To recognise the connection between the well known song 'The Old Rustic Bridge By The Mill' and Castletownroche, a mural by artist Joan Irwin featuring the words of the song will be unveiled on Saturday, June 29 by the Tidy Towns committee.

The song by TP Keenan is synonymous with Castletownroche and while in Cork with his company in 1927, he sadly caught pneumonia and died. He was buried in Castletownroche Cemetery overlooking the bridge on the river Awbeg and the mill.

His grave was unmarked for 53 years until locals erected a memorial to his memory on the wall inside the cemetery gate, as the exact spot where he was buried is unknown.

Thomas Keenan dedicated many songs to his late wife Margaret Lillis whom he married in the early 1890's, among these were 'The Old Rustic Bridge By The Mill'.

On Saturday, June 29 at 8.30pm, there will be a walk to St Mary's Church in TP Keenan's honour, proceeding to Bridge Street, Doneraile Road and onto Paint Crawl to view the artwork there before unveiling a mural by Ms Irwin, followed by a reception in the community centre.

Joan Irwin painted two marine ply boards to resemble a music manuscript with the words and music to the song. The finished work measures 8ft by 8ft and is erected on the gable end of a house facing into Nash's Petrol Station on the main street.

Castletownroche Tidy Towns will also be featured on RTE Nationwide on Wednesday, June 26 at 7pm as the Nationwide team recently filmed the achievements of the volunteers earlier this month.

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