*Request; If anyone has a programme of the Roscommon v Cavan Div. 2
League Final in Croke Park on Easter Sunday I would like to get it for a
Roscommon supporter who has requested same who is living in London.
Summertime for three weeks and now Hector
On, Wednesday, it was gloomy as the grey clouds gather and the Met.
Office warned us of a storm called Hector heading our way. What a turnaround
from nearly three weeks of Costa weather. My costa was the bog where I
advanced - hopefully- the turf drying process with some t.l.c. and tall
‘footings’ to help in that I hope Hector does not turn those mini skyscraper
footings on their head. It is great in those sunny days to be able to start a
remedial job and just abandon it in the late evening leaving everything in
place for the early next day continuance. So much can be achieved and there is
an energy about that sees things get done and the ‘to do list’ is whittled
down. That is consoling. It has been a pretty busy time. Still this
gloomy weather might enable one to watch some early evening World Cup soccer
without too much of a conscience.
‘Un-bel-ievable’
I am loathe to dismiss the positives of living in this country but why
do we have so many people and organisations who just cannot get it right. It is
just un-bel-ievable.
Category One:
Then there is the naming and adoption process which obtained back in the
day and all that entails. The role of ‘Religious Orders’, priests, doctors, the
State and his grey eminence, Archbishop McQuaid, casting his shadow on all
that. Un-bel-ievable.
The Symphysiotomy Scandal. The
Hepatitis C scandal……the x, y, z scandal.
Category 2:
The ongoing Sgt.
McCabe and Charleton Enquiry … a Garda Commissioner contradicting not just one
but is it four or five people? ‘I didn’t say that’ ‘I didn’t do that’
etc. Mobile phones gone a.w.o.l. and the whole thing rumbles on as it
gets into such a tangle that even as a casual observer one is inclined to
say…’leave it so’ as a friend is wont to say. I just ‘Googled’ it to see that
I had Mister Charleton’s name right and I felt I was in a domain from Orwell’s
1984 which is not for me. The last post there was;
12/06/2018 Take Notice - Copy Transcript DAY 90 held in Dublin Castle on
Tuesday 12th June 2018
Day 90 (possibly ‘working days’ as they say in the passport
office)…….un-bel…..
2Then Mister David Kenneth Drumm is found guilty of
spinning €7.2 Billion around from Anglo Irish Bank to x, y, z to show that
their books were in rude good health…….Un….. (By the way don’t forget two of
the stars of the CRASH of ’08 i.e. The Financial REGULATOR…Patrick Neary …..
who basically said at an enquiry ‘It was the same system that was
used in other European countries and it got a “ringing endorsement” from
“objective” agencies like the IMF and the OECD. Patrick’s company had
‘Regulator’ or some such imprinted on his golf balls. I was tempted, just
tempted, to leave out the word ‘golf’ there. What’s Patrick’s handicap now I
wonder? (I don’t really) Un-bel…..
Then the name that goes with him is the Governor of the Central Bank of
the time John Hurley who admits ‘mistakes were made’. Very sharp
John……Un-bel-ievable.
Of course there is a slightly undercard of Michael Fingleton, Seanie
Fitzpatrick (found not guilty), McAteer and Whelan et al.
I could go on and on….unbel….
I’ll move on or else I’ll have to delete the opening sentence.
Local History
Ranelagh Site One Km. from Roscommon on Boyle Road.
I’ve always had a keen interest in history in general and especially
local history. On Tuesday night I attended a talk in Strokestown hosted by the
Roscommon Historical & Archaeological Society. The speaker was Muireann Ní
Cheallachain a supervising archaeologist on the road –alignment- project about
a kilometre out of Roscommon on the Boyle Road. Many of you will have
come on it on that journey. The townland is called Ranelagh and there was no
history of anything of historical significance being there. A requirement of
any road works disturbing new ground is a geological and archaeological survey
and the supervision by these personnel ongoing. For such an anonymous site it
really gave up an amazing wealth of varied significance. There was a long term
grave site there from the 5th to 12th centuries and it
was something to see slides of the unearthed hundreds of human remains.
After a year-long excavation that ended last October,
including work by archaeologists through some of the worst storms in decades, a
picture is emerging of the settlement that was probably occupied between the
sixth and 11th centuries.
The remains of 793 people were found, about three quarters of them were
intact and the others were not, for which the word ‘disarticulated’ is used. A
huge amount of analysis has now to be done in the coming months which will give
a much clearer picture. However, it is believed several of the 470 juveniles
and infants whose remains were unearthed may have been placed there during the
later use of the site as a children’s burial ground.
If you are interested you can find out more online by seeking ‘Ranelagh
Archaeological Site Roscommon’ online.
The Roscommon Society publishes a Journal bi-annually which relates its
many activities. I know that there are many such organisations through the
country with Carrick-on-Shannon and Sligo also being very active.
**In terms of Local History I am looking forward very much to doing 2
Walking Tours of Boyle Town as part of Boyle Arts Festival which takes
place from Friday July 20th to Saturday July 28th. The
tours will take place on Wednesday the 25th from the King House at 3 and
Saturday the 28th at 11am. The tours will take an hour and a half or
so.
Kim Jong Un trumps Trump
On a forensic analysis of the Singapore meeting of Kim and Donald I
think that Donald came second which I suppose is good sometimes. It all has the
potential of a future musical or circus with two characters Kim like the bad
guy (?) out of a Bond film and Donald as some one of those characters from a
Dell comic…..Spiderman/Batman/Superman or a new character altogether. One of my
favourite episodes of ‘Only Fools and Horses was the mix up of the funeral and
the fancy dress party where Del Boy and Rodney dress up as Batman and Robin. ‘I
cannot believe it’ or some such, exclaimed the councillor being mugged by a
thief as they approached.
I wonder what will President Trump make of the U.S./Mexico and his
Canadian ‘friends’ getting the 2026 World Cup Finals…..ironic timing.
I’ll try and come back to earth now i.e. Hyde Park.
Connacht Finals
Wouldn’t it be nice had the sun shone until next Monday at least, as
Roscommon contest two finals on Sunday. They have been surprise packets to many
in reaching the U 20 final having beaten a highly regarded Galway (at a cost in
terms of injuries etc.). They now meet Mayo on Sunday at 1. So it going to be a
long day in Dr. Hyde Park with the senior Final starting at
4.
It is great to see Boyle so ably represented by
Cian McKeon at U 20 and the possibilities on Sunday are hugely interesting.
Galway are favourites in the senior contest but Roscommon have improved
this year and are probably just not ‘there yet’ but it could be a cracker. So
the very best of luck to all involved and particularly Boyle reps. Enda and
Donie Smith.
It is very big day for Roscommon, Roscommon town and the GAA community
in the county. But it was a close run thing as Wellington said of Waterloo.
Still I found the terms and conditions as outlined on the back outside page of
the Roscommon People pretty humiliating. If you have not read them I suggest
you might, if you get an opportunity. Perhaps we have contributed to that with
the lack of investment in Hyde Park and the state of the infrastructure there.
I hope it is a ‘good’ game of football as I cannot say I’ve seen one
decent football game so far in this year’s championship. Indeed I have seen
many awful games. Compare that with the drama and thrills of the hurling
championships especially the Munster Championships though the sequence of games
has to be amended to give teams and amateur players a time for recovery.
The Dublin V Longford game was surreal. As everyone sees Dublin are a
Barcelona/Real Madrid of the game presently. What was David McGivney at when he
charged into Cluxton in such a manner? Does anyone have a decent idea as to
what is going on with Diarmuid Connolly who is now reported as going to Boston
for the summer to play with Donegal there. Connolly would be mindful to take on
board the thoughts of Kevin Cassidy who was dumped from the Donegal squad by
Jim McGuinness after talking to a reporter called Bogue about the inside
workings of Donegal. The Connolly rift must entail Jim Gavin and Diarmuid
feeling hard done by in the past by Gavin.
Boyle Juniors Continue to Progress
While I have not seen a decent intercounty football game this summer I
have seen a number of very enjoyable games involving Boyle Junior team. A few
weeks ago our car load headed to Padraig Parse’s on a balmy evening for a
Junior Championship game. Perhaps it is Division 4/5/6/X. It doesn’t
matter. Pearse's got an early start with a couple of goals but Boyle left
it until the last minutes of the game with a couple themselves to register a
pretty dramatic win. One of the goals was a sizzler too from Shane Battles. The
emerging star of these games is Reese Conroy. ‘Ye stole it ‘ a Pearse’s
supporter suggested as we Boyle supporters left like Cheshire cats.
Last Sunday after doing my bog Purgatory for a couple of hours I headed
for Kilmore for a Junior League encounter. There are a few players eligible for
this who are not eligible for championship. So the first challenge for the
Management team of Stephen Tonra/ Kevin Mullen and Ml. Bermingham is to have a
team and back up which they have been readily doing. It was an earnest game in
Kilmore and it swayed from time to time as close games do. But, in the end
Boyle just got their side in front at the telling moment. The final score was
Boyle 1.11 Kilmore 0.13. They were to play St. Brigid’s side in Boyle on
Saturday next but St. Brigid’s have conceded. Read into that what you like.
Our (GAA) Man in Madrid
 |
(Left to Right back)
J.Vicente (Madrid), C..St.John (Galway), Conor Tivnan (Boyle,
Roscommon), K.Farrell (Kilteevan, Roscommon), J.Mallon (Derry), K.Cawley
(Riverstown, Sligo), S.Flynn (Dublin) N.Murphy (Antrim), D.Murphy (Antrim),
A.Brandón (Madrid), J.San Blas (Madrid), J.Meighan (Antrim).
Front Row (Left to Right)
R.Sloan (Antrim), E.Quinlan (Limerick), E.Kincaid (Westmeath – C
aptain), A.Hodnett (Cork), P. Sherry (Armagh), B.Cullen (Dublin),
M.Kirwan (Carlow), S.Slattery (Laois), D.Langan (Mayo)
|
On Saturday the 26th of May Madrid Harps contested the 2018
Iberian Championship Finals in La Coruña, Galacia in the North of Spain an area
where there are 16 clubs and a real interest in GAA.
In the midst of the Madrid team was Boyle’s Conor Tivnan. Another local
J.J. Keaney from Corrigeenroe is also active with the club.
Conor told me about the team being made up primarily of Irish players
who are working in Madrid, mainly as English Teachers.
“They come from all corners of Ireland and we have a few from here in
Spain and even Argentina.
We have had a very good campaign this year, remaining unbeaten and
winning the regional championship tournaments in Madrid, Barcelona and
Valencia.
The club was founded in 2003 and as the club grew, their first
championship arrived in 2014 and this year we will be looking for a fifth in a
row.
The club will also be represented by the Madrid Harps Ladies team who
have made the finals for a second consecutive time and will be looking for
their first title”.
Epilogue; Both Madrid teams won their finals and we congratulate them
and Madrid will now contest the European finals on October 20th in
Maastricht. Last year they lost that against Warsaw!
One of the fine things about the GAA is the wide dispersal of clubs
internationally in England, North America, Australia, Europe and the Middle and
Far East. They provide a network for the far-flung diaspora, a camaraderie and
support which has to be reassuring. I know that Tadgh Egan has been involved in
Western Canada and Ciaran Conlon in Brisbane.
Conor Tivnan is now back in Boyle and I expect that he will link up
quickly with Stephen Tonra’s squad and be a big asset there.
The World Cup in Russia & Remembering Italia 90
 |
Back: Enda Commins/ Jonathan Murray/ Paula Brady/ Sinead O’Donohoe/ Fabian
Madden/ Lochlainn Conboy/ Cianan Conboy/ Felim O’Donnell/ Lorcan Murray/
covered with scarf ? ?
Middle: Rory O’Donohoe/ Mark O’Donohoe/…. ? …./ Sinead O’Donnell/ Ruth
O’Connor/… ?... James Moran says it is not him…..David Byrne perhaps?/ girl
with cardigan Aoifa Commins perhaps?
Front: Ml. McHale/ Gary Tiernan/ Cillian Conboy/ Mark O’Connor/ Derek
Madden/ Aaron O’Connor/ Damien Murray/ Chris O’Dowd.
Pic taken by Christy Regan.
|
The World (Soccer!) Cup vies with The Olympics as the biggest sporting
event in every four cycle. This year it is being held in Russia. In 2022 it is
going to the desert of Qatar! Ireland just failed to qualify after being well
beaten by Denmark in the play-off games. The fact that Ireland are not there
has led to a subdued approach to the tournament in this country but it revives
memories of some great past tournaments. Chris O’Dowd tweeted a picture from
the most memorable tournament for this country it being Italia 90
It is a great pic. probably my favourite one of all. Nearly the full
Forest View crew are all there. Including Chris O’Dowd at the lower end of the
scarf. A great few weeks. We had a great time that World Cup here in Forest
View as followers did country wide. Nearly all the kids there were from the
estate-with a few guests- and would watch different matches in different houses
and when Ireland won they would pour out onto the Green and play like Ireland
did then being McGrath/Bonner/ whoever….
I am nearly certain the picture was taken by Christy Regan and published
in The Roscommon Herald. Christy was really on the ball. How he happened on our
estate and group I don’t know but he got a classic snap of the time with the
scarf obscuring just two people whose names we just cannot tie down. I had/have
car speakers and I think the day of the famous penalty shoot-out against
Romania I put the speakers on the car and led a parade out of the estate with
Tina Turner’s ‘Simply the Best’ at full throttle. It was such a great and
memorable few weeks in blazing weather. As one person was quoted on national
media as saying; ‘I missed the World Cup I was in Italy’. Thanks to Christy
Regan and that pic its enjoyment is still visible in that picture
(Thanks Chris for giving it a universal exposure).
St. Michael’s GAA Club Organ Donor Event on Sat. night in the Bush Hotel
with Joe Brolly
I see St. Michael’s GAA club are hosting a Connacht Final Preview in The
Bush Hotel Carrick-on- Shannon on Saturday night at 8.30 in aid of the Organ
Donor Awareness Campaign with Joe Brolly as the main guest. Also there will be
Eamon O’Hara of Sligo; Emlyn Mulligan of Leitrim and Donie Shine of Roscommon
with others. I’m a Joe Brolly fan and he was great when Boyle GAA had him
here last year. So it promises to be a fun event and very worthy of supporting
especially if you are a GAA anorak.
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