18th September, 2022

Adamstown Parish Newsletter

Weekend of Sat 17th & Sun 18th September 2022 

Volume 22.  Number 37

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ADAMSTOWN LOTTO

The next draw in the Adamstown Lotto takes place this Monday 19th September in the Community Centre for a massive Jackpot of €15,000. Well worth a €2 ticket – it could be you this time.

ADAMSTOWN PHARMACY NOTICE

Adamstown Pharmacy will be administering seasonal

FLU vaccine beginning Wednesday 21st September for

2022-2023 flu season.

Also people over 65 can call to arrange a 3rd Covid booster vaccine from 1st October 2022.

Please call 053 9240460 or 053 924054 for more information and to arrange an appointment.

ADAMSTOWN COMMUNITY CENTRE NOTICE

A Date for Your Diary: – Christmas Craft Fair

Adamstown Community Centre is holding a Christmas Craft Fair on Sunday 4th December.

More details to follow closer to the date.

ADAMSTOWN NS PARENTS ASSOCIATION

Adamstown National School Parents Association is having a Clothes Collection in aid of funds for the school, which will take place on Tuesday 27th September 2022.

Clothes can be left outside the Hall opposite the school from 9.00am – 9.30am. Good condition and reusable clothing,

paired shoes, handbags. Belts, hats, scarves are collected.

No duvets, cushions, pillows, teddy bears or children’s toys are collected.

Thanks to everyone for your support.

ADAMSTOWN GAA CLUB

Well done to our Senior Ladies footballers who set aside their disappointment of a recent extra time loss to St. Anne’s, to grind out a 3-06 to 1-07 win against Kilanerin last weekend. They now go forward to The Shield Final, so well done ladies and all mentors.

Our men’s Intermediate A football team also had a comprehensive 0-16 to 0-06 win against Kilrush at Farmleigh and have now won all 3 of their opening championship games. They now go forward to round 4 where they will take on Kilmore this Sunday in Hollymount. Well done to all and best of luck in round 4.

BRIDIE DEEGAN née LAWLOR  – R.I.P.

Bridie Deegan (née Lawlor) formerly Oldcourt and Knockreigh, Adamstown, and late of Hitchen, Herts, England passed away on 2nd September 2022. Her funeral Mass will take place on Wed 28th September in Our Lady’s Church, Hitchen, England. Remembered by all her loving family and friends. A memorial Mass will be celebrated in St. Abban’s Church, Adamstown on Sunday 25th September at 10.30am. Our sympathy to all the Lawlor family, Knockreigh.  May she rest in peace.

ADAMSTOWN ICA NEWS

Adamstown ICA Guild held their first meeting since the summer break last Wednesday 14th September in the local Community Centre at 8pm. Our President, Ann Stafford welcomed everyone and hoped we had a lovely summer and were full of energy and raring to go. After the prayer and singing of My Land, it was down to business. As we had received a grant towards sports activities and one for art, the ladies decided that those who already enjoyed golfing, bowling and aqua aerobics would continue to do so. We are still deciding on the art one, maybe forming a singing group or doing a mosaics course. Members are looking into these and will report back.  Ann congratulated the ladies who took part in the Special Occasions held in Bree, those who set up the table and those who took part in the entertainment.

We enjoyed some lovely outings, Riverdance the Musical organised by Mary Nolan for Wexford Federation, our own summer outing to Kilkenny and a couple of trips to the cinema to see ‘Elvis’ & ‘Where the Crawdaddy’s Sing’.

Helen, our sports rep spoke about the Federation Sponsored Walk for two charities. She said maybe it made more sense to join some of the other guilds for the walk, as we always have our own sponsored walk for the Senior Citizen’s Christmas party around Halloween. Sheelagh reported that the Women’s Refuge was full to capacity, with a higher number of children in the families living there at present. They hope to get the ‘go ahead’ for the new building in October, as it’s been up for tender for awhile now. Thank you so much to members who brought along clothing, toiletries and colouring books & pencils for the children.

The competition for Rhubarb & Ginger jam was won by Helen Furlong and the draw by Callie Doyle.

 A lovely tea was served thanks to hosts Eleanor Power and Frances Gallagher, with much appreciated help from Liz Furlong. Federation Meeting in Ballyfad September 26th at 8pm. Arrangements for transport will be sent out on our whattsap group. If you would like to join our ICA Guild contact any member for details. 

ACOUSTICS

Every public building where people gather needs quality heating, lighting and acoustics. St. Abban’s Church is such a building. Recently a head-radio speaker was purchased costing €400. A generous parishioner kindly agreed to sponsor the cost. This speaker greatly improves the quality of sound and is a welcome innovation. Our sincere thanks to our very generous donor.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK (Ireland’s Own)

To be happy in life you must let go of what’s gone.

Be grateful for what remains,

And look forward to what is on the way.

CHURCH NOTICES

IN MEMORIAM

Sat 17th – Aoife Kelly, Doononey, (A)

Sun 18th – James, Ellen, Tommy, Ned O’Shea

               Eileen Hayes, and Mary Wilmore, Adamstown (A)

Sat 24th – John & Kate Power, The Leap (A)

Sun 25th – Bridie Wakeman, Newcastle & Raheenduff (A)

Pray for Thomas Comerford, Oldcourt.

May they rest in peace.

HARVEST FESTIVAL MEMORIAL MASS

The 20th Anniversary of the first Old Time Threshing in John Power’s field at the Leap occurred on 15th September 2022 That first Festival was organized to help Sr. Helen with her life-saving work in Uganda  was truly a memorable occasion with an attendance of over 800 people, and Sr. Helen did have the best harvest in the Parish of Adamstown that year with an amazing amount of €5,443.76 being raised because of the generosity of so many people.

As a remembrance of all those who helped to make the first and subsequent Harvest Festivals such a huge success, and who have now gone to their eternal reward, Mass will be offered in St. Abban’s Church on Saturday night October 1st at 7.30pm.

Following Mass you are all invited to Cullen’s Lounge for a get together and a catch up, refreshments will be served and everyone welcome to come along.

MIRACLES OF THE EUCHARIST –

International Exhibition & Relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis.

St. Michael’s Church, Gorey

 Friday 23rd & Saturday 24th September.

11am – 12.30pm – Exhibition in St. Michael’s Pastoral Centre

& 1.30pm – 7.30pm

10am – Holy Mass / Talk / Blessing with the Relic

11am -6pm – Adoration in St. Michael’s Church

3pm – Benediction in St. Michael’s Church

6.30pm – Holy Mass / Witness / Blessing with the Relic

Sunday 25th September

1pm – 7.30pm – Exhibition  / Witness / Blessing with the Relic

10am – Holy Mass / Witness / Blessing with the Relic

1pm – 3.30pm – Adoration in St. Michael’s Church

6pm – 7pm – Holy Hour / Witness/ Blessing with the Relic

MARCH FOR LIFE – Sat 17th September

Break the Silence:

We join in prayer with those who took part in the March for Life in Dublin today, who stood united with pro-life Oireachtas members to demand that our voices are represented and heard.

PRAYER  (Pope’s Worldwide Network of Prayer)

As night falls, O Lord,

Let your love fall around me,

Your protection journey ahead of me,

Your care be always the light in any darkness.

Thank you for the good of this day, and sorry for when I let you or others down.

May your risen love be light in the night-time of life – for myself, for all dear to me and all who need help in life. Amen.

THE GREATS OF GAELIC GAMES – Bobby Rackard

For eleven wonderful years Bobby Rackard played senior hurling for Wexford. The Killanne native lit up the national game with defensive displays of quality and reliability. Not given to being ‘a talker’, he let his hurling speak for itself.

In all four Rackard brothers wore the Purple and Gold.

Somewhat ironically, the Rackard ancestors had grown up in Rackardstown, not far from Kilmore Quay. Neither Rackard parent was keen on hurling, and the father Robert, found his sporting pursuits in cricket, weight-lifting, swimming and horses. Indeed, their famed trio of sons – Nickey, Bobby and Willie – would all, in time ride out with the Hunt, and Bobby himself, excelled in working with horses. Rackard senior tried to engage his sons into playing cricket. In truth, his boys just wanted to reach behind the kitchen door for their hurleys, and be let loose in the yard outside. By the end of the 1940’s, Robert Rackard would see four of his five children hurl for Rathnure Club. In 1948 the club won its first Wexford senior title. Born in 1937, Bobby spent his life on the land. In time, he would win four Wexford senior medals with Rathnure, all of them against St. Aidan’s of Enniscorthy. Thirteen years separated his first and last county medals.

1951 saw Wexford claim a first Leinster senior hurling title in 33 years. Bobby was at centre-half back for that win against Laois. Two All-Ireland defeats had to be endured (1951 & 1954) but 1955 saw the Model County win a First All-Ireland senior crown since 1910. In the final of 1954, the classy full-back Nick O’Donnell had to retire, because of a collar bone injury. This happened when the sliotar struck him, from a powerful shot by Christy Ring. It has been said by those hurling fans lucky enough to have been in Croke Park, on that September Sunday in 1954, that they will never forget the hurling display of Bobby Rackard, following his switch to the edge of the Wexford ‘square’. On O’Donnell’s return from injury, Bobby remained in the full-back line, moving into the Number 2 position; he remained there for all of the great days of Wexford hurling that had yet to come.

Bobby Rackard’s style of play was brilliant. He could deal with any ball, in the air or near the ground. His mighty clearances down the field thrilled the Wexford fans and settled his defence time and again. He preferred to grab the ball out of the air instead of driving it forward from overhead. As a corner-back, it was wise thinking. Bobby was described as being as fair a player as ever played the game, and was never interested in ‘playing the man’. The immortal Ring said Bobby was the greatest and most sporting player he had marked. A farming accident in 1957, brought the curtain down too early on the brilliant career of Bobby Rackard.

He was just 30 years old. He had won two All-Ireland Senior medals (1955 and ’56); one National Hurling League medal (1955/56) – in a game Wexford trailed by 15 points at the interval); four Leinster senior medals (all in the 1950s) and one Railway Cup medal in 1956.

(Aidan Grennan -Ireland’s Own – May 2020)  

APOLOGIES – Re: Newsletter

Apologies for the shortages of Newsletters over the past two weeks, the number of copies received from the printers was short 40 copies. They have rectified the matter from this week onwards.