Dia is Mhuire díobh go léir a cáirde and welcome to my report.
After spending three long days housebound by torrential rain, blizzard-like snow and horrific gales, my mood was not in a good place when I opened my laptop to write this week’s report. But then just as I wrote the first few lines the phone rang, I’d forgotten to pay in advance for our A.R.A. Christmas dinner at the Castle Hotel in Macroom on the first week of December. There was nothing for it but to abandon the job in hand and head off to pay the needful. As you’d expect the ladies in charge like to get the money all on the same day, bank it and put that task to bed. In town of course there were other things to do, which involved going to a few different shops. Well it was a real uplifting experience. Each place I went the staff were busy putting up their Christmas displays. Half empty boxes, wrapping paper all over the place and a real air of expectancy about. Soon my dismal air turned to thoughts of Christmas and all that goes with it. Driving through town people were busy putting up the Christmas lights along the streets. What was our tent in the square stripped of its overcoat and the skeleton being adorned with festive apparel. Then I needed petrol and as I still haven’t mastered the art of filling my own car and even though Colemans are only too willing to give me a fill, I beckoned to a nice young man who was passing and asked him if he’s oblidge, which he did asking me first how much I needed and told him to fill it up, job done, he had he politely asked me if I’d like him to go in and pay the bill for me ( with my money of course) but declined as I needed to go there anyway. I asked him his name, one which I cannot pronounce, obviously he was from some foreign clime. I came home feeling a new person ,having met so much goodness and that wonderful feeling that you get from a town, all working together for the common good. Need I say please support your own town in the runup to Christmas. We have a lovely town and Community please honour it with your support and co-operation. Rural towns all over the country are struggling and it is up to each one to seek supported from their own. Shopping can be made easy giving vouchers and every business in town provides them. Goodness knows you have to give special gifts to certain people but very few householders will frown on a voucher for petrol or oil or coal.
I dropped in to see the Men’s Shed one day last week and got a warm welcome and the grand tour of their work/meeting place. They have a healthy membership and plans for lots of expansion. At the moment they are busy putting the finishing touching to a grand wooden hut which will be placed outside our church as our Christmas Crib this year. They make bird nesting boxes, etc. as well kindling at a very reasonable price, all made from recycles pallets and waste timber. Down low at the back of the site they plan to have raised beds in the future, akin to those already in use at the rear of our Adult Learning Centre in our Main St. It brought me back to days of yore to see the remains or gully of the old millstream at the very back. This rivulet was taken from the Finow River, at Liscahane forming a weir and it is guided along this narrow shore parallel to the main road and continuing on under our main street in the town to work the wonderful O’Regans Mills before the days of electricity. I can still recall Andy O’Regan, Jerry’s Grandad, making the trip on his big motorbike to the weir, where he was able to adjust the flow according to the power that was needed at the mill. He was a big man with a big motorbike and sound of it filled the air, we thought he was a god. I could go on and on about the mill. It was the centrepiece of our lives. Taking bags of our homegrown grain to be crushed or ground according the which animal or fowl we were feeding it to. Happy days.
The turning on of our Christmas lights will be very special this time with our community paying a special honour to our dear departed Humphrey Hickey by inviting members of his family to do the honours. It will indeed a bitter sweet moment as we turn out thoughts to one of our best friends and volunteers who was called to Heaven all too soon. Humphrey will always be missed.
Our lovely award winning health shop, Capabu adopted a wonderful Christmas Spirit during the week when their staff went into the shops and stores in the town handing out complimentary cups of coffee to all they met. I’m glad that this lovely new gesture of friendship and joy was captured on film, Something new.
Please do not forget to renew your Text Alert notice before the end of this month. Put your name address and phone number in an envelope plus €10 and hand it into Wordsworth Stationery shop in town or at Guerins Shop Ballyday.
Two of our well known traditional musicians were honoured recently. Matt Cranitch and Jackie Daly were awarded Persons of the Month at a special function which was held in their honour and we’d like to congratulate them both and laud them for the wonderful contribution that they have made to our Irish music over the years.
This Friday is all-age chat time at the library from 11 to 1, all welcome. It is also our Active Retired ,Tea & Scone and Bingo Day at the Day Centre from 1.30.
Well done to all those who held the Memorial Game in memory of Danny Creedon at the weekend in spite of the challenging weather conditions. All proceeds of the event go to Marymount Hospice.
They had a great start at the Glen Theatre for the play, ’Roger’s Final Farewell’ by the late Ballydesmond writer Sean Buckley. They will do it all again on December 1st and 4th. Please note that booking is essential, ring 029 56239.
Cullen Special Needs will hold their Annual Christmas Party on Saturday December 7th.
Here are the results of this weeks lotto draw which was held on Sunday night Numbers drawn were 12,21,23,30 and the Jackpot was not won. €100 went to Jim Broxton, Cloghoula, the seller was Denis Hickey and he got €50 sellers prize. €50 went to Shane Browne, c/o Centra West End, €20 each to Tom & Mary C c/o Colemans, Jerry & Ash c/o The Bridge Bar, Jerry Pat O’Leary c/o Jerry Pat, Chris c/o Duggans Steel, c/o Capabu, Lauren Buiche c/o Jerry Lehane, Eiblis, Danny, Ruaih & Aoife c/o PJ Creedon, Tim O’Leary, Knocknagree, c/o The Bridge Bar. Tuco Ramiez ,c/o the Mal Paso. Jackpot for next week €6,600. The draw December 1st.
The AGM of the Lotto with be held on December 8th at the Adult Learning Centre. Please support it well.
Eucharistic Adoration every Tuesday from 10.30 am the 7.30 pm
Legion of Mary meeting every Tuesday night at the Parish Centre at 7.30.
Invitation to divine gathering with well known Greg Dunne, who has cenacies around Ireland and America at the Parish Centre on Saturday November 30 and Sunday December 1, from 2.30 each day. All welcome. For details contact Noreen 087 902 4867. Tea & Coffee supplied. Admission free. Donations greatly appreciated.
Slán is beannacht Dé libh go léir.
