11th December, 2022

Adamstown Parish Newsletter

Weekend of Sat 10th & Sun 11th December 2022 

Volume 22.  Number 49

ADAMSTOWN LOTTO

The final draw for this year takes place in the Community Centre this Monday 12th December for a Jackpot of €15,000 your last chance to make it a Christmas to remember – for a €2.00 ticket it could be you!

COMMUNITY CENTRE NEWS

The Community Centre Committee would like to thank all those who supported their Craft Fair fundraiser on Sunday last. To all the crafters, sponsors of prizes, everyone who bought tickets in person and online, the ICA and all the local clubs who supported us, your support is very much appreciated.

Christmas Raffle Winners –

Geraldine Whelan – Hamper sponsored by Cullen’s Gala

Elaine McDonald – Whiskey & Biscuits sponsored by Mary J Furlong & Lizzy Whelan.

Trish Wickham – Hamper sponsored by Sensible Safety

Lee Bradley – Electric Blanket & Blender – sponsored by Betty O’Shea.

Nancy Bradley – Hamper & Clock – sponsored by Betty O’Shea

Breda Bolger – Hamper – sponsored by Helen Furlong

Phil Jackman Snr – €50 one4all sponsored by ABS Construction

Lee Bradley – €100 cash sponsored by Adamstown LFC

Colin Purcell – Whiskey & Chocolates- sponsored by Mary J Furlong & Lizzie Whelan

Bernie Cashin – Hamper sponsored by Sensible Safety

Patrick O’Gorman – Hamper sponsored by Adamstown Pharmacy

Ann Ryan – Hamper sponsored by Adamstown Pharmacy

Niamh Kelly – Hamper sponsored by Brad Ogs

Tommy Doyle C/o Ann Ryan – €50 oil voucher sponsored by Mr. Oil.

The weight of the Cake was 6lbs 3oz. With no guess exactly correct Emma Delaney wins with the closest guess of 6lbs 6oz

The Community Centre Committee are delighted to announce that the total raised from the event was €2194

which will be used to paint the exterior of the Centre.

Many thanks everyone.

COLAISTE ABBAIN PANTOMIME – SLEEPING BEAUTY

Coláiste Abbáin will present their Pantomime – Sleeping Beauty in their Sports Hall on the following nights at 7.30pm

Wednesday 14th, Thursday 15th & Friday 16th December.

ADULT TICKET €9.00.   OAP/STUDENT €5.00

CHILDREN €2.00. There will also be a Raffle with lots of great prizes.  A shop will be provided with teas/coffees available during the interval. A great night’s entertainment is guaranteed.  Your support would be appreciated.

SENIOR CITIZEN’S CHRISTMAS PARTY

We hope all our senior citizens will have a lovely time at their Christmas Party this Sunday in the Horse & Hound.

A huge thanks to the local ICA for organizing this event.

LINE DANCING

Line Dancing in Adamstown Community Centre every Wednesday morning at 10.30am. Come along and enjoy the fun and exercise. For further information contact

Sarah on 087 9792483

SCOIL NAOMH ABBÁIN NEWS

Carol Service in St. Abban’s Church

Scoil Naomh Abbáin, Adamstown will hold a Carol Service in St. Abban’s Church on Friday December 16th at 6.30pm. Each will class will showcase a selection of carols and Christmas songs. Everyone welcome to come along.

Parents Association Annual Christmas Raffle:

Just a reminder that the Parents Assoc. Annual Christmas Raffle is back again this year. Children have raffle cards. Also if you would like to donate online please go to: https://www.idonate.ie/raffle/AdamstownNSRaffleDec2022

There are some wonderful prizes on offer this year. We are very grateful for all the generous sponsors.

ANCCR Area Development CLG

Area Development Ltd, Raheen, Clonroche.

ANCCR Area Development CLG have vacancies for the following positions

Community Employment General Operatives in the following areas, Adamstown, Newbawn, Cushinstown/Terrerath, Caroreigh and Clonroche.

Community Employment Childcare Assistant in

Adamstown /Raheen.

In order to apply for any of the above positions you need to be over 21 years and in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for 12 months. If interested in any of those positions, please contact your local Intreo Office or phone Kay, CE Supervisor at ANCCR on 087 4144313.

 We would love to hear from you.

TAGHMON HISTORICAL SOCIETY

We are delighted to let you know, our Annual Calendars are on sale now, check your usual outlets.

Launch of our new Photo Book:

Our Photobook “Taghmon Through the Years” will be launched on Wednesday 14th December in Taghmon/Camross GAA Complex, Taghmon. This will be followed by Carols by Candlelight in St. Fintan’s Church,

Taghmon. All Welcome, we look forward to seeing you there.

SYMPATHY

The death occurred on Tuesday 29th November of Nuala Kehoe (née Murray), Ballinavary, Davidstown. We extend our deepest sympathy to her husband Laurence, children, extended family, neighbours and friends. To her relatives in our Parish our sympathy also. Her funeral Mass was celebrated in Davidstown Parish Church on Thursday 1st December followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery.

May her gentle soul rest in peace.

CHURCH NOTICES

IN MEMORIAM

Sat 10th – Pat Furlong, Raheenduff

Sun 11th – Gerry Bradley, Ballyvergin (A)

Also           Aunty Campbell, Oldcourt, her brothers and sisters and her mother Hannah Lawlor née Whelan & deceased members of the Whelan family, Brocurra (A)

Sat 17th – Kit O’Connor, Newtown (A)

Also         Josie Thorpe, Newtown (A)

Sun 18th – Jim Connors, Mooncoin & The Hill (A)

May they rest in peace.

READERS OF THE LITURGY

Sat 17th – Cáit Bradley.         Sun 18th – Callie Doyle

ST. VINCENT de PAUL ANNUAL APPEAL

A reminder of the St. Vincent de Paul Annual Appeal which will be taken up this Saturday night & on Sunday morning after Masses in St. Abban’s Church.

Please be as generous as you can.

MARY’S MEALS

The Christmas edition of the Online Quiz to support Mary’s Meals takes place on Friday, December 16th at 8pm.

The quiz provides meals for over 500 hungry children in a place of education every month. A contribution of €5 is enough too provide 55 meals. To take part or simply donate go to www.bit.ly/QuizforMM or ring Martin Colfer on

087 2596159. Thank you to all who helped us during the year. It is very much appreciated.

EPILEPSY IRELAND COLLECTION

A Church Gate collection on behalf of Epilepsy Ireland will take place on next Saturday Dec 17th & Sunday 18th after Mass. Your support would be greatly appreciated.

ICA NEWS

November was a busy month for our guild, nine members attended the musical Joseph & his Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat in St. Michael’s Theatre, New Ross on Nov 23rd. It was a wonderful night’s entertainment and thoroughly enjoyed by all & had four very talented locals in the cast which added to our enjoyment. The following night Thursday 24th we were at the ICA bowling tournament in Leisure Max.

Congratulations to Anne Stafford & Eleanor Power who were among the winners & well done to all the ladies who participated, it was lovely to meet members from other guilds around the county. Monday November 27th we attended the Co. Federation meeting in Oylegate with instructions to wear festive colours, red, green or gold. After the business of the meeting was dealt with the fun started, first some games of Bingo with lots of lovely prizes. Then we had a special guest the one and only Liam Sharkey who was busy for the first few minutes searching for “Bridie” & had us all in stitches with his antics & funny stories. After that we were ready for a welcome cuppa served up by the Oylegate ladies, with some mouth watering goodies, including the festive mince pies. A huge Thank you to our Federation President Breda Cahill & members of the Federation committee for ensuring we had a fun night to mark the Festive Season – take a bow ladies.

Our next Guild meeting is Wednesday 14th December & we would love to see new faces there.

ADAMSTOWN GAA

Unfortunately our season finally came to an end on Saturday last with a 0-12 to 0-06 defeat in the Leinster Final. BUT let there be no negativity, no repercussions and no regrets – this was a fantastic year and everyone is as proud of the team after the match as before. We had asked for the community to travel in numbers, bring the kids, cheer loudly and support the boys no matter what. All of this was delivered in spades and was fantastic to see so many on the field to console and congratulate the boys at the final whistle. It’s so easy to slip away, so easy to criticise but this team has brought tremendous passion, pride and excitement to Adamstown this winter and it was truly special to see everyone – young and old – stand together in defeat as they had done in victory. We were always in this together and today proved that. Hats off to Castletown GFC who deserved their victory on the day. Best of luck in the All Ireland series as Leinster Champions.

CASTLETOWN

Congratulations Adamstown GAA on your marvellous year and achievements. It has been an epic journey to reach a Leinster Final. Be Proud ….Castletown go on further and we wish them well but just to let you know that is not the first time we have been in touch with the people of Castletown.

During the 1798 Commemorations, the Carrigbyrne Pike Group made a number of visits to Meath, including two to Castletown to commemorate 1798 Wexford men who following the Battle of Vinegar Hill took a journey of hundreds of miles to Meath to continue their struggle.

Bill Murray (RIP), John Cullen, Ned & Helen Furlong planned our first visit on 27th September 1998 to Johnny and Eileen Cassidy’s farm in Castletown whose farm held a remarkable number of Wexford 1798 rebels graves. We marched into that farm and were in awe of how large stones marked the final resting place of Wexford men and how they had been maintained by the Cassidy family and their ancestors.

A connection was forged between our group and the people of Castletown. Having blessed the graves and laid our tributes, we marched away from Cassidy’s farm and we knew in our hearts, we were leaving the Wexford graves in the best possible hands. We made a return visit organised by Ned and Helen Furlong on 8th October 2020 and were accompanied by Fr. Robert Nolan who celebrated Mass on the Cassidy Farm. 

A tree of liberty was planted on the farm by Bill Murray (RIP).

The Story:

The Wexford insurgents had fought courageously at Kingstown bog and had retreated in the direction of Whitewood. On approaching Raffan Hill they encountered a column of yeomen. A fierce battle ensued with many falling on both sides. It is known that many Wexford men who died in that encounter were buried in mass graves in the surrounding countryside including Cassidy’s farm, Castletown. God grant them all the light of heaven and a huge thank you to the Cassidy’s and the people of Castletown for looking after the final resting place of 1798 Wexford men.

(With thanks to Barbara Kehoe (Murray) for the lovely story of the connection with Castletown)