Ballintleva marks new Astroturf and Tidy Towns success
By Rebekah O'Reilly
A special ceremony at Ballintleva National School in Curraghboy on Friday celebrated the South Roscommon school’s achievements in the 2024 and 2025 National Tidy Towns competitions, while also marking the official opening of a new Astroturf facility.
The new sports area was blessed by Fr Francis Beirne during the event, which was attended by local representatives Cllr Tony Ward and Roscommon/Galway Dr Martin Daly TD, alongside members of the wider community.
Local resident Michael Gacquin performed the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Astroturf, while former Ballintleva NS principal Mary O’Brien Healy was acknowledged for her significant contribution to bringing the project to fruition.
Speaking at the ceremony, Fr Beirne described the development of the facility as “a mammoth task”.
“This facility belongs to all of us, but most importantly, it belongs to the children,” he said. “May it foster a lifelong love of sport.
“This wonderful new sports facility is far more than simply an artificial playing surface. It is an investment in the health and wellbeing, and personal and social development of the children, not only of today, but of tomorrow and generations to come.”
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Fr Francis Beirne, Chairperson of Ballintleva NS board of management, blessing the new Astroturf.Image 2 of 3
Ballintleva NS past pupils Joshua Coyne, Jamie Doyle and Aaron Delaney who are part of the Roscommon minor football and hurling teams.Image 3 of 3
Dr Martin Daly TD, Michael Gacquin, Fr Francis Beirne, Roscommon County Council’s Cllr Tony Ward, and Principal Padraig O’Callaghan.School principal Pádraig O’Callaghan said the new facility demonstrated “what can happen when people give generously of themselves”.
He also highlighted the school’s recent success in the National Tidy Towns awards, where Ballintleva NS placed among the top four schools in the country in both 2024 and 2025.
“Over the past two years our school has enjoyed extraordinary success,” he said, of the Tidy Towns competition.
“In 2024, we were honoured to be named Overall Best School in the West and Northwest Region. It was an incredible achievement, and a reflection of the dedication shown by our pupils, staff, and wider community.
“In 2025, the competition evolved to focus on primary schools, with a particular emphasis on biodiversity, sustainability, and growing food responsibly.
“Once again, our school rose to the challenge and was named overall winner in the West and Northwest Region,” he said.”
Mr O’Callaghan said the school was “immensely proud” to have finished among the top four finalists nationally in both years.
Looking ahead to next year’s competition, he added: “Perhaps this year we can go one better, and bring home the national trophy.”