Maeve Binchy chooses top parish publication for emigrants. “Where we come from is precious” – Maeve Binchy

09 Jun 2005

PRESS RELEASE

9 JUNE 2005

MAEVE BINCHY CHOOSES TOP PARISH PUBLICATION FOR EMIGRANTS

“Where we come from is precious” – Maeve Binchy

Author Ms Maeve Binchy today awarded first prize to Ballingarry Parish in
Co Tipperary for its publication Ballingarry Parish Journal 2004 in a
competition organised by the Bishops’ Commission for Emigrants.  The
aim of the competition is to keep Irish emigrants informed about parish
activities and local news at home.

The entries, which took the publication form of newsletters, magazines
and book format, were submitted from parish groups around Ireland. On
choosing a winner Ms Binchy said: “Some have a lot of pictures some have
a lot of home news.  Some are about the present day, some are about olden
times.  But they all stress that where we come from is precious.
I congratulate the Irish Episcopal Commission for Emigrants for its
work in arranging this and thank the Commission for giving me the
pleasure of reading the publications.”

Fr Alan Hilliard, Director of the Irish Bishop’s Commission for Emigrants,
said: “On behalf of the Commission I wish to thank Maeve for giving her
time and expertise so selflessly to our initiative.  Due to the standard
of entry, Maeve had an extremely difficult job in choosing an overall
winner.  But she did and we thank her for her professional judgement and
personal support.  All entries were very well produced, thoughtful and
interesting in terms of content.”

Fr Hilliard concluded: “The primary purpose of the Bishops’ Commission for
Emigrants is to serve the pastoral needs of the Irish abroad.  However,
we are at our best when we receive home support and so I would encourage
any group involved in communicating home news to the Irish abroad to submit
its publication to the IECE as part of next year’s competition. New
publications are particularly welcome.”

ENDS

Further information:

Martin Long Director of Communications (086 172 7678)
Brenda Drumm Communications Officer (087 233 7797)

Notes for Editors
* The Irish Bishops’ Conference established a dedicated service in 1957 –
the Irish Episcopal Commission for Emigrants (IECE) – to help co-ordinate
support for Irish emigrants in the UK.  Since that time this outreach has
been extended to Europe, the USA and Australia.

* Results of the IECE Annual Parish Newsletter/Magazine for Emigrants
Competition 2005 are:
1st prize: Ballingarry Parish Journal 2004 (Co Tipperary);
2nd prize: Fedamore News (Co Limerick);
3rd prize: Loughill & Ballyhahill Emigrant Newsletter (Co Limerick).

* In 1995 Fr Paul Byrne OMI, the previous Director of the Irish Bishop’s
Commission for Emigrants, initiated this competition for publications
produced in Ireland but whose purpose is to inform our emigrant communities
abroad.

* You can support the Irish bishops’ “2005 Supporting Irish Abroad Campaign”
by contacting us on [email protected]