Well the biggest news in the Doohan household in May was Ríonnach's First Holy Communion Day which was 10 May in Gortahork. She had a great day and was so excited. She was very involved in the ceremony, being the only pupil from her school making their Communion this year. She was part of the Procession at the beginning of Mass and had to carry a lit candle representing all the childrens Communion Candles, and place it on the altar. Then she sang the Psalm - Mo Ghrá Thú a Thiarna - and sang it very well, although she told us later that her knees were shaking! She also took part in the Offertory Procession. Vincey con-celebrated the Mass along with Fr Sean and a priest from Glasgow, whose niece was also making her Communion (Róisín Duggan - I can't remember the priest's name right now), and Fr Sean let Vincey give Ríonnach her First Communion, and also Katie and Emily. 25 children from 5 schools made their Communions with Ríonnach, or should I say including Ríonnach. She knew most of them before hand as many of them were at the Naíonra with her in Gortahork in 2004, and three of them were her cousins, Emily, Katie and AineS. Shane lived next door to mum for a few years so she used to play at home as well as at the Naíonra. She met Joanne at the St Patricks Day parade!! and Hannah has been her companion at An Cosan Glas for the past few summers. After Mass we went to An Sean Scoil for tea and cakes and minerals and sweets for the children. There was a gorgeous Communion Cake there and Ríonnach, Emily, Katie, Eilish, AineG, RóisínD and Fr Sean cut it. I must look for a few photos :) Later on our family (23 of us - well she is the first grandchild on both sides :) ) had lunch in Ostan Loch Altan. Ríonnach's treat for the day was to go to Arena 7 where we were joined by Maryanne, Gráinne, Conor, Patrick and Caroline. We were there until 8pm and exhausted but then we went to the cinema to see Nim's Island - I couldn't believe that all three children, Ríonnach, Caoilte and Cobhlaith stayed awake until the end!! Eddie and I were nearly asleep, but the film was very enjoyable. So all in all a great day. Ríonnach wore her dress again to Mass on Sunday morning and Fr Sean had all the First Communion children who were there up on the altar for the Our Father and kept them there until after Communion which was nice for them, he really made them feel special on both days. Well after that essay I better post a few photos, I'm afraid the quality isn't great but here goes -
Cobhlaith was fed up after just one photograph!!
Fr. Sean, Ríonnach, Anna Boyle (R's teacher), Vincey
