Sceál Na Cruinne began in the hearts of two Mercy Sisters, who were touched by the wonders of the Universe Story. Tom Berry, recently deceased, was a North American Passionist priest, who came to Ireland in November 1995. At his various talks around the country, he spoke of the wonders of Earth. He shared how our beautiful home planet is under threat. Miriam Thérèse McGillis is a Dominican Sister and founder member of Genesis Farm in New Jersey. She came to Ireland during the following year and gave days of reflective input to interested groups. From both these visitations, great enthusiasm and concern grew. A number of groups formed in different parts of Ireland and an umbrella group called Scéal Na Cruinne came into being.
The above picture is of a centrepiece for the last meeting of Scéal Na Cruinne on March 20th, 2010. It shows books by Thomas Berry and others, inspired by his vision, including Nellie McLaughlin’s Out of Wonder. On this occasion, the group met in An Gáirdín, Portumna – a beautiful venue. We began with shared recollection of words from Thomas Berry that had inspired us. Some such quotations were: “To plant a seed is to activate the deepest memory of the Universe.” “We [humans] are the universe reflecting on itself.” “We will go into the future as a single sacred community or we will perish.” Máirín Ní Mhurchú led us in a refrain composed by the group, to welcome each memory, “We are a community of subjects.”
Some input was given through a DVD on the theme of Biodiversity. The presenter, Tom Petherick, spoke of biodiversity meaning balance. He explained that, “the way to have this is to have as many species with as much variety as possible. Plants bring insects that bring birds, who bring further predators.” Balance is a concept that meant a lot to the group and it was noticed that we were meeting at the Spring Equinox, a pivotal moment in the natural year. Indeed, more members would have been present had they not been involved in rituals to mark the equinox, at other locations.
Noreen Lyons gave an account to the assembled group, of how the building was constructed. It was a second-hand, wooden building, which came in flat-pack style, and was put up in one weekend. The floors were filled with Warm Cell Insulation, using treated, shredded newspaper. The ceiling and walls have a hemp and lime insulation, which was put on by hand. There is a solar panel to heat water and the roof slates were re-cycled from unwanted insides of cars.
Our meeting was warmed by the beautiful stove seen above.
Joan Duddy is seen here beside the name of the new building, Iontas, where the meeting took place. The water used in the building comes from rainwater. One of the collection barrels may be seen below, as Mary Kate is explaining to Winnie and Moira Lynam. Potable water is collected from a spring and filtered.
Heat for the main room is provided by the use of heat pump technology, which extracts heat from the air coming in, using the same principles as geothermal heating. The unobtrusive heater using this technology may be seen here on the wall, above some of the group (Agnes, Winnie, Mary, Máirín and Noreen).
It was nourishing to hear all the connections that members of the group embody. Mary Connaughton is part of the Green Sod Land Trust, whose purpose is “to conserve and protect land with its indigenous animals, plants, waters and soils for their own sake and for the sake of present and future generations.” Both Agnes Coll and Luarena McCormick are part of the Be The Change movement, originally inspired by Mahatma Gandhi. A symposium held in Emmaus retreat centre last September stated, “Our mission is bringing forth an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling and socially just human presence on Planet Earth.” Mary Kate Hagan is part of a venture in Bundoran, Co Donegal, which works towards a, “new way of connecting with the Earth.” She is also connected with Transition Towns, which is a national movement hoping to reduce our carbon footprint.
Paws is a resident of An Gairdin and can be seen above, ready to partake with enthusiasm in the day’s events.
The day allowed time to wander and view the grounds, as can be seen through one of the venue’s windows.
One of the marvels visited was that of the tunnel, where new growth is being nurtured.
John Cleary has been a good friend to An Gáirdín for many years. He helped with the development of their website and is seen here interviewing Mary Connaughton. To see this and other interviews please click here.
This short video can help to explain what Sceál Na Cruinne is about. The group varies in size and composition at every meeting. Many of its members are Sisters of Mercy. The number of men in the group has lowered of recent years, especially since the untimely death of Kevin Codd, a Christian Brother involved in another ecological centre. We decided to prepare a questionnaire for all those who have been members of Scéal Na Cruinne over the years, to ascertain some data for future meetings. The next meeting will be the responsibility of those who live in the South of Ireland and will take place in the Autumn.
Suzanne Ryder rsm
Western Province
