01 January-Joseph Doorley

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Joseph Doorley was a native of Carlow, Ireland. He was a member of the Congregation of Christian Brothers. He established schools in New York City; New Rochelle, New York; Chicago, Illinois and Buenos Aires, Argentina. Past pupils of the schools which he founded include American singer, songwriter and musician Don McClean and Argentinian and Leinster Rugby Union footballer Felipe Contepomi.

Joseph Doorley was born at Cloneen, Nurney, Co Carlow on March 28^th 1878. He was the fourth of five children of John Doorley and his wife Maria Whitty. Maria Whitty was a native of Milltown House Co. Kilkenny. James was baptised at the nearby St. Patrick’s Church, Newtown by Fr Edward Kavanagh on March 31st 1878.

When Joseph was five years old his father died. The five children were raised by their mother. Joseph was educated at Newtown National School where Mr O’Mahoney was the Principal. He excelled at school and having completed his primary education was retained in Newtown School as a monitor.

It was intended that Joseph would proceed to teacher training. However Newtown School was visited by Br Joseph McCormack, a Christian Brother who was on his postulating rounds. Following the visit, Joseph Doorley decided to join the Christian Brothers. At the age of 17 he entered the Christian Brothers training school in Baldoyle, Co Dublin in July 1895. He was given the name Brother Ignatius.

Having completed his training Br Ignatius taught for a time at O’Connell’s Schools in Dublin. He was transferred to the Christian Brothers’ College (CBC) in Cork City in 1904. He worked in the commercial department and was appointed sports master in charge of the school rugby team. CBC had remarkable achievements in University College Cork and the rugby team produced two international players, Harry Jack and Vincent McNamara who played for the Ireland national Rugby team.

In 1909 Br Doorley was chosen to be the Superior of the first Christian Brothers’ High School established in New York City. He remained in charge until the school was well established before being transferred to New Rochelle, New York where he established Iona College on October 16th 1919. In 1927 he established St Leo’s High School in Chicago.

At the age sixty-nine Br Doorley set out for Argentina to establish the first Christian Brothers’ school in South America. Colegio Cardenal Newman (Cardinal Newman College) was established in Buenos Aires in 1948. Today it is a bilingual, day, co-educational primary and secondary school. It is an important centre for Rugby union in Argentina. Br Doorley died aged 86 in 1963. He is buried in Recoleta cemetery in Buenos Aires.

Joseph Doorely, Christian Brother and native of Carlow, Ireland, who founded schools in New York City; New Rochelle, New York; Chicago, Illinois and Buenos Aires, Argentina died aged 86 in the year 1963 On This Day.

19 June-First Female Astronaut

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Valentina Tereshkova was a Russian cosmonaut. In 1963 she became the first woman in history to go into space. She spent almost three days in space piloting the Vostok 6 spacecraft. She orbited the Earth 48 times. Following her mission Tereshkova was honoured with the title Hero of the Soviet Union.

Valentina Tereshkova was born on March 6, 1937 in Bolshoye Maslennikovo, a village about 275km north of Moscow. She was chosen for the women-in-space programme from over 400 applicants because of her expertise as a parachutist. Following training Tereshkova was launched into space from Baikonur Cosmodrome in southern Kazakhstan on June 16th 1963.

Together with operating the spacecraft Tereshkova maintained a flight log and took photographs. During the mission she spoke with Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev. She spent 2 days, 22 hours and 50 minutes in space.

Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman to have flown in space, returned safely to earth in the year 1963 On This Day.

Photo by davidshort

Valentina Tereshkova

Photo by Matt From London

Valentina Tereshkova and Sergei Krikalev

03 June-Pope John XXIII

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Pope John XXIII was elected to the Papacy on October 28^th 1958. He was the 261^st Pope of the Catholic Church. At the time of his election he was widely regarded as a transitional pope. However less than three months after the start of his Papacy he announced the Second Vatican Council and ushered in a new era for the Roman Catholic Church. He became one of the most popular popes of all time.

Pope John XXIII was born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli in Sotto il Monte, Bergamo, Italy on November 25^th 1881. He was ordained a priest in 1904. He served in several different roles, including as papal delegate to Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey. He also served as papal nuncio in France. In 1953 he was raised to the rank of Cardinal and appointed Patriarch of Venice. He was elected to the papacy in 1958 and served as Pope for just over four years. He was canonised by Pope Francis in 2014

Pope John XXIII, who is known as the ‘Good Pope’ died in the year 1963 On This Day.

Photo by manhhai

Pope John XXIII

19 June-Valentina Tereshkova

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Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman to have flown in space, returned safely to earth in the year 1963 On This Day.

Photo by davidshort

Valentina Tereshkova

Photo by Matt From London

Valentina Tereshkov

08 March-Carlow Credit Union

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The Credit Union in Carlow town, Ireland is based in Credit Union House, Askea, Carlow. It is one of the largest community based credit unions in Ireland. Founded over 50 years ago it now has around 40,000 accounts and shares of over €55 million. John Hume winner of the Nobel Prize for peace officially opened the new Credit Union offices on the Staplestown Road when it moved there on September 11th 2004.

The first urban credit unions were founded in Germany in 1852. It was not until 1864 that the first rural credit union was founded by Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen in Heddesdorf in western Germany. Credit union’s gradually spread to other countries and the first one was established in Ireland in Dublin in December 1953. The credit union movement spread quickly to all parts of Ireland. Today in Ireland over 2.9 million people are credit union members and have savings approaching €11.9 billion.

Ten years after the establishment the credit union in Dublin a credit union was established in Carlow town with 15 volunteers and a total fund of £15. The original credit union operated out of rooms in the C.Y.M.S (Catholic Young Men’s Society) hall on College Street. It later moved to a room in the Presentation Schools on Tullow Street. In 1966 a building on Burrin Street was purchased. The Credit Union in Carlow continued to grow and by the 1980’s the building on Burrin Street had been renovated and transformed to meet the growing demand for its services. It changed from a one room operation to a building with a large public office and several other offices.

The building on Burrin Street eventually became unsuitable to meet the needs of the community and the credit union moved to new purpose built offices on the Staplestown Road in 2004. On September 17th 2015 Carlow District Credit Union announced the completion of the transfer of engagement with Ballon & Rathoe Credit Union Ltd. The village of Ballon is located about 20km south of Carlow town. The new arrangement further expands the business of the credit union in Carlow and provides an enhanced service for the members in Ballon and Rathoe.

Carlow District Credit Union began business in the year 1963 On This Day.

Carlow Credit Union Headquarters.