Local Notes: Trad Night, Lourdes, Miles for Mary Walk
Community Games U-12 Girls Football County Champions.
The death occurred unexpectedly but peacefully on Monday June the 15th at Galway University Hospital surrounded by his loving family and carers in his 58th year of Dan O’Rourke, Sea Breeze, Knocknacarra, Galway and formerly of Ballindrimley, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon. Predeceased by his father Brian, loving son of Lily and brother of Gráinne (Dublin) and Brian Óg (Kiltoom). Dan will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his mother, sister and brother, his nephew Ultan and niece Doireann, sister-in-law Jacinta, brother-in-law Joe, extended family and the residents and staff of Sea Breeze, and the Brothers of Charity Services Galway. He reposed at his home Sea Breeze, Knocknacarra on Tuesday evening and on Wednesday a celebration of Dan’s life took place at his home followed by burial in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Castlerea. May Dans gentle soul rest in peace.
All roads lead to Mulvihills on Sunday night next, June 28th, for the monthly trad night with the one and only Terry McGowan and his top-class team of musicians. There will also be few guest singers on the night. The show starts at 8p.m so come along and enjoy a great nights entertainment.
Congratulations to Anthony Cahill, SuperValu Castlerea who presented the man of the match award on behalf of SuperValu Ireland, to Monaghan player Conor McCarthy after the recent All-Ireland Senior Football Championship game between Monaghan and Roscommon in Clones. This indeed wad a great honour for Anthony. Well done.
At the recent annual general meeting of the Castlerea Brass and Reed band, Castlerea good-will ambassador Mr. John Kennedy was elected honorary member of the band for the 30th year. Also elected as honorary members were Mr. Michael Farrell, USA assembly man, Mr. Thomas P. Giblin, USA, a cousin of John Kennedy.
Members of the Castlerea Lourdes Deanery Committee are out and about selling tickets, for their fundraising draw which will help defray the cost of bringing assisted sick pilgrims to Lourdes. Please support.
The winning bonus ball number in Castlerea Golf Club lotto for June 17th was 28. Winners of this week’s lotto were Gerry Lyons Tony Brophy Mary Ryan Nicola Connell Vincent O Connell.Each receive €100.
WILLIAMSTOWN
As we are now approaching the busiest time of the year for our members, we have an additional meeting on this Wednesday, June 24 at 8 p.m. in Templetogher. With a number of pressing items on the agenda, it is hoped that there will be a good attendance. Among the projects currently underway are the relocation of the St Patrick mini-shrine to its new spot behind the kitchen, the reorganising of our big display room, and the further enhancement of the Community Garden at Kilnalag. Preparations are well underway for our Open Day at Templetogher Heritage Area on Sunday, August 23. For this, we are building our programme on the theme “Heritage at Risk - UNLESS ….”, and the programme for the day is close to being finalised. Many of our 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, for those not in a position to attend our meetings, associate membership, with the fee for both remaining at €20. “The Puddler Poet - the Life, Times and Poetry of Michael McGovern”, the biography of a very talented local man from Castlefield, Williamstown, written by the renowned RTÉ broadcaster, the late Jim Fahy, is currently available at €20, from many bookshops and other outlets in the locality, in the West of Ireland, and further afield. It can also be purchased directly from Leo Finnegan (086 1603043)(finneganleo100@gmail.com). We congratulate the Williamstown football players and management on retaining their 4A status with a decisive victory over Corofin in Corofin on Friday evening. They are now continuing with their preparations for the championship. You can see all the Heritage Society’s activities on our Facebook page - facebook.com/heritagewilliamstown
All is ready for the Annual Williamstown Summer Festival, which is being held from this Thursday, June 25 to Sunday, June 28, a little earlier than in previous years. As ever, the hardworking members of the committee have drawn up an excellent programme, packed with a variety of interesting and exciting events, to suit all ages and tastes. With numerous flags having been placed all around the locality, excitement is growing in anticipation of a very special few days. No doubt, the event will be as enjoyable and well supported as ever, and the added excitement and atmosphere which it always brings to our community is to be greatly welcomed
The Miles for Mary Walk, held earlier this year to honour the memory of the much-loved and recently deceased local personality, Mary Higgins Delaney, Beaugh, and to raise funds for a very deserving charity, was an outstanding success. As a result of the walk, the huge total of €17,383 was raised for the Galway Hospice Foundation, a superb achievement. Very well done to all who contributed to the success of the event, including those who supported the walk, by participating in it or otherwise, to all involved in its organisation, and to all who provided sponsorship in various ways.
Mass on Sunday last in St. Therese’s Church, Williamstown was a very special occasion, when it was concelebrated by our Parish Priest, Fr Anthaiah and two visiting clergymen, brothers Fr. Kevin Deely and Bishop Robert Deely, who was the chief concelebrant. The mother of the Deelys, Mary Hanley, was a native of Polshask who emigrated to the U.S. in the year 1925. The two brothers are based on opposite sides of the American continent, with Bishop Robert in Portland, Oregon and Fr. Kevin in Boston, Massachusetts. Over the years, they have been frequent visitors to our parish, where they have a number of cousins, including Mary Kearney, Liskea. This visit by the two brothers was extra special, as Bishop Robert recently celebrated his 80th Birthday. To mark the occasion, Fr Anthaiah, following his very warm welcome to the visiting brothers, invited two of our very young parishioners, Derrin Barrett, Beaugh and Aoife Darcy, Carraneeney, to make a presentation to Bishop Robert, for which he was extremely grateful. Following Mass, the visiting clergymen mingled freely with the public, meeting up with relatives, renewing old acquaintances and initiating new friendships. We extend every good wish to the two brothers, first of all, for the remainder of their Irish trip and, secondly, on their return to their respective ministries in the U.S.
We extend warm congratulations to Rachael Timothy from the neighbouring community of Ballymoe on her recent cycling successes in Italy. Rachael, who is a two-time Paralympian, having represented Ireland at both Tokyo and Paris, won two medals at the European Para Cycling Road Championships - a bronze medal in the Time Trial, followed by a superb gold medal in the Womens C3 category Road Race. Well done to Rachael on these outstanding achievements, and congratulations also to her family and to the Ballymoe community in general.
