Pew Sheet 28th June

The Rector writes ‘I’m writing this and watching the sun splitting the trees in the churchyard. It’s hard to relax and enjoy the sunshine knowing how devastating it is for many. 

The scenes from mainland Europe are very upsetting, especially all the needless deaths in water related accidents. Climate change is real, and this is not normal weather in any respect.  As an Eco Congregation, we are of course aware of the damage we humans are causing to our world.

Our Bishop-elect, Andrew Orr was the chair of Eco Congregation and is very knowledgeable in this area. Some of you might remember when he gave us our award back in 2014?  or when he preached at our Harvests back in 2022?  Anyway, as a diocese, we will be in safe hands there.  We haven’t heard yet any dates for his Ordination/Consecration as Bishop but in the meantime we can keep Andrew, his wife Susan, and their family in our prayers as they prepare for this seismic change to their lives. ’

July   

Sunday 12th    Choral Evensong in St John;s Church 7pm

August    

Sunday 30^th        United Service 11am  in St Mary’s Church,

                            followed by Parish BBQ.

All Ireland Holy Communion Service in Kilgarriffe Church, Clonakilty, on Thursday. 2nd July at 11.30a.m. Teas/coffees to follow. Please bring your own lunch and tasties if you wish.

All welcome!   Also 150th Anniversary MU Outing to Fota House/  Gardens on Wednesday 15th July.Lunch at 12 midday at the House cafe and a tour of the house at 2.00 pm. Gardens are open to all.   Price is €11.00 for over 65s and €13.00 for younger folk not including lunch.   Please bring the right amount in an envelope if possible. 

Booking necessary – contact Deirdre 0862613442. 

Random Notes DXXXIV

Preserved at Mount Rivers, and illustrated herewith are three small fragments of pottery, thought to most probably date from the mid. to late sixteenth century, or perhaps earlier.

These fragments, together with no doubt other bits and pieces also, were said to have been salvaged over sixty years ago from the sea bed in the Blasket Sound, the channel that separates An Blascaod Mor from the mainland in west county Kerry. The divers were reportedly Belgian, and these fragments it is thought, are almost certainly from the wreck one of the ships of the Spanish Armada, the ‘Santa Maria de la Rosa’, which having sheltered during in the sound during a severe storm, subsequently

floundered, and sank  on Saturday, 21st September, 1588,  with the loss of practically the entire

complement of upwards of three hundred soldiers and sailors. The sole survivor of the catastrophe

was a sixteen year old boy, who after managing to scramble on to the mainland, was captured,

questioned, and subsequently hanged.

K.L.R.