Local Notes: Drama, All-Ireland Jiving Finalist, Bereavements
Gary, Breege, Daithí and E.J. Reynolds celebrate after the Premier Division win for St. John's Athletic on Sunday last. Pic: Gerard O’Loughlin
Kevin Shine, third son of the late Tom and the late Bridie Shine, Moyvannion, Kiltoom, is set to compete in the All-Ireland jiving competitions final at the Shearwater Hotel, Ballinasloe, later this month. Kevin, who resides in Edgeworthstown, was placed overall second in the finals in 2024 at the same venue when his dancing partner was his sister Patricia, who resides in Kiltoom. Kevin was featured on the RTÉ Nationwide series of programmes on the Irish country music genre recently about his jiving activities. He was in attendance at a David James music night in the Abbey Hotel, Donegal, when he was interviewed by the Nationwide team. He explained that he usually uses ten shirts on any given night jiving due to the heat and perspiration aspects. Noel O'Connor in Athlone provides him with the ironless shirts. Meanwhile, the third and final Nationwide programme on the Irish country music scene was screened on Friday, March 27th. It featured internationally known singing stars Sandy Kelly, Sligo and Brendan Shine, Gatestown, Taughmaconnell. They both reflected on their respective 50 year plus singing careers and the interviews of the stars were interspersed with film footage of various shows and performances that they gave over the past five decades in the limelight.
The Old Athlone Society is delighted to welcome Dr Kieran O’Conor as speaker for this year’s annual Billy English Memorial Lecture, taking place on Wednesday, April 15th at 8 p.m. in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel. All are warmly invited to attend.Dr O’Conor will present a lecture entitled New Perspectives on Roscommon Abbey, exploring the rich architectural and historical significance of the Dominican Priory of Roscommon. Founded in 1253 by Felim O’Conor, Gaelic King of Connacht, the abbey stands as an important testament to Ireland’s medieval past. The lecture will examine the priory’s architecture, siting, and evolving appearance over time. It will also argue that the rich architecture and craftsmanship of Roscommon Abbey reflect sustained wealth in native-dominated regions of Ireland throughout the later medieval period—an aspect often underrepresented in surviving historical records. New members are always welcome to join the Old Athlone Society. For further information, please visit athlonehistory.ie.
The Kiltoom and Cam Parish Pastoral Council wish to thank all those who made donations to the food/clothes drive in aid of the Athlone Family Support Centre and Esker House. Items were left into the schools and churches over the two weekends up to Palm Sunday.
There will be Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at St Brigid's Church, Curraghboy, on this Friday evening, April 10th, at 7 pm.
The Athlone Little Theatre will present "Six Characters In Search Of An Author" by Luigi Pirandello from April 15th to 22nd next in the theatre at 8 p.m. nightly.
The winners of the weekly progressive 25 card drive at the St Brigid's Handball Complex in Curraghboy on Tuesday night last were Ms Janette Nestor, Mrs Audrey Flatley, Padraig Harney, Tommy Cormican, Enda McHugh, Ms Edel Coyle, Donie Brennan, Brian Fallon, Mrs Sarah Seery, Michael Keenan, Sean Gately, Liam Grehan and Eamon Ward.
The death took place on Wednesday, March 18th, at Roscommon Hospice of Mrs Mary Hunt, Kilmore, Athleague. Aged 70 on January 11th last, she was the former Ms Mary Kelly, Rathbrennan, Roscommon. She had been in ill health for some time and she bore her illness with characteristic dignity and fortitude. Of a caring and friendly disposition, she was devoted to her immediate and extended family and she was also noted for her sense of neighbourlines in her residential community. She was employed as a hairdresser prior to marriage and she had worked latterly for a number of years with P and G Cards Ltd in the Athleague environs and she was deservedly popular with her work colleagues and all those with whom she became acquainted. She also supported a number of community activities in her adopted parish and she had been a member of the Athleague ICA Guild in the decades past. A deeply religious person, she was both a Minister of the Eucharist and a reader over the decades at St Patrick's Church, Athleague. She was also a regular visitor to Knock Shrine and she supported a wide range of charitable causes and bequests down the years. She is survived by her husband, Padraig, Kilmore; sons, Gary, Goff Street, Roscommon; Adrian, Athleague; Derek, Edenderry and Brendan, Dublin. She is also survived by brothers, Michael, Rathbrennan, Tom, Rathbrennan; sisters, Mrs Ann Cahill, Castlerea; Mrs Pauline Bregazzi, Dublin; three grandchildren, one great grandchild, nieces, nephews and a number of other relatives. Following Concelebrated Mass at St Patrick's Church, Athleague, on Saturday, March 21st, the burial took place in Athleague Cemetery. The celebrants of the Mass were Very Rev. Eugene McLoughlin, retired PP, Athleague and Roscommon; Rev. Fr Ali Joe, PP, Athleague and Rev. Fr Pavin, CC, Athleague.
The death took place on Tuesday, March 17th, at Portiuncula University Hospital, Ballinasloe, of Ms Mary Macklin, Tibarney, Four Roads. Aged 72 on August 14th last, she had resided in Birmingham for over 20 years where she worked in an electrical factory and, on her return to Four Roads in 2005, she was in employment as a carer with the Roscommon Home Help Service. In both work roles she was respected for her devotion to her duties and her affability and innate decency enabled her to make many lifelong friendships. She enjoyed reading and doing sewing and embroidery work as her main hobbies. She played camogie with the Four Roads Camogie Club in her younger days and she enjoyed viewing all sport on television. A religious person, she supported a number of church linked activities. A member of a farming family of four boys and four girls, she is survived by brothers, John, Birmingham; Seamus, Athleague; Matt, Birmingham; sisters, Mrs Brid Moore, Tibarney; Agnes, Kilteevan; nephews and a number of other relatives. Following Mass of the Resurrection at the Church of Christ the Good Shepherd, Four Roads, on Monday, March 23rd, the burial took place in Tisrara Cemetery. The celebrant of the Mass was Very Rev. Francis Beirne, PP, Ballyforan, Dysart and Tisrara.
The death took place on Friday, March 27th, at the Nightingale Nursing Home, Ahascragh, of Mr Paddy Healy, Kilmore, Ballygar, who was uncle of Henry Hamrock, Athleague and Maurice Hamrock, Athleague. Aged 92, he had been in ill health a short time. A member of a very well-known family in the locality, he enjoyed the respect and esteem of all those with whom he became acquainted. He is survived by his brother, Brendan, Kilmore; sister, Celine, Dublin; nieces, nephews and a number of other relatives. Following Mass of the Resurrection at St Mary's Church, Ballygar, on Tuesday, March 31st, the burial took place in Killeroran Cemetery, Ballygar.
