An Craoslach: Brón an tSaoil (Overwhelming Sorrow)

Tá an seandream ar shiúl agus tá na sean-nósanna ar shiúl fosta. Chuaigh daoine óga go dtí na bailte móra nó thar sáile ag lorg oibre, shocraigh siad síos agus tá stíl bheatha nua acu. Deirtear fosta nach bhfuil an reiligiún anseo mar a bhí sé.

Tá freastal ar sheirbhísí eaglasta níos lú agus d’éirigh cúrsaí níos measa mar gheall ar Chovid.

Tá sin uilig fíor, ach níl sé fíor céad faoi gcéad. Léiríodh sin go soiléir ar an Chraoslach Dé hAoine seo caite nuair a rinne pléasc smionagar den gharáiste.

Tháinig an sráidbhaile uilig le chéile le cuidiú agus le tacú le daoine. Cuireadh tae agus ceapairí ar fáil do na serbhísí éigeandála. Rinne siadsan jab iontach, ag obair ar feadh na hoíche. D’oscail muintir na háite a ndoirse dóibh. D’ofráil óstán áitiúil lóistín.

Bhí muintir an Chraoslaigh croíbhriste: bhí aithne ag achan duine ar níos mó ná duine amháin san áit. Fuair siad tacaíocht óna lán eagraíochtaí- na scoileanna agus na heaglaisí ina measc.

Tháinig teachtaireacht ón Phápa féin. I measc na sagart a tháinig bhí an tEaspag caitliceach áitiúil agus Ardeaspag Ard Mhacha. Léirigh an pobal níos léithne comhbhá in am an ghátair. Thug na bigilí an-mhisneach dóibh siúd a d’fhulaing.

Bhí Caitlicí, Protastúnaí agus grúpaí soiscéalacha ag guí le chéile, ag léiriú go raibh siad ag seasamh gualainn ar ghualainn le muintir an tsráidbhaile.

Fuair an pobal tacaíocht chan amháin ó dhaoine ar fud na hÉireann, ach ó dhaoine thar lear chomh maith. Bhailigh fear as an Chraoslach atá ina chónaí san Astráil airgead do na híobartaigh.

Is mór a d’athraigh tír na hÉireann gan amhras, ach tá spiorad an phobail beo go fóill agus tugann a gcreideamh misneach agus sólas do dhaoine.

It is often said community spirit does not exist in Ireland anymore. The old people are gone, the old customs also.

Young people have left for the big towns or gone abroad for work, settled down to a new lifestyle. It is also said religion is not what it was. Attendance at church is lower and things got worse because of Covid.

That is all true, but not 100% true. This was shown clearly in Creeslough when an explosion wrecked the garage. The whole village came together to help and support people.

Tea and sandwiches were provided for the emergency services. They did a great job, working throughout the night. The local people opened their doors. A local hotel offered accommodation.

The people of Creeslough were heartbroken: everyone knew more than one person in the place. They got support from many organisations– including schools and churches.

A message came from the Pope. Among the priests who came were the bishop and the archbishop. The wider community showed their sympathy at that dreadful time.

The vigils gave encouragement to those who had suffered. Catholics, Protestants and evangelical groups prayed together, showing that they were standing shoulder to shoulder with the people of the village.

The community got support not only from people throughout Ireland, but from people abroad as well. A Creeslough man living in Australia gathered money for the victims.

Ireland has changed without a doubt, but the community spirit is still alive, and people derive courage and consolation from their faith.