Newsletter September 2026

Parish website:  www.traleedingle.ardfert.anglican.org           

https://www.facebook.com/Tralee-and-Dingle-Group-of-Parishes-680304582052423/

Rev Jim Stephens @ 087 0529107   Email: stjohns.ashestreet@gmail.com

Rev Willa Goodfellow  083 3864483

Sympathy

It was with sadness that we gathered in Ballymac Church on Thursday the 20th August for Edna West’s funeral service. Edna was such a faithful parishioner in Ballymac Church. She always ensured that the Church was for and ready for worship when her turn came around. We extend our sympathy to Amanda, Vanessa. Trevor  and Peter and their families and to her wider family and friends in their sadness and loss. Edna was a person of prayer and faith. Peter mentioned during the service that she won a prize in primary school for being able to recite Psalm 119, the longest Psalm in The Psalter.

 

To the McEvoy on the death of Johnny, We  extend our sympathy to Mark, Shirley, Alison and to his wife Anne and the Mc Evoy family at this sad time.

Johnny’s funeral took place in St John's Castle Street on the 27th August followed by burial in Rath.

 

To the Parkinson family of Kilflynn on the death of Frankie. We extend our sympathy to his wife Nora and to his children Francis, Richard, William and Mary and to his sisters Sadie and Olive.

His funeral service was held in St Johns Ashe Street followed by burial in Kilflynn Church grounds.

 

To the Blennerhassett family of Gortalea on the death of Meave O’Driscoll, wife of Basil Blennerhassett.

Basil, Meave and their family live in Bandon and her funeral will take place there.

 

Roses.

Once again, it was a delight to welcome five of the Rose Contestants, their escorts and entourage to St Johns for the Sunday Morning service on the 16th of August.

We were joined by Mr Aidan O’ Carroll and the Kerry Chamber Choir who sang two pieces and they also supported our own singers and organist.

The Roses who attended were from Cork, Derry, Roscommon ,New York  and Toronto.

The Bishop preached at the service and we are thankful to him for giving us his time.

We were delighted with the attendance and the Parish centre was buzzing afterwards as people mingled, chatted and enjoyed refreshments. Many thanks to those who contributed to the service, prepared the hall and catered for our guests in teach an tSolais afterwards.

As always, it was a wonderful weekend in Tralee and we were delighted to welcome visitors to our church which was open throughout the festival via or tourism outreach project.

 

Return Visit to Skreen and Achonry Group in Sligo,

Several parishioners travelled to Skreen and Achonry union following last year’s very successful visit by them to our parish.

The Tralee and Dingle parishioners had a wonderful time and were generously hosted and shown  many of the local sights in the Sligo area.

It was a lovely occasion of friendship and fun and we are looking forward to meeting our Sligo friends again.

Many thanks to Olive Flynn who coordinated the weekend.

 

Harvests

The first of our Harvest Thanksgiving services will take place on Sunday afternoon the 27thof September at 3pm in the afternoon in St Johns.

The preacher at the service will be The Most Rev John McDowell, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland. This will be an important event in the life of The Tralee and Dingle Group of parishes, the Diocese and for the Town of Tralee. It will be the only service in the parish on that day.

It will be the only service in the parish on that day and I would greatly encourage as many as people as possible to support the service as we welcome The Archbishop who will have taken time out of his busy schedule to be with us.

The Collection will be taken for Christian Aid,

The Second Harvest will be held in Kilgobbin on the afternoon of October 4th at 3pm

 

Return to School, College and Training

We congratulate all those who have received their leaving cert results recently as they take their next steps to college, training, work  or to a year out.

We wish all those who have started at both primary and secondary school every good wish as they begin or continue their educational journey.

 

YOU ARE INVITED! Rev. Willa Goodfellow will read from her memoir, A Gritty Little Tourist Town: Bar Tales from Costa Rica at the Filling Station (Anne’s Coffee Shop) in Camp on Friday 11 September, at noon.

A second reading at O’Mahoneys in Tralee is to be arranged.

 

Fund raiser in St James.

The Dingle Classic film society will screen the 1963 film, The Lillies of the field with Sydney Potier on  the 17th  September @8pm . The funds raised will go towards the refurbishment of St James.

 

Dana , Rosemary Scanlon will perform in St Johns on the 10th October at 7.30pm. This is a coup for St John and should be well worth supporting.

Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite or at the door on the night.

 

Cycling for All Kerry is a small volunteer-led initiative with the objective of providing an opportunity to cycle for those with vision impairments within our community and who are unable to do so independently. Currently their seven tandem bicycles are stored at the Tralee Community Development Project Centre at Upper Rock Street Tralee which has direct access to a safe and secure cycling route on the Tralee to Fenit Greenway. Weekly outings to Fenit and back which normally may take three hours.

The ambition is to grow volunteer numbers and to secure a number of trikes and recliner bicycles to also offer a cycling opportunity to those with physical challenges associated with conditions such as MS, Parkinson's disease and Strokes.

For anyone wishes to become involved or support our group in any way our contact details are as follows:

Phone : Text/Voicemail 0874056755  Email: cyclingforallkerry@gmail.com Facebook: cyclingforallkerry

Congratulations to Cecil Hoffman and Linda Woods who are both involved in this worthy project.