Cashel, Ferns, Ossory Mothers' Union

Cashel, Ferns, Ossory Mothers' Union
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WELCOME


Welcome to the Cashel, Ferns, Ossory Mothers' Union website. The website will carry news, articles and photographs of Mothers' Union events throughout the United Diocese and also All-Ireland news.

The website will be regularly updated and if any Branch wishes to have an event, article or photograph published on the website please forward it to our Diocesan Secretary, Margaret Jacob. Email: cfomothersunion@gmail.com

Please ensure that you have permission from any person who is going to be named in a photograph before sending it in to appear on the website.

All photographs and articles will remain copyright of the website and may not be copied. (See the Data Protection statement at the bottom of the Home Page)

Also please join our facebook page for all the latest news and daily reflections.
CONTACT DETAILS


Cashel, Ferns, Ossory


For further information please contact:

Diocesan Secretary: Cecily Jones



News Updates

The Rolling Spinner below can be used to advertise events and meetings in your Area or Branch.

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If you would like to advertise an event on the Spinner please contact The Diocesan Secretary, Cecily Jones.
(Contact details are available on the home page)

Click on Symbol to Access Our BLOG  


Latest News

Dates for your Diary




  • 2nd March @ 2.00 p.m. ~ Big Hymn Sing ~ All Ireland Launch ~ St. Canice's Cathedral, Kilkenny
  • 25th March  ~ Lady Day ~ on line service @ 8p.m.
  • 8th April @ 7 p.m. ~ Festival Service, Kiltegan ~ W91 DC44 ~ St Peter’s Church, Kiltegan, Co. Wicklow (NOTE CHANGE OF DATE)
  • 20th April ~ Spring Council  ~ Dolmen Hotel, Carlow @ 10.30 a.m.
  • 17th - 19th May ~ Getaway Weekend ~ Hotel Minella, Clonmel ~ see newsletter for further details
  • 23rd June ~ International Widow's Day ~ Service & Supper
  • 9th August ~ Mary Sumner Day ~ Diocesan "Big Hymn Service" for Mums in May
  • 26th October ~ Autumn Council ~ Dolmen Hotel Carlow @ 10.30 a.m.
  • 7th November @ 11.30 a.m. ~ Holy Communion Service in St. Mary's Church Carlow, ~ R93 YW77 ~ St. Mary's, Church, Carlow, Co. Carlow



















Lesley Bayley
The Diocesan President of
Cashel, Ferns, Ossory Mothers' Union




Theme for 2024 ~ Transformation - Now!

A Letter from the Diocesan President ~ Lesley Bayley
Dear fellow members,
 
 
It was with great sadness and shock that most of us woke to the news on Thursday morning, the 1st of February, that a terrible crash the night before had claimed the lives of three local young people, with another seriously injured. We extend our sympathies to the families and friends of Katie, Daryl, and Michael.
 
 
As a mark of respect for Daryl’s family we decided to postpone our Festival Service which was to be held in St. Peter’s Church, Kiltegan on Wednesday the 7th. This is now scheduled to take place on Monday the 8th of April.
 
 
During the winter months a competition was held to write a prayer for our founder in Ireland, Annabella Hayes, to acknowledge her role in the Mothers’ Union and its growth in Ireland. There were several entries and the decision was a close call, but eventually the winner was declared as Mabel Besanson, a member of the Monamolin, Ballycanew and Leskinfere branch. Thank you to all those who sent in a prayer.
 
 
Mabels prayer for Annabella:

 
Lord, we thank you for all the good in our world. For all your servants gone before us leaving good example. We remember especially Annabella Hayes, for her wisdom by bringing Mothers’ Union to Ireland.  As we remember Annabella on her special day, 7th February, we thank God for her, for her vision, energy and care for families. May we as Mothers’ Union members continue Annabella Hayes’s work, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen .                                                                                                          
 
Plans are underway for several fundraising events over the summer and autumn months, and further details will be shared as plans are confirmed. Don’t forget to book your room for our overnight say in Hotel Minella, Clonmel on the 17th and 18th of May. Our chaplain Revd. Ger will be with us throughout the stay and Bishop Adrian will join us on the Saturday, for a break-away retreat of relaxation, spirituality, mindfulness, arts and crafts, and fun and friendship. The cost is €250 pp sharing (twin rooms only - 1 night B+B, dinner & lunch, including full use of leisure facilities), €100 deposit is due at time of booking to secure your place, with the balance due by Friday the 26th of April. Some spaces are still available, so please contact me asap for further details or to book your place.
 
 
With every blessing and good wish,
 
Lesley xx
 
 
  cfodpmothersunion@yahoo.com

 
 
 
Dates for your diary:
 
Lady Day – March 25th on-line service at 8pm
 
Festival Service – Monday April 8th in Kiltegan at 7pm
 
Spring Council – April 27th in the Dolmen Hotel, Carlow at 10.30am
 
Retreat/Break-Away – May 17th-18th Hotel Minella, Clonmel

Click on the image below to download the
March 2024 Newsletter




Click on the image above to bring you to
the All-Ireland website to read all about
The Triennial All-Ireland Mothers'
Union Conference 2023


Click on the image above to view a video of the work
of Mothers' Union in Ireland created for
The Annual Gathering in Belfast 2022



Click on the image above to download a poster re
grants available from CFO Mothers' Union
Mothers' Union Video

Click on the Mothers' Union emblem below to see the video highlighting the work of Mothers' Union which was filmed at the Triennial Conference in Termonfeckin in March 2017

The video features members of Mothers' Union from around Ireland telling all about the organisation and the many different projects supported by Mothers' Union both here at home and in Third World Countries.

One of the clips features our very own Joan Blake who can be seen knitting a matinee jacket and talking about the Mothers' Union Knitting Project


Below also is a link to the main Mothers' Union
Facebook Page




The All-Ireland Facebook Pages




Click on the image above to to bring you
to a page on the All Ireland Website
with a Report on the Getaway Weekend 2023

Click on the image below to bring you to the
All-Ireland You Tube Channel



SPIN AUTUMN 2023
The latest edition of Spin is now available
to download.
Click on the image below



Cards & Gifts


    
Available from
*  MU Enterprise *

Naomi Besanson currently has
cards available to purchase plus cards to suit many other occasions.
Please contact




Dates for your Diary




2024

  • 7th February  @ 7 p.m. ~ Festival Service, Kiltegan ~ W91 DC44 ~ St Peter’s Church, Kiltegan, Co. Wicklow (CANCELLED)
  • 2nd March @ 2.00 p.m. ~ Big Hymn Sing ~ All Ireland Launch ~ St. Canice's Cathedral, Kilkenny
  • 25th March  ~ Lady Day ~ on line service @ 8p.m.
  • 8th April @ 7 p.m. ~ Festival Service, Kiltegan ~ W91 DC44 ~ St Peter’s Church, Kiltegan, Co. Wicklow (NOTE CHANGE OF DATE)
  • 20th April ~ Spring Council  ~ Dolmen Hotel, Carlow @ 10.30 a.m.
  • 17th - 19th May ~ Getaway Weekend ~ Hotel Minella, Clonmel ~ see newsletter for further details
  • 23rd June ~ International Widow's Day ~ Service & Supper
  • 9th August ~ Mary Sumner Day ~ Diocesan "Big Hymn Service" for Mums in May
  • 26th October ~ Autumn Council ~ Dolmen Hotel Carlow @ 10.30 a.m.
  • 7th November @ 11.30 a.m. ~ Holy Communion Service in St. Mary's Church Carlow, ~ R93 YW77 ~ St. Mary's, Church, Carlow, Co. Carlow



The Mothers' Union Harvest Service Portlaoise took place in Saint Peter's Church, Grattan Street, Portlaoise, Co. Laois on Sunday 5th November.

Click on the image above to view a video of the service



Mothers' Union Communion Service
March 2024

7th March ~ Holy Communion Service in Diocese of Tuam, Limerick & Killaloe
St. Flannan's Cathedral Co. Clare @ 10.30 a.m.

(The service will be live streamed via the cathedral website
June's Walk in Kilkenny
June Butler's first walk in the Diocese took place in Kilkenny on Thursday 8th June. We are very grateful to Florrie Carter and her team in Kilkenny Mothers' Union for all of the time and effort they put in to ensure that everything ran smoothly. Those participating enjoyed a lovely walk over the new bridge, by the river and on to the Castle Grounds before returning to the cathedral. Pat Nolan accompanied us on the walk giving an interesting account of all of the historical areas we passed. Sam Harper met up with us en route and provided same lovely ice-cream for refreshments. Some of the walkers had other commitments and were unable to continue on the walk but eight completed it. We were delighted that Bishop Michael Burrows was able to join us for the walk too.
Our thanks to the ladies from Kilkenny MU for all of the hospitality they provided both before and after the walk.

June thanked everyone for their support and welcome to Kilkenny. Florrie Carter, Branch leader, presented June with a small token to mark her visit to Kilkenny.
June's Second Walk ~ Tintern Abbey
June Butler's second walk in CFO took place on Monday 12th July at Tintern Abbey near Saltmills in Co. Wexford. The weather forecast for the morning was miserable but thankfully it turned out to be fine and a lovely day for walking. It was wonderful to meet up with so many members before eight set off to complete one of the longer walks through the woods.

June was delighted to meet up with Bea Thorpe in the walled gardens and have a chat with her. Three ladies set off with June to complete a further two kilometers so as to achieve her 7km target on each walk. When we arrived back in the car park we met up with Anne Barrett, a former All-Ireland President, and our own Phyllis Grothier, who was the previous All-Ireland President, was also present.

Our thanks to Olive Thorpe for her work in arranging the walk and to everyone who attended Tintern Abbey on the day.
Walk No. 3 in Cashel, Ferns, Ossory

June's third walk in Cashel, Ferns, Ossory, the final walk of her series for Mums in May 2021, took place on Tuesday 26th October. The venue for the walk was the Railway Walk in Tinahely. We were delighted that many from the Diocese were able to attend as well as Sylvia Wheatley (Diocesan President of Meath & Kildare) with some of her family and also the All-Ireland Treasurer, Revd. Ken Rue. June began by thanking everyone for coming to join her on the walk and Revd. Rue led us in prayer. Lesley Bayley, Diocesan President of CFO, also welcomed June to Tinahely for her final walk before a group headed off on the walk led by local MU member, Hazel Stedman.

Four walkers completed just over 7kms with June through a lovely tranquil area of woodland and admiring the lovely autumnal colours of the trees. They met up with those who had completed a shorter walk on their return to the car park. A group then adjourned to the D'Lish Cafe in Tinahely for lunch.
A large number of members from Cashel, Ferns and Ossory  and friends enjoyed a lovely afternoon in Rathwood on Friday 3rd June.  They enjoyed a delicious "Afternoon Tea" and it was a wonderful occasion  for everyone to meet up for a chat too. The afternoon was organised by  our Diocesan President, Lesley Bayley, not only to celebrate the  Platinum Jublilee of our Patron, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 2, but also  to raise much needed funds for our Diocesan Projects. Thank you Lesley for all of the thought and effort you put in to all of the activities for Mothers' Union in the Diocese.

The  Diocese has also been busy providing much needed support to a Ukranian  family who are being rehoused in Enniscorthy. Members have also been  knitting and sewing fiddle sleeves and blankets at the request of a  nursing home in Kilkenny. These are used with patients who are suffering  from dementia and a request came to Mothers' Union to see if we could  provide a supply for patients in the nursing home.
Getting to know our Founder In Ireland
Annabella Hayes
1847 – 1921
 
Mothers’ Union was founded in Raheny, Dublin in 1887 by Mrs Annabella Hayes.  As we celebrate the 100th Anniversary of her death, let’s learn a little more about our founder.  

Canon and Mrs Hayes liked to travel and visited Norway, Switzerland and Canada. After their daughter Marie's untimely death in Delhi in 1908 aged 33, they travelled to Delhi to visit the hospital where Marie had worked for the previous three years and to meet people she had worked with. Later Annabella edited and published letters which Marie had written to home. Marie's final letter, sadly, arrived some weeks after the fateful telegram giving news of her death had been received in Raheny. The Hayes memorial cross in Raheny village was erected some years later.
 
Annabella was born in Dublin in 1847, the daughter of Thomas Edkins Willson of Upper Mount Street. In December 1866 she married the Reverend Francis Carlile Hayes who was then curate in Sandford Parish Church. She was nineteen years old and he was twenty-eight.
In 1867 he was appointed curate of St. Andrew's Church, Suffolk Street, and their first child, Ernest William Carlile Hayes, was born in February 1868. In 1873, Sir Arthur Edward Guinness (later Lord Ardilaun) appointed him Rector of Raheny Parish and he and Annabella moved to the Glebe House where they were to remain for the next forty-five years.

Their second child, Marie Elizabeth (always known as May) was born in May1874, and in April 1878 her sister Ethel Clara Ridley was born. A boy, Maurice, was born in 1886 but sadly died in infancy. Ernest went to school at St.Columba's and an English governess, Connie Gibbs of Willesden, was appointed to look after the education of the two girls.

In 1887 Annabella Hayes set up the first branch of the Mothers' Union in Raheny, inspired by what Mary Sumner had done in England eleven years before. Little did either of them know that in the twenty-first century world-wide membership of M.U would have grown to over four million.

Francis and Annabella were still in the Raheny Rectory when they celebrated their Golden Wedding in 1916. Canon Hayes retired in 1918 and he and Annabella moved to 12 Northbrook Road which was apparently owned by Francis since his days at St. Andrew's. Annabella survived a bad bout of 'flu shortly after they moved, but was taken ill again about a year later. She was diagnosed with liver cancer and died at home on the 7th February 1921.
Annabella was buried in St. Fintan's Cemetery in Sutton and her headstone (and that of Francis) stands at the highest point of the Cemetery. It is, however, not made of stone but of wood - teak, and despite its having stood there for 100 years there is absolutely no sign of decay in the timber. Mothers’ Union in Ireland had planned to do some restorative work to her gravesite during 2021 but has been put on hold because of Covid 19 restrictions.

Annabella was 74 when she died on 7th  February 1921 and Francis was 94 when he died on 12th December 1931.



Click on the photograph of Annabella to bring you to a dedicated page
on the All-Ireland Website covering the centenary celebrations.


MULOA is a new initiative from Mothers' Union
which aims to look at Mothers' Union going forward.
You will be hearing a lot about it at Branch Level in the coming months.
Click on the MULOA symbol to see a short video about this initiative.
PRAYER FOR MULOA

We pray that our God will make us fit for what he’s called us to be,
that he’ll fill our good ideas and acts of faith with his own energy
so that it all amounts to something.


As our lives honour the name of Jesus,
may he honour us, by his grace; our God giving himself freely,
the Master, Jesus Christ, giving himself freely. Amen


Based on 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 (The Message)
Charity Number:

Republic of Ireland:
Mothers’ Union in Ireland is recognised as a Charity by the Revenue Commissioners, 5161.

Registered Charity Number - 20007331 (Charities Regulatory Authority).

Mothers' Union Theme 2022

Transformation - Now!



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