remembered as rosary prayer

mer miners and families of miners who endured the hard life of coal mining. “It was a job that the people of ‘Comer were glad to get and it sustained many families in the area, but conditions were tough and you got nothing easy” said the former Labour councillor.

Mr. Shortall said that great credit was due to Nixie Boran the union rep’ who helped to allevi- ate a lot of hardship and managed to improve working conditions.

Maurice also paid tribute to Seamus Walsh (RIP) who did incredible work for the miners and the mining community and left a wonderful legacy in Castlecomer with e Coal Mining museum at e Discovery Park.

Perhaps, this would be an apt time to remember one of Seamus Walsh’s poems:

“And yes I was proud to be a miner And to be a miner’s son, And I’m proud to sing their praises And I’ll sing them ‘till I’m done. And I’ll keep a light a- shining In the tunnel dark and deep, And when people talk of mining It is of your deeds they’ll speak”

(Seamus Walsh) ose in attendance agreed that the rosary at Deerpark in honour of Our Lady of Fatima was very special and the attendance of some of the surviving members at the prayer meeting added to the occasion. e last word should go to the organiser John Ryan who explained that people today may not fully understand the work that miners did and the dangers encountered on a daily basis.

“Remember, a lot of boys and men were going underground in the dark and coming out eight hours later in the dark” said John.

He continued: “One of the best descriptions I heard on the signi cance of the grotto at the mine entrance was from local man Willie Joe Meally, who described the statue as ‘our Health and Safety of the day’.