It is our custom in this column to say goodbye to the year that is about to die and to welcome the New Year that is coming! My father fulfilled that solemn duty for many years when he was alive, and I therefore thought it appropriate to republish a column of his in his memory at this special time of reflection. This is what he wrote.

Another Christmas gone from us through the eye of the bridge of time. And although it is a time of celebration and fun, I hope, at the same time, that you have looked back over the years we have spent, until now, traveling with us on the great and difficult pilgrimage of life. It is also a time to remember the friends who have been lost, along the way. But, I am directed not only on that, this go round, but I am looking in front of me on the year that is stretching ahead of us now, while she waits on the threshold of the house, ready to meet us, and I pray the old prayer to you again, one more time. "Happy New Year to all of you, and may each of us live a better life, a year from today." Now, as we stand on the brink of the new year, shouldn't we, first of all, say goodbye to the old year as it now pursues death, itself, as it swims with it, on all fours, into books of history. What can we say about it before it leaves us? We can't go over the top praising it, and given that it wasn't the best year we have ever encountered, at the same time, it wasn't the worst! It is true that political matters here and abroad were not any great shakes during the year that is now on its deathbed, but at the same time shouldn’t we be grateful, blessed, that we are still alive, while we are plowing full steam ahead in the tumultuous field of life.

New Year's Resolutions

I used to, over the past years, make new year's resolutions, around this time, every year, pretending that I had to be a saint on earth in the new year! Did I succeed in taking action according to my words? You are raving mad ! Indeed I did not succeed! As I would have broken the same resolutions in short order. I am not suggesting now putting a stop to making those same resolutions, as that they are good for some people, that is, for people who want to head in a completely different direction, and in that case, usually, man who made the resolutions succeeds. And again, I'm not claiming that I don't have to change anything about myself, with the coming of this new year. No, indeed! For, truth be told, I have decided to continue writing these pieces, for the Kilkenny People, as long as the learned Editor of this great newspaper is willing to provide space for me, and add to that, that I am now determined on speaking out more boldly and forcefully than I have done up to now. I have also decided to keep a close eye on language matters, and on political matters, on the whole, in the coming year.

Wandering Memories

I needn’t say that my memories go wandering back through the years that have elapsed through the eye of the bridge of time, at this time of year, back also to the customs we used to have while I was growing up in Iorras na n'Iontas, yes and I also have memories of the people I knew who have passed on. May they all have a bed among the Saints. And since my Dad and his companions spent a period of time slaving away in Scotland, they brought home to Ireland Scottish customs such as the "First Footers", as the first person to come over your threshold on New Year’s Day was called. Yes, and the "Haggis" stories too. I often walked with them, in their stories, through the streets of the "Gorabals" as they called that city district in the city of Glasgow. But that's enough for this trip. All I have to do now is to wish you all a happy and prosperous New Year, and may we be alive at this time next year.

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