Brother Stephen Russell Traditional Cache
Cuilcagh: The cache owner is not responding to issues with this geocache, so I must regretfully archive it.
Please note that if geocaches are archived by a reviewer or Geocaching HQ for lack of maintenance, they are not eligible for unarchival.
Cuilcagh - Community Volunteer Reviewer for Geocaching HQ (Ireland)
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(small)
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This cache commenorates the little known life of Brother Stephen Russell, for whom a modern Homeless Facility in Mulgrave Street, Limerick is named after and to whom this little Pump 'park' is dedicated as he was born locally here in Thomastown, see photos.
Brother Stephen Russell was born Jim Russell on Christmas Day 1911 in Thomastown, Effin Co Limerick. He had a somewhat colorful life (amatuer actor, political activist, soldier, poet, songwriter ) before he joined the congregation of the Alexian Brothers in Warrenpoint Co Down in September 1945 as a late vocation. He received the habit on the feast of St Alexius July 17th 1948, transferred to the Novitiate of the Alexian Order in Cobh Co. Cork in 1948, Alexian Monastery in Moston cemetery in the United Kingdom where he spent the next three years burying the dead, Henri Chappelle in Belgium in 1954 where he served on the nursing staff for three years, in 1957 he returned to Provincial House of the Alexian Brothers at Twyford Abbey Park Royal, London .
In 1961 he returned to Ireland as vocational Promoter of the Alexian Brothers and spent four years travelling all over Ireland and visiting schools and seeking out postulants for the order, transferred back to Manchester in 1965 where he served on the Nursing Staff of St. Mary‘s Alexian Nursing Home for Geriatric male patients.
In 1968 Brother Stephen was attached to the Morning Star hostel for homeless men, which is under the auspices of the legion of Mary in Manchester. It was here he worked for the homeless and destitute and in 1973 volunteered with Brother Anthony Ferrie to fullfil the request by Dr. Murphy Bishop of Limerick, to help in the continuity of staffing the Simon Community Hostel at Charlotte Quay Limerick which had been established some three to four years previously. His first book of poems “There but for the Grace of God.” was published in 1972 and Brother Russell donated the entire proceeds of its sale to the Simon Community Building fund. Unknown to most of his friends and colleagues Brother Stephen’s health had been deteriorating for some years and he peacefully passed to his eternal reward on May 11 1975. He did not live to see the realization of his dream for which he had labored so hard the provision of a suitable and creditable Simon Centre for Limerick City. To the credit of his many friends and the sympathetic Officers of the Mid-Western Board such a centre eventually materialized and fittingly was named after him as “The Brother Stephen Russell Home" in Mulgrave Street, Limerick as a labor of love and dedication to this unselfish character who was ever mindful of his conversion and his oft timed quote “There but for the grace of God go I". He is buried with his fellow Brothers in Christ in the cemetery attached to Alexian Brothers in Warrenpoint Co Down.
On the 29th of November 2013 the sod was turned on the redevelopment of Brother Russell House. The old building was no longer fit for purpose and did not match the basic needs for dignity and privacy. In less than one year the new facility opened and capacity at the house increased from 26 to 33 beds. Each of the men have their own ensuite room and now have a home of their own for life. This new development was made possible through funding from the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government and the generosity of the JP McManus Benevolent Fund.
Sources; http://www.novas.ie/brother-stephen-russell-house.
The cache itself is a magnetic nano, suggest parking off the main road, on the much quiter side road 'opposite' the pump, near the farm entrance. Be very careful crossing the busy main road...especially if with children.
Congrats to ballyhoura1 on his FTF.... in the snow and also upgrading the attachment method!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Jurer gur Vil, Jnyy naq Cbyr qbgu zrrg!
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