Dia is Mhuire díobh go léir a chairde, and welcome to my report.
The severe weather warnings at the weekend painted a pretty solemn picture of what we were to expect and we were well advised to pay attention. The elements didn’t make it easy for us to cast our votes on Saturday but the howling winds and heavy rains did nothing to dampen the determination of the multitudes to come out and avail of their just right to have their say at the ballot box. The outcome was to say the least dramatic and you’d wonder if our elections were always held on a Saturday would the response be as great. I was talking to two university students the other day. The first lad hardly knew what I was talking about and didn’t bother to register while the other had secured his paperwork and was all set to cast his first ever vote when he got home at the weekend. I don’t know what that proves but it’s nice to know what the young people think because they are our future.
I don’t know about you or what you thought of the Election. The winners and the losers and so on but I’m going to tell you that I’m glad to see the back of Minister Shane Ross. His handling of the drink/driving laws was nothing short of a criminal act. With the stroke of a pen he penalised our elderly rural dwellers and subjected them to a life of loneliness that sent them to their graves. Alright maybe to say you can’t drink and drive but give something instead. Provide a reliable rural transport system that they could avail of to bring them to town to meet their friends for a drink and chat. It was such a beautiful social thing, which kept them clean, tidy and happy. To go to town they should shave, change into clean clothes and in some cases just wash the wellingtons. I always thought they looked great. They kept the stories and folklore of old alive but when the new laws came in, we lost all of that. To see them growing lonely, unkempt and sad before our very eyes was painful to see. The trend is still there today which caused the closing down of so many rural pubs and they were important to rural Ireland.
Can you blame me for not being sorry to see the last of Shane Ross?
The AGM of the Community Council will be held at the Wallis Arms Hotel on Tuesday, February 11th(Tonight) starting at 8.30 and all are welcome. New members are asked to come along and join. The Community Council is a very important body in our parish, it looks after the needs of the people at all levels and at the moment it is on a very sound footing both financially and otherwise. A lot done and a lot more to do. Since it’s foundation in 1977 monthly meetings are held on the second Tuesday of the month, plus other meetings if a need arises. Their list of achievements to date are endless, going from uncertain,and humble beginnings to the fine structure that it is today. There is room for new members, new thinking and new future to continue it’s great work. The AGM starts tonight at 8.30.
The AGM of the Active Retired Club will be held on tomorrow Wednesday night (February 12th) at the Canon O Donovan Centre starting at 7 pm sharp. All are welcome. The organisers continue to plan social occasions for their members. On February 19th almost 50 members will travel to the Everyman Theatre for a comedy show with stops for refreshments along the way. They meet for casual coffee at the Wallis Arms Hotel every Thursday at 11 am. Dancing on Monday nights, the list goes on.
Further to that in conjunction with the Men’s Shed they run the Bowls Club at the Wallis Arms Hotel twice a week. On Tuesday nights from 7.30 to 9.30 and on Wednesdays from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm. It’s important to wear soft soled footwear so as not to damage the mats. Just drop in and see if this pleasant hobby is for you.
Our Twinning Group who are into their 35th year are planning a trip to our Twin Town Pommerit le Vicomte later this year. They would like to hear from anyone who would be interested in going. So to enable them to calculate numbers please get in touch as soon as possible. Contact any of the following. Liam, 087,6380053. Pat. 087 9486253, Una. 0877949691, Eda 087 793 6422.
Discover Duhallow Magazine is free and can be picked up at shops and stores in the town. Its full of snippets of news and useful information.
I have an item here about the all-important Fair Deal. It is to say that The Crystal Project will host a talk on Fair Deal on tomorrow Wednesday February 12th with Ray Dwyer from the Nursing Home Support Office hosting the meeting. It will be held at Mallow Primary Health Centre between 10.30 and 12 noon. Further details from Sheena Cadoo 0867871818 .
Blessing with St. Padre Pio’s Glove will take place on Monday February 17th in the Church of the Resurrection, Killarney. Mass will start at 7.30.
Thirty people braved the bad weather last night to attend the Weigh In at Cullen and 47 pounds weight was lost. More of the same next Monday night.
Our Community Singers with Marie Twomey will meet at their new venue the Adult Learning Centre on the Main Street on Thursday night from 7.30 -9. New members welcome.
Here are the results of this weeks lotto draw which was held at the Bush Bar on Sunday night. Numbers drawn were 4,10,29,31. And the Jackpot was not won. €100 went to Denis Long, Aubane, the seller was Denny Lane and he got €50 sellers prize, €50 went to Liam Barrett, Irish Rail. €20 each to Nicole and Liam O’Connor,c/o Tommy Tucker, Sunshine Sandpit, Tommy Tucker, Sorcha Dowling, Mushera, Amanda Kelleher, Moulnahorna, Seamus c/o the Clara Inn, Jerry ,Cathy, and Libby O’Connor, West End, Peg O Keeffe and Justin Lynam. c/o Tom Carroll.
Jackpot for next week €7,600 the draw at Corkery’s Bar on Sunday night.
The inclement weather has caused the cancellation of many events, please check before venturing out,to avoid disappointment.
I hope you’ve your shopping done, that big day is upon us. I wish each and every one of you a wonderful romantic, St. Valentine’s Day.
Agus sinn a bhfuil a chairde, slán is beannacht Dé libh go léir.
