Our Diocesan President writes:

Dear Fellow Members,

St Columba’s Church, Tullow was filled to capacity for the Diocesan Festival Service on 20th April and commissioning of Diocesan President and Treasurer by the Rt Revd Michael Burrows, Bishop of Cashel and Ossory.   The service celebrated during the Easter season proclaimed the glorious resurrection news from the opening greeting.  Bishop Burrows reminded us of the role of Mothers Union in Social Policy, past and present and many members have since spoken of training provided in the Diocese by Mrs. Edna Burrows.  We were delighted to welcome Mrs Moira Thom and members from our link Diocese of Connor who spent the weekend in the Diocese. I would like to thank everyone involved in then organization of the service and refreshments afterwards.  I have been overwhelmed by the good wishes and friendship shown to me since taking up office, thank you all so much.

Phyllis.

Diocesan Tour

We had a fabulous tour this year based in the Cavan Crystal Hotel – where the hospitality was superb. Our Leader Margaret aided by Joan planned the trip carefully.  Each day was well paced with timely coffee breaks; lunch breaks and shopping, followed by more shopping! We broke our preliminary journey at Belvedere House, Mullingar and had a guided tour.

Next day we visited Belleek pottery marvelling at the intricacies involved in creating this ancient art. In the afternoon we visited The American Folk Park in Omagh, which took us back in time to the traumas of emigration – no e-mails I-pods or mobile phones back then.

 Next day we visited Arigina coalmines, now reopened as a museum and memorial to the past generations of miners. We had a wonderful tour of the mines guided by an ex miner who recalled the hardships and deprivations of life underground, followed by an afternoon cruise in glorious sunshine aboard the luxury boat Moon River on the Shannon. 

Next day we were off to Florence Court to the Marble Arch caves. First we had the mandatory video tour followed by a boat trip on the underground lake, and our young-at-heart group found no difficulty in negotiating the 159 steps to re-emerge into the sunshine.  We visited the museum in Ballyjamesduff, formerly a convent school and were treated to a special afternoon tea in one of the upper dormitories.

We were delighted to welcome our Diocesan President Phyllis and her mother Rachel who joined us for dinner. Rachel was on the first tour 24 years ago.

On our last evening together hidden talent emerged as home produced entertainment “excited and delighted”.

At the start of our journey home we visited Kilmore Cathedral were we were warmly welcomed by Helen Clarke, wife of Bishop Ken and Diocesan President of Kilmore. We were treated to a tour of the Cathedral followed by a short service conducted by the Dean.

Our final stop was at Locke’s Distillery, Kilbeggan. We saw turbines, vats, pulleys and levers and then tasted the end product “twelve years old”.

The tour concluded after five days of glorious weather, wonderful food, good fellowship and hilarious fun, shared with many old and new friends.

C.O.M.A.C. Dates for 2008.

Saturday 23rd February

Saturday 26th April

Saturday 20th September

 

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