April 18th, 2021

Adamstown Parish Newsletter

Weekend of Sat 17th & Sun 18th April 2021  

Volume 22.   Number 14.

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ADAMSTOWN TIDY TOWNS NOTICE

We are holding a Clothing Recycling event on Friday 30th April. Bags can be left into Cullen’s Gala from now until the 30th. We can take all clothing, belts, bags, curtains, towels, blankets and bed sheets. No pillows or duvets please.

Your support would be greatly appreciated.

 Please check us out on our face book page.

ONLINE BINGO

Newbawn Sports Ground Committee is holding an online Bingo on Friday 30th April at 7.30pm. Book of four pages is €20 with 12 cash prizes and total prize money of €700.

There will be loads of spot prizes on the night.

Bingo books are on sale from any committee member or Newbawn Post Office. If you require further information, please call Kathleen on 086 3873548

LOOKING BACK – IRISH COUNTRY WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION   (The Free Press 1963)

The Irish Country Women’s Guild in Adamstown were responsible for the catering in St. Abban’s Hall for Wexford County Executive of the National Farmers’ Association event. The local ICA President at the time was Mrs. Mary Roberson, Templeshelin. Vice Chair – Mrs Anne Kent, Adamstown. Secretary – Mrs Mary Browne, Templeshelin. Treasurer – Mrs. Kathleen Flood, Adamstown.

The Adamstown I.C.A. guild were well organised members and did a lot of catering for many functions held in St. Abban’s Hall.

DID YOU KNOW?

A spider’s web is made of two types of silk, one sticky and the other not. The spider begins the web with the non-sticky silk and forms the ‘spokes’. After the frame is constructed and secure, the spider goes back with the sticky silk and completes the web design we are so familiar with, connecting spoke to spoke. They will also add rows connecting the spokes to allow them access for web maintenance. Spend time watching a spider and you will see they painstakingly avoid the sticky silk and walk on the spokes. Should the spider be startled and walk on the sticky silk it will stick to the spider the same as it would to anything else. Spiders recycle their webbing, so a spider that gets stuck in its own web may eat its way out.

FAIR DAFFODILS WE WEEP……..

Letter written to the Irish Times:  Blooming roundabouts.

Sir,

 Whoever decided to set tulips among the daffodils on the Stillorgan dual-carriageway in Dublin should stand up and take a bow.   What a beautiful and uplifting sight.

EULOGY FOR MARY FURLONG, TOMGARROW

Read by her son Eamonn at her funeral Mass in St. Abban’s Church on Thursday 15th April 2021

Our Mam Mary, was born in Graignamanagh in 1941 and we have been told that she ran wild with her five brothers and two sisters around the fields of Coolroe. She was very close to her granny and spent a large part of her childhood at Ballyogan. I know that all of you who knew her, would not be surprised to hear, that after her school days she took off to England, over to her auntie Mollie, to become a nurse but unfortunately, due to her allergy to penicillin, this didn’t work out. However, that didn’t stop her caring for others throughout her life.

She returned to Coolroe and after some time she moved to New Ross and worked in Rice’s, Nolan’s and helped out in her sister Margaret’s and brother in law Stephen’s pub. We have it on good authority that around this time Ned and Mary knew each other; Dad always gave her a dance at all the dances they met at, and their signature dance was enjoyed by many. Dad made Lawlor’s pub his local where Mary was working and his investment paid off when Mam became his wife, starting their life of 49 years together. She moved to Misterin and developed a close and wonderful relationship with our grandparents, especially granny, over the years, which is just at well because when we all came along she needed all the help she could get.

Of course, life comes with ups and downs and the loss of our dear sister Lisa was a devastating blow to everyone, which no parent should ever have to endure, but the strength of their bond and the love they had for us and each other managed to get them through that awful time to better days.

Mammy loved the craic and had a great sense of humour, growing up there was always plenty of banter in the house, especially during the hurling championships when a black and amber flag would mysteriously appear at the end of the lane every September. The poor auld purple and gold never got a look in, which Mam was always very quick to remind us. This quick wit she maintained right up to the very end, when only last week she informed Ned that he owed her a tenner, which he had to give her on the spot.

Mam was all about people and we see this coming through strongly in all the messages of condolences we have received. She was genuinely interested in people’s stories; she always made time for a chat and cared deeply for all those around her, especially the older members of our family. I think that for myself, Deirdre, Shay, Brenda and Eilis, her way with people has left a lasting impression on us and taught us that above all, the most important thing in life is to take time to invest in the relationships we make along the way. We feel privileged to have had her as our mother.

Rest in peace Mam.

CHURCH NOTICES

IN MEMORIAL

Sat 17th – People of the Parish

Sun 18th – Phyllis Bernie, (née Whelan) Tomgarrow (A)

Sat 24th – John & Josie Barden, Doononey (A)

Pray for Lena Doyle, Ballagh (A)

& Pat Doyle, New Ross (A), Julie Cullen, New Ross (A)

May they rest in peace.

GUIDANCE & GRATITUDE – Week 3

The Sorrowful Mysteries.

The agony in the garden: I consider all the time spent anticipating and worrying about situations as Jesus did on that night.

The scourging at the pillar: I thing about the suffering that we endure on earth. Cruelness, meanness and violence. I pray that I do not inflict suffering on others as I live my life.

The crowning with thorns: We can be mocked and ridiculed for our belief. Let us accept others and accept ourselves.

The carrying of the cross: I think about the burdens we carry through life and how difficult that journey was even for Jesus. But he continued with his journey, still caring for others. I often think about people in our area that have such great crosses to bear.

The crucifixion: Finally, Jesus dies on the cross and I think of those close to me who have departed.

THE MOTHER – Patrick H. Pearse (1879-1916)

I do not grudge them; Lord, I do not grudge

My two strong sons that I have seen go out

To break their strength and die, they and a few,

In bloody protest for a glorious thing.

They shall be spoken of among their people,

The generations shall remember them,

And call them blessed;

But I will speak their names to my own heart

In the long nights;

The little names that were familiar once

Round my dead heart.

Lord, thou art hard on mothers;

We suffer in their coming and their going;

And tho’ I grudge them not, I weary, weary

Of the long sorrow – And yet I have my joy:

My sons were faithful, and they fought.

TRÓCAIRE

Please do bring back your Trócaire Box in the coming week.

Your donation, no matter how small, will help people who have lost their homes and loved ones to war in South Sudan.  You may drop your box/envelope into Fr. Nolan’s house.

A THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK  (Ireland’s Eye)

Life isn’t about being rich or perfect,

or better than anyone else,

It’s about being real and being kind,

It’s about giving more than you take,

Most of all it’s about loving, not hating. (Anon)

BUILD CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES DESPITE CULTURAL OPPOSITON:

“Unless the faith is transmitted in the home, schools are helpless”

We have an adult population who have received very little religious education. It is very common for people just to take one example to say t hat those who have died are now angels, which is a fundamental misunderstanding of life after death. The harsh experiences of Covid-19 have shown one thing. Online seminars are often much better attended than live events. In the future, once the pandemic is over, adult education should capitalise on this but not ignore live gatherings. One very viable mode would be to have four talks or seminars online followed by a social occasion where people can meet in the real world for discussion and social contact.

Excerpt from Breda O’Brien, The View, The Irish Catholic

TITANIC HERO – CAPTAIN ROSTRON

(Saint Martin Magazine)

In 1912 the RMS Titanic was the largest ship ever built and the most exalted ocean liner ever to sail the seas. One hundred & nine years ago the tragic disaster of the sinking of the Titanic liner on 15th April 1912 shocked the world.

No fewer than1, 517 people perished out of a total of 2,214 passengers and crew. It was on its maiden voyage from Southampton, England to New York when it hit an enormous iceberg and sank in just two hours. Many heroic deeds took place following the collision but none more so than that carried out by Arthur Rostron, captain of the passenger liner Carpathia. His courageous response to the tragedy resulted in 706 people being rescued from the Atlantic Ocean.

The Carpathia was on its journey from New York to Gibraltar when the wireless operator picked up a message about the plight of the Titanic. The operator immediately informed his captain of the dramatic news. Rostron promptly gave orders for the ship to alter course for the Titanic’s last known position which was sixty miles away. Capt Rostron was seen quietly walking away to a place where he bowed his head in prayer.  The ship set sail at full speed of 17.5 knots. At close

to 4.am the ship drifted to a halt near to the Titanic’s first lifeboat, which had only 25 people on board.

This was in contrast to the 70 people on board one of the last lifeboats to be rescued. By 8.50am and having searched the disaster area Capt Rostron gave the order to set sail for New York having rescued 706 Titanic passengers and crew.

Before departing a religious service took place in the ship’s lounge. Capt Rostron was presented with a specially commissioned silver loving cup and gold medal. He was also presented with the Congressional Medal of Honour by President Taft, the highest award America could confer. He was awarded the Freedom of New York. He died at the age of 71 in 1940 and was buried in Southampton.  On his gravestone are the following words:

Sir Arthur Rostron, Captain of RMS Carpathia

Saved 706 Souls from RMS Titanic 15 April 1912.

Their bodies are buried in Peace

But Their Names Liveth For Ever.