Local Notes: Golf Lotto, Band News, Cloonbonniffe Annual Review
Preparations for the 2026 Croí Walk/ Run are underway, organised in association with TY students and their teacher, Ms Yvonne Ryan, at Castlerea Community School. Ms Ryan, Senator Gareth Scahill and Breege Callaghan attended the launch with some of the TY team at Trinity Arts Centre last week. The walk/run will take place on Friday, October 9th at 7 p.m., starting from the Trinity Arts Centre.
The winning bonus ball number in Castlerea Golf Club’s lotto for September 23rd was number 10. Winners of this week’s lotto were J Collins, Peter Silke, Mary O’Gara, Patricia Moran, and Danny Burke. Each receive €100.
The death occurred on Friday, September 18th, peacefully in the loving and wonderful care of Fearna Manor Nursing Home, surrounded by her loving family, of Mrs Mary Rogers, St. Patrick’s Street, Castlerea. Predeceased by her infant son Alan, her grandsons, Conor and Ethan, her parents, Mary and Patrick, brother, Pat, sister, Eileen and niece Ruth. Deceased was a very kind, gentle and jolly person and a wonderful and most obliging neighbour. She was a hairdresser by profession and ran a business in Castlerea for over 50 years, first at Main Street and later St. Patrick’s Street until she retired. She was very kind to all her customers who supported her all those years, and they were always treated to the cuppa and the biscuit or a nice scone. She loved music and ballroom dancing. She had a great interest in flowers and took great pride in her flower garden. She was a woman of great faith, and very devoted to the Church and indeed over the years made many donations to the missions in Africa. She was very proud of her family and their achievements. She adored her 12 grandchildren and loved when they would come to visit her and she was delighted that they were also involved in sport. She was a loving mother and grandmother and will be forever missed by her children, Padraic, David, Aisling and Amy; her sons-in-law, Jim and Joe; daughters-in-law, Elizabeth and Stephanie; her 12 grandchildren, siblings Mick (Tulsk), Barney (Meath), Pauline (Ballinasloe), and Geraldine (Fairymount), her aunt Mary Dolan (Castleruby), extended family, neighbours and friends. Her remains were removed from Gaynor’s Funeral Home on Sunday evening to St. Patrick’s Church, Castlerea, and following Mas of the Resurrection on Monday morning celebrated by Fr. John McManus, who gave a beautiful homily, she was laid to rest in St. Jospeh’s Cemetery, Castlerea. Before the final blessing, her grandchild Abi Flanagan read the post Communion reflection, and her daughter Amy Roche read the eulogy. The ceremony was enhanced by the beautiful singing of Julia Heaney with organist Ena Conry. May Mary’s gentle soul rest in peace.
Towards the end of 2025 the Castlerea Brass and Reed Band started a school of music to recruit new members for the band under musical director Niamh O’Flanagan and Martin Jones. As a result, four new members have joined, Karen Coen, Maria Morris, Sharon Brandon and Sharon Arnott and are performing very well. The classes are up and running again this year under Niamh and Martin so if you would like to learn and play and instrument and become a member of the band, please contact Niamh, Martin or band leader Richard Thompson, 085 1742730 for further information. The band needs new members so please come along and test your talent. LATE MR TOM EGAN The 12 o’clock Mass in St. Patrick’s Church on Sunday, October 4thwill be offered up for the repose of the soul of Mr Tom Egan, formerly Cloonchambers, Castlerea, who passed away in London on June 10th last, at the request of his family who are travelling from the UK for the occasion. Tom played football for Castlerea as a young man winning a county junior final in 1957 and a county senior O’Rourke Cup league medal in 1959. He also played soccer with Castlerea Celtic.
The Castlerea Community School boys’ junior football team defeated Charlestown in the first round of the Division (D) League Connacht Colleges Championship at O’Rourke Park on Monday, September 21ston the score of 7-13 to 3-7. Castlerea started well. They played as a team and took some nice scores and led at half-time by 3-7 to 1-0. The second half was a more even affair with Charlestown putting it up to the home team and never gave up until the final whistle. Castlerea deserved to win. Their manager Paul Gooney was pleased by their display. Team and scorers: Aaron Cryan, Calum Walsh, Tom Vaughan, John Garvey, Kevin Chiforic, Eddie Finneran 3-0, Nik Kapnis 0-1, Alex Doyle, Rory Hawkshaw 0-1, David Walsh, Ciaran Higgins 0-3, Evan Kelly 1-5, Martin Sharkey 0-1, Ethan Neary 3-2, Aaron Harte, subs used Tadgh Donlon, Patrick Foley, Sean Gill, Patrick Durr, other subs Lorcan Walsh, Tuari Curran, Alan Malone, Aaron Hayes, Odhran Higgins, Senan Higgins, Isaac Laferty, Kyle Lyons, James Hanley, James Keaveney. Manager Paul Gooney with Danny Burke. Team sponsor Lyons, Mace. Referee Dermot Lyons junior.
The Castlerea Parish Magazine committee has started working on this year’s publication and now invites clubs, organisations, schools and individuals to submit reports, articles etc to be included in this year’s magazine. Photos of events and special occasions during the year are especially welcome. Please forward your news to castlereaparishnews@gmail.com. The deadline for accepting all material is Friday, October 23rd.
Material for inclusion in the 2026 edition of Cloonbonniffe Review Magazine, the 40th edition of the magazine, is now being compiled. If you have photos of special occasion, weddings, family gatherings, christenings, communions, confirmations, old memory lane photos, school, local interest stories, articles, and other material suitable for inclusion in this special edition, please sent to kathleenwall123@gmail.com. The deadline is Monday, October 19th.
A Coffee Morning in aid of Mayo/Roscommon Hospice Foundation will take place on Sunday, October 4th in the community room at Threen NS after the 10 a.m. Mass. All support would be greatly appreciated.
