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Monthly Archives: October 2009

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Have the English lost it completely?

For the fainthearted . . .

There are times when living in Ireland has its down moments: like turning on the radio this morning to hear that the financial crisis in the country had been dealt with by the finance minister and a popular economist talking into the early hours, over the economist’s kitchen table, while the minister ate raw garlic to stay awake.  Passing the economist’s house, which is just up the street, a thought occurred that one day there might be a blue plaque on the wall to mark the place where our future …

Cute hoors and Christians

For the fainthearted . . .

“I’m worried how we are going to get the vehicles out of the port without them losing their wheels or being raided for spare parts”.

The person’s comment brought memories of Dick.  He lived at the end of a long dirt track where a speed of more than fifteen miles an hour threatened the suspension and the sump of a little blue Peugeot.  The location and inaccessibility suited Dick; he had served in the security forces and was always mindful of the terrorist menace.  He kept a loaded shotgun inside …

Learning not to speak

For the fainthearted . . .

“Remember”, said the GP as he walked out of the door, “it all depends on having a right view of Jesus”.

He hardly noticed a twenty-six year old curate standing hesitatingly in the doorway, not knowing what to say.  What do you say to a couple who have lost two of their children?  The doctor obviously felt he knew.

If the doctor could say something, a priest being a tongue-tied was obviously hardly acceptable.  For some years, there was the temptation to always have some comment, to always have an …

Sermon for Sunday, 1st November 2009 (All Saints’ Day)

For the fainthearted . . .

‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted’ Matthew 5:4

The cassette tape is well worn, ‘Makem and Clancy Live’, recorded at the National Concert Hall in Dublin in 1983. It has been played many times; the songs have been a companion on many moments

The most beautiful of the songs is not even by an Irishman. ‘The Orchard’, is by a songwriter called Kevin Evans from Nova Scotia in Canada, but it is set in Dungarvan in Co Waterford.

The song is a very quiet, reflective piece. …

Alternative realities

For the fainthearted . . .

Along with the Daily Mail, on late-70s Saturday mornings, there used to come a local news sheet.  It was a Gestetner job; typed and duplicated in our local town and circulated in the local villages.  It included notices from local groups and clubs along with small ads: things for sale, tradesmen’s telephone numbers, special offers; the usual stuff of community commerce.  One Saturday, the ads included a man ‘looking for love’; the following week, a message from a possible suitor appeared.  Over the ensuing Saturdays, there was an exchange of …

Pointless anger

For the fainthearted . . .

There was a story doing the rounds last week that the army were doing exercises in case they were needed for crowd control.  There is such anger at the Government at present that there are probably people who believed it, or perhaps hoped it might be true.  Hopefully, there is not a shred of truth even in a possible suggestion that there are police preparations for difficult demonstrations. Street disturbances and widespread strikes will only worsen the situation for the most weak and the most vulnerable in society.

Frustration at …

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