Local Notes: Hospice fundraiser, recent deaths, and information meeting
Vlad, Alina, Elvira and Fina Bus, Mount Talbot, pictured at Ballyforan Fair & Festival. Pic: Gerard O’Loughlin
In excess of 200 people attended a fundraising auction in aid of Galway-Roscommon Hospice in Killeen's licensed premises, Togher, Taughmaconnell, on Saturday, September 13th. In excess of €50,000 was raised on the night with Roscommon Co-operative Livestock Mart auctioneer Tom Cox of Strokestown in charge. The fundraiser was organised by Very Rev. Sean Neylon, PP, Taughmaconnell, Michael Brooks, Dermot Killeen, Tim Farrell, John Kelly, Frank Kelly, and Peter O'Connor. They were ably assisted by Michelle Brooks, Mary Farrell and Mary O'Connor. The livestock on the floor included a Connemara pony presented by Peter O'Connor, two ewe lambs, a Belgium Bue calf, an Angus calf and a Charolais heifer donated by Denis Cunniffe. The other items included tickets for the Irish autumn international rugby clash at the Aviva Stadium, vouchers from business concerns in the South Roscommon and Ballinasloe area including co-op vouchers, restaurant vouchers, oil vouchers, and turf and timber vouchers. Retired Taughmaconnell Garda Tim Farrell returned thanks on the night. He specifically thanked all those who sponsored or supported the fundraiser in any way.
The weekly series of Tuesday night card games at the St Brigid's Handball Complex in Curraghboy will resume on Tuesday, October 7th, at 9 p.m.. New players are most welcome to come along and join the line out of regulars.
A tea/coffee morning in support of Roscommon-Mayo Hospice will take place at the St Brigid's Handball Complex in Curraghboy on this Sunday, October 5th, after the 10 a.m. Mass in St Brigid's Church, Curraghboy. The support of the general public would be greatly appreciated.
The death took place on Monday, September 15th, at his residence of Mr PJ Gavin, Grangers Road, Kilkenny, who was a native of Upper Curramore, Kiltoom. Aged 90 on February 13th last, he was a building contractor who worked at the building scene in Leeds for 32 years before returning to Kilkenny to reside in 1976. He remained active on the building scene there up until his late seventies. A devoted husband, father and grandfather, he was a most obliging neighbour and reliable friend. He played Gaelic football with the local St Brigid's GAA Club in his younger days and he remained a lifelong follower of all St Brigid's and Roscommon GAA panels. He also enjoyed viewing sport on television and especially Gaelic games, golf and rugby. He was a regular visitor to his native Kiltoom over the decades and he retained many lifelong friendships in the area. He was a follower of Irish music, song and dance and also enjoyed gardening as a hobby. He bore his recent illness with characteristic dignity and fortitude. Predeceased by his daughter, Margaret and son-in-law Eamon, he is survived by his wife Joan and daughters, Maria and Joanne. A member of a family of six boys and five girls, he is also survived by brothers, Joe, Lucan; Tony, Upper Curramore; Declan, Upper Curramore; sisters, Mrs Mary Burke, Clare; Mrs Carmel Galvin, Kent, England; Mrs Frances Harrison, Cam, Brideswell; Mrs Louise Kelly, Glanduff, St John's; Mrs Chris Ryan, Shannonbridge; grandchildren Killian and Jessica; nieces, nephews and a number of other relatives.
All farmers are invited to an information meeting regarding the Regenerating the Rocks European Innovation project, which will be held in Four Roads Community Centre on this Friday, October 3rd, at 7.45 p.m.. According to the farmer project co-ordinator, Ms Kelsey Daly, who is a native of Rockhill, Kiltoom, this project will be for four years. It is a Department of Agriculture project which is part of the Karst Farming Network who are operating the project. The target of the project will be farmers who have karst limestone grassland, turloughs, eskers and hazel woodlands. The meeting will outline measures farmers may take to complement those in the Acres scheme.
At the September meeting of Taughmaconnell Community Council on Tuesday, September 16th, a vote of congratulations was extended to the Taughmaconnell U-12 Community Games soccer panel on bringing back an All-Ireland Community Games title to the parish. Sympathy was extended to the Galvin family, Cloonkeen, on the recent death of Mrs Kathleen Galvin; the Grehan family, Camla, on the death of Ms Kathleen Grehan recently in Dublin and also to Mrs Sally Grehan, Camla, on the death of her brother, Mr Tony Deeley, Ballinasloe.
The death took place unexpectedly on Thursday, September 11th, of Mr Paddy Purcell, Carrowreagh, Athleague. Aged 72 in November last, his passing at a comparatively early age has come as a great shock to his immediate and extended family, neighbours and wide circle of friends. A native of Kilmore, Athleague, he had resided in family setting at Carrowreagh for the past 35 years and he engaged in sheep farming on his land holding. He was also a well-known agricultural contractor in the area in the decades past and he also operated a taxi service. In his work role as an agricultural contractor and taxi driver he was noted for his tact and discretion in all his dealings with the general public and was also respected for his driving skills. A devoted husband, father and grandfather, he was noted for his sense of neighbourliness in his residential community and for his affability, innate decency and integrity. He took a keen interest in all farming affairs and current affairs and he was a lifelong supporter of the Fianna Fail party. He was an activist within the Athleague Community Centre Committee since the early eighties and he had served as both chairperson and vice- chairperson of the committee and was the treasurer of the 20 member committee at the time of his death. He was also a supporter of all the Athleague hurling panels over the years and the Roscommon GAA scene generally. A religious person, he supported a number of church linked activities and charitable causes. He is survived by his wife, Mary (nee Lohan, Kilbride); sons, Ivan, Abbeytown, Roscommon; Adrian, New York and daughter Edel, Carrowreagh. He is also survived by one brother John, Kilmore; sisters, Mrs Mary Kelly, Turrock, Dysart; Mrs Anne Doyle, Scrine, Rahara; grandson, Jack Purcell; nieces, nephews and a number of other relatives. Following Mass of the Resurrection at St Patrick's Church, Athleague, on Monday, September 15th, burial took place in Athleague Cemetery. The celebrant of the Mass was Very Rev. Ray Milton, PP, Knockcroghery, St John's and Rahara.
The fundraising concert in aid of the Rise and Shine Trust (formerly the Irish Pilgrimage Trust) staged at the St Brigid's GAA Centre, Kiltoom, on Friday night, September 19th, raised approximately €5,000. The fundraiser was well supported and brought together the local St Brigid's Community Choir, the Athlone Choral Society and the Athlone A-Cappella in one choir event. The charity takes 400 children to Lourdes each Easter, providing them with a life-changing holiday and respite for their families.
Mr Thomas (Tom) Turley, Derrylahan, Moore, whose passing took place at the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore, on Wednesday, September 17th, was synonymous with Padraig Pearse’s GAA Club since its foundation in 1962 and he had the unique distinction of being club president for the past 13 years. Of an affable and friendly disposition, he was a long serving Bord Na Mona employee and esteemed member of the local farming community. Noted for performing neighbourly deeds and kind acts in his residential community, he supported a number of community and church linked activities and a wide range of charitable causes. He began playing Gaelic football in earnest with the Moore Junior Club at the age of 16 and he won a junior championship county medal with the club in the late fifties. He was a founder member of Padraig Pearses Club in 1962 and a playing member of the club up until his mid-thirties. He also had the distinction of being a member of the Roscommon senior panel which went down to Kerry in the All-Ireland final of 1962. Aged 84, he is survived by his twin brother, Patrick and brothers Michael and Sean; sisters, Mrs Mary Hynes, Mrs Bridget Murphy, Mrs Nancy Galvin, Mrs Peggy Hynes, Mrs Kitty Cunniffe, nieces, nephews and a number of other relatives. Following Mass of the Resurrection on Friday, September 19th, at St Mary's Church, Moore, the burial took place in Moore New Cemetery.
The death took place recently of Mr Tommy Greene, Claregalway, who was a native of Derrylahan, Moore. Aged 82, he was a fitter by trade and he enjoyed the respect and esteem of all those with whom he became acquainted. Devoted to his immediate and extended family, he was an obliging neighbour. He enjoyed gardening and reading as his main hobbies. He is survived by his wife Pearl (nee Maloney, Clonmacnoise) and three daughters. A member of a family of ten, he is also survived by one brother, Michael, Derrylahan; sisters, Mrs Ina Dolan, Ballinahowen, Athlone; Mrs Nell Mannion, Lower Ardmullen, Kiltoom; Frances, Creagh; Mrs Breege Clarke, Tenerife; grandchildren, nieces, nephews and a number of other relatives. Following Mass of the Resurrection at St Columba's Church, Castlegar, the burial took place in Bohermore Cemetery, Galway.
