Local Notes: March for Life, Art Exhibition, Jubilee Celebrations
Since the recent public announcement by An Post that it is seeking a new agent for the Knockcroghery Post Office customer base, the post mistress, Ms Mary Fitzgerald Dolan, has been the recipient of good wishes for a long and happy retirement. Mary took up the role of post mistress in Knockcroghery in 1986 and, since then, she has served her customer base with Bismarckian diplomacy, tact and discretion. Mary will retire from the post on July 10th next. There is growing concern in South Roscommon at the fact that at least 12 rural post offices have closed throughout the region since 1986 due to retirements. They include Kiltoom, Lecarrow, Rahara, Ballydangan, Taughmaconnell, Brideswell, Ballyforan, Four Roads, Mount Talbot, Dysart, Oldtown and Cornafulla. Curraghboy Post Office is now one of the few fully functional post offices in the region. The current postmaster, Gerry Menton, is a member of the fifth or sixth generation of his family to have a general grocery outlet in the village. The Menton family is the oldest family in the village and the records show that they were there as far back as 1749. The area is now also served by three post office outlets in Athlone including the Baylough on the Roscommon road outskirts of the town, Ballinasloe, Roscommon and Ballygar. A big number of residents of South Roscommon, in line with the trends elsewhere, have their weekly State pensions lodged directly into their bank accounts.
The annual March for Life will take place on Bank Holiday Monday, May 4th, starting at 2 p.m. in Dublin City Centre. The route is from Newman University Church, St Stephen's Green to Leinster House. The march will be peaceful and family friendly with a welcoming atmosphere for people of all ages.
There will be Exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at St Brigid's Church, Curraghboy, on this Friday evening, May 1st, at 7 p.m..
The winners of the weekly progressive 25 card drive at the St Brigid's Handball Complex in Curraghboy on Tuesday night last were Gerry Menton, Michael Keenan, Mrs Marian Grehan, Mrs Eithne Leonard, Mrs Sarah Seery, Mrs Karen Keogh, Sean Gatel, Padraig Harney, Mrs Marion Lynch, Seamus McHugh and Cllr Tony Ward.
Mrs Mary McDermott, Newpark, Kiltoom, has been bereaved by the death of her mother, Mrs Della Greene, Rathbrennan, Roscommon, which took place on April 10th last at the Oakwood Nursing Home, Roscommon. Aged 86 on March 27th last, she was the former Ms Della Rockford, Knock, and she was lovingly cared for at Oakwood in recent years. She was in employment for a number of years prior to marriage at Delaney's general grocery and licensed premises Ballyhaunis. Of a friendly and caring disposition, she was devoted to her immediate and extended family and noted for her sense of neighbourliness in her residential catchment. An excellent homemaker, she was skilful at baking, cooking, embroidery, weaving and furniture restoration. A devout Catholic, she was a Minister of the Eucharist at the Sacred Heart Church, Roscommon, for over 30 years and she also visited the Chapel of Adoration in Abbey Street, Roscommon, on a weekly basis over the decades. She was also a frequent visitor to Knock Shrine and she supported a wide range of charitable causes and bequests with typical self-effacement down the years. She was predeceased by her husband, Joe, in September 2022 and her son, Mel in July of 1990 and is survived by sons, John, Rathbrennan; Joey, Knockcroghery and daughter, Mrs Mary McDermott. She is also survived by one brother, John, Knock; sisters, Mrs Josie Whelan, Claremorris; Mrs Eileen Mulderrig, Knockcroghery; ten grandchildren, one great granddaughter and a number of other relatives. Following Concelebrated Mass at the Sacred Heart Church, Roscommon, on Monday, April 13th, the burial took place in St Coman's Cemetery, Roscommon. The celebrants of the Mass were Very Rev. Joe Fitzgerald, retired PP, Castlerea and Rev. George Agger, SVD, Donamon. They were assisted by Deacon William Gacquin, Curraghboy.
Avril Egan, Liscam, Curraghboy, will launch her solo art exhibition for this year's All Ireland Drama Festival in Athlone in the Dean Crowe Theatre in the town on this Wednesday evening, April 29th, at 7.15 p.m.. All those interested are welcome to come along and attend.
At the April meeting of Taughmaconnell Community Council in Taughmaconnell Community Centre on Tuesday night last sympathy was extended to the Mulvey family, Killeglan, Taughmaconnell, on the death of Mrs Mary Mulvey and the Morgan family, Breole, Taughmaconnell, on the recent death of Tommy Morgan.
Mrs Elizabeth (Lily) Shanley, Kellybrook, Knockcroghery, whose passing took place on April 15th at Roscommon Hospice was aunt of Mrs Ann Lawlor, Tibarney, Four Roads; Mrs Marion Lynch, Kilcar, Curraghboy; Gerard Keenan, Tullamore and Padraig Keenan, Ballyduff, St John's. The former Ms Lily Beattie, Kellybrook, she had been in ill health a short time and she enjoyed the respect and esteem of all those with whom she became acquainted. Devoted to her immediate and extended family, she was noted for her sense of neighbourliness in her residential catchment. She was predeceased by her husband, Joe, in April 2020 and she is survived by daughters, Mrs Julie Greenshade, Kilkenny; Mrs Jenny Murphy, Kellybrook, and Mrs Linda Kehoe, Roscommon. The last surviving member of a farming family of three boys and three girls, she is also survived by five grandchildren, nieces, nephews and a number of other relatives. Following Concelebrated Mass at St Patrick's Church, Knockcroghery, on Friday, April 17th, the burial took place in Gailey Cemetery.
lans are now well advanced for the hosting of 50th anniversary celebrations for Moore United Soccer Club. The celebrations will kick off in Falty Park on Sunday, May 3rd. Everyone in the community is welcome to attend.
The death took place unexpectedly at University College Hospital, Galway, on Wednesday, April 15th, of Mr William (Willie) Dolan, Beechlawn, Ballinasloe, who was a native of Curry, Brideswell. Aged 77, his untimely death has come as a shock to his immediate and extended family, neighbours and wide circle of friends. The deceased had a lifelong work involvement in the pub trade. He began his involvement in the pub trade in Athlone in the seventies and he was the licensee on lease of Hamrock's bar and lounge in Brideswell for a number of years in the eighties. He subsequently was the proprietor of a licensed premises at Goff Street, Roscommon for some years and worked latterly in the bar section of the Shearwater Hotel in Ballinasloe. A person with undoubted business acumen, he was noted for his tact, discretion and listening skills in all his dealings with the general public. Devoted to his immediate and extended family, his affability and genuine nature endeared him to all those who made his acquaintance and he enjoyed friendships with a wide age range. He was also noted for performing neighbourly deeds and kind acts in his residential community with typical self-effacement. He enjoyed bridge playing as a hobby and he was a past president of Ballinasloe Bridge Club. A sports enthusiast, he was a follower of Gaelic games generally and he played golf in Roscommon Golf Club and latterly as a member of Ballinasloe Golf Club. Predeceased by his wife, Ann, daughter, Clare and grandson, Evan, he is survived by his wife, Mary; sons, Robert, Eoin, Alan and Colin and daughters, Majella and Irene. He is also survived by brothers, Tommy, Joe and Martin; sisters, Mary and Margaret; four grandchildren, nieces, nephews and a number of other relatives. Following Mass of the Resurrection at St Michael's Church, Ballinasloe, on Monday, April 20th, the burial took place in Cam Cemetery. The celebrant of the Mass was Very Rev. Tom Garvey, PP, Ballinasloe. He was assisted by Deacon William Gacquin, Curraghboy.
Mrs Teresa Coyne, Castlerea Road, Frenchpark, whose passing took place at St Attracta's Residence, Charlestown, on Tuesday, April 14th, was aunt of Mrs Cait Walsh, Curnaseer, Kiltoom; Mrs Ann Byrne, Kilcar, Curraghboy; Mrs Sheila Sheehy, Derryglad, Curraghboy; Mrs Mary Grehan, Rahara; Michael McDonnell, Curraghboy and John Mc Donnell, Grange, Curraghboy. Aged 87, she was the former Ms Teresa Fallon, Caltra, Rahara, and she had been in ill health for some time. Of an affable and friendly disposition, she enjoyed friendships with a wide age range. The last surviving member of her family, she is survived by one son, Martin; daughters, Mary, Kathleen, Josephine, Triona and Olive; their father, Joe; 11 grandchildren, nieces, nephews and a number of other relatives, Following Mass of the Resurrection at St Asicus Church, Frenchpark, on Saturday, April 18th, the burial took place in Cloonshanville Cemetery, Frenchpark.
Kiltoom Cam Community Games will be held on Monday, May 4th in Cam FC grounds, Brideswell. This is a great family day out with the toddler race, U-6's and plenty of fun family activities. Registration for athletics can be completed on the day at 1.45 p.m. or online - look up Kiltoom Cam Facebook page. The first race gets underway at 2.15 p.m..
