Mornington
THOSE WERE THE DAYS
Congratulations to Mickey Cunningham Marian Park Drogheda on his eightieth birthday which he celebrated recently. Michael and I were best of friends all down the years.
We met regularly in the fifties before I went to England. I worked on a farm in Beamore at the time. This farm ran from Beamore to Bryanstown covering a few hundred acres. Michael also worked on a farm in Sunnyside, not far from where the Sacred Heart girls secondary school is today. Both of the farms were next to each other.
The Beamore farm was mainly a cattle farm, mainly bullocks. The Sunnyside farm was a dairy farm with loads of cows. Occasionally a bullock might escape from the Beamore farm. One might look for him for a couple of hours, but he was always found. The gap in the hedge from which he escaped would be repaired forthwith.
The same applied to the Sunnyside farm so Michael would be in the same both as I was. It was circa 1956 (Hungarian Rising) when Michael and I concocted a plan. The seeds of this plan were sown when a bullock escaped from the Beamore farm. Michael and I would bump into each other two or three times per week. We would have a bit of a chat for a few minutes and then go on our way. This latest escape was found on Poorhouse lane which is next to St Mary’s nursing home.
This bullock was a bit on the feisty side, so Michaels assistance was needed. Having got Michael to give me a hand we went back to Poorhouse lane but the bullock had disappeared. Eventually, we located him on the Dublin road, beside Crilly’s pub, now the Railway Tavern. It was a very hot day and the animal was probably a bit thirsty. Anyway, we got the bullock back to his field, repaired the gap and bobs your uncle. When we had discovered the bullock beside Crilly’s pub the seed was sown even though it took a while to germinate.
Our plan was to visit the pub during working hours on the first Monday of November, December, January, and February for one hour. In the fifties, these months climates were proper winter weather. Snow, Frost, Sleet etc. Our first visit to the pub was close to paradise. Outside of the pub it was zero temperature, inside it was a veritable heatwave, with a roasting fire, background music, a ring board hanging on the wall and a glass of bottled Guinness in your hand.
Having come from freezing temperatures into a heatwave meant that our fingers were stinging for a while. The price of a bottle of Guinness back then would be in the region of three to four old pennies. The pennies were the ones with hens on them. We were lucky enough not to be flush with cash, otherwise, we might be still there.
We stuck rigidly to the onehour span and two bottles each. Needless to say, every first Monday of those few months a bullock “escaped” from Beamore. If not a bullock from Beamore it would be a cow from the Sunnyside dairy farm. Now the farmer did not really lose anything as we would do the ten to fifteen minutes extra for the rest of the week, Tuesday to Saturday. Finally Michael thanks for the memories.
I now have a glass of Guinness, poured from a bottle, in my hand. Cheers me ould son.
BLESSING OF GRAVES
Colpe Sat June 2nd at 7 pm. Mornington; Sun 3rd June at 7 pm. Reilig Mhuire Piltown; Sun 17th June 7 pm. Calvary Sunday, June 17th at 3 pm. Stagreenan? God knows when.
MEATH PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES
This pilgrimage will take place from Sept 12th to Sept 17th and will be led by Bishop Michael Smith. The fare is seven hundred and forty-nine euros (€749) for full board and travel taxes (single supplement one hundred and eighty euros.
To book a place contact the presbytery at 041-9827384. Sick and infirm pilgrims are able to travel with volunteer helpers as has been the case since 1948. This is also a special year in Lourdes as the apparitions of our lady to St Bernadette began on 11th of February 1848.
WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES
Application forms are available, in the star of the sea church Mornington, to fill in if one would like to attend the world meeting of families. One needs to fill in a registration form to get a ticket(s). Tickets are €40 each.
This excludes the bus fare. Families can attend the Meath diocesan day on August 22nd (2018); also, the festival of families in Croke Park on August 25th and final Mass in the Phoenix Park on August 26th.
Forms are available in the church. Tickets are subject to availability.