Plaque at Entrance to the Garden
On a day when the clouds threatened rain but Mullaghmore still looked at its best, local people and invited guests assembled at Star of the Sea, Retreat & Conference Centre for the blessing and official opening of the Peace and Meditation Garden. The programme got under way when the Master of Ceremonies Mr Peter McHugh introduced Sr. Aíne McGarty, chairperson of the Board of Management and invited her to address the assembly.
Aíne McGarty rsm delivers her address
The following is her address to the group:
“On behalf of the Board of Management of Star of the Sea, Retreat and Conference Centre here in Mullaghmore, I am delighted to welcome you to the opening of this beautiful peace and meditation garden.
A very special welcome to Minister Pat Carey, Minister for Community, Equality, and Gaeltacht affairs, to our local TD Jimmy Devins and our local politicians, to Bishop Christopher Jones, Rev. Ian Linton – representing the Church of Ireland and to all the other clergy; to the representatives of our key funding agency, The County Sligo Leader Partnership Company. Lastly a warm welcome to all of you, our friends and neighbours in Mullaghmore.
We acknowledge with us today also the presence of the representatives of our Mercy Provincial Leadership team, Sr. Mary Walsh and Sr. Angela Forde and also the sisters and staff who have worked here over the years. The Sisters of Mercy have a long relationship with Mullaghmore. In 1929 we purchased the old coastguard station and it was renovated as a holiday house for the Sisters. Three Sisters were sent here then and one taught in the local school and we have had a presence here since then. In 1998 the house was refurbished and extended and opened as a Retreat and Conference Centre. The centre welcomes everyone of all Faiths and none.
Our Mission Statement reads
The mission of the Star of the Sea Retreat and Conference Centre is to be a Community of Mercy, committed to the promotion of justice and faith.
We offer growth opportunities to those seeking renewal, hope and enthusiasm through a variety of experiences such as retreats, prayer, personal development, and holistic therapies.
We provide facilities for training courses for communities, school and parish groups and for voluntary and public bodies who are seeking personal enrichment and new ways of reaching out to those whom they serve.
Thousands of people men and women, have passed through the Centre since 1998 and have found it a place of healing and renewal.
We are blessed to live in an idyllic setting here in Mullaghmore, but we acknowledge too that we have seen some very dark days over the years. People come to Mullaghmore to enjoy our beautiful scenery, the bay, the beach, and the headland. At the same time others come in sorrow with a heavy heart, perhaps following a bereavement , a loss of relationship, a loss of employment. We are delighted to offer each and all the hospitality of our house, where they can step aside from the hustle and bustle of their lives for an hour, a day or a week.
Now we are pleased to have this extra facility, a peace and meditation garden for our residents, for the people of Mullaghmore and for our visitors. We hope you will find within the walls of this garden, a spirit of peace, relaxation and healing and that after a visit here you will leave with a lighter step. It has been our dream for a number of years to develop this garden. Now our dream has come into being thanks to the Provincial Team of the Sisters of Mercy and to the generous funding received from County Sligo Leader Partnership. The landscaping and planting of the garden was carried out under the direction of Mr Liam Feeney, who in spite of the coldest Winter, the wettest Spring and the driest May and June has produced this lovely Garden. Once again a very warm welcome to you all. I hope you will relax and enjoy this special occasion with us.”
Mr Michael Quigley, Mr Peter McHugh and Minister Pat Carey, T.D.
The MC Peter McHugh then introduced Michael Quigley of the Sligo Leader Partnership.
Mr Quigley said it was a pleasure to come to Mullaghmore to such a wonderful facility that the Sisters have provided in Mullaghmore with some small assistance from Sligo Leader Partnership. He was reminded of many dark days in Mullaghmore and therefore was delighted to see a facility such as this emerging. The garden speaks for itself, in that it is made up of native Irish shrubs and plants. The Sisters in Mullaghmore have provided a haven of peace and tranquillity over the years. It is wonderful for the local people that there is a facility like this in a resort that has been relatively untouched.
Flowers in the Peace Garden
The Sligo Leader Partnership has in the past funded projects such as the Maritime Centre but this is the first of this kind and it is the involvement of the people of Mullaghmore that will make this garden a success. He concluded his address by thanking the Sisters of Mercy for the opportunity to say a few words and to be associated with the project.
The MC Peter McHugh then welcomed Minister Pat Carey, Minister for Community, Equality, and Gaeltacht affairs to address the group and perform the official opening by planting a shrub/palm which he said he was reliably informed can endure for 500 years!
Minister Carey said it was “a great pleasure to be in Yeats country among people who recognise the natural beauty of the area”. He said he was delighted to be here in the presence of Deputy Jimmy Devins, other public representatives, Bishop Christopher Jones, Rev. Ian Linton and other members of the Clergy.
If he were alive today, Yeats would no doubt be equally inspired by the surroundings here… “ and I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow”. Peace does come dropping slow. Mullaghmore has had some dark times here in the past but he had no doubt that those times have passed and can be left behind. He went on to congratulate all who were involved in the creation of the garden, and for the excellent work done in providing services and opportunities to those seeking personal enrichment and development, providing facilities for training courses for community voluntary groups and seeking new ways in reaching out to others. Minister Carey then directly addressed the Provincial Team and said he wanted to take this opportunity to give thanks for all the work carried out by Mercy Sisters the length and breadth of the country, the work that has been done and that continues to be done.
A glimpse of the day!
He went on to say that the Sisters of Mercy should not think that their mission would conclude in a couple of years time. “There is another phase of your mission/call which you will find as fulfilling as your teaching, nursing and the work that you are doing here at the moment. The garden will be an example of how you interpret your new mission, working with the local community and with local groups”. He added that he is amazed in his travels around the country to see the number of projects in which the Sisters of Mercy are involved. They seem to be every place! Minister Carey said that this is a valuable community space which is open to all and the modest funding received from the Department helps in some small way to realise a vision which is a hallmark of what rural Ireland is all about. The government is firm in their commitment to Rural Development and realise that the challenges facing rural communities differ from those of the urban community. He commended the Sligo Leader Partnership for their work in assisting this project.
Board of Management Star of the Sea with Minister Carey.
(L to R) Sr. Bridie McGowan, Ronnie Ward, Jim Gilmartin, Sr. Patricia Kelly, Pat Martin, Minister Pat Carey T.D.,
Una Beirne & Sr. Aíne McGarty
He then added “Meditation is important, it is a time when we stand back and reflect on the challenges that face us as a country and as a people. The building is a lot more than a building, it is the people who come and avail of the services who make it what it is. They will find it a very welcoming place, a place where they can think ‘outside the box’, they can come up with solutions to local problems, tailor them and make sure that they are implemented locally”
Minister Carey concluded his speech by thanking again the Sisters of Mercy for providing this worthwhile space.
Rev. Ian Linton, Bishop Christopher Jones & Fr. Christy McHugh
The MC then called on Bishop Christopher Jones, Rev. Ian Linton and Fr. Christy McHugh to formally bless the Garden – each said a prayer and then prayed this final prayer together
Lord of Creation, we recall the image of your garden called Eden, come and bless the soil, which is our garden. Bless all here present and all who will visit this place. May the blessing of Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit be upon it and all of us. Amen.
Three resident staff members of Star of the Sea, Mullaghmore Sr. Patricia Kelly, Sr. Catherine Coleman and Sr. Bridie McGowan
Peter McHugh the MC for the occasion shared his personal reflection on being part of the fabric of Mullaghmore. Born and bred a stone’s throw away in the Pier Head, he was educated by the Sisters of Mercy and is now part of the future planning of Mullaghmore and its environs. He said “Mullaghmore owes a huge debt of gratitude to the Sisters of Mercy who have been in our midst now for almost a century. They have been a praying presence among us and today they share with us another gift, this beautiful garden which they are making available to us, for peace, quiet prayer and meditation” He expressed his heartfelt thanks from the people of Mullaghmore.
Bishop Christopher Jones & Sr. Patricia Kelly
Peter McHugh then called on Sr. Patricia Kelly, Director of the Retreat & Conference Centre to conclude proceedings. Patricia invited Minister Carey to plant the shrub and after that she thanked everybody who came today and those who made this day possible in so many ways.
Planting the Shrub
Patricia concluded her address with words from the English poet Dorothy Frances Gurney.
In true Star of the Sea style all present were invited to refreshments in the conference room, where there was the chance to make new friends and renew old acquaintances.
Refreshments
Please feel free to visit the Star of the Sea Website.
Breege Donohoe rsm
Western Province
