Local Notes: Progressive 25, Heritage Society, Land Mobility Service
Cllr. Ruth Conboy, Gail Murray and Margaret McCormack, pictured at Ballintubber Development's draw launch in Garvey’s of Ballintubber. Pic: Gerard O’Loughlin
Four students from Kilronan parish are core members of Drumshanbo Vocational School’s Junior B volleyball team - captain Zach McCabe (Keadue), Rian McNiff and Donncha Rynnm both Arigna and Tom Bruen from Ballyfarnon. They recently celebrated a win (25-15 17-25 16-14) over Tyndall College Carlow in the All-Ireland semi-final. They beat Celbridge Community school, County Kildare in the quarter final (25-8 25-6). This week they face the holders Presentation Patrician Fethard, County Tipperary in the University of Limerick in the finals.
The winners of the Progressive 25 drive in Clooneycolgan on Thursday night last were as follows: 1st, Denis Healy and Con Kehir; 2nd, Jackie Gunning; 3rd, Karl Conneely; table prize, John Connor. Next game is Thursday next at 9 p.m..
The family of Michael Anthony (Tony) Dowling of Glanduff, Kiltoom, along with the wider community were deeply saddened by his passing. Tony, as he was affectionally known, passed away peacefully at Portiuncula University Hospital on March 30th, in his 94th year, surrounded by his family members. Beloved son of the late Michael and Helen and brother of the late Bridie Breen, Gertrude, Simon, John, Paddy and uncle of the late John Breen. Tony was a highly respected member of a long-established farming family in the area. He lived a long, happy and contented life with a deep sense of belonging and love of his home place, Glanduff. He had a lifelong interest in farming and all aspects of farm life. He was connected to the land and nature and his love for his animals and was renowned as were his skills during the lambing season. Tony could recall working with his horses on the land until modern machinery of today took over. He passed on his passion for farming to the younger generation of his family and enjoyed seeing them take an interest in the land and nature. Tony was blessed with an excellent memory with a sharp mind. He was highly inquisitive about livestock and sales, prices and weights and would keep checking the livestock dockets at length.
He kept up to date with all agricultural news and advancements. He enjoyed reading the local papers and daily newspapers. He could discuss a wide range of topics. He had a great interest in people and had an impressive knowledge of family genealogy and was a great source of information for many who wished to trace family connections and dates.
Tony loved rambling to his neighbours and friends and having the chats and was never without a supply of sweets in his pocket. Another of his past times was card playing with many friends in Lecarrow. Tony enjoyed the many family gatherings and celebrations especially being in the company of children. He delighted in holding his grand-nieces and grand-nephews as babies and playing and chatting to them as they got older. He also took a keen interest in his nephews, nieces and their families and their achievements.
Tony took great pride in his advancing age. He was extremely resilient in that he bounced back from many sicknesses and injuries in recent years. He was a man of good nature, warm hearted, kind and pleasant and no child let the house empty handed. He will now be very sadly missed by his brother, William; sister-in-law, Mary; nephews, Willie and Conor; nieces, Clare, Kate and Emer; niece-in-law, Helen; also grand-nephews, grand-nieces and great-grand-nephews and nieces, relatives, neighbour and many friends. Mass, Sacraments, and prayer were very important to him, and he supported all church causes and parish events. Tony reposed to Smyth’s Funeral Home, Roscommon. Removal was from Conor and Helen’s home to St John’s Church, Lecarrow for Mass of the Resurrection followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery.
The AGM of the local Pride of Place group took place in the Parish Hall on Tuesday, April 14th. This group was set up early in 2024 when Galway County Council invited the community to represent Galway in the population category in the 32 County Pride of Place Competition. A massive effort was put in by a huge number of volunteers, and when the judges visited Williamstown in early September for the presentation, everywhere looked superb. The judges were obviously impressed, because when the results were announced at a function in Monaghan, at which the community was represented, Williamstown was delighted and proud to have been chosen as runners up in the category. As a result of this, Galway County Council did the community a great honour, by holding a civic reception for in Ballinasloe. The initial plan was to disband the Pride of Place group after one year, but there was a widespread feeling throughout the community to continue. In 2025 other projects were undertaken, including the very successful parish pump restorations, and the tasteful development of the parish community garden at Kilnalag. At the recent AGM on April 14th, the small but enthusiastic number of members in attendance decided to continue for one more year in order to complete ongoing projects. The outgoing officers agreed to remain in place for one more year, as follows: chairperson, Leo Finnegan; secretary, Martin Rowan; joint treasurers, Christina Caulfield, and Michelle Conneally.
The first gathering of 2026 is scheduled for this Wednesday, April 22nd at 8 p.m. in Templetogher. This is the AGM and all members and all others interested are asked to attend. As this is the first meeting of the year and as interest in heritage is increasing all the time, the group would be delighted to welcome some new members. One of the major projects for 2026 is the production of a StoryMap of the locality. This project is a joint one, involving both the society and Williamstown Tidy Towns, and it has enormous potential. The release of the details of the 1926 census is of huge interest to members, just as it is to people everywhere. Since it was the first Census undertaken after the foundation of our state, it is of added significance. Sympathy to Helen Gordon, her partner Aidan Conneely and their family, Williamstown on the death of Helen’s father, Declan Gordon, Claddaghduff; to the family, relatives and friends of the late Anne Conneally, Dunmore (nee Smyth, Corralough); and to the family, relatives and friends of the late Mick Reynolds, Manchester and Tuam, who was an outstanding member of the Galway three-in-a-row football team of the 1960s. RIP Declan, Anne and Mick.
Well done to the girls’ division 3 Feile handball team who made a bold bid to clinch an All-Ireland title in County Cork on Saturday, before falling at the final hurdle to an excellent team from Windgap, County Kilkenny, who had taken the title last year. Grace Connaughton, Caitlin Smyth, Aoibhe Pedraza and Emily Connaughton produced a fantastic effort in Glenville to see off the challenges of Loughmacrory (Tyrone), Kilfane (Kilkenny), Ballydesmond (Cork) and Moycullen (Galway) to qualify for the All-Ireland division 3 final. With Williamstown not having attended Feile since 2018, the girls certainly gave it everything to try and create more history for the club. The opening doubles match in the final saw Grace and Caitlin in action against a very strong Windgap duo, who came out fighting and built up a sizeable lead making it difficult for the girls to settle. Despite some fantastic rallies Williamstown would eventually lose to the experienced team. The pressure was then on for Aoibhe & Emily who would need to keep Windgap at bay in order to claim the trophy. The rallies were fiercely contested and every point was hard earned. Unfortunately the girls ran out of steam and lost out on this occasion. The quartet gave it everything they had and can hold their heads high after earning Williamstown another All-Ireland final appearance.
Williamstown was also represented in the boys category and despite facing the challenge of playing against U-15 boys, the lads played some fantastic handball and gained valuable experience. The boys team consisted of Cian Smyth, Mason Feeney, Ryan Conneely, and Gavin Deane.
Warm congratulations to the Glenamaddy Players on winning the Premier Award in the ADCI All Ireland Confined Drama Finals in Carrickmore, County Tyrone on Saturday night last, with their superb play “Chapatti”. This is an outstanding achievement and all involved should be very proud of their efforts. Nár Laga Dia sibh.
Congrats to Cathy O’Reilly, Park West & Cathal Mullen, Inverin, who married in the Chapel N.U.I.G. on Friday April 10th. Wishing them a lifetime of health and happiness.
A talk on the “Introduction to the Brehon Law, a system of law unique to Ireland, some of its general principles, local connections especially to Park Castle, Clonberne and a modern perspective on relevance in the practice of law today’ will be held on Friday, April 24th at 8 p.m. in Moylough Community Hall. The speaker will be senior counsel Mr Brendan Grehan. All are welcome. Refreshments served. For further information contact 089 205 3078 mail:moyloughresourcecentre@gmail.com
Clonberne Community Development will host Micheal Larkin from Land Mobility Service in the Community Centre today Tuesday, April 21st at 7:45 p.m.. The Land Mobility Service supports farmers and farm families who are contemplating change e.g. expansion, changing enterprise or stepping back. It deals with retirement options, tax, farm schemes income protection, family succession, options outside the family, etc. There will be a presentation, followed by question and answer session. Call or text 083 0948389 to book a place. No charge. Initiative subsidised by GRETB (REACH programme) & Land Mobility Service.
An open meeting will take place at Clonberne Central School on April 28th at 8 p.m.. This meeting invites anyone interested in getting involved in the 50th anniversary celebrations for Clonberne Central School, which will be celebrated on September 18th and 19th, to come along. The school opened in 1976 and has had almost 900 past pupils during those 50 years. Please come along.
