Dia is mhuire diobh go leir a cairde and welcome to my weekly Report.
Greetings all and I wish you the very best as we head out on to the rest of the year. Religiously we are well prepared with the newly blessed palm hanging up beside the picture of the Sacred Heart where it replaced the withered specimen of last year. Withered or not the piece of Blessed Palm never fails to give us that feeling of security against fires and other calamities for the whole year. Our Easter ceremonies were beautiful very meaningful and very well attended. Easter brings Lent to a close and a time when Trocaire Boxes are filled and handed in where the proceeds will go to help the needy. It all helps to give us that ‘feel good’ when Lent is over.
The weather hasn’t settled down yet and the land is drenched from the long periods of rain , but in spite of that Mother Nature is at work and the fields are ever so green with the long grass waving in the wind. Gardens and hedges are filling up with colour. The Red Robin Shrub is aglow with red and there is an array of other cultivated trees some it dazzling white others of orange and so on. The leaves on my little Japanese maple are just peeping out at the top of it’s limbs. All signs to give us hope for the year ahead. Spring is only half way there and with Spring comes Spring Cleaning. The sunny days never fail to show us the places that need our attention. Heating systems and drawn curtains over the winter months always leave a mark, and if anything will get you cheered up, a good Spring clean and the longer evenings is the answer. There are so many appliances going nowadays to make this, not too welcome task a little easier. When I was a child, Spring Cleaning was a must. When the weather got fine out at the end of April and into May, the beds were stripped of the heave wool blankets and quilts that kept us warm through the long months of snow and ice. There was no easy way out for this laborious work. The big tin bath which was used for so many other things, such as on Saturday nights it was filled with water in front of the fire and long with a bar of common soap and a big coarse towel, we youngsters lined up for their turn to wash off the grime of the week. When the pig was killed the tin bath was used to hold the entrails which fell from the carcase as Mattie Black cut it open. Then all the useable bits were sorted out. The heart, the liver, the kidneys and the all-important guts for making those delicious puddings. The rest thrown down the glaishe where they were devoured by the things of the wild. The Glaishe a wettish spot in the nearby wood, was a bit away but still within our view and how we loved to look from afar to see the foxes or rare birds that came for their share, for days after. But back now to the tin bath and Spring cleaning. Days were often fine back then and people were better able to have a good guess as to what was coming. If their reckoning was for a few dry days, the bedding was brought out in the yard outside the kitchen door and soaked in the big bath of soapy water, then as children we’d be called to dance on it. Being full of spunk and energy we’d jump for joy in the lovely warm suds and the soft wet woolly blankets and quilts until they were like new. More than once we stepped on a pin or a nail which gave a very painful prod, but the fun was too good and we’d resume out task. All this time the big pot would be heating up on the turf range indoors and when Pete our housekeeper was satisfied that we had done a good job, he would spill out the murky suds and re-fill the tin bath with clean water and then we’d resume our task for the final rinse. Our feet soft and bubbly and wrinkled from being so long in the warm soapy water. Then the heavy sodden bedding would be taken from the bath of water and draped over the nearest farmyard gate, to drop and become light enough to be put on the clothes line where it took a couple of fine days to dry out fully. In other houses where there were mothers and grown daughters the Spring Clean took on finer aspect. Sheets and Table Cloths etc. white as snow could be seen on neighbouring lines waving in almost fairy like movements in the gentle breezes. Some liked to spread the best pieces on the hedge or out on a clean grassy field to bleach. But alas some came to grief when the herd of cows couldn’t pass up the chance of a tug o’war while nobody was looking and pulled the lot around in wild playfulness. Perish the thought.
Our Singing Group with Marie gave a one hour recital at the Day Centre last week . Everybody enjoyed it and what a joy it was to see some people who are no longer capable of holding a conversation, singing along ,word for word with everybody else. The Group have invitations to perform in many other places in the future.
There was great excitement in the area on Easter Sunday when a cycle race entitled Stage 3 Kerry Group Ras Mumhan came our way. People along the route got prior notice and were asked to keep their dogs and other animals in. The Race was quiet a spectacle, not just for the riders but the many cars with bikes on the roofs in tow. The speed was unbelievable, but understandable. Coming as they did from the top of Bealac it was down hill all the way to Kilmeedy Bridge where they veered left and down the main road.
The Divine Mercy Novena was started in the church on Good Friday after the Devotions and will continue until next Sunday. The Novena Prayer is said in the Church every afternoon from 3 pm and all are welcome to attend, outside of that others may find is easier to continue the Novena at home. This Powerful Novena will end with a beautiful closing ceremony at 3 pm on next Sunday April 16th. A priest will give a sermon on the Novena , The Chaplet will be recited, there will be Confessions and blessing of pious objects. Please support this lovely ceremony, so many people, the whole world really are looking for your prayers.
Now that Easter week is over, many social events will be resuming again and keep an eye on nature as it rises from it’s winter break. A few days ago I caught sight of a little gold finch feasting on a dandelion in my garden. It just stood there and plucked away at the plant until there was only the bare stem left. A few years ago we couldn’t get rid of the dandelion fast enough. It’s a good job that we have people to tell otherwise. Sin a bhfuil.
Here are the results of this weeks lotto draw which was held on Bank Holiday Monday night. Numbers drawn were 2, 16, 24, 26 and the Jackpot was not won. €100 went to Chris, Kate & Libhin Hickey, The Seller was Denis Hickey and he got €50 sellers prize. €50 went to Patrick & Megan c/o Joan Casey. €20 each to Danielle & Catherine c/o The Bush Bar. Kay FitzGerald, Rathmore, c/o Guys & Dolls, Fergal Collinsc/o Lehane. Noreen Murphy, c/o Mary O’Connor, Sam O’Sullivan, c/o Rita O’Reilly, Buckley’s, c/o Michelle Whelan.
Next draw Apr.16.Jackpot E7,600.
Agus sinn abfuil a cairde Slán is Beannacht Dé libh go léir.
