Real horses at Powerscourt and Nigel Dempster RIP

Ireland is very much associated with horses and with horse racing. Here are two lovely horses which I met at Powerscourt - far nicer than Pegasus!

I was thinking of horse racing today, as I assisted at the funeral of Nigel Dempster at the London Oratory. Nigel was a famous columnist for the Daily Mail, and owned a number of race horses. He died last Thursday after a long illness.

During his last few months on earth he would regularly attend the 10.00 am Sunday Mass at Ham, and one could sense his joy at being in the house of God. We pray that he will soon be welcomed into the courts of heaven.




One of the hymns which we sang at the Funeral Mass picks up this theme - and also links in with the photo of the horses in the lovely green fields of Ireland:

The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want.
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green; he leadeth me
The quiet waters by.

My soul he doth restore again,
And me to walk doth make
Within the paths of righteousness,
E'en for his own name's sake.

Yea, though I walk in death's dark vale,
Yet will I fear none ill;
For thou art with me, and thy rod
And staff me comfort still.

My table thou hast furnished
In presence of my foes;
My head thou dost with oil anoint,
And my cup overflows.

Goodness and mercy all my life
Shall surely follow me;
And in God's house for evermore
My dwelling place shall be.