Bunclody Beat
CELEBRATING 70 YEARS OF ORDINATION
Bunclody’s own Canon Séamus S. de Val celebrated the 70th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood on Thursday, June 18, last.
Fr Wall, as he is affectionately known in his home town, still celebrates Mass on a regular basis, enjoys paining and, of course, local history, of which he is a font of knowledge as well as being Diocesan archivist. Canon de Val plans to continue to work, helping out in Bunclody and other parishes, and says he will retire when he reaches 105. Unfortunately, the planned parish celebration has had to be deferred due to current restrictions.
We wish him many more happy and healthy years in our midst.
PAINTING AND FLOWER GRANTS FOR BUSINESSES
A new €10,000 shop front painting grant was announced at Monday’s Enniscorthy Municipal District meeting. Shop owners can now apply for a grant of €200 towards the repainting costs of their business premises.
A flower basket grant of €2,500, which traders can avail of to erect flower baskets on shop front facades, was also announced. The grant is confined to €50 per shop which should cover the full cost of erecting the baskets. Application forms for both grants are available on wexfordcoco.ie or phone Enniscorthy Municipal District Council Office at 053 9233540 during office hours.
BUNCLODY PARISH OFFICE
Bunclody parish office is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. To comply with Covid-19 precautions there are screens, social distancing in place. Anyone who wishes to contact the parish office may do so at 053 9376190 or by emailing mostholytrinitypo@gmail.com.
Your co-operation and understanding at this time is greatly appreciated.
SHOPS ARE OPEN
Many of the shops and businesses in the Bunclody area have re-opened following the Covid-19 lockdown. It is important that we all support local jobs by supporting the shops and businesses in our locality. Many people are wary of returning to shopping in person, so all should know that the commercial businesses in our area have gone to great lengths to make your shopping experience as safe and enjoyable as possible.
Please follow Covid-19 handwashing and coughing and sneezing etiquette and help keep us all safe.
For information on restarting grants, visit and assistance bunclodybusiness.com. Please remember to stay safe, stay local and shop local.
BUNCLODY LIBRARY
There will be increased access to the public library services in phase two of re-opening roadmap. There has been an explosion of reading in recent times, with more than 5,000 people now using Wexford County Council libraries’ e-book service.
Bunclody Library has begun to increase its services to the public. While the full extent of library facilities will not be available for some time yet, the public can look forward to enjoying the following services.
‘Contact and Collect’ – by appointment only. Choose your genre/subject area and our library staff will pick out up to six books/DVDs/CDs for you. You will then be given an appointment to collect these items from your local library. Contact us in any of the following ways:
Online – Fill out our simple online form from wexfordcoco.ie/libraries and email libraryhq@wexfordcoco.ie. Alternatively, phone 053 9196000 and dial three between 9.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. Monday to Friday.
Book returns – no appointment needed. Simply drop your items in the returns bin just outside the collection area and go. Please check with your local library for returns’ hours. If you also wish to borrow books, please contact us first and we will arrange an appointment for you.
Book Call Service: Elderly, vulnerable or cocooning citizens can request books and we will deliver these directly to your door. Phone 053 9196000 between 9.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m., Monday to Friday. More than 2,000 items have now been delivered via our Book Call Service.
You can continue to use your library online.
Don’t forget, you can access our library services online, 24/7. These online services will continue to be available as we move through the re-opening phases. You can: join the library online; read magazines and newspapers; take eLearning or language courses; watch or listen to storytimes; and take part in other activities like online bookclubs.
If you use audio or digital books, you can search and, reserve and read e-books and e-audio books through the BorrowBox app.
Log on to wexfordcoco.ie/libraries/ebooks-and-eresources to see the vast array of digital resources you can access on your smart device or home computer.
RESUMPTION OF CHURCH SERVICES
Weekday masses will resume in the Church of the Most Holy Trinity, Bunclody on Monday, June 29, at 9 a.m. The Sunday or weekend masses will take place on the weekend of Sunday, July 5. The mass times will be as usual, on Saturday evening at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m. and midday. Social distancing will be in place except for family groupings of the same household.
Initially, it is hoped to accommodate 90 people at each mass. Sanitising stations will be available at the entrances to the church.
There will be serious need for volunteers and helpers to assist with the new arrangements. Those, who offer to volunteer and help are invited to come to the Parish Pastoral Centre on Friday evening, June 26, at 8 p.m. to explore the areas where they can assist.
At present, weekday masses are celebrated at 10 a.m. each morning and can be availed of on webcam (mcnmedia.tv) The Sunday mass is celebrated at 11 a.m. and is also on webcam.
For details of resumption of Church Services in Bunclody Church of Ireland Union see the diocesan website at cashel.anglican.org/or faceboo.k.com/ bunclodyunion/
BUNCLODY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
Entry forms for Bunclody Horticultural Society’s annual Garden Competition are now available. The competition is open to all members and non-members are welcome to enter, providing they live within 10km of Bunclody. Entry forms are available in Steemers or by emailing Carmel Ryan at munryancn@gmail.com Entrance fee: €5. Judging will take place on July 7. The final date for entries is Thursday, July 2,
Due to Covid-19 restrictions Bunclody Horticultural Society has decided that the annual Bunclody Show will not go ahead this year.
BAKE FOR TEMPLE STREET
Clohamon Great Bake for Temple Street Children’s Hospital – organised by the Fortune family, Ailbhe (aged 12) and Ciara (aged 10). A socially distanced bake sale took place in Clohamon on Saturday, June 6, and catered for both pre-orders and deliveries.
Great bakers also included Una Murphy and Leanne, Mairead and Marika Mahon.
Over 500 baked items were sold over the weekend. The event was hugely supported by the local community – thank you to everyone who came.
Virtual bake Zoom calls were also held on Sunday, June 7, with online donations. The total raised from both days was €1,320.
CARLOW DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP
Carlow Development Partnership continues to support communities in Carlow town and county during these challenging times. We want you to know that we are open for business.
As a community leader you are likely looking for ways for your community to grow and prosper during and after Covid-19.
Let’s have a conversation today about your community’s plaas for tomorrow. Let’s work together and use our creativity and experience to figure out how we can best work with your community. Please contact us at 059 9720733/reception@carlowdevelopment.ie.
OUR LADY OF LOURDES NS
As a result of the Covid-19 outbreak, Our Lady of Lourdes NS, Bunclody is continuing to accept applications for places in our Junior Infant classes for
September 2020.
Due to Covid-19, the school is currently closed but further information and application forms can be requested by emailing the school at secretarybunclodyns@gmail.com.
Our Lady of Lourdes NS is at the heart of the community in Bunclody and provides a warm, welcoming atmosphere for all our children to learn in. We look forward to the return of normal times in September. Stay safe.
CLOHAMON ROCKS
The Clohamon Rocks community project started a month ago when some youngsters (the Doyle twins) started painting lockdown rocks near the power station in Graiguebeg, Clohamon. When spotted by others, the project took off, with lots of local people joining in adding their painted rocks and lockdown messages, including local artist Una Murphy.
Up to 150 painted rocks can now be found out around the village and surrounding roads. They include some GAA club colours, plus some of the fairies who moved into Clohamon during the lockdown.
BUNCLODY VC PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION
Bunclody Vocational College’s splitthe-pot draw will resume on Thursday, June 25. Thank you to all those who have continued to support us while we stayed apart. All envelopes entered over the past number of weeks, together with those entered between now and the draw, will be included. We look forward to your continued support. Envelopes available in Bunclody Credit Union, Bunclody VC, Eurospar, Ken Rothwell, O’Reilly’s SuperValu and Steemers Newsagents.
We wish to advise that our planned fashion show has been postponed and will now not take place until spring 2021.