Newlsetter 18th Jan 2026. Issue 1576
COMMUNITY DIARY
SATURDAY 17th Jan
2.30pm Blessington Musical and Dramatic Society Presents Cinderella in The Tramway Theatre. Info on Pg 3
6pm Mass First Holy Communion Mass Church of Our Lady, Blessington Sacrament of Confession: After 6pm Mass
7pm Blessington Musical and Dramatic Society Presents Cinderella in The Tramway Theatre. Info on Pg 3
SUNDAY 18th Jan
10am Mass St. Josephs Church, Valleymount
10am Family Mass with Children’s Choir Church of Our Lady, Blessington, Refreshments in the Coimin Centre
11:30am Mass St Bridgets Manor Kilbride
2.30pm Blessington Musical and Dramatic Society Presents Cinderella in The Tramway Theatre. Info on Pg 3
MONDAY 19th Jan
9.30am Mass Church of Our Lady, Blessington
Blessington Bridge Club 7.15pm, Kare Centre. Information on pg. 3
TUESDAY 20th Jan
9.30am Mass Church of Our Lady, Blessington
WEDNESDAY 21st Jan
9.30am Mass Church of Our Lady, Blessington
Rosary & Holy Hour
10am to 11am Church of Our Lady, Blessington
Pray & Play Group
3pm–4.30pm, Coimín Centre
Blessington Parish Children’s Choir
4.20pm-5pm. All are welcome
THURSDAY 22nd Jan
9.30am Mass Church of Our Lady, Blessington
Blessington Indoor Bowls Club
7.30pm in St Kevin’s Hall, Information on pg. 3
FRIDAY 23rd Jan
9.30am Mass Church of Our Lady, Blessington
Mass Intentions in Church of Our Lady, Blessington
Lorcan Mc Mahon…RD. Santry Hill & Late of Bohernabreena
Saturday
Alice Garry…A, Pat Garry…A, Michael Melia…A, David “Cheelo” Farrell…A, Thomas & Susan Eustace…A, Jerome Biehl…A, Brenda Hand… 1st A
Sunday
Helen Kennedy Lunden…A, Tom Carroll…A, Lily & Jim Cahill…A, Elizabeth & Harry Lee…A
Monday
Mass for the Sick & those in Hospital
Tuesday
Sean Duffy…A, Alice Garry…A, Pat Garry…A
Wednesday
Fr Kevin Lyons…A, Rev Donal O Callaghan…A
Thursday
Mary Flanagan…RD, Special Intentions Mass
Friday
Padraig Fitzgerald…RD, Pat Murray…RD
UPCOMING DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Thursday 5th February at 7.30pm
Where is Pope Leo leading the Church?
Join us for a cuppa and conversation with Fr Gerry Kane.
All welcome!
Church of Our Lady, Blessington & Church of Our Lady of Mercy, Crosschapel. St. Joseph’s Church, Valleymount & Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Lacken Fr. Gerry Kane PP. Tel: 045 865 327
St. Brigid’s Church, Manor Kilbride Fr. Paraic McDermott C.S.Sp. Tel: 01 4582154
Parish Office: 9am to 1pm Monday to Friday Tel: 045 865 327 admin@blessington.info
Deadline for Notices in the Newsletter The deadline to have your notices in the newsletter is Tuesday at 11am at the very latest
Minister of Eucharist Jan 2026 Church of Our Lady Blessington SAT 6PM: Teresa Ball & Sara Ortega SUNDAY 10AM: Kay Clarke & Mary McHugh
CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHINGS “Aspire not to have more, but to be more.” St Oscar Romero
Popes Intentions for Jan 2026 For prayer with the Word of God Let us pray that praying with the Word of God be nourishment for our lives and a source of hope in our communities, helping us to build a more fraternal and missionary Church.
Women’s Breakfast Blessington & Valleymount Parishes. Dates for 2026 14th March Summer breakfast TBC. Look forward to seeing you there.
A Prayer for the New Year As the new year begins, I look to You for our hope, joy, and peace. Give me the courage to do all that You ask of me. Please also make me brave to not do what isn’t from You. Show me how to walk in grace and embrace Your love for me even more. Amen
Feast Days 20th Jan – St. Sebastian St. Sebastian was born in Gaul (France), he joined the Roman army in Rome and became a captain in the elite Praetorian Guard, secretly serving fellow Christians under Emperor Diocletian. He was also an early Christian martyr (c. 255-288 AD) known for his secret faith, When his Christian activities (encouraging martyrs, converting people) were discovered, Diocletian ordered him tied to a post and shot with arrows, leaving him for dead but surviving, only to be clubbed to death later. He’s the patron saint of athletes, soldiers, and plague victims. He is often depicted tied to a post with arrows, though he’s more famously associated with surviving the plague due to prayers.
A Prayer for St. Sebastian Glorious St. Sebastian, powerful martyr and saint, Your faith was so deep, a multitude of arrows could not destroy you. I call on your strength and courage to help me through this difficult trial. I ask for your intercession, that I may also survive that which threatens to destroy my beliefs and my well-being. Protect me from pestilence, illness, and all dangers, visible and invisible. Strengthen my faith, grant me perseverance, and help me to live a simple, orderly life pleasing to God. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.
BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT The Irish Hospice Foundation provides a free Bereavement Support Line. This National Freephone Service is available from 10am to 1pm, Monday to Friday, by calling 1800 807077. Visit www.hospicefoundation.ie for more information.
AWARE SUPPORT & SELF CARE GROUPS If you or those with whom you work wish to connect with people in relation to your mental wellbeing, consider using Aware’s phone-in and Zoom support and self-care groups, support line or support mail. For more information, visit www.aware.ie.
Accord Prayer for Marriage & Family Life God of love, show us our place in this world as channels of your love. Give to us the gift of respect, empathy and understanding. Bless and strengthen our love for each other. Help us to appreciate the value of family life and to live in harmony with all whom we come in contact with. Encourage us, we pray, to act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with the Lord. Praise be to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen
The Wonder of Creation Baby birds are called chicks Some baby birds, like ducks, can walk and swim just hours after hatching.
Blessington Parish Lotto Numbers on 8th Jan 2026: 1,12,13,21. €25 Winner: Carol Murphy Next Jackpot: €3000
Lacken National School Enrolment Now open for 2026-2027 for Lacken National School. Please contact office at 045-865086 or email school@lackenns.com
St Mary’s Junior N.S. 2026/27 school year Currently accepting applications. To apply please contact Bernadette in the school office 045 865501 or visit our website – www.stmarysjuniorschool.ie – click on Parent Information tab, select Application Forms in the Policies and Enrolment section.
St Brigid’s N.S. are accepting enrolments for all pupils wishing to start in September. Please contact the school office on 01-4582550 for an enrolment form. St Brigid’s will also be having an open evening for all prospective students and their families Wednesday 11th February. The school will be open from 6.30pm till 7.30pm. This is a wonderful opportunity to explore the school, meet our staff, and get a feel for life at St Brigid’s. We look forward to seeing you there.
Blessington U3A are pleased to announce our next talk Speaker: Angela Rolfe Title: “The War Memorial at Islandbridge” Date: Tuesday 20th January at 10.30am Venue: The Hollywood Centre (Eircode W91 NWK5) All are welcome to attend, Non-members €5 per person.
Blessington History Society will hold its AGM and monthly talk on Thursday 15th Jan 2026 at 7.30pm in the Coimin Centre Blessington. Nomination and election of officers and renewal of membership and subscription payment will take place. Presentation of video; A Journey Through West Wicklow 8.15 – 9.15pm, detailing the history and development of Blessington and West Wicklow region and presents an interesting and valuable picture of West Wicklow before large scale development commenced.
Accommodation Available Blessington Studio suit 1 person 085-1370986
Blessington Indoor Bowls Club meet every Thursday night at 7.30pm in St Kevin’s Hall, Blessington. Guests are most welcome, why not come along & bring a friend.
Blessington Bridge Club Meets every Mon at 7.15pm in the Kare Centre. New players welcome.
Blessington Musical and Dramatic Society Presents Our Annual Panto Cinderella in The Tramway Theatre! Promises to be a great show for all the family! Tickets available via Eventbrite https://tinyurl.com/BMDS-Panto or in the Office shop or Hennessy’s Next Door. Show times: Jan 15th & 16th at 7pm, Jan 17th at 2:30pm & 7pm, Sun 18th at 2:30pm. Great Christmas stocking filler!
Gaelscoil na Lochanna seek to employ a Bus Escort to assist children with additional needs getting to and from school. Initially 1 hour of work in morning before school time and 1 hour after school time. Candidates should have experience in working with children, have an understanding of additional needs in children, and be able to deal with parents and school staff in a professional manner. Irish ability is an advantage. This position is subject to satisfactory references and Garda Vetting. The hourly rate of pay is in line with the Department of Education guidelines for School Bus Escorts (€15.20 per hour), processed weekly during school term time. Escorts are not paid over school holidays but receive holiday pay instead. Application by CV /queries should be emailed to priomhoide@gaelscoilnalochanna.com
Helix Motorcycles repair shop just opened in Stratford, if you need a simple service, complex repair or just a touch up on the paintwork call or text on 087 373 5709
GARDENING SERVICES Grass cutting / Ride on lawnmower Push Lawnmower, Hedge cutting Chainsaw Cutting, Splitting Timber, Spraying, Weeding, Powerwashing Driveway Patios, General Maintenance around your home. Just Call for reasonable Quates/ Price. Call or text 0876640695.
Blessington Taxi Phone Greg 087 2626 393
Catriona Byrne & Co Solicitors BESIDE AIB – OVER 20 YEARS ESTABLISHED FOR ALL YOUR LEGAL NEEDS 3 Mill Bank, Blessington County Wicklow Tel: 045 857 537 www.catrionsbyrne.ie
Driving instructor RSA and ADI approved. Contact Michael 087 459 4258 for bookings.
Painter & Decorator Interior & Exterior Call Damien 085 826 0431
HEADSTONES McEvoy Monumental Works Blessington. Headstones, Inscriptions, Renovations. Serving the people of Blessington for over 40 years. Call to our workshop at Millbank Blessington Call: Mick 045 865 487 – 086 843 8832 or Gary 087 933 3487 www.mcevoymonumentalworks.com
Local Builder Available All services under one roof, Windows & Doors, Plumbing, Tiling, Roofing, Plastering, Electrical, Carpentry, Insulation. All levels of construction services available. Fully registered. Call Paul: 086 309 1829
Eagle Cleaning Solutions Chimney Cleaning, Exterior Power Washing, Window Cleaning, Gutter Cleaning & Repairs. Find us on Facebook! Call for appointment: 087 247 4388. info@eaglecleaningsolutions.com
German Autoworks – Service Specialist VW/Audi, Mercedes, Skoda, Seat, Opel – Call 087 286 3997 www.germanautoworks.ie
Niall Kearns Building & Roofing Contractor 086 274 6969 nkbuildandroof@gmail.com Building New Homes, Extensions, Sunrooms Attic Conversions, Renovations, Chimney Repairs Roofing New Roofs, All Roof Repairs Flat Roofs, Gutter Repairs Roof Replacement, PVC Fascia & Soffit All Work Fully Guaranteed
JP&M Doyle What’s Your Property Worth? Talk to us today for your free-Market Appraisal Specializing In Residential Town & Country Homes Development & Agricultural Land Commercial Property Lettings, Valuations. 2025 is your year to make it happen! With high demand and a lack of supply, now is the perfect time to maximise your property’s value. www.jpmdoyle.ie Tel: 045-865568.
KILDARA HEATING & PLUMBING Call Dara: 0862356610 Email: Kildaraheating@gmail.com Heating & Plumbing Services Bathroom Renovations Boiler install/service Heat pumps Central Heating Power flushing Fully Insured RGI & Oftec Registered
Jennifer Kavanagh Sports & Remedial Therapy: *Muscle Aches and Pains *Chronic Muscle or Joint Pain *Struggling to perform Day-to-Day Tasks *Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation *Increased Mobility Fully qualified ITEC NCVA, fully insured and local experienced Therapist. Ph: 087 9021099
