Local Notes: Rose Festival committee holds successful AGM, London bound and fundraising walk
MEP Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, Dermot Lyons and principal Jacinta Ní Chonghaile at the opening of a new STEM Room at St. Anne’s NS, Castlerea on Friday last. Pic: Liam Reynolds
The Castlerea Rose Festival Committee held a well-attended and positive AGM on Wednesday, March 26th at d’Gaff on Barrack Street. Plans are already well underway for this year’s festival, which will take place from Tuesday, July 29th July to Sunday, August 3rd. The committee reflected on the success of last year’s event, which built on the incredible momentum of winning Best Irish Festival at the 2024 LAMA Awards. The meeting saw the election of a new committee for the year ahead as follows: President, John Kennedy (re-elected); Chairperson, Paschal Fitzmaurice; Vice-Chairperson, Eamonn Quinn; Secretary, Susan Gaynor; Joint Treasurers, Margaret O’Grady and Lorna McGourty. The committee welcomed new faces and discussed new ideas for growing the festival while also recognising the dedication of long-standing volunteers who have helped make the Castlerea Rose Festival one of the most loved events in the region. One of the exciting developments shared at the meeting was the commencement of construction on a new purpose-built storage facility at the Demesne, which will be a huge asset for the festival in years to come. The committee also emphasised the importance of ongoing community support, including stewards, volunteers, and local businesses, whose help is vital to the festival’s success. As the festival approaches its 38th year, the focus remains on delivering a fun, inclusive, and memorable event for all ages. With plans already in motion and new energy driving the committee, 2025 is shaping up to be another fantastic year for the Castlerea Rose Festival.
First class Relics of St. Therese and her parents St. Louis & Zelie will be in St. Patrick's Church, Castlerea on Wednesday, April 9th for Mass at 7 p.m. and veneration afterwards.
Would you like to improve your personal relationships, raise your confidence and build up your self-esteem, help with setting and meeting goals, learn how to think positively? Then Roscommon Women’s Network STEPS course in Castlerea is for you. STEPS runs for two mornings a week over a four-week period starting in September/October - dates to be confirmed, subject to funding. Please ring 094 9621690 or email info@rwn.ie to register. The course itself is free of charge to anyone in receipt of a social welfare payment.
The winning bonus ball number in Castlerea Golf Club ‘s lotto for March 26th was 46. Winners of this week’s lotto were Sean Creighton, Kelly Ann Casey, Willie Gannon, Ann Marie Doyle, Sean Duignan, and Ray Kerrane. Each receive €100.
The Castlerea Brass and Reed Band will perform at the London v Roscommon Connacht Football Championship at Ruislip, London, on Saturday, April 5th. They will also perform after the game that evening in the Prince Arthur Pub, Tottenham, which is run by former senior footballer Michael Finneran and his wife Rose. The band will also perform on Sunday night in St. Paul’s Ballroom of Romance, Croydon, which is run by the band’s great friend Pat Winston. The band and supporters are looking forward to meeting their many friends after the match in Ruislip, at the Prince Arthur and St. Paul’s. The band and supporters leave Ireland on Friday, April 4th and return on Monday, April 7th.
The annual walk in aid of the Roscommon Parkinsons will take place this year at Oran GAA pitch on Sunday, April 13th. Former Castlerea footballer Eddie Egan, who lives in Oran and who is one of the organisers of the event, has secured the services of three former Roscommon All-Stars to lead the walk this year. Roscommon’s first All-Star, Mickie Freyne in 1972 will be joined by Pat Lindsay and Harry Keegan. This is a very worthy cause so get your waling boots/shoes on and take part. Your support would be very much appreciated.
The death occurred peacefully on Saturday, March 22nd surrounded by her loving family and in the wonderful care of the Roscommon Hospice, in her 99th year, of Mrs Winifred Anne (Winnie) Hourigan, Castlerea and formerly of Dublin. She was predeceased by her husband, William, daughters, Winifred and Una and her siblings, Rosemary, Patrick, William, Olive and Philomena. Deceased who moved from Dublin to Castlerea in the year 2000 was a very kind and caring person who had a great love for her family, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great greatgrandchildren. She was a woman of deep faith and always carried her rosary beads with her. She made many trips to Fatima and Medjugorje. She was big into doing crossword puzzles and was an avid crochet person. She was a lifelong member of Fianna Fail and treasured the certificate she received from them. In her young days she loved travelling and made many trips on holidays with her three sisters. She was a wonderful person and she will be sadly missed by her sister, Mary and brother, John; her children, William, Marian, Regina, Richard, Ronald, John, Madonna, Gregory, Assumpta, David and Anna; sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, sister-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-greatgrandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours and friends. Her remains were removed from Gaynor’s Funeral Home, on Tuesday morning to St. Patrick’s Church, Castlerea, and following Mass of the Resurrection, celebrated by Fr. Chris Garrett, burial took place in Fingal Cemetery, Dublin. Before the final blessing, her daughters Regina read the Communion reflection and Marian read the eulogy. The ceremony was enhanced by the Castlerea Church Choir under director Clare Kelly with organist Ena Conry. May her gentle soul rest in peace.
The death occurred peacefully on Monday, March 24th of Mr. Alfred (Alfie) Sharkey of West Orange, NJ and formerly of Tibohine. Alfie and his wife Helena were great supporters of the Castlerea Brass and Read Band and each time the band travelled to the USA for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which was nine times since 1999, they could not do enough for them and indeed always sent a donation every year for the upkeep of the band and always made them welcome on their visits . They were also great supporters and sponsors of the Castlerea Rose Festival, which they attended on many occasions with their family and friends and with Tom Giblin and the late John F Cryan and Mike Doyle. Alfie was a handy footballer and won a Roscommon county minor championship with Loughglynn in 1952 .(There was a story about that championship, Tarmon beat them in the West Board Final, Loughglynn objected as Tarmon was not registered, Loughglynn went on to win the county final and the secretaries of the Tarmon Club, the late Jimmy Egan who ran a shoe shop business in St. Patrick Street, Castlerea and club historian Colm Hannelly, who lives in Galway and at 94 years of age is still hale and hearty, were suspended for twelve months). Chairman of Castlerea Brass and Reed Band, Mr Sean Mannion and band leader Mr Richard Thompson on behalf of the band members would like to extend condolence to Alfie’s wife Helena, the members of this family and his many friends. Burial will take place in the USA. May his gentle soul rest in peace.
The AGM of the Roscommon branch of the Retired Nurses Association will be held in the Abbey Hotel, Roscommon, on Monday, April 14th at 11 a.m.. All members welcome.
