Dia is Mhuire díobh go léir a cáirde and welcome to my report.
Being prepared either in mind or body for the rapid changes in our weather isn’t easy. For the past week or so we’ve been wallowing in the mildest stretch of fine weather in a long, long time and then wham, we are told that snow is on the way. The fine snap was indeed a welcome gift from Mother Nature. It was great that we were able to go outside and enjoy the wonders of Autumn all around us. Also it was great to see cattle out grazing on rich grassy paddocks which were dry a bare a couple of months ago and farmers having to feed them with their precious winter feed. This welcome handout will help to stretch their supplies much further.
With the cold snap on our doorstep, our minds turn again to the subject of heating. Keeping warm is as important as food. Because the cold or maybe lack of warmth can be damaging to the body. We are fortunate today to have so many heating systems to choose from. Oil, electricity, solar panels, the list goes on. But I have to say that even though I have oil central heating. I still love the open grate. It can be time consuming and needs lots of care, but there is something calming and comforting about the naked flame. In bygone days the open fire was the true heart of the home. Those were the days when fuel had to provided by hand. Turf from the bog and timber. The harvesting of the turf the work was hard, but at least there was a certain amount of order to it. People came together to cut it and foot it and bring it home. For timber there was no such plan, no structure in place so people had to work alone, as it were. There was no source from where the timber was to come from. A tree fallen by the wind was a bonus. But to cut it into pieces for the fire was hard. The biggest thing going for making logs was the cross-cut. A long steel weapon about five feet long to a handle at both ends and the workers took a handle each and drew the teeth of it cross cross across the fallen tree until it was cut into logs. Sometimes if an already fallen tree was not available then one should be cut down. Again this was both labour intensive and dangerous. There was a special knack in falling a tree safely and there were many fatal accidents when people were not aware of the dangers. With the tree cut into logs there was the task of chopping them into sizable pieces to fit into the fire, often a kitchen range. The hatchet was then brought into play, but being very dated compared to to-days models they were not fit for purpose. Next step was an iron wedge and a sledge hammer. Nothing was able for the knots and large logs back then and it was often a common sight to see the effort abandoned log and wedge in unison and no hope of separating them. We didn’t have an open fire when I was young, because a little girl who was born years before me lost her life in the open fire and then an iron range was installed. But going into other peoples houses filled me with the wonder of the rising flames. The different colours, the skill with which the Bean a’ Ti went about her work. The ease at which she baked her bread, made syrupy apple cakes, cooked the dinner. She was if full control ,using the crane ,she would pull it to her and adjust the pots ,and then pushed back again to the right position. There was always room on the crane for the kettle it always seemed to be on the boil, so you were sure of a cuppa while you were there. Back then you never got a cuppa on its own. If she had nothing ‘nice’ you’d get a slice of bread and butter with sugar sprinkled on top. And we thought it was heaven. So today it is little wonder that I love the open grate and naked flame. There is warmth and company in it, gives you time to think and plan and relax. It’s a far cry from the open hearths of long ago but the memories linger on.
We were all delighted to see that our Canon John presenting Peggy O’ Shea, Tullig with The Fr. James Cullen Memorial Award, marking her 62 dedicated years as a PTAA member .also her beloved husband Tim who is a founder member of our renowned Pipe band. The Canon acted for us all in making this lovely presentation to Peggy and Tim. A number of their friends gathered after 11.30 Mass on Sunday for the happy occasion. A life long friend of Tim’s I can recall the first day that he and his late brother John, came to school. Being close in age they both started the same day. Funny the things that stay in the mind. Many Congratulations to Tim and Peggy. We wish them God’s blessing in the future.
Our Sunday Masses are getting more meaningful all the time. Our Church was crowded on Sunday last when children who are due to get their first holy communion next year and their parents took part in the ceremony. Some children accompanied by a parent read the prayers for the faithful while many others sang with the choir. It was a truly uplifting ceremony.
The Cullen & district Special Needs Association will hold their Annual Christmas Mass and Party on Dec. 7th
The AGM of the Millstreet Lotto will be held on Sunday December 1 at the Adult Learning Centre.
It’s that time of year again when we are invited to renew our membership of the Text Alert project. This is a wonderful scheme by our Gardai who inform us of any suspicious happening in the area. Please put your name, address and mobile phone number plus €10 in an envelope and hand it into Wordsworth book shop in town or the Guerins Shop Ballyday before the end of November.
Please look up our website for details of all the wonderful successes which our young people continue to achieve, from boxing to dancing and running to football and many things in between. We congratulate them all in the great successes and laud the people who are helping them to reach their goals.
Here are the results of this weeks lotto draw which was held on Sunday night. Numbers drawn were1,12,21,23 and the Jackpot was not won. €100 went Julia Mary Buckley, Killowen. The Seller was Colemans and they got €50 sellers prize. €50 went to our make-up Artist c/o Michelle Whelan, €20 each to Mary Hickey c/o Patsy Corcoran. T. Kelleher, Liscahane . c/o Patsy Corcoran. Joan O’Connor. c/o Joan Casey, Robert Carroll c/o Tom Carroll, Kate O’Hare c/o Colemans, Myra & Tim Lucey, c/o West End Cafe. Saolisi Tagiokiban, c/o The Mal Paso, Lilly Murphy, c/o Joan Casey. Next Draw November 24. Jackpot €6.800.
Glen Theatre, our Active Retired Group enjoyed a wonderful comedy show at Siamse Tire last week .
And if you looking for more comedy it’s all there are the Glen Theatre Starting on November 23rd, continuing November 24, December 1, December 8. It’s a wonderful comedy written by Ballydesmond writer the late Sean Buckley. Starts every night at 8. Admission €15. To book ring 029 56239.
A show not to be missed, give them your best support.
The Community Council Calendar for 2025 is due out in the coming weeks .
The Christmas Lights will be turned on in the town on December 1st. Always a great occasion in our town for young and old from home and abroad.
Thought for the week , a friend is someone you share your path with.
Slán is beannacht Dé libh go léir.
