Tidings September November 2014 by St Matthias Church

September - November 2014

View online at www.stmatthias.ie

Tidings

Email us at stmatthiastidings@gmail.com

Cecily Says

Stargazing The north west coast of Brittany between Brignogan and Roscoff where we have often camped is a campers’ and hikers’ paradise. It is a place of rocky bays, amazing rock formations, wild scenery and wonderful sunsets. During the day skylarks serenade the wanderer who chooses to follow the old coastguards’ path along the clifftop. Its wild unspoiled beauty is very similar to that of parts of the west of Ireland. There is no light pollution here. The only man-made light to be seen late at night is the beam from the nearby lighthouse flashing every forty seconds. On cloud-free nights the sky is simply festooned with stars. Millions of them, like the Milky Way, stretch away into the distance farther than the eye can see. As I gazed up at the night sky I was reminded of the line from the modern song, the Servant King, where Graham Kendrick wrote about “hands that flung stars into space”. How our Creator must have enjoyed creating the stars and flinging them into space. Perhaps he might have said: “Here’s a few for that corner of the sky. Oh, not enough there? All right, here’s a few more. How about squeezing in a few more over there? Ah! That’s better! We often forget that when God created the universe and all that is in it, he declared it was all good. Quite clearly, God enjoyed creating and to-day he is still involved in creating and recreating. There are over fifty references to stars in the Bible. Looking up at the stars in awe and wonder I was reminded again of a favourite reference to them. In Psalm 147 the author wrote: “God determines the number of the stars and calls them by name”. To think that God knows each star and has given them all names shows the value he puts on creation. Likewise, we too have great worth in his eyes and he calls us each by name. He knows us and he loves us. Look up at the stars and revel in wonder at the magnitude of creation and allow other things to pale into insignificance. Someone has said: “Look towards the light and the shadows fall behind”. In praising God the Creator we are drawn towards the light of his love and find strength and encouragement. As the prophet Micah reassured the Israelites: “God will bring us out into the light as we wait in hope for God our Saviour” 2

Parish and Diocese News Charity Research My name is Alan Galvin, I’m a Research Assistant on the NEIL programme in the Institute of Neuroscience in Trinity College Dublin. I am working on a new study, funded by the Alzheimer Society of Ireland that focusses on the health and wellbeing of people who are providing care for their spouse or partner with dementia. In Ireland about 70% of dementia care is provided by informal caregivers, such as spouses or children. The efforts made by these caregivers are invaluable, and are associated with better health outcomes for those receiving care. However, as I’m sure you are aware, providing care on a full time basis can be incredibly stressful. There is some evidence that indicates this stress can result in negative health consequences for caregivers. Therefore it is extremely important that the experiences of carers are understood in order that they can be protected. The study we’re working on in NEIL is entitled De-Stress and aims to examine the factors associated with both positive and negative health outcomes for dementia caregivers. Ultimately, the goal of the study is to inform policy and the development of targeted interventions for improving caregiver health. “Does your spouse have dementia? A new study in Trinity College Dublin is looking to gain an insight into the health and wellbeing of those who care for their spouse/partner with dementia. If you are caregiver aged over 50 years and living with a partner who has Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia you may be interested in taking part. For more information please phone Alan Galvin or Maria Pertl on 01 896 8414” Thanks for reading, If have any questions about this you can contact me using the details below. Looking forward to hearing from you Alan Galvin (BA, MA, H.Dip) Research Assistant NEIL Program TCD Institute of Neuroscience Lloyd Building Dublin 2 Galvina2@tcd.ie Phone: (01) 896 8414

Upcoming Event of Interest: The “Lives Remembered” exhibition which is held in St Patricks Cathedral explores the Cathedral’s connections to World War One including: how the congregation was affected by war, those remembered in the Cathedral through monuments and the role that Saint Patrick’s has, and continues to, play in Remembrance of those lost to conflict. If you cannot visit the exhibition in person but would like to learn more please visit http://www.stpatrickscathedral.ie/Lives-Remembered.aspx.

Parish Notices Our thoughts and prayers are with Niall Stratford and his family after the passing of his father Ralph Stratford on 8th August.

Wedding We would like to congratulate Tarryn Waddell and Darren Connolly on their wedding on 21st June.

Clubs and Societies Update The 55 Club The 55 club will start its new season in September after having a break for the summer. Activities are being considered at the moment and will be circulated accordingly. If you wish to be included in the mailing list or have any suggestions/comments, pls do email susie. tyler@me.com. The 55 club is open to all. Looking forward to a good season ahead.

Ballybrack Guides Ballybrack Guides went to the Ulster Folk Park for their Summer camp this year. We stayed in the museum itself and had a wonderful few days. The folk park is a museum town set in the early 1900â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. All the staff are dressed in period costume and demonstrate skills of the age. The girls were able to join and try out some of these skills and explore the houses, shops and farms to their hearts content. One activity was a dress up photoshoot where the girls and leaders dressed in period costume and took photos. We also spent a day in Crawfordsburn Scout Centre doing adventure activities. The girls had great fun building and sailing their own rafts on the beach, crawling through caves and racing on peddle-carts. We spent a day in Bangor where we went swimming and shopping. It was a great trip all round and everyone had a fantastic time. 4

Clubs and Societies Update Book Club At our meeting last May we reviewed Jean’s choice “The Girl who Fell from the Sky” by Simon Mawer. It was a good read. The story is about Special Operations Executive women who were sent behind the German lines during the Second World War. The theme in Sebastian Faulks’ book “Charlotte Grey” is similar, we read this some time ago. On Friday 19th September we meet at Adele’s house to discuss our suggested summer reads including “The Lie” by Helen Dunmore. This novel, set in 1920 shows how the events of the First World War affected the survivors. We also read “The Kashmir Shawl” by Rosie Thomas. The Welsh author has written 14 novels and twice won the prize for the Romantic Novel of the Year. We also read “A Hundred Years of Solitude” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. The author, a Nobel Prize winner who died recently, chose to write in Spanish about seven generations of a family, magic and reality, incest, solitude and he fluidity of time. More than 30 million copies of this book have been sold. To commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the start of the First World War, many books have been published. Three of the best are now all in paperback. “The War that Ended Peace” by Margaret McMillan is a history of the period and the circumstances that led to the start of the war in 1914. The author, a Canadian is Professor of History at Oxford and the book is highly recommended. “The History of the First World War 1914 -1918” by David Stevenson outlines in great detail the battles on land, sea and air, armaments, economics and much more. The author is Professor of History at the London School of Economics. He is competent in the languages of all the major countries that were involved in that war. “The Long Shadow; The Great War in the 20th Century” by David Reynolds is an historical interpretation of the effects of that war. Included are topics on the art and literature of that period and there are many references to the political situation in Ireland. The author is Professor of History in Cambridge and this book was recommended recently. For Book Club information, contact: 086 2540146.

Whist Drive Our first Whist Drive of the new season is on Thursday 11th September at 7.45 pm. We welcome Parishioners and friends. Further dates for your diary are Thursdays 9th October, 13th November and 11th December. For those who would like to play whist but haven’t played for some time or not at all, lessons can be arranged by contacting Bill at 01 282 4247.

Parish Fête 2014

The Parish Fête took place on Saturday 7th June amid fears over the weather and whether all the hard work put in by so many would be spoiled! It was chilly, but stayed dry enough – and, after all, the warmth was supplied by the Stedfast Band (who were terrific!) and by the atmosphere provided by the stalls, bunting, tents and most importantly, the people! A sadness did cloud the event; the knowledge that the funeral of James Hall couldn’t be held at St. Matthias’ that day, but thanks to his widow Joan, the Rector and the accommodation of the church in Enniskerry, it did go ahead when needed. We all extend our sympathies to Joan.

A new layout was tried this year, and on the whole it gave a busier feel to the church grounds: there were more people attending, and loads extra to buy…and hey presto! we achieved the highest total since 2008…11% up on last year! There are still some improvements we can make which will hopefully bring in even more…and the ideas put forward at the Stallholders Review will give some new impetus for

next year. While I am stepping down as Co-ordinator, I will be on hand to help the new administrator, and follow through on the proposals! A great team of organisers is in place, so the overseeing won’t be too arduous for the incomer! I would like to thank all the helpers, who not only manned the stalls, but put up notices, banners, bunting, tents, collected goods, sorted the enormous numbers of books, bric-à-brac, toys, clothes, made all the edible treats and signs, provided the financial services, gave donations, tidied up, and those who organised all the stalls and the clearing of the leftovers. To single out anyone publicly would undoubtedly leave someone feeling overlooked, and this team effort was truly amazing! It’s been a great way to get to know everyone, so I hope there will be several thinking they could take over…. and volunteer before being asked! Others volunteers are needed to make bunting with me after Christmas…everything will be provided, so if you might like to help, get in touch with me on 086 6030631! Deborah Wilson, Fête Co-ordinator

Parish Fête 2014

A final thank you must go to the local businesses who sponsored gifts and vouchers…we are truly appreciative of their support! Ballybrack Shopping Centre Doran’s Pharmacy Cosgrove’s Butchers O’Brien’s Wines Shades Hairdressers Tesco

Ballybrack Village

Killiney Shopping Centre

Around and About

Apple Green Ballybrack Medical Hall Centra Comfort Furniture Gillian’s Barbers Igo Inn Palm Beach Take Away Qube Hairdressers

Black Knight Dress Hire & Dry Cleaners Café Solo Deerings Butchers Green Dragon Restaurant Murray’s Pharmacy Pizza Republic Supervalu

Chadwick’s M. Flood Carpets Fitzpatrick’s Castle Hotel Musgraves Wholesalers Rochestown Lodge Hotel Woodies DIY

ENJOY HOCKEY?

n behalf of theOnCake behalf Stall of the CakeCommittee, Stall Committee,I I would would likelike to thank to everyone thank everyone ho brought cakes, who brought buns, cakes, biscuits, buns, biscuits, etc.etc.with with them them on theondaythe of theday fete. of the fete. Albert Ladies Hockey Club is looking for The cake stallThe was cakeastall great was a success. great success.Many Many thanks thanks to you all. to you all. new members for their Social Hockey & Vets League starting Sept 2014.

would also likeI would to thank also likeall to thank theallCommittee the Committee forfor all all their their hard workhard and work and Social Hockey: fort both on theeffort day bothof on the thedayfete of theand fete and throughout throughout the year. the year. It was really It was really Castlepark School, Wed, 9-10am (All levels welcome) very much appreciated. very much appreciated. WellWelldone done and and rollroll on 2015!!! on 2015!!! Adrienne Adrienne Bedell Bedell

Vets League: Evening matches (First match Sept 2014, must be over 35) Interested?

Contact: Ali 085 158 3733 or Miriam 087 677 8211

Charity Event

Eireball Charity Run 2014 This year, my husband and I took part in the 9th Annual Eireball Run which took place from 2nd to 10th August, 2014. Our 2014 charities are Donal Walsh #Livelife Foundation (donalwalshlivelife.org) and Dogs for the disabled (www.dogsfordisabled.ie). The Eireball Run is a grueling week long sponsored drive. Each year a challenging route is set and a convoy of mainly classic Volkswagens winds its way around the island of Ireland. This year’s route saw the convoy take to the spectacular coastal roads of Ireland. Considering that the average age of the vehicles is 30 years old, mayhem and breakdowns are all part of the fun when on the Eireball Run! This year the run brought us to a new destination everyday starting from Loughgall in Armagh, to Lough Swilly in Donegal, to Letterbarra in Donegal, to Westport in Sligo, to Mountshannon in Clare, to Camp in Kerry, to Timoleague in Cork and finally finishing in Dunmore East in Waterford. We generally drove on average about 6 hours a day taking in most of the coastline enroute. The iconic VW Bus is the vehicle of choice of most partcipants but Beetles, Karmann Ghias and the odd modern Volkswagen Bus also take part. The quirky classics from 8

the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the UK, crammed with children, dogs and surfboards, dedicated a week of their summer to the Eireball charities. With the ever present talk of recession what better way to spend your holiday than travelling around Ireland with your camper van or tent? Petrol and food were the only expenses as most of the camping spots belong to members of type2ireland – a diverse Volkswagen enthusiast group including business owners, professionals, trades people, musicians and comedians to mention just a few – or to generous members of the public who donate their campsites for the event. It was a wonderful week where many friendships were created as a real sense of community was felt throughout the 8 day event. Many villages got quite the thrill when seeing a convoy of anything up to 37 Volkswagens drive through their village. Cameras and phones were at the ready everywhere we looked! The 2 highlights of our trip were meeting Donal Walsh’s father ,Fionnbar, in Timoleague, and meeting Conor Dillon, a young man who benefits from the charity of Dogs for the Disabled. Both were great advocates for their charity and it was wonderful to hear about all the work the charities do.

Charity Event Up until the completion of the 2013 Eireball run, â&#x201A;Ź70,000 has been raised by the Eireball Run and 100% of the proceeds are donated to the Eireball charities. â&#x201A;Ź8,295.20 was raised in 2013, and this was split 50:50 between The Irish Cancer Society and ISPCC Childline. We are continuing to collect and fundraise for the 2014 Eireball Charity Run so if you would like to donate to the fundraiser please visit www.eireball.com or make contact with Louisa on Louie@eireball.com or myself, Alice Gervin Dwyer, at 0876810554.

Cliff Kirker & Associates -

Taxation Consultants

78 Glenageary Park, Glenageary, Co. Dublin. www.kirker.ie How do you fill in your tax return?

Are you confused by Form 11 or Form 12? The deadline for getting your tax form in is October 31st Can you get tax relief for medical bills? The deadline for tax payment is October 31st Is your tax getting more confusing every year?

HELP!!

For a personal service and help in sorting out your tax, please contact Cliff Kirker at Phone: 2351442 or Email: cliff@kirker.ie For a personal service and help in sorting out your tax, please contact Cliff Kirker at Phone: 2351442 or Email: cliff@kirker.ie

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Tidings Editor: