Victoria Rope

Tea drinker. Taking it one step and a cup at a time.

[BUCHANAN: Dublin Time Machine @RobLooseCannon]

Here is a tale about digging up the dead, but it's not about body snatchers or archaeologists. It's a story about love and things more important than death. It's a story that will make you proud to be Irish.

The life and death of Con Carey, in the little village of Brosna, were unremarkable. It's what happened after he died that teaches us about the value of community and human dignity.

Con Carey passed away in the early hours of Sunday morning, 2nd April 1978. He was not a wealthy man, but he was well known in the village for his good sense of humour and willingness to help his neighbours.

In fact, his death from heart failure was likely due to helping another local with manual labour the day before. For reasons unknown, possibly due to clerical errors, he was rapidly and unceremoniously buried. The poor village of Brosna was often overlooked by authorities, and so Con Carey, a man with no family, was interred with unusual haste the very next day, Monday, April 3, 1978.

Talk in the parish was that Mr Carey had been haphazardly stuffed in his coffin, unwashed, still mud-stained from where he fell dead. Buried without the prayers of his friends. Something had to be done to amend this indignity.

On Tuesday, April 4, 1978, a gang of friends and neighbours, later known in the news as “The Twelve Apostles”, (11 men and 1 woman) crept out to the graveyard in nearby Mountcollins where Carey had been so hastily buried. Under a bleak April afternoon sky, they exhumed the coffin and opened it beside the freshly dug grave.

As they had feared, the mortal remains of Con Carey were dirty with mud from where he had fallen and were shabbily dressed. Through their tears, they tenderly washed their deceased friend. They dressed him in fresh clothes and prayed over him and then lovingly reburied him for the second and final time.

News quickly spread of the illegal exhumation, and the Gardaí became involved. A file was sent to the DPP. The story hit the national and international news in conservative seventies Ireland, spun as some macabre act by "backward" country people.

But the community closed ranks despite hundreds of Garda interviews, cash rewards, and swarms of journalists. None of the Twelve Apostles were identified. Slowly, the wider national opinion on the issue mirrored the parochial. People were sympathetic to this labour of love.

After a national outcry, the investigation was dropped. This compassionate act became the inspiration for songs and stories. Even John B. Keane wrote about the incident. A GAA cup was named after Con Carey, and his life of good deeds and community spirit, as well as his afterlife adventures, passed into legend.

In these unprecedented times, it's more important than ever to remember why life is worth fighting for. We may have to lose our old ways, but we must never lose our humanity. Stay safe everyone, remember you are someone else's whole world.

[Fascinating @fasc1nate]

5th wheel used to aid in parallel parking in 1933

[Oonagh Jaquest @oonagh_j]

It took us 2 years and a tribunal to get our child's needs written into an EHCP. They told us it was their policy not to, then mysteriously realised the law said they had to do it, a week before the tribunal. Solidarity with all parents. Burnout is right. https://t.co/RGfV4uCZxR

[Laura McConnell @LauraFMcConnell]

Occasionally, the trope “we’re all on the spectrum” or “we all have a bit of ADHD” comes up on Twitter.

It’s nonsense.

The Autism spectrum is a set of traits that differ amongst Autistic people, it is NOT a linear for the entire population.

[Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse theatres @LivEveryPlay]

@YoungEveryPlay relaunches its free programmes for young talents aged 14-25 🎊⁠
⁠
Successful applicants will be offered the opportunity to work with outstanding professional artists to develop their skills and creativity in theatre – it's free!⁠ 👉️https://t.co/2KBsS1GHpG

[David Pugh @davidsoho1]

Showbusiness

[Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse theatres @LivEveryPlay]

We’re looking for an Artistic Administrator to work in our Artistic Department and facilitate the needs of the Artistic programme. Click the link for information on how to apply 👉️ https://t.co/0KYDm3vzT0

📢 Closing date Mon 8 Jan at 10am

[Theatre by the Lake @tbtlake]

Once upon a time there was a girl who had lived her whole life in India... come and meet Sara, the girl with the strong heart and head full of wild imaginings this Christmas at Theatre by the Lake 🤩

🎟 https://t.co/T72vcNGDss
📸 The Other Richard
#TBTL2023 #ALittleprincess

[Theatre by the Lake @tbtlake]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Rich and rewarding” 👏 Congratulations and well done to all the cast and creative teams of #ALittlePrincess #tbtl2023 #Christmas2023

[Oonagh Jaquest @oonagh_j]

Have become one of the 96% of parents whose appeals to the SEND Tribunal are upheld.

Do I feel joy? No. What a colossal waste of resources & 2 years in which a child missed out on provisions which every professional told the local authority were needed.

https://t.co/FvAJmPjuU8

[Amnesty International @amnesty]

A reminder.

[helen warlow @HWarloww]

I always post a favourite chart at this time of the year
I love apples and eat at least one a day . This chart makes me feel happy/ sad as I know some of the rarer ones will be no more

[Victoria Rope @RopeVictoria]

@DSM_standingby Absolutely smashing it I'd say. Bravo. Xxxx

[Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse theatres @LivEveryPlay]

Say hello to our Queen of Clubz @NatashaLewis_1, Alice @PaislieReid & Queen of Charts @Leanne_Jones

Check out what happens when Alice meets two dramatic & manipulative queens in a 90's BOOMBOX...⁠
⁠
Alice in Wonderland ⁠
4 - 22 Jul📍 Liverpool Playhouse⁠⁠
📸Brian Roberts⁠

[National Theatre @NationalTheatre]

'These photographs are rooted in love, power and truth.' 💚

Thank you to Feruza Afewerki for sharing her photo series Gold & Ashes with us. Today marks the six year anniversary of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

#UnitedForGrenfell
https://t.co/ukENLk6qWR

[Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse theatres @LivEveryPlay]

First day of rehearsals 🎶 A big welcome to the cast and creative team of Alice in Wonderland 🎉⁠
⁠✨Alice in Wonderland
📅4-22 Jul 2023
📍PLAYHOUSE
BOOK NOW 👉️ https://t.co/OrybNUplSf
#AliceinWonderlandDay
#AliceinWonderland
BEST FAMILY MUSICAL TO ENJOY THIS SUMMER✨

[Giles Paley-Phillips @eliistender10]

This ⬇️