SÉAMUS AHEARNE: WEEKLY MUSINGS…
KEVIN BELL AND DONAL WALSH:
The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust was talked about on Miriam O’Callaghan’s Sunday programme. Kevin’s parents shared the story about Kevin’s death in a hit-and-run accident, to the money raised by the people of Newry, to the repatriation of some 2,500 people over the years. Some of us have experienced the relief in families as the Trust did its work. Also on the same programme was Elma Walsh speaking of her work with young people all over the country since the death of her son Donal. (I think he came to the public’s notice on Brendan O’Connor’s programme). It was most impressive and quite delightful to hear this woman speak. She was quite relaxed about those who thought that Donal should be put forward for canonisation. Elma and Finbarr know what their son was like, and this kind of talk is very different to their own story. But they see the effect of this young man on so many. Some of us would gently suggest to leave Donal alone; the process for canonisation is very off-putting, and almost very unholy! Finbarr spent a little time with us as Augustinians. His uncle Michael is with us and has worked in Nigeria for years. As did his grand-uncle Timmy, who was also with us as an Augustinian.
THE STAFF IN NURSING HOMES AND THE TEACHERS IN OUR SCHOOLS:
I was over in CareChoice on Thursday (Finglas). It is our local Nursing Home. I always come away full of praise for the staff working there. We do have a regular Mass in the home, and Jack comes along to lead the singing. He does sing hymns but then he takes them back to the distant past with all the songs that they once knew. They come back to life. It is lovely to watch them wake up. I then took off down South to Dungarvan to visit CareChoice. My sister is a resident there. Again, I see that CareChoice is her home and the Staff are ‘her family.’ The banter and the fun among them all, is special. And I was recalling the recent celebrations of Confirmation and First Communions – the work of the teachers is extraordinary. The care. The affection. The minding. The love. That is Sacramental for me. With the children in the schools, and with the residents in the Nursing Homes.
‘SAID THE DEAD’ & ‘THE GHOSTS OF GRANGEGORMAN.’
Due to my travelling Saturday/Sunday, I listened to the Radio. I heard more of the Kevin Bell Trust and the Donal Walsh Story. I also heard on the Brendan O’Connor Programme – Doireann Ní Ghríofa speak of her new book Said the Dead. She had visited the ruins of an old institution for the mentally ill. (A derelict Victorian Mental Hospital is being demolished in Cork.) She brought it back to life and the people there with the staff. Or she ‘interviewed them’ and the staff also, to hear the fuller story. It was intriguing. I was remembering Alan Counihan’s Ghosts of Grangegorman. He made the Documentary as he spoke to, or recalled the personal possessions of those who had lived there. It was very evocative. I remembered being in Auschwitz. It was the shoes. The glasses. The cases. The hair. That spoke. And so it was with Doireann and Alan. Another story/memory comes back for me in regards to Alan. He is a sculptor and artist. His wife Gypsy and himself lived near my sister. When my brother-in-law John died Alan called and asked what he could do. He immediately went down to clear out the dung in the cow-house! That was Alan. And this is Alan. He calls regularly to see my sister in the Nursing Home.
FIRST COMMUNIONS AND COMUNION AT FUNERALS.
In recent weeks, we had the usual celebrations here in Rivermount and many more throughout the Greater Finglas Parish. Multiple funerals. Two lots of Confirmations and two lots of First Communions. And planned weddings. The children for the Sacramental celebrations were quite wonderful. Their attentiveness. Their singing. Their preparation. Despite knowing that these are but occasions, and not long term or real commitments, the children are great. With three out of the four, the parents and families were good. One First Communion was less good. The noise was somewhat too much. I am usually very much in control, but I don’t want to be a noise controller or a policeman in Church. But there is a little question to be addressed. That is reverence. The Sacredness of Communion sometimes gets lost. What has happened or what can be done about it? A little of the same happens occasionally at funerals. All is very silent and people are very present. Until it comes to Communion. The noise level increases. There is almost a relief that now people can talk.
I am not suggesting blame or disrespect. I do mean – that there is a need to address the issue of Reverence. For life. For God. Something of awe. Some ideas around the ‘bigness’ of life and the moment. Some effort to speak into the world of ‘mystery.’ Never mind the thought or ambition of bringing people to God or to Church. Even if we could catch some whisper of what David Attenborough has found in regard to nature. He may not claim to be a believer, but he has reverence. An afterthought: When I get away at a weekend, I always find a Church for Mass. I did try three churches this weekend. At last there was Mass! There was a quietness and a peace. I felt for the priest. The congregation was very passive. And very distant down church. I wondered did the Holy Spirit do a flypast?
THE RESTING CHAIR & INISHEER:
One of our funerals during the week was for Mick Cantwell. Mick was at the heart of the Community here since its beginning. He was involved in everything and was an inspiration. He was once accused by our local Rev Sister in the following way: “I am sick of you Mick Cantwell; you are always too positive.” And so he was, but in a delightful way. Mick died due to a shortage of breath! He loved music too. He played the box. He was in every choir. We celebrated the music of his life. The song of his presence resounded throughout the whole community. For the Funeral – he was welcomed with music; there was music throughout; he played at Communion himself – The Resting Chair (Da Auld Resting Chair); And Inisheer was played by musicians scattered throughout the whole church. It was beautiful and an inspiration.
Seamus Ahearne osa
25th May 2026.