Peter’s Pence Collection

for the Pope’s Charities will take place at all Masses this weekendThis will replace the Share Collection

Community Games Church Gate Collection at all Masses next Weekend 6^th & 7^th July

Sunday 30^th 2019

►Children’s Church at 10am Mass in Church of Our Lady for children aged 5 to 10 years.

►Valleymount Country Market from 10am in Valleymount Hall

Monday 1^st July 2019

►Holy Hour in Crosschapel every Monday after 10am Mass. (ex Bank Holidays)

►Guided Prayer, Benediction & Music at 8pm in Lacken Church. All are welcome.

Tuesday 2^nd July 2019

►Citizens Information Centre in Blessington Library from 1pm to 4pm. Legal advice service on 1st & 3rd Tues of month by appointment

►Eucharistic Adoration from 7.30pm to 8.30pm in Blessington Church.

Wednesday 3^rd July 2019

►The Citizens Information Centre is open in Blessington Library today 10am to 12.30pm.

►The Rosary will be offered at 7.30pm for the intentions of our families in Blessington Church

►Christian Meditation Group meet in the Mass Centre in Brittas from 11am. All welcome

Friday 5^th July 2019

►Bethany Bereavement Support Group are available in the Coimín Centre Blessington for caring confidential support from 10am to 11am

►1st Friday of the Month. The Masses will be offered for all those whose names are on the Altar List of the Dead. The priests will visit the sick & housebound. If you would like a visit please contact the Parish Office, 045 865 327

►1^st Friday Mass in Manor Kilbride at 9am.

►1^st Friday Mass in Valleymount at 11.15am

►Coffee Morning in Lacken Community Centre from 10.30am to 12.30pm

►Padre Pio Mass at 8pm in Blessington.

Sunday 7^th July 2019

►Cemetery Sunday Templeboden at 3pm.

PLEASE NOTE: there will be no evening Mass in Lacken Church on Saturday 6^th July

Mass Intentions this Week

Jo Horgan (RD)

Saturday 6pm Vincent Bohan (A) Kay McGrath (1^st A) Fiona Ashe (A) Clodagh & Sean Ashe (A)

Sunday 10am Mary O’Donnell (A) Jim Breen (A)

We also Remember the following:

Monday: Mass for those on the list for Sick

Tuesday: Barry O’Donnell (Rem) Jenny Tabel (RD)

Wednesday: Get Well, Get Well

Thursday: Eileen McGovern, Daphne Burke (RD)

Friday: 1^st Friday Altar List of the Dead

Memory Garden Valleymount. On Sunday 23^rd June, Bishop Eamonn Walsh blessed the Memory Garden in Valleymount after the 11.15 Mass.

The garden is dedicated to the memory of all those who were displaced or affected by the creation of the Poulaphouca Reservoir. I would like to thank Bishop Eamonn for his encouraging and supportive homily & also to all those who participated in the ceremony.

Special thanks to Kevin Byrne and his family along with many members of the community who created the garden and donated materials, time and energy to make it possible. If you would like to contribute a donation towards the expense of creating the garden, please leave it in an envelope for the sacristan in Valleymount Church.

With every blessing. Fr Richard

Local St Vincent de Paul 087 181 1579

National Tidy Towns judging will take place from June 8^th to August 4^th this year. We are judged under several categories & the appearance & upkeep of our main street, approach roads, all our estates & business premises are a major factor in the results & ability to gain extra marks. Everyone can help, by ensuring Blessington is litter free & looking it’s best, as together we can make a difference. Many thanks for all your effort.

Visitation of the Sick: If there are any parishioners ill, at home or in hospital who would like a visit from a priest, please contact the Parish Office to let us know and to make arrangements 045 865 327

Blessington Parish OPEN INVITATION We invite you to a gathering in the Coimín Centre on Monday 22^nd July at 8pm  The Parish Finance Committee will give a short presentation of 2018 Accounts.

The Community Pool for West Wicklow AGM will be on Tuesday July 2nd at 7pm in Blessington Library. We will be electing a fundraising subcommittee on the night as well as giving an update on how the campaign has been going and discussing what’s planned next. Everyone is welcome and it’s a great way to get involved in the campaign to get a Pool for West Wicklow! For more information email us at poolforWestWicklow@gmail.com

38th Annual Knockadoon Music & Liturgy Course is now open for booking! A place for choirs & young people to experience a week of music, faith and community from 11^th to the 17^th August! More info available on Facebook, Instragram & Twitter @KnockadoonML or www.knockadoonml.com

Sunday 30th MAY 2019 (+ every Last Sunday); SONGS & TUNES session, set up by local music lovers; Zellers, Lacken – a welcoming venue; 6pm to 9 or later. Free and just for fun – a friendly, inclusive gathering. Everyone invited. LISTENERS especially. All ages. ANY song or acoustic tune or self-accompaniment. Pop in and check it out?  Join in IF you feel the urge

8th Wicklow Blessington Scout Group APPEAL FOR NEW LEADERS FOR OUR BEAVER SECTION. We are a parent run organization, now is the time to join up, if we don’t get parents to join, we will not be in a position to take on any new children. Benefits of becoming a leader; your number one priority in scouts becomes FUN. You learn new skills. Your children will bypass the waiting list and secure a place. If you are interested, please contact Tristan Geoghegan (086) 780 2938.

Blessington Bingo Every Wednesday at 8.15 in the Avon (Avon Ri) Great Prizes, Extra Raffle Prizes Shuttle Bus €2 return. Jess: 086 860 2822 or Catherine 087 122 4019

Blessington GAA Club Golf Classic on Friday 12^th July in Craddockstown Golf Club. Cost is €300 for a team of 4 including the round of golf, dinner & plenty of prizes!! The day promises lots of fun, during and after!! Book now to ensure your preferred tee time by contacting one of the following: Arthur Hennessy 087 239 6157, Emer McIntyre Reape 087 226 2286, John Williamson 086 825 6556

Tai Chi Classes (in aid of the Coimin Centre) every Tuesday from 3pm to 4pm in HD Fitness (under the Lemon Tree). Suitable for all ages & levels of fitness, this is a gentle form of exercise which improves coordination, balance, joint mobility & core strength. We ask participants to make a €3 contribution for the Centre.

Blessington Triathlon Sun 30^th June. Over 400 competitors will enjoy swimming, cycling & running around Poulaphouca Reservoir & the Blessington area in this triathlon, now in its 5^th year. A mixed field of all ages & levels of experience will complete the 1,500m swim in the reservoir, cycle 40km around a loop to Hollywood & complete a 10km road run. This race is organised by Belpark Triathlon Club & Blessington Sailing Club & supports members of both clubs, as well as the chosen charity partner Down Syndrome Ireland. Find out more at www.blessingtontri.ie. Race starts at 9.40am.

Try Sailing at BLSC this Summer. With courses for children aged 6 to 18 years of all abilities, choose Blessington Sailing Club for your child’s Summer adventure. For booking and more info, please email Alex at alextpocock@gmail.com, or find us on Facebook.

Blessington Gaelic 4 Mothers & Others Team is looking for new members. Our training sessions are focused on building up fitness with a bit of football thrown in! If you fancy trying something different & meeting some new people, please come along on Tuesday at 7.30pm

Hollywood Annual Sports Day on Sunday 14th July in GAA Field, Athletic Events, Dog Show, Side Shows, Produce Stall, Raffle, Fun & Games for all. Refreshments served. More details nearer the date.

Car Boot Sale (Des Redmond Charities) in St. Kevin’s Hall Sunday 14^th July from 7am to 4pm. €10 per table, Free Car Park, Tea & Coffee. Pat Conlan 086 075 2072

Holiday Camp with Blessington Fencing Club from Monday 8^th July to Friday 12^th July 9am to 1pm. Cost is €100 for Club members and €120 for non-members. Call to book 087 676 4183

Summer Bridge at Blessington Lakes Golf Club, Baltyboys, Valleymount at 7.30pm sharp. All Welcome

Date For your Diary – Supper/Dance in Hollywood Centre on Saturday 20^th July. Food Served at 8pm. Dancing until Midnight, music by THE WICKLOW MAN.  Adm €20. This is the Senior Citizens/ Friendship Clubs contribution to The Fair. Great night assured

Don’t wait for the perfect moment, take this moment and make it perfect

Annual Church Gate Collection
for St Mary’s Junior & Senior Schools
will take place at all Masses next weekend.

Sunday 16th June 2019
►Children’s Church at 10am Mass in Church of Our Lady for children aged 5 to 10 years. Helpers needed for Children’s Church. 1 hour every fortnight. Info: Nuala 085 1221561
►Eadestown Cemetery Mass at 12 noon. Blessing of the graves from at 11.30. No Mass in Eadestown Church, Mass in Kilteel at 10am
►Manor Kilbride Graveyard Mass at 2pm

Monday 17th June 2019
►Holy Hour in Crosschapel every Monday after 10am Mass. (ex Bank Holidays)

Tuesday 18th June 2019
►Citizens Information Centre in Blessington Library from 1pm to 4pm. Legal advice service on 1st & 3rd Tues of month by appointment
►Eucharistic Adoration from 7.30pm to 8.30pm in Blessington Church.

Wednesday 19th June 2019
►The Citizens Information Centre is open in Blessington Library today 10am to 12.30pm.
►The Rosary will be offered at 7.30pm for the intentions of our families in Blessington Church
►Christian Meditation Group meet in the Mass Centre in Brittas from 11am. All welcome

The Family of the late Mick Fleming, Logstown, Valleymount, would like to express our sincere thanks to the relatives, friends & neighbours who offered sympathy & support during our recent sad loss. Thank you to everyone who visited Mick during his stay in hospital, to all who attended Mick’s funeral, sent Mass cards & messages of condolences. Thanks to Fr. Behan for the funeral Mass, to Lorraine & Paul for the beautiful music, to Lena & Gordan of Clarke’s for their kindness. A special thanks to the Miley family for the use of their field at Baltyboys Cemetery. A mass will be offered for your Intentions.

Mass Intentions this Week
Bernie Lyons (RD)
Saturday 6pm: Paddy Byrne (A)
Frank Clarke (RD)
Sunday 10am: Jimmy Keogh (A)
Patrick Byrne (A)
We also Remember the following:
Peter Nolan Jnr, Gus Hearne, Patrick Kearns, Margaret Glennon, James Nolan
Monday: Mass for those on the list for Sick
Tuesday: Barry O’Donnell (Rem), Thanksgiving Mass
Wednesday: Peter Nolan Jnr (A)
Special Living Intentions
Thursday: John & Sarah Magee (A)
Daragh Rowan (A)
Friday: Margaret Glennon (A)
Teresa Murphy (A)

Valleymount Art & Heritage Weekend June 21^st – 8pm in Valleymount Hall Valleymount Theatre Company presents William Shakespeare’s Comedy ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ appropriately on ‘Midsummers Night’!                                                                                                           June 22^nd – 8pm in Valleymount Hall Heritage Exhibition ‘The History of The Parish’ followe by a talk on the history of the parish.                                                                                                                     June 23^rd – Bishop Eamonn Walsh will celebrate 11.15am Mass in St. Joseph’s Church Valleymount. This will be followed by a Blessing of THE MEMORY GARDEN at the front of The Parochial House. The garden is to commemorate the memory of the families who were displaced & affected by the flooding of the Valley 1939 / 1940 Heritage Exhibition & Tea Rooms until 3pm

West Wicklow Cancer Support Essential Oils Mediation hosted by Gemma Deeney of Yogagym. 6-week session commencing Wed 19^th June 11.30am to 12.30pm in Primary Care Centre Blessington. No charge, all welcome, please bring a friend. 087 434 6004 or westwicklow15@gmail.com “The best cure for the body is a quiet mind”, come and join us.

National Tidy Towns judging will take place from June 8^th to August 4^th this year. We are judged under several categories & the appearance & upkeep of our main street, approach roads, all our estates & business premises are a major factor in the results & ability to gain extra marks. Everyone can help, by ensuring Blessington is litter free & looking it’s best, as together we can make a difference. Many thanks for all your effort.

Visitation of the Sick: If there are any parishioners ill, at home or in hospital who would like a visit from a priest, please contact the Parish Office to let us know and to make arrangements 045 865 327

Cemetery Sunday Templeboden Sun 7^th July at 3pm. Please inform family & friends.

3 Beautiful Kittens looking for a good home. 6 weeks old.  Call 087 2977678 or 045 265333

Men’s Health Week 10^th to 16^th June Mind Our Men (M.O.M) Blessington are hosting a tailored 12-week fitness / activity programme for males of all ages and capabilities. This is a free programme that you can follow on your own with weekly plans emailed to you. If you can make a little time to try this then please take that time. Email: mindourmen2019@gmail.com to sign up.  Men’s Health Matters. Make the Time….Take the Time

Hollywood Centre Social Night on Sat 15^th June, dancing from 9pm to Midnight. Music by “Done & Dusted” Adm €10.  Students €5 Refreshments served

Hollywood Friendship Club every Wed from 2.15pm to 4.15pm. New members always welcome.

Tai Chi Classes (in aid of the Coimin Centre) every Tuesday from 3pm to 4pm in HD Fitness (under the Lemon Tree). Suitable for all ages & levels of fitness, this is a gentle form of exercise which improves coordination, balance, joint mobility & core strength. We ask participants to make a €3 contribution for the Centre.

Lugnaquilla – Eamonn Murray Memorial Charity Walk on Sun 23^rd June at 2pm Leaving from Fenton’s Bar at 2pm. Donations on the day please for St Brigid’s Hospice.

A Beautiful Celebration of Music featuring emerging classical artists on Thursday 27^th June at 7.30pm in the Moat Theatre Naas 045 883 030. Tickets €10. Proudly supporting “Make a Wish” and “The Irish Cancer Society”

 Paul Carroll will undertake the Lug Challenge, a 53km walk covering 17 peaks this weekend, to raise funds for the renovation of the Lacken Community Centre (old school). Donations can be made through gofundme or through sponsorship cards available in Zellars Lacken or John Cremin Butchers Blessington

Poula Poetry & Blessington Library are delighted to announce the winners of our local school’s poetry competition. We had a magnificent response, there was such a wealth of brilliant poems submitted it was very difficult to choose “winners”. Thank you to EVERYONE who sent in work, to their teachers & schools for encouraging & facilitating the young poets to write so well. All the poems will be on display in the library. Highly commended were Abi Hasson of Lacken NS, Hannah Reilly of Lacken NS, Sophia Gray of Blessington No. 1 School, & Katy May of Gaelscoil na Lochanna. Overall winner: Mercy Biala of Blessington No. 1 School for her poem ‘Russborough’s Complaints’.

Try Sailing at BLSC this Summer. With courses for children aged 6 to 18 years of all abilities, choose Blessington Sailing Club for your child’s Summer adventure. For booking and more info, please email Alex at alextpocock@gmail.com, or find us on Facebook.

RAGGED COMPANY playing live Sat 15^th June from 9pm in Marquee Avon Blessington. Adm €10 at the door, in aid of Blessington Day Care Centre. A night not to be missed!! Bring your dancing shoes, it’s going to be a late night!

FETE & BARBEQUE in St John the Baptist Church Cloughleagh on Sat 15^th June from 12 noon to 4pm. Gourmet Barbeque & Crepes, Cakes, Plants, Books, Crafts, Raffle, Kid’s Corner, Face Painting. Adm €5 (incl tea) Children Free. Come & Join the Fun in this beautiful location & enjoy lovely food, homemade goodies & excellent stalls. Donations most welcome

Congratulations and well done to our wonderful superhero, 5 year old Calum Martin Flynn, on his award from Blessington & District Forum as “Person of the year 2019”. We, your family & friends are so proud of you & love you so much. We know you will be an inspiration for all young people into the future. Well done also to the other nominees.

West Wicklow Cancer Support “Blessington & District Forum’s Community Group of the Year 2019” we are absolutely delighted to have won this accolade & would like to thank everyone for voting for us. To the Coimín Centre, the Primary Care Centre & all the volunteers who have helped us along the way, your ongoing support is hugely appreciated. Local community support means we can keep developing our services, mindful that our service users find some value in visiting us. Thank you so much!!

Blessington Library Summer Stars Reading Adventure for children during the summer from 15^th of June to the end of August. Summer Stars is an exciting reading-based programme which is available free of charge to all children. We are very happy to work with teachers and families to encourage children to continue reading and also to participate in our range of storytelling and other fun activities during the summer. Each child is invited to register for the adventure at the library. All participants will be given a Summer Stars Reading Card to record and track their own progress, and there will be rewards and incentives along the way. At the end of the adventure, all children who participate are invited to attend the Grand Finale. Children and families will also have access to fun reading activities on the Summer Stars website, www.summerstars.ie The site has lots of online activities as well as a range of animated ebooks. You will find a children’s books discussion board and interviews with well-known people about their favourite books. There are also helpful tips for reading and recommended titles by age group for children to read. The books can then be borrowed from the library service, and it’s all free.

Summer Bridge at Blessington Lakes Golf Club, Baltyboys, Valleymount at 7.30pm sharp. All Welcome

Date For your Diary – Supper/Dance in Hollywood Centre on Saturday 20^th July. Food Served at 8pm. Dancing until Midnight, music by THE WICKLOW MAN.  Adm €20. This is the Senior Citizens/ Friendship Clubs contribution to The Fair. Great night assured

Blessington Bingo Every Wednesday  at 8.15 in the Avon (Avon Ri) Great Prizes, Extra Raffle Prizes Shuttle Bus €2 return. Jess: 086 860 2822 or Catherine 087 122 4019

Blessington GAA Club is pleased to announce a Golf Classic as one of the big 2019 fundraisers, taking place on Friday 12^th July in Craddockstown Golf Club. Cost is €300 for a team of 4 including the round of golf, dinner & plenty of prizes!! The day promises lots of fun, during and after!! Book early to ensure your preferred tee time by contacting one of the following: Arthur Hennessy 087 239 6157, Emer McIntyre Reape 087 226 2286, Lenny Gilligan 085 804 1731, John Williamson 086 825 6556

Happy Faces Community Playgroup are now enrolling for September 2019, we offer ECCE & part time places, at Happy Faces we support & encourage young children through a planned play-based curriculum, to grow into independent little people, who have a love for life & learning, enquires please phone 085 128 1605 alternatively email happyfaces@blessingtonfec