Local Notes: Basketball Play Offs, Golf Lotto, Bereavements
Eddie Egan and Susan Gaynor at the Castlerea St. Kevin’s organised walk in aid of Parkinson’s Ireland, Roscommon branch. Pic: Liam Reynolds
The Castlerea Community School’s senior boys’ basketball team play in the All-Ireland play offs at the Hub on Wednesday starting at 10.30 a.m. Their opponents are Marist ,Dundalk and St Flannan’s, Ennis.
The winning bonus ball number in Castlerea Golf Club’s lotto for January 7th was 36. Winners of this week’s lotto were Marian McCormack Jimmy Mannion, Amanda Soares, an Sean Fleming. Each receive €100.
The death occurred peacefully on Saturday, December 20th at Roscommon Hospice of Mrs Anna O’Flaherty (née Hanmore) of Harrristown, Castlerea. Predeceased by her husband, Bartley parents, Jack and Mary Ellen, brothers, Mike, Pat, Peter and Jack. Deceased was a member of a highly respected and well-liked Castlerea family. She always had a great love for her family and her many friends in Castlerea and surrounds. She was kind, gentle and generous and always had time for people, both young and old . She worked for many years in Maggie Towey’s (now Tully’s Hotel) in the bakery and confectionary area and also worked in Claffey’s Bakery and Confectionary, St. Patrick’s Street, Castlerea where she was highly though of by her employers and work colleagues. She always had a great interest in sport and was a great supporter of Castlerea GAA teams. She was married to Bartley O’Flaherty who came from the Aran Islands to work as a clerk at Castlerea Post Office in 1950. Sadly Bartley passed away at the age of 36 in 1966. They had many happy years together during their married life. Bartley was a great sportsman, he played rugby and soccer, but Gaelic football was his first choice. He played a major role with his wife Anna fundraising for the development of the O’Rourke Centre and Park. Some years after her husband’s passing she travelled to the USA to members of her family where she worked for many years before returning to Castlerea some years ago. While in the USA she never forgot her roots and always kept in contact with her parents, brothers, and sisters and always paid them a regular visit. She was also a woman of great faith and had a great devotion to Our Lady of Knock . She will be sadly missed by her brother, Kelly (New Jersey); her sisters, Nello (Harte, Castlerea), Stephaine (Miller, Liverpool), Margaret (McHale, Donegal) and Breege (Cryan, Boyle); brothers-in-law Cathal, Timothy and Kevin; sisters-in law, Linda and Kathleen, nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours and friends. Her remains were removed from McDonagh’s Funeral Home to St. Patrick’s Church, Castlerea and following Mass of the Resurrection celebrated by Fr. Kevin Reynolds, burial took place in St. Joseph’s Cemetery. The ceremony was enhanced by the beautiful singing and music by family members. May her gentle soul rest in peace.
The death occurred peacefully on Saturday, December 20th in the exceptional care of Sonas Nursing Home, Knock, surrounded by her loving family, of Mrs Breege Flanagan (née Finan), Cloonelt, Castlerea and formerly of Breanamore, Loughglynn. Predeceased by her husband Michael, infant daughters Mary and Carmel and her sister Maureen. Breege will be forever loved and missed by her family, daughters, Margaret Hosty (Ennis), and Ann Marie Gavin (Sligo); her sons, Shay (Leixlip), David (Cloonfad),Sean (Tyrellstown), and Joseph (Cloonelt); her brother, Tommy Joe Finan, Brenamore; her sons-in-law, Gerry and Mel; daughters-in-law, Jackie, Caren, Aisling and Janet; her adored grandchildren, Ruth, Shane, Amy, Aiden, Kieran, Dylan, James, Rhys, Dáithi, Eoin, Zach and Conor; sisters-in-law, Mary and Nonie, nephews, nieces, extended family, neighbours and friends. Deceased was a very kind and gentle person, a great and most obliging neighbour and was held in very high esteem in the community, always willing to lend a helping hand and looked forward to helping with the annual Cloonbonniffe auction each year. She was a great worker and worked hard in her time with her late husband to provide for their family. Breege worked for many years in Aras Mathair Phoil Nursing Home, Castlerea, where she was highly thought of by her employers and work colleagues. She was very kind to the residents who had great time for her. She was a devoted Catholic and had great devotion to Our Lady of Knock. Her remains were removed form McDonagh’s Funeral Home to St. Bridget’s Church, Cloonbonniffe on Tuesday, December 23rd and following funeral Mass on Wednesday celebrated by Fr. John McManus burial took place in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Castlerea. Before the final blessing, her son David read the Communion reflection, and her daughter Ann Marie Gavin gave the eulogy. The ceremony was enhanced by the singing and music of Carmel McLoughlin. May her gentle soul rest in peace.
The death occurred peacefully on Wednesday, December 31st, after a long illness bravely borne, at Portiuncula Hospital surrounded by her loving family, of Miss Mary Flanagan, Foughill, Trien. Predeceased by her parents Tom and Kathleen. Deceased was a wonderful, gentle, kind and most obliging neighbour who was involved in everything that was good for her community in Trien and surrounding areas and further afield. She was always willing to help people. For many years Mary worked a s a nurse and chiropodist at St. Patrick’s Hospital. She was always very kind to the many patients in her care and looked after them in a very professional manner. She was highly thought of by her employers and her many work colleagues. Indeed, when she retired, she carried on as a chiropodist. She was very involved in the church in Trien. She looked after the flowers both inside and outside the church. She was also involved in the Trien 300 Club and played a big part in organising the Mass in Kilkeevan Cemetery. She was also a member of the Trien Parish Council, the Trien Historical Society, and the Trien Church Choir. She always wrote an article about Trien for the Castlerea Parish News even in 2025, despite her illness. She was also a volunteer in the Hospice shop with her very loyal friend Lilly Murphy and others. She spent many years working as a handmaid at Knock Shrine and was also a member of the Retired Nurses Association. Despite her long illness Mary was always willing to lend a helping hand to people, and she would always inquire about those who were sick. She will be sadly missed by all who knew her. She was a founder member of the Castlerea Lourdes Deanery in 1972 with the late Paddy Vaughan, Michael Giblin and M.J. Finnegan. She travelled with the Elphin Pilgrimage to Lourdes for many years to help with the sick as did her brother Gerry. She also had a great devotion to Our Lady of Knock. She will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her siblings: Anne Taaffe (Ballintogher), Mick (Mullingar),Gerry (Foughill) and Margaret Lynn (Ballymahon), her nieces and nephews: Aoife, Damien, Ciara, Dónal, Gavin, Eála, Paul, Edel, Aisling, Conor, Niall and Áine; by her brothers-in-law, Joe and Ben; her sisters-in-law, Sheila and Gerette; her grandnieces and grandnephews, cousins, extended family, neighbours, and a large circle of friends. Her remains were removed to St. Caolin’s Church, Trien and following Mass of the Resurrection celebrated by Fr. John McManus with co-celebrants Fr. Kevin Reynolds, who gave the homily and Fr. Oliver Devine, Drumrany, Glasson, burial took place in St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Before the final blessing her sister-in-law Gorette Flanagan read the Communion reflection, ‘Broken Chain’. John Raftery, a friend of the family, gave a eulogy of Mary’s involvement with Trien community. The ceremony was enhanced by the beautiful Trien Church Choir. A guard of honour was provided by the Trien community. May her gentle soul rest in peace.
The death occurred peacefully on Saturday, January 3rd in the wonderful care of the staff at Aras Mathair Phoil, Castlerea, of Mr Martin Brennan, 4 St. Kevin’s Terrace, Church Road, Castlerea and formerly of Foughill, Trien, and London England. Predeceased by his brother Joe, sister-in-law Mary and niece Mary. Deceased was a very kind, gentle and very inoffensive person and a great neighbour and was very well liked in the community. He worked hard all his life both in Ireland and the UK. He had a great interest in racing and his daily routine since he came back to Castlerea 31 years ago was to get the paper, The Mirror, put on a bet and have his couple of pints in Doherty’s in the evening. On his retirement he returned to live in Church Road, Castlerea where he immediately became part of the community. He enjoyed sport and was a Queens Park Rangers supporter from his time living in West London. He also enjoyed racing and doing crosswords. The last period of his life was spent in Aras Mathair Phoil Nursing Home. He was very happy and well cared for and it became his home from home. He will be sadly missed by his nephews Michael, Tommy and Martin, nieces Joan and Carmel (Australia), grandnieces, grandnephews, cousins, relatives, neighbours and friends. His remains were removed form Gaynor’s Funeral Home to St. Patrick’s Church, Castlerea, and following Mass of the Resurrection celebrated by Fr. John McManus burial took place in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Castlerea. Before the final blessing his nephew Michael read the eulogy. The ceremony was enhanced by the singing of Julia Heaney with organist Enna Conry. May his gentle soul rest in peace.
