12 May 2021

Active Retirement Ireland Covid-19 Quilt of Hope Project. 

 

Now that we have some light at the end of the tunnel,  and the majority of members are vaccinated,  we would like you to participate in a project (Quilt of Hope) during the month of May. It is hoped that each ARA will make a quilt; it can be made from one metre squares or any division of that. It can be crochet,  knit, sewn or make from material. 

 

The Theme of the Project 

A. Togetherness

B. Faith

C. Kindness 

D. Remembrance.  

 

If you are interested and need more information contact Lucia on 086 3961211

 

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OUR VERY OWN EBENEZER.

A revolutionary movement, the United Irishmen, in the dark days of famine of 1848, rose the Tricolour in Ballingarry, South Tipperary. In honour and commemoration of that event, a printer from Johnstown, County Kilkenny, designed a stamp that depicted the Irish harp, encircled with a Shamrock wreath. This stamp featured on his stationary and also on the paper bags which he supplied to shops and retailers. For twenty years, grocers parcelled their tea, sugar, flour etc in these bags, without attracting unwanted attention from the authorities. That was however, to change dramatically when Constable Ebenezer Ferns marched into the premises of Patrick Maher, grocer, Borrisoleigh, in mid-July of 1868. Ferns seized the bags and charged Maher of being in possession of seditious material.

The following month, the newspaper, The Nation, carried a scathing report on the incident. While acknowledging that many decent Irishmen existed within the police force. The article went on;

“Others however, either because it accords with their nature, or in consideration of the paltry inducements held out to them by their masters, take heartily to the work of oppressing the people. Their thoughts by day and dreams by night are of the getting up of “cases”. For cases, especially cases with somewhat of a political tinge, their eyes and ears are ever open; and the faintest semblance of what they seek for, is sufficient to bring them with a pounce upon it as a hungry fish springs at a bit of offal. These are the men who arrest young persons for the crime of singing Moore’s melodies and other national songs and for playing or whistling Irish airs to which they – those high and mighty policemen – without any justification whatever for doing so, are pleased to attach a treasonable significance. These are the men who scrutinise strangers so insolently, with the implied purpose of comparing their features with descriptions given in their official gazette, the Hue and Cry; and who exhibit a strong desire to place under lock and key, every man woman and child whom they believe to be guilty of reading national publications, or possessing pictures of Irish patriots or, in short, entertaining national sentiments”.

The satirical verse below appeared in the Tipperary Vindicator in that paper’s commentary on the seizing of the “offend” bags.

“The bags that bore the Irish Harp

encircled with a wreath,

In shamrocks black instead of green

sensation did create.

When Bobby Peel walked in and said

I now must take away,

All sugar bags but kind of him,

he did not touch the tay.

 

You know dear Mr M – yawned Bob

my duty I must do,

And prove my loyalty to the throne

to which you’re subject too.

and should I not at any risk

lay siege upon those B’s,

My wife and I would surely die

for the love of those three V’s”.