Adamstown Parish Newsletter

Adamstown Parish Newsletter

25th December 2024

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A BIT OF HISTORY – An All Ireland  Final in December

On December 9th, up to 6,000 people gathered at the hallowed GAA grounds on Jones Road to witness the 1917 All-Ireland Final between a fancied Wexford side and a Clare team tagged as underdogs. The Irish Independent reported that “the weather was ideal for outdoor games, the sun shining brilliantly”. The fine weather ensured a pre-match parade could go ahead without any weather disturbance. “Wexford were the first to take to the field followed a little later by the Clare players who, headed by a Republican flag were loudly cheered”. That Republican flag of the Clare team had the words ‘Up de Valera’ emblazoned across it and the team had walked out behind the same flag in their previous matches every since Eamon de Valera won the east Clare by election for  Sinn Féin in July, 1917. Clare had a history of parading behind political banners and flags before GAA matches. In 1914, the team walked out behind a banner supporting John Redmond and Home Rule. By 1917 the political mood had changed across Ireland and Clare fell firmly on the side of those fighting for a Republic, a fight which would claim many a life in Clare, including two footballers from the Munster winning side of 1917 – Michael MacNamara and Michael McMahon. 

The Clare team were not the only ones to show their nationalist feelings in Croke Park that day: Harry Boland carried the flag of the Irish Volunteers in front of the two teams during the pre-match parade around the pitch. Wexford also displayed a rebellious streak when they ignored travel restrictions imposed by the authorities which prevented people from taking long journeys in motor cars. The Wexford footballers and their entourage headed for Croke Park in a fleet of cars and the county board was later slapped with a five-shilling fine!. Wexford beat Clare 0-09 to 0-05 to claim their third football title in a row. Many thought the Clare team would not dwell on their defeat for too long and be back the following year to win an All-Ireland football crown, but in the years that followed 1917 the struggle for freedom would supersede the struggle for an All-Ireland football title in the banner county.

(Pauline Murphy: Ireland’s Own)

The Wexford team was: J. O’Kennedy (capt).  T. McGrath (goal)

G. O’Kennedy, P.J. Mackey, T. Mernagh, A. Doyle, T. Doyle,

T. Murphy, F. Furlong, J. Crowley, R. Reynolds, J. Byrne,

M. Howlett, W. Hodgins, J. Quinn.

FR NICHOLAS MAYLER:

The priest they killed on Christmas Day

For many of us, the most important part of Christmas is going to Mass, whether that’s midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, or morning Mass on Christmas day itself. But on Christmas Day of 1653, Fr. Nicholas Mayler of Tomhaggard, Co. Wexford, was brutally executed by the soldiers of Oliver Cromwell   …. for the very crime of celebrating Mass.  Catholics  had been persecuted in Ireland since King Henry VIII declared himself the head of the English church in 1537. Within a century, the people of England had more or less accepted the monarch as the head of the Church. The Irish, however, refused to abandon their ancestral religion. It was the only country in Europe where the population did not follow the religion of their rulers. The persecution of Catholics grew particularly bad under the rule of Oliver Cromwell from 1649-1660.

Cromwell and his soldiers unleashed a campaign of savagery on Irish Catholics, most notably in the massacres at Drogheda and Wexford. The Catholic religion was effectively outlawed and Catholic priests pursued their calling at the risk of their lives.

Given these dangers, Catholics took to secretly celebrating Mass outdoors at “Mass rocks” – rocks used as makeshift altars. However, there were substantial bounties for the capture of a priest, and this doubtless explains why English soldiers were lying in wait for Fr. Mayler on that fateful morning. The “Mass rock” in this case was a piece of a window arch from a ruined church. It was in a place called “the knock of furze” not far from Tacumshin Lake, a lake which is now a Special Area of Conservation and plays host to birds such as brent geese and lapwings. Even while the soldiers advanced and the congregation scattered, Fr. Mayler called for the chalice he was using to be saved. Moments later, he was ruthlessly shot. But one of the congregation, a Mrs Lambert, bravely took the chalice, wrapped it in her apron, and hid it in the lake. She recovered it some days later, and gave it to Fr. Mayler’s family. In 1951, a pageant re-enacted the incident, using period costume.

On Christmas morning 1999, Mass was again celebrated at the Mass rock by local priest Fr. Danny MacDonald. This tradition has continued since … and the chalice used is the very chalice Mrs Lambert saved in 1653.

(Maoisheachlann O Cellaigh’s ‘Irish Priests Series’)

CHRISTMAS 1923 –

Christmas 1923 was the first peaceful holiday in years. The War of Independence and Civil War had ended. Huge  numbers of emigrants returned from England to visit families. The Irish Sea was particularly rough with gales blowing. Those aboard The Hibernia and Anglo were still sea-sick on arrival at Dun Laoghaire on Saturday morning 22nd December. They had left heavy falls of snow behind in England. Ireland was a balmy 10 degrees!

(MIchael Dwyer – It said in the papers in 1923: Ireland’s Own)

MARY’S MEALS – The Colossal Christmas Online Quiz

The colossal Christmas Online Quiz was held on December 13th. It went very well as follows:

1) 148 participants took part :a) local church areas in the Diocese. b) all over Ireland and c) abroad including Spain, and France.

2) Our target was to present the present of a Christmas meal to 100,000 children at 11c. Per meal.

3) The response to the donations required has been amazing.

Our deadline is December 31st. We have now reached about 90,000 meals and are confident that, with a final push, we’ll get over the line – that is the fine line between hunger and hope.

4) Donations online to www.bit.lyQuizfroMM

5) Donate by Revoult to Martin Colfer 087 2596159

6) Just ring the above number for further information.

A BIG thank you to all who took part including many from this locality.

Our  next Quiz is on January 31st at 8pm. More details and updates from our Facebook page-.MMQuiz

150th  ANNIVERSARY

OF ADORATION SISTERS IN WEXFORD

New Year’s Day 1st January 2025 marks the 150th anniversary of the presence of the Adoration Sisters to Wexford. To mark the occasion, the five remaining Adoration Sisters will be present at the 10am Mass in Bride St. Church on New Year’s Day that will be offered by Bishop Ger. We encourage as many as possible to come and begin the New Year with the Eucharist and to give thanks to God for 150 years of the prayerful presence of the sisters and their invaluable ministry of intercession for the needs of our people

A THOUGHT & MAYBE A LITTLE SMILE!!

Regarding the three wise men who came to Bethlehem:

‘What if there had been three wise women instead of the three wise men?’ They would have asked for directions; been on time; helped deliver the baby; brought practical gifts; cleaned the stable; made a casserole’

‘Letter to the ‘Independent’ December 1999.

LEGEND OF THE STORK (Author unknown)

When Christ was born on Christmas Day

The birds and the beasts knelt down to pray.

In wonder all, adoring kneeled –

The ox in his stall, the fox in the field,

While badger and bear and each wild thing

Flocked round the manger where slept a King.

Housed in a stable at Bethlehem.

And the long-legged stork was there with them,

With her feathers white, her crest held high,

And awe in her bright compassionate eye.

“Alas,” mourned she, “how poor His bed”

Who rules the universe overhead!

Though cosily curled, sleep all my breed,

The Lord of the World, lies hard indeed,

Unpillowed is He who should wear a crown”

Then out of her bosom she plucked the down.

The plumes from her breast, she tugged and tore

That the Child should rest like a beggar  no more.

But fine on a pallet fit for a prince.

And Blest has the stork been, ever since –

For the gift that she gave of her body’s wear,

Blest on chimneys, blest in the air,

And patron of babies everywhere.

CHRISTMAS DAY TABLE PRAYER

Come, Lord our God, and surround our feast day table as we delight in this joyous season of Christmas. Gift us in this meal with the taste of happiness as we savor this coming together of family and friends. As sparkling stars and singing angels rejoiced at the birth of  the Christ Child in Bethlehem, so may we take great joy in this our Christmas dinner-celebration.

May You, our God, Bless it and us in Your holy name.  Amen.

(Edward Hayes)

SILENT NIGHT

Silent night, holy night!

All is calm, all is bright

Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child.

Holy infant so tender and mild,

Sleep in heavenly peace,

Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night,

Shepherds quake at the sight.

Glories stream from heaven afar

Heavenly  hosts sing Alleluia,

Christ the Saviour is born!

Christ the Saviour is born