Dia is Mhuire dióbh go léir a cairde and welcome to my Report.
Millstreet featured largely on last week’s Irelands Own. It’s dated Oct.11.2024. The back cover is devoted entirely to Millstreet. Singing it’s praises and lauding the work of it’s people. Written by a man called Denis J Hickey, it highlights all our best assets and features such as our Holy Tubrid Well, source of our water supply our medieval forts and castles and our many entrepreneurs and lots more. Giving us all good reason to be proud of our own place. Further to that I had the honour of having a letter published on the letters page of the same weekly. It was a first for me, in the shape of a comment that I made on an article in a previous issue about the renowned Dr.Aidan McCarthy from Castletownbere, whom I’ve just discovered was a close relation to our own Fr. Paddy and the O’Byrne Family. His book A Doctor’s War is well worth a read. During the Japanese invasion of Malaysia etc, the Beara Medic found himself totally emersed in the conflict, he was taken prisoner and endured years in concentration camps and extreme cruelty. But at the end when the enemy was defeated and the Japanese general at their mercy his men wanted to kill him right away for all that he had done to them. But the Dr. Aidan said no, two wrongs never made a right. The man was so delighted and grateful that his life was spared that he presented his mighty sword to him. The sword was the symbol of all that this man stood for, his country, his pride his everything, and this was his way of showing his gratitude. That sword is now at the home of Dr. Aidan at the McCarthy public house in Castletownbere. On a visit to Beara one time, I’m very proud to have been photographed with that historic weapon in my hand by kind permission of his daughter and how wonderful it was for me to present a copy of it to Kevin O’Byrne who is a staunch historian but only ever heard the story of the sword. Never dreamt that he would see a picture of it or know where it is kept today. The truth is stranger than fiction.
I was delighted with the feedback that I got about the errors in some of our local road signs which I referred to last week. Many people want to see the mistake being corrected before they are accepted as the norm in the years to come.
Be warned, the rutting season is on and the danger of crashing into a wild deer on the road is very real at any time day or night on any road. We know at least of one who came to grief. A local retired lady travelling on her own had the awful experience of a deer crashing on to her windscreen on a main road. The animal went right over her car making it a right off and needless to say shattering her nerves. So please be careful. In other countries where the problem is greater, they have a beeper which they attach to the car to warn off the offending hind .
The name of Millstreet rang out loud and clear at the crowded Opera House in Cork on Tuesday October 1, when our friend the great Daniel O’Donnell who invited us to his show, called out my name to them know the wonderful reception that himself and Majella got in Millstreet on St. Patrick’s Day eight years ago. Being the lovely sincere person that he is he never fails to look us up when he is within striking distance. As usual he put on a wonderful show, songs mingled with stories of his life ,his humble beginnings and his great surprise at the fame that he is enjoying today coupled with his love with Majella and the grandchildren. Family means all to him. The crowd was in awe when he ended the show with his own rendering of ‘How Great Thou Art’.
The weather lived up to it’s yellow warning status over the weekend. We are fortunate around here where people seem to be able to cope with the torrents. Low-lying fields and roads were flooded but no structural damage was reported. In the aftermath we have lots of leaves and other debris on the ground and they can be a real hazard when places are wet a mucky after the floods. So please take the utmost care.
I was delighted this week when I investigated my spud-in-a-bucket effort. It was late by any standard when I planted a medium sized tuber into a flower pot so I didn’t expect any great results. I used some ordinary earth and some potting compost. At the time there were many ideas on Facebook about what to add to the mix when planting , egg shells ,banana skins and so on. For watering make up a mix of a spoon each of brown sugar and bread soda and a dash of white vinegar and water, rain water if possible. I gave the pot a dressing of it now and then. The stalks came up healthy and strong and when muggy weather threatened blight I used the ordinary mildew spray that I had. At times I thought it was not going to make it. The year wore on and I had my doubts and made no rush to find a result until this week. When I tipped the pot over I was overjoyed to see all the fine big spuds rolling out. I had some for my dinner today and they were balls of flour. Roll on next season. DV.
Here are the results of this week’s lotto draw which was held on Sunday night. Numbers drawn were 25,28,29,31 and the Jackpot was not won. €100 went to The Twomey Family, Station Rd. The Seller was Denis and he got €50 sellers prize. €50 went Catherine Sheehan c/o Angela. €20 each to T.P. O’Connor, Millstreet GAA, Hickey & O’Mahony Family, Kilmeedy, Shane Murphy, Millstreet GAA, Connie Tarrant, c/o Noreen Tarrant, Tarrant Family, Liscreagh, c/o Noreen, Mary O’Sullivan, c/o Kevin Hickey, Shane Browne, c/o Centra West End, Margaret & Shane Browne, c/o Centra West End. Next Draw October 13, Jackpot €5.200.00
Eucharistic Adoration every Tuesday in Millstreet Church from 10.30 am. to 7.30 pm. Please support it well. Sign up for an hour every week or drop in.
Legion of Mary meeting every Tuesday night at the Parish Centre from 7.30.
Our Lady of Fatima Anniversary Sunday October 13th on Main St. Killarney. Rosary and Chaplet will be recited. Annual Remembarance Service for parents and families who have lost a baby through miscarriage or stillbirth in University Hospital Kerry, Sunday, October 13 at 2.30pm.
Irish Cancer Society are seeking volunteer drivers to help continue the service of providing transport for those attending treatment appointments. Contact Monica, <email>
The November ceremonies for November are on last Sundays mass leaflet and on the website.
Please pray for all those young and old who are ill at the moment or worried about their health etc.
Thought for the week. Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seed that you plant.
Slán is beanacht Dé libh go léir
