Glinsk PTAA celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of their foundation at a special jubilee ceremony in Glinsk recently. Glinsk Centre was founded in 1956 and has been to the forefront of the Pioneer Association since then.
The celebrations were attended by Mr. Muredach Tuffy, Chairman, Board of Management, PTAA, Mary Brady, Central Office Manager, Fr. Barney McGuckian, Central Spiritual Director and Editor of the Pioneer Magazine and James Shevlin, President, PTAA, himself a member of the Glinsk Centre.
The celebrations got underway with a Pioneer Jubilee Mass in St. Michael’s Church, Glinsk. The main celebrant was Fr. Liam Kelly, O.F.M., a native of Glinsk and also a member of the Glinsk Centre, and the concelebrant was Fr. Barney McGuckian.
In his Homily, Fr. McGuckian congratulated the Glinsk Centre on their Diamond Jubilee. He also stressed the importance and relevance of the Pioneer Association in modern times. He highlighted the many instances of the devastation to people and families by the excesses of alcohol. Glinsk Centre Chairman Sean Kelly welcomed all to the celebrations and congratulated all who were to receive various pins and certificates.
James Shevlin paid tribute to the founder members of the centre for their courage and inspiration, and also to the many members who contributed over the 60 years to keep the centre alive and active. He paid a special tribute to long-serving secretary Beatrice Cuddy, who he said has been, and still is, the driving force behind the centre’s achievements and successes. He said that the 18 Gradam Awards received by Glinsk was a reflection of the consistent standards and excellence of the centre.
Muredach Tuffy presented specially designed commemorative medallions to each founder member, and to the families of deceased founder members. Fr. Barney McGuckian presented diamond pins and Mary Brady presented gold and silver pins. Mary Brady, on behalf of Central Office, presented Beatrice Cuddy with a Diamond Jubilee Commemoration Certificate. Glinsk Church Choir sang hymns. Soloist was Annette Griffin accompanied by John Staunton on guitar.
Festivities continued in the Glencastle Lounge with a buffet dinner. In his address to the attendance, Board of Management Chairman Muredach Tuffy congratulated the Glinsk Centre and all their members on their achievement. As he recounted some of the events of 1956, he remarked that it was a significant year for Galway as they won that year’s All-Ireland Football Final. He also said it was remarkably significant and coincidental that a landmark encyclical called Haurietis Aqua on devotion to the Sacred Heart was produced by Pope Pius XII on the same day as the Glinsk Centre was founded.
Beatrice Cuddy and Jimmie O’Toole cut a Diamond Jubilee cake presented by Maria Fitzmaurice. The celebrations continued with music and song provided by Annette Griffin and John Staunton.
