CHRISTMAS PARISH NEWSLETTER

BHUTAN

A visitor from another new country yesterday -

The Kingdom of

B H U T A N,

over there in the distant Himalayas.

Thanks for your visit, also yesterday's visitors from -

Ireland, Ukraine, Russia, USA, Taiwan, Australia, Brazil,

Canada and the Czech Republic.

Beannachtaí na Nollag!

Seasonal Greetings
to our
Worldwide Viewers!

The image shown is that of
St. Patrick's Church, Portlaw,
on  27th November 2010.
It can be viewed at a  larger size 
with a single left-click. 

GOOD MORNING!

                                                                                                                                                                     . . . and glitches crop up, no matter careful you are!!!

( a single left-click on most images will enlarge them)

CHILDHOOD MEMORIES

                

Recently, while wandering through the ‘caverns of my mind’, I arrived back in 1950.

                It is the Holy Year. Yesterday, a large procession arrived over the brow of the farmyard hill, passing our little homestead. I noticed that men, in relays, carried a large wooden cross. They were on their way to the holy well at Mothel, where, following benediction, the cross would be erected. 

 

 

The cross at the holy well of Mothel

 Then my mind flicked over to a Monday in September. I was nine years old, dawdling through Curraghmore estate, on my way to school in Portlaw. As I passed through the first gate, I saw Morleys’ majestic house on the hill, like a scene from ‘Gone with the Wind’.

                Soon I passed Dr. Walker’s gate. Two large Setters came bounding towards the gate, barking their heads off. I moved quickly towards Gory Lane.   

 Soon I passed the Spout, an iron cylinder contraption that dispensed cold water. The mouthpiece was about nine inches from the ground, so we had to get down on our knees to slake our thirst. In summer    we cupped our hands and doused our sweaty faces with ice cold water. 

                Passing the doctor’s house, I was nearly at the Square now. The Tannery gave off the stench of rotten hides, but nobody complained; our living depended on the factory.

                The Mayfield Stores dominated the Square, with all the history of the Cotton Mill and the ‘Leather Money’.  Harneys’ Hotel, Joe Joy’s Charlie McCarthy’s barber shop and ‘Johnnie the Butcher’s’ came into view.

                Across the street was Mrs. Corcoran’s sweet shop. Sometimes, when we could afford nine pence, we would sample her delicious ice cream in a glass with Raspberry cordial on top.

                There were two pubs at the top of Brown Street:  Jimmy Power-the castle, owned one, and Ned Dooley the other.

            At the top of the street, opposite Haughs’ Cross and the Protestant School, the last house was boarded up. Little did I know that within a few years my father would buy this house for £167. He would buy it from a handy-man, Tom Nugent, who purchased it from the Tannery for £20. He made some necessary renovations before selling on to my father.

As I approached the school, Mr. Lyons, the head teacher, was already in the playground. He checked his watch and clapped loudly, the sound of which reverberated as far as the Convent Chapel and the Copper Lodge. We then got into line and marched into the classroom in military style.

                Having called the roll, Mr. Lyons began, “In the name of the father . . . “We all blessed ourselves, making the sign of the cross. Another day begun in the shadow of that cross, while the Holy Year symbol looked down on the holy well. It still does!

-   oooOooo   -

  

An overall view of the holy well area at Mothel,
with the author of the above article, Jack Kelly, standing alongside.

 

The outlet from the well, as seen in recent days.

                                                

Saints Cúan and Brógán, very much  associated with Mothel,
seen here in the magnificent window over the high altar at nearby Clonea-Power church.
2nd from left - Sanctus Cuanus. 4th from left - Sanctus Broganus, in a pensive mood!

'The Spout', as it looks at the present time with the important 'water dispenser' part missing for years.
This important piece of local heritage is crumbling rapidly and likely to collapse completely before long more.
In other parts of the country and in the U.K., such heritage items have been well preserved.


                                                           

RECENT WINTRY LOCAL SCENES

The following images have been adapted

from photographs captured yesterday and today - November 19th and 20th.

Holy Trinity Church just before sunset yesterday, Nov. 19th.

Yes, there was a fast moving colourful display in the eastern sky, i.e. my back to the sunset!

Tower Hill cottages on the left in the distance here.

Looking towards Tower Hill.

Near Coes' Lodge.

Lookiong NW from Coes' Lodge.

Estate Gate

 

                                                                                                       

 

 

 

 

 

Near Tower Hill.

Salaheen Cottages.

Near Farmyard.

Lookong NW at Coes'Lodge.

A SPECIAL WELCOME

A

S P E C I A L  W E L C O M E

to you in

G R E E C E,

looking in just now!

OLD GRAFFITI

Some very old graffiti,

which I came across locally recently!

Am sure this will evoke pleasant memories

for those concerned.

I will not reveal where taken,

but the first person to email me with the exact location,

will receive an archival copy of any image on this website!

NEW PORTLAW SCOUT GROUP

Portlaw had an active scout group throughout the 1970’s & 80’s; at the time the association was the CBSI (Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland).

At various stages the group consisted of Scouts, Cubs & Beavers.

There was also a Girl Guide group in the town.

Over the years the group lost members and eventually closed.

In the summer of 2014, after various meetings in the Community Hall, a group was formed with the intention of re-establishing a Scout Group in Portlaw.

The decision was made to re-apply for the old group number, 10th Waterford, and use the traditional neckerchief colours of yellow with a blue border.

After a process of Garda vetting and some training sessions an information night was held in Clodiagh House on Thursday 23rd October 2014 to announce details of the opening. Applications for membership were taken on the night.

The group will open with two sections, Beavers (ages 6 - 8) & Cubs (ages 9 - 11) with the aim of opening a Scout section in the future.

Weekly meetings will be held in Clodiagh House, Beavers on Wednesdays & Cubs on Thursdays.

Application forms are still available from any of the leaders or can be downloaded from the facebook page - facebook.com/10th.Portlaw

Back Row: Liam Coe, Orla Crotty, Maria Kennedy, Anne Coe, Clare O' Mahony,   Ann Marie Cullen Hayes, Radek Wera, Pat Dunphy, Noel Purcell

Front row: Ricky O'Mahony, Niall Rooney,  Brian Fanning (Waterford Scout County Commissioner), Julie Walsh, Patricia O'Hara.

-ooOooo-

Text courtesy of Liam Coe.
Images 830, 831 and 832 courtesy of Scout Group.