Thurles Information

Littleton & Two-Mile_Borris correspondent Mr Gerry Bowe Reports.

If, as the saying goes, “It takes a whole village to rear a child”, then on Sunday last ‘Littletonians’ and those from the wider Moycarkey-Borris Parish, should feel very proud at the presence of Newhill native Bishop Martin Hayes.
It was five years ago, on the same exact date (29th June 2020) that Fr Martin had been appointed Bishop of Kilmore, by Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, latter head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State).

Bishop Martin’s diocese of Kilmore today includes parts of five counties divided into nine pastoral areas, same mainly in the Republic of Ireland, with a few parishes in Northern Ireland, same subject to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Armagh.

At national level Bishop Martin represents the Irish Bishops in promoting care of the environment and has recently put together a two year course for the training of Pastoral Ministers. Many will have known him for his previous work in the Thurles parish and his dedicated work in setting up “Seeds of Hope” which is the plan guiding our local diocese.

Bishop Martin was welcomed, as the chief celebrant of the 2025 Littleton annual Cemetery Mass, by Fr Tom Fogarty P.P., who was assisted by Fr George Bourke A.P. and Fr Joe Ryan A.P., (latter currently on holiday from London, where he is active in the Pax Christi Movement which campaigns against military spending, the arms trade and nuclear spending).

Bishop Martin referred on a number of occasions to his early school days in Littleton and the influence that village life had on him and his family; speaking especially about the local Creamery and business life. “Littleton people were part of our growing up as a family” he stated, “Regarding local housing estates in the area, McDonagh Terrace was then only at construction stage, while Church View and Derrynaflan estates had yet to be designed”.

June 29th is St Peter and St Paul’s Day, annually celebrated by the Catholic Church to honour the martyrdom of the apostles Peter and Paul in Rome, during the Neronian Persecution, [St Peter by upside down crucifixion as he felt unworthy to die in the same manner as Christ, and St Paul (Brother Saul of Tarsus) by decapitation (beheading)]. June 29th remains a solemnity, which is the highest rank for a liturgical feast day and a holy day of obligation. In keeping with liturgical law, Bishop Martin therefore wore red vestments to commemorate both apostles, who had died as martyrs for their Christian faith.

In speaking about St Peter and St Paul, Bishop Martin reminded his congregation that “despite our failures or limitations, we can still become leaders”.
In this 2025 ‘Jubilee Year of Hope’, around the world (‘Pilgrims of Hope’), he prayed that all would find peace in their hearts, with which to share with others.
He spoke remembering many of his friends, now interned within Littleton cemetery, each resting in God’s peace.

Very uplifting hymns were sung by Ms Helen Sullivan, ably accompanied on organ by Ms Stella Quinn and carried across the village on a very professional sound system operated by Mr Tommy Healy.

Prayers were said for world leaders in the hope of achieving, in particular, lasting peace for the long suffering populations of Israel, Gaza, Iran, Russia and Ukraine.

Following the celebration of Mass, a large gathering at the front of the Church for the unveiling of a plaque to Bishop Martin’s memory.

Bishop Martin declared that he was very humbled by the unveiling and thanked all who planned and put same into place.
Ms Bridget Hayes, on behalf of the Parish Pastoral Team, prayed for the future success and blessing of Bishop Martin’s future mission.
His old class mates Michael Boland, Toddy Welsh and John Hayes were mentioned as friends who had a special influence on him during his early school days.

Special Thanks.

Special thanks are due to Thomas Ryan and Philip Kinane, who organized the seating and to the John Paul Youth Group, who prepared refreshments to readers, sacristans and Ministers of Communion, without whose help the àbove celebration would not have been possible.

Some older ‘Littletonians’ present might have remembered that the current cemetery is where one of the orchards of the former Ballydavid House, then associated with the Power and Russell families, was situated; latter a seasonal target for local youth, to rob a few sweet apples.