PROLOGUE: Use what talents you possess – the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best.
HAPPY 101ST. BIRTHDAY: Congratulations to Mrs. Kitty Flynn, Flynn’s Restaurant, Main St. who celebrated her 101st birthday on Sunday last and received a beautiful gift from President Higgins. We wish you many more, healthy, happy days Mrs. Flynn.
‘ONE SUNRISE TOGETHER FOR PIETA: Pieta and Electric Ireland encourage the people of Newcastle West and throughout West Limerick to share ‘One Sunrise Together’ on May 8th for Darkness into Light. Pieta and Electric Ireland urge people to sign up at darknessintolight.ie and take part in a special Darkness into Light Sunrise on May 8th. This year, participants can walk, run, swim, hike, bike or simply share One Sunrise Together for Darkness into Light, as organised walks are not possible due to Covid-19 restrictions.
April 2021 -One year on from when the country went into lockdown, Pieta’s services are in demand more than ever and they need the public’s support. Electric Ireland is proud to support Pieta for a ninth year and together with Pieta are encouraging people to register at www.darknessintolight.ie to take part in a special Darkness into Light that can unite us all whilst still staying physically apart. By taking part in Darkness Into Light, participants will unite in every corner of Ireland to help shine a light on suicide and self-harm while raising vital funds for Pieta’s lifesaving services.
Last year when it wasn’t possible to all walk together for Darkness into Light, Pieta faced a funding crisis, but Ireland came together as one community and got behind the event, with hundreds of thousands rising at dawn and sharing sunrise moments from across the country. The support that shone through was nothing short of amazing with over €4 million raised following a tremendous public fundraising effort to ensure Pieta could continue to deliver their services through 2020.
In 2021, Covid-19 continues to impact not only the nations physical health but its mental health too; it has impacted everything from people’s financial stability to their social habits. People are struggling with loneliness; a fact that is worsened with physical distance measures in place. Pieta relies on the generous support of those who participate in Darkness Into Light each year to provide this important national mental health service free of charge, 24/7. While Covid-19 has been difficult, Darkness Into Light is a chance for communities to look towards brighter days to come while sharing One Sunrise Together on May 8th.
Calls and texts to Pieta’s helpline directly relating to suicide, self-harm and suicide bereavement rose by 25% in December 2020 vs. December 2019, and Pieta is expecting the pandemic burden to have far reaching implications throughout 2021.
Pieta’s counselling services have remained available throughout lockdown with phone, video and face-to-face appointments, in 2020, Pieta delivered over 52,000 hours of therapy and answered over 70,000 calls and texts for help through their 24/7 crisis helpline.
Every single person faces challenges and Pieta worked with well-known ambassadors, including Miriam O Callaghan, Donal Ryan and Oliver Dingley who shared Sunrise Notes, detailing how they have found light in the dark, especially over the last 12 months. Sunrise Notes from the ambassadors are available to read at https://www.electricireland.ie/sunrise-notes. Pieta is also
encouraging the nation to take pen to paper to write their own Sunrise Note and share their stories of finding hope in the darkness online using the hashtag, #DIL2021. The concept of writing and sharing a heartfelt note will help normalise the challenges people have been facing this year, bringing people together through shared experiences of finding light in the darkness.
Speaking about this year’s Darkness into Light, Elaine Austin, Pieta CEO, said “We have all been faced with some incredible and daunting challenges over the last year. Pieta is here to support all of those in suicidal crisis and our free counselling has continued, uninterrupted throughout the Covid lockdowns. Our clinical team provide services over the phone, via text and in-person in twenty
centres nationwide and, since last year, we now provide free counselling over video. Darkness Into Light is crucial in delivering the funds needed to support this level of service. We have a great partnership with Electric Ireland and the company have been unwavering in their support over the years. We are grateful too for our Darkness into Light committees who galvanise support for the event across the country year after year. It’s important for all of us to hold on to hope and Darkness Into Light gives us the opportunity to come together under this one common purpose, to remember our loved ones and to help those struggling at this time, and I do hope you will all join us on May 8th.”
‘Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine.’
You can sign up for ‘One Sunrise Together’ at darknessintolight.ie or donate athttps://www.darknessintolight.ie/fundraisers/newcastlewest/limerick
CHURCHES REOPEN: Fr. Tony writes: “We are delighted with the news that from Monday, May 10th churches and places of worship will be open for people to attend Mass or other religious ceremonies. Our first Mass open to the public will be on Monday, May 10th at 7.00p.m. The maximum number of people allowed to attend is 50. The two-metre social distancing rule still applies. As when we opened last summer there will only be one entry point that is the main door at the front of the Church. Stewards will direct you to the hand sanitizing stations and then to your seats. The seats will be clearly marked. Three individual people from different households to a seat. Families from the same household may sit together. The stewards will direct you to Holy Communion and at the end of Mass we are asking people to exit the church gradually and safely. Because the maximum number of people allowed to attend is confined to 50 for the moment, it may not be possible to accommodate everyone who may wish to come into the church. In that case parishioners will be able to hear Mass in the car park through the Car Park Radio. Tune your car radio to 107FM. For Holy Communion we ask you to remain in your car and Holy Communion will be brought to you. For the time being we suggest that parishioners come to Mass once a week in order to give all those who wish to attend an opportunity to attend Mass within the church building. We ask you to follow the guidance of the stewards at all times. The church will need to be cleaned thoroughly after each time that it is used. The cleaning of the building after each Mass is essential to maintain safety and prevent the spread of the virus. Stewards: I want to thank the great army of stewards who volunteered all last year to keep the church open and safe for all those who visited the church. Stewards are essential if the church is to be opened safely. Once again we need the assistance of many stewards and helpers. I want to thank all those who have already volunteered, but we need many more helpers. Any individual over 18 years of age and with no underlying health conditions is welcome to help with the stewarding and cleaning. We ask all our current stewards and anyone else who is willing to help out with the stewarding to contact Anne our parish secretary this week to confirm that you are available. Tel 086/8661651 Church 51915 Office 31133. The current Mass schedule will remain in place for the summer months.
DEGREE: Pre-Degree course for adults, closing date May 31, details from University of Limerick.
ACTIVE RETIRED; We are inviting expressions of interest from all Active Retired Groups to host an event/ activity for older members of your community during the month of May. All event organisers must ensure that their event is on-line, or alternatively events must be adhering to the public health guidelines that may be in place at the time.
https://www.sdcc.ie/en/news/bealtaine-festival-may-2021.html
COOKING: Certificate in Culinary Arts (Food Preparation and Cooking) starts on Monday, May 10. The course is fully funded, so no fees are payable. It runs for 20 weeks full time and aims to develop a range of basic food prep, cooking and culinary arts skills. Each learner will be based in an industry standard production kitchen at Kerry College’s Clash Road Campus and will have their own workstation. Apply here now: https://kerrycollege.ie/full-time-courses/food-preparation-and-cooking-culinary-arts-tralee/
SEARCH FOR VOLUNTEERS: West Limerick Mental Health Association are always searching for volunteers and they say “Our volunteers play a crucial role in our organization and our community. Without the dedication of volunteers, many projects offered by our local branch would not be possible. We truly appreciate the dedication and initiative of those who unselfishly contribute their time and energy to further our mission. Volunteering is at the core of our organization. It is about giving, contributing and helping other individuals and the community at large; it is working with others to making a meaningful contribution to a better community.Give the gift of yourself, your time, your effort, and discover the benefits of volunteering. You are always welcome. Contact : [email protected]
CHURCH RADIO107FM: The signal from the Church Radio has been extended to a radius of 3 miles approximately. Parishioners can tune into all Masses and Church ceremonies on 107FM. This service will be of benefit to parishioners who do not have access to the internet and the church webcam. We ask you to assist elderly parishioners in tuning in their radios.
“LAST ONE FOR THE ROAD” UPDATED!: An updated version of “Abbeyfeale. Last One For The Road” by Raymond Fennelly has just been released. (although some may claim that it probably escaped!). Over twenty new stories, articles and illustrations have been added to the original publication which was first launched in 2016. The book is not on sale locally due to covid restrictions. The late Ann Lyons, The Square, would usually be the first to stock it in normal times. Ann was a great supporter of local writers and artists and is sadly missed. May she Rest In Peace.). However, copies are available on line from Amazon US and Amazon DE. (It may not be for sale on Amazon UK at present due to Brexit.) Hopefully “Abbeyfeale. Last One For The Road” will prove to be a gentle distraction during these difficult times.
CHURCH NEWS: Mass Intentions; Wednesday 10am Lena and Paddy Flynn, Creggane. No Saturday morning Mass. 6.30pm. Lena O’Connor Months Mind. Monday May 10 7pm Ann O’Connor, Dromtrasna Harnett 1st Anniversary. Sincere thanks to parishioners who continue to support the church through their weekly offerings. Your weekly contributions enable us to keep the parish functioning and we are grateful for that. As well as using the weekly envelopes, parishioners can also use the DONATE button on the parish website www.abbeyfealeparish.ie. An increasing number of parishioners are opting to use this electronic donating system. It is a completely secure and confidential method of supporting the church. . Trocaire: Thank you for very generous donations to the Trocaire campaign. The amount collected so far is €10,926. Boxes can still be handed in on Saturday evening from 6pm to 7.30pm or Sunday from 11.30am to 1pm at the sacristy door. Tel Anne 086/8661651 to arrange a time. Fr Tony Mullins 0872600414, Fr Dan Lane (Retired) 087/2533030, Fr Denis Mullane 087/26219.
WEST LIMERICK MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION: WLMHA have a Face Book page open to the public. Log on and share for news of courses, help lines, inspirational words etc.
TAKEOUT AVAILABLE: We all need something to look forward to during these months of pandemic so why not treat yourself to a meal from Leens Hotel. Available from 1-8pm seven days a week. Ring 068 31121 to place an order. Conor Mc Carthy’s Kitchen Table has also reopened for Takeaway and the Green Gourmet in Convent St. is open for takeaway until 3pm Monday to Friday.
PADRE PIO: May Devotions Castleisland Church on Tuesday, May 18 at 7.30pm. Witness will be given by stroke victim Tom Harrington from Crotta. Tom has had to re-jig a massively busy life/work schedule and manage a new pathway. A story laced with hope and positivity.
COMMUNITY RADIO: WL102fm are relying on tickets sales for their weekly draw to keep them on air as this is the only fundraiser that they can hold at the minute. Tickets are available in Kathleen’s Food Store, Convent St., Mikey’s stall in the Square, Moss the Farmers’ and also in the Siopa Nua. I would ask everyone to put €2 aside every week and purchase a ticket. You can see the value of community radio when you can receive Mass broadcast into your home every Sunday.
NOTICE TO PUBLIC: As a result of the Coronavirus, all West Limerick Resources events, Training Courses, Workshops and Face-to-Face Meetings are postponed until further notice. Staff are available to respond to clients and community groups by email or phone in relation to West Limerick Resources work and projects. Please check our Website on www.wlr.ie or Facebook on https://www.facebook.com/WestLimerickResources for further updates or contact the main office landline 069 62222 with any queries and you will be directed to the appropriate staff member.
LOCAL ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE: Are you interested in developing or expanding your social enterprise? Have you an innovative approach to addressing community needs? ‘Cooperating to Succeed’ is an imaginative yet practical programme designed to support social entrepreneurs, providing a year-long training and support package, tailored to your current needs. For further information please contact [email protected] or 069 66294.
JOBS: Follow facebook.com/WestLimerickJobs for daily posts on job vacancies and training opportunities throughout West Limerick.
ABBEYFEALE COMMUNITY ALERT: A gentleman received a phone call this morning and said that he should have known by the number – it had a 0032 International prefix –“ but in my defence, it was early and I wasn’t fully functioning. The caller, a middle Eastern gentleman, purported to be from an overwatch group for Ireland’s internet service providers including Eir, Sky Virgin media. He didn’t ask for any of my personal details or logins or passwords. He asked me to perform a speedtest on my pc. I used Speedtest by Ookla and he asked for the results. He then asked me to go to Teamviewer.com and at the bottom of the page click ‘download me’. This is a very professional looking website. When the download was complete alarm bells started ringing. It was an application that would have given him ‘Remote Control’ or remote access of my pc.
At this point I rang my service provider and they assured me it was a scam. Virgin media have taken note of it, the phone he used, the process he went through and will report it throughout their organisation. I am computer savvy, I’m usually up-to-speed and diligent with what I do or don’t open with regard to emails AND I was still caught out.
Gardaí are advising people to beware of Romance Scams. Victims of the scam believe they have met their perfect match online, but the other person is in fact a scammer using a fake profile to build the relationship. They slowly gain the victim’s trust with a view to eventually asking them for money. One Irish woman was showered with expensive gifts, including scarves and perfumes, before she was asked to invest in her suitor’s business. Over a thirteen (13) month period, the woman gave the romance fraudster €48,000. The woman initially delayed reporting the fraud to Gardaí as she was married. The extent of the scam is not fully known because many of the victims are too embarrassed to report the fraud to Gardaí. Detective Inspector Catharina Gunne from the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau warns: “Romance fraudsters may try to get their victims to send them money using the following excuses: to cover the cost of travelling to see the victim; for emergency medical expenses for the scammer or a family member — typically a child; a business opportunity which would allow them to live together comfortably. In the beginning, the amount of money requested will often be small but increases as the scammer becomes more successful in building the ‘relationship’ and tricking the victim.” Recently, a romance fraudster in the west of Ireland was found guilty of taking nearly €19,000 from a victim. The perpetrator obtained money through deception over a five (5) month period after meeting the victim through a dating website. An Garda Síochána works closely with Europol to disrupt the activities of romance scammers, particularly organised crime gangs that engage in this type of criminality. Dating websites are often monitored for criminality. Romance Fraudsters will: Try to move communications away from dating websites. They suggest that you move to instant messaging, text or phone calls instead. Ask a lot of personal questions. Avoid answering personal questions about themselves. The details that they do tell you seem made up or do not reflect reality. For instance, they may say that they’re university educated, but their spelling and grammar is poor. Try to establish a bond quickly. For example, they may give you an endearing pet name e.g. baby, darling, etc. Ask for financial help. They may tell you about money problems in the hope that you’ll offer to help. Never meet you in person. They will present obstacles and may go as far as making arrangements and cancelling them at the last minute. They may promise to want to see you but offer excuses which delay this, such as financial troubles. What you can do: Use trusted dating websites. Do not share personal details.
Do not send or receive money. Think twice before using your webcam. Trust your instincts.
Are you a victim? If you believe that you are a victim of a romance scam, or think your identity or personal information has been compromised, contact any Garda Station and report the crime. Please be assured that An Garda Síochána will treat all reports in confidence. Red C research has discovered that 55% of Irish people have received a fraudulent text, email or call. Do not answer if you don’t recognise the number and do not click on a link and definitely do not give your Pin Number. Another thing is do not post details on FB like your mother’s maiden name or what type of a car did you drive in your youth because questions such as these are often used as security questions by the bank when you are looking to borrow money. An Garda Síochána is asking the public to be aware of the rise in investment fraud scams. Unfortunately such scams are become prevalent, particularly during the pandemic due to increased online traffic and targeting of the general public by criminals using ever increasingly sophisticated means. An investment fraud scam is a fraud where criminals pose as investment managers, promise quick and high rates of return, and simply steal your money. The fraudster uses various investment schemes such as in rare metals, overseas property, and alternative energy schemes such as carbon credits and forestry. Promises are made of fast, enormous returns, once in a lifetime opportunities and can be seen to be endorsed by reputable business people or celebrities but this is without their knowledge. How to avoid Investment Fraud scams: If it is too good to be true, it probably is. Do your own research and be wary of wild claims. Always seek independent financial and legal advice before making any investments. Check the various registers on the Central Bank of Ireland’s website. Use regulated investment firms where possible (Virtual assets are not currently regulated in Ireland). Do not respond to unsolicited approaches or cold-calls. Don’t click on links for websites that you don’t know. NEVER EVER disclose your bank account passwords or codes. NEVER allow anyone remote access to your computer. Stick a plaster over the web cam and remove for Zoom meetings etc. Further information on investment and other fraud types can be found on www.garda.ieand www.fraudSMART.ie Abbeyfeale Gardai can be reached on 068 30010. If the phone is unattended it will be patched through to NCW. Contact will then be made with the Abbeyfeale Gardai. When you reach the age of 65 and live alone or with a person/s aged over 65 you are entitled to receive a monitored alarm system. But if you have younger people living in the house who are out for long periods of the day then, because you are spending hours alone you are also entitled to the system provided that you are over 65. The free equipment is provided by Pobal following an application from Abbeyfeale Community Alert, there will be a monitoring fee to be paid from the second year of installation to the installing company of €72. There may be some confusion over the word free - the equipment which costs in the region of €400 is provided free of charge by Pobal as is the first year of monitoring but after that you will be charged by the installing company for the monitoring. I have not included the phone numbers of the committee in this notice but if you want to get a panic button then ring Abbeyfeale Garda Station on 068 30010 and they will contact one of us. Should you not have a landline the installing company Task provide a sim card at a rate of €7.50 per month payable from day one with a deposit of 6 months payable on the day of installation.. Then, in year two you will also receive a bill for the monitoring fee so in year one the bill will be €90 and in year two and every other year after it will €162 approx. If you wish you can arrange a direct debit and pay this amount off monthly. Committee members are Michael O’Kelly N.T., Chairman Seamus Stack, Secretary Mossie Gleeson, Assistant Treasurer Kathleen Collins, Assistant Secretary Mary McArthur, John O’Sullivan, Billy Quirke N.T., Cllr. Francis Foley, Catherine Daly, Maurice O’Connell, Assistant Treasurer Marian Harnett.
.HELPLINES: COVID-19 Support Line for Older People: The support line is open every day, 8am-8pm, by calling 081 822 2024. Hospice Bereavement Line 1800807077 Monday to Friday 10am – 1pm. Jigsaw support line is now up and running on freefone 1800 JIGSAW (544 729). It will provide free mental health support and advice to young people aged 12 to 25 years old, and parents or concerned adults who live in the Republic of Ireland. Text 50808 to receive support from a volunteer. A helpline for Men suffering domestic abuse operates 36 hours a week on 1800816588. Men’s Aid (Amen) 01 5543811 Monday – Friday 9-5pm. 24 hour helplines for women suffering domestic abuse 1800 341900 or Adapt 1800 200504. Limerick Social Services: 061-314111. AA 061/311222 Al-Anon 086/8143425. Parent Support worker 068/31019. Accord NCW 069/61000. Samaritans Freephone 116123 or text 087/2609090 or email [email protected] Aware (Depression & Anxiety 016617211. National Suicide Helpline (Pieta House) 1800 247 247or text HELP to 51444. Irish Advocacy Network (Peer advocacy in mental health) 01 872 8684 Pieta House (Suicide & self-harm) 01 623 5606 IACP (Counselling & Psychotherapy) 01 230 3536 Shine: (Supporting people affected by mental ill health) 01 860 1620 061 – 412111 or Free phone 1850609090 A.A. 061-311222. ACCORD; are now offering over the phone counselling for couples, Individuals & family members during this time of unprecedented stress & pressure during these weeks of COVID-19. Call: 01 5313331. Al-Anon 086-8143425 Bereavement Support: 068 / 31203 068/ 31262 068/51984 St Vincent De Paul Tel 087/1213560. Counselling Appointment 061/314213. .
DO YOU HAVE NEWS: If there is something you’d like covered in the Abbeyfeale notes please contact me on 087 6866450 or email me on [email protected]
087 260 0414
