Pride of place, faith in Our Lady…
There’s an area of land on the approach into Lisnamult (in Roscommon town) which readers will be familiar with. I’ve always admired how beautifully maintained and pretty it is.
Roscommon County Council deserves plaudits for this, but so too do local residents. In particular, local man Tommy Parker has to be commended for his proactive approach to the upkeep of the area.
Readers who pause and admire this area during this beautiful spell of weather will agree that it looks fantastic. There’s a fabulous rockery, lovely flowers, and – taking pride of place – a statue of Our Lady.
I wondered how the statue of Our Lady got there – which brings us back to Tommy Parker. Tommy explains that when the Church asked parishioners to display a statue of Our Lady in their houses a few years ago, he went a step further. Tommy placed the statue of Our Lady at the rockery on the entrance to Lisnamult.
“A local man, Michael O’Connor, gave it to me. I put it there two or three years ago. I was going to remove it but then a neighbour who had an ill relative asked me to leave there. So it’s been there ever since!”
Tommy and his partner, Cathy, spend quite a lot of time tending to the area. Just this week, Tommy painted a wall across from the rockery. They also assist with Roscommon Tidy Towns in litter pick-ups and in the general upkeep of the town.
Tommy says he isn’t the greatest Mass-goer out there, but he has “belief in God” and a devotion to Our Lady.
“I do think at this very difficult time that Our Lady can help us. I want to extend my sympathy to all of the people who have lost loved ones to Covid-19, and to all who are suffering. I think this is a good time to have Our Lady in our lives. I feel good about the statue being there, it might help us find a cure for this virus”.
Meanwhile, back at the rockery, someone (not Tommy) has placed a Roscommon flag. It’s a fitting symbol too…a show of solidarity, of community pride. We are all in this together. Well done to Tommy and Cathy! – PH
My Favourites with Cathy O’Flanagan
My favourite holiday destination…Milan
My favourite TV programme…I don’t really have a favourite, but I’m currently watching ‘The Last Dance’ on Netflix
My favourite social media platform/website…Facebook or Instagram
My favourite author…Sheila O’Flanagan
My favourite food…Chicken carbonara
My favourite sport…I love loads of sports such as soccer, Gaelic football, boxing…but if I have to pick one I’d have to choose basketball
My favourite way to relax…a nice fire, my pyjamas and a good film
My favourite saying/term I use…I don’t have one! But I like this quote from Benjamin Franklin – “Trouble knocked at the door, but, hearing laughter, hurried away”
My favourite celebrity and why…Here in Castlerea our own Aoife O’Rourke, of the local boxing club, is someone whom I consider to be inspirational. Aoife is someone that I’d like my kids to look up to.
My favourite part of Ireland and why…My favourite part of Ireland is Co. Roscommon, but especially Castlerea. I’m lucky to have grown up in a town that looks after its own and has such fantastic people and strong community spirit. This has really been evident during this pandemic. The way everyone has pulled together and really looked out for each other is a credit to the people of the town.
Cathy O’Flanagan is PRO of Castlerea Musical Society.
