Dia is Mhuire díobh go léir a chairde, and welcome to my report.
Not everybody likes the month of January so I suppose it is with a certain amount of relief that they see it coming close to an end. It’s a month that sees the effects of many of the over indulgences of Christmas, not least among them the unpaid bills or indeed many extra pounds on the body that does no good for the mood. It’s a month that sees many loved ones returning to other places, some to the other end of the world and facing a long wait before they can spare up enough cash to come again. But January isn’t all bad. The evenings get longer and Mother Nature begins to push up the daffodils and many other little plants from their winter bed and it never ceases to amaze me how a spud, forgotten in a bag, be it at the bottom of the press or in the shed, can send out strong healthy shoots as soon as the month of January dawns. Looking at it how can you say there is no God? We all need to be reminded of things to do, but Mother Nature gets her work done unaided and moves in mysterious ways.
This year it’s very important that we all grow some of our own. In earlier times the above mentioned spud and lots more with it would be carefully put side by side into wooden boxes and left in the shed to propagate. That is to send out strong shoots, meanwhile the farmer/gardener would prepare the ground. Plough it over, break it up and manure it, make lines and when the sprouts were ready with spade in hand he would make an opening and carefully place each potato into its earthy bed. This was their way of providing an early crop to tide us over until the main crop was up. Cabbage, turnips, onions, parsnips, carrots, peas all fought for their place on vegetable patch, because shops and stores did not sell them at the time.
Cultivating the land and planting food was considered very important when we were young. So much so that children were kept home from school to help. At picking time we were kept at home again to harvest them. Saving the hay, cutting the turf, harvesting the grain were all done with the help of children and nothing was wasted, all the surplus went to the animals.
The work was hard, but better than walking to school.
We have a wonderful service in our church whereby many of our Masses etc,can be seen on television by people at home. Not everybody is aware of it. It can be installed very easily. The downside of the service is that it’s catchment area is confined to places which are in view of the transmitter above our Parish Church. Having said that it reaches places like the top of Tullig, Murphy’s Terrace, Killarney Road, Clara Roads and many more. It’s a life line to many of our people who cannot go to Mass . They can get all church services in the comfort of their own home at the turn of a switch. The well known Denis Murphy, Drishane Rd. (029 70909) is the man who will tell you if you are within reach, and install it if you are. If you know of somebody who would like to hear more ,please help them to avail of this great service.
Our knitting club has moved house from the Main Street on Tuesday nights to the comfort of our Local Library, where they meet on Wednesdays afternoons from 2-4.30. New members always welcome.
Many congratulations to the people of Kilcorney who got their newly refurbished Church re-dedicated recently. Following some devastating storm damage a few years ago, they worked long and hard to get their beloved House of God in mint condition again and we wish them many prayerful years in the future.
The Marian Players in Rathmore are gearing up for another annual Panto, always for good causes. This time they are staging “The Old Woman who lived in the Shoe”. Opening show., Saturday, February 1 st, Wednesday 5th, Thursday 6th, Saturday 8th. Matinees, Sunday 2nd and Sunday 9th.
The contact number for bookings is 0852031730. Book early to avoid disappointment.
Our Presentation Convent School are holding a Mass on Wednesday morning at 10 for grandparents and inviting all to the GAA Hall afterwards for refreshments.
Millstreet Day Care Centre annual Church Gate Collection will be held on February 1/2. Please support it well.
Epilepsy Ireland would like to say many thanks to all those who supported their recent Church Gate collection which was held in Millstreet. It amounted to €883.40.
Here are the results of this weeks Lotto Draw which was held at the Wallis Arms Hotel on Sunday night.
Numbers drawn were, 4,19,22,31. And the Jackpot was not won. €100 went to Helen Daly Liscahane, the sellers were Corkery’s Bar and they got €50 sellers prize, €50 went to Jerry O’Mahony, Inchileigh, €20 each to Stephanie Kelleher, Millstreet, Amanda Kelleher, Moulnahorna, Niall Buckley, Liscahane, Pat Barrett and Mike Sheehan. Mick and Eimer Dooneen, Michelle Lowe, c/o the Millstreet Camogie Club, Teresa Buckley, Kilmeedy and Ann Burke, Murphy’s Terrace. Jackpot for next week €7,200 the draw at the Bridge Bar on Sunday night.
Work on the development of the Children’s Playground is progressing favourably in our town Park. At the moment the twenty five year old site is being cleared to make room for the new facility. The organisers are very pleased with the way the fundraising is going with many businesses making generous contributions. The Lotto Committee is composed of the Town Park, the Millstreet GAA and the Community Council for the Youth Amenity. And the funds of the lotto are divided between those three bodies with payments made about three times a year. In recent times each partner of the lotto agreed to donate their monies to the Children’s Playground fund. The Current payment which amounted to €7,000 was presented to the Children’s Playground Fund by Margaret Burke on behalf of the Community Council. People supporting the Lotto can be proud to know that their contribution is helping to build the new children’s playground.
In spite of the wintery weather they still turn up to the Weigh In in Cullen every Monday night. Last night 46 people attended and 111 pounds weight were lost. Not still too late for you to join.
Millstreet acquitted itself very well on the Jimmy Reidy Show on 103 FM, last night, with “stars” from 9 to almost 90 spreading the word that we are a great community. Sean Radley being the centre point to liaise with Jimmy and to bring out the best in any program. More of the same next Monday night and you will be reminded on the web.
Please continue to support the Eucharistic Adoration which is held in Millstreet Prayer Chapel all day, every Tuesday and Wednesday, in Cullen on Thursday from 10 am to 7 and in Ballydaly on Saturdays from 10.30 to 12.30. Confessions in Millstreet every Saturday from 12.30 to 1.
Take extra care at this cold and icy time.
Agus sinn a bhfuil a chairde, slán is beannacht Dé libh go léir.
