Playtime…another motoring game?
In last week’s Roscommon People, in a humorous reflection on traffic gridlock in Roscommon town, Paul Healy wrote about ‘a new game’ for local motorists which he called ‘How do we get our car home/anywhere?’
It prompted this reply from Raymond Whelehan of Galway Road, Roscommon:
Dear Editor,
I have another motoring game we can play, it is called ‘Try to get out of town at night’.
I will leave it to the relevant people who seem available to play during the day but not at night – when demand is there – to maybe reply in your next issue with some ideas.
Yours faithfully,
Raymond Whelehan
Looking for brother with Rossie connections
Katrina Coombs, who lives in the UK, has recently been in touch through the Roscommon People Facebook page seeking assistance in contacting her brother whom she believes may have connections to County Roscommon.
Katrina believes her brother would be about 40 years of age and that his mother was originally from the county.
She told the Roscommon People that her brother had previously attempted to contact their father (Michael) in 1993 and it is only recently that she learned of his existence…
‘Hi, I understand you are the local paper for Roscommon. I was wondering if you would be able to help me find my half-brother whose mother lived in Roscommon.
‘I don’t really have much information to go by. Her name is Geraldine (unfortunately I don’t have a surname) and she lived in Co. Roscommon. She has a son called Peter who is my half-brother and should be 39 or 40-years-old. He was born in 1979/80. I know she used to work in a pub called ‘Barney’s’ which was closed down 20-25 years ago. I think the pub was in Dublin.
‘I would love to get in contact with Peter and so too would my other brother Alex, who is anxious to meet him. If anyone could help in any way I would be truly grateful!’
* If anyone has any information
that may help Katrina and Alex in their search, they are asked to contact Katrina at
Katrinac77@googlemail.com.
An Appreciation: the late Damien Carty
I was saddened and shocked to learn of the sudden death of my good friend Mr. Damien Carty, which took place on Thursday, September 20th 2018 at Castlerea Community School. A native of Carramore, Bullaun, Loughrea, Co. Galway, he came to teach in Castlerea Community School in 2004. He established himself as a proficient teacher of business studies, mathematics, ICT, but especially in the PLC department, a department that he managed successfully to the very end. He was well respected by his students, fellow teachers, and the principals, vice principals and various staff over the years. Indeed only a few hours earlier I was speaking to him in the staff room where he was putting in motion the training of the school’s Boys’ Junior Football team that he was to manage this year.
He was a keen sportsman and got involved with football in the school in 2009 when he took over the first year team. This was a talented bunch of players and he managed them in every grade up to senior. He took great pride in managing teams for the school and always had their best interests at heart and they in turn had great respect for him – and while he did not have that much ultimate success with his teams, he always said that taking part was important.
The first year team of 2009/2010 were beaten in the Connacht Colleges Division C League Final by Foxford and in the Division C Championship Final by Glenamaddy. The second year team of 2010/2011 were beaten by Foxford in the Connacht Colleges Division C League and Championship finals.
The juvenile team of 2011/2012 were beaten by Ballinamore in the Connacht Colleges Division C Championship Final and in the league semi-final by Gorthnorabbey.
The junior team of 2012/2013 brought him great joy when they beat Ballinrobe in the Connacht Colleges Division C Championship Final. The senior team of 2013/2014 were beaten by Rice College, Westport in the Connacht Colleges Division B semi-final and by St. Aloysius, Athlone in the Connacht Colleges Division B League semi-final and the Roscommon Colleges County semi-final. In 2014/2015, he took the senior team for a second year; they were beaten by Roscommon CBS in the Connacht Colleges B Championship and the semi-final of the Roscommon Colleges County Championship.
In 2015/2016, it was back to where he started; the first year team were beaten in league and championship. He took the first year team again in 2016/2017. As there was no competition in Connacht, they took part in the Blitz’ – Mick Tarmey and Liam Campbell competitions.
Junior team in 2017/2018: As a result of Damien’s passing this team will now be managed by his work colleagues Mr James Reidy and Mr Paul Gooney and no doubt he’ll be looking down on them, making sure they make the right calls.
I was involved with him during all of those nine years and I have to say that it was a pleasure to work with him. He was a perfect gentleman. He was also very witty, and I will miss the lunchtime chats in the staff room, as will his work colleagues.
He was a great supporter of the Galway hurling team and was very proud when they won the All-Ireland in 2017, but was disappointed when they lost this year’s final. He was also very proud of his club, Sarsfields. Only on the day before his passing, he was telling me how well they were doing in the championship and how well his neighbours – the Cooneys – were playing. He would always mention them whenever hurling was discussed.
He will be sadly missed, especially by his mother Claire, brothers Gerry, Ronan and Ciaran, sisters Marie and Anne, sisters-in-law Niamh and Linda, nephews Brian, Marc and David, niece Sarah, uncle Fr. John Naughton, aunts and all extended family and friends, as well as all at Castlerea Community School, to whom I extend my deepest sympathy.
Farewell Damien. Thanks for your friendship, until we meet again some sunny day – and who knows, we might get to manage a first or second year team.
May he rest in peace.
– Danny Burke
