It Occurs to Me: Many prayers for Creeslough

Last Friday afternoon, Laffertys opened a new shop in Creeslough. A few weeks ago, I wrote a feature on a filling station owner in Mullingar, entitled ‘Millie’s Tears for Creeslough’. Millie Walsh rang me last week and said he had something for me to pass on to Father John Joe Duffy. I subsequently called to his business and he presented me with 10 packets containing holy water, beads, prayers etc for the 10 bereaved families as well as 100 sets of rosary beads for the families in the village. 

To say I was delighted and moved in equal measure is putting it mildly. If you ever happen to be in the area, he’d love you to call. Even in your darkest moments, Millie Walsh will light up your day. The Westmeath Examiner picked up on my story in the Democrat and Millie has been overwhelmed with good wishes. The response nationwide and beyond has been quite extraordinary, and it must be some consolation to the grieving families that so many people empathise with their grief and pain.
After I read my poem, ‘Go Rest High On That Mountain’ at the Derry vigil at the Guildhall some weeks ago, I was thanked by Mayor Sandra Duffy, Colum Eastwood of the SDLP, and just before I departed, Gregory Campbell of the DUP approached me, shook my hand and said ”Thanks Frank, that was very moving” and passes on his condolences to people of Creeslough.
Of the hundreds who attended, many Derry people told me of their love of Donegal, their familial links, how often they’d stopped at Applegreen in Creeslough on their way to Dunfanaghy or Gaoth Dobhair etc. I too was deeply moved by the outpouring of love and compassion on the night.

Some years ago, on the borders of New Hampshire and Massachusetts, Dennis Frost showed me where his famous namesake and distant cousin, Robert Frost, had a holiday home. It is a memory I will always treasure…I genuinely felt his poetic presence and spirit near the lake and trees.
Frost has long been one of my favourite poets, and when he wrote that “Every poem is a momentary stay against the confusion of the world”, I got it.
Those of us who have grappled with grief know that words, either in poetry or prose, have cathartic and healing powers, and as the people of Creeslough come to terms with their tragedy, Frost’s other magnificently simple observation that “Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in”, will become all the more significant. That process has already started.
The great Japanese writer, Haruki Murakami, reminds us that: “And once the storm is over, you won't remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won't even be sure, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won't be the same person who walked in.” Amen to that.

CASTING THE FIRST STONE
Here’s a shortened version of one of my favourite stories, one which manages to encapsulate a county's personality by one man's laconic utterance. The buck was from ‘In Through’ and was lucky enough to be part of a pilgrimage to Rome which got an audience with the Pope. On his return, his friend asked him: "What did the Pope preach about?" "Sin", replied your man. "And what did he have to say about it?" asked the friend. After a thoughtful interlude, the ‘In Through’ pilgrim replied "I'd say he was against it."

THE CURE FOR LUMBAGO?
A dear friend from County Longford, who has now retired after many years as teacher and principal, once reminded me that “Ireland went to hell, when they let the nuns out and kept the hens in!” If you look at the big picture, she wasn’t far wrong!
A Carrigart man once said to my father that: “Since they started slicing the bread, people are getting very agitated!” There’s probably some merit in that too.
Reading Connie Duffy on poitín recently reminded me of another of my father's stories about a raid on a still 50 years ago on the Donegal/Tyrone border.
The Guards had to do their duty but - to a man - had some sympathy for the poor hapless individual they had cornered. The sergeant, a big civil being from Leitrim enquired: “I suppose you have it for medicinal purposes?” to which he received the immortal reply: “I dinnae be for downin' it masel, Sergeant, only poor Winnie has the bad pains, and ivry time she roars, I hae tae apply it good and thick.”
He applied it good and thick for the Judge some months later but was fined - for his pains!

SAUCE FOR THE (HOLY) GANDER?
I saw a headline a few weeks ago which read: “Priest's controversial sermon leads to mass walkout in Kerry”. Now, I wondered, does that mean there was a 'mass' walkout from the chapel or simply a 'mass walkout'.
In any event, I wonder has Father Sean Sheehy given a fire and brimstone ceremony about the fact that The Spiritan congregation, formerly the Holy Ghost Fathers, have disclosed that 233 men have made allegations of abuse against 77 Irish Spiritans in ministries throughout Ireland and overseas. Of that number, 57 men have alleged they were abused on the campus of Blackrock College in Dublin.
The Spiritans also run three other colleges in Dublin, St Mary’s College in Rathmines, Templeogue College and St Michael’s, as well as Rockwell College in Co Tipperary. The further revelations on Liveline and in some Sunday newspapers were equally shocking
As regards the fiery Father Sheehy saying anything....I'm just curious!

Positive developments on houses in the Lifford-Stranorlar area

Units on stream in Raphoe, Convoy, Lifford, Ballybofey and Stranorlar

THE BREFFNI SWATTER
A friend was in an old shop in Cavan many years ago, to be confronted by the manic owner holding a wet cloth and doing battle with a herd of bluebottles as they buzzed around his windows and counter.
Every time he connected with one, he shouted: "Now ya blue b......s yis!"
Eventually he stopped with exhaustion, leaving dozens scattered throughout his premises and countless corpses stuck to the wet cloth.
It was only then he noticed he had a customer and addressed him by winking and saying forcibly “I’m a hoor for the hygiene!”