Dia is Mhuire díobh go léir a cáirde and welcome to my report.
Watch it, mind yourself, this is Fools Day, April the first. In olden times it was a day to be dreaded because somebody might make a fool of you. It was all very innocent really. Say to a pal or sibling ‘your lace is ripped or there is a mouse on the shelf above you etc.’ and of course you’d jump or react and then you were called an April Fool making you feel foolish that you got caught. Then you’d spend the rest of the day trying to catch them back but great fun for the one who caught you. It was always a relief when the end of the day came and you were free from pranksters for another year. There’s a lot of that sort of humour gone out of the world today and it’s a pity.
Mother’s Day lived up to the sort of day that any Mother would love. The priests wished all Moms the best at morning Masses and the bright warm sunshine was just the cue to dress up in something bright and cheerful to be taken out by the family to laud mother on her one day of the year, or to be spoiled at home away from the kitchen for the day. Shops and Florists were fully stocked with lovely things and businesses had vouchers available for many of her favourite things. Many thanks to our families and the many eateries who pulled out all the stops for the ‘Girls’ on Mothers Day.
Merit where merit is due, I can’t say enough good things about those who cleaned up our roads last week. The ring road from Pound Hill to the Black Shed Road and into town at Church St. went through a transformation when the huge amount of litter which was deposited along there was picked up. The change is clearly visiable to the passers by. I wasn’t around that weekend and next time driving down that road I noticed a difference. It took me a few moments to figure out what it was and then it struck no litter. Please do all you can to support those who are willing to give time to keeping our places litter free. Our New Bus Shelter looks very complete in the Town Square. A very welcome feature in our town, now that we have a wonderful bus service passing through many times a day. I’m sure that a time table will be added very soon.
Mea Culpa , mea culpa. I neglected to put on the results of our St.Patrick’s Day Parade. But perhaps better late than never, so they are as follows. Best window Maura Cronin, Best float, Mushera Platform & Jackie’s Scriocht. Best Fleet, Colemans, Best Pet Summer Collins & Lola, Best Club our Juvenile GAA. Novelty Act, Batman ,The Joker & Two Face, Cultural Group, Butter Road Drama Group. School prizes went to Kilcorney, Presentation School, Scol Muir the Boys National School. Vintage, Ted Collins. Community Group Los Zargos FC. It was indeed very enlightening to see so many turning out to make our St. Patricks Day so meaningful. Not forgetting our wonderful Pipe Band who Played at our 11.30 Mass and raised the roof with rendering of the Highland Cathedral along with the organ before heading off for a very busy day. Again well done all round.
WE are justly proud of our outstanding Quiz Team team who beat them all, including Kerry , at Cappamore on Saturday night to reach the All Ireland Final. They are Jerry Doody, John Tarrant, Pat Sheehan & Connie Healy. We wish them the best of Luck at the All Ireland Final which will be in Castlebar at the end of the month.
Last Sunday was the fourth Sunday of Lent and our 11.30 Mass was celebrated by Fr. Billy Radley. The weeks are moving slowly by for all those who decided to give up one of their favourite things for six weeks and I laud their efforts when I think back of the times when we thought that Easter would never come while the pile of sweets grew higher and more tempting. The Stations of the Cross are said in part at weekday Masses at 10am and on Friday evening before mass the stations are said in full from 7pm. Also on Monday nights during Lent prayers around the Cross are said from 8 and the good news is that they are on our wonderful streaming service and are available in any part of the world.
Those preparing for Confirmation have been busy in the build-up to becoming Soldiers of Christ. And how times have changed. In our day the big thing was to take the pledge against drink. These days it’s a pledge against Drink, Drugs and Gambling. With Drugs and Gambling and pledge for Life. We wish them God’s Blessing.
Eucharistic Adoration every Tuesday, from 10.30am to 7.30pm Please support it well.
Legion of Mary meeting every Tuesday night at 7.30pm at the Parish Centre. All welcome. Confessions every Saturday from 12.30 to 1.
Here are the results of this weeks lotto draw which was held on Sunday night. Numbers drawn were 12,18,19,31 and the Jackpot was not won. €100 went to Tommy Burke, Murphy’s Tce, The seller was Ann and she got €50 sellers prize, €50 went to Pat & John Randals, Minor Row. €20 each to Shane & Margaret Browne c/o Cronins Centra. Chris, Kate, Libhin, & Carose c/o D. Hickey, Helen Murphy, Killarney Rd. c/o P Hickey, Paul McCaffrey, Lackabawn c/o Centra. Tim Long, Inches, c/o Ann Burke. Robert Carroll, c/o Tom Carroll, James O’Leary c/o Self. Next draw Apr. 6th Jackpot €9.800.
In closing, it is not easy to be upbeat or joyful this week following the dreadful loss of life on our doorstep and especially with local connections. The loss of two beautiful local mothers and another in County Waterford on a day dedicated to them. There are no words of mine to convey the enormity of these shocking family tragedies. Communities near and far are numb as they scan the media and phones to find out how such a thing could happen. May the Good Lord grant them Eternal Rest and Console their grieving Families and the community at large.
Slán is beannacht.
