Local Notes: Food Packages, Easter Draw, Heritage Society
Oliver Lennon and Danny Geraghty, Williamstown Heritage Society being presented with a donation from the West Midlands Credit Union Support Fund towards the group's digital map.
Roscommon Dementia Alliance hosts a monthly café at Lough Key Forest Park, Boyle to help support people affected by dementia, their families and carers. This month's café takes place on Wednesday, April 15th 2 – 4 p.m. and will include music, song, advice and a chat. Visit www.roscommondementia.ie / contact Teresa 087 7061183 for more information.
The Roscommon Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Roscommon SPCA) will be holding its annual church gate collection at Attracta's Church, Ballinameen on Saturday, April 11th. Roscommon SPCA Charity is run by a team of dedicated volunteers with all money donated going directly towards animal welfare in the county.
The death occurred at her home in Galway on April 4th, peacefully, surrounded by her adoring family after an illness borne with grace and dignity, of Mrs Brenda Harrington, (née Murphy), The Maples, Salthill, and formerly of Boyle and St. Mary’s Park, Galway. Pre-deceased by her beloved husband, Vincent Harrington and her parents Paddy and Eileen Murphy. Brenda will be forever missed and lovingly remembered by her heartbroken daughter, Kate and sons, John, Colm and Benen, their spouses and partners, Brian, Cristina, Andrew and Kezia; her adored grandchildren, Fionn, Oisín, Saorla, Clara, Liam and Mateo; her sisters, Evelyn and Mary; brother, Philip; nieces and nephews, the Thornton family, Brian, Kevin, Fiona and Claire, the extended Harrington and Murphy families and a wide circle of friends. Funeral will arrive at St. Joseph’s Church, Boyle, in advance of Requiem Mass at 12 noon today, Tuesday, April 7th. Following Mass, Brenda will be laid to rest with her husband Vincent at Assylinn Cemetery, Boyle.
The death occurred on April 2nd, peacefully at Sligo University Hospital, with his loving family by his side, following a courageous and dignified battle with illness, of Mr Michael McCauley, Warren, Boyle and formerly of Dromard, Mohill. Predeceased by his parents, Bernard and Mary McCauley and his brother Gerard. Michael is sadly missed and remembered with love by his devoted wife and best friend Belinda, his cherished and adored children, Shane, Jessica and Alan, his brothers, Brian and Sean, daughter-in-law, Dillon, Jessica’s fiancé, Conor, sisters-in-law Róisin, Mary Teresa and Imelda, nephews, nieces, extended family, neighbours and many friends. Mass of the Resurrection in St. Joseph’s Church, Boyle on Easter Sunday was followed by cremation at Lakeland’s Crematorium, Cavan.
The One Voice Community Singing Group will be back in action after the Easter break on Thursday, April 16th, ready to fill the room with music and laughter at Boyle Family Resource Centre.
Need a helping hand with food?. If you or someone you know in the Boyle area is struggling, Boyle Family Resoruce Centre offers free food packages in a friendly and private way. There's no judgment — just support from people who care. For more information call 071 966 3033, e-mail. info@boylefrc.ie
A great night was had on Saturday last in Henry’s, Cootehall when the social committee of the Village Enhancement Group held its Easter draw to fund social activities and the 2026 planting/ hanging basket programme. Congratulations to the winners and of course the very generous sponsors. 1st, two night stay plus spa package at the Drumheirny Woodland Hideway- Mary & Brian Lee; 2nd, €100 Ardcarne Garden Centre voucher- Irene Cryan; 3rd, €100 JB Lawns power washing voucher- Eve Finan; 4th, a €100 one4all voucher- Emma Butler Financial Advisor- Barry & Aoife Walsh; 5th, Chef Sham Sauce Hamper & Lunch voucher in My Kitchen-Liz Baker; 6th, Easter hamper, SuperValu, Carrick on Shannon-Patty Dowd; 7th, Hamper, Photos, Cards & Stationary, David Knight Photography-Carol Ann Crispin; 8th, €75 voucher O’Dowd’s Fire & Pellet Stoves-Sheila Kelly; 9th two tickets Shannonside FM Day with the Stars- Mark McDermott; 10th, Make Up application inc Lashes-Maura Tansey-Tom Joyce; 11th, €50 Ramis Venison voucher-Mary Dwyer; 12th, €50 Centra Strokestown voucher-Amy King; 13th, €70 Alora by Alyssa Heaven- Megan Harman; 14th, , €50 Lough Key Forest Park Voucher-Michael Regan; 15th Prize, €50 Waterfront Restaurant voucher-Kieran Oates; 16th, €50 Waterfront Restaurant voucher-Killian Tracey; 17th, €100 Phonepak meal voucher- Carolan Carty; 18th, €50 cash prize from Joe Bruen-Mona Reen; 19th, 2 passes Eclipse Cinema, Carrick on Shannon-Vincent Gilhooly; 20th, bottle of brandy-Blathnaid Butler; 21st, bottle of Baileys- Conor Cryan; 22nd, €30 Scollans(Drumshanbo) voucher-Jessie Doherty. Many thanks to Karl Moffatt for the great music not forgetting David O’Dowd’s contribution in getting the crowd going. Well done also to Henrys, Peter and staff, for the venue and the lovely food.
Calling all writers. The Crossna Community Co-op Committee is proposing to stage another “Melodies and Memories” concert on May 10th. It is asking anyone interested in submitting a piece of writing (approx. 800 words),to be read at the concert, to send it to patmolloy3@gmail.com or to maymoran85@gmail.com. If more than the six pieces required are received, a selection panel will review the pieces and select those that are best suited for the concert. More information can be obtained from 086 8500709 or 086 8301259.
Tickets are now on sale for the Grand National Sweep run at Aintree on Saturday, April 11th in aid of Drumboylan Church Funds. Draw will be held on Thursday, April 9th in Drumboylan Community Centre.
Though the weather wasn’t always favourable, the lovely season of Easter was enjoyed by all, both locals and visitors alike. This popular holiday period always marks the arrival of spring in a special way. The feasts associated with the Holy Week/Easter season were celebrated in the traditional manner in St. Therese’s Church, culminating in Easter Sunday Mass, where there was a huge congregation in attendance. Adding to the solemnity of the occasion was the tasteful, meaningful manner in which the church was decorated, and also the superb contribution from the Church Choir.
One of our major projects for 2026 is the production of a digital map of our locality. This project is a joint one, involving both the society and Williamstown Tidy Towns, and it has enormous potential. Galway County Council, through its Community Support Programme, and West Midlands Credit Union, through its Community Support Fund, have been very generous and their support for this project in this practical way is very much appreciated by all.
Kennys’ Bookshop, Galway currently has a special offer on the sale of the ‘The Puddler Poet’. They will ship the book, which costs €20, post free, to anywhere in Ireland, and for a nominal €2 to most countries.
“The Puddler Poet - the Life, Times and Poetry of Michael McGovern”, the biography of a very talented local man, written by the renowned RTÉ broadcaster, the late Jim Fahy, is also currently available at €20, from Sharkey’s Spar, SNJ Cafe, and the WDC office (all in Williamstown). It is also available in Books ‘n More and Pat Lane Shoes (both Tuam), Charlie Byrne’s bookshop (Galway), Newsround (Roscommon), Mulvihills’ Newsagents (Castlerea), and Alan Hanna’s Bookshop (Rathmines, Dublin). It can also be purchased via the online site “buythebook.ie” or directly from Leo Finnegan (086 1603043) (finneganleo100@gmail.com).
The community has just lost another much loved and very popular member, with the death at a comparatively early age of Mrs Bernie Brennan. Though not enjoying robust health for quite some time, she accepted all her challenges with dignity and tolerance, and her positive outlook enabled her to maintain a high quality of life all along. In addition, she was so caring towards others, and unselfish to the degree that she was much more concerned about the welfare of others than she was about herself. Among those to whom she was extremely caring was her late sister-in-law, Mary Brennan. Her family meant everything to Bernie and she looked forward very much to the various occasions when they would all be together, as can be seen clearly from the way she used her special diary to have every gathering fully organised. Bernie’s love of all aspects of nature including animals, and in particular horses, shows another very positive and appealing characteristic. Bernie made friends easily and she enjoyed very much meeting up regularly with those working in the Parish Hall next door. She had a strong, deep faith and had particular devotion to Mary, as a result of which she was a regular visitor to Knock. Work was also a prominent feature of Bernie’s life, both in the home, in the garden, and in various factories such as Farah, Wrangler and, later on Harmac, where she continued to work until her health deteriorated somewhat. She had numerous leisure interests, such as walking, music, dancing (it was at a dance in Castlerea that she met her husband, John), and sport (in particular Gaelic football where she remained loyal to her native Mayo, and horse racing which is not surprising, considering her love of animals). When her love of playing darts and going to the cinema are included, one can see how full her social life was.
Bernie was an active community person and was always available to help out with the annual senior citizens Christmas party and, indeed, with numerous events in the Parish Hall, often facilitating so many of us with her willingness to unlock and lock the hall as required. Bernie’s caring nature and her positive outlook came through clearly during various aspects of her Funeral Mass, including the symbols of her life presented, the Prayers of the Faithful, Father Tommie Commins’ meaningful homily and her son TJ’s loving and warm eulogy.
Possibly more than any, the characteristics which define Bernie most are her kindness and compassion. The fact that her constant advice to her loved ones was “Be Nice” tells its own story.
Sympathy is extended to her husband, John, children Mary, Noreen, T.J., and Edel, their partners, her sisters and brothers, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, extended family members, neighbours and friends.
Thank you. Leo Finnegan (0861603043)
