SATURDAY
Cash in the attic…
A lot of newspapers will devote a section on their front page to a ‘blurb’ in order to promote stories that are inside the issue.
Throwing out one of last week’s national newspapers today, my eyes were drawn to one such teaser above the masthead on the front page.
It read: ‘Who owns the money found in my late uncle’s attic?’ (adding what page you could read the article on).
Beside that blurb, another one read: ‘Can AI help solve my arguments with my wife?’
It didn’t say if the two features were connected!
SUNDAY
The homecoming
The Square in Roscommon is the civic heart of our county town. This is where we gather… on mundane days in ones or maybe twos, then sometimes in our thousands when we need to be together.
Usually, it’s just a rushed nod to an acquaintance, or a quick chat with a friend on crossing the landmark location. Sometimes it’s bigger, an outbreak of bonding, something that symbolises – to coin a word – our Roscommonness.
It’s in ‘The Square’ where we communally count down to the moment when the Christmas lights are switched on. This is where we marched and rallied when the Cuisle Centre in Donamon faced closure. It’s where rallies were held in protest against the closure of Roscommon A&E. 20 years ago this year, the Square was the focal point on an unforgettable night when thousands of people welcomed the Roscommon team home after their win over Kerry in a thrilling All-Ireland Minor Football final replay in Ennis.
The Square is where we gather when we need to gather. Just under three months ago, the town centre hosted an impromptu, jubilant open-air party as people celebrated Roscommon’s first Connacht senior football title win on home territory in a quarter of a century.
In centuries past – as depicted in evocative black and white photos – Roscommon fair days revolved
around this instantly recognisable place which is so central to our community. It was in this Square where Éamon de Valera and other political leaders roused the passions of our ancestors during momentous political gatherings.
Tonight (arriving just before 10 pm) we were drawn to The Square again. On social media, the updates whizzed in, with footage of the celebrations in Knockcroghery, then at Hannon’s Hotel, then Hyde Park. In the Square, we waited. This night was never likely to be an advertisement for punctuality! But the time passed quickly. It was uplifting to see so many small children present, most of them waving LGFA flags. The atmosphere was happy, joyous. Roscommon had won an All-Ireland – in style.
Motorists who chose to honk their horns were rewarded with ripples of applause and cheers – it was like watching guests arriving for a Royal wedding across the water and being warmly applauded by the assembled onlookers.
At about 10.50 pm, the intermittent beeping of horns suddenly morphed into a sustained chorus. Cavalcade time. The bus had arrived. In the front, team captain Helena Cummins held the large cup
aloft. Seeing the cup which had been won – earned indeed – by our heroic ladies, in the Mecca of the GAA, was quite emotional for people.
The crowd cheered as the players – waving and smiling – took it all in. These were the heroes of Croke Park, back amongst their own after the longest and most glorious of days. When they disembarked from the bus and broke into song, people circled around them, bringing the traffic to a standstill.
Beaming, tired, proud, these great ambassadors made their way on foot into the heart of Main Street, where supporters embraced them in a whirl of back-slapping, hand-shaking and selfie-taking.
The centre of Roscommon Town was buzzing. Magical memories were forming, not least for the small children present, some of whom must have been imagining that they might one day walk in the footsteps of the heroes of August 2nd, 2026.
Light, irrelevant rain fell. Nobody cared. This was another great gathering in ‘The Square’. A night when you were proud to be of Roscommon, to be a Rossie, a fully signed up member of Team Roscommon. The Square glowed with the exultation of a beautiful
communal celebration, Roscommon ladies the All-Ireland Intermediate champions of 2026, senior football awaiting them, small children being allowed to stay up late, small children who now believe in big dreams.
MONDAY
Very silly…
It’s hard to believe that we’re into the early days of the eighth month of the year – but then I guess we’re used to the passage of time by now!
This of course means that from a media perspective, we’re very much into ‘silly season’.
Mind you, with Trump in the White House and social media doing its thing, the ‘silly season’ season has been extended over recent times!
TUESDAY
MixPix exhibition
It was an honour to be asked to officially open a photographic exhibition in Ballaghaderreen Library
today in memory of a great friend, the late Mick McCormack.
There was a large attendance in this state-of-the-art venue as family, friends and former media colleagues of the much-missed Ballaghaderreen man gathered for the official opening of the ‘MixPix’ exhibition.
This was an emotional occasion, Mick having passed away three years ago this month, just short of his 60th birthday.
A gifted photographer, he was a larger than life character, a man with a very generous heart, and a loyal friend too. It can truly be said of Mick that he brightened the lives of those he met. This exhibition (continuing until Saturday evening) is social history as seen through his lens (more coverage on page 31 this week).
