It Was a Lovely December 8th – Completely Different and Cold – But Lovely

Mrs. Mary Tangney at the door of her house at Lower Main Street and chatting to: Jennifer O’Sullivan-Coffey, Sliabh Luachra Boxing Club with 2023 World Boxing bronze medalist Mary McDonagh; Castleisland Chamber Alliance Chairman Michael John Kearney and Mary’s dad, Anthony McDonagh at the blessing of the Christmas crib on Friday. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Young admirers, Cameron O’Brien (10) left and Martin Maguire (11) and Kayla Kelly (10) paying their own instinctive and distinctive tributes to All Ireland and Irish Cadet Champion, 2022 European silver medalist and 2023 World Junior Bronze medalist Mary McDonagh when she was introduced to the crowd by Castleisland Chamber Alliance Chairman, Michael John Kearney after the blessing of the Christmas crib in Castleisland on Friday afternoon. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Local cousins, Lisa and Gary Daly with their pet Millie dressed as a Christmas tree with ÓisÍn Nolan after the blessing of the crib in Castleisland on Friday afternoon. ©Photograph: John Reidy

School choirs from Gaelscoil Aogáin and Scoil Naomh Chárthaigh / Boys National School gathered at Lower Main Street on Friday at 3pm for the annual blessing of the Christmas Crib. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Castleisland Chamber Alliance Chairman Michael John Kearney introduces 2022 European boxing silver medalist and 2023 world bronze medalist, Mary McDonagh to the crowd after the blessing of the Christmas Crib in Castleisland on Friday. Tralee native Mary is a member of the Castleisland based Sliabh Luachra Boxing Club. ©Photograph: John Reidy

It was a cold but busy December 8^th this year in Castleisland. Two teams of young national school choristers lined up on the sunny side of the street on a dull day and they broke into song at the merest prompting of teachers turned conductors.

There was a meeting of Marys nearby as Mrs. Mary Tangney, standing at her own door met boxer Mary McDonagh of the Sliabh Luachra Boxing Club who has just returned from Armenia as part of the Irish team with a world bronze medal.

Fr. Mossie Brick arrived before the appointed time for the blessing of the Christmas crib and the crowd from the sunny side moved like a wave to the median strip between the sunny side and the money side. and for safety that central strip was railed off from traffic.

Many Willing Hands

Fr. Brick had many willing hands when he wondered aloud who would like to sprinkle the holy water on the crib. He did it himself anyway with a flick of the wrist and a prayer and another flick or two with his back turned to the Market House which covered the majority of the converging crowd.

The combination of the young choristers, their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, God parents and cousins ensured that a good crowd was inevitable.

We were twice blessed on the day itself in that the weather, though threatening, held the worst of what it could have sent our way and we all settled for the cold.

Mary McDonagh Introduced

After Fr. Brick had completed his ceremony, Castleisland Chamber Alliance Chairman Michael John Kearney then introduced Mary McDonagh to the mostly young crowd.

A crowd that parted and created a path for her as she, as a home grown heroine, tall and athletic, walked the path they made. You could see there and then that a figure of inspiration was amongst them and if you looked closer you see where the term ‘looking up to’ came from.

It was a lovely afternoon. It was different, completely different, cold, but lovely.

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