Dia is Mhuire díobh go léir a chairde, and welcome to my report.
We have to start today by wishing the lovely Julia Murphy, Gortavehy a sparkling great 106th birthday, still hale and hearty, enabling her to enjoy every moment. Julia has told her story over the years to Sean Radley, and it’s great to have it stored away for others to learn from as they make their own way up the ladder of life. Fondest love, and best wishes, dear Julia from our Community.
We are into the last few days of the month of April, the 5th of May can be far away as we anxiously await the verdict of the powers that be to let us know if we are to be released from our cocoon. Will we emerge as beautiful butterflies or caterpillars, I wonder. Seriously, though are we hoping to be told that we are free to go and if we are , would we? The stakes are high and after toeing the line so dutifully for the past five or six weeks would we break out now and run the risk of picking up the bug at the last hurdle. I doubt it. The lockdown is by no means six wasted weeks. They can be seen as a gift, that has seen people from all walks of life, using them to catch up with some of the finer things of life, quality time with family and children, going for walks exploring new places in the locality that were always there but never had the time to stop and admire or learn about. In many cases telling others and letting them in on it as well. We thank God for the continued fine weather. There isn’t a house in the country and maybe the whole world that hasn’t got a new coat of paint, a new garden fence or long awaited repairs indoors. It was great to see the roads almost devoid of traffic and see families out cycling their bikes with gay abandon. Who could fault it.
It will be a big change this year to have no Tidy Towns Competition. Our group worked tirelessly for us every year in an effort to gain a few more elusive points and went on to win bronze. Their presence around the place, prompted us all to work in tandem with them which instilled into us the importance of keeping our places and places around us looking well and litter free. I hope that the lack of drive won’t see us taking a step back and undoing the great work that has been done over the years. Please continue to refrain from throwing litter out of cars, keep up the pride of place. We are facing big changes, we don’t know what they’ll be like but a beautiful town and approach roads to live in will help to brighten the dullest day.
The passing of John Manley, in London, brings back many memories of bygone days. Days that saw a funny cheerful, lighthearted Millstreet. Lacking perhaps in great financial wealth, but awash with openness and companionship and with characters, who left us with great memories .We thought they’d be with us for ever and when they went, it was only then that we realised the big part they played in the life of our town. In his native Minor Row, John was part of a thriving business family. Butcher, tailor, undertaker, and more. Staff member was, Jerry Kavanagh, semi-invalid, master tailor who walked with the aid of a crutch and doubled as a talented fiddle player with the Millstreet Rovers Band for years. John Sing, (Singleton) also a tailor , sportsman, musician /drummer, lad about town, and he brought his own sort of music to our streets with his crystal clear whistling . You’d hear him at any time night or day, above the noise of the traffic in his airy, fairy way. Alas when he passed away, we never had another whistler in our town. There was little local employment in Millstreet then, so John, like many others took the emigrant ship to England accompanied by his sweetheart/wife Estie Cashman of Tullig House,(fond aunt to Michael Cashman , member of the crew of our Millstreet website) and made a good life for themselves and their family, and Millstreet lost another lovely young couple.
Many thanks to all those who sent kind messages to me for my birthday, last week and a special tanks to Millstreet’s friend, Francie Duggan , who never fails to put pen to paper when the occasion requires it. Thanks for the lovely poem, Francie.
Its that time of year again when our thoughts turn to the turf. Our wonderful Turf/Bog committee never fail to pave the way for all those who want to place an order. Once again the orders are well up on those of previous years ,and already the work has started in Crinaloo and then on to Gneeves. This year, to beat the obvious problem, they are making it convenient for patrons for the first time to pay through the Credit Union.
As time goes by and the lockdown goes on certain shortages are beginning to come to our notice. Getting someone to do your shopping is great and there is no shortage of great people willing to help including postman John who brings the daily paper. But there are times when it would be nice to browse around the shop, the town and see something different maybe a special offer or, well you know what I mean. This week I find that I’m running low on Holy Water, not out yet, but God forbid that my supply should ever dry up and I can’t be the only one. The Holy Water is the most important thing in my house last thing at night, first in the morning and many times during the day. A sprinkle never fails to fill me with confidence that all will be well. Buíochas le Dia.
It looks like we are in for the long haul and because we have no choice but adhere to the rules, I think it’s time we started to figure new ways around it. Some new words/phrases are coming on stream, streaming and Zoom, being some. For some time now people are working from home, schools are also running on remote control, so there are ways that perhaps elderly people should be able to use to stay in viewing touch with numbers of people. Marie Twomey who runs our popular singing group is about to apply this system to the members. If it is successful then it could give a ray of hope to other voluntary groups.
Sean Radley a busy man as usual, never fails to bring us the morning Mass. Those of us who cannot see the Mass are still only too pleased to hear the familiar voice of our own Canon John. He will not be on today Tuesday, because there is a funeral.
I’d like to offer our sincere sympathy to the popular Cotter family on the death of their lovely sister Eileen. Eileen will be sadly missed, not only by her loving family but by all at our Presentation Convent School where she endeared herself to all as a special needs assistant, for many years. May her gentle soul Rest in Peace.
Don’t forget to tune in to Sean Radley every Tuesday night on line on Cork Music Station which reaches out to all parts of the Globe and I’d like to thank Sean for inviting me to join him on his program for next week May 5th. The program runs from 9.30 to 11, every Tuesday night.
The fine weather continues to enhance our gardens and make our work in the out of doors very enjoyable. We got some welcome light rain on Sunday, which made it the fourth consecutive Sunday to rain and no rain in between. The leaves are filling up the trees and the views that I had from my window four or five weeks ago are now curtained off by beautiful leaves and blossoms of many colours. My cherry tree is in full bloom, but I have yet to taste any of its lovely fruit, because the clever blackbird always beats me to it but then he sings for me so why complain. It is a very early Spring all round, with growth well ahead of other years. The Azaleas have joined the gooseberries, blackcurrants and others that I have no name for to make the margins look full and inviting and an ideal place to enjoy a coffee with a friend and a safe distance. I’m told that down by the river, young ducklings are already hatched out. Normally they wouldn’t be out for weeks yet but it’s great and it all helps us to cope with total lockdown.
Please be patient with the regulations, and think of places like Japan and Singapore where they went back too soon, have a recurrence and regulations have been doubled.
Keep safe. Slán is beannacht Dé libh go léir.
