St Patrick’s Day:
I take my hat off to Marion McDonagh, Katrina Kane, Shelley Burke, Vivien Keaney, and Amanda McNalley, these young people put on a well organised St Patrick’s Parade through the village, with 21 floats, from Cashel, Ballyconneelly, Ailbrack, Claddaduff, Recess and Roundstone National School with local people and their floats, what an atmosphere the day created, it was great to see just everybody mucking in. At the end off the parade the kids were invited to food etc to the community Hall for a disco, games and bouncing castles of various sorts which was held by the Tennis Courts, never in a long time had there been such a happy crowd and a lot of good will.

 

I can assure you the work the girls put in to this event was a lot of hard work to make sure it ran smoothly, it worked girls so we congratulate you and look forward god willing for next year’s St Patrick’s Day parade. Interestingly enough the first St Patrick’s parade in Roundstone was in 1962 with a humble boy’s band just going up and down the streets of Roundstone, so fifty years on “its back”.

There were eight categories to be judged by our three Judges, Josephine de Courcey, and Bernard Lee and Nial Lydon they judged the overall winner “Ailbrack School the “St Caillinn Grannawaile”, for Effort “The circus” Ballyconneelly National School, For Fun “Mrs Brown’s Boys” headed by Anne Conneelly as Mrs Brown. For Novelty: Roundstone National School. Theme: The little Gems play group from Recess. Cultural: “Roundstone Regatta” Paddy McDonagh with one of his racing number 4 Currachs. Most Colourful: Cashel National School. Visitor Float: “The little Leprechauns” Claddaduff. Medals were given out the Roundstone play group as well as the Ballyconneelly Play group. The parade was led by the Finest Man Bob Woods and finest Woman Lauren Keaney with the parades Banner. Pat Mullen led St Patrick himself Máirtín Grealish in a wonderful colourful Cart drawn by a lovely little cob, followed by Tom Conneelly in his vintage sports car chauffeuring Paddy Folan, our most Senior Citizen as it happened it was his Birthday therefore Paddy was presented with a cake, typical Paddy he just takes things in his stride, James de Courcey with his pony and trap driven by young Cian Conneelly, Joe Mac and his horses, old Massey Fergusson Tractors, Noel King in his Rolls chauffer driving Eileen Mannion, Simon Ashe in his Father in Laws little black vintage Car with lots more from the Roundstone community. I think that on behalf of the girls, to all those who helped behind the scenes, i.e. Paul & Pious Delapp, Patrick McDonagh and his family, the sponsors, i.e. local Lotto, to all those that had floats, Kings bar for hosting musicians Feichin Mitchell, Michael Connolly. teachers, parents, PJ & Tom Mc Erney for their music out side the church after Mass, the Order of Malta Ambulance, the Garda Siochana and last but not least the crowd, “no they were not rented” it was a reality, a huge thank you to every body. There are some photos of the parade on the Roundstone .i.e. website

Martin de Courcey:

On behalf of Roundstone and myself of course, condolences to all the immediate family on the passing of Martin de Courcey who passed away peacefully on St Patricks day, survived by his wife Agnes, Martin was buried today in Gurteen. There are and have heard so many tales of Martin’s life, I suppose you could call him a bit of an Icon, a hard man in some ways, but he was just his own man. Martin in my opinion was highly respected, and it certainly showed from all the surrounding communities, it never seems to amaze me how every body rally’s in respect for the family in one form or another, particulaly with the clearing from certain local members the removal of the grit which was in the middle of the church car park in preparation for the funeral, our thanks to you guys.

I can see Martin up there now with a big wide grin on his face, as I was told by some of the members of his family, that during the wake, including all the grand children the banter, stories were mighty celebrating his life. I know it’s not much of a consolation, at least Martin had the privilege of seeing his children grow, grand children and great grand children. The de Courcey family being very close knit Agnes, Martin’s wife will be well looked after. May Martin, Rest in Peace.