Bere Island Sports Day & Holy Year Cross Mass


The Sports Day on Bere Island is a tradition for the last 28 years. We could call it "Pollingers Sports Day" as Leon and Eileen have been running this event very successfully. This year they had to return to California for the birth of their grandchild before Sports Day. They handed the running of it to Annemarie Harrington who ran it very efficiently. Participation was great from children and parents. The exitement was written over all the delighted faces of the children, even those who did not get a T-Shirt. The ice-cream for every child was very much appreciated. This year for the first time we had no Tug-of-War competition, a traditional feature of the sports day. Hard to believe but we could not find a rope! There were many helpers on duty and without their support things would not have run so smoothly. Thank you all. Next year, Eileen and Leon, Mary and John, we look forward to having you back.

A Mass was held at the Holy Year Cross on Sunday, August 3, 2003 and we were honoured to have Fr. Joe Harrington SJB, a native of Bere Island, as our celebrant. While it was an overcast day with the mountains covered in fog, it did not hinder the great turn out of locals and visitors making their way to the Cross. The Choir enhanced the beautiful ceremony which Fr. Joe gave us. He spoke of the healing benefits of the Eucharist and we all came away feeling very uplifted by his words. Prayers of the Faithful were read by Sean O'Sullivan, Margaret Harrington, Adrian Moriarty and Maura Comerfod, who represented different parts of the island. They prayed for the future plans and all the new developments on the island, for our spiritual leaders and all the community. Approximately 200
people attended the ceremony including 21 walkers from the Galtee Walking Club. We want to thank Noreen and Robert Burns who set up the sound system, their contribution to events like this is admirable and much appreciated. We thank John Joe Sullivan for his effort in making the road more accessible, Pat Kingston for supplying a taurpaulin, which gave great shelter from the bracing wind, and to all who helped make this event memorable.

A special thank you to Fr. Joe for being available to come and celebrate with his own people. We hope he will be able to join us again for what is a truly special Mass.