Last night Ciaran Guinan - he who once drove the train on the sadly
no longer operating Blackwater Bog Train trips - was telling us after
Mass that the Cluny Sisters had 12 schools in Haiti at the time of the
recent earthquake. Nine of the schools were destroyed, according to
Sister Maeve, who is the Superior of the Cluny Sisters.
And Sister Maeve is a Connor from Clonfinlough, a sister of Ciaran and
Peter etc.
On Saturday 23rd January Dennis O Brien contacted the Cluny Sisters
and offered a lift to Haiti to Sister John and a companion in his
private jet plane,flying out Sunday and returning Monday.
They were also offered room for luggage they wanted to bring along.
Being Saturday the nuns contacted parents of pupils attending their
school in Mount Sackville who were doctors or chemists. The response
was marvellous and they were able to take along an assload of medicine and
medical supplies with them on the trip.
Dennis O Brien operates a mobile phone company and they have services
and buildings in Haiti. These were not harmed in the earthquake as
they were built earthquake proof.Dennis allowed the sisters to sleep
in one of the buildings during their stay.
A bit of local connection with the disaster and if you want to help
see the previous note below.