Local Notes: Barracks Coffee Mornings, Information Event, New Bus Stop
Siobhán Moran and Ann Marie Beirne, pictured at Athleague Festival last weekend. Pic: Gerard O’Loughlin
Rahara Graveyard Committee is very grateful to all those who contributed so generously to the collection held at Cemetery Sunday Mass on August 9th. The amount raised was €1872. This money is used for the ongoing maintenance and enhancement works in the graveyard. Thank you to all for the support.
St. John’s new cemetery committee gratefully acknowledges receipt of the sum of €1390.06 in the recent collection. Many thanks to all who contributed.
Mass will be celebrated in Kileenan Graveyard on Saturday, September 5th at 3 p.m.. There will a collection at the gate for the ongoing maintenance of both graveyards. Mass will be celebrated in Ardcarne Graveyard on Sunday, September 6th at 12 Noon. There will be a collection at the gate towards the cost of lighting Ardcarne Church and Graveyard. Your financial support would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks to everyone who supported the McGahern Barracks coffee morning in Cootehall last weekend. The next one will take place on Sunday, September 6th from 12 noon until 2 p.m.. It’s an informal gathering to meet your neighbours, engage in conversation and build and foster community connections. Please come along, you will be made very welcome.
Strength and Conditioning classes will resume in St Ronan's Hall, Keadue on Wednesday, September 2nd at 8 p.m.. New members welcome.
Pilates classes will resume in St Ronan's Hall, Keadue on Thursday, September 3rd at 8 p.m. New members welcome.
Leitrim College of Further Education and Training will host an information event on Wednesday, September 2nd from 3 p.m. to 7.30 p.m., in the Landmark Hotel, Carrick-on-Shannon. Explore a wide range of courses, meet experienced staff, and discover the opportunities available. Refreshments will be provided. Everyone is welcome.
Mass will be celebrated in Kilronan Cemetery on Sunday, August 30th at 11. 30 a.m. weather permitting.
A meeting of the Arigna Cemetery Committee will be held on Wednesday, August 26th at 7 p.m. in the Enterprise Centre. All welcome.
An introduction to wool spinning will be held on Saturday, August 29th, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., in the Creggs Heritage Centre, F42 X674. This is suitable for complete beginners, €90 per person, booking is essential gambrillandlam@gmail.com
Sympathy is extended to Martha Joyce and Mary Donlon on the recent passing of their brother, Michael McDermott, Cloonkeen, Castlerea. Michael died unexpectedly on August 17th at University College Hospital, Galway. He was predeceased by his parents, Patrick and Ellen, sister, Kate Flanagan and brother, Pat. He will be forever missed by his wife, Marie; daughters, Michelle and Claire; son, David; sons- in- law, James and Michael; daughter- in- law, Sarah Loiuse and his adored grandchildren. He is also mourned by his brother, Cormac, sisters, Martha, Mary and Celia, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces cousins, neighbours and friends. Following Mass of the Resurrection at St. Patrick's Church, Castlerea the burial took place in St. Joseph's Cemetery.
Sympathy is extended to Gerard O'Toole and Mary Kenny on the recent passing of their brother- in-law, Brian Murray, Caherdavin, Limerick and formerly of Scotstown, County Monaghan. Brian died peacefully on August 18th at University Hospital, Limerick. Predeceased by his parents, brothers, and sisters he will be greatly missed by his wife, Nonie ( nee O'Toole, Ardagh,Glinsk), sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. Following Mass of the Resurrection at St. Michael's Church, Glinsk the burial took place in Ballinakill, Cemetery.
Congratulations to Glinsk ladies on the recent victory over St.James in the league final. The girls are now preparing for the championship. Panel v St.James: Aisling Keane, Aoife Keane, Lorraine Curley, Sarah Jane Trayers, Caoimhe Keane, Eimear Keane, Nicole Griffin, Emma Griffin, Emily Trayers, Nichola Mulligan, Taylor Neary, Beth O Mahoney, Nicole Mulhearn, Roisin Brennan, Ali O'Toole, Laura Scanlon, Shannan Laheen, Rita Connelly.
Many thanks to everyone who attended the annual Cemetery Masses. Mass in Ballinakill Cemetery was concelebrated by Fr. Pravin and Fr. Liam Kelly. Well done to caretaker Micheal Killackey and his team of volunteers for having the cemetery looking so well. Mass in Kilcolumb Cemetery was celebrated by Fr.Pravin. Again it was heartening to see such a large turnout. Compliments to the committee of Aidan Reilly, Michael Connelly, John Griffin and Laurence Cunningham ( caretaker) for their work in maintaining the cemetery.
With Heritage Week 2026 just having come to an end it was not only the busiest such week in Williamstown, but also the most successful Heritage Week ever here. It started with the broadcast on Monday on RTÉ 1 of the Nationwide feature on Williamstown. Then, on Tuesday a full coach load of visitors from all over the county, led by Marie Mannion, county heritage officer, was hosted at Templetogher. All were served up a most appetising meal by Delicious Catering, following which Oliver Lennon and Leo Finnegan informed the guests on the history of Templetogher Mill and the development of the Heritage Area up to the present.
Then the visitors had ample time to explore the many attractions of the Heritage Area. It was most encouraging to hear the glowing words of praise that all had for the unique area that Templetogher Heritage Area undoubtedly is.
On Thursday a group visited from Killererin with a similar programme involving food, informative talks from Oliver and Leo, and then exploration time of the many treasures on offer.
There was a massive crowd in attendance for the open day on Sunday last. The programme of the afternoon went off like clockwork, with, first of all, the guests having ample time to explore the countless attractions on offer. During this time, complimentary refreshments were served to all.
Then, based on this year’s Heritage Week theme “Heritage at Risk”, and including the three main strands of Heritage - the built, the natural and the cultural, came an hour of Entertainment at its very best, with superb contributions, involving instrumental music, singing, recitations, book extracts etc, from a variety of performers. Oliver Lennon gave a brief history of Templetogher Mill and Leo Finnegan acted as MC.
The afternoon’s programme ended with well-deserved tributes to two special people. The late Maureen Lyons, a key member of our group for many years, was paid a warm tribute by Kathleen Heviken, in which she outlined the many elements of Maureen’s life, some happy, some sad, and also the extraordinary range of talents which she possessed. Then, Maureen’s son, Michael Lyons, unveiled, to loud applause, a lovely photo of Maureen.
Finally, there was another well-deserved tribute to Lar Finnegan, who is still going strong though not in robust health. He has been the main activist in the development and restoration of Templetogher through the years. His sister, Mary Mullins, paid a warm tribute to Lar, pointing out, not just some of his fine characteristics, but also, a number of his unique comments when voicing an opinion on certain topics. A lovely photo of Lar was then unveiled by Mary, assisted by Lar’s niece, Fiona Biesty and several of his young relatives. An outstandingly successful afternoon had come to a most appropriate end.
A warm Thank You to all those who contributed to the success of the event, including heritage group members who worked so hard beforehand and on the day itself, additional helpers who did such great work in areas like directing the parking and selling the raffle envelopes, and, in a special way, the public who turned up in such massive numbers.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.
The popular RTÉ 1 Programme, Nationwide, included, on Monday last, a feature on Williamstown. It dealt with the activities of the local Tidy Towns group; the local primary school; the achievement of the local Heritage Society in winning the first ever National Heritage Award, a new section in the Annual National Tidy Town Competition, in 2023; the biography of long forgotten local poet, Michael McGovern, by the late renowned journalist, Jim Fahy, in conjunction with the local Heritage Society; and the community in general. Those interviewed on the programme were chairman of Williamstown Tidy Towns, Noel Finnegan; Heritage Society activists, Mary and Darragh Mullins; Heritage Society chairperson, Leo Finnegan; and Aideen Fahy, daughter of the late Jim Fahy. The reaction to the programme has been overwhelmingly positive, and all involved in the feature wish to convey their warm thanks to the huge number of people who took the trouble to pass on their very complimentary remarks. Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.
A welcome recent addition to the landscape of Williamstown is a set of two bus stop signs on the square. Not alone do they show clearly the exact position of the bus stop, but, in themselves, are colourful, attractive features.
