by
Eily Buckley
Dia is Mhuire diobh go leir a cairde and welcome to News Report 1148 from Millstreet.
Fondest greetings dear listeners and I wish you all the very best as I welcome you all to the year 2013, on this nice calm Tuesday morning.
Christmas is over for another year and life is returning to normal as we head off into the New Year. We had a wonderful Christmas, in that we had no sensations or tragedies during the Festive Season. Our streets were lit up in a manner which our town could afford and the shops and services did well.
Local Voluntary bodies made every effort to make it a good Christmas for everyone. Church services were a joy, with all three churches of the parish brightly lit and suitably decorated, and well trained choirs filling them with the message of Christmas. All the Schools did the story of Christmas.
150 people did the annual Christmas Day Climb of Mushera Mountain on Christmas Day and raised great money in aid of Suicide Awareness.
Our lovely Pipe Band played in the New Year in their own inimitable way as they do every year.
The Annual New Year’s Plunge of the Blackwater at Dooneen had to be deferred because the River was flooded. But on Sunday last January 6th up to thirty volunteers, some with their dogs braved the icy waters in aid of the Canon O Donovan Centre.
Many other fundraising events to many to mention were held.
Jan 6th ,The Womens Christmas ,was again celebrated in style at the Wallis Arms Hotel. Up to two hundred women enjoyed a wonderful extravaganza of food , drinks and dancing until the wee small hours. All credit goes to Mairead Daly who started this event three years ago and since then tickets are sold out months in advance. Breda O Riordan helped in no small way.
Further to that Mairead who is a cancer victim herself has started a support group in the town which they call
“ Reach- Out Cancer Support ”. Aided by Michelle O Keeffe they provide a talk shop, plus a cup of tea, for all those who have the illness themselves or know somebody who has. They meet at the Adult Learning Centre in the town on the first Thursday of every month from 10.30 to 12 noon. A collection was made at the January6th event and funds will be used to finance the running of the service.
The contact Number is 087 903 14 75.Please feel free to call.
On a personal note I want to say a sincere word of thanks to the ever helpful Mairead Daly for stepping, so ably, in for me on our last report before Christmas.
Many congratulations to the Duhallow Choral Society, including seven from Millstreet on coming first at the Big Choir Competition which was held in Kenmare recently.
The Monthly meeting of the Community Council takes place at the Wallis Arms Hotel to-night, starting at 9. All members please attend.
And following two weeks of a well-earned break the
Parish Lotto is back in action again on next Sunday night, with a Jackpot of €6,000.The draw will be held at McCarthys Bar.
Run in aid of the Town Park, the GAA and the Community Council the lotto has done trogan work for our town since it was started 13years ago. Many thanks to all those who continue to support it.
The Town Park book entitled Down the Lawn was launched recently. Copies have been sent all over the world and the feedback is eminence.
It’s on sale along with the Development Group’s Calendar and many more local publications at our local book shop, Wordsworth.
There’s a note here to say that there’s a bus going from Macroom to Dublin for the Pro-life Rally on January 19th .
Contact number 026 425 45.
Another note here to say that a Hatching Hen is available. Contact me at 086 316 32 85 and I will put you in touch.
The Annual Machinery Show will be held at the Green Glens Arena on Wednesday & Thursday January 16/17th
from 12noon to 10pm each day.
Many activities are re-opening after the Christmas Holidays. Among them the Eucharistic Adoration in our three Churches, and please be reminded that free copies of the Parish calendar are available in our church, they contain lots of useful information as well as telling the date.
Our deepest sympathy goes out to Kathryn Cleary and her family on the death last week of her beloved Martin, our parish Clerk. He devoted himself to his work in our church, for the past 16 years and we will all miss his cheery ways and impeccable service .May God console his family and grant Martin Eternal Rest.
A million thanks to all those who helped in any way to make our Christmas so meaningful and so enjoyable. Especially Canon John FitzGerald. Our ever helpful post Office staff. Those who updated our Website, and many more.
Their efforts did not go un-noticed.
Before I go I want to wish you all a very Holy, Bright and Successful new Year.
Agus sinn a bfuil a cairde.slan is beannacht De libh go leir.
