Local Notes: Outdoor mass, GAA update and golf lotto results
Members of the Castlerea Parish Council at the special Mass at the fifth century ecclesiastical and heritage site of Emlagh, outside of Castlerea, on Friday last. Pic: Yvonne Hanbury
The sun shone on the fifth century ecclesiastical and heritage site of Emlagh, outside of Castlerea, on Friday evening last while the crowds gathered as Austin Waldron and Edmund Hester operated a shuttle bus system to the outdoor Mass of Remembrance. This special Mass saw the launch of a dawn pilgrimage walk to the site on August 3rd at 6.30 a.m... The Mass n Friday coincided with the feast of St James, Patron Saint of Pilgrims, marking the Jubilee Year of Pilgrims of Hope 2025 within the parish. The remains of ancient Celtic crosses at Emlagh mark the site that once housed the Church of St Brochaid, the patron saint of Emlagh and nephew of St Patrick. Adjoining the site is a Cillín, a special burial ground for children and a holy well. The event was organised by Castlerea Parish Pastoral Council in collaboration with Craobh de hÍde , the Roscommon Branch of Conradh na Gaeilge, County Roscommon Archaeological and Historical Society (CRHAS) and supported by Roscommon County Council and Castlerea Town Team. Jacinta Greene Beatty, chairperson of Craobh De hÍde and secretary of Castlerea Pastoral Parish Council (CPPC), extended a Céad Míle fáilte and Olivia Vaughan, chairperson of (CPPC) put the event in context and shared the history of Emlagh’s scared landscape.
Parish Priest Fr John McManus concelebrated the first Mass in 800 years at the site with Fr Kevin Reynolds, MHM, CC Castlerea and Canon Liam Devine, Pastor Emeritus, Kilmurray. Music was provided by Castlerea Parish Combined Choir, Castlerea Brass and Reed Band and Eugene Conlon who played the Bag Pipes. Cllr Paschal Fitzmaurice organised the PA system with the assistance of John Conroy and Darragh Kelly. Fr McManus spoke of the links between Irish martyr, St Oliver Cromwell and St James, one of the earliest martyrs, and the present day mission of Irish Catholics of keeping the faith alive on a site where the first seeds of Christianity were literally sown in the fifth century. He also spoke of the importance of hope today, which this Jubilee Year celebrates. Fr John quoted the well-known Cork writer, Alice Taylor, “Hope is like a road in the country where there wasn’t a road, but when many people walk on it, the road comes into existence.” After Mass, parishioners and guests mingled and enjoyed refreshments prepared by Hesters and Benny’s and served by members of the Castlerea branch of the ICA. The CPPC is grateful to Ashford Castle, the Friary Restaurant, and Benny's for their support. Declan at Brewpoint will be serving coffee from 6 a.m. to dawn pilgrims at Trinity Arts Centre on August 3rd before they walk the 4.2 k to Emlagh. Afterwards pilgrims can avail of transport provided or continue the walk making it a 10k round trip. Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. in St.Patrick’s Church. Fr. John will give pilgrims a special blessing at 6.15 a.m. before setting off on Bóthar Bhrochaid. Marie Stenson and Pat O’Connor will guide the pilgrims to Emlagh where members of CRHAS, Mary O’Connell, Jim Ganly, Edmund Hester, and Seamus Morris will extend the Cead Míle Fáilte to Emlagh Ecclesiastical and Heritage site. Terry McGowan will play the flute. Sincere thanks to all who have assisted in any way big or small to bring attention to Emlagh - especially Michael Holland, Paddy and Kathleen Egan and Tommy Joyce, who together sponsored signage and pilgrim of hope flags to mark the pilgrimage route. Thank you to all the neighbours and friends in Emlagh who made everyone feel so welcome and prepared the space and directed traffic.
Míle buíochas to Susan Gaynor who lived streamed the Mass at Emlagh which is accessible now on Castlerea.ie. For information on the pilgrimage walk check out castlerearosefestival.com
The winning bonus ball number in Castlerea Golf Club’s lotto for July 23rd was 45. Winners of this week’s lotto were Marie Baggot, Daire Silke, Maureen Coyne, John Walsh, and Eimear O’Meara. Each receive €100.
Tickets are now on sale for the Castlerea Lourdes Deanery draw, which helps to defray the cost of bringing assisted pilgrims to Lourdes. Please support. First prize is €500; 2nd, €200; 3rd, €100, sponsored by Michael Jury Carpet; 4th, air fryer sponsored by Joe Pearl; 5th, 20 litres of oil, sponsored by Corrib Oil; 6th, hamper, sponsored by Kearney’s Chemist; 7th, €30, sponsored by Liam Reynolds; 8th €100 voucher, sponsored by Niall Tully, Chemist. Draw will take place in Mulvihill’s Lounge on Saturday, August 9th. Tickets €5 each or 3 for €10.
The Castlerea St. Kevin’s U-14 team were beaten by Kilglass Gaels/St Barry’s in the county league on Monday night on a sore of9-12 to 5-12. The players were E. Devine, P.Foley, D. Flemming, S. Gill, D.Walsh, T. Vaughan, D.Connelly, A. Dwyer, V. Dabrowshi, H.Curran, R. Hawkshaw, A.Harte, D. Foley, E. Kelly, R. Curran, A. Cryan, K. Lyons, I. Lafferty, K. Maloney, L. Walsh. Manager Thomas Vaughan with Conor Casey and Eddie Creaton.
The Castlerea St. Kevins U-16 team were defeated by St. Michales/St. Ronan’s in the county 13-a-side championship on Wednesday night last on the score of 7-11 to 4-8.
Team: C. Mockler, T. Donlon, A. Egan, S. Silke, A. Joyce, C. Walsh, R. Dunleavey, D. Flemming, M. Sharkey, E. Finneran, R. Hawkshaw, A. Harte, I. Lafferty. Manager Aidan Flemming with Oliver Finneran, Michael Sweeney, and Jonathan Hester.
The Castlerea minor team had a good win over St. Croan’s/Oran in the county minor league championship in O’Rourke Park on Tuesday night last, the score of 2-15 to 0-12. The team is managed by Noel Curran with Tommy Finneran, Michael McDermot, Ronan Curran and Aaron McDermot. Sponsored by Cahills SuperValu. The team and subs: Abdul Satter, Connor Larkin, Shane Larkin, Ryan Dunleavey, Yani Chifouric, Liam Finneran, James Hawkshaw, Jamie Dowd (0-1), Dylan Keane, (0-2), Kaylum Curran (0-1), Dara Curran (1-4), Sean Vaughan, Jack Dillon (1-1), Kevin Hester (0-4), Eddie Finneran (0-1). Subs used David Flemming, Alan Joyce and Martin Sharkey.
The death occurred peacefully on Thursday, July 17th of July, at Fearna Mannor Nursing Home, Castlerea, of Mr John Gurren, Brackloon, Ballinagare, Castlerea. He was predeceased by his parents Joe and Mary, bothers, Paddy, Ted, Paul, Martin and Anthoy, his sisters, Holly Josie, Teresa, Bea and Nora. The deceased was a very kind, gentle, and jolly and witty person. He always had time for people, and loved to have the chat and banter with them. He was the last of the Gurren family, highly respected by their neighbours and many friends over the years. Anyone that visited the Gurren household was always made welcome and treated to whatever was on the menu, and John maintained this welcome while he was able. He was a good neighbour. As a young man he worked in Gaynor’s hardware, bar and grocery shop for many years and he went to the UK for a short time before returning to work the land. He loved the land and worked hard. He took great pride in his work on the farm. He was a great judge of horses and cattle and loved going to the fairs and the marts in later years. He was very proud when he would win a prize at the Castlerea Agricultural Show. In his youth he was a handy Gaelic footballer and played football with the Tarmon and St. Patrick’s Hospital clubs. He was a member of the St. Patrick’s Hospital Castlerea Junior team beaten in the county championship final of 1958. He played right half-back that day. He was very devoted to Our Lady of Knock and had great time for the church. He will be sadly missed by his nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews, cousins, relatives, neighbours and friends. His remains were removed form Gaynor’s Funeral Home, Castlerea to St. Patrick’s Church and following Mass of the Resurrection celebrated by Fr. John McManus with co-celebrant Fr. Joe Rabbitte, cousin of the deceased, burial took place in Baslick Cemetery. Before the final blessing his nephew Martin Gurren gave and eulogy on John’s life. The ceremony was enhanced by the music and singing of Jacqueline Kenny.
