Community Notes Jan 22nd
January 18, 2022
Candle Lit Vigil
The horrific murder of Aisling Murphy in Co. Offaly last week has touched a nerve in Irish people both at home and abroad. Seldom has there been such an outpouring of raw emotion among the population. Aisling had finished her job in the afternoon as a primary school teacher at Durrow National School and went for a run on a popular route along the canal. Little did she know what lay in store. It is sometimes said following such tragic events that it is a case of “being in the wrong place at the wrong time” That is a misnomer. We all have a right to be “anywhere, at any time”.
The local community at Timoleague organised a vigil on Sunday night last. Over a hundred people gathered at the foot of the church steps beside The Time Line at Main Street. The round plaques that make up the time line were illuminated by an array of night lights. People stood in silence with outstretched hands bearing lighted candles. Fr. Hickey PP reflected on the fifth commandment, Thou Shall Not Kill and he also quoted the final line of The Lord’s Prayer - “deliver us from evil”. Everybody then recited The Our Father. All then observed fifteen minutes of silence. Lucy Lawton played guitar and led the gathering in the singing of Sweet Sixteen, You’ll Never Walk Alone and Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Denis O’Leary, chairperson of Argideen Rangers then thanked everyone for their presence and participation.
As the group dispersed in sombre mood into the night air, some spoke in small huddled groups and remarked that the community of Durrow could just as well have been our own local village. Aisling was a young vibrant, newly qualified national teacher who according to her principal was a breadth of fresh air in their school community. As I listened to him being interviewed on radio last week, one could not but beemotional as he spoke about his young gifted and talented staff member. I too had appointed young newly qualified teachers who were also a breadth of fresh air at our school and were responsible for giving more of us a new lease of life. How would we react if this tragedy happened in our area? It doesn’t bear thinking about. Yet, Aisling was a daughter, sister, girlfriend, musician, sportswoman and teacher who had her whole life ahead of her. We all know an Aisling. Ar dheis lamh De go raibh a hanam.
Pilgrimage to Medjugorje
A seven night pilgrimage to Medjugorje will depart Cork airport on the 25th. of May. The flight is to Mostar which is only a 40 minute bus journey to Medjugorje compared to a three hour journey if one flies into Dubrovnik. Spiritual directors on the pilgrimage will be Fr. Hickey PP and his brother Fr. Liam of Ovens. The cost of the trip is €725 H/B if one pays a deposit of €100 by the 1st. of February.
Further information can be had by contacting pilgrimage organiser, Gerald Madden at (086) 3666515
100 Years Ago
On Sunday last 100 years ago the formal hand over of Dublin Castle took place. There had been a gradual transfer of power over the weeks before hand after the Irish delegation had returned from the treaty talks in London on the 6th. of December 1921. While it is widely known that our fellow West-Cork man, Michael Collins played a pivotal part in this process, what is not known is that there is a direct Timoleague link with the transfer from British to Irish rule during those never to be forgotten weeks. What is the link or who was it?All will be revealed next week.
Racing Success
You will have read in these notes about the exploits of locally trained racehorse, Fons Vivus. I did reveal that she was entered in the bumber at The Cork Race Track at Mallow and that she should be supported for financial gain. Well, if you took my advice, you had a good start to the New Year. The Padraig Butler trained mare ridden by her usual jockey, Darragh Allen opened at 12/1 and finished up at 9/1.She made all the running on her track debut and won in an exciting finish to hold off the favourite Henning by a four and three parts of a length.
Now the word on the street is that she is entered in the Dublin Racing Festival meeting at Leopardstown on February 5th. and 6th. Check out The Irish Field or any reputable newspaper, The Southern Star included of course!