To win just once …

To win just once …

I was at an All-Ireland Semi-Final once.  It was in 1975 and Sligo played Kerry.   I was twelve years of age.  I’d forgotten that Sligo had to play Mayo twice (another year of replays!) and eventually became Connaught Champions by a 1 point victory.  It was  plenty 🙂

I remember going to Dublin with my parents and at least one brother, if not the two.  We had Black and White Flags, ribbons and hats.  It was mighty.  Yes Kerry was Kerry but dreams were real.  Alas, Sligo was badly beaten.  I hadn’t remembered the score but just checked and see it was 3:13 – 0:5

A long journey home!

There’s no denying the excitement of these days for Mayo people at home and away.  I imagine the twelve year old me draped, not in Black and White but, in Green and Red – heading to Dublin.  Walking to Croke Park in his  father and mother’s shadow, finding a voice to roar and with a heart to hope.  Total commitment to the team and total belief too.  Crucial.

These words will be a faded memory, the ups and downs of this week likewise, when people still discuss the All-Ireland Final of 2017.  The kicks, the misses, the cards, the decisions, the most minute detail of the seventy plus minutes will be told and re-told for years to come.  Analysists all.  The admiration though has to be for the men on the field who have given so, so much – sacrificed literally – to play the biggest game of their lives on the biggest platform imaginable – Croke Park, on the third Sunday of September.

Truly the majority of Ireland is rooting for Mayo.  Chances are, even in “Dublin’s Fair City”, there are some who would not begrudge the taillights of a coach or train heading Westwards with Sam Maguire among the  passengers.  There are people who have followed, supported, wished and dreamt a lifetime’s following, supporting, wishing and dreaming.  There are too, twelve year olds, five year olds, twenty year olds …. waiting.

Ah, to win just once!

 

Mullaghmore

Mullaghmore

p1040637Hello there!

I’ve been in Mullaghmore the past few days.  An Advent Retreat in the Star Of The Sea Retreat Centre is the reason I’m here.  The group was small, six and a few joined us from time to time, but I’m glad to have had the few days with them.  I had good memories of staying here last year and walking the “loop” and had hoped to do so again.  Unfortunately I picked up a cold in recent days and it sort of flaked me a bit.  The result, no walk but I’ll survive!

Just had the final talk with the group and will shortly celebrate Eucharist before heading home.  I spoke to the group just now about Verbs in the Christmas Story – “Listen”, “Let’s GO and SEE”, “They DID him homage”, “Mary TREASURED these things in her heart” – verbs call for action and action is in response to something – someone.  God’s call.

Talked a bit about being happy in your space and knowing that you make a difference there.  I’d hope we can be grateful for the difference we make and grateful too for the places we live and the people that surround us.

I’m only saying!!

As the sun set

As the sun set

On Tuesday evening I was leaving Urlaur Church after Mass and noticed a lovely sunset so went as quickly as I could to Urlaur Abbey and Lake.  Most of these photos are from that journey!  There’s another from the following evening, taken in Naomh Mobhi Cemetery, Kilmovee.  Just thought I’d share!

Fr Leo O’Sullivan R.I.P.

Fr Leo O’Sullivan R.I.P.

Fr Leo O'Sullivan S.P.S.

Fr Leo O’Sullivan S.P.S.

I heard yesterday (January 4th) of the death of Fr Leo O’Sullivan.  A native of Dingle, Leo was a Kiltegan Missionary Priest.  In or around 1968, when I was about 5, going on 6, years of age, he came to spend some time in our parish at home.  It may even have been earlier than that as the priest’s house in Cloonloo was not built (as far as I recall) and Fr Leo lived with a local family while he was in our parish. He was a joy!

I remember my family going to Kerry with him the day he left Cloonloo.  We went to an early Mass in Cloonloo Church (there’s a photo of that day at home.)  Leo celebrated Mass on the Wooden Altar that was in the church at that time.  Afterwards we went with him to Dingle.  I remember him telling me, as we looked to the Atlantic off the coast of Kerry that New York was the next parish!!  I believed him and, in my childish mind, wondered what it must be like there.

There was a kindness in him.  I recall one Christmas him arriving in at home with presents for us.  Among them a train set that was for sharing.  I spoke recently about Fr John Casey bringing presents to my mother and her brothers on a Christmas morning in 1930 and, though the circumstances were thankfully different, there was something in Fr Leo’s train set that stayed with me.  Indeed when I hear that Christmas ad for Barry’s Tea and the man recalling a train set he got from “Santa” when he was a child, there’s a connection there too.  “Doesn’t that beat Banagher?”

I remember Leo calling in home shortly after I was ordained.  He was back in Africa at that stage and I gave him my “blessing” on the street outside our house at home.  Again, a photo of that (when/if I find , I’ll include here).

Through the years we kept in touch.  Sometimes he helped me to fulfil my Mass requests and arranged for Missionary Priests to offer Masses that time didn’t allow me say.  I’m glad we kept in contact.  There were a few – too few – visits to Kiltegan.  My parents loved to see him and I’m happy that I was able to bring them a few times to catch up and renew their friendship.

There was a priest from Gurteen, Fr Ciaran Needham, whose name I’d heard many times but never met.  One of the times we visited Leo, we had the chance to meet Ciaran too and my father and mother were so pleased to see him.  I was too.  These were great men.

Bill, Fr Ciiaran Needham, Fr Leo and my mother. RIP all!

Bill, Fr Ciaran Needham, Fr Leo and my mother. RIP all!

Myself, Ciaran, Leo and Mary

Myself, Ciaran, Leo and Mary

A sharing that lasted for decades. Leo and Bill, R.I.P.

A sharing that lasted for decades. Leo and Bill, R.I.P.

The next time we visited, things had changed a little.  My mother’s balance wasn’t great and Leo got a wheelchair for her.  Sadly, wheelchairs are all too common in Kiltegan, with many retired Missionaries there now.  It made it a bit easier to bring her around but Mary wasn’t overly impressed to be in “the chair”.  Other changes included the death of Fr Ciaran Needham.  I left my parents with Leo and visited his grave.  May he rest in peace.

Fr Ciaran's Grave. R.I.P.

Fr Ciaran’s Grave. R.I.P.

2008 – my parents with Fr Leo in Kiltegan

Leo was a character and, wherever he went, there are stories about things he said and did.  Someone told me that in one parish, he asked a nun “Who’s your man in the picture?  I see him so many places and I didn’t want to ask in case I should know”  “It’s Pope Paul VI”, the nun whispered and Leo thanked her for the update!!  In our own parish too, there were moments of fun when he’d talk to people and have them (us) fooled to the eyeballs!!  He limped, I’m told, one time into a hospital in Drogheda and when a nurse asked what was wrong he told her he had “woodworm” in his wooden leg!!

For all the messing, he loved his Missionary life and his heart seems to have very much remained there.

The last time I saw him was about two years ago.  I had a baptism in Carlow and decided to go to see him.  I found the man in his room but Leo wasn’t there.  I was saddened to see him so vulnerable and confused.  I’m not sure whether or not he knew me.  I had a feeling he did but he never mentioned my parents or their deaths. Neither did I.  I felt he didn’t know they’d died and, if he did, he’d forgotten. I came away with a heavy heart.  There was another link with my past, slipping away.

I was so sorry not to have heard of Leo’s death in time to attend his funeral.  I would like to have been able to do that much to say thanks to him, not just for an old train set, but for reminding me that good humour has a central place in ministry.  Much is achieved through laughter.  Leo O’Sullivan taught me that much!  I’m grateful.

This year I had arrangements made to go to Kiltegan and thought I’d see Leo there.  I was prepared for him not knowing me but looked forward to standing with him for a little while.  I will visit him of course, but like Ciaran Needham and another man I always admired, Kevin Brehony, it will be in the place where the daffodils grow.

kiltegan

The final resting place for those who made it home to Ireland. God rest these Missionary men.

May they rest in peace.  Amen.

Mullaghmore

Mullaghmore

I’ve spent the past few days in Mullaghmore, Co. Sligo. It’s not my first time here but it is the first time I remember spending time around here and I have to say, it’s a lovely part of my home county.

Since Monday evening, I have been in the Star of The Sea, Retreat and Conference Centre. I was asked some months ago by the director, Sr Kathleen, if I’d lead a Pre-Advent Retreat.  I said I would but, apart from that, didn’t really know what to expect from the days. I didn’t know how many would be here or what sort of group.  As it turned out there were ten Religious Sisters here from different parts of the country; Donegal, Cavan, Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo and Galway.  Only one of them was known to me.  I was happy to see her here as it gave me a bit of confidence facing into the days.  I told her that too!!

The days went well, thank God and the response has been good.  It’s been a pleasant few days.  I made an attempt to walk yesterday (Tuesday) but didn’t go too far.  The day was cold and the rains not far away.  Last night I went to visit a couple and their children in Kinlough and another family in Grange.  Was good to have the chance to catch up there too.

The walk happened today – just short of 5K of a circuit walk that took me along the coastline.  It wasn’t the best of days but the scenery was spectacular.  Certainly a place to visit again on a sunnier day! Please God, that will happen.  Felt proud of Sligo as I watched the ocean move in and out against the coastline.  Thought it could and would hold its head with any part of the country.

The retreat is almost over but I feel its memories will remain with me for a while. Hopefully some of it with the ten too!!

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