Photo: Castlehaven GAA Twitter Notebook
We won the county final. The rural parish where I’ve been based since 2022 took on the big urban city clubs in the biggest county in Ireland — and we won. It was some achievement for a tiny parish like ours.
Some may wonder who is this “we”. I haven’t been known previously for my devotion to the GAA, but in this parish where every man, woman and child not only follows the teams and goes to matches, but analyses in detail each player’s injuries, chances of recovery etc., attachment to the GAA is a tide that carries all before it.
Newcestown
I spent ten years in the parish of Murragh and Templemartin, whose GAA Club, Newcestown, won a couple of county finals during my tenure. No credit can attach to me however, my role in the club was very much ornamental. Each year I got elected as Patron of the Club at the AGM, and on leaving the parish I got a framed certificate recording that involvement, which hangs proudly in my new home in Union Hall. The lack of a cordial relationship between Newcestown and my new club, Castlehaven, is a matter of unfortunate history, hard to overcome. However, on leaving Newcestown my neighbours made up and presented me with a blue-and-white Castlehaven flag, a kind and thoughtful gesture, much appreciated around here. Even ancient animosities can heal, with imagination and resourcefulness.
The universal Church made a contribution to our county final victory also. The Sunday before the final was Mission Sunday. The 2023 theme of ‘Hearts on fire, feet on the move’, reflected passion and committment, a perfect theme for missionaries, but also for players on the parish team, a link much commented upon. Team members’ hearts were certainly on fire and their feet on the move when they defeated Nemo Rangers the following Sunday.
Welcoming
I didn’t attend the county final. That night, however, I stood in the Union Hall rain with hundreds of others, welcoming the team home. I saw hundreds of people I had never seen previously in my 14 months in the parish. As in most communities in Ireland, young people around here don’t go to Mass in their parish, though I see some at baptisms and funerals. Often I am the youngest at Sunday Mass, and I’m 63. But that night in Union Hall, I saw a completely different demographic mix, an eye-opener. The atmosphere was electric as the victors processed into the village. On the welcoming stand, each team member was named and acclaimed, but there was also mention of parish families, including parishioners who died in the decade since the last victory: everyone got their moment in the sun, their own applause. This inclusion of everyone marks out the parish’s GAA involvement. It’s said that it wasn’t the team who won the match, it was the whole community. And indeed all the stalwarts in parish life are also GAA stalwarts; they hold everything together and deserve the local church’s support: “Up the Haven!”
Simplicity wins at Christmas
Angels and Shepherds are particularly welcome at the two Christmas Eve Masses I am part of this year, in Castlehaven and Lisheen. The idea came from Diana Klein, with whom I wrote a book about parish life a few years back. Her suggestion was that every child would dress as an angel or a shepherd, using ordinary household items (no purchases necessary). At a couple of points in the Mass, the children come to the front and sing one of those carols everyone knows. Fingers crossed that it works!
Simplicity wins at Christmas. I hope Christmas refreshes your spirit too.
Sympathy only comes at Christmas…
“You’ll be busy coming up to Christmas, Father?” When I was first ordained, I wondered what would make me so busy: getting all the Christmas cards sent in time, maybe? People are still using that conversational line. It’s easiest to agree. I am no busier at Christmas than any other day. In truth, every week is busy now — but I’m busy with the priestly stuff I was ordained for.
But sympathy only comes at Christmas, and it is to be savoured! Happy Christmas to all the other ‘busy’ pastors out there too. And enjoy the post-Christmas lull — as will I.