartners.ie.

Carrowduff Upper, Ballinturly, Ballymacurley, Co. Roscommon

Wanted – land for forestry purposes

Property Partners Earley, Roscommon are this week urgently seeking lands for forestry purposes to meet a recent order. All holding sizes considered. Property Partners Earley has just completed the sale of two holdings of lands in the Cloonfad and Castlerea area and now seek similar holdings. John Earley (FIPAV) of Property Partners Earley comments: “To fill a new order just received, we are actively seeking lands suitable for plantation in all areas. Our clients will assess the lands and if suitable, cash is waiting for immediate purchase”. For further details, please contact John Earley (FIPAV), Property Partners Earley, Roscommon on 090-6626579 or email: jearley@propertypartners.ie.

PSRA Licence No: 003201

2, Watersedge, Ballyleague, Lanesboro, Co. Roscommon.

All offers after €70,000 invited for quality Waterside bungalow John Earley (FIPAV) of Property Partners Earley, Roscommon is this week offering to the market (due to cancellation) a primely located two-bedroomed midterrace bungalow residence located at 2, Watersedge, Ballyleague, Lanesboro, Co. Roscommon. All offers after €70,000 is the price guide. John describes the property as “a superb mid-terrace bungalow residence presented for sale in excellent condition”. He added: “The said property has the

benefit of a long-term sitting tenant since approx. March 2008 at a passing rent of approx. €6,550 per annum (tenant not affected). “The auctioneers now invite viewings and all offers after €70,000 to sell”. For further details contact John Earley (FIPAV) of Property Partners Earley, Stone Court, The Square, Roscommon on 090-6626579 or email: ddiffley@propertypartners.ie or log on to www.propertypartners.ie.

CORONAVIRUS NOTICE For the safety of our valued Customers and Staff, our offices will be closed for the duration of this lockdown.

However, we can be contacted by email on info@oates.ie and by phone on

086 2573358 - Aengus and

087 4196055 - Brendan Church Street, Roscommon town, CO. ROSCOMMON TEL: 090 6627878 FAX: 090 6627877 E-mail info@oates.ie Website: www.oates.ie

The Manse, Northgate Street, Athlone, CO. WESTMEATH TEL: 090 6477500 FAX: 090 6477546 E-mail athlone@oates.ie Website: www.oates.ie

Roscommon People Friday 08 May 2020

Classifieds

Everyone wants it Everyone reads it 80,000 PEOPLE READ OUR NEWSPAPER EVERY WEEK!

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

ACCOUNTS

CHIMNEY CLEANING

PODIATRIST

McGOWAN ACCOUNTANCY SERVICES Catering for: • Individuals • Sole Traders, Partnerships & Companies • VAT, RCT, PAYE/PRSI, Financial Control, Completion of annual tax returns First consultation FREE, can meet clients outside office hours Provides training for start your own business and basic computers and accounting. Also training in Thesaurus accounting products

‘YOUR SUCCESS IS OUR BUSINESS’ Contact Nuala

090 66 25818 086 0352849 Email: mcgacco@gmail.com Web: www.mcgowanaccounting.com

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS MEETINGS ROOM 14, 1ST FLOOR ST. COMAN’S CLUB, ABBEY STREET, ROSCOMMON EIR CODE: F42YT51 Tuesday 1pm; Tuesday 9pm; Wednesday 1pm; Thursday 1pm; Thursday 9pm; Saturday 8.30pm; Sunday 12 noon

Tel: 01 4538988 or 091 767777

CAREER ADVICE CAREER ASSESSMENT & ADVICE

Grace O’Reilly B.Sc. Psych., B.Comm., H.Dip. in Ed., MBPS & PSI Registered Occupational Psychometrician Assistance with: • Interview Preparation • CAO & UCAS Course Application • Subject & Course Choice • Study Skills / Exam Preparation

CONTACT: Abbeyside House, Abbey Street, Roscommon.

Tel: 090 6630760

Email: grace@finbaroreilly.ie Facebook: www.facebook. com/careersgraceoreilly

Opening Hours: 9 am - 5.30 pm, Mon-Fri.

CHIROPODIST

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 • Firebacks replaced and flues repaired • Can be cleaned from the bottom up • Chimney cowels and crow guards fitted Power washing and gutter cleaning services. Telephone:

087 2798704

For all foot ailments Siobhan Murray BSc (Hons) Podiatry M.Ch.S.I.

Department of Health Approved

For appointment: (094) 96 21647 / (089) 4142233 • Home visits • Insoles and Orthotics prescribed

COUNSELLING 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? Please call Glynis on

FOOT CLINIC ROSCOMMON – MOLLOYS PHARMACY (Monday to Saturday) Also available in Boyle & Athlone -------Chiropody treatment and all aspects of Foot Pain. Orthotics prescribed

By Appointment Only –

087 2982214

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

COUNSELLING

PODIATRIST/ CHIROPODIST Mark Kilgallon B.Sc Podiatry (Hons) M.Ch.S.I.

Department of Health Approved

EVERY FRIDAY St. Joseph’s Resource Centre, Boyle For appointment

085 1503353 086 8538404

Email: m.kilgallon23@gmail.com

• House Visits • Insoles and Orthotics Prescribed • Chiropody Services

Clinics also in Ballaghaderreen and Castlebar

CHIROPRACTOR ROSCOMMON CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC

085 2514394

COUNSELLING & HYPNOTHERAPY Are you affected by Anger 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

CONSTRUCTION Stephen Casey

Construction l

Telephone: 086 8433433

Roscommon West Business Park, Circular Road, Roscommon. David Connor

BSC (Hon.) Chiro. MSc. Chiropractic Association of Ireland

VHI and Laya Covered

FARMING

DC Computer Services

BOOM SPRAYER TESTING SERVICE

Providing IT services for Homes, Businesses & Schools. Home Callouts.

• Sprayers tested on owners premises • Test report & D.A.F.M. stickers provided. • Small stock parts fitted on site (if necessary) Dept. of Agriculture regulations. From 2020 all sprayes are required to be tested every 3 years Contact: Thomas Neilan on 087 2395171 or 090 6663069 e-mail: thomasneilan4@gmail.com D.A.F.M. Approved

NO FIX NO FEE

PC Maintenance – Upgrades, Repairs, Virus & Spyware removal. Network Solutions – Cabling, Hardware & Software Installation & Maintenance. Contact David Conboy Tel: 087 7496459 Email: info@dccomputerservices.ie Web: www.dccomputerservices.ie

Reg No: EL000083

email: downeyglynis@yahoo.co.uk

Paul McStay

DSA/ADI (UK) RSA MIAM ROSPA Approved Driving Instructor Former BSM Driving Instructor and UK advanced Met. Police Driver. GIFT VOUCHER CARDS AVAILABLE Castlerea & Roscommon

EDT Lessons Available Telephone:

094 96 20099 Mobile:

086 8936012

This driving School conforms for the new RSA regulations & legislation

l General Building Extensions & Roofing l Groundworks l Renovations

FENCING/GATES

FRANCIS REGAN FENCING LTD For all your fencing needs. Glas Fencing Grant Fencing Post Rail

Tel: 087 2172281

Des Kelly Fencing Over 20 years in business All types of fencing supplied and erected Including: • Cresoted Posts • Agricultural Fencing • Site Fencing • Security Fencing • Post & Rail Fencing • Concrete Fencing • Grant Approved Fencing No job too big or too small Just give us a call on

087 2346364

087 9268424 stephenrockcasey@ gmail.com

NO JOB TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL

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

THE MOST READ NEWSPAPER IN COUNTY ROSCOMMON! The local paper!

FARMING < A B AT TO I R S E R V I C E AVA I L A B L E : Cattle, lambs and pigs. Ready for freezing. Home Cured and Honey Dry cured traditional bacon (not pumped with water) now available. Tel: Webb’s Butcher’s, 094 96 20005 or 086 4094715. < FOR SALE: Good quality top soil. Tel: 086 3776948.

JOE HEALY

Tree Services

• Hedge Cutting • Dangerous Tree Removal • Wood Chipping • Fully Insured

Phone:

087 2721193

Strokestown, Co. Roscommon

Specialising in:

• BACK PAIN • HEADACHES • NECK PAIN • LIMB PAIN

COMPUTERS

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

Roscommon People Friday 08 May 2020

Classifieds GARDENING

CORBETT

TREE CARE & LANDSCAPING

l General Maintenance Dangerous Tree Removal l Garden Hedges & Trees reduced and shaped l Wood Chipping l Fully Insured Contact Alan on

087 6558597 GATELY GARDENING

Four Roads, Co. Roscommon • Landscaping • Timber Decking • Patios • General Maintenance Contact Liam on 086 8749550 or 090 66 27496

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

GARDENING GARDENING SERVICES Including: • Hedge Cutting • Hedge Planting • Grass Cutting • Spraying • Strimming • Weeding • Garden Tidy-ups • Planting • Gutter Cleaning, etc. Chainsaw work also available

Phone John on

Comprehensive Insurance Cover. I.S.A. member.

Tel: 086 6077307 or 086 8125165

www.parklawntreeservices.

WALTER BEGLEY

Gardening, Maintenance & Painting Roscommon Town • Indoor & Outdoor Painting • Winter Garden Clean-Up • Power Washing Driveways - Paths • Prepare Lawns for Spring • Hedge Trimming • Planting • Grass Cutting • General Maintenance

Contact Walter on 087 9519873 < GARDENING SERVICE: Overgrown shrubs and hedges, cut back and mulched. Contact 086 2437376

ALL ABOUT THE GARDEN • Roscommon Town • Grass and Hedge Cutting • General Maintenance • Strimming and Weeding • Clean-up/Maintenance

CONTACT KEVIN:

090 6630879 or Mobile

087 2835742

PROFESSIONAL PAINTER AVAILABLE FOR ALL EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR PAINTING

Tried & Trusted Since 1993

Phone JOHN

087 2860428

083 8838022

WALDRON LAWNMOWERS

PROFESSIONAL PAINTING & DECORATING CONTRACTOR

BALLINTUBBER, CASTLEREA, CO. ROSCOMMON

We are CLOSED but are available by appointment for essential repairs & sales Please contact Anthony 086 7866774

PROPERTIES TO LET/RENT/WANTED • Certified Arborists • Tree Surgery • Dangerous Tree Removal • Wood Chipping • Leylandii hedges reduced and shaped

PAINTING & DECORATING

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 < TO LET: 2-bed and a 3-bed and a 4-bed apartment. Fully furnished. Private parking. Roscommon town. Tel. 086 8538519 < WANTED TO RENT: Dry secure storage space, shed or garage required for Camper Van. Must have 10ft high opening. Roscommon area. Phone: 087 6538538. < 2-BEDROOM APARTMENT to let. Athleague village. Tel. 087 7541730. < 3-BEDROOM HOUSE to rent in Strokestown. Contact 0894570303 < 1-bedroom apartment, fully furnished. Main Street, Castlerea. Tel. 086 3120158/094 9620393.

PHYSICAL THERAPY

Roscommon Physical Therapy Clinic Movement Matters 20 years experience treating babies to adults. Everyday aches & pains to sports injuries. Physical Therapy CranioSacral Therapy Medical Dry Needling Prescription Orthotics Pilates – Small Classes

Can we help you? Call us today to enquire 090 663 0009 Like us on Facebook www.rosptc.com 1 Castleview, Roscommon F42 C902

For all your decorating needs CONTACT JOHN

086 4679798 PAINTER & DECORATOR Private & Commercial Power washing 25 years experience Free Estimates Given

Phone Alan on:

090 6661635 or Mobile:

087 2683079 < PAINTER & DECORATOR AVAILABLE: For all your painting needs, keen and competive prices. Tel: Tom on 086 0815802

PEAT BEDDING

PEAT BEDDING AVAILABLE Tel: Donal

086 2721812 (All areas)

HOLISTIC JOAN MOORE Therapy Rooms • Sports Massage • Deep Tissue Massage • Reflexology • Indian head Massage • Reiki • Aromatherapy • Dry needling • Thai Massage Roscommon West Business Park, Circular Road, Roscommon

087 9201818

Gift vouchers now available

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REFLEXOLOGY

REFLEXOLOGY MARINA FUREY (MNRRI) Reflexology may bring relief from conditions such as: • Allergies • Colic • Eczema • Constipation • Migraine • Back Problems • Stress • Infertility • Insomnia • Respiratory Disorders • Blood Pressure • Pain • Bowel Disorders • Joint/Muscle Problems • Thyroid Imbalance • Emotional Disorders - Fertility Reflexology - Ante Natal Reflexology - Baby Reflexology - Cancer Care Reflexology - Special Needs Reflexology

Mobile Service Available Marina Furey B. Sc. (Hons)

Knockcroghery, Co. Roscommon

Tel: 087 2264951 Find us on facebook

USEFUL SERVICES

SEPTIC TANKS EMPTIED DRAINS/SEWERS CLEANED PERMIT NO: NW CPO - 09 - 03267 - 03

TELEPHONE MICHAEL HAVERTY: 086 8381227 or 086 1997815

WINDOW CLEANING < WINDOW CLEANING: Competitive rates. All areas covered. Also gutters/ fascias. Contact John: 087 2291931

TURF/FUEL/ FIREWOOD < THIS WEEK’S SPECIAL OFFERS: • Bags of seasoned firewood only €2 per bag• Bags of turf only €2.50 per bag, buy 20 get 2 free • Tonne bags firewood/turf €35 per bay, or buy tonne firewood + tonne turf + 2 bags coal 20kg all for €80 delivered. • Stove coal 40kg bags only €14, buy 10 bags get 1 20kg bag coal free. • 8x4 trailer load firewood only €90. All includes free delivery. Contact Tom: 086 2628439 WANTED: Fallen trees for firewood. Ash, Beech, Birch and Whitethorn. We are safety certified and insured. Phone:

086 2437376

< FOR SALE: 1 x 6 ft. pickup truck full of good quality turf. Ballaghaderreen area. Phone: 087 7043803. < FOR SALE: Top quality hopper turf. Delivered. Call 094 9860270/087 681 0849. < TO LET. Turf bank at Drumdaff, beside Main Road. Phone John on 089 216 1765.

PLOTS OF TURF

< ELECTRICIAN AVAILABLE: Safe Electric Registered. Domestic and Industrial, All work considered - No Job too small. Phone Paul 086 2553153 or 090 666 3053 or Email p0862553153@ gmail.com.

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE REPAIRS: WASHING MACHINE, REPAIRS, DISHWASHER REPAIRS, OVEN AND TUMBLE DRYER REPAIRS Contact Paul on 086 0538977 087 4046478 071 9664207 www.appliance-repairs.ie

SITUATIONS WANTED < QUALIFIED FETAC 5 CARER available. Can stay overnight if required. Tel. 087 9531471.

Plots of Turf For Sale & To Let

Castlerea/Ballingarea area Trailers of turf for sale also.

Contact Christopher

083 8893883 SITUATIONS VACANT < CHILDMINDER REQUIRED to mind two children, preferably in children’s own home. Knockcroghery area. 2-3 days per week, starting August/September. Apply to: Box no. 2092, c/o Roscommon People, Abbey Street, Roscommon or email advertising@roscommonpeople.ie with ref. 2092.

PLANNINGS ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL We, Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB) on behalf of Roscommon Community College post-primary school intend to apply for; 1. Permission to retain 9 No. Prefabricated temporary classroom buildings along with connections to all services and all ancillary works. At: Roscommon Community College, Ardnanagh Townland, Roscommon, Co. Roscommon.

The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee of €20.00 within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application and such submission or observation will be considered by the planning authority in making a decision on the application. The planning authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission. Signed: Collins Boyd Engineering Ltd., Engineers & Architects Galway Road, Roscommon, Co. Roscommon. Ph (090)6634421. Fax: (090)663423 Email: info@collinsboydeng. ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL We, Sarah Healy & Carlo Morelli, intend to make application to Roscommon County Council for planning permission for construction of new dwelling house & domestic garage, installation of wastewater treatment system and polishing filter, plus all ancillary works at Ballygalda or Trust Td., Athleague, Co. Roscommon Signed: MoleskinArchitecture, Mote Park, Roscommon, 086 3482387 info@moleskinarchitecture.com The Planning Application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reason-able cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Authority during its public open-ing 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 be-ginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the application & such submissions or observations will be considered by the Planning Authority in making a decision on the ap-plication. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL We, Cathy Cogan & Patrick Mahon, intend to make application to Roscommon County Council for planning permission for construction of dwelling house and domestic garage, installation of new treatment system and percolation area, plus all ancillary works at Rathkeery Townland, Tibohine, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon

Signed: MoleskinArchitecture, Mote Park, Roscommon, 086 3482387 info@moleskinarchitecture.com The Planning Application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reason-able cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Authority during its public open-ing 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 be-ginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the application & such submissions or observations will be considered by the Planning Authority in making a decision on the ap-plication. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

PLANNINGS

Design Consultation Planning Applications New Build, Extend, Renovate Bespoke Design Domestic, Commercial & Agricultural

086 3482387 info@moleskinarchitecture.com

facebook.com/moleskinarch ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL I am applying to Roscommon County Council for full planning permission on behalf of Mike Feeley to construct a slatted shed & associated siteworks at Skrine, Athleague, Roscommon. Signed: Seamus Murray, Project Managers, Engineers & Surveyors. Castle St, Roscommon. Ph- (087) 2222874. The Planning Application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reason-able cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Authority during its public open-ing 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 be-ginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the application & such submissions or observations will be considered by the Planning Authority in making a decision on the ap-plication. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission. ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL I am applying to Roscommon County Council for full planning permission on behalf of Tom & Georgina McDermott to construct a dwellinghouse, garage, waste water treatment system & associated siteworks at Skeanavart, Elphin, Co Roscommon. Signed: Seamus Murray, Project Managers, Engineers & Surveyors. Castle St, Roscommon. Ph- (087) 2222874. The Planning Application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reason-able cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Authority during its public open-ing 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 be-ginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the application & such submissions or observations will be considered by the Planning Authority in making a decision on the ap-plication. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

THANKSGIVINGS THE MIRACULOUS PRAYER May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised, honoured, adored and glorified throughout the world today and forever. Amen. Say 6 times daily for 9 days and your request will be answered. Publication promised. M.B.

Roscommon People Friday 08 May 2020

Classifieds PLANNINGS ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL We, Rathcroghan Designs, intend applying for Planning Permission on behalf of Felix O’Connor demolish existing building containing shop area and accommodation and to construct 2 no dwelling in its place and to reconnect to public services together with all associated site works at, Elphn T.d. Co. Roscommon.

ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL We, Rathcroghan Designs, intend applying for Planning Permission on behalf of John Filan to construct new straw bedded sheep shed together all associated site works at Corraslira Td., Strokestown , Co. Roscommon.

The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee of €20 within a period of five weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application, and such submission or observation will be considered by the planning authority in making a decision on the application. The planning authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions or may refuse to grant permission Signed: Martin Dowd, Rathcroghan Design, Ballyconboy, Ballinagare, Co. Roscommon. Mobile: 086 2328484. Acceptance of an advertisement or payment therefore is not to be taken as implying guarantee that the advertisement will be published. The right is reserved to refuse to insert any advertisement, without giving any reason; also to discontinue the publication of any advertisement previously published, without compensation for any loss or damage claimed for nonpublication. Publication of an advertisement cannot be guaranteed on a specific week or at all, whether or not a particular week has been stipulated by the advertiser, and the company will not be liable for any loss claimed by such omission, whether from all editions or any particular edition or editions of the paper. Right is reserved to alter any advertisement without liability for any compensation for such alteration. Further, the company does not accept liability for any loss or damage caused by an error or inaccuracy in the printing of any advertisement.

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

FAMILYNOTICES ....ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND ANNIVERSARIES McPHILLIPS Michael (5th Anniversary)

Death leaves a heartache No one can heal But love leaves a memory That no one can steal.

Sadly missed by all his family and friends. Anniversary Mass will be offered in private due to current circumstances.

SHIEL Mary (12th Anniversary)

RATTIGAN Thomas Corlackin, Creggs Who passed away on 6th May 2010 (10th Anniversary)

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

Remembered always by his wife Anne, family and friends. Anniversary Mass in St. Mary’s Church, Kilbegnet on 24th May at 11.30am.

GEOGHEGAN Helen In loving memory of Mary, late of Ballymoe, Co. Galway, who died on May 10th, 2008. R.I.P. A smile for all A heart of gold The very best this world could hold. Never selfish, Always kind, Those are the memories you left behind. Thinking of you Mary is easy We do it every day, But missing you is a heartache, That never goes away.

Sadly missed by her loving husband Mickie. Anniversary Mass said in private in St. Croan’s Church, Ballymoe on Sunday, 10th May at 10.30am.

Lismehy, Strokestown Who died on May 6th 2014 (6th Anniversary)

KENNEDY Michael

BRENNAN Tracey

24, Beech Grove & Corbo, Kilrooskey, Co. Roscommon (5th Anniversary) Who died on 9th May 2015

Grange, Four Mile House, Co. Roscommon Who passed away on 10th May, 2019, R.I.P.

If we could have a lifetime wish and a dream that could come true. We would pray to God with all our hearts, just to see and speak to you. A thousand words won’t bring you back, we know because we’ve tried. And neither will a thousand tears, we know because we’ve cried. You’ve left behind our broken hearts and precious memories too. But we’ve never wanted memories, we only wanted you. It’s so strange that those in need and those we love the best, are just the ones God called away and took them home to rest. But every time I think of Dad I seem to hear God say: “Have faith and trust my Promise You’ll meet again some day”.

Always loved and sadly missed by his daughter Eva, son-in-law Frank, grand-daughters Nikita and Sophie. ~~~~~~~~~~

Every day in some small way Memories of you come our way.

Lovingly remembered by her sisters, brothers and their families. Mass has been offered.

The Angels sang Amazing Grace God came down and touched your face Then He whispered soft and low “Come with Me, it’s time to go”. The gates of Heaven opened wide The Angels lined up side by side A special guest is on his way The day they took Michael away.

Love from your sister Marie, Vincent, Philip and Alex. ~~~~~~~~~~ As we look upon your picture sweet memories we recall A face so full of sunshine A smile for one and all. Though your heart has gone forever And your hand we cannot touch We shall never lose those memories of a brother we loved so much.

Love from your brother Christopher and Hilary. Michael’s 5th Anniversary Mass will be celebrated in private due to Covid-19 restrictions.

FULLARD Nora and Pat

Notice re. Memoriams and Anniversaries

3 Circular Road, Roscommon

If you wish to place acknowledgements, memoriam notices, birthday and anniversary remembrances, please email them to advertising@roscommonpeople.ie

or call us on 086 8054227 or by post, along with your name and contact details, to Roscommon People, Abbey Street, Roscommon Don’t worry if you do not have a credit card. We value your business over the years and will make arrangements for payment at a later stage.

They say memories are golden, well maybe that is true. We never wanted memories, we only wanted you. A million times we needed you, a million times we’ve cried. If love alone could have saved you, you never would have died. In life we loved you dearly, in death we love you still, In our hearts you hold a place no one can ever fill. If tears could build a stairway and heartache make a lane, We’d walk the path to Heaven to bring you back gain. Our family chain is broken and nothing seems the same, But as God calls us one by one, the chain will link again

– Always loved and remembered by her husband, Aidan and adored son, Evan. XX ~~~~~~~~~~ We feel the grieving sorrow deep within our hearts, Crashing like the ocean waves you so loved to see. We are sure you are floating above, happy, safe and free. You loved your life, you loved it all, There was no hurdle at which you’d fall. You coached us all and loved us so, You picked us up whenever we felt low, Family together is very strong. One thing you said would never lead us wrong. With a fire in your soul like the colour of your hair, For finding mischief you always had a special flare. You would dance and you would sing, You always found the best in everthing. We must carry you now in our heart and our mind, In our home your presence is still there, You echoing laughter and your empty chair. There will be no more phone calls or messages to read, Just one more time we constantly plead. You are in every song we hear, They bring memories of you, as if you were near. Although so short, your life was beautiful like a flower in full bloom. Until we see you again, rest happy upon the crescent moon.

– Lovingly adored and heartbrokenly missed by your parent Pauline and M.J. and your siblings Amanda, Micheal, Emma, Laura and Tommie. You will always be our guilding light on our journey through life As we live to make you proud. As of birds you spoke; swallows always fly home. Until we meet again

~~~~~~~~~~ I’m sending a dove to Heaven with a parcel on its wings, Be careful when you open it, it’s full of beautiful things. Inside are a million kisses wrapped in a million hugs to say how much I miss you and to send you all our love. I hold you close within my heart and there you will remain To walk with me throughout my life until we meet again.

– Alvin, Amanda and baby Grace. XXX ~~~~~~~~~~ Tracey, The sun still rises with each dawn, night still follows day, But the is always something missing, ever since you went away. Life has surely lost its sparkle, the world often feels blue But what gives us strength and hope, is the precious memory of you.

– Much loved and sadly missed each day by the Brennan family. (25th Anniversary)

(21st Anniversary)

In loving memory our Mum and Dad, Pat and Nora. Nora died on 10th May 1995 and Pat died on 8 February 1999. Lord grant them eternal rest.

Sadly missed by Valerie, George, Joanne, Paul, son in law Pat, daughter in law Patricia, grandchildren Anna, Amy, Olivia, Orla and Eoin.

Roscommon People Friday 08 May 2020

AtYourService

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

FAMILYNOTICES ....ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND ANNIVERSARIES McCORMACK Ronan

SWEENEY Imelda

(10th Anniversary)

Died on April 2nd 2020

With fond loving and everlasting memories of Ronan McCormack Racecourse Road, Roscommon town, who left home on May 8th, 2010. Aged 26yrs.

The family of the late Imelda Sweeney of Strokestown Road, Ballyleague, Co. Roscommon wish to acknowledge the many gestures of kindness shown to us at the untimely and sudden passing of Imelda. A special thanks to Fr Dusmanta for celebrating Imelda’s funeral mass. A sincere word of thanks to the Garda, paramedics, Fr Reilly and Dr Colm Farrell who attended on the day. Thank you to Conor Boland who sang so beautifully Imelda’s favourite song “Sonny’s Dream” at her grave side. A particular word of thanks to the grave diggers for their care and attention while preparing Imelda’s final resting place. A sincere thank you to Pat and John McHugh funeral directors for their professionalism, sensitivity and kindness in which they conducted the funeral arrangements. A special word of thanks to all who sent cards, messages of condolences we are truly grateful. We would like to thank everyone for coming out and standing at their gateways and each side of the road guiding Imelda to her final resting place. A special word of thanks to those who brought food and refreshments. To those who helped in anyway thank you we will be forever grateful. As it would be impossible to thank everyone individually please except this acknowledgement as a token of our appreciation to you all. A remembrance mass for Imelda will be arranged for you all at a later date. – The Sweeney family

He had a nature you could not help loving And a heart that was purer than gold And to those who knew him and loved him His memory will never grow cold. Ronan, we miss your warmth, your smile, your laughter, the glint in your eye, your words, your presence. We miss you

Remembered every minute of every day by your heartbroken family Bob, Jacqui, Angelina, Fiona, Clement, Shane, Andy, Anne, Gavin, Zoe and Dylan.

GREHAN Agnes Pollalaher, Brideswell, Athlone, Co. Roscommon. Who died 14th May 2018. R.I.P.

Sadly missed by your daughters, sons, daughters-in-laws and sons-in-law, grandchildren and great-granchildren. Anniversary Mass offered in private due to current circumstances.

HOLIAN Eamon

Fourmilehouse, Co. Roscommon Who died on 9th May, 2019 (1st Anniversary)

Kilteevan (26th Anniversary) R.I.P

We hold you close within our hearts And there you shall remain, To walk with us throughout our lives until we meet again.

If I had a lifetime wish, a dream that would come true. I’d pray to God with all my heart, For yesterday and you. No one knows my longing as I write these simple lines, For my husband’s love and friendship that is no longer mine. Things are all so different now, Since you went away All because God wanted you just as much as me. I think about you daily and the happy times we knew God has you in his keeping, I have you in my heart.

Always remembered by Sandra, Maudie, Joe and Sean. Anniversary Mass offered in private due to current circumstances.

O’FARRELLY Larry Lenanamalla, Four Roads, Co. Roscommon and 1 Riverside, Clonroadmore, Ennis, Co. Clare (5th Anniversary)

HYNES Tommy Old Circular Road, Roscommon town Who died on 7th May 2019 (1st Anniversary)

(2nd Anniversary)

God called your name so softly That only you could hear And no one heard his footsteps Of angels drawing near The golden gates stood open God saw you needed rest His garden must be beautiful He only takes the best.

KENNY Brian

Greatly missed and lovingly remembered by his wife Bridie, children, daughters in law, sons in law, grandchildren, family and friends. We offer a sincere and heartfelt thanks to all those who visited our home, attended the funeral service, travelled long distances, sent tributes or messages of condolences, and who provided emotional and practical support for us at this difficult time. We are truly grateful. To those who helped and are still helping in any way your contribution is greatly appreciated. As it would be impossible to thank everyone individually, please accept this acknowledgment as an expression of our deepest gratitude. “Just a prayer from the family who loved you, Just a memory, fond and true. In our hearts you will live forever, because we thought the world of you. “ RIP

Though your smile is gone forever, And your hands I can no longer touch, I still have so many memories, Of you whom I loved so much, Those memories of our time together Are my keepsake with which I’ll never part. God may have you in His keeping, I will always have you in my heart.

Helen. Anniversary Mass will be held in private in The Church of the Good Shepherd, Four Roads on Sunday, 10th May at 11am and also streamed through YouTube (Parish of Ballyforan/Dysart/Tisrara).

All my love, forever, Margaret. x ~~~~~~~~~~~ DAD We once had someone special That money could not buy We had a special father That could not say goodbye You taught us love and fondness You taught us how to care You bound us all together With love few families share But of all that life has given us And of all that’s left to do We never had a greater gift than the years we shared with you. The memories of your smiling face Are with us everyday So meet us in our dreams dear Dad And talk to us once more Ease the everlasting pain That makes our hearts so sore And when our lives are through We pray that God will take our hands And lead us straight to you.

We love and miss you always Dad, from John, Eamon, Tom, Trish, Josie, Russell, Charlotte and Lara xx

Due to Government and public health restrictions at this current time a mass to celebrate Tommy’s first anniversary will be held at a later date.

Locally owned ... in the heart of the community

Ros Memorials Headstone, Memorial & Gravestone Specialists

KNOCKCROGHERY, CO. ROSCOMMON

PAT QUIGLEY: 087 7799076 PAUL O’CONNOR: 086 6052649

• Headstones • Kerbed Memorials • Grave Site Care • Headstone Cleaning • Monument Levelling • Gravestone Repair

Rogers Funeral Directors Rooskey

Mobile: 087 2365453 Landline: 071 9638739 email: jrrogers40@hotmail.com

(Dromod) In conjunction with Cox’s Funeral Directors (Rooskey) Serving the people of Dromod, Rooskey and surrounding areas for the past 35 years Full range of coffins, caskets etc. in stock, together with our personally owned fleet of funeral vehicles

For further information contact

086-2561023/087-2318176 or 085-8643968

Visit our website www.mcgowanfuneraldirectors.ie Love’s Greatest Gift - Remembrance

MEMORIAL CARDS Individually Designed and Printed

Email or call for Sample Pack

Roscommon People Friday 08 May 2020

AtYourService CHIMNEY REPAIRS

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

Chimney Problems SHOWROOM:

Racecourse Road, Roscommon

Dooley Chimney Repairs • Lining

ALL CREATURES VETERINARY LANESBORO STREET, ROSCOMON Tel: 090 662 6898

WE SUPPLY & FIT Double & Treble Glazed Windows & Doors, Patio Doors, French Doors, Porches and Conservatories

AFTER HOURS/24 HOUR EMERGENCY

WIDE RANGE OF COMPOSITE DOORS

• Relining • Rebuilding • CCTV Camera Inspection

087 2596055

uPVC Window and Door Locksmith We are the only Licensed Window and Door Locksmith in Roscommon

Cathal Dooley 087 6579064

PLEASE FOLLOW OUR NEW GUIDELINES WHEN VISITING OUR CLINIC – We are only taking appointments for essential treatment and emergencies.

20 Years Experience Free Insurance Quotes

Telephone: 090 66 33026

Nationwide Service Stoves and Ranges Fitted All Work Guaranteed

BLINDS

www.roscommonwindows.ie

DRIVING LESSONS

ROSCOMMON Driving School

BRENDAN DOOLIN

Also Wooden Venetians, Velux Window Blinds. Tel: 090 66 30521 Mobile: 086 8115928

087 2295551 Road Safety Authority Approved Driving Instructor Due to HSE Guidelines we are not undertaking Driving Lessons at the moment

Gift Vouchers Available

CHIMNEY REPAIRS

- Chimney Repairs - Soot & Smoke Problems - Demolish, Re Build & Re Flue Line - Chimney Fires - Flexible Stainless Steel Liner - Insurance Claims processed

- CCTV Camera Inspection For Professional For Professional Advice Contact Advice Contact: John Hibbitt: Tel: 090

9673336 Mob: 086 2678350 Email: info@athlonechimneyrepairs.ie

INSTALLATION

Bonded Bead Cavity Wall Insulation Cellulose, Sheepswool, Fibreglass, SIGA Airtightness New Buildings & Retrofit Call in or contact us for free advice and quotes

Ballybane Industrial Estate, Unit 2, Ballybrit Industrial Block 12, Galway H91 P5k5 Estate, Galway

091 768 768 info@ecowise.ie

www.ecowise.ie

WINDOW AND DOOR REPAIRS

Window And Door repairs • Door Handles • Door Locks • Letterboxes • Window Hinges • Patio Door Repairs • Misted and Double Glazed Units • Reseal Windows and Doors

Contact David Martin on 087 9959417

RECYCLING

Castlerea Vehicle Recycling All NCT Failures l Destruction Certs Issued l Sale of Second Hand Parts l Contracted to all Major Car Companies l Farm Machinery, Old Gates l Metals, Iron Baths l Old Cooking Ranges l Weighbridge on Site l

LIFE COACH

VETERINARY

WINDOWS/DOORS

RECYCLING OF END-OF-LIFE VEHICLES

You must call in advance to order repeat prescriptions/flea worm treatments/food. Ring us from your car when you arrive for collection of your order/appointment. We ask that all payments be made by card only and encourage payment over the phone when ordering medication/food. When in the YARD all customers must leave at least 2m distance between themselves, other customers and members of staff at all times due to social distancing guidelines.

SEPTIC TANKS EMPTIED

SEPTIC TANKS EMPTIED ALSO DRAIN JETTING SERVICE

Contact Maurice on 086 2538169 or Kenneth on 086 8044030 Gannon Environmental Services Ltd.

Tel: 090

CAROLINE BURKE COACHING PHONE: 086 8229606

CAREER COACHING: * CV ADVICE AND TAILORING TO JOB SPECS * COMPETENCY BASED APPLICATION FORMS (inc. public sector) * INTERVIEW MASTERING (inc. competency-based) PERSONAL COACHING: * BECOME MORE ASSERTIVE & BUILD YOUR CONFIDENCE! * HELP TO COPE WITH AND EMBRACE CHANGE (e.g. retirement, new job, separation etc) * FIND YOURSELF STUCK IN A RUT? - (take back control and explore options!) EDUCATION COACHING: * HELP YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT COURSE/MAKE A BETTER MORE INFORMED DECISION THAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU

For appointment call me on 086 8229606 OR email your enquiry to carolinebburke@gmail.com

CLEANING

S tephen H oare

Cleaning Services • Roscommon • Carpets & Upholstery Cleaning • WINDOW CLEANING • POWER WASHING Fascias & Soffits • Gutters & Down pipes • Drive ways ‘paths and patios’ KEEN and COMPETITIVE PRICES

M: 086 3912396 Ph: 090 66 62892

6621220

LOCKSMITH RECYCLING ALL TYPES OF METAL

C astlerea ELV Recycling Ltd ., Cloonkeen, Castlerea Kevin & Martina Keenan Tel: 094 96 21250 Mob: 086 2522231

DRILLING SERVICE

Chasing / Core Drilling Service Domestic & Commercial Prompt Service | Keen Rates | Fully Insured

Call John 087 610 8499

Chris’s Locksmith Service l

Springfield, Williamstown, Co. Galway Window restrictors l Burglary repairs l Window locks l Cylinder replacement l Hinge replacement l Glass replacement l Lock replacement l Window and door seals l Window and door handles supplied and fitted l Aluminium and uPVC doors and windows repaired.

Te l : 0 8 5 2 1 9 1 2 3 4

email: chrislocksmith.162@gmail.com 08383

FARMING

Dead & Worn-Out Animals Contact JOHN GREENE BALLINASLOE TEL: (090) 96 88606 (090) 96 88830 or (090) 96 87651 Lowest price guaranteed Daily collection

Submit your Classified online Send your Classified advertisement to advertising@rosommonpeople.ie or alternatively call 090 66 34633

Roscommon People Friday 08 May 2020

Sports PEOPLE

Reeling in the Archives

8 YEARS AGO Prize goes to Roscommon Gaels after Christmas cracker County U-21 Division One Final Roscommon Gaels 2-10 Strokestown 1-9 < SEAMUS DUKE

Roscommon Gaels won their first U-21 division one football title in 11 years when they had four points to spare over a gallant and battling Strokestown side in this thrilling decider played at Abbey Park, Boyle last Thursday afternoon. Strokestown will have to wait a little longer for their first title at this grade following this four-point defeat. Disregarding the nonsensical fixing of a major championship final for three days after Christmas Day, these two teams produced a real festive cracker for the big crowd who braved the biting cold and rain showers. Those who were there saw one of the best games of club football seen in the county in 2011. The Gaels were slightly the better team all through but the outcome of the game was in doubt until Enda Lannon fired home their second goal in the first minute of injury-time. Strokestown were always in the hunt and they came to Boyle convinced that they could overturn the pre-match favourites and they almost did so with a real gusty display throughout. Roscommon Gaels: William O’Doherty; Kevin Maher, John McManus, Oliver Hannon; David Kelly, Ronan Gleeson, Cillian Egan; Scott Oates (0-2), Kevin O’Gara; Darren Coyle, Mark Healy (1-0), Mark Nally (0-1); Cian Connolly (0-5), Enda Lannon (1-1), James O’Gara (0-1). Sub: Ciaran Kilcline for Coyle. Strokestown: Niall Curley; John Fallon, Ian Rogers, Chris Perrin; Ruari Molloy (0-1), Donal Molloy, Cian Gibbons; Paddy Brogan (0-1), Thomas Corcoran; Thomas Hughes (0-1), Kevin Finn (0-1), Thomas Hanley (1-0); John McAuliffe, Daniel Kennedy, Colin Compton (0-5). Subs: Cathal McHugh for Hanley, Niall McAuliffe for Fallon. Referee: Ollie Kelly (St Faithleach’s). (From 6 January 2012)

‘Lovely Leitrim’ leave Rossies singing the blues FBD Insurance Connacht League Leitrim 1-8 Roscommon 1-5 < SHANE REYNOLDS

Roscommon suffered their first competitive defeat under the new management regime of Des Newton when they lost out in disappointing fashion to home side Leitrim by a three-point margin in Ballinamore on Sunday afternoon last. The football on display wasn’t of the highest of standard by any stretch of the imagination as both sets of players looked to cast aside the winter cobwebs. However Leitrim prevailed due to the fact that they were the more committed and sharper outfit throughout. The result – while disappointing – won’t overly concern Des Newton and his management team considering the time of year and the unavailability of many of his first-team players. Roscommon are currently without approximately 18 panel members. Roscommon: D. O’Malley; S. McDermott, J. Sharkey, S. Ormsby; C. Dineen, M. Higgins, S. Purcell; M. Finneran, K. Higgins; C. Devanney, J. Rogers (0-3, all frees), B. Murtagh; M. Scally, D. Shine, G. Heneghan (1-1). Subs: S. Oates (0-1) for Murtagh (5 mins), D. Rogers for Scally (46 mins). (From 20 January 2012)

From 2012: The Roscommon Gaels team celebrate victory in last week’s exciting County U-21 Football Final, played at Abbey Park, Boyle. Pic: Mary Regan.

Sligo in the semi-final, and complacency was never going to be a worry in this game. Going forward, it will be a slight worry that Roscommon had it so easy in this game and one thing is for certain, Nigel Dineen’s men will have a much tougher test in the All-Ireland semi-final on Saturday week. Roscommon: Colm Lavin; Davy Murray (capt.), Sean Mullooly, Cathal Kenny; John McManus, Fintan Kelly, Conor Daly (0-1); Shane Killoran, Thomas Corcoran (0-2, 1 free 1 ’45); Ciaran Kilcline (0-2, 1 free), Mark Healy, Enda Smith (0-6); Diarmuid Murtagh (0-3, 2 frees), Mark Nally (0-2), Donie Smith (0-2). Subs; Michael Gunning (0-1) for D Smith (9, Black Card), Fintan Sweeney for Kelly (14), Ultan Harney for Killoran (44), Ronan Daly for Kenny (51), David Carleton for Murtagh (56), Tadhg O’Rourke (57). Also Thomas Fetherston for Sean Mullooly (blood sub 41 to 58). (From 11 April 2014)

3 YEARS AGO From 2014: Kieran Kilcline and Enda Smith celebrate after the U-21 Connacht Football Championship Final. Picture: Andrew Fox

6 YEARS AGO Gallant CBS fall at final hurdle St Gerald’s, Castlebar 36 Roscommon CBS 22 < SEAMUS DUKE

Two tries in the final three minutes of play saw St. Gerald’s, Castlebar deny Roscommon CBS a Connacht Junior Schools title in their very first final appearance in this thrilling decider played at the Galway Sportsground on Wednesday afternoon. Trailing 19-3 at one stage, and having played against a strong wind, the CBS showed great resilience and no little skill to level the game at 22-all after 9 minutes of the second half. However, as the scoring rate slowed in that second half, the sides were locked in a fierce battle for the title and in the last five minutes when CBS were down a man they conceded those two late tries which broke their hearts. But they can be very proud of a massive effort. (From 21 March 2014)

Rampant Roscommon run riot in Carrick rout Cadbury’s Connacht U-21 FC Final Roscommon 0-19 Leitrim 1-3 < SEAMUS DUKE

Roscommon’s U-21 footballers produced a power-packed display of superb attacking football to totally overwhelm Leitrim in a very one-sided Connacht decider played before a very big crowd at Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada last Saturday. It was Roscommon’s third U-21 Connacht title in four years, but I doubt if any Roscommon football team have ever won a provincial title so easily. They were totally on top from the first whistle and they strolled to the easiest of victories against a very poor Leitrim side. Indeed one left Carrick on Saturday evening wondering how Leitrim had managed to beat Galway in the semi-final. Nevertheless Roscommon can only beat what is put in front of them, and in this case they did that with ruthless precision. They certainly learned the lesson from the game against

‘Super Eight’ just a fancy name for top tier From Dan Dooner’s Sporting World column: Last week, GAA Congress passed the motion to create a ‘Super Eight’ format for the quarterfinals of the All-Ireland series from 2018 on. So, what can we expect from the new format and just how will it affect the counties already lagging behind? One only has to look at how soccer and rugby have been affected by changes to formats and competitions to see the potential harm this motion will do to underfunded counties that are falling further behind. Silverware usually follows silver, with very few exceptions. In fairness, the GAA was at a crossroads before last week’s Congress. There has been increasing criticism of club and county fixtures and Gaelic Football certainly isn’t the spectacle it once was. Therefore, it is easy to see why change was needed. However, in my opinion, the creation of a Super Eight format will mean the creation of a ‘Super Eight’, a cartel of the eight most powerful counties, which will leave the so-called ‘weaker’ counties on the outside looking in. If this were to happen, then we may as well abolish the provincial championships. (From 3 March 2017)

Roscommon People Friday 08 May 2020

SportsPeople

A phased reopening of Ireland – but when will sport return? < SEAMUS DUKE

The prospect of GAA inter-county action taking place later in the year was raised by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar last Friday, however several bodies – including the Gaelic Players Association – remain adamant that they will not participate if there is any threat to players or their families. The Roscommon senior football manager Anthony Cunningham said that they will be guided by expert advice with regard to a return to action. “The lads are training away on their own within the regulations. They have a schedule, which is great, because they are used to that. The GAA will be hopeful that there may be a possibility of club action in July and August, but how that could be policed with regard to the safety of the players remains to be seen” he said. “There may be a window later in the year – in September, October or November – to play an inter-county competition, because there is a huge amount of money at stake. They (the GAA) will hold out hope as long as they can, and rightly so, because there are a lot of people employed by the association around the country. “Is playing inter-county games behind closed doors an option? Possibly, but only as a last resort – but the first priorities always have to be safety and public health” Anthony concluded. Meanwhile, the Connacht Rugby team are awaiting news of when they will be allowed to re-

turn to training. Roscommon Town native Denis Buckley said that he has been training on his own since the restrictions began. “We have been told that we are back training on the 18th of May (in small groups) and then in June the training would progress and then there would be some kind of games in July and August, but that is all subject

to change of course” he told People Sport. Golf courses will reopen for play on a restricted basis in the first phase of the Government’s road map from the 18th of May. Golf’s national governing bodies have said that play will be for members only and competitions will not be permitted in the initial stage.

Justify and Mike Smith win the 2018 Kentucky Derby

General news When will we see you again? Action from last year’s Connacht final between Galway and Roscommon. Picture: Michael McCormack

Roscommon Golf Club remembers two ‘stalwart members’ Roscommon Golf Club has paid tribute to “two stalwart members” who passed away recently.

The late Gerry Mahon

Gerry Mahon , RIP On the 5th of March, 2020 we bade farewell to Gerry Mahon, a loyal club member for over 60 years. From a well-known golfing family, Gerry played golf from a young age, following in the footsteps of his Dad and brothers who were very prominent in the club in the early years. Gerry was Principal of Clooneycolgan NS for many years and brought his many personal traits and administrative skills to the club in various roles over the years. He served as Captain in 1981 and as President in 2003. He was our club historian and was the author of our club publication ‘Roscommon Golf Club: The First Hundred Years 1904-2004’ which was published in 2004 as part of our centenary celebrations. Gerry was synonymous with the running of the annual CBS Past Pupils Union Golf Society for many years. Gerry was a member of a strong golfing family. His brother Des

Horses by Tom Red for Courses

achieved notable golfing honours in the 1970s as an international and interprovincial golfer and served as administrator of the Connacht Branch of the GUI for several years. Gerry had a keen interest in junior golf, with many of his family members taking up the game from a young age. Gerry’s daughter Deirdre is an honorary member of our club, having achieved senior international status in 1989 and 1990 – among many other honours. Gerry was immensely proud of her golfing achievements. Deirdre is Lady Captain in Milltown GC this year. Gerry’s wife Moira was also one of our leading lady golfers over many years and many other members of Gerry’s family continue to have a lifelong interest in the game. Thursdays and Sundays were Gerry’s main golfing days and while he was a great competitor it was his jovial smile and friendly banter with his many golfing friends both on and off the course that we will all miss the most. Deepest sympathies to Gerry’s wife Moira, children Fiona, Peter, Dervilla, Deirdre, Ciara, Nessa, Niamh and Orla, his brothers Cyril and Des, sister Marie and extended family. Rest in peace Gerry.

Tom Judge, RIP An air of sadness and disbelief descended on Roscommon Golf Club on Tuesday, April 21st when news came through of the sudden and untimely passing of Tom Judge. A valued member of our club, Tom served as Captain in 1989 and Club

President in 2019. Tom was a loyal supporter of the club and was truly honoured and proud in 2019 when our Jimmy Bruen team, of which he was Captain, captured the Connacht Shield. That team was one of the many that Tom was involved with throughout the years and each victory brought him great joy – but above all the pleasure of participation and involvement with our club is what mattered most to Tom, regardless of the outcome of any match. He enjoyed and was very proud of the successes of all our teams – both Men’s and Ladies – and shared a special affinity with the junior section of the club. Without doubt he took utmost pride in his daughter Deirdre’s feats with Ireland as a Junior international. In his career as teacher and subsequently Principal of the Convent of Mercy he ensured that all his students were well prepared for exams and future life experiences. His skills as a great debater were often called upon during the years as he served on various committees throughout his long history at our club. Tom encouraged and nurtured the values of golf to his students in the Convent where he coached many school golf teams to success at regional and national level. Tom will be forever remembered. His great wit and warm and charming smile were just some of the attributes that endeared him to so many. He had an endearing personality and was friend to all. Tom gave so much to our club and expected nothing in return.

We certainly are the better for having had Tom as one of our members and our friend. Over the days, weeks and months to come, many a story will be told amongst us of times spent with Tom on the fairways the length and breadth of the country. He was simply a wonderful gentleman. Tom was first and foremost a family man, a proud husband and father. We extend heartfelt and sincere condolences to Tom’s heartbroken wife Mary and darling daughters Siobhan and Deirdre and to the wider Judge and Keenan families. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers and are guaranteed our support in the future. Rest forever in eternal peace our dear friend Tom. You will be sorely missed. * Roscommon Golf Club also extends the sympathies of our club to members who have lost relatives over the last few weeks. Please be assured that you are in our thoughts.

The late Tom Judge

There is speculation that racing in Britain is working towards a resumption on 15th of May following positive meetings with government officials over the last seven days. The government is expected to make a decision on Sunday. Meanwhile, racing here will not resume before 8th of June at the earliest. One thing we are not being advised of is the figures of the number of Covid-19 cases that are or could be linked with returning patrons from Cheltenham. These have never been given and will probably show that our government and HRI are correct in their cautious approach. How do you the readers feel? Let me know on tomred17@gmail.com Last Monday’s planned resumption of racing in Germany has been delayed, with the proposed eight race card at Dortmund postponed. Racing which has been on hold since March due to the coronavirus outbreak was scheduled to start today with a six-week programme of races announced, with no spectators and strict hygiene measures. The next scheduled meeting in Germany under the revised plan is at Hannover scheduled for today. Racing in France is poised to return as planned on Monday after the Paris police gave permission to resume racing at ParisLongchamp. Like Germany, the sport has been suspended since 17th of March, due to the coronavirus pandemic with a number of meetings held without spectators leading up to that date. France Galop has been working towards a resumption on 11th of May, with key Guineas trials, the Prix de la Grotte and Prix de Fontainebleau, scheduled for that opening day at ParisLongchamp and the proposal now has the crucial police approval. Last Saturday, the first Saturday in May, dawned bright at Churchill Downs on the day the Kentucky Derby was due to be held, but Covid-19 said otherwise. For the first time since WWII its traditional place on the calendar has been lost and it is now scheduled for 5th of September. Bob Baffert, who trained last year’s Triple Crown winner Justify, will have a strong hand for the crown again this year with either Charlatan or Nadal, winners of both divisions of the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn on Saturday. Racing goes on in Australia behind closed doors and on Tuesday, Irish jockey Shane Jackson, from Kiltegan in Co. Wicklow, rode Ablaze to win the Grand Annual Steeplechase at the Warrnambool May Racing Carnival. Shane, who rode in Britain, is down under since 2012 and won the leading NH title last season. Ciaran Maher and David Eustace trained the winner. There was a sad end to their May Festival when Sir Isaac Newton, once trained in Ireland by Aidan O’Brien, fell in a maiden hurdle race and broke his shoulder.

Roscommon People Friday 08 May 2020

SPORTS PEOPLE with PAUL HEALY ‘Borg won Grand Slam titles with the coolness of a cunning thief in the night’ HEROES

REFLECTIONS ON SPORTING INSPIRATIONS

Pete Sampras? Yeah okay, not bad…but… Djokovic? Yeah, but… Nadal??? Yeah, good player, very dashing, charismatic… but… ROGER FEDERER?? Yeah, but…. YEAH BUT WHAT? Yeah, they’re all good players – probably heroes – but it was too late, much too late. No, if I’m to have a tennis hero, they’ve got to be from…that other time. From the 1970/’80s, when tennis meant ‘Wimbledon’. When the tennis really, really mattered… when the commentators rhapsodised about strawberries and cream, when Cliff Richard or Princess Diana or Terry Wogan himself waved from the posh seats, when rackets were made of wood, and when we cursed the infuriating rain showers and that depressing sight of Wimbledon ground staff rolling the covers over the court and closing down our afternoons. At its sun-kissed peak, Wimbledon was the saviour of our summers. Bereft over the ending of the English soccer season, distraught at the onset of the (then) dreaded cricket, we found joy and solace and excitement in the mystique and magic of Wimbledon, and a sport we knew little about. Tennis hardly ever entered our minds, those two weeks of Wimbledon apart. Except on that school bus. In Rooskey, every morning at about 8 am, the school bus stopped between two pubs…The Widow’s (Reynolds’) and Tony Fallon’s. The widow was Mrs. Reynolds, a legendary publican who, after her husband had passed, successfully ran a popular, traditional bar, through hard work and charisma. Tony Fallon, the proprietor next door, was a man of vision, an entrepreneur who had helped to put Rooskey on the map. When the school bus scooped its (usually) freezing victims up and spluttered onwards – Pete our patient driver – within a minute we were passing the Beirnes’ house. My father was a client of Joe, a friendly gentleman who worked in the legal profession. To the right of the Beirnes’ house, as you looked down enviously from the school bus, was an actual tennis court, with all the trimmings. You could ignore it, admire it, or just daydream. Then reality took over. Reality, when we got to Newtownforbes Convent (a co-education facility), was something that didn’t rhyme with tennis. We trudged in at 8.20 every morning, in the hope of 40 minutes’ of football before our first class. That worked out on the mornings that Sr. Immaculata didn’t get to us first. On the fateful mornings when her gaze stopped us dead, Sr. Immaculata would direct the ‘early bus’ boys to pluck weeds from the cement yard at the school entrance. Pluckin’ brilliant.

Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe.

A tennis hero? If I have a tennis hero, it’s not from the modern crash, bang, wallop era, when powerful superstar athletes with super-rackets outmuscled (as much as out-thought) their opponents. My hero’s from the past, because of the impact the stars of the ‘70s and ‘80s had on my generation. Once we (finally) got the BBC, tennis arrived into our world…and it was love at first sight. Love-all… My hero isn’t Jimmy Connors, the grunting, moody, but lion-hearted American, the first Wimbledon champion I can recall (1975). Short of fuse but high on passion, he left everything on the court, including whatever grievances he had with the world. My hero isn’t Ivan Lendl, he was just too sullen to care enough about. My hero (or heroine) isn’t Martina Navratilova, though I grew to admire her greatly. For years she dominated the ladies’ game, at times robotically crushing opponents, at times killing them with flair. The victims usually stood no chance. Martina was magnificent. Nor is it Chris Evert, the sport’s ‘golden girl’, who won a number of Grand Slams, but was denied many more by Navratilova’s greatness. Nor is my hero John McEnroe, even though he was box office…blessed with shot-making brilliance that was envied by his peers, marketed as half-Irish, famously possessed of a volcanic temper, the boundaries of which he routinely tested out on patient officials. It was hard to take your eyes off ‘Supermac’, but long before his career ended I had ceased caring whether he won or lost. His antics, some of which I am convinced were an extravagant act, became tiresome, and a big distraction from his artistry with a racket. Closer to my heart than McEnroe could ever be was the wonderful, mercurial Ilie Nastase. A gifted tennis player, the Romanian was also a brilliant entertainer, eccentric, unpredictable. Like Alex Higgins in snooker, Nastase put the fans first. I dreaded it when his run in a tournament came to an end. And then there was…my tennis hero. ‘For a very long time Bjorn Borg looked like a man far more likely to break others’ hearts than to have his own heart broken. Few sportsmen have been as merciless as the Swede. The late Vitas Gerulaitis, his great friend, once recalled of their matches: ‘Every time I play Borg I come out with some 30 ideas that should get me victory. And each time Bjorn breaks each one of the 30 to pieces, like a clay-pigeon shooter’. They practised together most weeks on tour and played each other 16 times in tournaments, including an epic Wimbledon semi-

final in 1977. Gerulaitis never won once. Every player Borg faced had a similar story. Jimmy Connors, the greatest slugging competitor, lost 10 matches in a row to him. Ilie Nastase, the master gamesman, was brutally denied the Wimbledon championship he felt was his destiny by the 20-year-old Borg in 1976. ‘For his six French Open titles and five Wimbledons, unparalleled summers of achievement, it seemed that failure would never be an option for Borg. His arrival in SW19 in 1973 had been heralded by the hormonal screams of girl fans, a new sound on Centre Court; but by the time he won there three years later, even those screams had faded. There seemed no way to get to him, so focused was he on the next ball, and the next’. – Tim Adams, writing in The Guardian Borg was the one. He didn’t just win Grand Slam titles, he won them with the coolness of a cunning thief in the night. Without showing any emotion. He was fascinating, charismatic, a silent assassin. For seven glorious years, Borg ruled the centre courts, before disappearing, rather like a thief in the night… By the time he was 26, he had mopped up a remarkable 11 Grand Slams, including six French Opens. But it was his gripping dominance at Wimbledon that made him a superstar. In the era before multi-channel TV, the Internet and social media, Wimbledon really was the only tennis we ever saw. Borg won his first Wimbledon in 1976, beating Nastase in the final. He followed up with titles two and three at the expense of Jimmy Connors, before making it four-in-a-row with victory over Roscoe Tanner in the 1979 final. In 1980, Borg faced McEnroe in a Wimbledon final for the first time. McEnroe won a classic fourth set tie-break (18-16), but Borg went on to win the fifth set, and his fifth Wimbledon in a row. In 1981, they met in the final again. McEnroe, denying Borg a sixth Wimbledon in a row, won his first. Borg and McEnroe had many great encounters all over the world, but their two Wimbledon final showdowns were highlights of our youth, small screen epics. Borg’s shock decision to retire in 1983, at just 26 years of age, rocked the sporting world. McEnroe was devastated. Although Borg ‘making off into the night’ meant that McEnroe could start planning a bigger trophy cabinet, the American pleaded with his great rival to reconsider. McEnroe knew that tennis without Borg and McEnroe was like Hollywood without Taylor and Burton, boxing without Ali

and Frazier, golf without Watson and Nicklaus. McEnroe’s greatest tribute to Borg was the fact that he never once misbehaved when playing the Swede. McEnroe had too much respect for Borg to sully a moment of their great duels with something as graceless as an onslaught on an umpire. So, the world was robbed of the tantalising unwritten chapters of Borg v McEnroe. Just when the rivalry was set to soar into the stratosphere, it came crashing down to earth, to our open-mouthed despair. We waited, we wondered…but Borg was really gone, leaving millions of distraught fans with just the memories of his gracefulness and greatness… Back in Rooskey, the school bus kept passing that tennis court on the Longford Road. Then, at some stage, Tony Fallon (I did say he was a man of vision) opened up tennis courts next to his pub. In a small hut across from the net, rackets and balls for hire. Enthusiastically, we ventured into this wonderful other world. Tennis in Rooskey! The sun blistered the court. We served and lobbed and panted, mostly in pursuit of wayward balls. There were perhaps two or three summers of stuttering forays to Fallon’s for the tennis, before we reverted to football, and thumbing to Longford every Wednesday to play snooker, past Newtownforbes and the weed-less schoolyards. Now? Now we catch tennis very, very occasionally, from wherever in the world. Wherever, whatever! It no longer stirs the heart. Great 21st century champions set new standards, raising the game beyond our romanticised view of those ‘wooden racket days’. So be it. For some of us, nothing will ever replace the wonder of those days when Borg ruled the world. When Bjorn Borg won his fifth Wimbledon in a row in the summer of 1980, we cheered him on in Rooskey. McEnroe’s day would come, and he too would be a great champion, tantrums thrown in. 1980. On the sun-kissed Wimbledon grass, Borg – headband tight around his blond hair – sank to his knees, exhausted and exultant, a rare show of emotion. A thief only of others’ dreams. A hero for the ages.

The series so far… 1: Tony Currie & Trevor Brooking 2: Steve Davis, Jimmy White & Ken Doherty 3: Con Houlihan 4: Eamonn Coghlan 5: Bjorn Borg For previous columns, see www.roscommonpeople.ie

Roscommon People Friday 08 May 2020

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