After 21 years of community dedication and voluntary service, the Castleisland Graveyard Committee has stepped down and handed over its duties and funds.
Formed in 1997, the committee took on responsibility for the upkeep of all the local graveyards and the associated fundraising to allow for work to be carried out in these.
The First Mass
Fr. Patsy Lynch obliged by saying the first mass in St. John’s Cemetery. The committee’s fundraising activities included private donations, events and going out on The Biddy.
Its funds were greatly boosted by a donation of £900 from the 2000 Castleisland / London Reunion Committee under the chairmanship of Neil Hickey.
This resulted in the building of the grotto and the erecting of the huge cross in St. John’s Cemetery on which Dan Lynch and Johnny Foran did a lot of voluntary work.
Subsequent Development
“Shrubs, plants and flowers were planted by the committee at the entrance and throughout the cemetery there.
“However, a lot of this work was destroyed by subsequent development by Kerry County Council on the site,” according to members of the outgoing committee.
The Maine Valley Post has, is and always will be a free resource for the people of the locality and its wider diaspora. When we started in 2013, the intention was to be a weekly, online newsletter. Over time, the site has evolved into a much different beast with multiple updates on a daily basis.
Because of its nature as a digital publication, it brings with it certain expenses: computers and cameras that require updating and maintenance; internet hosting and access; to say nothing of the time and hard work that goes into the site. It all adds up…
Our online community has always been our greatest asset and a vocal supporter of the Maine Valley Post since day one.
Please take a moment to click on the link below to see how you can directly contribute to our continued growth and success. Thank you for taking the time……..John Reidy
