Eight Confirmations in one day for Adamstown family
GRANDPARENTS Paddy and Bridget English couldn’t contain their joy at seeing eight of their grandchildren confirmed in one day last week.
Adamstown NS pupils Aoife McCabe, Grainne and Niamh English, Ross English, Clodagh and Watt Creane and Ciara and Johnny Smith comprised one fifth of the class of pupils who were confirmed on Wednesday. Surrounded by family at the ceremony – which was celebrated by family friend Bishop Denis Brennan – the children, parents and grandparents enjoyed a great day.
Following Mass, which was concelebrated by Fr Robert Nolan, Fr Bernard Cushen and Fr Jim Nolan, the family enjoyed lunch and entertainment at the Horse & Hound.
Paddy, who ran English’s fruit farm, said: ‘It was special. We had a lovely day. To see such a gathering of the family around us and to have all the other grandchildren there as well – you would just lose yourself in the emotion of it all. They will never forget it.’
The Raheenduff couple have ten children and 24 grandchildren. He said: ‘It was a proud day. It’s unbelievable how moved you would be by it. It have the whole family together, you would genuinely be overcome. It was a lovely thing to happen.’
He said his grandchildren are all very competitive at sports, adding: ‘Sport is a recipe for a happy family.’ The children enjoyed a disco and comedy act by Liam Sharkey and John Reilly. ‘Bishop Denis grew up in Galbally and I remember him as a child and to have him there made it extra special,’ he said.