Sir, – Colette Sheridan’s Irishwoman’s Diary (“‘Fancy’ food and the ‘priest’s sugar’: hosting a station Mass at home”, An Irish Diary, October 13th) transported me back 40 years. Station Mass was not a feature of my Meath youth, but moving to Kerry, my mother’s county of origin, acquainted me with the tradition.
My aunt’s turn to host the event saw the house smelling of paint, polish and porter. She informed me I’d be sitting beside the priest for the subsequent feast. Knowing of my fractured affiliation with religion, she cautioned me: “Don’t be going on too much; be careful with your old talk.” Knowing my station, I complied. The hum of genial talk in that hillside house is still a pleasant memory. – Yours, etc,
GERRY CHRISTIE,
Tralee.
