Local Notes: Trad music workshops, remembering Christopher Lynch and double bill of drama
Minister for Rural and Community Development, Dara Calleary TD with Cllr Domnick Connolly as he opened the new new outdoor recreation projects at Mote Park last week. Pic: Brian Farrell
Communities and organisations across County Roscommon are coming together this week, June 9th to June 15th to mark International Men’s Health Week 2025. This year’s theme 'Shoulder-to-Shoulder: Connecting for Health' highlights the importance of community and connection in supporting men’s wellbeing. Across County Roscommon, a diverse programme of events will offer men of all ages the chance to engage, learn and to take proactive steps towards better health. On Friday, June 13th at Roscommon Mart from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Croí will be offering free wellbeing checks, there will be financial planning information, fit sticks for farmers, Fit Farmers Programme information, etc. This runs in tandem with the ‘Taking Stock’ campaign, which is designed to help farmers make informed decisions that will benefit both themselves and their families. Ms. Aisling Dunne, Roscommon Healthy County Co-ordinator said: “Roscommon County Council is delighted to work in partnership with the HSE and the many other organisations who have contributed to the calendar of events. The focus this year is on bringing initiatives and services to men at community locations such as marts, workplaces and builders providers and online. We hope that as many men as possible will engage with us during the week.”
Roscommon Town branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann will host workshops in traditional Irish music featuring a stellar line up of tutors. The workshops take place on Saturday, June 14th at St. Coman’s Wood primary school, Roscommon Town. These are suitable for children and adults who know the basics on their instruments, with intermediate level classes in the morning and advanced level classes in the afternoon, followed by a tutors and pupils’ recital. Featured tutors are Angela Deane, whistle; Marie Walsh, button accordion; Cein Sweeney, flute; Micheal O’Raghallaigh, concertina; Caoimhe Kearins, fiddle; Kerrie Herrity; banjo and Lorraine Sweeney, early whistle skills. Intermediate classes, 10 a.m. – 12 noon; advanced classes, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.; tutors’ recital, 4 -5 p.m.; early whistle skills, 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.. Booking through Eventbrite. Bookings will also be taken on the day if places are still available. Bookings and further information – Lorraine – 086 3688302. E-mail – beirnelorraine@gmail.com.
Roscommon Drama Group in association with Western Alzheimer's Voluntary Committee presents a double bill of one act plays at Roscommon Arts Centre on Friday, June 20th and Saturday, June 21st at 8 p.m. Tickets €25 and all proceeds go towards the construction of a day care centre in Roscommon.
Summer bridge takes place on Wednesdays at 7.30 p.m. in Hannon’s Hotel. All bridge players welcome. All proceeds go to local charities.
Do you need help with your smartphone, tablet or laptop? Come along to Roscommon Library on Thursdays from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. where you can get help and advice from a tutor from Galway Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB).For further information, phone Roscommon Library on 090 6637277 or email library@roscommoncoco.ie
Mr Christopher Lynch, 61 of Bayside, New York, USA and Oran, Donamon, passed away on Sunday, May 25th after a short illness. He was predeceased by his parents, John “Christy” Lynch of Ballyvourney, County Cork, and Maureen (née Cunningham) of Oran, Donamon, grandparents, aunts & uncles. Chris is survived by his wife of 31 years, Nancy (Buzalsky); his four children, Kelsey Lynch and her husband Conor Martin; Abigeal Lynch, John Lynch and his fiancé, Nicole Ferro, and Jude Lynch; his two sisters, Catherine Lynch of Long Beach, NY and Maureen Lynch of Bayside, NY; two brothers, Eugene Lynch of Bayside and Thomas Lynch of Bayside, and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
His remains were removed from Smyth’s Funeral Home, Roscommon on Saturday, June 7th, to St. Patrick’s Church, Clooneycolgan for Mass of the Resurrection. Burial took place afterwards in Oran Cemetery.
Chris was born in New York on March 31st, 1964 to the late John “Christy” and Mary “Maureen” Lynch as the first of five children. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Manhattan College in 1991 and enlisted in the United States Navy Reserves as a Radioman in 1997. On February 19th, 1994, Chris married his wife of 31 years, Nancy Buzalsky and in 1995 they welcomed their first child Kelsey. Not long after in 1997 Abigeal was born, followed by John in 1998, and Jude in 2001. Chris took immense pride in his new and rapidly growing family.
Following the attacks of September 11th 2001, he was commissioned as a Civil Engineering Officer in the US Navy, colloquially known as a Seabee. LTJG Chris Lynch’s unit, deployed in 2004 for a year to Ramadi and Al Asad, Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom where he served with distinction as the Alpha Company Commander and Detachment Officer-in-Charge across Iraq.
In 2008, Chris received orders to active duty and was stationed in Naples, Italy as part of Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), where he and his family enjoyed traveling Europe together. Here he also earned his Master’s in Electrical Engineering from the University of South Florida. In 2011, Chris was stationed in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and received his Master’s in Military Sciences from the US Army Command and General Staff College before returning to Naples, Italy this time as part of Allied Joint Forces Command Naples. In 2013, LT Chris Lynch made his second combat deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Here he meritoriously served as the Joint Engineering Branch Head and Chief Infrastructure Officer as part of International Security Assistance Forces Headquarters, tasked with improving the infrastructure of US and coalition bases and roads across the country. Following his return from Afghanistan, he resumed his work in Italy working to improve infrastructure across Europe.
Returning home from overseas in 2015, the Lynch’s moved to Colts Neck, New Jersey as part of NAVFAC Mid Atlantic where Chris worked to provide facility support across the East Coast. Here the LCDR Lynch and his team were awarded the SECNAV Environmental Excellence Award as well as the Environmental Champion Award from the EPA for his work to establish the first protected oyster reefs at Naval Weapons Station Earle, Colts Neck, New Jersey.
Enjoying the adventure of living overseas, LCDR Lynch took orders to NAVFAC Europe, Africa, Central Command located in Bahrain. Here Chris worked to improve the critical infrastructure across Africa and the Middle East. In 2020 Chris and Nancy moved to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland once again as part of Naval Facilities Engineering Command. After his meritorious naval service LCDR Lynch decided to leave the Navy to pursue civil engineering in the public service sector, taking a job in Vincenza Italy. LCDR Christopher Lynch’s awards and citations include the Defense Meritourious Service Medal, 2-Joint Service Commendation Medals, 4-Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, Joint Service Achievement Medal, 2-Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat V for Valour, 2-Combat Action Ribbons, National Defence Service Medal, Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal with Combat Operations Device, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device for mobilation to active duty, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, 7-Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbons, ISAF NATO Medal, Navy Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon, and the Seabee Combat Warfare Officer Insignia.
Chris and Nancy resumed traveling across Europe while he worked in Vicenza, Italy. His work also took him to countries like Chad, Gabon, and Ghana. In 2024, Chris returned to the United States to Jacksonville, Florida to work to restore the Everglades with the Army Corps of Engineers. Chris’s passion for civil engineering, the environment, and traveling took him to four continents and over 30 countries. Chris remained a devout Catholic, a prominent member of the Knights of Columbus, and participated in multiple pilgrimages across the world including the Camino de Santiago in Spain, the Croagh Patrick Pilgrimage in Ireland, Knock Shrine in Ireland, Lourdes pilgrimage in France, Holy Land pilgrimage in Israel and Medjugorje pilgrimage site in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In his spare time, he enjoyed going to the Opera frequenting Metropolitan Opera House in New York and even travelled to Puccini’s hometown in Lucca, Italy and Wagner’s Opera house, Bayreuth Festspeilhaus, in Bayreuth, Germany. He also enjoyed deep sea fishing, running, doing CrossFit workouts and being as close to the ocean as possible.
Chris enjoyed traveling the world, but Ireland was always a special place and piece of home for him. He spent many summers there and thoroughly enjoyed memories made with his family in Roscommon. Chris held many titles in his life, Lieutenant Commander, Husband, Brother, Cousin, Friend but his most honoured title was Dad to his four Children – Kelsey, Abby, John, and Jude.
