Celebrations as County Roscommon Church re-opens

The elections are over, the people have spoken, and now we’re watching to see what unfolds. The message from the voters seems clear: “We want the boys back—Micheál and Simon.” Or at least, that’s the prevailing interpretation.

But the big question remains - who will join Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to form a stable government for the next five years? The most likely candidates are some of the independents, such as Michael Lowry, Boxer Moran, Noel Grealish, Marian Harkin, and Sean Canney. It’s even possible that a ministerial position or two might go their way. Only time will tell.

You might think all the excitement is over, but not here in West Roscommon! The buzz continues with the arrival of this year’s Tully’s Teaser—the true sign that the Christmas season has begun. From now until New Year’s Eve, households from Loughglynn to Ballinlough, through Castlerea, and out to Ballintubber and elsewhere in West Roscommon will be puzzling over Tully’s famous Ditloid Quiz.

Sure, there’s a prize for the winner, but for most of us, the real joy comes from the satisfaction of solving it. If you’re unfamiliar, a ditloid is a word puzzle where you deduce a phrase, quotation, date, or fact from the numbers and abbreviated letters in the clue. It’s a festive tradition that brings a touch of friendly competition—and maybe a few headaches—into homes across the area.

The Toy Show might be the nation’s unofficial kick-off to Christmas, but here in our corner of the world, the excitement starts even earlier as we try to crack clues like “69 = SO by BA”. I’ll share that one because I figured it out straight away. Here’s a hint: if you’re of my vintage, you might recognise it as something often heard around Black Betty. That should keep you guessing!

As Christmas approaches, we’ve had another reason to celebrate. On Sunday in Loughglynn, we marked the reopening of the parish church, Our Lady of Good Counsel as good as the Parisians reopening their own Notre Dame on Sunday. Built in the early 1900s, this historic building has been a cornerstone of our community for over 120 years. However, it was in desperate need of attention—cold, drab, and plagued by leaks, it was hardly the welcoming space anyone would want for life’s most meaningful moments.

Recognising this, Anthony Cahill, chairman of the parish finance committee, rallied a group of like-minded individuals to take on the task of revitalising the building. Thanks to his efforts and the incredible support of the wider community the church is now a space worthy of the important events it hosts.

Like all community initiatives, a small committee started the ball rolling, but it was the full community that kept it moving. Ten of us began planning in September 2023, focusing on how to raise the necessary funds. By Easter, we had the money gathered, closed the church in September, and reopened for Mass on Sunday, December 8th. Of course, there were challenges and the odd disagreement along the way, but never any rows. The parish’s voluntary spirit shone through, with everyone stepping up to help wherever they could.

Every seat in the church was moved, carried outside, covered, and then brought back in after the floors and walls were painted. Without hesitation, anyone we asked was happy to lend a hand. Given the church’s towering height, scaffolding was needed for much of the painting. Thankfully, the parish is home to four scaffolding companies, all of whom generously provided, erected, and removed the scaffolding free of charge—a massive contribution.

Water issues cropped up, but plumbers stepped in to help. Cleaning was another enormous task, but a meitheal of ladies arrived on Thursday, armed with mops, buckets, cloths, and cans of Pledge. They brought the seats back to a good condition. While moving the seats, we also took down the Stations of the Cross. Five women carefully cleaned them and polished the frames with beeswax, restoring them to their original beauty. Like everyone else, they were happy to help, finding their reward in the satisfaction of a job well done.

We made a few other upgrades to modernise the church. A new sound system was installed, ensuring everyone can hear clearly what’s being said. A webcam was also added, allowing ceremonies to be streamed online for those unable to attend in person. And perhaps most excitingly, the church bell is back! Once silent for years, it will now toll for funerals, ring for Mass, and chime the Angelus twice daily, bringing new life to the village.

The parish’s community spirit was truly remarkable, and we were fortunate to have the community centre available to host Masses while the church was closed.

Sunday’s Mass was celebrated by our previous parish priest, Canon Liam Devine, as our current parish priest, Fr. Glenn, had to return to the Philippines that morning following the sudden death of his younger sister on Friday. Fr. Glenn played a vital role in the project, and it was a pity he couldn’t be there for the reopening. We also remembered Fr. Liam’s predecessor, Fr. Donal Morris, who is currently in hospital in Dublin.

All in all, it has been an eventful few weeks. Thanks to the dedication of so many, Our Lady of Good Counsel is once again the heart of our community a space filled with warmth, beauty, and life. Hopefully it won’t have to be painted again till the “Summer Of 69”!