Local Notes: Historic printing press returns home, vintage club table quiz and parkrun
Despite the cold start to Saturday morning there was a good turnout for the regular weekend parkrun in Strokestown.
Please support the Irish Cancer Society’s Daffodil Day this Friday, March 20th. There will be a dedicated fundraising stand located outside Spar throughout the day. Come along to pick up some beautiful fresh daffodils, silk pins, and other merchandise. Every donation helps provide crucial services for cancer patients and their families. Your support would be greatly appreciated.
Last week saw the return to the town of the historic Strokestown Democrat printing press. The press was the property of the Morahan brothers who ran the Democrat newspaper from 1907 to 1948, and a successful printing business for many years after that. Owen Morahan’s daughter, Nell, was the Strokestown Notes correspondent for the Herald for many years. Nell mentioned in conversation to her friend Brigid Kavanagh (née Shiel) that the printing press had gone to Bunratty Folk Museum, and years later this prompted Declan Kavanagh to go looking for it. This culminated in a journey to Bunratty’s stores on March 12th on a lorry kindly sponsored by Pat Brogan Tractors. With driver Michael Martin, Declan, accompanied by Rory Doyle from the Community Heritage group, arrived at Bunratty storage near Shannon, loaded the lorry with the help of locals, and headed back to Strokestown with their near 200 year-old press weighing all of six tonnes and coming in about 50 sections. Sincere thanks to Pat Brogan for all his help and for his offer of temporary storage. Now that it’s been returned to its proper home, there is an urgent need to restore the press to its former glory and to find a more permanent home for such a culturally important piece of Strokestown’s history. The Heritage group would appreciate if anybody interested in displaying the press in the town could contact Declan at 087 2484530 or Rory at 086 1024320.
Mid-Roscommon Vintage Club is holding its first ever table quiz on this Friday, March 20th. The quiz will take place in Frank’s Lounge, Ballybeg and starts at 8.30 p.m.. There will be a cash prize for the winning table and there will also be a table ticket draw for the contestants and a raffle for spot prizes. Entry to table team is €10 per person and teams consist of four per table. Questions will cover a wide range of subjects such as geography, history, science, nature, music, sport, general knowledge and literature. There will also be a few local questions and as the quiz is being organised by the vintage club there will be a few questions on vintage machinery and vehicles also. This quiz is a non-mobile phone competition where you use your head and not your fingers to gain the answers.
Despite it being a nippy and windy morning, the die hard runners turned out for their regular weekend parkrun on Saturday last. A visitor from Cavan, 12 year old Marianna Osojca took the run by storm and glided over the finish line to take this week's first position. She was amazing and all were impressed with the young budding superstar athlete.
Results of the recent SCDA fortnightly draw. Numbers drawn - 3, 4,8,1 19. Two Lucky Dip winners - Susan Compton, Clooncagh, and Dermot Foley, Kilmore. Next draw on Wednesday, March 18th at the SCDA office. Thank you for your continued support.
Enrolment forms for Clooncagh NS for September, 2026, are now available. Telephone (071) 96333253 or (085) 8819245 or e mail cllonaghschool@gmail.comfor further information.
The death took place recently at Sonas Innis Ree Nursing Home, Ballyleague, of Mrs Camilla (Mellie) Kelly (nee Carroll) of Lisroyne, Strokestown, wife of the late Mr Peter Kelly. A native of Strokestown, she was the last surviving member of the family of the late Mr Tom Carroll and of the late Mrs Margaret Carroll, Merchants, Church Street, and a family long associated with the commercial, cultural , social and sporting life of the area. She was educated at the Convent of Mercy, Strokestown, and the Convent of Mercy, St. Peter's, Athlone. It was here she learned Irish dancing and her proficiency in dancing was recognised at Feiseanna and concerts over many years. She was an accomplished tennis and badminton player and she was a member of the local badminton club which won the Connacht provincial championships in the 1950s. She was a longtime member of the parish church choir and was its director for many years. She also performed in productions presented by Strokestown Dramatic and Musical Society. A devout Catholic, she was a member of the altar cociety and performed other voluntary church duties. She and her late husband operated a successful retail shop and public house at Church Street until their retirement. News of her passing in her 99th year was heard of with deep regret among her relatives, neighbours and friends. She was predeceased by her brothers, P.J., (Dublin), Benny (Cork) and Tommy (Church Street), and by her sisters, Mrs Maisie Greally (Dublin), Mrs Olivia McCormack (Roscommon) and Mrs Annette Heavey (Dublin). The Funeral Mass was celebrated at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Strokestown, and the interment followed in Strokestown Cemetery. She is survived by her daughter, Mrs Caroline Downey (Dublin); sons, Peter (Lisroyne) and Paul (Mitchelstown, Cork); son-in-law, Frank; daughter-in-law, Mairead; grandchildren, Andrew, James, Declan, Michael, Andrew and Roisin; great-grandchild, Cian, nephews, nieces, and other relatives to whom deepest sympathy is extended.
