Dia is mhuire diobh go leir a cairde and welcome to my weekly Report.
Our Christmas week got off to a great start at 10 on Monday morning with a wonderful Carol Service in our Church given by the boys of our local National School. The variety of voices of many nationalities and of musical instruments added lustre to the performance, some pieces enough to draw a tear, others to induce toes tapping. Some parents recording it on their phones to enjoy it again later.
Well done to all involved.
The countdown is on and the race is on, the next six days will be fever some as people rush around to get everything right for the big day. Families members coming home, rushing to airports, fingers crossed that their flight won’t be cancelled or delayed causing them to miss vital connections. Travelling today when it goes according to plan, can be a relaxing and comfortable experience and those who come can full of beans and ready to spill over with news and chat when they arrive following an uneventful trip. The same was expected of travellers always. But in the old days it wasn’t that simple. Folks at home never realised the hardship that their loved ones endured to get themselves back to the old sod on time for the Big Day. The first time I ever travelled in a boat it was to England, my eyes were opened to the conditions that existed aboard back then . Waiting rooms were of hard wooden cushion-less seating, where travellers were lucky to get a seat if not they sat on the steps of the stairs or on their luggage. (luggage that time was hands on) My attention was drawn to one young mother with four small children, one a babe in arms. The sailing was not very smooth which upset the little ones as the poor mother tried to sooth and reassure the bigger ones the baby kept on crying. Hour after hour this went on, she took some food out of her luggage and fed them as best she could and gave the baby a bottle. My heart went out to that lady and others like her. Nearing journey’s end she tidied up her flock, changed the baby and then pulled a nice something out of her bag to put on herself and when we docked she rushed forth into the arms of her loved ones as though she came off a luxury liner. From that day on I always viewed visitors from abroad with greater understanding and saw to it that they rested well before getting on with the joys of being Home for Christmas.
The coming days will be busy and please continue to shop at home. The town has taken on a lovely cheerful Festive Air and the shops are full of gift ideas. Fr. Paddy O Byrne keeping Dola’s lovely shop fully stocked with cards for every friend or family and an array of religious objects and medals to suit all tastes, plus signed Mass Cards. The new shop in town, The Golden Wok at the corner opened for business at the weekend and they are finding it hard to keep up with the demand. People queue outside for a long time to get the taste of their delicious Chinese fare. A crowd assembling at that corner is no surprise to me, because in our young days it was the place where all the men gathered after Mass on a Sunday while the women went to the butcher shop for the meat for the dinner or talked to their friends about their own things at the chapel gate. When a young lad stood at that corner for the first time he deemed himself mature enough to stand among men. Watching the girls go by was the essence of the day for both the men and the women, boys and girls. To catch a fellow’s eye, as you passed along, unknown to your elders was a great thrill and this was very often the way that young people met. A wink at the corner on a Sunday morning could lead to an invitation to dance in the hall another time. It was very easy for young people to meet suitable partners that time. There was a profound rule of class distinction. The farmer’s daughter did not throw eyes at a servant boy nor visa versa. People stuck to their own class, they had to, an unwritten rule, farmers or business people married their own equals and working people did the same. Then the war broke out in 1939 and many young people from all walks of life went away to England and America where money was good and in the process for example the farmer’s son found himself working alongside a working class lad and all thoughts of inequality was washed away. They shared digs together and socialised together, some even got married to each other. And class distinction was all over. How it all comes back to me now when I heard of crowds assembling at The Corner.
The new bird made his appearance in my garden this week when everything was frozen hard. About as big as a thrush with similar colouring but a shade of red covering his feathers down the side. I brought the peanuts in every night during the freeze over. I figured they would be frozen had and inedible for the birds early in the morning. You’d wonder where do they go in a very hard spell the little robin swells out it’s feathers in the cold and come the sunshine he reduces down again to normal. The first day of the sunshine they stood back from the food a remained motionless in the warm sun, such a lovely sight to see.
It’s the season of giving and doing and wishing the best to everyone. Our St. V de Paul collections were very well supported and our volunteers are working hard to reach every need. Please let them know if there is someone out there who needs help but slow to ask. Domestic violence can also lead to people being in desperate want and please be aware that domestic violence affects men as well as women but we have yet seen a man come on the recent ‘Until Death Program’ on TV and open up on the sad story which surrounds their life. It only takes one to start and that will help all the others.
We don’t get severe icy weather very often, but recently I saw this good idea of how to de-frost your windscreen, and thought I’d pass it on. Pour the hot/warm water into a strong plastic bag and rub it to the windscreen saves all that water landing on all the wrong places.
The 2023 Calendar is widely available in the shops. Proceeds to go to our website, also the latest copy of the 029 directory which comes free now and then compliments of Denis Reardon. I have Paddy Murphy’s CD going in my car the whole time and you couldn’t have a nicer companion for your journey. It’s on sale in Town and all proceeds go to Guide Dogs for the Blind. Rathcoole’s new book on the GAA by D J O’Keeffe and many more of local interest are in the shops.in the shops.
Norah Hickey (nee Moynihan), is making great strides with her lovely new song , This Lovely Christmas Night, by Niall O’Brien and we wish them every success in the future. On Facebook she asked for our votes in her climb to fame in Nashville and if you see it please vote for her.
My Christmas won’t be boring, by the time I’ve finished my current Jig-Saw which is a chart of the world in 500 pieces. It is very important to find a time-consuming and enjoyable way of passing the time. With all the activities of our Active Retired Association shut down for Christmas, people of my calibre need to stay alert and an enjoyable hobby is the way to go. In the past number of months we have been schooled in ways of how to keep our ancient joints in working order at our yoga classes and it would be good to keep it up.
Our Pipe Band gave a lovely recital before 11.30 Mass on Sunday. The Beautiful Crib is in place once more, thanks to the many volunteers who carry out this work every year. And our Church Choir are putting in long hours of practice to make sure that our first ‘ordinary’ Mass in three years will be extra special. Please look up our website for details of our Church services for the Holy Season. Read Canon John’s Christmas message on our website.
Confessions will be held today, Tuesday evening from 7.30.
Members of the Community Council are going to the Community School this morning the give a donation the young Scientists who will be travelling to Dublin next year.
Here are the results of this weeks lotto draw which was held on Sun. Night. Numbers drawn were, 4,11,22,25 and the Jackpot was not won. E100 went to Niall Sheehan c/o O’Regan’s Mills. The seller was O’Regan’s and they got €50 sellers prize. €50 went to Con Healy, Murphy’s Terrace. €20 each to Triona Murray c/o M. Healy, Mary Crowley, Tullig, Tommy Burke, Murphy’s Terrace. Katie Ray. c/o Mary O’Conner, Helen Sheehan. c/o Tom Carroll, Jerry Heineken c/o Healy’s Bar, Shane & Dan óg Kelleher c/o B. Cronin & Pattie O ‘Connor c/o Mgt. Bourke.
Next Draw January 15th 2023. Jackpot €5,000.
At the end of the draw on Sunday night ,Chairman Noel Buckley, thanked all our supporters and all involved in the draw for their wonderful support and Wished them a very Happy Christmas.
Before I sign off at this Christmas time I want to say many thanks to all those who stayed with me on my own written journey every week since this time last year. Our prayers and sympathy are with those who lost loved ones especially with local connections. Keep in mind that Christmas is all about the Birth of Jesus, who came on earth to save us all from hell. Be safe and have a great Christmas.
So on this December 21st. The shortest day of the Year I send you my love and Best Wishes for a Very Happy Christmas.
Slan, Agus Beannacht de leath.
