The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
St Mary’s and Hospice to share charity Christmas Memory Tree
FOR the duration of this month, St. Mary’s U-16 girls’ basketball team members are organising a ‘Christmas Memory Tree’ at Nana Bea’s Cafe here in Castleisland.
The tree will be based there for the next month and over the holiday period with the help of local business people, Shirley and Chris Higgins, their family and staff.
The Memory Tree is a way of commemorating the life of friends and loved ones especially at this time of year.
It’s a wonderful way of having your deceased loved ones remain in all our thoughts during the Christmas period.
On this Thursday night, December 8, Monsignor Dan O’Riordan will be on hand to bless the tree and officially launch it with the turning on of the lights.
The Holy Sacrifice of Mass will be offered for those being commemorated on January 5, at 7pm in the Church of Saints Stephen and John.
Memory Tags will be available to purchase from as little as €5 from many local shops and from U-16 team members.
The name of your loved one can also be written into a special book which will be located with the tree.
This book will be presented on the altar at Mass in January. All proceeds will go towards the Kerry Hospice Foundation and the U-16 girl’s trip to the Tomas Sola International Basketball Tournament in Barcelona next spring.
The U-16 girls are traveling to Barcelona in April 2017 to play in the tournament along with joint coaches, Aoife Nolan and Conor Brosnan. A committee of parents and supporters have also compiled a calendar for 2017 as part of the fundraising drive.
“It’s the first time any team from the club has gone overseas to compete. It’s a big step forward for both St. Mary’s and the girls themselves in terms of development and representing the club on an international level. We will be up against the elite clubs from many other top European basketball countries so it will be a great experience and one hopefully the girls will never forget,” said Conor Brosnan.
“This is an initiative to raise funds but we also wanted the idea to have sentimental value so, therefore we are also donating some of the proceeds to the Kerry Hospice Foundation as our chosen charity.
“Everyone has been affected in one way or another with illnesses, so we believe this is something every family can relate to.
“The specialist Palliative Care team in University Hospital Kerry provide care and support to patients who are living with an advancing illness.
“There are more than 500 new cases of cancer in Kerry each year and the care that is provided to the patients is second to none so this our way of giving something back to this fantastic organisation.
“So please call into Nana Bea’s Cafe in Castleisland any time this month and in the run up to Christmas to support two very worthy causes and to remember your nearest and dearest who are no longer with us,” Conor concluded.