Local Notes: Cemetery Cleanup, Annual Outing, Dementia Alliance
Richard, Diane, Josh and Sharyn Fallon, descendants of the Fallon family pictured on a visit to Ballintubber. Their ancestors left the area in 1837 and settled in Minnesota.
The marriage took place on June 29th at St. Patrick’s Church, Knockcroghery, Roscommon between Helena Grady, only daughter of Andrew and Frances Grady of Knockshehan, St. John’s Lecarrow and Niall Flynn, son of Seamus and Marie Flynn Undertakers, Athlone.
The bride was given away by her father Andrew, the ceremony with nuptial Mass was celebrated by Very Rev. Fr. Ray Milton, parish priest of Knockcroghery, St. Johns and Rahara, assisted by Very Red. Fr. John Duignan, parish priest of St. Peter’s Church Athlone.
The chief bridesmaid was Ciara Donnelly, friend of the bride assisted by Orla Halligan, cousin of the bride, Gillian Beirne friend of the bride, junior bridesmaid was Emily Grace Leonard Grady niece of the bride.
Best man was Paddy Flynn, brother of the groom, along with Sean Flynn, brother of the groom. The flower-girls were Kate Grady, niece of the bride and Aoibheann Flynn, niece of the groom, the pageboy is Jack Grady, nephew of the bride. The reception was held at the Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone. The couple will reside in their home in Coosan, Athlone. Helena and Niall are wished a long and happy married life together
The annual Mass at St. John’s holy well, Lecarrow, will be celebrated on Wednesday 24th of June in the evening time, which will be confirmed later. The tradition of having the outdoor Mass celebrated at the Holy Well has been caried by generations over the past centuries and a big attendance is always present. All are welcome along, more details later BALLINTUBBER/BALLYMOE CEMETERY CLEANUP A general clean-up of Ballintubber Cemetery will take place on Tuesday evening, June 16th at 6.30 p.m.. Cemetery Mass will be held on Sunday, July 19th. The committee is asking that family members with loved ones interred in the cemetery to remove weeds, Christmas wreaths, withered flowers and artificial wreaths that are in poor condition from the graves and put in skip that is provided. If this is not done the volunteers will be removing them before the Cemetery Mass.
A general clean-up of Ballintubber Cemetery will take place on Tuesday evening, June 16th at 6.30 p.m.. Cemetery Mass will be held on Sunday, July 19th. The committee is asking that family members with loved ones interred in the cemetery to remove weeds, Christmas wreaths, withered flowers and artificial wreaths that are in poor condition from the graves and put in skip that is provided. If this is not done the volunteers will be removing them before the Cemetery Mass.
All are welcome to the castle green on Sunday, June 21st at 4 p.m. to welcome the Castles in Communities group for 2026. This is the 10th anniversary of the dig so organisers hope you can join in. Castlerea Brass and Reed Band will entertain all. Hear about the history of the castle and afterwards head to Garvey’s for a barbecue.
The Achonry and Elphin Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes church gate collection, which helps defray the cost of bringing assisted sick pilgrims to Lourdes, will be taken up at the following churches in the Castlerea Deanery on Saturday and Sunday next, June 20th/21st Castlerea, Cloonbonniffe, Trien, Loughglynn, Lisacul, Tibohine, Gorthaganny, Frenchpark, Fairymount, Ballinagare, Ballintubber, Ballymoe, Glinsk, Kilbegnet. Your support would be appreciated.
The community is warmly invited to a special Welcome Gathering at Ballintubber Castle on Sunday, 21st June at 4 p.m. to welcome the Castles & Communities Archaeology Group from the USA. Enjoy music by Castlerea Brass and Reed Band, history talks, guest entertainment, and a complimentary barbecue in Garvey’s. Admission free. Everyone welcome.
The students and teachers have been very busy recently with school tours for the Junior's to Graune Pet Farm and the Senior classes travelled to Let's Go in Athlone. Needless to say, the children enjoyed their days out and had lots of fun. A big congratulations to the senior boys and girls who were victorious in the Cumann na mBunscol Ros Comáin Two Teachers Schools rounders competition. Having won their three group games, the team arrived back to school as champions carrying the shield with great pride. A very proud moment for all involved. Congratulations to the team, their teachers and all involved in this magnificent achievement.
The annual mass at Ogulla Shrine will take place on Friday 26th June at 7p.m..
The GAA social inclusion annual outing to Dan O'Hara's cottage in Clifden and Glengowla Mines in Oughterard will depart from Tulsk GAA pitch at 7a.m. on Saturday, July 4th. The cost is €95 which includes bus tour, ticket, breakfast and evening meal.
Tulsk History Society is compiling a history of shops and public houses past and present in the Tulsk, Castleplunkett and Killina districts of the parish, and is looking for old photographs to illustrate a publication it plans to launch in August. Photos inside or outside of the premises will be welcome. Scanned copies can be sent by email to historytulsk@gmail.com.
Dementia Alliance are hosting a monthly café in Lough Key Forest Park, Boyle Co. Roscommon to help support people affected by dementia, their families and carers. This month’s café takes place on Wednesday 17th June from 2 p.m. to 4p.m. and will include music, song, advice and a chat. please note change of venue. If you would like to attend, please visit www.roscommondementia.ie or contact Teresa Keegan on 0877061183 for more information.
The Nightingals and The Serendipity Singers invite you to an evening of choral T.V. and film music under the direction of Ilse Lubbers and accompanied on the piano by Mary Scarlett. Saturday 20 June, 7.30 p.m. in St. Michael’s Church in Cootehall. Admission €15 (children under 16 €10). Tickets at the door or via choir members.
We had our most recent meeting on Wednesday last in Templetogher. As ever, there were many practical, realistic suggestions put forward on the various items on the agenda. Among the matters on the agenda were the visit of the University students to Templetogher on the previous day, 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 23rd.
Well done to all those who did such great work at the Community garden at Kilnalag on Saturday. A big thank you to all the activists who came along and furthered the enhancement of this special facility. An extra thank you to Gayle Tarmey who planted a huge amount of flowers/shrubs in the outside border. Hopefully this action will curb the growth of weeds, which are tending to take over at present. Further clean ups will be organised quite soon and all help will be most welcome.
There was a very enjoyable get together at Templetogher on Tuesday last. About 25 students from Atlantic Technological University with two of their professors, Suzanne O’Reilly and Mark McCarthy, arrived, as expected, for their visit at 12.30 p.m.. The event was facilitated by Gayle Tarmey, Kilnalag, Head of Department of Heritage, Tourism, Languages and Humanities at the college. They had already been to the bee colony in Ballyroe and to the Carrenderry Bog Walk, where they had been given all the relevant background information by Noel Finnegan and Michael Hutchinson. In Templetogher, firstly all the visitors had a quick look around the many sections of the Heritage Area. Then we all gathered in the Exhibition Room, where we served tea, coffee and biscuits to our guests, who had brought a packed lunch with them. At the same time, Leo Finnegan, Chairperson of Williamstown Heritage Society filled them in on the history of our Heritage Society and the development over the years of Templetogher, from its purchase in 2003, through its many stages of enhancement up to its superb current state. He also told them about the history of the Egan family’s involvement with the mill, and the drying/milling process. Leo also had the opportunity to thank all who had helped towards the development of the area, with a special mention given to the main man, Lar Finnegan. Also thanked were our own members, the public in general and generous benefactors such as EMP, Tom Collins family, Declan Connaughton and Darragh Mullins. In addition to stressing the immense potential of the area as a tourist attraction, he also mentioned some of our other projects over the years, such as our 2013 Genealogy Book on our parish, Jim Fahy’s biography of Michael McGovern, our ongoing contact with our diaspora, and our detailed study of our own past - people, landscape and business. The students then asked Leo some pre-prepared questions. It was a joy to see how well-behaved and mannerly all the students were. The two professors, Suzanne and Mark, were greatly impressed by their visit as, indeed, were all the students. They were on a tight schedule and had to be back on the bus at 1.30 p.m., heading to their final stop, Mountbellew. It was a most enjoyable occasion, and can only do good for our own interests by letting more and more people know about the special attraction that Templetogher Heritage Area undoubtedly is.
The Williamstown Festival Committee has announced the programme for this year’s event, which is now almost upon us. It is being held from 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. 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.
Building for Children will hold its annual general meeting on Friday, July 19th at 8 p.m. in the Shiven Rovers clubhouse. New members are very welcome to attend including people that might not want to travel to Ethiopia but might want to be involved with the group by helping out with fundraising or administration. Further information can be got from David Mulrooney 086 2485891, Padraic Conlon 086 3480752 or Brendan McDonnell 083 4600497
The Achonry and Elphin Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes church gate collection, which helps defray the cost of bringing assisted sick pilgrims to Lourdes, will be taken up at the following churches in the Castlerea Deanery on Saturday and Sunday next, June 20th/21st Castlerea, Cloonbonniffe, Trien, Loughglynn, Lisacul, Tibohine, Gorthaganny, Frenchpark, Fairymount, Ballinagare, Ballintubber, Ballymoe, Glinsk, Kilbegnet. Your support would be appreciated.
Cemetery Masses 2026 takes place (weather permitting - if raining in the church) in Kilkerrin Cemetery on Sunday, August 2nd at 11 a.m. and Clonberne Cemetery on Saturday, August 8th at 7.30 p.m.. Cemetery maintenance collections will take place at these Masses.
