25.03.2009
Lilywhites Triumph at Mothers' Union Branch Project Challenge
It was a great day for Kildare when members of the Narraghmore and Timolin with Castledermot and Kinneagh Mothers' Union Branch won the inaugural Branch project challenge for the most innovative project by a Mothers' Union Branch in the Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough.
The branch won the award for their provision of care and support for their parish's elderly and housebound. The project began with Christmas lunch in 2007 which grew from involving a small group of members of the branch to including many parishioners and non-members. The ongoing project not only provides social get-togethers for the elderly in the parish but also, as a direct result, a lay group now regularly visits elderly and house-bound members of the parish and provides additional support. The other finalists included Kill O'the Grange Mothers' Union's Community Coffee Shop, Clondalkin and Rathcoole's Branch's work with immigrants in a nearby hostel, Kilternan Branch's work with the elderly in nearby Glebe House and Drumcondra and North Strand's provision of picnic hampers for a crèche in Darndale.
The award was presented in the context of the Mothers' Union Award and Variety Show which packed out Dublin's National Concert Hall, attracting Mothers' Union members from throughout the Dioceses as well as from Cashel and Ossory, Meath and Kildare, Limerick and Killaloe, Armagh and Connor.
The evening's entertainment opened with a performance by the Meath Harp Ensemble and was MC'd in typically witty and colourful style by Senator David Norris. Each act was interspersed with a minute long interview with each of the five finalists for the award. A group of young people from Darndale in Dublin, the Darndale Jigsaws, proved a particularly popular act. Comedienne, June Rodgers and the Discovery Gospel Choir also drew appreciation from the large audience. The 'Rectory Cats', a group of clergy wives from the Diocese making their debut sang 'the Cats are Back' and ABBA's Thank you for the Music under the leadership of Hillary Guter.
A poignant note was struck by Sr Eliza Hopkins, Roman Catholic Chaplain to the Holles Street Maternity Hospital who expressed her appreciation for the work of the Mothers' Union in providing hand knitted clothing for miscarried or stillborn children or children who die shortly after birth. She said, "We dress the little ones in hand-knitted garments, wrap them in colourful blankets and make them look beautiful. This means so much to the parents and families in deep grief and pain. These little garments are not machine produced or mass-produced, they are soft and individually knitted with much love and prayer, in lots of different patterns and in as many shades and colours of the rainbow...all of these garments are crocheted or knitted by you. Don't ever underestimate what an impact this act of giving has on bereaved parents in the months and often years ahead in their journey of healing....thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you do...please please continue the wonderful work of the Mothers' Union supporting bereaved parents."
In the second half of the show, the Stedfast Band entertained the audience while the judges conducted their final deliberations. Diocesan President of the Mothers' Union, Ann Walsh expressed her thanks to all the performers, to David Norris as MC and to Anne Makower, who produced the show. She said, "Mothers' Union is a wonderful organisation because it allows us to do all those small things that lie within our hearts." Thanking everyone for their support she said she hoped "we will carry this energy with us and remind ourselves of this evening and redouble our efforts in future." Diocesan Mothers' Union Chaplain, the Revd Paul Houston expressed his thanks to Ann.
The final item was the announcement and presentation of the award to the winning Mothers; Union Branch. Speaking on behalf of the judges the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr John Neill paid tribute to all the Mothers' Union branches "for all the different projects in which they're involved....you do so much all the time." He congratulated all the finalists and said that all of them had done "extremely well" but he added that the Narraghmore and Timolin with Castledermot and Kinneagh Mothers' Union project "began with a project that involved just a few members but has gradually drawn in more people, more non-members of the Mothers' Union. Other people in the community, young and old have been given a chance to contribute and it cannot but grow. It has got sustainability, it has got potential and is addressing a real social need."
Accepting the award on behalf of her branch, Avril Gillatt said "it was a project that grew, but it was with the co-operation, support and enthusiasm of all who were involved. People opened their homes, people got together and cooked, baked and we had fun, that was the most important thing. But above all we were doing what we felt we should be doing in our parish."
