Millstreet.ie

Dia is Mhuire díobh go léir a cáirde and welcome to my report.

‘I tore my ould breetches going over the ditches, St.Paterick’s Day in the morning.’ This adage was chanted out in our house when I was a child every St.Patrick’s Morning for as long as I can recall and it set us young ones off on a tangent to find Shamrock for going to Mass, while the others saw to the milking and feeding the stock and taking the milk to the creamery. While the rooster crowed from his highest vantage point ’to warn off the evil spirits from the world’. Youngsters can be devils at slagging one another and if our find was not the real three leafed thing ,” Ah that’s  only  clover, the cows will be after you.”  Clover being every cows favourite food.  By keeping a watchful eye we soon learned how to identify the real thing.  Then there was the problem of pinning it on to our coats.  Every home had needles because so much of our clothes were either home knitted or home sewn. But a headpin was rather special. Men had one almost permanently on the lapel of their coats, stuck down at the peak where it could be easily retrieved when needed.  Picking thorns was an art in itself and because of the way the work was done back then there were plenty of them to pick.  If the victim couldn’t reach the spot himself there was always a willing hand nearby to pick a thorn for them. Children screamed during the ‘operation’ while the elders just grinned and bared it. The offending piece had to be removed or it could turn septic.   When it was over the pin was dutifully returned to it’s place on high and work resumed. However it didn’t always go swimmingly. Certain thorns and the time of year often caused a problem.  The  thorn of the Black Thorn bush at the start of the growing season was one to be avoided or handled with extreme care. To make us aware of the danger, we were often given accounts of where the likes led to the demise of a person. One example remains embedded in my mind of a young man who emigrated to America to make a better life. He was conscripted into the army and served in the wars of the time. He returned home where he bought a farm, got married and started a family but alas in the course of his work at  making his land better he suffered a prod from a Black Thorn bush and died of blood poisoning.  Anyway on St. Patrick’s morning the pin was again brought into action to keep the national emblem well secured and put safely away afterwards for the next time.

Our 11.30 Mass was everything that a St.Patrick’s Day Mass should be. Our wonderful pipe band played us in, its loud strains filling every inch of our mighty church.   A member did readings and in these days of clerical scarcity we were honoured to have as many as four priests on the alter at one stage. The weather favoured our parade at five in the afternoon and there were prizes for the various entries and the best dressed window. The results will be published as soon as they come to hand. In the absence of a hotel the fast food outlets did a lively trade at the end of the day. Well done to our Community Council all those who worked so well together to make our annual parade in honour of our Patron Saint the great success that it was. This years Grand Marshal was none other than the one and only racing driver supreme Billy Coleman.

Merit where merit is due our popular Garda Sargent Paul Lynch told me that a bus driver who ferried a number of our young people home to Millstreet from a night out in Killarney of Sunday night March 16^th   told him that he had never met a more honourable, respectful and well behaved group of young people returning from a night out.  He was so deeply touched by them that he saw fit to meet our Garda member and let him know. Well done to that group they did themselves and all of us proud.

A beautiful ceremony was held at Coleman’s Garage at four pm on St. Patrick’s Day.   A prestigious event by any standard. When the proceeds of the  recent 50^th anniversary celebrations of Billy’s winning of the British Rally Championships which came to a massive €47 050 were divided between three very deserving local causes, namely The Canon O’Donovan Centre.  St. Joseph’s Hospital and Marymount Hospice.   Well done to all those connected to this venture and especially Billy himself a lovely humble man never craved the limelight himself, yet made history and made Millstreet proud. The offer of refreshments had to be declined as everybody rushed away to view the Parade.

The Holy Season of Lent is moving on and I hope that those who gave up some favourite thing are not feeling the pinch. But of late we are being told that maybe it’s better to do something else rather than to be cranky or irritable with those around us because of our fasting.  There are plenty of  other ways of doing our bit during Lent like paying a visit to needy/lonely persons or giving a few extra bob to a collection box, the choices are far and wide. Think about it and I’m sure you’ll be a happier person for it, but more importantly,  so will those around you.

Please be reminded that the great clean-up of our approach roads, Liscahane Black Shed road and Macroom road will take place this coming Saturday  March 22. Meet at the Square where bags, hi-viz jackets etc will be provided.   New volunteers welcome. Please give your best support.

Cullen & District Special Needs  Association want to thank all those who supported the Weigh In this year.

The AGM of our Pitch n Putt Club will be held on Friday March, 21 and the Parish Centre from 8.15.

Millstreet Gramophone Circle meeting at the Canon O’Donovan Centre Friday March 21. Presenter Con Kelleher. Starts at the Canon O’Donovan Centre at 8.15  All welcome.

Eucharistic Adoration every Tuesday from 10.30am to 7.30pm

 Legion of Mary Meeting every Tuesday night from 7.30 at the Parish Centre.

Here are the results of this week’s lotto draw which was held on Monday night.  Numbers drawn were 19,20,27,31 and the Jackpot was not won. €100 went to Connie Healy, Murphys Tce, the seller was his wife Paula and she got €50 sellers prize. €50 went to Mick & Mairead Walsh c/o Corkery’s. €20 each to Anne Ducey, c/o Sheila Lane, Denise Smith c/o Michelle Whelan. Catriona Twohig, c/o Guerins, Colin, Simon & Eve Murphy, c/o Corkery’s, Denis Murphy, c/o Rita O’Reilly, Aoifa Moynihan c/o Guerins, Jerry O’Connor, c/o Mike Healy,  Neily McSweeney, c/o The Bridge Bar. Next Draw March 23. Jackpot €9,400.

Sinn a bfuil a cairde.Slan is beannacht de libh go leir.