Visit of President Mary McAleese to Saint Mary’s Church - September 2009

The entire parish community together with Most Rev. Michael Smith, Bishop of Meath and the Priests of the Parish, were honoured to welcome Mary McAleese, Uachtaran na hEireann, and Dr. Martin McAleese, to Saint Mary’s Church on the occasion of the 170th anniversary of Saint Mary’s. The President met with the Parish Pastoral Council, who had extended the invitation to visit the parish and planted a tree in the garden of the Parochial House to mark the occasion. The President read the first reading at the Mass which was celebrated by Bishop Smith and the Priests of the Parish, with Saint Mary’s Choir providing the sacred music for the occasion under the direction of Jane Lynch and parish organist,Anna Mary Foley.

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At the end of Mass, President McAleese was presented with a souvenir DVD and booklet outlining the history of Saint Mary’s Church from its roots in the 12th century to the present day by Dr. Peter Tiernan, Chairperson of the Parish Pastoral Council.. The purpose of this production was to draw attention to the ongoing cycle of developments in Saint Mary’s and, in so doing ,to reach out to past, present and future parishioners. The history booklet was edited by Ethna Cantwell and Ray Mooney and the DVD produced by Kevin MacNamidhe, Maire O’Donoghue and Stephen Maher from P5TV. The project was funded by The Knights of St. Columbanus, St. Mary’s Credit Union and parishioners from St Mary’s parish.

President McAleese also received a specially commissioned painting by local artist Patsy Reel from Parish Sister, Sr. Peter Daly, RSM who was celebrating her 87th birthday and 68 years of continuous unbroken service as a Mercy Sister in the Parish of Navan. Finally the President received a bouquet of fresh flowers from Cliodhna, Derbhla, Niamh and Louise Moore on behalf of the children of the Parish. Later the President and Dr. McAleese mingled with parishioners in the Community Centre, before returning to Dublin to attend The All Ireland Hurling Final at Croke Park.