Eily’s Report – 8th February

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

Hope you are all well on this not so nice morning, with the wind and rain at the ready to come at any time. But my heart was lifted  first thing this morning, by a beautiful little yellow viola in full flower in a pot outside my door. Violas always give you the feeling that they are looking at you and when the pot is at eye level you have to refrain from  winking at them, in case anybody’s looking.

My story today is all about death but not as morose as you may think. Death is before us all of course, we do not know the day nor the hour. But let me tell  you of one person that I know of who was sure of his time to meet his maker. On a Monday morning in July 1984 my Dad said I’m going to die this week. There was no difference in the way he said it, no more than if he was asking to pass the butter. Needless to say we were taken aback to say the least. A sprightly 91 year old, I accompanied him to his usual card game of 45 at the Wallis Arms Hotel a mere week or two before and he didn’t miss a trick. Needless to say we were full of questions, was he sick, had he pain  and so on. No he said, but was adamant that he was going to die this week. Mick Corkery came from Mountcross near Macroom in the early twenties to marry into my mother’s, Eileen Corkery’s farm, she an only child. Her parents were delighted that the family name was preserved. After giving birth to many children, seven of whom survived, Eileen died in 1936. To say that life was not good after that would be an understatement. But it prepared us all well for our future lives. The Rosary was said in our home every night and Mass and other religious services had to be strictly adhered to. Eight years after our mother’s death, dad married again. We came home from school one evening and the man who was doing the housework and our cook  told us that out father was coming off the six o’clock bus with a new wife. Enter Auntie, as we were told to call her. She was a lovely woman, who dressed a hard bed for herself, which she endured for thirty years before God called her. Women had no rights that time.  After that my dad lived in a Granda-flat adjoining my brothers family home where he looked after himself in every way. I remember he got a small telly, a first and was delighted with it. He prayed a lot and read the Psalms so much so that the Priest who used to visit him said that he never saw a man of his likes, having such a vast knowledge of the Psalms as my dad. I have his book and to this day I can see the well thumbed pages which he read.  I must admit I was very surprised at this side of him. We never prayed the Psalms. Knew nothing about them, The Latin Masses were all a blur really, the Priest with his back to us and alter boys rattling off the responses in Latin left us to our own devises to say our Rosary and novenas etc.  All of this time I brought him to the Wallis Arms Hotel every Saturday night where we met his old friends for a game of 45.

Tuesday came and he was up and doing his normal things, the same Wednesday and by Thursday he was slowing a little. I visited him every day,  he wanted for nothing, gave himself his daily shave and had his meals. Friday he stayed in bed most of the time but got up to shave and go to the loo etc and have a light meal. On Saturday he slept more but always at total ease telling us that he will be seeing our Mother now soon. She died in 1936 before I ever knew her. On Saturday evening my sister Sr. Rupert and I decided to go to evening Mass so as to be there to mind Dad in the morning when the others were at Mass. It was some surprise and perhaps shock when the priest read out the death of my Dad’s lifelong  friend, Nicolas Pomeroy. He died suddenly that afternoon. On arriving home we couldn’t wait to tell our brother Jack our news. He was in Dad’s bedroom and we told him in a whisper as the man in the bed seemed to be in a  coma or sound sleep. But low and behold, he pipes up and says ‘That fellow owes me tuppence, I told him he’d go before me’ Once in a while he would wake up and say ’Am I gone yet, and  we’d say no, he’d say’ isn’t it taking a long time’ During the night he asked for a drink of milk and when my brother Denis was giving it to him he said I’ll go now soon and he asked, how did he know, he said Nicolas just told me. Myself and my Nephew Michael were with him the next morning when he gently breathed his last, and there was just enough time to ring the Priest. It created quiet a stir in the church when the priest read out the deaths of the two old timers who were one in life and one in death.

His passing was not  a grieving occasion, how could it be. Our Dad was happy to go and looking forward to meeting up with his loved ones who went before him, for that we were happy too. He had no  legacy to leave to us, but greater still was the deep spiritual gift which he instilled into each one of us which outweighs any worldly gain.

  The story I tell you is true. The truth can be stranger than fiction.

The pictures of old are great on the web again this time, they always make us put on our thinking caps as we strive to name the faces which we find familiar. The lovely tributes to Brid Mannix on her 80^th a jewel. Not ignoring the one Sean’s one of the rainbow over his house. Showing us where the real crock of gold is, Sean’s own lovely dwelling. Don’t forget to tune in to Sean tonight on Cork Music Station from 9.30 where he will send and receive greetings to friends and relations from all parts of the globe and again on Sunday from 12.30.

With the passage of time more and more events are coming on stream and those already up and running are being better supported. Be on the lookout for any hobby or pastime which will bring out  into the real world again. Our Active Retired Group  want you to know that they have yoga on Friday’s from 1.30 to 2.30 at the Canon O’Donovan Centre and let me tell you that it is a very enjoyable class, nothing too strenuous and very beneficial. They have arranged aqua aerobics/swimming  for anybody who would  like to go to Killarney every Tuesday at 10.30.

For details contact Mary Sheahan Secretary O87 053 7172.

 The weekly 45Drive continues at the Canon O’Donovan Centre on Tuesday nights and in Ballydaly on Sunday nights both starting at 8.30.and there is room for more players . Richie in Ballydaly makes sure the place is cosy and warm when you arrive. Now that restrictions have eased ,carsharing in the popular way to go to these events. A walk in the Town Park on a fine day is good for the body and soul and there are footpaths on the roads both to the Railway Station and to Drishane if you’d like a change of scene. Marie Twomey  got the go ahead to resume her popular singing sessions and she will let us know when the time is right . So sharpen up your vocal chords for the big return.

Eucharistic Adoration is resuming early in March and as far as I know will be held in the Church and not in the former Adoration room. We know that many of it’s supporters have gone to their Eternal Reward since it was cancelled because of Covid19 and it is hoped that many new people will come to replace them. We are told that the practice of Eucharistic Adoration will do a great deal of good for the World at large and now that it’s needs are so great this is our chance to do the needful. Please contact the Parish Office  at 029 70043 and give your name to Sharon so that a successful rota can be put in place.

The Community Council Meeting will be held tonight starting at 8.30 at the Wallis Arms Hotel and we wish them God’s Blessing on their return to the important work that they engage themselves in for the good of our Community. Give them your best support at all times.

Here are the results of the Lotto draw which was held on Sunday night.   Numbers drawn were 12,17,28,32 and the Jackpot was not won. é100 went to Kathleen O’Sullivan, Dooneen, The Seller was O’Leary’s Butchers and they got €50 sellers prize, €50 went to Michael Hickey, Claracleagh. €20 each to Aoife O Callaghan, c/o The Bush Bar, Mary O’Mahony, Incheleigh, David Barrett, Aubane, c/o the Bridge Bar, Kevin Cullinane c/o The Malpasso, The Healy Family c/o The Clara Inn,Denis Murphy c/o Colemans, Mary Morrissey, c/o the Malpasso  and Vincent O’Sullivan c/o Colemans. Next Draw February 13th, Jackpot €19,200.

Agus sin a bhfuil, a chairde, Slan agus beannacht.