Fundraising gathering for Almorita Church
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Busy supplying tea, coffee and confectionaries at the Almorita Church fundraiser in Milltown Community Centre were, from left, Claire Donoghue, Barbara Plesch and Carmel Somers.Image 2 of 8
The Rev Ian Horner, Rector of the Mullingar Union of Parishes, pictured with some of the volunteers at the Almorita fundraiser morning in Milltown, from left, Barbara Doran, Catherine Gibson-Brabazon, Darielle Sweeney, Audrey Gunning, Graham Duggan, Catriona Tansley, Darina Warner, Alice Bannon and Anna O’Malley, and in front, Munashe and Tafadzwa Manzira.Image 3 of 8
From left, David Gibson-Brabazon, Deputy Robert Troy, Minster for State at the Department of Finance, and his daughter Maria Ginnell-Troy, Mai Finnegan, Angela Cahalin, Jason Small and Stephen Cahalin.Image 4 of 8
From left, John Casey, Maeve O’Neill and John Young pictured at the Almorita Church fundraiser in MilltownImage 5 of 8
Annette Nally, on left, and Darina Warner at the book stall at the Almorita Church fundraiser in Milltown last Saturday.Image 6 of 8
On duty on the cake stall at Saturday’s fundraiser in Milltown were, from left, Anna O’Malley from Castletown-Geoghegan and Jenny Horner, wife of the newly installed Rector of Mullingar Union of Parishes, Revd. Ian Horner.Image 7 of 8
Pictured at the fundraiser morning in Milltown Community Centre were, from left, John Gunning, Martin Scally, Catherine Gibson-Brabazon and Geraldine Gunning.Image 8 of 8
Revd Ian Horner, Rector of the Mullingar Union of Parishes, pictured with Vinny Glynn and Margaret Igoe at the Almorita fundraiser in Milltown Community Centre.Live entertainment and refreshments, along with a large assortment of plants, flowers, bakes, preserves, bric-a-brac, books, CDs and vinyls, and lots more, were on offer at Milltown Community Centre last Saturday, July 5.
A large crowd attended the fundraiser morning in aid of the restoration of the stained-glass windows in nearby Almorita Church, and there were plenty of pictures on show, displaying the work that has been done.
The newly installed rector of the Mullingar Union of Parishes, Rev Ian Horner, his wife Jenny and their sons Sam and Leo attended and gave a helping hand, as well as mingling with those gathered.
Catherine Gibson-Brabazon, one of the organisers of the event, thanked “all the friends, neighbours and parishioners who made this a super morning”.
“We all support each other and pull together, and we are lucky to have this superb venue,” Ms Gibson-Brabazon added.
Catherine thanked the Milltown Community Singers who provided the live entertainment saying, “they made the event”. The singers were led by Moyra Frazer on the keyboard, and they performed a medley of popular songs, to the delight of the many for sat around, listening and enjoying a cup of tea, cake and a catch-up.
The winners of the raffle held on the day were: William Gibson-Brabazon, Jason Small, Mary Lynn, Lakenstown, John Casey, Fran Caplin, Betty Walsh, and Darielle Sweeney. Prizes included hampers, bales of straw, bales of logs, and a giant hydrangea.
Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner at the event, Jason Small explained that the church windows had to be releaded and restored. Peter McCrystal from Maynooth, a stained-glass specialist, and Dermot Smith from Kilbeggan, carried out the work, which was completed within three months, Jason remarked.
St Nicholas’ Church – Almorita celebrated the bicentenary of its rebuild in 2017, but it is believed to have been a place of worship since the Norman Conquest in the 1100s. The church was rebuilt in 1815/’16 with the help of a grant of €600 from the board of First Fruits.
It was again renovated and new pews were provided in 1887, mainly by funds raised by Catherine Devenish Meares of Mearescourt. This church contains an interesting collection of grave markers and memorials commemorating the Meares family of Mearescourt, the earliest of which is to Ludovic Meares (1704).
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