Recently, an article by archaeologist and photographer, Enda ‘O Flaherty, on Ireland’s abandoned old school houses, triggered memories of an  experience I had in my own National School of Kilrickle in Co. Galway, over 80 years ago. The article referred to 1937 when the Irish Folklore Commission, in collaboration with the Department of Education and the Irish Teachers’ Organisation, initiated ...

As June passes with many memories of sadness, shock and destruction, I turned the calendar over to see July’s surprise image: I was met with the words:  “Let cares drift away!” On another calendar I saw a    smiling Shetland pony! As I look out of the window I see magnificent colours of the harvest and wild flowers bouncing against the ...

All the great spiritual leaders in history were people of hope. Abraham, Moses, Ruth, Mary, Jesus, Rumi, Ghandi and Dorothy Day all lived with a promise in their hearts that guided them towards the future without the need to know exactly what it would look like. Let’s live with hope. ~ Henri J.M. Nouwen “How will this be?” Mary asked. ...

As I was reading “The Friendship Book,  2017” on 14th February, Norah Sindon was sharing her thoughts on Words – how they have a certain power or lure that demand a second look – how they conjure up feelings , memories, emotions and even movement.   I know exactly what she means. As we have passed through Lent, the Passion, and ...

 “In the hearts of people today there is a deep longing for peace. When the spirit of peace is thoroughly dominant, it becomes an inner experience.” (Barach Spinoza) Habakkuk was one of the minor Prophets who lived in the 7th Century BC, when the Babylonians were in power.  He was deeply disturbed and angry by the violence of these people, ...

February ushers in the Spring, a bursting forth of growth and new life; a time of new beginnings and anticipation. “ Life stands before me like an eternal Spring, with new and brilliant clothes”(Carl Friedrick Gauss) However, not all Spring lambs feel like skipping happily over the mountains. One of my saddest memories was seeing a snowy- white, newly born ...

Walking into another year of life – leaving the old and welcoming the new, is an opportunity to pause and listen to the silent wisps of surprises that visited us in 2016; experiences of graced moments often forgotten and yet carried  within the crevices of our beings. It is a time to slow down and allow memories to come and ...

It’s Advent again, the time of year when we look forward to the celebration of Christmas and the promise of Love in the person of Emmanuel, God–with–us. As we prepare in “joyful hope” for the coming of Christ among us, we cannot journey through these weeks without the company of Mary, the woman of faith. In her company, Mary will ...

A Personal Reflection in November It is early morning and the dawn chorus faithfully rings over the cold earth.  How much there is to celebrate at the dawn of this new day! Though all is still and frozen there is certain vibrancy in the air, enticing one to peer through the window and embrace the gift out there. From my ...