Dia is Mhuire díobh go léir a cáirde and welcome to my Report.
How many times did we hear it said that hot nor cold won’t ‘plaze ee.’ In our young days those words were thrown at us more that once as we pleaded for more than our parents were inclined , or could afford, to give us. A remark which always sent us on our way and it can still be said of us. How we longed for some fine weather as the rain pelted down on us for the past couple of months and out of the blue along came a heatwave. It was beautiful to feel the sun and see the world around us from a different perspective. Dry and warm, good enough to make plans. Plans for a long-awaited day by the sea or even go to the bog, or wash the blankets or duvets and have them fit to go back on the bed before night. But for some of us at any rate, the heat was a bit too hot and as the days dawned the build up of heat both by night and by day indoor and out was a little over-bearing. Though I hate to admit it. A just time to say well hot nor cold won’t ‘plaze ee. Apart from the slight discomfort it was a joy to see how the world around us reacted to the fine spell. Painters were out in an effort the catch up with lost time and get the house renewed. Those who had their turf still in the bog lost no time to try and retrieve it . It was a rare sight to see the bog road to Gneeves all lit up at night as the convoys of the precious winter warmer was being ferried safely home. People of the land worked over-time to get their planes re-seeded while the land was dry enough . Funny enough I found that in my own garden my roses which had given up the ghost for this year ,came to new life, and sent out a brand new crop of every hue.
The fruits of the earth are there to be picked at the moment, but do not delay. The hazel nuts are almost falling off of the branches. Hazel nuts have been in my life since day one. How we loved to avail of them ,down the glen, when I was young. It was no bother for us to break the hard shells with our teeth and treasure the juicy kernel. When I came to Kilmeedy, on evenings coming home from the bog, we’d beg Dan to stop along the way so that we could reach the best ones at the top while standing high up on the trailer. Wild plums are ripe now too and we used to pick them in Dooneen every year but I’m pleased to say that one of my flock, having experienced all these lovely things along the way has now planted them in her own garden where they have flourished. So now for my plums, or hazel nuts and lots more I have no further to go than Noreen’s garden in lovely Kilmeedy.
Crab Apples are another Autumnal gift of nature and just along the road on my way to town, there grows a huge crab tree. Long ago a crab tree was no bigger than an ordinary apple tree. But the one along this road, just across the road from Connie Joe’s Fort the one there is as tall as any fir or oak. It’s easy to pinpoint it at the moment with it’s over ripe fruits strewn along the roadside. In the past we made Crab jelly every year. Carefully gathered our supply and boiled them to pulp, then drained the juice by turning a chair upside down on another chair. Put the bowl in a tied a length of muslin fastened to each leg and poured the wet matter in to drain overnight. Next day the precious juice was boiled. Could be wrong, but I think it was a pound of sugar to a pint of juice and with any bit of luck you could end up with a fine supply of rich red shimmering preserve. Put in warm pots it would last the whole winter long. Ahh Autumn. Surely the Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness.
Our Active Retired Group were at ten o’clock Mass this morning which was said for them. Followed by a fine gathering over a cup of tea etc. at the Parish Centre. It was very well attended and the organisers announced the many activities which will be starting up again following the Summer break. Please keep an eye out for them. Details will be sent to each member as time goes by. Paid up members are covered by Insurance and they will be informed by text of all oncoming activities.
New Members both Men & Women welcome. Contact Mary. 087 0537172.
The AGM of the Community Council will be held at the Adult Learning Centre on next Tuesday September 19 at 8. Please support it well, new members welcome.
Our Pipe Band will hold their annual Church Gate Collection this weekend September 16/17. Please support them well. Our Pipe band keeps Millstreet on the map throughout the year as they continue to represent us at many events both at home and away.
Ballydaly Set Dancing resumes tomorrow Wednesday September 13 from 8.30.
They open in Aubane Community Centre on Monday September 25th from 9.15. Music by Ger, Murphy. All Welcome to both of these events.
Millstreet Gramophone Circle presentation by Anne McCarthy, Boherbue, Friday September 15 at 8.15 at the Canon O’Donovan Centre. All are welcome.
The Annual Legion of Mary Pilgrimage to Knock will take place on Sunday next September 24. Details from Pat. 086 8510423.
Rosary on Main Street Killarney. The Statue of Our Lady of Fatima will be on Main Street Killarney on tomorrow Wednesday September 13. Prayers begin at 3. Please attend it well.
The Totus Tuus Men of Christ Conference 2023 on Radio Maria Saturday September 16th at 2 pm.
Pat Lane Memorial Dance in Carriganima on September 16th. Proceeds to Irish Cancer Society. Another great event, not to be missed.
Carriganima annual walk/run September 23. Proceeds to Both Macroom and Millstreet Hospitals. Please support them well.
Here are the results of this weeks lotto draw which was held on Sunday night. Numbers drawn were 4,8,20,25 and the Jackpot was not won. €100 went to Pat & Geraldine Kelleher, Rylane. The seller was Eily Buckley and I got €50 sellers prize. €50 went to Tony O’Brien, Tullig, €20 each to Maeve and Daniel O’Leary c/o Jimmy, Jerry O’Mahony, Inchileagh. Kathleen and David, Dooneen. c/o Colemans, Healy Family, 21Murphy’s Terrace, c/o The Clara Inn, Catherine Cronin, Liscahane. c/o Centra, Kate Dennehy, Bromohue, Eamonn Sheehan Mallow c/o Colemans, David Tarrant c/o Lehane, Next Draw September 17th Jackpot €12,000.
I still get people wanting an update on our friend Tom who suffered a serious accident while out cycling. I’m so glad to say that the miracle which brought him from deaths door is still to the good and he has just returned from a holiday in Italy with his lovely Mary. Needless to say they are forever grateful for God’s Gift. But we don’t have to stop there to prove that the age of miracles goes on. There is a booklet on the bookstall in our church which is dedicated to a local man who was saved some years ago from death by a bull because he was wearing a blessed scapular. The Blessed Scapular was a must in our day and we have deep devotion to it. The nuns in school had us all dedicated to the Brown Scapular. The little book in the church is called Garment of Grace. You can take and read it in the church or pay a small fee and take it away. You will read how Farmer Peter Roche (RIP) was attacked by his own bull but the Blessed emblem saved his life. Further to that, years ago when one of my grandsons was about sixteen he thought he’d help out by burning the rubbish. So he piled it all up and looked for something to ignite it. He found a drum of what he thought was diesel and spilled it over the heap before cracking a match. Alas it was five gallons of petrol which exploded up on him setting his clothes ablaze. Luckily his sister was nearby and a friend who rolled him in the grass to put out the flames before getting help . Next day I went to see him in the hospital, terrified of what I was to see. But was surprised for find that he wasn’t too bad. I put my hand on the collar of his t-shirt to find that the scorching on his face did not go down his chest. So I asked him how come that he wasn’t burned below the collar and he calmly replied but sure Nana that’s where the miraculous Medal was. There is a God.
Agus sinn abfuil a cairde Slán is Beannacht Dé libh go léir.
