7th May, 2023

Adamstown Parish Newsletter

Weekend of Sat 6th & Sun 7th May 2023

Volume 22. Number 16

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ADAMSTOWN LOTTO RESULTS

The winning numbers in the Adamstown Lotto draw on Tuesday 2nd May were: 5 – 11 – 16 – 19. There was no Jackpot winner. The following four players matched three numbers and each got €50. Emma Murphy, Coolnagree, Graham Bradley, Newbawn and two online players –

Bridget Prendergast & Cora McCormack.

The next draw is on Monday 15th May in the Community Centre for a Jackpot of €15,000. Keep on buying the tickets & be in with a chance. Please leave tickets back in Cullen’s by 8pm on draw night.

RAHEEN NATIONAL SCHOOL REUNION

A reunion of Raheen National School past pupils will take place in the Horse & Hound, Ballinaboola, on Saturday 27th May at 8pm. All classes welcome, with live music entertainment on the night. It is a great opportunity to catch up and reconnect with old friends and to celebrate our shared experiences of Raheen National School. Donations in aid of future development of the school welcome on the night.

Your support, as always, is greatly appreciated.

ADAMSTOWN ATHLETIC CLUB

Well done to our race walkers at the Kilkenny Athletics County Board Open race walking Championships last weekend.

U-12 girls Anna 2nd; U-14 boys Sean 3rd; U-18 Ciara 2nd & Joe who set a new pb in the 10k – 43mins 21.

Secondary Schools taking part in the South Leinster T & F on Thursday last: James 2nd shot putt; Ciara 1st senior girls walk.

IRELAND’S STRONGEST TWINS

 A massive congratulations to twins Dean & Dylan Doyle on becoming Ireland’s Strongest Twins. Sons of Martin (Scratchy) & Rita Doyle, the boys won the title in the Republic of Ireland Strongman Competition. They attended Adamstown National School & Coláiste Abbáin and lived in the village for a number of years. Their ultimate aim is to be world champions and we wish them the very best in the future.

CIVIL WAR MEMORY PROJECT – ‘Silent Civil War’

The second episode in the ‘Silent Civil War’ was shown on RTE 1 last Wednesday night being interviewed was Danny Doyle, Glenour and Billy Furlong, The Boola. The interviewer was Thomas O’Callaghan, grandson of Pat and Kathleen Lawlor, Knockreigh. Well done to all participants and the local landmarks were interesting to see and hear their story.

PUBLIC ROSARY – Feast of Our Lady of Fatima

There will be a Public Rosary on the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, in Adamstown, Saturday 13th May at 2.30pm.

Assembly at the Church car park.

(Avril Phelan)

LATE LATE SHOW COMPETITION WINNER

Congratulations to Kathleen Barden who was the lucky winner in last Saturday night’s Late Late Show competition.

Enjoy your winnings Kathleen!

TAKEN FROM EULOGY READ AT MARY GALWAY’S FUNERAL MASS on Sunday 30th April 2023 by her son Mark

My name is Mark and I am the eldest of Mary’s children.

Mam to me and my siblings, affectionately known as Moll to her husband Mick and her extended family and friends. Mam was born in 1952 in Poulpeasty and she remained proud of where she came from right to the very end. She was the youngest of a large family consisting of all girls to whom she remained close friends throughout her life. It’s a testimony to their bond that they have all remained lifelong friends to this day and it is something we are very happy to be part of. Mam joins her departed Mother and Dad and her eldest sister Eileen and I know they will be looking down on us today. Mam met our dad Mick during the great days of the Irish dance hall scene. They were married at the local Church in Clougbawn and shortly after, moved to Burtford, England where they had their first child – Mark. After a few years they returned to live in Slade Valley, just outside Dublin where they worked for a number of years and prepared for the arrival of sibling no 2 – Joanne. After some time there their fate was decided and the decision made that they would move back to Adamstown to settle down and run the family farm. This was where they would spend the rest of their life and thankfully for us what a great upbringing it was.  I do know that Mam and Dad made a formidable duo in what were tough times in Ireland in the 1980’s. They managed to build us a nice home and brought 3 and 4 into the mix with Patrick and Kate. Mam spent a number of years working at Kavanaghs, in Enniscorthy and then went on to work with the Donellans in Clonroche where she made many lifelong friends.  We know that Mam cared deeply about us all and I know a lot was sacrificed in the early years to put us all through school and to third level education. She wanted nothing more than to see us all getting on well in life.

On behalf of us all, I want to thank her for that. It did not go unnoticed. Mam was a proud woman, lots of people here today can testify to that. She was never one to talk about the illness that she lived with for so many years. She never let it define who she was nor dictate how she lived her life. She refused on all levels to allow it prevent her from doing what she wanted. Against all the odds she continued to live her life as best she could and never complained about the hand she was dealt. I think we can all take strength from that and will continue to remember her for her graceful and optimistic attitude towards life. Today we remember her not for that but for all the other wonderful attributes she had.  She was a terrific and caring mother. She was the best person I know to keep in touch and send a daily text update, something I already miss. Dad-you need to learn how to text!!  She was a true GAA supporter, was a passionate and amazing cook. She loved her grandchildren dearly. She always had a smile on her face and had a friendly word for anyone she met.  On behalf of the whole family, I want to say a big thanks to everyone who came to visit her over the past few years. An even bigger thank you to her close friends and carers who I have gotten to know so well over the past few years. She loved you all so much and we all know how much you cared for her.  I know she is at peace now.

We will miss you dearly Mam.

CHURCH NOTICES

IN MEMORIAM

Sat 6th – Breda O’Brien, Templeshelin (A)

Sun 7th – Peg & Joe Kelly & deceased members of the Kirwan family, Coonogue (A)

Also        Sean Whelan, Kellystown (A)

Sat 13th – Patsy O’Connor, Newtown (A)

Sun 14th – Eunan Flood, Oldcourt (A)

Also            Mary Flood who died in December 2022

Pray for Jim & Mary Connors, The Hill. (A)

Pray for Jamie Egan who died so tragically last weekend, and for her parents, family and friends who mourn her passing.

May they rest in peace.

Morning Mass each week day at 9.30am.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament every Thursday from 10.00am – 1.00pm.

Rosary at Knockreigh Grotto each week night at 8pm.

for the month of May.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION

We pray and ask God’s blessing for the children who will make their First Holy Communion in St. Abban’s Church on Saturday next 13th May.

THE MONTH OF MAY – Mary’s Month

(St. Martin’s Magazine)

The month of May is set aside by the Church for special devotion in honour of the Mother of God. The Irish name for the month “Bealtaine” is associated with a pre-Christian festival celebrated at this time of year, while the English word “May” is derived from the name of the Roman Goddess who was Mother of all Gods. The custom of special devotions in May, originated in Northern Italy in the early nineteenth century. There, May being the month of the Roses, the altars were always decked with these flowers. This brings to mind the title “Mystical Rose” and the devotion of the “Rosary”. In Ireland there has always been a strong devotion of Our Lady as Mother of God: Ar Mhathair Mhic De. Perhaps St. Patrick gave it to us in 432, just one year after the Council of Ephesus when the title “Mother of God” was approved. Our love for the Mother of God was expressed during the month of May, with May altars in homes and schoolrooms and with Sunday evening processions. Childhood memories of gathering wild flowers bluebells, primroses, which are called Mayflowers in some places to adorn these altars and of white dressed children singing ‘Bring flowers of the fairest’ in the Processions, did much to preserve this love of Our Lady long after youth had passed. As Canon Sheehan has written: “Somehow the fragrance and beauty of these May evenings hang around us, as incense hangs around a dimly lighted Church and often cling around a soul where faith and holiness have been banished”. There are many hymns associated with our May devotion to Mary. One was recorded and sung by Irish Tenor Frank Patterson concludes with these words:

O Mary we crown thee with blossoms today!

Queen of the Angels and Queen of the May.

VALUE FOR MONEY (Fr. Martin Delaney – Irish Catholic)

Mary’s husband dies and she decides to put an announcement in the newspaper. However, not having a lot of money, she tells the paper she wants to keep it as short as possible. “Just put ‘Joe Hanly dead”. “Actually madam, you can put up to six words for the same price” the newspaper tells her. “Is there anything you would like to add?”

Mary thinks for a few moments and then says, “Can you add

‘Mazda for sale?”

ICA NEWS

Just a reminder Adamstown ICA Guilds monthly meeting will be held in the Community Centre on Wednesday next May 10th at 8pm. Competition on the night is for the nicest photo of a favourite pet, measuring 7x 5. We will be discussing Special Occasions Event, which will be held June 22nd also our Summer outing.

The Mother Superior, from our sketch “Absolute Nuncence” wants to apologise profusely to Sr. Eileen Thorpe & Sr. Liz Furlong for omitting their names from the cast in last week’s Parish Newsletter. She has given up chocolate for one month as penance!!.  New members always welcome to come to our meetings, for fun and friendship.

WHY GO TO CHURCH? (Author Unknown)

A Church-goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. “I’ve gone for 30 years now”, he wrote, “and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can’t remember a single one of them. So, I think I’m wasting my time and the priests and pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all.”

This started a real controversy in the ‘Letters to the Editor’ column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote the following letter: I’ve been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this …. They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today.

SYMPATHY   Catherine (Kitty) Byrne, Clonmore, Bree

The death occurred on Tuesday 2nd of Kitty Byrne, (née Walsh, Coonogue) Clonmore. We extend our sympathy to her children Ellen, Jim, Charlie, Syl, Gerry, Mary & Paddy, brother Richie, extended family and friends. Kitty was predeceased by her husband Syl and her brother Tom. Her funeral Mass took place in the Church of the Assumption, Bree on Friday last followed by burial in Adamstown Cemetery.

May she rest in peace.