Local Notes: SPCA Collection, Ms Ireland Thank You, Heritage Society News
John Bligh and Patsy Kelly, An Post Castlerea, make a presentation to Mary Lennon on the occasion of her retirement as postmistress in Ballintubber.
Ballintubber Cemetery Mass will be on Sunday, July 19th at 11.30 a.m.. Cleanups will take place on, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evening at 6.30p.m./ 7 p.m.. There are many graves that still need taking care of, therefore organisers are asking families to please attend to them. The volunteers are edging green areas, scraping and sweeping paths, grass cutting, strimming, removing weeds and attending to the flowerpots. They are also attending to graves with no family members to do so. Please make an effort to attend the cleanups so that the cemetery where your loved ones are buried will be in pristine condition for the annual Mass.
The local branch of MS Ireland thanks all who contributed so generously to the recent church gate collection. Total amount raised in Ballymoe was €322.04 and in Glinsk €205. Grateful thanks also to all who helped with the collection.
Roscommon Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will hold its annual church gate collection at St. Patrick's Church, Cloonfad on Sunday, July 12th. Roscommon SPCA is a charity run by a team of dedicated volunteers. All money donated goes directly to animal welfare in the county.
'Memories' is the theme of this year's Bard of Connacht competition. The event will be launched in the Heritage Centre, Creggs on Friday, July 10th at 8 p.m.. Details available on poetryireland.ie or by email from kilbegneths@gmail.com. There will be an evening of poetry and song afterwards. All are welcome.
The local branch of MS Ireland thanks all who contributed so generously to the recent church gate collection. Total amount raised in Ballymoe was €322.04 and in Glinsk €205. Grateful thanks also to all who helped with the collection.
Tuesday, June 30rd was a very special day in our community when the RTÉ Programme, Nationwide, paid a visit. In addition to taking in a broad overview of the community and the numerous voluntary organisations, all of whom do excellent work in their respective fields, the TV crew focused in particular on Templetogher Heritage Area and the recently published biography of Michael McGovern by the late renowned broadcaster, Jim Fahy. There was also involvement by the children from Williamstown NS in topics like business in Williamstown in the past. Reporter Tommy Stenson and cameraman, Des Carolan, were most helpful and cooperative during a full day’s filming. The clip will be broadcast in the Autumn, with plenty of advance notice being given before the screening date.
Williamstown Heritage Society is now at the busiest time of the season, with major events coming up regularly. In addition to preparing for the visit of the tv cameras on Tuesday, June 30th members were also involved in the Aleen Cust Symposium in Mountbellew on Friday last, July 3rd. Preparations are also coming together well for o the Open Day at Templetogher Heritage Area on Sunday, August 23rd. The programme theme on the day will be ‘Heritage at Risk – UNLESS’. Practically all of members have renewed their membership fee for 2026, and a warm thank you to all of those. All others who wish, may take out either regular membership or, if not in a position to attend meetings, associate membership, with the fee for both remaining at €20.
Williamstown Heritage Society has a display atand at the Aleen Cust conference in Mountbellew on Friday last, July 3rd. This was, once again, a most interesting and informative event, as the various excellent speakers focused on the trail blazing career of Aleen Cust, the very first female veterinary surgeon in Ireland or England. Well done to all involved in the organising of this most successful event, including the Aleen Cust Society, Mountbellew Agricultural College and Galway County Council Heritage Office, led by Marie Mannion, County Heritage Officer. What made this year’s Aleen Cust Symposium even more special was the fact that President Catherine Connolly was in attendance. Some time after her very impressive and well researched address, she visited the adjacent hall where several heritage groups from around the county, including Williamstown, had set up display stands, highlighting the various projects undertaken over the years.
Five representatives of all the heritage groups in attendance, one from each of the five Municipal Districts in Galway, accompanied President Connolly as she visited the various display stands. The five selected were Frances Holohan, Abbey Heritage; Antoinette Lydon, Oughterard Heritage; Mary Mullins, Moylough Heritage; Michael Hurley, Lackagh Heritage and Leo Finnegan, Williamstown Heritage. All five were delighted to have this singular honour, to have the opportunity to speak to the President and her accompanying party, and to give information about the various projects on show on their particular stand. The President’s keen interest in all the work done, and her warm, relaxed manner ensured that this was a most memorable occasion.
There was an Open Day at Glenamaddy Community Garden in Ballyhard on Sunday last. It was a most enjoyable and successful occasion, with an excellent crowd in attendance, several interesting activities and attractions, not to mention entertainment, on offer, and, most important, favourable weather conditions. This community garden is a superb facility and has seen outstanding development in recent years. Well done to all those involved with this amenity, and congrats to all on a very successful Open Day.
The annual lotto campaign is now underway. First draw on Monday, August 3rd and a starting jackpot of €4,700 - your support would be greatly appreciated as the lotto is the community council's main source of funding for local projects. If you would like to join the lotto or are unsure who the seller is in your area contact Sandra Grogan (087 913 8607) or Keith McMahon (086 348 2019).
Your prayers are requested for: Margaret Gibney, Carrintubber, (mother of Tom); Padraic Killilea, Shankill, Dublin, and Ballygar, (uncle of Michelle Lee, Cloonkeenagcrann).
Cemetery Masses take place (weather permitting - if raining in the church) in Kilkerrin Cemetery on Sunday, August 2nd at 11 a.m. and Clonberne Cemetery, Saturday, August 8th at 7:30 p.m.. Cemetery maintenance collections will take place at these Masses. Please let people know who may wish to come home for the occasion.
