Dia is mhuire diobh go leir a cairde and welcome to my weekly Report.
Fondest greetings and welcome to the merry month of May. The Month of Our Blessed Lady herself. The very sound of the name gives you a lift at the thought of sunny days ahead and the world around full of light and promise. Did you think to bless your bounds ditches on Sunday night on May Eve? For as long as we can remember this ritual has been kept up and strictly adhered to in order to ward off the ghouls and makers of pishogues,who were reputed to be able to bring misfortune down on you and yours. Some people back in the day believed that those who came round on May Eve with their evil charms had the power to bring bad luck. The Holy Water blessed at Easter which always seemed clearer and purer than some you had in for some time was the favourite fluid which was used at this special time. Stories were told around the fires at night of some local crafty being who was seen early on the morning of the first day of May furtively crouching around where waters met and working their evil intent before the sun burned away the May Morning Dew.
Witchcraft in itself is believing that the evil one is more powerful than God and at school we learned vaguely about it and were told that as Christians we would be guilty of sin if we believed or practiced it. Further to that if we believed in the power of witchcraft then we could fall victim of it. In a few cases we knew of a neighbour or two who were so scared of witchcraft that they suffered nervous breakdown at the thought of losing their way of life. But the power of prayer always came to the rescue. So the people prayed with confidence and escaped the evil intents of others. Old fashioned people still continued in our time to leave eggs in a persons hay or a dead animal in the tillage field which had no adverse effect but just to the amusement of those whom they tried to hurt and stories were told and exchanged around the fires at night or the long queue at the creamery or wherever people met. Like so many other things of long ago the idea has faded from our view but we still bless our bounds on May Eve.
The first day of May bright and sunny, warm enough for me to take my morning coffee to my suntrap outside my back door and with the sun high in the sky and the birds singing in the trees and forming couples on the overhead wires, there was no place else on earth that I would rather be. On my way driving to and from Cork during the week, it was uplifting to see the countryside looking so lush and green and the endless acres of bright yellow canary coloured colza plant that gives us the wonderful rapeseed oil, which is new to our scene stands out. Flowering trees and shrubs line the way and ploughed fields at the ready for this year’s crop. All very promising. Le conamh De.
Our Active Group invited us all to Holy Tubrid Well to say the Rosary on May Day at 11 am. There was a large attendance and the prayers and hymns were ably led by Annabel. Needless to say there was plenty of time for chat in the sun. Please take note that the Holy Rosary will be recited at Tubrid every night at 8 pm during the month of May. All welcome.
Still with ARA. They will host their Feile Na Bealtaine Tea Dance at the Wallis Arms Hotel on Sunday next May 7th from 2 to 5 pm. All welcome, both men and women. Admission €10. Raffle on door ticket. Music by the popular Blackwater Sound. A great time assured.
45Drive at the Canon O’Donovan Centre every Tuesday night. In Cullen on Wednesday night and Ballydaly on Sunday night, all with an 8.30 start.
Millstreet Darkness into Light fundraising Walk will be held on next Saturday May.6th, Starting from the bottom of the hill at Killarney road at 4.45 am . Refreshments afterwards at Millstreet Fire & Safety, Main St. Please give it your best support.
Many thanks to the Active Retired Group who organised a beautiful cake for my Birthday at Friday’s meeting at the Day Centre. There was no scarcity of octogenarians, I was joined at the table by Joan Wall, her sister Kay Ryan and my Sister-in-law Maureen Corkery. Thanks also to those whom are still send me cards, texts and messages on the web Guestbook. All very much appreciated.
A note from Aubane to say that the Holy Rosary will be said at their grotto at 8 O’clock this Thursday evening and every Thursday evening during the Month of May. All welcome.
On a family note , this week we welcome a lovely new baby into our family. A boy for Geraldine’s daughter Michelle and hubby Declan . A little brother for ten year old LeahMae & 6 year old Olivia Grace. We wish them God’s Blessing all the way.
And with the start of May, social events are springing up all over the place. Our Vintage Club are holding the Inaugural John Barry Tractor Run on Sunday next May 7th starting out from the beautiful Barry Home in Lackabawn, where the late great John compiled a massive museum of farm and other implements during his lifetime and on next Sunday everybody is invited to view his great work before those taking part in the rally will head off on a nice scenic route from 12 noon.
Proceeds will go to the Marcy Hospital Foundation. We wish them fine weather.
Please look up the Website for details of our church services for the week. Eucharistic Adoration every Tuesday 10.30 am to 7.30 pm.
A note on this weeks Mass leaflet says thanks to those who have returned their Trocaire Boxes and asking those who have not yet done so to please bring them this week . They can be handed in at the Parish Office. Office Number 029 70043.
A priest from the Rosminian Order was given a round of applause for his very enlightening talk on their work in East Africa at the 11.30 Mass on Sunday . Envelopes were left on the seats and there was a very generous response when people gave as they left the church.
Walking in the garden at this time of year never fails to give some food for thought. Sadly the cordylines are not doing so well,their leathery spear shaped leaves are turning brown and falling other hedging plants have also succumbed to the long rainy season , so perhaps its time to send them to the compost heap and start anew. It’s always nice to visit a garden centre this time of year. Nettles are flourishing and the healthcare books are full of the praise of them as providers of iron and other nutrients. In days gone by it was considered very healthy to have nettles for at least two dinners in the month of May. One friend even harvests the seeds at the end of the season and puts them in a dry jar to be added to soups and stews in Winter. My lovely salmon coloured azalea got its lovely petals burned by frost a few nights ago, I hope it will recover.
And again on health there is a new book out on the subject entitled ‘Irelands Hidden Medicine’, written by Rosary Kingston ,Skibereen ,wife of Kevin O’Byrne who himself is a well known herbalist. The book can be bought at €20 from Kevin’s brother Fr. Paddy at his shop at the West End.
Here are the results of this week’s lotto draw which was held on Bank Holiday Monday night. Numbers drawn were.11,23,26,28 and the Jackpot was not won. €100 went to Martin McSweeney, Carriginma, the seller was Colemans and they got €50 sellers prize. €50 went to Denis Twomey and Family. €20 each to Jim Scriven , Macroom, c/o O’Regans, Darren and Stephen Wheelan ,Cullen, Gillian Linehan. Cullen c/o Capabu, Daragh &and Pierce c/o Paula Healy, The Hickey & O’Mahony Families,Kilmeedy c/o Kevin Hickey. Timmy O’Callaghan c/o Colemans, Maise Dunne c/o Colemans Tom Corbett, c/o Tony O’Brien. Jackpot for next week €8, 200 the draw on Sunday May 7th.
Agus sinn abfuil a cairde Slán is Beannacht Dé libh go léir.
