Local Notes: Prime Lambing Season, Early Morning Mass, Bereavements
The Ballymurray NS team of Rachel Gately, Senan Coyle, Coman Connaughton and Mia Connaughton that took part in the recent Cumann na mBunscol RosComáin sports quiz in the Abbey Hotel, Roscommon. Pic: Gerard O'Loughlin
Mid-South Roscommon is nationally known for its intense sheep production and hundreds of farm households throughout the area are now heading into the prime lambing season up until mid-April. The lamb line at the Kepak plant in Athleague had a throughput of 420,000 lambs in 2025. According to the lamb procurement manager at the Athleague facility, David Mannion, who is a native of Curraghboy, they will be killing spring lamb in Athleague as soon as they become available. They will have markets for Easter lamb and hope also to kill some lamb for St Patrick's Day. Michael Glennon, Camcloon, Ballydangan, is the current chairperson of the Roscommon IFA Sheep Committee. On being contacted by the Herald he remarked that the farm families of Mid-South Roscommon are "born into" sheep production and many of them also operate cattle-sheep mixed grazing systems. He added that there are no fodder or feed issues "raising their heads" currently in view of a lot of silage and hay having been saved last year. However, fields are very wet due to the amount of rain and it could prove harder in the weeks ahead to put ewes and lambs out in view of their being "no dry lying". Michael concluded his comments by appealing to dog owners to keep their dogs under control. It is a worrying time for farmers in view of the number of dog attacks on sheep flocks annually and dog owners should know where their dogs are at all times.
In order to facilitate workers, Very Rev. Michael McManus, PP, Kiltoom and Cam, will celebrate a Mass at the Church of the Risen Christ, Ballybay, Kiltoom, on Ash Wednesday, February 18th, at 7.20 a.m.. Mass will also be celebrated at 9. 30 a.m. on Wednesday at the Church of the Risen Christ and at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at St Brigid's Church, Curraghboy.
The death took place in October last of Mrs Annie Lawlor Burnbaum, Palm Harbour, Clearwater, Florida, who was the former Ms Annie Lawlor, Tibarney, Four Roads. Aged 99 at the time of her death on October 20th last, she had enjoyed good health up until then. She initially emigrated to Birmingham, England, in the mid-fifties, and, after a four year period of residence there, she emigrated to Boston. She was a bank employee in Boston for over 20 years while residing there in family setting. She was predeceased by her husband Jack in January 1985 and she retired to Cape Cod in the eighties and lived out her retirement latterly in Clearwater, Florida. She retained strong family links with Four Roads and South Roscommon down the years and she was an annual visitor to Four Roads up until 2019. An engaging conversationalist, she had a lifelong interest in current affairs and political affairs generally. She was a keen follower of fashion and she enjoyed friendships with a wide age range. Golf was her main recreational outlet and she remained a Gaelic games enthusiast all her life. A religious person, she was associated with a number of charitable organisations in both Boston and Cape Cod. She is survived by one sister, Mrs Fran Waryaj, Clearwater, Florida; one sister-in-law, Mrs Mary Lawlor, New York; nieces, nephews and a number of other relatives. Following a Memorial Mass at the Church of Christ the Good Shepherd, Four Roads, on Friday, January 30th, her ashes were buried in the Lawlor family plot in Tisrara Cemetery. The celebrant of the Mass was Very Rev. Francis Beirne, PP, Ballyforan, Dysart and Tisrara.
The death took place suddenly on Saturday, January 24th, of Mr Kieran Kenny, Lugboy, Taughmaconnell. Aged 67, he had been in good health up until the time of his death, which has come as a great shock to his immediate and extended family, neighbours and wide circle of friends. A native of Lissyegan, Ahascragh, he had been employed as a fitter with Bord Na Mona at the Derryfadda works for a number of years and he was deservedly popular with his work colleagues and all those with whom he became acquainted. A devoted husband, father and grandfather, he was a most obliging neighbour and trustworthy friend. Of an affable and caring disposition, he enjoyed walking, gardening and reading as hobbies. He is survived by his wife Antoinette, (nee Glynn, Cappatagle); son, Darren, Enfield; daughters, Leanne, Mountbellew; Danielle, Stepaside, Dublin and Lorraine, Lugboy, Taughmaconnell. He is also survived by one brother, Padraig, Lissyegan; sisters, Sister Mary, Presentation Sisters, Galway; Sister Brid, Presentation Sisters, Athenry; Mrs Elizabeth Fitzgerald, Moate; Mrs Eileen Treacy, Craughwell; granddaughter Teigan, and a number of other relatives. Following Concelebrated Mass at St Patrick's Church, Dysart, on Wednesday, January 28th, the burial took place in Dysart Cemetery. The principal celebrant of the Mass was Very Rev. Francis Beirne, PP, Ballyforan, Dysart and Tisrara.
The death took place on Thursday, January 29th, at the James Connolly Memorial Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin, of Mr Sean J. Connolly, Rath, Kilmore, Kilcock, County Kildare, who was a native of Clonshade, Four Roads. Aged 78, he had been in ill health a short time and he bore his illness with characteristic resilience. A civil engineer by profession, he worked latterly as a supervisor with FAS in Dublin and, prior to that, he had a supervisory work role with the Boyne Drainage Scheme. He took a keen interest in current affairs and political affairs and was a most engaging conversationalist on a one to one basis. He enjoyed foreign travel as his main hobby, and, at the time of his death, he had visited many countries worldwide and he had an interest in their cultures. He was a regular visitor to his extended family members and friends in Four Roads and Athleague over the decades and he retained many lifelong friendships in the area. A member of a family of three boys and one girl, he was predeceased six years by his brother Paddy and is survived by one brother, Eamon, Castlepollard; sister, Mrs Bernadette Weldon, Kilcock, and a number of other relatives. Following Mass of the Resurrection at the Church of Christ the Good Shepherd, Four Roads, on Monday, February 2nd, 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 Monday, January 26th, at Portiuncula University Hospital, Ballinasloe, of Mr Sean Mulvey, Cloniff, Ballydangan. Aged 68 in September last, he had been in ill health for some time and he bore his illness with characteristic dignity and fortitude. He had been a Bord Na Mona employee at Shannonbridge for a number of years and he was also a part-time farmer. He took a keen interest in all farming affairs and was an engaging conversationalist. A devoted husband, father and grandfather, he was noted for performing neighbourly deeds and kind acts in his residential community. A religious person, he supported a number of charitable bequests over the decades. He is survived by his wife, Liz, (nee Brennan, Lisphelim, St John's); sons, Brian, Cappahuse; Shane, Falty; daughters, Mrs Teresa O'Shaughnessy, Lisphelim and Helena, Birmingham. He is also survived by brothers, Martin, Falty; Michael, Creagh; Pat, Boston, USA; sisters, Bridgie, Killimor; Margaret, Kilrickle; Marie, England; six grandchildren and a number of other relatives. Following Concelebrated Mass at St Mary's Church, Moore, on Thursday, January 29th, the burial took place in Moore New Cemetery. The celebrants of the Mass were Very Rev. Michael Molloy, PP, Moore and Clonfad and Very Rev. Tom Grenham, Moore.
The death took place recently in Derby, England, of Mr Eamon Murray, Derby, who was a native of Lisbrock, Brideswell. Aged 92 on October 10th last, he took up residence in Derby at the age of 22 and he was an employee of the Willington Power Station there for a number of decades. He was a regular visitor down the years to his native parish of Kiltoom and Cam and also to Ballyheigue in County Kerry where his late wife Ann hailed from. He was a lifelong follower of Gaelic games generally and Irish music, song and dance. He played Gaelic football with the St Coleman's GAA Club in Derby and he also participated in Irish dancing competitions. The last surviving member of a family of three boys and one girl, he was predeceased 26 years by his wife, Ann (nee O'Shea, Ballyheigue), and is survived by sons, Francis, Eamon and Paul; daughters, Angela and Teresa; ten grandchildren and a number of other relatives. Following Mass of the Resurrection in Derby, the burial took place in Derby.
Mrs Frances O'Hara, Kilkenny West, Glasson, whose passing took place on Monday, January 26th, at the Tullamore Regional Hospital was mother of Mrs Sheila Ward, Clonown and sister of Kevin Dooley, Curnaseer, Kiltoom and Sean Dooley, Barrymore, Kiltoom. The former Ms Frances Dooley, Muckinagh, Glasson, she had resided in family setting at Kilkenny West for upwards of 55 years. Aged 79 in February last, she had been in ill health a short time and she bore her illness with characteristic fortitude. Devoted to her immediate and extended family, she was a most obliging neighbour and reliable friend. She enjoyed cycling as her main hobby and she had cycled the greenways in Westport, Galway and elsewhere over the years. A deeply religious person, she visited Knock Shrine annually over the decades and supported all church linked activities and a wide range of charitable causes. She is survived by her husband, James, Kilkenny West; son, Brendan, Kilkenny West; daughters, Mrs Claire Harrington, Kilkenny West and Mrs Sheila Ward, Clonown. She was predeceased by her brothers Vincent and James and infant sister Carmel and is survived by her brothers, Kevin, Sean, George, Muckinagh, Glasson; Leonard, Newbridge, County Kildare; sisters, Mrs Mary O'Connor, Longford; Mrs Nuala Murray, Walderstown; nine grandchildren; nieces, nephews and a number of other relatives. Following Concelebrated Mass at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Tubberclaire, the burial took place in the adjoining cemetery.
The winners of the weekly progressive 25 card drive at the St Brigid's Handball Complex in Curraghboy on Tuesday night last were Vinny Brady, Gerry Menton, Mrs Marian Grehan, Mark Doyle, Mrs Bernadette Burke, Sean Gately, Donnie Brennan, Alfie Gately and John M Hugh.
