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Brother Kevin Crowley remembered as 'warm, caring and fearless' ahead of funeral

Brother Kevin Crowley remembered as 'warm, caring and fearless' ahead of funeral

Hundreds of mourners lined the streets outside a Dublin church on Thursday evening to pay their respects to Brother Kevin Crowley.
The founder of Dublin's Capuchin Day Centre passed away peacefully aged 90 at Mount Desert Care Home, Cork, on Wednesday.
His funeral cortege took him to the Church of St Mary of the Angels, Church Street, Dublin 7 at 5pm on Thursday evening.
Known as a charitable man who made "an invaluable contribution" to those homeless in the capital, hundreds of people paid their respects yesterday.
His funeral mass will take place today at 11am, followed by burial at Dardistown Cemetery.
Brother Kevin founded the Capuchin Day Centre, which helps provide those experiencing homelessness with hot meals, in 1969.
In 2018, Pope Francis paid a visit to the centre, where he met Brother Kevin as well as people who use their essential services there.
Three years ago, Brother Kevin announced his retirement from the centre after half a century.
Paying tribute to him, President Michael D Higgins said: "Brother Kevin was a warm, caring, yet fearless man, who dedicated his life to living his Christian faith in dedication to those most in need.
"I was deeply honoured to meet with Brother Kevin on many occasions throughout the years and to share in his company.
"The hot meals, food parcels, clothing, showers, family services, and medical and dental services have not just extended care of the most vulnerable, but has been exemplary in showing a fundamental respect for the dignity of each person and allowed so many of those who have availed of the services to rebuild their lives."
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8 priests respond to Reek Sunday callout as some opt for earlier climb due to All-Ireland clash
8 priests respond to Reek Sunday callout as some opt for earlier climb due to All-Ireland clash

The Journal

time21 hours ago

  • The Journal

8 priests respond to Reek Sunday callout as some opt for earlier climb due to All-Ireland clash

EIGHT PRIESTS HAVE responded to a callout to help administer sacraments at the top of Croagh Patrick on Reek Sunday. Reek Sunday, also known as Garland Sunday, falls annually on the last Sunday of July but a change in how the GAA operates its county championships is impacting the celebrations for a second year in-a-row. There was already a shortage of celebrants for the occasion this Sunday. And now some pilgrims are opting to begin the traditional climb of the Mayo mountain earlier so that they avoid a clash with the All-Ireland Football final between Donegal and Kerry at 3.30pm. The pilgrimage sees thousands scale Mayo's Croagh Patrick – some barefoot – to celebrate St Patrick. Masses are held at the summit and the Eucharist and confessions are ministered by priests each hour from morning until late afternoon. Confessions will be available from 7.30am. Earlier this month, Administrator of Westport parish, Father John Kenny, issued a callout for priests who have the capacity to make the journey to join him among other clergymen on Croagh Patrick on 27 July. An ageing clergy has created difficulty in sourcing enough priests able to climb the mountain to attend to the thousands that turn out for the pilgrimage. Weekends are also priests' busiest times and it is difficult to find the numbers. Pilgrims atop the mountain in 2006. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Speaking to The Journal , Fr Kenny said eight priests have put their names forward in advance, but that others will turn up on the day. 'We have a core group to look after the pilgrimage, thank God.' Masses will be celebrated hourly in the old church on the top of Croagh Patrick from 8am to 2pm. In years gone by, Masses on top of the mountain would have been held every half hour. Fr Kenny said the main reason for cutting back is the lack of priests being able to take part. However, he added that the second reason was feedback from pilgrims that they liked 'quiet time' on the summit of the mountain as well. 'This means that it wouldn't be just Mass after Mass after Mass… that was a feeling I had myself.' However, there will also be an ecumenical service at 10.30am at the summit, as well as one at 2.30pm at the foot of the mountain. An ecumenical service brings together members of different Christian denominations. Church of Ireland parishes have been invited to attend both these services. 'That's kind of a new feature,' said Fr Kenny, 'and hopefully that will be a feature going forward on the occasional half hour.' Advertisement Meanwhile, Fr Kenny noted that the pilgrimage once more clashes with the All-Ireland Football final. 'People set their alarms earlier as a result and take part earlier, that's a feature in recent times,' said Fr Kenny. 'They still want to do the pilgrimage, but do it earlier than they would normally because of what's going on in Croke Park in the afternoon.' And as for Fr Kenny himself, he acknowledged that the 'logistics are difficult'. 'When I wasn't looking after the logistics I used to get more out of it, to be honest. 'While I'm in charge of the logistics, it can be difficult, but it's always great to witness the faith and witness the people turning out.' Fr Kenny also expressed hope that the pilgrimage can continue for the long-term and said he is 'sure the Lord will provide'. 'I can't tell the future but the perhaps we will have to be a Church in a new way and the ordained ministry will still be part of that, but we won't have the numbers that we used to.' Advice to pilgrims Nurse Marie Lyons of the Mayo Mountain Rescue Team has spent the last 20 Reek Sundays working in the medical tent on Croagh Patrick. She said many patients on Reek Sunday present to the medical tent because of a slip and urged people to wear the correct footwear. While she said ankle support is optional, she recommends people check the sole of the shoe. 'A rubber sole on a shoe, or preferably a boot, with a good grip is the most suitable.' And no matter your fitness levels and regardless of the weather, she reminded people to bring water. ' Every year scores of people ask us for water from the medical tent,' said Lyons. 'At the risk of sounding mean, bring your own! At least one litre, two if you sweat a lot.' She also recommended people take salty food to replace electrolytes and sugary food to sustain your energy. Meanwhile, Lyons note that some pilgrims are 'offering up the hardship for a specific purpose or intention'. 'People are often consumed with making it to the summit but then find it difficult to descend on overly fatigued legs. 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I'm Ireland's last leprechaun whisperer – they gave me 4 gifts & wife's reaction surprised me, now I've found successor
I'm Ireland's last leprechaun whisperer – they gave me 4 gifts & wife's reaction surprised me, now I've found successor

The Irish Sun

time5 days ago

  • The Irish Sun

I'm Ireland's last leprechaun whisperer – they gave me 4 gifts & wife's reaction surprised me, now I've found successor

AFTER spending decades talking to Ireland's last remaining 236 leprechauns, Kevin Woods is preparing for succession - and says he has finally ended his hunt to pass on his gifts. Kevin, who is known locally as McCoillte, says he has spent more than 30 years chatting to the tiny folks living in the Cooley Mountains in Co 4 Kevin Woods is Ireland's last leprechaun whisperer Credit: conor mccaughley1@ 4 For more than 30 years, Kevin has claimed to speak with Ireland's last 236 leprechauns 4 Kevin outside the Carlingford Leprechaun and Fairy Cavern But the Carlingford native feared that he would be Ireland's last ever leprechaun whisperer when his eldest of seven sons showed no interest in taking over the pot of gold. However, the 81-year-old is now FAIRY convinced that there is light at the end of the rainbow after finding people to whom he can pass on his four gifts. The retired salesman explained: "I have seven sons and the eldest doesn't want the gifts. He feels that he doesn't want me to go to heaven. "So I asked the leprechauns, and then they told me that I could give a test to anyone that comes down into the cavern that's doing the tour." There are currently 236 leprechauns living in a cavern which lies hidden beneath the Carlingford Folklore Park on Ghan Road, according to Kevin - who offers tours of the location. During his time as Ireland's last leprechaun whisperer, Kevin has successfully lobbied the EU to have leprechauns recognised as a protected species, which was granted in 2009 under the European Habitats Directive. He also hosted numerous hunts in aid of But in recent years he has been on the lookout for successors for his gifts when he passes, by carrying out a test on strangers who visit him. Kevin's test involves placing what he claims to be a real leprechaun hat on the head of a visitor and asking whether they can feel heat. If they do, they're in luck and they have the gift. Over the years, Kevin says he has found a number of people who have passed his test. However, there's a catch. NO GIFTS UNTIL GONE He explains: "They don't get the gifts until I'm gone to heaven or hell." Kevin also insisted that they need to remain patient for the gifts to transfer, adding: "If they're in the valley, or wherever else they are, they're not to be ringing my wife and asking her, am I gone yet. "They will hear the word draíocht, which is the Irish word for magic, in their heads, and when that happens, then they become whispers and protectors of the last 236 leprechauns." What are these leprechaun gifts, you might ask? Kevin said: "The leprechauns gave me four gifts. One, I'm always happy. Two, I'm always healthy. Three, I can talk to leprechauns anytime I want, and the fourth one's the best one, and I can't tell you that, or I lose the other three." HOW IT BEGAN While now well established and recognised, Kevin wasn't always the last leprechaun whisperer. In fact, there was a time when he called such claims "rubbish". The story goes that 37 years ago, PJ O'Hare, a publican and friend of Kevin, discovered "some bones and four pieces of gold in a leprechaun suit on the mountain". In an attempt to prove to his friend that the wee people didn't live there, Kevin hosted a huge leprechaun hunt. Thousands showed up on the day, many hoping to catch a glimpse of the mythical creatures, while many more were enticed by the fact that Kevin had hidden £4,000 worth of coins across the mountain. The story at the time was reported in newspapers all over the world. "I asked the leprechauns, and then they told me that I could give a test to anyone that comes down into the cavern that's doing the tour." Kevin Woods leprechaun whisper Kevin said: "I presented the usual press releases and whatever, in relation to PJ's story, that made the New York Times. I think it made the Boston Globe and the Chicago Herald, so it was big news at the time." In the end, no leprechauns were found, bar "four toy leprechauns" set out by Kevin at the start of the day. PJ sadly died a few years after the hunt, and for a time, things returned to normal. About ten years after his death, however, Kevin would find the four supposed leprechaun coins while working on a wall outside of PJ's pub. After bringing these coins back up the mountain, Kevin claims he saw a leprechaun. 'I WAS COMATOSE' He said: "I went up there for the first time in my life. I saw three leprechauns initially and I couldn't talk to them. I was stuck to the spot. "I was comatose, I imagine, and they disappeared under a rock. I came down and told the wife I saw three leprechauns, and she told me not to tell anyone, I'd be locked up. Yeah, I told everybody, and no one believed me." ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LEPRECHAUNS AS Ireland's last leprechaun whisperer, Kevin offers a unique insight into all things regarding the tiny mythical creatures. According to him, for food they eat a mixture of wild berries, wild herbs, a flower called meadowsweet - found in Irish boglands - and the sap of blackthorn trees. For work many leprechauns dig for gold, some gather plants and wildflowers for food, while others prepare meals. Many are also cobblers and shoemakers. Leprechauns, like people, have names, Kevin says. Kevin explained that the current clan chieftain is called Carraig, which means Rock. There is also Tadgh, Peadar, Stevo and Dara to name a few. Leprechauns love singing and dancing, in fact it is no coincidence that many are cobblers. The need for repairing shoes, worn out after long nights of dancing has become a necessity. They hate being depicted as drunks, mainly because they never drink alcohol, They also hate the notion that they are evil as nothing could be further from the truth. Leprechauns use underground portals to travel to various parts of the world. Child leprechauns are called Carlichauns and can only be found in Carlingford, Kevin says. He added: "I went back up to secretly see them again, and when I went up this time, I saw one that I was able to talk to. He told me his name was Carrick, the Gaelic word for rock. "He told me that there used to be millions of leprechauns in Ireland, and that they had all disappeared or vanished, except for 236 of them." It was these encounters that would lead Kevin to dedicate his life to leprechaun awareness and protection. A POT OF GOLD With dozens of TV appearances and popular annual hunts, he has since attracted thousands of people to the town in search of the mythical creature. Now Kevin continues to share his "gifts" by offering talks and guided tours of the Carlingford Leprechaun and Fairy Cavern, as well as the Folklore Park. "The leprechauns gave me four gifts. One, I'm always happy. Two, I'm always healthy. Three, I can talk to leprechauns anytime I want, and the fourth one's the best one, and I can't tell you that, or I lose the other three." Kevin Woods leprechaun whisper His story has since also inspired the launch of a family entertainment brand, Carlichauns. The brand boasts "a CG-animated series, YouTube 2D shorts, immersive Alternate Reality experiences, and enchanting books". Kevin said: "So we're flying. We've raised the first lot of money that we put out there, while we were at it, we created an augmented reality app, and we did a trailer of the Carlichauns." He added: "We're adding to the story of the leprechauns, and we're building a global brand." Kevin previously blasted his critics and said: "You get every reaction. I don't mind. "If people say, 'That's a load of rubbish', I say, 'Fine, that's OK, you believe in God, have you ever seen him?'" 4 According to Kevin, the Cooley Mountains in Co Louth is where the leprechauns live Credit: Alamy

Tragic ‘dear mom' note sent by Camp Mystic victim, 8, revealed following Texas floods – after family's double tragedy
Tragic ‘dear mom' note sent by Camp Mystic victim, 8, revealed following Texas floods – after family's double tragedy

The Irish Sun

time17-07-2025

  • The Irish Sun

Tragic ‘dear mom' note sent by Camp Mystic victim, 8, revealed following Texas floods – after family's double tragedy

A MOM who lost her daughter in the floods that swept through Texas' Camp Mystic has shared details of a letter she wrote before her death. 6 Blakely McCrory with her mom Lindsey Credit: Facebook 6 Blakely was one of 27 children and camp counselors killed in the recent Texas floods Credit: Facebook Blakely McCrory, eight, was among 27 campers and staffers that perished in the Texas floods. She died days after arriving at Camp Mystic, and months after she lost her dad. Devastated mom, Lindsey McCrory, shared details of the note Blakely had written to her family, per Blakely had filled in the blanks to sentences on a piece of paper. read more on news The letter started with the phrase: "Dear mom." In the note, Blakely revealed she was feeling 'good' and described Camp Mystic as amazing. She told her mom that she would be playing tennis as well as horseback riding. She revealed that she was in the 'tonk' group. Most read in The US Sun Blakely rated the sleep and food at the camp as the best. Children were given the option to score food and how they slept from best to worst. Lindsey revealed that she took comfort in receiving the letter as it conveyed her daughter was enjoying herself at Camp Mystic. College football coach's 8-year-old daughter confirmed dead in horrifying Texas floods – 'asking for all prayers' She described Blakely as 'very resilient.' 'She was a live wire, just had a fun, spirited attitude, the type of child that doesn't stay down for long,' Lindsey told Lindsey told the In the second note, Blakely begged her mom not to sell her Barbie house. 6 Search teams remove debris from the Guadalupe River Credit: AP 6 Mattresses and clothes are laid on the grass outside a Camp Mystic building Credit: AFP Lindsey recalled how her daughter appeared to change in her mind. That's because Blakely had initially allowed her mom to sell the dolls house. Blakely departed for Camp Mystic on June 29, but her family was rocked by tragedy months previously. Lindsey's husband and Blakely's dad, Blake, died in March after a battle with stage two cancer. And, Lindsey's brother also died. Camp Mystic had been a constant on the banks of the Guadalupe River in Texas for almost 100 years. And, 750 children were at the Christian campsite when the floods hit over the Independence Day weekend. The Guadalupe River rose around 26 feet in 45 minutes as it burst its banks. Around a foot of rain hit Kerr County in central Texas when caused the river to overflow. Janie Hunt, nine, was also killed in the floods. It was her first year at Camp Mystic. Her family identified her via a necklace that had been given to her by her grandma, Margaret. Stacy Stevens' daughter Mary, eight, was identified as one of the victims, as per the FAMILIES GRIEF Tragic details emerged after it was reported that sisters The sisters were holding hands when their bodies were found. And, Ellen Getten, nine, had recently celebrated her birthday at Walt Disney World in Florida before heading to Camp Mystic. She was staying in the camp's Bubble Inn and her family said some of her happiest memories were the dancing parties put on by counselors, per an 'Ellen woke up happy, went to sleep happy, and made everyone around her happy,' her family said. 'Though her nine years on earth was brief, she will always be remembered for her love of others and her sweet smile. 'Ellen would want everyone to give more hugs.' He and his wife Tweety had been associated with the camp for more than 50 years. He received an order to evacuate campers at 1:14am but only started moving the girls to higher ground 45 minutes later, as reported by 'They had no information that indicated the magnitude of what was coming,' Jeff Carr, the Eastland's family spokesperson, said. Eastland's body was found in his Tahoe car that had been swept away. Officials confirmed that at least 134 people died from the flooding, with 100 still missing. But, another summer camp, Camp CAMP, which is located 30 miles downriver has since reopened. 6 A Camp Mystic mailbox that was swept away Credit: AP 6 Chairs stand abandoned among the rubble Credit: Reuters

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