Local Notes: Rahara Christmas lights, Diamond Jubilee and IFA AGMS
Kelly Marie Neary, Monksland Town Team and Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council, Cllr John Keogh, pictured at the switching on of the Christmas Lights in Monksland. Pic. Gerard O’Loughlin
The turning on of the Rahara Community Christmas Lights will be held at Rahara Old Church (beside Rahara NS) on Sunday, December 3rd at 4.30 p.m.. This will include children singing Christmas songs and will be followed by festive refreshments and a big Christmas raffle in Rahara NS. Raffle tickets can be purchased on the night or via Revolut - text Orla at (086) 6036432 for more info. All welcome.
A special Healing Mass of the Family Tree will take place at Our Lady Star of the Sea Prayer Centre, Curraghboy on Friday, December 1st commencing at 8 p.m. The celebrant will be Fr. John Walsh. Confessions will be available from 7 p.m. and the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet will be recited at 7.30 p.m. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Individual blessings for healing will take place after Mass. All are most welcome. Eircode is N37W704. Contact 086 4054489 for any further details.
St Vincent de Paul will hold its annual church gate collection at Masses in the Church of the Risen Christ, Kiltoom, on this Saturday and Sunday, December 2nd and 3rd. The support of the general public would be greatly appreciated.
A total of €725 was raised for Roscommon Hospice at the recent Christmas wreath making workshop demonstration at the St Brigid's Handball Complex, Curraghboy. The organisers wish to thank all those who assisted or supported the fundraiser in any way.
Tommy Dolan, Shannon Grove, Ballyleague, whose death took place at University College Hospital, Galway, on Wednesday, November 15th, was one of the best known GAA Club activists on the Roscommon GAA scene. Aged 57 on March 31st last, he was a native of Corroclough, Kiltoom, and he was synonymous with the St Brigid's (Kiltoom and Cam) GAA Club in recent decades. He had been in ill health for five weeks and he bore his illness with characteristic dignity and fortitude. He was the vice-president of the club and the time of his death. He was one of the central figures in bringing the club's new state of the art facilities to fruition earlier this year. He was a member of the Roscommon GAA's Competition Control Committee up until his passing and had been a trainer-coach to teams in St Brigid's for a number of years. He also acted as a coach in the Special Olympics in both Dublin and Belfast. He was educated at Famore National School, the Marist College, Athlone and went on to obtain the BA in Electrical and Electronics Engineering in Trinity College in 1988. He subsequently spent 24 years on the staff of LM Ericsson, during which time he travelled extensively in Europe and the USA. In recent years, he was an employee of Valeo in Tuam, Cubic Telecom in Dublin and Zinkworks and Enet in Athlone and Limerick. In all his work roles he was deservedly popular with his work colleagues and was noted for his loyalty and discretion. In recent years he also he served as secretary of the Famore National School Reunion Committee in Kiltoom and his input helped make the get together in the Hodson Bay Hotel a resounding success. He was a follower of all sport and regarded as an authority on social media. He also enjoyed card playing for relaxation. He is survived by his brothers Sean, Corroclough; Tony, Corroclough; sisters, Mrs Mary Kelly, Newpark, Kiltoom; Mrs Brid Hanrahan, Newbridge, County Kildare; three nephews, five nieces and a number of other relatives. His remains reposed at the St Brigid's Sport and Social Centre, Newpark, Kiltoom, on Friday evening. Following Mass of the Resurrection at the Church of the Risen Christ, Kiltoom, on Saturday, November 18th, the burial took place in Kiltoom Cemetery. The celebrant of the Mass was Very Rev. Michael Mc Manus, PP, Kiltoom and Cam. He was assisted by Deacon William Gacquin, a native of Curraghboy. Scores of members of the St Brigid's GAA Club formed a guard of honour outside the church on Saturday morning.
Gerard and Eileen Dunne, Togher, Taughmaconnell, recently celebrated the diamond jubilee of their marriage with a get together at Gullane's Hotel, Ballinasloe. The festivities began with the celebration of a Mass of Thanksgiving by Very Rev. Sean Neylon, PP, Taughmaconnell and it was followed by an evening meal and entertainment. Gerard, who is a native of Bailiboro, County Cavan and the former Ms Eileen Finnegan, Cuoraha, North Dublin, were married in Cuoraha Church on October 19th, 1963. They raised a family of two boys and two girls and their son Christopher travelled from Sydney to attend the jubilee celebrations. The couple moved from Dublin to live out their retirement at Togher, Taughmaconnell, approximately 25 years ago. Their son Paul resides at Carranure, Taughmaconnell and their daughter, Mrs Rosemary Phelan, resides at Clonbigney, Taughmaconnell. The remaining family member is Mrs Patricia Madden who resides in Castlerea.
At the recent November meeting of Taughmaconnell Community Council sympathy was extended to the Community Council treasurer, Mrs Rosemary Phelan, Clonbigney, on the death of her uncle, Barney Dunne, Sandyford, Dublin and also with Mrs Marie Keogh, Clonohill, Taughmaconnell, on the death of her aunt, Sister Assunta Tiernan, who was a native of Four Roads and a member of the Sisters of Mercy Order.
Branches of the Irish Farmers Association in Taughmaconnell, Clonown, Dysart and Kiltoom held their respective AGMS over the past two weeks. The Taughmaconnell meeting was held in Taughmaconnell Community Centre on Wednesday, November 15th. Pat Leonard, Chairperson of the Roscommon IFA County Executive represented the County Executive at the meeting. The following officers were elected: Chairperson, Gerard Grehan; Secretary, Luke Kelly and Registrar, Damien Cooney. The Clonown meeting took place in Clonown Community Centre on Friday, November 10th. Pat Leonard also represented the County Executive at the meeting. The following officers were elected; Chairperson, John Dunning; Secretary, John Kelly, Registrar, John Joe Shine and fourth delegate, Ann Marie Dunning. The Dysart meeting took place on Wednesday, November 15th, in Dysart Community Centre. Michael Beattie, Rahara, the Roscommon representative on the IFA National Grain Committee represented the County Executive at the meeting. The following officers were elected: Chairperson, John Cunniffe; Secretary, Mattie John Kelly; Registrar, Mrs Frances Keane and fourth delegate Michael Keane.
The death took place on Thursday, November 16th, at Roscommon University Hospital of Mrs Philomena Curley, Kidlawn, Ballinasloe and Clonburren, Oldtown, Athlone. Aged 96 on July 22nd last, she was the former Ms Philomena Shields, Ruane, Ballinasloe, and she had worked in the US for a number of years prior to marriage. Her great boast down the years was that during a work stint in New Jersey she met US President John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Devoted to her immediate and extended family, she was a most obliging neighbour and a reliable friend. Over the decades she supported a number of community and church linked activities and she had been an activist with the Moore ICA Guild for a number of years. A lifelong PTAA member, she received the various jubilee pins over the decades. She espoused Christian values by virtue of everyday example. The last surviving member of a family of two boys and three girls, she was predeceased by her husband, James in March 1995 and is survived by sons, Michael, New York; Seamus, Kidlawn; Declan, Clonburren and daughter, Mrs Maura Kelly, Churchpark, Taughmaconnell; nine grandchildren and a number of other relatives. Following Mass of the Resurrection at the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, Clonfad, on Saturday, November 18th, the burial took place in Kilbegley Cemetery.
The winners of the weekly progressive 25 card drive at the St Brigid's Handball Complex in Curraghboy on Tuesday night last were Mrs Bernadette Burke, Eamon Cunnane, Bertie Mannion, Johnny Cormican, Padraig Harney, Mark Doyle, John Mc Hugh, Brian Fallon, Mrs Kitty Naughton and Vinny Brady.
