Eily’s Report – 16th March

Dia is Mhuire díobh go léir a chairde, and welcome to my weekly report.

I tore me ould breeches going over the ditches St. Patrick’s Day in the morning. As a child this was the first thing that we were likely to hear every St. Patrick’s morning. It sounds like a line from something a lot longer, but I never heard  anymore. It sent us off out into the fields in search of shamrock. Bunches to wear on our coats for going to Mass. Mind you a lot of the men wore it on their hat of cap depending on which they were wearing. Great care had to be taken when in search of the National Emblem, to make sure that it had the necessary three leaves and not four. God forbid if you were seen wearing a four leaf plant, you were the butt of every joke for not knowing the difference between Shamrock and Clover. Clover was  a big favourite among the cattle and very beneficial for milking cows, so the wearer of clover was reduced to ridicule when others started calling the cows at the sight of the four leaf greenery on his lapel. One experience of such humiliation made you choose more closely the next time.

There was an air of joy and promise about St. Patrick’s Day. People used t it as a sort of focal point for judging others times or dates. Something would be before ‘Patrick’s Day’ or after it.  In the farming world, by March 17, the most of the ploughing should be done and the early potatoes in the ground. Preparing for the ploughing took a great deal of fore planning. The harness or tackling for the horses should be carefully checked. Perhaps the horse collar needed to be repaired. It was vitally important that the horse collar should be properly padded, from the outset. Because if it wasn’t it would be the cause of much bruising and reddening of the animals breast which would put him/her out of commission for long spells at the busiest time of year.  So on close inspection the farmer knew at once if the piece could be home repaired or have to be sent to the harness maker in the town. My longest memory is of a harness maker whom we called Billy Alex, who lived in the town. But he made what is called now house calls. He would come to the farmhouse with all the gear that needed and the things to be  mended would be placed beside him.  Billy was both deaf and dumb and was known to have a very short temper or so we were told. As youngsters we would be all gathered around him watching him at his work but so as not to encroach on him or his equipment our Dad warned us that Billy would stick us with the awl if we came too near him. Needless to say we kept our distance. But how we loved to watch this master craftsman  ply his wonderful trade. The collar and the straddle were to two pieces that needed the most padding, and Billy knew exactly where the pressure should be and where it wasn’t needed. Back bands, breeches and winkers also needed repairs but not to the same extent. The winkers was a very important part  of the horse tackling. The Bit or the mouthpiece varied and the farmer knew the proper one to use, depending on the temperament of is horse. Another vital chore in getting ready for the Spring work was to clip the horses. Sometimes the owner did the job himself but also there were men who specialised in going from place to place to carry out this annual task. Only to lower part of the animal was shorn.  The legs, the belly, the neck, every animal is different some very sombre others quiet giddy.  They had a plan for the giddy ones to make them toe the line. They would bend back the front leg at the knee and fasten it there quite painlessly but it prevented the offending beast from moving on the other three  while the man with the clippers got on with his work.   Horses were well fed coming up to Spring time to give them the strength to turn the sod in acres of land in preparation for the many crops that were planted  that time before the EEC. The changes that the EEC brought streamlined us into a scheme which led to one section growing all the fruit and vegetables, another producing all the milk, an another the beef and lamb. For better or worse is any mans guess.

The sowing time is here with us now again and while we were satisfied to go along with those changes, we are asked now to grow our own again, or some of our needs anyway. The number of aids to help us are immense and we are advised to choose the best of seeds to begin with. It can be tempting to plant a spud out of any old bag. But seeds of every ilk today are very refined and made to meet the challenges of todays climate.  For example special seed potatoes are blight free now, and wont need spraying. And  many of the things that we frowned upon in the past and sprayed to get rid of them, are among our most protected now. One of my  a lovely Mothers Day gifts is a wooden feature designed to encourage bees of different sizes into my garden and with it was an eight point chart of things that we should all be doing to improve the bee and insect life around us. Let the Dandelions bloom, reduce mowing, create safe habitats for bees, don’t spray,  make the most of your garden by planting pollinator friendly flowers.                                  So it’s a great time to be a bee.                   Happy Gardening.

In spite of Covid regulations, Mothers Day passed off in bright sunshine and families gathered in safe numbers and cooked at home. Gifts were simple and meaningful and the men were not found wanting in their efforts to please the fairer sex, especially in the kitchen.  All those who were called to get the virus jab last week were not disappointed. Other places were not so lucky and found on their arrival that there was none for them. It’s disappointing that some problems have arisen in other places where blood clots were experienced following the jab. It is not easy for the powers that be to make definite plans, when setbacks  like that occur. But so far so good, there is light at the end of the tunnel  and with the Help of God we will get through this global pandemic.  My second jab is due on the 25^{th ,} like many more I’m wondering how much freedom I’ll have as a result. I’m not expecting any great degree for the near future anyway.

Ash Wednesday was on February 17^th and St. Patrick’s Day is upon us on March 17^th that means were more than half way through Lent with Good Friday on April 2nd and Easter Sunday April 5^th. The clocks go back on  Saturday March 28^th.

St Patricks Day will be different again this year but some members of our Community Council have devised a clever way of getting people involved without meeting. There are prizes for the best dressed window in the town and a host of contests where children can win prizes. Details are on the website, please look it up.  We will have a vigil Mass tonight at 6.30 and 11.30 Mass on St Patricks Day and our wonderful Pipe Band will be there  as we congratulate them on their 70^th anniversary.  Our Parish Choir will sing the popular Deirdre will further enhance our ceremonies with her charming organ recitals.   Other than that we will all find our own way to honour our Patron Saint until that  day when we can once again  parade in style through our town ,in colour and music and dancing  as we’ve done in the past.  Thursday the day after St, Patrick’s Day is the Feast Day of St. Joseph, the Worker.

The old-time pictures of the town still bring precious memories of  bygone days. The image of Twomey’s Shop in the Main Street, where we got our penny worth of sweets when going to school or a quarter of Nut milk toffees going to the pictures.  I can see it in my minds eye as it was, even the late Johnnie, standing at the door with his hands behind his back leaning against the frame.    Theirs was the finest shop in town that time, complete with a tea room at the back. When you think of the cafes that we have today you’d forget that we had them years ago too. I think I can recall about three or four, including Sean Radley’s lovely Mom’s one in Minor Row. They provided a great service for people who came long miles into town in open carts  to sell their produce and  do their shopping (but it was never called ‘doing the shopping’ that time, it was referred to as ‘getting the messages’) and partake of a warming cup on tea and ham and town bread  or maybe a fry, before going home.

Today we have a picture of the wonderful Cullen pipe band on our website complete with all the trophies which they have amassed over the years, over the past 80 years and we must congratulate them on this  historic milestone in the life of their band.

I must also congratulate our own wonderful Millstreet Pipe band on their 70^th anniversary  and all connected with them. How fortunate are we to have no less than two outstanding bands in our Parish. Each in their own way, they have enriched  our every occasion down through the years.   On St. Patricks Day we will relish the Millstreet Pipe Band playing at our 11.30 Mass which will be streamed to our people all over the globe and as we thank both bands for their services in the past, we wish them continued success far into the future.

Don’t miss Sean Radley tonight on CMS from 9.30 when he will feature a talk  with Con Houlihan about the Cullen Pipe Band. and tune in for the best of oldies to Paddy Murphy’s website https;//sound cloud.com. Many of Paddy’s ‘discoveries’ are making their way to the top of many programs of late.

That’s about it for me for now. Wherever you’re reading this ,I want to wish you a very Holy and Joyous St. Patricks Day .to quote from a little emblem on my shelf , An ocean of Water keeps us apart, but an ocean of love keeps us together.

Slán agus Beannacht libh go léir.