May 30th, 2021

Adamstown Parish Newsletter

Weekend of Sat 29th & Sun 30th May 2021  

Volume 22.  Number 20

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COLAISTE ABBAIN AWARDS

Coláiste Abbáin College held their Awards Ceremony on Thursday 20th May 2021.

“Welcome to our Awards Ceremony with a difference!!!

Huge congratulations to all students for really challenging yourselves this academic year to engage in teaching and learning and for making the most of what has been an extraordinary year for all. We would like to sincerely thank all members of staff for their work ethic, flexibility and get up and go attitude which enabled us to have a smooth and successful school year”

‘Ní neart go cur le chéile’

Among the many recipients of award were the following local students and we send them our congratulations:

Luke Siggins, Joryka Graham, Tosia Swierczynska, Sarah Komsa, Sarah Carley, Ben Rochford, Joshua Power, Donny McDonald, Darragh Thorpe, Jake Cadogan, Nell Delaney, Jack Carty, Karolina Jaglarz, Ciara Smith, Maria Siggins, Tiernan Delaney, Aisling O’Dowd, Sam Murphy, Rachel Redmond, Cora Moran, Graham O’Reilly, Pawel Jaglarz, Nathan O’Brien, Molly O’Reilly, Anthony Doyle, Oscar MacGabhann, Kyle Whelan, Liam Dooley, Cíllin Duggan, Michéal Harler, Tomás Hynes, Philip Kearns, Shane Roche, JS Graham.

GRAHAM WINS SCHOLARSHIP

Congratulations to Graham O’ Reilly, son of Michael & Margo who has been awarded an Annual Scholarship by Kerry MTU (Munster Technological University) Sports Awards recently. Wishing him all the best for the future.

We also send congratulations of 1st year student Haydon McCarthy, who has just been called up for the U15 Ireland Soccer Squad and wish him every success.

WEXFORD MOTOR CLUB NEW RACE TRACK

We extend our good wishes to Wexford Motor Club and

in particular two local men Brian Kirwan who is chairperson of the rally sprint committee and Gary Bradley, chairperson Wexford Motor Club on their new development at the old Albatros site on the Waterford Road, New Ross.

The Club are investing €20,000 into the development and they hope to hold their first event in June. We wish them every success for the future.

PADDY POWER REPESENTS WEXFORD IN BLIND GOLF TOURNMENT

Local man Paddy Power, who has a serious sight problem, has been chosen to represent Wexford in a blind golf championship which is taking place at New Ross Golf Club on Friday 16th July and also at a major event in Antrim in August. Paddy who has been a member of the Irish Blind Golf Society for two years is looking forward to this unique event, and he hopes he will inspire other visually impaired people to join up and give it a go. We wish Paddy all the best in this event which is the first of its kind in the area.

 A BIT OF HISTORY – OLD RINGS OF IRELAND

In the early history of Ireland there are many instances of great artistic skill in goldsmith work, especially applied to rings. These earliest gold rings are usually of a twisted or fine plait design and a century ago these featured in the fine collection of Edwin Hoare of Cork. In 1842 a labourer discovered two remarkable Irish rings with other gold ornaments near New Grange. Another interesting discovery was made in a potato patch at Howth over a century ago; this ring was exhibited at the Society of Antiquities in 1875 by Robert Day, the Local Secretary for Ireland at that time. The hoop part of this silver ring was formed of two hands, which grasp an octagonal signet of the letter ‘R’ crowned with the motto ‘Bacchal’ and a spray of roses in the border. This ring was obviously used for sealing, as on the rim was a star of six points to show the position for making a seal upon wax. Most highly valued, was the gold ring as used at weddings. In country districts of Ireland in fact grew up the idea that a marriage without a gold ring was not legal. One town in the south east of Ireland kept a few gold rings simply to hire for those couples too poor to purchase one outright. After the ceremony the ring had to be returned to the owner. The National Museum of Ireland has a small but fascinating collection of Fede and Claddagh rings. A 1706 example of a Claddagh type ring, made in celebration of a marriage can also be seen at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The Claddagh ring is a special type of Fede ring in which the bezel is cut in the form of two clasped hands, representing trust or betrothal, surrounded by a crown. This style of ring was long popular in the Aran Islands, but above all it is most associated with the Claddagh, Galway. Unmarried girls traditionally should wear their Claddagh ring with the crown nearest the knuckle, married ladies wear the crown nearest the nail. The meaning of this ring is  ‘Let love and friendship reign’ and so popular did the Claddagh ring become it is claimed to be the only ring made in Ireland to be worn by Queen Victoria and later Edward V11. After the Irish Potato Famine in the 1840’s Irish rings bore words to make a political statement like the unusual REPEAL rings made to urge the Repeal of the Corn Laws.  The slogan was spelt out by precious stones – Ruby, Emerald, Pearl, Emerald, Amethyst, Lapis Lazuli. Surely a clever and subtle protest.

One of these repeal rings was given to a gentleman as a souvenir, but the piece of lapis lazuli had dropped out. He took it to a jeweller in Cork for a replacement but on collecting the ring found a topaz had been substituted instead and angrily pointed out the mistake. With ready Irish wit however, the jeweller replied “No mistake sir, it is correct. It was ‘repeal’ but let us repeat that we may have it yet!”

Sure enough Sir Robert Peel abolished the hated Corn Laws in 1846 – so this Irish ring contains a piece of history in the art of gentle persuasion.

(Bel Baily -Ireland’s Own)

CHURCH NOTICES

IN MEMORIAM

Sat 29th – People of the Parish

Sun 30th – Francis Furlong, Misterin (A)

Sat 5th June – Willie Moore, Oldcourt (A)

Sun 6th – Canon Noel Hartley

Pray for Patrick Kealy, Glenour

May they rest in peace.

First Friday 4th June – Mass at 9.30am

First Saturday 5th June – Mass at 9.30am & 7.30pm

Visitation of the sick and housebound will take place on Friday 4th & Saturday 5th June.

Monday May 31st – Feast of Visitation of Our Lady

Sun 6th June – Corpus Christi, Feast of the Most Holy

Body & Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ:  Rosary & Benediction in St. Abban’s Church at 3pm.

Fri 11^th  June – Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Sat 12th June – Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

SACRED  HEART NOVENA 2021:

FROM – THURSDAY   3rd – FRIDAY 11th June

Novena leaflets will be available in the Church porch during the week.

FIRST CONFESSION

Children from 2nd Class in Adamstown National School made their First Confession in St. Abban’s Church on Tuesday night last. We ask that you remember them in your prayers over the coming weeks.

CHURCH ALTARS & DECORATION

Thanks to the ladies from Misterin for looking after the Church & Altars for the month of May. It is now the turn of parishioners from Adamstown for the month of June.

This concludes the year’s rota and the new 2021/2022 rota will be made before the end of June.

A sincere thanks to all those who faithfully looked after the Church & Altars in St. Abban’s over the past twelve months.

POPE’S INTENTION FOR JUNE – (Evangelisation)

Let us pray for young people who are preparing for marriage with the support of a Christian community: may they grow in love, with generosity, faithfulness and patience.

BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS

Fr. Hugh Mullan was one of ten people shot by the British Army in Belfast in 1971. In 1971 Fr. Hugh was killed as he went to anoint a wounded parishioner.

His cause for Canonization is presently being considered in Rome. We pray that this good shepherd who laid down his life for his sheep may soon be raised to the altar of God with his confrere Fr. Noel Fitzpatrick who also lost his life in a massacre 11 months later.

MINDFULNESS IRELAND (Ireland’s Eye)

Some day we will look back at this year,

and it will remind us to never take the little things for granted.

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WILL YOU GO ALSO?

Nonetheless as churches return to public worship, the joy that people feel is tempered by the bruising reality that communal expression of faith was considered non-essential for longer than anywhere else in Europe. Not only that but normal Sunday worship was criminalized, despite churches making strenuous efforts to act responsibly and in the interests of public safety.

These sobering realities and evidence of what Professor Declan Kiberd, once wrote, which is that the Irish are among the least sentimental people on earth.  They have little compunction about dumping a once sacred core value or identity marker. Kiberd was citing Fr. Peter Connolly, a much loved professor of English in Maynooth, who stated in 1980 that “religion will go in Ireland in the next generation: and when it goes it will go so fast that nobody will even know its happening” As evidence, Fr. Connolly gave the example of the speed with which our people got rid of their own language when it no longer seemed of practical use to them.

(Breda O’Brien – Irish Times Sat May 15th 2021)

TROCAIRE LENTEN APPEAL

All monies donated to the Trócaire Lenten Appeal 2021 are being forwarded next weekend. If you still have a box at home, please leave it at the Parochial House. Thank you.

The total amount donated to date is €1,481.00

WORDS OF WISDOM

‘We make a living by what we get,

We make a life by what we give’

(Winston Churchill)

LUCKY DIP BOOK BAGS

Lucky Dip book bags are back in New Ross Library. The team at the library are delighted to offer children (and adults if requested) the chance to select a Lucky Dip book bag.

‘So many library users loved the surprise element of discovering what books had been chosen for them, so they have rolled out this offer again. You can choose to call the library and they will happily have a bag ready for you to collect, or simply call in and choose one yourself’ librarian Dervla Dunne said. Call 051 421877 for more information.

WELL DONE GEMMA

Congratulations to Gemma Delaney, Adamstown for her Podcast ‘What’s up Doc’ which reached number one in Ireland last weekend. In the Podcast she reviews real life crime documentaries. Gemma has just completed her third year in Carlow I.T. where she is studying TV & Media, and has signed up for a fourth year.

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK

Dear Lord,

You’ve blessed the earth with abundance that mankind may have food.

And we humbly thank you for the meal that is before us now,

But we know that there are many of your children, who go hungry daily,

Help us, always, to remember them and to share with them in your name.  Amen.