Vibrancy of south Mayo parish reflected in impressive annual magazine

The 13th edition of the Roundfort, Robeen and Carras Parish Magazine is a wonderful reflection on the vibrant south Mayo community.

Titled 'Rise and Shine' and extending over 256 pages, it is a record of more or less everything that happened in the parish over the past 12 months, accompanied by numerous fine photographs.

There are tributes to local personalities who passed away since the last publication and features on a wide range of local events and success stories.

The front cover is adorned by an image of Noah's Ark created by talented local artist Catherine Flynn.

In her foreword, Trish Gallagher, a member of the editorial committee, she said if the magazine told a story, it would be of a parish that is abounding with life and energy, a parish that cherishes the memories of the past, is committed in the present to its vibrant community, and is dreaming boldly of the future.

She continued: "You will find within these pages an abundance of articles that reflect that.

"We have entrepreneurs ranging from national school pupils selling eggs to fund their new astro turf pitch to Darren Forde's life-saving inventions.

"We have a wealth of organisations that have had great success in the fields of sport, health promotion, community development and environmental advocacy.

"We look at a year in the life of the parish from the Harvest Mass to the festival of the cribs while hearing from our parishioners who have adventures the world over.

"There are personal reflections and reminiscences and photographs to take you down memory lane."

She paid tribute to Fr. Mick Murphy, P.P., for spearheading the project again this year and the editorial committee who worked tirelessly in getting content for it.

One of the many lovely features in a two-page photographic spread on parish baptisms, which the families will treasure, while local historian Ger Delaney's piece on Hollymount and the 'Second Reformation' also caught the eye.

This observer was intrigued, too, by Evelyn Kean's article on an organisation known as Lia Fáil, a political movement that espoused a far-right ideology of the most extremist views back in the late 1950s.

Sixteen Hollymount farmers were brought before the High Court in Dublin to answer changes of trespass and criminality. They pleaded that Lia Fáil, founded by a Catholic cleric, Fr. John Fahy, had let them astray.

They were charged in the courts of breaking into a 400-acre estate in Roundfort, then in the hands of the Land Commission. They drove out the stock of the tenants that grazed in it and divided the land amongst themselves. In mitigation, wrote Evelyn, they gave an undertaking not to intervene with the land in the future.

Needless to day, Lia Fáil did not last too long.

If prizes were given for the finest parish magazines produced in the county, this one would certainly be a leading contender for the top accolade.

Designed and printed by MW Design, Print and Signs Limited, Claremorris, it is on sale at outlets throughout south Mayo for as little as €10.