Páirc a’Tobair

More than 20 years ago Páirc a’ Tobair was a Southern Province response to the devastation of our planet.  Its primary focus was on the protection of biodiversity and the well-being of the whole community of life.  Native woodland trees were planted, organic gardening and sustainable living were practiced at the Ecological community.

In 2018 Páirc a’ Tobair entered a new phase of its evolution when work began on a transfer of the project to Green Sod Ireland.

Green Sod Ireland – An Fóidín Glas – is a Land Trust whose vision is to establish ‘Wild-Acres’ in every county in Ireland.  This is to ensure the creation of safe habitats and the facilitation of the free movement of wildlife.  These are vital for biodiversity. In holding land in trust, Green Sod acknowledge and respect it for its own sake, thus protecting its indigenous life from destruction. The Trust works with local communities and encourages them to live in harmony with nature.  It also works to advance education by promoting and encouraging public awareness of the importance of conserving land and protecting the environment for the benefit of present and future generations. The desire of all concerned is that the community of life remains at the centre. Those who have held the vision over the past 20 years and Green Sod Ireland are of one mind in this.

In April 2019 the process of collaboration and transfer was marked in the sacred ritual of the transitioning of Páirc a’ Tobair to the Green Sod Land Trust. This was an awesome, inspiring and thrilling moment in our Mercy Story.

• The vision was caught back in 1999
• It was responded to and in the words of Antonio Machado – “the journey was made in the walking.”
• In 2019 there was the wisdom to “let go” and trust the future to the stewardship of God and of the Green Sod Land Trust.

Pollinator Gardens

Callan, Co Kilkenny
We held our breath waiting for the little green shoots to appear and slowly but surely they did. By mid June the plot was a blaze of colour – Poppies, Yellow Daisies, White Daisies, Hairy Willow Herb, Cornflower, Forget Me Not, Borage, Corn Cockle etc.

Military Road, Waterford
We bought the seeds; the Gardener sowed; and in June the Lord produced an abundant, amazing display of variety and colour attracting in the bees and butterflies.

Kinsale, Co Cork
We watered our plants from our fresh water tank.

Growing vegetables

St. Colomba’s Cork City
Our gardening adventure was rolled out along with COVID-19 Lockdown. We had been talking about getting a raised bed to plant a few vegetables for some time. The Lockdown gave us the push and time we needed to get started. We were blessed with the space and lovely weather.

We knew that we wanted to plant potatoes, carrots, courgettes and onions.  Along the way we picked up beetroot, lettuce and rhubarb. To this we added pots of herbs.

So what have we learnt…?
Enthusiasm is key. Adaptation is important. Patience is necessary. We have picked up quite a lot of skills and information about our plants. Conscious of the environment we researched and made natural insecticides.

Our gardening went a long way to help us, like our plants, to thrive through the lockdown period.  Already we have ideas for next year!

Margaret and Lucy

Apartments Arus Muire, Clonakilty
Eilis, Eileen, Lily and Martina’s vegetable/fruit allotments

Convent of Mercy, Mallow, Co Cork
Enjoy our vegetable garden!

Interconnectedness Group

The Interconnectedness Group in the Southern Province was formed after the Provincial Chapter of 2001 “to nurture an awareness of the whole community of life and our place within it” and to implement the recommendations

• that we invite and encourage each other to grow in our understanding of cosmology and ecology and to engage the theological/spiritual issues involved.
• that our growing awareness of the ‘interconnectedness of life’ be expressed in practical ways.

Since 2001, the group has had regular meetings to educate, inform & form ourselves  through rituals, inputs, videos, books, sharing, retreats, workshops & outings e.g. visits to ecological sites, reflections on Laudato Si, and more recently by engaging with the MIRP & MGP processes.

Education  |  Parish Ministry  |  Spirituality   |  Healthcare

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