New book on Fr McDyer launched
Margaret Cunningham, Liam McGinley and Fr Eddie Gallagher pictured at the launch.
Liam McGinley’s new book ‘The Quotations, Sayings and Words of Wisdom of Fr James McDyer’ was launched at the Folk Village in Glencolmcille last Sunday afternoon.
Fr Eddie Gallager introduced the book and talked about his own memories and time spent with Fr McDyer. He spoke about Fr McDyer’s achievements in Glencolmcille. He also recalled that Fr McDyer got an honours degree in English from Maynooth and said it was fitting that this fine book of his most memorable sayings was now in print to preserve them for posterity.
When Fr McDyer came to Glen in 1951, he found the economy depressed but, also to some extent, the people were depressed as well. He set about creating the conditions that would change the situation and substitute a sense of optimism for that of depression.
His main accomplishments were to promote self-help and instill a strong sense of mutual help in the community by helping to set up small industries and obtaining better infrastructure for the area.
His many talents enabled him to be to be a great community leader and Fr Eddie said that he wished he himself had some of Fr McDyer’s talent.
One has to remember that at that time great emphasis was put on the authority of the church and Fr Mc Dyer probably made a number of older priests uncomfortable by his drive and vision to improve the financial welfare of his parishioners.
This was mainly done to try and put a stop to the draining effects of emigration but it also meant that he was in danger of running foul to the limitations placed by authority. Fr McDyer hated red tape and if you had a good business idea, it was no good waiting around, it had to be acted upon immediatly or the idea would go cold.
Liam McGinley spoke about how brilliant Fr McDyer was in his use of language and why he decided to put the collection together. He hopes that it will be an inspiration to many people. Fr McDyer believed that no matter how big the obstacles confronting people, they could be overcome by cleverness, co-operation and hard work. That was the main McDyer philosophy.
Like he said, ‘help yourself’ has to be replaced by self help and solutions found for the community as a whole, otherwise decline will continue.
People need inspiration nowadays and the words of Fr James McDyer are more relevant today than they ever were as people struggle for answers.
Liam hopes that everyone will enjoy the book and buy it for its positive and uplifting messages.
Margaret Cunningham, the Folk Village manager thanked Liam McGinley, Fr Eddie Gallagher and everyone for attending. She said that, on many occassions, tourists had requested such a book as they had seen some of the quotations printed on the walls but until now none was available and she was delighted to have the book for sale in the Museum shop.
The book is also available in Donegal Town and other local book shops.
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Sunday 26 May 2013
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