Dia is Mhuire dióbh go léir a cairde and welcome to my Report.
It would pay you to drive through the country a see the Rowan Trees. The Mountain Ash. They are weighed down with bright red berries. The Rowan tree grows in the wild so you can happen on them anywhere and in these fine sunny days they light up your way as you travel along, especially byroads and hilly areas. I had an occasion to go on such a trek today and believe me all along the way from the top of Bealac to the top of Sliabh Luachra they lit up my way. A beautiful gift from Mother Nature and still with the gifts of Mother Nature, I’m feasting on succulent damsons from Noreen’s Garden at the moment and the birds are feeding off the wild raspberries along the roadsides. To name but a few.
The AGM of our Community Council which was held last week was an outstanding success. It was very well attended and lots of new faces ready to join forces and ready to help. The perfect example of when the going gets tough, the tough gets going. An injection of new help and new thinking is needed to get this important body in our town up to speed at a time when we are in danger of losing our precious hotel and as we are in the throes of making big changes in our childcare section and moving the adult gym to the old cinema building. There is a lot to be done. Members are making themselves available to move some of the necessary equipment by hand or otherwise when asked to do so which is so delightful to see. God bless the work.
Our Canon O’Donovan Centre celebrated it’s 30th anniversary last Sunday and all were invited to attend. It was a lovely sunny day. Doors opened after 11.30 Mass and the people came flooding in. There was transport for those who needed it. In the front room they had albums of all the countless people who crossed their doors in that length of time. They were all named and there was massive interest as people searched for the ones they knew or maybe were related to. Beautiful refreshments were served in the next room and it was a case of all hands on deck as both men and women from the community came to serve the goodies and join in the banter. Sean Radley was busy taking photographs and I’m sure that most of the pictures that were in the albums were taken by him over the years. Well done as usual Sean.
Some of us in the crowd could recall the night over thirty years ago when the late dr. Michael Feely who was chairman of the Community Council at the time said at the monthly meeting, that we should build ‘something’ for the elderly. We hardly knew what he meant. It was something new. He went on to say that there was very good government funding for the likes at the time. The idea caught on and experts were brought around to view things and advise. A couple of places in the town were suggested, but they said that a place for the elderly should have an air of space about it some greenery, flower garden ,seating, car parking, room for minibuses to deliver people and supplies. Things that never entered our heads so the possibility looked rather bleak as we tried to envisage such a place near the town. Then like a sign from Heaven came the offer of some of his land from the late Canon O’ Donovan and what better way did we have to copper fasten his kind gesture than to name it “The Canon O’Donovan Centre” It was beyond our wildest dreams.
Back in the day when we had a number of priests in the Presbytery they kept a garden and grew some of their own potatoes and cabbage and vegetables so there was land around Presbytery’s for that purpose. With the passage of time things changed, those things were mass produced and were easy and cheaper to buy and there were less priests in the house anyway, so the land was no longer needed. In time it was turned into the state of the art facility that we have today. For those of us who can remember when it wasn’t there and how it came to be by the kind gesture of our parish Priest, it is still something of a novelty, a gift, a dream come through. We all worked hard to make it a reality. Attended lots of meetings, became directors and remained focused until the day it was opened by Pres. Mary Robinson. Even after that it needed a great deal of voluntary work to get it on it’s feet, and still does.
That is what is in my mind today when I see new people stepping up to the line to continue make Millstreet a better place. Their new energy and their new thinking is needed for that.
Many thanks to all those who helped in any way to make the 30th anniversary party so joyful.
Please continue to support our Thrift Shop in Minor Row. It is run by volunteers who keep it open every day. All the stock is in very good condition, some with first-day tags on. They are placed on hangers on a rail and sizes marked on each garment. The proceeds of the Thrift Shop goes to the Canon O’Donovan Centre Fund.
The Dairy Show will be held in the Green Glens for two days, October 12 & 13.
Ger. Connor’s Annual Barn Dance with be held at his home near Boherbue in October. Check the date.
Chair Yoga with Nora Keane resumes and the Canon O’Donovan Centre this Friday 3 to 4 pm.
Ring Mary, 087 053 7172 for the full list of activities resuming from now on.
The relic of St. Bernadette will be going around the country for the next couple of weeks. Please look out for it if it is within your reach. It’s a very unique visitor to our country, the first time ever and it is hoped that many blessings will be granted through her intersession. The Priest says special prayers at Mass every morning and the congregation sings a verse of Our Lady of Lourdes in honour of the visit of the Holy Relic.
Ten o’clock Mass every morning is preceded by the Rosary and Prayers with Mary Dennehy and it is live streamed.
Eucharistic Adoration every Tuesday from 10.30 am to 7.30 pm. Confession in Millstreet every Saturday 12 to 1.
Dancing in Ballydaly every Wednesday night. 8.30 to 10. Aubane on Monday nights from 9.15.
During these lovely sunny days pay a visit and maybe take a friend to the lovely development at the Boeing, the Blackwater crossing in Dooneen. A place of peace, beauty and tranquillity.
Here are the results of this week’s lotto draw which was held on Sunday night. Numbers drawn were 3,11,22,27 and the Jackpot was not won. €100 went to Eugene O’Callaghan. Seller Tom Carroll. Tom got €50 sellers prize. €50 went to Eamonn Sheahan. c/o Colemans. €20 each to Mary O’Callaghan c/o Capabu, Dan Creedon ,Millstreet c/o Bush Bar. Margaret Cooper, c/o Angela, Kelleher, Michael Twohig. c/o Lehane and Robert, ‘Tonight’s the night’ c/o Lehane, Layle Kelleher c/o Nana –B. Cronin. Mag. Pearse c/o Capabu, Phil Sheehan, Keim, c/o Eily. Next draw September 22, Jackpot €4.600.
Slan abhaile agus beannacht libh go leir.
