Light peaks through the Church at times
As Autumn gathers its cloak around us, the diminished light has an effect on our spirits. And, as if nature really wands to rub it in, when we learn that someone is in the autumn of their life, we feel […]
Fading rural Ireland in our hands and trolleys
I was reared on a small farm in West Cork. All my siblings still live in West Cork. I live in West Cork. I am blessed to have these connections with a beautiful part of Ireland. I have visited many […]
Ode to Ballineen Post Office
On Friday, the 14th of August, 2018, the tree of life in the Ballineen area lost one of its limbs as the local Post Office closed for the last time. But the life-blood of the community still flowed and soothed […]
Just a part of it
We had a beautiful Spring morning in West Cork today. And, as it happened, I was fortunate to have most of the day to plan by myself — a luxury I seldom have! So it was a day for putting […]
At Coppeen, with Jimmy Crowley
Every place has its poets, its chroniclers in story and its balladeers. Cork has Jimmy Crowley, who is these three in one — a Cork holy trinity in his own right. Probably best known for his years leading the group […]
“What do you like about being a priest, Father?”
Sometimes — most often at weddings — people ask me what do I like most about being a priest. This puts me in a predicament: because I think they might expect me to say that the nicest part is being […]
Ten digital years on!
Amazing how time flies. Amazing how digital time flies, too. By this I mean that I noticed today that I have digital images on my computer that I took this time 10 years ago and here was I thinking I […]
Our Daily Bread
The word ‘heritage’ has a warm glow around it. It speaks of placing an important value on some elements of our past. Of course, we are all products of our past and of our shared history with others. Each of […]