In Short

In Short
Snow
 much fun for
 Galway Poor
 Clares

With heaps of snow showering Ireland recently an enclosed community of nuns couldn’t help but make the most of the weather phenomenon.

The Abbess, Sr Colette said: “The fun we had over the few days just seemed natural. St Francis was known for his love of nature and there are stories told of how he rolled in the snow.  We so seldom have snow in Galway, it was energising to reel in it and we were happy to share the fun with our Facebook friends.”

Acknowledging that Galway city wasn’t hit as hard as other parts of Ireland, the Abbess said the nuns watched the situation as it was unfolding and prayed for those living alone, the elderly and the people helping them.

She said: “Weather events like this are really hard on people but they can bring out the best in people too. It’s lovely to see how people club together to help each other. So many people got in touch with us to make sure that we had everything we needed.”

Speaking of another nun in the community, Sr Colette said: “Sr Catherine is particularly caring of the small birds in our garden and was out shovelling around the trees to make sure there was snow-free space for the ground feeding birds to forage and she kept the bird-feeders filled as well. There’s definitely a few blackbirds and finches flying around out there today who owe their lives to her!”

 

Limerick
 volunteer
 renews
 blind
 man’s
 ‘faith in
 humanity’

A close relationship developed after a Limerick-based volunteer, who had a personal interest in sight loss, helped a blind man learn how to use technology.

William Priestly (38) runs the West End Youth Centre in Limerick, and asked the National Council for the Blind of Ireland if he could volunteer in the field of technology, he was paired with Tony Geary – who lost his sight in his early 60s.

“Tony was trying to get to grips with technology so for the first few months it was a question of trial and error as we worked it out. We’d meet regularly in the NCBI offices in Limerick city and spend an hour going through the essentials that Tony needed. We got on well and so the whole experience of learning was easy then for Tony,” said Mr Priestly.

Seven years on William still meets Tony, he said: “Technology is evolving so rapidly, there is always something to update Tony on.”

He added that there is also a natural friendship that has developed between teacher and student.

Tony, a former chef who lives in Doon described William as a “marvellous and constant support for me” and that he has taken away his fear of technology.

“William is a young guy, in his 30s, and he would really renew your faith in humanity. He is giving up his time and his knowledge for free and it is priceless to me,” he added.