Dia is mhuire diobh go leir a cairde and welcome to my weekly Report.
The thunder showers abounded and people going into 11.30 Mass on Sunday got a rather unwelcome cleansing as they hurried in. There were many also stories of the heavy rains that fell at 2 am the previous night which seemed to have aroused many from their sleep. The evidence was plain to see next morning judging by all the debris strewn in many places but the warm air prevailed and when the torrents subsided all were free to go again. It’s hard to believe that the longest day is gone and from now on each day will be a little shorter but only a little. There will still be plenty of time to enjoy the out of doors.
I knew that as soon as the Cork Show was over that the new spuds would be out all over. The struggle at Springtime has paid off. The hard work of selecting of the seed, cutting the scealslaanes, the weeding and spraying and finally digging has come to fruition the new cabbage keeping pace with them is a guarantee of a dinner that is as old as time itself. Coupled with a fine piece of bacon of course. New ideas come on stream all the time especially these days when sparing fuel is top of the list. In our days there was what we called a double cooker, simply a saucepan with another one sitting into it. They were regarded as the bees knees. To heat a baby’s bottle, or scramble an egg or make porridge, without burning them. Today they are much more bigger and more modern. We call them steamers and they come in many shapes and sizes, large enough to cook a whole meal ,over just one ring on the gas or electric. The bacon long ago took much longer to cook so it had to be put on long before the cabbage and the adding of same caused the pot to cool down a great deal ,and took ages to come back up to temp. again. Now people put the cabbage in the steamer at the same time as the bacon underneath, and when time comes it can be toppled in with the meat for flavour and the spuds put in the top section and the whole meal cooked together. A friend who is long gone to her eternal reward told us how she could reheat cold boiled potatoes ,even new ones. Put them into asaucepan cover them with cold water and bring them to the boil, then drain them and allow them to steam for a minute or two, and it really works.
The funeral of Eileen FitzGerald at Boherbue last week was huge, very solemn and I’m sure very historic. Our Canon John and his brother Fr. Tadhg made history I’m sure at the final celebration of their Mother’s long life. The crowds that gathered to pay their respects were perhaps unaware of how significant it was. After all, when again did they or we expect to see two ordained brothers escorting their beloved mother to her last resting place. It was a very significant moment to be there or to watch it on TV, as I did. May Eileen Rest in Peace .
The power of God is still working on our friend who had the bicycle accident which left him with severe brain damage. Today he is being transferred to St. Finbarrs Hospital to continue his recuperation and his medical team continue to be in awe of his recovery, as they regard it as a real miracle. When you’re in your advanced years like me you tend to ponder on things. Think back on something that was done or said at some particular time and now as I think back on that bank holiday weekend and the dreadful news of Tom and the medical report of no hope. A relation of his, who was never here before called to break the bad news to me about him. Knowing how friendly we were with him but I having heard it from ‘the horses mouth’ knew it already and was able to tell her that all hope was given up and the medical team were taking him off life support on the Bank Holiday Monday to let him go. Sad as it was we were resigned to his fate having experienced a family friend in the past who lived on with brain damage to his peril. This lady who has often knocked at God’s Door in desperation many times over the years and didn’t always get her request but somehow always got the strength to accept God’s Will. She would not give in as I tried to ease her into the shock but had to admit in the end that nobody dies until God takes them. We parted at that and she continued to pray for Tom to come round. How euphoric she felt as we all did when we heard that he had and continues to get better. Our friend was the only one who went on praying for him to recover and this time she got what she asked for, from God. Pays to persevere.
The annual Willie Neenan 5mile Road Race will be held on this Friday June 30. Always a very exciting event and well supported. For details ring 087 261 7001.
Cycling is very popular at the moment , almost too many races to mention. A troupe of Cyclists passed through town during week as part of the gruelling trek from Mizen to Malin. A fete they were to complete in three days. In aid of Autism.
The garden is a joy at the moment with the parent birds introducing their little ones to the open air. I like to toss a few seeds out on the cement yard and watch them training their young to pick up their food rather that they having to feed them. Of course there is always a down side. Seeds bring furry friends and from my window I spied a little mouse nibbling bits dropped by the birds. So I got the mouse trap ,baited it and placed it gingerly between pots . Mixed blessings next morning, the mouse was gone but so was the trap. It’s anyone’s guess as to what happened, did the vermin get caught and did a cat take mouse & trap and all in the dead of night. The plot thickens.
I must wish a very Happy 90th Birthday to the lovely Dan Duggan ,West End. Needless to say a man that I have known all my life. A carpenter by trade like those before him, the gentle Dan was ever protective of things around him. Especially our Parish Church how he loved caring for it in his own way, and inside it today his hard work and dedication can be seen in the lovely features that he has placed there, and his expert trade can be seen in each one. Next time you’re in stop and take a little time to admire his work. The lovely framed picture of the today’s church and the previous one. Also the cabinet housing the churn of Holy Water plus a tap to fill a bottle. Dan was instrumental in finding a beautiful new home for our marble Pulpit. Taking it from the body of the church and placing it on the main Alter. A move which allayed the fears of many parishioners who were concerned for its future when our church was being refurbished some years ago. The list goes on. Dan’s watchful eye was always focused on his beloved West End and his gentle nudge often led to improvements as time went on. It is only fitting that I ,on behalf of everyone, should say a very sincere word of thanks to Dan for all that he has done for us as time passed by. Happy Birthday Dan. God Bless.
Here are the results of this weeks lotto draw which was held on Sunday Night. Numbers drawn were 1,13,18.,24 and the Jackpot was not won. €100 went to Nora Murphy, Pound Hill, the seller was Colemans and they got €50 sellers prize, €50 went to Marie & the Gang c/o Marie Twomey. €20 each to Renato Cavaro c/o The Mal Paso. Tim Lyne, c/o Colemans, Joanne Linehan c/o N Tarrant. Paddy O’Connor,c/o Reens, Dan Barry, Lackabawn. c/o Colemans. Niall & Mike Keane c/o The Bridge Bar, Susan Spillane c/o Colemans, Charles & Helen Cooper, c/o Corkery’s. Bar.
Next draw June 25th Jackpot €9,800.
The Burke & McCarthy Families want to say a sincere word of thanks to all those who supported their recent church gate collection in aid of Courtmacherry R.N.L.I. which amounted to €1,865,43.
Boherbue Kiskeam Annual Pilgrimage to Knock Wednesday, June 28. Contact Philomena, 029 76116.
Kerry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes Sept.1st.to 6th.led by Bishop Ray. Flights from Kerry Airport. Bookings through Marian Pilgrimages, Dublin. See posters for details.
Pilgrimage of Kerry Diocese to Knock Sat. Aug. 26th.Booking forms available in Church or the Post Office.
Cullen & District Special Needs Association Annual Vintage Day Sunday July 16th. Further details later.
45Drive continues at the Day Centre in Millstreet every Tuesday night at 8.30. All welcome.
Eucharictic Adoration every Tues. in Millstreet Church from 10.30am to to 7.30 pm. Mass each morning at ten and no Mass this Friday.
Legion of Mary meeting at the Parish Centre every Tuesday night at 7.30 all welcome.
Please take good care at this holiday season, on land and at sea.
Agus sinn abfuil a cairde Slán is Beannacht Dé libh go léir.
