Williamstown
Williamstown is a small village in North county Galway, on the border of County Roscommon, situated 40 miles from Galway city and 20 miles from Tuam. It is predominantly a limestone area with area of basin peat interspersed with small mixed economy farms. Agriculture is still the dominant work in Williamstown. The majority of farms are less than 50 acres and the main activities include cattle, sheep and milk production.
Places of interest around Williamstown include Corralough lake, mills at Templetoghter and Clough, holy wells at Templetogher and Beaugh, many ringforts throughout Williamstown, and parts of ancient roadways at Castletogher.
Williamstown are online at www.williamstown.ie
Williamstown. 2/1/2012
Traditional Christmas
Christmas was celebrated in the traditional manner in Williamstown in 2011. There were huge congregations present at each of the Christmas Masses, indicating the very large numbers of visitors who made it home for the festive season. The very mild weather conditions, in complete contrast to the previous year, meant that travelling conditions were excellent. We wish a safe journey back to any remaining visitors and we wish a Happy, Healthy and Peaceful 2012 to everyone.
Williamstown Heritage Society
All of us in Williamstown Heritage Society wish a Very Happy New Year to everyone. We thank you all for your continuing support in the past year, and we are confident that this will continue in 2012.
Galway Hospice Foundation
On behalf of Galway Hospice Foundation, Sadie Feeney and Eileen Finnegan, the local promoters of the weekly draw in aid of the Homecare Service provided by the Foundation, would like to wish a Very Happy and Successful New Year to everyone. Warm thanks to all of you who continue to support the weekly draw, and new members would be welcome at any time. The spectacular display of Christmas lights at the home of Martin and Sadie Feeney is again in aid of the Hospice this year. Contributions have been most generous so far, and the donations box will remain in place until the end of the Christmas season.
Weekly Card Game Resumes
The weekly Progressive 25 Card Game, organised by the GAA Club and held in the Club Room in Williamstown Sports Complex, will resume after the Christmas break on this Thursday, January 5 at 9 pm. This slightly later time for this week only is due to Mass at 8pm. The most recent game took place on Thursday, December 22, with two pairings emerging as joint winners. T.J. Lambe and Eamon Finnegan formed one of the successful pairings and sharing the honours with them were Keogh Conboy and Frank Cregg. The raffle winners were Tom Shally, Sean Mulryan, Eamon Flatley, Martin Ward, Declan Geraghty, Keogh Conboy, Jimmy Shally and Seamus Murphy. Happy New Year to everyone.
Recent Death
The death took place last week of Brian Higgins, Pollynoon, Williamstown. His remains were removed to St. Therese’s Church, Williamstown for the Funeral Mass on Monday and following the Mass, burial took place in Carraroe Cemetery. He is survived by his wife, Jean, sons Martin and Brian, daughter Mary, in-laws, grandchildren, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.
Brian was a well-known and highly respected figure in the community, and this was reflected in the huge numbers who came along to pay their respects at the family home, at St. Therese’s Church for the Funeral Mass and at Carraroe Cemetery for the burial. He had a long and active life, and it is fitting that he should have celebrated both the 50th anniversary of his wedding and his 90th birthday in the past year. In his younger days, he saw much of the world, as his work took him to various locations, including the Middle East. He returned to Pollynoon, where he and his wife Jean became successful and progressive farmers. He was also involved for a number of years in the School Transport System. Brian had numerous interests, including politics in which he played an active role for many years. He was a great family man and interacted so well with his own children, his grandchildren and the extended family. He was a man of great faith, and was a regular attender at Mass and the Sacraments until just before his final, short illness. His life was not without sadness, and the death of his beloved daughter, Gertie, at such a young age, was a very severe blow. His faith stood him in good stead, however, and his dignified acceptance of this cross was exemplary. His passing leaves a deep void in the community and especially among his loved ones. Sincere sympathy is extended to the bereaved.
Eucharistic Adoration
The Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament continues in St Therese’s Church. The hours of Adoration are – Monday : 7 pm to 9 pm. Tuesday : 10 am to 12 noon and 7 pm to 9 pm. Thursday : 7 pm to 10 pm. Friday : 10 am to 11 am. All who have committed are asked to attend for Adoration at their appointed day and time. All others are welcome to pay a visit at any time during Adoration.
Della’s Charity Functions
The most recent of Della’s Charity Dances, held in the Ard-Rí Hotel, Tuam, on Sunday last in aid of Tuam Community Games, was again very successful. On the previous night, the New Year’s Eve Ball, also run by Della and her team, was held in the Ard-Rí Hotel in aid of two other excellent causes, Western Alzheimers and Motor Neurone. This event was also an outstanding success, with a huge crowd in attendance, a delicious meal served up, a wonderful atmosphere prevailing, and a substantial amount of money raised for these two worthy causes. The fund was boosted greatly by the success on the night of two further ventures, an auction for 16 special items kindly donated by various benefactors, and a unique raffle. Warm thanks to all who supported or were involved in any way with the success of this wonderful event. The next Teadance is on this Sunday, January 8, from 3pm to 6pm. It is in aid of the Benevolent Fund and music is provided by Brendan and Patricia Lee. Della and all her team would like to wish a Very Happy New Year to everyone.
DVD of Local Interest
Currently on sale in Smyths’, Williamstown, is a Triple DVD Collection entitled “All Our Past Times”, the 30 year collection of rare film footage from the late Joe Gilmore, the well-known maker of Home Movies from Brickens. Joe showed films here regularly in the 1950s. The collection contains two inserts of local interest, a Corpus Christi Procession in Williamstown in the early 1950s, and the occasion of the cutting and blessing of the first sod for St. Therese’s Church from the same period. The film inserts are quite clear, and it is possible to identify several of the people in the inserts. Also of great interest is how the appearance of Williamstown has changed so much in the intervening years. Proceeds from the sale of the DVD go towards Western Alzheimers.
School Christmas Show
Another of the annual seasonal highlights in the locality is the Christmas Show, always staged by the Sacred Heart National School, Williamstown, at this time of year. This year’s event was presented in St. Therese’s Church on Monday evening, December 19, and once again, it was an outstanding production. It was based on the true story of Christmas, but placed in a modern context and was called “It’s a Party”. The schoolchildren carried off the entire presentation superbly, with the solo singers, the chorus, the dancers and those playing the various parts all reaching the highest of standards. The songs were catchy, the choreography was rhythmic and tasteful, and the costumes were colourful and relevant. Very well done to all, including the children, the school staff, with some even coming out of retirement to help on a voluntary basis, the ancillary staff and the entire school community on yet another brilliant performance. Needless to say, it was thoroughly enjoyed by a capacity audience.
Glenamaddy Community School Parents Association Church Gate Collection
Glenamaddy Community School Parents Association held their annual church gate collection in Williamstown on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th December and collected a total of €490.20. We sincerely appreciate your ongoing generosity and support.
Annual St. Stephen’s Day Vintage Charity Drive
This now well-established annual fundraiser in aid of Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, took place once again on Monday, December 26, St. Stephen’s Day. As always, it took the form of a Vintage Car and Tractor Drive, with the event starting and finishing in Williamstown. This year’s event was the seventh in succession, and, before this one, an excellent €35,000 had been raised for Crumlin Childrens’ Hospital. The response to this year’s event has again been very generous. Contributions are still coming in and the final figure will soon be available. A very warm Thank You and a Happy New Year to everyone.
BBC Report of Local Interest
Recently, a BBC TV crew, led by BBC Ireland Correspondent, Mark Simpson, visited Williamstown to film a report on how emigration is affecting small rural communities like our own, and in particular, organisations such as our GAA Club. In the process, Mark interviewed some members and players from the club. This report was broadcast on Radio Ulster, on BBC World TV and on the BBC website on Thursday last, December 29. You can access the latter at www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16305048 (also 16351954).
The G Team
There was much excitement in the locality throughout much of last year with the filming of the G Team activities, as Williamstown was one of 12 communities nationwide involved in the event. The highlight of the campaign was the G Day programme on Wednesday, July 6. The series is now about to be shown on TG4, on Sundays at 8 pm and Wednesdays at 8.30 pm, starting on next Sunday, January 15.
Thank You
Having compiled the local notes for the Williamstown area for the past 20 years, ever since February 1, 1992, I wish to thank all those who have helped, supported and co-operated with me in this task over all those years. For me, it was a most enjoyable undertaking, and, even though by the nature of things, many of my news stories involved sadness, I would like to think that the vast majority of the stories were of a happy, positive nature. So many excellent developments took place in our community during those years, and it was a pleasure to report on these. Like all small rural communities, our own is now so active and vibrant that, despite the many problems, including the return of emigration on a large scale, presented by the current recession, I am confident that we will not just survive, but actually thrive, as a community. I feel the time is now right for me to hand over this task of reporting the local news to a very capable colleague, to whom I wish every success. Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.
Leo Finnegan
