There was widespread shock in Roscommon town and surrounding areas this week with news of the closure of the Roscommon Champion newspaper with immediate effect. While the office is now closed, the title of the paper is for sale and if a buyer can be found, the paper may reopen. more»

One man was killed and three people injured in a traffic accident in north Roscommon yesterday evening (Wednesday). more»

37 workers, who are members of SIPTU, are continuing their unofficial strike action at the Lough Ree Power station in Lanesboro. The action began over two weeks ago and the workers have not made public what their grievances with their employers, Bord na Móna are. more»

Fine Gael Dáil Deputy for Roscommon/South Leitrim has accused Enterprise Minister Batt O’Keeffe of being redundant as many unemployed people face an eight-month wait for redundancy payments. more»

Cllr. Valerie Byrne this week urged local people to attend a briefing meeting, hosted by Coillte, on their proposal to erect a 21 turbine wind farm on Sliabh Bán. more»

Have your say on plans by Coillte to erect wind turbines on Sliabh Bán at a public consultation and information evening, which will take place in Strokestown on Tuesday, September 14th. more»

On Friday last, the launch of Sheraton Athlone Hotel’s second Autumn Wedding Fair was shared with Joe Duffy’s Liveline Show. more»

Champion started life as four-page paper Shane Reynolds The first ever Roscommon Champion was printed in Castle Street, Roscommon in February 1927. It was founded by the Quigley family and is believed that the new paper cost either one or two old pence to buy. W. H. Cartan has been credited with being the paper’s first editor. more»

Roscommon man Bernard Donohue has been elected as the new chairman of Agri Aware. Donohue is to replace Mairead Lavery as head of the agri-food educational body. more»

Roscommon IFA Co. Chairman, Mr. John O’Beirne this week said that a Department of the Environment circular to County Councils on the requirement for a ‘Goods Only Declaration’ when taxing small commercial vehicles has sent a shock wave through rural Ireland. more»

IFA Animal Health Project Team Chairman John Waters said the Department of Agriculture requirement for farmers to have separate herd numbers for each land parcel more than 20 miles from their home farm is bureaucratic, costly, inconvenient and unnecessary. more»

St Dominic’s caused a mild surprise when they edged out Boyle in this competitive quarter-final played in Tulsk last Saturday evening. Dominic’s did the damage in the first half when they completely dominated proceedings and led by 1-6 to 0-3 at half time. more»

St Brigid’s were too strong for a battling Fuerty side in this entertaining quarter final played in perfect weather conditions in Ballyforan last Sunday evening. Brigid’s, who have many players in their side who have won county senior championship medals, were too experienced and were always the likely winners on the balance of play. more»

Liam McNeill Catering U16 FC finals Division 1 Strokestown 2-14 Boyle 1-6 Strokestown turned in superb display to sweep to the U16 division one title in Hyde Park last Sunday. Boyle battled away bravely but they just couldn’t come to terms with the power of the Strokestown side who went in at half time leading by ten points and who never were in trouble throughout the second half. more»

SHANNONSIDE FM SFC RELEGATION PLAY-OFF Western Gaels 0-14 Padraig Pearse’s 2-6 Western Gaels preserved their status in the SFC following a two-point win against Padraig Pearse’s in Hyde Park on Sunday last. more»

Shannonside FM Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final Replay Castlerea, St. Kevin’s 1-10 Kilmore 0-8 Shane Reynolds This is why Castlerea St. Kevin’s are champions, forced to play with fourteen men for almost the entire game in this quarter-final replay, the O’Rourke Park club dug deep to grind out a result which keeps their bid for three-in-a-row firmly on track. more»

Buccaneers play Creggs in a Connacht Junior League match on this Saturday evening at 6 pm. more»

Roscommon Town FC Roscommon Town Youth Soccer is running a fundraising dance in the Abbey Hotel on Saturday 18th September with Mike Denver the star attraction. Doors open 10 pm. Dancing 11 to 1 am. Draw on the night for a weekend away for two. Please support. more»

The decision by Roscommon County council to grant planning permission for the Roscommon GAA centre of excellence, which is planned for a site at Runnabracken, Oran, is being appealed to An Bord Pleanála. One local family has appealed against the decision to grant planning permission on historic and heritage grounds. more»

Last Sunday I went to Hyde Park to the Western Gaels v Padraig Pearse’s game. I’m a Western Gaels supporter and I parked on the County Home Road. I paid in at that entrance and when the game was over I left that way too. more»

Donamon Dynamos rider, Gavin Keane, came away from Tuam on Sunday 22nd August having scooped the top prize and trophy at the Brian McNamara Memorial road race. more»

Looking back – highlights of last weekend Game of the Weekend All-Ireland Football Semi-Final: Down v Kildare The senior game gets the nod, but only because of its importance. The minor semi final between Galway and Cork was a sensational game and one of the best seen at that level for many years. more»

This weekend’s sporting scene will be dominated by the All Ireland SHC final between Kilkenny and Tipperary. However, there is plenty of action here locally too. In the Kepak Roscommon SHC, the losers group semi-finals will take place this Saturday with the two winners meeting to see who advances to the semi final proper. more»

The penultimate race meeting of the year at Roscommon takes place next Monday, September 6th. The first white flag will be raised at 4.35 pm. more»

Tom Kelly of Ballygar and Eddie Naughton of Fuerty, connections of Doransfirth, had to sweat it out at Ballybrit on Sunday before their horse survived a lengthy Stewards’ Enquiry to hold on to the Ryans Events Cleaners Handicap Hurdle, having prevailed by the minimum margin of a short head ahead over The Lady Granuaile. more»

Roscommon The last two remaining junior competitions take place on Saturday 4th September and Saturday 11th September. On next Saturday 4th, the Abu-Dhabi 18 hole gross competition will be held, the tee off times start at 9 am and run until 10.30 am and this competition is open to all boys and girls. more»

SHANNONSIDE FM SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTER-FINAL REPLAY Kilmore 0-8 Castlerea 1-10 more»

U-16 Football Div 1 Championship Final spon. by Liam Mc Neill Catering: Strokestown 2 -14, Boyle 1- 6 more»

Results Ladies Senior Championship St Brigids 5-24 Kilbride 4-6 Padraig Pearses 2-9 Kilbride 0-10 more»

Saturday 4th September Athlone Nissan Division 1 Glen Celtic v Loughglynn United 7.30 pm. Martin Hatchett more»

FOOTBALL Ballinameen The junior championship game against St Joseph’s fixed for this Wednesday was postponed due to a death in the St Joseph’s club. The junior team play St Croan’s this weekend in the last round of the O’Gara cup, check fixtures for details. The club lotto draw is on this Saturday night, please support more»

The big sporting event of the weekend is the All-Ireland Hurling final which sees Kilkenny trying to claim an unprecedented five-in-a-row at the expense of arch rivals Tipperary. Betting: Kilkenny 2/5; Tipperary 9/4; draw 12/1. more»

Niall McGrath and Christopher Doolan from Coman’s played outstandingly to outgun Wexford’s E. Kelly and J. Murphy in straight games at Na Fianna, Dublin. more»

Last Saturday saw the Junior C 60 x 30 Connacht final take place in St Coman’s Roscommon featuring two of the local handballers. Mount Talbot duo David Dowd and Matthew Hughes had played superbly over the last few weeks culminating in their final appearance against a strong Leitrim pair. more»

There was a very exiting Junior A semi-Final in Boyle on Sunday where Western Gaels overcame neighbours Ballinameen by the narrowest of margins. Ballinameen played with the aid of the elements in the first half and lead 3-3 to 0-8 at the break thanks to goals from Christine Keane, Ruth Kelly and Saffron Cull. However in the second half Western Gaels mounted a fightback and Martina Freyne pulled back a goal and they took the lead which they never relinquished, when the same girl scored a penalty after Siobhan Greevy was pulled down in the square. Ballinameen pulled back three late points in a row but couldn’t find the equaliser. Meanwhile in the other semi-final, favourites Strokestown started off as they meant business and lead 1-6 to 0-1 at half time. Sinead Keenehan pulled back two goals for Boyle in the second period as they matched their opponents score for score but Laura’s Brudells two goals in a personal tally of 2-6, ensured last year’s Junior B winners march on to another final. more»

A lucky find A few days ago a lucky find of a fortune was made in Castlerea. It appears a young lady, who was about being married in a few days and accompanied by her intended husband, left McCormack’s Hotel, Castlerea, and proceeded with some other friends to a solicitor’s office. After being a considerable time in that place the young lady missed her purse and rushed back to the Hotel to see if she had forgot her purse there. In the meantime an ex-postman named John Montgomery was passing up the street and found the purse on the street, and, on seeing what it contained, rushed off with it and handed it to the Very Rev Canon Harte, PP. Shortly afterwards the alarmed young lady was given back her purse and its contents – £400 – by Canon Harte, and she presented the lucky finder, John Montgomery, with a £5 note. Montgomery deserves the highest praise for his commendable action in the matter. more»

Irish music legend Christy Moore makes a welcome return to Roscommon for a unique and intimate concert when he appears with guitarist Declan Sinnott at the Hyde Centre in Roscommon on Friday September 17th. more»

A new book containing the ordnance survey letters from County Roscommon, edited by Prof. Michael Herity, was published last week by Fourmasters Press in Dublin. more»

David Diffley of Property Partners Earley is this week offering a fine five-bedroom dormer style bungalow at 10 Greenhills Drive, Knockcroghery as his property of the week. more»

Cathal O’Brien of Property Partners Earley is this week offering a most attractive three-bedroom country residence for sale at Emalgh, Castleplunkett, Roscommon as his property of the week. more»

Seven acres of prime lands fronting onto the River Suck at Mount Talbot is currently for sale with ERA Oates in Roscommon. The land have a charming setting with natural trees in quaint location just off the main Roscommon to Galway route. more»

Final offers are now invited on a three-bedroom cottage located at Briarfield, Fourmilehouse. more»

A home at The Fairways, Roscommon, priced in the region of €250,000, is currently for sale with Ivan Connaughton Auctioneer. more»

Sean Naughton is offering for sale a luxury detached eight-bedroom dormer residence situated on a two acre elevated site with panoramic views of Kilglass Lakes and the surrounding countryside. The property has been finished to a superior specification throughout and must be seen to be truly appreciated. more»