Ballinamarrogue, Islandeady, Castlebar

The parish of Islandeady lost a well respected and most courteous member of the community when Katie O'Malley from Ballinamarrogue died in University College Hospital, Galway, on July 4 last.
Katie was born on August, 1927, in Castlelucas, Ballyglass. Her parents were Michael Gannon and Winifred Hughes. She was the last born of a family of six boys and two girls.
Katie witnessed many changes during her life time. Ireland was still a very new State at the time of her birth, a mere five and a half years after the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty which set up the Irish Free State.

There can be no rehearsal for a mother's death. For the months and weeks of her final illness you try to reach into the future to catch the hour of darkness and the pain and parting that is to come but there is no preparation for the emptiness of these days.
In our own way we each run down the lanes of childhood, seeking the bright moments, the lasting memory, the childhood joy of her presence and in the end, we realise that God has called her home like she used to call us in for the rosary and for bed in the growing darkness of a long, sunny, summer's day.

Ballyhaunis

In the early hours of Saturday morning, May 22, 2010, my only sister Sharon O' Dowd, aged 30 years old, died in a motorcycle accident on the Claremorris Road in Ballyhaunis.
Below follows a tribute to my beloved Sharon, which seems to me to be the most fitting manner in which to remember her.
The first child born to our parents, Val and Pat O' Dowd, on August 27, 1979, you were truly their bundle of joy.
The enduring bond which subsequently developed between you and mam was full of love and mutual understanding. You were such a wonderful daughter to our dear mother. I know she will sorely miss your companionship and energetic presence, lest alone your very regular visits and wake-up calls.