‘Roscrea, My Heart’s Home’

Roscrea Heritage Society would like to thank all involved with their recent competition, based on the well-loved publication ‘Roscrea, My Heart’s Home’ by Roscrea’s ‘darlin’, Kathleen Moloughney.

All entries received captured the essence of Roscrea, its people and its heritage. All three judges were very impressed with the standard of entries received and the society appreciates the time they took to judge each entry in their category.

On behalf of the Moloughney family, Joe thanked the Heritage Society for organising the competition and also everyone who entered. He expressed his gratitude and that of his family for honouring their mother through this competition. Joe mentioned how the following poem inspired Kathleen’s title for her publication, ‘Roscrea, My Heart’s Home’:

My home! My heart’s first home,

Thy skies are ever clear;

No absence can dispel

Thy scenes, so bright, so dear;

The hills, so oft in transport climbed,

The woods I loved to roam;

The bells that sweetly chimed –

My home, my heart’s home.

Tho years unheeded fly,

Wherever I may be

Fond mem’ry brings thee nigh

And turns my heart to thee:

And while its dreamy fountains last,

Tho’ wintry age may come,

Thy spring can ne’er be past-

My home, my heart’s first home

(Wallace)

Roscrea Heritage Society would like to congratulate the following, who were placed in our competition:

Adult - First Place Poetry: John Browne; Runner-up – Mary McNamara; Adult - first place Story: Lorraine Murphy Shaw; runner up – Dick Conroy; Adult - first place Art: Marissa Phillips Hayes; runner up – Michelle Cordial; Secondary School – first place Poetry: Caoimhe Flannery; runner-up – Sophie Rowland; Secondary School - first place Art: Jessica Moloughney; Secondary School - first place Story: Sophie Rowland; Primary School – first place Poetry: Saoirse Flannery; Primary School - first place Art: Kate Murphy; runner-up – Molly Kirwan.