Friday, March 12, 2010

Friars to hold vigil outside Thomond Park

THE Franciscan Friars of the Renewal based in Moyross yesterday said they may hold a prayer vigil outside Thomond Park on Good Friday to mark their disapproval of the Munster v Leinster match going ahead on that day.

The monks have already suggested Catholics attending the game on Good Friday were compromising their faith.

Br Shawn O’Connor said they will have a message for those attending: "Turn to Jesus Christ and remember what this day is about; remember what He did for you and that’s where you are going to find your peace and fulfilment."

"Rugby is a great game, but it’s not our salvation. This day in all the days of our calendar is the day we should be focusing on what God has done for us and his great love and his great mercy and what that means for us and don’t miss that opportunity.

"Don’t get lost in the trappings of this world as nice as they might be."

Meanwhile, a man who carries a message from the Bible to sports stadiums on big match days supports Limerick pubs getting court permission to open.

Frank Hogan is the most visible sports follower in the country, with his ubiquitous ‘John 3:7’ born again sign a fixture on terraces.

He said: "I suppose the pubs should be able to open for the few hours."

But Frank said it did not matter to him as he was a teetotaller.

He plans to be outside Thomond with the sign on the day of the Magner’s league match.

While he will go along to Thomond Park on Good Friday, he won’t see the game.

Frank, who lives at Golf Links Road in Castletroy explained: "The last time I went to Thomond Park, I was unable to get behind the goal end with my sign. And when I tried to get back up on to the stand, for where I had a ticket, the security people told me I couldn’t bring the sign with me."

Meanwhile, the case by Limerick publicans for a special occasion exemption to allow them open for six hours on Good Friday has received a big boost from expert on licensing laws, Constance Cassidy SC.

She has written the definitive book on the pub licensing laws and said the publicans could apply for a special area exemption.

She said: "It is open to the publicans to apply for what is known as an area exemption under an Act enacted after the 1927 Act, the 1962 Act. It permits for an area exemption to be made where there is a special event. I think there is no doubt but this is a special event at which a considerable number of persons will be attracted to the locality."
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