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FAREWELL
TO THE YEAR 2000
The Year 2000 began with ‘hype’ that fell flat on its face
and the fear of a ‘Bug’ that turned out to be the flu bug.
It will be another 1000 years if our poor world lasts that
long before such ‘hype’ again. It was a year they say the
Celtic Tiger thrived but few benefited, more like the
Celtic Snail.
A
year that continued to see loss of life on our roads, at sea, in the air and
from floods and natural disasters. Pope John Paul visited the Holy Land and
we visited him in Rome. House prices continued to rise and the value of the
Punt continued to fall. There were more 00 registered cars in Dublin than
the number plates could hold. Industrial disputes continued with the Taxi
men almost closing Dublin Airport, the Railway men closed IFI and the
Teachers closed the schools. The Health Services worsened with waiting lists
getting longer and the hospitals left without nurses. The Woodworm continued
to come out with the Tribunals and plenty more to come. They say the higher
you climb, the harder you fall.
During
the year we all got a year older, Coronation Street celebrated its 40th and
young and old became obsessed with ‘Who wants to be a Millionaire’.
France won the Euro 2000 and Kerry won the All Ireland. There was snow in
Skerries in August and the floods destroyed many homes in our own community.
The year ended with Snow last week which claimed the life of an old lady in
Donegal, a teenager in Swords and two young cousins were drowned in a lake
in Monaghan. A sad ending to a Millennium Year. A further trip down memory
lane of Y2K reminds us of the following:
JANUARY
32
people were killed in Norway Train crash. 7 Scottish fishermen drowned in
the Irish Sea and 88 killed in Alaskan airline crash. Our Pantomime ‘Jack
and the Beanstalk’ packed the house.
FEBRUARY
An
Afghan aeroplane was hijacked at Stansted. The Northern Ireland Assembly
failed and direct rule was imposed after only 72 days. Four Irish Soldiers
were killed in a road accident in the Lebanon on Valentine’s Day. Three
women were killed in an accident in Co. Laois and four people in Waterford.
MARCH
Floods
in Africa and Mozambique killed 500 and left 650,000 homeless. 80 Miners
were killed in a mine collapse in Ukraine. Three young Irish women were
killed in an accident in Bolivia, South America. 500 members of a doomsday
cult committed mass suicide in Uganda. Pope John Paul made historic visit to
the Holy Land. There was a three day bus and rail strike.
APRIL
Easter came late with a live lamb and Easter Eggs for all.
MAY
Two
of the Children of Fatima were beatified. More than 20 killed in a
Netherlands Fireworks Factory fire and five in a similar fire in Spain. Tow
young Gardai killed in a car crash in Finglas. The ‘darling buds of May’
received their First Holy Communion and the older buds their Confirmation.
JUNE
Children
held hostage in Luxembourg Kindergarten. Exam time for many. Irish Tenor
Frank Patterson died. Rioting at Euro 2000 football game in Belgium. 58
Chinese people found dead in container at Dover. 220 die in Plane and Ferry
disasters in Chine. 15 backpackers including one Irish died in hostel fire
in Australia. 8 people killed in crush at Rock Concert in Denmark.
JULY
France
won the Euro 2000. 20 Spanish Students killed in Bus Crash. Four women found
dead in house in Leixlip. IFI closed because of Rail strike. 59 die in
Indian Air Crash. Youth Fun enjoyed sunshine all the way. 113 died in
Concorde Crash in Paris en route to New York. Three Irish women died in car
crash in Australia.
AUGUST
97
killed in India flash floods. 11 killed in Moscow bomb. Bombs in Spain.
Millions homeless in India floods. Forest fires in US from Canada to Mexico.
118 Russian Sailors killed in submarine. WE travelled on our Pilgrimage to
Lourdes. 143 killed in Gulfair Crash in Bahrain. Murders in the North. 10
week train drivers dispute ended. Snow in Skerries despite the good weather.
Four members of English family died in car crash in Cork.
SEPTEMBER
Three
members of one family died in fire in Roscommon. Truckers blockaded because
of fuel prices. Over 70 died in ferry disaster off Greece. Family of four
killed in tragic circumstances in Kilkenny.
OCTOBER
Eight
fishermen died off Kerry coast on French trawler and 12 on Spanish trawler
off Connemara. Israelis and Palestinians clash over coming months with over
250 killed. People of Yugoslavia took to the streets to overcome Melosovich
in Belgrade. Kerry won the All Ireland replay against Galway. Train Crash in
London killed 4 and injured 25. 81 killed in Taiwan air crash with Irish
woman among the survivors.
NOVEMBER
Floods
in England which soon hit here. We travelled on our Jubilee Year Pilgrimage
to Rome and Assisi. Four fishermen lost off the Cork coast. Teachers, Taxi
men and Railway men on strike.
DECEMBER
Bill
Clinton visited while the Americans tried to sort out the next President.
The Winds came again on Christmas Eve. Santa came and went. Over 300 died in
fire in China and the snow and ice brought tragedy.
The year is past; what did we give?
What did you gain, and what regret?
Was it a year you’d like to live
Right through again, or just forget?
Were there mistakes? Did you cause pain?
Withhold your love from someone dear?
Did all your efforts seem in vain
And every hope turn into fear?
Remember you can start anew,
Resolve to live a better way,
Forget past errors, sadness, too.
Tomorrow is another day!
A THOUGHT FOR THE NEW YEAR
I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year,
“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown”
And
he replied,
“Go
out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be
to you better than light and safer than a known way”.
THE BLESSING OF AARON
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.
May he look upon you with kindness and give you his peace.
(Numbers 6:24-26)
HAPPY
BIRTHDAY
To Darragh De Courcy who was 11 years old on 1st January
Love from Dad, Mam, Claire, Eimear & Sooty.
DID
YOU NOTICE?
That
the first day of the New Year was dated in abbreviated form as 01/01/01. How
long will it be until we have a repeat?
SYMPATHY
Our
Prayers and Sympathy are extended to the family of the late Doney Dempsey,
St. Patrick’s Terrace who died before Christmas
and
to the family of the late John Kavanagh,
Johnstown North who died during the week.
May
they Rest in Peace.
IN
REMEMBRANCE
Our
Masses next weekend 13th/14th January will be offered in
remembrance of:
Saturday
7p.m. - Breda Clancy Anniv.
Sunday
9a.m. - Edward and Dora Kelly Anniv.
Sunday
11.30a.m. - Mary Waldron Anniv.
CHURCH
CLEANERS
Church
Cleaners this week are Group G.
ANTHONY
KEARNS
In
Concert at the Arklow Bay Hotel
On
Sunday 28th January at 8p.m.
In
aid of Arklow Maritime Museum
Tickets
£13 available at the Hotel, from Committee Members or 32249/31513
MUSIC
CLASSES
The
Irish Music Classes will resume after the Christmas break on Saturday
13th January at 11a.m. in the school hall. New members always
welcome.
Contact
0402-39242.
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