Siyabuswa Celtic

Fergal and Fr. P.J. with schoolpupils

Towards the end of last summer three old school friends got together for a holiday with a difference.
Father P.J Cassidy had lived and worked in South Africa for many years. As friends do, we had promised to go out and visit but never got around to it. So with P.J. now based in Dublin he was able to arrange this trip of a lifetime for us, Fergal McAllister and myself, Kevin Sinclair.
As the time to go drew closer, we came up with the idea of taking out a bit of aid. P.J. had helped set up a football team in his parish and their gear was fast running out. So with Gareth Britton of All Sports donating loads of kit, boots, shorts, balls etc. things started to fall into place.
Dom’s Pier One and Four Masters donated a couple of sets of jerseys. Local businesses dug deep and gave money and, with collection jars around the local pubs, we collected a right few euro. Many thanks to all who contributed and I can assure you that your money went to great use.
What I saw out there really brought home the sacrifice and commitment to life of P.J. and his small group of priests - and the good that they do is something else. P.J. belongs to a group called the White Fathers who are in constant danger but continue their work nevertheless.
We saw firsthand what P.J. set up in the parish of Siyabuswa - schools, churches, playgrounds, places to grow their own crops, teaching computers, raising rabbits to sell both as meat and pets, plus loads more. Anything good in this whole area came from one man and his back-up of missionaries.
While I know P.J. wouldn’t want it told like this, he really has made a difference to so many people. But, as he says himself, the people of Donegal have contributed so much to this - and it was nice to see Donegal on the plaque of one of the many schools that he and the White Fathers set up.
Ten per cent of the little kids in the pre-school we visited are HIV positive. Very sad! But it was hope for the future, provided by the White Fathers, that really impressed me. We also saw one of the many houses that P.J. had built to be run as orphanages for kids orphaned through AIDs.
The friendliness of the people was fabulous and we met some really extraordinary personalities. Kia is a big Rasta man and he runs the Siyabuswa Celtic football team. I’m involved in coaching kids here at home but I never saw anything like the joy on these young faces when we handed over the football boots and kits. They played a friendly game in our honour with a big crowd coming out to watch. We even togged out ourselves and, with the scores tied in the second half, a penalty was awarded. Though more comfortable with a hurley in his hand up stepped McAllister to ram home a great penalty to win the game.
We had a big barbeque that night with P.J. inviting all his friends, some Zulu dances and music which were terrific - and P.J.’s white and black friends mixing freely. A first for some of them.
The reason for telling our little story is that the constant need for aid doesn’t go away. The great work done by P.J. in Siyabuswa always needs your generosity to keep going. The schools are getting on their feet and trying to be self-sufficient but could always use help. The manager of the football team always needs gear and as he helps run the whole league, anything extra doesn’t go to waste. The White Fathers in Dublin are the lads to place money where it really does make a difference - so if anybody wants to contribute, please contact P.J., Fergal or myself. Thanks again to all who helped out. K.S.

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Bluestack Ramblers day out to Lough Belshade - twenty-seven ramblers decided

not to lie in bed on St. Stephen’s Day and took to the hills.

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Christmas Lunch and Fashion Show at Donegal Golf Club

The new Donegal Golf Club, Lady Captain Dorothy Woods modelling some suitable rainy day at the Christmas Dinner ladies lunch in the Golf Club.