Eily’s Report – 17th October

Dia is Mhuire díobh go léir a cáirde and welcome to my Report.

Oh dear, I suppose you can’t win them all. I was treated to dinner by a couple of friends at a nice hotel in Killarney on Saturday night. The room was well stocked with diners. Some celebrating  the birthday of a young man at the next table, others down along enjoying private conversations and having their food. At eight o’clock we were conscious of a crowd in some other room beyond, noisily settling down to watch the match and you could sense the air of expectancy even at a distance.  We knew how Ireland was doing by the number of roars that went up but thought that there should be more. Then came the end and the whole place went dead. Disbelief. A feeling that was multiplied all over Killarney and over the whole of Ireland as our hearts went out the players. I have to be the least competitive person in the world. Challenge nobody in case I’d lose, so I have no way of experiencing the awful pain of defeat that is being felt by our wonderful team today. Learning to accept defeat must be a hard nut to crack, but it is a one that  any competitor, be it an individual or team has to be ready for because nobody wins all of the time and the younger the lesson is learnt, the better. It kills me to see little children sobbing on stage or equestrian arena or games pitch, having failed to make the grade. Some like me, never try again, while others forge ahead  in the earnest hope that some day their ship will come in and often does but not always. My heart goes out to our gallant losers.

Our Community Council made history recently when they bought the Cinema complex in the West End from Matt Murphy. Aíne Collins deputising for Noel Buckley (Chairman, who is indisposed at the moment) gave  the members a tour of the building one evening last week. This is a very important development in the life of our town. The property comprises of the cinema building to the back plus a four bedroomed dwelling house streetside. All in excellent condition. To get a good view of the place from the outside, it can be achieved by standing in the chapel yard and looking  across over the graveyard. The plan is to move our excellent adult gym from the Youth Centre to the cinema and that will allow the expansion of our créche facility a cause which is urgently needed. It is a very exciting and important venture. Needless to say funding will be an important factor. Any further developments will be announced as soon as they come to hand.

At the monthly meeting of the Community Council which was held last week, it was decided to hold a Community Council Workshop on November 25th to bring more  local organisations together.

The canopy in the town Square will be returned in January when the Christmas decorations are removed.

Our Text Alert system will be due for renewal in the near future.

The Astro Turf Pitch is open and booking will be accepted from now on. Ring Mary 086 312 8444 .

Community Council Calendar for 2024 will be in the shops from mid November. Proceeds always go to good causes in the parish.

More age-friendly car parking will be made available both in the town and at the Carnegie Hall Car Park.

The National Dairy Show went very well at the Green Glens at the Weekend. It was blessed with favourable weather and great crowds attended. Well done to all involved, especially our local volunteers.

Our Fatima Prayer Group held their Monthly Prayer gathering at the Monument in the Town Square on Saturday at four. Similar  gatherings were held monthly in response to Our Lady of Fatima’s call for special prayers for World Peace. Maria Twomey led the singing of the Hymns and Mary Dennehy led the five decades of the Rosary. Nora Tarrant read the special prayers. As it was the final meeting, some surprise refreshments were served and the town was crowded with traffic and people coming and going to the Show etc.

You never know what comes out by night and sometimes it’s too late when you find out.  One morning last week I was very sad to see the remains of a little hedge-hog on the road outside my house, and a friend told me that they came upon two hedge hogs ,who came to the same fate in her travels.  I had no idea that these little creatures lived near here, and would loved to have seen them before they met their tragic fate.  Why are they all out at the moment. One lady told me that one comes to her back door at night and she gives him food.

As we’re on animals. Just to let you know that the Marian Players in Rathmore are doing it all again this season. This time Puss in Boots and curtains will go up on January 27, 2024. Keep that date free.

There are lots of cooking apples floating around at the moment. Those who have some sharing with others. Sadly some are windfalls and will not last very long. But they can be easily preserved for the rainy day by cleaning them and cutting them up, to the size of your needs  give them a shake of sugar in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer.

The exciting 45Drive resumes in Cullen every Wednesday Night at 8.30 Please support it well. 45Drives in Millstreet on Tuesday nights and Ballydaly on Sunday nights all with an 8.30 start.

Dancing in Aubane on Monday nights and Ballydaly on Wednesday nights.

Here are the results of this week lotto draw which was held on Sunday night. Numbers drawn were. 8,10,11,28 and the Jackpot was not won. €100 went to Aoife & Izzy O’Callaghan Mallow, The seller was Maura Cronin, and she got €50 sellers prize. €50 went to Siobhan Lawlor, c/o N. Tarrant, €20 each went to Sheila Sheehan c/o Cronin’s Centra, Nellie Lyons, Altamount, Tullig c/o Colemans. Denny O’Connell, c/o Jerry Lehane. Kate Dennehy, Dromagh c/o T. Sheehan, Tim O’Leary Knocknagree, c/o The Bridge Bar, Mary T Corcoran c/o Paudie Healy, Fionn  & Colm Corkery c/o Mary O’Connor & Val O’Connor c/o Paula Healy.  Next Draw October 22,    Jackpot €13,000.

The well known Frank Lewis and his helper Siobhan were in Millstreet today (Monday) where they recorded interviews six local people for his regular program on Kerry Radio. Today’s work will be broadcast on the last Saturday of October.

My favourite program on TV is on Quest.  It’s called Salvage Hunters. The Man called Brew and his driver called Tee, go to the most amazing great houses all over Britain and beyond where they buy every sort of stuff both modern and antique. Sometimes items are broken but they have a team of restorers who do the most intricate work. Then some folks bring in articles  to the workshop which is perhaps of sentimental value and they tell the story of why it’s so precious to them and want to give them a new lease of life.  I know that this program would greatly appeal to people like me who grew up in a world of fixing and repairing everything.

Please look up your phone or Mass Leaflet for details of the Masses etc for the week.  There’s a reminder of the webinar to celebrate October Mission Month, this Thursday October 19th at 7.30pm.entitled ‘Hearts on Fire, Feet on the move’ on register www.dioceseofkerry.ie Speaker Fr.Tony O’Riordan SJ.

 To quote Pope Francis’ thought for the week .’Let us pray for Peace, and let us bring it about, starting with Peace in our own homes.

Sinn a bfuil a Cáirde, slán is beannacht Dé libh go  léir.

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