Eily’s Report – 6th September

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

Now that was quick, the rapid change from lovely warm sunny days to wild winds and rain . It takes a lot of getting used to, sending us searching for those warmer bits that we had put well out of sight for so long. The weekend was marred by heavy rains, strong winds and power cuts and people would be well advised to stock up with alternative lighting  as the trend is said to continue for the rest of the week. Roads will be very slippery following the long dry spell ,so a little caution there I’m sure would not go amiss. The long sunny days of August were too hot for some of us at times but they were great, it gave us the feeling that  we were  away, without the trauma of booking flights and fearing cancellations.  But they  were not without a few concerns. To see the fields turning bare and brown in places and rivers running low, were a cause of worry, at least to some of us who never fail to find something to worry about. (another drawback of old age) Can we not praise the Lord for our Blessed Holy Tubrid Well which supplied not just Millstreet but many neighbouring towns and farms with water right throughout the long drought.

We didn’t get many long dry periods in the old days, not that I can recall anyway. But we did get some and when drills of young turnips and other  root crops were in danger of giving in, my Dad would turn the water of the stream along the top of the field and train it into the drills in a form of irrigation to tide the crop over until the rains came. Local streams sometimes dried up and water had to be drawn from the nearest river for all domestic uses.  It was arduous work, filling water with a bucket into churns in the horse cart on the riverbank.  Needless to say to be spared from any kind of waste. The water that the spuds etc were washed in was given to the hens to drink and so on. But when the rains came there was joy all round. Especially among the geese and the ducks. The latter would head off, the manly drake with his beautiful colourful feathers and curls in his tail would lead his harem of much plainer plumage to the oasis and as they went you could hear their would chatter with enthusiasm, just like the young crowd now going to the Garth Brooks concert. In they’d all dive to the deepest pool and their antics there very adult in their actions I can tell you. The geese though just as anxious for a dip came at a much more dignified pace. The lordly gander, with his long neck extended skywards to the limit would lead the parade to waters edge where his girls could take no more and break rank to see who got there first. Again once in the cooling depths on the pool nature took over ,we’ll say no more. The hens had a much more ladylike approach to the rain. They didn’t like it at all, the rain destroyed their feather arrangement and they had to adopt a different approach to it. With heads down all the water would fall in among their plumage ,I’m not a hen, but I’d say it’s not a nice feeling. But wet days are very long and a bird has to go out a forage. So ,not unlike the gander she will stand erect , head held as high as possible and tail severely pointing to the ground, thus preventing and drop of moisture  from getting in. She will proceed to her stomping ground with all the dignity of a reigning queen, picking her steps among the puddles, then once in a while at the sight of some tasty morsel she will take aim and fast as lightening devour it and return to her perfect posture before a drop of cold rain enters. Not unlike the hen, the working man used the same plan to stop the wet going down the back of his neck, as he went about his  chores.  He would turn his peak cap around so that  the  peak would go  overlap  the collar of his coat and save him the nasty feeling of drops going down his back. Other animals had their own ways of dealing with the elements. The horse and the donkey would head for the nearest ditch and reverse into any tree covered spot that they could find. Hedges were not cut back then so there was always plenty to choose from. Also the little  ass liked nothing better on a wet day than to reverse into it’s little house and look out at the rain.  Again cows sought shelter from the rain and clubbed together  in a sheltered spot where they laid down and chewed their cud in utter contentment. Goats were a great  sign of rain. They seemed to know when it was coming. If rain was coming the goat remained indoors and often gave the owner the advantage of knowing what to do about the hay of a day. Pigs were different being bare bodied they didn’t like the cold  but on hot sunny days they liked nothing better than to wallow in the nearest swamp. On windy days the sow could be seen with her snout in the air as though inhaling something from it and of course the old people always told us that the Sow can see the wind. Cats hate getting wet, dogs can take it or leave it as for us humans, we may not like it, but we can’t do without it. My rainwater bins are full up again, T.G.  The old supply having lasted right up to when the weather broke.

Our Active Retired Committee never stop planning lovely things for us. A bus load attended the Tea Dance at Springfort Hall, in Mallow on Sunday afternoon and a record crowd attended their annual Mass in Millstreet on Monday at 10.am and was followed by lovely  refreshments at the Parish Centre. Many thanks to Sean Radley who came to take the lovely pictures of the event and thanks to all those who work so hard to give us these events. The throw back from the two years of Covid has moved many more people to attend these places. Meeting friends for the first time in ages, never ceases to please. A bus is due in town this Thursday to take people from many parts of the county  to the Michael Collins Centre at Beal na Blath . Dinner at Mae Fitz’s on the way home. Ring Mary at 087 053 7172.

45Drive at the Canon O’Donovan Centre every Tues night at 8.30 sharp.

Card lovers may like to know that Bridge lessons with Mary O’Brien are available if there is sufficient interest. If it’s for you please ring 087 207 3042.

Marie Twomey wants you to know that she will be resuming her popular singing sessions at the end of the month. More about that later. People are invited to call into the Adult Learning Centre in the Main St. where Marie will give you full details of events and classes to come.

Here are the results of this week’s lotto draw which was held on Sunday night. Numbers drawn were 3,8,18,22 and the lucky winners of our €6.800  jackpot were Grainne & Riona Murphy, Gurrane, Carriganima. The seller was Sheila Lane  and she got €680 sellers prize. €20 each to the following nine people. Paul McCaffrey, Lackabawn, MichaelTwohig, Flintfield, Nigel and Tommy,c/o the Wallis Arms Hotel, Sean Kenny c/o Tom Carroll, Ann Burke, Murphys Tce,  Catriona Murphy, Gurrane, Carriganima, Darragh Cashman, Cloghoulabeg, Cormac Dineen, c/o Centra,  M&P O’Tuama, c/o Colemans.

Next draw September 11. Jackpot €2,000

How lovely it was on Sunday to have Fr. Jim Kennelly on the alter, for our 11.30 Mass. Made all the more special when he told the congregation that it marked the 51st year since he last said Mass in our Church, the year of his Ordination.

Eucharistic Adoration every Tuesday following 10.am Mass. Confessions every Saturday from 12.30 to 1. Mass every day of the week in our Church. Monday and Friday at 7.30pm and Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, at 10am. Legion of Mary meeting at the Parish Centre every Tuesday night at 7.30. Please give a little of your time to the Lord.

Has anybody seen any owls recently. Last week I got word of sightings over Priests Cross area and others nearer to Mushera. They hover very  silently at nightfall in search of their prey, their white underside making them easy to spot. Let us know if you see any.

Be careful when driving, a motorist was struck by a deer on the Ballinatona road one night recently.

In spite of the rain the Thomas Moore concert went very well at the pub in Carriganima on Sunday night. Well done to the organisers.

Keep an eye on our website for the many new things that come up very often.  Children are all back at school and be on the alert for the extra traffic.

Agus sin a bhfuil, a chairde, have a good week ,Slán.