A wonderful night of culture was held in the stunning Main Salon, King House, Boyle on Friday, 26th September 2025.
Veronica Barrett with Musicians, MC and Roscommon’s Age Friendly Programme Manager
Veronica Barrett, Roscommon Older People’s Council was joined on the night by All Ireland Senior Céilí Band Champions, the Pipers Cross Céilí Band, Sean Nós Dancer & Story Teller Kevin Cunniffe, a Ladies Ballad Group from Castleblakney and renowned Musician, Fiona Sirr. Multimedia journalist, Sallyanne Barrett (Veronica’s daughter) was the excellent MC.
It was a truly fabulous evening of traditional Irish music, song and dance. The night centred around the life and times of Mary Spain, a young unmarried girl who entered the Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, County Galway in 1959. Veronica Barrett wrote ‘The Ballad of Mary Spain’ a number of years ago, winning the new song category at the All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil in 2017. The highlight of the night was when Veronica sang it, accompanied by Fiona Sirr, the crowd giving them a standing ovation.
Veronica Barrett with Sheila Coyle, Age Friendly Programme Manager, Áine Butler, Creative Communities Engagement Officer and Fiona Ni Chuinn, Senior Executive Officer, Community Section, Roscommon County Council
Roscommon’s Older People’s Council secured funding for this event from the Creative Roscommon Grant 2025 and are very grateful to the Culture Team in Roscommon County Council for this. One of the themes in Roscommon County Council’s Age Friendly Strategy is Social Participation, the goal being to encourage opportunities for our older population to engage in social, cultural and recreational activities. Roscommon Older People’s Council look forward to working collaboratively with the Roscommon’s Culture Team in the future in promoting age-friendly social and cultural events across the county to support social participation.
