It all started as a walk on the beach at sunset with Puppy Stan. The horizon was pencilled out and had me looking foward:
Puppy Stan was in pensive mood and was basking in the here and now:
We couldn’t resist driving out along the Copper Coast just to see how it looked in the gloaming.
Driving along, I was very conscious of the word ‘year’ and how the Irish language seems to capture ‘last year’ and ‘next year’ so much more deeply than English does.
‘Last year’ is ‘An bhliain seo caite,’ literally,’the/this year spent/used up,’ and ‘Next year’ is ‘An bhliain seo chugainn,’ literally, ‘the/this year toward us.’ I love the way the Irish is so much more dynamic and, indeed questioning, than English.
Pondering on all this, I nearly missed the fact that the door of the Catholic Churchv in Bonmahon was ajar. I couldn’t resist stopping and seizing the opportunity to go in and see how it was looking.
The building that is now the church has served a host of different functions as a little notice on the gate post outlines.
It was originally built as a Temperance Hall as drunkenness had been a major problem for the mining company that was operating in the 1800s. A locally based temperance movement led by priests managed to wipe out drinking in 1839 through exhortation by the usecof “Temperance Police.” From 1840, the miners could come tobthe Hall, join the Temperance Band and drink non-intoxicating beverages.
The building was used as a famine-relief centre in 1846-7 and then became a fever hospital before being converted into a church.
The church was empty when I was there and I could feel its past enveloping me. My instinct was to light candles in memory of those who had spent time there in so many different capacities:
Another part of me longed to ring the big bell outside the church to summon all the members of the local community for a celebration of the very last Friday of 2016.
But I didn’t have the guts. Maybe when I am older and grayer and decked out in purple, I will!
For now, it’s time for bed as The Wishing Stones Ritual for New Year’s Eve is almost upon us.
Love this Jean! All that history “rolled up” into one little building!
I know. You’d wonder how one building could serve so many functions.
Ah, the old year is used up indeed. I wish you Happy An bhliain seo chugainn. May the year coming toward us be enticing, exciting, inspiring, and full of beauty and love. xoxo
Hi Pam, if it’s evenba fraction of those things, I’ll be happy. Hope it brings inspiration and happiness to you. x
❤
The last picture of the bell caught my eye and I thought “Ringing in the New Year” full of anticipation and apprehension both at the same time. We hope all will be well world wide but because of the past it’s full of apprehension…The best we can do is hope for Peace and Well Being…Happy New Year to All!
Joni yes, we live in hope. It would be great to have a bit of Irish luck thrown in too!
Happy New Year! Wishing you many good things in 2017! What a lovely little church.
Thanks Lorrie and I hope you have a peaceful 2017.
All the best for 2017 Jean – I trust your throwing arm is fit and ready 🙂
Thanks Robin. The deed is just done. Doing ‘cool down’ routine after all the exertion.
Have a good ‘ringing in.’
Yes an amazing time capsule!!
A gem and a half!
Funny how a simple little walk can lead to such an interesting experience! Wonderful photos and such an interesting place.
Thank you very much for writing. There is always so much to find out about familiar places.
Interesting history and sights Jean, thanks for taking us on this tour. I particularly like the Irish for the year gone – ‘used up’ suggests a year well lived.
Yeah, I love it too. Reminds me of Cicero and On A Life Well Spent.