Sun Shines Down on GROW’s First Ever Family Day

It was fitting that beautiful sunshine beamed down as GROW’s first ever Family Day was held in St. Mary’s Church of Ireland in Dungarvan on Sunday,  July 17^th and what a splendid and super-successful day it was.

The entire event took fantastic organisation and meticulous planning by Dungarvan GROW members, with Mildred’s prayers somehow ensuring that sunshine reigned down throughout the entire day.

The Family Day was held amidst the beautiful backdrop of St. Mary’s Church. St Mary’s is somewhat hidden from view as one drives past, apart of course from the steeple.  On entering the church gates, the scene that unfolds is picture-postcard-perfect with views from the grounds of the surrounding areas and the impressive Dungarvan seascape.  A plaque at St. Mary’s entrance notes that the church was designed in 1828 by James Pain. However, it dates much further back. St. Mary’s was in fact rebuilt at that time, incorporating elements spanning back to the 1600s.

For their inaugural Family Day, GROW members embraced the beautiful  and historical surrounds of St. Mary’s. Both inside and out, this beautiful building was festooned with balloons and flowers.

Outdoors, there was a marquee and children’s play area with books, games, bubbles and colouring. In addition, there was a crafts section (enjoyed by adults and children), musicians, a seated dining area, children’s dress up and photo location.

Buses arrived from Limerick and Kilkenny long before before the midday commencement, with visitors enjoyed the breath-taking Dungarvan scenery on the various walking tours that had been arranged as part of the Family Day. Along the way, they met with friends, both longstanding and new.

On entering St. Mary’s, it was impossible to pass the sweet table without sampling something sinful!  Danielle arranged the most impressive display – a sweet selection that would make Willy Wonka proud.

A Ferris Wheel display, sweet jars, chocolates, candy, Cadbury’s, bars, jellies, “penny sweets”, wine gums, marshmallows. In fact, you name it and it was there!  Danielle’s sweet table was designed for the children but it certainly kept all adults pleased.

Danielle explained that having four nephews she knew exactly what children enjoy and her plan was to have sweets inside the church (and at the entrance) so that children would be kept amused while parents and carers could help themselves to lunch and desserts further inside the church.

Danielle is in fact the youngest member of Dungarvan GROW  (Tuesday group) and the oldest member, Teresa, was also present to meet and greet us.  (We do hope we are not leaving the cat out of the bag with regard to ages!)

Danielle has been with GROW for two years and made the comment that she enjoys the sense of community in GROW, “being with people that understand”.  Her efforts and hard work helped make the Family Day a tremendous success.  Danielle, as well as her mom, immediate family and extended family members were on foot all day arranging, fixing, serving, chatting and helping in every way they could.

From the start of the GROW Family Day and throughout, busy helper bees served teas and coffees, freshly baked scones with jam and cream, brown bread, then sandwiches followed by cakes of every type, brack, muffins, biscuits, cheesecakes, meringues and strawberry roulade were just some of the treats.

Special thanks must be extended to Kate, Bernie and Chris who so tirelessly ran and organised the kitchen.  Thanks also to Reverend James, Jenny, Liam, Kate and Winston and to all of St. Mary’s congregation for their help and support, without whom the day would not have taken place.

A little tea room inside the church was laid out with the prettiest fine bone china where people sat, ate, took their rest and chatted throughout the day.  For a couple of hours, lunches were continuously served to the stream of visitors, consisting cooked turkey crown, boned and rolled and cooked hams, an array of salads and sauces, coleslaw and breads.

An impressive selection of foods simply kept appearing from the kitchen area and the queues eventually abated.  People sat and ate within the church, outside in the marquee, on seats in the grounds and in the tea room.

As well as flowers, there was a photographic display thanks to Jimmy Power Photography, Dungarvan. The crafts display included framed crochet which had been created by Mildred, poetry by Richard Purcell while various pieces of art were also on display.

Inside the church area itself, there was an impressive display of floral arrangements which were created by Mary Hen.

GROW’s founder, Con Keogh’s birthday was celebrated with a special cake made with flowers as a fitting acknowledgement, in the words of Gert, for “giving GROW to the world”.

Every person received a raffle ticket free of charge for a lucky dip.  Prizes were distributed and included everything from a rug to pictures of Marilyn Monroe and just about everything in between.  Also, within the church near the atrium, was an ice-cream machine.  Initially Mary Hen served the masses but as she was otherwise busy with people throughout the day, those in attendance simply served themselves.  Then Donald Duck and Goofey paid a visit – we’re not sure where they came from but they surprised the children with their presence.

In the afternoon, people sat in the church pews and were treated to music from Majella, a singer/concert flautist, Richie singer/guitarist, Michael guitarist and Mike Watts on tin whistle. Shane recited poetry and we all sang or at least clapped our hands in time to the familiar tunes.

There was a medley of various tunes from Christ Be Beside Me to Richie’s Ode to Dungarvan’s GROW “Little Lantern”.  A Limerick member, Noreen, read her poem entitled ‘It’s a Curse’ which moved everyone.

Later in the day, Rev. James and Sr. Gertrude addressed the masses in a beautiful manner, delivering a similar message – “community matters”.  Rev. James spoke about the importance of us all being present, chatting and listening and said “there’s nothing so rich in human life as being together”.  This in fact was the theme of the day when the community of Dungarvan, differing religious communities and the GROW Family converged at St Mary’s.

Sr. Gertrude mentioned GROW’s “three gems” which are the GROW Program, Group Method and a Caring/Sharing Community.  Sr. Gertrude also reminded us that deep healing only takes place in the context of community.  We can bring home and read the GROW Program but that will only help us to a certain extent.  Coming together, sharing, caring, talking, encouraging one another while building relationships and fostering connections – that’s where true, deep healing takes place.

Sr. Gertrude attended Mass on the previous Saturday evening in her church and listened to the scriptures about Abraham and how he welcomed into his home passers-by, gave them shelter, water, food, washed their feet and when they left Abraham later that day, the refreshed travellers confirmed they would return and visit the following year at which time his wife Sarah and he (Abraham) would have their long-awaited child.

Sr. Gertrude likened the GROW Family Day at St. Mary’s Church to Abraham’s scripture where visitors were welcomed, invited in, taken care of, given shelter, watered and fed . They had been involved in something special – in a giving, caring, sharing community – which all started as the brainchild of Mary Hen.

Mary Hen, who attends Tuesday’s Dungarvan GROW, had an idea that she would like to get to know the GROW members in other Dungarvan groups.  She thought of arranging a day where everyone could meet to spend time with one another and get to know each other a little better.  From small acorns…Mary Hen’s idea was the seed which she planted within the Dungarvan Tuesday Group.  The group (Teresa, Michael, Richie, Jimmy, Vivienne, Mildrid, Danielle, Gertrude, Mary Hen) helped nurture that seed.  With the help and support of Danielle, the Dungarvan GROW Family Day took off and continued to grow and grow until fruition on July 17^th, 2016.

Mary Hen began planning two months prior and the planning certainly paid off – it was a spectacular day. We could not accurately gauge how many visitors but we guess it is in the hundreds.  There were 80 sets of disposable cutlery laid out and they were used less than one hour into the day.  It is gauged that circa 300 people called into the church on the day to have a cup of tea or coffee or simply to take a look at what was going on in St Mary’s and find out a little more about GROW.

Mary Hen and Danielle both spoke of the hours they spent on the phone to each other, planning, talking, arranging and discussing.  Mary Hen and Area Coordinator, Caroline Crotty, sat close to the front of the church chatting through the idea for the day and all the various plans and work that had gone into making it such a success.

While Mary Hen and Caroline were talking, Mary happened to turn around and see all the crowds behind her and exclaimed “look at all the people – this is what I wanted.”   And that was success – the church was full of people chatting, talking, laughing, eating, sipping hot or cold drinks and enjoying themselves.

The day took place because of the generosity of the people and businesses of Dungarvan and West Waterford.  Mary Hen said she never once asked for money or donations, she simply asked for help.  “We are having a GROW family day – can you please help in whatever way you can?” and people and businesses were happy to give what they could, whether it was a colouring book or strawberries. People gave and were remarkably generous.

Caroline hears that there are plans afoot for a repeat day in other regions – Dungarvan is a tough act to follow.

Thank you so much to Caroline Crotty, Area Coordinator, for submitting this fantastic and fitting account of a truly special day.

GROW would also like to thank the following list of sponsors and individuals without whom the Dungarvan Family Day would not have taken place (we apologise if your anyone’s name has been overlooked):

Mary Hen & Danielle

Albert McGrath

Baldwin’s Icecream

Bernie Power

Blasta Wholefoods

Bridget Ballot Flowers

Butcher’s Block

Carrig Donn

Christine Mulcahy

Ciaran O’Flynn

Country Store

Crew’s Restaurant

Curran’s Homestore

Dalton Jewellers

Dan McCarthy Interiors

David Walsh

Day Care Centre

Dungarvan Library

Dungarvan Shopping Centre

Dunnes Stores

Eden Café

Eunice Power

Euro Giant

Flahavan’s Kilmacthomas

Florries Centra

Friends of St Mary’s Church of Ireland

Garvey’s Supervalu

Glanbia Cappoquin

Glen Fruits

Grow Dungarvan Members – Monday

Grow Dungarvan Members – Tuesday

Harrington’s Bakery Dungarvan

Haven Pharmacy

Hennessy Family

Interlude Café

Irwin’s

Jane Casey Florists

Jitter Beans

John David Power

John Young

Karen Whelan Magical Parties

Kate and Liam Douglas

Keegan Family

Kelleher Family

Kenneth Reddy (Party Shop)

Knockanore Farmhouse Cheese

L&K Furniture

Lawlor’s Hotel

Lee Family

Liam Rossiter

Lloyd’s Pharmacy

Lynch’s Fruit and Veg

Maurice Butler Ice-Cream

McCarthy Insurance

McDonald’s

Melleray Eggs

Minogue Furniture

Murphy’s Restaurant

O’Brien’s Sandwich Café

Ormond Café

Our Musicians & Poets

Parish Office

Park Hotel

Pat Maloney

Paul Flynn Hardware

Paul Moroney

Perk’s Funfair

Pike Service Station

Rev James & Family

Sam McCauley’s

Seasons

Shamrock Restaurant

Shaws

Spar (Abbeyside)

St Gertrude Howley

St Mary’s Church of Ireland

Tiffanys

Tom Daly

Toymaster

Village Florists

Willow & Oak