Dia is mhuire diobh go leir a cairde and welcome to my weekly Report.
The fire and brimstone of the past few days has left the place looking fresh and green and so much more alive ,following the hot dry spell. Not everybody likes the rain, but we can’t survive without it and we are thankful that it came. I doubt if the heavy showers did any harm to the turf in the bogs, I’m told its as hard as iron due to the very hot weather.
I know you’ll be glad to hear that our friend who had the cycle accident continues to improve. This mighty son of Kilnamatyra Tom Scriven takes some beating. His mind perfectly clear, but needs lots of rest and in between is up for a joke. He would be the first to say buíochas le Dia, being a very religious person, proud of the Faith that was handed on to him at his native Kilnamatyra as a child. I found it rather disturbing to learn that in spite of the terrible impact which threw him over the fence and out of view, that his feet/shoes were still firmly attached to the pedals and his head helmet still in place.
Bikes and cycling have changed a lot since my young days. Back then there were no fancy gears nor clips to hold your feet in place and we had both a man’s bike and a woman’s bike. The man’s similar to the ones of today with its bar from the saddle to the handlebars, but as all the ladies wore skirts at that time the frames was fashioned in such a way that the lady could slip her foot across in safety and dignity to meet the other pedal without having to throw her foot over the saddle like the men. The bike was regarded as a very useful thing and learning to ride a bike for the very first time was regarded with the same egotism as passing you driving test today. There were no stabilisers like today, to practice on. People had different ways of riding a bike and very often you could tell a lot about the person on board just by looking at them. The smart and upright sort had the saddle at the right height worked the pedals with the tip of the toes and wore clips to keep the legs of the pants from getting stained by the oil on the chain. Belted overcoat securely tied and headgear be it a hat or a cap just at the right angle. Then you had the lad who never got it right but still succeeded. The saddle too low and working the pedals with his insteps, was the sign of a cabog or foolish person. Few things were worse than having the saddle too high. This could be the result of many persons using the same machine and it would be too much trouble to change it for each one. The seesaw movements that went with it was enough to give one a pain in a very delicate area. Looking back I can see a very close resemblance between the bike and the donkey. They were things of equal purpose. Handleable by young and old and always at the ready to do small jobs. Today the bike is a very high class mode and used only for pleasure and exercise, back then it was a must and a big come up from shanks mare. They often bore heavy loads. A bag of potatoes or turf or other commodities on the bar, or a box of chickens or baby ducks for the market on the carrier at the back. Once on board the driver could be heard singing a lively song or whistling a merry tune , to shorten the road as they used to say. The bike also took large numbers of rabbits when there was a good market for them and many a machine bore the tell tale signs of the dried blood down along the wheels. But was there anything as nice as a spin on the bar from a beau. A lad and lass in union, she on the bar cuddled in his arms as he all masterful and caring and close, wiled away the miles. Bikes were big business back then. There was at least one bicycle shop in every town and people saved long and hard to buy one. There were different makes to choose from, the Raleigh being the favourite. I think mine was called a Triumph. Roads were bad a punctures were numerous so many shops stocked the necessary requirements to fix them. There was a special little bag buckled to the saddle to take the patches and the glue/solution, to deal with the many setbacks. During the war tyres were scarce and not quality so the breakdown kit was a must. Even when the bike had run its race and was no longer useful for the purpose for which it was made, we children enjoyed hours and hours of bowling the bare rim along the yard driven by a piece of stick. Most of us fell off bikes at one time or another and lived to tell the tale. One twilight when cycling down Pound Hill I pulled the wrong brake and went out over the handlebars, people thought I was badly injured when I wasn’t getting up, but I was anxiously checking to see if I’d torn my silk stocking, which would be a great tragedy indeed. Where would I get the price of another pair. That’s what it was like back then. Today we often see old bikes or even parts of, all painted up and placed in gardens perhaps as a fond reminder of a loved one who used it in their day. Many bicycle shops opened in the town over the years ,but the one that stood the test of time is still in business by John Lehane on the Main Street who provides bicycles for hire every year. This week we extend our sincere sympathy to John on the death of his lovely wife Mary (Hickey) who was a dear school pal on mine. RIP.
This week we offer our sincere condolences to our Dear Canon John FitzGerald, his brother Fr. Tadgh and Ena on the death of their mother Eileen. At the great age of 104. Eileen was sister of the great Dan O’Connell Knocknagree who did so much to revive the cultures and traditions of Sliabh Luachra for many years. May Eileen’s soul Rest in Peace.
Our best wishes go to all the students who have finished their exams, many will be seeking Summer work to earn some ready cash or perhaps pay for their further education. May the Help of God go with them all the way.
Father’s Day, a time when all the Dads will got pampered for the honour of being a Dad. There is a nice prayer for Father’s Day on this weeks Missalette which says Dear God, We ask you to bless all the fathers in our Parish today and always. Help them to be a father like You. Give each one the patience and grace to handle situations in a loving way. For the fathers who are no longer with us , we ask that you give them a room in your heavenly home, where they will continue to watch over us. Amen. I want to wish Fathers near and far a very Happy and enjoyable Fathers Day on Sunday.
The Boys National School Annual move-thon will be held in the Town Park on tomorrow Wednesday, June 21st .
Here are the results of this weeks lotto draw which was held on Sunday night. Numbers drawn were 4,6,10,15 and the Jackpot was not won. €100 went to Cody & Bailey c/o Mgt Bourke. Sellers prize of E50 went to Mgt. €50 went to Mary Rose Kelleher & Mike Keane, €20 each went to Mgt. Smyth c/o Mgt. Bourke, Emer Sarah O’Sullivan, c/o Colemans. Kieran Lonergan c/o Michelle Whelan. The 3 Murphy’s ,Clarabeg c/o Rita O’Reilly. Nigel & Tommy c/o The Wallis Arms, Trish Carroll c/o Tom Carroll. J&A Murphy Drishane Rd. c/o Colemans. Jimmy O’Connor, Tullig, c/o The Wallis Arms. Next Draw June 25. Jackpot €9 000.
Eucharistic Adoration every Tuesday from 10.30 am to 7.30 .Please support it well.
Look up our website every day for details of the many events which are happening in our area and beyond .
Tune in to Sean Radley every Tuesday night on Cork Music Station. From 9.30.
Every good wish to those going on holidays and remember there’s lots to enjoy at home if you are not. Gardens are due their first trim ,new things still coming up and birds singing from dawn till dusk. Be aware of it all.
If you’d like to put your name down for a cruise of Cork Harbour contact Mary Sheahan just now. At 087 053 7172.
Agus sinn abfuil a cairde Slán is Beannacht Dé libh go léir.
