Dia is Mhuire díobh go léir a cáirde and welcome to my report.
Isn’t it divine when the sun comes out ,you want to run outside and grab it up before it goes away again. I wonder is it silly to think that the few stolen minutes in the sun does you good. How long does it take to make a difference? Minutes, half an hour, a full hour. I wish I knew. Well in any case I get out even for a moment. This morning I soaked up the morning rays at my little suntrap outside my back door and even if it didn’t do any good to my body it certainly did wonders for my mind. The birds were enjoying it too and their song was like balm to my sun-hungry me. My moments of bliss only lasted about half an hour when the elements changed their mood and it started to rain again. From my kitchen window I can see my camellias, I have them in two colours with a cheeky azalea fighting for notice in between and they are all ready to blossom. Other people’s camellias are flowering for ages mine just now, and others will follow according to their time. But for now the moment is mine. And as the buds slowly emerge there is something new to look at every morning and admire for the day. All around the garden growth is in the air. The snowdrops have done their duty for now and the daffodils are well there. The bluebells and the wild garlic are ready to do their bit and it’s worth using the bit of sun to walk among them even for a few moments.
We live in fast changing times, young parents are run off their feet with children at school and both working. Even older people are made to feel that they should be up and doing also, with the many courses and classes which have been devised for them in an effort to keep them well and independent for as long as we can. However, we have the option to slow down to take stock to reflect and ask ourselves ‘how did I get to here’. What happened to all those years since I was young. We have a tremendous way of checking our past by checking it with the power of our photographs. We should never underestimate the value of the pictures that we took along the way. In the old days when cameras were few and expensive and labour intensive pictures were few. To buy a film and take it to the chemist when it was full to be developed took a lot of time and money. Those pictures were carefully arranged into the many albums that came on the market and stored away in a safe place and as our busy lives took over, we rarely saw them again. Then along the way modern methods made it a lot easier and since the coming of the mobile phone at the turn of the century ,we are snapping at everything.
There is no better way to check on times and dates of the past than looking at the family photos and it can give us hours of pleasure to leaf through our past in pictures. Very old photos are real gems. The generation, the clothes they wore, where they lived is history and most of the old houses had pictures hanging on the wall of great grans, some just to the waist, especially the Irish ones but if they were from America, floor-length gowns with beautiful hats on the ladies and the men in fitting attire and the gold watch’ and chain across their middle, all standing to austere attention for the camera. We have become much more relaxed with the camera now and every home has a host of images which are stashed away in drawers etc. waiting for the day when there would be time to look at them again and for people of my ilk, well our time has come. We have the time, and the time is now. We have the time and we should, we owe it to ourselves to reflect and look back and browse through the ways and the means that have brought us to where we are today. It would surely be a journey of ups and downs. The downs which made us strong to achieve the ups. The people that we met along the way and made a difference. Our children, our reason for living. when they were born, Christening, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, Education, Weddings, Grandchildren and then when they had all left home. The friends who have passed on maybe shed a tear. Pictures of our work, changing methods of our livelihood. The trips to Holy places, Tubrid, Lourdes, Fatima and places in the sun. Trips across the world to visit sons or daughters who emigrated. The clothes we wore. Where we bought them, what we paid, “Oh God look at the hat”, maybe not looking as fat as we thought. The people who are no longer with us. Every picture tells a tale. Once in a while perhaps finding a photo of a friend which you’d like to share. Personally I had that experience recently when by chance I met a lady whose late parents lost everything in a housefire and she was left without any picture of them luckily I was able to provide her with a group photo which included her beloved parents. Pictures on the mobile phone are very convenient and you can look them up in a flash, but there is nothing as nice as holding the real thing in your hand a savouring the memory, the connection.
All roads lead to Carriganima on Saturday March 1, for a gala fundraising event in aid the their wonderful local transport bus C.A.R .T. They have a long line of Stars lined up for this important event. Keep that date free.
Meanwhile over in Dromtarriffe, The Dromtarriffe Vintage Club will hold their first run of the season on March 2. Sign in at Dromtarriffe GAA grounds P51yy26. Sign in at 11 am for a 1 pm clock start. This is a joint run for Vintage Classic Cars and all types of tractors. Proceeds in aid of Marymount Hospice. Details from 087 975 5286. Please support it well.
As a result of all the rain and floods our roads are in very bad condition, hazardous really and many motorists are coming to grief with the potholes, many of them hidden by the water in them. Please drive with extreme care .
This is Jubilee Year and special prayers continue to be said at our Masses. Jubilee Pilgrimage to Rome led by Bishop Ray will take place from May 19 to 23rd. Details from Nora, 087 931 8976. At the moment all our prayers are asked for our beloved Pontiff, Pope Francis who is very ill.
Eucharistic Adoration every Tuesday in Millstreet from 10.30am to 7,30pm please support it well.
Legion of Mary Meeting at the Parish Centre every Tuesday night from 7.30. All welcome.
Confessions in Millstreet every Saturday from 12.30 to 1pm.
Pro-life Campaign online information event Monday March 3rd , <email>/events"><email>/events .
Here are the results of this week’s lotto draw which was held on Sunday night.
Numbers drawn were 1,2,5,6 and the Jackpot was not won.
€100 went to Maura Cronin, Main St, Maura was the seller and got €50 sellers prize. €50 went to Hanna Mary McSweeney, Carriganima, €20 each to Mary Anketell, c/o Guerins, T, Kelleher, Liscahane, c/o Patsy C, Georgie Sheehan c/o Tom Carroll. Kian Cooper c/o The Bush, Chelsie Cleary c/o The Bush Bar, Jim Broxton, c/o M. O’Connor, Sharon & Denis c/o D.P. Lane. Next draw March 2nd Jackpot €8.800.
Our vibrant Community Council are gearing up for this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Please get ready to support them. This Saturday is March 1st, memories of March Fair Day comes flooding back. In the past we all stepped out to see who was in town and view the beautiful horses parading through the streets and the handsome lads on board. Working men came to town in the hope of being hired by a farmer for the year to come.
Tune in to Sean Radley every Tuesday night from 9.30 on Cork Music Station.
The latest from Cullen this week is 27 weighed In and 28lbs weight lost. Just two more nights left.
Next week we will have Shrove Tuesday and pancakes galore before the long fast of Lent starting on Wednesday. But let us get through this week first.
Sinn a bfuil a cairde. Slán is beannacht.
