The Irish Friars took out a stand the National Ploughing Championships taking place at Ratheniska near Portlaoise, 22-24 September. Amost 280,000 people attended the event last year. This year there were over 1,500 stands on display, covering all aspects of Irish life.
For the first time there was a Franciscan Stand ‘manned’ by friars and FMM sisters. It proved to be popular with people dropping by for a chat, a blessing, to receive some literature, or to write a prayer petition that was later passed on to the Poor Clares in Galway who are ‘great intercessors’!
The Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Brown and local bishop Denis Nultey paid a visit. They were happy to see the Franciscans in the ‘market place’, as Pope Francis wants, out among the people.
