Geevagh resident killed in road collision was “beautiful inside and out”
SLIGO councillor Declan Bree will preside at one of the lectures at this year’s Annual Desmond Greaves Summer School, which takes place in the Ireland Institute, Dublin, on this coming weekend.
Speakers at the event include Dr Karen Devine, lecturer on International Relations and EU Affairs at Dublin City University; Dr Ian Malcolm, lecturer, and broadcaster; Dr Ray Bassett, author and former Irish diplomat; Mr Will Podmore, librarian and author and Dr Michael Quinn, author and historian.
The barrister and former MEP, Ms Patricia McKenna, and the journalist and broadcaster Eoin Ó Murchu, will officiate at the event. Mr Mick Lynch, General Secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (Britain), will give the opening message to the school. C. Desmond Greaves (1913-1988) whose work and writings inspired the foundation of the Weekend School, was one of Ireland’s leading labour historians.
His works include ‘The Life and Times of James Connolly’, ‘Liam Mellows and the Irish Revolution’, `Seán O’Casey – Politics and Art’, Wolfe Tone and the Irish Nation’, and ‘History of the Irish Transport and General Workers’ Union’.
As a leading member of the Connolly Association in London and editor of its monthly newspaper ‘The Irish Democrat’ from 1948 to 1988, he pioneered the idea of a campaign for civil rights to end unionist domination, which was taken up by the 1960s Northern Ireland Civil Rights Movement.
Cllr Bree to chair Summer School talk
A WOMAN living in County Sligo who died following a road collision on the M1 was described by her husband as somebody who was “beautiful inside and out”.
Krista Rowan (31), a native of Ontario, Canada, but living at Annagh Lodge, Geevagh, and her unborn baby, died at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin on August 29, 2020, the resumed inquest into her death Dublin Coroner’s Court heard.
Ms Rowan was travelling northbound on the M1 on August 19, 2020, to a work meeting in Newry when she was involved in a road traffic collision.
Ms Rowan was taken to Our Lady’s Hospital in Drogheda. She was later transferred to Beaumont Hospital. She died on August 29.
At the resumed inquest into her death, her husband Eoin said she was healthy and happy.
Speaking after her inquest he said: “She was a comedian, really lighthearted and funny. She was beautiful inside and out. She made people comfortable. She was a real authentic people person, there was no judgment, she really made people feel valued.”
The inquest heard she was three months pregnant. A scan was done at the National Maternity Hospital Holles Street on August 28, 2020, the day before her death.
Dash camera footage of Ms Rowan’s car moving across the two lanes of the M1 was provided by two different lorry drivers to gardaí.
There had been no attempt made to turn the steering wheel to negotiate a bend and no attempt to brake.
The inquest heard Ms Rowan’s kidneys were donated, saving the lives of two others. “It’s an acknowledgement of the great gift she imparted,” the coroner said of a letter furnished to the inquest from Organ Donation Transplant Ireland.
The cause of death was cerebral trauma due to a road traffic collision
The late Krista Rowan.
and the coroner recorded a narrative verdict, noting that baby Ree Rowan did not survive the impact of the fatal collision.
LOCAL councillor Marie Casserly has asked for an update on what progress, if any, has been made on efforts to ensure an important historical monument near Collooney is properly maintained.
Her call – an issue which is also being raised by Cllr Thomas Healy at the same meeting – comes more than a year after she first raised concerns and she confirmed that since June 2021 when she first tabled a motion stressing the need for work to be done on the monument, she has heard nothing to indicate there has been progress on her request.
Cllr Casserly says she is keen to know what has happened since she first tabled a motion more than a year ago in relation to the Teeling Monument at Carrignagat, Collooney, which has fallen into disrepair.
Speaking to the Sligo Weekender yesterday, Cllr Casserly said the important monument was “an eyesore” at the moment and needed repair and maintenance work done. She said she awaits with interest any reports of progress following on from her June 2021 motion, but having recently visited the monument she said it remains in a considerable state of disrepair
“With the various anniversaries coming up people are much more aware of the history of local monuments. At the moment it is an eyesore, and the community does want to get involved but they know they are restricted in so doing as the monument is not in public ownership,” she said.
She added: “If the council could offer support and apply on behalf of the National Graves Association (NGA) for funding to do the work, that would be a great help, but my concern is that the council cannot do that if the monument is not in public ownership. That’s one of a number of questions I will be asking about this at our meeting on Monday as many, many people have asked me to raise and continue to raise the need for work to be done to bring this monument back to its former glory,” she said.
Cllr Casserly has tabled a motion to come before Monday’s meeting of the Municipal District of Sligo-Drumcliffe.
First erected in 1898, the monument is in memory of Bartholomew Teeling. Captain Teeling was a leader of the Irish forces during the Irish Rebellion of 1798 and is famed, in particular, for his bravery during the Battle of Collooney. He was captured at the Battle of Ballinamuck and executed for treason.
In June 2021, Cllr Casserly moved a motion asking Sligo County Council to write to the National Graves Association (NGA) requesting that the NGA organise refurbishment works on the monument. In response to that request Sligo County Council confirmed the National Heritage Council had contacted the NGA and a site meeting had taken place to discuss the care and conservation of the monument.