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Happy Christmas to all our Readers, some on the far side of the world this Christmas. We hope all have a safe and enjoyable time!
And just before the big day, we have a little day - the Winter Solstice , falling exactly at 9.19am on Saturday 21st December! That day will be precisely 7 hours and 50 minutes long, and after that daylight will increase slowly by 2 minutes per day.
Winter Solstice Blessings
May the longest night and the shortest day
Bring rest to your mind and soul, I pray.
May you find guidance and may you find peace,
As the cycle of light will slowly increase.
Embrace the magic that the darkness bears,
Breath deep in the chill and shift in the air.
May you always be blessed
with the light from within,
And may well-being be yours
as the new cycle begins.
We send special Christmas Greetings to Sr. Geraldine , down in Cork at the moment. We had a surprise visit from her at the Newsletter Office last week, and she is looking forward to being back in Lucan soon.
Apologies for cutting short some articles in this week's issue. Space was tight, and we tried our best to get everyone in!
David believes he could be a great footballer. All he needs is a team. However, he ends up joining Rosegrove United, who as well as having an awful name are useless in David's opinion. David has two other problems. Firstly, his embarrassing Dad, who thinks he is a soccer expert because he watches Match of the Day. Secondly, Whacker Whelan, the soccer playing bully. Can David overcome these challenges and win the Player of the Year trophy.
Illustrations by Caoilfhionn Walsh & Ciaran O'Brien.
A must for any Xmas Stocking, available at buythebook.ie
Suitable for ages 6 to 60!
Local author and set in Lucan.
www.buythebook.ie
St. Mary's Camera Soiree
This is the last report from St. Mary's Camera Soiree for 2024. As I write this the temperature outside is +12 degrees. I recall Christmas Eve of 2010 when the temperature in Lucan dropped to –16 degrees! We are promised a maximum temperature of +13 degrees on Christmas Eve this year.
This week Conor has submitted photographs taken along the river Liffey where the infrastructure has been illuminated for Christmas, in particular the façade of the Custom House and the Samuel Beckett Bridge with the National Conference Centre in the background. The bridge was designed by the Spanish architect, Santiago Calatrava Valls, who also designed the James Joyce Bridge which joins the South Keys to Blackhall Place. The Custom House was James Gandon's first large-scale commission. It cost £200,000 which amounts to about 44 million euro today!
Donal was in the city photographing railway stations including Tara Street which is at one end of another bridge over the Liffey - the Loop Line constructed in 1891 to connect the rail services of the north and south of the city. It is undoubtedly the most controversial of the 21 bridges spanning the Liffey from Chapelizod to the port as it blocks the view of Gandon's Custom House.
Finally, Joe was in the State Apartments in Dublin Caste and submitted a beautiful photo of the Christmas decorations in St. Patrick's Hall, the grandest room of the state apartments, and containing one of the most important decorative interiors in Ireland.
Until next year stay safe and have a peaceful Christmas!
Times for Felicitation and Thanksgiving
For Lucan Communities and our Newsletter Teams.
For Autumn/s quiet river which darkly mirrored the falling leaves, and woodland paths bring an inner silence to the jewelled light of Winter.
For A Sunday visit to the Chapel Royal at I.M.M.A. which surprised us with a gift of one hour's relaxation.
For the circular planted garden spot opposite Ardeevin and extensive ivy cleaning from wall opposite Tandy's Lane, showing the ancient stone faces.
For the skill and artistry of the stonemasons etc at work both on the long demesne wall and within the demesne proper.
For the fascination of watching reimaging of the Lucan's environment, and in hope of restoration to the Coad Stone circular insets of the pillars on both the 'Italian gates' and on those of Griffeen Bridge - some very damaged.
For safekeeping and return of sculpture 'Methuselah and Son' to village plaza and perhaps one day a sculpture of Sarsfield.
For an interesting note about the front garden of 'Lucan House' - apparently to be known as 'Parce Italiano' in recognition of 80 years Italian connection in Lucan and will continue to accommodate Riverta's Buffalos.
For beautiful newly planted trees in the demesne, but sadly 3 Junipers behind a seat on the river walk are sick.
For Tennis Courts in St. Catherines Park - ready for next season and happy days.
For being enlightened about the front of the Cornus Kousa Tree whose berries are edible and taste an alchemy of syrup and custard.
Having seen the film Conclave with Ralf Fiennes, one wonders if our dear elected might sequester to find courage and formation.
Voltaire is quoted as follows, in the 17th century:
'3 things a constant on the mind of Humankind - Climate, Government, Religion'.
Que vero - Peace
May Christmastime be a place of love, family and friendship, blessed by happiness.
May the New Year be kind to us in this wonderful and fragile world.
Breda L.C.
The Epic Origins of Hurling
From a translation of the original work Sceal na hIomana - the history of hurling before the GAA, which ran to about 820 pages of dense academic print in Irish.
There is much in the way of fascinating detail on the ancient game to be discovered within the book's covers, from early reference in the mythology of Cuchulainn through the ages to where it stands today.
Available exclusively online in hardback at Amazon. Information: visit www.epichurling.com
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