Rochfortbridge Round-up

Hang onto your hats! That"s right! The Active Friends group that meet every Wednesday afternoon in Rochfortbridge Parish Hall are doing something novel to celebrate Easter by running an Easter Bonnet Competition.The tradition of the Easter Bonnet has been around for a long time and represents the wearing of new clothes at Easter, in harmony with the renewal of the year and the promise of spiritual renewal and redemption.At the depths of the Great Depression a new hat at Easter, or a refurbished old one, was a simple luxury. Worn to Easter services and Easter parades, ladies purchased new and elaborate designs for particular church services.Now, in a more casual society, Easter Bonnets are becoming harder to find, as fewer and fewer women bother with the tradition.However, Maria Daly of the Active Friends Retirement Group say they are hoping to bring back the tradition, for the group at least, as way of having a bit of fun and celebrating Easter.She is encouraging everyone to give it a try and come along to the judging panel at the next meeting on Wednesday, April 8 where there will be a prize awarded for the best Easter Bonnet.Tidy TownsThe Tidy Towns Committee have written to the Community and Enterprise Department of Westmeath County Council requesting a meeting regarding the proposed new playground for Rochfortbridge.'It is our desire to work with the County Council as to the best design and layout of the playground,' said Dave Raftis, PRO of the Tidy Towns Committee. 'It is also our intention to restore and create the old look of 'Beggars Bridge' and possibly include a partial boardwalk over the stream which will add a nice back drop to the new playground,' he continued.At a meeting held in the Parish Hall in Rochfortbridge last Thursday night, March 26, the Committee decided that one to two hours one night per week will be given voluntarily by members to the cleaning and maintenance of the Village areas starting on Tuesday, March 31 and every Tuesday thereafter.'We have requested some bins and tags from the council,' said Dave Raftis. 'The selected meeting place will change according to the areas that need cleaning and members will receive an SMS text in advance.'Farthingstown has been selected as the meeting point for this Tuesday, March 31 at 7 o"clock. Anybody who would like to lend a hand would be most welcome and can contact Dave on 086-2325817.A skip has been requested from the Environment Section of the County Council for the cleaning and rubbish removal from the local stream that runs through the town. The Tidy Towns Committee would like to offer a special thank you to Vinnie Bagnall who has secured the use of a digger for the stream clean-up.A letter is also being prepared for the Legal and Enforcement section of Westmeath County Council to take action on some derelict sites around Rochfortbridge.Easter FairThe 9th Westmeath Milltownpass Scout group will hold their annual Easter Fair in the Rochfortbridge Parish Hall on Easter Sunday morning directly after 11.30am Mass.On the morning there will be a cake sale and crafts fare, as well as complimentary tea and coffee. There will also be lots of fun stalls including an 'Aunt Sally', fishing and bottle game.50 years of pure gold forRochfortbridge coupleCongratulations to Hugh and Nancy O"Neill, who celebrated their golden wedding anniversary recently. Hugh (originally from Gibbonstown, Rochfortbridge) and Nancy (nee Daly, of Gneevebawn, Tyrrellspass) were married in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Rochfortbridge on March 30, 1959 and have enjoyed 50 happy years together in which time they have raised a large family.They were joined in celebration by their nine children, eleven grand-children and extended family.The extra mileCongratulations to Shane Fitzpatrick from St. Joseph"s, Rochfortbridge who came second in the annual Schools Cross-Country International at Bangor, Wales to help the Ireland team to deliver a silver in the Junior Boys competition.Easter servicesA Penitential Service for Easter will be held in Rochfortbridge Church next Friday, April 3 at 7.00pm. Visiting priests will attend.