Photo was taken yesterday at Millstreet GAA hall, Co.Cork (Irl)

The annual Christmas Market took place this weekend in Millstreet, with everything connected with Christmas on sale and all produced locally. In our photo today was one of the traders, local artist Bertie Buckley. He uses traditional materials in a conventional way and his subjects are as varied as life itself. Bertie is fascinated by the properties of colour, light and shadow as they affect the image and his own sense of time, place and inner harmony.

Thought on Monday – December – 05/12/2011

‘Complicated answers tend to get more complicated all the time and it’s hard to find an answer to a question when the question keeps changing.’ ~Denis Reardon

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny addressed the nation last night. It was an honest attempt to be upfront about the mess our country is in at the moment. It looks like we’re in a mess for quite a while yet. There are endless unanswered questions with many people fearful, afraid, upset and wondering where it will all end. This Christmas will pose massive challenges for many families. In the midst of all the upset and uncertainty, the message of Advent is never more relevant. The readings throughout Advent pick up on the stories of people plagued by doubt, darkness and uncertainty. In the midst of all of this, there was the promise of some new beginning and a promise of hope. Many felt it was idle talk, soft talk and out of touch talk. But the first Christmas made sure that it all happened. The birth of Jesus was a turning point, an invitation to move on in hope and a realisation that there is light even in the darkest of corners. We may be in a dark corner at the moment but we know that there is meaning and fulfilment beyond all the complicated questions and answers that life throws at us. In the middle of a humble stable, are the keys and answers, to help us unlock some of the complexities we are journeying through at the moment.