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The Roscrea People of the Year Awards for 2008 sponsored by Roscrea Credit Union will be presented in the Damer Court Hotel on Wednesday, the 14th January, commencing at 7.30 pm.
The Roscrea People Awards have been running annually since 1987. The Awards evening, as usual will commence at 7.30 with a short concert by Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Ros Cre. This will be followed by an illustrated presentation on the history of the Round Tower of Roscrea given by George Cunningham
The formal part of the evening will kick off with the usual presentation of collections of books to Roscrea Public Library ( recently catalogued, this heritage collection now stands at in excess of 2500 vols), St Cronan’s Service (Roscrea, Birr and Nenagh). Scoil Iosef Naofa (Corville National School) will be this year’s recipient of the schools’ collection.
Seamus Mullaney, Chairman of Roscrea Credit Union and Ray McCarthy (CEO) Roscrea Credit Union, will formally present the awards following the citation by the editor of Roscrea People. A free booklet will also be available on the night with information on each recipient. The evening will close with supper provided by the Credit Union
Admission is by voluntary donation and the profits of the evening go to provide the book collections for St Cronan’s Service. Please come and say well done to your fellow citizens.
The 2008 award winners are:
• Roscrea Literacy Group and, in particular, its founder, Kieran McDonnell, for his continued tenacity and commitment to our community of non-nationals.
• Lucy McCarthy, Director of Roscrea Community Choir, celebrating ten years of excellence.
• Paul Ryan for his Ballads and Rhymes from the Rare Old Times.
• Seamus Dennison, to commemorate his historic involvement in Munster and Irish rugby and for his continued commitment to our community.
Good Neighbour Award
• Ballaghmore, go háirithe Gael Scoil Shlighe Dhála and Glór na nGael, for their community spirit.
Young Person of the Year
* Darragh Carey-Kennedy for winning first place in both the under 12 Mandolin and under 12 Rogha Gléas (Miscellaneous) competitions at the all-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil in Tullamore
Roscrea People of the Year Citations:
• Lions Club of Roscrea for forty years of service, 1968-2008
• Scoil Iósaf Naofa, Corville for winning its first Green Flag
Volume 24, issue no 35, of Roscrea People was launched in the Damer Court Hotel before Christmas by the President of Roscrea Chamber of Commerce, Brian Colclough. Editor and publisher George Cunningham welcomed all to the launch saying that this year’s issue at 184 pages perfect bound was the biggest, ‘and dare I say it,’ he continued, ‘the best to date since I started this ‘good news’ publication for Roscrea and District back in 1974.’
Pictured at the launch of the much anticipated 2008 Roscrea People magazine on Friday night last were Des Walsh, Carmel Cunningham, George Cunningham, Amy Brooks and Brian Colclough
In his address Brian Colclough said that he grew up with the Roscrea People which was very much a feature of Christmas in the town. He spoke of the diverse contents including the five page feature on Christy Maher, the four page feature celebrating the 50th anniversary of Roscrea Mart, the four page spread on the Lions Club of Roscrea, celebrating 40 years of service in the town, the feature on artist Mary Dillon and much more. All of the life of the town is well recorded making Roscrea People a wonderful resource for future generations. He spoke of the support from the commercial life of the town for the publication and wished the issue well.
Assistant editor Carmel Cunningham echoed Brian Colclough’s words in thanking the commercial interests of Roscrea for their support which in spite of the financial difficulties of the times we live in was very strong. She complimented Amy Brooks the advertising manager for her good humour and talents. The feminine touch was very evident as Carmel went on to compliment Andrea and Valerie at Walsh Printers and cartoonist Mary Arrigan.
The editor continued, thanking printer John O Brien and of course Des Walsh where all the Roscrea Peoples have been printed. Des talked of how proud he was of the work of his staff and of the importance of the publication to record the every day life of the town.
The captivating cover, of a bog edge scene at Ballaghmore, is once again the work of Brian Redmond with an appropriate verse supplied by Carmel Cunningham. Brian thanked Olivia Harney for her work on the cover and the Lions feature. The editor paid special tribute to photographer P.J. Wright whose constant camera work throughout the year means that Roscrea and its eventful life is well recorded visually.
Of particular note in this edition are the full page reproduction in colour of the prefamine chapel ( a unique surviving print of a watercolour which the editor was given during the year) and the Roscrea section of the Bog Report of 1814. These superb reproductions alone are worth the €10, modest cost of
Roscrea People 2008.
The Roscrea People of the Year 2008 are also announced in the publication.
These awards will be held at Damer Court on Wednesday 14th January 2009.
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