THURSDAY
Liv and let live
Oh dear. Golf superstar Jon Rahm has only gone and done a spectacular U-turn, abandoning the PGA Tour to join the filthy-rich Saudi-backed breakaway gang known as LIV Golf.
Amusingly, Mr Rahm said: “There are a lot of things that LIV Golf have to offer which were very enticing, starting with team golf”.
Team golf. Team golf! Not a word about the incredible (alleged) €525m (or thereabouts) package on offer to Rahm!
Entries for the ‘Quote of the Week’ competition are no longer being accepted. “There are a lot of things that LIV Golf have to offer which were very enticing…”
FRIDAY
Shane’s send-off
Shane MacGowan’s funeral, most of which I watched online today, was remarkable. Stephen Murphy, Ireland Correspondent for Sky News, put it well when he reported: “It was a long, raucous and slightly chaotic celebration of a hugely chaotic and much loved icon of modern Ireland”.
In the Irish Independent, Kirsty Blake Knox wrote: “Shane MacGowan’s punk send-off shows the Irish really know how to do a funeral”.
It really was some spectacle… spiritual, funny, touching, nostalgic. It was fabulous, even if, as the man from Sky said, a touch chaotic at times.
There was Hollywood star Johnny Depp reading a prayer of the faithful, prefacing it with a gesture towards his friend’s coffin as he mouthed the word ‘maestro’.
Fr Pat Gilbert conducted the ceremony beautifully, his Homily eloquently and emotionally capturing the enormity of the deceased star’s cultural impact.
The music was breathtaking. When a collection of famous Irish musicians took to the altar to perform a barnstorming rendition of Fairytale of New York, mourners danced in the aisles (and social media went into overdrive). It was a joyous tribute to their friend.
As moving and celebratory as that epic, heartfelt ‘Fairytale’ performance was, one could argue that the musical highlight of the afternoon had come earlier, when Nick Cave’s stunning rendition of A Rainy Night in Soho set the tone for this extraordinary funeral.
SATURDAY/SUNDAY
Festival triumph
Quite simply, the Roscommon Christmas Festival was magnificent. Yes, the weather was pretty awful (on day two particularly), but while the elements briefly disrupted Sunday’s proceedings, the festival triumphed in the end. That was down to the outstanding commitment of the organisers and the loyalty and enthusiasm of the public.
On Saturday, I popped in briefly at around noon, at which point there were large crowds mingling around the markets. On Sunday, we made a family visit, and were delighted to see a big crowd gathering in the Square, despite that ugly weather.
That crowd was rewarded when the recently formed Roscommon Men’s Choir lifted everyone’s spirits with a number of seasonal classics.
As the weather became even worse, the scheduled appearance of the terrific, Knockcroghery-based Vinegar Bill unfortunately had to be cancelled. Happily, the conditions improved as the evening went on, and a sensational finale awaited.
Enormous crowds congregated in Loughnaneane Park, where the excellent Roscommon Men’s Choir was back, this time performing in the amphitheatre. For the second time on Sunday they delivered in style, the audience enthusiastically applauding.
Next, festival-goers could enjoy the very impressive transformation of our wonderful park into an ‘Enchanted Christmas Trail’ – with a stunning tapestry of festive lighting, Christmas characters, and live performers, all in a fairytale-like setting. It was magnificent.
The finale, shortly after 7 pm, rounded off the festival in spectacular style, with a colourful, vibrant fireworks display that had spectators gasping!
Congratulations to all stakeholders involved in making this happen, namely Roscommon Town Team, Roscommon LEADER Partnership, Roscommon Chamber of Commerce and Roscommon County Council, with teams of volunteers playing an absolute blinder all weekend in those unforgiving weather conditions. It was a big, generous commitment on the part of those volunteers. This was a superbly well run event, a credit to all involved.
MONDAY
Almost there…
Not a lot happened today… beyond the relentless ‘clicketly clack’ of keyboards in our office, that and phones ringing, while incoming emails cascade down Scroll Street on my computer, and outgoing emails whoosh off in the other direction…
Two issues to go before the Christmas break. I cannot take many more emails/calls from suspiciously cheerful PR people asking for a mention in our columns for their client’s ‘super product’.
We are nearly there. I’m sure it’s the same where you are. We can do this!
TUESDAY
New chapters…
It’s been a good week for book lovers locally, particularly for those of us who hold the GAA dear to our hearts.
Dan Dooner, our former colleague at the Roscommon People, launched his second book – ‘Roscommon: Game of My Life’ – in the Railway Bar last Friday night. A number of the GAA greats who are featured in the book were present.
The concept for this publication is simple, but very appealing: 25 top Roscommon players reflect on the one game which they believe most defined their careers. I am looking forward to reading a book which I have no doubt will stir mostly happy memories for Roscommon GAA supporters.
Then today, I was delighted when Tony Conboy popped into our office to inform me of a most welcome publishing development, i.e. the reprinting of ‘Ros Comáin: 101 Years of Gaelic Games in County Roscommon (1889 to 1990)’.
That book, written by Tony (with assistance by a number of GAA people in the county) was launched in a packed Abbey Hotel ballroom in 1990 (and a memorable night it was). It is no exaggeration to say that this is the definitive history of Roscommon GAA up to that point (1990)… a truly superb piece of work.
As the book sold out many years ago, the current Roscommon GAA History Committee has taken the welcome step of arranging a limited reprint, news which will delight people who have been unable to acquire a copy up to now. The full details of how you can purchase a copy of Tony’s excellent publication are on page 13 of this issue.
Meanwhile, we have a report and photographs from Dan Dooner’s launch on page 24. I wish all concerned every success and have no doubt both books will be popular gift choices this Christmas.
