Issue 178 “UNION NEWS” April 2025

Dear Parishioners,
Please see another combined set of notes for March and April which include service details for the
last two Sundays of March.

New Rector: Bishop Pat Storey and the Parish nominators announced on 16 th March the appointment
of Archdeacon Ian Horner as the newly appointed rector of Mullingar Union of Parishes.

Ian is originally from Greystones in Co Wicklow.  He has spent the last ten years serving in the
Bailieborough Group of parishes in the diocese of Kilmore, where he is also an archdeacon.
He is married to Jenny, and they have two boys called, Sam (12) and Leo (10).  Ian loves music and
is no longer ashamed to say that he is a big Aston Villa fan!  He has a passion for the Scriptures,
church renewal, youth and children’s work, and he enjoys a good visit and chat over a cup of tea.
On his move to Mullingar Ian says, ‘It is with mixed emotions that we set out on a new adventure in
ministry.  The last decade has flown by, and it will be very tough to say goodbye to the people of the
Bailieborough Group, and to the people of the wider community.  We have been loved, supported
and looked after from day one, and we have been blessed to see God at work in the lives of young
and old in the parishes.  At the same time, we are excited to follow God’s call to the Mullingar
Union, and we already have a strong sense God’s hand in this move.  So, while we are sad to be
leaving the wonderful family home, hometown, and church family that we’ve been blessed with over
the last ten years, we are very much looking forward to setting up in a new home later on in the
year, to meeting new friends, and to seeing what God will do in our new church family.” He
continued, “I am grateful to Bishop Pat and to the people of the Mullingar Union for this new
opportunity to love and serve the Lord and value your prayers as we prepare to make the move.”

The date of the Institution will be announced shortly.

We, the parishioners of Mullingar Union
extend a warm welcome to Ian, Jenny, Sam and Leo.

At the recent Vestry meeting Richard Tansley detailed a project in Uganda that his two eldest
children Poppy and William are involved with through their school Kilkenny College. The Fields of
Hope charity supports communities with water and education, specifically sinking wells to allow
children especially girls attend school. Richard, Poppy and William will travel with a group to
support one of these projects. As a parish we are planning to hold a number of fundraising events to
go towards the cost of a well which is approximately (11,000. Please see below for details of these
events.

Storm Eowyn as everyone remembers was an unprecedented event and thankfully none of the
Churches or Rectory had any major damage. Here is a brief outline of the damage that was done. All
Saints’ Church has a number of loose slates in the corner to the left of front door and was cordoned
off. Kilbixy Church had a number of tress down on avenue and a large Alpine fell within the
graveyard luckily causing no structural damage.

Kilbixy Church has had some lead flashing uplift
along the front left ridge. Almoritia Church also escaped any damage however a number of trees fell
in the December storm which have been cleared. Killucan Church and environs avoided any storm
damage.

The Rectory in Mullingar had a fallen tree on the lawn which will be cleared to the stick
house and the house itself was unharmed. We extend our thanks to Mark Potterton, Glebe warden for
attending to these matters with the local Church wardens.

As we go to print details of the Easter Sunday services have been finalised by Archdeacon
Stevenson. There will be a 10am service in All Saints’ followed by an Easter Egg Hunt and a 11:30
am Holy Communion in Killucan.

Thank You and Best Wishes
On behalf of the parishioners and vestry of Mullingar Union we would like to extend a big thank you
to Canon Lawrence for all his care and support over the last year in particular. Thanks especially for
his Food for Thought piece which featured in the recent Yellow Sheets. We wish him well as he now
steps back and send our best wishes to him.
Best wishes to Archdeacon Stevenson as he announces his retirement at the end of May. Thank you
from Mullingar Union for all the support and guidance to date.

Congratulations
We would like to extend our congratulations to Esther and Luke Hawkins on the arrival of Eleanor
May on the 12 th February.

Congratulations to Clodagh Ramsey on becoming the winner of the 2025 Junk Kouture world
designer of the year competition. Clodagh represented Ireland in the international final of Junk
Kouture in the Helix on 4th March with her creation entitled Aquacultural, made with mussel
seashells weighing 32kg!

Youth Notes
Board Games Saturday, an afternoon of fun and laughter on 5 th April from 4pm to 5.30pm
Sunday School will be held on the 6 th  April.

Safeguarding Trust training:  We are hoping to run a Safeguarding training session to
increase the number of adults available to help out at the children’s activities if they wish.  It
will help prevent cancellations due to lack of leaders or supervision and assistance would be
requested on an ad hoc basis. If interested, please send an e-mail to
barbaradoran1974@gmail and an evening can be organised for training.

All Saints’ Primary School
There will be an All Saints’ School Service at 10am on Sunday 23 rd March celebrating
Spring. Members from Sunday School will be joining this Service.

Re-Turn logo cans and bottles: If you have bottles or aluminium cans that you would like to
donate, please drop them into the school, just remember, they must have the Re-Turn logo,
be empty and un-damaged. If you have already donated, thank you very much and please
keep them coming!

Cash for Clobber: drop off at the school on Thursday 3 rd and Friday 4 th . Suitable items
include unwanted clothes, bags, shoes, towels, curtains, sheets, hats & belts. We cannot take
electrical items, duvets or pillows. Many thanks in advance for your support.

Vestry Meeting
The next Vestry meeting is Monday 7th April at 7.30pm in All Saints’ Hall.

Whist Drives
The final Whist Drive of the season will be held in All Saints Church Hall at 8pm on Friday
4th April.

Baptism
On 8th March Archdeacon Stevenson welcomed into Christian Fellowship through baptism Kedagh
Sage Doran, daughter of Megan and Tony and granddaughter to Grace and Mick Lynam.

Fields of Hope project:
The parish are running a number of events to support this initiative and we welcome your support.
Table Quiz Thursday 24th April  at 9pm in the Annbrook Hotel.Lunch on Saturday 26th April of soup, bread, desserts, tea/coffee in All Saints’ Church Hall
commencing at 12.30, donations at the door. All welcome.
Fundraising Walk Saturday 10th May starting at Killucan Church at 3pm. Light refreshments will be
served on your return.
A quiz sheet is being produced and will be available from April for some fireside entertainment from
Church Wardens.

A GoFundMe page/d26e5da9 Providing drinking water for a Ugandan community has also been set
up.

May Sale
This year’s sale will be on Saturday 17 May starting at All Saints’ Church grounds from
10.30 to 2pm. There will be the ever popular cake stall, teas, burgers and plants. If you are
digging up in the garden please pot on any extra cuttings for this event. Thank you in
advance.

Almoritia Church Windows
The side windows in Almoritia Church which face south have been removed for repair
following a successful grant application by Catherine Gibson Brabazon. There will be a
number of fundraising activities from June onwards to raise funds for the balance.

Easter Decorating
Easter Decorating will take place in All Saints’ on Saturday 19th April at 10am. All welcome.

Condolences
We express our sincere sympathy to the Murray family on the death of Alan on 2 nd February
in his 91 st year. The funeral service and internment took place in Kilbixy on 6 th February.
Alan was renowned nationally for his love of cricket and the magnificent cricket grounds he
created at Mount Murray. We hold in our thoughts his wife Louise and children Frederick,
Evelyn, Philip and Rosemary, grandchildren Echlin, Ruby, Niall, Teagan, Kaela and Haley,
daughter in law Paula, sons in law Stanley and Steve. We also remember his sister in law
Anna Rolston, sister of Louise.

We would like to express our deepest sympathies to Maud Long on the death of her beloved
husband Philip and their daughters Stephanie and Samantha. We remember their families at
this sad time.

We would also like to extend our deepest sympathies to Florrie Nash on the death of her
sister Louie in Edenderry. We remember the extended Bell family at this sad time.

March Church services

23rd March Third Sunday in Lent
All Saints’ 10am Morning Prayer with All Saints’ National School to celebrate Spring
Killucan 11.30am Morning Prayer
30 th March Fourth Sunday in Lent
All Saints’ 10am Morning Prayer
Killucan 11.30am Morning Prayer

April Church Services

Sunday April 5th Sunday of Lent
All Saints’ 10am Holy Communion
Killucan 11.30am Holy Communion

Sunday 13th April Palm Sunday
All Saints’ 10am Holy Communion
Kilbixy 11.30am Holy Communion

Sunday 20th Easter Sunday
All Saints’ Church 10am Holy Communion Rev George Irwin, followed by Easter Egg Hunt.
Killucan 11.30am Holy Communion Rev George Irwin

Sunday 27th April, 2nd Sunday of Easter
All Saints’ 10am Morning Prayer
Killucan 11.30 Morning Prayer

Holy Days in All Saints’ Church
Maundy Thursday 17th April,Morning Prayer 11am
Good Friday, 18th April, Holy Words and Music 12 noon.

Parish Website -www.mullingarunionofparishes.net