Local Notes: Wedding Bells, Flourishing Tourism, County Finalists
James Coffey and Cyril Cunningham, Lecarrow, pictured at Fuerty Fair last weekend. Pic: Gerard O’Loughlin
The three premier tourist attractions in South Roscommon, namely, Glendeer Pet Farm, Drum, the Derryglad Folk and Heritage Museum and the Knockcroghery Claypipe Visitor Centre have had a varied range of visitors to their respective attractions over the summer months and the fine summer weather certainly made a difference. Ms Charlotte O'Connell, manager of Glendeer stated to the Herald this week that their visitor numbers were up due to their outdoor attractions benefitting from the fine spell. Glendeer completed its season on Sunday, September 27th and they recorded a good number of casual visitors, summer camps and birthday parties since St Patrick's Day. In May and June they also had a range of national school tours and secondary school students undertaking science projects. Glendeer was established by Charlotte's parents, Eamon and Phil O'Connell in 1991.
Charlie Finneran and his wife Bridie have been joint proprietors of the Derryglad Folk and Heritage Museum near Curraghboy for the past 28 years where they showcase 8,000 plus items. Charlie found that coach tours were down this year and the number of casual visitors were "way up" and especially US, German and French visitors. They also had a few school tours in the past month and in April and May. The Derryglad facility will close for the season at the end of this month. Charlie is also happy that Irish exiles and casual Irish visitors account for a big number of visitors annually.
Ms Ethel Kelly has been proprietor of the Knockcroghery Clay Pipe Visitor Centre for over 25 years. Her visitor numbers were "on a par" with last year. She noticed that they had a lot of US visitors throughout this past year and a number of them were searching for their heritage. She too stresses that they also receive a wide range of Irish visitors to the facility and many of them like to purchase a gift. She has had an almost daily inter-action with Mary Dolan in Knockcroghery Post Office over the past 25 years and is pleased that Daybreak is maintaining the postal service in the village.
Three South Roscommon GAA Clubs will be in action in county finals this weekend. Padraig Pearse’s (Moore-Creagh and Taughmaconnell) will clash with St Brigid's (Kiltoom-Cam-Curraghboy) once again on this Sunday in the Hodson Bay County Senior Club final at King and Moffatt Dr Hyde Park. Meanwhile, St Aidan's (Ballyforan-Dysart and Tisrara) will do battle with Ballinameen in the County Junior A Club final this Saturday also. See match previews in the Herald Sports supplement in this issue.
The winners of the weekly progressive 25 card drive at the St Brigid's Handball Complex in Curraghboy on Tuesday night last were Kevin Donnelly, Mrs Mary Doyle, Michael Doyle, Mrs Marian Grehan, Mrs Eithne Leonard, Ms Marian Dunning, Mrs Eithne Morris, Eddie Nestor, Peter Mc Hugh, Enda McHugh, Seamus Mc Hugh, Liam Fallon, and Eamon Ward.
The death took place on Sunday, September 27th, at Mullingar Regional Hospital of Mrs Annemarie Watson, Crannagh, Summerhill, Athlone. Aged 79 on December 31st last, she was the former Ms Annemarie Naughten, Ardkeenan, Drum, and she was sister of former Roscommon Fine Gael TD and Seanad Cathaoirleach, Liam Naughten, who predeceased her on November 16th, 1996 and aunt of former Roscommon TD and Minister of State, Denis Naughten, Roscommon. The deceased was an employee of Lyster's, Pearse Street, Athlone, for a number of years prior to marriage and she was noted for her tact and discretion in all her dealings with the general public. Of an affable and friendly disposition, she was devoted to her immediate and extended family and noted for her sense of neighbourliness in her residential community. She was associated with a range of community activities in her native parish over the decades. She was a follower of Gaelic games generally and served as chairperson of the Clann na nGael Ladies Club for a period. She took a keen interest in current affairs and political affairs and was a prominent member of the Drum Fine Gael branch. She also had a lifelong interest in farming affairs and was a committee member of the Drum IFA branch. In recent years, she was also a member of the Monksland Active Age Group and enjoyed her participation in their varied activities. An engaging conversationalist on a one to one basis, she enjoyed friendships with a wide age range. A religious person, she espoused Christian values by virtue of everyday example and supported a range of charitable causes and bequests. She was predeceased by her husband Laurence in January 1990, and she was also predeceased by her sons Aidan and Patrick, brother, Liam, granddaughter Katie and nephew John Naughten. She is survived by sons, Tommy, David, Laurence and Philip; daughters, Denise, Annemarie, Christina, Imelda, Helen, Paula, Sarah and Catherine. She is also survived by one brother, Seamus, Dundrum, Dublin; 14 grandchildren, nieces, nephews and a number of other relatives. Following Mass of the Resurrection at St Brigid's Church, Drum, on Thursday, October 1st, the burial took place in Drum Cemetery. The celebrant of the Mass was Rev. Joseph Wenjeslaus, CC, Drum.
Mr Tony Conboy, Boyle, who penned the history of the Roscommon GAA at county level up until the mid-eighties, was the guest speaker at a gathering of the Lough Ree Men's Shed at the St Brigid's GAA Complex, Newpark, Kiltoom, on Thursday night, September 17th. He traced the growth of the GAA in the county over the decades inclusive of the glory years of the mid-forties. Mr Conboy, who is a native of Castlecoote in Mid-Roscommon, was attached to the teaching staff of St Mary's College, Boyle, throughout his teaching career. The Lough Ree Men's Shed meet on successive Tuesday and Thursday mornings at the St Brigid's GAA Complex, Newpark, Kiltoom, between 10 a.m. and 12 noon. The men play bowling, progressive 25 and enjoy walking. They also enjoy the cup of tea and the chat. New members are always welcome to join the Lough Ree Men's Shed.
The marriage took place on Friday, September 18th, at St Flannan's Church, Ardcronery, County Tipperary, between Ian Wall, second son of John and Ita Wall, Cornafulla South, Athlone and Trisha Grennan, youngest daughter of Gerry and Martina Grennan, Baylin, Athlone. The bride was given away by her father. The ceremony with Nuptial Mass was performed by Rev. Declan Shannon, Chaplain, Custume Barracks, Athlone, and a friend of the bride and groom. The bestman was Aaron Wall, brother of the groom, and the groomsmen were Eoghan Grennan, brother of the bride, Damien Wall, brother of the groom and Eoin Fox, friend of the groom. The matron of honour was Clodagh Grennan, sister of the bride and the bridesmaids were Megan Tumulty, Niamh McNamara and Sarah Lough, all friends of the bride. The flower girls were Bonnie and Harriet Dowling, nieces of the groom, Grace Grennan, niece of the bride and Shannon Keegan, cousin of the bride. Alex Wall, nephew of the groom, was page-boy. The reception was held at the Ashley Park House, Nenagh, and the honeymoon was spent in Kerry and London. The groom is employed as an engineer with Medtronic in Galway while the bride is a psychiatric nurse based in Mullingar. The couple will reside at Baylin, Athlone.
