Dia is mhuire diobh go leir a cairde and welcome to my weekly Report.
We mustn’t drag our feet, he first week of Spring in already gone and I wonder what have we got to show for it. Since covid, I think we’re still trying to find ourselves. It’s amazing how those couple of years disturbed our focus on/of things and it is not easy to get them back in line, but there is no place better to start than at the Spring time of another year. Having a new Bank Holiday to coincide with the feast day of St. Bridget is already a great bonus. With new St. Bridget Crosses in place in the home and a day off on the Monday is enough to kick start anybody who is looking to the future with hope and determination. We have no further to go than the garden to find just that. I often wonder, how do they do it, how do the little daffodils and the blue bells force their way up through the unyielding sod at the same time every year. In spite of all the unfriendly months that we have come through they are standing up proud and tall and ready to bloom and brighten our lives for many months ahead, until all the Spring flowers follow in their lead. Already the people who write about gardening in magazines and papers are advising the those who are more adventurous than me to put their seed potatoes in boxes now where they will send out strong sprouts and be ready for planting out when the time is right. We all have little bags and tins full of seeds of flowers and shrubs which we either saved ourselves or got them from friends last Autumn and it will fill our fine days to prepare receptacles for them in the hope that they will grow and flourish with the passage of time.
To get a new Bank Holiday to coincide with the Feast of St. Bridget is to say the least, a very welcome. I’m told that there are only three months in our calendar for the year that do not have a Bank Holiday. I can’t say that in my young days we heard very little about St. Bridget. As a child I never saw one of the lovely crosses which are so prevalent these days. Devotion to St. Patrick was always a big thing. The search for Shamrock on the morning of his Day brings back memories of arriving in from a long trek around the fields with bunches of emerald green, only to find yourself a laughing stock of the others, because it was clover. For St. Bridget there was no such thing. Could it be that because our home was totally male dominated that anything with a feminine touch was not up for discussion. Two small girls versus eight men of various ages didn’t get much chance of getting their voices heard or one of their views heard. I’m not saying that, in any way playing the victim, that’s the way things were and we didn’t know anything different. The conversation around the table was always man-stuff. The work on the land and farmyard. My Dad telling what life was like in his young days at his home near Macroom. Or perhaps the working man who had a few bob to go to the pictures would like to tell us about the latest film he saw in town. But that would be hampered down by the boss in case any of his own brood would be asking for a bob or two for the cinema. Funny the way people have to convey a message without even saying a word. He missed nothing and when the talk at the table didn’t suit him the Da had a way of letting all and sundry know. And like the hen out in the yard who had certain ways of letting her clutch know that danger was nigh, or whatever, he had this way by maybe give a push to his plate, or a half silent growl, or push his chair whatever it was it always worked and the subject of conversation changed right away. Anything about women, females of any age or the birth of a baby etc. was definitely not allowed. Could that be the reason for us not knowing about St. Bridget. Stranger things have happened.
I’m still reading that famous book, by Anne Glenconner. Which has swept the board as far as all books are concerned. Geraldine gave me two books by that lady at Christmas, having seen her on telly and reading about her on the paper she guessed I’d like it. There are two books actually. One called ‘Lady in Waiting’ and the other ‘What Next’. I should have them finished long before now but being a slow reader I’ll get there eventually. Anne Glenconner was born in 1932/33, the same year as myself, got married in 1957/8 ,and had her first baby all the same year as mine. But there the similarity ends. Born and married into English royalty she tells her story warts and all and it’s hard to imagine that there are people in this world who live the way that royalty do. She was a lady in waiting for the queen at the Coronation and she was the only real friend that Princess Margaret had especially when she wanted to get away from her husband Tony who treated her very badly. Poor Margaret threw herself to the wolves when she was not allowed to marry the man she loved, Mr. Townsend. The thing about the book is that I can recall all of these things that she’s referring to. I can remember how we held our breath when Princess Margaret and he were given a weekend to make up their minds. Her to marry a divorced man and be cut off from Royalty or let him go. Bowing to pressure she had to let him go . Sadly her life went down hill after that. While reading on I keep comparing my own life to Anne’s and even before the end I’m convinced that the simple way of life is the best. By far. If anybody thinks that money can buy all, Anne’s book can prove them wrong. Steeped in wealth, one of her sons died of Aids when it was incurable, another died of cancer and the third who grew to almost seven feet tall is a semi cripple following a motor-bike accident. In time poor Princess Margaret got a few light strokes and while in the shower one day out on a tropical island while adjusting the flow she mistakenly turned off the cold water and got roasted, before her maid discovered her and with her feet so badly burned it took weeks to get her well enough to fly her home. She never fully recovered and died before her aged mother. For those like me who, like a little tear jerker, a trace of a happy ending. Her first love Peter Townsend a very old man then, came to visit her at the tropical island and they had a long private chat before saying their last goodbye. Wasn’t that nice.
The Pope’s intention for February “Is to Pray that parishes, placing communion at the centre may increasingly become communities of Faith fraternity and welcome towards those most in need.” In the present situation, there is nothing as important as prayer and good works. Social media is offering many ways and places where we can join with others in our effort to ask God for help for the World. Needless to say never give any of your details to anyone online. Fine crowds attended the devotions last week for St. Bridget, Candlemas Day and Friday the feast of St. Blaize for the blessing of the throats and I want to take this opportunity to say thanks to all those who helped in any way to make our devotions last week so meaningful. Special word of thanks to those who made all the St. Bridget’s crosses and provided the raw material for them. Their efforts did not go unnoticed.
Eucharistic Adoration continues in our Church to-day and every Tuesday from 10.30 am to 7.30pm. and can be viewed on line.
Legion of Mary meeting tonight Tuesday at the Parish Centre from 7.30. All welcome. Mass for the Feast of our Lady of Lourdes on next Saturday February 11 at 10am.
The AGM of our Pitch & Putt Club will be held at the Parish Centre next Friday night February10 at 8pm. All Welcome.
Millstreet Day Care Centre Annual Church Gate Collection will be held at the weekend Feb. 11/12. Please support it well.
Cullen & District Special Needs Sponsored Weigh In continues every Monday night. From 7.30. Includes exercise to music. There is still time for you to join. This week 35 attended and 35 pounds weight was lost.
The Poor Clare Sisters in Cork will hold a Zoom meeting for those considering a religious life. On Saturday February 18that 3pm to receive a linked mail contact, vocationspoorclarescork.com.
Don’t forget to tune in to Sean Radley on Cork Music Station tonight at 9.30 Always a great great program.
45Drive in Millstreet every Tues. Night, Cullen Wednesday and Ballydaly Sunday nights all with an 8.30 start. Bridge games also available .
Singing with Marie on Thursday nights at the Adult Learning Centre from 7.30 all welcome. Still with that venue a great many students received their certs there last week having completed their various courses. To learn more about this mecca of learning please contact Marie 0876863887
Here are the results of this weeks lotto draw which was held on Bank Holiday Monday night, numbers drawn were 3,7,21,23 and the Jackpot was not won. €100 went to Catherine Jenks. c/o Colemans . Colemans got €50 sellers prize. €50 went to Eileen Buckley, Clover Hill. €20 each to The Two Buns c/o The Bush Bar. Deirdre & Joan C/o Joan Casey. Mary Rose Kelleher c/o The Bridge Bar. Mairead Tarrant c/o Michelle. Sadbh Kelleher c/o Eily. Kathleen McCarthy, c/o Colemans. Catherine Cleary ,c/o The Bridge Bar. & Margaret McCarthy c/o Mary O’Connor. Jackpot for next week €5,800 the draw on Sunday night.
Agus sinn abfuil a cairde Slán is Beannacht Dé libh go léir.
