PROLOGUE: “A moment of clarity without any action is just a thought that passes in the wind. But a moment of clarity followed by an action is a pivotal moment in our life.”
– Don Miguel Ruiz Jr.
DEATHS: We offer our sympathy to the family of Peggy ( Margaret ) O Riordan whose funeral took place on Tuesday last. Also to the family of Patrick Flynn, Convent Road whose funeral took place on Saturday. May they rest in peace.
CHRISTMAS WISHES: May I take this opportunity to wish all our readers a very happy Christmas and all the best for 2017. Thank you to all those who provide me with copy over the year.
REMEMBERING ZOE: Little Zoe Scannell would be looking forward to Christmas if she had not lost her life two years ago, instead she is helping to make sure that every child in Abbeyfeale gets a special Christmas gift this year with the installation of an zip line in the playground at the Town Park. The work is in progress and when it is up and running will surely prove a great attraction. The playground has also received a facelift with paint supplied from the fundraising events held this summer.
ST. ITA’S WRENBOYS: King of the Wrenboys Paddy Finnucane has a call out for musicians and singers to join his merry band of Wrenboys who will be taking to the hills around Abbeyfeale on St. Stephen’s Day fundraising for local man Fr. Tim Galvin who has just returned in the past week to his parish in war torn South Sudan.
CHARITY CYCLE: The local cycling club are planning to meet at the Glorach Theatre grounds on St. Stephen’s morning and embark on a fundraising cycle.
TRADITIONAL CONCERT: All roads lead to The Mills Inn, Ballyvourney, Co Cork on Wednesday, December 28 for a Christmas special concert featuring: Dónal Murphy (accordion), Steve Cooney (guitar) and Nell Ní Chróinín (vocals).
All three are very well known in the Irish Music circles, between them they perform with Four Men and a dog, Breaking Trad, Stocktons Wing, Danu to name but a few. This promises to be a great night of Reels, Jigs, Slides, Polkas & Songs. Maybe a polka set or two will be danced also! Concert starts at 8:30pm. Tickets available The Mills on 026 45237. Adm €15.
THIRD ANNUAL CONNIE HARNETT SWIM: The third annual New Year’s Day swim in Ballybunion in honour of local cattle dealer Connie Harnett takes place on Sunday, January 1 with proceeds going to the Dialayis Unit in Crumlin Children’s Hospital and Ava and Daniel who are travelling to Calcutta next Spring. All those taking part will be entered for a draw for a Limousin calf which will take place at the Corner House on Saturday, January 14.
WELL DONE: John Morris is a man of many talents and his latest undertaking with a group of Traveller men at the Abbeyfeale Adult Education Centre (the old Tech) is a feat of engineering and well worth a visit from anyone with an appreciation of the skill of woodworking.
CORN NA FEILE: Abbeyfeale Coursing club will hold their annual coursing meeting on Wednesday and Thursday next December 28th and 29th on the club grounds Abbeyfeale. First brace in slips each day at 11.30 am sharp. This is the 45th running of the famous Corn Na Feile meeting and guarantees to be one of the biggest sporting events on the Abbeyfeale sporting calendar this year.
Also don’t forget the last few tickets for the club sweep draw are still on sale. Only €5 each or 3 for €10 and are available from any committee member.
If you have any family member abroad and would like a Dvd of the coursing they will be available from January 2nd at a cost of only €20 from Jack O’ Rourke’s bar.
BOOK LAUNCH: A few weeks ago Bishop Brendan Leahy launched Brother John M. Feheney book, ‘Good Seed, Fertile Soil’, on religious vocations in West Limerick. Included are mini-biographies of 87 priests, 10 Brothers and 64 nuns, all from Abbeyfeale. The book is on sale (€25) at Ann Lyons’ shop, The Square, Abbeyfeale and would make a great Christmas gift.
GLÓRACH NOTES: We have a break from rehearsals before Christmas but it will be full steam ahead in the new year as we get ready for our staging of the John B Keane play The Highest House on the Mountain. This classic play will be opening at the Glórach Theatre on Thursday, January 12 with further shows on the 14, 15, 17, 20, 21 and 22. Looking forward to seeing ye there. We wish everyone a very happy Christmas and positive wishes for the New year from all of us at the Glórach.
SUPPORT OUR PARISH CLERKS: The Parish Clerks Collection will take place at all Masses on December 31 and January 1 next. We thank you for your continued support and wish you peace and happiness for Christmas and the New Year.
PROJECT CHILDREN: Raymond Fennelly writes; “In 1975 Irish immigrant brothers Denis and Pat Mulcahy of the NYPD gathered a group of family, friends and neighbours together in New York to start a scheme offering children from Northern Ireland a chance to temporarily escape the violent turmoil of their daily lives. From modest beginnings Project Children ultimately brought over 20,000 Catholic and Protestant children to suburban US for summer-long visits where they forged unexpected friendships and found they had more in common with the “enemy” than they thought. Denis and his brother Pat hailed originally from Meelin in County Cork. They emigrated to America in the early sixties and eventually joined the NYPD. Their mother Eileen was born in Caherhayes, Abbeyfeale. She was a sister of Joe Moriarty and Josie Foley (néé Moriarty) from The Hill. In 1977, just two years into the project, Pat was injured at work and had to retire and return to Rockchapel. However, he continued to support the project from home and recalls numerous phone calls from Denis over the years to tell him that passports etc. needed to be sorted. The Mulachy brothers got the People of the Year award in 1989 for their work with Project Children and were also given a special medal from the Pope. Denis has been nominated twice for a Nobel peace prize and he has also received an accolade from president Bill Clinton. He accompanied the former president to Northern Ireland in the 1990s. During the course of 40 years more than 20,000 children from some of the worst-hit areas of Belfast and Derry spent six-week stints with American host families, far from bomb blasts and riots. The tale of how Cork natives Denis and Pat launched Project Children with willing family and friends in 1975, is told in the feature film “How to Defuse A Bomb: The Project Children Story”, narrated by Ballymena-born actor Liam Neeson.
The film won the Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature at The IFI Documentary Festival and was recently shown on BBC and is expected to be broadcast by RTE in the near future. View trailer: https://vimeo.com/180118286.
CHRISTMAS CHORAL SERVICE: It was a lovely crisp evening in Abbeyfeale last Sunday when the crowds starting gathering for the annual choral service under the direction of choir master Dee Dennison which got underway, spot on, at 7pm. The programme had been very well rehearsed and moved smoothly with commentary from MC Connie Daly. The five schools in the parish all contributed and the children were a credit to their teachers and parents as each school in turn took up their places on the altar with not a child taking a step out of place. The night included solo performances by the parish cantors, musicians Riona and Helen gave two wonderful recitals finishing up with the late Aine Ni Gabhainn’s party piece ‘Summertime’ . As usual the senior church choir accompanied by some of our young up and coming traditional musicians excelled. The night came to an end just after 9pm when local group ‘Lost Souls’ joined Fr. Tony Mullins in a moving rendition of ‘ O Holy Night. There was a raffle for sponsored hampers and all proceeds went to the very active youth ministry in the parish which is one of the legacies left behind by Fr. John O’Shea.
GOOD NEWS STORY: Maurice O’Connell, chairperson of the Abbeyfeale Community Council reports: “Work on the final section of footpath from Abbeyfeale Town Centre all the way to the Great Southern Trail has finished and a huge thank you is due to our friends in Limerick City & County Council. Keep up to date with everything happening on our new Facebook page Abbeyfeale Alive.
CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEA FROM LOCAL SCRIBE: “Last One For The Road” A final collection of short stories and articles has been published by Abbeyfeale scribe, Raymond Fennelly. “Last One For The Road” is available from Ann Lyons, The Square or can be ordered online from Amazon.
LEARN SOCIAL DANCING: Eileen McDonagh from Tournafulla is starting a social dancing class at the Parish Hall in Newcastlewest on Monday, January 9 from 8-10pm. Everyone welcome.
NOONAN’S LIGHTS: Congratulations to Tony, Hannah and Siobhan who won a countrywide Energia competition top prize of €4,000 to add to their charities collection.
CANTATA: The senior pupils of Scoil Mháthair Dé showed us what the true spirit of Christmas is with their performance of the story of the birth of Jesus last Thursday in the Church of the Assumption. Earlier in the day the younger classes had their Nativity Play in the church and their parents and teachers should be rightly proud of every one of them. It is planned to broadcast the Cantata on WL102fm in the near future.
RAMBLING HOUSE: Listowel Rambling House will take place in the Seanchaí Centre, Listowel on Thursday December 29 from 9.15 pm. A great evening of traditional music, song, dance & storytelling is guaranteed and audience participation is welcome. Admission is free, tea/coffee served.
CHRISTMAS WEEK WALK: The Great Southern Trail Ltd. wishes all its supporters and friends a very Happy Christmas and invites them to participate in the Christmas Cycle/Walk along the Greenway. Cyclists will set out from Newcastle West (Gaelscoil on Station Road) at 1.30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 27 and walkers will leave from Ardagh Community Hall at the same time. The destination for both groups is Rathkeale where tea/coffee and mince pies will be provided at Rathkeale House Hotel. Cyclists will return on their bikes to Newcastle West (total distance 16miles/26km). Walkers only have to cover 5miles/8km as they will be returned to Ardagh at 4.30pm by bus with Coach House Travel. Nollaig Shona agus gach dea-ghuí san Bhliain Nua!
LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS. West Limerick Resources provides ongoing support to Local Community Groups in the West Limerick area. A big Thank You to all our Community Groups who participated in our training; we do hope that we will be able to support you in 2017. Should you require any support or guidance as a Community Group or have ideas for training needs in 2017 please call Stefanie at West Limerick Resources on 087 3290483 or Damien on 087 9042477.
AFTER SCHOOL SERVICE: From January, after-school care is available to pupils of Dromtrasna N.S. in the school hall every full school day. Enquiries to Deirdre 085 7252419.
RURAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICE (RES) / YOUTH EMPLOYMENT SERVICE (YES): If you need support job seeking and feel that you are a little lost in deciding what you want to do, then you should contact the RES / YES which offers 1:1 support and career planning to individuals around education, training and employment opportunities. To find out more you can contact Finn or Lynne at West Limerick Resources on 069 61316 or Adrienne & Dee on 069 62222. Make sure that we are one of your New Year’s Resolutions! Looking forward to hearing from you in 2017.
BENNY THADE’S RAMBLING HOUSE: Takes place at Fr. Casey’s Clubhouse on the third Thursday of each month
LIMERICK TOASTMASTERS: Toastmasters will continue on the first and third Wednesday every month until May 2017. Next meeting Wednesday, January 18 at the Desmond Complex, Newcastle West from 8-10pm. Further information 087 7972855.
Toastmasters provide you with the tools to become a confident speaker in a safe caring environment where everyone is on the same path. Great for anyone who finds it hard to stand up in public and get their opinion across.
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS :A big thank you to all who helped to put up the Christmas lights in town and who helped to decorate the square. The place is looking welcoming and bright and the crib is in its rightful place in the centre of all the celebrations.
ADVENT PRAYER: Hail and Blessed be the hour and moment in which the son of God was born of the pure Virgin Mary, at mid-night in a stable in Bethlehem in the piercing cold. At the same hour vouch safe O My God, hear my prayer and grant my petition.
COMMUNITY ALERT: Keep an eye out for your elderly neighbours who might need support during these very long dark evenings.
COUNSELLING SERVICE: Limerick Diocesan Social Service provides Counselling in Abbeyfeale on Monday’s. Tel 061/314213 for an appointment.
BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP: Abbeyfeale’s Bereavement Support Group can be reached on 068 31230 or 068 31262.
ABBEYFEALE’S SINGING CLUB: West Limerick singing club monthly singing session take place on the first Friday of every month in the Ramble Inn Bar, Abbeyfeale.
TEXT ALERT: The text alert system is up and running. If you are worried about someone who calls to your door or you see a vehicle around the area or someone drives into your yard then you should ring 068 30010, the call will be answered by NCW Gardai who man a 24 hour telephone line. If they feel that your concerns merit further investigation then they will contact the company who will send out an alert by text to all those signed up to receive it. When you receive a text you should forward this to all the contacts in your phone so that the word gets disseminated throughout the community. These alerts will then enable other people in the community to keep an eye out for suspicious behaviour. If you would like to receive these warning texts then contact any member of the committee who on receipt of €10 (to help pay for the on-going cost of the texts) will take your number and sign you up. Presidents Micheal O’Kelly, Killarney Rd, and Sean Broderick, New St. Chairman James Stack, Cahir, Secretary Mossie Gleeson, Kilconlea, Assistant Secretary Mary Mc Arthur, Meenkilly, Joint Treasurers Kathleen Collins, Convent St. and Marian Harnett, Knockbrack. Committee: Brenda and Liam (Brodie) Barry, Meenkilly, John O’Sullivan Meenkilly, Neily Lyons, Dromtrasna, Cllr. Francis Foley, Billy Quirke N.T, Knocknasna and Ballaugh, Denis Collins, Knockbrack, Mary Jo O’Connell Knocknasna and James Joy, The Grove
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NEW TOASTMASTER CLUB IN LISTOWEL: If you would like to gain self confidence, self esteem and improve your ability to speak in public then you should check out the newest public speaking club in North Kerry. The next meeting will be held in the Listowel Arms Hotel on Thursday, January 19 from 8 -10pm. Admission €5 which covers cost of refreshments and rent of the room. Further information from Gerard Mannix on 087 2193670.
RURAL SOCIAL SCHEME: West Limerick Resources in conjunction with the Department of Social Protection implement the Rural Social Scheme in West Limerick. The scheme aims to provide part time flexible employment opportunities to low income farmers by utilising their skills and talents on community and not for profit projects. If you are: (a) currently in receipt of Farm Assist, (b) have a herd number, a copy of your Single Farm Payment application and are in receipt of a qualifying payment from social welfare (www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Rural-Social-Scheme.aspx) then you (or your spouse) could benefit from the scheme in return for 19.5 hours of work in the community, (c) you will also be contributing to a class A stamp while on the scheme. Work is available in all areas with hours to fit in with your farming needs. The following people are also permitted to participate in the scheme: children or siblings of a qualifying herd owner provided they meet the necessary qualifying criteria.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES: Community/Voluntary Groups & Sporting Organisations: Applications are also invited from organisations interested in having suitable work carried out in their areas. Types of work includes: Maintaining and enhancing walkways and trails; village and countryside enhancement projects; social care and care for the elderly; environmental maintenance work; projects relating to not for profit cultural & heritage sites; work with not for profit organisations including administration. Further details and application forms can be obtained from the Rural Social Scheme Supervisors at The Weigh House, Market Yard, Newcastle West. Tel: 069 61540, E-mail [email protected] or West Limerick Resources (Main Office), St. Mary’s Road, Newcastle west.
ABBEYFEALE PARISH CHURCH NOTES: Parish office 11-1pm Tuesday-Friday 068 31133. +Parish Support Worker 068/31019. Counselling Appointment 061/314213.Church 068/51915, Tel: 068 – 31157 : 087 – 9708282, Samaritans: 061 – 412111 or Free phone 1850609090 A.A. 061-311222 Al-Anon 086-8143425 Bereavement Support: 068 / 31203 068/ 31262 068/51984 Console 061-306792
Fr. Anthony Mullins P.P. 068/31157 Fr Joe Foley CC: Tel: 087 – 2618412. Masses: No morning Mass Monday, evening Mass at 7pm. . Mass Tuesday – Saturday at 10am except in the event of a funeral when Mass is 11am. Mass on Saturday 11am. Mass Intentions: Intentions for next week; Wednesday 10am Mary Scannell remembrance Mass Friday 10am Edward & Kate Reilly and deceased family members. Christmas Eve11am John Riordan, Upper Purt.
Novena prayers to St Anthony on Mondays during the 7pm Mass Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help on Fridays during the 10am Mass.
To see the daily readings you may log on to www.abbefelaeparish.ie and click on daily reading on the home page. Log onto www.churchservices.tv/abbeyfealeparish for the church webcam. You can now watch all services from home if you have access to a computer. You are asked to use car parking spaces in the Church car park before you start parking in the middle of the yard.
JIM LYONS’S RAMBLING HOUSE: Held on the third Tuesday of the month in Knockaloucca.
SET DANCE CLASSES: Set dancing classes in Ballyhahill Community Centre from 8.30-10.30pm. Further information from Seamus 0851149796.
MONAGAE RAMBLING HOUSE: The monthly rambling house in Monagae Community Centre takes place on the 2nd Monday of the month.
DON’T BE LONELY THIS CHRISTMAS Senior Help Line, Ireland’s only national listening service for older people, will be open every day over Christmas and the New Year from 10 am to 10 pm. We are here to take your call if you are on your own, feeling isolated, worried or would like someone to talk to. Christmas can be a sad time for many people, and in the midst of apparent universal gaiety, some of us can feel very alone. Senior Help Line volunteers are trained older people who understand the ups and downs of life, and are happy to listen, to keep company and to support. So let us put the companionship into Christmas this year. LoCall 1850 440 444, no call costs more than 30 cents. All calls completely confidential.
MAUREEN’S TRIPS FOR 2017: Day Trip on Sunday, January 15. Leaving NCW at 9.30am, we are going to visit Kerry Crafted Glass where we will be given a demonstration of re cycled glass making something beautiful, there will be pieces to be seen in the show room. We will have our usual breakfast and dinner. There will be time to visit Killarney and then go onto Kilgarven to the hostilliery of the Healy Rae family where Micheal will be waiting to meet us. We will be picking up in Listowel and Abbeyfeale. For more information and booking contact Maureen 087 9845102.
Spring Break from Friday, March 31- Monday April 3, 2017. We will be based in the beautiful Boyne Valley Hotel in Drogheda with complimentary use of the leisure centre. There will be breakfast and four course dinner each evening and afterwards dancing in our hotel to fantastic music that will have your feet tapping. One evening we will have entertain ourselves night which has proved to be a great success and most enjoyable. On Saturday we will board our bus for Banbridge Outlets Centre and take in the beautiful scenery of Co. Down with those magnificent Mountains of Mourne. Every day we will be out and about seeing new places. Drogheda is a fine town and has an awful lot of interesting places to visit one being St. Peter’s church where you can see the encased head of St. Oliver Plunkett. We have a full and exciting week end planned everyone is most welcome and you will be surprised to hear that this break will most definitely not break the bank. We will be able to pick people up in Kerry, Abbeyfeale, Newcastle West, Rathkeale, Adare and The South Court Hotel. For more information and booking contact Maureen 087 9845102.
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087 260 0414
