Ruan Apostolic Works Society will celebrate sixty years in existence on Friday, November 30 next.  The evening will begin with a Mass in St. Mary’s Church, Ruan at 6.30pm, followed by refreshments and reminiscences in the Community Centre afterwards. All are invited to see the contribution this group has made to the Missions over the years.

The children from Ruan and Toonagh Primary Schools, who are making their First Holy Communion next summer, will have their first preparation Mass in Ruan Church on this Saturday, November 24, at 8.00pm. 

The death has taken place of P.J. Howard of Toormore, Ruan, peacefully, at his home.  P.J. was a son of the late Christopher and Maura Howard of Ruan and, like many of his generation, travelled to England where he worked for many years. On one of his trips home he met Mary Haugh from West Clare and after getting married they lived for ten years in England, where their four children were born. They always had a longing to come home and they returned to Ruan in 1975. 

Outside of his working life, driving heavy machinery and carpentry, P.J. had a great love of traditional music and he played the  accordion with a band in England. On their return to Ireland he joined his brothers Chris and Francis in their group. 

He was a skillful hurler in his day, hurling with the Ruan team of the time. One of his proudest memories were being honoured as a member of the Ruan hurling team of 1959-1962 in April 1986 by the, then, President of the G.A.A. Dr. Mick Loftus.  He also had medals for running and was considered a very good 100m sprinter.  His great love of music led him to buying musical instruments for his three older grandchildren and it was a proud moment for his family when they played a tribute at his requiem mass, which was concelebrated by Fr. Pat O’Neill and Fr. Peter O’Loughlin. Afterwards, he was late to rest in the adjoining cemetery.

P.J. was predeceased by his son, Frank, and he is survived by his wife Mary, son Mark, daughters Caroline and Helen, daughter in law, sons in law, brothers Gerard, Chris and Francis, sisters Sr. Kathleen, Anna and Mary, grandchildren, extended family and friends.

The death has also occurred of Michael Lyons, Larchill, Ennis, brother of Sean Lyons, Dromore, Ruan.