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Bundoran to
host memorable Community weekend
 This June, the people of Bundoran
will celebrate a series of special community events to coincide with
the annual Cemetery Sunday and 'the Gathering" festivities taking
place throughout Ireland.
Over recent months, parishioners in
the resort have been making contact with the wider Bundoran Diaspora
throughout the world to organise a special community celebration and
remembrance event on the weekend of June 8th-9th 2013.
Over the Christmas period they were encouraged to enclose a leaflet
with their greeting cards to inform as many people as possible that
the event would be taking place and responses to date have been very
encouraging.
The weekend will commence on the Saturday evening with an opportunity
for returned emigrants and visitors to relax and socialise. This "meet
and greet" occasion will take place in the Great Northern Hotel at 8pm
with a very strong local flavour. This will include a short
introduction, followed by a history talk on the town by historian
Anthony Begley. A feast of top class local musical entertainment
follows with some guest artistes flying in for the occasion. It is
hoped to be a showcase for the huge reservoir of musical talents that
has emanated from the popular seaside resort in the last number of
decades - some new and others already established household names.
On Sunday 9th, a Memorial Mass at 11am will be celebrated at the
Church of Our Lady, Star of the Sea with "returnees" playing a pivotal
role in proceedings.
After Mass, a poignant procession will take place to St. Ninnidh's
Cemetery at Newtown, evoking memories and respect for past generations
who have taken this last journey up Church Road.
With the emphasis on remembrance and community, banners, altar
servers, children from the local St. Macartan's NS and their musical
instruments, amongst others, will add a suitable festive colour to the
occasion.
Residents, parishioners and those who have returned for the
celebrations will be actively encouraged to partake in the procession
after Mass, or joining up afterwards outside the Church. This will be
followed at approximately 12.15pm by the annual Blessing of the
Graves, which is now one of the largest community gatherings in the
resort each year.
Later that evening, a similar blessing will take place at the historic
Finner graveyard and there will be another opportunity for people to
meet up for a chat and reminisce afterwards at Brennan's on Main
Street.
A small committee from a cross section of the community have been
working quietly but diligently in the background over recent months to
make this happen. They include: Dr Raymond Kerr, Val Traynor, Peter
Brady, Very Rev. Ramon Canon Munster P.P.; Patricia Brennan, Cllr Sean
McEniff and Cllr Philip McGlynn.
We hope that you will play your own part in this special event,
whether by your own participation or getting in contact with Bundoran
people who have left the town over the years.
In preparation for this celebration, Magh Ene parish has also
undertaken, with some financial assistance from the local regulatory
authorities, of the mapping of both cemeteries connected with the
parish, showing where family members are interred.. This is available
on site as you enter the graveyards and is also available online.
Further information and updates will be made available on
magheneparish.ie
and local media outlets. We all look forward to a unique weekend of
remembrance and celebration and most importantly, Bundoran people's
participation. |
