Priests and politicians reach out to public at ploughing championships

PRIESTS and politicians will move from their usual pulpits and podiums to a rural site beside the ploughing plots of Kilkenny over the next three days.

The houses of the Oireachtas and the Catholic diocese of Ossory will have stands at the national ploughing championships, which get under way today at Farmley, Cuffesgrange.

Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue, TD, will open the first ever houses of the Oireachtas stand this afternoon and invite politicians to participate in a novel Speaker’s Corner debating forum.

Dáil deputies and senators from across the political spectrum will speak on a range of topical agricultural and rural issues.

Mr O’Donoghue said:

“This provides another opportunity to inform the public about politics and the democratic process and the work done by politicians in Leinster House.

“Speaker’s Corner is a novel event and will offer an opportunity for people to engage directly with Oireachtas members who develop policy and legislate in this area.

“It is part of an ongoing communications strategy which aims to promote a greater understanding of politics and the work of politicians,” he said.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen will visit Speakers’ Corner. A live link-up from Leinster House to the Oireachtas Stand is also planned for the resumption of the Dáil tomorrow.

Meanwhile, clergy from the Ossory diocese will staff a ‘Listening Ear’ stand, with the aim of reaching out to rural dwellers.

The wettest August on record is believed to have added to a sense of gloom among many farmers trying to save the harvest against a background of soaring input costs.

Fr Martin Delaney, who is co-ordinating the initiative, said that having a presence at the ploughing championships is part of the diocese’s attempts to respond more to the needs of the people it serves and to address the growing sense of isolation among rural dwellers.

“Many people might not feel comfortable speaking to their own local priests about how they feel and might open up more to someone that they do not know,” he said.

Fr Delaney said the base would also give people the opportunity to meet their local clergy in informal surroundings.

“People can pop in and meet us and we will be delighted to chat with them,” he said, pointing out that the exhibition will also be used to encourage people to think about taking on a role in the Church.