Picture caption: From 16 June 2010 edition: Well-known Roscommon GAA supporter Paddy Joe Burke and equally well-known Leitrim GAA fan Michael Oates were in jocular mood on Wednesday morning as they prepared for Sunday’s local derby between the two counties in Hyde Park! Brave Michael received a more traditional type shave from Paddy Joe. Picture: Andrew Fox.
12 YEARS AGO
Mote Park squirrel nursed back to health
It’s a tough life for Val, the Mote Park squirrel who is currently living in the lap of luxury as he/she recuperates from an inner ear infection in the home of David and Ann Doolan in Mote Park.
Last Friday David Doolan discovered the red squirrel – an endangered species – injured on the road in Mote Park. The squirrel was brought to local vet John Finnegan, who discovered that he had an inner ear infection and prescribed antibiotics to help fight the infection.
In October of last year we reported that the red squirrel in Co. Roscommon was under threat from the non-native grey squirrel. The first ever sighting of a grey squirrel in the county was reported in Mote Park last year, leading to heightened fears about the fate of the native species. Only 12 sightings of squirrel were reported in the Irish Squirrel Survey published last year.
Because they’re not sure if the squirrel who currently shares their home is a boy or girl, the Doolans decided to go with a safe option and name him Val. This week, Ann Doolan thanked vet John Finnegan for his work (he charged no fee for treating the endangered species).
“I’d say if he was left another hour he would have died,” said Ann. After being discovered Val was brought to Doolans where he was wrapped in tin foil to allow his body temperature to rise.
“We’re just giving him nuts and wild bird seed and acorns from Mote Park and between that and the antibiotics he’s recovering,” said Ann. “We are keeping him in the kitchen and are hoping to move him into the garage to get him acclimatised before we let him or her off again next week”.
(From 7 March 2008)
Bertie catches up!
The news on the economy over recent weeks and months has invariably been bad. I had to laugh at Bertie on Monday when he said that we were heading for a bad year economically, as if it was big news to people. Is it only now that it has dawned on him that things are going downhill? This slowdown is going on for the past six months!
I suppose when you are paid more than the US president it is hard to feel the pinch when the cost of living goes up. Does he not know that thousands of people are losing their jobs every week in his own beloved construction industry, that the amount of taxes being collected is down by almost half a billion euro a month and that the price of petrol is about to sky-rocket as oil is now 108 dollars a barrel? That will mean a rise in the price of almost everything else.
(From 14 March 2008)
8 YEARS AGO
Payback time
Services and local organisations throughout County Roscommon are to suffer what have been described as “savage” cutbacks as a direct result of the failure of about 9,000 people to pay the household charge here.
At a special meeting of Roscommon County Council yesterday (Wednesday) councillors reacted angrily when details of the cuts were revealed by the Council executive. They passed a motion of no confidence in Minister Phil Hogan by 13 votes to 5.
As Minister Phil Hogan withdraws funding from Roscommon County Council due to non-compliance with the household charge, there are immediate cutbacks to the tune of €460,000. A further €1.3m in cutbacks will take effect in October if there isn’t greater compliance with the household charge.
Being cut immediately are monies for roads, housing grants for the elderly and people with disabilities, grants to cemetery and tidy towns groups, the Mobile Library Service, amenity facilities and resources for litter control.
(From 10 August 2012)
Chris and stars for ‘Moone Boy’ premiere in Boyle
The spotlight will be on Boyle, Co. Roscommon on this Saturday, 11th of August when Sky 1 HD holds the premiere of Chris O’Dowd’s comedy ‘Moone Boy’, attended by Chris and the cast of the series.
Moone Boy was filmed on location in Chris’s home town of Boyle and at Ardmore Studios in Co. Wicklow earlier this year, and to celebrate the role that Boyle plays in the show, Sky 1 HD will host a special family fun day for up to 500 locals at Lough Key Forest Park. (From 10 August 2012)
5 YEARS AGO
Good progress made in field-school project
A positive start has been made to a new field-school project at Ballintubber Castle in Ballintubber, near Castlerea.
The study is being led by Dr. Niall Brady, a renowned archaeologist, who is joining forces with colleagues from Foothill College, California, and Columbia University, New York, and more that 30 US students.
Over a four-week period, they are examining the 14th century de Burgo Castle. It became a stronghold of the O’Conors until the 17th century and was the scene of many military engagements.
Two weeks into the field-school project, Dr. Brady said: “We are very impressed with what we have seen. Everything is living up to expectation, so we are delighted with ourselves.
“The purpose of the excavation side of it was to trace some of the old walls inside the castle. We are beginning to see them as we were hoping to see them. It is really confirmation of what we were hoping we would get.
“But it’s only early days”.
(From 17 July 2015)
Enda misses Mayo’s five-in-a-row
The Sligo footballers weren’t the only ones who failed to turn up for last Sunday’s Connacht Final – Taoiseach Enda Kenny also failed to appear.
Four years after the closure of the accident and emergency unit in Roscommon Hospital, Mr. Kenny chose not to attend the match, which saw his native Mayo hammer Sligo by the biggest ever margin in a Connacht Final.
The Hospital Action Committee (HAC) erected three huge posters in the vicinity of the ground, anticipating his arrival. Along with a picture of the Taoiseach, they read: ‘No A&E – not forgotten, not forgiven’.
“It says something that, even after four years, he wouldn’t go to the match,” said John McDermott, the chairperson of the HAC, of the Taoiseach’s non-appearance.
“Before the last election, he had no problem coming to town and making commitments”.
(From 24 July 2015)
