December 2023 Newsletter – Support Through the Season

Friday 15th December 7.30 – 9:30 PM (online): Annual Grow Christmas Talent Show
All Growers are welcome to participate including staff and board members. Feel free to sing a song, recite a poem, tell a joke, or even show a short photo slideshow.
Contact: Alan Keaveney, 086-417 7726, alankeaveney@grow.ie to book your place!
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84636228847, Meeting ID: 846 3622 8847

Friday 22nd December 2:00 PM (online): Grow Mental Health Online Open Group 
Contact: Felicia Black 086 1034332 feliciablack@grow.ie
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85262353367, Meeting ID: 852 6235 3367 

Wednesday 27th December 11:00 AM (online): Regroup and Recharge 
Contact: Felicia Black, 086 1034332, feliciablack@grow.ie
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81047353988

Wednesday 27th December 2:00 PM (in Person): Limerick Open Grow Group
Location: Limerick Office 33 Henry St Limerick 
Contact: Michael Crowe on 086 6063182. michaelcrowe@grow.ie

Thursday 28th December 11:00 AM (online): Christmas Coffee Connect Christmas 
Contact: Felicia Black, 086 1034332, feliciablack@grow.ie
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89408269404, Meeting ID: 894 0826 9404

Friday the 29th December 10:30 AM (in person): Kilkenny Group – Open to all
All are welcome and we hope you can make it along to catch up and perhaps meet members from other area groups. Followed by tea and CHRISTMAS TREATS AND CHATS at 12.30 PM
Location: Grow Office, Bridgewater House, 4 Dean St, Kilkenny R95 W022
Contact: Liz Shortall  086 0849171, lizshortall@grow.ie

Friday 29th December 2:00 PM (online): Grow Mental Health Open Group 
Contact: Felicia Black, 086 1034332 feliciablack@grow.ie
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85262353367 
Meeting ID: 852 6235 3367 Felicia Black 086 1034332 feliciablack@grow.ie

Monday 15th January 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (online): Caring Sharing Meet Up
This is a casual information-sharing Meet-Up. We plan to share ideas that worked well around: 12 Step Events and Fundraising. Let's share what worked in our region with others.
Contact: Mary Walsh, marywalsh@grow.ie, 087 2843424
Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86707883695?pwd=1wHqif2su0k2ubS0EVscmv3lo9YGHO.1
Meeting ID: 867 0788 3695, Passcode: 387976

The pubs are livelier, the shops packed, carparks become a test of our patience and fortitude as we navigate our way to find a spot, all the while trying our best to keep the “effing and blinding” to a minimum. Families reunite with scenes from the airport that imbue so many with feelings of warmth and happiness.

The food, the excess, the turkey, the ham, the gravy, the sprouts, the wrapping paper, the gifts, the joy of giving, and the joy of getting. The boxes of sweets and the USA Assorted Biscuits, and about the only time of year when we, for the most part, pretend that we really enjoy mulled wine.

The Christmas movies; Home Alone, A Miracle on 34th Street, Die Hard (Yes, it is a Christmas movie) and so many other favorites from over the years. Then there are the kids, the Santa visits, and the excitement of leaving out the carrot for Rudolph and the team. Christmas is many things to many people and it is hard not to get caught up in it all.

We do get the reminders, of course, that it won’t be easy for everybody. And, no, this isn’t going to turn into something negative but we did mention giving and getting earlier in this piece. It doesn’t always have to be something tangible. Most of us don’t really “need” anything. It’s still nice to get something but one of the best gifts we have to give is our time. Whether it’s a quick chat with the neighbours, checking in with somebody who may isolated or lonely, or even a 5-minute phone call.

As the song goes, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year” and it might be one of happiness. Remember though, happiness can be like a snowball, the more it gathers, the bigger it can become. So maybe, consider sharing a little of your excess happiness with those who might need it.

We come from a tradition of lighting the candle on Christmas Eve and placing it in our window to indicate that there is space there for somebody in need. It signifies hope and guidance, gives a welcome, and conveys hospitality and openness to the community, be they a friend or a stranger. It serves as a beacon to a warm and inviting space. Maybe in all the seasonal kerfuffle, we might remember to put a candle in the window this year.

Nollaig Shona duitse, John.

We are looking for artists, singers, poets, and anyone who would like to share their talent or art for the Annual Grow Mental Health Talent Show. Each year around Christmastime we come together online to showcase some amazing Grow talent. For a couple of hours on December 15th we will be merry, amazed, and connected. If you would like to sing a song, recite a poem, tell a joke, or even show a short photo slide show, contact Alan at 086-417 7726 or alankeaveney@grow.ie to book your place!

THANK YOU, SHANE MACGOWAN
By Mike Watts, Grow Member, Southeastern Region

As the news of Shane MacGowan's death and funeral flood the headlines, I am called back to the time when Shane and his family so generously helped us spread Grow's message of hope and recovery.

In 1998 my wife Fran and I appeared on Gerry Ryan’s popular morning radio show and told our story of recovery through Grow. Some time later a journalist named Siobhan made contact asking if she could attend the Grow Mental Health National Weekend to see what we were all about. Siobhan then requested an interview with me as the Grow National Program Coordinator at the time. We met in Dublin in the Capel St. office and she asked a lot of questions.

Sometime later I received an invitation to the home of Therese and Maurice MacGowan, parents to Siobhan and her brother Shane. It was a warm and friendly house in Silversprings, near Nenagh in County Tipperary. Therese and Maurice were most welcoming and that day a plan was set in motion to raise much-needed funds for Grow and also to raise our profile.

Over the next twelve months, we held several meetings in various hotel foyers. Maurice enlisted the help of a man called Dave Mullins also known as The Writer and he used his innumerable contacts to recruit the Pogues, Ronnie Drew, the Dubliners, and Siobhan and her own band who would all join Shane. This amazing concert was to take place at the Point Depot on the 13th of December 1998. It would be called Shane MacGowan’s Christmas Party in Ireland: The Irish Rover’s Return. Even more amazing was the willing inclusion of Johnny Mac, a Grow member and professional musician.

The concert raised over £17,000 for Grow and marked the beginning of a huge expansion plan.  The show ended with Shane and his mother Therese singing Fairy Tale of New York and all the musicians joining in. It was a night that will be etched in the collective Grow memory for decades to come. 

Grow Mental Health extends enormous gratitude to Shane and his family and great sympathy to his family and friends. 

NEW DAY FOR THE MONTHLY CARING & SHARING COFFEE MORNING

Starting in 2024, we are moving our monthly online Caring & Sharing Coffee Morning to the last Monday of each month.
 
The monthly Zoom coffee mornings hosted by Grow Volunteer and Member Support Officer Mary Walsh are a good chance to keep in touch with what is happening in the broader Grow program as a member. The meet-ups are very casual (not a meeting) and laid-back, sometimes with an informal agenda.

Chat and catch up with friends and the wider Grow community. See what’s going on. It's like a podcast that isn’t recorded or a live Grow newsletter.

Just grab a cuppa & log in.

What people are saying about the Caring & Sharing Coffee Morning:
I find Grows Coffee Morning helpful as Grow members from across the country can share ideas and discuss problems about their individual groups.
Pat

Caring & Sharing Coffee Mornings are limited to one hour and open to anyone in the Grow community. Join us!
 
Zoom Link
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86707883695?pwd=1wHqif2su0k2ubS0EVscmv3lo9YGHO.1
Meeting ID: 867 0788 3695
Passcode: 387976