JOHNSTOWN CASTLE FIELD DAY
Congratulations to Georgina Rothwell and the intrepid team of about 80 who played a blinder yet again at Johnstown Castle. The final tally was up on last year by at least a thousand euro, to make over €22,600. Great credit is due to all who worked so hard on the day, who gave up the Bank Holiday Monday and many hours before in organising their stall. This money is really needed as major works will have to be done on the tower of St Iberius that is in a wretched state.
MOTHERS UNION
A group of members enjoyed a day out in beautiful sunshine, firstly, visiting the magnificent Ros Tapestry, then travelling to Woodstock Gardens, Inistioge Co. Kilkenny for a relaxing coffee break and a short stroll through the walled gardens. Those of the group unable to manage the walk were given a tour in a golf buggy so that all could appreciate the colourful flower borders. The final stop was at the Arboretum lifestyle and garden centre at Leighlinbridge, Co. Carlow, for lunch in the Mulberry Restaurant. Afterwards the group were given a guided walk through the Inspirational Gardens by Eamonn Wall, plant area sales manager, who was happy to explain the plantings and answer questions. To end the day there was a retail therapy session at the centre and a return journey to Wexford through lovely countryside! Susan Rickwood
IOM WEEKEND
We're off to the Isle of Man from 30th September to 3rd October including three of the Calendar Girls who have gone on nearly every trip.
MULRANKIN UPDATE
Fire at St. David's Church, Mulrankin, Bridgetown, Wexford.
Sometime during the night and morning of June 22nd, there was a break in at St David's Church, Mulrankin, Bridgetown. The intruders set fire to the vestry floor and the church sustained considerable smoke damage. Over the last few months a number of Roman Catholic churches in the area have also sustained break ins. Due to the keen observation of parishioner Willy Stephenson, who was passing the church and saw the door of the vestry ajar, even greater damage to the church was prevented. Two units of Wexford Fire Service came to the scene and put out the smouldering fire. The Rector is hopeful that parishioners will be able to return to worship within a couple of months as no irreparable damage was done to furnishing or windows. This is a lovely church and we will renovate and open it for those who worship there so faithfully as soon as is possible.
To date, all the smoke damage has been cleaned, the very important east window, painted by Mossis and Sons and dedicated to Monk Gibbon has been cleaned by stained glass expert Richard Kimble. The wardens Francoise Davison and Ann Mc Morris have been working very hard with Brian Kemp in coordinated the redecoration and refurbishing of the church. It will be a glorious place to worship when this work is done. Good progress is being made.
ROSSLARE SUMMER SALE
Great work was done at the summer sale which netted over €3,300. This was a great achievement in less than two hours. Sincere thanks to all who put so much work into the event and those who supported.
TAGOAT STEAM RALLY
Please support the steam rally and our stand at it on Sunday, 21st August.
NEW VESTRY IN TAGHMON
The new vestry is Taghmon is nearing completion and is just wonderful. Congratulations to Alan Simmons for all the work he had done in organising this new vestry, toilet and kitchen. It fits in superbly with the rest of the church.
KILSCORAN RENOVATIONS
We were ready to roll, had sent out the tenders, sorted the money and then were stalled by someone in the Department of the Environment who wants us to spend three times the money, cladding the building with slates that were not on the original at all but were a later addition. So the battle goes on. This intervention has meant that the lime rendering of the building cannot take place this year as good weather is needed. It really is time people wised up in the decision making bodies of our State to the real world in which parishes operate. More anon.
BON VOYAGE
Robert and Marianne Young are moving to Brisbane in Australia where their children Richard and Elaine are working and studying. Robert has been a rock in the community of Horetown parish all his adult life and has served on the vestry for years, always bringing a calm, wise, intelligent integrity to the task at hand. He did enormous work as the project manager in the recent renovation in Horetown. Marianne has generously offered her talents as webmaster, genealogist and computer genius to so many parish projects and diocesan committees. Both have given of their gifts freely for the good of the community and this has been deeply appreciated. We wish them well in this new chapter in their lives, they will be missed dearly but may God bless and guide them in this new journey.
CONCERT FOR HOPE CANCER CARE/h4>
There will be an Evening of Song by members of Good Works Opera in aid of Hope Cancer Support Centre Enniscorthy on Friday 16th September at 8 p.m. at St Iberius Church, Wexford. This will be a very special concert for an issue close to all our hearts.
- Laura Gilsenan Soprano
- Joyce Byrne Mezzo Soprano
- Victor Coe Bass-Baritone
- Graham Joseph Countertenor
- Heather Tomala Piano
Retiring collection.
INTERMENT OF ASHES IN CASTLEBRIDGE
Lillian Violet Grant nee Kavanagh (October 3rd 1913-April 20th 2008): and Edward Francis Grant (June 16th 1914 - June 7th 2005)
Vi and Eddie Grant's ashes are to be buried in Ardcolm Churchyard, Castlebridge, Co. Wexford on Saturday August 20th 2011, at 12 noon. There will be a short burial rite, taken by the Rector, following Vi's wishes as much as possible, that there be ‘no fuss᾿.
Ardcolm is from the Irish, and means the Height of the Dove. Eddie was appointed Rector of Ardcolm Union of parishes in 1957, though he and Vi moved into the large rambling Georgian rectory earlier in November 1956. This was to be there home until 1972 and was Vi's favourite house. In her final illness, we often poured over photos of Castlebridge Rectory, reminiscing about the people and place which she remembered with great joy. Following the Rector of Wexford's tragic death in 1970, the Unions of parishes of Ardcolm and Wexford were combined, and subsequently the couple moved into a new rectory in Park, Wexford. So from 1956, until Eddie's retirement in September 1985, he and Vi served the Church of Ireland parishioners and the wider community in this part of Co. Wexford. This is the background to Vi's request that Ardcolm Churchyard be the final resting place for her and Eddie’s ashes, a place that had a special affection in her heart. Ann Cox
BIRTHS
Two little girls were born in the last couple of weeks, Charlotte, daughter of Damien and Diane (Davis) Goff and Soifra, daughter of Yvonne (Reid) and John Power. Congratulations to their very happy parents and grandparents.
MARRIAGES
Congratulations to Aisling Reid and Daniel Wallace married in Bali, Indonesia, Johan Henri Rousseau and Michelle Meadows, married in St. Enoch's Killinick and Helen Carter and Brian Roche married in Duncormick. Wishing each couple God’s blessing and grace.
SINCERE SYMPATHY
Daphne O'Donnell came from England and lived up Forth Mountain with her husband Charlie. A private couple, both were very ill and with no family but they were cared for by good neighbours and superb community nurses. Daphne was buried in the chapel graveyard in Taghmon. Please remember her husband Charlie in your prayers.
Sincere sympathy to Denis Hearn who has suffered the death of three brothers in the last twelve months.