Fr. Patrick Burke and Inishturk on SKY TV

THE silver jubilee celebrations of the official opening of the community club on Inishturk Island will feature on the Showcase channel on SKY tomorrow night (Thursday, August 2).

The programme was to have been broadcast last week but due to SKY changing the Showcase channel to a new one, it was nor aired.

Henry McGlade of iMayoTV travelled to Inishturk, nine miles off the Mayo coast, to record the programme, which will be broadcast on Sky channel 455 at 7 p.m. and repeated on the same channel on Saturday at 8 p.m.

A special feature is the Mass that was celebrated in the club for the islanders and visitors by Fr. Patrick Burke on his last visit to the island prior to his unexpected and untimely death last month.

After discussions with the family of Fr. Patrick, they were delighted to have the Mass segment included in the programme.

Henry McGlade explained: “We were conscious of how it might affect the family so through Fr. Charlie McDonnell we sought permission, which was willingly granted.”

The club was officially opened 25 years ago by then President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, who sent special congratulations to the community.

Mrs. Robinson was invited to attend the celebrations but was unable to do so. However, she wrote to the island’s community development coordinator, Corena Warde, thanking them for the invitation and expressing the hope that it would not be another 25 years before she visits the island again.

Several of the islanders were interviewed by Henry McGlade and the programme will give an insight into island life as well as the majestic scenery that awaits visitors.

The awarding of the island’s first Green Flag will also be featured. This was achieved thanks to the work of Inishturk couple Robert and Mary Helena O’Toole.