By Gregory Murphy
Irish Society for Christian Civilisation – ISFCC, an organisation of lay Catholics, held three Rosary Rallies between Thursday and Saturday in Castletown-Bearhaven, Bantry, and Kinsale praying to St. Peter to protect our fishermen and in order to promote the message of Our Lady of Fatima, specifically Our Lady's warning about Russia – it will spread its errors.” The volunteers and friends of ISFCC also gave out 500 hundred rosaries, miraculous medals, and scapulars to the fishermen.
However, the Rosary Rallies were the focus of attention due to the 9ft banner which read, “Praying the Rosary for Ireland. Please join us! St. Peter protect our fishermen! Our Lady of Fatima, preserve us the `errors of Russia!`” The participants prayed the Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary and sang Marian hymns between each decade.
Rory O’Hanlon, who led the Rosary Rallies, said that “We are here for two reasons. First to thank and encourage the fishermen here for standing up to the Russian Navy, and second to remind people of Our Lady of Fatima’s warning of the “errors of Russia”, that is, Communism.”
When the Russian Navy announced their intention to do live fire drills in Ireland’s Exclusive Economic Zone, the West Cork fishermen took matters into their own hands, threatening to disrupt the drills with sixty fishing trawlers. This threat succeeded in making the Russians change course away from their plans that not only disrespected the livelihood of the West Cork community, but also disregarded the right to private property, which Communism hates so much.
Damien Murphy, a volunteer of ISFCC, stated that, “The response of the locals to the rallies has been great.” He explained that the participants of the Rosary Rally in Castletown-Bearhaven were all invited to have a cup of tea in Murphy’s Restaurant after the gathering. The passers-by often stopped to join in with the Rosary Rallies or to make the sign of the cross and many took photos and gave thumbs up in support. One lady heard the rosary from her home and joined the rally.
After the Rosary Rallies, volunteers and friends would proceed to the bars, cafés, butchers, and other shops to distribute scapulars, rosaries and miraculous medals to the fishermen. They did this in Castletown-Bearhaven, Kinsale, Union Hall, Skibbereen, and Bantry. One worker at the fishermen Co-op asked for at least two dozen miraculous medals to hand out to the fishermen.
Patrick Murphy took two dozen miraculous medals for his men as well as Alan, skipper of the Syracuse, who took a bunch of miraculous medals for each of his crew members and said, “You’re doing great work!” The Chef’s Table also gave out doughnuts.
The idea of public square Rosary Rallies isn’t new. Since 2010, Irish Society for Christian Civilisation has organised hundreds of Rosary Rallies. On October 14th, 2017, ISFCC organised two hundred Rosary Rallies across Ireland in commemoration of the centenary of Our Lady of Fatima.
Organiser, Rory O’Hanlon, concluded “What we are asking people to do is what Our Lady asked of us at Fatima, prayer, penance and amendment of life. Because at the heart of every crisis in the world today lies a moral problem. And it is through the rosary especially that God gives us the wisdom, prudence and confidence to solve our problems.”