Westmeath Topic - 13 April 2017

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Thursday, 13 April, 2017 • Issue No. 2355 • www.topic.ie

Major jobs

boost for

Mullingar

A Mullingar businessman

involved in a successful

pharmaceutical

company is hoping to

bring new life, and jobs, to

the Westmeath capital, by

taking over the former

Douwe Egberts/Imperial

Tobacco factory building

at the Dublin Road. Westmeath

Topic has been monitoring

the situation for

the past month, and we

learned this week that a

deal in regard to the sale of

the property is at present

being finalised. We were

told this week by Deputy

Willie Penrose that it’s a

very positive development

for Mullingar and a great

shot in the arm following

last year’s bitterly disappointing

news regarding

the closure of the tobacco

factory.

“I indicated recently

that there would be a significant

development and

I’m delighted it has come

to pass. I’m delighted that

the project is being backed

by Gerry Moore, someone

with such a great track

record in this area. It’s a

huge fillip for Mullingar,”

remarked Deputy Penrose.

The firm Steripack has

vast experience and a

proud record of entrepreneurship

and the news is

seen as a big boost to

Mullingar and Westmeath.

Continued: Page 2

MADE

€2

WELL WORTHIT!

Westmeath Topic: 13 April, 2017

IN WESTMEATH

WESTMEATH GAA ROCKED

BY LATE NIGHT INCIDENTS

Hotel staff member struck • Unruly behaviour in Ennis

JUST days after winning

the county’s first national

title since 2008, Westmeath

GAA has been rocked by

controversy following a

shocking incident in a

Mullingar hotel involving

members of the senior

football side.

Celebrations took place

on Saturday night and continued

on Sunday when a

late night party in a hotel

room was interrupted by a

hotel staff member following

numerous complaints

by other guests. Despite

several efforts to reduce

noise levels by staff, the

players concerned were

refusing to cooperate and

on the final visit to their

room by the staff member,

they were asked to leave.

It’s understood the incident

then turned violent

and the staff member was

viciously assaulted and

ended up in Mullingar

Regional Hospital.

Topic learned that the

staff member sustained

injuries to the head in the

incident and there were

concerns he had sustained

a severe injury to an

eardrum.

The incident, which took

place in Mullingar is a

serious embarrassment

for Westmeath GAA and

officials refused to comment

when contacted by

Topic this week. It could

not be confirmed whether

disciplinary action is

likely to materialise, but

the shocking nature of the

incident will put real pressure

on officials to act.

It’s understood the players

were accommodated in

the hotel following the

National Football League

Division 4 final against

Wexford in Croke Park, a

game Westmeath won

comfortably.

Topic received several

calls from disgruntled

guests at the hotel who

said they were interrupted

by the late night party in

the hotel and they were

shocked to learn of the

incident when they complained

to staff members

the following morning.

“The noise coming from

the hotel room meant no

Continued: Page 2

Dramatic house fire on Tuesday

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A house fire at Grange Heights, Mullingar on Tuesday, 11 April, caused extensive damage, as our

photograph shows. The fire took place at the home of the Joyce family on Tuesday afternoon as Topic

went to press. No one was injured and it is understood the fire may have started as a result of an

electrical fault.

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2 TOPIC • 13 April, 2017

NEWS

THIS WEEK

PHOTOS

Confirmation in Church of

Nativity, Ballynacargy

WEDDING

Wedding of Bernie Lynch

and Gerard Dowdall

ENTERTAINMENT

David McSavage comes to

Mullingar Arts Centre

YOUR LOCAL NEWSROOM

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All contents © 2017

Westmeath GAA rocked by late night hotel incidents

Contd. from page 1

one else could get any

sleep. There were women

and men in the same room

and they had no respect

for themselves or anyone

else,” a source told Topic

on Monday.

It is not known whether

there will be disciplinary

action against those

involved, but the senior

football manager was not

in Mullingar on Sunday

night and is currently on

holiday. Topic understands

three members of the

senior football panel were

involved. Sources close to

the management team

were shocked at what happened.

ENNIS HURLING

INCIDENT

In a separate, unrelated

THE Mullingar Tidy

Towns 1916 Centenary Subcommittee

has made a

major contribution to the

honouring of 1916 Rebellion

and the Centenary by

putting in place a very

attractive new Memorial

Park close to the Green

Bridge. It willb e unveiled

on Monday afternoon next

at 12 noon.

The committee decided

incident, members of the

Westmeath under 21 hurling

side which travelled to

Ennis last Friday for a

‘bonding’ trip and a challenge

game against Clare,

were, it is alleged, involved

in a late night incident at

the hotel in which they

were staying. Guests at

Hotel Woodstock, Ennis

complained to staff about

late night revelry by members

of the Westmeath

under 21 hurling side.

It’s understood the Westmeath

party resolved the

matter before leaving.

Westmeath are preparing

to play Meath in the Leinster

Championship on 20

May.

When contacted, Sean

Lally, Manager of Hotel

Woodstock, Ennis denied

there was any such incident

and said the under 21

to erect a permanent monument

adjacent to the

Green Bridge in Mullingar

because it is central to

where many activities during

the revolutionary

period between 1916 and

1923 occurred in

Mullingar. Seven young

trees, representing the 7

Proclamation of Independence

signatories, were

planted this week at the

hurlers behaved impeccably

during their visit. He

confirmed they stayed on

the Friday night and

headed for Lahinch the following

day, but strongly

denied there was any damage

to a hotel room.

HURLING MANAGER

Hurling manager of the

Under 21s, Adrian Moran,

when asked about the trip

to Clare, said he would prefer

not to comment, indicating

that he was shocked

by the wild stories circulating.

However, he said they

had travelled with 33 players

and eight of a management

team to Clare on

Friday, and played a challenge

against a good Clare

Under 21 side. They were

beaten by three points 0-24

to 1-18, but the Clare side

included five senior

1916 Memorial Park.

The new monument will

become a focal point for

Mullingar and also a place

of reflection, and is certain

to be included in all

future town tours. The

Tidy Towns committee

feels that within this

“Decade of Centenaries”

the monument is an excellent

way of both embellishing

the town of

hurlers, including David

Fitzgerald and Aaron

Shanagher.

He denied that there had

been any major incident at

their hotel, and said some

team members were playing

cards late at night and

making noise, but he had

dealt with this, and next

morning, when told two

guests had made complaints

to the hotel management,

he apologised,

and they collected €160 to

provide vouchers for

offended guests.

The players went for

beach training next morning

and were back in training

again the next day. He

agreed with the hotel that

there was no damage to

any room, and said they

were invited back to stay

in the same hotel, if they

returned to the area again.

Major jobs boost set for Mullingar

ELDERLY people in Mullingar,

or anyone who is withdrawing

cash in a local post office, bank,

or financial institution, should

take far more care that they do at

present . That’s the message from

the local Gardai this week after

one elderly woman, who had just

withdrawn a substantial sum of

money in a local bank on Tuesday

4 April, suddenly realised

her purse was missing.

In another unrelated incident in

a local supermarket carpark last

week, a woman sitting in a car

found a man knocking on her

Continued from page 1

The jobs will offer graduates and

others the opportunity of employment

and there will be opportunities

for people to up-skill in this area.

The fact that Mullingar is ideally

located is a big factor and Deputy

Penrose is now hopeful that more

positive news will follow in the

future regarding the nearby Marlinstown

Business Park.

“This sends a very positive signal

that Mullingar is open for business

and is a very attractive location,

close to the N4, M4, M6 and N52. I

compliment everyone involved especially

Gerry Moore and the company

directors. Last August there was

doom and gloom, but now it’s great

to get positive news like this,” added

Deputy Penrose.

No timescale has yet been put in

place and there is no startup date.

The firm involved is a pharmaceutical

company, based in Ireland, and

which was set up around twenty

three years ago, has already

branches overseas in Poland, in

Malaysia and in America. We understand

that they are now hoping to

put in place a major R & D unit in

Mullingar, which would be a key element

in their future development.

IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT

The now vacant Imperial Tobacco

building - which provided hundreds

of jobs in its prime and was employing

around 90 people up to the middle

of 2016 - is one of the most

attractive properties of its kind in

Westmeath, extending over 110,000

sq. feet. It is situated within a few

hundred yards of the M4 motorway

to Dublin, with Dublin Airport just

an hour or so away, and would be a

very suitable location for the type of

development that Steripack has in

mind.

The company has applied to Westmeath

County Council for planning

permission to change the use of the

Dublin Road premises, and we

understand that the Council is keen

to facilitate this important development,

which is a major boost for

Mullingar.

The firm Steripack opened its first

plant in Poland, we understand

about the year 2006,and their second

development followed in 2008 in

Malaysia and their third plant was

opened in the USA five years or so

ago.

Topic understands that the company

wants to open a research laboratory

in Mullingar as well as

making other alterations to the

existing buildings, mainly internally,

it is thought.

JOBS

As far as Topic has learned,

because of the type of research work

involved, a sizeable proportion of

those likely to gain employment

would be graduates and it is

believed that up to 100 people would

probably be needed, once the project

gets fully under way.

Steripack is woking in partnership

with some of the biggest healthcare

companies in the world, and they

offer contract manufacturing services,

from initial concepts, to the

finished products.

Mullingar 1916 Memorial Park unveiling

Mullingar as part the Tidy

Towns initiative and also

as a way of remembering

those courageous local

men and women who took

part in the fight for Irish

Independence.

All in Mullingar are

invited to attend the

unveiling near the Green

Bridge Mullingar, on Monday

next at noon.

window, but then found another

man sitting into her car, and

attempting to take her handbag.

Fortunately, another motorist, sitting

nearby, saw this happen, kept

his car horn blaring, and the two

would-be male thieves fled empty

handed.

The woman was seriously

shocked by her ordeal.

REALISED SHE WAS ROBBED

In the other incident, after missing

her hurse, the elderly woman

rushed back to checked in the

bank and in other local premises

she had visited, but without success.

As the Gardai assisted her,

it became clear her purse had

been stolen from her bag by a

pickpocket.

The incident happened in the

early afternoon, and staff in both

the bank and supermarket were

as helpful as possible to the upset

woman when she came back in

search of her purse.

We understand that the Gardai

have been actively investigating

the incident, which was not the

only pickpocketing incident in

Mullingar last week. Three possible

female culprits ahve already

Troy told

“Columb

Barracks not

viable”

AS we went to press this

week, on Tuesday at 4pm,

we learned from Deputy

Robert Troy that he had

just received word from

the Principal Officer in

the Department, in reply

to his letter of December

21 last, that the Government

does not consider

Columb Barracks,

Mullingar as suitable for

education purposes. The

response of Tuesday said

the department supported

schools and education provision,

but he (Deputy

Troy) would be aware that

in a 2012 evaluation, the

cost of changing the Barracks

to make it suitable

for educational purposes

“made it unviable.”

Deputy Troy said he is

very disappointed” at the

response.

Devotions at

Fr. Shanley’s

Grave on

Good Friday

CARRICK old graveyard,

between Dalystown and

Carrick, on the old N52

road, will be the scene for

Good Friday devotions

this week, at the celebrated

grave of Fr. Timothy

Shanley, the long

deceased parish priest of

Rochfortbridge (1825-1835).

Fr. Shanley’s grave in

Carrick, like the grave of

Fr. Cantwell at Tristernagh,

is a revered spot,

with many supplicants

claiming they have been

granted favours there and

cured from ailments after

visiting his grave and

praying for his intercession

there.

(Fr. Shanley is the priest

who, it is claimed, ‘settled’

the uneasy spirit of

Bobby ‘Bawn” Rochfort

between the froth and the

wave’ at Carrick Point on

Lough Ennell, about

thirty years after the

demesne owner from

Bodenstown died a violent

death at his mansion.)

The Good Friday devotions

will be led by Fr.

Coleman, and will commence

at 12 noon. There

will be parking available

along the now quiet roadway,

and all are welcome.

Elderly Mullingar woman left distraught

been identified in relation to the

robberies.

SECOND ROBBERY

About half an hour before the

incident we’ve described above,

another woman was similarly

deprived of her money, most

likely by the same ‘gang’ and in

addition to cash, credit cards and

a driver’s licence were also

stolen.

Westmeath Topic has been

informed that the three women in

the group involved wer non-Irish

and probably Romanian.

TOPIC • 13 April, 2017

NEWS

3

‘Desperate times call for

desperate measures’

Mullingar mother camps outside Leinster House for daughter with CF

BY CLAIRE CORRIGAN

A local mother of a

15-year-old Mullingar

girl who is suffering

with Cystic Fibrosis

(CF) is currently

camping outside Leinster

House in Dublin,

in the hope that it will

speed up a decision on

the approval of the

drug, Orkambi.

The mother-of-three has

described the treatment of

CF sufferers and their families

as “disgusting” and

“terrifying”.

Hazel Robinson who lived

in Mullingar for many

years and where her

daughter Gypsy, was born,

said she was forced into

taking drastic action -after

recent deaths - in a desperate

attempt to highlight the

urgent need for the availability

of a CF wonder

drug to sufferers.

Over the past year Hazel

has enlisted the help of

high profile personalities

Brendan O'Carroll, Gavin

Duffy and jockey Ruby

Walsh to support the

#YesOrkambi campaign.

The HSE and pharmaceutical

company Vertex were

due to meet on Monday, 10

April, to discuss a deal to

fund the cost of Orkambi,

priced at around €150,000 a

year per patient and

another CF drug, Kalydeco.

Hazel said she was

preparing to take part in an

water charges protest on

Saturday, 8 April, when she

decided to set up camp outside

the Dáil in a small popup

tent. "I thought if I can

march the streets over

water, I can definitely do

something more proactive

when it comes to CF

patients. The Government

need to be fully aware of

the urgency of this and this

is people's lives.”

"Desperate times call for

desperate measures- I can't

sit back any longer and

watch children suffer when

I know that there is something

that can help them.

I'm really hoping that the

outcome of that meeting is

a 'yes'. I want Simon Harris

to stick to his promises

because he has stated that

he was hoping to finalise a

deal over a month ago."

Hazel who now resides in

Drumlish, Longford, also

spoke to Topic about her

frustration that her

teenage daughter, who is

currently receiving the

drug, will likely need a

transplant after years of

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) wreaking

havoc on her lungs.

COUGHING UP BLOOD

“She had been coughing

up blood over Christmas

and she wasn’t getting any

breaks out of hospital at

all. We were getting out for

maybe two weeks at the

most and the minute she’d

leave the hospital she’d go

downhill really quickly.

She was having to take

antibiotics three or four

Funding needed for

roads damaged during

N52 diversions

CALLS for extra funding

for the repair of minor

roads carrying increased

traffic due to diversions

associated with the N52

upgrade were made at

the April meeting of

Mullingar Municipal

District.

Cllr. John Shaw tabled a

motion calling on the Municipal

District to apply for extra funding

to carry out urgent repairs to

roads in the Turin/Cloughan

area. These roads are being

damaged due to increased traffic

because of the diversions in

place during the N52 upgrade.

Cllr. Johnny Penrose agreed

with Cllr Shaw’s motion and

asked if Transport Infrastructure

Ireland will make sure to come

up with the money to repair the

roads affected by the diversions.

BUSINESSES SUFFERING

Meanwhile, Cllr. Paddy Hill

raised the plight of local businesses

who are suffering as a

result of the road closure.

“Funding should be made

available during the course of

the works,” he insisted. “Businesses

in Delvin are suffering

and we should look at getting

some sort of compensation for

them,” he said.

Cllr. Una D’Arcy agreed and

stated that businesses suffering

losses should to be given advertising

and support from the local

authority.

It was also put forward by Clr.

Sorca Clarke that the residents in

the area should be consulted as

to the extent of the damage to

the local roads and a meeting

needs to be arranged to hear

their views.

STRONG CASE FOR

FUNDING

Martin Murray, Director of Services

told the meeting that there

was no alternative to closing the

road to facilitate the upgrade.

The road will reopen on 12 June

but Westmeath County Council

is aware of the issues surrounding

the matter.

“These issues are being raised

with TII and we will be making a

strong case for funding for

repairing the damage caused

during the scheme,” he said.

weeks at a time because the

IV had stopped working,”

she said.

Last week, US manufacturers

of Orkambi

expressed frustration at

delays in reaching agreement

with the HSE on

approving the cystic fibrosis

drug for Irish patients.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals

said it was “increasingly

perplexed” at not hearing

from the HSE since early

February, having submitted

a new price proposal

eleven weeks ago. This is in

spite of indications by

Taoiseach Enda Kenny and

Minister for Health Simon

Harris that a deal is

expected to be finalised

within weeks.

Hazel told Topic that her

daughter’s lung function

was well below 50 per cent

in January and that her

health overall was declining

rapidly. “Because of the

constant bleeding her consultant

said that they

needed to speak to me seriously

after Christmas

about Gypsy.”

Throughout Christmas

the family were 'walking on

eggshells' with the young

girl experiencing constant

bleeds. “We didn’t know if

we had to rush to A and E.

We were expecting a massive

bleed and we were terrified.”

The mother and daughter

returned to Crumlin Hospital

after the New Year for a

meeting with the consultant

where Hazel was

informed that if Gypsy’s

condition was not brought

under control, it would be

necessary to send the

teenager to Newcastle to

meet with a transplant

team. “He said that she had

deteriorated so much, that

they had run out of

options.”

At this point the consultant

applied to Vertex Pharmaceuticals

to obtain CF

drug Orkambi on compassionate

grounds due to the

seriousness of her condition.

“She was finding

every day really hard at

this stage and had no

energy and was just very

unwell. We got a phone call

saying that she had been

accepted on compassionate

grounds which was brilliant.

She started on her

Orkambi about a month

ago and has begun to

respond much better to the

IV. It’s been over a year

since she has only had to

have two weeks of IV

instead of maybe six

weeks.”

The doctors performed

another pulmonary function

test which showed that

Gypsy’s lung function had

improved significantly. “It

was the highest it had been

in over a year. The doctors

said that they couldn’t

believe it.”

The devoted mother

spoke of her delight that

her daughter was able to

complete a full week of

school recently for the first

time in several years. “I

couldn’t tell you the last

time she was able to do a

full week. Last week was

the first week she was able

to carry her schoolbag and

stay the whole day. A full

week is not much to hope

for but we were absolutely

over the moon. It’s a huge

thing for us. It’s the first

time that she has felt that

she has been normal in I

don’t know how long.”

Hazel says that while she

(Above) Gypsy has struggled with breathing

problems as well as a host of other issues her

entire life.

(Left) Hazel Robinson’s tent outside Leinster

House.

is glad that her daughter is

receiving Orkambi, she

will continue to campaign

to ensure the drug to be

made available to CF sufferers.

“We are so delighted

that Vertex has put Gypsy

on Orkambi but there are

so many other people out

there who are deteriorating

rapidly. I started the campaign

for Orkambi so that

sufferers could get the drug

before it got to the stage

where they were facing

lung transplants or death.

We are still pushing for

Orkambi to be approved.”

Hazel said that she feels

that the Government have

done little to help CF sufferers.

“I feel that we’ve

been given a massive run

around - we have been told

that negotiations are going

on and then we have Vertex

contacting members of the

CF community to say they

have heard nothing from

the Government in several

weeks.”

The mother-of-three said

she was very upset that her

daughter’s lungs have deteriorated

to the point that

she may need a lung transplant.

“This could have

been prevented if she had

been given the drug when it

was first approved ten

months ago. In the space of

that time she has been in

ICU and had the Swine Flu.

The damage that has been

done over the last year is

irreversible. I hope that the

Orkambi will stablise it as

much as possible.”

Hazel said the drug is

taken in the form of two

tablets in the morning and

two in the evening. “A

transplant is pretty much

the worse thing that could

happen. It’s terrifying and

you are wondering if she

will get though the surgery

and then she will have to go

through anti rejection

treatment. The only other

alternative is death. It’s the

last place we wanted to be

and I can’t help being

angry with the Government

for letting it get this

far. This has been going on

way too long.”

Hazel will be attending a

strategy meeting this week

and is due to take to the

streets with CF sufferers

and their families to

protest outside the Dáil on

12 April. “This is the third

demonstration we’ve held

along with countless other

campaigns. I can’t believe

our country has gone to the

stage where sick people are

begging for their lives outside

the Dáil and they just

seem to be sitting on their

hands.”

She said that despite her

daughter receiving the

drug, it has been a bittersweet

experience. “I wish

this was our happy ending

but unfortunately it’s not.

When I was driving to collect

her from school on Friday,

I was nearly in tears

that she had finished a full

week. I can see people on

their Facebook pages constantly

in hospital and

really really sick. The last

year has torn the CF community

to pieces. It has

emotionally wrecked us -

being put between the Government

and a US pharmaceutical

company as a

bargaining chip.”

She said that a meeting

was due to take place this

Wednesday between the

HSE and Vertex. “We don’t

know what to believe anymore

because we’ve been

told so many different stories.

If anything good

comes out of the last year

apart from the actual drug

being funded, it will be that

the Government make sure

that this never happens

again. The health system

needs a massive overhaul,”

she concluded.

4 NEWS

Death of 104 years old

Mary O’Meara

THERE was a deep air of

sadness in the north

Offaly and Kildare area

when news broke of the

un timely of Mary

O’Meara (née Casey),

Kinnefad, Edenderry

and Clonaslee, Laois on

Wednesday, 5 April.

In her 104th year Mary

passed away peacefully ay

Sancta Maria Nursing

Home, Kinnegad.

Predeceased by her husband

John and children

Margaret and John, Mary

is survived by sons Gerry,

Frank, Joe and Tim;

daughters-in-law Mary

Sheila, Assumpta and

Mairead, grandchildren,

great-grandchildren, relatives

and friends to whom

deepest sympathy is

extended.

Of proud Laois farming

stock, she found a kindred

spirit when she wed

farmer John O’Meara in

Kinnefad, Co. Kildare in

1944. She was a person of

strong religious faith, and

a believer in the virtues of

hard work and education,

and these were values she

passed on to her children,

grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.

Born when Ireland was

not yet independent, she

lived through a turbulent

time encompassing the

1916 Rising and 1919-21 War

of Independence, and in

later life recalled vivid

memories of seeing British

troops departing Laois and

CRIME NEWS

The late Mary O’Meara.

hearing of Michael

Collin’s death from a

Clonaslee neighbour: “The

Big Fella was knocked

down last night”. In 2016,

she was honoured by a presentation

from Kildare

County Council as the oldest

living person in Co. Kildare.

A person of strong

faith, she retained a keen

interest in politics and current

affairs, casting her

last vote in the 2016 general

election, at the age of 102.

She lived at home, and

remained physically

active, until almost her

hundredth year. She was

much loved and will be

missed by all who knew

her. Mary’s Requiem Mass

was celebrated in St.

Brigid’s Church, Clogher -

inkoe on Friday 7 April at

11.30am and was followed

by her funeral to St. Mary’s

Cemetery, Edenderry.

May she rest in peace.

Assault in Tyrrellspass

Gardaí are investigating an assault which occurred at a

public house in Tyrrellspass on Friday, 7 April between

8pm and 8.30pm. It is understood a barman refused to

serve a customer another drink and the man who was

refused service then struck the barman leaving him with a

cut over his eye. The man who committed the assault was

arrested and detained by Gardaí.

Break-in at Columba College

A break-in occurred at Columba College Killucan at

7.45pm on Monday, 3 April. It appears the alarm went off

while the burglars were attempting to gain entry to the

building. A door was damaged but it is understood nothing

was taken from the building.

Burglary in Beechgrove

A house in Beechgrove, Dublin Road, Mullingar was burgled

between 5.50pm and 11.30pm on Saturday, 8 April. The

burglar broke in by forcing open the rear door. A quantity

of jewellery and a small sum of cash were stolen from the

house.

One person taken to hospital

following accident

One person was taken to hospital following a three car

collision at Knockdrin, Mullingar, on Thursday morning, 6

April at 9.30am. It is understood the first car had stopped

to turn right at the junction of Donnelly’s Cross, the second

car travelling behind the first also stopped, but the

third car was unable to stop and struck the second car

from behind, which in turn also struck the first car.

The driver of the second car was taken to the Midlands

Regional Hospital Mullingar as a precaution. The drivers

of the other cars reported no injuries.

FUNDRAISING WALK AND

HONDA 50 RUN

A fundraising walk will be held in Mullaghmeen Forest,

Castlepollard, on Easter Monday, 17 April at 11am,

with all proceeds going towards the treatment for

Claire Graham Ginnell.

Also on Easter Monday, a Honda 50 Run will be held in

Castlepollard with all proceeds going towards the

Claire Graham fund. See page 32 for the full story on

Claire Graham Ginnell’s battle with cancer.

Bouncers are coming to

Smiddys next Wednesday,

19 April - not the

variety who are seen at

the doors of a licensed

premises but a version

of the popular 1980s

play which has been

‘Irishishised’ for your

entertainment.

The play, which originally

focused on a Northern

Night Spot, features

the four doormen (or

Bouncers) who play multiple

parts to reflect the

goings on at the club.

Director Aidan Dennis

said the members (John

Quinn, Murt Ennis, Gary

Nolan and Greg Dunne)

have been rehearsing since

January. “Just before

Christmas, we were asked

to put something on and we

said we’d give it a go. The

stage is not as big as you

would find in a traditional

CONFIDENCE in An

Garda Síochána

remains “absol ute”,

this was the strong

message issued by

the Joint Policing

Committee in Westmeath

at a quarterly

meeting that took

place on Monday of

this week.

The meeting, chaired by

Cathaoirleach of Westmeath

County Council,

Cllr. Frank McDermott,

addressed the controversy

surrounding the Garda

breath test scandal.

While members of the

committee spoke of the

seriousness of the matter

and the concerns that

have arisen in the wake of

revelations, the overwhelming

sentiment of

the meeting was the unwavering

support for An

Garda Siochána and confidence

in the work of the

force, locally and nationally.

“Why was there a need

for over-reporting? I think

that An Garda Síochána

haven’t done themselves

any favours,” said Cllr.

Andrew Duncan of his

dismay over the scandal.

However, Cllr. Duncan

also underlined the admiration

felt in all corners of

society for the work of the

Gardai.

“Gardai work in very difficult

circumstances. It

must be soul destroying to

build a case against criminals

and see them emerge

through the revolving

door of the justice system.

An Garda Síochana work

in the face of opportunistic

politicians and a hostile

media. Resourcing is a

major issue. Protections

should be there for gardai,”

said Cllr. Andrew

Duncan.

VIOLENT CRIME IN

WESTMEATH

The meeting was told by

members that gardai are

respected and regarded as

guardians of the peace

and unfortunately and

unacceptably, members of

the force face risks to

their own safety when

confronting violent

offenders.

“I am very disappointed

to hear that two members

of the force in this county

were injured while on

duty only recently,” said

Cllr. Michael O’Brien

attaching his expression

of outrage to many

expressed by several committee

members.

The committee members

were told that two gardai

were assaulted and

injured in a violent incident

that happened when

apprehending armed robbers

in the Athlone area

this month.

“Gardai are guardians of

the peace in our society.

There can be no peace if

they themselves are

attacked while doing their

duty,’ said a shocked Cllr.

McDermott.

“It is clear that we have

absolute confidence in our

Gardai,” he stated.

MODERNISATION

PROGRAMME

Chief Superintendent

Kevin Gralton told the

meeting that he was

shocked by the emergence

of breath test figures and

stressed that he wants to

see clarity on how

instances of over reporting

came to happen.

He said that modernisation

of the force is underway

and that thousands of

recommendations have

been examined, with new

technology being rolled

out in every division.

A meeting took place

last week with the Garda

Commissioner and every

sergeant was tasked with

reviewing the figures. He

said that the issues arising

are being taken very

seriously by An Garda

Siochána

“I too am appalled at the

figures,” he told the meeting.

“I joined the force as a

vocation, not as a job. I

TOPIC • 13 April, 2017

Westmeath policing committee

expresses utmost confidence

in An Garda Síochána

A heated exchange between an

elected member of the Joint

Policing Committee and a senior

garda officer took place at the

meeting, following reference to a

recent appointment.

Cllr. Sorca Clarke, who sits on the Joint

Policing Committee for Westmeath was

asked by the chairman, Cllr. Frank

McDermott, if she wished to withdraw

her remarks to Superintendent Pat Murray

over the phrasing of a query relating

to his selection to lead an internal investigation.

Cllr. Sorca Clarke referred to the

national revelations regarding the

Garda breath test scandal, saying,

“Junior Gardai will be going out under

the shadow of reputational damage” suffered

by the force.”

Cllr. Clarke asked if figures relating to

breath tests in Westmeath could be provided

and whether the appointment of

Supt Murray was an internal Garda

issue, saying she would like reassurance

about this.

INTEGRITY

An obviously annoyed Supt. Murray

responded in the strongest terms to this

query.

“Regarding my selection to lead the

want to see how these figures

were arrived at,” he

said.

“Personally, I am of the

view that ours is a grossly

underfunded organisation.

The modernisation

programme has examined

thousands of recommendations,”

the Chief Superintendent

told last

Monday’s meeting.

Superintendent angered

by appointment query at

Monday’s meeting

investigation, this is because I will

investigate where the truth might be difficult

for An Garda Síochána. I take

exception to the suggestion that my

appointment relates to anything other

than this,” he stated.

Supt Murray angrily dismissed any

suggestion that his appointment related

to any issue other than his experience

and qualifications to lead this investigation.

“My integrity is long established and

that is the basis for my selection,” he

told Cllr. Clarke.

APOLOGY

Cllr. Frank McDermott in the chair,

warned Cllr. Clarke to consider her

response carefully. He asked if she

would like to withdraw her remarks.

“You said about withdrawing, not me,

but I do apologise if anything in my

question could be taken the wrong way,”

Cllr. Clarke amended.

The committee firmly pointed out that

the purpose of the quarterly meetings

was not to cast shadows on the work of

the gardai but to underpin the support of

all for the work of An Garda Síochána.

“I want to make it clear that we have

absolute support for and confidence in

our Gardai,” Cllr. McDermott stated in

bringing the matter to a close.

Not Tonight Mate! ‘Bouncers’ Comes to Smiddys

theatre so we had to put something on that suited the space that we had available to us and also the play

has minimal set and minimal

props.”

He said the experienced

actors covered a lot of the

groundwork while he was

away early in the year.

“They did something that

is very rarely done; they

learned their lines before

they were given any directions.

It makes a big difference

for someone not to

have a script in their hand

when they are walking

onstage. It’s extremely

funny and a little bit

naughty in places!”

The play is the first by

brand new production

company Mr. Jude and will

be performed at Electric

Picnic this year. ‘Bouncers’

runs from 19 to the 22 April

and starts at 8pm. Tickets

available at Smiddys and

the Annebrook House

Hotel.

John Quinn, Murt Ennis, Gary Nolan and Greg Dunne during rehearsals.

TOPIC • 13 April, 2017

Gardai injured in

‘violent’ incident

Policing committee told Garda assaulted

four times in the course of duty

TWO members of An

Garda Síochána were

injured in a " particularly

violent" robbery,

involving armed thieves

this month in Westmeath,

the Joint Policing

Committee heard on

Monday.

While Garda figures for

the first quarter of this

year show an encouraging

reduction in instances of

crime in Westmeath, a violent

incident in which two

gardai were injured drew

expression of grave concern

at Monday’s meeting.

The meeting, attended by

the county’s senior gardai

and members of the Joint

Policing Committee, heard

that two gardai sustained

injuries while intercepting

a violent robbery in

Athlone this month.

ARMED OFFENDERS

Superintendent Alan

Murray outlined a very

serious incident, involving

repeat offenders who were

armed, which occurred on

Thursday, 6 April in the

Clonbrusk area of

Athlone.

In a “significant detection”,

Gardai responded to

a call relating to a burglary

and were informed while

on route to the scene that

the offenders had fled into

a field in the area.

Three culprits were subsequently

apprehended

and have appeared before

the courts in relation to

this incident.

However, the Joint Policing

Committee were

appalled to be told that two

members of An Garda

Síochána were injured during

the arrest of one of the

culprits.

Pensioner loses dog in savage attack

BY CLAIRE CORRIGAN

A pensioner was witness

to a horrific attack when

the Yorkshire Terrier was

savaged to death by a black

Staffordshire Bull last Friday

evening at around 4pm.

Eddie Hegarty was visibly

shaken after witnessing

the attack when Topic went

to speak to him on Tuesday

morning. “I was going for

my walk on Friday afternoon

and out of nowhere a

pitbull came up from the

side of the Canal. My little

dog Gizmo had got into the

habit of leading the pack

and would always run

ahead. I heard squealing

and by the time I got

around the bend to the

GARDA ASSAULTED

FOUR TIMES ON DUTY

The offenders in this

vicious case were recidivist

offenders, who were

armed with knives and a

chisel.

“They engaged in a combative

way with Gardai

and two members of the

force were injured. One of

these, a female Garda is off

duty at present as a result

of this injury,” Supt. Murray

informed the committee.

The meeting was told

that this is the fourth time

back of the Nursing Home,

the pitbull had him.”

Eddie currently cares for

four rescue dogs and five

stray cats who all live in

harmony together at his

home on Patrick Street. He

has spent over €900 in the

last few months on vet bills

for dogs alone.

“All my dogs are so gentle

that they don’t go near

the cats.”

this Garda has been

assaulted in the course of

her duties.

“I am deeply concerned

that criminals engaged

with Gardai so combatively,”

said Cllr. Sorca

Clarke, a sentiment that

was shared by the committee

unanimously.

Cllr. Andrew Duncan said

that Gardaí were carrying

out their duties in circumstances

that are often very

difficult and as this incident

points to, dangerous.

CAREER CRIMINALS

He said that “a lack of

Eddie said the owner of

the Staffie had been fishing

at the time of the incident

and while the dog had been

harnessed, he did not have

a muzzle. “I ran over and

when I got there he was

shaking the dog and the

owner did absolutely nothing.

He was with his wife

and there were two children

who were all screaming

too. The people from

the rest home were outside

with their relations and

saw everything. I was trying

to get the pitbull off

him but he dragged my dog

into the canal. I tried to

beat him off him and then

all the mud churned up and

dog disappeared and he

came up again... He killed

him in the Canal in front of

me.”

Eddie said the couple,

who were in their twenties,

the male of which had a

Dublin accent, started

berating him after the dog

had been killed before running

away in opposite

directions to confuse him.

adequate resources, opportunistic

politicians, a hostile

media” combined to

make the work of Gardai

all the more difficult and

hearing that a member of

the force had been

assaulted four times in the

course of her duties highlighted

the need for

improvements.

“Protections should be

there for our Gardai. When

we hear that a Garda has

been assaulted four times,

we have to see that this is

very serious,” he stressed.

“We need to look at how

systemic career criminals

“They were saying that my

dog should have been on a

lead. They didn’t even say

sorry. That dog needs to be

put down because if it does

to a child what it done to

my dog... I hope to God that

doesn’t happen because it

was horrific. It happened

in a matter of 30 seconds. It

wouldn’t let go.”

Eddie has returned to the

Canal every day in the hope

of recovering the small

dog’s body. “People say it

will come up after two or

three days. I rescued that

dog from a horrible place

and I had him just over 18

months. He was a beautiful

dog. It was just the horrific

way it died. I couldn’t do

anything to save him. The

owner did not seem at all

are handled by the judiciary.

The revolving door

system is not helping,” he

said in expressing his complete

dismay at the assault

of two Gardai.

Cllr. Michael O’Brien

asked if the senior gardai

present at the meeting foresaw

a time when an armed

force would be the only feasible

way forward on the

face of rising violence.

Chief Superintendent

Kevin Gralton gave an

unequivocal response.

“My personal opinion is

absolutely not. This is the

job,” he said.

concerned and he said it

was me that was in the

wrong. If they had even

come back the day after

and said they were ‘Sorry’,

it won’t have been as bad.”

Eddie who is strongly

opposed to cruelty to animals

believes the dog was

reared to be aggressive.

“This dog was scrawny and

looked like it hadn’t been

fed. I have reared Staffs and

they were lovely dogs. If

you treat a dog properly

they won’t do it.”

He said the rest of the

dogs have not been thesame

since the attack.

“They’re not eating properly

and moping a lot.”

Gardaí say they are

extremely concerned over

the whereabouts of Alan

Patterson who has been

missing from the

Mullingar area for the past

number of days.

Alan, who is 52, and is

originally from Scotland,

was last seen on Wednesday,

29 March, but he was

not officially reported to

Gardaí as missing until

Monday, 3 April.

Alan has been living in

the Mullingar area for the

past 13 years and was living

in Central Park, Mullingar.

Gardaí have carried out

several lines of enquiry

and have placed two people

working full-time on the

case, but they have made

very little progress. They

have attempted to contact

his brothers one of whom

lives in Scotland and the

other in South Africa.

Alan has made no contact

Gardaí are investigating

a spate of thefts from cars

in the Mullingar area on

Friday last. At least four

cars were broken into in

the Pettitswood, Glenmore

Woods and Great Oaks

areas.

A Dyson hoover was

amongst the items stolen

from one car in the Pettitswood

area of Mullingar

on Friday, 7 April. The

hoover and some other

items were later found hidden

and returned to the

owner.

An iPad was stolen from a

second car, which was

parked in the Glennmore

Gardaí were called to a

house in Raheen, Rochfortbridge,

following a break-in

to a house. The burglary

occurred at 1.20pm on Friday,

7 April, when the

owner of a house returned

home to find a man inside

his house. The burglar fled

the scene but Gardaí immediately

arrived and captured

the burglar. Two

other men who were waiting

in a car outside sped off

in the car but were later

apprehended in Kinnegad.

NEWS

5

Concerns for missing

man Alan Patterson

with friends or family since

he was last seen in

Mullingar and Gardaí confirmed

that there has been

no activity on his bank

cards either. Alan’s mobile

phone has been inactive as

well and it appears the

phone is turned off.

Alan didn’t collect his latest

social welfare payment

and this has added to the

Gardaí’s concern for the

man.

Extensive searches have

been carried out by Gardaí,

friends and colleagues but

without success or

progress to date.

Alan is described as being

approximately six foot tall

of medium to blocky build.

Gardaí are appealing for

anyone who may have any

information on where Alan

might be to contact them at

Mullingar Garda Station 0n

044-9384000.4pm.

Spate of thefts from cars

Wood area of Mullingar on

the Dublin Road, also on

Friday, 7 April, while a laptop,

a bag and a handbag

were stolen from another

car parked in Petttiswood

also on Friday night.

Items in the glovebox of a

car parked in Great Oaks

were also stolen on the

same night.

It is understood that none

of the cars were damaged

and that some of the vehicles

may have been left

unlocked. Gardaí are

reminding owners of vehicles

to ensure their vehicles

are locked at all times

when they are unoccupied.

Three men questioned by

Gardaí following break-in

in Rochfortbridge

All three men were

brought to Mullingar

Garda Station and questioned.

One of the men, the

burglar, who is in his early

30s, was brought to a special

sitting of Mullingar

Court and has been

remanded to appear next

Thursday at Mullingar

Court. The other two men,

in their mid 20s were

charged with trespassing.

All three are believed to be

from Wicklow.

Walsh Jewellers

Est. 1917

Celebrating 100 YEARS

AG CEILIÚRADH

CÉAD BLIAIN

Des and Geraldine Walsh and

the extended Walsh Family wish to thank

everyone for their kind wishes, good will

and generosity on our centenary.

Although we can’t promise

another 100 years, we look

forward to continuing to

serve the Mullingar

community for years to come.

6 NEWS

Death of Baroness

von Prondzynski of

Knockdrin Castle

We regret to record the

death at Newbrook

Nursing Home, Mullingar

on 4 April, of

Baroness Irene von

Prondzynski (née

Gräfin Grote) of

Knockdrin Castle,

Mullingar and wife of

the late Hans-Joachim

von Prondzynski. She

was aged 94 years.

They first came to Ireland

more than half a

century ago, and made

their home on the property

they had purchased,

the notable Knockdrin

estate. Knockdrin Castle,

like Tullynally Castle, is

one of the few castellated

buildings in the midlands

still used as a family residence.

The von Prondzynski

family went to live in Germany

for a period but

they retained their

Knockdrin property and

later, they retired to live

at Knockdrin Castle more

than three decades ago,

and have been living

there since then.

Mrs. von Prondzynski

is survived by members of

their family, son Ferdinand,

former President of

Dublin City University

and the present Principal

of Gordon University,

Aberdeen, Scotland;

daughters Isabelle, Aglaja

The news of the death last

Saturday, 8 April, of

Michael (Mick) Beglan,

who resided at Hillside

Drive, Mullingar, was

received with widespread

regret, as he was a very

well known personality for

decades, both in Ballynacargy

and across a wide

area of Westmeath

Michael, who was 88

years of age, was an

employee of Westmeath

County Council for most of

his working life, and was

noted for his industrious

approach at all times. He

was the senior overseer

with Westmeath Co. Council

and worked under the

Council engineers very efficiently,

and enjoyed many

years working under the

late Michael Creighton,

Council engineer. When he

retired from his Council

position, Mr. Beglan

remained as active as ever,

running his own business,

as a tarmacadam contractor,

and he provided

employment for men from

his native Ballynacargy for

a good number of years. He

was noted for doing a good

job of putting in place tarmacadam

driveways and

and Pia; grandchildren

Sabastian and Theodore;

her brother Karl-Ernst;

sister Doraline; daughterin-law,

Heather; son-inlaw

Udo and other family

members to all of whom

we extend sympathy.

The funeral Eucharist

service took place in All

Saints’ Church, Mullingar

on Friday afternoon

last, 7 April, with the

eulogies delivered by

The late Baroness

Irene von Prondzynski

Isabelle and Ferdinand

von Prondzynski with

Isabelle, Aglaja and

Heather leading readings

and prayers.

A private cremation followed

the service. We

extend sympathy to the

von Prondzynski family.

Michael Beglan -

a noted sportsman

and Co. Council

employee

paths, wherever he was

employed.

Mr. Beglan also worked in

the old Hibernian Cinema

in Castle Street, Mullingar,

as a caretaker.

As a big, strong, young

man, Michael Beglan was a

noted sportsman, and in

addition to being a formidable

member of the Ballynacargy

GAA teams of his

era, he was also a noted

boxer, and again, was a

very doughty opponent in a

boxing ring, and had quite

a number of wins to his

credit.

He was predeceased by

his first wife, Mary and is

survived by his wife Bríd,

his children, Mary, John,

Michael, Tom and Pat, his

sisters Von, Claire and

Josie, his grandchildren,

great grandchildren, sonsin-law,

daughters-in-law,

and other relatives and

friends, to all of whom we

extend sincere sympathy.

He reposed at St. Camillus’

Chapel of Rest on Monday

and the funeral Mass

there in the Monastery

church was followed by

burial in Sonna Cemetery.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a

anam dílis.

We regret to announce

this week the death of

Seån Dempsey of Hillside

Drive, Mullingar,

whose death occurred on

Friday last, 7 April at

Newbrook Nursing

Home, Mullingar.

An Athlone man, who

came to to live in

Mullingar, Sean Dempsey

was a well known businessman

for many years, running

a fruit and vegetable

business across Westmeath

and the midlands. A kind

and affable man, who took

a keen interest in local

affairs, Seån Dempsey was

as well respected for his

LOCAL OBITUARIES

The late Sean Dempsey

- a man revered in

Athlone and Mullingar

footballing prowess as he

was in his business.

In the community, he was

also a kind and helpful person,

and as a member of

the Knights of Columbanus,

he assisted many

people. He was a strong

believer and a daily Massgoer

for decades

He was a member in his

youth of the Clann na Gael

football club, and then

joined the Athlone club,

and was a member of the

famous six-in-a-row team

that won the Westmeath

Senior Football titles

between 1955 and 1960, and

scored three points as wing

The late Seån Dempsey.

half forward in the 1958

final against a famous

Mental Hospital side that

included legends like

Members of the Knights of St. Columbanus, of which Sean was a member,

provided a special Guard of Honour from Mullingar Cathedral to the end of

Mary Street on Monday.

It is with deep sadness and

a great sense of loss

amongst all the musical

fraternity in Mullingar

that Topic reports this

week the passing, on 6

April, of one of Mullingar's

finest musicians, Frankie

(Monty) Montgomery, late

of Assumption Villas,

Mullingar and Boyle, Co.

Roscommon - where the

genial Mullingar man lived

for many years.

Making his passing all

the more poignant was the

death of Frankie’s daughter,

Michelle, on the same

morning, with the town of

Boyle in mourning on Saturday

morning last, as

Frank and Michelle Montgomery

were both prayed

for at the funeral Mass at

11am, and then buried

afterwards in Assylinn

Cemetery, Boyle.

Many of those who lived

through and enjoyed the

60s and 70s will recall the

great talent of ‘Monty’ as

he entertained thousands

of people in the halls and

music lounges throughout

Ireland, with the many

bands, who were lucky

enough to secure his services.

‘Monty’ was probably

one of the best rhythm

guitar players of all time,

and could make his trusty

Fender strat sound like an

orchestra. Some of the

bands he played with

included The Classic Showband,

The Cotton Mill

Boys, The Jivenaires, The

Haggards and various others.

He was also very much in

demand for session work,

and while not with The

Drifters Showband, his

beautiful guitar playing

lives on on Joe Dolan's

Paddy Flanagan, Billy

Moran, Tommy Monaghan,

Mickey Conlon and John

Kelly.

Sean and his beloved

wife, Connie, who were

married almost six decades

ago, have been very highly

respected people since

coming to live in

Mullingar. As their family

grew and their oldest sons

Paul and Noel followed in

Sean Dempsey’s footsteps

into Gaelic football and

soccer, their father became

involved in Mullingar

Shamrocks Club and he

was among those who

helped to turn the club’s

fortunes around, which led

to the Mullingar club winning

the senior title, and

the Paddy Flanagan Cup

thirty-one years ago, for

the first time in two

decades.

He was chairman of the

Mullingar Club at that

time, and he always

retained a keen interest in

the club, as he did in Westmeath’s

football fortunes.

We extend sincere sympathy

to his devoted wife,

Connie and his children,

Paul, Sandra, Noel, Avril,

Linda, Karen and Ian, and

to his fourteen grandchildren,

two great grandchildren,

and all the extended

family and many friends.

Suaimhneas síoraí dá

PASSING OF A GREAT

MULLINGAR MUSICIAN

Daughter dies the same day

The late Frankie (Monty) Montgomery pictured in

the 1970s.

recordings of his first four

big hits, including the first

four number one hits, 'The

Answer to Everything', 'I

Love You More and More

Every Day', 'My Own Peculiar

Way' and 'Aching

Breaking Heart' as well as

‘Tar and Cement’ and other

of Joe Dolan recordings.

In Boyle, he was a highlythought-of

local resident

for many years, and lived

at Forest View.


to his daughter Andrea

and son Kian on the great

loss of their father and sister;

to his son-in-law, grandchildren,

his brothers,

sisters and other relatives,

and so many friends.

‘Monty’ will also be

fondly remembered by all

the musicians from that

great era of the showbands,

amongst whom are Billy

Mac, Ollie Kennedy, Danny

Murray, the late Tony Newman,

Pat Hoey, Colm Graham,

Kyd Graham and

many, many more (too

many to mention here).

May the gentle souls of

Frankie and Michelle rest

in eternal peace.

TOPIC • 13 April, 2017

Gentle

Jimmy

(John) Willis

- a devoted

worker and

gardener

Mullingar people learned

with great regret last week

of the death at his home in

Lady Aberdeen Cottages,

beside the Canal Harbour,

Mullingar, of former

County Council employee

and local personality, John

(Jimmy) Willis.

Jimmy, the name by

which he was so well

known, was a most popular

man, though most unassuming

and helpful, as also

was his late wife Nancy,

who predeceased him less

than three years ago, to

Jimmy’s and the Willis

family’s great grief.

The couple had been

inseparable over the years,

and they loved their garden,

and it was always a

local talking point amongst

Lady Aberdeen Cottage

residents, and indeed anyone

who passed by.

Over his decades working

with Westmeath County

Council’s outdoor staff, the

late Mr. Willis was a loyal

worker, and for a lengthy

period, was the right-hand

man of another great

Council personality, the

late Paddy Dolan, Ginnell

Terrace, the County Hall

caretaker for many years,

until his retiral, and

brother of Ben and the late

Joe Dolan, of Drifters

Showband fame.

Jimmy Willis was very

interested in athletics in

his younger days, and was

a well known competitor

with Mullingar Harriers

and Athletic Club after its

formation, and he and his

wife Nancy were regularly

involved in the fundraising

efforts in those early years

to advance the club. Members

of their family also

joined the Mullingar Harriers

club as members subsequently.

Mr. Willis’s kind and gentle

nature was exemplified

in his ‘way’ with wild

birds, and cheeky robins

seemed to be his particular

favourite. Jimmy was so

trusted that he fed them

from his hand, and they

often alighted on his cap

during gardening hours.

After reposing in Shaws

Funeral Home, the funeral

Mass was in Mullingar

Cathedral on Thursday

morning, and afterwards,

as the cortege left for Ballyglass

Cemetery, members

of his family walked

behind the hearse to the

graveyard, and paused

poignantly at Harbour

Road opposite the Willis

family home at Lady

Aberdeen Cottages, a short

distance away.


to his sons and daughters,

John, Liam, Anne,

Christy, Claire and Joan; to

his much loved grandchildren;

his sons and daughters-in-law;

the extended

family and many, many

friends.

May his kind and gentle

soul rest in eternal peace.

TOPIC • 13 April, 2017

Work of Mullingar

artist to feature at

Berlin exhibition

Mullingar artist Eoin Butler at his studio.

An exhibition by a

Mullingar artist is to open

at the Embassy of Ireland

in Berlin in the coming

weeks.

‘Postcards from the Hinterland’

- a solo exhibition

by Mullingar artist Eoin

Butler is to take place at the

city centre embassy from

27 April to 9 June.

“The text of the work is

about a solitary place in the

landscape, the hinterland,

and the bog,” says Eoin,

ahead of the launch. “The

work is a bridge to the sanctity

and spirit of self. These

paintings are in part

abstract imbued with a

‘stillness', and a reverence

of place, an appropriate

metaphor for an inner

peace.”

Eoin’s exhibition has

been met with widespread

praise, with his former colleague

at St. Patrick’s College,

DCU, Tom Halpin

leading praise for the

Mullingar man.

“These are works which

draw one in, which require

a slowing down and a concentration

in one’s mechanism

of response, as if they

were functioning by analogy

with the religious

iconography of the Eastern

Orthodox traditions as a

focus of spiritual meditation,

of purely inner exploration.

Butler gives the

work its own identity, creating

anew, and evolving a

fresh dialogue in the making,

which critic and poet

Cherry Smyth has

described as a rare, gentle

No luck for ‘Mr Westmeath’ Kevin in Personality Festival

The 12th Mr. Personality

Festival 2017

took place in the

Springhill Court

Hotel in Kilkenny

last weekend.

While Westmeath

entrant, Kevin Glennon

from Ballinagore was not

successful, he greatly

enjoyed the experience,

with fellow entrant from

adjoining Co. Offaly, Fergal

Leonard chosen as Mr.

Personality 2017.

The festival was hosted

by Kilkenny Macra na

Feirme, and was sponsored

by Kilkenny/Carlow

and District Farm Relief

Services. Contestants

from all 31 regions travelled

to the ‘Marble City’

for a fun filled weekend

where they were interviewed

on stage with an

and profound skill."

Originally from Austin

Friars Street in Mullingar,

Eoin currently works and

lives in Dun Laoghaire, Co.

Dublin. In 2005, he retired

as Senior Art Lecturer and

head of the Visual Arts

Department at St. Patrick’s

College, Dublin City University

(DCU ). Prior to

that, in 1968, Eoin established

the Dun Laoghaire

School of Art and Design

(the precursor to what is

now the Dún Laoghaire

Institute of Art, Design and

Technology) and was principal

there until 1971.

In his college days, Eoin

was awarded a major 3year

art scholarship at the

National College of Art

and Design, Dublin. Later

there, taking a Masters in

Fine Art.

He has been awarded

commissions for painting

and stained glass design,

with one of his most noted

works being the stained

glass design at St Paul’s

Church in Mullingar.

He continues to show

throughout Ireland and

abroad. His first solo exhibition

took place in Iowa

City in 1983. He has had

various exhibitions in Ireland

including ‘Shower at

The Ahford Gallery’, Royal

Hibernian Academy, 2003;

Rua Red Gallery, 2009, followed

by Inscapes at the

Linenhall Arts Centre

Castlebar, 2012. Eoin is a

regular exhibitor at the

Royal Hibernian Academy.

optional party piece if

they were brave enough!

On Saturday morning,

the Mr. Personality

express collected the

Holy week in Mullingar Parish

The following are the

arrangements for the Holy

Week and Easter ceremonies

in Mullingar

Parish with the Easter

Tridum beginning on Holy

Thursday, 13 April and preceded

by the Mass of

Chrism on Spy Wednesday,

12 April, in Mullingar

Cathedral at 7pm.

The Mass of Chrism on 12

April will be celebrated by

Bishop Michael Smith, and

the concelebrating priests

will represent the 69

parishes in the Diocese of

Meath, with lay people

from all the parishes also

attending also. During the

Mass, the holy chrism

which is blessed, is used in

the Sacraments of Confirmation,

the Anointing of

the Sick, and other sacraments.

All the visitors from

other parishes who are in

Mullingar on Wednesday

evening are provided with

refreshments in the Parish

Community Centre after

the ceremonies.

HOLY THURSDAY

The Easter Triduum

commences on Holy Thursday,

13 April with Mass of

the Lord’s Supper, offered

in Mullingar Cathedral at

7.30pm and the Mass will

be followed by the procession

with the Blesssed

Sacrament to the Altar of

Repose. There will be Adoration

afterwards, concluding

with Nigh Prayer at

10pm.

There will be Morning

Prayer in the Cathedral at

9.30am on Holy Thursday,

Good Friday and Holy Saturday

Holy Week will be observed in the

Church of Ireland Parish of

Mullingar with a Service in each

church every day - All Saints'

Mullingar, Killucan, Kilbixy and

Almoritia.

In All Saints' in Church Avenue,

Mullingar, prayers will take place at

1.00pm, every day from Monday, 10

April, until Saturday, 15 April.

On Good Friday there are special

observances in all the churches. At

8.00pm in All Saints' there will be the

now traditional service of Sacred

Words and Sacred Music. At this

county representatives

from the Springhill Court

Hotel via Garda escort

headed for the local bowling

alley.

Participants tried to

impress the judges by

strutting their stuff on the

alleyways. This was followed

by a “Dragons Den”

style interview.

The result was

announced at 12 midnight

on Saturday night with

Fergal Leonard from

Offaly becoming the 12th

Mr. Personality. In second

place was Colm Clarke

from Mayo and Fergus

O’Rourke from Leitrim.

Kevin Glennon is currently

attending Templemore

Garda Síochána College.

He has been a

member of the Ballinagore

Macra na Feirme

for the past two years and

has a range of hobbies

and interests from music

to sports. As well as playing

football with Coralstown

Kinnegad, hockey

with Mullingar hocky club

and and is involved in athletics

with Mullingar

Atheletic Club. He said he

decided to join Macra after

hearing good things about

the organsiation.

Kevin is also very musical

and plays the banjo,

violin, viola and piano. He

picked up the the piano at

about five and progressed

to playing viola in the

Midlands Youth Orchestra

as well as the banjo.

Mullingar Union of parishes -

Easter celebrations details

GOOD FRIDAY

There are several separate

ceremonies on Good

Friday, 14 April - which is a

day of prayer, fasting and

abstinence.

At 12 Noon in Mullingar,

the annual Way (Stations)

of the Cross will take place,

from St Paul’s Church to

the Cathedral, with all

those participating walking

along the Bank of the

Royal Canal from Springfield

to the Harbour Bridge,

and continuing to the

Cathedral.

The Good Friday ceremonies

will be held at 3pm

and at 7.30pm in the Cathedral

of Christ the King

with the reading of the Passion

of Christ, with Veneration

of the Cross and Holy

Communion. The ceremonies

in St. Pauls

Church, in Gainstown

Church and in Walshestown

Church will be at

3pm and in Brotenstown

Church at 7pm.

HOLY SATURDAY

There will be just one ceremony

on Holy Saturday,

15 April, with the Easter

Vigil Celebration commencing

in the Cathedral

of Christ the King at 9pm,

with the Mass including

the Easter readings celebrating

Christ’s Resurrection,

and all participating

renew their Baptismal

promises.

EASTER SUNDAY, 16

APRIL

The first Easter Sunday

celebration will be the new

tradition of a Dawn Mass,

at 6.15am on the shores of

Lough Ennell at Bloomfield

House Hotel.

In Mullingar Cathedral,

the Mass Times on Easter

Sunday are similar to other

Sundays, at 8.30am, at 11am

and at 12.30pm, while in St.

Paul’s Church, the Mass

times are 10.30am and at 12

noon.

CONFESSIONS

The Sacrament of Confession

(Reconciliation) will

be available in the Cathedral

on four days during-

Holy Week. On Tuesday

,there’s the Easter Penitential

Service after 7.30pm

Mass and Confessions will

be available on Holy Thursday

and Good Friday from

4pm to 5.30pm. On Holy Saturday,

there will be Confessions

from 2.30pm to

5.30pm.

MULLINGAR UNION OF PARISHES - EASTER CELEBRATIONS DETAILS

Service, in the quiet poignancy of

All Saints' where people have worshipped

for the last 814 years, we will

hear read the beautiful and moving

words of Our Lord's Passion according

to St. John. We will then hear

the inspiring and sacred music by

the All Saints' Senior Parish Choir

and the Nevada Union High School

Choir from California, USA. This

choir is making its' first appearance

in Mullingar on its' Irish tour and

everyone will be most welcome to

attend this Service.

On Good Friday evening it is a privilege

to be able to go to a sacred place

to reflect quietly on the death of

Jesus.

On Easter Day the Resurrection

will be celebrated at special services

in all the churches. In All Saints'

there will be an early Service of Holy

Communion at 8.30am and then the

inspiring Easter Day Family Service

at 11.00am.

Easter is still a very important festival

for Christians and we extend a

very warm welcome to everyone to

join us for these occasions, in the

sacred presence of Almighty God.

‘Mr Westmeath’, Kevin Glennon, is presented with a memento of the

weekend from John Connolly, Chairman of Kilkenny and Carlow & District

Farm Relief Services.

NEWS

7

History Walking Tour -

Mullingar in Time of

Revolution

A history walking tour on

the subject of Mullingar in

1916 to 1923 is to take place

on Easter Sunday, 16 April

and again on Easter Monday,

17 April.

The tour will depart from

the Market House at 3pm

on both days. There is a

charge of €5 for adults with

no charge for children. The

guide for these tours will be

local historian, Ruth Illingworth.

As Ireland marks the

101st anniversary of the

Easter Rising, these Walking

Tours will explore life

in Mullingar during the

revolutionary period of the

Rising, the War of Independence

and the Civil War.

Many Mullingar people

were involved in the Rising

and the War of Independence,

while others

opposed the rise of radical

nationalism. The Civil War

divided the town as it

divided the country-while

some locals struggled to

remain neutral. Places visited

during these tours will

include the County Buildings,

the military baracks,

the new 1916 Memorial Garden

at the Green Bridge, St

Mary's Hall and Danny

Byrne's pub-which was the

childhood home of 1916 veteran,

Dr Ada English. For

further information phone

087 947 2583.

Westmeath trainer

Dick Cleary to feature

in RTÉ documentary

A documentary on The

Irish Grand National by a

Westmeath-native producer

is to be broadcast on RTÉ 1

next Easter Monday, 17

April at 6.30pm.

‘The Irish Grand National

– Chasing a Dream’ captures

the essence of the

Irish Grand National –

telling the story of one of

our greatest sporting traditions

since 1870.

Known as the ‘people’s

race’, its strong emotional

stories will capture the

hearts of all viewers not

just the horseracing fans.

Revealing and intimate

accounts come from those

most associated with this

iconic race, including members

of the generations of

racing families who helped

to make it famous, such as

the Carberrys, Dreapers,

and Woods’.

Other contributors,

including David Elsworth,

Jenny Pitman, Mouse Morris

and Richard Dunwoody,

tell their own special

intriguing stories of their

participation in the Irish

Grand National. Expert

insight comes from commentator

Dessie Scahill,

Guy Williams, senior

national hunt handicapper

Noel O’Brien, Robert Hall

and Ted Walsh.

The documentary also

looks at the 1916 race won

by a Westmeath trainer

Dick Cleary, with and interview

with his granddaughter

Connie Cleary.

‘The Irish Grand National

– Chasing a Dream’ is produced

by Rosemount-native

Anna May O’Connor

Mullins and her team at

Bankos Tales Productions.

8 NEWS

IRENE VON PRONDZYNSKI

(NÉE GRÄFIN GROTE)

The death has occurred of Irene Von

Prondzynski (née Gräfin Grote), Knockdrin,

Mullingar, on 4 April, peacefully in

the care of Matron and staff of Newbrook

Lodge Nursing Home; beloved wife

of the late Hans-Joachim and dear

mother of Isabelle, Ferdinand, Aglaja and

Pia, dear mother-in-law of Heather and

Udo, grandmother of Sebastian and

Theodore; sister of Karl-Ernst and Doraline.

Sadly missed by her family, relatives

and many friends.

Funeral service took place on Friday, 7

April, at All Saints Church, Mullingar, followed

by private cremation.

MARY ELIZABETH GAVAN

The death has occurred of Mary Elizabeth

Gavan, Clonageeragh, Fore, Castlepollard,

on 3 April, at the Midland

Regional Hospital, Mullingar, formerly

cared for by the wonderful staff of Cluain

Lir Care Centre. Deeply regretted by her

sons John, Michael and Paul, daughtersin-law

Ursula, Jackie and Meg, grandchildren

Matthew, Dominic and Lucy, Joe,

Conor and Ròise, kind neighbours, relatives

and friends.

Reposed on Wednesday, 5 April, in Cluain

Lir Care Centre Chapel, followed by

removal to St. Feichin's Church, Fore.

Funeral Mass took place on Thursday, 6

April, followed by burial in St. Mary's

Cemetery, Collinstown.

JOHN (JIMMY) WILLIS

The death has occurred of John (Jimmy)

Willis, Lady Aberdeen Cottages,

Mullingar, on 4 April, peacefully at his

residence, after a short illness bravely

borne. John (Jimmy), beloved husband of

the late Nancy and loving father of John,

Liam, Anne, Christy, Clair and Joan. Sadly

missed by his loving sons, daughters,

grandchildren, sons-in-law, daughters-inlaw,

nephews, nieces, relatives and

friends.

Reposed at Shaw's Funeral Home on

Thursday, 6 April, with removal to the

Cathedral of Christ the King, with Funeral

Mass was on Friday, 7 April, followed by

burial in Ballyglass Cemetery.

WILLIAM (BILL) KEEGAN

The death has occurred of William (Bill)

Keegan, Toarlisnamore, Kilbeggan, on 5

April, at the South Westmeath Hospice,

Athlone, surrounded by his family. Deeply

regretted by his loving wife Peggy,

brother Pat (England) nephews, nieces,

brother-in-law, sisters-in-law, relatives,

neighbours and friends.

Reposed at Nannery’s Funeral Home,

Kilbeggan, on Thursday, 6 April, followed

by removal to St. Michael’s Church,

Castletown-Geoghegan. Funeral Mass

took place on Friday, 7 April, with burial

afterwards in adjoining cemetery.

KATHLEEN DENNY (NÉE

MURTAGH)

The death has occurred of Kathleen

Denny (née Murtagh), Blarney, Co. Cork

and late of Mullingar, on 5 April, peacefully

in the care of the doctors, nurses and

staff at Marymount University Hospital

and Hospice. Beloved wife of the late

James and loving mother of Bridie,

George, Theresa, Liam, Marcella, Louise,

Patricia, Jimmy, Philip, Alan and Adrian.

Sadly missed by her loving family, sons-inlaw,

daughters-in-law, grandchildren,

great-grandchildren, extended family,

relatives and friends.

Reposed at Crowley’s Funeral Home,

Ballincollig on Wednesday, 5 April, with

removal on Friday, 7 April, to the Church

of the Immaculate Conception, Blarney.

Requiem Mass took place on Saturday, 8

April, followed by cremation at the Island

Crematorium, Ringaskiddy.

DEATH NOTICES

BRENDAN AUSTIN

The death has occurred of Brendan

Austin, Knockmant, Killucan, on 4 April,

unexpectedly in St. James's Hospital,

Dublin. Sadly missed by his partner Nuala,

good neighbours, cousins, relatives and

friends.

Reposed in Ennis’ Funeral Home, Killucan

on Friday, 7 April. Funeral Mass was

held on Saturday, 8 April, in St. Joseph's

Church, Rathwire, with burial afterwards

in Rathwire Cemetery.

PAULINE REDDIN (NÉE COR-

ROON)

The death has occurred of Pauline Reddin

(née Corroon), Ginnell Terrace,

Mullingar, on 6 April, peacefully in the

company of her devoted family at St

Camillus Nursing Centre, Killucan.

Beloved wife of the late Joe and dear

mother of Mary, Gerry, Martha, Anne,

Patricia and Helen. She will be very sadly

missed by her loving family, daughter-inlaw,

sons-in-law, grandchildren, greatgrandchildren,

sisters Peggy, Lily and

Helen, brothers Thomas and Christy, sisters-in-law,

brothers-in-law, nieces,

nephews, relatives, neighbours and many

friends.

Reposed at the home of her son Gerry

at Hazelgrove, Petitswood, on Friday, 7

April. Funeral Mass on Saturday, 8 April,

in St. Paul's Church, followed by burial in

Ballyglass Cemetery.

DR. MARTIN PURCELL

The death has occurred of Dr. Martin

Purcell, Dublin / Mullingar, 7 April, peacefully

in St. Vincent’s Private Hospital.

Beloved husband of Deirdre (Devane) and

father of Phillip, Elaine and the late Anne

Marie, grandfather of Luke, Callum, Eric,

Ben, Emma, Anna and Morgan. Brother

of Geraldine, Alacoque, Valerie, Imelda,

Phillip and the late Anne, Nicholas and

Edward. Father-in-law of Jane and Owen.

Martin will be sadly missed by his family,

colleagues and friends.

Removal was on Saturday, 8 April, to St.

Joseph’s Church, Terenure. Funeral Mass

on Monday, 10 April, followed by burial

in Walshestown Cemetery, Mullingar.

SEAN DEMPSEY

The death has occurred of Sean

Dempsey, Hillside Drive, Mullingar and

late of Athlone, on 7 April, peacefully in

the devoted care of Matron and staff of

Newbrook Nursing Home. Loving husband

of Connie and dear father of Sandra

(Costello), Paul, Noel, Avril (Smyth), Linda

(Wallace), Karen and Ian; he will be sadly

missed by his devoted wife and family, his

much loved grandchildren and greatgrandchildren,

sister Angela, brother

Robert, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law,

family circle and many friends.

Reposed at Gilsenan’s Funeral Home on

Sunday, 9 April, followed by removal to

the Cathedral of Christ the King. Funeral

Mass was on Monday, 10 April, followed

by burial in Walshestown Cemetery.

MICHAEL BEGLAN

The death has occurred of Michael

Beglan, Hillside Drive, Mullingar and late

of Ballynacargy, on 8 April, peacefully in

the devoted care of the staff of St. Camillus

Nursing Centre, Killucan. Pre-deceased

by his wife Mary; deeply regretted by his

devoted wife Bríd, loving family Mary,

John, Michael, Tom and Pat, sisters, Von,

Claire and Josie, son-in-law, daughters-inlaw,

nephews, nieces, grandchildren,

great-grandchildren, neighbours, relatives

and friends.

Reposed at St. Camillus' Chapel of Rest

on Monday, 10 April. Funeral Mass on

Tuesday morning, 11 April, in St. Camillus'

Chapel, followed by burial in Sonna

Cemetery.

TOPIC • 13 April, 2017

IN MEMORY OF NOAH

Delvin parents prepare for special pilgrimage for their late son

BY LARRY COONEY

Almost five years since the

heartbreak of losing their

infant son, Noah, due to a condition

known as hypoplastic

left heart syndrome, Delvinbased

couple Gordon Farrell

and his Swedish-born partner

Jessica Eriksson are making a

special pilgrimage to Croagh

Patrick in his memory in a few

weeks’ time.

Their objective is to raise

funds for the Jack & Jill Children's

Foundation, an organisation

who were so supportive

to them during the darkest

period of their lives, both

before and after they finally

parted company with Noah on

14 June in 2012.

Since they announced their

decision to ‘Climb Croagh

Patrick for Noah’ earlier this

year, up to one hundred and

fifty other climbers will join

their personal crusade on Saturday

6 May. Proceeds from

their hike will go to their chosen

charity in a kind gesture of

thanks for the support they

received from the organisation

following three-week-old

Noah’s death.

The popular couple have

lived in Delvin since 2004 and

met just a few years previously

while Ballivor man Gordon

was working abroad. They also

run a successful business

based in Delvin, where they

live with their other three

sons, Theo, Emil and Ruben -

their new addition!

LIFE-CHANGING

EXPERIENCE

But their experience in coping

with the unexpected loss of

their third son, Noah, has, in

their owns words, ‘changed

their lives forever’. And

although Noah’s birth was

four weeks premature by an

emergency c-section procedure,

it was only after five days

that they learned the shattering

news of his terminal condition.

Noah was born on the 24 May

2012 in Mullingar General Hospital.

At the time of his birth,

there was no reason to believe

that Noah was anything other

than a perfect healthy baby

boy who just had an increased

heart rate. But nevertheless

precautionary measures were

taken to counteract the possibility

of pneumonia and so

Noah was admitted to the special

care unit.

For five days, Noah’s condition

was being monitored,

with no other diagnosis being

recorded. But on that fateful

fifth day, a doctor detected an

unexplained murmur on his

heart. Sadly for the Delvin couple,

that was also the moment

when matters took a serious

turn for the worst with regard

to Noah’s condition.

Although the infant’s parents

were given the best of

support by the hospital, their

immediate priority now was

that of securing a bed in

Crumlin Children’s Hospital.

But despite being reassured

that such procedures are quite

common, they were asked if

they wished to see a priest

before going to Crumlin Hospital.

At this time they realised

just how seriously ill Noah

really was.

PRECIOUS MOMENT: Noah’s father Gordon Farrell and mother Jessica Ericksson share

a precious moment together in May 2012.

HEART CONDITION

On arrival at Crumlin Hospital,

the couple were greeted by

cardiologist, Dr. Paul Oslizlok,

and the nurses from that

ward. And within twenty minutes

or so of his admission,

Noah was diagnosed with

hypoplastic left heart syndrome

- one of the most serious

heart conditions in an

infant.

It was every parent’s worst

nightmare to be informed that

their infant son had a major

heart defect and would need

numerous open-heart surgeries,

within three weeks and

many more over the next

months and years, if Noah was

strong enough.

“We simply just could not

believe what was happening to

us,” said Jessica, “our perfect

little boy, just five days old, was

now fighting for his life.”

The devastated young couple,

after making what was now an

even longer trip back to

Delvin, somehow had to find

the courage and composure to

break the bad news to their

other two sons and family

members who were keenly

waiting to hear of Noah’s condition.

And it did not get any easier

for Gordon and Jessica over

the next two weeks. Liaising

with the hospital’s doctors on

a daily basis became a routine,

hoping against hope that there

might be a change for the better

in Noah’s condition.

“Sadly, the doctors told us

Noah’s heart was getting

weaker and he would therefore

be very unlikely to survive the

necessary major surgery that

he required,” said Jessica.

Since the prognosis was not

in the young couple’s favour,

and with the cardiologists not

believing that Noah's outcome

from a surgical intervention

would be a success, they

resigned themselves to the

worst.

It was a truly heart-breaking

situation for Gordon and Jessica,

whose only remaining

option was now, how best to

deal with the inevitable parting

with their infant son. Over

the next twenty-four hours,

Noah’s condition had indeed

deteriorated and they were

asked if the family members

would like to say their ‘goodbyes’.

“We spent that final night

with our little boy in Crumlin,

not knowing just how little

time we had left with him,”

recalls Jessica, who said that

they were also visited by the

palliative care team that following

morning.

“They were a great support

for us but also on that same

morning, we made the decision

to bring baby Noah back

to his family home in Delvin

for his final hours on this

earth. We were greeted there

by a Jack & Jill nurse,” said

Jessica who added:

“The nurse had travelled all

the way from Galway to support

us in our hour of need

and we will always be eternally

gratefully for her help

and kindness.”

After leaving Crumlin Hospital

at 2.00pm on the afternoon

of Tuesday, 14 June, the devastated

couple, accompanied by

their terminally-ill three-week

old infant son, arrived back in

Delvin. They were only home a

few precious hours before

Noah finally passed away at

8pm that evening.

That was not the end of the

Jack & Jill Foundation’s

involvement with Gordon and

Jessica.

“Jack & Jill still played a big

part in our life, especially helping

our children cope with

their bereavement,” confirmed

Jessica and this is why, five

years later, they are making

this special pilgrimage for

Noah.

In their appeal for the unique

support, that Jack & Jill offer

to Ireland’s sickest children,

and later to the bereaved families

of young children, Jessica

and Gordon added:

“Please support the Jack and

Jill Children's Foundation

whenever possible, so they can

continue to take care of the

sickest children of Ireland and

their families, because one

never knows what will come to

one’s own family door.”

After Gordon and Jessica’s

special pilgrimage to Croagh

Patrick on Saturday, 6 May, a

fundraising function is being

organised in Breaffy House

Hotel, Castlebar, that evening

for all the climbers and supporters

of their magnificent

gesture of gratitude to the

Jack & Jill Foundation.

Sponsorship cards are still

available from Jessica and

Gordon or by e-mail request

on: Jessica.ericksson@live.ie

or just telephone on Mob: 087-

685-0214 or 087-228-3041.

TOPIC • 13 April, 2017

IN BRIEF

‘Hairspray’ to bring

extra volume to

Mullingar

Presented by Mullingar Student

Players, ‘Hairspray’ - the

iconic musical full of extra volume

- is coming to Mullingar

Arts Centre this April.

Following previous Student

Players’ smash hits, including

‘The Phantom Of The Opera’ and

‘Cats’, ‘Hairspray’ is the latest

blockbuster musical hit to be

presented in true fashion by the

student players.

It’s 1962 in Baltimore, Maryland,

and quirky, plus-sized,

teenage Tracy Turnblad has one

dream: to dance on The Corny

Collins Show. When she gets put

in detention with the African-

American students in the school,

they teach her some of their

dance moves, and her new

found groove wins her a spot on

Corny’s show.

Overnight, Tracy transforms

from a nobody into a star, and

uses her newfound influence to

advocate for racial integration

on the television show.

Tracy faces scrutiny and bullying

from the network producer,

Velma, and her popular, but

vicious, daughter, Amber. With

the help of the teenage heartthrob

Link, host Corny Collins,

and Motormouth Maybelle (the

host of ‘Negro Day’), Tracy overcomes

the odds and succeeds in

her mission to integrate The

Corny Collins Show.

‘Hairspray’ plays for six performances

from Monday, 17 April

to Saturday, 22 April.

Tickets are priced from €14 and

tickets €10 on preview night

(Monday, 17 April).

Tickets are available from

Mullingar Arts Centre by calling

044-9347777 or visiting

mullingarartscentre.ie

Mullingar Chamber

appoint new Office

Manager

Nuala-Anne Curley has been

appointed the new office manager

at Mullingar Chamber of

Commerce as of February 1st.

Nuala-Anne graduated from

Athlone Institute of Technology

with a degree in Business and

Marketing in 2004 and in 2005

graduated from the Dublin Institute

of Technology with a

Diploma in Advertising.

She has years of experience in

Marketing and Advertising, with

a wealth of experience in management,

brand building and

strategic development. She is

passionate about the economic

development of her home town

of Mullingar.

Nuala-Anne will be key in

recruiting new members to the

Chamber and is committed to

working for and with Chamber

members to focus on the end

result. She is excited to move forward

from the great work the

Chamber have done to date and

provide businesses with the tools

and resources needed to promote

and develop Mullingar and

North Westmeath.

Castledaly

Community Games

Athletic heats will be held on

Sunday, 23 April at Castledaly

GAA grounds at 2pm. There will

be races for Tiny Tots up to U16

age group. For further information,

please text 087-984-6042.

BY CLAIRE CORRIGAN

MARK Irwin was feeling

the effects of four

months of non-stop

singing when he sat

down to talk to Topic

last Friday.

The accomplished singer

and actor has just spent the

past several months on the

road touring with the

renowned 12 Tenors, captivating

audiences across

Europe with their mesmerising

melodies.

Despite his sore throat,

Mark is more than happy to

chat away about his time

with the Tenors as well as

talk about how he got his

start in acting and singing.

The Clonmore native

started the same place as

many a potential star,

Mullingar Arts Centre,

when he was cast in a production

of Les Miserable

with The Student Players

at 14 years old, going on to

perform in ‘Westside

Story’, ‘Fame’ and several

other shows.

Prior to that, Mark joined

the Cathedral Boys choir at

just seven, and also

received private singing

lessons from Dervilla Conlon-Maloney.

“I was in the Cathedral

Choristers for ten years

and I did some classical

training with Dervilla for

much of that time,” he

recalled.

Having caught the acting

bug, Mark continued to

perform in various productions,

with Sean Lynch and

Angie Lynch as his mentors,

up until he left to go to

London in 2011.

While toying with the

idea of applying for the

Royal Welsh College of

Music and Drama, he found

he was unsure of whether

he wanted to continue

along the classical music

route. “I loved being on

stage and acting. One night

I Googled musical theatre

colleges in London and the

first one that came up was

the London School of Musical

Theatre (LSMT).”

On a whim, he filled out

an application, which he

promptly forgot about

until, two weeks later, he

received an email asking

him to come to London for

an audition, which his parents

encouraged him to

attend.

The audition was on a

Sunday and Mark travelled

over and back on the same

day, making sure to have

the two songs requested

prepared. “I sang ‘Your

Song’ by Elton John, the

Moulin Rouge version, and

I also had to give a miniinterview.”

Mark Irwin.

ANDREW LLOYD

WEBBER

Two weeks later, Mark got

a phone call saying that he

had been awarded a place

at the college. However he

was crestfallen when he

realised he would be

unable to afford the cost of

the course - a startling

€13,500 for the year. “That

was without adding in the

costs of accommodation

and everything else that

goes along with living in

London.”

However as faith would

have it, it was the same

year that, for the very first

time, LSMT was offering

one student a place

through the Andrew Lloyd

Webber Foundation Scholarship,

and Mark was

among only four budding

actors that were chosen to

go before a panel, which

included David Grindrod, a

famous casting director. “I

had no idea who he was but

the three other people certainly

were fretting.”

Mark sang the same

songs he had performed in

the previous audition.

Afterwards he was asked

by the panel what the scholarship

meant to him, to

which he replied that he

simply could not afford to

attend the college without

it and felt it would be a

shame to miss such a great

opportunity. “Two days

later I got a phone call saying

I had been accepted for

the full scholarship.”

THE COMMITMENTS

After completing the

intensive one year course,

Mark signed up with an

agent and was cast in a

small production called

‘Caucasian Chalk Circle’ in

Shoreditch Church, which

ran for two weeks.

Over the next number of

months, Mark succeeded in

getting down to the final

two choices for parts in

‘Les Miserables’, ‘Hairspray’

and ‘Joseph’, but

failed to secure that final

callback. “I was running

out of money, so I moved

home for about two

months. I just auditioned

for ‘The Commitments’,

which I didn’t get, so I got a

job in Mullingar.”

However not long after

returning home, Mark was

thrilled to learn that he had

been cast in the ‘swing’ set

for ‘The Commitments’,

meaning he would play

multiple roles throughout

the musical. “I was so fed

up of getting knocked

back, so I rang my sister

before I went back for the

audition and she just said

‘Go for it’. I got the job on a

Friday and started the following

Monday. I did just

under two years with the

show. It was great craic and

also because I was a swing,

I didn’t have to do the same

thing every night, which

kept it alive for me. I played

one of the principal leads

as a cover at least twenty

times and my friends and

family came over to see

me.”

12 TENORS

After the obligatory dry

spell that is part and parcel

of life as a performer, Mark

was selected to do a four

month tour with The 12

Tenors. “I got called in to

NEWS

Mullingar’s West End Boy Mark

wraps up four months on the road

A youngster to avoid in

Mullingar Town Park ....

An attractive looking,

cone shaped young

evergreen tree has

recently been planted

in Mullingar Town

Park as an additional

specimen tree.

The new sapling yew tree

is near the Auburn Road at

the southern end of the

park, close to the roadway

from the park gate, but

there’s just one drawback.

The attractive looking new

tree isn’t as innocent as it

looks, because the Irish

yew (Taxus baccata), which

is a native Irish tree, is

toxic to humans, all parts

of it. The long needle-like

leaves are toxic, and should

any youthful visitor to the

park pluck the leaves from

the young yew tree, they

could suffer serious health

reactions.

According to the information

available to Topic, yew

trees are seldom recommended

for any public

park, because all parts of

the yew are poisonous to

humans, and to cattle,

horses and pigs.

Even if you don’t eat the

berries, some of the yews

release cytotoxic pollen

this time of year, which can

cause headaches, aching

joins, itching, lethargy and

skin rashes, and can trigger

asthma. In fact, just

handling the plant’s

branches, without even eating

any part of it, can

cause allergic reactions in

some people.

There are stories of people

who eat yew berries

without any harm, but not

the seeds. Were anyone to

chew the seed inside the

berries, as little as three of

these yew seeds can cause

poisoning.

A few years ago, a 31-

year-old man from Norfolk,

in Britain, died from taxine

alkaloid ingestion, which is

associated with yew needles

and berries.

The recently

planted Yew

tree in

Mullingar

Town Park.

The yew is a native Irish

evergreen tree, and the yew

can live to a great age. One

tree at Fortingall in Scotland

is said to be 2,000

years old, and in Ireland,

there’s a yew tree at

Belvedere, which may well

be 600 years old, according

to some accounts. County

Mayo is named after the

yew tree, as the Irish name,

Maigh Eo, means the ‘Plain

of the yew’ (trees).

9

do an audition for the 12

Tenors which I’ve just finished.

I did the audition in

October and started in

November and just finished

on Monday, 27 March.

We did ten days rehearsals,

travelled to four different

countries (Germany, Luxemburg,

Belgium and Austria);

we travelled 31,000km

on a bus. We did 99 shows

and stayed in 47 hotels and

spent 409 hours on the

bus,” he laughed.

CHARITY CONCERT

It’s clear Mark has an

abundance of drive and

ambition, a necessity in

such an unforgiving industry

- last week he took part

in an intensive three hour

workshop audition at the

Abbey Theatre for a new

screenplay, and this week

he is traveling to London,

where he will do two auditions

in the same day.

If you would like to see

Mark in action, he will be

performing at the

Mullingar Arts Centre

along with a number of

special guests as part of a

charity concert in aid of

funding for an MRI scanner

for Mullingar Hospital on

the 16 and 17 of June.

Tickets will be available

at Mullingar Arts Centre.

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(Beside Aldi)

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10 NEWS

TOPIC • 13 April, 2017

Amy and Rebecca preparing

for their Mission to India

TEENAGERS Rebecca Redding

from Rahugh and her

friend Amy Colton are

putting aside their studies for

over a week after Easter in

order to undertake a trip to

India to see for themselves the

work of The Leprosy Mission

(TLM) Ireland. Their trip will

also be the culmination of two

years fundraising as members

of the Meath and Kildare

diocese in order to provide

some of the necessary support

for leprosy suffers in the

Tamil Nadu region of southern

India, and particularly

Kairigiri, where they will be

based along with ten other

members of the visiting party.

As well as undertaking this

trip, Rebecca will also have

the final preparations for sitting

her Leaving Certificate

in the Mercy Secondary

School in Kilbeggan on her

mind when she returns on 23

April. But her travelling companion

and friend, Amy, who

is a boarder at Wilson’s Hospital

School in Multyfarnham,

is currently a Transition Year

student there.

Both girls met at Rebecca’s

home in Arden Glen, Rahugh,

recently, where they discussed

their plans about the

forthcoming trip as well as

what has been involved in

their fundraising project over

the past years. Last year they

were engaged in a series of

fundraising events - whist-drives,

coffee mornings and sales

of work - in order to buy specialised

sandals for the leprosy

sufferers. A visit to the

factory where these sandals

are made will also be part of

the visitors’ itinerary.

Party of twelve from the

Midlands

This year the twelve members

of the travelling group

have also focused on the treatment

and medication in the

‘Good for the Sole’ project

aimed at providing life-changing

surgery for those affected

by leprosy. The girls displayed

examples of the specialised

sandals made from recycled

rubber, as well as a cookery

book ‘Food for the Sole’ that

was published by another

member of the group - Naas

lady Rhonda Willoughby. Proceeds

from the sale of that

popular publication also did

much to promote the cause, as

well as raise much needed

funds for sandals and the necessary

surgical operations for

the leprosy victims.

Looking ahead to the trip,

Rebecca said: “We are flying

to Chennai on Easter Monday,

17 April, and then on to the

Tamil Nadu region,” and she

added: “We will be based in

the TML Hospital in Karigiri,

staying in the hospital guest

houses.”

As well as observing the

work undertaken by the hospital

there and another hospital

in Vada based three hours

away from there, the visitors

will be meeting people who

might have benefited from the

kind of surgeries that can be

made possible by their fundraising.

First-hand experience into

research

And while many might be

led to believe that leprosy is a

disease that had been close to

complete eradication, the

travelling group will also see

for themselves some of the

research that’s going on in

relation to actually ending

leprosy and developing better

treatments for it in the meantime.

Members of the travelling

group will also get an opportunity

to meet local people

who are going through a rehabilitation

programme after

being cured of the disease,

including the medical aspects

but also learning skills for

rejoining the workforce and

being readmitted into society.

So what is Geashill girl Amy

most looking forward to on

her visit to southern India

next week? “We are journeying

to the Karigiri and Vada

hospitals to meet the real people

behind the stories and to

further develop our partnership

with The Leprosy Mission

Ireland (TLM Ireland)

and I am personally looking

forward to passing on my

experience of the trip by

bringing back stories of what

I have seen in India when I

return.”

The travelling group will be

led by Ken Gibson, CEO of

TLM Ireland.

Amy Colton and Rebecca Redding, who are off to India for six days next Easter Monday. They

are pictured with some of the items, including the specialised sandals for the leprosy sufferers,

for which they had previously raised funds as well as for the cookery book ‘Food for the Sole’.

RIGHT: Rebecca’s

grandmother

Emma Redding

was present in

Rahugh when

Topic recently

called and was

delighted to be

photographed

with the two

girls before they

set off.

Large attendance at coffee morning for Charlotte Connolly Trust

THE Mullingar branch of

the Irish Countrywomen’s

Association held a coffee

morning with a difference

last Thursday morning at

the Annebrook House Hotel.

As well as dispensing tea,

coffee and a host of tasty

treats, the ladies also provided

attendees with unique

knitted chickens for the

Easter themed event, each

with a easter egg inside.

Treasurer Phil Kieran

explained that the branch

have selected the Charlotte

Connolly Trust as the charity

for which they will be

raising funds throughout

the year. “The ICA came

together and held a meeting

and we spoke to Bertie here

and he kindly sponsored tea

and coffee for the event. A

group of us knitted some

chicks and there are also

some that were very kindly

knitted by people outside

the group which we really

appreciated. We wanted to

raise it for Charlotte

because her illness is ongoing

and it’s very expensive

to get the medication, and

she is not getting any funding

from anybody at all.”

Ms. Connolly is believed to

be the only person in Ireland

diagnosed with Degos

disease, a rare blood vessel

condition. Fewer than 200

cases have been reported

since it was discovered in

the 1940s.

Ms. Connolly said she was

very grateful to the women

who had put the event

together. “They are very

good for organising it and

I’m delighted.”

The Mullingar native, who

constantly requires

crutches to aid her while

walking, told Topic that she

tries not to let the illness get

to her. “I have good days and

bad days but you just have

to get on with it.”

There is no known cure

for Degos disease, and Ms

Connolly has the more serious

systemic version, which

affects the internal organs

and has a high mortality

rate.

However, a handful of

patients in the US have been

treated on an experimental

basis with the drug

eculizumab, known commercially

as Soliris, and the

condition of some has

improved.

At last week’s coffee morning were Una Flynn, Bridie Bourke, Pat

Collins (Chairperson of the Charlotte Connolly Trust), Dylon

Connolly, Charlotte Connolly, Declan Connolly, Phil Kiernan, Mary

McCormack and Paula Mullen.

Maud Kinaffe, Concepta Brennan and Anne O’Sullivan pictured on

the day.

Catherine Leavy and Kathleen Brady pictured at the

coffee morning,

At last Thursday’s coffee morning were Mary McHugh,

Anthony Murphy, Mary Leonard, Noreen Murphy and

Declan Connolly.

TOPIC • 13 April, 2017

IN BRIEF

Annual Pilgrimage

to Knock

On Sunday, 30 April, the

Eucharistic Adoration Annual

Pilgrimage will take place to

Knock, Co. Mayo. Bishop Denis

Nulty, a former priest of

Mullingar Parish, will celebrate

the Mass.

A bus will leave Mullingar that

morning and anyone wishing to

travel should contact Úna at 087

645 0046 for further details.

Easter Ceremonies

in Tyrrellspass

The Easter ceremonies in St Sinian’s

Church, Tyrrellspass, will

commence with a service on

Good Friday at 3.00pm. On

Easter Saturday a Holy Communion

service will take place at

8.00pm. All are welcome.

Gainstown

Progressive 25

Results 5 April 2017

Winners on 11 Games

Mary Manning and Patsy

Alford.

Second on 10 Games

Jim Rock and Geraldine

Holmes, Tom Earley and Jack

Doolin.

Table Prizes

Larry and Nancy Ennis, Jimmy

Rickard and Mick Kavanagh,

Peter Swords and Paddy Boyce,

Paddy Casey and Seamus Lyons.

Last Game

Rita Bentick and Fionnuala

Kelly.

Raffle

Enda Wynne, Damien Molloy,

Roe Lynch and Frank O’Hara.

Lecture by Dr.

Richard Collins

A lecture by broadcaster and

writer Dr Richard Collins is to

take place at The Barn,

Tyrrellspass on Wednesday, 26

April at 8pm.

Dr Collins will give an illustrated

lecture on all things birds.

His lecture will take attendees

on a journey where he will

explore the Quirks and Foibles of

our common native species and

give an insight into the lesser

known facts which govern their

lives.

Mr Collins has published a

range of scientific papers on

Mute Swans, which have

appeared in Irish and foreign

journals. An experienced broadcaster

and writer, Richard was

formerly Honorary Secretary of

BirdWatch Ireland. He teaches at

the Adult Education Department

of University College Dublin,

where he is known for his quirky

and colourful lecturing style.

Milltownpass CAG

Social Morning Group

Continues on Wednesday, 12

April from 11am to 1pm.

A trip to An Grianán will take

place on Wednesday, 26 April

leaving Milltownpass community

centre at 9am. Fees to be paid in

full on or before 12 April. Places

still available.

Trip to knock takes place on 30

April. Bus leaving from Milltownpass

at 8.30am. For further

information, contact Mrs Rose

Wright on 086-2515828.

Annual progressive 25card

drive takes place in the Community

Centre on Friday, 7 April at

9pm. Admission €10. Fo more

information, contact Kevin on

087-6225247.

BY CLAIRE CORRIGAN

Mullingar locals

picked up a wealth of

culinary tips, as well

as getting the opportunity

to taste a host of

delicious dishes, at an

Easter Cookery Demonstration

at All Saints

Church last Thursday.

On hand to impart his

wisdom was top South

African chef, Robin Aust

who gave a high informative

presentation entitled

“Easter Delights” filled to

the brim with unique and

palatable ideas on how to

impress this Easter.

Robin, who joined the

church over a year and a

half ago, began delivering

the demos after being

approached by Reverend

Alistair Graham. “He

knew that I was chef and

he asked me if I would be

interested in doing demonstrations

for them and I

said yes. This is the fourth

one that I’ve done. The

first two I did with my wife

and then for the last two I

have been working with

Brendan (Conroy).”

The seasoned chef said

that he always aims to do

something a little different

for his mouth-watering

menus. “The big thing at

the moment is Sous-Vide

cooking where you cook in

a vacuum pack bag in hot

water. I did a Sous-Vide leg

of lamb and used middle

eastern spices such as

cumin and mustard seeds

and did a couple of different

vegetables with that as

well. I also did a starter of

a confit of salmon which is

salmon that is cooked in

olive oil at a very low temperature

as well as a middle

African cauliflower

soup which was a bit different,

a fish pie and for

dessert, a sticky toffee date

pudding.”

The chef has been getting

a great response from

attendees who get to

munch on the delectable

fruits of Robin’s labour at

the end of class.

Robin moved to Ireland

several years ago with his

wife, who is also a chef,

and their two daughters.

At the time, he had been

Executive Chef at a leading

five-star hotel in Zimbabwe

where he was in

charge of 150 staff members.

After working at the

Radisson Blu in Stillorgan

for two years, he moved to

Mullingar where he was

employed as Executive

Chief of the Mullingar

Park Hotel when it opened

in September 2003.

Over the years he has

been at the helm of several

high end hotels in the role

of Executive Chef including

The Heritage Killenard

in Portlaoise and

The Dunboyne Castle

Hotel in Maynooth. After

returning to South Africa

for a year, Robin and his

family returned to

Mullingar where he has

been working freelance

ever since.

However, the culinary

expert is about to start a

new journey- he is shortly

launching his new business

venture called

‘Smokey and the Barbecue

Boys’.

“The idea is that we want

to have a group of food

trailers and we’ll be specialising

in beef products

to start off with and smoking

and barbecuing the

meat. We have a specialised

oven called a

Bertha Oven that we

bought from the UK and it

gets up to about 400

degrees and cooks very

rapidly but really nicely

because it’s an oven so it’s

a closed environment. For

smoking the meat, we have

an American smoker

called a Bradley smoker.”

The business will be

aimed at a number of different

markets thanks to a

highly adaptable menu.

“We want to look at doing

street food for the lunch

market in Dublin. We also

want to look at functions

and weddings where we

will do chicken and dishes

like that. We can easily

change the menu for the

occasion.”

Robin, who was co-owner

of the very popular Just

Baked on Pearse Street

along with Kamalika

Ranasinghe and Dayantha

Ranasinghe of Multyfarnham

Cookery School, said

that he felt it was time to

NEWS

Top South African Chef cooks

up a storm at All Saints Church

THERE was a large

turnout for the Milltownpass

Annual Tractor

Run, which took

place on Sunday, 2 April.

South African

chef Robin

Aust at the

demonstration

Olive Graham, Edna Craig and Marian O’ Toole.

Violet Medforth, Fran Caplin, Leslie Denniston, Annie Mulligan and Bridie

Masterson.

A great selection of new

and old tractors greeted the

many visitors, who travelled

from throughout the

Midlands for a day of funfilled

activities. With 63

vehicles registered in total,

the figure was an increase

on the participation in

2016. Visitors both young

and old gazed at the modern

technology of the tractors

of today, and were

given a glimpse of what

farming was like in bygone

days. All participants were

awarded a memorial gift

for their day, and were

much in appreciation for

the refreshments before

and after the tractor run.

Following the event, Milltownpass

Community

11

do something completely

different. “We are busy

renovating the trailer at

the moment and we are

nearly done. We’re about a

week away from being finished.

We have a booking

for a private party on 22

April but we are looking at

doing something in town

and we may do that at All

Saints.”

To attend one of Robin’s

demonstrations, visit Mullingar

Union of Parishes

Facebook page to view

upcoming dates.

A STEP INTO THE PAST AT 2017 MILLTOWNPASS ANNUAL TRACTOR RUN

Nigel Dolan and Fergal

Hughes from Miltownpass

pictured.

Lorcan and Laurence McDonnell pictured at the

Tractor Run.

Action Group expressed

their thanks to all the participants

and volunteers,

with a special mention to

Billy Byrne for coordinating

the event.

The Rossiter family were at the Tractor Run in

Miltownpass in aid of local Community Centre.

Linda and Joe Rossiter are pictured with young

Danny, Lucy and Ruth.

12 NEWS

TOPIC • 13 April, 2017

At the launch of the exhibition at County Buildings were artists Ann McDonnell, Tommy Bolger, Ann-Marie Mills, Corina Glennon-Slattery, Bernie Fay, Brenda Donoghue, Sylvie

Cadiou, Angela Cotter, Brenda Smyth, Martina Cassidy and Mary Hunt.

From far flung sunny settings to colourful floral arrangements

Mullingar Art Room hold their annual exhibition

BY CLAIRE CORRIGAN

THE Atrium at

County Buildings,

Mullingar, is currently

home to a host

of paintings depicting

a wide range of subjects

from sunny

images of far flung

tropical settings,

colourful floral

arrangements to pictures

of birds, animals

and children.

The paintings are the

combined work of

Mullingar Art Room - a

group of local artists who

get together every Thursday

at 8pm at Mullingar

Charity Variety Group

Centre, Forest Park, to

paint and chat.

“We had our first exhibition

last year for the

Mullingar Art Room,”

Brenda Smyth, one of the

founding members told

Topic. “We really only

started last year. We

decided to do it again this

year because last year was

so successful and the

artists were so happy with

AN information day for

the community of Multyfarnham

and the surrounding

areas took

place at Multyfarnham

Community Centre on

Sunday, 2 April.

The subject for discussion on

the day was the River Gaine,

with a host of speakers on the

day present to discuss the river

along with the importance of

wildlife and biodiversity.

Guests speakers on the day

included Basil Mannion from the

it. We have 53 paintings

this year and the weather

has been much better this

year, thankfully, so we got

an even bigger crowd.”

She revealed that the

group had the opportunity

go work with renowned

Longford artist Kevin

Flood earlier this year.

“We were blessed to have a

workshop with Kevin a few

weeks ago and he also

agreed to do the launch

tonight. The workshop was

grant aided by the Longford

and Westmeath Education

and Training Board

by Shane Brennan, who is

the Arts Education Officer.”

Ms Smyth said the group

do not subscribe to the typical

teacher/student set-up

and that the meetings are

not solely art orientated.

“We don’t really have

classes. We share ideas,

and new people in the

group will always bring

new ideas. We critique our

paintings every night at

the end of class and put

them along the window

and look at them and give

Waters and Communities Office,

Dermot Broughan from Fisheries

Ireland, Billy Flynn, who provided

a talk on native species

and pollination, Triona Finnan

and Tom O’Callaghan from The

ational Parks & Wildlife Service,

Orla McGann from Westmeath’s

Biodiversity Treasures, Nuala

Madigan who discussed the

importance of reducing food

waste and Helen Donnelly who

provided a demonstration on

home composting.

each other suggestions. It’s

a sharing process rather

than a class. The thing

about this group is that it’s

not purely art, it’s a social

outlet as well. The friendships

we make here last

longer than the actual art

in a lot of cases. We are

currently planning a weekend

away at the Cooley

Peninsula where a friend

of Kevin’s has a cottage. It

is an old fisherman’s cottage

with a purpose-built

studio.”

Eleven artists showcased

their work on the night,

(Above) Brigid Vaughan, Kathy O’Grady-Reilly, Bernie Fay, Eileen Curtis and

Rachel Waldron pictured at the launch.

(Left) Deirdre Fay and Margaret Duggan pictured at the launch.

with a couple of the group

deciding to sit this year

out.

“One or two were a bit

shy and didn’t want to

come this year, so we didn’t

push them too hard.

Some artists can have a lot

of pieces but they are too

shy to put them up, but

when they do put them up,

it gives them confidence.”

Kevin Flood said that he

greatly enjoyed the oneday

workshop with the

group that took place in

February. “They explored

a number of themes, starting

with the idea of why

they wanted to do a particular

picture and looking at

what you want the viewer

to see as opposed to what’s

in the photograph. Some of

them were very into

colour, as you can see, and

others were all about

movement,” he said,

motioning to a picture of a

pretty stream painted

with acrylics.

Addressing the crowd,

Mr. Flood said that he was

delighted to open the

group’s ’Springtime’ exhibition

and complimented

the artists on the high

standard of their work.

“It’s most impressive to

see such a wide range of

subject matter tackled

with such competence in

such a wide range of

media, including oils and

acrylics, and the individual

approach that each person

has taken. That is what

the artist is doing when

they create a piece of work

- you are speaking to the

person and it is quite

amazing to see the

strength of the artistic

concept that underlies

many of the pieces here.”

He likened painting to

telling a story, where the

idea is to get a point

across. “This differentiates

a painting from a copy

of a photograph.”

If you would like to get

involved with Mullingar

Art Room, contact Brenda

Smyth 089-2031449, Brenda

Donoghue, 086-8157229,

Mary Hunt, 087-759808 or

Tommy Bolger, 086-

3332130.

River Gaine information day attracts an audience in Multyfarnham

Brendan Monaghan, Martin Downes, and Rachel

Brown were pictured at the talk on

Multyfarnham Tidy Towns Community.

Among the young people at the the talk at Multyfarnham Community

Centre were Carolann and Grace Downes, Isabel O’Neill, Eabhan O’Mahony

and Caoimhe O’Mahony.

Sharon Aughey, Deirdre Gannon, Thelma Greene and Tom O’Callaghan

pictured.

Basil Mannion from the Waters and Communities

office and Helen Donnelly pictured.

Kathy Thornton, Nicola Mulvanney, Stephanie

Meehan and Madeline O’Neill attended the talk

at Multyfarnham Community Centre.

TOPIC • 13 April, 2017

NEWS

13

Great to see even a few

days with actual warm

sunshine, rather than

clouds piled upon

clouds....and last Saturday

and Sunday definitely

brought a touch of early

summer, and we hope it reasserts

itself for the Easter

week-end..... one definite

good sign Packy spotted on

Monday in Mullingar.... a

pair of swallows flying

in Church Avenue, looking

like new arrivals from the

African sunshine.... it’s

great to see them on 10

April, they must be very

early birds.... or maybe you

saw some earlier? ... and

talking about Easter, there

are loads of events taking

place including an Easter

Egg Hunt and a Duck

Race at Gaine Park in

Multyfarnham from 12

noon to 2pm on Easter

Sunday, and you can buy

your duck in Weir’s,

Murtagh’s or Lennons in

the village...Nice to see

Westmeath senior footballers

making a worthwhile

impact last Saturday

and winning in Croke

Park, even if the opposition

wasn’t great... and it

gives us hope for a good

performance in the Championship...but

let’s hope

they don’t lose the run of

themselves and I hope the

stories I hear about late

night ‘antics’ on Saturday

night in a Mullingar hotel

are not true...it was nice to

win, but we’re better than

Division 4 if everyone is

with Br. Frank & Br. Fergus

Have your got

your Easter

eggs yet?

being honest...if enough

people get their heads

together and decide to ‘go

for it’ like Kerry did last

Sunday in Croke

Park....when full fitness is

allied to the right attitude,

they’re hard to beat...and

out at Nanny Quinn’s on

the Royal Canal, the Killucan

Pioneers have their

sponsored walk to Mary

Lynch’s at Coralstown on

Easter Monday starting at

2pm...you can run, walk or

stroll, whatever you like,

once you get a sponsorship

card.... just €2 a line, or €20

for a card....Are there new

additions to the daily

menu at the Regional Hospital

in Mullingar,? .... if

not, can someone, tell me

me why two notables, well

known Mullingar man,

Jimmy Tyrrell and

equally well-known Ballynacargy

man, George

Lloyd were polishing off

fresh scones, liberally covered

with butter and homemade

jam in their hospital

beds last week? …best

wishes to both of them,

and to all those who’ve

been under hospital care

this past week... lots of

praise for the students,

girls and boys from Presentation

Senior School

who made a great effort

and raised €600 for Trocaire,

running a Bake Sale

last week - with plenty of

help from their parents

and the school staff...Ben

Dolan spotted in an

unusual role on Monday,

We just have to

call them ‘eggs’

now. PC gone

mad!

Outstanding Retailing Achievement

MACE stores from throughout Ireland were recently honoured at MACE

Excellence Awards, which was held in Lyrath Estate Hotel in Co. Kilkenny

on 4 April. The Awards are awarded to MACE stores that pass grueling

year-long inspections, including unannounced store audits, legal

compliance, financial and food hygiene audits and visits from mystery

shoppers. O’Reilly’s MACE Ballinalack were among a group of retailers who

were awarded an Excellence Award. Pictured at the presentation of awards

were; Alex Banahan, MACE Sales Director; Pat O’Neill, MACE Ballinalack,

Westmeath and Declan Weldon, MACE Retail Operations Advisor.

he wasn’t singing this

time, but was out making

use of a sweeping brush at

Blackhall Place, and too

industrious to see Packy

going by.....and talking

about Ben and thinking

about the late Joe reminds

me, it was sad to hear that

another very notable musical

personality from

Mullingar, Frank ‘Monty’

Montgomery from

Assumption Villas had

gone to his reward in

recent days, and even sadder

to be told that his

daughter had died the

same day.... I’m told by

Davy Hynes - who is as

good an authority as you’ll

get, that Frankie played

great rhythm guitar on the

early Joe Dolan chart

hits... “The Answer to

Everything,” “I Love You

More and More Every Day”,

“My Own Peculiar Way”

and “Achin’ Breaking

Heart”... those were the

days, my friends....Time

for a few birthday greetings...

and greetings to this

week to Adam O’Connor,

Greenpark Meadows, Ballymahon

Road, Mullingar,

who will be fourteen on

this Thursday, 13 April .....

and on Good Friday, 14

April, Joseph Nea from

Water St., Castlepollard

has a birthday to celebrate,

and also the same

day, Rachel Darby from

Kinnegad will be fourteen

years old and her parents,

family and her friends

send best wishes..and

another birthday on April

14, is that of Cian Maloney

from Hill of Down,

Enfield, who is sent good

wishes...On this Saturday,

15 April there’s greetings

for of Ciara Murphy from

Ballinderry, Mullingar,

and also on Saturday, 15

April, Louise Croash

from Newtown Lawns,

Mullingar has a birthday

to celebrate, and on the

same day, there’s birthday

The Week

In Numbers

56

On Wednesday of this week,

12 April, 2017 it was exactly 56

years since Soviet astronaut,

Yuri Gagarin became the first

man to orbit the earth.

44

Palm Sunday services in the

Egyptian cities of Alexandria

and Tanta were turned into

scenes of horror as two terror

attacks claimed the lives of 44

people and injured 126 more.

The Islamic State terror group

claimed responsibility for last

Sunday’s violence at two Coptic

Christian churches, prompting

increased fears that extremists

are shifting their focus to civilians,

especially Egypt’s Christian

minority. The horrific

attacks came at the start of

Holy Week leading up to

Easter, and just weeks before

Pope Francis is due to visit.

37

On Sunday, 37 years old

Spaniard, Sergio Garcia claimed

a major championship victory

in the golfing world, to

become Spain’s third Masters

champion by defeating Englishman

Justin Rose at Augusta

National.

23

Irish actress and multiple

Academy award nominee

Saoirse Ronan celebrated her

23rd birthday on Wednesday of

this week, 12 April.

16

A major milestone in the

Christian calendar, this Sunday,

16 April is Easter Sunday.

9

Harry Potter fans are celebrating

last Sunday’s awards scoop

for the play inspired by the

perennial favourite franchise.

Harry Potter And The Cursed

Child made theatre history

after winning a record-breaking

nine Olivier Awards.

3

The first ever State Visit of a

President of Ireland to the UK

took place three years ago on,

8 April, 2014. The State Visit

was a historic occasion for

Irish/British relations, with President

Michael D. Higgins being

the guest of Queen Elizabeth,

who visited Ireland in 2011.

greetings for Richard

Tuite from Dysart,

Mullingar, and Arlene

Moran from Streamstown,

Mullingar. On Monday

next, 17 April, a special

birthday wish for

Caoimhe Dermody from

Mayne, Coole, and on

Tuesday next, 18 April,

birthday wishes are sent

to Lorna Purcell from

Green Road, Mullingar,

and the same day, Jack

Costello who will celebrate

his birthday ...and a

special congrats this week

to Alva and Ronan Whelan

from Adamstown,

Castletown Geo. on the

birth of their little

girl...All Ceili fans are

reminded that Davy Joe

and Carousel are playing

at the Ceilí in Cullion

Community Centre this

Friday, 14 April, with dancing

from 9.30 to 12.30...The

Mullingar Student Players

bring the iconic musical

“Hairspray” to the

Arts Centre on Monday

next, 17 April, and it continues

until the following

Saturday, 22 April ... it’s a

show not to be missed, by

all accounts, with lots of

hit songs and most enjoyable...

it will be staged

nightly at 8pm.....the

annual Devotions at Fr.

Shanley’s Grave in Carrick

Graveyard

(Dalystown) will be at 12

noon on Good Friday and

all are welcome....On

another note, well done to

the winners of this week’s

Action Draw, where the top

prize of €1,000 was scooped

by Trish Doyle, c/o Patricia

Bardon..the second

Friday, 21 April

5.00pm

prize of €400 went to

Declan Leech, c/o Joe

Walsh, while the third

prize of €200 was won by

Susan Maher, c/o Teresa

Coyne..the remaining €200

prizes went to Archie

Healy, c/o Tommy Dunne

and Lisa Corroon, c/o

Keith Wykes...congrats to

all concerned...I have been

asked to mention the very

popular Harbour to

Habour 5K event in Ballynacargy

on Monday, 1 May,

with warm-up starting at

11.30am...and speaking of

harbours, isn’t the development

near the Green

Bridge in Mullingar looking

very well?...I have to

say well done to Bill Collentine

and all involved

and I notice some new

flower beds further down

near the Carey Bridge,

which look lovely

also...keep up the good

work...a reminder that

there is a Card Drive in

Ballynacargy Parochial

Hall this Friday night, 14

April, and there’s a major

raffle on the night with

great prizes....all proceeds

are going to the Irish Cancer

Society and the Irish

Kidney Association...

... from your

friend,

Packy Mac

Kilbeggan Races

T: E:

W:

21 April

20 April.

14 NEWS

BY PAUL O’DONOVAN

“Education is a great

gift, and these excellent

conditions will help nurture

education,” said Dr

Michael Smith, Bishop

of Meath, when he officially

opened the new

classroom in St Mary’s

National School Collinstown,

last Thursday

afternoon, 6 April.

Addressing the large

gathering in the new classroom,

Bishop Smith said,

“I know you’ve had a great

deal of sadness in the community

recently, but I

would like to welcome you

all to this happy occasion.

“Collinstown, for some

reason, seems to have a

greater history of education

than some of our

other areas. It goes back as

far as the 1500s or early

1600s when education was

denied to many. Then they

moved onto hedge schools,

right up to the 1800s when

the first school building

was built. Parents in particular

had a great hunger

for education and that is

why so many were able to

provide these conditions

because they realised education

is a great gift.

“In fairness to governments,

successive governments

in the last number

of years have put an

immense investment into

education in our country,

and that didn’t diminish

even during the difficult

times, as many schools

were either replaced or

rebuilt. A country that

doesn’t invest in a job is a

country that doesn’t invest

in a future,” said Bishop

Smith.

THE PUPILS ARE THE

FUTURE OF THIS AREA

Elisha Kennedy, a pupil

of the school, spoke on

behalf of the pupils saying,

“On behalf of the children

of Scoil Naomh

Mhuire, I welcome you

Some of the invited guests and members of staff of St Mary’s National School, Collinstown, who

attended the opening of the new classroom last Thursday. Back row from left: Pat Coughlan, Matty

Conaty, Pauline Murray, Tom Leech, Cllr. Frank McDermott, Chairman of Westmeath County Council,

Cllr Paddy Hill, Proinsias Ó Fearghaill, Principal of St Mary’s NS, Collinstown, and Adrian Sheehy. Front

row from left: Annamarie McKenna, Pauline Kennedy and her son Toby, Dr. Michael Smith, Bishop of

Meath, Fr. Patrick Donnelly, Pauline Kennedy, Carmel Kennedy and Fr. Michael Walsh.

here, Bishop Smith, as our

new patron, to the opening

of our new classroom. We

hope that the pupils of this

school will get great benefits

from our new facilities

now and in future years.

We would like to thank

both our current and previous

Boards of Management

who spent so much

time and effort on this project.

We would especially

like to thank our parents,

who have given us so many

chances that are denied to

others.

“We hope that future generations

of pupils will

treat our new room with

the respect and affection it

deserves. After all, it

serves the most important

group in the community -

us, the pupils. The pupils

of this school are the

future of this area. I hope

that we will carry fond

memories of our days here

and the values which we

learned, with us into the

future. A Thiarna Easpaig,

go raibh maith agat,” concluded

Elisha.

THANKS TO ALL

THOSE WHO MADE THIS

POSSIBLE

Proinsias Ó Fearghaill,

Principal of St Mary’s

National School, Collinstown,

said,

“It is with great pleasure

I announce the official

opening of this extension

to Scoil Naomh Mhuire. It

has been a long and busy

road since we first got the

go ahead in July 2015 for

this project.” Proinsias

then thanked the various

people and groups associated

with the project of

building the new classroom.

Proinsias thanked

“Dr Michael Smith, Bishop

of Meath, Cllrs Frank

McDermott, Paddy Hill

and Una D’Arcy, the two

Boards of Management

that worked on the project,

Fr. Patrick Donnelly, Fr.

Michael Walsh, Architects

Coughlan and Associates

and Pat Coughlan and

Adrian Sheehy, builders

Leech Bros, especially Tom

Leech, accountant Niall

McKenna, School Secretary

Annamarie McKenna,

Lisa the school SNA, our

incredible teaching staff,

our great parents, especially

our Parents Association,

and most importantly

the pupils, who are the

heart and soul of the community.

It has been a great

journey so far, but we have

so much more to do,

thanks to everyone,” said

Proinsias.

Bishop Michael Smith

then cut the tape to officially

open the new, modern,

spacious classroom,

fully equipped with toilets.

“It is fantastic to have it

done. We have 134 pupils in

TOPIC • 13 April, 2017

Bishop Smith opens new classroom in Collinstown N.S.

€640 raised by Presentation Senior

students for Trocaire

The students of Presentation

Senior School raised €640 during

their final weeks before the

Easter holidays. All the proceeds

were donated to Trocaire, and

handed over to Fr. Paul Crosbie.

Coordinated by teacher Jacinta Sullivan,

with the support of Principal

Declan Fry, the pupils learned about

the causes and effects of poverty in

the world and decided that they

wanted to help Trocaire to tackle this

problem.

“You are helping to make Easter

happen for children in other parts of

the world,” said Fr Crosbie, thanking

the pupils.

Dr Michael Smith, Bishop of Meath, cuts the tape

to officially open the new classroom at

St Mary’s National School, with pupils Eva

Williams on left and Ralf Rautensilas and Carmel

Kennedy of the Parents Association.

The pupils of St Mary’s National School, Collinstown, formed

a guard of honour to greet Dr Michael Smith, Bishop of

Meath, as he arrived at St Mary’s National School last

Thursday.

the school and we are looking

at more projects now,

such as getting the roof

done!,” concluded Proinsias.

The attendance then

enjoyed some tea, refreshments

and a friendly chat

in the new classroom.

(Above) Back row, left:

Jacinta Sullivan

(coordinator), Jean

Bennett (teacher), Clare

Dorr (teacher),

[unidentified name)

Front row, from left:

Amy Oelke (student)

and Lucy Dorr (student).

Another group at the fundraiser (from left) Sarah Shayoub,

Vesta Tupikaite and Sabel Fagan.

Sofie Russell holds a lovely cupcake she

purchased at the Presentation bake sale.

(Left) Patricia McCoy

presents one of her

many delicious donations

at the bake sale.

TOPIC • 13 April, 2017

NEWS

15

PLANNING NOTICES

1994

On 11 November, 1994,

Mullingar-born Harry Whelehan,

who had served as Attorney

General since September 1991,

was appointed President of the

High Court by Taoiseach, Albert

Reynolds.

Five days later, Mr Whelehan

resigned, after the Attorney

General's office became

embroiled in a scandal concerning

the failure to deal with a

request from the Northern Irish

authorities for the extradition of

the notorious paedophile,

Father Brendan Smith.

Mr Whelehan said that he was

resigning to "avoid politicising

the judiciary."

Within a few days, Taoiseach

Albert Reynolds had also

resigned. Labour's opposition to

Mr Whelehan's appointment to

the High Court was one of the

major factors leading to Labour

withdrawing support from

Fianna Fail and putting Fine

Gael and Democratic Left into

office in December.

TOWN COMMISSION

There were elections to

Mullingar Town Commission in

June. Betty Doran retained her

seat and Detty Cornally of

Labour became the first woman

to be elected to the Commission

in its 138 year history. It was a

very good election for Labour,

with Michael Dollard topping

the poll. Pat Whelan of the Progressive

Democrats won a seat

and Pat Collins was another new

Labour member.

BYPASS OPENING

In March, the first stage of the

Mullingar Bypass Road was

opened by Albert Reynolds at

Marlinstown. Although the

economy remained weak, there

was sign of growth in Westmeath.

Plans were announced

for a large number of new

houses in Mullingar and the

proposed new shopping centre

off Harbour Street got the go

ahead.

MULLINGAR BUILDER

Jimmy Andrews from

Mullingar, well known builder,

was praised by Minister Emmet

Stagg for the quality and "ambition"

of his new apartment

development at Ushers Quay in

Dublin. It was also announced

that a new "Kilbeggan" whisky

was to be launched.

However, there were increasing

fears for the future of

Mullingar Army Barracks after a

Report by Price Waterhouse recommended

the closure of up to

15 military installations and a

reduction of 3,600 in army manpower.

Troops from Westmeath

continued to deploy to Lebanon

on peacekeeping duties and

Guard Martin Dowd from

1994/1995

Mullingar was one of a contingent

of police officers serving

with the UN in Mozambique.

I.R.A. CEASEFIRE

The IRA ceasefire in August

was warmly welcomed by Westmeath

county councillors who

joined forces to praise Albert

Reynolds for his work in securing

the end of violence. Earlier in

the year a joint Gardai and Army

operation known as "Operation

Lir" had uncoverd a major IRA

arms dump in the Multyfarnham

area-including thousands of

rounds of ammunition, semtex

explosives and an anti- aircraft

machine gun.

ROCHFORTBRIDGE

LADIES

In sport, Rochfortbridge won

the Leinster Ladies Gaelic Football

Club Championship. The

Senior County Football championship

was won by Mullingar

Shamrocks and the hurling title

by Raharney. St Munna's won

the County camogie title.

Michael Farrell and John Paul

Morris from Castlepollard Karate

Club won Bronze and Silver

medals at the European Karate

Championships.Snooker champions

Alex "Hurricane" Higgins

and Jimmy White played an

exhibition match in St Mary's

snooker hall. Ahead of the

World Cup in June, Republic of

Ireland Manager Jack Charlton

visited Mullingar.

OTHER EVENTS

Mullingar's first Gaelscoil was

opened by broadcaster Micheál

Ó Muircheartaigh in September.

Mullingar Golf Club celebrated

its centenary. As vandalism,

other anti social behaviour and

drug abuse grew in Mullingar

and other Westmeath towns,

Mullingar Town Commission

deplored the abolition of corporal

punishment. County councillor

Tom Burke was criticised for

serving Travellers in his

pub.Plans by the Health Board

to house intellectually disabled

adults in community houses in

Mullingar met opposition from

some residents' associations.

1995

September of 1995 will live

very long in the memory of all

Westmeath GAA fans. On 17

September, the county ended

long decades of waiting and

secured an All-Ireland Title when

the Minor Football Championship

was won by Westmeath.

The progress to the final had

been watched with increasing

excitement and thousands travelled

to Croke Park for the

match. The Lucan Spa hotel was

thronged with jubilant Westmeath

supporters after the

game and in Mullingar the following

evening an estimated

15,000 people lined the streets

or gathered in the Town Park to

welcome home the conquering

heroes. Similar scenes of jubilation

were seen in every town

and village in the county and the

maroon and white colours were

everywhere.

DIVORCE REFERENDUM

In November a referendum

was held on whether to remove

the constitutional bar on

divorce. The proposal to allow

divorce was very narrowly carried.

In Westmeath the "NO"

vote was in the majority by

16,353 votes to 11,704. The highest

anti-divorce votes were in

Miltownpass, Drumraney and

Coole. The highest "yes" votes

were in the Athlone and

Mullingar urban areas.

BUILDING BOOM

Mullingar was on the cusp of a

building boom in 1995 as plans

were announced for up to 400

new houses in the town. Work

was also underway on a major

restoration of the cathedral.

There were problems with the

County VEC,however,with the

organisation running a 600,000

Punt deficit.This led to cutbacks

in evening classes and the resignation

of the chairman.

There were serious water

shortages in Westmeath as Ireland

enjoyed one of the longest

and hottest summers of the century.

People were urged to cut

back on the use of garden sprinklers.

SPORT

Apart from the Minor Football

triumph, the sporting year also

saw Mullingar Shamrocks secure

the Senior Football title for the

fourth year in a row and Castlepollard

take the hurling honours.

St Joseph's school,

Rochfortbridge won the Colleges

Ladies Gaelic Football

Championship and Rochfortbridge

once more won the Leinster

Ladies Gaelic Football Club

Championship. Westmeath

Ladies Footballers also won the

All Ireland "B" Championship.

Alo Kelly from Miltownpass

won the National Junior Middleweight

Boxing Title.

OTHER EVENTS

In the world of entertainment

and the arts, thousands of girls

from across the county poured

into the Equestrian Grounds in

Mullingar for a concert by Boyzone.

American Ambassador to

Ireland, Jean Kennedy Smith

opened the Mullingar Bachelor

Festival while Argentinian

Ambassador Alberto Ham came

to his ancestral county to open

the Rathowen Feis.

The Executive Producer for the

1995 Eurovision Song Contest,

which took place in Dublin,was

John McHugh from Mullingar.

WESTMEATH COUNTY

COUNCIL: Planning permission

is being sought by

Conor O’Farrell, Churchtown,

Ballynacargy,


to construct a two-storey

extension at existing

dwelling house, and to

upgrade the existing

wastewater treatment

system. A submission or

observation in relation to

the application may be

made in writing to the

planning authority at the

above office on payment

of the prescribed fee,

€20, within the period of 5

weeks beginning on the

date of receipt by the

authority of the application,

and such submissions

or observations will

be considered by the

planning authority in making

a decision on the

application. The planning

authority may grant permission

subject to or without

conditions, or may

refuse to grant permission.Signed:

Paul Feeney

Consulting Engineers,

Unit 1, Riveroaks Centre,

Claregalway, Co. Galway.

WESTMEATH COUNTY

COUNCIL: Full planning

permission is sought for a

new single storey side

extension (42.65sq.m) to

the existing building comprising

of a new classroom/toilet,

disabled toilet

and lobby, car-parking,

and ancillary site works at

Coole, County Westmeath.

Signed: Anthony

and Caroline Finegan (Little

Smiles Montessori).

The planning application

may be inspected or purchased

at a fee not

exceeding a reasonable

cost of making a copy at

the offices of the Planning

Authority, Mullingar

Municipal District, during

its public opening hours. A

submission or observation

in relation to the application

may be made in writing

to the Planning

Authority, Westmeath

County Council on payment

of a prescribed fee

,€20, within the period of

5 weeks beginning on the


authority of the application

and such submissions or

observations will be considered

by the planning

authority in making a decision

on the application.

The planning authority

may grant permission

subject to or without conditions,

or may refuse to

grant permission.

WESTMEATH COUNTY

COUNCIL: We, Joseph

Killian and Ann Killian,

intend to apply for permission

to construct a singlestorey

house, detached

fuel shed, connection to

existing public sewer,

enlarge existing site

entrance and carry out all

associated site works at

School Road, Castletown

Geoghegan, Co.Westmeath.The

site of the proposed

house is in the

curtilage of the following

structures all of which are

Protected Structures in

the Westmeath County

Council Development

Plan 2014-2020. (i).

Vastina Lodge - RPS

No.032-004 and NIAH

No.15318004, (ii). Vastina

House - RPS No.032-006

and NIAH No.15318004,

(iii). Gate Lodge (to

Vastina House) - RPS

No.032-005 and NIAH

No.15318005 and (iv).

Outbuilding (to Vastina

House) - RPS No.032-007

and NIAH No.15318007.

The planning application

may be inspected or purchased

at the offices of

the Planning Authority,

Mullingar Municipal District

Office, County Buildings,

Mullingar,

Co.Westmeath during its

public opening hours. A




to the planning

authority on payment of

the prescribed fee,

€20.00, within a period of

5 weeks from date of

receipt by the planning

authority of application,

and such submission or

observations will be considered

by the planning

authority in making a decision

on the application.

The planning authority

may grant permission

subject to, or without, conditions,

or may refuse to

grant permission.

WESTMEATH COUNTY

COUNCIL: We, Rathganny

Pre-school, intend

to apply for planning permission

for a development

at Rathganny House, Multyfarnham,

Mullingar, Co.

Westmeath.

The development will consist

of the following:

Change of use from existing

agricultural shed to

storage area (32.2 sq m)

at ground level and playroom

(32.2 sq m) at first

floor level and all associated

site works. The planning

application may be

inspected or purchased at

a fee not exceeding the

reasonable cost of making

a copy, at the offices of


Mullingar Municipal District,

during its public

opening hours and a submission

or observation in

relation to the application

may be made to the

authority in writing on payment

of the prescribed fee

,€20.00, within the period

of 5 weeks beginning on

the date of receipt by the

authority of the application.

WESTMEATH COUNTY

COUNCIL: We, Scribbles

and Giggles Childcare,

intend to apply for planning

permission for a

development at Scribbles

and Giggles Childcare, 31

Clonmore Heights,

Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.

The development

will consist of the following:

Single storey extension

to rear of existing

pre-school, consisting of a

playroom (26 m sq) and a

fire escape lobby (3.1 sq

m) and all associated site

works. The planning application

may be inspected

or purchased at a fee not

exceeding the reasonable

cost of making a copy, at

the offices of the Planning

Authority, Mullingar

Municipal District, during

its public opening hours

and a submission or

observation in relation to

the application may be

made to the authority in

writing on payment of the

prescribed fee, €20.00,

within the period of 5



authority of the application.

WESTMEATH COUNTY

COUNCIL: We, Frank

Bell & Son, wish to apply

to Westmeath County

Council for permission to

Construct 10 No. new

detached dwelling

houses, new boundary

walls, roads, footpaths

and all associated ancillary

site services at sites

79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85,

86, 87, 88 Ardmore Hills,

Ardmore Road, Mullingar,

Co. Westmeath. The

application may be

inspected, or purchased

at a fee not exceeding the





Offices, County Buildings,

Mullingar, during its

public opening hours. A




to the planning

authority at the above

offices on payment of the

prescribed fee, €20,

within the period of 5








a decision on the




conditions, or may

refuse to grant permission.

WESTMEATH COUNTY

COUNCIL: I, Aubrey

Pearson, wish to apply to

Westmeath County Council

for retention planning

permission for slurry

lagoon and protective

fencing as constructed

TOPIC • 044-9348868

and all ancillary site services

at Balleagny,

Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.The

planning application

may be inspected,

or purchased at a fee not

exceeding the reasonable

cost of making a copy, at

the offices of the planning

authority during its public

opening hours. A submission

or observation in


may be made in writing to



Offices, County Buildings,

Mullingar, Co.

Westmeath, on payment

of the prescribed fee,

€20, within the period of 5








a decision on the




conditions, or may


WESTMEATH COUNTY

COUNCIL: We, Patrick &

Helen Larkin wish to apply


Council for permission to

demolish existing habitable

dwelling & construct

a new single storey

replacement dwelling with

detached domestic

garage & store, install a

proprietary wastewater

treatment system and all

ancillary site development

works at Addinstown

Cross, Crowenstown,

Delvin,

Co.

Westmeath.This planning

application may be

inspected or purchased at

a fee not exceeding the



the Planning Authority, at


Office, County Buildings,

Mullingar, Co.

Westmeath during its public

opening hours. A submission

or observation in


may be made in writing to

the planning authority on

payment of the prescribed

fee, €20.00, within the

period of 5 weeks beginning

on the date of receipt

by the authority of the

application and such submission

or observation will



a decision on the




conditions, or may


Signed: Barry Williams

Architectural, Planning &

Certified Passive House

Designer / Consultant,

Will Design Studio (087)

6754885.

16 NEWS

TOPIC • 13 April, 2017

CONFIRMATION AT THE CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY, BALLYNACARGY

On Thursday, 30 March, The Sacrament of Confirmation was administered by Bishop Michael Smith to the pupils of Ballynacargy

N.S. and Sonna N.S. at The Church of the Nativity, Ballynacargy. Topic was there on the day to capture the pupils with their families

and friends on their special day.

Newly-confirmed Beibhinn McGovern, Matthew Evans and Niall

Peyton pictured.

Newly-confirmed Brian

Riggs pictured on the day.

Newly-confirmed Jason Keenan, Hannah Farrell, Ava Keenan, Avril McKeon,

Robyn Kelly and Ian Parker pcitured.

Enda and Aine Newman from Sonna N.S. pictured with family

members Martin Newman and Bridgid Molloy.

Sonna N.S. pupil

Clodagh Fitzgerald

pictured with

Denise Murray.

Callum Maher pictured with his parents Claire Maher and Anthony

Maher.

Newly-confirmed

Robyn Kelly pictured

with family members

Linda Wallace and

Millie Kelly.

Newly-confirmed Matthew Colgan

and Alex Penrose from Ballynacargy

N.S. pictured on the day.

Helen McGovern from Sonna N.S. pictured

at The Church of the Nativity, Ballynacargy.

Newly-confirmed Daniel Glynn pictured with his family, from left: Mary

Glynn, Carmel Glynn, Barry Glynn and Emma Smyth-Glynn.

Newly-confirmed Caomhán MacGabhann pictured with

family members Béibhinn, Kevin, Róisise and Aine

MacGabhann.

TOPIC • 13 April, 2017

PHOTOS 17

The wedding of Bernie Lynch and Gerard Dowdall

The bride Bernie pictured with her bridesmaids Sheena Dowdall, Melissa Cooke and Jemma Cooke also

Gerry Cooke.

The wedding of Bernie Lynch and Gerard Dowdall from Killucan took

place in Killulagh Church, Delvin on Friday, 7 April. Following the wedding

ceremony, the newlyweds were joined by family and friends for their

wedding reception which took place in the Bloomfield House Hotel,

Mullingar.

The newlyweds pictured with the mother of the bride, Phil Lynch.

Pictured with the bride Bernie were Catherine Lynch, Philomena Cooke, Edel Carrig and Orla

Matthews.

The bride and groom pictured with the best man, groomsman and junior

groomsman Cyril Kelly, Aaron Dowdall and Michael Dowdall.

18 TOPIC • 13 April, 2017

ENTERTAINMENT

This is a continuation of last

week’s article of women’s

health.

Dysmenorrhoea (Period

related pain)

Dysmenorrhoea can be a debilitating

problem in women of

reproductive age. The condition

can be separated into primary

and secondary

Primary is identified where

there is no underlying condition

causing the symptoms. Any pain

is generally related to a women’s

monthly menstrual cycle and

usually presents as recurring

cramp like symptoms, or abdominal

or pelvic pain once her flow

starts.

Secondary is indicated when

the symptoms are caused by

another condition and then perhaps

aggravated by menstrual

activity. It more likely to occur in

women over 40 and causes may

include endometriosis, fibroids,

endometrial polyps, pelvic

inflammatory disease, and use of

an intrauterine contraceptive

device.

Causes

The pain associated with primary

dysmenorrhoea is believed

to be caused by uterine contractions

and ischaemia and appears

to be related to excess production

of endometrial

prostaglandin. This can cause

contraction of bronchial, bowel,

and vascular smooth muscle,

resulting in bronchoconstriction,

nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and

high blood pressure.

Risk Factors (examples)

• Weight fluctuation – being

underweight or overweight

increases risk

• Women who started menstruation

at a young age (11 or

under) are at higher risk

• Smoking can increase risk by

50%

• Stress

Treatment

Basic analgesics like paracetamol

would be the traditional

starting point for treatment.

However, the most effective

results come from non-steroidal

anti-inflammatory drugs

(NSAIDs), which offer a higher

level of pain relief in 70% – 90%

of cases.

There are many effective over

the counter solutions that the

pharmacist can offer, depending

on the individual. The pharmacist

can also discuss the potential

use of oral contraceptives, as

these can offer a double benefit

in managing the condition and

preventing pregnancy, so may

prove ideal for some.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a condition

where bones lose density, causing

them to become weak and

more likely to fracture. About

50% of women will fracture a

bone due to osteoporosis. Whilst

the condition can affect any age

Women’s Health (Part 2)

group, it is most common in

post-menopausal women.

Causes of osteoporosis

Up to our mid-20s, our skeleton

is strengthened, but from

our 40s onwards, our bones

gradually lose their density as a

natural part of ageing. The

breakdown of bone is quicker in

women who have been through

the menopause. This is because

of a lack of the hormone oestrogen.

Oestrogen reduces the

amount of bone broken down

and so helps to protect against

osteoporosis. In women, oestrogen

is made in the ovaries from

puberty until the menopause.

Anything that reduces the number

of years that a woman produces

oestrogen may increase

the risk of osteoporosis. These

include:

- an early menopause (before

the age of 45)

- a hysterectomy before the

age of 45 (especially if both

ovaries are removed)

- excessive exercising - this can

reduce your hormone levels

resulting in periods stopping for

a prolonged time

Other factors include: -

- age - the risk increases as you

get older

- family history of osteoporosis,

particularly a history of hip fracture

in a parent

- a very low body mass index

- excessive alcohol consumption

or smoking

- low levels of vitamin D or

dietary calcium

Osteoporosis can also target

women yet to reach menopause.

In these cases, a reduction in

oestrogen production caused

through a medical condition or

by taking some medication may

cause early onset.

Self Help

There are many “low impact”

activities such as swimming,

walking, golf, which can be of

real benefit in improving balance,

coordination and develop

muscle strength. All these can

reduce the risk of falling and

fracturing a bone.

Eating a diet rich in calcium is

important for maintaining

healthy bones. Dairy products

(including low and non-fat) and

green leafed vegetables are

good sources of calcium. The

body also needs vitamin D to

absorb calcium properly. Vitamin

D is found in certain foods,

including cod liver oil, oily fish

such as sardines and herrings,

margarine and egg yolks. It's

also made by your skin when

you're in the sunlight. The

National Osteoporosis Society

recommends about 20 minutes

of sun exposure to the face and

arms, every day during the summer,

to provide you with enough

vitamin D for the year.

There are a variety of medications

available, all of which are

only available on prescription.

These are primarily aimed at

slowing down bone loss and in

some cases, promoting the

growth of new bone cells. Taking

the lead from the GP, the

pharmacist will be able to discuss

the various alternatives available.

There are many successful

prescription-only options for

osteoporosis which I discussed in

Topic in the past. Check out

www.whelehans.ie for more

information on these.

Know your numbers

Many pharmacies now offer a

range of screening and can complement

services offered

through GP surgeries, and pharmacists

will refer to the patient’s

GP where results are not as recommended.

A simple screening

procedure in a pharmacy, that

might take 20 minutes, can give

you vital information regarding

blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes,

iron levels, food intolerance

amongst others (all

available in Whelehans). These

instant results can help in a preventative

way and will help you

get the most out of any activity

you choose but also can be an

early alarm call if something is

not quite right.

Upcoming Alzheimer’s

Information Evening in

Mullingar

Whelehans Pharmacy will be

hosting a Dementia and

Alzheimer’s information evening

in the Greville Arms Hotel on

Thursday, April 27th at 7pm. The

event is free of charge and all

are welcome.

We will have several guest

expert speakers presenting on

the evening, including:

- Dr MichaelÓ Cuill, Consultant

Psychiatrist; leading Dementia

expert in Westmeath.

- Mr Eamonn Brady, pharmacist

at Whelehans Pharmacy.

- Donal Murphy, Regional Manager,

Alzheimer Society Ireland

- Local Community Care Nursing

specialist

There will be an opportunity to

ask questions of our experts, so

it should be an informative and

enjoyable evening.

Booking information

Thursday, 27th April 2017, Greville

Arms Hotel, Mullingar, 7pm.

Take the next step, book your

place for the evening by calling

Whelehans at 04493 34591.

CÉILÍÍ

in Cullion Community Centre

Friday, 14th April 2017

Music by: Davy Joe & Carousel

Dancing from 9.30 - 12.30

Admission: €10

Light refreshments served

ENTERTAINMENT&EVENTS

NOT FOR THE EASILY-OFFENDED!

David McSavage brings his take on modern Irish life to Mullingar Arts Centre

David McSavage

The ever-controversial

David McSavage is set to

bring his take on modern

Irish life to stage when he

plays at Mullingar Arts

Centre, for one night only,

on Monday, 29 April.

One of Ireland’s most

popular comedians and

street entertainers, McSavage’s

cutting commentary

and performances cover all

aspects of life, and nothing

is safe from his truth

induced interpretations.

With his collection of

characters including Mick

The Barman, former President

Mary Robinson and

Pat Kenny, audiences

relate to each character

from the many aspects of

Irish life.

A regular guest on TV

and radio shows in Ireland

for many years, McSavage

has also appeared at all the

major comedy festivals

including the Edinburgh

Festival and internationally

in Australia, Germany

and Scandinavia. He is

well known for his street

shows in Dublin’s Temple

Bar.

He devised Headwreckers

for the Channel 4 TV show

Comedy Lab in 2008.

In 2009, he devised, wrote

and starred in the six part

TV series called The Savage

Eye for RTÉ, which

was later nominated for an

IFTA award for Best Entertainment

Series and Best

Director.

In his new live show, A

Sacred Cow, McSavage

looks at the many former

and current institutions

which shape Ireland.

David McSavage plays

Mullingar Arts Centre on

Monday, 29 April. Tickets

are from €15 and are available

by calling the

Mullingar Arts Centre box

office on 044-934-7777 or

online at mullingarartscentre.

ie

Work of artist David Dunne comes to Mullingar

AN exhibition by

Canadian-born artist

David Dunne is to

open at the County

Buildings, Mullingar,

in the coming week.

Born in Vancouver, David

moved to Ireland in his

early teens where he continues

to live and work. A

self taught artist who has

been interested in art since

early childhood, David

paints where his artistic

interest lies, particularly

in portraits of people who

have had an influence on

his life from the worlds of

sports, music and film.

Developing a connection

and a deeper knowledge of

the person he’s painting,

whether it’s through the

subject’s music or sporting

achievements, enhances

each piece. “After watching

countless hours of

footage of Muhammad Ali

in and out of the ring, you

can’t help but be moved. It

goes beyond looking at a

reference photo and trying

to reproduce a likeness.

The more I feel I know

about my subject, the more

it will show in my work.”

His upcoming showcase

of work in Mullingar will

be a collection of portraits

completed over the past

number of years.

David’s portraits are

always accurately rendered

with great detail. He

works exclusively with

pencil, brush and paint,

jumping from acrylics to

oils, depending on the

mood and look he is after.

His subjects vary from

Bruce Springsteen to Kurt

Cobain, Muhammad Ali to

Ayrton Senna, Marlon

Brando to Clint Eastwood.

He has been influenced by

so many portrait artists

over the years, such as

Niall O’Loughlin, Chuck

Close and Sebastian

Kruger, to name a few.

“As an artist, I am constantly

striving to improve

my technique,” said David

ahead of the launch. “I

Artist David

Dunne with

his painting

of musician

Kurt Cobain.

want to create realistic

portraits that capture

more than just a likeness

of the subject. Losing

myself in the detail is

where my pleasure lies.”

Members of the public

are very welcome to attend

the launch on Thursday, 20

April in the Atrium

Gallery in the County

Buildings, Mullingar from

6pm to 8pm. This exhibition

runs until 28 April.

MULLINGAR ARTS CENTRE

PRESENTED BY MULLINGAR

STUDENT PLAYERS

HAIRSPRAY

17th – 22nd April at 8.00pm

The nicest kids in town, Mullingar Student Players bring

to life the iconic musical full of extra clutch volume –

HAIRSPRAY. It’s 1962 in Baltimore and quirky, plus-sized teenager Tracy Turnblad

has one dream: to dance on The Corny Collins Show. Featuring the hits ‘Good

Morning Baltimore’, ‘You Can’t Stop The Beat’, ‘Welcome To The 80s’ and ‘I Know

Where I’ve Been’, this is set to be the BIGGEST show in town, one not to miss.

PRESENTED BY VERDANT PRODUCTIONS

DAVID McSAVAGE

29th April at 8pm

David McSavage is Ireland’s most divisive

comedian – he’s funny too! A Sacred Cow, is another

way at looking at all of the institutions and parts of life

in Ireland that shape us. The church, politicians,

alcohol and celebrities will come under scrutiny with a

level of honesty and caustic wit.

PRESENTED BY MIDLANDS

DRAMA SCHOOL

RAPUNZEL

12th May – 13th May

With hair as long as the Amazon, and a voice as golden as an

angel, will Rapunzel be able to escape the evil clutches of

Mother Gothel and return to her true family?

www.mullingarartscentre.ie • Box office: 044 9347777

TOPIC • 13 April, 2017

NEWS

19

GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS FOR CHRISTY AND KATHLEEN

There were great celebrations in the Newbury Hotel in Mullingar recently for local couple Christy and Kathleen Molloy. The duo from St. Anthony Cottages were celebrating their

50th Wedding Anniversary, and gathered a host of family and friends to join in the celebrations. Our Out&About snapper was around town on the night and dropped by to capture

the celebrations. We hope Christy and Kathleen enjoy this gallery of pics from their party night.

Christy and Kathleen Molloy pictured at their

50th Wedding Anniversary party in the Newbury

Hotel.

Mary Rattigan, Anna Maria Dardis, Johnny Molloy and Packie Molloy pictured with Christy and Kathleen

Cassie and Mick Quinn pictured with Christy and

Kathleen.

Maureen Bennett, Rosie Young, Helen Leech, Ber Farrell and Eugene

Mullen pictured with Christy and Kathleen.

John Daly, Mags Daly, Christy Molloy, Kathleen Molloy,

Helen Gavin and Davie Gavin pictured on the night.

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS FOR HELENE DEVANEY

Helene Devaney from Milltown/Rathconrath dropped in to the Annebrook House Hotel in Mullingar recently and celebrated her 50th birthday with family and friends. Our

Out&About snapper was around town on the night and dropped in to capture the celebrations.

Got a party night planned and would like Mick to drop in? Call 087-2797270. If at all possible he will make it.

Helene and her husband Mick Devaney pictured

on the night.

Helene and Mick pictured with their son Michael and their daughter

Megan.

Helene and Peg Devaney pictured.

Sheila Kincaid, Conor McKiernan, Cian Lynn, Melissa Warde and Tom Lynn pictured

with Helene.

Vincent Glynn, Rose McKiernan, Aidan Glynn and Mary Lynn pictured with Helene.

20 TOPIC • 13 April, 2017

NEWS

The Original

C.G HIGH JUMPERS: Pictured at the Community

Games in July 1996 were competitors in the

High Jump competition. First was Michael

Glennon, Moate; 2nd, John Farrell, Gainstown

and 3rd, Noel Dalton, Dysart-Loughnavalley.

Month’s hard labour

for cutting ash tree

At Mullingar Court on

May 25, 1837, 34 years old

John Doolan was charged

before C. Arabin and J.

Clibborn Esq. with having

cut and carried away an

ash tree, the property of

John Pim, Esq. He was convicted

and sentenced to be

imprisoned for one month

with hard labour.

Alicia Doolan, aged 28,

who refused to be examined

in regard to the stealing of

timber, was sentenced to be

imprisoned until she submitted

to being examined.

She remained in gaol until

June 7, 1837 while John

Doolan was released on

June 25.

(Contemporary court records,

1837)

“IRELAND’S MOST

LEARNED SCHOLAR”

MURDERED NEAR MOATE

“In 1556, the murder took

place of one Owen O'Coffey,

the son of William. The

heinous crime was committed

during the night time

near Ballinlig, Moate.

The victim was believed

Cow thief transported

for 15 years

Twenty eight year old

John Keena was sentenced

to transportation for fifteen

years by William Marahal

Esq. for having in his possession

on June 9, a cow

feloniously stolen from

Laurence Flynn.

In a separate case heard

on July 1 by W Reilly Esq.

Peter Gorman was also sentenced

to fifteen years

transportation for stealing

a cow.

Report from Summer Assizes 1838

FIRED AT THE POLICE

“Christopher Martin and

Michael Kiernan were this

day severally tried and convicted

for firing at the Ballnacarig

(Ballynacargy)

police.

Bryan, Michael and

William Duffy were also

found guilty of assaulting

the person and habitation

of Hugh Irwin.

Sentence has not yet been

passed on any of the prisoners.

(Extract from Westmeath

Guardian, January 22, 1846)

to have been the most

learned person in Ireland

and wrote several lengthy

poems in his time.”

(From “Moyvoughley and its

Hinterland”).

THE IRISH - REMARKABLE

FOR HOSPITALITY

"A taste for music is a

particular feature in the

Irish character; the harp

was their principal instrument,

which, by their performance

produced the

most harmonious melody.

There was no house without

one, both for their own

use and that of strangers.

The king always had in his

society a gentleman companion,

a druid, a judge, a

doctor, a poet, historian,

musician and three stewards;

the gentleman for his

companions, the druid for

his religion, the judge for

the decision of the laws,

the doctor for his health,

the poet to celebrate his

praises, the historian to

A GOLFING MOMENT

IN 1995

At the Westmeath Hopice Homecare Golf Classic

in September, 1995 were (from left) Denis

McCormack, Mullingar Golf Club Captain; Marie

Woods, Lady Captain of the Golf Club; Mary

McCormack and Rosaleen Shaw (members).

keep his history and

genealogy, the musician to

entertain him and the stewards

to manage his household.

This custom continued

until the 11th century.

“Marriages were stipulated

by fathers and mothers

for their children at the

general assembly of Tailteann

in Meath; during this

time, the young men and

women lodged in different

quarters. Nursing a child of

rank was considered honorable

and profitable

among the Irish.."

Bede the historian says

that a number of Englishmen,

to perfect themselves

in learning under the holy

bishops Finian and Col -

mán, went to Ireland where

they received gratis, everything

necessary for support

and study.

The Irish were remarkable

for their hospitality;

they had their Hospitallers

or Biatachs, who were

nobles and lords of seven

boroughs, feeding seven

herds of 120 oxen each.

They had the produce of

seven ploughs, to afford

food in abundance to the

guests who would visit

them."

(Extract from “A History

of Ireland”

by Martin A. Brennan - 1858)

A FINE GAEL MEETING: Pictured at a Fine Gael meeting for farmers, in the

Newbury Hotel, Mullingar more than two and a half decades ago, were (l.

to r) Paul McGrath TD, Tommy Moughty, Prof. Tom Raftery, UCC , Billy Leavy

and Michael Mullally.

When Mullingar had

a Norman bishop...

... and

the Petits

became

outlaws

"Soon after the English

invasion, Hughe de Lacy

the great Palatine of

Meath, granted to William

Petit, a most extensive territory

around Mullingar, of

which he and his successors

ranked as Palatine

Barons. This William also

had a patent exempting

him from being sued anywhere

but before the Kings.

In 1191, he was Lord Justice

of Ireland. In 1227,

Ralph le Petit succeeded to

the See of Meath as bishop.

In 1301, de Petit was summoned

by the King to do

service against the Scots,

and in 1319, Robert de Petit

was advanced to the See of

Clonfert. In 1373, Myler and

Laurence de Petit were

summoned to a great Council

held in Dublin.

In 1400, Alexander de

Petit, Bishop of Meath, was

interred at Trim.

In Queen Elizabeth's Parliament

in 1583, Redmond

Petit was one of the representatives

of Mullingar.

The forfeiting Petits in 1692

were Garret, Thomas,

Adam and William, and

their property then comprised

3,000 plantation

acres. Those outlawed in

1691 were Edward Petit of

Baltrasna; Lewers Petit of

Irishtown and Thomas

Petit of Taughmon, all in

Westmeath."

(From King James' Army List,

by D'Alton)

BIG CASTLEPOLLARD OCCASION: Just over two

decades ago, when Castlepollard Fire Brigade

celebrated their 50th Anniversary, in December

1996, Fr. Philip Gaffney of St. Finian’s College - a

native of north Westmeath, from Castletown

Finea, offered the special Mass in the Fire Station,

and is pictured here with the then Castlepollard

Brigade Station Officer, Micheál Cassidy and

Brian Gillen, Westmeath Civil Defence Officer.

A MEDIEVAL HISTORY OF

MULLINGAR’S DOMINICANS

The Dominicans (Order

of Preachers) first came to

Mullingar in 1237, to a

monastery established by

the Nugent family and it

was an important house of

the order in that century, as

four chapters of the

Dominicans in Ireland

were held in Mullingar

between 1278 and 1310. At

one stage, 40 professed friars

were maintained by

alms in Mullingar, but in

July 1432, when a papal

indulgence was granted to

all who gave alms for the

repair "of the Dominican

Church of the Holy Trinity

in Mullingar" it was stated

to have suffered so much

"from long wars and other

calamities" that "hardly

eight in priests' orders

reside therein, and the

building of the church and

house are threatened with

ruin."

Following the passing of

the Act of Supremacy by

King Henry 8th in 1537, the

Dominican prior and community,

anticipating the

suppression, abandoned

the monastery, and a royal

commission in 1540

described the thatched

roof of the stone church as

"much decayed".

The property (in the

region of the present day

Dominic Place) included a

stone tower, a garden and

orchard, and half an acre

of ground, planted with

trees. The friars also owned

a watermill at Springfield,

which according to tradition

was on the Brosna, on

the site of the original

Muileann Cearr associated

with St. Colmán of Lynn

(Lann)

In 1542, when King Henry

VIII created Westmeath, it

was ordered that there

"shall be a common gaol"

and it was ordered that the

deserted Dominican convent

should be converted

for this purpose. In 1570, a

chief sergeant and undersergeant

were appointed

“to apprehend and commit

to Mullingar gaol any malefactors,

rebels, vagabonds,

rymors, Irish harpers, idle

men and women and all

idle persons...”

FOUR WELL KNOWN FACES: This old photo, taken

more than thirty years ago, shows the then Irish

Fine Gael Taoiseach, Dr. Garret Fitzgerald, TD (on

the left) being welcomed to the opening of a new

Fine Gael Advice Centre in Mullingar, with local TD,

Gerry L’Estrange TD (second from right), intro -

ducing the Taoiseach to local Town Commission

member, Vincent Brophy (right). Keeping a close

background eye on things, (second from left) was

Garda Supt P. J. O’Donnell, a well known Garda

officer in Mullingar for many years.

TOPIC • 13 April, 2017

NEWS

21

The pupils of Kinnegad Parish schools, who will be receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation in the coming weeks, enjoying a recent outing to the Marian Shrine at Knock with their

teachers as well as Fr. Paul and Fr. Tom.

Tools and mechanical equipment

being targeted by thieves

“The Gardai are urging

people to be on the alert

to any suspicious activity

in the area and to immediately

report any suspicions

you may have.

The Gardai believe that

‘commuter towns’ like Kinnegad,

Killucan, Clonard,

Milltownpass are especially

vulnerable as many

homes are unoccupied during

daytime hours. Gardai

advise homeowners to be

extra vigilant and encourage

cooperation and cohesion

between neighbours.

The Gardai are concerned

about the number of incidents

where valuable tools

and mechanical equipment

are being stolen from

Fit4Life in

Kinnegad

We all know the benefits

of a healthy lifestyle and

one of the most effective

ways to achieve it is

through walking and running.

You can start at any

age, no previous experience

is required and you can

choose a pace that is suited

to your level of fitness. If

you are interested, the

Coralstown/Kinnegad

GAA Grounds is the venue

for all the Fit4Life sessions

on Monday and Wednesday

evenings at 7.30pm and the

sessions are under the professional

supervision of

Matt Glennon and Mary

Walsh.

It’s a wonderful opportunity

for people to get in

some very worthwhile

exercise in a sociable environment,

a chance to meet

new friends. The training

nights feature group runs,

with each group comprised

of people with similar fitness

levels, these groups

range from complete beginners

up to regular runners

and they each train at an

appropriate level. So why

not drop into the GAA

Grounds and meet Mary or

Matt and join in the fun of

achieving a fitness level

you desire.

tradesmen, builders and

the farming community.

Unfortunately, the criminals

seem to have a ready

market to offload the stolen

equipment through markets

and other more sinister

outlets.

The thieves are opportunists

and pounce when

least expected, oftentimes,

leaving their victims with

huge financial losses and

the added expense of having

to replace the equipment.

The Garda advice is

to keep everything securely

locked away when not in

use and to keep it in close

proximity while working ,

don’t make life easy for the

criminal as they will take

full advantage of every

opportunity.

According to the Gardai

everyone needs to be alert

to this type of unwelcome

activity and suggest that

homeowners should

arrange to have another

key holder in the immediate

vicinity to respond to

any alarm call.

We can minimise potential

criminal activity in our

area if we keep an eye out

for each other and report

any suspicious activity.

Always give our Gardai the

benefit of all information,

it will be treated in the

strictest confidence and the

community will benefit

through such positive cooperation.

Easter Market in aid of

Kinnegad National School

The Kinnegad National School has come up with very

novel and attractive fundraiser when it hosts a special

Easter Market in the Eurospar car park at the Kinnegad

Shopping Centre on Saturday, 15th April from 10.00am to

4.00pm.

There are lots of attractions including Cole’s Home Bakery,

Michael Lewis – caster crafts, Paul Mc Evoy – chocolate

creeps, Mary O’Driscoll – jewellery, Macicj Kerlin –

coffee van, Mary Maher – jewellery, Mary Stack – Aloe

Vera products, Merci Beaucoup cakes, Carmel Sheerin –

Fairy Doors, Tara jams and lanterns, Kilbeggan Chocolates

and a great deal more, there will also be Face Painting

and Balloon Making. So there is plenty to keep you

occupied for the morning and afternoon with lots to see

and a great deal to enjoy. Your support for the fundraiser

would be greatly appreciated.

From the Parish Newsletter:

Celebrating Easter:

On Palm Sunday, 9th April, there will be Ecumenical Stations

of the Cross at 4.00pm at Multyfarnham Friary.

There will be Penitential Time with confession from 6.00 to

8.00pm in the Church of the Assumption, Kinnegad.

The annual Chrism Mass will be celebrated in the Cathedral

of Christ the King, Mullingar, on Wednesday, 12th

April.

Holy Thursday, 13th April – evening Mass of the Lord’s

Supper will be celebrated in the Church of the Assumption,

Kinnegad at 8.00pm. After Mass there will be a short

period of adoration to end at 10.00pm with night prayer.

Good Friday, 14th April – Outdoor Stations of the Cross

in Clonard at 12.00 noon. At 3.00pm there will be Celebration

of the Lord’s Passion in Kinnegad and at 7.30pm there

will be Stations of the Cross in St Agnes’ Church, Coralstown.

Saturday, 15th April - The Easter Vigil will be celebrated

this year at 8.00pm in the Church of the Assumption, Kinnegad.

Easter Sunday 9.00am Mass in Clonard, 10.30am in Coralstown

and 12.00 noon in Kinnegad.

The week that

was...

How y’all...hope you had a good week....Great to see

the local residents along the Coralstown/Milltownpass

road coming together to clean up the filthy household

and other refuse from the hedgerows along the roadway.

More than thirty black refuse bags were filled with the

disgusting rubbish discarded in the area by unscrupulous

individuals whose anti-social activities will be

closely monitored and reported to the Local Authority

and Gardai....Enjoyed a great bit of reminiscing with

Brian Leavy on Thursday, we must be getting old talking

about the great old cars of yesteryear!!!.... Glad to hear

that Kevin Donegan made his delivery to Nancy on time

this week and, as always she enjoyed every slice of the

tart!!!....Mustn’t forget to congratulate Brendan Mc

Keogh, Raharney, on his 75th birthday which he celebrated

at the end of March. Rumour has it that he was

treated royally by all the family at a special birthday celebration

in Mullingar, the bold Brendan could get used

to the royal treatment!!!....Phyllis Leacy was looking

very content with herself during the week, must be her

little luck in one of the local lotto draws, she’s forever

coming up trumps with the lucky numbers!!!....Patricia

and Maureen Mulligan were looking their very best on

Friday evening last, there must have been some big

occasion they were helping to celebrate, must ask

Carmel when I meet her?!!!....Josie and Eddie Dargan

look very relaxed after their recent tour through Europe

on the Orient Express; it appears that the local couple

enjoy travelling by train!!!....Johnny Reilly was doing a

mighty job with the paint brush on Thursday last, a

skilled man with the brush and not a sign of Mon with

a cuppa for him!!!...PJ Cannon and Luke Cole are busy

getting ready all the orders for the famous traditional

lamb for the Easter, not to worry they always keep

everyone satisfied with their specialities.....There’s

loads of the very best in entertainment in the local

hostelries over the Easter weekend, you won’t be disappointed

and won’t have to travel too far for the best in

music and song....‘Bond’ Beatty was looking very serious

during the week, wonder did Bronc finally catch

him taking it easy?!!!....Congratulations to Ruth Nolan

on passing the driving test, must let Pat Mc Nicholas

and Gerry Keaney know the good news?!!!....I hear that

Jimmy Garty has a very significant birthday coming up

in the near future and Elsie is pulling out all the stops to

have everything ready for the big party but don’t tell

Jimmy because it’s a surprise!!!....I hear that Billy ‘Pilot’

Faulkner is getting the plane ready to bring Frances for

her first flight of the year next week....’til then....be

good...

Brendan Austin –

unassuming and inoffensive

The entire Killucan area was shocked and saddened to

learn of the sudden and untimely passing of Brendan

Austin, Knockmant, Killucan, in St James’ Hospital,

Dublin, on Tuesday, 4th April.

Brendan was the son of the late Nancy and Paddy Austin,

a highly respected family within the Killucan community

and Brendan himself was a most unassuming and inoffensive

gentleman who, like his parents before him, had a

great appreciation and love of nature and was a wealth of

knowledge on local history and traditions.

Brendan’s passing will be greatly felt by anyone who had

the good fortune and privilege of knowing him, unpretentious

in every way, he loved the simple things in life and

cherished his many lifelong friendships.

Large numbers attended the reposing at Ennis’ Funeral

Home, Killucan on Friday evening and many returned the

following morning to celebrate Brendan’s life in his beautiful

Mass in St Joseph’s Church, Rathwire. Following

Mass Brendan was laid to rest alongside his loving parents

in Rathwire Cemetery.

Brendan is survived by his beloved partner Nuala, relatives,

good neighbours and friends to whom we extend our

most sincere sympathy. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilis.

Happy 55th to Esther & Pat

Many congratulations and best wishes to good friends,

Esther & Pat Davitt, Lynn Road, Mullingar and formerly of

Main Street, Kinnegad, on the occasion of their 55th Wedding

Anniversary, which they celebrated in a special way

with family and friends.

It was in Kinnegad that the youthful Esther & Pat first

established their furniture business in 1970, within the

space of a few short years and with its rapid expansion

they moved the business to a more spacious premises at

Robinstown, Mullingar, where the Davitt name is now a

byword for quality furniture with Esther and Pat still playing

an active role.

Congratulations once again to the wonderful couple and

here’s to many more years of good health and happiness

and the good wishes come from all the family ( at home and

abroad), extended family, relatives and friends throughout

the country.

Kinnegad Juniors AFC Notes

The Club’s weekly ‘Lotto Numbers Draw’ took place in

Scanlon’s Lounge, Kinnegad on Tuesday, 4th March and

the first four numbers out of the drum were; 1, 20, 22 & 26.

There was no lucky winner of the lucrative €11,000 jackpot

and coming closest with three numbers was; Phelim Brady

winning the €100 cash prize.

Congratulations to Phelim and best of luck to everyone

in the next draw with the jackpot reaching €11,100

School grounds are out

of bounds during holidays

The Gardai wish to advise parents and young people that

all school grounds, within the parish, are strictly out of

bounds for the duration of the school holidays and nobody

should trespass on the grounds or school buildings without

the permission of the School Management.

In the past young people have, innocently, entered onto

school grounds to play games, but it would seem that others

have taken advantage of the situation and caused damage

to the buildings. Therefore anyone caught on the

property of the different schools in the area, without the

permission of the relevant Management board, will be

prosecuted under the Public Order legislation. The Gardai

hope that such action can be avoided but it is entirely up to

the parents to make their children fully aware of the situation

regarding school property.

22 NOTES

District Notes - Nótaí na gCeantar

TOPIC • 13 April, 2017

HORSELEAP/

STREAMSTOWN

ARDNURCHER/BAILE

AN TSRUTHÁIN

STREAMSTOWN

VILLAGE

TIDY

Streamstown Tidy Village are

seeking a Tender for Expression

of Interest in the Village Enhancement

Work. See Public Notices

for details.

CARDS

The following are the results

from the game held on Monday,

3 April. The Raffle winners were

€15 Mick Lennon, €10 Cepie Egan

and €10 Tom Nally. The winners

on 8 games were Maureen Farrell

and Ger Cooney who received

€40 each. Table prize winners

were Johnny Ward, Anne Sheerin

and Eilish McDonnell and each

received €10. Well done to all of

the winners. The night finished

with a cuppa and goodies. Plans

are underway for a Big Easter

Progressive 25 on Bank Holiday

Monday, 17 April with €1000 in

prizes and Admission is €10. On

this night we will be playing Partners.

Please support this game

and many thanks to all for their

continued support.

STREAMSTOWN TIDY

VILLAGE

Our local Tidy Village Committee

are making arrangements for

the Annual Table Quiz, which will

be held on Good Friday at 9.00pm

in the Horseleap - Streamstown

Community Centre. Adult team

of 4 is €40 and Juvenile Team of 4

is €20. There will be a house raffle

on the night with a number of

prizes.

This has to date proved a successful

and fun family night.

Please support this event. The

funds from this go towards the

purchase and maintenance of

flowers and the flower beds.

Already they have been updated

with plants and we are hoping

will not need as much maintenance

as has been with the summer

bedding. Through time these

will fill out and provide long term

colour.

COMMUNITY

ASSOCIATION

As mentioned in the Cards we

are running a Bank Holiday Progressive

25 Easter Game on Monday,

17 April with €1000 in prizes

and €10 Admission. We appeal

for local support in this venture.

We are also trying to pick dates

for the Community Calendar.

Already the date proposed for

the Fundraising Auction for Sunday

the 7th of May is in doubt as

All Ireland Scor is on that day in

Belfast. Decisions are to be made

over the coming days.

SYMPATHY

Over the past week there has

been a lot of sadness for families

within our Community on the loss

of loved ones. Our Deepest Sympathy

is extended to Helen Rabbitte,

Kilmalady on the loss of her

Mother, Maureen Campbell.

Maureen, hailed from Drimanure,

Abbeyshrule passed away

on the 2 April, peacefully in the

Mullingar Regional Hospital surrounded

by her loving family, in

the care of the doctors and

nurses. Maureen reposed at the

family home on Tuesday afternoon.

Removal took place on

Wednesday morning to Our Lady

of Lourdes Church in Abbeyshrule

for 12 noon Mass. Burial took

place afterwards in Abbeyshrule

Cemetery. Deepest Sympathy to

her husband Packie, sons and

daughters, brothers, sisters,

grandchildren, great-grandchild,

in-laws, nieces, nephews and

extended family.

Our deepest sympathy to Helen,

Jack and family on the loss of a

mother, mother-in-law and

grandmother.

Sympathy also to the wife

Peggy, relatives and friends of

William (Bill) Keegan, Toarlisnamore,

Kilbeggan who passed

away on the 5 April in South

Westmeath Hospice, following a

recent illness.

Bill reposed in Nannery’s

Funeral Home in Kilbeggan on

Thursday evening prior to

removal to St. Michael’s Church in

Castletown-Geoghegan.

Funeral Mass was held on Friday

and burial afterwards in the

adjoining cemetery. Sympathy to

all of his relatives and friends living

in our area.

Sympathy to the Farrell family

from Donore, Streamstown on

the death of Sr. Agnes Farrell

(Philomena) SMG who passed

away on the 1 March in England

and funeral mass was held last

week.

Pre-deceased by her brothers

John and Paddy, she is survived by

her Sister, Sr Ignatius (Dolores),

Convent of Mercy, Tullamore. Our

Deepest Sympathy to her Sister Sr

Ignatius, Sister-in-law, Breda Farrell,

Nephews Declan & Finnian,

Nieces Miriam & Noelle and all of

the extended family on their loss.

On Thursday last news filtered

through on the sudden passing of

Joseph (Jody) Nolan, Coole,

Rhode, Brother of Nuala Reid, Killalee

on Wednesday evening.

Jody reposed in Larkin’s Funeral

Home in Edenderry on Friday

evening where there were large

numbers present. Funeral Mass

was held in St. Brigid’s Church,

Croghan on Saturday morning

and burial afterwards in adjoining

Cemetery.

Our Deepest Sympathy to his sister

Nuala Reid, brothers, Paddy,

Jimmy and Michael, sisters-in-law,

brother-in-law, nieces, nephews,

relatives and friends.

Deepest Sympathy to Nuala and

her Husband, Alo, sons, Dan and

Alan, Daughters, Geraldine,

Catherine and Niamh, in-laws,

grandchildren and extended family

on their sad loss.

Deepest Sympathy is extended

to Brendan Montgomery and

extended family on the loss of his

Brother Frank (Monty) and Niece

Michell Keenan, Boyle who both

passed away on Thursday, 6 April.

Both reposed in their family

homes on Friday.

Funeral Mass was celebrated for

both of them in St Joseph’s

Church in Boyle and burial afterwards

in Assylynn Cemetery.

Deepest Sympathy to all of their

relations at this sad time.

Sympathy to Brendan and

Teresa and family on their sad

loss. Deepest Sympathies to all on

their losses.

EASTER MASS TIMES

St Peter & St Paul’s Church

Horseleap: Holy Thursday Lord’s

Supper at 7pm. Good Friday

Solemn Celebration at 5pm, Holy

Saturday Easter Vigil at 7pm and

Easter Sunday at 9am.

St Brigid’s Church Clara; Holy

Thursday Children’s Mass at 5pm.

Lord’s Supper at 7.30pm with

Holy Hour directly afterwards.

Good Friday Way of the Cross at

2.15pm in Green Field, Solemn

Celebration at 3pm, Stations of

the Cross 8.30pm followed by

Veneration of the Cross. Holy

Saturday Easter Vigil at 9pm.

Easter Sunday at 10am and

11.30am

Trocaire Boxes to be returned

on Holy Thursday.

Easter Greetings to each and

everyone.

DATES FOR YOUR

DIARIES

Streamstown Tidy Village

Annual Table Quiz on Good Friday,

14 of April at 9pm in Community

Centre. All support

appreciated.

Easter Progressive 25 on Bank

Holiday Monday, 17 April.

LOUGHNAVALLEY

LOCHÁN AN

BHEALAIGH

WEEKLY DRAWS

Loughnavalley

Results of draw held on 4 April:

there was no jackpot winner.

Numbers drawn were 3, 11, 13

and 27. 5 match 3 winners receive

€40 each. Next draw will be held

on 11 April for a jackpot of

€6,800.

Milltown

Draw held on 3 April: numbers

drawn were 15, 16, 25 and 26.

The jackpot was not won. €40

winners were Ronnie Anderson,

Damien Gunning, Aaron Whelan,

Mark Geraghty and C. Irwin. Next

draw will take place on Monday,

10 April for a jackpot of €5,600.

CHURCH SERVICES FOR

EASTER

Spy Wednesday, 12 April at

7pm: Chrism Mass in The Cathedral,

Mullingar.

Holy Thursday, 13 April: 8pm

Mass of the Lord’s Supper Church

of the Assumption, Loughnavalley.

Adoration of the Blessed

Sacrament Altar of Repose,

Loughnavalley, after Mass until

midnight.

Good Friday, 14 April: 3pm

Mass at St. Patrick’s church,

Dysart. Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion.

8pm in Loughnavalley - Stations

of the Cross.

Saturday, 15 April: Vigil Mass -

9pm, Loughnavalley, Resurrection

of the Lord.

Sunday, 16 April at 10am:

Dysart, Resurrection of the Lord.

And at 11.15am in Loughnavalley,

Resurrection of the Lord.

OFFICIAL OPENING

OF VISITOR CENTRE AT

UISNEACH

A wonderful unique event will

take place in our community on

Saturday, 29 April, with the official

opening of the visitor centre

at Uisneach. From 8pm, with the

option of a heritage tour at

6.15pm (bring wellies).

Through the kind generosity of

the Clarke Family, this event will

be a fundraiser for Loughnavalley

Community Development.

LCD, in conjunction with Westmeath

Community Development

Limited, is actively working on

issues relating to the future

development of Loughnavalley

and surrounding area.

MULTYFARNHAM

MUILTE FEARANÁIN

EASTER EGG HUNT

Multyfarnham Easter Egg hunt

and Duck Race takes place at

Gaine Park from 12noon to 2pm

on Sunday, 16 April. Ducks can be

purchased from Weirs, Murtaghs

and Lennons shop.

BMBARA

Go-For-Life Games training

starts back on Wednesday, 12

April at 11.30am in Multyfarnham

community centre. The

games are played each year in

D.C.U. The games played are lobbers,

scidils and flisk. Come along

and give it a go.

Line dancing back on Wednesday

at 7pm. All Welcome.

No art classes on 12 and 13 April

as Mary taking a break for Easter.

Back as usual following week.

No computer class on 12 April.

Back as usual on 19 April.

LOCAL LOTTO

There was no winner of the

local lotto of €4800. The numbers

drawn were 7, 14, 21 and 24. Next

week’s draw will take place at

The Lake. The jackpot will be

€4,900.

DUCK RACE

The Annual Community Centre

Duck Race will take place in the

Gaine River on Sunday, 16 April at

12 noon. Each Duck cost €5. All

are welcome.

MULTYFARNHAM TIDY

TOWNS

A big thank you to all our

speakers, demonstrators and

everybody who helped out in

making our Biodiversity Awareness

Day last Sunday a huge success.

Again, looking for help

each Saturday between 3 and

5pm. Please feel free to join us to

keep our village looking beautiful.

Tickets are €10 (includes a heritage

tour, food and entertainment)

and are available from

committee members and at Fox’s

pub.

LILLIPUT SPORTS

MEETING

Meeting this Tuesday at 9pm in

Dysart N.S. All volunteers welcome.

Contact Ray on 086-235-

3625 to receive group texts.

PARISH FINANCE

COUNCIL MEETING

Next meeting will take place

Thursday, 27 April, when

fundraising events will be discussed.

All welcome. 8pm at the

parish hall, Loughnavalley.

BCDL FRIENDSHIP CLUB

The club meets each Monday

morning from 10.30am at St.

Michael’s hall, Castletown-

Geoghegan. Lots of activities and

trips throughout the year, and

refreshments are served. You will

be very welcome.

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Birthday greetings to cofounders

of BCDL Community

Group, Marie and Dermot, who

each celebrate a birthday this

week. Best wishes from all at the

friendship club. Happy birthday

also to Bridie Quinn, Mullingar,

from all her friends in the ‘Valley.

Happy Easter to all.

COLLINSTOWN/FORE/

DRUMCREE

BAILE NA GCAIL-

LEACH/BAILE FHOB-

HAIR/DROIM CRIA

Good Friday 14 April

St. Mary’s church, Collinstown -

celebration of the Lord’s Passion

at 3pm. Prayer around the cross

and the celebration of the Sacrament

of Reconciliation from

9.30pm to 10.30pm.

St. Feichin’s church, Fore - morning

prayer at 10am. Celebration

of the Lord’s Passion at 6pm, with

outdoor reflective walk for the

Gospel.

Holy Saturday 15 April

St. Mary’s church, Collinstown -

morning prayer at 10am. Easter

vigil Mass at 9pm.

Easter Sunday 16 April

Fore Abbey - Easter Sunday

dawn Mass at 6.00am.

St. Feichin’s Church, Fore -

Easter Sunday Mass at 10am.

St. Mary’s Church, Collinstown -

Easter Sunday Mass at 11.30am.

Easter Monday 17 April


Mass at 11.00am.

RACE NIGHT - SATURDAY

20 MAY

A race night, hosted and organised

by Lough Lene Gaels camogie

club, takes place at the Lough

Lene Inn, Collinstown, on Saturday

night, 20 May.

TUESDAY NIGHT BINGO

Bingo takes place at

Collinstown hall every Tuesday

night, starting at 8.30pm. €3,000

is the jackpot at bingo on Tuesday

night, 11 April.

CAKE SALE

A cake sale will take place at

Collinstown and Fore on Sunday

30 April, following the conclusion

of 11.30am Mass at St. Mary’s

church, Collinstown, and 10am

Mass at St. Feichin’s church, Fore,

respectively. Proceeds are in aid

of the Collinstown/Fore Community

Games Organisation.

CONCERT - THE HIGH

KINGS

Mullingar Park Hotel will be the

venue for The High Kings in concert,

presented by Lough Lene

Gaels hurling club, next Saturday

night, Easter Saturday, 15 April.

EASTER 2017

Arrangements to mark Easter

2017 in the Collinstown/Fore RC

parish are as follows:

Holy Thursday 13 April


Mass of the Lord’s supper at 8pm,

followed by Eucharistic procession

to the parish pastoral centre

with prayer before the altar of

repose until midnight. Night

prayer 11.45pm. St. Feichin’s

Church, Fore - morning prayer at

10am. Mass of the Lord’s supper

at 6pm.

MULTYFARNHAM

MUILTE FEARANÁIN

EASTER EGG HUNT

Multyfarnham Easter Egg hunt

and Duck Race takes place at

Gaine Park from 12noon to 2pm

on Sunday, 16 April. Ducks can be

purchased from Weirs, Murtaghs

and Lennons shop.

BMBARA

Go-For-Life Games training

starts back on Wednesday, 12

April at 11.30am in Multyfarnham

community centre. The

games are played each year in

D.C.U. The games played are lobbers,

scidils and flisk. Come along

and give it a go.

Line dancing back on Wednesday

at 7pm. All Welcome.

No art classes on 12 and 13 April

as Mary taking a break for Easter.

Back as usual following week.

No computer class on 12 April.

Back as usual on 19 April.

LOCAL LOTTO


local lotto of €4800. The numbers

drawn were 7, 14, 21 and 24. Next

week’s draw will take place at

The Lake. The jackpot will be

€4,900.

DUCK RACE

The Annual Community Centre

Duck Race will take place in the

Gaine River on Sunday, 16 April at

12 noon. Each Duck cost €5. All

are welcome.

MULTYFARNHAM TIDY

TOWNS

A big thank you to all our

speakers, demonstrators and

everybody who helped out in

making our Biodiversity Awareness

Day last Sunday a huge success.

Again, looking for help

each Saturday between 3 and

5pm. Please feel free to join us to

keep our village looking beautiful.

KILLUCAN/RAHARNEY

CILL LIÚCAINNE/

RÁTHAIRNE

KILLUCAN PARISH HOLY

WEEK CEREMONIES

Join us as we prepare for the

celebration of Easter. Holy Thursday:

morning prayers at 9am in

Raharney church. Mass of the

Lord’s Supper at 7pm in Raharney

church. Adoration until 11pm

with night prayer in Raharney.

Confessions from 5.30 – 6.30pm in

Raharney church. Good Friday:

morning prayers at 9am in Rathwire

church. Way of the Cross at

1pm from Raharney to Rathwire

church. The Passion of the Lord at

3pm in Rathwire church. The Passion

of the Lord at 7pm in Raharney

church. Confessions after the

ceremonies. Holy Saturday: morning

prayers at 9am in Rathwire

church. Easter vigil Mass at 9pm

in Rathwire church. Confessions

from 10am to 11am in Rathwire

church. Easter Sunday: dawn

Mass at 6am in the old cemetery

in Raharney. Mass at 10am in

Raharney church. Mass at

11.30am in Rathwire church.

WEDDING BELLS/BERNIE

AND GER

Congratulations to Bernie Lynch

and Ger Dowdall, who were married

on Friday last. Congratulations

Bernie and Ger - we wish

you all the good luck, health and

happiness in the world, and we

hope all your dreams for a long

and happy life together come

true.

KILLUCAN PIONEER

CENTRE/ANNUAL

SPONSORED WALK

The Killucan pioneer centre is

holding their annual sponsored

walk on the banks of the Royal

Canal from Nanny Quinn’s to

Mary Lynch’s on Easter Monday,

17 April, starting at 2.00pm. This

is a most beautiful walk and it is

completely up to each individual

whether they walk, run or jog -

the main thing is that everyone

has a great day. Sponsorship cards

are on sale at the moment at €2

per line or €20 per card. The

prizes for the raffle are: 1st prize

- €50, 2nd prize - €25, 3rd prize -

€15, and there will be a seller’s

prize of €10. Your support for this

very worthy cause will be greatly

appreciated.

SYMPATHY

We extend deepest sympathy to

Nuala and relations of the late

Brendan Austin, who died after a

long illness last week. Brendan

was a very quiet, inoffensive gentleman

who was loved and

respected by everybody who

knew him. To Brendan’s partner

Nuala, relations, neighbours and

friends, we extend our deepest

and most sincere sympathy. May

he rest in peace.

PUB BINGO/THE

HILL BAR

On Wednesday night, 5 April,

the ever popular pub bingo

returns to the Hill Bar in Rathwire,

and Jackie and Christy

would like to extend a very warm

invitation to all to come along

and have a really great night. You

are guaranteed a great night of

fun, and you will also be in with a

chance to win some money. So

come along and enjoy the night,

and good luck - we guarantee

you will be back every week for

the fun.

KILLUCAN LIBRARY/

EASTER HOLIDAYS

Killucan library will be closed on

Good Friday, 14 April, and

Wednesday 19 April, and will reopen

on Friday 21 April at

10.30am. The opening hours for

the library are as follows:

Wednesday from 1.30pm to

5.30pm and 6.00pm to 8.00pm,

and every Friday from 10.30am to

1.30pm, and again from 2.00pm

to 5.00pm. Books can be renewed

by telephoning the library H/Q on

044-93-32162 or Mullingar library

on 044-93-32161, or you can

email library@westmeathcoco.ie

or do iy online with your PIN. You

can phone Killucan library on

044-93-74260. New members are

always welcome to call.

CARDIAC SCREENING

Raharney and Killucan GAA are

organising cardiac screening to

help prevent Sudden Adult Death

Syndrome. The screening is being

provided by Advanced Medical

Services. The dates for the screening

are 29 April and 6 May, it will

take place in Killucan community

centre, and the cost will be €65

per person. If you are interested,

pre-booking is essential as places

are limited. To book your place

(1) go to www.ameds.ie (2) click

on ‘online booking’ and (3) enter

clinic code: Killucan, or call 1890-

300-333.

LINE DANCING CLASSES

Line dancing classes are commencing

on Thursday 30 March at

8.00pm in Rathwire hall.

CAIRDE BRIDGE CLUB

The Cairde bridge club will meet

in Rathwire hall every Wednesday

night at 7.30pm and new members

are always welcome to come

along.

SICK CALLS/

CONFESSIONS

Please let Fr. English know if

there is somebody is sick in hospital

and would like a visit. Confessions

will take place Fridays after

Masses and after Saturday vigil

Mass. The first Friday Communion

calls will be this Friday to all

the parishioners who are sick or

housebound.

RAHARNEY CAMOGIE

CLUB/CAKE SALE

Raharney camogie club are

holding a fundraising cake sale

after the Masses next weekend

outside Raharney church. There

will be a huge selection of cakes,

buns, cupcakes, breads and tarts

on sale. So call and have a look,

TOPIC • 13 April, 2017

District Notes - Nótaí na gCeantar

NOTES

23

and we guarantee you will see

lots of beautiful items that you

will buy. Your support will be

greatly appreciated.

HAPPY EASTER

We would like to wish everybody

a very happy, holy and

peaceful Easter.

COLUMBA COLLEGE

KILLUCAN

Gaisce

Last week, our fifth year Gaisce

students completed a two-day

activity trip to Lilliput Adventure

Centre. The trip was a huge success

and thoroughly enjoyed by

all in attendance.

Northern Ireland Trip

This week, almost fifty students

travelled to Belfast on a tour.

Some of the highlights included

visiting Stormont, the Titanic

museum and walking along the

Peace wall. Many thanks to all

who organised such a wonderful

event.

Easter Greetings

As we are breaking up this week

for Easter, we wish all our students,

parents and staff a very

happy Easter. See you all in a few

weeks for the final term.

VIGIL MASS

The vigil mass will take place

every Saturday evening for the

month of April in Raharney

church at 6.00pm.

CASTLETOWN-

GEOGHEGAN

BAILE CHAISLEÁIN

MHIC EOGHAGÁIN

EASTER CEREMONIES

St. Michael’s Church, Castletown-Geoghegan

Holy Thursday – Mass of the

Lord’s Supper at 7.30pm.

Good Friday – Stations of the

Cross at 3.00pm and Good Friday

Liturgy at 7.30pm.

Easter Saturday – Easter vigil at

9.00pm.

Easter Sunday – Mass at

11.30am.

St. Peter’s Church, Raheenmore

Holy Thursday – Mass of the

Lord’s Supper at 5.00pm.

Good Friday – Good Friday

Liturgy at 3.00pm.

Easter Sunday – Mass at 9.00am.

CASTLETOWN-GEOGHE-

GAN COMHALTAS

Traditional Irish monthly session

on Wednesday, 12 April, at

9.30pm in Ned Claffey’s, Castletown-Geoghegan.

All musicians, singers and

dancers welcome.

EASTER FAMILY FUN

Castletown-Geoghegan playground

committee are organising

a family fun morning on Easter

Sunday, 16 April, 2017 - to

include easter egg hunt at Mount

Druid along with a cake sale, face

painting and raffle and a friendly

cuppa in St. Michael’s hall, Castletown-Geoghegan.

We really

need you to support this event by

way of baking or attending on

the day. Please note all money

raised will go directly to the continued

upkeep of the community

playground. Event starts at

12.00pm.

EASTER SUNDAY CEILI IN

ST. MICHAEL’S HALL,

CASTLETOWN-GEOGHE-

GAN

There will be a ceili in St.

Michael’s hall, Castletown-

Geoghegan, on Easter Sunday

night, 16 April 2017, between

9.00pm – 12.00pm with music by

Davy Joe and Carousel. Admission

is €10. Refreshments will be

served. Everyone welcome! Do

come along and enjoy some

hours of dancing and fun – a

great way to spend Easter Sunday

night.

ANNUAL PRAYERS

AT FATHER

SHANLEY’S GRAVE

The annual prayers at Father

Shanley’s grave will take place on

Good Friday at 12.00pm in Carrick

cemetery, Dalystown. All are

welcome.

CLOTHES COLLECTION

ST. MALACHY’S FOOT-

BALL CLUB AND CASTLE-

TOWN-GEOGHEGAN

CAMOGIE CLUB

St. Malachy’s football club and

Castletown-Geoghegan camogie

club are having their annual

clothes collection on Saturday, 29

April, at 1.00pm at the GAA pitch.

As usual they will accept clothes,

shoes, bags, belts, curtains etc.,

and any bags already filled can be

stored at the pitch or, if they

require collection, please ring

087-150-8389.

CASTLETOWN-GEOGHE-

GAN GAA LUCKY

NUMBERS DRAW

The winning numbers in last

week’s draw were 4, 10, 28 and

30. There was no lotto winner

and no three number winner.

Special draw winner was Marcella

Dunne. Promoter’s prize was won

by Amanda Collins. Next week’s

lotto will be €2,700 in the Drake

Inn. Easter egg draw will also

take place next week.

BALLINAGORE

MACRA CHARITY RUN

IN AID OF LARCC

Ballinagore Macra will be having

a charity tractor and vintage

car run on Sunday, 30 April 2017

in aid of LARCC Cancer Support

Sanctuary. Cost of entry is €25

and registration is from 10.30am.

The run will begin from Ballinagore

GAA grounds. Both the

charity and the club would

greatly appreciate your support.

JIVING CLASSES

Everyone enjoyed the recent jiving

classes which took place over

the past few Sundays with

instructor Niall Doorly.

CASTLETOWN-GEOGHE-

GAN NOTES FOR

PARISH BULLETIN

If you have any items of local

interest for the parish bulletin,

please send them to

tyrrellspass1@eircom.net.

BCDL FRIENDSHIP CLUB

Club members went on a day

trip last week and everyone

enjoyed the day. New members

would be so welcomed at the

BCDL friendship club, which takes

place each Monday from 10.30am

in St. Michael’s hall, Castletown-

Geoghegan.

EASTER

REMEMBRANCES

We remember all in our parish

who are ill at home or in hospital,

all who care for them, those who

are receiving medical treatment,

and those who are recovering.

We pray for those who have

been bereaved in recent times

and all who are sad and lonely

this Easter.

BIRTH

CONGRATULATIONS

Many congratulations to Alva

and Ronan Whelan, Adamstown,

Castletown-Geoghegan, on the

birth of their baby girl.

SYMPATHY

We extend our deepest sympathy

to Mrs. Nuala Reid, Killaleigh,

on the death of her brother, Mr.

Jody Malone, and to Mrs. Peggy

Keegan, Toarlisnamore on the

death of her husband, Bill and to

his brother, Pat and extended

family and friends.

RATHOWEN

RÁTH EOGHAIN

COMMUNITY CENTRE

Children’s karate classes take

place on Wednesday from 6:30-

8:00pm. Contact Natasha on 086-

2644-085.

Children’s Irish dancing classes

take place on Friday from 6:15-

7:15pm. Contact Ciara on 085-

1117-373.

Children’s dance and drama

classes take place on Saturday

from 3:30pm-6:00pm. Contact

Sarah-Anne on 085-2742-306.

RATHOWEN LOTTO


jackpot. The jackpot is currently

at €7,500. Tickets available from

the local post office or any RCD

member. Next draw is Monday,

17April, in Connaughton’s bar.

NOTES

Anyone who has anything they

would like to put in the notes,

please send them to rathowennotes@gmail.com

or contact 087-

194-3982.

ST. THOMAS N.S.,

RATHOWEN

Enrolment 2017 is now open for

St. Thomas' National School,

Rathowen. Application forms for

September 2017 are now available

from the school, and should

be returned before 30 April 2017.

Telephone: 043-66-76210.

BUNBROSNA GAA

Training for underage players

every Saturday at 1pm. For ages 4

and up. All new members welcome.

RATHOWEN ICA

The ICA are holding fitness and

exercise classes commencing on

Tuesday, 21 March, at 7:30pm.

Contact any ICA member for any

further information.

MARIA EDGEWORTH LIT-

ERARY FESTIVAL TOUR

As part of this year’s Maria

Edgeworth Literary Festival, there

will be a guided tour of Tullynally

Castle in Castepollard. The castle

was a favourite place for Maria to

visit, and on Sunday 7 May a bus

will leave from the Park House

for Tullynally, where visitors will

be taken on a guided tour of the

castle and gardens by members

of the Pakenham family. Tickets

cost €15, which includes bus and

entrance to the castle. The bus

will leave at 2.30pm from the

Park House Hotel. The guided

tour of castle and gardens will be

at 3.00pm. All are welcome.

Places are limited, so early booking

is advisable. Tickets can be

bought from the development

office at the Old Schoolhouse at

043-66-71801 or from J & M Gift

Stores.

POETRY WORKSHOP

As part of the Maria Edgeworth

Literary Festival, 5-7 May 2017, a

poetry workshop will take place

on Saturday 6 2017 in the Old

Schoolhouse, Ballymahon Road,

Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford,

from 11.00am to 1.00pm, hosted

by Professor Iggy McGovern, who

has published collections of

poetry with Dedalus Press in 2005

and 2010. His awards include the

Hennessy Award for Poetry, The

Ireland Chair of Poetry bursary

and the Glen Dimplex Writers

Award for Poetry. Booking is

essential; there is a maximum of

20 places. Fee: €20. Book online

at www.edgeworthstown.net/festival.

Tel: 043-66-71801 or

email: edgelocde v@eircom.net.

EASTER MASS TIMES

Holy Thursday- Rathowen at

7pm & Boherquill at 8:30pm.

Good Friday- Rathowen at 3pm

& Boherquill at 8pm. Holy Saturday-

Boherquill at 8pm. Easter

Sunday- Rathowen at 11am.

ROSEMOUNT

BAILE AN BHRIC ÓIG

PROGRESSIVE ‘25’

The winners of our game on

Tuesday 4 April were as follows:

1st 11 games - Sean Byrne and

Terry Middleton: €65 each. 2nd

10 games - Michael McGuinness

and Attracta Colgan, Tony Mullen

and Martin Clarke: €30 each.

Last game - €15 each: Anne

Sheerin and Gerry Cooney. Table

prizes of €10 each: Phyllis and

Brian Fox, Mai Fox and Michael

Carroll. Spot prizes of €15 each:

Michael O’ Connor, John Egan,

Anne Connell, Joan Claffey, Tim

Buckley and Larry Grouden. €10

each: Robin Sheridan, Danny

Walsh, Pat Heraty and Tommy

McCormack. Ladies prizes of €10

each: Anne Sheerin and Dolores

Ryan. Our sympathy is extended

to the family of Pauline Reddin

(née Corroon), Mullingar, who

died on Thursday 6 April. The

deceased and her late husband

Joe were great supporters of progressive

25, and were patrons of

the Rosemount game in the early

years. We have a fundraising

game in aid of South Westmeath

Hospice on this Tuesday, 11 April,

at 9.15pm. Admission is €8 all-in.

Please support this deserving

cause. Don t forget the big Easter

game in Streamstown on Easter

Monday. Our normal game continues

on Tuesday 18 April, commencing

at 9.15pm. Admission is

€10 all-in.

SYMPATHY

Our sympathy is extended to

the Fagan families, Curragh, on

the recent death of Michael Keegan,

Tullamore, brother-in-law of

Joe Fagan and brother of the late

Rita Fagan, who predeceased him

Pat Denning, Streete Wildlife Club chairman, and James Brady, chairman of

Lisryan village committee, with the two defibrillators that were purchased by

the committees for the Streete parish.

in 2011.

CHURCH

The following are the times of

the Easter ceremonies in the

parish St. Thomas church: Rosemount

at 6.45pm on Holy Thursday,

Good Friday and Holy

Saturday, with Mass at 10am on

Easter Sunday morning. Ceremonies

in the Church of the Holy

Family, Tubber, will be at 8.30pm

on the three days and at 11.15am

on Sunday morning. Stations of

the Cross on Good Friday will

take place in Tubber at 12 noon,

and in Rosemount at 3pm. Morning

prayer on Easter Saturday at

10am in Rosemount.

All parishioners are wished a

happy Easter.

EASTER EGG HUNT

The annual Easter egg hunt will

take place at 10.45am on Easter

Sunday morning after 10am Mass

in Rosemount community centre

and football field. All are welcome

for this popular event,

which is in its tenth year.

BALLYNACARGY

BAILE NA CARRAIGE

50/50 DRAW WINNER

Congratulations to this week’s

winner of the Cara Phort 50/50

draw, Anthony Riggs, who won

€79. Our next draw will take

place on 6 April. Tickets are €2

each and this is a fundraising initiative

for Cara Phort Family

Resource Centre.

BALLYNACARGY

LIBRARY

Ballynacargy library will be

closed on Tuesday 18 April &

Thursday 20 April. Reopening

Tuesday 25 April at 2.30pm. Contact

library H/Q on 044-93-32162,

Mullingar library on 044-93-

32161, or email hqlib@westmeathcoco.ie.

SONNA N.S.

Congratulations to all the pupils

of 5th & 6th class on being confirmed

by Bishop Smith last Thursday

in Ballynacargy church. They

all looked very well on the day.

Well done to our boys football

team who have qualified for the

semi-finals of the Allianz Cumann

na mBunscol competition after

they defeated near neighbours

Ballynacargy in a tight match

recently. Best of luck to our competitors

who have reached the

Scor na Paisti finals in The Downs.

Sophie Whelan takes part in solo

singing, and Enda Newman, Aine

Newman, Caomhan Mac Gabhann,

Donagh O Fiaich and Ciara

Wallace compete in the instrumental

music final. Daniel Farrell,

Oisin McGauran and Cian

McGrath take part in the quiz,

while our set dancing team of

Aine Newman, Ciara Wallace,

Aoibhe Wallace, Ruby McGauran,

Katie Coffey, Isabel Maxwell,

Maeve McGovern and Molly

McGrath are looking to entertain

the audience with their lively set.

FAMILY BOWLING

Cara Phort FRC are organising a

family bowling evening on

Wednesday 19 April at 5pm. Contact

Cara Phort FRC on 044-93-

73060 for further details.

VINTAGE

ONLY

TRACTOR RUN

Ballynacargy vintage only tractor

run will take place on 23

April. All proceeds are in aid of

Cara Phort FRC. A monster raffle

will be held in conjunction with

the event and tickets are now on

sale.

STREETE

SRÁID

SPECIAL WALK

A courageous young mum from

North Westmeath needs urgently

to buy a lifesaving drug not available

in Ireland. Claire Grahan,

one of the Ginnells from Ballymanus,

beside Mullaghmeen Forest,

was diagnosed last year with

an aggressive form of breast cancer,

and her only hope is a special

drug available in the UK, but not

in Ireland. Margaret Smith has

organised a walk in Mullaghmeen

Forest on Easter Monday

morning at 11am, and our

Boherquill Ramblers ask anyone

who can to support this most

worthy cause. A charity breakfast

was held in hotel Castlepollard

last Wednesday. Thanks to Russell

and staff. For any further specific

details, please call Margaret

Smith on 087-625-8225.

HAPPY EASTER

Happy Easter to all readers of

these notes. Please note that the

Easter raffle will take place in Fiddler’s

Green shop and tickets are

available in the shop. There will

be a session with local guests

from 8pm, also in Fiddler’s. On

Saturday night, to put you in the

Easter spirit, “Two Generations”

will be starting 10pm. Finger food

and spot prizes on both nights

and all are welcome.

CONGRATULATIONS

Congrats and very best wishes

to all members of Streete wildlife

club on the opening and blessing

of their newly erected clubhouse

last week. Anyone wishing to

join this very active club must

have their name and phone number

with the secretary on or

before 1 May 2017.

SLIMMING WORLD

Slimming World starts in Streete

parish park on Tuesday,18 April,

and will continue each Tuesday

thereafter starting at 7.30pm. For

any specific details, call 087-082-

9015.

DAFFODIL DAY

The organisers of the recently

held daffodil day wish to say a

big thank you to all who supported

and all those who helped

out in any way to make the day

such a success.

BOHERQUILL RAMBLERS

The beautiful spring weather on

Sunday 2 April was perfect for

the Ramblers walk along the

quiet country lanes of Killasona.

As is usual for the Ramblers, there

will be no walk on Easter Sunday,

16 April. Happy Easter to all Ramblers

and their families. Anyone

who would like to travel by bus

to Dublin airport for the Netherlands

trip on 28 April is asked to

contact Alice Nerney at 086-813-

0780 ASAP. Ramblers are

reminded that annual subscriptions

are now due: €20 each or

€30 for a family. The Ramblers are

always looking for new members,

so if you’d like to come and join

us on one of our walks you are

assured of a warm wel -

come.

STREETE LOTTO

Numbers drawn in Streete

parish park lotto on Monday 27

March were 7, 9, 25 and 28. There

was no jackpot winner. €40 winners

were: K. Lee, Castlepollard,

Caitriona Carthy, Longfield, and

Betty Gilchrist, Mostrim. Next

lotto draw is on Monday 10 April,

when the jackpot will be €11,300.

STREETE WILDLIFE CLUB

The following officers were

elected for the coming year at

the 39th AGM of the club held on

31 March last: chairman - Pat

Denning, vice chairman - Joe

Kelly, secretary - Seamus Denning,

asst. secretary - Tommy Denning,

treasurer - William

Campbell, asst. treasurer -

Michael Murtagh, P.R.O - Michael

Campbell, safety officer - Padraig

McGauran, delegates - Michael

Hayden, James Garvey, and

Michael Mulleady. Club clay

shooting committee for the coming

year is Padraig McGauran, Pat

Denning, Brendan Mulligan, Joe

Kelly, Michael Murtagh, Michael

Campbell, and William Campbell.

The new club house was opened

by Fr. Ned O’Hara before the

AGM and Fr. O’Hara then said the

annual club Mass for our

deceased members with the following

taking part: music was by

Rosemary Connolly, soloist, Mass

servers were Niamh and Eimear

Kiernan, first reading was read by

William Campbell, responsorial

psalm was read by Seamus Denning,

prayers of the faithful were

read by Tommy Denning, Mary

Boyhan, Brendan Mulligan, Pat

Denning, Pauline Murphy, Paul

Flood, and Michael Mulleady.

Communion reflection was read

by Michael Campbell.

The club grounds will be open

for clay shooting practice over

eight stands for the All Ireland

shoot on Thursday evenings,

starting on 4 May next. For further

details, please contact

William Campbell on 086-258-

2370.

24 CLASSIFIED ADS

TOPIC • 13 April, 2017

NOVENA/

THANKSGIVING

THE MIRACULOUS

PRAYER: Dear Heart of

Jesus, in the past I have

asked you for many

favours. This time I ask this

special one (mention it).

Take it dear Heart of Jesus

and place it within your own

broken heart where your

Father sees it. Then in his

merciful eyes, it will

become Your prayer, not

mine. Amen. Say this

prayer for three days,

promise publication and

favour will be granted.

Never known to fail. R.T.

THE MIRACULOUS



asked you for many













Never known to fail. M.D.

PRAYER TO ST.

ANTHONY: St. Anthony,

gentlest of Saints, your love

for God and charity for his

creatures, made you worthy,

when on earth, to possess

miraculous powers.

Miracles waited on your

word, which you were ready

to speak for those in trouble

or anxiety. Encouraged by

this thought, I ask you to

obtain for me the favours

that I seek (mention your

request here). The answer

to my prayer may require a

miracle. Even so, you are

the Saint of Miracles. O

gentle and loving St.

Anthony, whose heart was

full of sympathy, whisper

my petition into the ears of

the Infant Jesus, who loved

to be held in your arms, and

the gratitude of my heart

will ever be yours. J.F.

THE MIRACULOUS



asked you for many













Never known to fail. J.F.

THE MIRACULOUS



asked you for many













Never known to fail. N.R.

FAMILY NOTICES

ANNIVERSARIES

FARRELL, MARY - 11

Oaklawns, 1st anniversary.

Mammy,

A light is from our

household gone,

A voice we loved so still,

A place is vacant in our

home

That never can be filled.

Love from Denver, Darwin,

Mairéad and Justin.

Mary,

You’ve been gone one

whole year and nothing is

the same,

It sems like it was just

yesterday the angels called

your name.

Our memories of you will

never fade away,

You are always on our

minds.

We wish that there was a

way for the year to rewind,

We wish that we could see

you and hear your voice

once more,

We wish we could talk and

laugh like we did before.

Mary, we can never say

goodbye to you

Because we could not bear

the pain.

Instead we say we love

you until we meet again.

Love Mam, your sisters

Christine and Mary,

brothers John, Tom,

nieces and nephews, sister-in-law,

brother-in-law

and extended family.

MONAGHAN, MARY -

29th anniversary. Loving

memories of our mother

and grandmother Mary,

late of Castlerickard,

Longwood, Co. Meath,

who died on April 18th,

1988.

To us you were someone

special,

Someone kind and true,

You will never be forgotten

For we thought the world

of you.

Forever in our thoughts

and prayers, daughters

Sadie, Tess, Margaret,

Frances and families.

TOPIC

044 9348868

ANNIVERSARIES

McNAMEE, LUKE - Corbetstown,

Castlejordan.

First anniversary Mass in

Ballinabrackey Church

on Sunday, April 16th at

11.30am.

BIRTHDAY

REMEMBRANCE

DONOGHUE, MARY - 1st

birthday away from home

on April 15th.

Don’t cry for me,

I’m not gone,

My soul is at rest,

My heart lives on.

Light a candle

For me to see,

And hold on to my memory.

But save your tears

For I’m still here

By your side

Through the years.

Always be missed by

Jackie, Stephen and

Georgina, grandkids

Chelsey, Sean and

Sophie.

CONNOLLY, MARGARET

- St. Patrick’s Avenue,

Rhode, whose 70th birthday

occurs on April 12th.

I think about you still,

Your absence a silent grief.

I hold you close within my

heart

Until we meet again.

Love and miss you

always. From your husband

Thomas.

MURRAY, EILISH (née

Power) - May 17th, 1931 -

March 13th, 2017.

Eilish was born Elizabeth

Teresa Power in Moyleroe,

Delvin to Richard and Anne

Power. She attended

Ballinvalley School with her

brothers and sisters. When

she was eight years old, the

Power family moved to a

small farm in Ballinagall,

Mullingar. Eilish attended

Taughmon National School

and then the Technical

School in Mullingar. When

she finished school, she

worked in St. Vincent’s

Hospital, Fairview, Dublin,

and from there went to

Whipps Cross Hospital in

London to train as a nurse.

She received her SRN

under the tutorship of

Matron Forgerty. In 1958,

with her friend Tess Whelan

from Wexford, they travelled

to Los Angeles in California.

She met her

husband Jack Murray there

and they married in 1963.

They both loved to travel

and experienced the highs

and lows of American life.

Eilish’s sister Hannah died

in September 1964 and she

returned home to Ballinagall.

Her mother Anne was

ill at the time and Eilish

stayed with her until her

death in January 1965.

While at home caring for

OBITUARY

her mother, she also

worked in Mullingar General

Hospital. She returned

to California and continued

her nursing career. Jack

and Eilish settled in Yuba

City, North California, and

lived there until Jack’s

death in 2000. Eilish and

Jack loved to travel home

to Mullingar during the summer

and spent many days

travelling the roads of Ireland,

bringing her sisters

and brother Frank on day

trips. After a time, Eilish

moved to Los Angeles near

her sister Anne. She was

cared for in Bella Mar Nursing

Home in Santa Monica,

Los Angeles. Her funeral

Mass took place on March

20th in the Church of the

Good Shepherd, Los Angeles,

concelebrated by Rev.

Ed Benioff and Rev. Colm

O’Ryan. She is laid to rest

in Holy Cross Cemetery.

Eilish is predeceased by

her parents Richard and

Anne, her brothers Tomas,

Patrick, Richard and Donal,

her sisters Maureen, Kitty

and Hannah and her husband

Jack. She is deeply

regretted by her sisters, Sr.

Rose Anne Power, Holy

Family, Newbridge, Sr.

Assumpta Power, Catherine

McAuley House, Limerick,

Mrs. Anne Murphy, Los

Angeles, her brothers

Frank Power, London,

Michael Power & John

Power, Ballinagall,

Mullingar, her nieces,

nephews, relatives and

friends. Mass for the repose

of her soul will be offered by

Very Rev Declan Smith PP

in the Church of the

Assumption, Taughmon on

Easter Sunday, 16th April at

11.30am.

SITUATIONS

VACANT

BAR MANAGER

required for Carbury GAA Clubhouse

The newly refurbished clubhouse is located in a

rural GAA club in Carbury, County Kildare.

Requirements:

• A minimum 3 years Bar management experience

an advantage

• Good communication and interpersonal skills

• Good sense of humour and motivational skills

• Ability to manage staff

This is a full time position and the successful

candidate must be available to work weekends.

Please send CV to:

secretary.carbury.kildare@GAA.ie

Closing date for applications Monday 24th April.

Midlands Licensed Premises

MANAGER REQUIRED

Excellent Terms & Conditions

Busy Location

The ideal candidate must have a genuine

interest for the hospitality industry, be

motivated, pleasant and ensure an efficient and

personalised service is delivered to Customers.

Replies to: recruit@topic.ie

Job Ref. 14750

Annual Milltownpass Tractor Run

Picured soaking up the sun at the annual Milltownpass Tractor Run were

Caolainn Gammell, Colm Sheerin, Willie Feery and Mark Hyland.

Claire Manning and Sheila Mullen pictured

at the Milltownpass Tractor Run on

Sunday, 2 April.

Sean Feery and Jane Sheerin

pictured at Annual

Milltownpass Tractor Run.

At the Tractor Run in Miltownpass were David

Glynn with Jessica and David Glynn.

TOPIC • 13 April, 2017 CLASSIFIED ADS 25

CLASSIFIED ADS

TOPIC CLASSIFIEDS • FOR ALL YOUR SMALL ADS

MOTOR

MART

FOR SALE

SKYLINE 3-IN-1 PRAM,

perfect condition, as

good as new. 087-291-

4420. 3(27.04)

RIDE ON LAWN MOWER,

AL-KO, Briggs and Stratton

engine, 656cc, less

than 50 hours work done,

both mulch and collect.

Phone 087-254-2479

after 6pm. 3(27.04)

NILFISK VACUUM

CLEANER, new,

unwanted gift, perfect,

Mullingar town. 087-276-

3715. 3(27.04)

JONSERED CHAINSAW

for sale, sides for tractor

trailer, suit turf trailer, 11ft

long x 7ft wide x 4.5ft

high, dual wheels for

tractor, size 13x6x36,

tractor spring harrow.

087-351-6223. 3(27.04)

RIVER SEAT BOX including

2,500 attachments,

brand new. 086-350-

3117 or 087-334-6065.

3(27.04)

MAVAR POLE, 13.5 metre,

plus sections and holdall.

086-350-3117 or 087-

334-6065. 3(27.04)

3-PART CONCRETE

LAND ROLLER, perfect

condition, €300. 087-

162-6095. 3(27.04)

DINING TABLE (extendable)

and 6 chairs. Best

offers. Also 6 burner gas

catering cooker in good

condition. Phone 046-

973-9203 or 087-192-

8702. 3(20.04)

WEDDING DRESS for

sale, size 14, white

ssatin, heavily sequinned

and very long train. Also

10-year-old girl’s party

dress, satin, white and

red, very pretty. Phone

046-973-9203 or 087-

192-8702. 3(20.04)

SQUARE SHOWER TRAY

and corner entry enclosure

with bi-fold door, 2’

5” square, like new,

would over €300 new.

Quick sale €200. No

time wasters please.

Phone Anne on 086-326-

7187. 3(20.4)

LADY AND GENT’S BICY-

CLES for sale, very good

condition, €90 for both or

will sell separately. 086-

393-2346. 3(20.4)

MAHOGANY SIDE-

BOARD, antique style, in

perfect condition, €80

o.n.o. 086-393-2346.

3(20.4)

8ft CABINET (dining

room), mahogany. €125.

087-280-4205. 3(13.04)

TABLE FOR SALE in perfect

conditioni, €60.

Includes glass protector.

Chairs not included. 085-

153-6980, if interested.

3(20.4)

TABLE GLASS TOP 35”,

round, 5mm thick, for top

of round table. Never

used, still in wrapper.

Cost €120, sell for €60.

085-858-7038. 3(13.04)

ANTIQUE 8’ MAHOGANY

DINING TABLE, polished,

perfect condition,

with winder, €900 o.n.o.

086-829-3574. 3(13.04)

FOR SALE

ROSSMORE CABINET,

rosewood finish, height

79”, width 31.5”, depth

19”, suit corner area.

Price €200, willing to

negotiate. 087-615-0264.

3(13.04)

COMMUNION DRESS,

brand new, Marks &

Spencer, age 9. Beautiful

dress with lovely detail,

€40. 086-393-2346.

3(13.04).

BABY’S HIGH CHAIR, little

used, spotless condition,

priced to sell, Mullingar

town. 086-803-9331.

3(13.04)

MARBLE FIREPLACE with

back boiler in perfect

condition. 086-869-6758.

3(13.04)

GENERATOR, 7,500kw,

€900, 086-075-6677.

3(13.04)

4 TABLES & 8 CHAIRS,

white, €200. 086-075-

6677. 3(13.04)

8 SHEETS FLAT STEEL,

suitable for trailers, 4’ 3”

x 3’ 3”, €175. 086-075-

6677. 3(13.04)

KITCHEN WORKTOP,

‘Butcher Block’ (2 new

pieces) 60cm x 137cm

and 60cm x 113.5cm.

Price €80. 086-153-

7025. 3(13.04)

6 SOLID WOOD KITCHEN

CHAIRS, very sturdy,

good condition. May

need small amount of revarnishing

or painting,

€40 each. 086-153-

7025. 3(13.04)

HAY/FARMING

FORD 3600 TRACTOR PS

PUH, engine rebuilt,

resprayed, lots of money

spent, showroom condition.

€4,500. 086-086-

4805. 3(27.04)

JONSERED CHAINSAW

for sale, sides for tractor

trailer, suit turf trailer, 11ft

long x 7ft wide x 4.5ft

high, dual wheels for

tractor, size 13x6x36,

tractor spring harrow.

087-351-6223. 3(27.04)

3-PART CONCRETE

LAND ROLLER, perfect

condition, €300. 087-

162-6095. 3(27.04)

CASE INTERNATIONAL

4230 TRACTOR for sale,

4 wheel drive, good condition,

reasonably priced,

and a Ferguson cutting

bar also for sale. 085-

137-4744. 3(20.04)

CALVES FOR SALE,

Hereford and Limousin

cross. Phone 087-953-

2682 or 087-799-7726.

3(13.04)

AT YOUR SERVICE

WOOD DISCS AVAIL-

ABLE: Perfect for wedding

organisers/events,

etc., 5” x 12” diameter.

Contact Adam on 087-

911-9544 for details and

best price. 3(20.04)

GARDENING

GRASS CUTTING SER-

VICE: Hedge cutting and

sewing, chainsaw work,

moss control. 087-151-

5923. 3(13.04)

POULTRY

SEVEN COCKERELS free

to good home. Contact

089-469-6282. 3(20.4)

WINDOWS & DOORS

WESTMEATH WINDOWS

& DOORS LIMITED, Lisclogher,

Delvin: Suppliers

of PVC windows,

doors, sunrooms, full

glass service, new Palladio

composite doors.

Fully tax compliant for

the new government renovation

scheme. For

more information on

upcoming exhibitions or

for a free quote check out

our website, www.westmeathwindows.ie,

or call

Eugene on 086-601-

5325. 6(04.05)

TURF/FIREWOOD

TURF AND TIMBER FOR

SALE. Tractor trailers,

jeep trailers and bags.

Contact Gerard Glennon

on 087-959-8813.

6(18.05)

SALE ON DRY SEA-

SONED QUALITY

TURF, sold in truck lorry

loads, discount on second

load. Contact 087-

141-3238. 3(27.04)

PROPERTY AND

RENTAL

For the convenience of

readers, please state town

or village in which accommodation

is located when

placing accommodation

adverts.

HOUSE TO RENT: 3-bed,

semi-detached house to

rent in Ardleigh Vale,

Mullingar, €750 per

month. Tel. 087-177-

2364. 3(27.04)

TREATMENT ROOM TO

RENT with adjoining

waiting room. Adjacent to

acupuncturist and chiropractor

in Natural Health

Clinic, 6 Dominick Street,

Mullingar. Excellent main

street location with wonderful

natural light. For

details please contact

044-93-48868.

Sell your

unwanted

household

items for FREE!

Visit

www.topic.ie

AT YOUR SERVICE

EVE’S BRIDAL RETIRE-

MENT SALE now on. All

stock must go. Bridal

gowns half price. Labels:

La Sposa, Pure Bridal,

Romantica, Mori Lee,

Annais Bridal. Bridesmaids,

debs dresses half

price. Veils half price.

Mother of the bride outfits

and headpieces half

price. Holy Communion

half price. Phone Eve for

appointment. 086-030-

1097. 9(13.04)

INVITATIONS: Wedding

invitations, Mass booklets,

place cards, etc. all

available at competitive

prices from Topic Print &

Design. All personalised

to individuals’ taste.

Samples can be viewed

at Topic Print & Design

Facebook page or phone

044-934-8868 / 085-739-

4172 for further info.

BOUNCING CASTLES

PARTY BOUNCE FOR

HIRE: Large castles with

12ft slides, also new

super slide and smaller

castles. Taking bookings

now for Communions,

Confirmations and parties.

Phone 087-747-

6601. 14(29.06)

LET’S BOUNCE BOUNC-

ING CASTLES: Bouncing

castles with slides,

obstacle courses, high

slides, disco dome, inflatable

bar. 086-3689-279.

12(11.05)

ANTIQUES

WE BUY AND SELL some

antique furniture, gold

and silver jewellery -

even broken, clocks,

watches, china, especially

tea sets, books,

medals, all military memorabilia,

coins, Irish bank

notes, plus anything collectable.

Single items or

clearance. Free valuation.

Open 7 days a

week. Telephone beforehand.

Denis King & Son,

Antiques and Curios,

Longwood, Co. Meath.

Telephone: 046-955-

5120; mobile: 087-753-

6835. 51(19.02)

CEMETERY HEAD-

STONES/GRAVES

CEMETERY HEAD-

STONES: Martin Nolan,

Rathcobican, Rhode, Co.

Offaly. Telephone: 046-

973-7327 or 046-973-

7073 or 087-262-2704.

Catalogue available on

request. Personal attention.

51(23.11.17)

CHIMNEY

CLEANING/REPAIRS

ALLARD CHIMNEY

CLEANING. Family business,

over 40 years’

experience and knowledge

at your fingertips.

Fully qualified and registered,

professionally

trained. High-powered

twin vacuum, brush and

scraper used in the

cleaning of wood pellet

systems, back boilers,

ranges, stoves, open

fires, household and

industrial oil burners.

Also available the latest

technology in power

sweeping for hard to

clean chimneys. Complimentary

advice for all

customers, along with

free smoke and draw test

on all chimneys. Colin

Allard. Office: (044) 922-

6436 and 087-793-6719.

51(07.12.17)

SITUATIONS VACANT

Where an advertiser is

using a Box number, CVs

must be emailed to

recruit@topic.ie. quoting

the relevant box number

in the subject line.

TRACTOR DRIVERS

WANTED, must have

experience. Full-time or

part-time may suit, Edenderry

area. Phone Neil

on 087-253-7301.

3(13.04)

COOK/CATERING ASSIS-

TANT wanted for weekend

part-time work. Bar

food/coffee shop cooking

experience essential,

Edenderry area. Reply

with CV to

highfieldgolf@eircom.net

3(13.04)

GRAPHIC DESIGNER -

MLS Labels & Printing

Systems, Mullingar -

Degree or Equivalent in

Graphic Design, Adobe

Illustrator, Photoshop, 3

years experience.

www.midlandjobs.ie Job

Ref: 16487. 3(20.04)

DELI COOK/CHEF - Buckley’s

SuperValu,

Mullingar. Min 2 years

relevant experience.

Excellent communication,

presentation and

organisation skills,

HACCP, and IT skills.


Ref: 16488. 3(20.04)

QUALIFIED UPHOL-

STERER - J. Shaw Furniture

Design, Mullingar.

Minimum 3 years experience

or part-qualification.


Ref: 16483. 3(20.04)

PHARMACY TECHNI-

CIAN - Weirs Pharmacy,

Mullingar. Relevant qualification

plus 1-2 years

previous experience in

community pharmacy.


Ref: 16481. 3(20.04)

SITUATIONS VACANT

EXPERIENCED COOK

(weekends) - Mullingar/

Kinnegad area, P/T. Min

2 years experience,

weekend work essential,

family meals. Full clean

driver’s licence. Excellent

pay + performance

bonus.

www.midlandjobs.ie

Job Ref: 16480. 3(20.04)

BUSINESS DEVELOP-

MENT MANAGER -

B.Ag or similar -

Mullingar. Good Communication

and IT skills, full

clean driver’s licence. UK

travel essential.


Ref: 16475. 3(20.04)

NOTICE TO

ADVERTISERS

Acceptance of an advertisement

or payment

thereof is not to be taken

as implying guarantee

that the advertisement

will be published. The

right is reserved to refuse

to insert any advertisement,

without giving any

reason; also to discontinue

the publication of

any advertisement previously

published, without

com - pensation for any

loss or damage claimed

for non-publication. Publication

of an advertisement

cannot be

guaranteed on a specific

week or at all, whether or

not a particular week has

been stipulated by the

advertiser, and the company

will not be liable for

any loss claimed by such

omission, whether from

all editions or any particular

edition or editions of

the paper. Right is

reserved to alter any

advertisement without

liability for any compensation

for such alteration.

Further, the company

does not accept liability

for any loss or damage

caused by an error or

inaccuracy in the printing

of any advertisement.

Placement of an advertisement

is deemed as

acceptance of above conditions.

Deadline for

receipt

of Classified

Ads is 5pm on

Monday

Where an advertiser is

acting in the course of a

trade or business, this

must be clearly stated in

the advertisement, i.e.,

the name of the garage

must be included.

DIESEL CARS FOR

SALE: 2014 Kia Ceed

1.6 crdi, 5dr, black; 2013

Peugeot 308 1.6 HDi,

5dr, white; 2013 Kia Rio

1.1 CRDi, 5dr, black;

2013 Hyundai i20 1.1

CRDi, 5dr, white; 2012

Peugeot 308 1.6 HDi,

5dr, black; 2011 Kia Rio

1.5 CRDi, 5dr, silver or

black, 2011 Zafira 7-

seater, 5dr, silver. All

cars have warranted

miles and 2 years NCT.

Phone 9224592 or 087-

256-8748. 3(27.04)

1999 SKODA PETROL 1.4,

NCT to Jan 2018, very

clean car, two lady owners,

p.m.o., €250. 087-

934-6199 after 6pm.

3(27.04)

2007 VW PASSAT 1.9

DIESEL, NCT Nov 2018,

genuine family car from

new, 146,000 miles, serviced

regularly. 086-253-

7883. 3(20.04)

2001 PEUGEOT 206 LX,

1.4 petrol, 4-door,

118,000 miles, tax just

out, NCT January 2018,

colour blue, excellent

tyres, JVC stereo, front

fogs, owner’s manual.

Any inspection welcome.

No time wasters. Price

€540 o.n.o. Call 086-

386-0837. 3(20.4)

2009 PEUGEOT 308

DIESEL SPORT, 1.6

HDi, six-speed gearbox,

alloys, aircon, 59,000

miles, 5-door, beautiful

condition. Contact Flanagan

Bros. Garage, Hill of

Down, Tel. 046-954-6312

or 087-244-4026.

3(13.04)

2007 TOYOTA AVENSIS

diesel, 1 lady owner from

new, 120,000 miles, sixspeed,

cruise control,

etc. Contact Flanagan


Down, Tel. 046-954-6312

or 087-244-4026.

3(13.04)

2007 OPEL CORSA 1.3

diesel, genuine 27,000

miles, 3-door hatchback,

spotless condition. Contact

Flanagan Bros.

Garage, Hill of Down,

Tel. 046-954-6312 or

087-244-4026. 3(13.04)

2005 TOYOTA COROLLA

1.4 , 5-door hatchback,

T3 model, alloys, air con,

etc. Contact Flanagan


Down, Tel. 046-954-6312

or 087-244-4026.

3(13.04)

TOPIC

NEWSPAPERS

Tel:

044

9348868

26 NEWS

TOPIC • 13 April, 2017

DOWN MOATE WAY With The Rambler

EASTER

MASSES

STREAMSTOWN

Easter ceremonies at Sts.

Peter and Paul’s Church,

Horseleap are as follows;

Holy Thursday

Mass of the Lord’s Supper,

7.00pm

Good Friday

The Passion of the Lord

5.00pm.

Holy Saturday

Easter Vigil, 7.00pm

Confessions in Horseleap

before all ceremonies.

TUBBER

Easter ceremonies in The

Church of the Holy Family

are as follows,

Holy Thursday

Mass of the Last Supper

at 8.30pm. (Adoration until

10.30pm)

Good Friday.

Stations of The Cross 12

Noon and at 8.30pm The

Passion of the Lord.

Holy Saturday

Easter vigil at 8.30pm

Easter Sunday

Mass at 11.15am

ROSEMOUNT

Easter ceremonies in the

Church of St. Thomas the

Apostle, Rosemount are as

follows;

Holy Thursday

Mass of The Last Supper,6.45p.

(Adoration until

11pm)

Good Friday

Stations of The Cross

3pm and at 6.45pm The

Passion of the Lord.

Holy Saturday:

Vigil Mass at 6.45pm

Easter Sunday

Mass at 10am

MOATE

CARMELITES

Easter ceremonies in the

Carmelite Church, Moate

are as follows:

Holy Thursday

Mass of the Lord’s Supper

at 7.15pm

Good Friday

Stations of the Cross at 3

pm.

The Passion of the Lord

at 5pm.

Holy Saturday

Mass at 9pm

Easter Sunday

Masses at 9 am, 10.30 am

and 12 Noon.

ST. PATRICK’S

CHURCH, MOATE

Easter ceremonies in St.

Patrick’s Church, Moate

are as follows:

Holy Thursday:

Mass of the Last Supper

at 8pm.

Good Friday:

Stations of the Cross at

3pm. The Passion of our

Lord at 8pm.

Holy Saturday;

Easter Vigil at 8pm.

Easter Sunday;

Mass at 10 and 11.30am.

Interpretive Centre

sought for Moate park

Dún na Si’s Amenity Park must have an Interpretive Centre to develop fully as a tourist

attraction. This was the message delivered to the executive and elected members of Westmeath

County Council at the March monthly meeting by Frank Kelly, on behalf of the Dún

na Si Heritage and Amenity Centre committee.

The Amenity Park at Dún

na Si Heritage and Amenity

Park opened to the public in

2015 and is fast becoming

integral to Westmeath’s

tourist appeal.

Developed alongside the

Dún na Si Heritage Park, the

32 acre amenity is free to

enter and at the March meeting

of Westmeath County

Council, the elected members

and the Executive heard

that it is anticipated that the

park will attract 100,000 visitors

per annum by 2020.

The development of an

interpretive centre for the

park is a key element of the

plan for future growth, the

meeting was told by Frank

Kelly, of the Dún na Si Heritage

and Amenity Centre

committee.

The ambitious target of

100,000 visitors is part of an

overall vision for the park,

which includes the interpretive

centre, a vital tool for

establishing the park’s credentials

as a major tourist

attraction.

This was the key message

that Mr. Kelly delivered in

his presentation to the meeting,

which was hosted in

Dúnna Si recently.

The park aims to compliment

Ireland’s Ancient East

tourist initiative. Mr. Kelly

spoke of plans of guided

tours of the site, with dance

lessons and the rich fabric of

local folklore woven into the

experience for tourists. In

all, the park is projecting a

lively and unique package

for is future development.

“The way of giving the personal

touch to the visitor

experience that is second

nature to locations in the

Pupils of Fifth and Sixth

Classes displayed stands

with their innovative business

ideas and the school

and local community were

invited to visit throughout

the afternoon.

Among the ideas developed

by the pupils was the book,

“Streamstown Stories”, a

collection of tales supplied

by the pupils themselves. A

very popular idea, the book

sold very well on the day.

The beautifully bound and

printed book consists of contributions

by each pupil at

the school, so that every

child has a voice in “Streamstown

Stories.”

Whether a tale of their

own invention, a piece of

local folklore, a favourite

memory, the tales are

inspired by the wealth of

youthful imaginations and

Visiting Dún na Si Heritage and Amenity Park were Cllrs. Frankie Keena,

John Dolan, Frank McDermott, pictured with Frank Kelly of Dún na Si

Heritage and Amenity Park committee; Cllrs. Tom Farrell, Aenghus

O’Rourke, Paul Hogan and Michael O’Brien.

west and south will come as

easily to us here in Moate,”

Mr. Kelly stressed.

Approval has been

awarded by Pobal for the

appointment of a manager

to the site, with the more

than hopeful view that a second

will soon be appointed.

This is an exciting step in

developing the potential of

the Amenity Park but the

interpretive centre is the

piece de resistance that is

firmly on the to-do list for

those involved with the park.

“What is needed is a focal

point, the interpretive centre

would provide that, a place

where people can go in all

weathers to enjoy the taste of

this area,” said Mr. Kelly.

Mr. Kelly stressed that

Moate’s Amenity Park and

the Dún na Si complex is

more than equal to the task

of growing tourism in Westmeath.

The park is home to 4,000

native trees, sports 23 acres

that includes access to wetlands,

houses a creative landscape

of locally produced art

and sculpture. It is adjacent

to the Dún na Si Heritage

Park, which opened in 1967,

the jewel in the crown of the

local Comhaltas group. To

this day, Dún na Si Heritage

Park is the seat of traditional

music and entertainment

in the area, attracting

visitors of sessuins and competitions

throughout the

year.

Book produced by Streamstown pupils is a big hit

Last Friday, Streamstown National School opened its doors to showcase its very first Young

Entrepreneurs Day.

Streamstown pupils celebrated their Young Entrepreneurs Day on Friday, 31

March and pictured at their stand marketing the book “Streamstown

Stories” were Jake Gannon, Ciaran Keegan, Jamie McDonnell, Ryan Fogarty,

Alan Conlon, Ben McDonnell, Noah McDonnell,Gerard Reid, Joyce Conway,

Laura Conlon and Aine Maxwell.

the locality itself.

A keepsake to treasure,

“Streamstown Stories” is a

must for the library of anyone

with a family member in

the school.

On the night there will be

10 races, to sponsor a horse,

or owner it is only €10.00

and to sponsor a jockey or

trainer, it is €5 and race

cards are available from any

member of the All Whites

The ‘eggcellent’ Easter

contest runs until this

Thursday, 13 April at the

library in Moate and is open

to all young artists and

designers who want to

design the perfect Easter

egg!

Happy birthday

Birthday greetings come into

us for Fiona Claffey who celebrates

her birthday this week. A

little birdie tells us that Fiona’s

birthday occurs at this time and

we have been asked to send

warmest greetings from all of

Fiona’s family and friends.

Happy anniversary

Congratulations to Tom and

Mary Bradley, Bealnamudda

who are celebrating their wedding

anniversary. Tom and Mary

news@topic.ie

FUNDRAISING EVENT

FOR MOATE ALL WHITES

Moate All Whites is holding a fundraising Race

Night in Don’s Bar, Moate on Easter Saturday

night, 15 April at 9:30pm. The event will raise

funds for the club and all support will be much

appreciated.

Club.

Organisers ask all members

and anyone else who is

interested in supporting the

club or simply wanting a

great night’s entertainment

to come along to this event.

MOATE’S ‘EGGCELLENT’

EASTER COMPETITION!

MOATE library is proudly helping out everyone’s

favourite bunny in encouraging the children

of the area get into the mood for Easter

fun!

To be in with the chance to

win a nice prize, simply collect

an egg from the Easter

basket at the desk at Moate

library and you can decorate

it any way you like!

Return to Anne or Lorna

by Thursday, 13 April 2017.

Irish Water completes

upgrade to the Moate

water supply

Investment has improved the security of the

water supply and water pressure to homes and

businesses in Moate town, according to a statement

from Irish Water.

The agency has completed

upgrade works to the Moate

water supply, with a €60,000

investment, which has

increased the water pressure

and improved the security

of the water supply for

residents and businesses in

Moate.

The project involved construction

of a booster pump

station at Mount Temple

Road, Moate and the decommissioning

of the Ballin -

derry Water Treatment

Plant. The water supply for

customers in Moate will

now be served from the

Mullingar Low Level Reservoir,

which is treated at the

Portloman Water Treatment

Plant in Mullingar.

This project has ensured

that over 150 residents and

businesses in Moate have

improved water pressure to

their properties. The

Ballinderry Water Treatment

Plant was an aging

water treatment plant that

was not operating efficiently.

The decommissioning

of this plant and

supplying the drinking

water to Moate Town from

the Mullingar Low Level

Reservoir has provided customers

with a securer water

supply. The project has also

ensured that Irish Water has

replaced a water supply

from an aging water treatment

plant with a supply

from a modern treatment

plant.

“This investment in the

Moate Water Supply has

improved the water supply

for customers as they now

have a securer water supply

with increased water pressure

to homes and businesses,”

said Padraig

Farrell, Capital Programme

Lead, East and Midlands

Region.

MOATE SHORTS

are wished continued health and

happiness for the future.

Good luck

Good luck to the new management

and all of the staff at the

newly refurbished Auld Shebeen.

Adoration

Adoration in St. Patrick's

Church will resume each Friday

from 21 April.

Happy Easter

Wishing all of our readers a

happy and joyful Easter.

TOPIC • 13 April, 2017

YourLetters

Send your letters to The Editor, Topic Newspapers Ltd, 6 Dominic Street, Mullingar, Co Westmeath

Heritage Bill and

Waterways Ireland

Dear Sir,

I would like to express my

concern at the current legislation

being enacted in

the Houses of the Oireachtas.

I refer to Part 2 Canals

(Section 7B) of the Heritage

Bill, which if enacted,

will interfere with an Irish

citizen’s right to free movement

and passage and personal

privacy. The Bill, if

passed, will give an organisation

headquartered in a

foreign jurisdiction, Waterways

Ireland, the power to

appoint officers who will

have the right to stop, interrogate,

direct and demand

evidence of identify from

any persons on canal property.

These officers will

also have permission to

enter onto private property

and take control of it without

the owner’s consent. If

these measures were being

put in place to protect the

population against international

terrorism, they

might be given some consideration,

but to control

leisure boating and activities

on canal property, they

are not only inappropriate

but also draconian.

Yours etc.,

Jim O’Riordan,

Monkstown,

Co Dublin

PC gone mad,

says John

Dear Sir,

Cadbury’s apparent omission of the word ‘Easter’ from

traditional egg hunt events in the UK is another example of

political correctness gone mad.

I’m not a big fan of organised religion but I’m not antireligious.

I acknowledge the contribution of all faiths and

belief systems and the commendable codes of ethics they

have developed and bequeathed to humanity. But being

afraid to say ‘Happy Easter’ or ‘Happy Christmas’ is

unhealthy in a society that purports to be democratic and

committed to religious freedom. I believe ALL religions

should be free to celebrate their beliefs and special feast

days. I would extend that right to atheists and agnostics.

They could have their ‘Happy I don’t believe in any God

Day’ and “Happy I don’t know what to believe Day’ respectively.

John Fitzgerald,

Callan, Co Kilkenny

Illogical track record for atheism

Dear Sir,

One of the most interesting factors of the recent census

results pertains to religious affiliation. It really is incredible

that a ‘religion’ with such a track record of brutality

should prove to be so resilient. In the twentieth century

alone, millions of people suffered at the hands of this ‘religion’,

in terms of gulags, death camps and killing fields.

It’s hard to believe that an educated individual would

still subscribe to it, yet the facts don’t lie. The distinguished

US commentator Charles Krauthammer described

it as the wackiest religion of them all. Yes, the growth of

those identifying as ‘atheist’ really does defy logical explanation.

Dementia patients face

difficult future - claim

Dear Editor,

There is an urgent need for the

Ministers for Finance and Health

to fund, plan and build standalone

units for those who

unfortunately succumb to the

grim reality of Alzheimer’s Disease,

and stroke dementia.

Most nursing homes do not

want to get involved with this

type of patient due to the

intense demands on expert nursing

care, as well as structural

consideration.

Many of our general hospitals

are now bed-blocked with the

‘heavies’ of nursing cases - endstage

Alzheimer’s and stroke

cases. The issues of high dependency

care and the lack of facilities,

whether in the public or private

sector, is a matter that calls

for immediate attention.

The State has sponsored or

contracted beds in a number of

nursing homes, but the milder

cases have been cherry-picked,

still leaving the high-dependency

cases in hospital. The situation

will worsen as our

population gets older.

Coordinated ministerial action

is needed urgently to prevent

what’s now becoming a crisis

later.

Cllr. Noel Collins,

“St. Jude’s”

Midleton, Co. Cork

A chara,

Lately, I was surprised to

see a big fuss being made

about the opening last Friday,

of the most recently

completed stretch of the

Mullingar-Athlone Greenway,

alongside the old

Mullingar-Athlone M&GW

Railway line between the

towns . Minister shane

Ross was down to do the

honours, but what surprised

me was that down

Athlone way, they present

an image of Athlone being

the major location, and all

e-mail: news@topic.ie

Is the Greenway from

Athlone or Mullingar?

Dear Sir,

Of 4.78 million Irish citizens,

some 78 per cent of

them declared themselves

as Roman Catholics in the

2016 census.

A modern society that

still self-declares itself to

be overwhelmingly Roman

Catholic. This is not a

response to any loaded

question from a cold-calling

poll of a few hundred

random citizens. It is the

studied response to a question

completed in privacy

else is second rate.

Have people forgotten

that the proposed Greenway

from Dublin to Galway

was largely in place - along

the restored Royal Canal

towpath as far as

Mullingar and beyond,

westwards to Coolnahay.

The Co. Council in Westmeath

has facilitated the

new Greenway, now reaching

Athlone town, in the

past few years, and as Minister

Ross said recently,

they must now negotiate,

in order to continue it westwards

to Galway.

As a Mullingar user, I’m

easy about whether the

chicken or egg came first,

but seeing that Athlone has

strong aspirations towards

city status, perhaps they

like to see themselves as in

the centre of things. Has

any other reader a view on

this?

Yours etc.,

“Former rail worker”

Mullingar

(Full details supplied)

Saoirse Keena from Ballynacargy N.S. who made her Confirmation in the

Church of the Nativity, Ballynacary, on Thursday, 30 March. She is pictured

with family members Anne Marie and Paul Keena.

Prayers in the Dail – a suggestion

Dear Editor,

Perhaps I’m biased, but probably the

most sensible and laudable comment made

in the debate going on amongst Irish politicians

about prayers in the Houses of the

Oireachtas, was that coming from a letter

writer. This person suggested that rather

than prayers in the Dail and Seanad, hearing

Confessions regularly might be far

more appropriate.

Sounds sensible, especially for those who

profess to be practising Christians, and

who believe in God.. Why do they so often

behave in Dail and Seanad, as if they had

left their beliefs outside the front gates of

Leinster House?

`Also, why do so many of them, so often

advise us, that they don’t mix religion and

politics? Surely, if they actually believe in

right and wrong, and moral values, they

should vote accordingly, not according to

party policies? If not, they definitely need

confession, for telling lies on their census

returns…

Yours curiously,

A “disillusioned ratepayer”

Kinnegad

(Details with editor)

Beliefs of Irish people and the Census

on a census form on a Sunday

evening in April, 2016.

I also gave a studied

response, which was of “no

religion”.

To me, it displays a disconnect

between the dozen

or so regular voices in the

Irish media who speak

about a wholly secular and

post-faith society, as if it

were an established empirical

fact. There is nothing

more empirical than the

measured response of 78

per cent of 4.75 million citizens.

Could it be that perfectly

normal citizens in all

classes of relationships

and circumstances, are

quite happy to respond

thus? But fear not, the

headlines will read “22 per

cent of population no

longer Roman Catholic.”

Yours etc.,

Larry Dunne,

Rosslare Harbour,

Co. Wexford.

EDITORIAL/LETTERS

27

Editorial

Easter - a

time of hope

The naysayers have been doing what they can to

downplay Christian practice and custom and to

eliminate religious belief from our everyday

affairs. They want the Angelus bell removed from

RTE and the words ‘Easter’ and ‘Christmas’

removed from their dictionaries, saying its a step

towards “freeing”us all from religious “superstition”.

Just now, as Easter Sunday approaches, and

more people than usual turn to thinking about the

Christian message of Christ for mankind, and to

prayer. And to realise that thinking people can see

why more prayers are needed than for decades,

because the spectre of another world conflict

looms large. Worse, it is clear that if such a war

should start, none of us, believers or not, will

have any escape avenues open to us. It is horrific

enough to look as what’s already been happening,

for years, and even in the past few days, to Christian

believers in the Middle East and elsewhere.

A growing hatred of the Christian faiths has

seen multitudes of Christians murdered, like the

Coptic believers attending Mass on Sunday last,

who were blown to pieces in their churches by suicide

bombers. Those innocent people, intent only

on prayer, suddenly found themselves in eternity,

and thousands of others like them have been

blown to pieces, executed and horribly tortured

for their beliefs, some even killed by crucifixion

on crosses in the past twelve months, because they

refused to renounce their beliefs. Those peaceable

people were trying to survive in the face of persecution.

You won’t have read much about this, or

seen it on television, or heard it on radio, because

the secular media bosses today don’t want you to

know about it. Everything is beautiful in their

world of make-believe, and growing levels of control

over what we believe, and understand. Only if

something appears on TV today does it become

“real” for far too many of us.

Worldwide, there are more Christians under persecution

today than was the case at any time in

the history of Christianity - even worse than in

the days of the Roman Empire. Is there not a

great need for getting the truth out there, letting

people know what is really going on across the

globe at present, as the dogs of war are being prepared

for unleashing? How many of us know precisely

what is going on? Not very many, because

we’re not allowed to hear the truth - we hear only

what our dominant media sources permit us to

her.

None of us, from our Government or Church

leaders down, can do a single thing to make this

imminent threat of annihilation any less real

while the threat of nuclear strikes grows worse,

alongside the current verbal threats and warnings.

Is it not time for all of us to turn back to

prayer, and to think again about the events of

Easter Week, when Jesus Christ - out of love for

mankind - gave us His life for all of us, in the most

shameful manner, on the Hill of Calvary? If we

could see a little of what the future holds, and

realise just how large a portion of humanity could

lose their lives should nuclear warfare be

unleashed, a great many more would be on their

knees this Easter. And of course, we’ve all been

given a free will, and the clever people, and selfproclaimed

athiests are perfectly at liberty to

sneer and throw their eyes to the skies in contempt

at such a “naive” attitude. All we would say

is that when many famous athiests were facing

imminent death, they suddenly rediscovered their

belief in God and in a life hereafter. It was Christ

who on Good Friday, brought that beautiful message

of life for all, and forgiveness for all, no matter

what banner they walked under. And even, if

many Irish people in 2017, appear to be making

attempts to abandon all belief in their Maker -

imagining they are now more enlightened and

clever - a sudden dose of harsh reality could bring

change. We wish all our readers, believers and

unbelievers, and those of every religious persuasion,

a happy and holy Easter Day. And good

weather to match the great occasion we celebrate.

28 SALES&SERVICES

TOPIC • 13 April, 2017

FUNDRAISER FOR DEREK McGEE

A fundraiser for motorcyclist Derek McGee took place in Clarke’s Lounge in

Mullingar recently. The evening was a huge success as our Out & About snapper

discovered when he dropped in to capture Derek with many of his friends from

the motorcycling world.

Kevin Heffernan, Marcus Keogh, Jennifer Heffernan, Jennie Kelly and Suzanne Hayes

pictured on the night.

Barry, Damian and Kay Bannon from Moate pictured with Derek McGee.

Olivia Power and Emmett Kelly pictured with Derek

McGee.

Rebecca Healy and Packie Healy

pictured on the night.

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Kit White, Ollie White, Hillary Greer and Thomas Bertran pictured with Derek McGee.

TOPIC • 13 April, 2017

SALES&SERVICES

29

CLEARY

ELECTRICAL

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PHONE - 044 934 4601

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE REPAIRS

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Web: www.cgkitchens.ie

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TOPIC • 044-9348868

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Mob: 087 9673155

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BRENNAN’S

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30 SALES&SERVICES

TOPIC • 13 April, 2017

PETS PARADISE

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Dog boarding

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Mullingar, Co. Westmeath 086 353 5288

Only 5 minutes outside Mullingar for more info

Johnstown Recycling

Drain Expert at Johnstown

Recycling are now providing:

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percolation of blocked drains

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1 Glenmore Wood


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Answer.....................................................................................................................................

LAST WEEK’S WINNER WAS:

Lorcan Fagan, Clouds Carne, Coole, Co. Westmeath

TOPIC • 13 April 2017

DELVIN DIARY

Body & Soul Festival

residents meeting in the

Darnley Lodge this Tuesday

Residents living and / or working in the areas

surrounding Ballinlough Castle are invited to

attend an open meeting this Tuesday, 11 April at

7.00pm in the Darnley Lodge Hotel, Athboy.

The success of the event

has meant an increase in

traffic and local disruption

during that weekend. This

year’s event is also likely to

be hampered by the current

traffic diversion as a result

Proceeds from their hike

will go to the Jack & Jill

Foundation in a kind gesture

of thanks for the support

they received from the

organisation following the

death of their baby son

Noah who was aged just

three weeks.

Noah’s short life was the

result of a birth defect condition

known as hypoplastic

left heart syndrome

that affects the development

of the heart during

pregnancy. His parents’

A group of his friends has

now come together to

orangise this special night

for him and hopefully also

raise the necessary funds

for him to acquire his treatment

and rehabilitation or

any support that will make

life easier for him.

Matt and Paul Leavy will

provide the entertainment

with some special guests.

of the N52 road closure

between Cloghan and

Turin. Avril Stanley and her

team will be present to

answer any queries and concerns

of local residents for

that weekend of June 23 - 25.

DELVIN COUPLE’S

FUND-RAISING

CROAGH PATRICK

CLIMB NEXT MONTH

Up to 150 climbers have so far volunteered to

join Ballivor-native Gordon Farrell and his

Swedish-born partner, Jessica Eriksson, on

their fund-raising climb of Croagh Patrick on

Saturday 6 May.

climb of Croagh Patrick

will therefore help to fund

the same kind of care for

other grieving parents that

they received both before

and after Noah’s death.

Sponsorship cards are

still available from Jessica

and Gordon by e-mail

request on: Jessica.ericksson@live.ie

or just telephone

on Mob: 087 6850214

or 087 2283041. (See interview

with Jessica and

Craig in this week’s edition)

Delvin’s Andrew Revington ready

for his 6th Marathon

Crowenstown man Andrew Revington will be running in

the London Marathon later this month. This will be his

sixth major marathon in the world which will be quite an

achievement.

BENEFIT NIGHT FOR

CLONMELLON MAN

IN ATHBOY

A Benefit Night is being organised for brain

haemorrhage victim and Clonmellon man

Eamonn Smith on Friday, 28 April in the Darney

Lodge in Athboy. The young man faces a

long and quite expensive road to recovery for all

the treatment he will be required to undertake.

An auction is also being

organised. Tickets of the

evening are 15 euro and

available from Williams

Daybreak, Leonards Shop

Clonmellon, Bird’s Centra

Athboy, Athboy Post Office,

McCann and Byrne Athboy

and The Darnley Lodge.

For further details please

contact Gerry on 087 949

0586.

GOOD FRIDAY CAKE SALE

AT CARMEL GAFFNEY’S

Delvin Camogie Club are organising a fund-raising cake

sale this Friday morning, 14 April, outside Carmel

Gaffney’s. Support would be most appreciated between

10.00am and 1.00pm

Parish Youth Group:

The parish Youth Group meet

every Friday in Fatima Hall

from 7.30pm - 9.30pm. Young

people from First Year

upwards are welcome. Contact

Laura O’Neill 086 36442363 or

see Delvin Youth Ministry

Facebook page.

Parish Magazine:

Copies of the 2016 issue are

available from Michael

Leonard’s or the Parochial

House. Some back issues are

also available at the reduced

price of €2

HOLY WEEK SERVICES

Church of the Assumption -

Delvin

PAROCHIAL NOTICES

Holy Thursday

20.00 Mass of the Lord’s Supper

and Adoration

Good Friday

12.00 Stations of the Cross

20.00 Celebration of the Lord’s

Passion

Holy Saturday

21.00 Easter Vigil Celebration

(including vigil Mass)

- bring a candle

Easter Sunday

11.00 Easter Sunday Mass

Church of St. Livinius - Killulagh

Holy Thursday

17.00 Mass of the Lord’s Supper

with Adoration

Good Friday

17.00 Celebration of the Lord’s

Passion

Easter Sunday

9.30 Easter Sunday Mass

Important Dates in 2017

April

Sunday, 16 April - Easter Sunday.

May

Saturday, 20 May - First Holy

Communion

June

Sunday, 4 June - Pentecost.

August

Sunday, 6 August - Cemetery

Day - Killulagh.

Monday, 7 August - Cemetery

Day - Crowenstown.

Saturday, 12 August - Cemetery

Day - Delvin.

NEWS

31

news@topic.ie

Crowenstown NS claims best

school float at Delvin Parade

St. Patrick’s N.S. in Crowenstown was awarded the best school float at this year’s St. Patrick' s Day Parade in

Delvin. Their theme ‘Because I’m Happy’ really brought a smile to the judges’ faces and a number of members of

the float joined the other float winners at the presentation evening that was held on Thursday, 30 March in the

Fatima Hall in Delvin.

Winning float: St. Patrick’s N.S. Crowenstown at this year’s Delvin St.

Patrick’s Day Parade.

Delvin Celtic FC underage squad enjoy trip

to Old Trafford and Britannia Stadium

Members of the

Delvin Celtic Under

16 team enjoyed a trip

across the pond last

weekend to see some

of their soccer idols

in the flesh.

They took the ferry for

their weekend trip which

included a Manchester

United FC Stadium Tour of

Old Trafford before travelling

south for a visit to the

training facility at Stoke

City FC’s Academy last Saturday

morning. That afternoon

the visitors from

Delvin watched Liverpool

defeat Stoke 3-1 at the Brittania

Stadium. But it was

nice to see Republic of Ireland

international Jon Walters

open the scoring with a

fine headed goal.

Positive reaction

to last weekend’s

Delvin Book Fair

collection

There was a good

response to last weekend’s

book collection in Delvin o

Saturday. The organisers of

this year’s Annual Garradrima

Book Fair have yet

to finalise the programme

for the day on Sunday, 30

April but all the indications

are that plans are in place

for another memorable day.

Every effort to help visitors

from Mullingar to avoid the

disruption as a result of the

three-month road closure

ahead of this year’s event

at the end of the month.

The Book Fair commences

at 12.00 noon until 6.00pm

in the usual venue – the

local Cattle Mart in Delvin.

Delvin Celtic FC at Stoke City FC’s Academy

Presentation: Jordan O’Neill and Matteo Brady

represented the school as they accepted their

award from Mary Ivory.

Clonmellon

Great Irish Bake

afternoon a

great success

A novel family fundraiser

in aid of Temple Street

Hospital in the Clonmellon

Community Centre on Sunday,

2 April afternoon

proved to be a great success.

Dubbed by organiser

and Beaumont Hospitalbased

nurse Anna Dunne

the Great Irish Bake, it was

an afternoon of fun where

supporters of the charity

got involved by baking

something to sell at the

Great Irish Bake. The Fun

Day also includes plenty of

fun and games for the kids

as well as a bouncy castle.

32 TOPIC • 13 April, 2017

NEWS

CASTLEPOLLARD COMMENT

THE LATE MARY GAVAN

The death occurred of Mary Elizabeth Gavan on

Monday, 3 April at the Midland Regional Hospital,

Mullingar.

Mary of Clonageeragh,

Fore, Castlepollard, Westmeath

was formerly cared

for by the wonderful staff

of Cluain Lir Care Centre.

Her death is deeply regretted

by her sons John,

Michael and Paul, daughters

in law Ursula, Jackie

and Meg, grandchildren

Matthew, Dominic and

Lucy, Joe, Conor and Ròise,

kind neighbours, relatives

Castlepollard Library

will host a ‘Sharing and

Reading of Poetry’ in conjunction

with Poetry Ireland

Day on Wednesday, 26

April from 11.30am until

1pm. The Sharing and

Reading of Poetry will be

hosted by poet PD Lyons.

If you are coming to the

event why not bring along a

poem you like, maybe one

and friends.

Mary’s remains reposed

on Wednesday, 5 April, in

Cluain Lir Care Centre

Chapel and were followed

by removal to St. Feichin's

Church, Fore where her

funeral Mass was offered

on Thursday morning last.

Burial took place afterwards

in St. Mary's Cemetery,

Collinstown.

May she Rest In Peace.

CASTLEPOLLARD

LIBRARY CELEBRATES

NATIONAL POETRY DAY

Castlepollard Library will present National Poetry Day

with Noel Monaghan on Thursday, 27 April at 11am. Noel

will speak on the ‘Inner and Outer Landscapes and take a

closer look at John Monague’s Poetry.

Booking is essential for this event so please phone 044-

9332199 for more details. Tea and coffee will be served.

5K FUN RUN OR WALK IN

COMMUNITY COLLEGE GROUNDS

A 5K fun run or walk will be held in Castlepollard Community

College grounds on Good Friday, 14 April, with registration

at 11am. All funds raised will go towards a

walking/running track around the school pitch and al support

would be greatly appreciated.

BURGLARY FROM RINGTOWN

GAA CLUBHOUSE

A burglary occurred at Ringtown GAA Clubhouse in

Whitehall, Castlepollard, between Friday, 31 March and Saturday,

1 April. It is understood that a power washer and

Husquvarna garden strimmer were stolen from the

premises and the items were valued at approximately €1,400.

SHARING AND READING

OF POETRY IN

CASTLEPOLLARD LIBRARY

of your own, someone

else’s or even a lyric or two

from your favourite song.

You can read it yourself or

if you are feeling shy, we’d

be glad to read it for you.

The event is free, but

spaces are limited so be

sure to book a place with

the library by phoning 044-

9332199.

ST MICHAEL’S PARISH

EASTER DRAW

St Michael’s Parish Castlepollard will hold an

Area Eastertide Draw on Sunday, 30 April. The

draw will take place after 9.30am and 11.30am

Masses in St John Paul II Parish Centre, Church

Street, Castlepollard and it will be held in conjunction

with a Cake Sale and Coffee Day.

The prizes include first

prize of €500, second prize

of €250, third prize of a

painting, fourth prize of a

cake, fifth is a rocking

horse and sixth is a

voucher. Entry to the draw

is just €2 per line or six

lines for €10.

The funds from the draw

will go towards the establishment

of the Men’s Shed

building in the Old School

and will also assist with

Finea Church repairs, as

the church is 111 years old

and in need of repair.

Cards for the draw are

available now from any

Parish Committee member

and your support is greatly

appreciated.

Phenomenal response to fundraising

day for local woman Claire Graham

BY PAUL O’DONOVAN

There was a phenomenal

response to a

fundraising day held

in Castlepollard last

week for Claire Graham,

a local woman,

originally from

Castlepollard, who

has been diagnosed

with a very aggressive

form of cancer.

Joy Kennedy, one of the

organisers of the fundraising

event, - ‘A Breakfast

Morning’ held in Hotel

Castlepollard last Thursday

morning - said, “We

were expecting 50 or 60 people

to turn up but hundreds

turned up. There were

queues going out the door.

It was a phenomenal success”.

The fundraising event,

which was massively supported

by the local community,

is thought to have

raised well over €5,000 and

this was greatly appreciated

by all the organisers.

Claire Graham’s battle

with cancer made national

headlines last week. Claire,

who is 38 and originally

from Ballymanus, Castlepollard,

is a member of the

Ginnell family from that

area.

The residents of the area

held another meeting in

Joy Kennedy’s Aura Hair

Salon, Castlepollard, last

Tuesday evening, 4 April.

The meeting on Tuesday

last of the residents followed

a meeting the previous

day, Monday, 3 April in

Mullingar, between some of

the residents and members

of Westmeath County

Council where the proposals

for the pedestrian crossings

were discussed.

Following the meeting of

the residents on Tuesday

evening in Castlepollard,

the residents sent an email


Council, stating the following;

“On behalf of the residents

of Water Street and

Church Street, Castlepollard,

we are requesting

copies of the following:

1. Site Risk Assessment

relating to both pedestrian

crossings.

2. Safety Report also relating

to both pedestrian

Claire Graham and her son Harley.

Claire lived and grew up

in Castlepollard, before

moving to Australia and

then back to Dublin where

she has been living in

Crumlin for the past number

of years with her husband

Declan.

SHOCKING NEWS

In April 2016, Claire

received shocking news

when she was diagnosed

with triple negative breast

cancer. She then underwent

a course of chemo -

therapy. To add to her

worries and fears, her two

year old son, Harley, was

diagnosed with cancer of

the eye.

It was shocking news for

Claire and her husband

Declan, when they discovered

that Harley had a

tumour which was at stage

crossings.

3. Traffic Management

Assessment for Castlepollard.

The residents also asked

if they could be supplied

with details of “(1) who carried

out same, and (2) for

what period of time? These

are all documents that

we've been assured are

available yet have not been

furnished to us despite

repeated requests”.

A number of residents

have also queried what is

defined as 'reasonable distance'

when it comes to

parking at their homes?

The residents also stated

that “the manner in which

we, as a committee have

been treated has been

derisory, in some cases

belittling and downright

insulting! We have at all

times dealt with the council

in good faith to establish

meaningful dialogue with

regard to this matter.

We also do not feel that it

is beneficial to have two

Castlepollard residents upset over

proposed location of pedestrian

crossing at Water Street

As reported recently in Topic, the residents of Water Street and

Church St in Castlepollard, and the surrounding areas, are disappointed,

frustrated and annoyed at plans by Westmeath County

Council to erect a pedestrian crossing on Water Street and another

one on Church Street, as well as doing away with the services of the

local lollipop man in the area.

crossings on the same

street within a short distance

of each other in close

proximity to the church.

With regard to the construction

of the pedestrian

crossing on Water Street,

the question was posed -

given objections from the

Parents Council and concerned

residents, to its current

proposed location and

the obvious advantages of

having it located at the

school, why does Westmeath

County Council continue

to disregard this as a

viable option? Do these

pedestrian crossings have

an audible warning?

This is a matter of ongoing

concern to the residents

represented by this

group and we look forward

to hearing from you.

Signed, The residents of

Church St and Water St.”

At time of going to print,

the residents had not

received a response from

Westmeath County Council.

4 of retinoblastoma. This

left the doctors with no

option but to remove his

eye. Fortunately, two-year

old Harley made a full

recovery and has now been

fitted with a prosthetic eye.

However, the news was

not so good for Claire, who

has since discovered her

cancer has spread to her

brain. She had been getting

severe headaches and was

referred for an MRI scan.

She was told that the cancer

had spread to her brain

and was a malignant

tumor. The cancer had also

returned to her breast and

she had lesions on her back.

GIVEN HOPE

Claire has been given

hope though. Doctors have

suggested that Claire use a

drug named Pembrolizumab.

Unfortunately,

for Claire, the drug is not

available in Ireland. It is

available in England but

the cost of the treatment is

£85,000 (€100,000) and the

only option was for Claire

herself to raise the money.

But Claire has an unbelievable

positive attitude

and a ‘Just Giving’

fundraising page has been

set up in the hope of raising

€100,000.

Claire said, “If it was just

me I would probably have a

different approach, I might

just give up, but I have a

young son, I have Harley, so

I will keep fighting. I want

him to remember me. Getting

down about it isn’t

going to get me anywhere. I

actually feel blessed be -

cause I have had so much

support from people who

don’t even know me.”

That evidence of goodwill

and support was clear to be

seen in the Hotel Castlepollard

last Thursday morning

when hundreds of

people turned out to donate

to the fund. The breakfast

morning was a wonderful

success and many people

donated prizes for the raffle

on the morning.

FUNDRAISING EVENTS

COMING UP

Anyone wishing to donate

towards Claire’s fundrais-

The night will feature the

presentation of the 2016

Allianz National Hurling

League Division 2A winners

medals to the Westmeath

senior hurlers and,

more poignantly, a special

tribute to the late great

Donal Devine, who sadly

passed away recently.

This hurling tribute is

being organised in conjunction

with Castlepollard

ing can log onto the ‘Just

Giving Page’, or they can

attend and donate to any of

the local fundraising events

coming up.

A fundraising walk will be

held in Mullaghmeen Forest

on Easter Monday, 17 April

at 11am, with all proceeds

going towards the treatment

for Claire Graham Ginnell.

Also on Easter Monday, a

Honda 50 Run will be held in

Castlepollard with all proceeds

going towards the

Claire Graham fund.

Then on Friday, 29 April, a

table quiz will held with

tables of four costing just

€40 with all proceeds going

towards Claire’s very worthy

cause.

Later on, in May, a night of

music and entertainment

will be held in the Hotel

Castlepollard, with more

details of this to follow in

the coming weeks.

THANKS

Michele Trapiche, a

friend of Claire posted this

comment earlier this week

saying, “Claire and Harley

would like to say a huge

thank you to everybody

who has donated so far. It

means so much, not only to

Claire, but to everybody

who loves her. Please keep

the donations coming in.

Thank You.

SHANNON FAHEY IS NORTH

WESTMEATH ROSE FOR 2017

Shannon Fahey was selected as the North

Westmeath Rose for 2017. Shannon is pictured

here receiving her prize from Donie Cassidy,

sponsor, representing the Maldron Hotel and

Delate Hotel group and also from Johnny Fagan,

Chairman North Westmeath Festival Committee.

Shannon now goes forward to the regional finals

in Athlone later this month and we wish her the

very best of luck.

The late Donal Devine to be

honoured at launch of Westmeath

Senior Hurling Championship

The Westmeath Senior Hurling Championship

will be launched on Easter Sunday, 16 April, in

Hotel Castlepollard at 8pm.

Hurling Club and it is

hoped that many Westmeath

Gaels will support

the night. It is expected

that all hurling clubs will

have a representative there

on the night for the launch

of the championships and

to bring their club jersey.

There will be light

refreshments and music

afterwards.

TOPIC • 13 April, 2017

NEWS

33

news@topic.ie

Agnes and Killian Hogan pictured during

their performance at the ‘Castlepollard’s

Got Talent’ show.

Aaron Finnegan and Bruce O’Donnell performing a ‘Black

Westmeath Topic - 13 April 2017

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