Family Fun Day in Glenbower Woods In Aid of Our Lady of Lourdes children’s Hospital, Crumlin.

This May Sunday (6th May 2012) in Killeagh offered a whole lot more than your average sleepy Sunday in the village as families came out to enjoy the Family Fun Day that took place in Glenbower woods.

Well over a thousand people flocked to the village and enjoyed a beautiful sunny! Yes sunny afternoon in Killeagh. Children and adults enjoyed pony rides, a pet’s corner, amusements and live music in the car park of the woods. The event also offered a physical challenge for runners who took part in a four mile run around the parameter of the scenic forestry. Local scout leaders where on hand and encouraged children to part take in the “Warrior Obstacle Course” arranged next to the play ground. There was also face painting underway and after a while some very interesting little ladybirds and forest creatures began to mingle within the crowd after undergoing a very professional artistic makeover. On the way up to the main entrance to the woods if you’re where feeling a bit worse for wear after the weekends celebrations Martin Fitzgerald provided pony rides, mostly children hoped on and thoroughly enjoyed the “spin” on the ponies!  If ponies weren’t your thing, local man Finbarr Hurley had a pretty impressive pet’s corner where children crowded around a very content looking trio of pot bellied pigs, two sheep and Finbarr’s prized Goat, who is “so tame you could walk him on a lead”. A bout 20 people opted to sweat it out and ran four miles around the woods, thoroughly enjoying a ‘cuppa’ and slice of cake at the home produce stall when they got back to the car-park. Music was provided by local musician Brendan Walsh and afterwards a DJ. The whole day was in aid of Our Lady’s children hospital, Crumlin Co. Dublin. Local woman Deirdre Fitzgerald commenced preparations about a month ago to help raise vital funds for the special units in Crumlin.

Our Lady’s children’s  hospital have been fundraising through The Children’s Medical and Research Foundation, who have been appealing nation wide for all communities to get involved to help raise funds. An ambitious but value-for-money plan to achieve a state-of-the art facility has been costed at €4million. Urgent action is required to up grade their cancer ward and for the construction of a new 25 bed dedicated cardiac unit which will commence in May 2012. Ireland’s young cardiac patients come to Crumlin for treatment and surgery and sometimes families can spend many months and sometimes years of their child’s life in the care of Our Lady’s.

This new building will be built on the roof of the new Intensive Care Unit. Which the organizers are hoping to have completed by June 2013.There will be two phases to the build:

•              The first is the new build section, which will provide the 25 beds and support accommodation of linen room, utility, kitchen, sluice room, duty base etc.

•              The second phase is the complete refurbishment of St.Theresa’s Ward to provide additional support accommodation for parents and staff.

There will be Showers, WCs and a Tearoom for parents and a Change Room, Educational and Office accommodation for staff.  The new unit will provide age appropriate accommodation for infants, children and adolescent patients with two of the rooms dedicated full isolation suites. There will also be a playroom which will open onto a rooftop sensory garden.

The current infant facility is completely outdated and congested, with major problems around infection control, temperature and climate regulation. It needs urgent improvement. Many people got stuck in to help organize the day and Deirdre would like to thank sincerely each and every person who helped out. After grabbing a quite moment with her to comment on the day she said, “I’m absolutely delighted the weather held and I’m amazed at the crowd that came out today, we raised in the region of 7,500 euro for Crumlin. It’s been a brilliant day and I’d like to thank everyone for all their help, it really reflects a supportive and giving spirit from the Inch/Killeagh Community.”

All across Ireland families have needed the vital services of  Our lady’s hospital, parents in communities nation wide will be organizing events just like Deirdre Fitzgerald has, to help improve and sustain the essential services the hospital provide to the nation.

Deirdre herself has needed Our lady’s hospital in the early months of her daughter Katie’s life when she need to under go treatment for Knee and hip displacement. Deirdre says the staff offered constant help and support and she found although the experience was daunting the care provided to her daughter and amenities available to the family were at an impeccable high standard, making the transition to full health for her daughter comfortable and care focused.

For more info on how you can organize a charity event go to, fixcrumlin.ie

Charity Number: CHY 4483A

By Siobhan Fogarty

THE CRIB IN ST. RAPHAEL’S CHURCH, YOUGHAL has always been a place to visit for the people of the town and surrounding areas and much work has gone in to the building of this magnificent structure by the staff of St. Raphael’s Centre. Fr. Joe McGuane will celebrate Christmas Day Mass and Christmas Carols will be sung by The St. Raphael’s Staff Choir. The Crib at St. Raphael’s will be open to the public from Christmas Day onwards between 10am and 5pm. Please come along and say a prayer.
Photo Michael Hussey www. YoughalOnline.com

The staff who work at the centre have dedicated many hours on the decorating of The Nativity scene for the adoration of the birth of Jesus by the people of the town. Youghal people in times past fondly remember praying at the crib and taken a strand of straw from the Manger as a memento of this most Holiest occasion on the birth of Jesus. Many churches leave the manger empty (without the baby Jesus) until Christmas Day to reflect that Jesus has not yet been born before then.

YoughOnline.com would like to wish a happy and holy Christmas to everyone here in the town and also to those abroad who tune in to our website. Happy Christmas!

Christmas 2010—Youghal Parish

Christmas Liturgical Ceremonies

MASSES

CHRISTMAS VIGIL  FRIDAY 24th

7.30p.m.          Our Lady of Lourdes Church

7.30p.m.          Holy Family Church

7.30p.m.          St. Mary’s Church

Night Mass

11.30p.m.        St. Mary’s Church

CHRISTMAS DAY      SATURDAY 25th

9.00am            St. Mary’s Church

9.30a.m.          St. Ita’s Church

10.00am          Our Lady of Lourdes Church

11.00am.         Holy Family Church

12 noon           St. Mary’s Church

SACRAMENT OF PENANCE /CONFESSIONS

Thursday 23rd:               10.30—11.00am                          Our Lady of Lourdes Church

Friday 24th:                    10.30—11.30am                          Our Lady of Lourdes Church

Friday 24th:            11.00—1.00pm                                     St. Mary’s Church

Readings for Christmas Eve / Christmas Day Click Here

Additional info: Courtesy of www.youghalcatholicparish.com