Ballinahown time capsule updated after 25 years
A time capsule is being updated and buried again in Ballinahown, as part of an ongoing initiative dating from the Millennium year.
Speaking at a ceremony in the village on Sunday, local woman Margaret Farrell thanked the original committee for starting the project, which began as part of the Millennium celebrations to show future generations what life was like in the year 2000 for the people of Ballinahown and nearby townlands.
The idea was to open the capsule every 25 years, add similar content to it and close it for another 25 years.
She recalled that on March 31, 2000, a mass was celebrated and a tree planted in memory of all parishioners who had passed away during the previous Millennium.
After mass, the community went to the hall to view the contents of the time capsule.
In February, a new committee set about the task of opening the time capsule and planning a similar event.
On Sunday last, in a repeat of the 2000 programme, a mass was held and a new tree planted in memory of all parishioners who had passed away in the intervening 25 years.
The contents of the time capsule were made available in the community hall to be viewed, along with some of the pieces for the updated capsule, which was formally handed over to the Ballinahown Development Committee who will safeguard it until it is opened again in 25 years time.
In his homily, Fr Brendan O'Sullivan said: “As we sealed our parish capsule, we weren't just preserving items, but we were capturing the heartbeat of our community - the faith that sustains us and the stories that shape who we are. Each object tucked away represents a thread of our shared history," he said, adding that these items include handwritten notes, prayers, photos of parish events, bulletins and children's drawings.
"The time capsule is an act of hope that says we believe there will be someone in the future who will care to look back. It's also an act of humility, acknowledging the present moment, fleeting as it is, it carries value beyond our lifetime."