Local Notes: Cootehall playground opens, village festival, community meeting and Holy Well Mass
Effie Walsh high fives Minister for Rural and Community Development Dara Calleary TD as he arrived to officially open the Cootehall Park and playground extension. Pic: Brian Farrell
The official opening of the Cootehall Park and playground extension took place on Thursday last with Minister for Rural and Community Development, Dara Calleary. As the ribbon was cut, children from St. Michael’s School enthusiastically scrambled to use the fantastic new facility which includes a basketball court, zip line and multi-purpose climbing frame etc. It has been a long wait – but definitely well worth it. The Barracks group would like to thank Roscommon County Council (Project Managers), Murtagh Building Contractors, Murphy Playgrounds and the entire community for their efforts and support.
Keep Saturday, August 9th in your diary for a Cootehall village day of fun that will start in the newly extended Riverside Park with the annual Cootehall barbecue, face painting, basketball competition etc followed later by a barn dance with a cowboy theme.
A summer opera concert will take place in St. Michael’s Church, Cootehall on Saturday, June 14th. Admission €15. Tickets available on the door or call 087 1830711 for further information.
Well done to Ardcarne U-14 girls who defeated their counterparts from Croghan/Drumlion/Cortober in the first round of the Community Games ladies football competition on Thursday evening. Next up is a tie against Ballaghderreen.
Well done to Corrigeenroe National School boys’ team on a great Cumann na mBunscoil campaign culminating in an appearance in the county final in Ballyleague last week.
A pop-up market selling certified organic produce from Knockvicar Organic Garden and Carigeen Farm is held every Thursday from 3-7 p.m. in Crossna Community Centre, Cleen Hall.
Multiple Sclerosis Ireland is holding its annual church gate collection at Mass times on the weekend of June 14th / 15th at the following churches: Ballinamore Bridge/Toghergar, Ballygar, Ballymoe, Glinsk and Newbridge. Thanks to each and every supporter and also to the loyal church gate collectors.
St. John’s Heritage Group held its monthly meeting on Wednesday, June 4th in St. John’s Community Centre. The meeting was well attended. Amongst the many items discussed was the annual St. John’s Holy Well Mass and plans put in place. The Mass will be celebrated at the well on June 24th at 7.30 p.m., weather permitting. Otherwise, Mass will be celebrated in the Community Centre. All are welcome to this celebration of Mass at the Holy Well has been carried on down over the years.
The death occurred on Saturday, May 17th of Mrs Mary Dervin, Trean, Ballymurray, and formerly of Rosmoylan, Creggs. She passed away peacefully in the care of Roscommon Hospice staff surrounded by family. Mary was in her 94th year born March 20th, 1932 and was an only child born to her late parents Martin and Bridget Gaffey. She met her future husband, Paddy Dervin and later married in 1956. The couple moved to Trean, Ballymurray, in 1968 where they raised their six children, four boys and two girls. Mary was a stay at home mother and loved the country life and endeared herself to looking after the farm, organically milking the cows and sending the milk to the creamery and later changed to beef and sheep farming. She took a great interest in all farming affairs. As her family became more mature, she became involved in many community organisations and fundraising. She was one of the founder members of the Association for Mentally Handicapped in Knockcroghery. She had many friends and she enjoyed visiting them especially in their later years. Mary would arrive in her little Ford Kia. She was a caring wife, mother and grandmother, loved the family gatherings especially when the grandchildren were home on holidays or special occasions. Mary will be remembered by her family, Teresa (Mount Talbot), Bridget (Trean), Marty (Ballina), Padraig (Ballymurry), Matt (England), Damian (Longford), along with their families, relatives, neighbours and a large circle of friends, especially Olive. Mary reposed at Smyth’s Funeral Home, Roscommon with removal from her home on Monday morning, May 19th to St. Patrick’s Church, Knockcroghery, for Mass of the Resurrection. Burial took place afterwards in Gailey Cemetery. May she rest in peace. Mary’s Month’s Mind Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, June 14th in Knockcroghery Church at 11 a.m..
There’s sadness in the community following the passing of Mr Tom Callaghan, late of Rathmoyle. The deceased, who was in his 99th year, was universally liked and respected in the local community and known for his personable manner and genial wit, commanding immense respect in the locality. The late Tom served on Roscommon County Council from 1979 to 1985 and again from 1991 to 1999. During his latter period as an elected representative, the deceased served as Cathaoirleach of the local authority, as well as serving on the boards of the then Roscommon VEC and the River Suck Drainage Committee. Unassuming and gentle by nature, the deceased was a noted singer, musician and raconteur who will be sadly missed by anyone who had the privilege of coming into contact with him during his long and illustrious life. The deceased, who passed away in the care of staff at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe was predeceased by his wife, Katie, sons, Gerry and baby Michael and daughter-in-law Nuala. The deceased is survived by his daughters, Aileen (Mullooly) and Eithne (O'Neill); sons Oliver (Ratoath) and Liam who followed in the footsteps of his father as a current member of Roscommon County Council; sons-in-law, Michael and Terry; daughters-in-law, Teresa and Joan; grandchildren Neil, Olivia, Aishling, Fiona, Tara, Katie, Orla, Gavin, Ellen, Sarah, Eoin and Tomás; great grandchild Daithi; nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and many friends. The large attendance at both the deceased’s removal and funeral mass illustrated the high esteem in which the deceased was held in. Guards of honour were held both by members of the Fine Gael party, who Tom served with distinction and by members of the St. Mary’s Tulsk Ladies Football squad. The deceased reposed at Flanagan’s Funeral Home, Castleplunkett before being removed to St. Paul's Church, Kilmurry. Following Mass of the Resurrection, burial took place in Rathmoyle Cemetery.
A public consultation on the Active Travel project between Tulsk and Rathcroghan in respect of an emerging preferred option will take place on Wednesday, June 11th from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, Tulsk. The purpose of this consultation is to reveal plans by Roscommon County Council to progress Active Travel improvements along the N5 from Frenchpark to Tulsk. The construction of the N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramogue Road Project will result in a considerable reduction in traffic on the existing N5 between Tulsk and Rathcroghan, thereby providing an opportunity to consider implementing active travel facilities. The Tulsk to Rathcroghan section is currently at the option selection stage and is being progressed by Roscommon County Council and design consultants Roughan & O'Donovan. One of the possible plans is to provide a cycling/ walking link from Tulsk village to the internationally important Rathcroghan Archaeological Complex, which is currently a candidate for UNESCO World Heritage Site status. The project will also provide connection between many residential dwellings along the route into Tulsk village. All local residents, businesses, stakeholders and interested parties are invited to attend this consultation and have their say in informing and identifying the selection of the emerging preferred option to be taken forward to planning. All feedback will be valued in respect of communicating one’s views. A questionnaire will be available on the day for people to express their views. Members of the project team will also be present to provide information and to answer any questions.
The June meeting of the County Roscommon Historical and Archaeological Society (CRHAS) will take place in the Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, Tulsk this evening Tuesday, June 10th at 8 p.m.. The business of the meeting will be followed, as usual, by the Society’s regular monthly lecture which will be given by historian, Dr. Aidan Enright, who will speak on the history of the O’Conor Don family of Castlerea. New members are warmly invited to attend. Please note for those who are unable to attend the lecture in person, the event is also being livestreamed – however anyone interested in viewing the lecture online is requested to register in advance on Eventbrite.
Local residents are invited to an important public meeting in terms of having their say on the future of the community. Tulsk Action Group in partnership with Tulsk Lord Edwards GAA Club has secured significant funding to develop a master plan for the four-acre site next to the new pitch — a project that will shape the future of the community. Ideas and visions are welcome at this important meeting which takes place on Thursday, June 19th in Tulsk Macra Hall between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.. During this meeting, Outscape, the organisation leading the master plan design, will host a community workshop to gather input from all residents. Their goal is simple - make sure every voice is heard and every idea considered. Whether you’ve lived here your whole life or are just new to the locality, this is residents’ opportunity to help shape what this space becomes for the community and for future generations. This is an important opportunity for residents to come together as a community — all residents are warmly invited to attend.
An information meeting on the subject ‘Come Follow Me Catechesis for Children’ aged seven years and over will be held for interested parents on this Thursday, June 12th at 8 p.m. in Tulsk Macra Hall – grandparents and godparents are also invited to attend.
