Local Notes: Large crowds attend comedy play, farmers' market and annual MS collection
Ged Rowlands, Orla Reidy, Mary Rushe and John McGrath, getting ready for ‘The Far Off Hills’ by Lennox Robinson and performed by Kiltoom Drama Group in Ballybay Parish Hall, Kiltoom. Pic. Gerard O’Loughlin
An Easter Farmers’ Market will be held in Brideswell village on Saturday, March 30th from 10 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.. There will be locally sourced vegetables, baked goods, crepes, coffee and fun activities for all the family, including an Easter Egg Hunt for children.
The County Roscommon Voluntary Branch of Multiple Sclerosis Ireland will hold its annual church gate collection at all churches throughout County Roscommon this weekend, March 30th/31st. The support of the public would be greatly appreciated.
Hundreds of people attended the staging of the comedy play "The Far-Off Hills" by the Kiltoom Drama Group in the Parish Hall, Ballybay, Kiltoom, over its four night run from Thursday to Sunday night last. The play, penned by Lennox Robinson, was performed in two acts by the Kiltoom cast which once again blended into their respective roles under the able guidance of producer/director Ollie Hegarty. Prolonged applause and standing ovations for the cast each night indicated the appreciation levels of the respective audiences for the cast and the behind the scenes personnel. The cast was comprised of John Stack, Maeve O'Reilly, Rebecca Collins, Claire Lemass, John Mc Grath, Ged Rowlands, Dermot Fitzgerald, Deborah Kilbride, John Quinlan, and Nicola Meeley. The front of house personnel were Gabrielle Healy, Barry Donnelly, Elaine Walsh, Gillian Coughlan, May Cunningham, Caroline Harney, Lisa Nugent, Marie Donlon, Orlaith Reidy and Mary Rush. The set design and construction quartet of Tom Shine, Pat Warby, John Stack and Ollie Hegarty were ably assisted by Mattie Mannion, Paddy Heavin and Gillian Coughlan. Helen Neeson, May Cunningham, and Ann Newcomen had responsibility for continuity. Marie Donlon and Ann O'Sullivan once again took care of make-up and costumes. Tom Shine, Sean Arthur and Quinn Lighting looked after sound and lighting while the props were in the capable hands of Orlaith Reidy, Mary Rush and Gillian Coughlan. The duo with responsibility for marketing and photography were Mary Rush and Caroline Harney.
Dara Cronin, Carrowreagh, Taughmaconnell, has been bereaved by the death of his father, Michael Cronin, Derrymullen, Ballinasloe, which took place at University College Hospital, Galway, on Monday, March 4th. Aged 78 last May, the deceased was a native of Mallow, County Cork, and he was attached to the Garda Siochana as a Garda detective mainly in Ballinasloe from the seventies until his retirement in 2002. He initially was stationed at both Taughmaconnell and Ahascragh Garda Stations for periods in the late sixties. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather and was noted for performing neighbourly deeds and kind acts in his residential community. An avid sports enthusiast, he played senior football with Padraig Pearses in the late sixties. He was also a long serving playing member of Ballinasloe Golf Club and served both as secretary and president of the club over the decades. He is survived by his wife Mary (nee Chalke, Offaly); sons, Adrian, Navan; Dara, Carrowreagh and daughter Orla, Dublin. He is also survived by one brother, one sister, four grandchildren and a number of other relatives. Following Concelebrated Mass at St Michael's Church, Ballinasloe, on Saturday, March 9th, the burial took place in Creagh Cemetery. At the March meeting of Taughmaconnell Community Council last week sympathy was extended to Dara Cronin on the death of his father.
At the recent March meeting of Taughmaconnell Community Council sympathy was extended to Community Council member Dermot Harney, Carrowreagh, on the recent death of his aunt, Ms Mary Harney, Carrowreagh. Sympathy was also extended to Dara Cronin, Carrowreagh on the death of his father Michael Cronin and Mrs Angela Duane on the death of her husband David's grandmother, Mrs Caitlin Duane, Main Street, Ballinasloe.
The death took place on Thursday, March 14th, at University College Hospital, Ballinasloe, of Joe Fallon, Milltown, Dysart. Aged 87 this month, he had been in ill health a short time and he bore his illness with characteristic fortitude. The deceased was employed as a lorry driver with a local firm and latterly Roscommon County Council for many years and he was a very skilful and careful driver. He was a most obliging neighbour and trustworthy friend. He liked the outdoor life and enjoyed fishing and gardening as his main hobbies. He took a keen interest in all farming affairs and current affairs and was a most engaging conversationalist on a one to one basis. He is survived by brothers, Michael, Ennis; Noel, Kilgarve, Ballinasloe; Eamon, Dysart; sisters, Mrs Kathleen Gately, Dysart; Mrs Nancy Brennan, Shannon, County Clare; Mrs Agnes Lynch, Creagh, Ballinasloe; Sister Josephine, LSU, Malahide Road, Dublin; Pauline, Creagh, Ballinasloe, nieces, nephews and a number of other relatives. Following Mass of the Resurrection at St Patrick's Church, Dysart on Monday, March 18th, the burial took place in Dysart Cemetery. The celebrant of the Mass was Very Rev. Francis Beirne, PP, Ballyforan, Dysart and Tisrara.
The winners of the weekly progressive 25 card drive at the St Brigid's Handball Complex in Curraghboy on Tuesday night last were Michael Donnellan, Michael Keenan, Mrs Bernadette Burke, Mrs Patricia Staunton, John McHugh, Joe Healy, Liam Grehan, Vinny Brady, Mrs Kitty Naughton, Mrs Marian Lynch, Peter McHugh, Johnny Hughes, Mrs Eithne Leonard and Mrs Marian Grehan.
The death took place on Sunday, March 3rd, at Roscommon Hospice of Ms Mary Harney, Carrowreagh, Taughmaconnell. Aged 90 last August, she had been in ill health a short time and she bore her illness with characteristic dignity. Of a friendly and affable disposition, the deceased was employed as a secretary at Ballinasloe Co-Operative Livestock Mart for upwards of 30 years and she was noted for her innate decency and integrity by the farming community generally and her work colleagues. She performed innumerable neighbourly deeds and kind acts in her residential community over the decades and was a friend to many. A devout Catholic, she was a regular visitor to Knock Shrine down the years and she supported a number of church linked activities. She is survived by brothers, Tommy, Carrowreagh; Peter, Edenderry, County Offaly; sisters, Mrs Catherine Darragh, Swindon; Mrs Eileen Darragh, Swindon; Mrs Margaret McMullen, Swindon; Mrs Lily Mannion, Castlesampson; nieces, nephews and a number of other relatives. Following Mass of the Resurrection at St Ronan's Church, Taughmaconnell on Wednesday, March 6th, the burial took place in Taughmaconnell Cemetery. The celebrant of the Mass was Very Rev. Sean Neylon, PP, Taughmaconnell. Her colleagues in Ballinasloe Mart formed a guard of honour at the removal.
The death took place on Friday, March 8th, at her residence of Mrs Noreen McCarthy, Cloghan, Mount Talbot, Four Roads. Aged 86 in November last, she had been in ill health for some time and she bore her illness with characteristic fortitude. Of a caring and affable disposition, she was devoted to her immediate and extended family and was also a most obliging neighbour and reliable friend. She worked in New York and Birmingham, England, for a number of years before returning with her husband, Joe, a native of South Dublin, in 1973 to reside in family setting at Cloghan. Of a hard working and industrious disposition, she helped run the family farm and took a keen interest always in all farming affairs. A devout Catholic, she performed innumerable acts of Christian charity with typical self-effacement over the decades. She was predeceased six years by her husband, Joe, and is survived by sons, Joe, Dysart; Michael, Germany; Sean; daughters; Ellie, London and Noreen Naughton, Mount Talbot. A member of a farming family of five girls, she is also survived by sisters, Mrs Eileen Mannion, Jamestown, Four Roads; Mrs Claire Lee, Castleffrench; eight grandchildren, three great grandchildren and a number of other relatives. Following Mass of the Resurrection at the Church of Christ the Good Shepherd, Four Roads, on Monday, March 11th, the burial took place in Tisrara Cemetery. The celebrant of the Mass was Very Rev. Francis Beirne, PP, Ballyforan, Dysart and Tisrara.
The death took place at the Galway Clinic on Wednesday, February 21st, of Mrs Hannah Bracken, Clonark, Cornafulla, Athlone. Aged 88, she was the former Ms Hannah Naughton, Clonark, and had been in ill health for some time. She had resided all her life in her native townland and she enjoyed the respect and esteem of all those with whom she became acquainted. Of a friendly and outgoing disposition, she was noted for performing neighbourly deeds and kind acts in her residential catchment. She took a keen interest always in all farming affairs and was a most engaging conversationalist on a one to one basis. Her main hobby was bingo and she also enjoyed attending the occasional race meeting. A devout Catholic, she visited both Knock Shrine and Lourdes on a number of occasions. The last surviving member of a family of seven, she is survived by her husband, Willie, a native of Clareen, Birr, County Offaly; brother-in-law, Johnny Bracken; nieces, nephews and a number of other relatives. Following Concelebrated Mass at St Brigid's Church, Drum, on Monday, February 26th, the burial took place in Drum Cemetery. The celebrants of the Mass were Rev. Michael Hickey, CC, Drum and Very Rev. John Conlon, a native of Tang.
