THE 28th Novena of Hope at the Graan Monastery is underway, with an array of speakers offering thought-provoking and inspiring addresses throughout the nine-day event.

It is the final Novena to be overseen by Graan Superior Father Brian D’Arcy, who is expected to be transferred to another post in five months.

READ: As he prepares for his last Novena, Fr Brian D’Arcy says he would 'rather stay' in Fermanagh

Proceedings began on Saturday and Sunday, when all five masses were packed out with people from across Ireland.

Monday’s speaker was Fermanagh Manager Peter McGrath. A former teacher at St. Coleman’s College, Newry, Mr. McGrath managed the Down minor team to win the All-Ireland in 1987 and the senior team to win Ulster and All-Ireland titles in 1991 and 1994. He is regarded as a dedicated coach who is equally committed to his faith.

He accepted the invitation to speak at the Novena because he wanted to thank Father Brian for being “part and parcel” of the Fermanagh team and for his dedication in driving to far-flung locations to say mass for the players ahead of a game.

During his address, Mr. McGrath said: “We all know that football isn’t just football. It’s about the people you are working with, what it does for them in their lives and how it moulds them, forms them, nurtures them and teaches them about the hard knocks that life’s going to bring – because football brings hard physical and psychological knocks.

“When you see young people grow from a boy to a man, you see that football has helped him to mature, it has instilled values for life.”

READ: Faith, hope and even a ‘Wagon Wheel’ at inspiring Novena

Reflecting on the theme of ‘hope’, Mr. McGrath said: “In football, as in life, you are always hoping that the things you can’t control will go your way – those are the things you are leaving in the hand of God.”

He continued: “When you undertake to manage a team you can see the hope in their eyes. They are continually hoping that improvement will come, that they will get their day in the sun. Every footballer has got targets and ambitions like we all do in life, and in the middle of that is hope. Quite often hope has to be based on realistic evidence and aspiration but there’s also a part of hope where you are hoping that someone else can do something for you or divine intersession can do something for you – which brings you onto prayer.

"And I dare-say, even in today’s society where a lot of young people don’t go to mass or take a lot of credence in prayer, most footballers, on the week of a big match, will turn a wee bit to God and say: ‘Let’s hope things go ok’.”

Mr. McGrath shared with the congregation an example of when football put him in a position he never expected: giving a talk to a group of people on a leadership weekend in Ballykinler army base.

READ: As he prepares for his last Novena, Fr Brian D’Arcy says he would 'rather stay' in Fermanagh

“It was 1995, one year after the IRA ceasefire. For a GAA manager to be at Ballykinler Army Camp at the request of an RUC officer was a rather odd place to be,” he commented. “A year earlier it wouldn’t have been possible because things were too sensitive. This was part of the new dispensation. In that mixed-up society, to me, that experience was one of those moments where I knew this is change happening in society.”

He added: “The easy thing would have been to say ‘No’ but I realised that if I did it, it may be evidence of a barrier coming down.”

Mr. McGrath concluded: “As humans we can’t say anything meaningful about God because our language is too inadequate, so how do you find God and see evidence of God? For me, as a football person and a person from County Down the people from the All Ireland winning teams in 1960 and 1961 were great footballers and great men. In their qualities as people: doing the right thing, integrity and being strong, I would detect something of the virtues and the characteristics of what God might be like.”

The Novena continues with RTÉ Nationwide presenter Mary Kennedy addressing services today (Thursday) at 12.30 and 7.30pm. Former Impartial Reporter editor Denzil McDaniel will speak at 12.30 tomorrow (Friday), followed by Dr. John Mc Dowell, Bishop of Clogher at 7.30pm. Jim Breen, the founder of Cycle Against Suicide, will speak at both services on Saturday, March 25 (11am and 6.30pm); Fermanagh singer Helena Connolly will address Sunday’s services and Cavan motivational speaker Declan Coyle will speak on Monday, March 27.