| GAA Director General Launched Parish Draw |
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MUCKNO PARISH DRAW
LAUNCED BY GAA DIRECTOR-GENERAL
The ongoing development of the churches, cemeteries and other properties of Muckno parish received an important shot in the arm on Thursday last when the Parish Draw, offering €50,000 in prizes was launched in the Glencarn Hotel, Castleblayney, by the Director-General of the GAA, Paraic Duffy. Mr Duffy is a native of the parish and was high in his praise for the proposed developments and of the role that the parish plays in the life of the local community. Other speakers included the Mayor of Castleblayney, Cllr Gary Carville and the compere for the evening was Raymond McHugh. Speaking of the value of community, Paraic Duffy said that coming from a GAA background he knew only too well the strong bonds of community that existed not only in Castleblayney but also in Oram. Like the GAA, the local parish of Muckno was a force for unity among the people, a place for coming together to share life’s journey in all its aspects. He was pleased that plans were in place for the renewal of the two churches – St Mary’s in Castleblayney and St Patrick’s in Oram – as well as the cemeteries and the provision of new living accommodation for the priests of the parish. The latter is well underway and due to be completed before Christmas. Mr Duffy urged all parishioners – at home and away – to support the draw and he paid tribute to Fr Pat McHugh for his strong community vision and wished him well both personally and in terms of the parish endeavours he and Fr’s Duffy and Walshe together with the various committees are undertaking. He referred to the success of the Parish Draw in Monaghan and urged people to support the Muckno initiative. The Mayor of Castleblayney, Cllr Gary Carville, who is also a member of the Parish Pastoral Team, praised the efforts of the Parish Finance & Property Committee and the Fundraising Committee and highlighted the important place that the parish still holds in the life of the community. He cautioned that tradition is important but that the proposed renewals of the two churches did not threaten tradition but enhanced it – leading to the recovery of an earlier and deeper tradition of the Church as a community and not as a hierarchy. He also spoke of the tough economic times and reminded people that it was in the aftermath of the Famine that the two churches were built, at the height of the land war that stained glass windows were provided in St Mary’s, and during economic crises and depressions of the 1930s and 1950s that previous major renovations were carried out and fundraised for. The compere for the evening, Raymond McHugh, paid tribute to the work of the Parish Finance & Property Committee, chaired by Declan McAteer and the Parish Fundraising Committee, chaired by Eileen Kerr. He outlined how the draw would work and thanked the promoters who have done exceptional work already in terms of ticket sales. He also asked for more promoters to enlist so as to make the Draw an even bigger success. Music on the evening was provided by Comhaltas Group organizedby Mrs. Anna Sheridan The draw offers seventeen cash prizes to the value of €4,000 each month from November 2013 until August 2014. The final draw will have a prize fund of €6,000, with two €1,000 prizes. There are also promoter’s prizes each month. Tickets cost €100. The first draw is scheduled for Sunday 24 November 2013. Ticket sales are progressing very satisfactorily and the committees and promoters are keen that every home in the parish and surrounding parishes has an opportunity to take part, to have a chance to win, and to play a part in the re-development and renewal of two central buildings and associated properties of the parish community. Photo of the night in our Gallery section |
