Mothers’ Union Notes – July/August 2019
OUR THEME FOR 2019 – “Listen, Observe, Act – in step with God
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:
- 18/19TH October: All Ireland Women’s Getaway Weekend, Armagh City Hotel
- 19th October: Diocesan Trustees & Diocesan Council meetings, 10.30am, Embury Close, Adare Co. Limerick.
- 2nd November: All Ireland Council, 10.30am, Springfield Hotel, Leixlip
- 7th November: All Ireland Holy Communion Service 11.15am, Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin – Derry & Raphoe with Limerick & Killaloe hosting
- 17th November: Prayer Vigil for 16 Days of Activism – St. Mary’s Church, Nenagh at 3pm
- Autumn Overseas Events: Date and venue to be decided
A DAY OUT IN FOYNES: On 15th May, a lovely spring afternoon, members from Adare, Askeaton and Limerick City Branches met at the Flying Boat Museum for a guided tour. Martina, who led our tour, gave us a great insight into the history of aviation in Foynes and the importance of what was then known as “Shannon Airport” – the one across the estuary was at that time called Rineanna”!
Martina also told us of the group of passengers who had to return to the airport when their flying boat met bad weather. After eight, cold and uncomfortable, hours in the air they arrived back in Foynes and the chef there prepared hot coffees for them all, added a little something extra, a tot of Powers whiskey and topped up each cup with whipped cream – and so Irish Coffee was born! Martina, having told us the story demonstrated, with one of our group helping, how to make Irish Coffee which was then very happily consumed!
We went on to tour not only the control tower with its’ magnificent views of the estuary but also visiting the Maureen O’Hara exhibition of her beautiful gowns and films. The highlight of the tour was to explore the replica of the Yankee Clipper B314 which held thirty plus passengers for the seventeen hour flight from Foynes to Gander and then on to New York.
It was a most interesting and enjoyable afternoon which finished with delicious refreshments in the cafe at the museum.
(Photos)
OVERSEAS EVENTS: As mentioned in last month’s edition of Newslink we have been asked to highlight the work that Mothers’ Union does overseas. To that end I have invited Iris Suitor, All Ireland Vice President with responsibility for Action & Outreach, to visit our Diocese to give a talk on Overseas with the emphasis on the recent trip that Iris and June Butler, AI President, made to Rwanda. While in Rwanda they attended WW Council, the purpose of which was to develop a future strategy and priorities for MU worldwide. While there they also visited several projects that MU support. I hope to have Iris visit us in the Autumn to give two talks, one in the Limerick end of the diocese and the other at the upper end of the diocese. I will have more information after the summer regarding the date and venue and will let you know as soon as possible so that it can be part of your MU Programme for the autumn.
SUMMER HOLIDAYS: I hope you all have a lovely relaxing summer break and by the autumn you will feel refreshed and ready for anything! I love gardening, as many of you do and I just thought these words summed it up:
“Summer is here with all its sunshine and bloom. In the garden we feel close to the earth and to our Creator. As we dig and weed, we work all our cares and worries away; we feel healing in the warm soil and grass. Lord, we thank you” (a quote from Joan Blake, Cashel, Ferns & Ossory Diocese)
Lucy Kavanagh DP
