Local Notes: New Beginnings, Speed Limit Changes, Church Improvements
Oskar Skalski, Ibraheem Shahzad, Hanna Maria Sobucka, Veronika Kindorova, Karolina De Almeida and Holly McCormack, First Years at Athlone Community College.
Aspiring authors can learn how to make their opening pages stand out at a free creative writing workshop in Monksland as part of Culture Night 2026. Author and writing tutor Martin JP Devaney will host Writing the First Chapter: How to Make Your Reader Turn the Page at Monksland Community Centre, Athlone, on Friday, September 18th. The workshop will look at one of the biggest challenges facing any novelist — getting the first chapter right. This opening is vital as publishers and editor may never read more than the opening chapter of a submission. Martin is a professional author and writing tutor with a background in television, theatre and script development. He has taught creative writing in Ireland and abroad and is the author of The Art of Writing a Novel – The XYZ Method. The workshop is free and open to new and experienced writers. People can simply drop in on the evening or reserve a place by emailing bookings@martinjpdevaney.com.
Athlone Community College was thrilled to open its doors and welcome back students to the school year 2026/2027, especially First Year students. The school year started off with a fun packed Induction Week where the new young people were eased into post-primary school life. Between bonding ice-breaker sessions with their dedicated tutors and their Sixth Year prefects, to outdoor adventure activities with their classmates and teachers, all students have begun to find their feet and all are looking forward to the days ahead. The sole focus for First Years for the weeks ahead is on settling in, forming friendships and navigating the transition into post-primary school.
The September meeting of Taughmaconnell Community Council will take place tonight, Tuesday, September 8th, in Taughmaconnell Community Centre at 9 p.m.. All members are requested to attend.
The Kiltoom and Cam Community Group will host a coffee morning in aid of Roscommon-Mayo Hospice at the Hodson Bay Hotel, Kiltoom, on this Wednesday, September 9th at 11 a.m.. The support of the general public would be greatly appreciated.
The closing date for submissions in respect of the County Roscommon Speed Limit Bye-Laws was Thursday, August 27th. A number of Athlone Electoral Area members of Roscommon County Council contacted by the Herald in recent days stated that they have "no issues" with the reclassification of speed limits on rural local roads having been reduced from 80 km/hr to 60 km/hr, which is now in place. They also welcomed the fact that the speed limits in South Roscommon villages will be reduced from 50 km/hr to 30 km/hr next year. The current chairperson of Roscommon County Council, Cllr Dominick Connolly, Castlecoote, stated that he would like to see speed ramps at a number of churches and schools throughout South Roscommon. He is pleased that the speed ramp in proximity to Knockcroghery National School "is working very well" and that the speed ramp in the centre of Athleague village in proximity to the Community Centre is proving very beneficial. He is pressing for speed ramps in Four Roads in proximity to the Church of Christ the Good Shepherd and for one also for the centre of Mount Talbot village. Acknowledging that the enforcement of the rules of the road regarding speeds and signage is not being fully observed, the Fine Gael councillor added that the gardaí cannot be present in every town and every village 24 hours a day, every day. Independent Curraghboy Cllr Tony Ward, who has served as chairperson of the council for two terms since he was first elected in 2004, concurs with Cllr Connolly that the gardaí cannot be present in all villages and towns for 24 hours daily. He does not have any problems with the re-classification of speed limits and welcomes the re classifications for Curraghboy, Brideswell, Bealnamullia, Four Roads, Mount Talbot, Athleague, Rahara and Ballyforan. He regrets that motorists tend to have no patience nowadays on roads and seem to be always in a hurry. He would like to see children being able to walk to and from rural schools within the villages and has been pressing for some time for more safety measures including ramps and pedestrian crossings in proximity to national schools. Ballyforan based Independent Cllr Emer Kelly, was pleased with the briefing the Roscommon County Council members received on the new speed limits. She reckons that motorists and road users have to be held accountable for their actions. There are plenty of signs and warnings on all roads regarding speed limits and a greater emphasis should be placed on observing the rules of the road. She receives representations "almost daily" about speeding through the villages of Ballyforan, Dysart, Four Roads, Chapel Street, Brideswell, Curraghboy, Athleague and Mount Talbot. Walkers and cyclists have to be accommodated on the roads and additional bollards are needed at schools and in villages, she concluded.
The death took place recently at Cavan General Hospital after a short illness of Mr John Goode, Kilnaleck, County Cavan, who was a native of Derrylahan, Moore. Aged 86, the deceased was a well-known building contractor and he resided in Preston, England, and Naas, County Kildare, for a number of years before retiring to Kilnaleck. Noted for his affability and genuine nature, he was much in demand for his knowledge of the construction scene generally. Of a caring disposition, he took a keen interest in current affairs and was an engaging conversationalist on a one to one basis. He enjoyed gardening as his main hobby. He was pre-deceased by his first wife Margaret and is survived by sons, Johnnie, Kieran, Roan-Daragh and daughter, Saoirse. He is also survived by brothers, Michael, England; Pat, England; Joe, Derrylahan, Moore; Oliver, England; sisters, Mrs Mary Walsh, Upper Curramore, Kiltoom; Mrs Ann Ledwith, Lucan, County Dublin; Mrs Breege Feeney, Ballygar; Mrs Teresa Harney, Newbridge, County Kildare; his ex-wife, Noeleen; three grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and a number of other relatives. Following Mass of the Resurrection at St Mary's Church, Moore, on Saturday, August 22nd, the burial took place in Moore New Cemetery.
A number of units of the fire brigade attended the scene of a house fire at Upper Curramore, Kiltoom, on Monday, August 24th. The dwelling house was extensively damaged by the fire. The house had been unoccupied for some time.
The death took place on August 16th at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Mullingar, of Mrs Christina (Chrissie) Finlass, St Anne's Terrace, Athlone, who was mother of Joe Finlass, the Berries, Kiltoom; Peter Finlass, Castlesampson; Mrs Marian Ryan, Curramore, Kiltoom; and Mrs Valerie Holohan, Thomastown, Ballydangan. Aged 86 on August 7th last, she was the former Ms Chrissie Derwin, Baylough, Athlone. She had been in ill health a short time and she bore her illness with characteristic resilience. Devoted to her immediate and extended family, she was a most obliging neighbour and a trustworthy friend. She was an employee of Gentex in Athlone for a number of years in her younger days and she worked latterly in Dunnes Stores, Irishtown, Athlone, for 17 years. She was noted for her tact and discretion in all her dealings with the general public. Predeceased in 1994 by her husband Christy, a native of St Anne's Terrace, Athlone, she is survived by sons, Joe, Peter, Thomas, St Anne's Terrace; daughters, Mrs Paula Dunning, Baylough; Mrs Marian Ryan, Mrs Valerie Holohan and Mrs Stephanie Mc Donnell, Ballinahowen. The last surviving member of a family of seven boys and two girls, she is also survived by 13 grandchildren, ten great grandchildren nieces, nephews, and a number of other relatives. Following Concelebrated Mass on Wednesday, August 19th, at Ss Peter and Paul, Athlone, the burial took place in Kiltoom Cemetery. The celebrants of the Mass were Very Rev. John Deignan, PP, Ss Peter and Paul and Rev. Simon Peter, CC, do. They were assisted by Deacon Tony Larkin, Athlone.
In recent months, a number of upgrades have been underway at St Brigid's Church, Drum, and plans are in the pipeline to tarmac the carpark at the Church of Our Lady of the Wayside, Clonown, next Spring. In the weeks ahead, the redecoration of St Brigid's Church will begin. The quotations received for the work were competitive based on current pricing. The cost of redecoration of the church inside and outside alongside the exterior to Fr Joseph's house is approximately €30,000. The parish is seeking financial help in meeting the cost and a separate special envelope is available at the back of the church. The overall cost of the tarmac work at the Clonown Church is €10,000. It is hoped to gather the funding to complete the work over the winter months. Parishioners are asked to avail of the special Clonown carpark envelope which is available in the church porch. Both St Brigid's Church, Drum, and the Church of Our Lady of the Wayside, Clonown, are within South Roscommon and form part of the Parish of St Peter and Paul on the West side of Athlone.
Mrs Geraldine Kelly, Carrick, Kiltoom, has been bereaved by the death of her sister, Mrs Eileen Mannion, Killaloe, County Clare. The former Ms Eileen Murray, Oran, Roscommon, she had resided in Killaloe since 1976 where she operated a camping and caravan park alongside her husband Michael. A devoted family person, she enjoyed the respect and esteem of all those with whom she became acquainted. She is survived by her husband Michael, son, Jeremy, Killaloe and daughter, Elaine, Killaloe. A member of a farming family of one boy and five girls, she is survived by one sister, Mrs Geraldine Kelly, seven grandchildren, nieces, nephews and a number of other relatives. Following Mass on Sunday, August 30th, in St Moluas Church, Ogonnelloe, Killaloe, the burial took place in the adjoining cemetery.
Arrangements are now well advanced for the staging of a Taughmaconnell Community Fundraiser in aid of the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association on Saturday, September 26th. It will involve a 5km run/walk and it will commence at Killeen's licensed premises, Togher at 4.30 pm. The entry fee is €10. There will be raffles and prizes on the day and a great family and community day is guaranteed.
