Mary Molesworth Art and Heritage Festival likely to become annual affair

News review of 2025

We want action and we want it now, before someone is killed in Ballinalack or Rathowen! That was the message delivered to public representatives at a well-attended emergency meeting in Rathowen Community Centre in April.

Local people were concerned at the volume and speed of traffic through their villages. They claimed residents were shaking in their houses because of the vibrations, parents were having to haul their children out of the way as vehicles failed to stop at the pedestrian crossing, and wheelchair users were risking their lives every time they crossed the road.

Public representatives present undertook to set up a meeting with the district engineer the following week, and with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, and the Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien, TD, in the near future.

A staggering €73,000 was raised by Raharney hurling and camogie club when they joined forces to host a successful 24-hour joint walkathon event. The money was to go towards development works for both clubs. From 5pm on April 4 to 5pm on April 5, 24 teams took to the walking track at Joristown and collectively achieved an impressive 200 laps.

The inaugural Mary Molesworth Art and Heritage Festival in Rochfortbridge was such a success that it was deemed likely to become an annual affair. Glorious sunshine drew large crowds to the many tours and lectures tracing the life of the tragic Mary and the history and heritage of the community.

Mary Fagan, one of the organisers, declared “the whole Mary Molesworth thing has really caught on – it’s a film in the making”, and announced that they would be looking to run it again next year.

Mary Molesworth was married off to Robert Rochfort, Earl of Belvedere, in 1736, when she was 16. He subsequently imprisoned her in Gaulstown House for three decades, forbidding anyone to talk to her, and she was only released on his death. Now, centuries later, Robert is remembered as the ‘Wicked Earl’ and Mary is finally heard and heralded.

‘Skool of Rock’, a short movie starring member of the Longford Westmeath branch of Down Syndrome Ireland, received a special showing at St Brigid’s School, Mullingar, in April. The movie received a Hollywood endorsement from actor and musician Jack Black.

Later the same month, gardaí and members of Down Syndrome Ireland from Mullingar and surrounding areas took to the catwalk at a gala fashion show. Locals who took part included Fintan Bray, Monica Gorman and Liam Foley from DSI, Detective Superintendent Dave Dolan, Detective Sergeant Dave Donnelly, Sergeant Brian Stones, and Josephine Mills from Mullingar Garda Station, and Garda Edel Dugdale and Garda Elaine Long.

‘Don’t come knocking on our door’ was the message Westmeath County Council members gave presidential hopeful Conor McGregor. To have a chance of running for the presidency, the controversial MMA fighter needed to be nominated by 20 members of the Oireachtas or by four local authorities.

Councillors supported a motion by Cllr Vinnie McCormack that they write to the American ambassador to Ireland outlining their frustration and disappointment that Mr McGregor had been invited to the White House on St Patrick’s Day, and afforded the opportunity to address the world media, purporting to be a spokesman of the Irish people.

They also backed a call from Cllr Aengus O’Rourke that they write to Mr McGregor saying he was not welcome in the chamber.

Two helicopters were drafted in to assist in extinguishing a fire that broke out on bogland between Ballymore and Rosemount on April 11. After several days of hot and sunny weather, the fire broke out on the Curragh Ballinlig bog at around lunchtime, and spread to two sections that have forestry plantations, damaging some of the trees.

The helicopters sourced water from a local quarry and made several return trips to kill the blaze and dampen vegetation to stop the fire spreading. By about 8pm the fire was out.

Acquired Brain Injury Ireland, a national charity, held a tribute to the late Eoghan Doherty at his former home in Mullingar on April 14. The house was gifted to the charity by Eoghan’s parents, Olivia and James, on behalf of their son.

The charity announced that it would develop Eoghan’s home into a new service for survivors of brain injury, so that others would have the opportunity to spend time there during their rehabilitation and recovery, learning to regain their independence and rebuild their lives.

‘On yer bike!’ Pay-per-use bicycles are being used five times more often in Athlone than in Mullingar, it was revealed. That was attributed in part to the fact that Athlone has a college.

Ambrose Clarke, a senior engineer with Westmeath County Council’s Environment and Climate Action section, said the bikes were not being used as much as they would like. The council were looking at ways to boost the scheme and make it more popular, but that was “costing a few bob and we will have to see where we go with that”, he said.

Faye Clarke was crowned a world champion dancer at the Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne at the Convention Centre in Dublin. Hundreds of dancers took part, and alongside Faye in the U16 category alone, there were around 170. She added her world championship crown to the many awards she has amassed including the North American Dance championship and the Irish and British championship titles.

Dance teacher at the Carson Academy in Mullingar, Fiona Gallagher said: “Faye is an extraordinary girl, so hard-working,” adding that the competition was tough, “but here we are with a new world champion”.