Eily’s Report 6th July

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

News varies, sometimes drab and uninteresting, other times eye catching and interesting and very stirring. Few things have grasped our interest in recent times as the article on our web-site this week, telling of the dreadful death/murder on one of our near neighbours Creedon, Adrivale in 1921 as he carried out his work as a member of the Royal Irish Constablery (RIC). Michael Cashman is the expert behind these wonderful articles which never fail to be highly interesting thus creating a lot of local interaction as people contact one another to find out more. The old method of passing the stories on is gone from the scene but TG due to the power on the internet etc they can be told to us again and because they are in print we can go over them anytime we need to. Already people are making contacts across the world about this article. People beyond the waves wondering were they the folk that they lived near, or were related to and wondering why they had never heard the story before. So well done Michael, please keep up your wonderful work .

Still with memorials, I went to see the monument at Ivale in the shadow of Mushera Mountain where a fine plaque was unveiled to the memory of Mickie Dineen who was  brutally murdered there a hundred years ago in 1921. Judging by the pictorial coverage by Sean Radley on our website it was a wonderful ceremony, blessed on a warm sunny Sunday afternoon. Crowds had to be curtailed of course, but even so it was hard for others to stay away. The speeches which were relayed to us on the local media were heart breaking to hear, yet another account of pain and injustice. They are coming our way on a daily basis at the moment, because our people of today are determined that those who gave their lives, that we may be free, won’t be forgotten and the fine sturdy monuments will make sure of that well into the future.  Again well done to those patriots who do this great work on our behalf. However the ceremony was lacking in one regard, yes the presence of their own historian Jack Lane. How disappointed he must have been to miss it. Covid19 again.

The couple of days of lovely soft rain ,changed the countryside from a arid dry mass into a glowing fresh green expanse. No amount of watering can equal a fine heavy shower of rain. The weather forecast of the previous days sent farmers into overdrive as they struggled to get hay dried and saved into bales. While turf enthusiasts raced to the bog, to foot the turf and in some cases to bring home any that was dry. Holiday makers I’m sure were not impressed, and anybody looking for rain, spoke in lowered tones to avoid a tirade of fast words. The damp air never fails to exaggerate the smells of nature. At the moment the wild Woodbine is in blossom, climbing up on tall trees and sending out it’s distinctive beautiful aroma especially in the evening when all is quiet and the exhausts of traffic takes a rest.  Travelling along country roads, the scene is just magic, with wild flowers of every hue and colour all blending together to give you endless joy while on your way. It would be a pity to go too fast and miss the many jewels. The long grasses reaching out always remind me of days long gone and before the motorised transport explosion, people grazed the dykes of the road. Those who owned no more than two cattle were regulars as they herded their animals allowing them to glean the ditches of their lush  greenery as they inched along and  there was always a little stream for a fast sip.  It was normal to see an old man sitting on the ditch, smoking his pipe and talking to  all the passers by, while his beloved beast grazed the long acre. At evening time, they gently made their way home and if he was engaged in some absorbing snippet of news the animal sensed it was time to go and headed off before him. She full of milk and he full of all the news and happenings of the neighbourhood.  The man who herded the cow usually milked her at day’s end and arrived in to the family kitchen with a flowing bucket of warm frothy milk. Not a drop of that milk would be wasted. Houses were full of people that time, very often three generations at a time. So the twice daily supply of fresh milk was put to good use, to colour the tae, fill babies bottles, the old folk often liked a cup of it at the dinner. Special treatment was often meted out to the elderly and if himself liked a drop of cream on his lettuce, some milk would be let stand overnight and the cream gleaned off in the morning and kept for a day or two to ferment just to give him a special treat. There was no salad cream that time so sour cream was the nearest thing to it and the man o’ the house was treated like a king. Everything reverberated around him. The top of the table, the best of attention and his name was on everything. Bank Accounts, property, money even the wife was Mrs. Paddy not Mrs. Mary.

How times have changed. Writing about it now almost makes me angry but at  that time it was just the norm. Women thought nothing of jumping up to get the teapot if someone wanted more tae or getting more bread or a million other things. It stared from childhood when the girls of the house had to polish the boy’s/men’s shoes. On Saturday night there would be arrow of well polished footwear lined up in readiness for them to go to Mass next day. The was the same with everything else. It was only when we found another way that we woke up to the idea, that perhaps a bit of equality wouldn’t be a bad thing. As time went on the young married men began gradually to shed the old ways and bring their wives more to the fore, put their names in with the property but they had to be very discreet, very careful not to let the older ones know. Straight away, the word would be out, ‘she’s changing him’ and that wouldn’t be good for either of them.  She could be deemed bossy and he a wimp for giving in to her. Slowly but surely the changes came and led to a farer and more balanced arrangement all round. We cannot fault those who came before us, they did well. They freed our country for us, gave up their sons for us and instilled a great sense of prayer and religion into us, and gave us education.  It’s up to us to do as good and if we do, then we will do well.

Our neighbours the Jerry O’Riordan and his Family are breaking the mould at the moment as they make changes from the traditional milking herd of tall Friesians to dwarf sized Dexter cattle and now belong to a European Body called Brave Herders. Their story is on our website and makes some very interesting reading. When visiting becomes the norm again there is nothing I’d like more than to go a see this new idea in the farming world. We wish the popular O’Riondan family every success and God’s Blessing in their new venture.

I know I said I’d closed my BnB  but there is always the temptation to take one more and when I got a call from Peadar O Riada asking if I’d give a night’s rest to his lovely daughter Ruth then how could I refuse. Being friends with the family for so long it was great to hear from them again.  The lovely Ruth who served us many a delicious meal at the Mills Resturaunt when she took a summer job there in the recent past.  This petite little lady has conquered many heights since then. As Lieutenant in the Irish Army in the Calverley division she makes light of manning their huge tanks and other artillery. She has just completed a stint with the Irish Peace giving  in the Lebanon and during her five weeks leave she is walking the entire Bearra Breffni Way 700 km. We showed her the sights of Millstreet, Sean Radley took pictures and she gave him an account of her travels which he  will include in his program on Cork Music Station Tuesday night from 9.30. Don’t miss it.  People who go on these walks get the card stamped in all the towns that they go through. A few shops in each town usually stock them  But sadly because of Covid there have not been many people travelling and  because of the lack of demand many outlets can’t find the stamps when they’re needed. Luckily Nigel at the Wallis Arms eventually located them for Ruth but it cost her at least half an hour.  Other towns have the same problem, It may surprise you to know that the stamps cost €16 each to the organisation because each one is unique though they are free to the recipient. If other places in town have some it would be a good idea to find them and have them for any walker coming through.

I’m very cross.  Why? because of the dog littering in the Town Park. I couldn’t believe it this morning going around to see them some on the playing field, lots more on the margins. Also I don’t like it when people eat their grub and leave the container at my gate.  Be warned I have CCTV .

The AGM of IRD Duhallow will be held on Wednesday July 28^th.

Here are the Results of this weeks Lotto Draw which was held on Sunday night. Numbers drawn were 7,11,20,30, and the Jackpot was not won. €100 went to Nora, Juliette and Mary C. Coleman. Colemans were also the sellers and got €50 sellers prize. €50 went to Anthony McGough Banteer. €20 each to John Angland ,New St. Macroom, Mary O’Connor, Minor Row, Maura Pomeroy, Dooneen, Ksenija Ostovic, c/o Nigel. Paddy O’Connor, c/o Reen’s. M&M Cooper, Cullen, Noel Collins, Clara Rd, Davy Tarrant c/o Lehane. Jackpot for next week €13,600.   Tickets are on sale at many outlets in the town at Healy’s Bar and Guerin’s Shop in Ballydaly.

We’re not back to normal yet, so please do your best to bring some happiness to others. A friendly salute and a smile or maybe a cuppa or and ice cream on any of the seating areas in the town. Fully vaccinated people can travel in cars together so a trip out may be just what someone needs. Morning Mass is a great place to meet a friend and go for a leisurely walk in the Park. Above all make someone happy and you will be happy too.

Slán agus Beannacht libh go léir. Have a good week.