The Newsletter October 2014 Rector: Canon Ian Poulton, Diocesan Reader: Parish Archivist: Clonenagh Rectory, Mabel Peavoy, Vicky Knowles, Portlaoise Road, Shannon Road, Clonin School, Mountrath. Mountrath. Mountrath. Phone: 057-8732146 Phone:057-8732331 Phone: 057-8732846 Laura Grant & John McBryde in action at the National Ploughing Championships recently Clonenagh Group of Parishes Annatrim, Borris-in-Ossory, Lacca, Mountrath, Roskelton, Seir Kieran. October is "pay and file" time, the It was my first realization that deadline for the tax return, and, more accountancy can some-times be more significantly, payment of tax for the of a creative art than a science. Looking year. For ten years financial back now I think that my father always management in our house has been knew and she knew that he knew but through columns in exercise books. they both realized that 'keeping count' Lines drawn down a page separate a was a valuable discipline, even allowing column in which each item is written, for the SPG". from a column that shows amounts budgeted, a column for credit card Perhaps there is something of the expenditures, and a column for cash Gospel in 'bits and pieces' or 'SPG'; withdrawals and debit card spending. Jesus was never a rigorist. He gets into On the right hand side is recorded the trouble over his disciples' vagueness in balance, after the addition or, more keeping exactly to the rules: often, the deduction of each item. "One Sabbath Jesus was going through Keeping a track of all the transactions is the grainfields, and his disciples began not easy, a certain vagueness creeps to pick some heads of grain, rub them in in under cover of "cash". "What was that their hands and eat the kernels. Some €60 for?" of the Pharisees asked, "Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?" "I dunno, bits and pieces". Jesus answered them, "Have you never There is a Charles Handy story where read what David did when he and his 'bit and pieces' has its own initials: companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and taking the "Words and money mattered . in the consecrated bread, he ate what is Irish rectory where I grew up. Each lawful only for priests to eat. And he week my parents would prepare and also gave some to his companions." exchange their personal accounts, in an Then Jesus said to them, "The Son of attempt to keep some track of their Man is Lord of the Sabbath." Luke 6:1-5 spending. It was a weekly agony for my mother who could never remember There is room in life for both discipline what she had spent on what. I used to and for being relaxed. When it comes to try to help. 'Why,' I once asked, do you budgeting, as with many other things, it spend so much sometimes on the SPG is the discipline that makes the space when we are so poor?' A child of the for being relaxed. Discipline through the rectory, I knew about the SPG; it was year should mean 31st October does the Society for the Propagation of the not hold too many fears. Gospel in Foreign Parts, a famous missionary society. 'Hush,' said my mother, 'and never tell your father, but SPG really stands for Something, Probably Grub.' Page 2 Farm Safety Canon Kearon is Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, a position he The Board of Education of the Church of has held since 2005. Born in 1953, Ireland issued a statement of support for Canon Kearon is a native of Dublin. the suggestion made recently by the Educated at Trinity College Dublin, he President of ICSA (the Irish Cattle and served his curacy in All Saints Raheny Sheep Farmers’ Association), Mr Patrick and St John’s Coolock, before becoming Kent, for health and safety education to chaplain of Trinity College in 1984, a be included in the primary school position he held until 1990. He was curriculum, with a particular emphasis Rector of the Parish of Tullow (Dublin) on farm safety for children in rural areas. from 1991 to 1999 after which he became Director of the Irish School of This matter is of concern to all of those Ecumenics (1999–2005). involved in farming and is of particular concern to the Church of Ireland The Archbishop of Dublin, said, ‘Canon community given that a significant Kearon has expressed his delight at number of its members are engaged in returning to work in Ireland and his farming. The number of deaths on farms intention to serve the people of Limerick due accidental health and safety related and Killaloe and the communities of incidents in recent months and years which they are a part. I have known displays the absolute need for greater Canon Kearon for many years and have awareness among children and young always appreciated his personal people of the dangers on farms and from friendship. I wish Kenneth and Jennifer farming equipment. all that is best within the love of God in their time in Limerick and Killaloe.’ While it is realised that the primary level curriculum contains a great many The bishop–elect said: ‘I am honoured elements, the Board is nonetheless of and delighted to have been elected to the view that it would be beneficial for the Diocese of Limerick and Killaloe, and close consideration be given to the I look forward to getting to know the highlighting of farm safety given the diocese, its people and its clergy well in frequent references to farm animals, the near future. Ireland has been farmyards and farm life in the primary through a very difficult period in its level curriculum and popular school history, and I look forward to helping the textbooks. diocese play its part and making its contribution to shaping the future. This diocese has made a distinctive New Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe contribution to the Church of Ireland in the past, in part through the work of its On 8th September, the Episcopal bishops and most recently through Electoral College for Limerick & Killaloe Bishop Trevor Williams, and I hope to be elected Canon Kenneth Kearon as the able to continue in their footsteps.’ new Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe. He succeeds Bishop Trevor Williams who retired at the end of July. Page 3 From the registers the life of her parish, another place where she left her mark in Mountrath Holy Baptism was in the Country Market: flowers from her beautiful garden, tomatoes from her On Sunday, 24th August 2014, at Saint greenhouse, but most of all her delicious Peter's Church, Mountrath, Chloe Eliza- cakes were always much in demand. beth Hargroves of Ard Edmond, Cas- For the last couple of years as her tletown. mobility decreased, she resided in the loving care of her daughter, Gwyn, and Funerals her family, in the Rectory, Aughrim, Co. Galway, where she passed away peace- The Late Gladys Gill fully on 4th September, after a short ill- Gladys Elizabeth Gill, née Cooper, was ness. born on 26th September 1928 in the Old Her funeral service was conduct- Schoolhouse in Aghaboe, where her ed by her son-in-law, Canon George mother was the school teacher. Flynn, Rector of the Aughrim & Creagh Her family later moved to the Pike Unions of Parishes, in St. Peter’s of Rushall. She was educated in Church, Mountrath, on Saturday 6th Aghaboe and subsequently in Car- September, and attended by a large rickmacross Boarding School, Co. Mon- gathering of mourners. The address was aghan. She then returned to help her given by her daughter, The Rev. Lesley father on the family farm. Robinson, Rector of Clontarf. On 12th October 1955 she mar- After the service, Gladys was laid ried Herbert Gill in St. Brigid’s Church, to rest in the adjoining churchyard be- Stillorgan, and she moved to his family side her late husband, Herbert, who farm in a place called Castletown, just passed away in 2011. outside Birr in County Offaly. We extend our sympathy to Iso- In 1971, following the birth of their bel, Wilbert, Gwyn, Lesley, and all her four children, Herbert and Gladys and family and friends. their family moved to a smaller farm in County Laois, coincidentally to another The Late Canon George Flynn Castletown. Sadly, less than two weeks after the Gladys had many gifts, chief death of his mother-in-law, Mrs. Gladys among them, music. Many parishioners Gill, Canon George Flynn collapsed and may remember her playing the organ in died suddenly in County Galway. Mountrath church on occasions when Ordained Deacon in Armagh Ca- Archdeacon and Mrs. Gray were on holi- thedral on 24th June 1990, he was then days. Her touch was so gifted that nu- appointed Bishop’s Curate in the union merous people would remark that they of Kilsaran, in the Diocese of Armagh, knew it was her who was playing from and became the Priest-in-Charge there the moment the organ started up. Every the following year. He was Rector of the other Sunday, she could be found en- Clonenagh Group of Parishes from 1998 hancing the church choir with her beauti- – 2000, and his final incumbency was in ful singing voice. the Aughrim and Creagh Unions of Par- In addition to throwing herself into ishes, where he was instituted as Rector Page 4 on 1st February 2008. Thursday Bible Club: Our Thursday In January of this year, he was Bible Club began again in September installed as a Canon, becoming Preband after the summer break and meets once of Inniscattery in the United Dioceses of a fortnight in the parochial hall in Moun- Limerick and Killaloe.