Eily’s Report – 23rd January

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

The big news in town this stormy morning is that the Lotto Jackpot was won last night. The draw had to be deferred to Monday night owning to the bad weather and our massive Jackpot of €15,200 was shared between Nigel and Tommy Carroll all of the Wallis Arms. The seller was Nigel and he gets an additional €1,520 seller’s prize. We congratulate the winners on their great win. The official presentations of prizes will take place at a future date.

As is the norm when the Jackpot is won nine lucky people win €20 each and they are as follows, Pat and Mike, Keale c/o Ml. Healy. Michelle Lane c/o Sheila Lane, Willie O’Connell Cullen c/o Colemans. Sheila Nagle c/o Joan Casey, Marie Murphy, c/o The Bridge Bar, Niamh Cronin, c/o O’Leary’s, Conor Healy, c/o The Clara Inn, Barry Murphy c/o Paula Healy.

Next draw January 28th. Jackpot €2.000.

Hold on to your hat, there’s more to come. Storm Isha which struck on Sunday was the most severe yet. As they come they seem to increase in intensity. So we must continue to brace ourselves a little more carefully each time. The battle against the elements is a tough one and by no means one not to be taken for granted.  On Sunday afternoon Storm ‘Isha’ came in like a lion, with gusts stronger than we have ever experienced before. For the first time I became a victim when then the roof over my car’s  garage was lifted high into the air and came down with a deafening crash. As luck should have it one of the poles came to rest in front of my little 12C, saving it but at the same time making it impossible to drive it out. A phone call later John D was surveying the situation and as he walked around it, another powerful blast again lifted the roof, this time I thought it was gone over all the way but no it came crashing down again and by the help only of God the pole which was still attached came standing erect and held the roof aloft for long enough to give him the opportunity to reverse both himself and the car to safety. By chance I was looking at the whole thing from the safety of my own kitchen window. A sight to behold if ever there was one and another very good reason to be thankful to the power and mercy of God. The two storage sheds of our National Boys school also went. According to one eye witness one was taken over the school building and came to rest as far off as the Astro pitch. The other was found elsewhere. Thankfully the school was not affected.

This week we sadly say goodbye to another one of our dear friends. Margaret Murphy(O’Brien) She passed away at her own home at CloughoulaBeg with her devoted family at her side. Margaret was ninety years of age in September 2023. A mere six months after myself.  Though not very tall in stature Margaret achieved more in her life than many taller people. In his eulogy at Mass her son Brian said that she emigrated to America at about the age of twenty. While there she struck up a friendship with fellow Millstreet person Paty Murphy and they enjoyed many happy years before returning home to get married.  She even brought her wedding dress from the States. What a dash she must have created when she wore it in her native Ballydaly. Our paths crossed many times as we made our way through life. She had eleven children and I had three. But our paths crossed even in the labour ward of Millstreet Hospital, where we were spoiled by the nurses and staff for a whole week after giving birth. I can still recall her telling me that this was her third son. Back then children were rigorously called after their grandparents. The first son after the husband’s father, the second son after the mother’s father and the third son after his dad. This was Margaret’s third son and when Paty came to visit, she asked him if he wouldn’t mind if they called this little fellow after her dear brother who lost his life in a drowning accident in their local lake many years before. An army man, next day he was due to return to his regiment in some foreign part, but his dream was to have one more swim before he’d go. Alas it was to be his last. So there and then Margaret and Paty called their third son Benny. I had the pleasure of taking all their children to school in the bus. Here Margaret had to take on the mighty transport company and get them to change my route so as to accommodate her flock, a task I was only too delighted to agree to. Her cheery laugh brightened every gathering, She never refused to give a party piece, her favourite ’The Man in the Tree’ telling the story of Valy Leary who caused consternation when he was forced to spend the night on a tree, to escape the floods as he returned from seeing the love of his life in Cullen one bad wet night. Her huge family were justly proud of her and it showed in church today when they lined the front seats and when I saw the girls taking the white cloth from her coffin and placing it lovingly on the seat as is the custom. How could I not but think of all the times that Margaret covered each of them in their little beds. The final song as her coffin was eased down the church was, ’A Mother’s love’s a Blessing’ and the people along the way joined in. Kings and Queens couldn’t ask for more.

Rest in Peace our dear Friend.

The return of Alter boys and girls at our masses is very welcome following their long absence due to the pandemic and the singing by the boys from our Boys National school at 11.30 Mass on Sunday came in for great acclaim, with the hope that it will continue.

This week on Wednesday the Presentation Convent School will have their annual Grandparent’s Day. Opening with Mass in the Church at 10 and then all the Grandparents are invited to the school where their young ones will treat them to little gifts which they have crafted specially for them plus a cup of tea and goodies. The relationship between the younger and the older is a very important thing. It’s a bond which takes root from the very beginning and as they grow children get mobile phones now at an early age and when a youngster is within phone contact with a grandparent they are never lost for an opinion and answer, advise, family history. We are all learning all the time and this is something that came to light for me personally in recent times. Nothing beats human contact of course but in the meantime the phone works.

Well done to them all in Carriganima once more. This time they presented a massive cheque €8,290 to MaryMount University Hospice, proceeds of Matt’s Motoring Racing Calendar.

Please take extra care in this uncertain weather, with it’s wild gusts of wind and sudden showers.

Notes from this week’s Mass Missalette.

Thought for the week, as we commence our Diocesan Mission and Catholic Schools week, let us pray in thanksgiving for the freedom to practice our faith and may the Lord bless us and guide us in being communities of Faith, Hope and Love.

Mother Teresa said, Be Faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.

Sinn a bfuil a cáirde, slán is beannacht De libh go leir.