Hit-and-run mum buried in her native Waterford
A WATERFORD family are mourning the death of their beloved sister who was killed in a hit-and-run in London.
Rosemary Walsh has been buried in her native city a week after her remains were flown home by her devastated family.
The mother-of-one had been living in London for 20 years.
She was on her way to a car-boot sale near Wanstead in March when the tragic incident occurred.
She was actually helping-out at the scene of another traffic accident which had unfolded in front of her when she was mown-down and killed by a driver still being sought by police.
She had parked her white Suzuki van but as she approached the Honda that had crashed in front of her she was hit by a red vehicle which continued on without stopping.
Rosemary was due to pay a visit to her native Waterford in April to celebrate her birthday with her mother and 11 siblings.
She regularly travelled home to Waterford to see her family to whom she remained very close.
Her brother Michael said it was true to his sister’s form that she was actually helping somebody else out when her own life was so tragically cut short.
“That was just the kind of person Rosemary was,” he said. ‘She would do anything for anyone and was extremely well-liked and popular both in Enfield in London where she lived and at home in Waterford where she still has many friends.
“She was in London more than 20 years but she came home very often. She always travelled home for her own and her daughter’s birthday in April.”
Waterford News and Star
Castlebar will become entertainment capital
CASTLEBAR is set to become the leading entertainment capital in the West of Ireland with the ?6million refurbishment of the Royal Theatre.
Currently the third largest entertainment venue in the country with capacity for 1,500 people seated or 2,000 standing the theatre will be the second-largest venue in the country after The Point Theatre in Dublin.
The increased capacity will seat 2,000 people or 3,500 standing.
The Royal Theatre has made rapid progress in the past few years attracting numerous high-profile acts in the world of the arts, music and theatre.
Unveiling the plans owners Pat and Mary Jennings said the renovations would include a West End production stage with a new fly tower over the existing stage which will have flying facilities and will be housed in the roof area.
A new roof over the auditorium will be approximately two metres higher than the existing one and a glazed pedestrian bridge link at the first floor from the Western side of the theatre to the existing glazed pedestrian bridge. Also included will be three levels of changing rooms at the back of the stage and new retractable upholstered seating.
When the work is concluded it will combine to make the largest venue in Connaught and the rest of Ireland outside Dublin.
The work will start in early spring and will be finished by the summer of 2008. Due to the increased capacity of the theatre a new dedicated ticket box office will open this month and will be situated adjacent to the Royal Theatre.
This month the venue will stage the musical Annie and other high-profile acts over the coming months include Daniel O’Donnell, Lenny Henry, Bonnie Tyler, Don McLean, The Fray, Des Bishop, The Proclaimers and Brendan Grace.
Western People
Bride-to-be drowned in lake near her home
A PORTLAOISE woman who was due to be married later this year drowned while swimming in a lake near her home in Castlepollard.
Anne Merriman died after she got into difficulties while taking a regular swim in the White Lake.
The 44-year-old had just returned to work as a welfare officer with Dublin City Council following a career break of a number of years.
Anne was making wedding plans and looking forward to the future according to her family who described her as a happy person.
She was a strong swimmer and regularly enjoyed swimming in the White Lake.
“Anne was always full of life, loved her music and craic and was making plans for the future with her fiancé Andrew,” said Ms Merriman’s twin brother Eamon.
Fishermen on the small lake had noticed Ms Merriman had got into difficulty but were unable to reach her on time.
“There were five anglers on the lake in boats and they had heard her coughing but could not get to her on time,” said Eamon.
“This is a terrible tragedy. “She was so happy and full of life.”
Laois Nationalist
Residents lose fight to stop homes plan
PLANS TO develop a residential scheme of more than 20 houses in Monksland have been given the go-ahead.
This comes despite concerns from a local residents’ group that the development will require access to land via their estate.
Earlier this year Manor Valley Residents appealed plans by Oyster Homes to build 23 houses at Daneshill in the Monksland area of Athlone.
The developers were granted planning permission by Roscommon County Council on February 23 to build 23 houses at Daneshill.
Oyster Homes initially sought permission to build 29 houses but this was revised downwards by the council.
The residents’ group representing eight households in the Manor Valley estate argued that plans by Oyster Homes to use the entrance into their estate to access lands to build the proposed housing scheme were totally unacceptable.
In a four-page submission to An Bord Pleanala the residents group outlined in detail the inadequacy of current road access in addition to concerns for increased traffic hazard on foot on the proposed N6 route and the added traffic that this development would bring.
The group also expressed concern over subsidence at Manor Valley and the lack of amenities and a green area were also cause for concern.
The residents also pointed out that a senior planner with Roscommon County Council had recommended refusal of the development just one day previous to permission being granted by the local authority in February.
But the Board concluded the proposed development was acceptable on the basis of the revised layout scheme submitted by the developers.
Roscommon Herald
Soccer legend returns to Sligo to celebrate birthday
SLIGO-born Glasgow Celtic legend Seán Fallon returned home to celebrate his 85th birthday and his county’s Connaught Championship win.
The soccer legend who was born in Sligo town on July 31, 1922 was in Sligo for the week to relax with his family.
A son of John Fallon he comes from a family of 10 children and has two sisters who are still living in Sligo.
Before moving to Glasgow Celtic in 1950 where he spent 30 years as a player, coach, assistant manager and manager, Seán played for many Irish soccer teams including Sligo Rovers.
He was also an Irish international and in March of this year the FAI honoured Seán during a European Championship qualifier between Ireland and Wales at Croke Park.
The Sligo Weekender Hall of Fame 2004 winner was the assistant manager of Celtic when they won the European Cup in 1967.
As a youngster Seán played GAA for Coolera, Craobh Rua and Sligo county. As a county player Seán said his finest memory was from the day he scored two goals against Dan O’Keeffe of Kerry.
Of the present Sligo team he said: “I am delighted with their Connacht Championship win.”
Sligo Weekender