Brief Updates for December

BOOK LAUNCH

Fr. James McSweeney contributes a splendid Thought for Reflection on page four of the daily Cork “Evening Echo”. Many of Fr. James’s magnificent pictures also feature on that popular newspaper….as well as on his globally popular website www.todayismygifttoyou.ie . On Thursday, 22nd November 2007 a wonderful book of these reflections and pictures entitled “A Year in Reflection” was launched in Ballyvolane in Cork. An ideal Christmas present! Fr. James’s annual Calendar was also recently launched. Do look out for both the Book and the Calendar on sale locally in many local outlets.

CHRISTMAS RECITAL

There have been many fund raising events in aid of the St. Patrick’s Church, Millstreet Restoration Fund. The most recent occasion to mark efforts for this praiseworthy and important cause is the presentation of a Christmas Recital by Kerry Choral Union in the Church on Sunday, 2nd December 2007 at 7.00 p.m.. Tickets are widely available.

OUR FAITHFUL DEPARTED

Over the past number of weeks many good people have gone to their Eternal Reward. They have so very much enriched the lives of many.

We are indeed grateful to Tim O’Shea of Tullig for having submitted the following tribute to the late William Quigley. Tim writes: “The death has taken place recently in Stockport near Manchester, England of William Quigley, aged 92 years. He had been the first teacher of the Pipers of Millstreet Pipe Band in January 1951. It has been his encouragement that has kept the Band going without a break all these years. Some people may still remember his wonderful sign writing on the local shops. He still had relatives in the locality. R.I.P..” In an email from William’s son, Liam, we learned that William was interred with his late wife Elizabeth Quigley (nee Bohan) who was also a native of Millstreet. He was a man of many talents and will be greatly
missed. Coincidentally the priest presiding over the service, Father
Moss, had a sister who was a nun at Millstreet Convent. We also note the passing of: Eddie Murphy of Wilton, Cork (husband of Kathleen Kelleher formerly of Minor Row, Millstreet); Tom Falvey, Killarney Road, Millstreet; Gobnait Christina O’Callaghan, Carriganima; Ted Corkery, Rathmore and formerly of Millstreet; George Tarrant, Derrinagree; Kathleen Dineen, Murphy’s Terrace, Millstreet. May they all rest in peace.

MUSEUM NEWS

Over the past few weeks we’ve had quite a number of school tours to Millstreet Museum including children from Bishopstown, Cork with their teacher, Marian O’Shea as well as pupils from First Class, Presentation N.S., Millstreet with their teacher, Ms. M. O’Sullivan.

We thank Marie Casey, Cloghoula for a copy of “Pobal” published by Millstreet Community School in the late 1970s in conjunction with Seachtain na Gaeilge. Among the wonderful items received from Maurice Walsh in Ickenham, England some time ago is a collection of historic lamps with very attractive glass globes. We also thank Dermot Kiely, Cullen for two very interesting Mission leaflets distributed at a Millstreet Mission in the 1930s as well as a large historic match box.

When visitors come to our Museum Centre in recent months they have been pleasantly surprised to note that it is also the setting for our LTV2 Studio.

Our phone number is 029 – 70844 while the email address is <email> .

BRIEFLETS

* We would indeed encourage you to bring your used stamps (especially with all the Christmas post) to “An Siopa Deas” (the former Post Office), Main Street, Millstreet where Bina Burke will arrange to collect the various bags of stamps for distribution to the Guide Dogs for the Blind Centre at Model Farm Road in Cork.
* During the recent beginning of the Respond Housing project beside the Church in West End the appointed Archaeologist on site, Ray Walsh, alerted us to the historic importance of the site. Pre-dating the building of the Presentation Convent in 1840, an historic French Drain and pottery ware discovered.
* The recent “Self Build” Exhibition plus the Annual Pony Show held at Green Glens were wonderfully successful.
* Every Blessing and Joy at Christmas and throughout a very Bright 2008!
* Thought for Reflection: “The notes I handle no better than many pianists. But the pauses between the notes – ah, that is where the art resides!” (Artur Schnabel, Austrian Concert Pianist, 1958)