2014 - Roscrea Through The Ages

ROSCREA
People
Volume
Volume 30
30 …
… Dec
Dec 2014
2014
Windmills Rising Ta ll
A s R o s c r e a S t a n d s Up …
Joan Bourke’s Roscrea Centre Pharmacy
Roscrea People 2014
Vol. 30
December 2014
ROSCREA PEOPLE
General Contents
Editorial/Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Annals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
RPYA 2013 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Roscrea Stands Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Chamber of Commerce . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Abbey Hall and Sports Stars . . . . . . . 45
FRS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Roscrea Mart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Tipperary County Council . . . . . . . . . 51
Civil Defence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Conradh Ros Cré . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Tidy Towns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Jobs Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Roscrea Heritage Society . . . . . . . . . . 65
Dean Maxwell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Fr Tom Corbett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
IWA/St Cronan’s Services . . . . . . . . . 87
Lions Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
SVP Shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Roscrea Ramblers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Killavilla Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Roscrea SPCA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Literary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Mary Collier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
1944 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Round Tower Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Roscrea Through the Ages . . . . . . . 129
Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Scouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Deaths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
EDITOR & PUBLISHER
George Cunningham
[email protected]
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Carmel Cunningham
ADVERTISING
Gráinne Brooks
Roscrea People is a community 'good
news' publication. Sales of this issue will
help Roscrea People projects at
St. Cronan's Centre, Roscrea Public
Library and library projects for local
schools and institutions.
PHOTOGRAPHY
P.J. Wright, Brian Redmond, George
Cunningham, www.thefinest.ie and
various contributors.
COVER
Windmills at Monaincha
captured by
Brian Redmond
With words by Carmel Cunningham
PARTICULAR THANKS TO
Andrea Patterson, Valerie Spencer,
P.J.Wright, Pat Bourke and the
Cunningham family.
Roscrea People
1974-2014
It certainly does not seem like forty years since we launched the
first Roscrea People in November 1974. How the town has changed
since then - much of it for the better but unfortunately we continue
to struggle in vital areas: very little employment prospects for our
educated youth, poor or non-existent marketing of our unique
heritage and attractions, and, despite the constant efforts of Tidy
Towns, all too many black spots in the heart of town. Only time will
tell whether the new County local government structure will prove
positive for Roscrea; initial indications of greater polarisations are
worrying. In 1974 we had the local faces of Shannon Development
and Shannonside Tourism to help promote our area. Now it is all
too obvious that centralisation of these services mitigates against
Roscrea. We await with hope to see if the energy and resolve of
Roscrea Stands Up can deliver improvements and lead Roscrea
People to their deserved share of our national wealth.
Roscrea People of the Year 2014
The 28th People of the Year Awards 2014 will be presented on January 15th
2015 in Racket Hall Hotel.
Sponsored by Bernies SuperValu with associate sponsors, Roscrea Credit Union,
Michael Fogarty of Rocktop Asset Management, Racket Hall Hotel and Roscrea
Heritage Society.
The evening will follow the usual format: admission by voluntary donation; CCÉ
concert; illustrated presentation on Roscrea; donations of books to St Cronan’s
Services, Roscrea Public Library, Dromakeenan NS and St Anne’s Special School;
formal presentations of awards and citations.
The 2014 award winners are:
• Derek Russell, whose courage was to inspire Roscrea Stands Up.
• Fr Tom Corbett, PP emeritus, for fifty years of service to God and his
fellow citizens.
• Kennedy Park celebrating fifty years of community living.
• Roscrea Men’s Sheds for adding a new dimension to life in Roscrea.
• Roscrea Heritage Award: the website of roscreathroughtheages.org.
• Roscrea Young Person of the Year: Clíona Nic Dhomhnaill, Gaelscoil an tSlí
Dála a fuair an chéad áit i Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann sna Foinn Malla ar an
feadóg stáin faoi 12.
• Roscrea Neighbour of the Year: Jenny Keeshan, Kennedy Park.
Citations
Awarded to people and institutions that have already received a People of the
Year award:
• All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil Champions, Ladies Céili Dance 15-18, CCÉ Ros
Cré.
• Inane Rovers, county junior champions for the first time in fifty-three
years.
• Coláiste Phobal Hurling Team, All- Ireland Champions.
3
Roscrea People 2014
4
Roscrea People 2014
The Annals of Roscrea
December 2013: The 41st Roscrea People is launched in Brendan’s
Lounge by its editor, marking a significant milestone in the annals
of the most comprehensive record of modern life in Ireland’s third
oldest town... Preparations are being put in place for the very
popular ‘Taste of Roscrea’ Christmas market and Festival. The
official opening will see old style and new style trading commence
Roscrea Hospice
workers, Colm
Brophy and
Anthony Bourke,
present Josie
O’Grady with a
cheque for
25,000 euro for
North Tipperary
Hospice.
with carol recitals, family entertainment and much more. There
will be free parking in the town for the duration of the festival and
also on Saturday 14th & 21st December… Christmas lights are
being erected. The annual contribution being asked of traders is
€95… John Lupton’s (John jnr) new adventure novel, Peter Black:
The Trials, is launched in the Abbey Hall. Adrian Hewson does the
honours in his inimitable way and Liam Doran is MC for the very
successful evening… Roscrea Credit Union announces it has
adopted a no nonsense approach to help ensure all debts owed are
repaid…Roscrea Community Games and Athletic club prepare to
At his book
launch of Peter
Black: the Trials,
John A Lupton
with his mother
and father,
Eileen and John,
and his sister
Mary Christine.
housing development in Roscrea, Ros Cronan in Ashbury, may
face demolition as North Tipperary County Council hear razing
the homes may be the most cost effective means of dealing with the
derelict site…The recently published book by Liam Doran on
Brigadier Murray Moten, a soldier in the Australian army and
whose grandfather hailed from Roscrea, receives mention in the
Australian Senate when a Senator proudly describes her contact
with the author…The Dean Maxwell Staff are complimented on
the outcome of a recent HIQA report by Rev Michael Harding,
Chairman of the Action Committee of Dean Maxwell Community
nursing unit … A Christmas festival of carols and lessons is held
in St Cronan’s, Church Street…The night walk to Monaincha
Happy faces all round as members of the Methodist
community and friends host a coffee fundraiser in aid of
Christian Aid.
Roscrea Chamber of Commerce deserve all the help they
can get as they endeavour every year to give the town
decent Christmas illuminations.
hold their AGMs…Roscrea Boys’ Brigade acknowledges the
receipt of a grant from the Tipperary Education & Training
Board…The response to the Roscrea Hospice Party night has been
phenomenal… Roscrea Ramblers continue walking… Roscrea
Toastmasters encourage people with difficulty in public speaking
to come along and join their club, where they will acquire the skills
needed…Thursday night walks continue…Roscrea Folk Group
hold their special Christmas Carol Service…The Abbey Hall
bookshop, Main Street, has received boxes of new books from the
editor of Roscrea People. NCBI Roscrea requires donations of
clothes, bric-a-brac and small furniture…Roscrea Knitting circle
takes place each Wednesday night in the Library…The Farmers’
Vegetable Market is held each Friday at the Auburn Lounge car
park and the Country Market continues to take place each Friday
in the Abbey Hall…Gleann Glas committee proudly attend the
turning on of the Gleann Glas Christmas Lights…Coláiste Phobal
receives its second green flag, the Energy Flag…The abandoned
Abbey is the third of these Christmas walks…Roscrea Red Cross
thanks the community for the support shown to it during 2013…A
Carol Service is held at Mt St Joseph Abbey… David Maher,
equestrian centre Roscrea, comes first in the 80cm-90cm horse
final competition held at Creagh equestrian centre, Ballinasloe…
The Taste of Roscrea
Fashion show, run in
conjunction
with
Dromakeenan NS, is a
tremendous success –
a night enjoyed by
all…
Gráinne Brooks,
advertising
manager of RP, at
the launch of the
2013 edition.
5
Roscrea People 2014
6
Roscrea People 2014
January 2014: 2013 was a year of many awards for Roscrea Tidy
Towns, an extra nine marks, the Bronze Medal and the Trees
Award, winning first place in the Roscrea/Templemore Electoral
area Tiobrad Álainn Awards. In the North Tipperary Voluntary
Associations Awards in Lorrha they also win the Environment and
Sacred Heart Exhibition – Hearts and Minds – a permanent
archival exhibition, launched at Mount Anville College, Dublin.
The Carroll Room is specifically dedicated to the two sisters who
joined the order in the 1880s, and details their work and lives…The
main prize winner in the Credit Union Christmas cash draw is
Michele Foyle… Toastmasters, Thursday night walks,
Roscrea Ramblers, Parents & Toddlers Group, Knitting
Circle and Markets all resume activities after the Christmas
Break…A Sixth Year Student of Cistercian College, Roscrea,
Richard Tynan, takes First Place in the Senior Technology
Section of this years BT Young Scientist & Technology
Competition…Roscrea holds a week of ‘Light and Hope’, the
first town in Ireland to hold such an event. It will be a week
filled with free activities for families during the darkest part
of the year…Dromakeenan NS pupils feature on RTE news
at the Young Scientist Exhibition and were thrilled to have
been accepted to take part. As well as presenting their project,
they
got to see lots of other work…Roscrea Credit Union
Happy days: Michael and Theresa Wrenn cut the cake for their
manage
to raise €1000 in the fundraiser they organised for
50th wedding anniversary surrounded by family: Stephen,
those
devastated
by the recent disaster in the Philipines…
Elizabeth, Michael Jnr., Michael and Theresa, Theresa Jnr., Carol
Local
schools
prepare
to battle it out in the Credit Union
and Stephanie.
Schools’ Quiz to be held at the end of the month. In this
national competition Roscrea schools have won regional
Heritage Award; Mary Conroy, Tidy Towns Programme Coordinator is chosen as Community Person of the Year; and the
Outstanding
Achievement
Award
goes
to
IMSA
(SHEDS)…Grainne Fogarty, White House wins the U10 Leinster
Cup for Irish Dancing…Corville NS gives a special performance
of The Wizard of Oz to the residents of Villa Maria…Brian
Colclough presents €1000 to Anthony Bourke, Chairman of
Roscrea Hospice…The RPYA evening is held in the Abbey Hall.
Following music provided by Junior Comhaltas Ros Cré, an
Great excitement in SH Primary when the new additions to
the Dr Aisling Butler memorial library arrived: Claire Carey,
Ola Malinoswka, Niamh Geraghty, Ms Colette Slattery,
Tiffany O’Riordan, Adib Hossain and Gabor Balog.
Fr Lorcan Kenny in a pensive mood during the Week of
Light.
finals and gone on to represent Roscrea Credit Union at the
National finals…Roscrea author, bibliophile and historian George
Cunningham is working on a book set for publication soon
focusing on the remarkable story of Roscrea’s Round
Tower…Relationship between the churches in Roscrea is praised
at the annual service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in
the Roman Catholic Church during the address preached by Rev
Brian D. Griffin, district Superintendent Minister for the Midlands
& Southern District of the Methodist Church of Ireland …Jerry
Cahir is involved in an art competition which is part of the week
of Light and Hope in Roscrea…Roscrea Musical Society
rehearsals have begun for this year’s show, Annie…
illustrated talk on aspects of Roscrea Past and Present was given
by George Cunningham, with audio and visual aids supplied by
Ger O’Meara. As usual books were presented to schools, St
Cronan’s Grange and the public library; very significant this year
in that the 50000th book was presented. The recipients then
received their awards, including the Founders and Organisers of
Pieta House; Roscrea Ramblers; Theresa Larkin; Frankie Bergin;
Young Person of the Year – Sophie Rowland; Heritage Award, Joan
Murray; Coláiste Phobal Camogie Team. Mulroony Gala provided
wonderful food at the end of an eventful evening… Roscrea SH
Sisters, Mary Anne and Catherine Carroll, feature in a Major
February: The twelve house development, located in the Ashbury
area of Roscrea, has been stripped of all valuables and severely
vandalised after the estate was left deserted over a year ago. Locals
say it resembles ‘Beirut’…RCDC hears Roscrea needs to become
pedestrian friendly. Its meeting is told the town has become
dominated by vehicles. At the RPYAwards evening George
Cunningham had stated his greatest wish was to see Castle Street
pedestrianised – a controversial issue, welcomed by pedestrians
but leaving traders unhappy…People are using public litter bins
to dispose of their household refuse to avoid paying refuse
collection charges RCDC is told…Roscrea Credit Union has
7
Roscrea People 2014
8
Roscrea People 2014
One of the most poignant events during the year was the
short overnight of the ‘Live Life’ transition year students’
walk from Dublin to Tralee walking to raise funds for the
Donal Walsh Foundation. Their stay was facilitated by the
community at large, principally by Roscrea Rugby Club (see
photo) and Coláiste Phobal. Roscrea facilitators are pictured
above with Donal’s father Finbarr.
started a fundraising drive to help send Kieran McCartney to the
amputee world cup…Kennedy Park residents are concerned for
pedestrian safety, particularly since the M7 opened four years ago.
The Templemore Road has become the arterial route feeding traffic
in and out of Roscrea from Limerick to the Dublin motorway… A
public meeting for dealing with addiction is planned for Roscrea…
Roscrea Lions Club, in association with Sheppard Auction House,
holds a valuation day in Racket Hall where the public are invited
to have antiques and valuables assessed and valued for a small
fee…Roscrea Enhancement Group launches a competition to
design a new logo for Roscrea which will be featured first in a
‘Discover Roscrea’ brochure to be published shortly…Albert
Glynn of Roscrea with another student James Sherlock, Athlone,
have designed a hydro-turbo engine system to enable the
harnessing of electricity from the natural flow of water in minor
rivers, streams, weirs and sluice gates. This has resulted in a
fledgling but hugely promising business called Ar Nua-TEC. It has
also earned them a nomination (Business Category) on the shortlist
for the David Manly Emerging Entrepreneur Awards… CPR
students receive the Donal Walsh Live Life group, in the school
hall, and hear Donal Walsh’s father’s speak. Following Donal’s
statement ‘that suicide is not the answer’ he spoke movingly of his
son’s long brave battle with cancer and how precious life was to
him…Roscrea Men’s Shed Group has moved to Roscrea
Courthouse. This group has breathed new life into the lives of
many local men…North Tipperary County Council hopes to
Roscrea Men’s Sheds raised money to help send amputee
Kieran McCartney to Moscow as mascot for the Irish team
at the World Cup Amputee Football Competition.
purchase the Abandoned Roscrea estate…Roscrea Garda Thomas
Ryan (Cooleshall) is awarded the Scott Medal for Bravery.
Stationed in Athy, he and another colleague foiled a robbery and
arrested the two criminals who were armed with what looked like
a gun. Garda Ryan is the great grand-son of Jack Moyney, who
was a recipient of the Victoria Cross…St Cronan’s NS Celebrates
forty years in Rosemount… Leanne Delaney, Kennedy Park is
conferred with a Bachelor of Business (Hons) degree at
WIT…Roscrea Town Enhancement Plan needs all groups and
organisations to contact them with proposed events, if they wish to
be included in the Roscrea Event Guide…Kickback Youth Café
continues to do great work for different age-groups of school
children in the town…Roscrea Musical Society holds auditions
for Annie…Bernies SuperValu sponsors refreshments for the Live
Life Walk in memory of Donal Walsh…Roscrea Lions Club and
members of the local Gardaí launch a new ‘Message in a Bottle’
scheme . The campaign is aimed at assisting emergency services
access crucial information about vulnerable people in a crisis
situation. Information stored in a plastic bottle and kept in the
fridge will contain personal details of medical conditions,
medications, allergies, contact information of the person
involved…Roscrea girl Meggie Fitzgerald, aims to raise awareness
RCDC met with Garda officers to discuss policing in the
town: Stephen Crofton and John Lupton (RCDC) with Chief
Supt Catherine Keogh, Supt Robert Noonan and Insp Brian
Conway.
about narcolepsy, having had to wait three and a half years to be
diagnosed with the illness. It is a sleeping disorder, causing
extreme exhaustion and causing the victim to fall asleep at any
time. It is through sporting organisations that Meggie, who cannot
partake in sports anymore, hopes to do this, by being photographed
with different teams…Garda Chief Superintendent Catherine
Keogh is meeting RCDC to discuss policing in Roscrea, recent
changes in policing structures and the future status of Roscrea
Garda Station. Public representatives from community
organisations will also be in attendance…
March: The RCTLC Sports Stars’ Awards are held at Racket Hall
Hotel. Among the main prizewinners are Tadhg O’Connor (Hall
of Fame), Ken Henderson (Contribution to sport), Pat Naughton
(Special Recognition Award). Other prizewinners include, Club of
the Year, Loughmore/Castleiney GAA Club; Athletics,
Templemore Athletic Club Relay Team; Camogie, Niamh Dollard,
Camross; Golf, Suzanne Corcoran, Portumna GC; Gaelic Football,
Colin O’Riordan, Templemore; Ladies’ Gaelic Football, Mairead
Daly, St Rynagh’s and Offaly; Hurling, Matthew Whelan, Borrisin-Ossory, Kilcotton; Pitch and Putt, Riverdale Ladies All Ireland
Team Champions; Rugby, Alison Miller, Ireland Grand Slam
Team; Youth Award, Dwayne Palmer, Camross …Roscrea
shoppers are soon to have free Saturday parking in the town centre
car parks…Moran’s Clothing Shop, Main Street is to close its
doors after twenty nine years trading in the town…Aldi has been
9
Roscrea People 2014
10
Roscrea People 2014
The Blessing of the new SVP shop with Fr Tom Corbett,
Rev Brian Griffin, Catherine Spillane, Liam Shanahan and
Roscrea SVP president, Patricia Gleeson.
granted planning permission for a Roscrea outlet…George
Cunningham’s book The Round Tower at Roscrea and its Environs,
is formally launched by Dom Richard Purcell ocso, Abbot of
Mount St Joseph Abbey, at Racket Hall Hotel before a capacity
audience…Labour Minister Alan Kelly announces €1.1m will be
released to purchase and refurbish the abandoned housing estate in
Roscrea…Shaws Department store celebrates 150 years of trading
this year…Members of Roscrea Men’s Shed make a presentation
of a handcrafted table with Tipperary crest to Kieran McCartney to
help in the fundraising for him to get to the amputee World
Cup…Roscrea Lions launch their Easter Hamper Draw, in which
Tesco Roscrea plays a big role…Members of Heritage Ireland, the
company that promotes Ireland’s premier attractions visit Roscrea
Castle Complex and Damer House where they are met by RHS
Chairman, Des Walsh, Secretary, Brian Redmond, historian,
by the Butler family, John, Evelyn and Lorna in memory of their
beloved Aisling…Fanni Bosze Sacred Heart Primary School is the
winner of a bicycle, having entered a Midland Tribune Colouring
Competition…The Douglas family present a cheque for €5563 to
Crumlin Children’s Heart Centre and wish to thank all those who
attended the afternoon tea fundraiser and those who donated to
collection boxes…Kieran McCartney, a fifth class student at
Dromakeenan NS is heading to Mexico in November with the
World Cup Irish Amputee Football Team, as the mascot for the
Senior Team. Sixth class students made a presentation of a cheque
to Kieran and the BOM gave him some money to help defray
expenses…Pieta House 5km walk ‘Darkness into Light’, was
launched by Joan Freeman, CEO. The walk will take place from
thirty nine centres, and for the first time this year there will be two
Tipperary venues, Cashel and Roscrea…Roscrea’s New Cardiac
Responder Group is launched…Over 450 secondary school
students from across Killaloe and Limerick Dioceses including
some from Coláiste Phobal and the Cistercian College will be part
of the largest choir ever to perform at University of Limerick
Concert Hall - Seinn 2014…Various political parties launch their
election campaigns… St Vincent de Paul opens its new community
shop…
Proudly walking in the Parade are members of Ros Cré
Junior Hurling Club.
Roscrea SPCA came up trumps in the St Patrick’s Day
Parade. The Parade Committee are seeking new blood to
keep it going.
George Cunningham and site manager, Jacinta Rigney…This
month’s lecture/presentation at Damer House Annex is given by
Susan Chadwick, Genealogist – Discover your roots, an
introduction to family history and genealogy…Roscrea celebrates
its 36th St Patrick’s Day Parade in great style, where dry weather
ensured large spectator numbers. Guest of Honour was Liam
Doran. Best overall entry went to Lions Club with second prize
going to Roscrea Men’s Shed…The Editor of Roscrea People
visits the Sacred Heart Primary School with books for the Dr
Aisling Butler Library. The significant donation is made possible
April: The Round Tower at Roscrea and its Environs gets its
Dublin launch at St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra. The event is
hosted by College President, Professor Daire Keogh and the
honours are performed by Professor John Coolahan. GC presented
the Library of the college (his old alma mater) with a set of eight
beautiful volumes, the recently-published facsimile edition of the
Trees of Great Britain and Ireland (a similar set was presented to
Tipperary Public Libraries at the People of the Year in
January)…RCDC hears at its monthly meeting that the abandoned
housing estate needs to be closed off to prevent further vandalism,
while waiting for the promised funding to come through…The
pedestrian crossing at Kennedy park is considered ‘lethal’ by
residents and needs to be made safe by the NRA…Sheehane Estate
needs its roads resurfaced, as a large portion of the estate was
ignored when the Council did work two years ago…Ashbury is to
receive new footpaths and the unsightly wall outside the GAA
centre is to be demolished…The town welcomes new solicitor,
Roscrea man Tim Breen, son of Michael, whose practice in Main
Street, Michael J. Breen & Co Ltd he has joined…Roscrea
Community Games hosts art, model-making and a handwriting
competition. The results of these competitions were Girls U8 Art
11
Roscrea People 2014
12
Roscrea People 2014
– 1st - Kate Shortt, Dromakeenan NS, 2nd – Clodagh Kennedy,
Sacred Heart Primary School, 3rd - Lucy Kennedy, Dromakeenan
NS; Girls U10 – Niamh Kavanagh, Sacred Heart Primary School;
Girls U12 – Katie Moloney, Dromakeenan NS; Girls U14 – Niamh
Cooke Dromakeenan NS; Boys U12 – Michael Wrenn, Sacred
Heart Primary School; Clodagh Fitzpatrick, Niamh Cooke, Eve de
Berry & Charlie Deane represented Roscrea in the county finals of
the table quiz and finished third; Caoimhe Flannery represented
Roscrea in the solo singing U14; Group Music competitors were
Jack Flannery, Caoimhe Flannery, Teresa Maher, James Dooley
and Isabelle Conan, who came first in the County finals.
Congratulations to all involved…National Portrait Day takes place
at Redmonds in aid of ISPCC, where for a donation of €25, all of
which goes to the charity, one gets a professional mini portrait
session and one desktop portrait of each person taking part…the
AGM of Roscrea Active Retirement is held…Roscrea Tennis Club
holds open nights for adults…The Tidy Towns Poster competition
entries are currently displayed at the library, where pictures of all
aspects of the town are shown, and should be visited…Coláiste
Phobal Ros Cré captures the All-Ireland Colleges Senior ‘B’ Title
with a comprehensive victory over Cross and Passion, Ballycastle,
in the final at Nowlan Park…Roscrea Credit Union supports
‘Roscrea Through the Ages’ website. In 2013 Sharon Mulrooney,
Joe Moloughney and Joe Coughlan opened a Facebook page
The St Cronan’s Day
Walk finished this year
at Kennedy Park and
Corville where the
symbols from the Book
of Dimma were once
again presented to the
various churches: here
Bro Malachy receives
John’s Eagle from Jason
Patterson.
‘Roscrea Through the
Ages’ and within a short
time1400 had joined the
site and the page was getting 5000 hits a week. From this
beginning came the website with the involvement of the Credit
Union…Cllr Michael Smith, who says the Government received
millions in house taxes recently should loosen the purse strings
and give some money for much needed road improvements in the
area…Roscrea Castle, Damer House and the Blackmills reopen
for the season… RCDC host a public meeting so people may hear
from candidates in the forthcoming local elections…Members of
ISWA (Irish Schoolwear Association), formed to create a collective
voice of school uniform manufacturers, suppliers and retailers,
visit the Dáil to lobby the Government on the matter of school
uniforms and their quality, having already done a survey with
schools and interested parties. Those who visited were Albert
Sherlock, Sales Representative for Skippy International, Karen
Grant, Retailer, Keith Wallace, Director of Skippy
International…The film Philomena receives three IFTA Awards.
Based on the book, The Lost Child of Philomena Lee, it tells the
story of a boy born in Roscrea’s Sean Ross Abbey and adopted by
an American couple…The AGM of Roscrea Tennis Club is held at
Phelan’s Market House meeting room…Free computer lessons for
beginners start in the Library…Roscrea People are asked to be
vigilant, as Roscrea Gardaí investigate a spate of burglaries in the
area… North Tipperary County Council has approved a painting
scheme for Roscrea to include Castle Street and Rosemary Street,
where residents and businesses may avail of a grant to improve the
appearance of their premises…Members of Roscrea Community
Employment Scheme raise €3753 for the Irish Cancer Society in
a ‘shave or dye’ challenge, which takes place at the Hairdressing
College of further Education, in Templemore…Hollie, from St
Cronan’s NS Rosemount, is a finalist in the ‘I Love Leinster’ art
competition. Each finalist receives a family pass (tickets for two
adults and two children) to the next Leinster RaboDirect PRO12
home game…A proposed major upgrade for Benamore on
Roscrea’s Old Dublin Road has been welcomed by Cllr Denis
Ryan…All associations and groups in the town continue with their
weekly meetings and activities…‘Roscrea Through the Ages’
website is officially launched by Kathleen Moloughney…The
excavations for the M7 junction 22 on the Templemore Road at
Camblin reveal an astounding story about the origins of Roscrea –
Stone Age; people were living here 6000 years ago. A talk to be
given by archaeologist Colm Flynn, at the invitation of RHS, at
Damer House Annex on ‘Camblin: The Crooked Pool’, will tell
the story…A new outdoor market is to start in Roscrea on the last
Paddy Reidy – CE Roscrea Supervisor and the members of
the various schemes had a shave or dye challenge and
raised €3,753 for the Irish Cancer Society.
Saturday of each month. Spearheaded by Cllr Michael Smith this
initiative is aimed at promoting local producers in Roscrea…Open
Sports are making a comeback all over the country and recently
Roscrea AC was well represented at University of Limerick,
Ferrybank in Waterford and Kilmacor, Co Kilkenny. Adam Dooley,
Graham Dooley, Adib Hossain, Cally Dooley, Kyle Dooley, Ceola
Bergin, Killian Bergin, all acquitted themselves very well, many
bringing home medals. Congratulations to all involved in the
events…Cllr Denis Ryan has been informed that a new footpath
will be constructed on the Tullaskeagh Road from the Temperance
Hall to the bypass later in the year…‘Women in Early Christian
Ireland’ is the focus of the 54th Roscrea conference held after Easter
The Doyenne of Roscrea, Kathleen Moloughney, launched
the new web site of Roscreathroughtheages.org at the
White House, helped by CU officials and friends.
13
Roscrea People 2014
14
Roscrea People 2014
at Mount St Joseph Monastery. All aspects of the theme are
explored; books are launched and publications are honoured…A
Christian Aid Coffee morning is held in the Methodist Church
Hall. Proceeds go to the most needy in the world to help
themselves…Congratulations to Mary Grace (15) who received a
distinction in her senior certificate piano examination from the
RIA. Her teacher is Theresa Larkin…Excitement is running high
as the cast of Roscrea Musical Society’s Annie, prepares to take to
the boards…
May: Winners at the Dog Show in Roscrea, include Jade Dunphy
with Buddy, Sharon Wootten with Penny and Eleanor Walsh with
Kasper…Damer House Gallery announces the opening of the
Gallery for the new season. The first exhibition, Exposure, is an
exhibition of the results of a photographic workshop with Damer
House Gallery and local participants in 2013 season…The sun
shines brightly for the very successful 5th Annual St Cronan’s Day
Pilgrim/Friendship Walk, organised by Adrian Hewson, Andrew
Walsh, Margaret Ryan and Joan Murray. The theme this year was
Anniversaries, remembering groups such as the Chamber of
Commerce who celebrate their 50th anniversary in town this year.
Beginning at the Methodist Church, it then proceeded to St
Cronan’s NS, on to Kennedy Park, also celebrating 50 years and
finished at St Cronan’s Services, Grange…Parking is now
available at the back of the library for users of library
facilities…Roscrea Enhancement Plan committee is set to launch
the ‘Roscrea and District Events Guide’. Brian King, Chairman of
the committee, has asked the council to support a plan to make the
Mall a one way system…Roscrea Gardaí have to call in back up
help to deal with a ‘mini riot’, when two rival gangs become
Welcome refreshments in the Abbey Hall following the
Darkness into Light Walk for Pieta House.
has happened…The Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, visits Roscrea briefly
to bolster the chances of the Fine Gael candidate, Michael
Madden…Congratulations to Taylor Bergin, pupil of Corville NS
who has received a scholarship for five years to Clongowes
College, Kildare…A commemorative service is to be held at St
Anne’s, for Women and Children of Sean Ross Abbey and the
public are welcome… ‘Roscrea Through the Ages’ continues to
add to its website…Roscrea Lions Club, in association with Tesco,
holds a very successful family day. Face and nail painting, in-store
treasure hunt, art competitions, pet rabbits and a goat are part of the
entertainment. Pub owners in the town facilitated the raffle. 100%
of funds received go to local projects…Sacred Heart Primary
School receives its fifth Green Flag…Noel Coonan, TD, welcomes
the approval of €35000 under the public area enhancement scheme
for the redevelopment of Maddens Laneway and the restoration of
the fountain at Rosemary Square…The Chamber of the new
Council will be populated by twenty two people from South and
eighteen people from North Tipperary, meaning the number of
Councillors is reduced from 113 to 40. North Tipperary will be
divided into two municipal districts Nenagh and TemplemoreThurles, Roscrea falling into the latter group…Joan Delaney, local
Sinn Fein candidate, has called the election a referendum on
austerity…RTE Radio 1 transmits a special documentary on
students at Cistercian College Roscrea and a special reunion of the
Leaving Cert Class of 1953…Roscrea Chamber of Commerce
encourages people to vote locally…Kilkenny Hurling manager,
Brian Cody, launches the Cistercian College sports and community
fun day…After a marathon count and campaign in the local
An historic day for young and old at the official opening of
the Kyle GAA field.
embroiled in a fight in the Parkmore area of the town…The local
organising committee for Daffodil Day collect €8400. All
involved, including all businesses who allowed collections, are
thanked by local co-ordinator, Ann Delaney…A survey is
underway on the abandoned Roscrea estate, looking into the cost
of repairing damage to houses, that will soon come under the
ownership of North Tipperary County Council. Tenders are being
prepared… Roscrea Musical Society brings down the house with
Annie. The Abbey Hall was completely booked out with a huge
over demand for tickets. Kate Williams, a 6th class pupil at St
Cronan’s NS Roscrea played the lead role superbly, and was ably
supported by an excellent cast. The show was a runaway success
and the Abbey Hall rocked for a week…History is made in
Tipperary as for the first time in 175 years North and South
Tipperary stand as a single unit. It is the third time in its history this
Happy Fine Gael supporters when the Taoiseach, Enda
Kenny, arrived in town to support Michael Madden in his
bid for a Co Co seat: Michael Madden, Minister Simon
Harris, The Taoiseach, Deputy Noel Coonan TD, Danny
Bergin, Bill Hanley and Paddy Bergin.
15
Roscrea People 2014
16
Roscrea People 2014
elections Michael Smith topped the poll. Shane Lee was pipped
by a mere 70 votes having fought long and hard. He lost the seat
after the 12th count…Tidy Towns ask that all the residents of the
town do their best as crucial judging time approaches…The
Parents’ Association of St Anne’s Special Needs School are
currently fundraising to upgrade and develop their school
playground. They thank all local businesses who contributed to the
fund and are delighted to have the support of Bernie’s SuperValu,
who will be running a fundraising drive to raise enough to purchase
a wheelchair swing…Over 1000 people take part in the ‘Darkness
into Light’ Walk in Roscrea making it the most successful to date
for the town. All businesses and volunteers in the town who helped
over the past three years were thanked with a special thanks going
to Paul McNamara, without whom Pieta House might not
exist…RTEs Mary Kennedy, and Colm Brophy and Anthony
Bourke, of the Roscrea branch of North Tipperary Hospice, accept
a Sunflower Heroes Award on behalf of Kathleen O’Sullivan of
Roscrea…Open evenings for those wishing to learn tennis
continue on Tuesdays and all local organisations and clubs
continue with their activities…
June: Fifth year Coláiste Phobal student, Paul Crampton, is one of
two Irish, German Students to represent Ireland at the International
German Olympiad in Frankfurt next August. Over 100 students of
German from fifty countries participate. Paul is also winner in the
Senior Section of the Irish Austrian Society National German
Essay Competition, and received the Dr Otto Glaser Trophy at a
reception in the Austrian Embassy…A walk in aid of St Anne’s
Special School to Clear lake in the Slieve Bloom mountains is to
take place, led by John O’Meara, of Roscrea Ramblers walking
Club. The suggested donation for walkers is €10 and all monies
Sunday…Roscrea Red Cross hosts an open night in the Citizen
Information Hall, Rosemary Street in recognition of the 75th
anniversary of the Irish Red Cross. All members of the public were
invited and there was a wide range of information available and
The Corpus Christi procession arrives in front of the Dean
Maxwell. Fr Pat, at this time only a curate, seems to be
pondering on what is to come!!
excellent discount offered for upcoming courses…Problems at
Thurles Swimming Pool mean that those who want to continue
swimming from that area must now come to Roscrea, until the
Thurles problem is resolved…Mary O’Carroll is the big winner in
the Roscrea Credit Union quarterly cash draw…Preparations are
well under way for the opening of the Fallon Library at Scoil
Chrónáin Naofa, Dromakeenan. The project, spearheaded by the
editor of Roscrea People, is welcomed by the principal, staff,
parents, BOM. The Fallon Library honours two former principals
– Miss Kathleen Fallon and her nephew Billy Fallon who followed
her as prinicpal…Brian Colclough hosts a Golf Classic in aid of
Friends of Londiani who work in the area of health, education and
water in Kenya…All groups and associations continue with their
weekly meetings…St Anne’s raises its 6th Green Flag becoming
GAA President, Liam Ó Néill (also Chair BOM) was
delighted to raise the Green Flag for Gaelscoil an tSlí Dála.
raised will go towards the upgrading of the playground. There will
be choice of an easier walk on a Forest Track and the meeting
place for both is Kinnitty Village…Roscrea is set to see water
meter installation begin next month…Fancroft House and Gardens
host an evening of Chamber Music and Poetry with proceeds from
the event going towards the conservation and restoration of
Lockeen Church, Co Tipperary…Térèse Healy and Eva Harvey
win the Pairs Champions at Roscrea Bridge Club; Doreen Roe and
Mary Smith win the O’Connor Cup and Térèse Healy and Evanna
Farrelly win the President’s Prize…Roscrea Youth Centre holds
its end of year Mass, prize giving ceremony and social
evening…Michael Donegan, Roscrea Musical Society, receives an
AIMS nomination for his role as Daddy Warbucks, in this year’s
production of Annie…Roscrea Trail-Blazers hold their first ever
Walking Festival, with different walks led both on Saturday and on
The target set by SuperValu to help create the new
playground at St Anne’s was 5000 euro. Delight by Brian
C, the parents’ association and Principal Jim McMahon
when it was reached.
the first Special School in Ireland to do so…The abandoned
development of twelve houses in Roscrea is back on the market,
with several bids by interested developers. For over a year the site
has been the subject of debates and questions of ownership. The
€1.1m promised by Minister Alan Kelly was never released and
the houses were always subject to a bidding process. However, a
clean-up has commenced on the site… Bank of Ireland Roscrea
17
Roscrea People 2014
18
Roscrea People 2014
Kennedy Park 50th celebrations during the summer.
Red Restoration –
John O’Brien, Shinrone
setting up tractor with Jim Brosnan,
on Stand 40 for Irish Vintage Scene
Magazine at National Ploughing
Championships this year.
John’s restored Massey Ferguson
135 was reviewed by Irish Vintage
Scene Magazine as one of the very
finest restored examples ever seen.
“As far as I can tell it looks like it
just rolled off the assembly line or
perhaps better”, (Irish Vintage
Magazine).
supports its colleagues who cycle from Cork to Athlone for
charity…RCDC holds an open meeting to which all nine newlyelected councillors for this area are invited…Mrs Jane McManus
is presented with a bicycle on her retirement from St Cronan’s NS,
Rosemount…Hannah Benn of St Cronan’s NS receives a
scholarship to Kilkenny College… Roscrea Library, in conjunction
with Bernie’s Supervalu, is holding its Summer Reading Tree
Challenge…Roscrea CCE prepares for the Summer Seisiún to be
held in the White House…A Social Dance in aid of St Anne’s
respite services is held in Racket Hall Hotel…Roscrea Hospice
plans a Schools Out Family Fun Day at the Dunkerrin Arms and
look forward to a big turnout…Gaelscoil, Slí Dhála celebrates its
Green Flag… Mickey O’Brien, Celine Buckley and Mark
Cosgrove receive their Confirmation at St Anne’s…
July: The abandoned Roscrea housing estate is at the centre of a
bidding war, as the Council and one property developer bid against
each other…Shane Lee says at an RCDC meeting that heroin is
rampant in Roscrea and drugs are available at every corner…The
Fallon Library is officially opened in Dromakeenan NS as pupils
and staff are joined by INTO President, Sean McMahon, Fr Tom
Corbett, members of the Fallon family and the editor of Roscrea
People…Damer House Gallery is currently hosting ‘Homeland’
an exhibition of twenty seven Video and Film shorts, in
collaboration with the Annual International Video Festival Loop
and Galeria Safia, Barcelona. Works of international and local
artists and filmmakers are shown. It is the first time Ireland has
been invited to take part in the Loop…Roscrea Red Cross runs a
practical First Aid Course…Roscrea Lions Club holds its 46th
Annual Change of Office celebration in the restaurant of Roscrea
Golf Club, where a large turn out say farewell to outgoing
President Bill Smith and welcome incoming President Paddy
Collsion…the Live Register figures are up in Roscrea, not
following the National Trend…Roscrea Cardiac Responder Group
have the honour of taking part in the CARI (Children at Risk
Ireland) bike run, showing their support. This is an annual
fundraising event, with bikers from all over Ireland taking part.
Spar Roscrea met the bikers with food and drink…Tesco, in
partnership with Kickback Café, is planning ‘Fun For A Day’. The
Kickback Café is also looking for tutors for Maths and Irish for
Junior Cert and Leaving Cert, at both Ordinary and Higher
levels…A new display board is erected at the entrance to the
Blackmills showing a copy of rubbings made by Gunther Wolters
of the OPW, of two carvings on the jambs of the east window of
the Round Tower. The stones were carved in the early part of the
twelfth century and are fully discussed in the new book on the
tower…. Roscrea Leisure Group cycle to Mount St Joseph from
Roscrea Leisure Centre – these spins are led by experienced and
friendly cyclists and take part on a twice weekly basis, on
Wednesday evening and Sunday morning…A 6k Fun walk is held
at Glinsk Castle, Kinnitty in aid of St Cronan’s Church of
Ireland…A Fun Tennis Activity Camp starts for 5/7, 8/9 and 10/12
year olds…A heated public meeting in Roscrea focusing on the
issue of drug dealing, leads to a spontaneous mass march as over
500 people descend on the local Garda Station and bring the town
to a standstill. The group refused to leave until they got a promise
that the district Chief Superintendent would speak to them at a
follow up meeting. Local activist and organiser, Derek Russell saw
the meeting as a chance for locals to air their ideas and feelings
about the drug problem in the town…An unmarked Graves expert
visits Sean Ross Abbey in a bid to find locations of unmarked
graves…An exhibition in Damer House Gallery curated by local
artists, Patricia Hurl and Therry Rudin, features the work of twelve
people who recently graduated from a number of Art
Institutes…The abandoned Roscrea housing estate is sold to a
private developer…Many businesses in town are now financially
supporting the cardiac responder group…Over 1200 attend
Roscrea Anti Drugs meeting held at Coláiste Phobal, also attended
by TDs, Roscrea Gardai and the HSE. The meeting hears
heartbreaking and shocking stories about family lives torn apart
by drugs and about the easy availability of drugs. Gardai say they
are doing their best, but the more information they get the more
they can do. Another meeting is set for three weeks when addiction
counsellors will also attend. Dr de Feu, a GP in the town for 32
years, said the people of Roscrea had reached their limit…Aldi
gets the go ahead for its Roscrea store…St Anne’s playground
fundraiser exceeds the target set when Bernies Supervalu, who set
out to raise €5000, presented the Parents’ Association with a
cheque for €6700. Great help was given by Lourda’s Cosy Kitchen
who raised €1200 and Stapletons Bakery who donated 10c for
every unit of their product purchased for the month of June. In
presenting the cheque Brian Colclough thanked them and pointed
out that this was an example of ‘money spent in the town staying
in the town’…Damer House hosts a Genealogy workshop as part
of the Ó Meachair and the Barony of Ikerrin Heritage
Event…Roscrea Comhaltas members compete in the Munster
Fleadh in Killarney, with great success, many winning their event
and some qualifying for the All Ireland Fleadh…St Vincent de Paul
appeals for donations of clothes and good quality bric-abrac…Roscrea Men’s Shed is open daily from 10am to 5pm at
Roscrea Courthouse, Gaol Road.
August: Two curates at Roscrea, Frs Pat Treacy and Michael
Harding are to become co-Parish Priests of the combined parishes
of Roscrea, Bournea, Kyle and Knock. Fr Tom Corbett is retiring
as Parish Priest and will be co-ordinator of the parish team…Youth
2000 Summer, a Catholic faith Festival is held at Cistercian
College. For four days over 1100 young people between 16 and 35
19
Roscrea People 2014
20
Roscrea People 2014
years of age will join together in a programme of workshops,
drama, music, prayer, discussion, debate and relaxation…A special
prayer service is held in St Cronan’s Church of Ireland in response
to the many challenges facing the town…A Roscrea Jobs’ Club
programme will focus on CV preparation, job search, and
interview techniques…St Anne’s Parents’ Association with the
help of local cycling clubs, Roscrea and Birr, North Tipperary
Wheelers and Offaly CC, launch a charity sportive with the aim of
raising enough funds to have two bicycles, one an upright
stationary and the other a reclining stationary bike, for the
playground…Roscrea Camogie Summer Camp begins as does the
Juvenile Golf Summer Camp…Minister Alan Kelly tells the
Midland Tribune that the drug issues facing Roscrea are a
‘priority’ for him and has pledged to put the full weight of his
Ministerial Office behind the people of Roscrea. He visits some
local community groups to show his support for their various
initiatives…Brian King, Hillside, Roscrea writes a moving letter to
the Tribune, detailing all that is good and great about the town. He
finishes by saying the people of the town have stood up and said
NO. And now it is time for the people with power to make things
happen, to stand up and shout YES…Roscrea Cardiac Responder
Group’s first AED is donated by Roscrea Red Cross. They thank
the Lions Club for their generous donation and Lou Ryan, Auburn
Lounge, for his outstanding support… ‘Roscrea stands Up’ is
formed to fight the drugs scourge at a follow-up public meeting in
Coláiste Phobal. Six working groups were formed consisting of
five members each to look after issues such as Mental Health, Drug
and Alcohol Support Services; Investments, Jobs and training
Having fun at St Cronan’s Camogie Club Summer Camp.
opportunities; Housing; Environment and Youth Action. Members
will be vetted by the Gardai and inappropriate material will not be
allowed on Facebook…A Cistercian College Student receives 8
A1s in his Leaving Cert…Mount Saint Joseph seeks an extension
period to a previously granted planning application, to develop a
visitor centre at its west courtyard…Roscrea Lions Club launch
their Annual Charity Run, which this year will feature two running
events, a 10k and a 5k walk. They thank Mount St Joseph Abbey
for facilitating them and Brian Colclough, of Bernie’s Supervalu,
for being the main sponsor. The events will take place in
October…Nicola Crampton is the latest winner in the Credit
Union’s Cash draw…Gardai warn of high quality fake 20 notes
in circulation…Kickback Youth Café, in partnership with Tesco
holds a Bake Sale to raise money for Roscrea Youth Laugh Out
Loud (LOL) day…Jamie Carroll, head male prefect in Coláiste
Phobal receives 605 points in his Leaving Cert…Pat Joe Whelan,
local writer meets Philomena Lee when she visits the
town…Singer Louise Morrissey performs at a fundraiser in Racket
Hall Hotel, to help raise money to bring her ill nephew home from
Thailand…The Credit Union announces lending restrictions are
being eased…Roscrea Trailblazers are to climb Carrauntohill to
raise funds for Pieta House…
September: Roscrea Gardai, with members of the Divisional
Drugs Unit and sniffer dogs seize a significant quantity of illegal
drugs, including cocaine, ecstasy tablets and cannabis…RCDC
asks people to support ‘Roscrea Stands Up’…In the long running
Youth 2000: From 14 -17 August 2014 Youth 2000 returned
for a second year to Cistercian College for their annual
summer festival. Almost 1200 young people between the
ages of 16 & 35 gathered on the campus of Mt St Joseph
for the festival. The event, which has been nicknamed
"Holy Oxygen", is a mix of liturgy, inspiring talks, music,
prayer, workshops, dramas, share groups and
reconciliation. The principal speaker this year was Fr John
Harris OP, National Spiritual Director of Youth 2000. The
Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Brown and Archbishop
Eamon Martin also celebrated Mass for the participants
during the festival. On the Saturday evening over 800
young people attended Vespers in the Abbey church while
the Sports Hall was transformed into a large worship space
for the other liturgies during the festival. A marquee to
seat 500 people was erected to serve as a canteen. The
organisers built on the previous year’s experience and the
event was a great success once more.
saga of the Roscrea Housing Estate development, it now appears
Tipperary County Council is in negotiations to purchase the site
from a private developer…People are asked to give any
information they may have on Roscrea’s links with World War One
to personnel at the Credit Union. A committee has been formed
with the aim of having a ceremonial occasion at the end of the
month in commemoration of Roscrea’s involvement…An
exhibition by three gifted painters, Edward Kennedy, Fx Murphy
and Will O’Kane is launched in Damer House Gallery, titled Three
Men in a Pea Green Boat…Roscrea Library Summer Reading
Programme has proved a great success with over 200 children
reading approximately 3500 books…Pieta House hosts an Open
Day…Forty three hikers took part in the Carrauntohill climb in aid
of Pieta House…A good number of Roscrea Lions take the Ice
Bucket Challenge to help raise funds, as well as raising awareness
of their up coming charity run…Roscrea Industrial meeting with
the IDA brings hope of new jobs for the town. It is hoped to
capitalize on the business Park at Benamore. Organised by Noel
Coonan TD, some people thought it helpful but others thought
Roscrea was being utterly forgotten about…There is a fall in the
Live Register figures in Tipperary…Team Hope has begun its shoe
box appeal…Roscrea Heritage presents another Roscrea
Miscellany, an evening of prose and poetry and music.
Contributors include Adrian Hewson, Liam Sheedy, Caitríona
Meagher, Pat Bourke, Mark McLoughlin, Henry Healy and
Michael Costigan. Music was provided by students of William
McCullagh…Clubs and organisations are resuming their activities
21
Roscrea People 2014
22
Roscrea People 2014
ROSCREA HOSPICE
The Roscrea Hospice fundraising committee has been in
existence for many years now and the community in Roscrea
has always been very generous in their support. During 2014
the committee organised a very successful Fun Day at the
Dunkerrin Arms which was supported by young and old.
Along with activities for kids, a bbq and live music
entertained the adults. Events such as these are the main
fundraisers. The committee purchased and presented a
syringe driver for the laurels palliative care unit at Dean
Maxwell in Roscrea as well as presenting a large cheque to
North Tipperary Hospice.
In the coming weeks a number of events take place. We will
have a stall at “A Taste of Roscrea” from Thursday December
4th until Sunday December 7th, selling books, clothes and
lots more. Winnie Fox bakes a Christmas cake every year and
we will be selling tickets for this at Tesco on Friday
December 12th and Saturday December 13th and at Bernie’s
Supervalu on December 12th. Winnie has raised thousands
of Euro from her Christmas cake.
On St Stephen’s Day our annual walk will take place at
Fancroft Mill and Gardens and we also have our church gate
collection during December.
after the summer recess…Culture Night 2014, a culture night
exhibition will see Itsa Collective host an open discussion and
exhibition of new works at Damer House Gallery…Roscrea Scouts
finish in a top ten place at the National Championships…Coláiste
Phobal celebrates excellent Junior Cert results…Roscrea Library
is closing temporarily for refurbishment…Roscrea Leisure Centre
celebrates its 5th Anniversary…The Maloney family host the
Margaret Maloney (nee Killoran) Darts Tournament to help raise
funds for the Irish Lung Fibrosis Association (ILFA)…The Harvest
Thanksgiving service is held at the Methodist Church…St Vincent
de Paul continues its toy appeal…‘Roscrea Stands Up’ gives
details of its five point plan at a meeting and activists aim to turn
Roscrea around. Each of the five committees brought something to
the table that will help the town and everyone was positive…
Minister Alan Kelly has pledged that action will be taken to deal
with black-spots attracting anti-social behaviour…Roscrea
prepares to commemorate World War 1 involvement…Roscrea
Tidy Towns increase their marks by three, bringing the total to
289…Eileen Doherty has mooted the idea of a Junior Tidy Towns
to encourage younger people to get involved…Credit Union
encourages members to enter the Photography Exhibition for a
Calendar with the theme ‘Tipperary Goes Wild’. Entries must be
received by the end of the month…Fr Lorcan Kenny addresses a
group of residents at Gleann Glas, where he blesses a shrine and
lanterns are released…St Anne’s Charity cycle takes place this
weeken…Roscrea Boys Brigade acknowledges receipt of a grant
from Tipperary Education and Training Board.
October: Residents of a private estate, Glen Carrig on the Knock
Road, already suffering from substandard lighting, water and
sewage infrastructure, are concerned when they see bulldozers
arrive unannounced onto land adjacent to their site, where it
appears the Council plans to construct more houses on the already
creaking system…At the RCDC meeting, the Director of Nursing
of Mount Carmel Nursing Home announces that thirty new jobs
and a top of the range facility, Mount Carmel Nursing Home, is to
be gifted to the people of Roscrea…Plans are underway to
rejuvenate Roscrea Town Enhancement Plan and push for more of
its aims to be realised next year…Recent burglaries in Roscrea are
linked to other burglaries in the county and are being investigated
as such…Plans are already underway for the 2015 St Patrick’s Day
Parade…A forgotten Roscrea Factory is disappearing by the day.
The former Offray factory is deteriorating as thieves and vandals
destroy the building…150 balloons with gift tokens attached are
launched by children drawn from the local schools in Roscrea, to
mark the 150th anniversary of Shaws Department Stores…Roscrea
Stand Up Youth Action group are calling on all youth groups in
Roscrea to send one or two representatives to their club forum,
where they will outline in detail their planned Clubs’ Exhibitions,
with the intention of facilitating clubs to promote their activities for
young people of Roscrea and district…A charity cycle in aid of St
Anne’ Special School raises €2000, enough to install a stationary
bicycle for the new playground…Roscrea Tidy Towns thank the
people of Roscrea for their generosity during the recent Streets
collection…Roscrea is to march against Water Tax…Sr Luke,
Regional Superior of the Sisters of St Marie Madeleine Postel,
(Mount Carmel Nursing Home) together with Marian Hayes,
Chairman of the BOM of Mt Carmel, announces there are no plans
to transfer ownership of Mount Carmel Nursing Home. The Sisters
are fully committed to further investment in the home and ensuring
the best possible care for the people of Roscrea. The Sisters also
state they are fully supportive of their Director of Nursing, Ann
Keevey…An Historic World War One Commemoration Event is
held in the town: Brian King told the Midland Tribune that the
Credit Union’s involvement in organising this day and bringing
the Seattle Police Pipe and Drums Band to Roscrea, was one of
the greatest community projects with which all the volunteers
were ever involved. Comhaltas, the Service organisers in the
Church of Ireland, Paul Fogarty and the White House, Roscrea
Scouts, Anthony Bourke and all others involved were especially
thanked for their work and hospitality on the day…Plans for a
visitor centre at Mount St Joseph Abbey are put on hold by the
local planning authority who requested more information from the
applicant…Roscrea Branch of North Tipperary Hospice donate a
new syringe driver to the Laurels Palliative Unit at the Dean
Maxwell Home…Plans for the first ever Clubs’ Exhibition are
unveiled at a well attended meeting in Coláiste Phobal. The
initiative is being organised by RSU Youth Action and Mr Ger
O’Brien, Principal of the Coláiste…Roscrea Musical Society
announces that as part of the 75th anniversary celebrations they
will stage a panto for Christmas Snow White and the Seven
Dwarfs…Thanks to Mens’ Shed Roscrea members for their time
and help whenever they are called upon…Miinister Alan Kelly
announces up to sixty new jobs are potentially in the pipeline for
Roscrea, with a new recruitment headquarters for FRS, as well as
significant expansion of the company’s facility, if contracts are
secured for a new Government Employment programme. His
Government colleague, Noel Coonan, TD says An Post has plans
to create a new facility in Roscrea, trying to secure ownership of
a new building in Benamore… Roscrea sees its first Protest March
Against Water Taxes. Organisers say the marches will continue
each Saturday…The Irish Catholic, The Irish Arts Review and
Archaeology Ireland, each have favourable reviews of George
Cunningham’s The Round Tower at Roscrea and its Environs…A
thirty-three ft by six ft syringe will be situated in the town from the
16th through 18th October. John Edwards, the man behind the
syringe is in town to help people who struggle with addictions drug, alcohol, eating disorders, self-harming or depression…An
effort is being made to form a Roscrea Junior Tidy Towns
Committee, hoping projects undertaken by them, will enhance and
complement the work already being done by The Tidy Towns
23
Roscrea People 2014
24
Roscrea People 2014
Committee…The closure of Roscrea Library is extended to finish lights need to be upgraded but finance is a huge issue according to
refurbishment work. Roscrea People may use any of the other Chamber of commerce, President, Seamus Browne…A cheque for
libraries in Tipperary during this time…A coffee morning in aid of €2059 is presented to pupils of St Anne’s Special Needs School,
Feileachain (Still Birth and Neo-natal Death Association) is held the result of a charity cycle. The money will go towards installing
at Esso Spar…Auditions are held for Roscrea Musical Society’s a stationary bicycle…€24000 raised earlier during the year from
Snow White… Roscrea Cardiac Responder Group has issued an the ‘Darkness into Light’ walk is presented to Pieta House…Irish
open invitation to residents to attend their certificate presentation classes for adults commence at the Gaelscoil in Ballaghmore…All
night, when as well as receiving certificates the Cardiac Group will groups and organisations are continuing with their weekly
present Roscrea with another new AED (Automated External activities, with many preparing for their AGMs…
Defribilator)… Roscrea Badminton Club has recommenced its
activities…St Vincent de Paul continue their Toy appeal…NCBI
November: Community activists in Roscrea have expressed
Roscrea needs clothes, bric-a-brac and small furniture…All other
disappointment at the failure of local representatives to attend
groups and organisations continue with their meetings and
meetings of the Development Council in the town and feel many
activities…The proceeds of St Anne’s Golf Classic and Summer
local politicians are now more focussed on Thurles. Many
Draw, €10158, is presented to Catriona Larkin, Manager Day
councillors, when contacted by the Tribune, have stated they will
Services and Marie Grimes McGrath, Manager of Respite and attend much more of these meetings in the future…Protest marches
Residential Services…Kevin Humphries, Minister for State in the against water charges go ahead despite torrential
Department of Social Protection, visits Roscrea and meets with a rain…Discussions have been ongoing in recent months between
number of community groups and visits the Social Welfare local groups to create a cycle track between Birr and Roscrea,
Office…The fifty-fifth consecutive bi-annual conference titled using the old rail line…The former and much loved Parish Priest
Women in Medieval Ireland is due to take place at Mount St Joseph of Roscrea, Rev Dr Tom Corbett celebrates the Golden Jubilee of
Abbey shortly…A display organised by Roscrea Stands Up Youth his ordination, with a special Mass in St Cronan’s Church, Abbey
Group in collaboration with Coláiste Phobal, Roscrea Clubs Street. It is a wonderfully uplifting occasion…Different areas in
Exhibition, is held at the Coláiste where one can meet and chat the town have Hallowe’en celebrations, with, apart from trick and
with club members from different organisations, specifically treating, youth discos, adults dressing up and bonfires… Cistercian
catering for young people. Principal Mr Ger O’Brien and the College is set to present West Side Story…Roscrea Scouts receive
committee of Roscreaa Stands Up Youth
Committee get much praise for their
commitment and work to this project to
ensure its success…Sean Treacy ‘Shave
and Wax’ night is held in Jack’s Bar…A
decision on planning permission for An
Post to create a new sorting depot in
Roscrea Benamore Business park should be
known
towards
the
end
of
November…Minister for Jobs Richard
Bruton, TD, meets members of Roscrea
Stands Up (RSU). Noel Coonan TD, is
thanked
for
arranging
the
meeting…Roscrea Cardiac Responders
hold a presentation evening to present
Automated External Defibrillators (AED)
to local groups. One goes to the town, to be
placed in Main Street, and it is thanks to the
support of Bill Smith that this has been
made possible; the second AED goes to
Kennedy Park. This AED was paid for
through fundraising but without the large
Corville NS had great success in the North Tipperary Indoor Athletics
personal donation from Cllr Michael
Championship held Thursday 6th November in Nenagh, winning
Smith, it would not have been viable; the
thirteen medals including ten gold and three silver medals.
third AED belongs to the Abbey
Back L-R: Ms. Browne (coach), Joanne O'Rourke, Leah Edwards, Fay
Hall…Carmel Moore, Monaincha House
Morton,
Shane Feehan, Conor Shanahan, Kyle Dooley, Jessica Bergin,
wins the Eithne Condon Perpetual Trophy
for the best handmade hat at the Tullow
Igor Dziobek, Emily Craig, Clodine Treacy, Courtney Wright,
show…Paul Fogarty (White House) has
Ms. Mulderrig (coach).
agreed to provide free premises for the
Middle: Kyle Bergin, Robin Loughnane, Michaela Mulrooney Donovan,
Local Enterprise Office to conduct a
Elysse Hearns, Dale Collins, Hayden Keeshan, Calin Byrne, Luke
monthly clinic during November and
Fletcher, Jake Morton, Patrik Koczian, Clodagh Grimes, Teegan O'Meara.
December, the aim being to assist those
wanting to start a business or to improve an
Front: Devon Loughnane, Ryan Thompson, Leah Walsh, Molly Dooley,
already existing one…Cllr Michael Smith
Khya Lynch, Lee Doran, Graham Dooley, Tommy Murphy, Nicole
urges Roscrea Chamber of Commerce to
Brooks, Killian Bergin, Anna Pastrevica.
look for a mentor to help put in place plans
for the Roscrea Business park…Christmas
25
Roscrea People 2014
26
Roscrea People 2014
Chief Scouts Awards and Bronze President Awards…Roscrea
Pastoral Council has invited Eddie Stone, Clonfert, to lead a
Healing Service for all the community. The service is held in St
Cronan’s Church, Abbey St…Roscrea Library has reopened after
extensive refurbishment: new windows, new roof, new lighting
and insulation… Plans are underway for RSU to become involved
in a project that will see Offray Ribbon Factory – one of our worst
industrial black-spots cleaned up, and, potentially become a new
headquarters for the group…The latest in the saga of the ‘twelve
house abandoned estate’ emerges as Cllr Michael Smith, Chairman
of the Municipal District covering Roscrea says there is the
possibility of Tipperary County Council purchasing the site and
making the homes available for families waiting for
housing…New Garda Inspector, Oliver Henry, meets with
RSU…The 55th Conference exploring Women in Medieval Ireland
is a great success. It was classed a feast of scholarship, friendship
and sheer good fun…Credit Union urges members to avoid
unnecessary debts and moneylenders…RCDC is to host a public
meeting in the Abbey Hall to appoint a committee to organise the
town’s 37th consecutive St Patrick’s Day Parade for 2015…A CCE
concert in aid of the Uganda Missions is held in Racket Hall
Hotel…Roscrea Trailblazers are forging ahead with their Thursday
night walks, not letting inclement weather dampen their spirits.
These walks may now be every second week. Their Christmas
walk to Monaincha Abbey is to be held on Friday, 19th
December…A new business Alpha Fashions (formerly Moran’s)
opens in Main Street…Tickets for the RMS panto, Snow White
and the Seven Dwarfs go on sale soon; four shows on 11th, 12th and
13th December, with a matinee on that day (Sat)…Roscrea’s first
ever Compassionate Communities Café Conversation evening is
held in Mount Carmel Nursing Home…John Watkins, Roscrea,
wins an Opel Insignia car in the Winning streak Game show on
RTE…RSU is to hold its fifth public meeting…the OPW seeks
local flooding knowledge from the community in
Roscre…Broadband speed is to be increased in Roscrea…Pat
Phelan is the newest winner of the main cash prize in the latest
Credit Union Draw…Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, presents
Paul Breen, Roscrea with the TCD Student Research Grant at the
Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists in Croke Park…Over
sixty exhibitors of local food and craft, kids’ attractions, fifteen
choirs from local schools, street entertainment and Santa’s train, all
at the Taste of Roscrea…As we put Roscrea People 2014 to bed the
news of the passing of Pat Dynan, Green Street and Fr Gabriel
ocso has saddened the town. Pat was very much involved in all
Roscrea People projects while he enjoyed good health, while the
genial Fr Gabriel as guestmaster welcomed the Roscrea conference
participants for many years. May they and all deceased Roscrea
people enjoy the blessings of Heaven….And may 2015 brings
blessings to our area.
The Annals of Roscrea were compiled by Carmel
Cunningham from local sources and the local newspapers,
particularly the Midland Tribune. Particular thanks to
Darren Keegan of the Roscrea Office
Jane and Push The Button
Congratulations to local riders John Joe Grace (Mon
Plaisir) and his wife, Jane (Push The Button), who
recently completed the long format 3 Day Event
Competition at Aldon International, Somerset. Jane
finished a very commendable 6th in the Open Class.
The competition consisted of dressage, roads, tracks,
steeplechase and cross-country, with show jumping on
the final day.
John Joe and Mon Plaisir
27
Roscrea People 2014
28
Roscrea People 2014
The Darkness Into Light Walk has now become a significant annual event.
Does the Taoiseach know
something we don’t? The last
Sale of Roscrea was in 1858.
Roscrea Cardiac
Responder Group:
see Chamber of
Commerce feature
for details
Chernobyl Lifeline is in operation for almost a quarter of a
century now and work is ongoing, but Henry Deane tells that they need
young people to carry on this very necessary work.
Debbie Reynolds, holding Adam Deane and her son Ben on the see-saw,
hosted the young girl, Nastia Chiruk, on the left for the month of July.
Nastia comes from the Brest region of Belarus and needs an operation
on her throat to enable her to speak properly. Contact
[email protected] with any offers of help.
Roscrea Youth Centre in Kerry
It was girl power all the way to and at Kenmare as
no boys travelled this year for a great week in the
Kingdom. So many highlights of the week but to
mention a few: Glengarriff and Garnish Island;
Muckross House and the jaunting car up to Torc
waterfall at Killarney and Fungie at Dingle: Tralee
and Inch Beach. We crossed into west Cork to visit
famed Gougane Barra, St Finbarr’s spiritual home
and the source of the river Lee. The girls would
like to thank the members of the Roscrea Youth
Centre Committee of Mark, Anne, Kelly, Padraig
and Sean who gave up a week of their holidays to
take them to Kerry; also sincere thanks to Joe the
bus driver and Andrew Walsh coach hire.
Back: Angel Byrne, Erica Deane, Niamh Moloney, Nicole King,
Ciara Monahan, Michaela Dunne.
Front: Cody Moloney, Caitlin Carey, Jessica Mitchell, Megen Cahill,
Leah Brooks.
29
Roscrea People 2014
30
Roscrea People 2014
Very happy students at the
Theresa Larkin school of
Music Roscrea. What a great
start to the beginning of a
new term! Honours and
Distinctions in Piano exams
- Theory exams /Royal Irish
Academy of music and
Honours and Distinctions in
SCT Comhaltas exams / Accordion, fiddle, Banjo, Flute,Tin whistle.
Congratulations to all and well done !
Mary Monks is
one of the
volunteers in the
Sue Ryder charity
shop on Main
Street.
SHOP LOCAL
Volunteer Margaret
Dooley from Ashbury
in the NCBI charity
shop in Main Street
with manageress
Jayne O’Connell.
Tony Carroll delivering a clear
message.
Bored?
Many worthy societies
are looking for new
blood.
Book donations at Roscrea People of the Year Awards
The Fallon
Library at
Dromakeenan
and St Anne’s
Special School
will be the
recipients in
January.
Clonakenny native, Adrian Hewson has much pleasure in
presenting Deirdre Mortimar, chairperson of the Parents’
Association, Lismackin NS with a token book
representing the many boxes added by RP to the
‘Orchard’.
It was a poignant moment for Billy Jackson,
representing St Cronan’s Grange for the last
time as he heads into retirement. Fr Tom
presents Billy with the token book at the
RPYA.
31
Roscrea People 2014
32
Roscrea People 2014
ROSCREA PEOPLE OF THE YEAR 2013
The Awards evening was held in the Abbey Hall on Tuesday 14th January. The traditional community-filled
evening was rounded off with magnificent catering by Gala Mulrooney. The concert by junior CCÉ Ros Cré
was followed by the editor’s illustrated story of Roscrea 2013, assisted technically by Ger O’Meara and Conor
Abbott of Twilight Sound and Vision.
Book presentations were then made. To mark reaching the total
figure of 50,000 books donated by RP since 1987, the superb eight
volume facsimile set of the Trees of GB and Ireland was presented
to Tipperary Public library and accepted by Joe MacGrath, now
CEO of Tipperary County. This was in addition to many hundreds
of other heritage volumes.
St Cronan’s Grange received its annual donation and the school
selected this year was Lismackin NS and ‘The Orchard Library’,
developed in honour of Bill and Margaret
Smith. More pictures of the people at the
RPYA may be seen in other pages of this
RP.
Theresa Larkin with friends, Sheelagh Chadwick,
Thomas Larkin, Margaret Larkin Madden.
The RP Awards for 2014 will be held in
Racket Hall on Thursday 15th January
2015 again with the main sponsor being
Bernies SuperValu.
Roscrea Young Person of
the Year with Brian
Colcough (main sponsor)
and ex-Minister Michael
Smith.
CU secretary Dick Conroy (CU were the
main associate sponsors of the awards)
presents Ramblers representative Joe
Coughlan with their award.
Award recipients (named in RP 2013 and in RPYA booklet) with special guests and organisers at the
Awards evening in the Abbey Hall in January 2014.
33
Roscrea People 2014
34
Roscrea People 2014
Roscrea Stands Up
The reaction to Derek Russell’s initiative
in calling a meeting of concerned people
was truly remarkable. Not in living
memory have such turnouts been seen.
And it caught the imagination of the
nation too. Derek recounts:
‘On Monday night the 21st July, Roscrea People came together to
voice their controlled anger about the following issues: the high
rate of unemployment in Roscrea; lack of facilities for teenagers;
misuse of alcohol; mental health concerns and the serious
problem of illegal drugs. People spoke of how drugs had
destroyed families in Roscrea.
The people at the meeting demanded that the Gardaí, the HSE
and the local community would have to come together and work
closely to resolve the issues raised at the public meeting and
subsequent meetings.
Three months on things have greatly improved. We have our own
Garda Inspector. We have a drop-in centre for people seeking help
to deal with drug addiction. We have set up five working groups
under the Roscrea Stands Up brand name. These groups are
working tirelessly to address the issues in Roscrea.’
A night to remember in Main Street: Sgt Pat Curran
speaks to the large gathering who had marched in protest
from the Abbey Hall to the Garda Station.
Groups:
Drugs and Alcohol: Marie Warren, Michael Carney, Donnachha
Ryan, Tony Foyle, Emily Dunne, Shane Lee.
Housing and Environment: Kate Delaney, Michael Edwards,
Georgie Graham, Eileen Doherty, Sharon Hynes, Stephen
Moloney, Brian England, P.J.Wright.
Youth Action: Joan Murray, Elizabeth Cummins, Rosaleen
Treacy, Alison Conlon, Sarah O’Sullivan, James Kirwan, Donie
Kealy, Tim Hennessey, Francis Minogue, Danielle Kealy, Leona
Tierney, Kyle Shanahan, Keith Grimes, David Warren.
Business and Training: Dee Hogan, Billy Cummins, John
Lupton, Bernard Aherne, Anne Neville, Liam Doorley, Marie
Loughnane, Bernie Conlon, Michael Madden.
Derek Russell invites comments from the public.
Mental Health Group: Jackie Hanlon, Kerry Ann Nolan,
Dympna Moloney, Caroline Phelan, Pat Hennessy, Derek
Russell.
Joan
Murray of
Youth
Action
meets
Minister
O’Reilly
with Noel
Coonan
T.D. in
attendance.
The second meeting of RSU had to
move to Coláiste Phobal to
accommodate the large crowd.
Among those pictured above are
Michael Murray NTLP, Insp Padraig
Powell, Supt Noonan, Insp Brian
Conway, Noel Coonan TD and Michael
Lowry TD.,
35
Roscrea People 2014
36
Roscrea People 2014
Roscrea Chamber of Commerce Review 2014
The following is just a brief synopsis of
another extremely busy and productive year
for Roscrea Chamber Of Commerce.
Officers 2014/2015: President Seamus Browne; Treasurer,
Liam McGrath; Secretary, Brian King.
New Members: The Chamber welcomes all its new members and
thanks Padraic Madden who gathers the annual subscription.
Contact Padraic or any officer to join or raise an issue.
All-Ireland Hurling
Final Shop Window
Display Competition
organised by Cllr
Michael Smith in
association with
Roscrea Chamber of
Commerce. Winner:
Percivals Roscrea.
L/R: Seamus Browne
President Roscrea
Chamber Commerce,
Cllr Michael Smith CC,
Joan Percival Winner,
Brian King (Chamber
Secretary).
park. The Chamber also hopes to link in with local colleges in
2015 with a view to doing a detailed survey on employment and
skillsets available in Roscrea.
Christmas Lights: The Chamber once again this year facilitated
the Christmas lights and has made a significant investment in the
lights for Christmas 2014. It is imperative that that all traders
contribute to the running costs of the lights.
Roscrea Stands Up and Roscrea Chamber representatives met
with Minister Bruton in October to discuss future jobs potential
for Roscrea.
L/R Patsy Treacy (CU), Brian King (Manager CU), Seamus Browne,
President, Roscrea Chamber Commerce, Noel Coonan TD, Derek
Russell RSU, Marie Loughnane RSU, Michael Madden RSU, Bernie
Conlon RSU, Minister Richard Bruton, Dee Hogan RSU, and
Liam Doorley.
Enterprise Ireland/Roscrea Business Park: Engagement with
a number of taskholders to ensure that the business park property
at Benamore becomes operational as soon as possible. In
November successfully applied to LEO for a mentor to develop
plans for the site. The Chamber has lobbied for some time for
the local authority to be given a major input into the future of the
Roscrea Chamber Of Commerce Support Painting Scheme:
A big thank you to Tipperary County Council for supporting the
“Painting Scheme” once again this year.
Shop local Campaign: The Chamber has applied for funding for
a “Shop local Campaign” to build upon the success of the 2013
initiative.
Enhancement Plan: The Chamber congratulates its Secretary
Brian King who continues as Chairman.
Tidy Towns: The Chamber encourages all those interested in the
growth and development of their town to get involved in some
way whether as a volunteer or a sponsor of a project.
Enterprise Clinics/Roscrea Business EXPO: They are fully
supportive of the Enterprise Sub-Group of Roscrea Stands Up
where Michael Madden represents the Chamber on the
committee. two initiatives put forward included the hosting of
Enterprise Clinics in Roscrea on a regular basis and the hosting
of a Roscrea Business Expo. The Chamber would like to thank
Paul Fogarty who agreed to provide a free premises for the
Local Enterprise Office to conduct a monthly clinic in Roscrea.
Bus Éireann was contacted with concerns over the depletion in
services to Toomevara, Moneygall and Borris-In-Ossory. While
Roscrea has not been directly impacted, there is an indirect impact
and a worry that services to Roscrea could be scaled back at a
future date.
Members of the Roscrea Enhancement Plan Committee, Chamber
Of Commerce and members of North Tipperary County Council
gathered in Roscrea to launch both the Roscrea Painting Scheme
2014 and the Roscrea & District Events Guide 2014.
L/R: Dick Conroy, Adrian Hewson, Brian King (Chairman), Cllr
Michael Smith, Marion Carey, Nuala O’Connell and Nicholas
Moroney.
Roscrea Cares: At the October meeting, Anne Keevey and Kathy
Mcloughlin gave a presentation entitled “Roscrea Cares”, based
on what strategies Roscrea would need to adopt to become “An
Age Friendly Town”. Dundalk was the first town in Ireland to
become an Age Friendly Town and enjoyed great benefits as a
result. Simple examples were given as to how Roscrea could
advance towards becoming an “Age Friendly Town”: street
furniture and encouraging more businesses to ensure that seating
37
Roscrea People 2014
38
Roscrea People 2014
in their service areas is suitable for elderly people in particular
and that access is suitable for wheelchairs etc. Sources of funding
for this and “The Good Neighbour Project” were discussed. The
Roscrea Enhancement Plan is also encouraging the development
of a Slí Na Sláinte route around the town.
Roscrea Chamber Of Commerce and Roscrea Stands Up met with
Local Enterprise Office representatives and Enterprise Ireland
Representatives last September to look at initiatives that would
encourage new businesses to locate in Roscrea and existing
businesses to keep investing in Roscrea.
Pictured at a meeting in Roscrea to discuss job development in
the town were: Martin Maher (Roscrea Stands Up) John Lupton
(RCDC), Catherine Hogan (Enterprise Ireland), Jerry Maloney
(Enterprise Ireland), Noel Coonan (TD), Derek Russell (Roscrea
Stands Up), Brian King (Roscrea Chamber Of Commerce), Sean
Hogan (Roscrea Credit Union), and Rita Guinan (Tipperary Local
Enterprise Office)
Roscrea Beo/Taste Of Roscrea/LOL Day/World War 1
Commemoration Day: Congratulations to the organising
committees in all three events listed above. All three helped bring
business to Roscrea this year.
Tourism: Meetings are ongoing with Co Council. One of the
initiatives will include a campaign for free access to the OPW
sites in Roscrea. This was tried in other towns before and the
Chamber believe that such a move would greatly enhance the
town’s potential to attract more visitors and coach tours to
Roscrea and thereby provide a solid foundation for developing
the tourist product in the town.
Roscrea Cardiac Responders: A number of presentations were
made at Chamber meetings over the last few months but none
captured the attention like that of the recent presentation by
Roscrea Cardiac Responder Group. Important numbers: In case
of emergency call 999/112 and 0860376869. The mobile number
is that of the Roscrea Cardiac Group. Members take turn in
having the mobile and defibrillator unit on their person so that
they can attend to any emergency. The group requests that you
contact the emergency services first followed by an immediate
call to the mobile number as the likelihood is the local responder
group will get to the person(s) needing aid quicker. Contact
details are as follows: Mike Edwards Secretary Roscrea Cardiac
Responder Group 0879841033, Kerry Ann Nolan Co-ordinator
Roscrea Cardiac Responder 0868890911.
Members of Roscrea Chamber Of Commerce gathered with
supporters of the “Taste Of Roscrea Festival” for the official
launch of the Christmas lights.
All-Ireland Final: The Chamber would like to thank everyone
that decorated the town for the All-Ireland Hurling Final. Roscrea
was probably the best decorated town in the county. It was great
to have former organiser Jo Jo Cunningham back to launch the
2014 campaign. Hopefully Tipperary can go one step further in
2015.
Conclusion: This year marks fifty years of Roscrea Chamber Of
Commerce. During that time the Chamber has with pride
represented the town on both commercial and social issues to the
best of its ability. It has enjoyed many successes and over the
years contributed to the establishment of Roscrea Credit Union,
Roscrea Tidy Towns, efforts to have a swimming pool and Leisure
Centre in the town, the establishment of Roscrea 2000, keeping
the Christmas lights alive each festive season in addition to
numerous successes in working with the Council and various
stakeholders to help make Roscrea a better town to live and to
visit. Of course the Chamber has also had plenty of
disappointments most notably the closure of local factories and
local retailers all of which damages the social and economic fabric
of the town and causes great hardship for the families that make
up the community.
The last six years in particular have proved very difficult. As local
businesses struggle for their own survival the Chamber has
become more and more dependent on key volunteers to ensure
that the local business community continues to have a voice in
and for Roscrea even if at times it feels as if that voice falls upon
deaf ears. The reality is that behind the scenes Chamber members
meet regularly with local Councillors and stakeholders to help
ensure that even in a time when budgets are extremely tight that
Roscrea is certainly not forgotten.
As a voluntary organisation, without funding, Roscrea Chamber
depends solely on its members for its survival. The Chamber is
actively looking for new members to get involved and they are
encouraging their current loyal members to stay committed to the
Chamber. The Chamber appreciates that we are all working in
harsh economic times and in this regard they have kept its
membership to a very moderate fee to help with
its running costs. For more information on
membership or any other matter: please contact
Chamber Secretary Brian King in Roscrea Credit
Union (0505) 23601 or email [email protected]
Your support, contributions and suggestions are
more than welcome.
Members of Roscrea Chamber and Roscrea Stands
Up met with the IDA in September.
39
Roscrea People 2014
40
Roscrea People 2014
John Lupton writes on Community Empowerment
2014 may be remembered in North Tipperary as the year in which
the development of community empowerment was set back
almost twenty years. Nineteen years ago Roscrea Community
Development Council (R.C.D.C.) came into being and were soon
to play a pivotal role in the setting up of a North Tipperary
Community Development Council (NTCDC), which in turn, in
the context of the emergence of North Tipperary’s County
Development Board was to be modified to include areas of
community interests as well as facilitating community
development councils and to become known as North Tipperary’s
Community and Voluntary Association (C.A.V.A.). Its primary
objective and mission was to empower individuals through
community involvement with a supporting objective of
nominating community and voluntary sector members to statutory
committees and state boards.
In 2014 Mr. Phil Hogan, Minster for the Environment as part of
his Local Government Reform airbrushed the Community Fora of
which C.A.V.A. was one, and replaced this with, what he called
“public participating networks (P.P.N.’s)”, which have the
expressed and sole purpose of being a nominating vehicle for the
community and voluntary sector to statutory committees and
Boards. The mission statement to empower individuals through
community involvement was now gone. The void created by this
omission means that the “P.P.N.s” primary objective is a top down
objective. It’s a system supposedly designed to assist community
but as it does not pro-actively promote the empowerment of
community it allows bureaucratic requirements to fill the void
and thus one has a default process of community
disempowerment.
Of course communities need not buy into that but unfortunately
a culture of deference is very strong and so a deference to
perceived power always tends to disempower community. Thus
I was disappointed that the collective stance of C.A.V.A. which,
through inactivity in the past six months and through deference to
bureaucratic requirement, allowed the “P.P.N.” structure to fill a
void that it has not been designed to fill.
Thus while the P.P.N.’s have a nominating role which community
must work with, community must hold on to a structure which
facilitates community empowerment and through that process
seek to have the role of “P.P.N.’s” enlarged to incorporate this.
One cannot help but think that such an objective would be
unthinkable under the mindset of the previous Minister but one
would be very hopeful, and indeed have every reason to believe,
that under the new Minister Alan Kelly, there would be an
openness to such community empowerment.
Thus the huge community empowerment initiative by the people
of Roscrea in 2014 initiated and developed by Derek Russell
which saw the setting up of “Roscrea Stands Up” was very timely
in terms, not only of specific needs in Roscrea but in terms of the
concept of community empowerment as a whole in the context
of the county. Our geographical position in the County and in the
context of Local Government Restructuring which has taken place
means that Roscrea and district is now more marginalized
politically than before. Thus we as a community must fight much
harder to empower and assert ourselves. However, in seeking to
do that, we must never forget that legitimate power lies with the
people and while representation on County structures is necessary
and important it is merely a means to an end and a secondary
function to the primary function of creating “People
Empowerment” facilitating structures. Thus Roscrea Stands Up
must retain the active support of the whole community, who must
continue to share in its ownership, while R.C.D.C. must continue
as a community forum to link proactively with other such
community fora throughout the county.
“Community
Empowerment” is a prerequisite to a healthy democracy. Blind
deference to statutory structures is the basis for the development
of tribalism with resultant community disempowerment.
We would like this
Christmas to
especially
remember Pat who
carefully planned
the layout of the
new shop with his
sons John & Padraic prior to his
death in April of this year. His
input into the Carrig Road Service
Station is a huge loss on a daily
basis both to our family, customers
and the staff.
Ní bheidh a leithéid ann arís. Ar
dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
Mary Carroll
41
Roscrea People 2014
42
Roscrea People 2014
Roscrea Credit Union 2014
2014 was another very challenging year for your local credit union.
In July it hosted its 2011 and 2012 AGMs and as this year’s Roscrea
People goes to print work is ongoing with regard to catching up on
the outstanding AGM’s.
The July meeting brought members right up to date in terms of how
the Credit Union loan book is performing, and what the Credit Union
is doing to ensure debts owed are repaid. It was obvious from the
information presented that the majority of loans issued since 2012
are performing extremely well. In addition the Credit Union
demonstrated all the steps it was taking to recover debts owed
resulting, in the main, from legacies of the past.
Throughout the year the Credit Union has also been extremely busy
implementing many new controls, systems and processes. In addition
it is focusing hard on implementing the requirements of the revised
Credit Union act. Risk Management, Compliance, Internal Audit,
Strategic Planning and Fitness and Probity are just five of many
variables that the Credit Union now uses to strengthen and safeguard
the organisation.
Sean Hogan (Chairman Of Roscrea Credit Union) is pictured
here with members of the St. Patrick’s Day Committee and
invited guests. The Credit Union has supported the parade
for many years.
terms and conditions. One of the most important features of a Credit
Union loan is that the loan interest repayments are calculated on the
reducing balance of the loan. This means smaller interest payments
on the loan when compared with a loan with a similar rate in other
financial institutions. In addition the Credit Union personal loan rates
are very competitive with what is available in the current lending
market and repayment terms can be organised to suit personal
circumstances. With a Credit Union loan you can repay the loan early
with no penalty and there is also the flexibility to make larger
payments with no penalty should one so wish. Another massive
advantage a Credit Union loan has over its competitors is the fact
that loans are insured at no direct cost to the eligible member.
Clonlisk National School were runners up in the B category of the
2014, Roscrea Credit Union Schools Quiz
L/R Tracy Hynes (Youth Officer RCU), Liam Phelan, Fiona Liffey
(Clonlisk N.S), Mai Phelan (Quiz-Master), and Martha Hogan.
The Central Bank eased lending restrictions for the CU last July. This
was most welcome particularly to our loyal members. In addition to
our general loans the Credit Union also has excellent value on
secured loans. In short, if you have shares in Roscrea Credit Union
we can now lend to you with little delay provided you meet our
underwriting terms and conditions. Provided you can demonstrate a
capacity to repay and have a clear credit rating with the ICB, Roscrea
Credit Union can provide you with a loan depending on individual
circumstances of up to €30,000.
Roscrea Credit Union wish to remind members that compared to
banks there are many advantages to a Credit Union loan subject to
Shinrone National School were runners up in the A category of the
2014, Roscrea Credit Union Schools Quiz
Back Row l/R: Liam Phelan (Vice Chair RCU), Tracy Hynes (RCU
Youth Officer), Mai Phelan (Quiz Master), Martha Hogan (RCU), Joe
Cleary (Shinrone N.S).
Fr: Eoin Egan, Dylan Dockery, Cian Wakefield, Hazel Young.
Mary O’Carroll celebrates her win in the Roscrea Credit
Union Spring Cash Draw.
For a hassle free, no obligation quote please contact the Credit Union
on 0505 23601 or see our website www.roscreacu.ie.
The Credit Union is also actively looking for new members and
would remind potential borrowers that the most important factor that
the Credit Union will consider when deciding on loan approval is the
member’s capacity to repay.
Credit Control continues to be a key area in Roscrea Credit Union.
They will continue to work with any member experiencing
difficulties as long as that member is upfront and honest with the
credit control team. What will not be tolerated are members
refusing to honour their debts and making no effort to repay loans
given to them in good faith. To those members we say, “Roscrea
Credit Union will use the full force of the Irish legal System to
retrieve the money that you owe to your fellow members.”
Despite the difficulties and challenges of the past few years, Roscrea
Credit Union has stayed very much involved in the local community
providing support to many local clubs, events and organisations. We
had two major sponsorship events in 2014.
The first was the Credit Union’s involvement in the design and
43
Roscrea People 2014
launch of the brilliant community resource that is
www.roscreathrough theages.org.
On the night of the launch Brian King thanked the Credit Union
Secretary, Dick Conroy whose Trojan work and technical experience
ensured that the website was set up. Compliments were also
extended to Joe Coughlan who together with Joe Moloughney and
Sharon Edwards inspired the Facebook page that is now
complemented by the attractive new website. The second big
community event for Roscrea Credit Union was the World War 1
Commemoration event last September where they played a key role
in its organisation and bringing the Seattle Police Pipe & Drum Band
to Roscrea. Many Credit Union volunteers believe it was one of the
greatest community project’s that the Credit Union has ever been
involved with. The day will live long in the memory of all those
who were part of the occasion and will leave a lasting legacy, from
which hopefully Roscrea will benefit from for many generations to
come.
Captured are members of Roscrea Credit Union who had a
major involvement in the organising of last September’s
World War 1 Commemoration, together with Adrian Hewson
who led the Ecumenical service and members of the Seattle
Police Pipes and Drums Band who kindly visited Roscrea to
participate in the most memorable occasion.
The Credit Union’s Deirdre Hogan
played a key role in organising the
festival of light last January.
Credit Union Presentation:
The Credit Union played a key role in helping to organise the
events surrounding last September’s visit to Roscrea by the
Seattle Police Pipes and Drums Band. An informal presentation of
a Tipperary T-Shirt and hat was made to the Band leader, Ryan J
Gallagher after the formal proceedings for the day had concluded.
L/R: Dick Conroy, (RCU), Hugh Keane, (RCU), Ryan J. Gallagher
(Seattle Police) and Brian King (RCU).
Roscrea Credit Union was also associated sponsors of the Roscrea
People awards in 2014 as well as the Ros Cré Beo Festival and the
“Taste Of Roscrea” Christmas festival. The Credit Union has also
supported during the year, to name but a few, Clonakenny GAA Club,
The St Patrick’s Day Committee, the St Cronan’s Day Committee,
Roscrea Lions Club, Inane Rovers, Shinrone GAA Club, The Red
Cross, Kennedy Park, Glen Glas, Ashbury development/residents
associations, Roscrea Men’s Shed, Roscrea Athletic Club, Heroes
and Warriors Autistic Unit and the Roscrea Christmas CD.
Congratulations also to Deirdre Hogan who was very much involved
in the “Week Of Light” last January. Check us out on facebook or on
ww.roscreacu.ie to find out more.
For the last few years Roscrea Credit Union has invited
Santa Claus to join the Credit Union elves at the “Taste Of
Roscrea” Christmas Festival.
Pictured at the launch of the first Roscrea Heritage and Walking
Festival were members of Roscrea Credit Union and Tesco who are
sponsors of the event, together with Cathal McNicholas the coordinator.
L/R Cathal McNicholas (Event Co-Ordinator), Tracy Hynes (Youth
Officer, RCU), Louis Cooley (Director, RCU), Brian King (Manager,
RCU), Mairéad Ramsbottom (Tesco), Dick Conroy (Director RCU),
Liam Phelan (Vice Chairman, RCU).
44
Congratulations
to Nicola
Crampton
winner of the
Roscrea Credit
Union Summer
Cash Draw.
Nicola is
pictured here
with Credit
Union
personnel and
fellow winners.
Roscrea People 2014
On September 30th the US Seattle State Police Pipe & Drum
Band visited Roscrea to help commemorate all those who
fought and/or died from the area in World War 1. Pictured are
the organisers and sponsors of the event. Also captured is the
presentation of the “list of the fallen” by Dick Conroy to Adrian
Hewson.
L/R: James Marks (Roscrea Scouts), Michael McEvoy (Ireland
Reaching Out), Martin Matthews (Ireland Reaching Out), Paul
Fogarty (Sponsors), Adrian Hewson, John Martin (Sponsors),
Dick Conroy (Roscrea Credit Union & Ireland Reaching Out),
Brian King (Roscrea Credit Union/Roscrea Enhancement
Committee), Brian Redmond (Roscrea Heritage Society),
Conor Abbott (Sponsors & Roscrea Scouts), Ger O’Meara
(Roscrea Scouts).
Missing from Photo, Sean Hogan (Chairman Of Roscrea Credit
Union), Hugh Keane (Roscrea Credit Union) Anne Feehan & Joe
Coughlan (Ireland Reaching Out).
Kickback members at the summer youth festival in Roscrea
with Mairéad Ramsbottom, Fr Lorcan and Sean Hogan.
Congratulations to Dromakeenan National School who were
winners of the Roscrea Credit Union Schools Quiz “A” Category
2014. Dromakeenan also won the U13 section.
Back Row L/R: Patsy Treacy (Chairman RCU), Tracy Hynes (RCU
Youth Officer), Mai Phelan (Quiz Master) Louis Cooley (RCU)
Front Row L/R: Luke Watkins, Caoimhe Dooley, Leanne PardyPower, Saoirse Lalor.
45
Roscrea People 2014
46
Roscrea People 2014
Roscrea Abbey Community Centre Ltd (Abbey Hall)
Hall Hire
The community hall is available to the public for
classes, sports, and events to hire at very
reasonable rates.
Meeting Rooms
These rooms with kitchen facilities adjacent to
room are used by community organisations.
If you wish to have your meeting in the Centre
please contact the office for more details.
Classes
The following classes take place at the
Community Centre:Monday & Wednesday: Zumba 7.30pm - 8.30pm
Thursday: Ken’s Kettlebells – 7.00pm – 8.00pm
Saturday: Nichola Higgins School of
Irish Dancing – 11am – 1pm
THE OFFICE IS OPEN MONDAY TO FRIDAY –
Mornings from 9am – 12 noon and Monday,
Wednesday and Thursday evenings from
7pm – 9pm.
For further info telephone 0505 23183 or visit
Abbey Hall on Facebook.
Anyone wishing to make any contribution to
the Abbey Hall are asked to contact
Marie Tooher or Stephen Byrne at the Community
Office in the Abbey Hall or any of the present
Directors of Roscrea Abbey Community Centre Ltd:
John Lupton – Chairman, Lilian Delaney – Secretary,
Paddy Collison – Treasurer, Paddy Bergin – Asst.
Treasurer, Eamon Phelan, Brendan Keeshan, Teresa
Bowe, John Guilfoyle, Ger Coughlan, or Emmet
Arrigan.
Second-hand Bookshop. All proceeds go towards the Abbey Hall Restoration Fund.
Lilian Delaney Co-ordinator and Secretary of
Roscrea Abbey Community Centre Ltd
wishes to thank, on her own behalf, and on
behalf of the Company all those who have
donated books and in particular George
Cunningham who has donated a large
quantity of new books, also Arthur Crawford
for the extremely generous use of his shop
premises, and to those who have volunteered
to ‘man’ the shop. Volunteers are always
needed to help out. If you are interested call
in and collect an application form from
Lilian.
Bookshop manager Lilian Delaney has some good
reading while she awaits customers.
The second-hand bookshop is located at Crawford’s
shop in Main St. This shop is open every Wednesday,
Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm. All
proceeds go towards the
Abbey Hall Restoration
Fund. There is a huge
stock and variety of
books catering for all
ages and interests, all in
excellent condition for
sale at very reasonable
prices.
Artist Werner Groll derives great pleasure from perusing some
of the large stock.
47
Roscrea People 2014
The 16th Annual R.C.T.L.C. Roscrea Regional Sports
Stars Awards
Group photo of Award Winners and Sports Stars Selection Committee with Guest of Honour –
Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh, Special Guest Bishop Trevor Williams, Pat O’Halloran and Billy O’Connor
representing Rosderra Meats (sponsor).
On Friday, February 28th, 2014 Roscrea and the wider community came together in large numbers to
recognise the sporting achievement of those who have reached their highest echelons in their chosen sport.
The Guest of Honour was Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh – Irish Gaelic games commentator for the Irish
national radio and television, RTÉ. In a career that has spanned six decades he has come to be regarded as
the voice of Gaelic games.
R.C.T.L.C. Chairman John Lupton thanked Rosderra Meats, sponsors of the event for the past few years
and without this support R.C.T.L.C. acknowledge that it would not be possible to continue staging these
Sports Awards on an annual basis. He said RCTLC are also very much indebted to local journalists who
form the selection Committee in deciding the chosen awards. John thanked John O’Callaghan Editor of the
Midland Tribune for his excellent narrations of the award winners on the night and Catriona Fletcher for
escorting each recipient to the stage to receive their award as they were called out. He also thanked Lilian
Delaney – Co-ordinator of the Sports Stars Awards Committee - along with his fellow committee members
Eamon Phelan, Paddy Bergin and Paddy Collison. Finally he thanked Marie Tooher for her role in making
the night a success. He wished all the guests, recipients and supporters an enjoyable night and thanked the
Management and Staff of Racket Hall for a lovely meal and to enjoy the rest of their night with music by
Tipp Off.
The17th Annual Roscrea Regional Sports Stars Awards takes place on Friday, 20th February, 2015 in Racket
Hall Hotel.
R.C.T.L.C. Roscrea Regional Sports Star Award Winners:
Hall of Fame: Tadhg O’Connor, Athletics: Templemore Athletic Club – Relay Team, Camogie: Niamh
Dollard, Golf – Susanne Corcoran, Gaelic Football: Colin O’Riordan, Ladies Gaelic Football: Mairead
Daly, Hurling: Matthew Whelan, Pitch & Putt: Riverdale Ladies All Ireland Team Champions, Rugby –
Alison Miller, Youth Award – Dwane Palmer, The Special Recognition Award – Pat Naughton, Club of
the Year - Loughmore/Castleiney and Contribution to Sports - Ken Henderson.
48
Roscrea People 2014
Stars, Guests and Organisers from RCTLC
Pat O’Halloran representing Rosderra Meats (sponsors) with Tadhg O’Connor – Hall of Fame Award recipient, Ken Henderson –
Contribution to Sport Award recipient with Guest of Honour - Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh and Pat Naughton - Special Recognition
Award recipient.
Ken
Henderson –
Contribution
to Sport
Award
recipient with
support from
his fellow
supporters/
friends from
Roscrea
Rugby Club.
Eamon and
Kathleen Phelan
with
Guest of Honour Mícheál Ó
Muircheartaigh.
Pat Healy accepting the award on behalf of
Loughmore/Caslteiney – Club of the Year recipients.
Treasurers
Paddy
Collison and
Paddy Bergin
making a
presentation
to Marie
Tooher,
tireless
worker for
R.C.T.L.C. and
the Abbey
Hall.
R.C.T.L.C.
Chairman John
Lupton making a
presentation to
Guest of Honour Mícheál Ó
Muircheartaigh what else but a
box of local
publications.
49
Roscrea People 2014
50
Roscrea People 2014
FRS – Many Branches, Deeply Rooted
Not just for farmers!
FRS Network (Farm Relief Services), with national head office in
Roscrea, is deeply rooted in Agriculture for almost 35 years, but there
is far more to this Co-op than you may realise.
FRS is also a fully-fledged Recruitment Agency servicing
employment to all sectors, a Fencing business in the Agricultural,
Industrial, Sporting and Residential markets, a private Homecare
provider, offering a range of in-home support, and a highly reputable
FETAC accredited training course provider and continues to go from
strength to strength. So as you can see…many branches and roots!.
FRS Recruitment have a database of around 100,000 people from
all over the country with eight recruitment offices in place. One of
these is based in Parkmore, Roscrea. This thriving business is
testament to the fact that there are jobs out there and seeks to match
the right person to the right employer and job. The company is seeing
a welcomed upward shift in the recruitment market.
Minister Coveney launches FETAC/QQI certified best
practice in milking course at the 280 herd dairy farm at
Mount St Joseph Abbey in Roscrea, Co. Tipperary.
Back (l/r): Mike Magan, Chairman of AHI, Peter Byrne, CEO
of FRS Network and Tom O’Dwyer, Head of Dairy
Knowledge Transfer of Teagasc.
Front: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon
Coveney TD, holding DVD which forms part of the course.
Training of course is key to getting and also progressing in any job
and FRS Training are FETAC approved training courses providers
and offer a wide range of courses in Health & Safety, Construction,
People Skills, Healthcare, Agriculture & Horticulture, Food Hygiene
and Practical Skills. An astounding 7,000 individual learners
complete FRS training courses each year, with over 1,000 FETAC
certifications awarded. A new FETAC level 6 course launched this
year has also seen 400 farmers upskilling their farm milking
practices.
Clients in Roscrea include Supervalu, Roscrea Credit Union,
Rosderra Meats, Stapletons Bread, Rackethall Hotel and Walsh
Printers who have gone through health & safety and customer care
courses with FRS. Local community groups, such as the Roscrea Reeducation Centre, North Tipperary Leadership and Roscrea
Community Employment also use their Training expertise. It is great
to see local businesses and groups supporting each other and ‘keeping
it local’.
The FRS Homecare service came from a demand in the market to
help people in their own homes and allow them to stay at home as
Minister for
Agriculture and
Defence, Simon
Coveney,
congratulates
Herdwatch Cofounder, Fabien
Peyaud, on winning
the Award for
Innovative Software
in Agriculture at the
National Ploughing
Championships 2014.
long as possible. It is a growing sector for FRS which works with
private care sectors as well as the HSE.
In terms of fencing, FRS has a long history in contract Farm Fencing
and over the years extended into other types of fencing. It also
broadened its service and sells direct fencing materials to customers
who wish to do the work themselves. This is proving a very popular
option for customers.
Today FRS Network has sales topping 30 million Euro, a recruitment
business with 4.5 million Euro sales, and a training company with
sales of almost two million Euro per annum. Of the twenty FRS
offices Nationwide, three are based in Tipperary (two in Roscrea)
and employ some 200 people between office and field staff in secure
and stable employment, helping to do much for a local economy
which has been decimated over the last decade or so.
Innovation has also been key to the successes of FRS and most
recently they launched Herdwatch, an award winning mobile App
and system to farmers, which is revolutionising compliance recording
and herd management decisions and literally putting the farmer’s
herd in their hands.
Peter Byrne, Clonakenny man and CEO of FRS Network, is very
proud of how far the Co-op has come since 1980 (and he has been
there all the way!). He says:
‘Our success is based on the hard work and dedication of our people
in Roscrea and around the country. With their readiness to take on
new opportunities we have grown and diversified. We will continue
to grow and bring job opportunities to Roscrea, which is very
important to us. We would like to wish all businesses in Roscrea
every success in the future and the people of Roscrea the stability
and self-fulfilment that employment brings.’
For more news and detail see www.frsnetwork.ie
FRS Recruitment is
recognised as the
Best Recruitment
Agency in the office
and secretarial
category at the
National
Recruitment
Federation (NRF)
Awards Ceremony at
the Shelbourne
Hotel Dublin 2014.
(l/r): John Cronin and Aoife Lomasney of FRS Recruitment
with Sponsor David Stott of Bull Horn.
51
Roscrea People 2014
52
Roscrea People 2014
Tipperary County Council
On the 1st June 2014, nine local authorities in Tipperary, together with the
Joint Libraries Committee came together to form one unified Council
called Tipperary County Council.
Some of the consequent changes to the structure of the County Council
included:
•
Nenagh and Clonmel being retained as the two main council
centres with Council functions being divided across the two
centres.
•
The number of councillors in Tipperary has fallen from one
hundred and thirteen to forty.
•
Five new electoral areas, called Municipal Districts replaced the
existing nine electoral areas in Tipperary.
Roscrea Town forms part of the Thurles Municipal District and is
represented by nine elected councillors with the responsibility for
planning the future development of Roscrea and the County.
Tipperary County Council continues to deliver the full range of frontline services currently available to the people of Tipperary. However, this
focused approach will ensure a more efficient service and cost savings of
over €6 million per annum. The savings will be used to enhance the level
of services across the county.
Thurles Municipal District Elected Members:
Back Row (l-r), Cllr. Joe Bourke, Cllr. John Hogan,
Cllr. Seamus Hanafin, Cllr. David Doran, Cllr. Willie Kennedy,
Cllr. Micheal Lowry. Front Row (l-r), Cllr. Jim Ryan,
Cllr. Michael Smith, Cllr. Jackie Cahill).
Implications for Roscrea:
Roads maintenance, housing maintenance and amenity services will be
provided by the Thurles District Office. All other services will be
managed from the main offices in Nenagh and Clonmel, with frontline
services, including street cleaning, public lighting, road works, water
services and fire fighting, continuing to be provided in the Roscrea area
by the outdoor teams on the ground.
Tipperary County Council
“Tipperary Together, One County,
One Community, One Team”.
2015 Promises Much for The Roscrea Enhancement Plan
“Tipperary County Council is now in place and I believe this represents
a new opportunity for our town. I would like to say a personal thanks to
Joe MacGrath, Chief Executive who continues to pledge his ongoing
support and commitment to the town and the Town Centre Enhancement
Plan. In addition news is very positive regarding the future of Leader.
The Roscrea Enhancement Plan will be dependent upon many agencies
to provide funding for projects but none more so than Leader. Having
served on the Leader Evaluation Committee I have seen at first hand the
great work that can be achieved when local community groups come
together and work with the great staff in N.T.L.P to deliver projects which
make a real difference to the quality of lives in towns and villages
throughout the country.
The Roscrea Enhancement Plan Committee is structured under three
areas including:
•
Roscrea Promotion & Town Centre Revitalisation
•
Amenity & Environment Group
•
Built Environment & Infrastructure
The Roscrea Enhancement Committee has developed a number of subcommittees to focus on key priorities and will work with the local
community and Roscrea Stand Up committees to implement these.
These include the implementation of new signage in the town and the
development of a Heritage Trail to showcase the wonderful history that
surrounds us in one of Ireland’s oldest towns. It is hoped that this project
will complement the Roscrea - Birr Walk and Cycle path which is
currently being developed by Roscrea Trail Blazers and is being
supported by the Enhancement Plan Steering Group. Such a
development opens countless opportunities for attracting more visitors to
Roscrea through walking festivals, cycling initiatives and even fishing
events as the River Brosna would become more accessible. It is also
hoped that the Heritage Trail will incorporate the proposed Roscrea to
Monaincha looped walk which is being planned.
A festivals’ and events’ committee is also in place and its members will
continue with the Roscrea Beo festival & Taste of Roscrea. This year the
committee delivered on other important events such as the World War 1
Commemoration Day which took place in September and was certainly
one of the highlights of the year. The Enhancement Committee produced
an “Events Calendar” for the year last February which proved to be a
huge success. It is envisaged that the Committee will do the same next
year and we would encourage clubs, organisations etc to plan ahead and
let us know what they are doing. The committee is also looking at
working with RSU Tourism Group with regard to developing a tourist
website to complement the existing community website Roscrea Online.
Under the Amenity & Environment Group, the committee are actively
working on visual improvements to the town and in conjunction with
Tipperary County Council have progressed a number of initiatives
including the very successful painting scheme on Main Street and
Rosemary Street & Square. The Built Environment & Infrastructure subcommittees are in place to identify improvements that can be made with
regard to traffic circulation, streetscapes, landscaping and the
development of the various laneways around the town to compliment the
work that the Enhancement Committee already delivered upon in the
summer of 2014, including the paving of Maddens Laneway.
I would like to thank all the committee members for their work and
commitment over the year and I would like to offer a special word of
thanks to the new members that have joined the Enhancement
Committee. Roscrea is a great town full of endless possibilities not least
because of our location and our history. There is real enthusiasm now in
the community for everyone to come together and work with each other,
for each other. When it comes to community development I think if we
could all collectively agree and believe that it does not matter who gets
the credit, then amazing things can be accomplished.
Ní neart go cur le chéile”.
Brian King (Chairman of The Roscrea Enhancement Committee).
53
Roscrea People 2014
CIVIL DEFENCE
SERVING THE NEEDS OF THE
LOCAL COMMUNITY
WHY NOT BECOME A VOLUNTEER MEMBER
OF CIVIL DEFENCE
Volunteers are multi-skilled and the main
programmes of activity undertaken by the
organisation are:
Casualty: Provision of a first-aid and ambulance service
Rescue: Urban rescue, open country search for missing persons and
water based search and recovery
Auxiliary Fire Service: Pump and ladder drills, pumping floodwaters and
supplying water to the Community
Warden Service & Radiation Monitoring: Radiation detecting and monitoring
Welfare: Provision of hot meals, drinks and psychosocial support
Communications: Operation of two independent radio systems
Are you up to the challenge?
If so, contact your local Civil Defence Officer at
Tipperary County Council, Mr. Anthony Graham,
at 067 44503 or [email protected]
To learn more about Civil Defence you can log on to our website
www.civildefence.ie
54
Roscrea People 2014
Civil Defence
Civil Defence has continued to serve the local
communities and support the primary response
agencies since the move to Benamore, Roscrea over
nine years ago.
Civil Defence Volunteers from all over the country
come to Roscrea to be trained in a wide variety of
programmes. When trained, Instructors return to their
respective local authority areas and pass on the benefit
of their knowledge and experience to the Volunteers
based there. The benefits of investment in high quality
training and equipment were clearly demonstrated in
the comprehensive nature of the support Civil Defence
provided to the front line services in the past year.
The College is recognised as a training institution by
the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC)
and is registered with FETAC as a provider, offering
programmes leading to FETAC awards. The Roscrea
Headquarters continues to serve as a National Control
Centre for the organisation and forms a crucial hub for
the Civil Defence national communications network.
Tipperary Civil Defence is a voluntary organisation
that trains its volunteer members to assist in times of
crisis. The roles of Civil Defence include searching for
missing persons, providing ambulance cover at events,
providing a back up service to the statutory bodies
such as the Local Authority, HSE & Gardaí.
Training is mainly conducted in First Aid, Rescue,
Missing Person Searching, Radio Communications,
Boat operations and Water & Flood Awareness. Each
year Tipperary Civil Defence responds to many events
and callouts. These include providing Ambulance &
First Aid cover at many community events such as
Point to Point Races, Walking Festivals, and Adventure
Races etc. Tipperary Civil Defence has assisted the
Gardai with a number of searches for missing persons
to date in 2014.
The headquarters for Tipperary Civil Defence is
situated in Nenagh and Clonmel.
Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer with
Tipperary Civil Defence can request an application
form from the following link
http://www.civildefence.ie/cdweb.nsf/enquiry?openform
Search Exercise with An Garda Síochána
55
Roscrea People 2014
56
Roscrea People 2014
A Taste of Roscrea
One of the most significant festivals in reason years has been
‘A Taste of Roscrea’ held every year around the beginning of
December. The 2014 celebrations run from 4th to 7th December
in Castle Street and the castle complex. It really is a Christmas
wonderland of artisan foods, local craft, wide variety of choirs,
fashion shows and fun for all the family.
Christmas markets are open every day and there are cookery
demonstrations by Clodagh McKenna. A special treat for all the
children is Santa taking up residence in the castle gate tower.
See www.atasteofroscrea.ie. Pictures show some scenes from
the 2013 festival.
Ros Cré Beo
The Ros Cré Beo festival centred on activities in
the castle complex on Heritage Sunday in August.
It was a fun-filled day of diverse activities some
of which are pictured here
Nathan Nolan and Clive Clark,
of Ashgate Farm Barna.
Sand Art
Aoife Pomery, Alana Pomery, Margaret
Conway, Sorcha Pomery, Rosin Fooley.
Margaret Comford said a bird in the
hand is worth two in the bush.
Roscrea Beo Festival
short stories winners
Emma Mooney, Mary
Arrigan (Judge),
Mianna Spencer
O’Dwyer, Sean King.
Missing from photo,
Sean Moloughney,
Makenzie Simmons.
57
Roscrea People 2014
58
Roscrea People 2014
Conradh na Gaeilge Ros Cré
Laoch ar Lár: Thit tragóid ar
Chonradh na Gaeilge go
náisiúnta agus go háitiúil le linn
2014 nuair a cailleadh iarChathaoirleach chraobh Ros
Cré, Seamus Ó Coisdealbha.
Chaith Seamus a shaol ar fad ag
obair ar son ár dteanga, ár gceol
agus ó bhog sé ó Cill Orglan Co
Chairraí, a bhaile dúchais go
Ros Cré i lár na seachtódí níor
stop sé ach ag obair chun
tradisiún na tíre a chur chun
cinn. I rith a shaol bhí áit
lárnach aige in gach ócáid
Gaelach a tharla i Ros Cré agus
ar an ceantar máguaird. Rinne
sé traen iarracht chun muintir an
bhaile a spreagadh chun Gaeilge a labhairt agus cursaí samhraidh,
turasanna go hInis Oirr agus ranganna Gaeilge á eagrú aige.
Ach is docha gurb é Gaelscoil an tSlí Dála an leagáid shonrach is
mó atá fagtha aige. Tríd deis a thabhairt do phaistí óga an cheantar
coras oideachais a fháil trí mhéan na Gaeilge tá ceim láidir, buan,
suntasach curtha i bhfeidhm agus todhchaí na teangan slán dá
bharr.
Cinnte bhí sé ar ceann de na Gael ab fhearr a chasadh riamh
orainn agus níl aon dabht ach go mbraithimíd uainn go mór é.
“Seamus Ó Coisdealbha, a cailleadh
le linn na bliana
Árd-Fheis Conradh na Gaeilge 2015:
Is cúis áthais agus bród do Coiste Ros
Cré go bhfuil Árd-Fheis Conradh na
Gaeilge ag teacht go Ros Cré. Is é seo an
tarna huair gur phiocadh Ros Cré mar
ionad na hÁrdfheise agus é sa bhaile
roimhe seo i 1984. Bhí comortas láidir
ag Ros Cré ó cúpla baile eile agus iad uilig ag iarraidh an ÁrdFheis a thabhairt go dtí a baile fhéin. Tar éis neart stocaireacht a
dhéanamh ar na mbaill a bhí i lathair thit sé ar Cathaoirleach
Chraobh Ros Cré, Seamus Ó
Coisdealbha chun óráid a
dhéanamh ar son Ros Cré.
Clíona Nic Dhomhnaill a fuair
an chéad áit i Fleadh Cheoil
na hÉireann I Sligeach sna
Foinn Malla ar an feadóg
stain faoi 12. Tá clann Clíona
sáite i Conradh na Gaeilge
agus a hathair Francis agus
seanathair Eamonn ar coiste
an Chonradh i Ros Cré leis
na blianta. Tá Clíona ag
freastal ar Gaelscoil an tSlí
Dála ar an mBealach Mór
Súil Siar – Coistí Glór na Gael & Conradh na Gaeilge Ros
Cré 1982 ag ceiliúradh an chéad áit a fháil i Mórshiúl Lá
Fhéile Pádraig.
Labhair sé ó chroí go paiseanta agus go spreagadh agus ní raibh
aon dabht ach go raibh tionchur ag an méad a bhí ráite aige ar an
slua mar i ndeireadh na dála tugadh tromlach na votaí do Ros Cré.
Tá tús curtha leis an obair cheana féin chun deimhin a dhéanamh
de go mbeidh deireadh seachtaine den scoth i Ros Cré.
Bailiuchán Lá le Pádraig: Uair amháin eile thug muintear an
bhaile go fial agus go flaithiúil do bhailiúcháin Chiste na Teangan
ar an 17ú Márta. Tá ár mbuíochas tuilte ag gach aon duine agaibh
agus tuigeann Árd Oifig an Conradh an dea thoil i leith na Gaeilge
atá i Ros Cré fós.
Buíochas: Ba mhaith leis an gcoiste buíochas ó chroí a ghabháil
le muintir an bhaile a thug ana chabhair agus ana thacaíocht dúinn
i rith na bliana. Marach cabhair agus tacaíocht mar sin ní bheadh
an fonn céanna oibre orainn in aon chor.
Beannachtaí: Ba mhaith le Chonradh na Gaeilge buíochas ó
chroí a ghabháil le gach éinne a chabhraigh linn í amháin i
mbliana ach leis na blianta atá imithe tharainn. Guíonn an coiste
Beannachtaí na Nollag agus na hath-bliana oraibh go leir agus go
dtuga Dia slán sibh ar fad i 2015.
Seanfhocail
• Cuir gar rud ar an méar fhada is beidh an mhéar
fhada róghearr ar ball
• Cuairt ghearr is imeacht buíoch an chuairt is fearr
a rinne tú riamh
• Sláinte an bhradáin chugat – croí follain agus gob
fliuch
• Is fearr beagá cúnaimh ná mórán trua
• bíonn blas ar an mbeagán
• Tá “gar dó” chomh fada uaidh is a bhí riamh
• Beatha Teanga í a labhairt.
59
Roscrea People 2014
60
Roscrea People 2014
Roscrea Tidy Towns 2014
Roscrea Tidy Towns has had a very eventful year. We increased
our points in the All-Ireland Tidy Towns Competition by three
marks but were just short of the mark to receive a second Bronze
Medal. Litter was our main focus this year and towards this we
much acknowledge the huge part played by our Tús and
Community Workers who did so much to keep the town litter-free
as well as doing general maintenance around the town – such as
painting the Mall Railings and other bollards, barriers, seating,
lamp posts etc. and gateways throughout the town. Our
Community Workers also did so much in general maintenance
through cleaning, stone wall construction, strimming and painting
of derelict buildings. They also helped enhance the Coláiste
Environmental Garden and erected two large mosaics on this and
Mosaic at Daisy Bates created by Coláiste Phobal Transition
Year Students:
Josh Neville, Philip Cummins, Luke Phelan, Roisin Scully
and Michelle Shanahan.
the Daisy Bates bed. These mosaics were the work of Transition
Year Students from Coláiste Phobal under the direction of their
Art Teacher - Lisa and students of Coláiste Phobal. Roscrea Tidy
Towns volunteers say a “Big Thank You” to all involved. Thanks
also to Super Valu who sponsored this bed in the past year and the
mosaics that were recommended by Dr. John Feehan for this area.
In the pictures are - Ayrs Rock with a kangaroo in the foreground
and a Ghekko/lizard of Australian origin in the Daisy Bates Bed
while we have a frog and lily pond and a large butterfly sitting on
a flower in the Coláiste Environmental Garden.
Two items high on our list this year were the Library Field and the
Daisy Bates bed. A plan existed for the Library field and it was
strimmed and the area planted with trees in preparation for the
plan in place at the time. Unfortunately, due to the Fire Brigade
needing to expand and acquiring some of this field to extend their
facilities, the plan had to be put in a state of chasis while its
replacement is reworked. This plan is being developed by Dr.
John Feehan and George Cunningham who were the architects of
the original one Work on this plan is hoped to be instigated in the
coming year.
The Daisy Bates memorial bed has been completely revamped
through the replacement of plants with species of Australian
origin to better reflect Daisy’s Australian feats. A Eucalyptus tree
– sponsored by Matt Harte – replacing the one that had died was
planted as part of this development in memory of our deceased
colleague Brendan Carmody who was instrumental in establishing
the original bed in 1986. The mosaics already mentioned have
been erected. Work is still ongoing here and spring should see
the bed covered in a mulch and weed retardant that will cut down
maintenance.
A j0b well done!
Helpers at the tree
planting and tidyup of the Daisy
Bates area May
2014.
L/R: Mary Buckley,
Seán Delaney, John
Buckley, Mary
Conroy, Matt Harte
and Ken Wall.
Kneeling in front:
Rose Crofton.
During the year we
were joined by three
new members that
have proved a great
asset to us, namely
Seán and Michael Hogan and Brendan Keeshan. They have been
outstanding in clearing briars etc. for us on the Library Field,
Limerick Road, Corville, Graveyard and Carrig areas. This will
enable upgrading of plantings in these areas. In particular the
back entrance to the Cemetery has been cleared of weeds, briars
and litter enabling the replanting of this area with suitable trees
and shrubs.
The last stretch of briars on Carrig Road
L/R: Michael Hogan, Denis Ryan, Ginteras Parageis,
Brendan Keeshan & John Buckley.
Our Community Employment scheme workers under the
stewardship of Paddy Reidy have upgraded the paving in the
Waterhole following a clearance by Tidy Towns Workers in
Beavers help Roscrea Tidy Towns plant Rosemary Square.
61
Roscrea People 2014
62
September. They have cobbled the approach to the water. More
planting and enhancements are planned for this area in the coming
year.
Many thanks are due to the new residents’ associations in various
estates around the town for taking on the task of planning and
enhancing their own area. We would love other areas to follow
suit!
We also had great help from Roscrea Scouts, whose members
regardless of age helped with the plantings and cleaning
throughout the town.
Brian Colclough
presents the
premier Tidy
Towns Art
award, the
Bernie
Colclough
Shield, to
Rebecca Reid,
St Cronan’s NS.
ITTER
ONLY
S DROP THEI
R
E
S
RL
LO
Finally, a special word of thanks must go to the core group of
Tidy Towns workers who have throughout the year worked
towards a better Roscrea. Every Saturday at 10 a.m. they
assemble at the Fancy Fountain in Rosemary Square, weather
permitting, to work on the various projects in hand. In late spring
Roscrea People 2014
Some of the attendance at the Tidy Towns AGM;
among those pictured are:
Back-Sean Hogan, Oliver Egan, Alex, Seán Delaney, Remus,
Ginteras, Michael Madden, Ken Wall, John Byrne, Denis Ryan,
John Buckley, Brendan Keeshan.
Front- Angela Dwyer, Patricia Gleeson, Mary Heffernan, Rose
Crofton, Mary Conroy, Mary Buckley
and throughout the summer into late autumn they also meet at the
same location on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. to continue the
work. This period is in fact the busiest, with cleaning, planting,
weeding, watering and general maintenance at their height.
The Tidy Towns committee would like to thank all those who
supported us financially throughout the year at collections and
raffles etc. Most especially we would acknowledge the support
of the business community in town who were most generous in
their support this year. A Míle Buíochas ar Fad is reserved for
our principal sponsor Bernie’s Super-Valu who have backed Tidy
Towns down the years.
PRIZEWINNERS 2014
TIDY TOWNS POSTER COMPETITION
Age 6 and under
1st Natasza Fryczkowska
2nd Ruby Benn
Danielle O’Reilly
3rd Molly Loughnane
Gabrielle Reingte
Age 7 – 9
1st Zsofia Nagy
2nd Leah O’Grady
Jessica Wallace
3rd Ben Talbot
Niamh Kavanagh
Sacred Heart P.S.
St. Cronan’s N.S.
Sacred Heart P.S.
Dromakeenan N.S.
Sacred Heart N.S.
Sacred Heart
Dromakeenan
St. Cronan’s
St. Cronan’s
Sacred Heart
N.S.
N.S.
N.S.
N.S.
N.S.
Age 10 and over
Rebecca Reid
1st
2nd
Hannah O’Brien
Simon Madden
Kate Williams
3rd
Filip Kaspezyk
Hannah Benn
Special Category – Section A
1st
Aoibhneas Class 1
Section B
1st
Class 4
JOHN LUPTON SHIELD
Class 4
BERNIE COLCLOUGH SHIELD
Rebecca Reid
St. Cronan’s N.S.
Corville N.S.
Dromakeenan N.S.
St. Cronan’s N.S.
Scoil Eoin Naofa
St. Cronan’s N.S.
Dromakeenan N.S.
St. Anne’s
St. Anne’s
St. Cronan’s N.S.
63
Roscrea People 2014
64
Roscrea People 2014
65
Roscrea People 2014
66
Roscrea People 2014
Roscrea Heritage Society
Music with style – ‘Passing Through’
Colin Williams, Sinéad Browne and Bobby Fahy.
Damer Annexe and the contributors and guests at Roscrea
Miscellany.
Roscrea
Miscellany
in the
Autumn
Mark McLoughlin makes a point to Tony Brennan, Des Walsh
and Pat Bourke.
Pat Bourke
Caitríona Meagher
Henry Healy
Mark McLoughlin
Sean Ross
Huge disappointment and mounting anger is felt by the
Roscrea community at the recent decision by the State to
renege on its commitment to take the ruined medieval
church at Sean Ross into State care. An appeal, fully
supported by Deputy Noel Coonan TD, is with Minister
Humphries of the Dept of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. A
project steering group has been set up by the Sisters at St
Anne’s as the building is in a dangerous state of repair. Its
conservation and proper presentation is of huge importance
to Roscrea and its unrivalled heritage. Here, at Cronan’s first
foundation, is the very cradle of Christianity in our area.
Pictured is one of the many elements of the overall
importance of the place, not just of the church ruins: a late
eighteenth-century tombstone, a work of vernacular art, in
the ‘Help of God’ series, showing the crucified Christ in glory
and all the instruments of the Passion.
67
Roscrea People 2014
68
Roscrea People 2014
Éanna Ní
Leamhna
spoke to a
full house
early in the
year: pictured
here with
Tony Brennan,
DW, Brian
Redmond and
Mary Kelly.
Heritage Ireland hosted a familiarisation trip to
Roscrea for national tourism providers pictured
here on the steps of Damer with GC and Des
Walsh
RHS were one of the main sponsors of the
Round Tower book; Ann Murray (Keevey) at the
launch with her husband Sean, in the
background are Joe Canning from Armagh,
Senior Archaeologist Con Manning and
R.C.T.L.C’s Lilian Delaney.
Des Walsh,
Chairman
RHS, presents
Joan Murray
with her
Heritage
Award at the
People of the
Year in
January.
During the summer season Damer Art Gallery held many
exhibitions of national note in the main house, facilitated by
Roscrea Heritage.
Noreen Moore Heenan with Susan
Chadwick. Susan gave a most interesting
talk on the sources for genealogy.
Gunther Wolters’
rubbings of the
Round Tower ship
were put on a
display panel by
the OPW for the
Blackmills. A
detailed account
of the meaning
and background
to the drawings
are given by Dom
Laurence ocso in
an appendix to
GC’s The Round
Tower and its
Environs.
69
Roscrea People 2014
70
Roscrea People 2014
Kennedy Park celebrates 50 Years of Community
Kennedy Park
celebrated its 50th
year in style during the
year with lots of
community activities
throughout the
summer months and
into the Autumn.
Children having great fun at the
Halloween party pictured with
committee members at the back:
Enya Feehan, Charlene Wright,
Marie Morgan and Kacy Feehan.
Page sponsored by
George McManus, Monaincha
PULL: great strength in young numbers
At the 50th celebrations in June:
Simon Simmons, Fr Tony Cahir,
Patricia Ryan, Fr Michael Harding and
Ena O’Lone.
Celebrating the old and the young
Back: Ann Feehan, Eilish Dillon, Michael
O’Lone, Esther O’Brien, John O’Lone, Con
O’Lone, Catherine Moloney and Margaret
Feehan.
Front: Ena O’Lone, Dan Ryan R.I.P (was
Kennedy Park’s oldest Resident), Pat
Ryan and Baby Caeden Simmons Grace
(the youngest resident).
71
Roscrea People 2014
72
Roscrea People 2014
Dean Maxwell Community Nursing Unit
2014 has been a positive year for the Dean Maxwell Community.
The home, still at the centre of the town, greatly appreciates the
support of the local community and continues to cater for the
needs of the people in Roscrea town and surrounding areas. The
Day Care Centre opens five days a week and every alternate
Saturdays. Up to 25 people visit our Day Care Centre to socialise
with friends, take part in the activities programmes and meet with
the nurse for medical care. There has been a great change in our
residents this year and those that have gone before us are very
much missed, go ndéana Dia trócaire orthu.
Enjoying ice-cream:
Maura Fox is really
enjoying that lovely icecream.
The annual holiday to
Carne, Co. Wexford
took place in the month
of August. There was
plenty of time to relax,
take in the fresh sea
breeze, go on day
excursions to the shops
and enjoy evenings of
music and dance.
HIQA visited in July and acknowledged the good standard of care
in Dean Maxwell. We are delighted that they also made
recommendations that the building, particularly the bedrooms, be
suitably improved to accommodate our residents living here. This
project is in negotiations with the HSE.
This month we are fondly remembering all our friends and family
who have passed through our doors here with a Mass to be
celebrated in the home with Fr. Michael Harding PP.
Best Dressed:
Joan Tuohy with Theresa O’Meara and Josie Cahill.
Throughout the year we have been very fortunate to welcome
many volunteers who gave us days of great entertainment with
their singing, dancing and friendship. These sessions regularly
turn into great parties with prizes organised for all.
In March this year the All-Ireland Scór medal winners from
Clonmore paid us a visit and entertained us with an afternoon of
very energetic Irish dancing, singing and music. Our own resident
singers joined in with their repertoires also.
Sunhats:
Doesn’t Eddie McGrath
look superb!
Outside in the sun:
Elsie Ardill and
Brendan Hartnett.
As we look forward to
the Christmas season
and prepare for our
annual
party
in
Racket Hall Hotel, we
hope you can take
time to stop by and
visit with us to
celebrate the unique
star that is your Dean
Maxwell.
As always the Dean
Maxwell home took part
in the Bealtaine festival
held in May. The
Carnation Theatre visited
us with their comedy
sketch On The Bus. There
was plenty of jostling for
seats on the ‘Bus’ to join
in the fun. We attended art
and ceramic workshops
and took part in music sessions throughout the month.
We took full advantage of the glorious summer weather and there
were numerous day excursions including a trip to Glendeer Farm
in Athlone. This was followed by a full dinner in the County Arms
Hotel in Birr with music and dancing. The sunny days provided
time for many out door activities and barbeques.
St. Patrick’s Day Party:
Maura Tobin, Nora Russell, Donnie Walsh, Kathleen Quirke, Ann
O’Reilly, Fidelma Carroll, Ramsey Nolan.
73
Roscrea People 2014
74
Roscrea People 2014
Celebrating 60 years of marriage while in Carne:
Mick and Patsy Monks.
Having great fun On the Bus with the Carnation Theatre.
Taking the sun:
Some happy people on the Carne holiday:
Ned Walsh, Eileen Dunne, Pat Maher.
Gret Adams, Trish Treacy, Simon Healy R.I.P., Joe Coughlan.
On behalf of the
residents, day care
centre and staff
members of the Dean
Maxwell Community,
I wish to thank all
those who continue to
support us and wish
everyone a very
Happy and Peaceful
Christmas and may
2015 be a happy and
healthy year for you
all.
Bróna Brophy, Director of
Nursing
The Corpus Christi procession ended with Benediction in front of the Dean Maxwell Centre
to the joy of many of the residents. Fr Tom Corbett addresses the assembly.
75
Roscrea People 2014
76
Roscrea People 2014
Roscrea Group of Parishes
Christmas Greetings from Roscrea, Corbally,
Bourney and Kyle! Another year has come and
gone, the first full year in history that our Parish has
been without a Rector; however we’ve survived and
have learnt well during the year how to minister to
each other. In your correspondent’s mind, it has
been an absolutely wonderful year. The words ‘busy’
and ‘active’ being understatements and so much has
been accomplished through continuous hard work,
team effort and good humour. Sadly, also we have
had our share of loss as we said Farewell to so many
of our esteemed parishioners and commended them
into God’s gracious keeping.
Christmas Past: Seasonally, we begin with the busy Christmas of
2013. A prelude to the season of goodwill was the Saturday
morning ‘Sit Out’ at The Taste of Roscrea, where Fr. Tom Corbett,
Rev. Brian Griffin and Adrian Hewson representing the three local
churches literally sat out under the elements and collected a
sizeable sum for Pieta House. This first time gesture was
commended by all, with one donor commenting it was another
jewel in Roscrea’s already sparkling crown of ecumenism. Watch
out for a repeat performance!
The Christmas Morning services attracting large numbers were
preceded by five parochial carol services over the days leading up
to the festival. Pupils from St. Cronan’s National School presented
gifts to members of the Lion’s Club for their Christmas Appeal
during their carol service, while a feature of Corbally Service were
the solo items by Jennifer Dann of Virtuoso fame. The Lord Abbot
read the Christmas Gospel in Roscrea while Bourney’s Service was
by candlelight with lighting candles stretching from the church
gate, on both sides up the avenue, up the aisle to the altar. A sight
not to be forgotten. Sadly, Kyle’s service was overshadowed as
well known parishioner Eddie Clare had been injured in a tragic
hunting accident just days beforehand and we take this opportunity
to send our best wishes and greetings to this highly popular
confectioner now in The National Rehabilitation Centre in Dun
Laoghaire.
Forty Years of St. Cronan’s N.S.: This was the first major
highlight of 2014 and was held on Candlemas Day and based
around the appropriate theme of light, symbolic offertory
processions representing school life over the forty years and forty
past pupils bearing candles, one for each year were just some of
the features. The address was given by Adrian Hewson while the
Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe, School Patron gave the Blessing.
Lent and Good Friday: Our Bishop returned again as a speaker
at the Lenten services organized by Rev. Brian Griffin in Roscrea
Methodist Church. Most popular and another local ecumenical
initiative to be applauded. The 9th Annual Good Friday ‘Way of
The Cross’ pilgrim walk began in St. Cronan’s and was well
attended, while the parish was also well represented at the 5th
annual St. Cronan’s Day Friendship walk.
Annual Pet Service: Held on Rogation Sunday, the Sunday when
spring moves into summer, this year’s annual outdoor service in
Bourney also included prayers of intercession for all who work on
At the WW1 commemoration service Fr Aodhán ocso, Rev
Shannon de Laureal, Rev Adrian Hewson, Rev Tom
Kingston and Fr Michael Harding Co-PP.
the land. However, our prayers for the land were answered a little
too soon as that morning we had one of the heaviest rainfalls of the
entire season. The service was moved indoors, pets without
umbrellas stayed at home and received their blessing by proxy, but
the pets who came into the church all behaved impeccably!!
Confirmation: Confirmation was the June highlight. The church
and grounds looked immaculate for this occasion when thirteen
young people were confirmed by Bishop Trevor Williams on his
last official visit to Roscrea before his retirement. It was lovely to
see an almost full church with families, godparents and friends
from far and near. All joined in the singing of the hymns chosen by
the children themselves and lead so capably by organist Marjorie
McCorduck and choir.
Prayer Service for Roscrea: As all are only too aware Roscrea’s
summer sunshine was darkened by local problematic issues and
we take this opportunity to sympathise with all who have been
saddened; and to compliment Derek Russell on his ‘Roscrea Stands
Up’ initiative. Standing in solidarity with the town and community
at this uneasy time, St. Cronan’s Church hosted a special service of
intercession for Roscrea on August 6th. The Lord Abbot, Fr. Tom
Corbett P.P., Mr Wesley Beck representing the Methodist Church,
Rev. Ruth Gill from Birr and Fr. Bavo O.C.S.O. shared in the
service, with Adrian Hewson as preacher. The service was
recorded by Tipp F.M. and appreciated by those who attended.
The BBQ and Corbally Social Evening: Months of hard work in
planning and preparation under an enthusiastic committee led by
Lester Roe, combined with a raffle with attractive prizes and which
has almost made Evie Lupton and her apprentice Jordan Lewis
professional ticket sellers, culminated in €18,500 for parish funds
raised at the Grand Summer BBQ held at Roscrea Rugby Club in
ideal surroundings. Add to that the pig on spit, the numerous stalls
and competitions, McCormack Amusements from Northern Ireland
and a social evening. The occasion just had everything and
sincerest thanks to all our organisers and supporters.
Just weeks later Corbally Parish held their social evening in
Fitzpatrick’s Lounge, Clonmore and again had a highly successful
occasion with many talented dancers exercising their limbs on a
spacious dance floor. Congratulations to all the raffle winners and
again thanks to the supporters and organizers.
77
Roscrea People 2014
78
Roscrea People 2014
If all that wasn’t enough, in between, Heather Evans, Vivienne
Wallace, Evie Lupton and their team in the Good as New Shop in
Main Street raised a sizeable amount for the Christmas show Box
Appeal.
World War 1 Commemoration: A day to be long remembered in
Roscrea. Colour, solemnity, music, ceremony and pageantry all
combined in appropriate remembrance of all those Roscrea people
who fought and lost their lives in World War 1. It was a pleasure
and an honour to have the Seattle Police Pipe and Drum Band to
provide the music for the Service of Remembrance in St. Cronan’s.
Banners and delegations from the O.N.E., U.N., and British
Legion, Irish Guards, Credit Union and parochial organizations all
participated and an ecumenical service was conducted by
representatives of all the local churches with Adrian Hewson as
preacher. The occasion was a great honour for St. Cronan’s in the
centenary year of the outbreak of World War 1.
From the Parish Registers: As mentioned earlier we have had
our share of loss in Roscrea Group of Parishes. The turn of the
year saw three valued Roscrea Parishioners taken from us in a very
short time. Wilhelmina Hickey, Verdant Hill; Pearl Rafter, The
Mall and Gladys Young, Carrick Hill. Prior to Christmas Charlie
Chances funeral service was held in Tierney’s funeral home, while
baby Iris Reid, grandchild to Des and Florence survived just 19
days. In January Bob Stanley was laid to rest in Kyle Cemetery,
followed just six weeks later by his brother George. At Easter,
Victor Reid was buried in Dungar, while in May, Harry Hewson,
formerly a parishioner of Bourney was laid to rest in Dungar
following funeral service in Dalkey. In June, the funeral of Kate
Connaire, Mona Incha was held in St. Cronan’s in July, Alice St.
Leger, Kyle was laid to rest in the family plot in Corbally. Many
other parishioners also suffered bereavements including Rev.
Lesley Robinson whose mother died in early September followed
just two weeks later by her brother-in-law, Canon George Flynn,
Rector of Ballinasloe. This Christmas we hold all those people
together with their families and all Roscrea people who have
passed recently in our hearts.
The Baptismal Registers are filling up also. In Bourney, Rhea
Joe, infant daughter of Trevor and Michelle Austin and in Roscrea
Cameron William, son of Clive and Ciara Allen, Mollie Aoife,
daughter of Vincent and Ruth (nee Graham) Shields and Evan
Louie, son of Nikola (nee Evans) and Philip McKelvey. All were
happy family services. Finally just before Christmas we look
forward to the wedding of Stephen Greene and Caitrin Doran in St.
Cronan’s, Abbey Street. We wish them all well.
Clerical Changes: 2014 was a phenomenal year for clerical
changes in the Roscrea area. In June we said farewell to Bishop
Trevor Williams and his wife Joyce and the parish was represented
at his retirement service in Limerick Cathedral. We now look
forward to welcoming the Bishop’s successor, the Rev. Dr.
Flying the flag for the Mothers’ Union at the WWI service of Kenneth Kearan who will be consecrated as Bishop of Limerick
and Killaloe in January. Locally we said farewell to Methodist
remembrance with the Seattle visitors are Violet Dreaper,
Minister, Rev. Brian Griffin and his wife Eirene and the parish was
Heather Evans and Doreen Roe.
represented at his retirement service in Roscrea Methodist Church.
The parish was also represented at the service of welcome in
Borrisokane Church for Brian’s successor, Rev. Shannon de
Harvest Thanksgiving: October brings the Harvest Thanksgiving
Laureal and her husband Doug and son Brennan and we wish them
and each church has the special service with its own distinct
well in their home in Roscrea. We are very happy to congratulate
flavour. This year we had the Rector of Dalkey as preacher in
Fr. Tom Corbett on the recent celebration of his Golden Jubilee and
Roscrea, the Rector of Kilcooley in Corbally, the Rev. Shannon de
while sad to hear of his retirement as P.P. happily he remains in
Laureal in Kyle and Fr. Michael Harding P.P. in Bourney and so
Roscrea. At the time of writing final plans are being made for the
another ‘Roscrea People’ year has come full circle.
liturgical reception being held in his honour in St. Cronan’s Church,
Church Street on November 23rd which is being hosted jointly by
the Church of Ireland and Methodist Church. Also we congratulate
his joint successors as P.P., Fr. Harding and Fr. Treacy. No
strangers to Roscrea and we all work well together. One is
fortunate to work in a town where such excellent ecumenical
relations exist. And finally, the Archbishop’s Commissary has
appointed the Rev. Jane Galbraith, Associate Priest of Tralee and
Dingle Union of Parishes as Rector of Roscrea from early 2015,
thus beginning a new chapter in parochial life. We wish her well.
Rev Shannon with Mrs Bertha Hastings and Martin Byrne
(Golden Grove) holding the Roll of Honour of Roscrea’s
WWI dead.
Season’s Greetings: In conclusion, greetings to the Editor and all
readers of Roscrea People and as always over the Christmas period,
we remember all who are sick, sad and troubled at this time and
wish them well. As the curtain falls on 2014, your correspondent
signs off and next year you will hear from Jane.
Adrian
79
Roscrea People 2014
80
Roscrea People 2014
Methodist Church News … A Year of Change
2014 has been a year of change. Rev. Brian Griffin, who
has served on the North Tipperary circuit for the past six
years, retired from full-time ministry on the last Sunday of
June. An ecumenical celebration took place as Roscrea and
the churches on the circuit offered Brian and his wife,
Eirene, warm congratulations and thanksgiving for their
ministry. The congregations wished them their best as they
offered their farewells.
Rev. Shannon DeLaureal and her husband, Doug, and their
son, Brennan, arrived in Roscrea at the beginning of July.
The De Laureal's are originally from the state of Louisiana
in America but have lived in Northern Ireland for the past
five years. They have settled well into life and ministry in
Roscrea and the circuit. They feel warmly received and are
very happy to be here.
In September the President of the Methodist Church in Ireland,
Rev. Peter Murray, visited the circuit and preached at several
services including the Sunday evening Harvest service. The
Roscrea Community Choir sang and lifted the spirits of so many.
Adrian Hewson of St. Cronan's Church of Ireland and Father Pat
Treacy of St. Cronan's Roman Catholic Church offered prayers
and read scripture. Methodist Church member, Bertha Hastings,
shared what Harvest meant to her and her family in practical
terms and also from a faith perspective. Afterwards, a Harvest
supper and great fellowship in the Church Hall were enjoyed by
everyone.
Rev Shannon DeLaureal's Induction Service in August 2014Top row: Fr Tom O'Halloran, Rev Bill Mullally,
and Canon Stephen Neill.
Bottom row: Fr Tom Corbett, Rev S DeLaureal,
and Mr Adrian Hewson.
neediest around the world. Saturday 13th December 3-5pm
Nativity Live: come and see live characters from the Nativity and
enjoy free coffee/tea and home-made goodies.
Monday 15th December 8pm Roscrea Community Carol Service
with the Roscrea Community Choir: come worship and prepare
yourself for the Saviour's birth. Thursday 25th December
10:30am Christmas morning Family Service: we welcome all as
we celebrate Christ's birth in worship.
We look forward to participating in the Week of Lights in January
2015 and plan to offer a warm welcome as we open our doors to
the community for hospitality. As another new year is fast
approaching, we are excited about opportunities to join hands
with other churches in Roscrea to help shine the light of Christ
throughout this wonderful community.
Roscrea Harvest Service with President of
Methodist Church in Ireland - Sept 2014
Mr Adrian Hewson, President Rev Peter Murray,
Rev S DeLaureal, and Mr Wesley Beck.
Missing from photo - Fr Pat Treacy.
May we, the body of Christ, continue to open ourselves to the
Spirit's prompting so that we can be faithful witnesses of the
Gospel and share the love of Christ with everyone. May God
bless you and yours this very day.
In October the Methodist Women in Ireland highlighted cancer
awareness and raised funds for the Marie Keating Foundation by
hosting a "Pink Party." All women were invited to wear pink, eat
pink goodies, and play games in the Church Hall. It was a fun
evening which raised over €200.
On Friday 31 October a friendly but competitive Table Quiz was
held to help raise funds for the church.
We joyfully anticipate the Christmas season. Everyone is invited
to our Christmas activities:
Friday - 5th December 10am -12:30pm Christian Aid Coffee
morning in Church Hall: we aim to help raise funds for the
The Methodist Church and the Manse on the Mall
81
Roscrea People 2014
Beloved Pastor Celebrates the 50th year
of his Ordination
Seldom in its long history has St Cronan's
by the Moneen seen such great scenes of
joy and heard such joyous music as when
the parish, its friends, neighbours and
distinguished guests gathered on the
afternoon of the last Sunday in October to
celebrate Fr Tom Corbett's fifty years in the
priesthood.
A packed church, four choirs, with wonderful individual
singing and specially-composed music, and a host of
clerical dignitaries added much colour, vitality and solemnity to
the occasion.
Bishop Kieran O’Reilly presided with Bishop Willie Walsh,
Abbot Richard Purcell ocso, Dom Laurence Walsh ocso, the
President of Maynooth College, Monsignor Hugh Connolly, local
and neighbouring clergy and representatives of the other churches
in Roscrea (including former Minister, Rev L. Robinson) also in
attendance.
Family, parishioners and friends gather at St Cronan’s on
that memorable Sunday afternoon.
Liam Shanahan, chairman of the Parish Pastoral Council
welcomed all and at the end of the ceremonies Angela Mulvey,
secretary of the Pastoral Council thanked all and invited everyone
to continue the celebrations with sustenance in the Abbey Hall.
There John Lupton made a formal address on behalf of the parish:
‘In the Summer of 2005 our then Parish Priest, Fr Michael
Collins, who had served as priest in the Parish for twenty-two
years, was about to return to his native Clare and we were about
to have a new parish priest - thus we in the St. Vincent de Paul
Society in Roscrea were about to have a new Chaplain. The
prospect of change with its related uncertainty was naturally a
cause of apprehension.
The speculation started as to who the new man would likely be.
The bush telegraph eventually whispered that he was to be a
theologian from Maynooth. Then the name, unknown to most of
us, emerged as being that of the Very Rev. Dr Thomas Corbett
DD., Professor Emeritus of Systematic Theology at St. Patrick’s
Bishop Kieran presents Fr Tom with a special blessing
from the Holy Father.
Pontifical College Maynooth. So then the wonder and
apprehensiveness became even more heightened among those of
us who did not know the eminent scholastic
newcomer. And I would imagine that that would have
been especially true for our two young curates at the
time who are today our co-parish priests.
The professor, Dr Corbett, arrived in town and was
almost immediately to become affectionately know by
all as “Fr Tom”. The rest is, I suppose as they say
“history”, but it is that history which we come to
reflect on here today, with much appreciation and a
profound sense of gratitude – gratitude for the
goodness of God reflected in the ministry of Fr Tom
among us and gratitude to Fr. Tom for his selflessness,
in accepting his vocation of priestly ordination, and
for his daily renewal and living out of that selfless
commitment, for over half a century. And gratitude
also to our fellow Roscrea man Bishop Emeritus of
82
Roscrea People 2014
It was wonderful that Fr Tom
was able to share the special
Mass with his family, pictured
here with Bishop Kieran in
St Cronan’s.
Back (l/r): Daragh Feeney,
Ailbhe Feeney, Gemma Corbett,
Madeleine Corbett, Brian
Corbett
Front (l/r): William Corbett,
Geraldine Corbett Feeney,
Fr Tom, Bishop Kieran, Mary
Corbett and Jim Feeney
Killaloe, Dr Willie Walsh, for appointing Fr. Tom in 2005 to be
our beloved shepherd. We wouldn’t think for a moment of course
that there was even a hint of nepotism in Bishop Willie’s intention
to appoint Fr Tom to Roscrea; but sure where else, would any
bishop appoint the best man he had but to the best parish he had!!
We are told that every priest through virtue of his ordination
becomes an “alter Christus”, another Christ. No one in Roscrea,
Bournea, or Kyle and Knock, or indeed much much further
afield, would have to be reminded that Fr Tom personifies in all
that he does, and in the very essence of his being, the humility,
empathy, holiness and service of Christ.
We in the Society of the St Vincent de Paul in Roscrea are greatly
blessed and honoured that Fr Tom is also our Chaplain and has
been since 2005. As the good shepherd he leads by example,
encourages and supports our efforts no matter how inadequate
those efforts often prove to be. Thus we thank him for continuing
to be our Chaplain and thank our Bishop Kieran for allowing Fr
Tom to continue to administer among us and to look after parish
ministries in the three parishes. Hence together with the CoParish Priests we in the three parishes of Roscrea, Kyle and
Knock and Bournea now have a very tangible living Trinity. If we
are tempted to wonder who represents the father, the son or the
Holy Spirit, I’m advised that they are One in All, and, All in One!
Fr Tom has obviously travelled the journey of that great Doctor
of the Church, Thomas Acquinas, as he effortlessly lives those
words of Acquinas’s that “Love takes up where knowledge leaves
off” and that it is “Better to illuminate than merely to shine, better
to deliver to others contemplated truths than merely to
contemplate.” Fr Tom, on behalf of all of us – “the others” – I
thank you. And our collective wish for you today is Ad Multos
Annos and, that for those many years, you will be blessed with
good health and remain among us.’
John Lupton
October 26th 2014
Feature sponsored by
Michael Fogarty, Rock Top Asset
Management Company
83
Roscrea People 2014
84
Roscrea People 2014
Co-PP, Fr Michael
Harding leads the
Rev Adrian Hewson
and the newlyappointed
Methodist Minister
Rev Shannon de
Laureal.
Fr Tom greets Fr
Oliver Doherty
(former PP of
Dunkerrin and
Moneygall) who
was ordained the
same year.
Liam Shanahan
(Chairman) and
Angela Mulvey
(Secretary), The
Pastoral
Council.
Some of the people who helped to
provide food and sustenance for the
soul and body:
Front (l/r): Gitana Gustayte, Agnes
Mayjar, Fr Tom, Anne Spain, Mary
Buckley and Mary Pyne.
2nd row: Geraldine Moloney, Pauline
Loughnane and Margaret Carroll.
Back: Margaret Ryan, Brendan Keeshan,
Saulius Valaika (on top).
In the Abbey Hall with the framed
treasures of Roscrea:
John Lupton, Fr Pat Treacy (co-pp), Liam
Shanahan, Fr Michael Harding (co-pp),
Mary Corbett, William Corbett, Fr Tom,
Brian Corbett, and Madeleine and
Gemma Corbett.
85
Roscrea People 2014
86
Roscrea People 2014
Highlights of 2014 at
St Cronan’s R.C. Church
January: Church Unity week took place, with Rev. Brian
Griffin, Methodist Minister preaching in St. Cronan’s Church.
This month also saw the Week of Light and Hope, where Bishop
Kieran 0’Reilly celebrated the closing Mass.
February: Lenten Stations and first Confessions.
March: St Vincent de Paul Shop opening took place with Mass
in the Church and an ecumenical blessing afterwards at the new
premises on Church Street.
On March 29th Bishop Kieran came to the Parish for
Confirmation.
April: Holy Week Ceremonies were held. The now annual St.
Cronan’s Day Walk took place.
May: First Holy Communion. A New Pastoral Council was
elected, with representatives elected from the following areas:
Area A: Angela Mulvey, Brendan Keeshan, Michael Tierney.
Area B: Yvonne 0’Rourke, Mary Heffernan, Steve Crofton.
Area C: Martin Bergin, Mary Ryan, Margaret Stanley.
Parish Groups:
Education Form: Mark McLoughlin; Liturgy Group: Lorraine
Shaw;
Ministers of the Eucharist: Margaret Ryan; Church Choir: Nora
Loughnane
Folk Group: Del 0’Reilly; Baptismal Team: Bernie Cummins;
Collectors: Liam Shanahan;
Youth Centre Committee: Paul Rigney; Vincent de Paul: John
Lupton;
Legion of Mary: Anne Cahalan
June: Corpus Christi Procession took place after 12.00 noon
Mass.
July: Diocesan Changes were announced:
Fr. Tom Corbett, PP Roscrea, to
retire as PP, but to remain in
Roscrea as priest of the parish and
as co-ordinator of Team Ministry in
Roscrea, Bournea, Kyle and Knock
Parishes.
Fr. Pat Treacy and Fr. Michael Harding to be Co-Parish Priests
of Roscrea, Bournea, Kyle and Knock Parishes.
Co-PP
Fr Pat Treacy
Co-PP
Fr Michael Harding
August: Graveyard Masses were celebrated in all three Parishes.
September: Schools reopen. Ecumenical Prayer Service held.
Roscrea Stands Up is formed.
October: October Stations; National School Christmas Carol
Recorded in Church.
New Pastoral Council Finance & Building Committees elected;
Finance: John Lupton; Paul Rigney, Liam Shanahan, Paddy
Collison, Margaret Moloney, Ena Mc Mahon, Gearóid Doherty.
Building: Brendan Keeshan, Michael Tierney, Liam Shanahan,
Henry Deane, Mick Maher (New Road), Michael McEvoy.
Parish Celebration of Father Corbett’s Golden Jubilee.
November: A large crowd attended the Healing Service, led by
Eddie Stone; the Annual Mass of Remembrance was held on
the 25th of November; Evening Masses for November.
Corpus Christi procession moves into the Valley.
87
Roscrea People 2014
88
Roscrea People 2014
IWA provide services to people with limited mobility through the
(l/r): Patricia
Resource Centre on Abbey Street, Roscrea and the Outreach Kevin, Josephine
Carroll and Mary
Services in Nenagh and Thurles each week.
Activities include Swimming, Aromatherapy, Chiropody, O’Meara at the
opening of the
Art/Craft, Cooking, Life-Skills, Computer Training, Keep Fit,
Art exhibition at
Wheelchair Basketball, Boccia and a variety of activities tailored
Tesco
to those with limited mobility. Members also pursue individual
Community
programmes with the support of IWA.
Room.
With increasing cuts to home support hours, the day service offers social, educational
and recreational programmes, allowing members to participate in activities outside of
the home environment. It also provides Carers in the home with respite during this
time.
Members through the
support of North
Tipperary ETB took part
in an ‘Art’ programme
which portrays
significant buildings in
the local community.
This exhibition ran in the
Community Room at
Tesco during November.
( l/r): Michael Doran,
Charlene Donnelly, JoJo
Cunningham and Kevin
Clifford at the opening
of that exhibition.
Some 2014 Activities: In February a Variety
Music Night took place in Racket Hall to raise
Some members went to Dublin to try out the Luas for
funds for the purchase of four basketball-wheelchairs for the club. Music has
accessibility and while there, took advantage of a
become an essential element of the activity schedule and through the support
beautiful September day to have a browse around
Dublin’s City Centre
of the Tipperary ETB members took part in a three day Music Workshop.
Members of staff and volunteers including past CE participants also provided (Back l/r): Gerry Kealy, Mary O’Carroll, Siobhan Arnott.
(Front l/r); Edel Carey with members, Patricia
entertaining music evenings for the youth group during the past year.
Hodgins, Mary Egan Heffernan and Margaret Cahalan.
Two teams are currently taking part in the Tipperary Boccia League which
will finish in March of 2015. The Men’s Group had several fishing
For more information on IWA and our services:
competitions while the Ladies made the most of the beautiful
Ph: 0505 23229 Email: [email protected] or call
summer with several day-trips. There were two respite breaks to
Cuisle, Co Roscommon, with eighteen members enjoying their time
to Hannon House, Abbey Street, Roscrea.
away. Disability Awareness in schools continues. The annual ‘Mid
The Irish Wheelchair Associations website
summers day’ celebration took place in Thurles with musicians from
www.iwa.ie
is also a useful resource for many
Roscrea spreading their wings to the Thurles Centre. For the first
time, the ‘Annual IWA Motoring Tour’ took place in North Tipperary
issues affecting those with limited mobility and
starting and finishing at Racket Hall on October 11th. This year’s
contains an extensive list of services provided
‘Angel’ fundraising campaign to assist in the provision and
locally and nationally.
maintenance of services was launched by the Banhaffaf twins from
Cork and Keith Duffy. You will find the IWA team selling Angels
locally throughout the month of November.
The Community
Employment Scheme is open to those who are eligible through the
Department of Social Protection and who wish to train in order to find
future employment in the care area.
IWA’s CE staff members pictured with CE supervisor Bridget Phelan
and Annette Mc Carthy DSP
Back(l /r): Noel Dooley, Mary O’Carroll, Margaret Feeney, Josephine
Mackey, Deirdre Kennedy Connors, Annette Mc Carthy DSP Bridget
Phelan CE Supervisor.
Front (l/ r): Margherita Marcello, Siobhan Arnott, Breda O’Meara,
Marion Behan, Lillie Ryan, Margaret Moloney, Mary Kennedy .
89
Roscrea People 2014
90
Roscrea People 2014
ST. CRONAN’S SERVICES
Service users at St Cronan’s as ever were busy working to achieve
their goals and ambitions. The main event last year involved the
service users’ participation in the Taste of Roscrea which kept
everyone busy producing wonderful items for sale to raise much
need funds. Some highlights of the year are outlined below.
Visiting Monaincha: On a spring morning visiting the historic
site of Monahinca as part of their project to identify places of
interest in their local community.
(L to R) Luke
Hickey, Karen
Cambie, Michelle
Healy, P.J.
Quinlan, Claire
Parlon, Marina
Morrissey and
John Cahill.
Exploring
Options: A group
of trainees from
St. Cronan’s
Service exploring
their future career
options when
visiting the
national learning
network,
Portlaoise.
(L to R): Daniel
Fitzgerald, Niall Kiely, Nicole O’Meara and David O’Rourke.
Your Health is your
Wealth: Taking
advantage of the
beautiful 2014
summer weather
while keeping
healthy and fit
during a trip to the
local woods.
(L to R): Marion
Campion, Julie O’Sullivan, Maureen Sheridan and Dermot
Keyes.
Supporting our Heroes: Excitement in the air in the run up to
this year’s All Ireland saw a huge effort by everyone to cheer on
our hurlers.
World War 1 Commemorations: Services users attended the
World War 1 commemoration in Roscrea and enjoyed the
Seattle Police Pipes and Drum band. (Above L to R) Anthony
Mulrooney, Karen Cambie, Danielle Lynch, Josephine Ray and
Margaret Ryan.
North Tipperary
Sports
Partnership:
Participating in
the promotion of
fishing as a
healthy alternative
for outdoor
activities under
the stewardship of
the Staff of St.
Cronan’s
supported by North Tipperary Sports Partnership in focus:
Elaine Darcy, Maeve Keenan and Susan Starr.
A Day in the Zoo:
Enjoying the wonders
of nature on a trip to
the zoo (L to R): Liam
Ryan, Dermot Keyes,
Harry Wall and Stuart
O’Mahony.
Our final event of the
year saw large
numbers attend our
annual dinner dance which took place for first time this year in
the County Arms, Birr; fabulous meal and wonderful
entertainment by Martin Delaney.
Fond memories: It is great sadness we remember Rachel
Bourke whose passing in the last year has left a great void with
all service users and staff. Rachel was a valued member of staff
for many years and loved nothing more than working with
service users to reach their
potential. Our picture here
shows Rachel at a carol
singing event at Christmas
some years ago with service
users and staff. Fondly
remembered, never
forgotten.
91
Roscrea People 2014
Lions Club of Roscrea
The Lions had another
successful year with the
major project being the
10k/5k Run/Walk. There
was an increase in the
numbers taking part
thanks to intense
marketing and the fine
weather! Thanks to all
The 5K race gets the start signal from Dom Richard.
concerned and especially those volunteers
who gave up their Saturday to help out.
Other projects included Christmas Food Appeal, 3rd World Collection with funds going to Sr Mona
Maher's project in Uganda. Funding from other projects also went to provision of defibrillators and
training courses for Cardiac Response Group Volunteers in Roscrea.
Lions Club President Paddy Collison
presents a cheque for 2000 euro to Tim
Maher representing the Uganda Mission
Fund. Also in the picture are Seamus
Dennison, Ugandan Liason Officer and
District Governor Pat O'Brien. Other
members of the club are in the
background.
Winning entrant for the 10k on the right.
Dom Richard sets off the 10k runners.
92
Roscrea People 2014
Danny and
Claire Kelly.
The
Collisons…
three
generations.
The
Valuation
Day
Committee
Back (l-r): Des Walsh, Mary Carroll, Noreen Moore-Heenan, Brendan Hyland, John
Carroll, Paddy Collison.
Front: Danny Kelly, Seamus Mullaney, Bill Smith.
Alfie
Clarke
gets a
dousing from
Brian Redmond
in the Lions
water challenge.
Valuation Day promotional picture
L-r: Bill Smith, Brendan Hyland, Noreen Moore-Heenan.
Walkers as
well as
runners
enjoyed the
fine weather.
Handing over the chain of office: Bill Smith to Paddy
Collison with Geraldine and Margaret.
93
Roscrea People 2014
SVP Shop Opens
Opening of new shop
in Church Street
Down the centuries Church Street has seen
many happy and celebratory scenes. The official
opening of the new SVP shop added another
memorable day to that list.
Church, state and local dignitaries, friends and
neighbours gathered that day in late March to
give thanks to God through a beautiful Mass, to
enjoy the blessing of the premises and then to
partake of refreshments later on.
The shop, formerly Kenny’s Londis
Supermarket and before that Paddy Kelly’s, was
constructed anew by Frank Murray Builders and
The national president of the St Vincent de Paul Society Geoff
Meagher cuts the tape, held by Conor Hoctor and Claudia
Gleeson to open the new shop. The president of the Roscrea
Conference, Ms Patricia Gleeson and area SVP president John
Lupton accompany him.
decorated, outfitted and
furnished to an excellent high
standard. It receives and sells
high quality goods donated by
the community, to help the
less well off in the community
with all profits being used for
such purposes by the local
conference of SVP.
Manager
Tom
Maher
expresses great delight in how
the first six months have
proceeded and is full of praise
for the generosity of the
Roscrea community.
Roscrea conference members, distinguished guests
and clergy at St Cronan’s following the concelebrated
Mass.
Back: Tom Cordial, Fr Corbett, Fr Mulcahy, Abbot
Richard, Fr Treacy, Fr Harding, Adrian Hewson, Fr
O’Meara, Con Cunningham.
Middle: Bridget McCreevey, Sean Delaney, Lucia
Moloney, Flan Maher, Eamon Phelan, Tony Brennan.
2nd row: Marie Carter, Liam Shanahan, Barry Tobin
(Regional SVP vice-president), Kieran Stafford
(national v/p), John Lupton, Anne Marie Hoctor.
Seated: Geoff Meagher, Adrienne Cunningham,
Patricia Gleeson and Dena and Phil O’Meara.
94
Staff in front of the new shop: Tom Maher, Catherine
Burke, Ailish McCoy, Catherine Spillane, Billy Conlon and
Ann Minogue.
Roscrea People 2014
Happy Faces at the SVP Opening
Roscrea SVP conference
president, Patricia Gleeson says,
‘The shop, managed by local man Tom
Maher along with a number of volunteers,
has become a very important aspect of the
service SVP provides in Roscrea. We are
delighted to have this pictorial feature in
this year’s Roscrea People. It highlights
and names our national guests, our clergy
and friends who made the day so special.
Fr Corbett said that “the new shop was a
magnificent building and a labour of love
for the St Vincent de Paul”. The National
President Geoff Meagher said he felt very
encouraged to see such great work
underway in Roscrea under the Presidency
of Patricia Gleeson and wished her and her
team all the very best in the future. He said
that the Roscrea Conference was a prime
example of the way a true Vincentian
carries out their work. He said there are two
aspects to the St Vincent de Paul Shop – the
service it brings to a town and fundraising
for local conferences to help the people in
need.
Following the blessing the community
congregated on St Cronan’s Church where a
very moving Mass was concelebrated.
Readings were by Tony Brennan and
Adrienne Cunningham. Prayers of the
faithful were said by Patricia Gleeson, Tom
Maher, Lucia Moloney, Flan Maher, Conty
Cunningham and Eamon Phelan. The gifts
were brought to the altar by the volunteers
from the shop while Tom Cordial and Phil
O’Meara brought the offertory gifts. John
Lupton read a reflection following
communion while the music and singing
was provided by Martin Delaney and Zoe
Gleeson.
Liam Shanahan in his role as Vice President
excelled in his duties as MC for the
occasion. Following Mass it was over to
the Abbey Hall where a fabulous meal was
served by Pauline Loughnane and her
team.’
Staff and Conference members:
Tony Brennan, Eamon Phelan, Tim
Gleeson, Flan Maher, Sean Delaney,
Liam Shanahan with Catherine
Spillane, PG, Marie Tierney and
Claudia Gleeson.
Imelda Matthews and Liz
Gleeson.
Two Managers: Bernie Pearse SVP
Limerick and Tom Maher Roscrea.
Area SVP president John Lupton
reading a reflection after
Communion.
Shane Lee with Eileen Doherty and
Mary Heffernan.
95
Roscrea People 2014
Tom Cordial enjoys a cuppa with Bernie Colclough.
No Dick it does not suit:
Patricia Gleeson, Neil
Guerin and Mary and
Dick Conroy.
Mark
McLoughlin,
Paddy Collison
and Mr and
Mrs Bill Smith.
Blessing
the
interior:
Rev Brian
Griffin,
Fr Tom
Corbett
and Rev
Adrian
Hewson.
Singers at the
Mass:
Zoe Gleeson and
Martin Delaney.
Chairman of
the parish
pastoral
council Liam
Shanahan
welcoming
guests while
Fr Harding
listens
attentively.
Tim Gleeson,
Sean Delaney,
Catherine
Spillane, Liam
Shanahan,
TM, Aisling
McMahon and
Claudia
Gleeson.
Barry Madden, SVP project
manager, Mairéad Ramsbottom
and Michael Smith MCC.
Staff, members and volunteers
inside the new shop.
96
Roscrea People 2014
Joan Delaney
with Miriam
and Christy
Lupton.
Tony Brennan and Frank Murray, Builder.
Happy Couples:
Pat and Marian
Flanagan, and
Hilda and
Seamus Deeley.
Tom Cordial has a word with the new Co-PP
Fr Michael Harding.
CCÉ Ros Cré were in great form at the
celebrations in the Abbey Hall.
Front: Caoimhe Flannery, Jack Flannery, William
Holmes.
Back: Billy Hynes, Pat Flanagan, Michael Ryan,
Shane Doughan, Sean Gleeson, Paddy Tierney,
Esther Douglas.
Steve Crofton, Kathleen Phelan, Jim Bolger and
Eamon Phelan.
The last word from the SVP Roscrea
conference president, Patricia Gleeson:
Our shop is just one year trading and
we are going from strength to strength
with a very busy few weeks ahead with
Santa. SVP have a number of projects
organised for the new year and we hope
that the sun will continue to shine for
us!
97
Roscrea People 2014
98
Roscrea People 2014
Another busy year for Roscrea Ramblers
Roscrea Ramblers, with sixty-five members, is one of few
walking clubs who have two walks most weekends of the year.
Indeed, at the most recent AGM, it was decided to hold walks on
Mondays of Bank Holiday weekends, not the case up to now.
While stormy weather disrupted walks in January/February, walks
were held in Sliabh Bloom - Glenafelly, Glenbarrow, Carroll's
Hill, and further afield in Kilcommon, Keeper Hill, Silvermines,
Knockmealdowns, Galtee and Comeragh mountains, as well as
Carrauntoohill and the Dunmore East walking festival.
On the social side, the highlights of the year were our Christmas
night walk at Glinsk Castle outside Kinnitty, with a party held in
the Sliabh Bloom Bar. Here the Ramblers danced the night away!
Club member Siu Lin hosted a "Traditional Chinese Night" in
April, while our Spring weekend away was to Sligo where club
members were led on a climb of Ben Bulben by the Sligo Walking
Club members. Another highlight was being awarded a Roscrea
People of the Year Award.
Pictured on
Carrauntoohil in
August: Ray
McCarthy, Pat
McDermot, Mick
Fogarty, Martin
Matthews, Rose
Fogarty, Ger
McCoy, Bridgit
Matthews,
Margaret
McDermot and
Deirdre O’Meara.
Unfortunately, some members have suffered illness and
bereavement during the year; health and happiness for 2015.
Walking is for everyone, without age restrictions! The Club has
just held their AGM and now couldn't be a better time to join with
membership fees at €45. This includes insurance through
Mountaineering Ireland. Potential members can do two walks
with the club before deciding to join. Why not make this your
New Year’s Resolution?? Catch us on Facebook or on
www.roscrearamblers.com where our full list of walks are found.
Mike Ryan
Keeping an eye
on Sean Cullen
on the Devils Bit.
Brian Redmond,
Paul Kelly and
Martin Matthews
taking a break at
Brittas Lake in
the Sliabh
Blooms.
Joe Coughlan,
Jackie Shorthall,
Linda Hastings
and Keith Stanley
crossing a stream
in the Comeragh
Mountains.
Sean Cullen, Ger McCoy and Pat McDermot on top of the Kerry Mountains.
99
Roscrea People 2014
100
Roscrea People 2014
101
Roscrea People 2014
102
Roscrea People 2014
Introducing aspects of the Heritage of the
Killavilla area
Mainly pictorial extracts from an illustrated talk given by the editor in
Killavilla Community Hall in 2012
The Pleasing Landscape
of Killavilla
Part One: Early Times
(to be continued in RP 2015)
The gentle slopes of Cooleshall as
pictured from near the railway
bridge at Roscrea Golf Club.
Delaney’s Lough, one of the many
bog loughs around Monaincha, was
developed recently as a coarse
angling lake.
A little gem up
Nutley Lane
Approaching Killavilla from
Ballaghmore
Just past Nutley Lane, passing
through an attractive landscape of
cutaway bog to the south and the
foothills of Sl Bloom to the north.
103
Roscrea People 2014
(The modern pictorial maps are taken from the Heritage Atlas of the Civil Parish of Roscrea, edited by W.J.
Hayes [RHS, 1992}; this one p.17)
The Barony of Ballybritt c1685. The inclusion
and naming of Kilkieran shows that the caiseal of
St Ciaran probably was still venerated as a holy
site. Notice Richardstowne which later became
Ballyrickard, situated between Coolderry and
Roscrea, beside the Heath.
From a general map of Ireland at the
beginning of the eighteenth century
104
Roscrea People 2014
Estate names
such as Gloster
and Golden
Grove began to
emerge in the
early eighteenth
century.
From early times the main south-east route ran
from Durrow in north Offaly, south to Rahan,
Drumcullen, Seir and Leap with the Killavilla
area to the east. An important branch route ran
from Ballybritt crossroads via Dungar and on to
Kyle Molua and the Slighe Dhála at
Ballaghmore. The main route went through the
Roscrea gap, south to Cashel and beyond. The
n/s route became of huge strategic importance
to the Anglo-Normans who fortified it strongly
with earthen/timber castles (mottes) in the
twelfth and thirteen centuries.
The baronies of the SW Irish midlands; Killavilla
nestles in the southern part of Ballybritt.
The foothills of the Sl Bloom mountains rise north
of the old N7
(From Anglo-Norman Advance (1987)
105
Roscrea People 2014
Running through the
southern area of
Killavilla the
Ballybrophy to
Roscrea railway line
(GSW) was
completed by 1857
and onward to
Parsonstown (Birr)
by 1858. The
connection to
Nenagh and beyond
to Limerick was not
made until 1863.
Extensive boglands - ‘the notorious Red Bogg of
Ely’ – stretch to the south of Killavilla across
Monaincha and Timoney. Straddling three
counties, here one could cut turf in Laois, wheel
it through Tipperary and ‘foot’ and save it in
Offaly!
(Left) :The main Dublin-Limerick coach road as it was
depicted in Taylor and Skinner’s book on The Roads of
Ireland c1778. Notice Roscrea is 59 Irish miles from
Dublin. At 57 miles, at the Mount Butler/Killavilla
junction an important side road led, via Ballybritt, to
Birr.
106
Roscrea People 2014
Early
Heritage
Sites in the
Killavilla
area
(both maps
courtesy of
Roscrea Heritage
Atlas)
In the not-too-recent past, and especially during the early
years of Ireland’s EU accession many of our prehistoric
burial tumuli and ringforts were partly destroyed during
land reclamation. A more enlightened population and
stricter legislation now protects these monuments.
Some townlands that
hold evidence of
prehistoric settlement
or burial. Camblin
must now be added to
this map as NRA
excavations there for
junction 22 on the M7
have shown settlement
and burial from
almost six thousand
years ago.
107
Roscrea People 2014
The Killavilla
Head
This Iron Age idol
was found by John
Shortt Roe at
Killavilla and
passed on to the
National Museum by
his son, Albert in
1944.
Cist grave at
Ballywilliam,
probably was
once covered
with earth,
and one of the
many tumuli in
the area.
Is this an original Killavilla man
high up on Kilcreman?
Polished stone axehead found at
Killavilla by Albert Roe.
Bronze Age axeheads from the area.
108
Roscrea People 2014
Route of St Carthage’s royal
journey (expulsion?) from
Rahan to Lismore, via the
crossroads at Ballybritt,
almost 1500 years ago.
(Fr Carthage, The Story of St
Carthage, D. 1937. P.65)
The Crossroads at Ballybritt
Early prehistoric settlers tracked through here to bury their dead in cemetery mounds, probably
multiple cist burials from middle Bronze Age times, (see illustration of one in Ballywilliam), which,
although erected over two thousand years ago still dot the landscape in Ballyphillip, Beagh, Gurteen,
Glascloon and other townlands.
In historic times travel between the Kingdom of Meath and Munster was through here. Here also local
travellers, commuting between the churches and proto-urban sites of Drumcullen, Kinnitty, Leitirluna
Seir Kieran, Birr, Kyle, Aghaboe, Mondrehid, Monaincha and Roscrea used not only the north-south
route but also the east-west path. Of particular note, N/S, were the journeys of Carthage from Rahan
to Lismore, and E/W that of Ciaran in his pre-Patrician quest for a suitable site, journeying from his
overnight sojourn at Cooleshill (Kilkieran) through here to Bell Hill, overlooking Clareen and his
eventual monastic centre at Seir Kieran. On his way through here, Carthage asked for apples from the
local people, but they, for some unknown reason, refused to let him have any. He prophesised that the
place would always be devoid of apples!
Traffic went from monks to knights at the crossroads in the thirteenth century as the Anglo-Normans
gained a strong military foothold. The Ballybritt crossroads were strategically important enough to be
fortified by a large motte (earthen castle on top of a mound) at Danganreagh which survives to date,
albeit in a skeletal state. Excavation may well prove that it too was a prehistoric burial mound which
the Anglo-Normans re-used. Danganreagh became a major manor (probably called Colabrennan) under
the Butlers as lords and with local knights such as John de Barry and the Brets who gave their name
to the barony and townland. They held sway until the Gaelic resurgence of the Carrolls evicted them
from Ely. Ballybritt became an important ‘town’ with its church, castle and mill. Plantation then
changed all. Darby of Leap and Parsons of Birr became the dominant landlords: Darby owning most
of Aghancon and Parsons - the family later to become the Earls of Rosse – owned from Ballybritt
through Roscomroe to Longford. As the Leap area became dominant Ballybritt declined in importance.
109
Roscrea People 2014
110
Roscrea People 2014
The Church of St John at Ballybritt, one of
the three RC churches now in the parish of
Kilcolman but formerly in the civil parish
of Aghancon. The medieval church part of
the medieval settlement of Ballybritt was
further up the road to Leap. St John’s was
built sometime in the 1850s or early 1860s.
The porch was added in 1982 when major
renovations were carried out. Further work
in 2014 will see the re-erection of the cross
from the old RC chapel at Fancroft.
Baile an Bhriotaigh
A significant medieval settlement
that gave its name to the barony
called Ballybritt. Its crossroads was
an important meeting point of routes,
in use probably from medieval times.
The Kinnitty Road skirts
Danganreagh Motte.
111
Roscrea People 2014
St Ciarán at Cooleeshill
The ecclesiastical enclosure associated with St Ciarán (named Kilkieran in medieval maps) lies
on the south facing slope of Cooleeshill. This large circular cashel is/was enclosed or defined
by a drystone wall, now very much fragmented and approximately two metres in height and with
a maximum width of two
metres in some places. At its
centres lies a natural spring,
once venerated as a holy well as
was its holy bush. I had the
pleasure of been guided to the
place by Ned Scully who lives
nearby.
Ned Scully approaching the
enclosure
Ned Scully at the well
Now very much overgrown only a detailed
survey and exploratory archaeological
excavation could reveal the whole story of
Kilkieran.
(Roscrea Heritage Atlas)
112
Fancroft
Roscrea People 2014
Two townlands, Fancroft and Glascloon, were part of the Manor of Seir Kieran
(Clareen, Ossory diocese) and remained so down to modern times. Pádraig Ó
Riain in his Dictionary of Irish Saints (2011) identifies Ceallán of Fancroft as an
early saint there who had Brigidine or Leinster connections. This may account for
the inclusion of the townlands in the Manor of Seir Kieran and remaining island
parts of the diocese of Ossory. The medieval church ruins and graveyard, now
isolated in the middle of a field, is dedicated to St Kieran.
‘The punch dressings on the window jambs of the church suggest a late medieval date….the flat-headed doorway in the
south end of the east gable leads into a small chamber which may have been either a sacristy or a priest’s room. It was
recorded in 1484 as a chapel with cure which was canonically annexed to the Augustinian priory of Seir…’ (Elizabeth
FitzPatrick and Caimin O’Brien, The Medieval Churches of Co Offaly, [1988], p.91; pp. 136-7).
A 13 metre wide linear earthwork with two banks, running NE-SW to the east
of the graveyard, is of uncertain origin or use. One suggestion is that it may have
been a roadway connected with the church settlement. The tumulus alongside the
stream (fast flowing and powering several mills downstream, becoming the
Golden Grove river and soon to form the county boundary between Tipperary
and Offaly) may have originally been a burial mound reused as a small motte to
guard and protect the frontier Anglo-Norman settlement here.
The RC chapel ruins at
Fancroft prior to their
demolition.
A major boundary dispute erupted between Killaloe and Ossory as to where
exactly the diocesan boundaries were in relation to Fancroft House and following
this a RC chapel was built on the Kinnitty road in 1830 and administered from
Clareen (the modern name for Seir Kieran). By the first quarter of the twentieth
century it had become impossible for Clareen to continue the arrangement.
Accordingly the chapel at Fancroft was closed in 1936, allowed to fall into ruin
and the population of the two townlands was serviced by Roscrea parish on a
trial basis.
On 1st November 1959, Bishop Rodgers of Killaloe and Bishop Collier of Ossory
formally made the transfer permanent, thus ending parochial arrangements that
had survived from the twelfth century.
The Fancroft area
showing the
medieval
graveyard and the
area around
Fancroft House.
(photo taken by
GC in 1973).
113
Roscrea People 2014
The Neilstown Weather Station
by Paddy Dooley
In the spring of 1953 the Irish Meteorological Service
(renamed Met Éireann in 1996) contacted the Gardaí
in Borris in Ossory asking them to recommend
someone who would operate an observation station
which they intended setting up on the Southern
Slopes of the Slieve Bloom Mountains. We were the
family that was recommended. And so began an
association with the Met Office which is now in its
sixty-first year.
Initially we only recorded
rainfall. The collecting and
measuring devices were set up
and our first recording took place
on Thursday, 16th April 1953 (a
showery spring day with 5mm of
rain). A copper cylinder was
inserted into the ground in which
we placed a bottle. Rainfall was
funnelled into the bottle and was
measured each day at 10am in
the summer and 9am in the
winter. Measurements were
taken in millimetres. The
heaviest day’s rainfall occurred
on 2nd August 1984 when
89.3mm of (2.3 inches) rain was
recorded. The second highest
day’s rainfall occurred on 7th
June 2012 when 73.1mm of
rainfall was recorded. 2012 was
the wettest year since records
began in Neilstown in 1953,
closely followed by 2009. 1,366mm of rain fell in
2012, whilst 1,353mm of rain fell in 2009. The driest
year since we commenced recording was 1971 when
114
only 831mm of rain fell. June 2012 was the wettest
month; 272mm of rain fell in this ‘summer’ month.
The driest month since records began here was
February 1986 when only 3.7mm of rain fell.
February tends to be the driest month; it was the
driest month on thirteen occasions since records
began. One statistic which is very evident is that the
months February to May inclusive are the driest
months of the year.
The data that is sent to Met Éireann’s headquarters in
Glasnevin is largely collated and used for climate
data. On some occasions significant weather events
are noted in Met Éireann’s monthly weather
bulletins. On one such occasion in July 2000 the
report stated that ‘During [a thunderstorm] on the 4th
[of July] the rainfall measuring station at Neilstown,
County Laois, in the Slieve Bloom Mountains
measured 63.6mm in a 2 hour downpour’. This
particular cloudburst was one of the most memorable
weather events in recent times and caused severe road
damage in the Camross and Killavilla area, including
the washing away of a bridge in Ballinrally, Camross.
Since October 1999, we have been taking
temperature readings. A Stevenson Screen was
erected alongside the rainfall collector which contains
four thermometers. Thermometer No.1, known as the
dry bulb thermometer records the actual temperature
at any given time. Thermometer No.2, known as the
wet bulb thermometer, records the amount of
humidity in the atmosphere. It is called the wet bulb
thermometer as its bulb is covered with a cotton cloth
with strings attached which are suspended in water.
The difference in temperature between the first two
thermometers reflects the humidity in the air; the
bigger the difference, the more humid the air.
Thermometer No.3 records the highest temperature
in the previous 24 hours whilst Thermometer No.4
records the lowest temperature in the previous day.
Our temperature records are only in their fourteenth
year as opposed to rainfall records which span six
Roscrea People 2014
decades. Nevertheless, the warmest day since 1999
was 10th July 2013 when the temperature reached
28.5° Celsius. The coldest day was 21st December
2010 when the temperature plummeted to -12.1°
Celsius.
Since 1st June 2013 we are involved in a joint project
with Met Éireann and the Agriculture and Science
Departments of University College Dublin. The
project involves measuring the amount of ammonia
in the atmosphere. Three badges, containing filters,
are affixed to the Stevenson Screen and are replaced
every fortnight. The badges are then returned to UCD
for processing. We have no results yet from the
ammonia recordings. Brian Doyle, the head of the
UCD research team, believes that the levels will be
low. Ammonia levels vary from practically nil on the
western seaboard to relatively higher levels in Cavan
and Monaghan. This is due to the number of poultry
and pigs in these counties.
This is a brief account of our little met station on the
slopes of the Slieve Blooms, overlooking Roscrea
and the surrounding countryside. It is, for us, a labour
of love, which I hope will continue into the next
generation.
115
Roscrea People 2014
116
Roscrea People 2014
E
A
R
S
C
P
S
C
O
A
R
Est. 1995
Grant Aided by the Dept of Agriculture, Food & The Marine
and financially assisted by the People of Roscrea & Environs
Last December the Society received a very generous grant, once
again, from the Dept of Agriculture, Food and The Marine for
€15,400 without which it wouldn’t be able to con6nue its work.
The total expenses this year were almost e18,000.
Subsidised Neutering: In the year 2013-2014 the Society assisted
pet owners with the neutering of 166 dogs and cats. Since 1998
Roscrea SPCA has subsidised the neutering of almost 5,000 dogs
and cats.
2015 Calendar & Christmas Cards: The Society has a calendar
and Christmas cards on sale this year. Calendars are €6 each or two
for €10 and a pack of 6 assorted Christmas cards are €5 or two for
€8.
And last but by no means least a great big THANK YOU to the
people of Roscrea and environs for your con6nued support and
generosity which never ceases to amaze us.
Rehoming: Roscrea SPCA re-homed 73 dogs and cats in the past
year.
Thanks: The Society wishes to acknowledge the con6nued hard
work of its officers, commi7ee members and foster homes who
work 6relessly to keep the Society going in these difficult 6mes.
One of the Society’s founding members from 1995, Valerie
Spencer, stepped down this year a%er 16 years as Roscrea SPCA
treasurer. We would like to thank her for all her hard work,
exper6se with the accounts and for keeping all the stats on
neutering, veterinary expenses, rehoming etc., which make such
a difference when applying for ex-gra6a grants from the Dept of
Agriculture, Food and The Marine.
Fundraising Events: The Society had great success with its
fundraising ventures over the past year which included our 2014
Calendar and Pop-up-Shop. Thanks to our stalwarts Lorraine and
Rosie for organising a Benefit Night with Guest Star, Tracey
Edwards, at Easter in Fitzpatrick’s, Clonmore. We would especially
like to thank Anjela Jupe, Bellfield House, Shinrone, who gave the
Society the proceeds from her Open Garden Days in February and
March and Frances Kelly who ran the Flora Mini-Marathon on our
behalf.
A special men6on to Tesco Roscrea for their con6nued support
with Bag Packing, also for nomina6ng us in their Tesco Community
Fund, for having our Dog and Cat collec6on box at the escalator
and for the Food Dona6on barrel at the back of the checkouts.
Check us out:
Website:
www.roscreaspca.ie
Roscrea SPCA
117
Roscrea People 2014
118
Roscrea People 2014
Holly and Ivy……
There was a swirl in the falling snow, seeming to form triangles
on the small window panes by piling thickly at the right and
tapering off toward the left. The old man pulled his chair nearer
the fire and addressed his brother who was sitting on the stool in
the chimney corner.
“Here”, he said, “Help yourself to a pipe and a glass before
bedtime.”
Jem’s reputed kindness was genuine and this his way of
sympathising with Jody who had recently been bereaved by the
death of his wife. Both were now widowers. “Ah! Sure we’re
two quare lookin’ ould statistics now, back to where we
st(h)arted,” said Jody, mustering a semi smile through his
bereavement. “Aye, too true,” replied Jem, going on to remind his
brother about the scorching August day fifty years ago they were
walking to confession in Foiladuff.
They stopped near Tubareenmhuire, partly to drink the Blessed
Water to quench their thirst but mostly, because unknown to the
other, each one was afraid to face Fr Mulvanney in confession.
Being the more open lipped of the two Jem surprised Jody by
saying, ”I don’t think I’ll go to confession at all.”
“Why so?” asked Jody, “sure if they don’t see you going to the
rails on Sunday morning you’ll be kilt”.
“Tisn’t to Foiladuff I’ll have to go at all,” said Jem, “But into the
fountain head, His Lordship the Bishop, beyant in Beginnish.”
“Begor”, said Jody, “you must have kilt a man.”
“No” said Jem “tis that I love a woman”.
“Isn’t that only right and natural,” prompted his brother. “Hasn’t
it been so since the time of Adam.” But then a quizzical look
crossed his face as it dawned on him that maybe his brother was
taking too many “liberties”.
“Yerrah no,” said Jem, “sure that would be no problem at all. The
sin I’m afraid is that I love our sister Holly.”
Jem wished his brother would speak. He wondered if Jody had
been struck dumb and he seemed to be perspiring blood while he
awaited the reply. When it came, with what seemed to be a sigh
of relief, it was Jem’s turn to be awestruck. “Mother of God”, said
Jody prayerfully, “but we seem to sail the same boat and I’m glad
’tisn’t Ivy you fell for because she fills my every dream.”
“It can’t be possible,” said Jem, “there must be something
unnatural about us”, and as an afterthought he added “sure neither
of us can go to confession now”. They reversed their steps for
home, talking thirteen to the dozen about their mutual secret and
planning to be of one word that they had eaten too late by mistake,
as an excuse for not receiving Holy Communion. Both were
equally aware that they would escape with that excuse just once.
Their mother would be on the alert and no member of the
household escaped without practising constant outward signs of
religion.
There was nothing for it but to cut the flowering weed of sin and
set off for Australia to fortune hunt, where be all accounts their
Uncle jack was finding pounds blooming on sugar cane.
“What,” roared their father when they gently broke the news that
they were ‘browned-off’ at home and wished to take their uncle
Jack up on last year’s offer of an extended holiday. “Do ye mean
to tell me when I want ye most…lavin’ me on the farm with no
help only the poor little twins Holly and Ivy.” However, the boys
had their plans well dove-tailed and told him that they had hired
Yvonne O’Connor
men and would send regular payment of their wages.
The thrashin’ dance coincided with their going away party. All
the neighbours came to wish them well saying, “Ah! Sure twill be
only for a few months, we’ll see you soon,” but the boys felt their
secret hearts as pendulums of stone.
To the boys Australia seemed to be the land of the eternal sun and
glorious beaches and coral reefs. This, together with sightseeing
and relatives visiting temporarily, averted their attention from
Holly and Ivy and homesickness. They eagerly awaited letters
from home and Jem would read aloud hanging on every word,
hoping their mother would mention the girls. Any written word in
the casual letters would be as nectar from the wild bees’ nests of
home meadows.
Months flew into years. Neither boy sought female company.
Each heart was filled with the girl of their dreams, the twins who
were so identical as to be almost indistinguishable. But Jem knew
that Holly had an extra gleam in her eye and Jody knew that Ivy
displayed more teeth with the heartiness of her smile.
But came the day when their mother’s letter contained news of
the girls that was a thunderbolt from Hades. There had been a
farm house fire and the twins had been trapped in the loft where
they slept. Unable to exit through the tiny window they were
forced to jump into the blazing inferno that was the kitchen.
Happily both were alive but badly burned and hospitalised. Jem
and Jody were beside themselves with anxiety and a word picture
formed in their minds, were the girls deformed, not that it
mattered to them, but they feared the mental anguish of the girls
themselves. Now the farm was also without their help. If they had
not gone away the fire might never have happened. Now, instead
of having four children their parents had none. “I see ye have
received mail from the ould sod”, Uncle Jack hand-slapped his
way into their open wounds. “What’s the news from the
homeland”. Aw gee whiz, cheer up boys. You look as gloomy as
if it were judgement day.”
The boys were wishing it was just that. They would much prefer
to face the Lord with their sins than either the Bishop or Fr
Mulvanney, or for that matter some Australian priest. Their Uncle
was about to drawl on when Jem, passed him the letter from home
saying “you had better read it for yourself.”
What he seemed to be intoning to himself was “Awh noh! Awh
ach! What a pity, what a shame, awe noh! The intensity of his
sorrow was a Caoine or lamentation and the boys were struck
silent with puzzlement.
“What an utter shame” he continued “poor Maggie, poor
Maggie”, meaning his sister their mother. They were expecting
he would be sorry to hear the news but had they known he would
be so upset, they most certainly would have broken it more gently.
“Uncle Jack” said the spokesman, Jem, “we had no idea that you
knew our sisters so well.
“Aw but they were so b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l” drawled Jack.
“When did you see them” prompted Jody. Tears flowed freely
down the furrowed cheeks of the sun-tanned Jack.
“Gee I guess it must be nigh twenty years since I made the trip.
Twas Christmastime,” said he “and I’ve never seen such
snowflakes.”
“We decided to go to Cillcash”, said Jack, which the boys
immediately recognised as the wood beyond the hill where there
119
Roscrea People 2014
was a ruin of a church. Twas often they accompanied their mother
for greenery to decorate the farm-house kitchen.
“It was eerie”, said Jack, and my sister Maggie was anxious to be
home. “No,” I urged, “tomorrow will be snowed in and we will be
unable to come at all, today we pluck as many greens as we can
carry”. My sister was already laden with Ivy and palm branches
and I had elected to carry the prickly Holly when suddenly sound
rent the silence. It seemed like cats fighting and I said as much
to Maggie but she was trembling.
We turned in unison for home, when once again the sound
assailed our ears and I knew I’d be only half a man if I failed to
investigate. I felt brave of heart but my knees would not obey
and were as sops of straw dangling from a loft. Inside the ruin the
snow was deepening and drifting into corners. A spreading tree
grew from the spot where once the altar was said to have stood.
There came the sound again and this time my sister heard it.”
“Tis a litter of pups”, said she, forgetting the ghosts and bounded
forward. “The darlings, the fluffy darlings will die of cold.”
“All was forgotten save to gather the fluffy darlings in to the tail
of her gingham gown and transport them to a comfortable box by
the fire. Hard on her heels, I was disturbed to hear her praying
and crying aloud, “Glory be to Jesus, Mary and Joseph this
Christmastime, what will we do Jack? Jack ‘tis a cradle that’s in
it, and not one baby but two.”
“You must imagine the rest. Your mother decided that no matter
what the consequences, we must get them home at once. I
stumbled with one and she with the other, until finally we reached
home. Incoherently we patched scraps of the story to your father
and you two boys who wanted to know all about the babies.
“They were well wrapped in crumpled blankets and a scrawled
tear-stained note said “If you find my babies alive, for God’s sake
treat them well, be happy with them as I will not be back to claim
them.”
“Nor was she, God rest her. Early Spring workers recovered her
body from a bog-hole. The babies drank eagerly from your bottles
boys, and your father said “Well ye brought Holly and Ivy
alright.” Thus giving the girls names.
The boys were transfixed, dual visions coming before their eyes
of all the suffering and mental anguish and the secret shame about
falling in love with their sisters. They could have been courting
and perhaps married by now. However first things first. A
telegram home saying “stand by for our arrival” and once home,
the sheer and utter joy of breaking the news to their sisters that
they were strangers.
Fortunately, though badly burned there was no immediate danger
and to the question of bethrothal, the overjoyed Holly and Ivy
seemed to say yes in unison. Jem’s telegram to Australia read –
‘Come, dear Jack, two weddings there will be. Holly and Ivy
entwined with Jody and me.’
(Yvonne O’Connor is the pen name of Clonlisk native Mary
Blyth, now living in Cork).
Story sponsored by John and Kathleen Browne,
Orchard View, Ballycleary, Roscrea
Forty Years of Roscrea People, 1974-2014
Joe Moloughney pays a small tribute to its work
Forty years a growing
And still it’s going strong
No matter how the times have changed
Roscrea People, keeps moving along
GC was the driving force
Heading up a talented crew
Too many names to write them all
But their jobs, they all well knew
Recording news from all around
For the town’s annals, pure and plain
To look back and read them now
Is like strolling down memory lane
Supporters it has always had
Down through all the years
Instilling lots of confidence
Allaying any fears
To all who helped, down through the years
Congratulations and well done
We will celebrate 40 years hard work
And make sure ‘Roscrea People’ carries on.
120
Some of my earliest memories from Roscrea
People include:
•
•
•
•
The artwork of Mary Arrigan (including her
classic road sign indicating 12 miles to the
nearest public toilets)
A photograph taken at a pilgrimage Mass in
Monaincha.
A survey which raised the question of
Rosemary Street being made one way.
An interview with then international rugby
player Seamus Dennison.
I realise that the founder and editor is the only
person named in the above tribute, but to name
others might mean leaving out some very
important people. But to all concerned,
including the many gone to their eternal reward,
I say congratulations and thanks for giving us
‘Roscrea People’.
Joe Moloughney
Roscrea People 2014
THE CURSE OF THE WHITE RABBIT
…two short stories by John Browne
McGregor castle was an eighteenth-century home of Hugh and
Isabelle. Hugh McGregor hated everything Irish and wasted no
time in letting his tenants know his dislike of the natives. One of
his many tenants, Trapper Feeney, as his name suggests was an
excellent poacher and trapped rabbits on the estate to feed his wife
and eleven children. One dark misty evening Trapper came to a
gruesome end while on his way back with a rack full of freshly
snared rabbits he was confronted by Hugh’s son Trevor who
demanded the poor man’s catch and set them alight with paraffin.
He drew his sword and inflicted a mortal stomach wound on
Trapper who as he lay dying cursed the McGregor family. Just as
he drew his last breath a white rabbit suddenly jumped from the
inferno and dashed to the basement of the castle.
As Trevor arrived back at the castle he was confronted by a
terrified servant who asked him to attend urgently to his prized
stallion. It had been injured in a freak accident while exercising
in the courtyard. Trevor in rage reached for the servant’s neck
accusing him of neglect but the servant swore on his mother’s
grave that what looked like a white shadow startled the horse.
Was this a coincidence?
In the weeks that followed strange and eerie happenings were to
be part of everyday life at the castle. Soon it turned to the fox
hunting season; McGregor’s passion was hunting with his prized
beagle dog Rua. The servants had his bag packed with food for
his day’s hunting.
One day as Trevor left the courtyard he ordered venison for his
tea. He travelled through the estate’s wild and rugged terrain.
Iinfuriated with the lack of a good hunt he headed home by the
shortcut of the fairy meadow. Just as he passed the Widow’s
Dyke, suddenly Rua dashed from his side, chasing. He never
caught sight of the fox but the dog gave chase back towards the
castle. Trevor called, whistled but got no response so he entered
back through the walled garden. There was Rua dead at the
entrance; his famous red coat now blotched with white. In horror,
he screamed at the gardener Lawrence to come immediately and
check that indeed the stricken dog was Rua. ‘Yes, Sir, no doubt.
But may I ask how did the unfortunate animals coat turn almost
white? It looks as if the poor thing was scorched’ said Lawrence.
Of all the strange happenings which beset the castle one which
stands out was the failure of the prized walled garden to produce
either fruit or vegetables that year. For some unexplained reason
no bees frequented the garden to pollinate the trees or plants. Yes,
the cabbages came just over the clay; the potatoes likewise came
just inches high and mysteriously withered to a white eerie colour.
But the most frightening and mysterious incident was about to
unfold in the beef herd. The McGregor family had for
generations bred the world famous Black Angus cattle: a small
hardy animal well suited to the Scottish climate. It was May eve
and the first of the herd was about to give birth. When the
herdsman went to check on the progress of the animal he became
visibly shaken with what was unfold before him. Yes, the cow
had given birth to an undersized snow white calf with short
crooked feet and rabbit ears. When the servants viewed this
strange creature, they immediately blessed themselves, asked
Hugh McGregor for any wages owed to them, turned their backs
and left the castle. McGregor himself summoned his family and
immediately set sail for Scotland. The castle lies in ruins; strange
white animals roam the rugged terrain on May eve. Has Trapper
Feeney’s curse of the white rabbit come to pass?
SANDY HILL
Nothing ever happened on Sandy Hill. Spring came followed by
summer, autumn, winter and spring again and the cycle of life
continued. This five acre field was in the possession of Ned
Sullivan and his wife May. Ned was the fourth generation to
inherit the property, Ned and May married late in life and were
fortunate to have been blessed with a son whom they called
Mairtín named after Ned’s grandfather. Being an only child
Mairtín was more than well cared for, if not somewhat spoiled.
The great social outing for Ned and Mairtín was fair day in
Roscrea or Cloughjordan. These two fairs were regarded as the
best in the Midlands as all the top buyers from Kildare and Meath
came by train. So when the buyers had what cattle they required
for fattening on their lush pastures, they drove their stock to the
goods train or to give them their proper title, cattle wagons, then
boarded the passenger train themselves and were back home
waiting for the prized cargo to arrive.
Ned Sullivan’s black whitehead stock were the envy of every
fairgoer and always created great interest from the cattlemen
because of their thick-lined coats which Ned always attributed to
their outwintering on Sandy Hill. Come November the six
Hereford cattle were walked the short distance to their new and
well sheltered residence for the long winter. It was then Mairtín’s
work began. Horse and tumblecart of hay and turnips were the
daily trudge to Sandy Hill and under the sloping bank. The cattle
enjoyed shelter and drylying from the rain and biting wind from
the east. The low-lying whitethorn trees which grew on the
northern side of the hill proved as good a shelter as any house but
alas come the following spring or fall, Sandy Hill would host a
new residence and a strange chain of events would unfold.
Mairtín had captured the eye of Scoch Ryan’s daughter Hanna,
herself an only daughter who in time would inherit their own
farm. Hanna was reluctant to marry into the Sullivan household.
So as luck would have it Mairtín’s parents suggested the couple
should build their own house on the out farm of Sandy Hill. One
could never be certain if Ned intended Mairtín and Hanna to
actually build their house on Sandy Hill; perhaps nearer to the
road would seem more sensible with the hill and whitethorn trees
to create a perfect buffer from the elements.
By early autumn, Mairtín had set about removing the trees and
shelter bushes which surrounded the bounds of the hill; this meant
long days with the horse and grub axe. Cutting down the mature
whitethorn was to prove an almost impossible task. And then
began the job of digging out the roots as autumn crept into winter,
121
Roscrea People 2014
the wet and cold made for slow and dreary work. The north wind
came in early December and Mairtín was struck down with
pleurisy. Several weeks confined to bed under medical
supervision left him physically and mentally weak. A few
neighbours helped as best they could to level and grade the rough
terrain but the short days of winter and the constant rain and biting
wind proved too much for man and beast.
Time was the enemy and it would almost be impossible to ready
the site and have a house built as planned for the June wedding.
An air of unease beset Hanna, who began to wonder was there
going to be a wedding? One thing Hanna had set her mind against
was marrying into the Sullivan household. Mairtín was
physicially and emotionally drained after spending weeks
confined to bed. It was now May eve and as the usual custom of
sprinkling holy water on the crops was underway, Maírtin called
to see Hanna and announced to her that he was postponing the
wedding for a year.
A furious row erupted between the two families and Hanna’s
parents accused Mairtín of effectively breaking off the
engagement. Mairtín himself was incensed that such a statement
was made and quickly put the record straight that the wedding
was just deferred and not postponed. Both families came to an
uneasy truce and pledged to help the couple have their new home
built by the following year. The cattle that Mairtín was
outwintering would prove a huge asset if they were fit for sale in
time for the May fair. But for some unknown reason they were
not thriving and if anything went backwards that year. Elderly
neighbours began to express the fear that since Mairtín had began
to prepare Sandy Hill for a house ill luck was befalling those who
helped or had anything to do with the destruction of this ancient
site.
Mairtín’s father for the remainder of the winter months began to
show much more interest in helping build the new house.
However, his best efforts were soon to come to a total standstill.
As he arrived at the site several springs had shot up overnight
flooding the entire area with spring water cascading down the
road. Everything that could go wrong was now a daily
occurrence. Maírtin was becoming increasingly worried and
wondered if indeed bad luck had beset him and if he might ever
marry.
A rumour among the old of the neighbourhood was that Sandy
Hill was a fairy fort. If this were true, then perhaps this could
explain all the ill luck which beset those who had helped level the
site. Mairtín set out to visit the oldest man in the parish, ninety
five year old, Paddy Colfer. Before Mairtín even mentioned the
reason for his visit Paddy took him by the shoulder and almost in
a whisper said, ‘build no house on Sandy Hill, the site belongs to
the fairies and you must leave it back to them.’ But how can I
leave it back as I have already levelled most of the bank and taken
the whitethorn trees asked Mairtín who instinctively knew this
was going to be the only outcome if he wished to regain his good
luck. Paddy Colfer looked Mairtín straight in the eye saying,
‘build your house close to the road, replant whitethorns around
the site of Sandy Hill, walk three times anticlockwise, promise
you are giving back the site and leave by the east entrance. If you
do this and build your house away from this ancient site, good
fortune will again be yours.’
Mairtín went back to his father and neighbours and told them to
leave at once the work they had done and start to dig new
foundations just fifty yards off the road. They immediately closed
back in the topsoil they had removed from the ancient site. As
word spread that they had stopped their work on Sandy Hill more
neighbours began to help and soon the new house was well
underway. The spring came in very mild and the house was now
a reality. The promise Mairtín had given to Paddy Colfer that he
would replant Sandy Hill with whitethorn was going to be
fulfilled before the new house was finished. Mairtín and his
neighbours with a plentiful supply of whitethorn saplings soon
had Sandy hill replanted. As was Paddy Colfer’s wishes Mairtín
on the evening of the full moon walked three times anticlockwise
and left by the east entrance promising that the site was once again
the home of the fairies.
All Mairtíns kind neighbours who had worked tirelessly over the
year building and replanting Sandy Hill were at the wedding and
later in the Sullivan household, music and dance went on into the
small hours. The newly married couple have settled in their new
home and are expecting their first baby next spring. Mairtín and
Hanna have learnt to respect the fairies who live and frequent
Sandy Hill.
Page sponsored by
Evanna and Terry Farrelly,
Parkmore Heights
UNTIL THE NEXT TIME –
By John Browne
In childhood the mornings were golden
With hours in the sunshine to play
We shared toys with imaginary friends
Wishing with us they might stay
Our childhood was spent in the garden
Those friends we’d put into line
If they disobeyed any orders
They’d wait until the next time
Like the sweet buds of May in the garden
Where the birds sing their chords of delight
When midsummer day was upon us
The daylight frequented the night
The girl I kissed as my sweetheart
Is the vineyard that produces the wine
Our children that play by the fireside
Are the gifts from the creator of time
Childhood it passed on so swiftly
Like a dream in fancy took flight
The imaginary friends in the garden
Are now the lovers we hold in the night?
Some lovers are strong and might linger
Others like autumn winds shiver and whine
Still the flowers of spring like an army
Will wait until the next time
The autumn of life is upon me
How quickly each decade passed by
I think of my lifelong companions
Sad tears now moisten my eyes
I know I might seem a tad selfish
Oh Lord life here suits me just fine
God if I’m not on your list for tomorrow
Gladly I’ll wait until the next time
122
I
Roscrea People 2014
A LOVELY LADY OF ROSEMARY STREET
sn’t that a beautiful pencil drawing of the three ladies on a
donkey trip? It is signed: Mary Collier - March 8th (18)97,
Roscrea. Mary was an eighteen year old boarder at the
Sacred Heart Convent at the time. She was daughter of Edmund
Collier and Margaret nee Meagher, Fortfield House, Moyne.
Interestingly she was the first baby baptised in Templetuohy’s
beautiful Church, 20th September 1879.
From a young age Mary had stayed for periods with her older
cousins Bridget and Johanna Breen at their little grocery/pub at
the top of Rosemary Street, though presumably it was back in
Fortfield that in 1906 a ladies cycle was bought for me – Belfast
- £6-2-6. However after the deaths of her parents in 1912, she
settled permanently in Rosemary St.
Mary was a prolific writer. In the early 1920’s she had a regular
column in the Ireland’s Own, and contributed to Our Boys.
Titles varied from Rock Sunday on the Devil’s Bit and All Fools’
Day, to Some Old Tipperary Expressions & Customs and
Thatching to St. Cronan’s Cross and Saint Kieran’s Well, etc.
Another interest of hers was collecting cures and recipes. She
had a free-flowing style of writing, influenced undoubtedly by
her own wide reading. In 1932 Bridget Breen transferred her
business to Mary. The shop in Rosemary Street was quite small.
On the left, as one entered the grocery, trade was handled from
behind the counter, the pub counter was right opposite you, and
there was a small lending library behind the right hand counter,
no Carnegie affair, but a generous and imaginative effort to
share what she had with others who had not. Guinness stout
had to be bottled. That took place in the kitchen. The empty
bottles were filled into a galvanised bath and washed and drip
dried. Then the bath was emptied and washed. It was next
filled from the half barrel, the bottles dropped in, self-filled and
then taken out, cork driven in and special Bridget Breen,
Rosemary St, Roscrea Guinness labels appended.
From 1936 Mary ran an employment agency, where girls from
fourteen years old upwards and women could be fixed up with
suitable employment. As many were emigrating to
England Mary was in contact with the Girls’
Protection Society to ensure they would be
met in London and be accommodated
until settled in their new employment.
such as Granny, No 7, and believe it
or not, Mrs G. Cunningham.
In any case on 15th October 1953
Mary sold the premises to Nora
O’Connor, from the opposite side of
Rosemary St. She retired to her
cousins the Colliers of Ballyknockin,
Templetuohy, with whom she lived
till 1960. Then she moved to her
mother’s home place, Laha, as a
Mary Collier
companion to Kattie Meagher after
the death of Kattie’s husband,
William. Incidentally Mary left in her papers a full and
interesting account of the Meaghers of Laha, which she entitled:
All about Meaghers. For the last year of Kattie’s life they lived
in the Main Street of Templemore.
In August 1969 Mary decided to go into the Assumption
(County) Home Thurles. On her last day at Ballyknockin, 14th
August, she says in her own words: Fr. Bergin P.P. Templetuohy
came – and gave me a lovely preparation for ‘Eternity’, helped
me with a general confession, gave Absolution for all the sins
of my life – Holy Oils. He couldn’t be nicer – and I feel very
happy now. There are 12 in this ward – I feel young among
them – all crocks. It was Our Lady of Lourdes ward. On 23rd
August she wrote: I am getting on fine here – happier every
day.
Mary died 5th February 1973. It was a grace to visit her during
her latter months. Everything of this world’s possessions had
gone from her, but her serene and joyful dignity remained as
she talked with ease of her burial with Bridget and Johanna
Breen down by the river in Roscrea cemetery. There a lovely
lady of Rosemary St awaits her Resurrection.
Laurence Walsh ocso
In days of little travel for those who did
not emigrate Mary Collier holidayed in
Lisdoonvarna, visiting her cousin Fr.
Martin Meagher at Girvan, Ayrshire,
Scotland and went on pilgrimage to
Lourdes, by train and ship that time.
Not surprisingly for a woman of artistic,
historical and writing skills, Mary
Collier was not the best of business
people. She was much more
interested in people’s welfare
than in making money. Her
account books were more
entertaining than efficient.
Thus the list of purchases of The
Tribune for June 1953 has names
123
Roscrea People 2014
124
Roscrea People 2014
Roscrea in 1944
Page sponsored by
Mount St Joseph Abbey
….Tomás Lupton continues his annual trawl through the sources
January: Mr. J.J. Donlon and a Mr. Tilson of Dwyer Solicitors were
appointed Commissioners of Oaths….Midnight Mass was broadcast
from Mount Saint Joseph Monastery….Mr. Seamus Browne of Roscrea
Fianna Fáil Cumann presided at a meeting where a deputation
representing claimants for land was received….The death occurred of
Edward Maher, Rosemary Street, a former Vice Commandant of Roscrea
IRA….In local markets cheddar cheese was selling for 1s 8d per lb., eggs
3s 9d per dozen, potatoes 1s 3d per stone, bonhams £4 10s each and
calves £3 10s each….Roscrea LDF held inter-platoon exercises at
Monaincha….Mr. G. Fasenfeld purchased a farm at Monaincha for
£1200….Reduced killings at Roscrea Meat Products Ltd. led to the layoff
of some staff….The funeral took place of the late Count O’Byrne.
February: Thirty-three acres of land at Glentara were sold for
£1460….A former member of staff of Mount Saint Joseph and member
of Roscrea Sinn Féin Cumann was appointed Assistant Inspector in the
Secondary Education Branch….The final dispatch of beet for the season
from the Roscrea area was sent to Thurles Sugar Factory….Roscrea
CYMS staged a play by George Shiel, The Rugged Path, in the Abbey
Hall…On behalf of the Irish Land Commission Rockforest House was
sold for £600, on the understanding that it would be demolished….At
Roscrea Meat Products Ltd. upwards of one thousand cattle per week
were being slaughtered.
March: A ninety-five acre farm at Coolroe was sold for £1000….A joint
exercise of members of Roscrea, Clonakenny and Moneygall LDF took
place in Clonaganna….A lecture entitled Ireland at the Crossroads was
held in the Abbey Hall, under the auspices of the CYMS and the Gaelic
League….Concern was expressed for workers of the town and the
hardship many would suffer as Roscrea Meat Products Ltd. announced
its seasonal closure….Lisduff House and lands were sold for £4500.
April: There was no decline in the number of diphtheria cases in Roscrea
Hospital where those affected were mostly young people and small
children….A match was held at Saint Cronan’s Park between Roscrea
and Moneygall seniors, and Roscrea and Ballyskenagh juniors, to raise
funds for the Red Cross….Forty workers, employed by the County
Council at Monaincha Bog, went on strike in a demand for better wages
and improved transport to the bog….There were sixty patients receiving
treatment for diphtheria at Roscrea Hospital where quite a number came
from the Nenagh area….Turf was making twenty-five pounds a lorry
load….A meeting was held to revive handball in the town….The ESB
warned local representatives of the need for strict economy in the area of
cooking and lighting….Roscrea Bacon Factory reported having
approximately thirty workers employed in turf production….In the
Roscrea School League Dromakeenan beat Roscrea by ten goals and
three points to no score.
May: A quarter of an acre of grazing land at Glentara was sold for
£7….The appalling state of the river was raised when it was
claimed that the amount of rubbish being dumped in the river
was almost blocking the flow of water….Roscrea Fianna Fáil
Cumann decided to discuss the matter of the Town Tenants
Bill with local representatives….The issue of a large number
of insanitary houses was also reported and it was suggested
that the matter be referred to the County MOH….The Legion
Congress was held at Mount Saint Joseph and was attended
by members of North Tipperary Curia. The prior Father
Camillius presided….The council of the NACA decided to
hold the All Ireland Youths Championship at Mount Saint
Joseph in June….The general election campaign got off to a
good start in the town with a Fine Gael meeting where Dan
Morrissy TD spoke. This was followed a few days later by a
Fianna Fáil turnout where Dan Breen TD drew a large crowd.
June: A house and two acres of land at Lowlands was sold for
£340….North Tipperary County Council was employing two hundred
workers in bogs in the Roscrea area….Following the general election the
two polling stations in the town reported a 75% and 85% turnout
respectively….Count Patrick O’Byrne, formerly of Corville, left property
in England to the value of £5881….Dr. Joseph Murray MO of Roscrea
was elected to the central council of the Medical Association.
July: A local businesswoman was fined £3 19s for overcharging tea,
potatoes, lard and cigarettes by a halfpenny and a local publican was
fined £1 for having three people on his premises after hours….At a
meeting in Roscrea the General Secretary of the Gaelic League,
Conchubhair O’Coileáin praised Roscrea for its work in promoting the
Irish language and suggested that every shop in the town should have
one assistant proficient in the language….Two natives of the town were
killed in air raids in London….A native of Roscrea Mrs. A O’Riordain
retired as principal of Knock National School….It was reported in the
Irish Times that a small quantity of silk was produced experimentally at
Mount Saint Joseph….With staff returning to the factories it was feared
labour would be in short supply for the harvest.
August: At national level the first payments under the Children’s
Allowance Act were made….Roscrea bogs produced twelve thousand
tons of turf for North Tipperary County Council….The reopening of
Roscrea Meat Products Ltd. meant that all three hundred and fifty staff
would be shortly re-employed….It was announced that there would be a
total of one thousand seven hundred books in Roscrea library to supply
the increasing number of local readers….Roscrea contributed £500 to
the Red Cross Half Million Drive….It was reported that one hundred and
thirty-five families in the town were entitled to children’s
allowances….Bog workers in the area went on strike in a demand for
better pay….At a meeting of Roscrea Fianna Fáil Cumann a resolution
was passed urging the Ard Fheis to discuss the long awaited Town
Tenants’ Bill.
September: Hugh O’Connor NT was appointed principal of Roscrea
Boys’ National School….A grant of one hundred and thirty-five pounds
was approved by the Department of Finance under the Rural
Improvement Scheme for repairs to Chapel Lane….Father Dom Justin
Mc Carthy Lord Abbot of Mount Saint Joseph died, at the age of eightythree, after serving thirty-three years as an abbot….Roscrea Meat
Products Ltd. reported weekly killings of one thousand two
hundred….Miss J. Fitzpatrick NT was appointed principal of Knock
National School….Glenalbert House, home to the Maxwell Family, was
sold to the Hammond Lane Foundry….The centenary celebrations of
Saint Cronan’s Church took place, with a procession through the town,
followed by a ceremony at which the chief celebrant was Bishop Fogarty.
Cont/ on page 125
Cast of the juvenile opera,
The Magic Key in 1944
125
Roscrea People 2014
54th Roscrea Conference
T
New detail on the lives of early Christian women revealed at the
54th Roscrea conference
he weekend at Mt St Joseph Abbey revealed new detail after detail on the lives
of the women in early Christian Ireland. Noted scholars like Professors Padraig
Ó Riain, Dáibhí Ó Cróinín, Máirín Ní Dhonnchadha, (whose mother is a Bergin
from Cooleshall), Dr Patricia Rumsely, Dr Edel Bhreatnach, Dr Elva Johnston and Dr
Elizabeth O’Brien in their contributions spoke of the original research, both historical
and archaeological, which gave new insights into the lives of women. Generally it is
now known that while high status women enjoyed some freedom and were indeed able
to divorce their husbands the lives of most women were difficult, subservient and
extremely harsh in almost every way. All of the talks were fascinating but many were
nearly mindboggling in the manner in which new evidence is being teased out. The
eloquence of the speakers, the diversity of the topics and the wonderful illustrated
presentations were all much admired.
Almost eighty participants from all over Ireland attended the gathering at the Cistercian
Abbey from Friday evening until Sunday afternoon. The Conference Director said
that the 54th was up there with the best of the conferences, held biannually since 1987.
On Saturday afternoon the attendees explored the treasures of the libraries deep inside
the enclosures of the monastery, guided by Dom Laurence and Bro Malachy. Some of
the treasures on view included the Roscrea Missal, 12th century mss of Bede on the
Acts and a selection of early Cistercian printed works.
There, too, the Conference Director displayed some of his collection of early printed
material from 1471 down to 1700.
Fr Sean McDonagh peruses
umen Christi at the
Lu
conference.
Professor Máirín Ní
Dhonnchadha NUIG and her
brother Dr Éamonn have
Bergin roots in Cooleeshall.
Dom Laurence prepares to lead some participants on a tour of the library at MSJ to view
medieval mss.
Poet and former Irish
Ambassador Gearóid Ó
Cléirigh enjoying himself at
the conference.
Page sponsored by
The Corbett
Family
126
Roscrea People 2014
Exploring ‘Women in Medieval Ireland’
The 55th Roscrea Conference at Mt St Joseph Abbey
The little explored theme of Women in Medieval Ireland
got a full airing in Roscrea during the 55th conference at
the Cistercian Abbey during the Hallowe’en weekend.
Religion and Patronage, Women’s literature and crafts,
Sheela na gigs and nunneries all were investigated during a
very interdisciplinary oriented few days. Indeed one of the
strengths of the Roscrea gatherings has been the manner in
which the many strands of scholarship, spirituality and
theology are interwoven in a popular way.
Bro Colmán Ó Clabaigh osb was in fine fettle with many
varied contributions, including a talk on ‘The Nun from
Hell…Elsie Butler’. Professor Rachel Moss talks including
a polite(ish) one on Sheela na Gigs with pictorial examples
drawn from abroad as well as from Ireland. Archaeologist
Tracy Collins delivered the results of her excavation at the
nunnery at Shanagolden as well as dealing with the material
culture associated with women in the middle ages.
Dr Marie-Louise Coolahan NUIG explained her role as
principal investigator of a four million euro European
project into Women’s Literature in medieval times. She also
opened a fascinating window into the lives of women
planters in Ulster during the early 1600s. Professor Virginia
Davis from Queen Mary University London, filled in at
short notice for another speaker.
Volume One of the five volume set of Art and Architecture
in Ireland, due to be published by the RIA in mid November
was honoured on Saturday evening by Bro Colmán. Sets of
the magnificent dictionary were on offer at a conference
price of €400 a set.
The field trip to Leap Castle, following an introductory talk
on some of its women by the conference director, was one
of the highlights of the weekend as was the procession
through the cloisters to the monastic cemetery following
Conventual Mass on All Souls day. ‘A feast of scholarship,
friendship and sheer good fun’, was a fair summing up of
this Roscrea gathering which now has an international
following. The Céli Dé, hermitical handmaidens of God is
the theme for the 56th conference on the weekend after
Easter 2015.
The Saturday field trip to
Leap castle was one of the
highlights of the 55th
weekend. Seán Ryan and his
daughter Ciara provided the
very best in traditional
music.
Colmán Ó Clabaigh osb
holding vol 1 of Art and
Architecture in Ireland which
was edited by the lady
beside him Rachel Moss.
Both spoke at the 55th
conference.
The director presented
Rachel with a signed copy of
Early Christian Ireland in
honour of the occasion.
From page 123
October: Workers at Roscrea Meat Products Ltd. received a bonus of
three shillings per week. But this was followed by an order that the
factory was to close as the water supply from Neilstown was
inadequate….Dom Camillius Claffey was elected Lord Abbot of Mount
Saint Joseph. The ceremony was attended by the archbishop of Tuam
and the bishops of Killaloe and Clonfert. One of the speakers claimed
that he was the first Lord Abbot from the west since the suppression of
the Monasteries….Fianna Fáil delegates to the Ard-Fheis Seamus
O’Meara and Joseph Armstrong met with Dr. J. Ryan, Minister for
Agriculture and Sean Mc Entee to discuss the closure of Roscrea Meat
Products Ltd….The Roscrea Operatic Society began rehearsals for the
production of the Spanish Operetta Magic Key.
November: Dr. D. Hanly, who replaced Dr. Heenan commenced classes
with the local Red Cross….It was reported that the silk worm colony at
Mount Saint Joseph was thriving and that Dr. Ryan Minister for
Agriculture was taking a keen interest in it….It was announced that
Roscrea Meat Products Ltd. would re-open after a five week closure.
December: Students at Mount Saint Joseph staged a production of The
Yeomen of the Guard….North Tipperary County Council began work on
completing footpaths at the new houses in Limerick Street….At the
meeting of the Gaelic League at Boulabane Father Mulqueen was elected
president….Midnight mass from Mount Saint Joseph was broadcast on
Christmas Eve and again on Christmas Day.
127
Roscrea People 2014
Launch of The Round Tower at Roscrea and its environs
By Dom Richard Purcell ocso
Good afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen, I am delighted and
honoured, if daunted, at having been invited by George to
launch his latest book The Round Tower at Roscrea and its
environs.
We read on pages 13 & 14 of this magnum opus that towers
had been built at Tuamgraney and Slane by the year 950 and
that others such as Clonmacnois and Cashel were built during
the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries. On the preceding pages there
are theories and speculation as to the origin, purpose, function
and use of these towers.
But towers with a religious
connection or use go back much further.
In chapter 11 of the Book of Genesis we find an account of the
building of the so-called Tower of Babel or at least of the plans
to build it:
Now the whole earth had one language and the same
words. And as they migrated from the east, they came
upon a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And
they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and
burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and
bitumen for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build
ourselves a city, and a tower with its top in the heavens,
and let us make a name for ourselves.”
The early books of the bible contain many other reference to
towers, including this one in the Book of Judges which tells the
story of sacking of the city of Thebez about 1,000BC by
Abimelech and the Israelite army:
There was a strong tower within the city, and all the men
and women and all the lords of the city fled to it and
shut themselves in; and they went to the roof of the tower.
Abimelech came to the tower, and fought against it, and
came near to the entrance of the tower to burn it with
fire. But a certain woman threw an upper millstone on
Abimelech’s head, and crushed his skull. Immediately he
called to the young man who carried his armour and said
to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, so people will not
say about me, ‘A woman killed him.’” So the young man
thrust him through, and he died. When the Israelites saw
that Abimelech was dead, they all went home.
Wearing two hats that of printer and heritage chairman,
Des Walsh chats to Abbot Richard at the launch.
As the book is
dedicated to the
author’s wife,
Carmel, and to the
monks of Roscrea,
past and present,
copy no 2 was
presented by
granddaughter
Rachel
Cunningham to
Dom Laurence
Walsh ocso
representing MSJ.
Finally, in the Second Book of Maccabees we read of another
use of a tower, this time the 75ft high tower in the city of
Beroea:
There is a tower there, fifty cubits high, full of ashes, and
it has a rim running round it that on all sides inclines
precipitously into the ashes. There they all push to
destruction anyone guilty of sacrilege or notorious for
other crimes.
Well, whether they were built for God, for prestige, for defence
or execution, or indeed to house bells, as their Irish name,
cloigtheach, tells us, there are or were round towers, about 90
in total, all over Ireland and we have one in Roscrea.
In Ireland we associate round towers with monasteries and in
Roscrea we associate our tower with St Cronan’s monastery,
though of course the tower that we know was built four or five
hundred years after Cronan’s time. Nevertheless it is one the
most powerful links that we have with the monastic history
and origins of Roscrea town and indeed a signpost and
reminder of the contemporary monastic establishment, albeit
of a European rather than Celtic form, that exists at Mt St
Joseph Abbey today.
The Round Tower at Roscrea and its environs is about so much
more than just the tower. George takes us on an illustrated
tour through the history of Roscrea, beginning with Cronan’s
monastic or religious ‘city’, Sean Ross, Monahincha, the
Battle of Roscrea, the Roscrea Brooch and the Book of
Dimma, to name just some of the pieces of the jigsaw that are
assembled in the second chapter of the book.
The changes that were introduced into the Irish Church at the
beginning of the twelfth century following the Synod of Ráith
Bhreasail saw the Roscrea monastery lose its status and
independence and be subsumed into the diocese of Killaloe.
Though it did manage to regain its independence briefly in the
middle of the century, the Diocese of Roscrea was short lived
and since that time we have been part of the Diocese of
Killaloe – though the diocese of Roscrea has been resurrected
as a titular see, one of the auxiliary bishops of Osnabruck in
Germany, Bishop Johannes Wubbe, being the current Bishop
of Roscrea.
128
Roscrea People 2014
But the tower that stands today, and indeed whatever tower or
structure that was there before it, was perhaps built to house
the bell (or bells), or as a house from which the bells could be
rung. Monastic life in the seventh century, just as today, has
at its core, the sanctification of time in the daily round of the
offices or prayer services that the monks celebrate in the
church or chapel. St Benedict, writing in sixth century Italy
refers to the bell, or signal for offices, as the ‘voice of God’.
When put into that context we see the real significance of the
Round Tower of Roscrea and indeed of the towers throughout
our country.
Before I leave the tower, I want to draw your attention the
appendix to chapter 4 entitled the ‘Voyage of the Roscrea
relentless?) work and study to help us understand our local
history. Out at the monastery we often get groups of schools
children visiting us as part of their Junior Cert religion project
which they do on a particular community and the place that
they live in. One of the questions that they ask us is “Are the
buildings that you live in important for your way of life?” Well
the buildings and the environment that we all live in are hugely
important to all of us because they say a lot about us and also
influence our thinking and way of life.
It is clear that buildings and their environs are important to
George Cunningham. He has devoted his life to Roscrea and
its study. In acknowledging his immense contribution to this
we must include also Carmel and their family, for they have
allowed him to do this and also
contributed to his work.
In an email to me recently George
wrote that he would like to be
Abby
known as a teacher, scholar and
Cunningham community activist. Each of
presents
these comes through in this
Carmel with volume, but George, you are
copy no 1. much more than that. It gives
me great pleasure to launch this
book on the Roscrea Tower
because George to us you are
that tower’.
Ship’. At first sight we find it strange that there should be a
boat carved on a stone in a tower situated far away from the sea
or indeed a navigable river. In fact it is not so strange but I will
leave it to you to read about it in Fr Laurence’s fascinating
exposé – another monastic connection with Roscrea’s
monastic tower.
I don’t think there is a person, stone, building, book or artefact
with some connection to Roscrea and it’s tower that is not
mentioned and explored in this volume. The second half of
the book fills in much of the history and significant events of
the second millennium right up the present day and the recent
changes and developments in the hinterland of the tower and
asks important questions
about Roscrea today and
tomorrow – might we even
see the tower recapped?
Richard Purcell ocso
9 March 2014
Page sponsored by
Pat Bourke
Ballyhall
The common denominator
to every aspect of the book
and the things that I have
touched on here is George
Cunningham
and
his
tireless (should that be
The capacity attendance at
the launch came from all
over Ireland. In the middle
background Tim Quinlan’s
original RT drawings are
on display.
129
Roscrea People 2014
National reviews or notices to date of
The Round Tower at Roscrea
With their tall, elegant profiles dominating and continuing to dominate
the skylines of many towns and villages, round towers, more than any
other building type, have captured the imaginations and scholars and
patriots alike for well over 200 years. More books and articles have
been dedicated to these enigmatic sentinels than any other monument,
and yet still there remain questions to be answered and avenues to
explore. A number of these are addressed in the latest contribution to
round tower studies, The Round Tower at Roscrea and its environs by
George Cunningham.
The book starts with a discussion and synthesis of the current state of
knowledge on round towers; their function, date and the possible
origins of the form. This draws from various sources; primarily from
the most recent generation of publications on the subject, but also
from the unpublished opinions of many scholars who have
participated in the bi-annual heritage conferences held at Mt St Joseph
Abbey, providing a written record of debates that are more typically
preserved only in the memories of those present.
The narrative then moves to focus on Roscrea itself. It explores the
history of the establishment of the early monastery there, and some of
the monuments and artefacts associated with it, including the facade
of the Romanesque church, the cross or ‘shrine’, the Roscrea brooch
and Book of Dimma. An account of the construction and a detailed
description of the tower is given, and it is then placed in the context
of other Midland towers. Following this is an exploration of the early
scholarship of towers and then the more recent history of the Roscrea
tower and its changing fortunes as commercial interests have
gradually encroached on former hallowed ground.
While a survey of past scholarship is always useful, the real strength
of the book is its particular focus on a single monument. More often
than not, medieval buildings are studied as a group at a fixed point in
time – usually the time that they were built. But of equal importance
is the extended biography of individual monuments, as the changes
wrought, and indeed the very survival of buildings, can tell us much
about the centuries of history which they have witnessed. Within this
book, the tower at Roscrea acts as a gnomon - a monument that has
remained more or less static, observing as the passage of time and
change around it.
The presence of medieval monuments in the landscape is often taken
for granted, as though buildings survived with little or no intervention
until the nineteenth century when antiquarian interests finally
recognised that ancient buildings should be preserved by virtue of
their antiquity alone. But importantly, Cunningham draws attention
to the deliberate demolition of the tower at Killeshin in 1703 because
the local farmer feared that its condition was a threat to his cattle, and
there are copious other references to other towers falling, or being
dismantled because of the fear of potential collapse right up until the
seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
So why was the Roscrea tower so carefully preserved throughout the
ages? Proximity to the church suggests that it may well have
continued to function as a belfry, a use apparently confirmed in an
1844 account of the tower, which asserts that bells continued to be
rung from it until the construction of the new parish church in the
early nineteenth century. This may well be true, although it does beg
the question as to why there is a belcote on the west façade of the
medieval church, which, to judge from the important antiquarian
evidence published in the book, looks to be late medieval in date.
Cunningham’s exploration of medieval and early modern references
to round towers reveals no direct references to the Roscrea tower, but
highlights one of the earliest map illustrations of a tower, that at
Clones, described in 1591 as a ‘watch toure’. Could this have been an
130
occasional function of Roscrea’s
tower? The ‘pagoda like’ roof
added to the tower c. 1790
certainly suggests a desire to be
able to view the surrounding
terrain from its summit. This
function may well have led to the
myth - as Cunningham for the
first time reveals it to be - that the
tower was partly dismantled
because of its use by a sniper during the 1798 rebellion. The
c.1795 illustration of it with a weathervane on the top may be fanciful,
but it recalls parallels with the tower of All Hallows in Dublin, on
which the lessees were obliged by the Dublin Assembly to maintain
a weathervane for the use of the populous. So this may well have been
another useful function that ensured its survival. Finally, during the
early nineteenth century, the Roscrea tower was apparently in use,
rather unconventionally and one imagines uncomfortably, as the
residence of a family named Scully, who maintained an ‘Orange’ flag
at the summit.
From early 1840s when it was first archaeologically excavated, to
1907 when the tower was first surveyed by the Board of Works, to
the present day, which sees the tower forming the centrepiece of
landscaped grounds, the building has come to be appreciated as an
important testament to the importance and antiquity of this Midland
town. In drawing together rich archival and illustrative sources held
in various public and private collections with a lifetime’s research on
the history of Roscrea, Cunnningham has demonstrated what a rich
story the tower at Roscrea has to tell.
(Above review by Prof Rachel Moss, TCD, President of the RSAI,
editor of Art and Architecture of Ireland (RIA), vol 1).
Peter Costello in the Irish Catholic wrote: In this magnificent, large
format book George Cunningham deals not only with the still
surviving tower of his native Roscrea, but covers the other towers
across Ireland and their varied histories….it is some indication of the
nature and quality of the book that one wants to sit down and discuss
(and perhaps dispute) with the author.
‘This book’, concludes Mr Costello, ‘ deserves to have a place in
many libraries and it will doubtless lead many people to visit Roscrea
and to explore, in the light of what George Cunningham has to say, its
past and its present’.
Hector McDonnell, a noted artist and historian was equally
enthusiastic about the book in his review in the most recent issue of
the Irish Arts Review (Autumn 2014):
‘A superb book…all that one could hope for from a modern local
historical publication…most attractively written and its multitudes of
colour illustrations include many old prints and drawings…..It is a joy
to have, and virtually every page reveals something to intrigue and
incite speculation.’
Archaeologist Tom Condit reviewing the work in the national
archaeological magazine Archaeology Ireland (Summer) details the
contents of the various chapters and ends with: Cunningham’s
authoritative knowledge, enthusiasm and communication skills are
displayed in every portion of the book…..wealth of imagery….Indeed
the book distinguishes itself in the visual feast that it provides for the
reader. A must for readers of Archaeology Ireland.
Page sponsored by
Dr Elizabeth O’Brien, Dundrum, Dublin
Roscrea People 2014
A Story from the Roscrea
Diaspora
Over the last year the newly-created web site of www.roscreathrough
theages.org, the brain child of JOE COUGHLAN and created with
the help of Dick Conroy and sponsorship from Roscrea Credit Union,
Roscrea Through The Ages has received many stories and
photographs from descendants of Roscrea people who emigrated in
the eighteen and early nineteen hundreds. Many of these show how
successful some of these people were. Their stories will be on the
website www.roscreathroughtheages.org over the coming weeks.
Here is an example of one of them which was sent to Joe recently
from Catherine Mackintosh in Canberra.
From Roscrea to Australia
‘I am the one in the family who is obsessive about family history.
Every family has one! When my father’s 80th birthday was
approaching, I was going to apply for his Irish Citizenship on the
basis of Irish grandparents. A nice surprise befitting a man called
Patrick Cornelius O’Rourke, I thought, but “legally” establishing his
connection with Ireland was daunting. I did not know where his
grandparents were born, when they were born or the names of their
parents. Information from their Australian marriage and death
certificates was sketchy and conflicting. With fingers crossed I
contacted Fr. Michael Collins from St Cronan’s Church, Roscrea.
You can only guess how thrilled I was to receive a copy of my great
grandfather’s baptismal certificate in the post. It was the starting point
I needed. I immediately checked the Roscrea phone directory to see
if I could find a “real-life” O’Rourke. There it was, a listing for Philip
O’Rourke. When my brother went to Ireland and I gave him Philip’s
address, hoping, but still not knowing if he was actually related.
Cornelius’s story..............
Cornelius was born to Thomas Rourke and Margaret (nee Duane or
Dwan or Dwane) and baptised 8 July 1856 at St Cronan’s Church,
Roscrea. The number of siblings is unclear, but piecing together
information from Cornelius’ granddaughters, from the Tipperary
North Family Research Centre, as well as genealogy databases and
forums and the National Library of Ireland’s digitized newspaper
collection, my best guess is that he came from a family of eight
children - these being Edward, John, Roddy, Thomas, Mary, Johanna
and Philip. My father’s cousin told me that Cornelius’s brothers
Thomas and John did not marry and that Edward and Roddy
emigrated to America. I have no proof of any of this but I have
established that the late Josie Heenan and her sisters Mrs Moira
Gleeson and Mrs Madge Teehan of Roscrea (Coolderry), descend
from Cornelius’s sister Johanna and that Roscrea resident Mr Philip
O’Rourke descends from Cornelius’s brother Philip. Philip and I are
4th cousins, our great grandfathers being brothers.
I know almost nothing of Cornelius’ childhood in Roscrea other than
that he received a good education. The one story I have been told
concerns an elephant and sheds little light on his upbringing but it is
a nice story anyway. Apparently,when Cornelius was a small boy, the
circus came to Roscrea and an elephant picked him up and tossed
him across the road. Believe it or not, but when my brother was small,
a circus elephant came dangerously close to lifting him up with its
trunk. Close encounters with elephants must run in families!
I believe Cornelius to be the youngest son and by all reports he was
impatient to join his brothers in America. He applied for USA
emigration but missed the quota. Instead, he took an assisted passage
to Australia aboard the City of Agra in 1877. He fully expected to
join his brothers in the USA at a later date. The sea voyage was an
adventure. His 21st birthday coincided with crossing the Equator
and with exuberance he jumped overboard to celebrate. The Captain
was not amused and had him flogged with a cat o’ nine tails
afterwards.
The journey took 85 days, the seas were calm and the general health
of the 316 passengers was good, though there were four deaths in
total, three children and one woman in childbirth. The wives of both
the Captain and Surgeon were on board and they conducted lessons
in reading, writing, singing, sewing and dancing. The Captain himself
delivered lectures which he described as a “school course” for those
who embarked on the passage.
When the ship docked in Maryborough, the single Irish girls
presented the Captain’s wife with a gold watch and the boys gave the
Captain a silver cup. The passengers had raised fifteen pounds
towards the Seamen’s Orphan Home and donated blankets and ship’s
stores to Aborigines who came alongside the ship at anchor. The local
newspaper reported the new immigrants as some of the finest
Maryborough had ever seen.
Of the 59 single women, 81 single men and 18 married couples who
disembarked with Cornelius, most had secured employment by the
following afternoon. Cornelius found work on the pick and shovel
gang working the Maryborough railway line. They may not have
realized it at the time but they were pioneers in every sense of the
word. At this time Maryborough was still a very young town. It was
only in 1847 that a government surveyor, and two guides - an escaped
convict and an Englishman living with local Aborigines- had
explored and reported upon the feasibility of establishing a township
and port. By the time Cornelius stepped onto the wharf in 1877,
Maryborough was a town of over 4000 people boasting a library,
School of the Arts, sawmill, school, churches, banks, hospital, hotels
and Customs House. There were sheep farmers, sugar farmers, cattle
men and timbergetters, but the biggest attraction for Cornelius was
Catherine Hanrahan, the 19 year old girl from Mitchelstown who
caught his eye. Two years later, they married in St Mary’s Church,
Maryborough.
Gold fever had got into Cornelius’s blood and he wanted to invest
money in the Gympie goldmines further south of Maryborough.
Catherine was more practical and saw it as a risky venture. She
wanted to buy land. In the end, they did both. She must have been
a patient woman because he lost money on the gold before they
131
Roscrea People 2014
132
Roscrea People 2014
I attach the only photo I have of Cornelius. I describe it as O’Rourke family portrait taken at “Breffni”,
Pialba, Queensland, Australia c.1908. Cornelius O’Rourke is sitting beside his wife Catherine (nee
Hanrahan) with eight of their nine surviving children.
The children standing from left to right are: Cornelius Patrick (my grandfather), Ellen, Johanna,
Margaret, Catherine, John, Jane and Teresa. Absent: John’s twin Mary who died in infancy and
first born son Thomas who left home to work on the Trans-Siberian Railway and Panama Canal.
Cornelius called the family property ‘Breffni” after his home in Roscrea.
bought the farmland. They purchased a reasonable amount of land at
Pialba, a seaside location about 32 kms from Maryborough. Pialba
was not yet on the map so to speak. It was a fledgling community. Ten
years earlier, the first European settler, a timbergetter, had made a
permanent home there. Previous to that it was unoccupied cattle
lease. Cornelius and Catherine bought two large parcels of land for
sugar farming and they also ran cattle on a nearby island which they
swam from island to shore at low tide. They built a high set house
surrounded by verandahs on three sides to catch the coastal breezes
and hung the name “Breffni” over the door.
The O’Rourkes of Pialba were well respected and generous.
Catherine raised eight children and supported social functions and
school events. Cornelius was a community man who helped extend
the rail line to Pialba. He chaired local committees and judged horses,
poultry and dogs at the agricultural shows. He raised money for and
helped erect the Pialba Catholic Church and assisted in the
establishment of the local school at which his daughter Margaret
eventually taught.
One of the main streets in Pialba, “O’Rourke Street” has been named
in his honour. Cornelius’ obituary mentions that at the time of his
death in 1943, he was oldest member of the Hibernian Australian
Catholic Benefit Society in the district. The inscription on his and
Catherine’s gravestone reads, “Irish Pioneers of Pialba”. It seems that
he never forgot his heritage.
Well Joe, that is about all I have to say about Cornelius. Quite
possibly, he has many relatives in Roscrea that I will never discover.
His grand daughter told me that Cornelius’ father was married three
times. She said that his first wife was Mary Kenny. I have had no
luck finding relatives of Cornelius’ mother Margaret Duane/ Dwan/
Dwane so finding Thomas’ other wives is a job for someone else !
As a final aside, this is a nice story. I thought I had hit a brick wall
trying to find the name of the ship Cornelius emigrated on. I decided
to give up on the O’Rourkes for a while and turned my attention to
my husband’s Irish ancestry. Would you believe it? I was looking
through the list for the City of Agra to find my husband’s great
grandfather and as I read down the page I spotted my Cornelius.
Page sponsored by
Michael J. Breen
& Co. Solrs
Main Street
Small world......our great great grandparents emigrated together.
Catherine Mackintosh (Still prefer my maiden name O’Rourke
though. It is a bit less Scottish )’
(editor’s note:
my great
grandmother
was either a
Dwane or
Duane or
related to
them about
whom we
know little.
The world
might even be
a smaller
place than
Catherine
realises).
The website roscreathroughtheages.org created and
enthusiastically maintained by Joe Coughlan is gaining
more devotees almost daily. Roscrea People have teamed
up with Joe to put their archive up on line. Back issues of
RPs and the People of the Year booklets are in the process
of being freely available as pdfs. It is hoped as funds
allow to digitise all backnumbers. Any fairy godmother out
there? The editor of RP is also making available to Joe all
his local illustrative archive for digitisation
133
Roscrea People 2014
I
Roscrea Christmas CD Launch
n the late summer of 2014, Brian King approached Seamus
Doran with a view to composing a live community song in
advance of the All-Ireland Hurling final. Time and logistics
meant it wasn't possible this year but thanks to the creative
talent of Seamus, a Roscrea Christmas song was quickly
penned, the local schools were contacted and Michael Smith
and the “Taste of Roscrea” came on board. The result is a
Christmas CD recorded by the young people of Roscrea with
the feature song Love Came.
Without the co-operation, goodwill and assistance of the
teachers and pupils of Corville, Dromakeenan, Sacred Heart,
Scoil Eoin and St Cronan's primary schools, this CD would
have been impossible to produce. The organising committee
would like to thank them all, along with Fr. Pat Treacy, Fr
Harding, The Sacristans, John Lupton, Peter Dooley and Walsh
Printers, Denis Moloney, Seán Hogan, Paul Dwyer and Daryl
Hogan, Bertie Fitzpatrick and Andrew Walsh.
In the words of Brian King, “The CD launch on December 4th
is part of the “Taste Of Roscrea” festival where the local
community was invited to join in and sing the Roscrea
Christmas Song, which epitomises everything that the
Enhancement Plan stands for……A community coming
together to work with each other for the betterment of all.”
Seamus Doran has Brian King and Michael Smith review the
Roscrea Christmas Song one last time before the CD hits the
local shops on December 4th.
Page Sponsored by
Del O’Reilly, Limerick Street
Seamus Doran said of the CD that he “hoped all who listen to the children of our Primary Schools Choirs coming together as one,
will be touched in a special way this year, and perhaps reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. Love Came”
Folk Group
leader
Margaret
Moloney
delighted,
on behalf of
the
members, to
mark Fr
Tom’s 50th.
134
Roscrea People 2014
Roscrea Musical Society and ‘Annie’
In 2014 Roscrea Musical Society staged the production of
"Annie". Annie takes place over Christmas in the midst of
America's great depression, Mr Warbucks sends Grace to choose
an orphan from Ms Hannigan’s orphanage to spend Christmas
with him at his home. She chose Annie and Warbucks soon falls
victim to her charm and wants to adopt her. Annie is anxious to
find her own parents and an award of $50,000 is offered.
Annie was played by local girl Kate Williams, Daddy Warbucks
- Michael Donnegan, Grace - Rachael
Mc Mahon, Rooster - Paul Spencer,
Lily St Regis - Sarahgene
Loughnane, Ms. Hannigan- Siobhan
Bowe, President Roosevelt - Seamus
Mullaney, Mr. Bundles - Paul
Tobin-O'Brien, Bert Healy - Tadhg
Maher, Cecille & Bonnie Boylan Margaret Stanley, Sophie, Mrs
Greer & Connie Boylan Niamh O'Donnell, Apple
Seller & Ronnie Boylan Maebh
Champion, Dog Catchers - Mark
Delahunty & Ronan Foyle,
Lieutenant Ward - John Lynch, Mrs
Pugh - Emma Mc Grath, Star to Be Annie - Kate Williams
Gillian Wallace.
Orphans: Molly: Stephanie O'Toole & Courtney HigginsQuinlivan, Pepper: Mianna Spencer O'Dwyer & Andrea Scully,
Duffy: Orla Kruse & Sharon Shanahan, Tessie: Lauren Maher &
Niamh Hogan, Kate: Samantha O'Toole & Aoife Maher,
Caoimhe Touhy & Ellen Wright, Megan Behan, Lauren Choppin,
Claudia Gleeson, Elyse Hearns, Enya Hogan, Maria Maher, Ruby
Mitchelle, Holly Mulvey, Maura Phelan, Hazel White, Reanne
Conlon, Emma O'Connor, Ellen Liffey, Hanna Benn, Sophie
Rowland, Naomi Conlon, Deirdre Bergin, Akvile Reinyte.
Female Chorus: Del O'Reilly, Niamh Abbott, Mary Mc Namara
(Dollard), Shannon Tynan, Rebecca Touhy, Patricia Gleeson,
Emma Ryan, Margaret Comerford, Ciara McCabe.
We were delighted to welcome Director Paul Norton and
welcome back Sarah Griffin - Choreographer, also Musical
director Mary Rose McNally, who put
the cast and principals through their
paces.
Congratulations to Michael Donnegan
on winning Runners-Up award in
AIMS for best actor as Daddy
Warbucks.
We are fortunate to have a great stage
crew and back room team. From the
smallest to the largest job to be done
nothing goes unnoticed.
Michael Donne
gan
Maura Carroll was presented with the
Unsung Hero award for 2014 for all the work she has done since
joining the Society.
A big thank you goes out to our patrons and sponsors. Without
your support it would be impossible to stage a show.
The 2014 - 2015 committee; President: Eileen Moloney, Vice
President: Paddy Moloney, Chairperson: Andrew Walsh, Vicechairperson: Siobhan Bowe, Secretary: Niamh O'Donnell, Joint
Treasurers: Seamus Mullaney & Ger Carroll, PRO: Margaret
Comerford, Assistant PRO: Tadhg Maher, Patrons’ Secretaries:
Margaret Lyons & Mary Pyne, Membership Secretary: Trish
Delaney, Colin Williams, Paul Spencer, Meave Conlon, Emma
McGrath, Niamh Abbott, Rachael McMahon, Ian Hanrahan,
Conor Abbott.
RMS celebrates their 75th Anniversary and as part of their
celebrations are staging a panto for Christmas "Snow White & the
Seven Dwarfs" on the 11th,12th & 13th December at 8pm and
matinee on 13th at 2.30pm. Tickets go on sale 27th November.
In April 2015 the 75th Annual Production will be the show "Me &
My Girl" which will be staged from 25th April to 2nd May inclusive
at 8pm, tickets available from 16th April from the booking office
at Roscrea Credit Union.
We hope former & new members will join us in 2015, both on and
off stage, to celebrate the long and proud tradition of 75
unbroken years of musical theatre in Roscrea.
THE CAST & CREW
OF “ANNIE” – 2014
Back L-R : S. Mullaney, M. Delahunty,
J. Lynch, P.T. O’Brien, M. Donegan,
P. Spencer.
4th Row: G. Carroll. C. Williams,
P. Gleeson, M. Stanley, R. Touhy,
R. McMahon, C. McCabe, G. Wallace,
S. Tynan, N. Abbott, N. O’Donnell,
M. McNamara, D. O’Reilly, M. Campion,
E. Ryan, E. McGrath, S. Bowe, M. Talbot,
M. Dooley, A. Delaney.
3rd Row: P. Norton, R. Doran, E. Hogan,
H. Benn, L. Choppin, R. Conlon,
E. O’Connor, M. Phelan, S. O’Toole,
K. Reinge, M. Comerford.
4th Row: D. Hogan, S. O’Toole, A. Maher,
N. Egan, M. Spencer-O’Dwyer, H. White,
R. Mitchell, S. Rowland, M. Pyne,
M. Mulvey, M. Lyons.
5th Row: O. Kruse, S. Shanahan,
C. Hearns, C. Tuohy, N. Hogan, C. Gleeson,
N. Conlon.
Front: M. Maher, H. Mulvey, C. Higgins,
L. Maher, E. Wright, K. Williams, E. Liffey,
M. Behan, G. Scully, E. O’Keeffe,
R. Baranya.
135
Roscrea People 2014
Comhaltas Ceoltóiri Éireann…..Craobh Ros Cré
The Roscrea branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóiri Éireann was active
during 2013-2014. Membership is similar to other years and the
junior membership is large. The junior members are involved in
many competitions and concerts which are organised by Carol
Thompson. They also meet every week in Coláiste Phobal
Roscrea where they learn new tunes and get an opportunity to
play music together.
During 2014 our members competed in many competitions
including Ceoil an Gheimhridh and Community Games where
we had the unique event of two groups taking part in the All
Ireland Final in Athlone last August: one group representing
Offaly and one group representing Tipperary. We were also
represented in the Fleadhanna Ceoil with many of our members
progressing to Provincial and the All Ireland Fleadh Ceoil which
was held in Sligo during August 2014. We congratulate the
following prize winners at Fleadh Ceoil na hÉireann
1st Under 18 Ceili dancing team: Aoife Gilligan, Elizabeth
Harding, Margaret Mulrooney, Rachael O' Sullivan, Dearbhail
Ryan, Leona Bowe, Danielle Bowe and Nicole Cooper from the
Callanan School of Dancing. Four of the girls Aoife Gilligan,
Margaret Mulrooney, Leona Bowe and Danielle Bowe also came
home with 3rd place in the 4 hand céili dancing competition;
Cathal Greene 3rd place Under 12 Button accordion, Caoimhe
Flannery 3rd place U12 Roghla Ghleas (Miscellaneous), Darragh
Carey Kennedy 3rd place U 18 Mandolin and Michael Ryan 2nd
place Senior Whistling.
We also congratulate Kathryn Browne who received her TTCT
in 2014.
Roscrea Comhaltas supports many other organisations in Roscrea
and surrounding area. In 2013 and 2014 our musicians, singers
and dancers provided entertainment for the following events,
Taste of Roscrea, Carol singing at Christmas time, Roscrea People
of the year Awards, St Patrick’s Day stage entertainment,
Clonakenny ICA, Clareen Trad Day, Margaret O’Sullivan festival
in Killea, Fallon festival in Clonaslee, Heritage Day in Roscrea,
Roscrea Beo festival and the visit of the Seattle Pipe and Drum
Police Band who were joined by Comhaltas members.
During the Summer of 2014 the branch held two seisiún nights in
the White House, both of these nights were well attended and
enjoyed by everybody there.
At our recent AGM the following committee was elected.
Chairman, Tim Maher; Vice Chairman, Deirdre Bergin; Secretary,
Pat Flanagan; Treasurer, Siobhan Dooley; PRO Anne Gleeson,
Treoraí na Gaeilge, Diarmuid Fitzgerald; Youth Officer, Marian
Feehan; Delegate to County Board, Michael McEvoy; Auditors;
Michael Ryan Fanure and Michael Ryan Oldcastle.
Members of Roscrea Comhaltas and friends held a fundraising
concert for the Uganda Mission Fund to raise enough money to
sponsor two children Teddy and Elizabeth at school in Colomo
Uganda.
Ros Cré C.C.E. All Ireland Champions Ladies Céili Dance 15-18 yrs at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann
L-R Margaret Mulrooney, Danielle Bowe, Aoife Gilligan, Dearbhail Ryan, Leona Bowe, Nicole Cooper, Elizabeth Harding,
Rachel O’Sullivan.
136
Roscrea People 2014
Roscrea/Birr School Completion Programme 2014
It has been another action packed year for the Roscrea/Birr School
Completion Programme. Throughout the last school year SCP has
facilitated Afterschool Groups, Socialisation Groups, Class
Socialisation groups, Individual sessions, Summer Programmes and
the Roots of Empathy
Roots of Empathy: A new programme called the Roots of Empathy
was introduced to the Sacred Heart Convent and Scoil Eoin Naofa
this year. This programme teaches emotional literacy and empathy
i.e. to see and feel things as others may feel them and to watch how
a baby grows by using a baby as the teacher. Many thanks to Lisa
Frawley and baby Lizzy, and Kinga Kraszkiewicz and baby Jessica
for giving of their time and sharing this journey with the children.
Copper Beech View Afterschool Group: Senior After school and
Junior After school groups were held in Copper Beech View
throughout the year. The senior group took place on Wednesdays and
Junior on Fridays. These groups were very well attended. Following
tea and toast, each child was encouraged to select an activity of their
choice. Activities included arts and crafts, games, free play and
cookery. Twice a term the group went swimming. Although not a
homework club, children who wished to do their homework were
supported to do so. SCP is very grateful to ‘Respond’ for the free
use of their lovely centre in Copper Beech View.
A night at the Opera: Eighteen children enjoyed a night at the opera
as they joined the audience for this years spectacular performance of
‘Annie’. It was made extra special for the group as many of the young
performers were friends and classmates.
Summer Programmes: The School Completion Programme focused
on three programmes in Roscrea during the summer holidays. 24
pupils between the ages of 5 and 8 attended three days in Carol
Thompson’s summer programme. Throughout this time they enjoyed
music, art, games, play and many, many more activities.
Seven children attended a two day programme with Birr Outdoor
Education Centre. Along with canoeing, archery, team games, zip
wire and gorge walking, the group camped out overnight.
The junior afterschool programme was attended by 32 children.
Along with spending a day in Dromineer, the group availed of local
amenities such as Roscrea Library, Roscrea Swimming Pool and
McDonalds.
Nine lucky children went to Dublin by train for an action packed day.
The day included a visit to the Natural Museum, Captain Americas
and St. Stephen’s Green along with touring Dublin City on an open
top bus.
Transfer Programme: The transfer programme took place in
August. This programme was implemented in partnership with North
Tipperary Leader Partnership, RAY, Coláiste Phobal and SCP. 105
students participated in this years Transfer Programme. It was great
to see some old familiar faces as many of this years Cairdes
participated in the first transfer programme in 2009. Sincerest thanks
to all the Cairdes who gave up their time to support us with this
programme.
The SCP Board of Management would like to take this opportunity
to extend their gratitude to all the agencies who support their work
and co-facilitated programmes with them: RAY, Roscrea Youth
Diversion Programmes, North Tipperary Leader Partnership, Gárda
Hazel Delahunt from Roscrea Gardaí, Colaiste Phobal, Roscrea
Lion’s Club and Roscrea Credit Union. A special thank you to the
Principals and school staff for all their support.
Mairead and Sam
Page Sponsored by
Siobhán and Richard Ramskill
Jersey
TEAM HOPE PROJECT
Following the success of previous years’ pop up shops to
raise funds for Team Hope the project was repeated this
year, and once again proved to be most successful.
Team Hope is a registered Irish charity (see
www.teamhope.ie) which sends shoeboxes filled with
toys, writing material, etc. to needy children in Eastern
Europe, the former Soviet Republic and Africa for
Christmas. They have been operating from Ireland for
sixteen years, originally under the Samaritan Purse
umbrella. Last year 163,000 filled boxes were sent from
Ireland. As well as filling the boxes €4 must accompany
each one to allow for transportation, storage and other
costs.
Vivienne Wallace, Joyce Wallace (R.I.P.), and Heather
Evans have been associated with the project for the past
12 years. This year they were able to send 342 filled
Loading the shoeboxes for transportation to the Nenagh Depot:
boxes thanks to the generosity of those who supported
(L/R) Lynne Wallace with Zak and Aaron, Vivienne Wallace and
the pop up shop held in Sean Egan’s premises, Main
Heather Evans.
Street, Roscrea in early October. The filled boxes were
delivered to the Team Hope depot in Nenagh to await
collection. The organisers would like to thank everyone who was involved in the project and in particular wish to acknowledge the
input of Ann Daly, Shaw’s Department Store, who collected empty boxes throughout the year and also to those who helped wrap the
boxes in festive paper.
Thanks to your generosity another 342 children will have a Roscrea smile on their face this Christmas!
137
Roscrea People 2014
138
Roscrea People 2014
Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré 2014
Coláiste Phobal reports a year full of academic and
sporting achievements: Leaving Cert Student Janet
Lewis accepted into Ad Astra Academy UCD, 5th Year
student Paul Crampton representing Ireland at
International German Olympics, German Debating
team taking on Ireland, Head Boy Jamie Carroll
representing Ireland in Tetrathalon in Australia and
achieving 595pts in his Leaving Cert, All Ireland
Hurling champions, Munster Camogie champions and
Ireland soccer representative in Val Feeney.
The Academic and Sports awards acknowledge the academic and
sporting achievements of many students.
Home Economics Award: Senior- Ursula Breen, Junior- Alanna
McHugh.
Geography Award: Senior- Dan Collison, Junior- Laura Cleary,
Daniel Quinlan, Samuel Pols.
Chemistry Award: Jamie Carroll.
D.C.G Award: Jamie Carroll.
Technical Graphics Award: Leah Nash, James Minihan.
Art Award: Senior- Michaela Cummins, Certificates of MeritLauren Monahan, Aveen Bulfin, Seana O’Hara, Katrina Murray,
Anna Higgins, Joseph Phelan.
Art Award: Junior- Abigel Nagy, Certificates of Merit- David
Quinlan, Tehmina Sadiq, Ieva Staponkute, Emma O’Rielly, Saqlain
Sadiq, Gráinne McNicholas, Leah Nash.
History Award: Senior- Maeve Collier, Certificates of MeritDavid Kenny, Dan Collison, Junior- Cian Maher, Certificates of
Merit- Eoin Whyte, Laura Cleary, Ieva Staponkute, Ciara Ward.
German Award: Senior- Paul Crampton, Certificates of MeritCiara Ryan, Daire Murray, Eoin Hobbs.
German Award: Junior- Oonagh Gleeson.
English Award: Senior- Niamh Kenny, Junior - Niamh Troy.
French Award: Senior- Certificates of Merit- Kelly Maher, Fergal
Flanagan, Junior Certificates of Merit- Ruta Kulikauskaite, Jack. J.
Kirwan.
2013-2014 Student Council
Back (L to R) Paul Crampton 5th year, Emma Wright 2nd year,
Evan Hassett TY, Brian Parlon 1st year, Dion Landy 3rd year,
Brian McNicholas 6th year, Ciaran Guilfoyle 6th year.
Front (L to R) Niamh Larkin 3rd year, Daniel Ryan 2nd year,
Rachel Lynch 1st year, Aine Corbett TY, Katrina Murray 5th year,
Katie Landy 6th year, Mr. O'Brien Principal.
Prefects 2014
Back (L to R)- Anthony Devereux, Dan Collison, Ursula Breen
(Head Girl), Aine Larkin, Emily Ryan, Jamie Carroll (Head Boy),
Brian McNicholas, Cian Rigney.
Front (L to R) Dara Lupton, Katie Landy, Sinead Flanagan,
Danielle Daly, Maeve Collier, Lauren Monahan, Nathan Campion,
Mr. O'Brien (Principal).
Irish Award: Senior- Ursula Breen, Junior- Maeve
Collier, Certificates of Merit - Gráinne McNicholas, Aoife Mullally,
Orlaith Murray, Tehmina Sadiq, Ieva Staponkute, Inessa Teehan,
Irma Teehan.
Maths Award: Senior- Jamie Carroll, Junior Certificates of MeritIeva Staponkute, Daniel Quinlan, Cathal Nash, Eamonn Ryan.
Physics Award: Jamie Carroll.
Biology Award: Ursula Breen, Certificates of Merit- Christine
Cleary, Aveen Bulfin, Kevin Treacy, Rebekah Conlon, Emily Ryan.
2013 Cáirde members: Katie Landy, Kacie Mc Evoy, Michaela
Hynes, Aine Larkin, Sinead Flanagan, Christine Cleary, Serena
Ryan, Ursula Breen, Laura Moloney,Lauren O'Gorman, Shannon
Mackey, Caroline Draper, Aveen Bulfin, Kaya Quinlan, Maeve
Murray, Anthony Devereux, Aaron Kirwan, Brian Mc Nicholas, Joe
Moloney, Jamie Ryan, Dan Collison. Pictured above are some of
the members.
Junior Science Award: Cathal Nash, Certificate of Merit- Eoin
Whyte.
Accounting Award -Dara Lupton.
Ag. Science Award: Alan Delaney, Certificates of Merit- David
Kenny, Caroline Draper, Ian Kennedy.
Business Award: Senior Certificates of Merit- Chloe Quinlan,
Niamh Kenny, Junior Certificates of Merit- Cathal Nash, Laura
Cleary, Padraic Marks.
Music Award: Senior- Nathan Campion, Junior- Darragh Carey
Kennedy, Certificates of Merit- Ieva Staponkute, Aoife Mullally,
Ciara Ward, Tehmina Sadiq, Katie Ryan, Gráinne McNicholas,
Abigel Nagy, Rachel Monahan, Daniel Coonan.
Metalwork Award: Jason Drought, Certificates of Merit- Niamh
Larkin, Ben Spencer, Colman Treacy.
Engineering Award: David Murray.
Materials Technology Award: Certificates of Merit- Eoin Whyte,
Padriac Marks, Cathal Nash.
139
Roscrea People 2014
motivated student being involved in many Coláiste Phobal
organisations such as Prefect and Cairde group (a hand selected group
of Leaving Certs who undertake to become mentor and friend to a 1st
year class). Janet has chosen Veterinary Medicine as her programme
of study.
German Debating Team
(L to R) Ciara Ryan, Daire Murray, Paul Crampton, Eoin Hobbs,
Ms. O'Meara (German Teacher).
Construction Studies Award: Brian Davis, Certificates of MeritWayne McCartney, David Murray, Lee Cashin, Rachel Horan.
L.C.V.P Award: Katie Landy.
Personal Achievement- Aoibhe Ward, Jim Collison (School Year
Book), Lee Cashin (Backstage Musical), Daire Murray (National
Executive of Student Council).
Personal Achievement in Sport: Val Feeney (International Soccer
for Ireland), Michael Doyle (Boxing), Jamie Carroll (Representing
Ireland in Tetrathlon in Australia this Summer).
Camogie: Senior- Aine Larkin, Junior - Maeve Gleeson, Player of
the year- Mairead Teehan.
Hurling: 1st Year Player of the year- Rian Lee.
Badminton player of the year: Enda Moloney.
LCA Student of the year: 6th year Lauren Monahan,5th year
Gemma Woods.
Green School Committee
Michael Hannon, Kane Walsh, Jake Delaney, Dylan Heeney,
Eamonn Ryan, Niamh Troy, Inessa Teehan, Irma Teehan, Amelia
Lown.
Congratulations to Paul Crampton (at present a 6th year student)
who was one of two Irish German students representing Ireland at
the International German Olympiad in Frankfurt this past August.
Not only was Paul representing Ireland, but he was also a winner in
the Senior section of the Irish-Austrian Society National German
Essay competition. He received the Dr. Otto Glaser trophy at a
reception in the Austrian Embassy. Both his school and Ms.
O’Meara, his German teacher, are very proud of Paul and his
achievements.
Catherine Watkins
(PRO Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré)
Music Award
Darragh Carey Kennedy, Grainne McNicholas, Rachel Monahan,
Tehmina Sadiq, Aoife Mullally, Daniel Coonan, Abigel Nagy, Ieva
Staponkute, Katie Ryan, Ciara Ward.
Silver Gaisce Awards: Michael Rosney, Tony O’Connor, Joseph
Phelan, Jonathan Roe, Jack Doherty, Nikki Murphy, Grace Toohey,
Daire Murray.
Choral Award: Student of the Year -Rachel Kirwan, Seinn
Members: Certificates of Merit- Rachel O’Brien, Katie Scully,
Raminta Derbutaite, Katie Dynan, Serena Ryan, Nikki Murphy,
Michaela Hynes, Rachel Kirwan, Tara Dwyer, Kristina Sabau,
Nathan Campion, Daniel Coonan.
Variety Concert Certificates- Eoin Hobbs, Nathan Campion, Mark
Bergin, Stephen Lee, Jack Keeshan, Luke Spencer, Dara Lupton
(Musicians and House Band), Cillian O’Meara (Sound).
Janet Lewis has become one of 94 exceptional students who have
joined the UCD Ad Astra Academy, established in 2011 to recognise
and nurture exceptional students by offering them a range of tailored
supports to further their talents. The Ad Astra scholars and alumni
continue to make their mark, both during and after their time in UCD.
Janet achieved the incredible total of 725 points with 7 A1’s in her
Leaving Certificate. She has always been a diligent and highly
140
History Award winners
Back (L to R)- Eoin Whyte, David Kenny, Ieva Staponkute Ciara
Ward, Dan Collison, Front (L to R) Cian Maher, Laura Cleary,
Maeve Collier.
Jamie Carroll 6th yr- Head prefect,
Chemistry, D.C.G, Maths and
Physics Awards winner and
representing Ireland in Tetrathlon
in Australia this Summer.
Ad Astra Academy
Mr Ger O’Brien Principal with Janet
Lewis who was accepted into UCD
Ad Astra Academy after her 725
pts Leaving Certificate.
Roscrea People 2014
Leaving Cert Applied
class group proudly
displaying their
project of the School
Crest
Back (L to R)Bernard Doyle, Ms. P.
Larkin, Ms. F. Burke,
Joseph Delaney,
Gordon Cleare, Oliver
Curtis, Stephen
Loughnane,
Mr. G. O’Brien
(Principal).
Front (L to R)- Jodie
Hutchinson,
Chandelle Doyle,
Gemma Woods,
Kynita Brennan.
Paul Crampton 5th
Yr student proudly
displaying the Dr.
Otto Glaser trophy;
pictured with Mr.
G. O'Brien
Principal and Ms.
E. O'Meara
German Teacher.
Paul represented
Ireland in Frankfurt
in August.
Green Flag
Back L to R- Charles Stanley Smith (An Taisce), Oliver Egan, Rose
Crofton, Eileen Doherty, Mary Conroy, Monica Kerins, Dick Conroy. Front
L to R- John Haugh (Deputy Principal) George Cunningham, A.M. Mullen
(Teacher), Michael Hannon, Jake Delaney, Eamonn Ryan, Dylan Heeney,
Niamh Troy, Kane Walsh, Amelia Lown, Denis Ryan and Ger O'Brien
(Principal). Missing from Photo- Inessa Teehan, Irma Teehan and Billy
Newman (Teacher).
Badminton U19 team
Mr. Hogan (Teacher and Coach), John McCabe, Enda
Moloney, Tony O'Connor and Paddy Quinlan.
FRS RECRUITMENT
(L to R)- Ms Stephanie Cordial, (Business and IT
student), Mr Colin Donnery (FRS Recruitment),
Ms Carmel Needham (PLC Tutor) and Louise Brennan
(Business and IT student) at the Recruitment
Presentation for PLC candidates at
Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré.
Head Boy Sam
Conlon and
Head Girl
Megan King
making a
presentation
to Principal
Mr. O'Brien on
Graduation
Night.
Biology Award Winners
Aveen Bulfin, Emily Ryan, Ursula Breen, Christine Cleary,
Rebekah Conlon.
All Ireland Hurling panel at their medal presentation night. Pictured with (centre row L to R)
Mr. J. Haugh (Deputy Principal), Mr. W. Smyth (Coach and Teacher), Mr. O'Brien (Principal),
Mr. L. O'Brien (assistant), Mr. Brendan Maher (Senior Tipperary Hurler), Mr. O. Egan (assistant).
Lee Cashin (Capt) proudly lifting
the Paddy Buggy cup.
141
142
Back Row (L to R): Nathan Nolan, Darragh Ugarte, Conor McDonald, Stephen Wrenn, Ciaran Bergin, Wayne McCartney, Brian McNicholas,
Luke Fitzgerald, Brian Davis, Alan Delaney, Ian Kennedy, Cian Rigney, Ciaran Guilfoyle, Conor Guerin, Kevin McCusker, Anthony Devereux,
Aaron Kirwan, Dara Lupton, Kevin Treacy.
4th Row (L to R): Sean Fogarty, Daniel Doughan, Jamie Dooley, Lee Cashin, Ian Treacy, Val Feeney, Craig Moloney Ryan, Dylan Walsh, Jamie
Ryan, Diarmuid Cleary, Michael O’Lone, Dayle Fletcher, Jamie Carroll, Nathan Campion, Dan Collison, Tomas Duane, Ciaran Corbett, Robert Li.
3rd Row (L to R): Adrian Cleary, Joseph Moloney, Darrell Fahy, Daniel Tynan, Rebekah Conlon, Kelly Sammon, Aine Larkin, Carmel Parlon, Lauren
Moloney, Kellie Roper, Rachel Horan, Caroline Draper, Ursula Breen, Michaela Hynes, Emily Ryan, Rachel Kirwan, Niamh Kenny, Jakub Zurakowski.
2nd Row (L to R): Adam O’Toole, Beverley Casey, Derbhail Reid, Kaya Quinlan-O’Byrne, Christine Cleary, Michelle Landy, Megan Monahan, Robyn
Kiely, Laura Kavanagh, Maeve Murray, Sinead Flanagan, Maeve Collier, Chloe Donovan, Chloe Quinlan, Katie Landy, Casey McEvoy, Carly Wright,
Darryl O’Lone.
Front Row (L to R): David Murray, Eoin Maher, Aveen Bulfin, Serena Ryan, Claudia King, Lauren O’Gorman, Shannon Mackey, Laura Hutchinson,
Lauren Monahan, Chloe Hanlon, Aisling Reynolds, Niamh McMahon, Tanya Degalteva, Kristina Matieskova, Lauren Cooney, Victorija Viselgaite,
Brigitta Baranya, Tara Dwyer..
Absent from Photo : Shannon Carroll, Ger Cuddy, Michaela Cummins, Danielle Daly, Clodagh Fletcher, David Fletcher, Evita Ikere, David Kenny,
Rachel Maher, Ciara Williams, Sandra Zilinskaite.
Leaving Cert Class 2013-14
Roscrea People 2014
Roscrea People 2014
All Ireland Winning Panel in Nowlan Park
Back (L to R)- Ciaran Cleary, Enda Moloney, Sean Fogarty, Shane Sampson, Ian
Treacy, Adrian Cleary, Daire Murray, Declan Cleary, Aaron Kirwan, Darragh
Morrissey, Diarmuid Cleary, Coleman Treacy.
(Middle L to R)- Donal Carroll, Daniel Doughan, Dylan Maher, Eoin Fitzpatrick,
J.P. Cleary, David Murray, Jack Doherty, Thomas McCarthy, Paul Crampton,
Josh Neville, Mark Fanning.
Front (L to R)- Evan Fitzpatrick, Niall Devitt, Jordan Fogarty, Ciaran Guilfoyle, Lee
Cashin (Capt), Jamie Dooley, Brian Davis, Padraig Smyth, Shane Fletcher, Cian
Rigney, Anthony Devereux.
1st Year Hurler of the
Year
Rian Lee with trainer
Mr. Maher.
Val Feeney International Irish
Soccer player
achievement.
1st year
Halloween
Céili fancy
dress winners
Nathan
Finnerty and
Simona
Staponkwte.
Coláiste’s winning Hurling Blitz 7-a-side team
(L to R)- Mr. T. Maher, Owen Tynan, Nathan Fogarty, Joseph
Kennedy, Brian Parlon, Peter Maher, Alastair Robson, David
Needham coaching Officer, Mr. W. Smyth.
Students and Teachers at News Academy Conference in
Croke Park
(L to R)- Tony O’Brien, Paddy Quinlan, Eoin Hobbs, Aoibhe Ward,
Jen O’Brien (Past pupil of Coláiste, Editor of Bizzare Magazine),
Paula Quinlan, Jim Collison, Kyle Shanahan, Lisa Costello,
Ms. E. Egan.
Pedal Power Work Shop
(Back L to R)- Roisin Scully, Anna Duane, Allison Delaney
Fletcher, Owen Dooley, Jake Blakehurst, Patrick Fogarty,
Stephen Tierney, Philip Cummins.
(Middle L to R) – Deirdre Cox (North Tipp. County Council),
Rebecca Costello, Ellen Mac Donald, Kathleen Higgins, Lorna
McMahon, Josh Neville, Paul Finch (Artist), Ms. A.M. Mullen.
(Front L to R)- Lesley Lewis, Michelle Shanahan, Luke Phelan.
Natasha Drought, Claire McNamara, Conor Ryan.
On bicycles- Leanne O’Brien, Shane Fletcher.
(L to R)- Viper
members Cian
Cordial, Matthew
Phelan,
Challenge winner
Kevin Fitzgerald
with Football
Prize, Evan
Hassett and Paul
McGrath.
Irish Quiz winners
(L to R)- Ciara Hogan, Oonagh Gleeson, Eimear Gleeson, Niamh
McGee, Mark Fanning, Neil Maher, Jack Bourke, Roddy Teehan.
2014 Junior Cert top twelve results with a combined total of
42 A’S and 69 B’s.
Back (L to R)-Daniel Quinlan, Darragh Carey Kennedy, Cian Maher,
Dylan Maher, Cathal Nash, David Quinlan, Eoin Whyte.
Front (L to R)- Ieva Staponkute, Laura Cleary, Orla Murray,
Niamh Larkin, Gráinne McNicholas, Mr. G. O’Brien Principal.
143
Roscrea People 2014
Sacred Heart Primary School
Green Flag Presentation: On the presentation of the Sixth
Green Flag at theSacred Heart Primary School for studies
in Biodiversity. The first school in Roscrea to be
awarded this prestigious award was the culmination of
many years work under the guidance of Mrs Mary Kelly,
Green School Co-ordinator.
Front Row: Ms Considine, Diarmaid McCabe, Sofia Nagy,
Evan Geraghty, Leanne Doherty.
Second Row: Tommy Moloney, Ciara Kavanagh, Julia
Zurakowska, Liam O’Reilly, Michael Wrenn & Zita
Baranya.
Back Row: Linda Fox, Kate Delaney, Ms. Mounsey,
Mrs. Carroll, Emma Choptiany, Mrs Kelly, Karina Hickey,
Paddy McNamara and Mr John Devitt Principal.
County Finalists Camogie Team: The under 13 ladies’
camogie team were honoured to play in the final of
the Cumann na mBunscoil finals at Semple Stadium
this year.
Front Row: Mr Colm McGrath Teacher, Emma
Kennedy, Claire Carey, Niamh Geraghty, Reanne
Conlon, Louise McCarthy, Kayleigh Grannell, Mary
Shanahan Coach, & Denis Moloney Sponsor
Back Row: Ciara Kavanagh, Saoirse Geraghty, Emma
Synnott, Leanne Marshall, Sharon Shanahan.
Presentation to Mrs Mary Kelly and Mrs Jackie
Carroll: On the occasion of their retirement after
many years of dedicated service at the Sacred Heart
Primary School Mrs Mary Kelly and Mrs Jackie Carroll
were presented with a token of appreciation by
Mr John Fitzpatrick, chairperson of the Board of
Management. This presentation took place after the
very successful concert “Young at Heart” which took
place in the Parish Church in May.
Emma Synnott, Mrs Mary Kelly, John Fitzpatrick,
Chairperson Board of Management, Mrs Jackie Carroll
and Vanda Bosze.
Grandparents Day:
Adib Hossain winner
of a gold medal for
sprinting at the
Community Games in
Athlone this year with
Mrs Maureen
O’Riordan, his Irish
Granny.
Santa’s Helpers: Anticipating their part in the Christmas
Concert were- Evan Hickey, Wayne Donoghue and Damien
Tomkow.
144
Roscrea People 2014
Sacred Heart Primary School
First Holy Communion 2nd
Class 2014: Front Row:
William McCarthy, Wiktoria
Kostka, Tammy Harty, Reka
Baranya, Leanne
Doherty, Deimante
Karpaviciute, Zuzanna
Wawrzynek, Joshua O’Brien
Back Row: Fr Pat Treacy,
Marceli Slonina, Aron Odor,
Dominik Virag, Jamie
McMahon, Seán Synnott,
Diarmaid McCabe, Mason
McCusker, Owen Guerin,
Oliwier Dubiel and
Ms Catherine Leamy Class
Teacher.
(Below) Christmas Concert:
Taking part in the very enjoyable
Christmas Concert were - Reka
Baranya with baby Jesus
together with Evan Geraghty,
Leanne Doherty, William
McCarthy.
Back Row: Wiktoria Kostka,
Natasha Doyle, Diarmaid
McCabe, Zofia Nagy , Alexsander
Malinowska, Niamh Kavanagh,
Oliwier Dubiel.
Sacred Heart Primary School Confirmation 2014
Front Row: Ola Malinowska, Matylda Slonina, Gabrielle
O’Reilly, Gerry Pratt, Gemma Doherty, Sarah Dynan,
Niamh Geraghty.
Middle Row: Kaitlyn Monahan, Louise McCarthy,
Kayleigh Grannell, Claire Carey, Karina Hickey, Klaudia
Szende, Linda Harty.
Back Row: Colette Slattery (Teacher), Patrycja Rosiek,
Tiffany O’Riordan, Bishop Kieran O’Reilly, Lisa Dunne,
Emma Choptiany, Emma Doyle, Emma Guerin.
Junior Infant 2014 Funny Faces:
Front Row: Nikola Ekiert, Gabriel
Gawel, Alicja Wrombel, Anastazja
Fabisiak, Kamilla Wrombel, Sean
Murphy, Angelika Chuda.
Second Row: Filip Plawski, Hunor
Kiss, Aoibhinn Kavanagh, Patryk
Bochnak, Ugnius Bartninkas.
145
Roscrea People 2014
Gaelscoil an tSlí Dála
Gaelscoil an tSlí Dála at Ballaghmore is a learning
community that enables pupils to achieve their full
learning potential through a wide variety of
opportunities and experiences, not least as Gaeilge.
Some Highlights
Waltons Music for Schools Competition: Congratulations to the
children from 3rd to 6th classes who took part in the Waltons for
Schools All Ireland Music competition. They were selected as one
of the 12 finalist schools and performed at the National Concert
Hall.
Ailise, Cian, Éabha agus Clíona Nic Dhomhnaill, Eoghan Ó
Coinleáin, Conall Ó Cnáimhin with the Sam Maguire and
Liam McCarthy Cups on Confirmation Day.
Green Flag: The school raised its first green flag in June 2014.
Thanks to all the members of the “Brat Glas” committee who
worked very hard to secure this flag for the school.
Adam Dollard, Oisín Ó Meara, Ellie Ní Choinleáin, Niall Ó
Dubhshláine, Éabha Nic Dhomhnaill, Caoimhe Nic Flannabhra,
Conall Ó Cnaimhín, performing in the National Concert Hall,
Dublin 2014.
“Co-operation is Cool”: Our project “Brian Boramha” won best
Primary School section in the Glanbia Co-Operation is Cool
Competition in the Laois Education Centre earlier this year.
Cumann na mBunscol: Gaelscoil an tSlí Dála reached the final
in the Cumann na mBunscol leagues in both hurling and football
this year. Congratulations to all the members of the team who put
in such a huge effort and did our school proud.
Cumann na mBunscol finalists in Football and Hurling
2013/14
Conall Ó Cnaimhín, Jack Mac Flannabhra, Niall Ó
Dubhshláine, Roibéard Ó Faoileáin, Eoghan Ó Coinleáin,
Charli Ní Dhéin, Oisin Ó Meara, Caoimhe Nic Flannabhra,
Chloe Ní Riordáin, Clíona Nic Dhomhnaill, Emma Ní
Chollatáin, Éabha Nic Dhomhnaill.
146
Charli Deane, Niall Delaney, Liam O’Neill (President GAA),
Fr. Tom Corbett, Adrian Hewson, Robert Phelan, Oisín
O’Meara, Conall Nevin, Jack Flannery, Kerry Deane, Ella
Carey, Amy Quinlan, Makenzie Loughnane, Caoimhe
Flannery.
Special thanks to the school choir and musicians who performed
at the graduation, confirmation, first communion ceremonies and
the grandparents’ mass before Easter.
Confirmation 2014
Niall Ó Dubhshláine, Ellie Ní Choinleáin, Adrian Hewson, Fr.
Tom Corbett, Roibeárd Ó Faoileáin, Charli Ní Dhéin, Róise Uí
Chnáimhín, Clíona Nic Dhomhnaill, Chloe Ní Riordáin, Oisín
Ó Meara, Conall Ó Cnáimhín, Seán Mac Flannabhra, Eoghan
Ó Coinleáin, Emma Ní Choileatáin.
Roscrea People 2014
Scoil Eoin Naofa
National Film Award: On Tuesday,
November 4th at the National Fís Film
Festival Awards, Scoil Eoin Naofa won their
second consecutive award for “Outstanding
Achievement in Film Making.” Having won
the award for “Best Direction” in 2013 this
year they scooped the “Best Acting” award
for their film “The Sel-Fís Farmer.”
The film was made by 6th class under the
guidance of their teacher Mr. McGrath and
tells the story of a mean and miserable farmer
who spends all his money on himself leaving
his wife and children to live in poverty.
However he suffers a heart attack which
proves to be a life changing moment and he
sees the error of his ways and the fragility of life. He becomes a
kind and generous husband and father.
Outside the Helix Theatre DCU with their Fís Film Festival
award for “Best Acting” are L to R: Clodagh Fitzpatrick,
Conor Donovan, Marcus Ryan, Dean Pyne, Killian Guilfoyle,
Jamie Ryan, Maurice Walsh, David McLoughlin, Ben Hynes,
Mr. McGrath.
Great credit goes to the actors for winning such a prestigious
award. Farmer Tom was played by Killian Guilfoyle while his
wife was played by Clodagh Fitzpatrick. Their children were
played by David McLoughlin and Ben Hynes. Other roles were
portrayed by Maurice Walsh, Jamie Ryan, Dean Pyne, Marcus
Ryan, Kate O’Toole and Sean Garvey.
Green Schools: Having already achieved three Green Flags the
Green Schools’ Committee is hard at work with the whole school
community working on the fourth flag for Transport. Over the
first term they have tried to reduce the carbon footprint by
organising a number of “Walk to School” events.
Jamie Ryan,
Killian
Guilfoyle and
Dean Pyne
prepare soil
samples for
the Primary
Science
Project.
Green Schools “Walk on Wednesday”
Enjoying a
forest
walk in
Killarney –
Brian
Murphy,
John
Conlon
and Aaron
Delahunty.
School Tours: The 6th class school tour was again to Delphi
Adventure Centre in Co. Mayo. Over the three day, two night stay
the children got to experience a range of sports and adventure
activities including orienteering, raft building, kayaking, and
Jacob’s ladder among others. Fourth and fifth class had the
opportunity to travel and stay in the An Óige hostel in Killarney.
They experienced a range of activities including archery,
orienteering, paintballing and an eco- forest walk.
Enjoying an
ice-cream on
Sports Day –
Jasmine
Wynne
Doran,
Michael
Delaney, Ieva
Gasiunaite.
Sport: In a busy year the school competed in a wide variety of
sports including hurling, football, camogie, ladies football, soccer
tennis and athletics. The U13 boys were victorious in the North
football final and also won the Liam Carson memorial tournament
for local schools. The camogie team reached the county final
played in Semple Stadium. The girls also excelled at soccer
reaching the last four in the county. Athlete Cally Dooley
147
Roscrea People 2014
opportunity to visit his farm and take soil samples to sow a variety
of grasses for their experiment.
Junior Entrepreneur Project: Many novel business ideas came
to the fore in 6th class for the Junior Entrepreneur Project. The
winning idea was “Bubbles Car Wash” which, kindly facilitated
by Fitzpatrick Travel, saw dozens of cars washed and valeted and
raised significant funds for their school tour.
County U13 Camogie Finalists Back L to R: Mr. Kelly,
Mr. McGrath, Mr. McLoughlin, Mr. Coghlan.
Middle L to R: Kayleigh Dowling, Sarah Kelly, Wictoria
Spyra, Sonita Wynne Doran, Melissa O’Rourke.
Front L to R: Ciara Lee, Aoife Dillon, Lauren Choppin,
Kirsty Hynes, Cally Dooley.
achieved success on both track and field winning a bronze medal
in the County Cross Country Championships and silver medals
in the sprint and long jump at the North Tipp School sports. Jamie
Ryan continued a proud Scoil Eoin tradition by making the
Tipperary Primary Game team.
6th class pupils designed and created a mural at
Gleann Glas.
Primary Science
Fair: Scoil Eoin
Naofa took part in
the Primary Science
Fair in the RDS in
conjunction with the
Jamie Ryan made
the Tipperary
Primary Game
team.
Holy communion
Back (l/r): Elara Carney, Mia Dowling, Maya Williams, Fr. Corbett,
Geraldine Murphy, Katelyn Ryan, Shannon Heyes.
Front (l/r): Ms. McMahon, Holly Ryan, Dean Doheny, Luke Tooher, Tyler Byrne,
Kian Tynan, Darrragh Fletcher, Ben Lynch, Brendan Murphy,
Courtney Quinlivan-Higgins, Mr McLoughlin.
Mr. Kelly
with
Cally
Dooley
double
medal
winner at
the North
Tipp
school
sports.
Young Scientist Exhibition. The pupils of 6th class received a very
positive review from the judges for their project which explored
which grass seed would be best suited to a local dairy farm. Local
dairy farmer Richard Phelan very kindly afforded them the
148
Confirmation
Back (lr): Mr. McGrath, Killian Guilfoyle, Bradley Neville,
Maurice Walsh, Dylan Conlon, Bishop Kieran O’Reilly, Sommer
Byrne, Liga Lativiniece, Jamie Finnerty, Mr. McLoughlin.
Middle (l/r): Clodagh Fitzpatrick, Catherine O’Connell, Julie
Brennan, Conor Donovan, Jamie Boland, David McLoughlin,
Ben Hynes, Wojtek Spyra.
Front L to R Marcus Ryan, Jamie Ryan, Dean Pyne,
Darragh Murphy.
Roscrea People 2014
Scoil Iósaf Naofa… Corville
First Holy Communion Class
BR: Ms. Claire Dillon, Class Teacher, Fr. Michael Harding, Ella O'Gorman, Cormac O’Connor, Killian Spencer, Conor
Murphy, Matthew Bergin, Brian O'Rourke, Ava Barayna, Nadine Nolan Simplico, Naomi Nolan Simplico, Ryan Walsh,
Sarah O'Toole, Kiera Edwards, Mr. Liam Meade, Class Teacher.
MR: Bobby McGann, Abi Vozza, Lucy Lee, Ciara Kirwan, Katelyn O'Rourke, Conor Delaney, Franciszek Stenawsky, Molly
Ryan, Michael Cussen, Sean McNamara, Leigh Loughnane, Leon Byrne, Adam Kiely Brooks.
FR: Amy Ryan, Eve Blackwell, Conor Doran, Madaelena Zyblut, Lauren Grimes, Tori Spencer, Carrie Fletcher, Ryan Whelan,
Ruby Mitchell, Cleo Carroll, Abi Quinlan, Ben Fogarty Dunne, Aaron Mulready.
Confirmation Class
BR: Roland Kozcian, Shannon McNamara,
Vitalik Borsak, Daniel Murphy, Bishop
Kieran O'Reilly, Leah O'Donoghue,
Ben Simmons.
MR: Ms Claire Madden, Class Teacher,
Paige Loughnane, Kayla O'Brien, Gary
Sheils, Taylor Bergin, Ciara Whelan,
Caitlin Meagher, Jacob Staniewski, Ciara
Kennell, Lauren Mulhall.
FR: Dylan Carey, Jessie O'Donoghue, Jack
Carey, Ben Simmons, Shauna Morgan,
Grainne Browne.
U11s North Tipperary Champions
BR: Joe Brooks, Cameron Fairbrother, Joe Teehan, Con O’Sullivan, John
Delaney, Kyle Dooley, Dayle Collins, Shane Feehan, Conor Shanahan,
Peter Donoghue, Nathan Carroll, Dylan Hogan, Martin Mulrooney, Josh
Moloney.
FR: John Queally, Jack Flynn, Tre Loughnane, Kenny Lee, Calin Byrne,
Owen Wynne Young.
Walk On Wednesday
Back Row: Clodagh Grimes, Kiera Edwards, Lauren
Grimes, Oisin Browne
Front Row: Molly Ryan, Carrie Fletcher.
149
Roscrea People 2014
UNDER 11 NORTH TIPPERARY FINALS
BR: Kyle Dooley, Cameron Fairbrother, Conor
Shanahan, Josh Moloney, Owen Wynne Young.
MR: Mr John Slattery, trainer, Peter O'Donoghue,
Nathan Carroll, Joe Brooks, Shane Feehan, John
Delaney, Joe Teehan, Mr. Liam Phelan, trainer.
FR: Dale Collins, Martin Mulrooney Donovan, John
Quealy, Dylan Hogan, Calin Byrne, Kenny Lee,
Con O'Sullivan.
U13 North Tipperary Champions League
BR: Emma O’Connor, Megan O’Sullivan, Olivia Abbott,
Jodie Morgan, Kailyn Egan, Faye Morton, Nicole Brooks,
Khya Lynch.
FR: Elyse Delaney, Shauna Egan, Hannah O’Brien, Emma
Conlon, Orla Kruse, Tara Nolan, Clodagh Walsh.
Corville School Choir
BR: Stephanie and Samantha O’Toole, Emma Monahan, Ross
Walsh Shovelar, Khya Lynch, Orla Kruse. Ms Sinead Browne.
FR: Keri Pohjanen, Evija Vezauska, Shauna Egan, Rodika
Kennedy, Mollie Dooley, Sophie Rowland.
Ms. Samantha McMahon on keyboard.
Scríobhleabhar Competition
BR: Lucy Lee, Michael Delaney, Tierna Conlon Mills,
Ben Fletcher, Kayla McNamara.
MR: Leonie Loughnane, Brody Lee, Adam Shanahan,
Kaylin O’Gorman.
FR: Patrick Matejko, Kayla Dooley, Keith O’Donoghue,
Mya Steele, Danaco Harty, Rebecca O’Donoghue,
Molly O’Gorman.
Parents Association
cook BBQ
for Sports Day
150
Roscrea People 2014
St Cronan’s NS - Rosemount
St. Cronan's National School, Rosemount celebrated 40 years in Rosemount on
25th September, 2014.
As part of the celebrations for their forty years at
Rosemount the whole school proudly paraded during
St Patrick’s Day
Edith Rafter
and Robert
Roe cutting
the 40th
Anniversary
cake made
by a parent
- Tracey
Benn.
Ben Atkinson, Emma Mooney, Adam
Stanley, Rebecca Reid, Stewart
Smyth, Jessica Wallace, Aoife Bohan,
Mrs Hogan, Jane Trousdell-Dudley,
Saoirse Barrett, Jack Mooney, Eve
and Lucy Wallace cutting the cake
made by "Mulrooney's" Gala
Roscrea.
Sixth Class
pupils carry the
banner marking
40 years of
St. Cronan's
School in
Rosemount.
Louise Wallace,
Geoffrey
Drought, Isobel
Wallace, Aoife
Bohan, Hannah
Benn & David
Auld.
151
Roscrea People 2014
Scoil Chrónáin Naofa….Dromakeenan
First Communion Class:
Back Row Fr Tom Corbett, Robert
Gunnell, Ciara Hoyne, Sean Ryan, Sam
Walsh, Ms Rachel McMahon, Keisha
McCabe, Fr Michael Harding.
3rd Row: Leah Ryan, Leah
O’Grady, Emma Wright, Marc Ryan,
Christopher Moloney, Aoibheann
Dooley.
2nd Row: Robbie Tynan, Alison
O’Meara, Caragh Fogarty, Jessica
Kelly, Rachael Standish, Aoife
O’Meara.
Front Row: Clodagh Dooley, Conor
Hoctor, Harry Madden, Conall Dooley,
Jake Nash and Amelie Peyaud.
Confirmation 2014:
Back Row: Conor Maher, Aoife
O’Donnell, Niamh Cooke, Bishop Kieran
Darragh Collins, Kevin Moore, Kellie
Feehan.
3rd Row: Eamonn Delaney, James
Dooley, Jack Delaney, Owain Drought,
Laura Gilmartin, Dearbhail Flynn, Luke
Ryan.
2nd Row: Ms Hogan, Aidan Booth,
Aisling McNicholas, Luke Seacy, Amy
Ryan, Jacklyn Selvin, Eoghan Kelly, Brien
Culleton.
Front: Brian Bergin, Amy Phelan, Emma
Murphy, Eve Du Berry, Oran
O’Reilly, Sinead O’Brien, Ben Higgins.
Pictured are the Cumann na mBunscol U13 Offaly Football Champions of
2013/14 following the medal presentation by INTO President Sean
McMahon. The boys were also presented with the U13 North Tipperary
Hurling Runners Up medals.
BR: Owain Drought, Kevin Moore, Brien Culleton.
MR: James Dooley, Darragh Collins, John Walsh, Luke Seacy, Brian Bergin,
Eoghan Kelly, Aaron Teehan.
FR Brendan Hanamy, Ben Higgins, Jack Delaney, Luke Watkins, Michael
Lown, Sean Harnett, Conor Phelan, Shane Ryan, Joe Larkin, Simon
Madden, Scott Pearson and Sean McMahon.
Mr McMahon also launched the Fallon Library that day.
152
Both 5th and 6th Class teams won their
respective Roscrea Tennis Club Local
Schools competition held in June – the
winning 5th Class Team:: Simon Madden,
Shauna Walsh (Sponsor), Joe Larkin, John
Walsh and Shane Ryan.
Roscrea People 2014
Grandparents
Day involved
grandparents
of 1st Class
and 6th Class
pupils;
pictured is
Sophie
Fitzgerald
Dooley along
with her
grandparents.
For the second time 6th
Class pupils were lucky
selected to take part in
the Young Scientist
Exhibition in the RDS in
Dublin - Kelly Feehan
receiving an award for
our participation.
Picture also includes
Aaron Teehan, Amy
Ryan, Jacklyn Slevin,
James Dooley, Dearbhail
Flynn and Aidan Booth.
In front are Ben
Higgins, Brian Bergin
and Brien Culleton.
Second Class pupils enjoy
a walk in the woods.
The school was lucky enough to be selected
to host the fashion show at the Taste Roscrea
Festival last December
(Above): Saoirse Kelly, Aoife Maher, Kate
Moloney, Fionnuala Mulvey and Leah Ryan
practice their stance for the catwalk while in
front Aoibhe Brophy and Dayna Quinlan
smile for the camera.
Breretons Vintage Tractor Run: Thank you to the committee of
Breretons Vintage Tractor Run who donated half the proceeds from
their successful event during the Summer.
At the cheque presentation are:
Back Row: Mary Dermody Angela Ryan, Teresa Ryan, Siobhan Maher,
Michelle Ryan, Ken Hynes, Richard Mitchell, Frank McCabe, John and
Michelle Standish, Brendan Hanamy.
Front Row: Gavin Bennett, Christopher Moloney, Josh Doran, Lee
McKelvey, Tara Curran, Oisin Dinan Slevin, Jamie Bradley,
Jack Moloney, Cathal Mulrooney and Shauna Finnerty.
Junior Infants Class
Back Row: Charlie England, Cian Tomlinson,
Roisin Phelan, Ethan Cooper, Declan O’Meara,
Cassie Treacy, Henry Kirwan Lynch, Eden
Spain, Ryan Fletcher, Adam Crampton
Ms Rachael McMahon.
Middle Row: Nicole Murray, Lucy Gleeson,
Ciara Maher, Fia Dooley, Lucy Bergin, Amy
Murphy, Emma Maher Kenneally, Fionn
Sharpe.
Front Row: Odhran Mulrooney, Laura McCabe,
Conor Delaney, David Kelly.
153
Roscrea People 2014
Scoil Chrónáin Naofa… Dromakeenan
The Fallon Library
One of the great pleasures for the workers for Roscrea People has
been the Roscrea Book Project.
Since 1987 over 50,000 books have been donated to various
institutions in the area from monies generated by the publication.
In recent times of particular note are the school libraries that RP is
spearheading, encouraged by the great success of the Dr Aisling
Butler library at SH Primary. This was followed by the Pat Carroll
library at Coolderry Central School, the Dom Laurence library at
Scoil Eoin, and ‘The Orchard’ library in honour of Bill and Margaret
Smith at Lismakin NS. The Fallon Library at Scoil Chronáin Naofa
(Dromakeenan) was brought to fruition this year with the help of the
BOM, the school, parents, past pupils and friends. Situated in the
main foyer the oak shelving by Colm Brophy enhances the new
books.
Billy Fallon and his aunt Kathleen (known as Rita to her family)
served for over fifty years as principals of Dromakeenan and the
library is a fitting and lasting tribute to them.
This year, too, RP commenced a library project for St Anne’s Special
School which it hopes to continue into 2015.
GC was delighted to
include among the
Fallon collections some
examples of early
printings from medieval
times. Here school
principal Brendan
Hanamy and GC show
the printed leaves to
INTO president Sean
McMahon who
launched the opening
of the library.
On behalf of the Fallon family, his mother Helen and sister
Claire, Liam presented to the school a collage of illustrated
memorabilia on the Fallon principals (beautifully mounted by
Brian Redmond); here Liam displays the collage at the launch
with BH holding the framed treasures.
The Mulrooney family of Millpark have generations-long
associations with Dromakeenan school. Sean and Rita were
delighted to be one of the principal sponsors of the Fallon
Library. Sean's grandparents and parents, himself and his
children, all attended the school. Today his grandchildren
Meadhbh and Odhran are pupils there and his daughter-inlaw Helena, who now teaches there, carries on this tradition.
Pictured together at the formal opening
were Shane and Rita Mulrooney, GC, BH,
Sean Mulrooney and Liam Fallon.
Outside the school extended members of
the Fallon family present at the launch are
pictured with the patriarch Joe in the
middle
Proudly highlighting their new library,’ The
Orchard’ at Lismakin NS, at the St Patrick’s
Day Parade. Sponsored by the Smith family
and RP, the school and library were the
recipients of the book donations at the
Roscrea People of the Year Awards in January.
154
Roscrea People 2014
St Anne’s Special School
Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary
St. Anne’s Athletes Conquer Waterford Special Olympics
Games
Nine athletes, family members and coaches, Marie Irvine, Maura
Byrne, Betty Murphy and Chris Hennessy, travelled to Waterford
on Saturday the 17th May 2014 to participate in the Munster
Special Olympic Non-Advancement Athletics Competition. An
Official Opening Ceremony and a Parade of Team
Representatives preceded the commencement of all Track and
Field events. An atmosphere of anticipation, enthusiasm,
cheerfulness and great joy was detectable from all athletes as they
eagerly awaited the commencement of an action packed
programme which would see them participate in the 25 Metres
Race, Soft Ball Throw competition, 100 Metres Race, 4kg Shotput and the 400 Metre Walking Race. As the games commenced
the athletes, families and coaches were unaware that they would
be returning home with an impressive collection of 4 Gold
Medals, 7 Silver Medals, 2 Bronze Medals and 1 Participation
Ribbon.
Final Results:
Celine Bailey: Silver Medal - 25M Race, Silver Medal – Softball
Throw. Joe Delaney: Silver Medal – Softball Throw. Elaine
Keeshan: Participation Ribbon – Softball Throw. Mikey O’
Brien: Gold Medal – Softball Throw, Gold Medal – 25M Race.
Emma O’Rourke: Bronze Medal – 25M Race. Conor Heaney:
Gold Medal – Soft Ball Throw, Silver Medal – 25M Race.
Darragh Bennett: Bronze Medal – 100M Race. Aaron Neill:
Silver Medal –Shot-put, Silver Medal – 400M Walking Race.
Jason Healy: Gold Medal – 100M Race.
Yellow Day (in memory of children who died in the
Holocaust during World War II)
Charlene, Darragh, Aaron, Sr. Margaret, Jason, Andrea.
Over the next two years the Seven Step programme was carried
out and the objectives achieved. These included, the planning of
an Action Day in March 2014 and subsequently an array of fun
events incorporating song, music, drama and art competitions
were provided. Additionally, funds were raised by way of a, ‘Wear
Yellow Day’ to support the Trócaire Lenten Campaign 2014
which aimed to provide water pumps and irrigation systems for
drinking, cooking, cleaning and farming in overseas development
areas. Parents, staff, children and the local community were
regularly updated on these developments.
6th Green Flag Award to St. Anne’s Special School
In October 2012, all associated with St. Anne’s school embarked
upon a two year journey to update their existing Green Flag
Award based on the new theme of, ‘Global Diversity Litter and
Waste’.
A newly elected Committee involving the following personnel
was formed:
Teachers: Marie Irvine and Jim Mc Mahon,
Ancillary staff members: Seamus Dyer and Cronan Rowan,
Parent representative: Mary Heaney
Senior students: Darragh Bennett, Charlene Bailey, Jason
Healy and Aaron Neill.
Hoisting 6th Green Flag
Marie, Mary, Minister Alan Kelly TD, Jason, Mikey,
Sr. Margaret, Sasha, Darragh, Aaron and Jim.
The school hosted an inspection visit from Ms. Deirdre Cox,
Environmental Awareness Officer, North Tipperary County
Council, who in turn forwarded a very favourable assessment
report to An Taisce, Ireland.
World Book Day
Guest reader Margaret Caverley and pupils, Mikey, Amy,
Robert, Conor, Gabija and Aife.
Following a review of this report, St. Anne’s School became the
first Special School in Ireland to receive a Sixth Green Flag
Award on the 23rd June !
155
Roscrea People 2014
Roscrea Education Centre
The education programme at Roscrea education is rich and varied.
In addition to requirements of the curriculum, students explore
many elements of life. Roscrea Education Centre provides a
range of programmes. Its main programme offers second chance
education (students aged 15 – 20) on the Youthreach programme
as an alternative to mainstream education. The centre provides
students the opportunity to do Junior Certificate, Leaving
Certificate Applied and QQI accredited courses.
Education options are also available to adults who want to reengage with education or want to upskill or re-skill and get
accreditation through a Back to Education Initiative and the
European Social Fund with a selection of QQI level 3, 4 and 5
courses.
Free English classes are also available for those who are not
native speakers of English. This is a service provided and coordinated by the local parish.
Please feel welcome to drop in at any time for information on
courses and options that might suit you!
2014 marked the 25th anniversary of the Youthreach programme
nationally and to mark this celebration John Lonergan was invited
as guest speaker. The Youthreach students of the rest of the ETB
were also invited and in January 2014 the students of Ceim Éile
in Templemore and of Cappawhite joined us at the Garda College
for this inspiring event. Students of the three centres collected
money and presented John with a cheque for Barnardos.
L/R: Ester Mackey, Lisa Forde, Jackie Lynch
with them to Dublin to receive their Certificates of Achievement
at a ceremony in the Helix. Both of the students are currently
involved in entrepreneurial ventures.
Students again participated in the Social Education Competition
for LCA students run by the Michael Sweetman Trust. Lisa
Forde did her task on the topic of Cancer and after going through
an interview and presentation process she was selected to
represent Ireland as part of the Irish delegation that visited the
European Parliament in Strasbourg. She had a very interesting
experience.
L/R: Mersedesz
Csizmadia, Cheyenne
Ffitch and Jackie
Lynch (teacher)
painting the mural.
L/R in photo: Eimer Kelly, Antoinette Coffey (AEO), SharonChristine Harding, Edward Doheney and John Lonergan.
Two students took part in Foroige’s Young Entrepreneurship
Programme (NFTE). Yvonne Meade, their teacher, travelled
L/R:
Mercedesz
Czismadi,
Yvonne
Meade and
Cheyenne
Ffitch.
156
As part of a Heritage
Awareness initiative,
George Cunningham
visited the centre to
speak to our students
during the summer of
2013.
This year
students went to the
Curragh museum, to
the Titanic Experience
in Cobh, to Spike Island and also to local sites of heritage. Damer
House, Roscrea Castle and Monaincha Abbey were also visited.
Students also did a task on Sean Ross Abbey and on the statue of
the Madonna that used to be outside the centre. Art was then
used to bring heritage into the centre through a mural at the
entrance.
The Youthreach group received an invitation to visit Áras an
Uachtaráin during October and enjoyed the hospitality of the
President of Ireland. This further linked with the Heritage
awareness initiative as it was an eye opener to realise the history
surrounding the magnificent building and surrounding area.
Congratulations also to the Leaving Certificate Applied and
Junior Certificate students who did exceptionally well this year.
Four LCA students received over 80% and the programme also
had a significant haul of A’s and B’s for the Junior Certificate.
Roscrea People 2014
At the Graduation event held in May 2014 Mercedesz
Czismadia was awarded with the Student of the Year
award for her exceptional contribution to centre life and
her dedication to her work. Congratulations!
Antoinette
Coffey and
Mercedesz
Czismadia.
L/R in front of Áras an Uachtaráin: Jasmine Ffitch, Sapphire Ffitch,
Ester Mackey, Peadar Walsh, Stephen Gleeson, Stephen Doyle, Ned
Doheny, Christopher Pratt, Nicole Hutchinson, Joshua Thorne, Aidede-Camp, Darren Tynan, Aide-de-Camp, Maria Kirwan, Celina Harty,
Bridie Malone, Maggie Knowles, Noel King, Helen Donoghue,
Danny Chapman, Cameron Walsh, Erin Ffitch
The heritage trips were combined with many activities to create
a fun filled and exceptionally busy and successful Summer
Programme. Students gained certification in Basic First Aid,
SafePass, White Water Surfing Levels 1 and 2, SafeFood for Life
and QQI level 4 Security modules. In addition to this students
braved the Irish Sea and took the final year LCA class to
Oakwood Adventure Park in Wales. This was a very enjoyable
learning experienced as most had never been to Wales or on a
ferry.
During November, as part of a team building initiative, students
from the centre visited the Delphi Adventure Centre in
Connemara. Students participated in various unusual activities
and discovered capacities in themselves that they did not know
they had. It also was a great way of building relationships.
L/R: Stephen Doyle (teacher), Thomas Bowler, Robbie Avis,
Kyle Avis, Lisa Forde.
Helen Donoghue and Cheyenne Ffitch
received awards at the recent ETB
Awards held in the Horse and Jockey
Hotel: Cheyenne received an award for
the Best Leaving Certificate Applied
(88%) and Helen received one for
Personal Achievement for excellent
results in her Junior Certificate and also
for her dedication to her personal
development and her work.
L/R: Nicole Hutchinson, Helen Donoghue, Maria Kirwan and
Victoria Tooher figuring out a challenge at Delphi.
Sadly three of the Youthreach students also passed away during
the year: Stephen Carney, Jamie Cahill and Terry Harty. May
they rest in peace.
Helen Donoghue with her ETB
Award for Personal Achievement.
157
Roscrea People 2014
6th Tipperary Roscrea Scouts 2013-14
The Year 2013/14 was hugely successful for the Roscrea Scout
Troop. The following are some highlights:
•
•
•
•
•
•
The 40 + youth members who achieved their CSA in 2013/14
bringing our total number to over 100; I believe we could be
the first Group ever to hit that milestone.
The huge effort put in by everyone on the Pieta House,
Darkness into Light walk in May.
The Internet Safety Seminar.
The successful Group Camp last September up in Srahan.
The Quality Scouting Experience pilot executed for Scouting
Ireland and the Excellence Standard achieved in the SQS
review.
Achieving Top 10 at the Phoenix National Championships for
the first time ever!!
Thanks to all the local businesses (including SuperValu, Tesco
and Dunnes), the Statutory Authorities (Laois Leader, North Tipp
Co Co, Tipperary ETB, North Tipp Sports Partnership, North Tipp
Leader & National Learning Network), Scouting Ireland and the
Community of Roscrea for their continuing invaluable support.
For the second year in a row the Group lost a member, the
untimely passing of Carlos Simplico. Our thoughts and prayers
are with Carlos’ family.
Rebecca Williams and Rory Delaney (Patrol Leaders); Liam
Nolan and Micheala Loughnane (Assistant Patrol Leaders);
Lainey Bourke, Darragh Ryan, Darragh Loughnane, Aisling
Shaw, Amelia Lown, Eoghan Bergin, Brian Bergin, Ian
Spencer, Daniel Crean, Niamh Geraghty, Sinead O’Brien,
Tori Foyle, Emma Choptainy, James O’Meara and Kevin
Deegan.
Looking forward to 2014-15 it should be an exciting time for the
Group with the Annual Camp in Jersey at the end of the year for
the older Sections and the further development of the Scout Hall
/ Srahan Campsite & Hostel to mention just two topics.
Srahan Hostel & Campsite: During the year the last elements of
the project were completed, the highlight of which was the
opening of the new camping field. Thanks to everyone who
contributed to the big events at the centre: Group Camp, Cub
County Camp, County Intercultural Scout Camp, Leaders Skills,
Crean Challenge, Beaver Challenge.
Historic Top 10 Place for Roscrea Scouts at Scouting Ireland
National Championships
Scouting encourages the Social, Physical, Intellectual, Character,
Emotional and Spiritual development of young people so they
may become the good citizens and leaders of our society in the
future. Scouting is great fun, completely mad (in a safe way!!)
adventure mainly in the out of doors.
During 2014 two teams of ten Scouts from Roscrea travelled to
Mount Melleray in County Waterford to take part in the “Phoenix
Challenge”. Eighty-two teams with over 800 scouts from all over
the thirty-two counties entered in the event. Getting into
the Top 10 is considered a massive achievement in
Scouting Ireland so the Scouts were on tenderhooks as
the finishing places were read out. Could they better the
11th placed finish of 2013? The wait seemed for ever
but it was worth it with the Eagle Patrol (PL Rebecca
Williams) coming 9th overall!
Recipients of President’s Award :
Padraic Marks, Ben Spencer, Killian O'Meara; also
Pictured are Roscrea Scout Troop leaders, Francis
Minogue, Paul Spencer, James Marks, Ger O'Meara
along with Sliabh Bloom county scout officers and
some family members.
158
The Bronze President Award Recipients’ (John Galbraith,
Ciara McCabe, Ciara Moloney, Derbhal Reid, Shauna
Fitzgerald and Rebecca Toohey) and Niamh Marks who
received the Silver President Award
Scouts receive Chief Scout Award & Bronze President Awards
2014 saw two presentation ceremonies of Chief Scout Awards to
a total of ten Scouts. On Saturday March 1st, at a lovely
presentation attended by John Watmore (Provincial
Commissioner) and Trish Blake (National Commissioner for
Ventures) the Scouts received their Awards.
Roscrea People 2014
On the October Bank Holiday weekend, Padraic Marks,
Ben Spencer and Cillian O’Meara were presented with their
Awards. The Chief Scout Award (which encompasses the
requirements of the President’s Award Scheme) is the
highest award a Scout can achieve and involves them
undertaking projects across at least a year in Skill, Physical,
Community and Environmental areas, as well as completing
a long weekend Residential Intercultural Camp,
undertaking a 25-35km hike and developing their Scouting
Skills to a high level of proficiency.
Beavers: 2014 was another significant year for Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday Beavers with many highlights to
note:
• The successful completion of 14 Chief Scout awards.
• Trips to Dublin Zoo, Lisduff pet farm, various hikes and
backwoods activities and guest speakers to the hall,
Chief scout camp in Dundrum.
• Victory for a team from Tuesday Beavers in the very first
Sliabh Bloom Beaver County Challenge.
• Annual Camp in FOTA scout centre for Tuesday and
Wednesday Beaver sections which was a jam packed weekend
of visiting the wildlife park, an afternoon in Cobh and a trip
to Mitchelstown caves on the journey home. On camp
Clodagh Dooley and Cian Wakefield were presented with
their trophies for Beaver of the year.
• Thursday Beavers held their annual camp in Srahan and it was
another great experience involving camping in tents, lots of
hiking and some backwoods cooking where rashers and
sausages were the order of the day.
Cubs: Tuesdays and Thursdays are Cub Packs nights. Highlights
of the year included:
• Eight Cub Chief Scout Awards.
• Annual Camp in Mount Mellerary jointly with the Scout
Section.
• Trips to the Swimming Pool, Dublin Zoo and local Eco Farm.
Scouts: The activities and highlights of an action packed year
are too many to mention but some include:
• Annual Camp in Mount Melleray with the Best Patrol
Competition shared between the Bears and Badgers.
• The Badgers winning Best Patrol of the Year.
• Eighteen people climbing Carauntoohill; and with hikes on
Galtymore, Knockmealdowns, Ard Erin.
•
The election of Amelia Lown to the South Eastern Province’s
Youth Forum panel for Scouts representing the Scouts in the
Province.
Ventures and Rover Sections: Some activities involving both
were:
• The Annual Camp in July where the Section travelled to
Dublin staying in Aughrim Street Den for two nights, one
night in Carne, Co. Wexford and the last overnight while they
sailed across the Irish Sea. Pictured above is the group at
Baldonnell where they were given a fantastic guided tour by
Sgt. John Brophy.
• Trip to Pure Skill Sports Centre in Galway city with the
Investiture on Silver Strand Galway.
• Weekend in Liscannor, Co. Clare.
• Water day – kayak from Durrow to Ballyragget with the
Durrow Kayaking club.
(Niall Crofton PRO)
Scout Leaders’ Colour Party at WWI Commemoration Event:
Conor Abbott, Shane Cahill, Tony Foyle, Caroline Marks,
Lorraine Shaw, James Marks.
Kate Williams, Lauren Maher, Emma Choptiany.
159
Roscrea People 2014
160
Roscrea People 2014
BALLYSKENAGH-KILLAVILLA - A YEAR IN PHOTOGRAPHS
(Left) Croke Park Leinster Go-Games
Back (L to R): Kevin Touhey, Mathew Delahunty, Fionn
Carney, Aoibhean Dooley, Liam O’Riordan, Robert
Carney, Abby Meagher, Daithi Mulvey, Conor Phelan,
Enda Dooley.
Front (L to R): Jack Byrne, Diarmuid Mulvey, Darragh
Phelan, Emma Phelan, Luke Franks, Killian Meagher,
Saoirse Dooley, Matt Watkins, George Dwyer.
(Right) U14 Panel who contested the County
Final
Back (L to R): Rian Lee, Jack Delaney, Joe Abbott,
James Dooley, Neil Hennessey, Gerry Cahir, James
O’Meara, Cillian Guilfoyle, Martin Murphy, Alastair
Robson, Danny Bergin (Capt).
Front (L to R): Alan Mullally, Marc Quinlan, Aaron
Lalor, Brian Murphy, Mark Dwyer, Ben Higgins,
Sean Harnett, Luke Watkins, Liam Murray Grimes.
(Left) Summer Camp
Back (L to R): Jack Doherty, Fergus Hannon, Joe Ahern,
Brian Carroll, Luke Watkins.
3rd Row (L to R): Imelda Hennessey, Sean Delaney, Bill
Cleare, Sean Mc Loughney, Alex Moloney, Aaron Lalor,
Aisling Ryan, Elsie Delaney, Emma Murphy, John Hennessey,
Robert Gunnell.
2nd Row (L to R): Kyle Hanamy, Matthew Delahunty, Conor
Phelan, Fionn Carney, Liam O’Riordan, Michael Delaney,
Liam Murphy, Kate O’Toole, Jack Byrne, Calum Mitchell, Matt
Watkins, Sean Ryan, Eoin Mullins, Robert Carney, Aidan
Franks (Camp Co-ordinator).
Front (L to R): Elsie Franks, Killian Meagher, Luke Franks,
Faye Delaney, Jack Walsh, Clodagh Cleare, Seamie Cleare,
Aaron O’Toole, Tori Spencer, Ruby Mitchell, Tim Hennessey.
Jack Walsh
presenting
Richie
Power with
his BK
Summer
Camp
Jersey.
Back (L to R): Richard Phelan, Gavin Hannon, Luke
Watkins, Jack Doherty.
Front (L to R): Darragh Phelan, Catherine Watkins, Fergus
Dooley, Fergus Hannon, Matt Watkins at the Roscrea
Stands Up Exhibition.
Back (L to R): Ciaran Moloney, Richie Phelan,
Kevin Touhey, Andy Smith (Galway Hurler).
2nd Row (L to R): Aoibheann Dooley, Fionnula
Mulvey, Orlagh Phelan, Robert Gunnell, Jake
Thompson, Sean Delaney with the Dooley Cup,
Abbie Delaney, Alex Moloney, Ruigi Havatitye,
Liam O’Riordan.
Front (L to R): Emma Phelan, Dylan Dwyer, Daithi
Mulvey, Bill Cleare, Michael Mulvey, Sean
McLoughney, Abby Meagher, Matthew Delahunty,
Sean Ryan.
161
Roscrea People 2014
Inane Rovers
County Junior A Football Champions 2014….
Alan Fogarty reports
Inane Rovers bridged a 53 year gap by
winning our first County Junior A football
title since 1961. It has been a long time in
coming but is all the sweeter as this
wonderful group of players have helped
restore some pride to the people of
Roscrea. This was no mean feat as they
defeated both the South and West
champions along the way. After a wellearned victory 1-13 to 1-6 over LorrhaDorrha in the North, West Champions,
Rosegreen, were our next opponents in
the quarter-final in Boherlahan. We
settled to our task very quickly and led 2-6 to 4 points at half time.
Captain Keith McMahon
lifting County Cup
Rosegreen rallied well in the
second period with Inane
battling to a 2-7 to 0-10 win. In
hindsight this was a vital win in
our season as it put us in our first
County Semi in a long number
of years.
Encouraged by this dogged
performance we moved on to
Templemore to face South
Champions Ballingarry. For
most of the first half it was nip and tuck with both teams exchanging
points. However, two goals before half time from Robbie Ryan and
Alan Tynan put Inane in a commanding position at the break. In the
second half the lads capitalised on their advantage and made
Ballingarry pay for indiscipline and ran out comfortable winners by
4-11 to 1-5. There was a spring in the lads step in training for the next
two weeks as everyone in the club greatly anticipated our first Junior
A County Final since 1992. Holycross, Sunday 2nd November,
arrived with Séan Treacys as our opponents. It was the opposition
who settled to the task much quicker and used the running game to
good effect. Alan Tynan registered Inane’s only point of the half with
a half time score of Treacy’s 0-5 Inane 0-1. Despite the deficit Inane
would have the wind at their backs in the second period and come out
with renewed vigour. Liam England struck over a wonder sideline to
inspire the lads. Further points by Alan Tynan and Paul Kirwin cut
the deficit to just one. A vital moment in the game came when Jim
McDonnell pulled off a master save, and the ball was quickly moved
down the field with Tynan slotting over the equaliser. Confidence
now oozed through the team and when Paul Kirwin kicked a 50 metre
free straight to the net, the Inane lads were not going to be denied. In
the final minutes Alan Tynan exploited the space up front and scored
a wonderful goal and point to seal a historic victory for Inane.
Everyone on the panel played their part from strong defending backs
through midfield to deadly forwards. Captain Keith McMahon lifted
the cup to jubilant scenes amid players, mentors and supporters.
Great celebrations followed but we could not rest on our laurels as
a Munster quarter final clash with Glin from Limerick lay ahead the
following Sunday. A titanic battle ensued in Newcastle West against
this fancied Glin side. Being 6 points down at half time our chances
looked slim but a heroic second half effort from all the lads saw us
take a 2 point lead only to lose out by a single point. The second half
was as good a display by any Inane side and huge disappointment
162
Inane Rovers Junior A County Football Champions 2014
Front: James Boland, Alan Fogarty, Alan Tynan, Darren
O’Connor, Conor Bergin, Brian Kealy, Robbie Ryan, Brian
O’Lone, Keith McMahon (Capt.), Joe Carroll, David Buckley,
Ger Fitzgerald.
Back: Liam England, Sean Fitzgerald, Shane Davis, Paul
Breen, Enda Moloney, John Ryan, Aaron Ryan, Mark
O’Meara, Daryll Ryan, Michael Parlon, Michael Campion,
Jason Fitzpatrick, Jim McDonnell, Conor Sheedy, Paul
Kirwin, Diarmuid Fitzgerald, Darragh Fletcher, Timmy Breen.
was felt by all. However, it has been an exceptional year and
hopefully we can build on this experience to challenge in the
intermediate grade next year. We would like to thank our sponsors
including Speedy’s Hogan Stand, The Lucky Dip, The White House,
John Carroll’s pub, Roscrea Credit Union, Oliver Douglas Hardware,
Mulrooneys, Stapletons Bakery, Paddy Fitzgerald Vet, John O’
Donnell Jewellers, Doherty’s Hardware and John Buckley. We
would also especially like to thank our main sponsor Bernies
Supervalu for their unwavering support for Inane Rovers over many
years, and congratulate Bernie on his Sean Gael (2013) Award from
the Tipperary County Board for his services to GAA in Roscrea.
U-14: 2014 was a memorable year for our U-14 footballers winning
two titles for the club: winning the North Tipp Féile A Péil na nÓg
and the North Tipp A championship beating Nenagh Eire Óg in both
finals, while unfortunately losing both county semis to a very strong
Moycarkey-Borris side. Nevertheless this double was a fantastic
achievement by these lads and we have great hopes for continued
improvement in them in the future. Well done to all the players and
mentors, Paul Booth, David Buckley, James Boland and Damian
Synott.
Other News: The U-10s had a very active year taking part in
numerous blitzes including a Munster one in Mungret in Limerick.
Brian
Colclough
presenting
tops to
captain Keith
McMahon.
Also incl.
players, Enda
Moloney,
Conor Sheedy,
Michael
Parlon and
Secretary Alan
Fogarty.
Roscrea People 2014
They acquitted themselves very well
throughout the year and hopefully we will
see them all back training again in the
new year. Thanks to mentors John
Donovan Snr and Jnr and John Gunnell
for their efforts.
Our U-12s had a very strong year with
both Group 1 and Group 4 teams reaching
the North Tipp finals. The Group 1 team
suffered a heart-breaking defeat to
Kilruane conceding a goal in the last
minute to lose by a point. The Group 4
team lost out to Toomevara. Mentors:
James Boland, John Harnett, Damian
Carroll, Gregory Carney. The U-16s had
some fine performances but lost out to
Nenagh in the North semi-final. Mentors:
John Donovan, Chris Neville.
Inane Rovers Under 14 Team - North Tipp Féile Peil A and North Tipp Championship A
winners 2014.
Front: Shane Treacy, Brian Bergin, Aidan Booth, Eoin Bergin, Aaron Loughnane, Jack
Lee, Daragh Tynan (Captain), Eoin Tynan, James O’Meara, Eoin Dooley, Eoghan Bergin,
Eoin Kelly.
Back: James Synott, Dean Pyne, Bradley Neville, Jamie Ryan, Gavin Meagher,
Luke Cashin, Adam Dooley, Jerry Cahir, Enda Parlon, Glen Loughnane, Brian Parlon,
Cian O’Connor.
It was the fourth year of our Liam Carson
Memorial Primary schools Blitz. Yet again
some heart-warming games of football
were played out by Scoil Eoin, Sacred
Heart, Dromakeenan NS and Corville NS
with Scoil Eoin running out deserved winners
for the second year in a row.
On a sadder note we would like to remember
Birdie Pyne whose untimely passing was a
blow to all in Inane. She was an avid Inane
Rovers supporter and will be sadly missed. Ar
dheis dé go raibh a hanam.
Bernie Colclough happily holds the
County trophy watched by Jimmy
Cunningham (team physio), Brian
Colclough, Gerry Fitzgerald (selector)
and Alan Fogarty (manager).
Bernies SuperValu proudly
sponsor this feature on
Inane achievements
Roscrea Leisure
Cycling Group
Spearheaded by Tim Hennessy this new leisure
club/group was founded during the year in
conjunction with North Tipperary Sports
Partnership (NTSP) with help from RCDC and local
businesses. The club is fully insured (helmets
essential) uses Roscrea Leisure Centre as their
starting point for cycling excursions and cater for
all types of bikes and expertise. See their page on
facebook.
At the Cycling Club Launch:
l-r Brian Colclough, Michael Breen, Denis Hennessy,
Theresa O'Neill, Tim Hennessy, David Hennessy, Mia
O'Connor, Jerry Brennan, Enda Hennessy, Brian King.
St. Anne's Charity Cycle Launch: picture includes
Jenny Keeshan and members of St. Anne's Parents’
Association, Tim Hennessy, Marie Warren, Minister Alan Kelly,
Shane Lee and students from St. Anne's.
163
Roscrea People 2014
Roscrea Rugby Club… highlights of the year
by Frank O’Connor
Roscrea 1st team had been very competitive in all their matches
in the first half of the season but had lost out on a number of
occasions in the last few minutes or with the last kick of the game.
For example Portlaoise earned a draw in Streamstown with a last
minute penalty. Railway Union won with the last kick of the
game, as did Mullingar.
The consequences of all this were that Roscrea were in a
precarious position at the start of the New Year. In a league of
eight teams there is not much room for error. But Roscrea rallied
their forces and had a number of impressive victories to move
them to 4th place with just one round of matches to go. The last
match was against Railway Union in Dublin and Roscrea were
far from full strength. They were well beaten and in the space of
an afternoon they moved from 4th place to 7th, which put them
obviously in 2nd last place. Therefore they had to fight a
promotion/relegation battle with their old Midland League rivals
Edenderry, who had finished 2nd in Division 2B. Once again
Roscrea rallied and probably played their best match of the season
to easily defeat a gallant Edenderry side in Portlaoise, and so
remain in Division 2A.
Roscrea got a home draw in the Provincial Town's Cup but the
pitch at Streamstown was unplayable after the huge amount of
rain that fell in late January. The match was re-fixed a number of
times before eventually, being played at an away venue in Cill
Dara. Roscrea played very well indeed but the size and strength
of the Cill Dara pack told and they exited the Cup. But Cill Dara
had been playing an illegal player all season and there was an
objection which was upheld and they were deducted league
points. This worked to Roscrea's advantage and they were
awarded the Cup match. So now they had to travel to Division 1
leaders Ashbourne and they were well beaten, which concluded
their season.
The club were unfortunate to be without their captain for the
season as John Maher got injured in pre-season training and never
played a match. Fortunately John made a good recovery and is
now fine. Aaron Carroll took over as 1st team captain and has
remained on as Club captain in the current season which is not
going so well. Some retirements and some injuries have meant
that the team has been struggling this season but there are new
leaders emerging and more players are now available after injuries
so everyone is full of hope for the remainder of the season.
At the A.G.M. in June Michael Talbot stepped down after three
years as President. He was an excellent and very active President
who put in a huge amount of work. The club are particularly
grateful to him for organising the club sponsorship with
Seabridge. Carter Engineering of course continues to be a major
sponsor. Michael is continuing as a very active Vice President,
with John Kirby taking over the role as president.
The Honours Cap went to loose forward and line out expert
Malachy Maher who put in yet another outstanding season.
A feature of last season was the excellent form shown by the 2nd
fifteen who, under the captaincy of Niall Carey were 2nd in their
very competitive league at the half way stage. They did fall off a
bit in the new year, but finished in mid- table. Many new players
were blooded on this team and in the current season they are
pushing hard for their places on the 1st team.
The club were very sorry to have John Lillis retire as coach but
lucky to have a very capable replacement in the very experienced
Alan Tynan.
One of the highlights of the year was the arrival of the Donal Walsh Live Life Walk to the town. Fifty or so transition
year students from Tralee, led by Finbarr Walsh, Donal's father, were welcomed to the club by president Michael Talbot.
They were collecting for the Donal Walsh Live Life foundation and were walking from the Aviva stadium to Thomond
Park. They stayed with volunteer hosts overnight and really enjoyed their Roscrea visit. Well done to Michael and his
organising committee who put in an amount of work to make the visit successful and a special, thank you to all the host
families, and also the local businesses who supplied the food for the young walkers.
164
Roscrea People 2014
Finbarr Walsh, President Micheal Talbot and President Elect
John Kirby photographed as the "Donal Walsh Live life
Walk" group stopped off in Roscrea for a night.
Roscrea 1st v Garda
Back: Seamus Treacy, Joe Maher, Niall Carey, Liam Quinlan, Neil
Foyle, Michael Treacy, Antoin Doherty, Norton Greene
Front: Liam Stapleton, Brian Abbot, Michael Fitzgerald, Willie
Maher, Paul McNamara, Darragh Quinlan.
Roscrea RFC President Michael Talbot and Mervyn
Stanley presenting a donation from the club to Jim
McMahon, Principal of St Anne's Special School. The
donation was from funds raised at the club's annual
timber auction: another donation was made to
Temple St. Hospital in Dublin.
Action from Athy: Roscrea 2nd XV V Athy in
Streamstown: Steve Moloney, George Sutton and
David Cody covering across the field.
Coaches and Players who took part in a Minis coaching course run in Roscrea RFC by Derek Maybury, the Leinster Coach
Development Officer for the Midlands. Coaches in the back row (L/R): David Benn, Padraig Sheedy, Mervyn Stanley,
Finbarr McCabe, Keith Wallace, John Benn, Dave Talbot, Gordon Larke and Derek Maybury.
165
Roscrea People 2014
The Road to All-Ireland Glory
…Willie Smyth tells the story
Another September and we are back in school looking forward to the
year ahead and a new hurling landscape as this was our first year in
the all new colleges competition. Having won the last ever Munster
Vocational Schools Senior Hurling title in 2013 we set out in this
campaign against St. Mary’s Newport on September 25th. We were
forced to play a weakened side as a lot of our players were
unavailable due to club commitments.
On the day we were well beaten and now faced an uphill task to
qualify out of the group. This task wasn’t helped by the withdrawal
of Kanturk and Clonakilty who withdrew from the competition and
this meant we faced St. Joseph’s, Borrisoleigh in a do or die game
on November 4th. Having prepared well we came through this game
on a score line of Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré 2-18 to St. Joseph’s 1-18.
This victory gave us a place in the Munster quarter- final and
guaranteed us hurling in 2014. Training and practice matches had
us ready to face St. Anne’s of Killaloe in Boher, Co Limerick on
January 10th 2014. This was a terrific contest with Jordan Fogarty,
Aaron Kirwan and David Murray getting goals to seal a super win on
a score line of Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré 4-12 to St. Anne’s Killaloe
1-15. This was a big win and a major boost, confidence wise.
Our team now had a settled look to it with Enda Moloney
commanding in goal and Declan Cleary likewise at full back well
supported by corner backs Ian Treacy and Brian Davis. The half back
line of J.P. Cleary, Daniel Doughan and Lee Cashin completed a solid
unit. One of the features beginning to emerge was that we had a lot
of scorers in every game including subs who came on. We were now
in the Munster semi-final, and who did we draw only St. Mary’s of
Newport. Due to inclement weather, and water-logged pitches this
game was postponed twice and was eventually fixed for the allweather pitch in the University of Limerick on Friday 21st of
February. This called for a couple of training sessions in Heywood
all-weather pitch, Co. Laois which most definitely helped us secure
a hard fought win on a score line on Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré 1-9 to
St. Mary’s of Newport 2-3.
Now we were in our first Munster Colleges Final. The crucial score
was a smashing goal from Shane Sampson after being set up by
Ciarán Cleary. We were now facing a fancied Cashel side that had
dispatched Killmallock, Co. Limerick in the other semi-final. All
roads led to Templemore for Munster final day, Saturday 8th March.
This was a game fighting for a Munster final with Cashel going into
an early lead before being pulled back by Roscrea just coming to half
time. The lead changed a couple of times again and when Josh Keane
goaled for Cashel close to the finish it looked like it could be their
day, but Adrian Cleary fielded a high ball and found Cian Rigney
with a perfect pass and he made no mistake as he drilled his shot low
and hard to the net. Jordan Fogarty added a super point from play and
then sealed victory with an injury time free – and the cup was heading
to Coláiste Phobal amid scenes of great joy.
We faced St. Mary’s College Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final on
Saturday 22nd of March in Whitegate, Co. Clare. We had two weeks
to get ready for this match and great credit goes to the panel for their
attitude and attendance at training in particular players who hadn’t
got much game-time such as Donal Carroll, Daire Murray, Dylan
Maher, Mark Fanning (all Moneygall), Padraig Smyth, Diarmuid
Cleary (Shinrone), Niall Devitt (Portlaoise), Jack Doherty
(Ballyskenach/Killavilla), Ciaran Guilfoyle, Josh Neville, Thomas
McCarthy, Colman Treacy, Eoin Fitzpatrick (All Roscrea) and
Darragh Morrissey (Kyle). These are the players that allowed us play
good matches in training which had a huge impact on our season.
And so the semi-final vs St. Mary’s proved to be a tough battle. St.
Mary’s had the better of things in the opening half and had a two
point advantage at the break. Having played with the wind in the
first half Roscrea were the dominant side in the second with Adrian
Cleary coming off the bench to score 1-2 and generally cause havoc
in the St. Mary’s defence. With Dan Doughan commanding at centre
back coupled with the work of Anthony Devereux and Sean Fogarty
166
at midfield and Jordan Fogarty from frees and play Roscrea were on
their way to the All-Ireland Final. On our way home we got word that
our opponents were Cross and Passion College, Ballycastle, Co.
Antrim who had disposed of favourites for the title, St. Fergal’s,
Rathdowney. The two weeks to prepare for the final went well,
injuries were clearing up and everyone was on board. The final was
fixed for Nowlan Park, Kilkenny on Saturday 5th April at 3:15p.m.
We trained away as normal and prepared as usual. We arrived in
Nowlan Park in good time – nice and relaxed and got ready for the
warm up.
It’s 3:15 p.m. and the game is on. It’s 3:15 p.m. and 11 seconds and
Anthony Devereux has a point for Roscrea, a great start for Roscrea
and Anthony who went on to play a super game. Cross and Passion,
with their packed half back line, soon got control and after 15 minutes
had 5 points to 2 point lead. Even though we were trailing, Roscrea
were playing controlled hurling and showed no sign of panic. A
positional switch of Sean Fogarty to midfield from centre forward,
Ciaran Cleary to centre forward and Jordan Fogarty to left half
forward began to reap rewards and with Daniel Doughan now getting
a grip on the game at centre back things began to happen for Roscrea.
Dan began this with a super long-range inspirational point followed
by a Jordan Fogarty free. After Jordan was fouled he pointed the
resultant free to level matters. Both sides exchanged points to leave
it at 0-6 apiece when Jordan Fogarty shot towards goal and the Cross
and Passion keeper took the ball behind the line to give Roscrea a
huge lift coming into half-time. Jordan converted another free to
leave the half-time score Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré 1-7, Cross and
Passion 0-6. Still with the wind at their backs for the second half
Cross and Passion would have been happy enough at the interval.
All over the field Roscrea players upped the game in the second half.
Enda Moloney was outstanding all day in goal and all six backs
hurled well with J.P. Cleary and Dan Doughan and Lee Cashin all
putting in a huge second half. All over the field the work rate of the
Roscrea players was immense and Adrian Cleary was causing lots of
problems for Antrim senior player Ryan McCambridge. Jordan
Fogarty was unnerving from frees and Ciaran Cleary and Jamie
Dooley had huge second halves scoring two points each as did Shane
Fletcher after being introduced and scoring a fine point. Coláiste
Phobal was now controlling the game with Evan Fitzpatrick picking
up a lot of breaking ball and setting up numerous attacks. Cross and
Passion threw Ryan McCambridge forward in an effort to get scores
but there was no way through the Roscrea defence and they were
limited to long range efforts and only managed to score four points
during the second half.
The icing on the cake came close to the end when Shane Fletcher
turned his marker and headed for goal. He could have gone for his
own score but spotted the unmarked David Murray who scored a goal
from close range having come on as a substitute. This was a fitting
score as Roscrea had powered to victory during the second half and
with a 12 point lead we could enjoy the last minute. At the final
whistle hundreds of supporters flocked onto the pitch to celebrate our
first senior All-Ireland title since the new school was formed in 1999.
Having won many Senior Munster Titles in recent times, this AllIreland win was much deserved. It was the result of hard work and
dedication and team spirit by the hurlers of Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré
over many years.
Thanks to Oliver Egan and Liam O’Brien, selectors for all their work,
Anne-Marie Mulrooney for looking for all the gear. Thanks to Jimmy
Cunningham for first aid, Mr. O’Brien, Mr. Haugh; all the staff and
students for all their support, Vera and Paula in the office and Monty,
Catherine Watkins and Seamus Mullaney for their photographs.
Thanks to our sponsors, Roscrea Credit Union, Bernie’s SuperValu
and Fitzpatrick Bus Hire. Thanks to all the local hurling clubs,
Roscrea, Shinrone, Moneygall, Clonakenny, Ballyskenach/Killavilla,
Kyle, Coolderry and Borris-in-Ossary. And finally to our parents
who have been so supportive over the years.
Roscrea People 2014
An Historic Victory by Seamus O’Doherty
This year the Roscrea People hurling heritage article (No.8 in the
series by one of the most prolific Tipperary GAA writers in the
country) recalls the first county Tipperary Junior Hurling title won
by Roscrea, in 1982.
The 1982 hurling season opened with Roscrea, who had been
dethroned by Borrisoleigh in the previous year’s county senior
hurling final, determined to regain the Dan Breen cup, which had
been won for the sixth time, in 1980. The campaign produced an
unsatisfactory outcome, as the North Final, which ended in a draw
with Eire Óg, Nenagh was never replayed. The county final was even
more disappointing, because it was replayed and victory went to
Moycarkey Borris. The Juniors emerged as the Club’s team of the
year and their story will now be told.
Background: In the early years of this competition, Roscrea had
been regular contenders and won the North title in 1930, 1942 and
1946. Along with the appearance of the senior team in the county
finals of 1936 and 1945 ( lost in a replay) Roscrea’s status as a
progressive club was readily acknowledged. Following defeat in the
1954, 1963 and 1967 County Senior finals, the success of the Minor
team, with six North and County titles in the 1958-1963 era, followed
by under 21 glory, ensured the breakthrough in 1968. In the midst of
all this success, the Juniors were always on the periphery. In 1970, the
Junior team reached the North final, but lost heavily to Templederry
and slipped into the background again, as the Seniors continued their
golden era.
It was 1976 before Roscrea reached another North Junior Final and
this time Templederry had to work hard for their win, 3-7 to 4-3 .
Mick Minogue was an inspiring figure on the team, after his senior
career had ended. In 1978 and 1979 Roscrea lost North semi finals
to BorrisIleigh and Silvermines respectively and both went on to win
the county title. After a poor campaign in 1980, the Juniors were
organised again in 1981, but they were unlucky to meet a very
talented Borrisokane team in the North final. Roscrea lost by 3-12 to
3-8 and the consolation of seeing Borris lift county honours
convinced townspeople that Roscrea were edging closer to the top in
this grade.
Another attempt: The year 1982 opened then with an increasing
sense of optimism. Roscrea played in a six team group with
Knockshegowna, Kilruane Mac Donaghs, Eire Óg Nenagh,
Silvermines and Toomevara. The top three teams would qualify for
the knock out stages and that seemed like an achievable target.
The opening game in Moneygall at the end of May, saw Roscrea who
had prepared well with three challenge game victories, facing an
under strength Kilruane Mac Donaghs. Ros led at half time by 0-6
to 0-2 and with the Michael ‘’Jackie’’ Shanahan / Len Gaynor contest
the most interesting, the Reds powered home by 2-18 to 1-2. A
fortnight later it was back to Moneygall to face Silvermines who had
regraded several of their 1981 Intermediate team. The captain, Jackie
Shanahan scored two first half goals, which helped Roscrea to a 2-2
to 0-4 half time lead. The first half downpour didn’t help the teams
but Ros had to be solid in defence all through before winning by 25 to 0-7.
The third game against Knockshegowna in Cloughjordan, at the end
of June was another wet night, but a first half brace of goals by David
Minogue helped Ros to a nine point half time lead. Knockshe’ rallied
in the second half as Roscrea faded and Purdy Mc Mahon’s 1-1
proved critical in a 6-3 to 3-6 victory.
Next up was the Eire Óg, Nenagh game, near the end of July with
both teams unbeaten and keen to top the group and win a semi final
spot. Moneygall was the venue and victory here was hard won. Seven
Roscrea players scored in a 4-10 to 3-4 victory. Jackie Shanahan led
the way with 1-2.
The final group game against Toomevara didn’t take place. The
Greyhounds were out of the running and they were happy to concede
the match. As a result Roscrea topped the group, but now had a long
wait until the semi final.
The day came at last and it was Knockshegowna (quarter final
winners over Moneygall ) that Roscrea faced at Cloughjordan, in
early September. Roscrea started well but Knockshe’ eventually
found their way and despite goals by Joe Hogan and Tom Ryan,
Roscrea only led by 2-5 to 2-1, at the break. The first half injury to
Jackie Shanahan unsettled the forward line. Knockshe rallied to level
scoring in the second half. The last ten minutes produced hectic
hurling with some narrow misses, However, the contest ended well,
with Philip Bergin firing over the winning point, 2-10 to 2-9.
North Final: The North final against Ballina was fixed for Nenagh,
on Saturday evening, September 25th. It was another wet evening, but
the final had to be won and Ballina, who had only lost once all season
and were fielding their only adult team were equally keen to lift the
cup. The first half was intense, but free flowing hurling was out. Most
of the first half scores came from frees with Joe Hogan 0-2 and Aidan
Shanahan 0-1 scoring from play. At half time Roscrea led by 0-7 to
0-3 .
Ballina opened the second half scoring with a point,but goals from
Joe Hogan and Purdy Mc Mahon set Roscrea on their way. Ballina
rallied and their own purple patch saw the lead cut to four, 2-9 to 25. Roscrea responded promptly and points from Joe Hogan and
Jackie Shanahan increased the lead to six points and that was how it
ended. The final score was 2-11 to 2-5. The referee was Shay
Donnelly (Borrisokane). After the game there was great joy and
satisfaction as North Board Chairman, Denis Floyd, presented the
O’Keeffe Cup to Jackie Shanahan, who had led by example
throughout. There was a direct family link to the 1946 North Final
win, as that year’s captain WJ Wright had two sons on the 1982 team
Martin ‘’Muddy’’ and Brendan ‘’ Baby’’ Wright.
Next Stage: The county semi final against Moycarkey Borris was
played at Templemore on November 7th and had some intensity
because of the two Senior county final meetings, a month earlier.
Despite playing against the wind in the first half, Roscrea were well
on top and led by 0-8 to 0-0 at the break. However, it was back to 18 to 1-3 after 45 minutes, but Roscrea finished strongly with points
from Joe Hogan (2) and Aidan Shanahan. Victory was achieved by 111 to 1-4. Johnny Mc Donnell was in goal in place of the unavailable
Paddy Tierney, while PJ Deane played at right half back instead of
Sean Hogan. The only substitute used again was Philip Bergin, who
replaced Purdy Mc Mahon. The performance of the half forward line
was excellent and the trio made a significant contribution to
Roscrea’s win.
Willie Morrissey (Knockavila Donaskeigh Kickhams) was the
referee and Roscrea’s scorers were Joe Hogan (0-4), Jackie Shanahan
(0-3), Tom Ryan (1-0), Aidan Shanahan (0-2), David Minogue and
Donie Moloney 0-1 each.
Big Day: County final day was a week later at Holycross with
Cappawhite (who had beaten Moyle Rovers) providing the
opposition. The day was suitably cold for mid November, but the
pitch was dry and the contest a committed one. It was according to a
local newspaper ‘.. a close and tenacious encounter’. Roscrea had
first use of the wind and thanks to David Minogue’s early goal
following PJ Deane’s delivery The Reds held the upper hand. Indeed
167
Roscrea People 2014
The North Final winning squad:
Paddy Tierney, Jimmy Brady, Val Ryan, Roddy
Ryan, Sean Hogan, Martin Wright, Paul Minogue,
Aidan Shanahan (0-1), Austin O’ Meara, Donie
Moloney, Jackie Shanahan (Captain, 0-6), Joe
Hogan (1-3), David Minogue, Tom Ryan (0-1),
Purdy Mc Mahon (1-0) Subs Philip Bergin for
A O’ Meara, also PJ Deane, Seamus O’ Doherty,
Martin Walsh, Aidan Guilfoyle, Micheal Scully,
Murty Ryan, Johnny Mc Donnell, Brendan
Wright, John Carey.
Minogue was unfortunate to have a goal disallowed just before the
break when he doubled on a cross from Aidan Shanahan, but a free
out was given for an infringement. Despite that setback Roscrea
turned over leading by 1-4 to 0-3. It wasn’t a significant lead but it
sufficed. Only one point was scored in the second half and that by
Jackie Shanahan. Cappawhite threatened the Roscrea goal a few
times but Roddy Ryan cleared a dangerous situation after 19 minutes
and that was really it. Roscrea didn’t play as well as they had in the
semi final, but a match report noted that it was ‘.. very hard to hurl
well in the numbing cold and to have to endure rain as well in the
second half’. Roscrea got all five points from captain Jackie
Shanahan, while David Minogue’s first half goal ensured there was
always a little bit between the teams. The final score was 1-5 to 03.
Team– J Mc Donnell, J Brady, V Ryan, PJ Deane, M Wright, P
Minogue, A Shanahan, A O’ Meara, J Hogan, J Shanahan ( captain),
Donie Moloney, D. Minogue, T. Ryan, P. Mc Mahon. None of the
substitutes was used - Paddy Tierney, Sean Hogan, Philip Bergin,
Seamus O’ Doherty Brendan Wright, Martin Walsh, Aidan Guilfoyle,
Murty Ryan.
The referee was Phil Lowry ( Holycross Ballycahill).
Afterword: The team had an enjoyable reunion at Racket Hall Hotel,
in March 2007,when Roscrea Hurling Club invited the players to be
Guests of Honour at the annual buffet social . Everyone involved
was presented with a Newbridge Silverware clock, in appreciation
of their contributions to the county title success. It was
a much appreciated gesture.
The 1982 County title set the scene for further Junior
success and since then Roscrea won North & County
titles in 1986, while the success of James Maher’s
Junior ‘B’ team in the 2012/2013 season, is still fresh
in the memory.
The 1980s may have been economically difficult years in Ireland,
but they are remembered with affection by those fortunate enough to
have been part of the Junior Hurling success, enjoyed by Roscrea
Hurling Club.
Great credit was due to the 1982 selectors: Jimmy Brady (Junior
captain in 1981), Paddy Tierney (corner back in the1981 North Junior
final), Dickie O’ Brien RIP (long serving Junior player to1980), and
Willie O’ Reilly RIP, who was the Trainer/ Manager.
The Roscrea Junior hurling team reunion 2007
Seated: Seamus Doran (PRO), Johnny McDonnell, Jimmy Brady, Dinny Ryan
(special guest), Anne O’Reilly (rep late husband Willie), Danny Moloney, Aidan
Shanahan (1982 captain), Sean Hogan.
Michael ‘Jackie’ Shanahan receives the D P
Walsh Trophy from Michael Lowry, Vice
Chairman, Tipperary Co. Board GAA, after the
1982 county final.
168
Middle: Tim Floyd (County Board Sec.), John Sherlock (North Board Chairman),
Martin Ryan, P.J. Deane, Purdy McMahon, Jackie Shanahan (1982 captain),
Donie Moloney, Brendan Wright, Joe Hogan, John Costigan (County Board
Chairman).
Back: Michael Phelan (Secretary), Val Ryan, Roddy Ryan, Philip Bergin, Martin
Walsh, Martin ‘Muddy’ Wright, Tom Ryan, Paddy Tierney, Bertie Fitzpatrick
(Chairman).
Roscrea People 2014
Roscrea Golf Club
2014 was another successful year on the Golf
Course helped by the good summer weather.
However, it was also a challenging year trying
to hold on to and get new members. A
number of initiatives were tried, especially
“Try Golf” which was most successful in
getting new Lady Members. Thanks to
Marjorie McCorduck and her helpers. Also
thanks to the Juvenile Committee of
Proinnsias Loughnane, Damien Shanahan and
Marcelline Cody for their great work with the
juveniles, the future of our Club. Also passed
at the AGM was a reduced fee for new
members and a reduction in the main sub.
Hopefully 2015 will be a better year on the
financial front.
Our weekly Lotto continues to be of help to
Club funds. Thanks are due to coordinator
Michael Lorigan and his Committee, and to
the supporters, especially non members of
our Club.
President's Prize 2014 to Men
Front (l/r): S. Crofton, S. Ryan, D. Hogan (winner), Liam Shanahan (President),
P. Nevin (Men's Captain), G. Delaney, J. Ryan.
Back (l/r): P. Kiely, M. Dooley, F. Lyons, D. Ryan, D. McLoughlin, M. McCormack,
D. Shanahan, S. Feehan, I. Wright, P. Sheedy, L. Nolan, M. Rowland, J. Carroll,
D. Carney.
Winter League –Sponsored again by
Bernie’s SuperValu, it was again very popular and kept men
golfers active during the long winter months. Winning team Sean Egan (mon), Martin Carney, Ger Delaney, Mike Moloney,
James Masterson and Flan Lyons.
Ryan Cup: J. Groarke (18), 46 points.
Club Fundraiser - sponsored by AIB took place on the 19th April.
Overall winner was John Hickey (12), 43 points.
Millpark Cup - sponsored by Mulrooney Oil & Gala; winner,
Ger Dooley (2) 68 nett. Ladies: Rosario Cullinan (25) 75nett.
Open Scratch Cups
Senior - sponsored by Centenary DIY Home & Garden; winner,
M. Buggy, Castlecomer.
Junior - sponsored by Tipperary Water; winner,
Fabian Jones.
Intermediate - sponsored by Tony Henrick,
winner, Eugene Reynolds.
Masters - over 17 handicaps; winner, Gerry Kealey (20), 35
points
All Ireland Captains’ Prize Winners Competition again
attracted a large entry. The sun shone bright for the Ladies: four
lucky winners of the ALGARVE trip are as follows:- S. Toomey,
Ballykisteen; A. Stapleton, Thurles; A. O’Neill, Highfield; O.
Bane, Cregmore Park.
The Men’s competition had to be abandoned due to heavy rainfall
and rescheduled for another Friday and played over 15 holes.
Winners; - M. Meehan, Newcastlewest; A. O’Brien, Wexford; S.
Dore, Tulfarris: J.J. O’Keefe, Adare Manor. Thanks to Steve
Crofton and his committee and to John Cahill, who as tour
organiser, will take the winners to the ALGARVE next May.
President (Liam Shanahan) Prize attracted a
large entry; winner was Donal Hogan (10)
while the gross prize went to Mark Rowland.
Captain Pat Nevin’s Prize – Pat, a popular
Captain, was honoured with another large entry.
The winner was Michael McCormack
(Toomevara), a previous winner, with half a shot
to spare over Martin Moloney. Gross: Aidan
Doran.
Another Club Fundraiser, sponsored by The
Stand (Speedy) was held at the end of August
and brought much needed funding for the Club.
Thanks to Conty Cunningham and his
Committee. Winner: Damien Shanahan (8), 44
points. Lady Winner: Eleanor Ryan Carroll (20),
35 points.
Men's Captain’s Prize
Front (l/r): J. Mann (Lady Captain), L. Shanahan (President), M. McCormack
(Captain's Prize Winner) Pat Nevin (Men's Captain), N. Ryan (Lady ViceCaptain), N. McMahon (Men's Vice-Captain).
Back (l/r): S. Crofton (Hon. Sec.), D. Shanahan, C. Cunningham, E. Fitzpatrick,
R. Ryan, F. Cullinan, E. Jones, A. Doran, J. Hickey, M. Moloney, F. Lyons,
M. Carney, D. Carney, P. Kiely (Comp. Sec.), M. Parlon, B. Monaghan.
169
Roscrea People 2014
170
Roscrea People 2014
Golfer of the Year, played over nine rounds, went down to the
last round and this year Golfer of the Year is Aidan Shanahan.
Club Championships - played during the summer months.
Summer League - winners, Brendan Monaghan and Michael
Rosney.
Dooley Cup - winner, Michael Ryan.
Scratch Cup – Final – winner, Damien Shanahan.
Diageo Mixed attracted an entry of 16 Clubs. Winners were
Templemore who defeated Castletroy in the Final. Thanks to
Noel McMahon and Noreen Ryan for all their work in running
this competition.
Monday Golfers – Thanks to Philip Kennedy and Seamus
O’Riain for organising a twelve hole competition for our senior
golfers every Monday morning. Their Captain’s Prize was won
by Joe Dooley (N/L).
Bereavements – Eddie Doyle, Corville; Mamie Tobin, Castle
Street; Mark Delaney, The Haven; Gerry Hayes, Templemore
Road; Ailish Dwyer, Barnagree, Roscrea; Jimmy Hanley,
Templemore; Jack Fahey, Borris-in-Ossory; Dan Connaire, Birr
Road; Winnie Owens, Lady Captain 1969 who died this year in
Tralee.
Retirements – President Liam Shanahan and Hon. Sec. Steve
Crofton both step down from their positions having served their
three year term; also outgoing Captains Pat Nevin and Joanne
Mann. Thanks to all, and best of luck to incoming Captains Noel
McMahon and Noreen Ryan.
Staff – Thanks to all our staff including Kathleen Phelan, Office
Administrator; Bar Manager George and Bar staff, David and
Domo; also to Danny Parker, restaurant, and staff.
Our Course has been in excellent condition all through the year.
Thanks to our Greenkeeper, John Quinlan and his staff, Des
Hogan, Brian Dooley, Ger Quinlan and Course Sec. Jim
Cummins. Also thanks to our excellent FAS workers, Pat Carroll
and Brendan Lawless who did great work, including the 10th tee
box under the guidance of Paddy Bergin.
Mens Golfing Affairs committee – Pat Nevin, Noel McMahon,
Ger Dooley, Peter Kiely, Proinnsias Loughnane, Brendan
Monaghan, Fabian Jones.
Management Committee – Liam Shanahan, Pat Nevin, Joanne
Mann, Noel McMahon, Noreen Ryan, Steve Crofton, Jim Ryan,
Martin Butler, Conty Cunningham, Paddy Bergin, Frank Cullinan,
Josie O’Grady, Jim Cummins, Deirdre McCarthy and John Hayes.
Steve Crofton & Pat Nevin
Juveniles - Our juvenile section continued to grow during the
year, with many new girls and boys joining up and partaking in
the many events organised on their behalf. This year we were
particularly pleased to welcome eight new girls who were
introduced by our ladies co-ordinator Marcelline Cody, assisted
by Ruth Cryan. These new members received the best of tutelage
from PGA professional Bobby King.
On the boys side we were delighted to upgrade Eoin Dooley to a
senior handicap making him eligible to tee it up with his
illustrious father and uncle. We anticipate some more
intermediates making the grade in the coming year.
On a representative level we once again took part in the Fred Daly
Trophy. We played Limerick in Adare in June. The panel
included: Michael Rosney, Tom Ahern, Dylan Maher, Eoin
Fitzpatrick, Evan Fitzpatrick, Shane Fletcher, Rodi Ryan, and
Stephen Ryan. The boys enjoyed their first outing on a
championship course but were eventually beaten by a more
experienced Limerick side. However this wasn’t our only foray
in the Fred Daly as we entered the Plate section and enjoyed
success against Ballykisteen before losing to Tipperary GC in
mid-July. We have lost the nucleus of this panel for next year but
we are optimistic that we have a good crop to step into the team
environment.
Our outstanding juvenile, Clodagh Jones, continued to pave the
way for the girls this year by winning the Girlie Hegarthy U22 in
Douglas, second in the Leary Insurance u16 at Cork GC and third
in the Mid Leinster Girls at Mountrath GC – onwards and
upwards.
In August we again ran our Summer Camp which proved a huge
success with over thirty kids taking part. Throughout the year we
continued our weekly competitions and from June until end of
summer holidays, our weekly competitions. The numbers and
interest shown in these mornings was fantastic.
This year our President Liam Shanahan, kindly put up prizes for
the Intermediate and Junior sections, run in conjunction with his
own Presidents Prize in July. The winners were: Intermediate –
Jamie Ryan and Junior – Daire Pyne. The next major in August
was the Juvenile Captain’s Prize which was also kindly sponsored
by men’s Captain, Pat Nevin. The winners: Joseph Gernon and
Junior – Daire Pyne. We are presently running a winter coaching
programme on Saturdays with PGA professional Eanna Jones.
These sessions are vital for the development of technically sound
mechanics which is a prerequisite for a fluid golf swing. Our
Juvenile section was represented at the Roscrea Stands Up
exhibition in Coláiste Phobal in October. We were encouraged by
the interest shown in our stand and we were delighted to support
this very worthwhile project to encourage the youth of Roscrea to
become involved in some of the many clubs in town.
Proinnsias Loughnane
Ladies Club
Lady Captain: Joanne Mann, Lady Vice-Captain, Noreen Ryan;
Committee: Catherine Lorigan, Marie Carroll, Chris McDonnell,
Monica Dooley and Marion Bergin.
The18 Hole (Tuesday) Competitions commenced on March 18th
and in keeping with tradition Past Captain’s Prize was sponsored
by last year’s Captain Eleanor Ryan-Carroll, and won by Ruth
Cryan. The 18 Hole Competitions continued until October 7th,
followed by nine Hole Competitions for the winter months. The
Winter League (9Hole) encouraged Ladies out to play. A nine
Hole Ringer competition was sponsored by Ban Ryan and won
by Trish Rowland. All competitions were well supported, with
some of the Tuesday competitions run as charity fundraisers, such
as; Conquer Cancer, three T’s (Turning the Tide on Suicide),
Rumble for Crumlin Hospital and NBCRI.
Ladies’ teams were entered into the ILGU Inter-Club
Competitions, The Finn Trophy, The Glens Trophy and the
Tipperary League. Ladies also represented the Club on the
171
Roscrea People 2014
172
Roscrea People 2014
Year’ title went to Marrita
King. The ILGU Silver
Medal winner for 2014
was Monica Dooley and
the Bronze Medal winner
was Kathleen Tynan.
ILGU junior medal winner
was Clodagh Jones. Silver
Spoon winner was Chris
Mc Donnell.
Social Golf progressed
well this year. Great credit
goes to Deidre McCarthy
who organised the Mixed
three person Scramble
which was a great success
on Monday evenings,
helped by the lovely
President’s Prize to the Ladies
weather and culminated in
Front (l/r): Noreen Ryan (Lady Vice-Captain), Liam Shanahan (President), Marie Donnellan (winner),
an enjoyable social evening
Joanne Mann (Lady Captain), Trish Rowland, Pat Nevin (Men's Captain).
on the final Monday. The
Back (l/r): Ruth Cryan-Wright, Chris McDonnell, Marian O'Connor, Margaret Collison, Ann Talbot,
ParTee Ladies, organised
Kathleen Phelan, Sinead Holland, Breda Kennedy, Susan O'Reilly,
this year by Catherine
Josie O'Grady, Marjorie McCorduck, Eleanor Ryan Carroll.
Lorigan
and
Maura
Diageo Mixed Team and the Irish Mixed Foursomes. The Annual Killackey, had good numbers participating each week (no age or
Inter-Club match against Nenagh, held in Nenagh on October 19th, handicap limit).
was won by Nenagh.
‘Try Golf’ initiative for beginners was started by Marjorie
The highlight of the year was our Lady Captain Joanne Mann’s McCorduck who organised a four week golf coaching, courtesy
Prize on July 27th. The event took place over 18 Hole Stroke of Roscrea Golf Club. Tuesday evenings were selected and a
Competition with a shotgun start. There was a nine Hole Stroke large group of volunteers “Buddies’’ assisted on the course.
Play-off for the leading 15 qualifiers. Trish Rowland was leading Marcelline Cody organised coaching sessions with a PGA
the field after 18 holes with a score of 68 nett, however, Eleanor Professional Bobby King for juvenile girls.
Ryan-Carroll came from down the field to win with a great score
Ladies’ Captain for 2015 will be Noreen Ryan and Vice- Captain
of 101 nett. Gross; Orla Egan.
will be Catherine Lorigan both of whom are wished every
The second major of the year was President, Mr. Liam Shanahan’s success. Mile Buíochas to outgoing Captain, Joanne. Go neirí an
Prize to the Ladies, on June 29th. Again it was a 18 Hole Stroke t-adh lei.
Competition with a nine Hole play-off for the leading 15 players.
Marion Bergin
The winner was Marie Donnellan 100.5.
Our Ladies also represented the Club
during the year at a number of
competitions around the country,
including the Granard Cup, Josie
O’Grady and Marrita King;
Australian Spoons Foursomes, Trish
Rowland & Marion Bergin; Marrita
King & Chris McDonnell; The
Valerie Doyle Trophy, Monica
Dooley, Kathleen Tynan & Doreen
Dooley;
Peugeot
Coronation
Foursomes, Deidre McCarthy & Ann
Parlon. Our Hi/Low Competition
was won by Monica Dooley &
Marion Bergin; Three T’s Maura
Killackey; Rumble for Crumlin
Qualifiers; Ruth Cryan & Jean
Kenny.
Congratulations to Clodagh Jones,
on winning The Girlie Hegarty
(under 22 Trophy) Clodagh is
playing off 5. The “Golfer of the
Lady Captain's Prize winners
Front (L/R): Liam Shanahan (President,), Noreen Ryan (Lady Vice-Captain), Eleanor RyanCarroll (Winner of Lady Captain's Prize), Joanne Mann (Lady Captain), Josie O'Grady, Trish
Rowland, Pat Nevin (Men's Vice-Captain).
Back (L/R): Marrita King, Orla Egan, Margaret Collison, Doreen Dooley, Evelyn Marrinan,
Ruth Cryan-Wright, Noreen Brophy, Kathleen Tynan, Rosario Cullinan, Mai Phelan,
Catherine Lorigan, Marie Donnellan, Sinead Holland, Noel McMahon (Men's Vice-Captain).
173
Roscrea People 2014
Roscrea People sympathises
with the families of the
recently deceased from the
Community.
Mairead O’Connor, 44 Assumption Park
John Moloney, 4 Assumption Park
Johnny Fogarty, 2 St. Cronan’s Terrace
Margaret Heaney, 30 Brophy Terrace
Dermot Fitzgerald, Tullaskeagh
Breda Dolan, Whitepark
Br Niall Maguire, ocso, MSJ
Kathleen Cahalane, Pintown
Eddie Doyle, Corville Road
Sadie Maher, Ballycleary
Norrie Walsh, Golden Grove Road
Kathleen (Kay) Kenny, Golden Grove Road.
Mamie (May) Tobin, Castle Street
Paddy Molloy, Dungar
Mark Delaney, The Haven
Jack Flynn, Ballybrack
Elizabeth Carney (Nee Ryan), 19 Sheehane
Bridget Delaney, 24 Chapel Lane
Gerry Hayes, Templemore Road
The Modern Story of
St Cronan’s RC.
Some copies available.
Contact the editor.
New Publication… pamphlet
Ned Quinlan and the War of
Independence in Roscrea
By Ger Dooley
Includes the Roll Book of the IRA
and Cumann na mBan in Roscrea.
Published by Roscrea People in a
limited signed edition. €10
On sale before Christmas.
Abbey Hall
Secondhand
Bookshop
Main Street …open Wed to Sat
Look out for massive book sale
before Christmas
174
Tom Fletcher, 66 Assumption Park
Carlos Simplico, Templemore Road
Ann Pegman (nee Ryan), Pintown and
England
Tony Cummins, Green Street
Ailish Dwyer, Barnagree
Mary B. Reeves, Tullaskeagh
Pat Carroll, Corville Road
Tom Bergin, Carrick
Victor Reid, Glentara
Tom Ryan, Formerly Alley’s Lane
Stephen Carney, 20 Kennedy Park
Dan O’Meara, 6 Glentara
Debbie England, Birr Road
Fr Flannan Hogan,ocso, MSJ
George Fletcher, Short Corville
Betty Fogarty, Grange
Michael Ryan, Hollymount
Collette Guilfoyle, Parkmore Heights
Bridget (Birdie) Pyne, Golden Grove
Sean Shanahan, 20 Assumption Park
Jamie Cahill, 33 Glen Carrick
Anne Charlish, 4 Moneen Court
Nora Seacy, Glentara
Rita Fletcher, 31 Assumption Park
Noel Loughnane, Roscrea Road
Thomas McDonald (Jr), Corville Road
Angela McLoughlin, Parkmore
Eddie Guilmartin, formerly Rosemary St
Harry Feehan, 20 Railway View
Madge Kenneally, 29 Assumption Park
Fintan Hutchinson, Ashbury
Roscrea People
of the Year
Racket Hall Country
House Hotel
15th January 2015
The Round Tower at Roscrea
and
its environs
Great Christmas present…
card covers €30
Help keep
Roscrea’s Patrick’s
Day Parade alive.
Pamela Dowling, 15 Chapel Lane
Simon Healy, 130 Kennedy Park
Mary Stapleton, Derrymore Lower
Dan Connaire, Birr Road
James Costello, Derrymore
Sr Monika-Clare Ghosh, formerly Brosna,
died in France
Pat Lee, 96 Kennedy Park
Ger McMahon, 12 Kennedy Park
Tom Fletcher, Limerick Street
Terry Harty, Parkmore, Carrick
Ownie Killoran, Derrymore
Jamie Donoghue, Chapel Lane
Michael O’Lone, 13 Kennedy Park
Dan Ryan, 10 Kennedy Park
Donnacha Mulrooney, formerly Main
Street
Liam Conlon, formerly Limerick Street
Patrick Guidera, Dromakeenan
Wilhelmina Hickey, Verdant Hill
Pearl Rafter, The Mall
Gladys Young, Carrick Hill
Charlie Chance, Ballybritt
Baby Iris Reid, Golden Grove
Bob Stanley, Kyle
George Stanley, Kyle
Harry Hewson, formerly Bourney Parish
Kate Connaire, Monaincha
Alice St Leger, Kyle
Joyce Wallace, Mount Heaton
Pat Dynan, Green Street
Fr Gabriel McCarthy, ocso, MSJ
Roscrea SPCA
Calendar
and Christmas Cards
on sale please support
Some back issues of
Roscrea People available.
Contact the editor or The
Abbey Hall bookshop.
ROSCREA PEOPLE
Roscrea People is a community magazine which is
published annually.
Printed at J.F. Walsh, Printers, Main Street, Roscrea.
Tel: 0505-21322. Fax: 0505-21976.
e-mail: [email protected]
Sincere thanks to Des Walsh and all the staff there:
Andrea Patterson, Valerie Spencer, John O'Brien,
Agnes King, Peter Dooley, Bernie Feehan, Mary
Duignan, and Bríd Fogarty.
Roscrea
•
Brooklands Nenagh
BAKERY
•
•
Ballywilliam Nenagh
DELI
•
•
Portumna
HOT FOOD
0505 21102
A local family meeting all your family needs
Redmonds of Roscrea
the Photographers
We're with you from the beginning and
for all the times of your life.
www.redmondphotography.com or find us on Facebookxxxxx
The Portrait Specialists
Estd. 1976