February 21st, 2021

Adamstown Parish Newsletter

Weekend of Sat 20th & Sun 21st February 2021

Volume 22.  Number 7.                                                                           www.saintabbans.com
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WELL DONE RITA & COLAISTE ABBAIN STUDENTS

A massive well done to teacher Rita Breen, Coláiste Abbáin, who as co-ordinator organised with the students to undertake a lovely project ‘Dogs for Dementia” as part of their community care class. They asked New Ross Community Hospital to become involved and they were delighted to do so. The students purchased teddy dogs and made personalised nametags using their own money.

Needless to say the residents were thrilled to receive such a thoughtful and kind gesture during these hard times of lockdown for patients in hospitals and care homes.

The patients have gotten great enjoyment from their gifts.

We saw some lovely pictures of the patients from The Community Hospital in The New Ross Standard this week.

BREXIT CHALLENGES FOR LOCAL FARMERS

So Brexit finally arrived on the 1st January after four years of very contentious discussions between the EU and the British Government. It would seem that the border down the Irish Sea isn’t working exactly as planned following weeks of delays and political unrest. Although the Agri sector was promised a seamless transition, many issues have arisen. There are huge issues with the seed potato market as the seed stock comes from Scotland normally and Irish growers, while they stock piled as much as possible, are now having issues sourcing more due to new rules. The second hand machinery trade is at a standstill, again due to new legislation where machinery certs have to be issued for the machines, adding more cost to the items. The sheep market had been least affected due to a general scarcity in England and France, while the beef trade has slipped back, supposedly due to extra costs incurred by processors in getting beef into the British  market. This Spring maybe the final straw for finishing cattle. The Dairy markets have held up surprisingly well, as the UK is our biggest market for cheddar, it will probably be the middle of the year before it comes under pressure, probably once the stock piles are gone. Wexford should benefit from the extra sailings to Europe from Rosslare port, due to the English land bridge being avoided, hopefully this benefit will show up in the coming years. It will be interesting to see how the year progresses, hopefully positively for all, as the spring is a busy season for all, we wish everyone a safe and covid free season.

AN AMAZING FACT – DID YOU KNOW?

On Thursday 12th February  – 12022021

This date is both a palindrome and an ambigram!   Which means you can read the date from left to right, from right to left and also upside down.   Try it!!

ADAMSTOWN NEWSLETTER BOOK

‘A Look Back at 20 Years of Newsletters 1999-2019’

This book is still available in Cullen’s Gala or from Ellie Walsh – elliewalsh1949@gmail.com

WEXFORD CO. COUNCIL INITIATIVE – KEEP WELL

‘Tale-a-Phone Exchange’ – Storytelling by phone for older people.

As part of the Government’s Keep Well campaign, Wexford Age Friendly and the Arts Office at Wexford Co. Council are offering older people in the county the opportunity to receive a phone call from renowned storyteller Joe Brennan.

The ‘Tale-a-Phone Exchange’, will be a chance to hear one of Joe’s wonderful traditional stories in the comfort of their own home. Each Exchange, lasting 20 minutes, will be unique to the person receiving the call.  He will have a chat with the person receiving the call first and then he will decide on what story to tell. This is a new approach to storytelling and the first time in Ireland for sharing traditional oral stories in this way. Phone calls will be on Wednesdays and will continue through March up to the 31st.

To book a call, contact: Ann Marie Laffan, Age Friendly

Programme Manager on 053 9196680

CLOSED FOR BUSINESS?

The gates are shut, the yard is quiet, and the classrooms are empty. Scoil Naomh Abbáin 2021 is a very different place. With the absence of children, teachers and staff, the school site is lonely looking place. The only souls to be seen are Tony and Helen making short but frequent visits to the school to ensure the place is still standing. Never before, in the history of this state, has the school bells been silent for so long. Don’t get me wrong; the work is still being done. The learning is still happening just in a new way.

The school community has moved into the virtual world as distance learning has taken the place of face-to-face learning. The children are using computers and the Internet to share learning with their teachers. Teachers are relying on the support of parents to provide the children with an environment to learn. It has been long appreciated that parents are the primary educators of their children but never before have parents been asked to be so involved in the curriculum. The work that parents have done throughout this period of distance learning is to be admired. But the real heroes are the children. They engaged with online lessons and distance learning like Trojans. They have adapted to listening to their teachers on screens and worked without the interaction of classmates. They have completed activities alone and carried out reading into microphones. Everything that has been asked of them they have done with gusto. They attended early morning Zoom classes; submitted work to online classrooms, completed fabulous projects at home, and produced wonderful pieces of art. These children have demonstrated true resilience and commitment to learning.

Some might say this pandemic has divided school communities, but I disagree, I believe it has brought us together in a way that we never thought possible. As an old Irish saying goes: Ni neart go cur le chéile!

(Claire Kickham, Principal Scoil Naomh Abbáin)

CHURCH NOTICES

IN MEMORIAM

Sat 20th – Paddy O’Connor, Newtown (A)

Sat 27th – John & Elizabeth French, Oldcourt  & deceased

members of the French family, & Marian O’Gorman (A)

Sun 28th – Gillian Bradley, Ballyvergin & Julian Rothwell (A)

Sun 28th – Aidan Hickey, Kellystown (A)

May they rest in peace.

SPIRITUAL HOLY COMMUNION PRAYER

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament,

I love you above all things, and I desire to receive you into my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally,

Please come spiritually into my heart.

I embrace you now as if you were already there and I unite myself wholly to you.

Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.

POPE FRANCIS – LENTEN FAST

(1)           Fast from hurting and say kind words.

(2)           Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.

(3)           Fast from anger and be filled with patience.

(4)           Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.

(5)           Fast from worries and have trust in God.

(6)           Fast from complaints, contemplate simplicity.

(7)           Fast from pressures and be prayerful.

(8)           Fast from bitterness and fill your hearts with joy.

(9)           Fast from selfishness and be compassionate.

(10)         Fast from grudges and be reconciled.

(11)         Fast from words, be silent and listen.

TRÓCAIRE

Trócaire Boxes are available in the Church porch, please take one home with you and donate what you can over the coming weeks of Lent, every little helps.

ASH WEDNESDAY

Political correspondents attending a press conference in Washington during the week were alarmed that President Joe Biden had sustained an apparent injury to his forehead.

It was also the subject of much speculation on Television until one alert commentator realised that there was no injury. I AM A BAD CATHOLIC she said OF COURSE TODAY IS ASH WEDNESDAY.  The penny had dropped, the mystery was solved. In St Abbans however the demand exceeded the supply  and many of the faithful who knew it was Ash Wednesday were disappointed to find that all the ashes had gone when they arrived in church. There was THANKFULLY no shortage of votive candles and a warm glow from the candelabras welcomed all the disappointed visitors.  The word humus is familiar to many parishioners. Some writers associate this word with humility and keeping one’s feet on the ground. In the beautiful prayer of Our Lady,

The Lord puts down the mighty from their seats and exalts the humble.

Newsletters are available each weekend in the Church Porch or in Cullen’s Gala from Sunday morning.

Do take one for a neighbour or friend.

LOOKING BACK – OUR FIRST BEAUTIFUL COINS

In November 1928, the Irish Finance Minister Ernest Blythe opened an exhibition of the newly minted first coins issued by the Irish Free State government. He declared the new coinage, which featured Irish animals, to be ‘more interesting and beautiful than any token coinage in the world’ Not everyone agreed, some believed that a Christian nation should acknowledge God on its coinage, others took offence because the coins lacked symbols depicting Ireland’s idealism. In time people understood that by featuring Irish animals, the Irish Free State coin design team had successfully avoided religion and politics. The poet Senator W. B. Yeast acted as Chairman of the Committee set up to undertake the designs for the coins, 7 artists were invited to submit their designs. After much discussion the Committee decided on the designs for all eight coins.

                     Half Crown: A Horse

                     The horse an Irish hunter  without a rider, the

whole horse to be shown, with the word ‘Leath-  coróin’ and the figures 2/6

                    Florin: A Salmon

                    The salmon was chosen because of its value as

                     an natural product and because of its place in

                    Irish legend where it is known as the salmon of

                    Knowledge. This coin bore the word

                     ‘Flóirín’ and the figure 2s.

                    Shilling: A Bull

                     This animal was recommended because of the

                     excellence of Irish cattle, and their importance in

                     the trade of the country.  It bore the word

                     ‘Scilling’ and the figure 1s.

                     Sixpence: A Wolf-hound

The wolf hound was selected because of its   close identity with Ireland. It bore the word

                     ‘Reul’ and the figure 6d.

                     Threepence: A Hare

                     The hare was suggested because of its

                     Association with sport. It bore the word

                     ‘Leath-reul’ and the figure was 3d.

                     Penny: A Hen, with chickens

                     This design was chosen because it would

                      appeal to farmers, their wives & daughters, to

                      whom the care of poultry was a particular

                      concern. It bore the word ‘Pingin’

                      and the figure 1d.

                      Halfpenny: A Pig

                      This was chosen because it was a valuable

                       product of the country.  It bore the word

                      ‘Leath-pingin’ and the figure 1/2d.

                       Farthing: A Woodcock

                       This bird was chosen because it makes a

                        special appeal to sportsmen, as a small bird

                        would be appropriate for this small coin.

                        It bore the word ‘Feoirling’ and figure 1/4d.

These designs were the work of Percy Metcalfe, an English man, a sculptor and designer who went on to design the George Cross.

 Incidentally Decimalisation came into being fifty years ago on 15th February 1971.

(Gerry Breen – Ireland’s Own)