Latest news with #RoscommonCountyCouncil
The Journal
a day ago
- The Journal
Man killed after explosion and fire at house in Co Roscommon named locally as Des Deegan (72)
LAST UPDATE | 1 hr ago TRIBUTES ARE BEING paid to a devoted partner who died in a Roscommon house fire overnight. The man has been named locally as Des Deegan, aged 72. The fire happened at a housing estate on the Boyle Road near Frenchpark village, which is around 30km north of Roscommon town. Gardaí and emergency services responded to the scene. Gardaí were made aware of the incident at 7.15pm, a spokesperson said, and the fire was extinguished by fire services. Emergency services are understood to have responded to reports very quickly. Roscommon County Council said fire units from Ballaghaderreen and Boyle Fire Stations numbering 20 personnel responded to the scene. Gardaí, ambulance staff and an air ambulance also attended the scene. Specialist excavation equipment was used at the scene to assist in emergency operations. Smoke from the blaze could be seen from a great distance away, and it is understood that local residents heard an explosion immediately before the fire. The aftermath of the blaze today. Courtesy of Shannonside FM Courtesy of Shannonside FM The scene remains sealed off for technical examinations and enquiries are ongoing. Gardaí are investigating to determine the cause of the fire, which is not yet known. Locals said that Mr Deegan, who was originally from Dublin, was a devoted partner to Alice Hetherton (63). The couple had lived at French Park for the past 25 years having met in London and lived in Kerry for a number of years previously. Tragically, Ms Hetherton suffered a serious bleed on the brain and an aneurysm in 2023 and as a result was admitted to a nursing home in the area in July 2024. Mr Deegan had launched a campaign locally to adapt the house and bring her home and had set up a Go-fundme page in April of this year. Advertisement Locals say he had spoken on local radio about his campaign on a number of occasions. To date the fundraiser has raised almost €7,000. 'Terrible tragedy' Independent councillor for the area Micheál Frain, who is also the station officer at Ballaghaderreen Fire Brigade, described last night's incident as a 'tragic event', adding that news of the blaze has been difficult for the town of Frenchpark. He said his thoughts and prayers are with the man's family and the 'great community' of Frenchpark. Fellow local councillor Valerie Byrne said the news of the event has 'shocked everyone' and described the event as a 'terrible tragedy'. She also extended her condolences to the man's family. Independent Ireland MEP Ciarán Mullooly said last night that his 'heart goes out to all those affected by this horrific blaze'. A number of adjoining properties suffered structural and roof damage as a result of the fire. One neighbour, Bernard Finley, told Virgin Media News that the explosion 'rattled the whole village'. 'It basically broke the front part of my house nearly off,' he said, adding that debris from the deceased's home had struck the front of his home, despite being a good 60 metres away. 'It was crazy. That's all I can say,' Finley said. 'I'm still in shock over it. I haven't slept much last night thinking about the poor man.' Frenchpark parish priest Fr Michael Donnelly told Virgin Media News that he felt 'pure numbness, but yet, feeling lucky'. He said the green around the estate is always full of children and said it was fortunate that there had only been one fatality from the incident. With reporting by Sean Ryan, Muiris Ó Cearbhaill and Jane Moore Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Newly co-opted Roscommon pays tribute to his predecessor and wants public amenity named in his honour
The Independent was co-opted onto Roscommon County Council in place of the late Anthony Waldron, who passed away in February. He was 64. Mr Holland secured thirteen of the seventeen councillors' votes at the expense of Gail Murray, who received three votes from Independent councillors Valerie Byrne and Tony Ward, and Sinn Féin's Leah Cull. A third candidate, Ernie Draper, received no votes. A fourth nominee, Mairead Kenny, withdrew her nomination on May 21. Roscommon County Council is controlled by a power sharing alliance comprising five Fianna Fáil, four Fine Gael and three Independent councillors. All twelve had agreed to vote for Mr Holland before Monday's special meeting of the council. Independent Ireland councillor Nigel Dineen abstained from the vote. Mr Holland said he would dedicate himself full-time to his role as a county councillor. He is the third new councillor to take his seat in the council chamber in as many months. In his maiden address to the council chamber, Cllr Holland paid tribute to his lifelong friend Anthony Waldron and promised to continue his work as a councillor. 'I will do everything in my power to fill Tony's boots,' he told Shannonside FM after his co-option. Cllr Holland asked that a jetty and a park be named in honour of the late councillor – which was formally proposed by Independent councillor Tom Crosby. The late Cllr Waldron, who lived in Ballintubber, County Roscommon, but hailed from Aghamore in County Mayo, served two terms as a councillor, between 2004 and 2009 and between 2019 and February 2025. A moment's silence in Cllr Waldron's memory was observed following a proposal by Roscommon County Council Cathaoirleach, Paschal Fitzmaurice. Meanwhile Cllr Holland labelled reports linking him with a proposed IPAS centre in Roscommon town as 'hurtful', adding that he had 'no hand, act or part with it'. Noel Whelan has applied to An Bord Pleanála for permission to use Academy House on Goff Street to accommodate International Protection Applicants under a Class 20F exemption. An online petition against the proposal has attracted over 300 signatures and opposition from some elected representatives. The case is to be determined before August 18.
Agriland
21-05-2025
- General
- Agriland
Call for support for farmers after land destroyed by gorse fires
A Fine Gael senator has raised incidents of gorse fires in Roscommon in the Seanad this week and has called for support for those who have suffered financial losses. Senator Gareth Scahill from the Roscommon-Galway constituency raised the matter following a weekend of wild fires around the Gortaganny area of west Roscommon. Fire crews from Roscommon, with support from fire crews in neighbouring Mayo and an air support helicopter, tackled the blaze for 36 hours in the townlands of Gortaganny, Granlahan, and surrounding areas. It is believed thousands of hectares of forestry and bog have been destroyed as a result. Roscommon County Council posted a message warning the public to be careful as the fire spread. 'We urge members of the public to exercise extreme caution following an extensive fire outbreak in the west Roscommon area at the weekend,' the council stated. Image: Roscommon County Council X 'Residents in the area please close windows and doors to avoid smoke. Avoid affected areas to allow emergency services continue their work.' Speaking in the Seanad, Senator Scahill said: 'I'd like to compliment the local fire service for their response, the support of the fire services from neighbouring counties, the air support for the helicopters providing water and for getting the actual fire under control over 36 hours. 'There are a number of landowners down there now who have lost significantly in relation to forestry and in relation to pension opportunities that they had; some farmers up to 100,000 [euro] in damages. 'On Friday last, the Cahir Gortaganny area was one of the new walks accepted onto the national Walks Scheme that was part of a national announcement and over the weekend that special area of conservation [SPC] was significantly damaged during the spread of these wild gorse fires,' he added. The senator stressed that he would like the heritage minister, Christopher O'Sullivan to adress the Seanad about supporting the landowners in the special areas of conservation. He outlined that community groups in the area have worked voluntarily for years to develop and maintain the SPCs and to have all that work destroyed over last weekend has been devastating. Responding in the Seanad on behalf of the government, Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, Seán Kyne said: 'I would like to commend all the fire fighters and first responders in relation to those fires and show solidarity and sympathy to those who have lost property and have had damages enacted to their property. 'I'll certainly request a debate with the minister on that and obviously it's disappointing to see damage as well to SACs and areas of conservation.' Other gorse fires Meanwhile, emergency teams have also been tackling gorse fires in Co. Wexford over the past few days. Fire damage at Tara Hill, Gorey. Image source: Neighbouring farmer, Padraig Doyle, chair Wexford ICMSA There has been significant damage to forestry near Gorey in about three or four separate areas, according to a spokesperson for the county council. Fire crews stood down from the fire around Tara Hill about about 9:00a.m yesterday (Tuesday, May 20) with road crews also standing down. Coillte staff remained at the scene checking hotspots and managing small rekindling with beaters. A very large water tanker and a bulldozer also remained on site yesterday. The fire service in Gorey and Bunclody resumed normal operations again yesterday once the gorse fire was under control. Tara Hill, Gorey. Image source: Padraig Doyle The council has said that the attendance of Coillte and the Air Corps helicopter 'greatly helped with the incident, reaching isolated difficult to access and dangerously steep terrain'.
Irish Independent
14-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Funding approved for multi-million-euro waterfront facility in Roscommon
The project, estimated to cost up to €30 million, aims to develop a marina with approximately 50 new berths, a promenade and water activities facilities in Hodson Bay on the shores of Lough Ree. The plan makes provision for enhanced facilities for activities such as boating and swimming. It also allows for a revised access strategy to create a link with the proposed new 'Lough Ree Greenway' in the redeveloped Hodson Bay area. The project is being managed by Roscommon County Council in partnership with Waterways Ireland. The latter organisations are providing combined match funding of €320,000. The balance of €1.07 million funding will be provided by Fáilte Ireland under the EU Just Transition Fund Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme (2023-2026) under the EU Just Transition Fund (EUJTF) 2021 – 2027. The Just Transition Fund is designed to support EU regions most affected by the transition to a climate-neutral economy, such as Ireland's Midlands region, where industries such as peat harvesting have declined. Chief Executive of Roscommon County Council, Shane Tiernan said the new development at the Hodson Bay 'will increase capacity for even more visitors to the region and enhance the tourism offering of the region'. Civic Engineers Ltd have been appointed as lead consultants on the project following the signing of contract documents. Paddy Mathews, Head of Ireland's Hidden Heartlands at Fáilte Ireland said that the EU Just Transition Fund is was helping to 'transform the tourism landscape in the Midlands'. 'Roscommon is a key destination in Ireland's Hidden Heartlands and we look forward to working closely with Roscommon County Council to deliver this project and support the sustainable development of tourism for the benefit of visitors and communities across the region,' added Mr Mathews. Subject to planning being secured by Roscommon County Council, Waterways Ireland will investigate all funding opportunities to progress the project elements to construction.
