Local Notes: Church news, fantasy football and tractor run
Librarian Gerard Mohan pictured in the newly renovated library in Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen. Pic: Liam Reynolds
Western Gaels held its weekly lottery draw on Saturday, August 9th last. There was no jackpot winner. The numbers drawn were 3, 24, 26 and 30. Cash prize winners (€20 each) were Michelle Cox, Evelyn Mahon, Olivia Mahon, Thomas McCann and Shiela McGullion. The next draw (jackpot €4,000) will take place at the clubhouse in Frenchpark on this Saturday, August 16th. Tickets are available on-line through the Clubforce app or from local outlets.
A Tractor & Truck Run will be held in memory of Kevin & Des Ryan on this Sunday, August 17th. Entry fees - Tractors €25, Trucks €25. Run commences at 4 p.m.. The route will be from Ballinagare to Strokestown. There will be music afterwards from Conor O’Donnell and Stacey Breen in The Percy French Hotel, Strokestown starting at 8pm. All proceeds to SOS Elphin and Croí.
The death occurred peacefully of Mr Brian Mahoney, Cloonshanville, Frenchpark on Thursday, August 7th last at Sligo University Hospital. In his eighty-eighth year, Brian will be sadly missed and remembered with love by his children Susan, John, Daniella and Siobhan, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, son-in-law Nick, extended family, neighbours and friends. A private funeral has taken place.
The peaceful death took place of Mr Janis Justs, Boyle Road, Frenchpark and formerly of Riga, Latvia on Friday, June 27th last at Sligo University Hospital. In his 70th year, he is deeply regretted by his brother Edgar, relatives, neighbours and friends. Funeral arrangements will be available at a later date.
Mr Barney Cudd, Kingsland passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, August 1st last. Barney (87) is deeply mourned by his loving family, wife Iris, daughters Lorna and Barbara, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, neighbours and many friends. Barney will repose in The Sharkey Funeral Home, Frenchpark on Tuesday (today) from 5.30 p.m. until 6.30 p.m.. Committal Service will be held in Sharkey’s Cremation Chapel, Loughglynn on this Wednesday, August 13th at 11 a.m..
Pray for the repose of the souls of Ms. Rosaleen Corrigan, New York and late of Cloonfinglas, Fairymount; Mr Paddy Burke, Aughalustia, Ballaghaderreen; Mr Albert Murphy, Loughglynn, Castlerea and Mr Don Connellan, Moycullen, Co. Galway. May they rest in peace.
Masses will be held in Tibohine at 7 p.m. and Ballinagare at 8.30 p.m. on Saturday (16th) and in Frenchpark Church at 10 a.m. and Fairymount at 11.30 a.m. on Sunday, August 17th. The Roscommon Men’s Choir will perform at the Sacred Heart Church in Ballinagare on Friday, September 19th next at 7 p.m. Further information will be available closer to the date.
New at Ballinagare Health & Leisure. Get fit and feel great this summer. Introducing two new fantastic packages namely 3-Month Student/Teen Gym & Class and a 6-Month Adult Gym & Class. Explore the new Summer Timetable and choose from high-energy Zumba, Hyrox circuits, Legs Bums & Tums, or find your calm with Yoga & Sauna sessions. Go For Life Ladies class continues every Tuesday & Thursday at 1 p.m. - exercise, tea & chats. Opening Gym Hours are Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. -9.30 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Follow on Instagram: @ballinagare_healthandleisure or phone on (094) 9870777 for further details.
Deadline for entries to the 2025/26 Fantasy Football League is this Thursday, August 14th. Contact 086-0783814 for further details.
Tulsk’s Intermediate team host reigning Junior champions St. Barry’s at home in Tulsk on Saturday evening in round two of the Intermediate Football Championship. Throw-in time 6pm. The very best of luck is extended to manager Liam McNeill and all of the team. This year the team are sponsored by PB Networks. Tickets costing €10 can be bought online in advance from www.gaaroscommon.ie/match-tickets. Paying by card at the gate costs €12, including service charge.
For Heritage Week 2025 Tulsk History Society are commemorating those locals who died and suffered during the Great Irish Famine of 1845-49. Events will take place to honour Tulsk and Baslick parishioners (though now in Tulsk Catholic parish, Baslick was in Kilcorkey parish until 1868) on Sunday 24th August. The programme for the day will consist of three parts – at 12.30pm in Tulsk Cemetery a memorial rock and plaque will be unveiled, while at 1 p.m. in Tulsk Macra Hall the launch of the History Society’s Famine publication will take place – the booklet is entitled Tulsk Remembers the Great Famine 1845-1849. Refreshments will be served. At 2.30 p.m. events move to Baslick Cemetery where a memorial plaque will be unveiled. All are welcome to all of these events. The latest issue of the Society’s quarterly bulletin – The Tulsk Morning Howl – is now in the usual outlets and, as always, is free of charge.
The community of Tulsk were saddened to learn of the untimely passing of Don Connellan last week. His footballing exploits have been appropriately recorded in the past week but it is his connections with the parish that will particularly resonate with the community as his mother Ellen (Nellie) (nee Keaveney) hailed from the parish. The deceased was predeceased by his father Donal who farmed in the local community and was a highly esteemed and well-regarded gentleman. The deceased is also survived by his brothers Adrian and David, his wife Linda, children Eoin and Cormac, his many in-laws, relatives, and friends. Following his Funeral Mass, the deceased, a native of Kilmore, was laid to rest in his adopted home of Moycullen. The community of Tulsk would like to extend their sincere sympathies to Nellie and all the wider Connellan family on their sad and untimely loss.
Congratulations to parish representatives, Garvan Curran and Romona Moylan who travelled to Athlone at the weekend for the Regional Athletics Finals. In Community Games. Both of them produced fantastic races and created proud moments for all concerned. Thanks are extended to both of them for representing Tulsk with great style and dedication. Tulsk Community Games would also like to extend their sympathies to the family and friends of the late Tom Moran, late of Grange, Four-Mile-House on his untimely passing. Tom was a stalwart of Community Games in Roscommon for many years and assisted in the set-up of the Tulsk club a number of years ago.
Congratulations to the Tulsk St. Mary’s ladies’ footballers who began their Junior Championship campaign with a victory at home to St. Faithleach’s on Sunday morning. Well done to all the players and management on their winning start!
Local residents are warmly invited to a fundraising night in the Percy French Hotel on Saturday August 16th in memory of the late Sharon Sharkey, late of Flaska, Castleplunkett. The deceased is a daughter of Tommy and Eileen Sharkey, Flaska, and a niece of Eddie Coyne, Ardeevin, Castleplunkett. The deceased passed away suddenly in July of last year, much to the shock and sadness of both the local community and the wider Sligo community where the deceased resided. The fundraiser will honour Sharon’s memory and to help with the cost of building a home for her partner Nicholas and daughter Cara. Donations can be made at https://www.idonate.ie/crowdfunder/InMemoryofSharon. All donations will be entered into a draw with some great prizes up for grabs including a Husqvarna automower; a 5 Star 18-month-old heifer and a €1,000 CentreParcs voucher. The function takes place on Saturday, August 16th at 7 p.m. in The Percy French Hotel Strokestown. There will be live music and a special auction on the night. Thaks are extended to those who have kindly donated so far.
Tulsk History Society's recent survey of Baslick Cemetery has just been uploaded to its website. This is the fourth of the seven cemeteries in Tulsk parish to be completed. Photos and headstone inscriptions for Tulsk Abbey Cemetery, Kilcooley Cemetery, Ogulla Cemetery and now Baslick Cemetery can be found by clicking in this link. For more, visit https://www.tulskhs.com/cemetery-information-for-download?fbclid=IwY2xjawLgrAdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHkDONqpBSuoU7OA5E67sQgRNyN1Y1-zOFTIeIFDQLGsHpB DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE The Elphin and Achonry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine will take place on this Sunday, August 17th. There will also be a Family Day on the date offering various activities for families with children of all ages. The dioceses extend a special invitation to altar servers in the parish to join the pilgrimage along with their families.
A new free ‘Book Swap’ facility has been set up in Tulsk Laundry/Drycleaners. The initiative ‘read a book/swap a book’ is designed to encourage the magic of reading and its transformative effects upon people living in communities, young and old. Anyone who would like to donate books to the services is welcome to do so by calling into Tulsk Laundry services during their regular opening hours, Monday to Saturday inclusive. The service will operate like a library service but is an initiative that can be enjoyed by all the community.
Local Mass on Sunday mornings at 11.30 a.m. will continue to be broadcast as usual, on 107.0FM. For the booking of anniversary Masses, please contact the Tulsk Parish Office and leave a message. Alternatively, you can also email the office. Please do not use the mobile phone number as this number is for emergencies only. Residents are also reminded that as a courtesy, they should ensure their mobile phones are switched off or turned to silent for all Church ceremonies.
