ST. COLMCILLE'S PARISH NEWSLETTER MARCH 1997 After a distinguished history spanning two decades Knocklyon is in danger of being a non-starter in this year's Community Games. This is truly ironic since only two years ago we won a special award for fielding the highest number of participants. Participation is the motto of the Community Games movement - its aim being to give as many children as possible an opportun- ity to take part in some sport. Last year in Knocklyon up to 600 children between the ages of 8 and 1 4 took part in some Community Games event. Despite this fact only four people turned up to this year's A.G.M. called to organize the '97 Games. This is indeed a very sad reflection of the level of interest of parents in this activity. (Continued inside on Page 14.) to 'Paint Daire and Aisling Traynor pictured with Frank Patterson Aoife Kenny during their recent performance of Aoife Kenny has been a member of the choir since she was eight ' Faith of Our Fathers" at the Point years old. That was in 1993 and she loves every minute of it. "You have to leave when you are 15" she told me, "but I would like to Parishioners of St. Colmcille's Church Knocklyon love to sing. This audition for the RTE Philharmonic Choir when I am older. You c^y conclusion becomes quite obvious when one thinks of the amazing you know and if you are really good you can try for the Chamber diversity of musical talent which is offered by the various choirs at Choir." Aoife too has appeared in many performances, her most each Mass from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Sunday. recent being The nutcracker and Faith of Our Fathers. Last week I discovered four young people whose love of singing Maomi frew has only been a member since September 1996, has opened up a new and exciting world to each one of them. They but has already sung with the choir on three occasions, The All are Aisling and Daire Traynor, Aoife Kenny and Maomi Frew. The Hallows Liturgical Competition, The nutcracker and Faith of Our three girls are members of St. Colmcille's School Choir. Daire, an ex Fathers. member is now a first year student at Templeogue College. All are members of RTE Cor na nOg (The Choir of the Young). RTE's Cor na nOg is a choir composed of about eighty children between the ages of eight and fourteen years. These children are specially selected by means of audition, from Dublin and the surrounding counties. Auditions are held each year, usually in September, notification of which are advertised in the media. These yearly auditions are a must and apply to present members and recruitment of new ones. The choir was founded in 1987 under the Directorship of Colin Mawby. In 1995 Blanaid Murphy, a music graduate of Cambridge University, who also studied in Stuttgart and Salzburg was appointed conductor. She is considered to be one of the most outstanding directors in Ireland. Under her guidance the children are taught to read music and are given a solid grounding in choral singing in an entertaining and structured way. It is hard work providing all members with three hours education every week during the academic year. Regular broadcasts are made on BBC and RTE TV and Radio and involve twice weekly rehearsals Wednesdays 5.30 to Naomi Frew 6.30 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 12 noon in the Radio Centre, Donnybrook. , Of course, Faith of Our Fathers performed at the Point is the Aisling and Daire Traynor's family have always been interested in name we all know best. It certainly hit the headlines when the CD music. Their mother Anne was a well-known singer before her recording shot up to Mo. 1 in the charts, knocking Boyzone off the marriage and their grandfather, a Lt. Col. in the Irish army was the top. The video of this production is due on the market in March and founder of Pius X Musical Society, so music is in their blood. In must surely be a certainty for a phenomenal success. addition to singing, Daire plays the clarinet and Aisling the piano, It is a reassuring thought that these children and all the other indeed it was her piano teacher, Miss Lowden who suggested that members of Cor na nOg can be so dedicated to music and give both children should apply for membership of Cor na nOg. They their time so willingly and enthusiastically to the work involved. The joined in 1995. Since then they have taken part in many public opportunity to study music from the great composers of the past, to performances which include among others, The Royal Hospital, the well known simple, but beautiful songs of praise, is a treasure Kllmainham, the RTE Froms, La Boheme, The nutcracker, Live at that will stay with them throughout their lives. Three and Faith of Our Fathers at the Point. Eileen Casey THE WASH DEROT PAPER HANGING SERVICES TERENURE LAUNDRETTE & DRY CLEANERS • FAST • NEAT • RELIABLE 6 Terenure Road North, Terenure, Dublin 6. Tel: 4907574 TOP CLASS PAINTING -ESTIMATES FREE Opening Hours: Mon.-Frl. 7.30am-9.30pm, Sat. 9am-7.30pm, Sun. 10-6.30pm TELEPHONE SEAN - 4524542/087-2341683 SUNNY HILL GARDEN CENTRE Bohernabreena, Dublin 24 • opposite church SOW NOW - Bulbs & Bedding Ifflfe Also Alpines • Heathers • Conifers • Trees • Shrubs Interior Designer Telephone 4513619 TELEPHONE: 4946509 /w^^ JOAN COLBERT, S.R.N., s.c.M. THE BOUNCING CASTLE HOME PHLEBOTOMY SERVICE THE ULTIMATE CHILDREN'S PLAYHOUSE Do you require a blood test. Avoid a Hospital Queue. TO HIRE IT NOW JUST PHONE 4930658/087-477255 Telephone 01-4947623 for your home appointment. fi^J cficcticrtX THE DEACON I'm All Right Jack! ... or am I? Recently Br. Philip was ordained to the "Charity begins at home" is a half quotation, office of Deacon. The piece below often used to justify a narrow; self-focussed atti- explains the duties of this office. tude to life. "Charity begins at home, but doesn9t "He is to draw strength from the gift of the stay there"! is the full quotation. And how true Holy Spirit. He is to help the bishop and the that is! In fact, love that "stays at home" is not priests as a minister of the Word, of the love. Openness to the greater world outside is an altar and of charity. essential ingredient. And, as with all true love, He is to make himself a servant of all. the giver is the main beneficiary. As a minister of the altar he is to proclaim Nowhere is all this more relevant than in the the Gospel, prepare the sacrifice and give Community of families that a parish is meant to the Lord's body to the community of be. Unfortunately many parents focus so exclus- believers. ively on their own domestic unit in the care and attention, time and energy that they give, that It is his duty to bring God's Word to there is nothing left to contribute on the com- believer and unbeliever alike, to preside munity level The tragedy is that this very neglect over public prayer, to baptise, to assist at will frustrate their best endeavours for their own marriages and bless them, to give viaticum children, who, as the years go by, spend more to the dying and to lead the rites of burial. and more time with their peers outside the home Once he is consecrated by the laying on of environment. So, that environment demands to be hands that comes to us from the apostles formed and tended as wisely and carefully as and is bound more closely to the altar, he is each individual family that makes it up. And who to perform works of charity in the name of can do this except the families themselves. the bishop or pastor. From the way he goes A neighbourhood must provide adults to give about these duties may he be recognised as time, talent and energy to youth clubs, com- a disciple of Jesus, who came to serve, not munity games, summer projects, sports, hobbies, to be served." recreations etc. etc. Otherwise it will be fated to "After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, watch its teenage children left to their own de- and had returned to the table, he said to them, "Do vices, wander the roads, hang around aimlessly, you know what I have done to you? You call me at best; and at worst-get caught up in alcohol Teacher and Lord - and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and drugs, sexual excess and petty crime. and Teacher, have washed your Leisure time is at least as formative as school feet, you also ought to wash one time. Schools, by and large, are ready-organised. another's feet. For I have set you Leisure pursuits depend on voluntary endeavour. an example, that you also should Hands up all who are prepared to volunteer! do as I have done to you. " Fr. David John 13: 12-15 • DOMESTIC APPLIANCE REPAIRS • 3JT1 TEMPLEOGUE FUELS O'DRISCOLL ELECTRICAL FOR SMOKELESS FUELS & ANTHRACITES • PROMPT DELIVERY • • Phone 624 3263 • Telephone Pat Swan at 4945733 GLENARD BEAUTY SALON CABINET MAKER FIRHOUSE ROAD will repair all types of furniture, chairs, etc. Facials • Body Massage • Aromatherapy • Waxing • Electrolysis • Red Veins • Eyelash Tinting • Slendertone • Sunbed ALSO Upholstery Work Carried Out OPEN TUESDAY TO SATURDAY.