Newsletter Tralee and Dingle May 2021
Boys Brigade. While not meeting physically Collette has set a task for each month and the current task was in line with Bishop Appeal project, Connect4creation. The Boys and Girls were tasked with making a bee hotel or to plant flowers to attract bees into their gardens. This was a badge awarding tasks. Pictures of all the entries are attached or alternatively can be found on our parish website and Facebook page. Well done to the Boys and Girls and to Collette our captain who keeps coming up with ideas. This was a badge awarding tasks. So those who receiving badges were
Lucy, Abigail, Jake, Ross, Ruby, Iona, Croi, Grace K, Luke, Grace P, Dorian, Nicholas, Isaac, Jovia and Jotham.
On the theme of Bees, it’s nice to see some of the wild flowers that were planted last year appearing in the grounds of St Johns Church.
Grant funding. We were delighted to hear news that the parish was awarded €20,000 under the Structures at Risk fund to renovate the tower of Ballymacelligott Church. This represents 80% of the funding required and the parish will have to come up with the remaining 20% match funding. Donations are always welcome
Also, on Friday it was confirmed that over €100,000 that had been awarded to the Dingle Tidy Towns under the Town and Village renewal scheme has been secured for work on the restoration of the Graveyard at St James Dingle. The burial ground dates back to the 1500’s and it contains headstones and tombs that are of significant historical interest. Kerry County Council will over see this project.
Many thanks to Councillor Seamus Cosai Fitzgerald who has been working on this for almost ten years. This will be a wonderful project and when it is completed the graveyard will be transformed.
Churches opening,
It looks like churches are allowed to open from the 10Th May. Parishioners returning to public worship should feel safe and reassured because of all the precautions around social distance, hand sanitizing, weaking of masks and stewarding that are in place. Our churches tend to have high ceilings and are naturally draughty which should be an additional safety measure. I am most appreciative of the way that church wardens and other parishioners have worked so hard to put these safety measures in place.
At a recent clergy meeting we had discussions on how we would reopen, some clergy were considering a gradual and cautious approach.
Care for one another is important and wearing of masks is required unless someone has medical reason for not to wearing one.
From now on all of the Churches with the exception of Tralee will have services on three Sundays in the month. More information later on reopening.
Sympathy
To Valetta Blennerhassett on the death of her brother Walter Long who died in Toronto Canada. Walter emigrated from his native Adare via Cobh in 1954. He started his own Plumbing business in Toronto. He returned to Ireland frequently to visit his family.
To the Revington family on the death of Joe Revington who died unexpectedly in KUH. His funeral service was held in St Johns Ashe Street followed by burial in Ballyseedy. In previous times his family ran a large department store in Tralee. He was barrister on the southern circuit and was an advisor to Dick Spring during his spell in government. He is survived by his wife Finola, daughters Melody and Faye and their families and his brother Gordon and his family who live in Tralee.
To the Giles family in Tralee on the death of the Rev Michael Savage in the UK.
Michael was a priest in the Church of England and was married to Daphne Giles who is a sister to Trevor Giles in Tralee.
Féile Na BeatLine arts festival. As this festival could not take place this year it was suggested that each Church on the peninsula would ring its bell at 12.30 on Friday 30 April to mark the passing of all those who have died since March 2020. Many thanks to Cecil who did the honours at Kilgobbin.
Diocesan Secretary.
The Diocese are seeking application for the position of Diocesan Secretary.
I have attached the advertisement with this newsletter. The current Diocesan Secretary is Yvonne Blennerhassett from Tralee and Dingle, who is retiring after almost nine years in the post. Yvonne has done an excellent job in this role and we wish her well in retirement.
Comfort for Chemo Kerry are fundraising to build and equip a Chemotherapy Unit in Kerry. They need to raise 5 million to achieve this. Linda Woods has organised a group of volunteers who will cycle the circumference of Ireland to help raise funds.
You can cycle or you can make a donation. Well done, Linda
https://comfortforchemokerry.com/charity-cycle-donation
Door Step visiting
It was suggested at a recent clergy meeting that doorstep visiting as opposed to (door stepping an unsuspecting parishioner) might be a good way to begin pastoral visiting again. It would involve a five minute socially distanced chat at the door.
I know of one cleric who has cycled around his parish, that would be a fairly mammoth task for Tralee and Dingle.