Notices

PROLOGUE:  “Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you’re doing the impossible.”
Francis of Assisi

DEATHS:  The death occurred in England on October 27 last of Con Murphy of Baranarig, Knocknagoshel – a brother of Mary Piggott.  May he rest in peace. The deaths also occurred  of Mrs Collins, Kilconlea Upr and Dan O’Riordan, Dromtrasna Collins.  May they rest in peace.

GRAVEYARD: Visiting a Graveyard; May perpetual light shine upon the faces of all who rest here. May the lives they lived unfold further in spirit. May all their past travail find ease in the kindness of clay. May the remembering earth mind every memory they brought. May the rains from the heavens fall gently upon them. May the wildflowers and grasses whisper their wishes into light. May we reverence the village of presence in the stillness of this silent field. John O’Donohue:

NOONANS CHRISTMAS LIGHTS;  It is with a heavy heart that the Noonan Family have, after 19 years of stunning exhibitions , been forced to cancel this year’s charity display in the interest of the health and safety of their patrons.  The family hope to organise an online fundraiser in the near future.

THE FAMILY ROSARY FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER: Archbishop Eamonn Martin has asked families to pray the rosary together in what is called the Family Rosary Crusade.

WEST LIMERICK COMMUNITY RADIO PLAYING THEIR PART:  WL102fm has provided a great service throughout West Limerick since the lockdown began with Mass broadcast every Sunday morning at 10am to all the people who are cocooning .  Advertising and fundraising pay their expenses and like everyone else they need money to survive.  Please buy a ticket for their weekly draw and help them stay on air – it’s as simple as that – you’ll never miss the water ‘til the well runs dry.  Tickets on sale at Ann Lyons’s, The Square for €2 each.  Please be generous in your support.  They are also need volunteers to help run the station.

PRAYER FOR OUR DEAD:  November is the month of remembrance and for Christians it is a special time of prayer for all the faithful departed.  It is a difficult time for all those who have lost loved ones. But for people of faith, there is comfort in the knowledge that our loved ones are in God’s safe keeping. The November Lists (Purgatorial Society) for the Dead are in your Box of Weekly Envelopes and also available at the entrance door to the Blessed Sacrament Church. Your loved ones will be remembered and prayed for at Mass on All Souls Day which is on Monday, November 2 and at every Mass during the month of November. Our dead are also prayed for at Mass on each First Friday during the year.

BE WINTER READY:  Keep warm, eat well and avoid unnecessary travel. You should eat regular hot meals and drink plenty of fluids, this will keep you warm and will give you energy to keep active.  Ensure you have sufficient supplies of food and of any prescription medicine you may need. Keep active indoors.  Have sufficient fuel supplies to maintain adequate heating in your home.  Ask your relatives and neighbours for help if you need it. Keep their phone numbers on a list beside your phone.  In icy weather, wear well-fitted shoes with non-slip soles if you have to go out but try to limit walking outside during the cold weather.  Consider wearing a personal alarm so that family or neighbours are alerted if you fall.  If you have a fall, even a minor one, make sure you visit your doctor for a check up.  Leave a low energy light on at night time, preferably one with a high light output. Use a non-slip shower or bath mat.  Make sure wires or cords from lamps, telephones etc. do not trail where you walk.  Arrange furniture so that you can easily move around all your rooms.  Remove rugs or use non-slip tape or backing so rugs will not slip.   Consider installing hand rails on both sides of the stairs.

CHURCH NEWS:  The church has closed and Masses are now back on line on  www. Church Services tv.   Masses at the usual times:  7pm Monday, 10am Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Saturday Vigil Mass 6.30pm, Sunday 10am and 12 noon.  The Blessed Sacrament Chapel is open every day from 11-6pm for private prayer.  We are grateful for the financial support received from parishioners through what has been and continues to be a difficult time for everybody. Like every other charity the church has experienced a sharp fall in its income since last March. We want to make parishioners aware that you can now make a donation to the parish, through the parish website. Click on to the parish website at www.abbeyfealeparish.ieand you will see a Donate button on the right hand side on the front page of the website. Just follow the instructions and you will be able to make a donation to the parish.  Our thanks and appreciation to all who continue to support the mission of the Church in Abbeyfeale Parish.   . The celebration of Masses will continue online during this period, except for the 11.00am Saturday morning Mass which will no longer take place.  All Mass intentions that are booked to be celebrated over the next three weeks will be offered as planned.  Parishioners can link in online through the Church Services TV Network and the 10.00am Sunday morning Mass will continue to be broadcast on West Limerick 102FM.  Priests will not be making any house calls in the parish during the current situation, except for a necessary pastoral visit. All contacts with the church should be through the telephone or by email. [email protected] Tel Church 068/51915 during Mass times.

ACCORD PRE-MARRIAGE COURSES AND COUNSELLING SERVICES: Until at least May 2021 Accord pre-marriage courses will take place live on-line with up to 12 couples; via ZOOM, they will be interactive and delivered by 2 presenters. Accord has also resumed face to face counselling. Contact Accord by Phone or online to book.

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WEST LIMERICK RESOURCES SICAP RURAL AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT SERVICE would love to hear from you about the training and skills (Safe Pass, Manual Handling, Food Safety, Infection Control for example) you need to improve your work prospects. We have a very short anonymous questionnaire on our Facebook page which you can complete in less than a minute, or if you would like to go through the questionnaire in person, you can contact Finn (087 759 1951) or Eddie (087 653 5156) directly and we can talk you through the questions over the phone.  Your feedback will help us to design and plan our winter training schedule, so please take part and help us to help you get back to work.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TBNM82N

ALONE:  We provide resources and training to new and well established befriending and support services. Training options are available to both the staff of services and their volunteers.  It might be worthwhile contacting WLR on 06962222 to see if they would coordinate a group of volunteers and then organise training.  Further information : email [email protected] or call ALONE on 01-679 1032.

ABBEYFEALE COMMUNITY ALERT:  Scammers target victims on online dating websites, but can also use social media or email to make contact. Be very careful about how much personal information you share on social network and dating sites. Always consider the risks. Scammers are present on the most reputable sites.  Go slow and ask questions. Research the person’s photo and profile to see if the material has been used elsewhere.  Be alert to spelling and grammar mistakes, inconsistencies in their stories and excuses such as their camera not working.  Don’t share any compromising material that could be used to blackmail you. If you agree to meet in person, tell family and friends where you are going. Beware of money requests. Never send money or give credit card details, online account details, or copies of personal documents.  Avoid sending them upfront payments. Don’t transfer money for someone else: money laundering is a criminal offence.  Be wary of phone calls whose numbers you don’t recognise, don’t answer and if they want you badly enough they’ll leave you a message.  The same goes for unsolicited emails, never click on links and make sure you have a working anti-virus.    Don’t click on links, attachments or images that you receive in unsolicited text messages without first verifying the sender.  Don’t be rushed. Take your time and make the appropriate checks before responding.  Never respond to a text message that requests your PIN or your online banking password or any other security credentials.  If you think you might have responded to a smishing text and provided your bank details, contact your bank immediately.   Don’t fall for offers that seem too good to be true – there is no such thing as a free lunch.  If you do get a call and they are looking for bank details hang up and ring the bank but not until you hear the dial tone as the scammer could have left your line open. Now that the winter is on its way be sure and check that your security lighting is in working order.  Check the panic button is working by pressing it and speaking to the monitoring service – that’s why they are there 24 hours a day and why you are paying a yearly monitoring service fee.  Gardai are asking people to let them know when people call selling goods or offering services on 068 30010. 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. If you fulfil the criteria for a panic button the installing company will drop the gear to your door and then let you set up the connection yourself with assistance over the phone from their staff.  I have been assured that it’s only a matter of connecting a cable and anyone can do it.   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.  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.    We recently received a query about the application of VAT to the monitoring charge, your bill shows VAT but it is included in the cost not extra to it.  Committee members are Michael O’Kelly N.T., Seamus Stack, Mossie Gleeson, Kathleen Collins, Mary McArthur, John O’Sullivan, Billy Quirke N.T., Cllr. Francis Foley, Catherine Daly, Maurice O’Connell, Marian Harnett.

WEST LIMERICK RESOURCES:  The Offices of West Limerick Resources remain closed to the public but all staff are available to contact. Please ring 069 62222 with any queries and you will be directed to the appropriate staff member.

HELPLINES: 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.

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  Aware (Depression & Anxiety) 1980 303 302 National Suicide Helpline (Pieta House) 1800 247 247 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.  ALONE; has launched a national support line and additional supports for older people who have concerns or are facing difficulties relating to the outbreak of COVID-19 (Coronavirus). Professional staff are available to answer queries and give advice and reassurance where necessary.  The support line is open Monday to Friday, 8am- 8pm, by calling 0818 222 024. Hours may be extended to meet the demand.

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PROLOGUE: ”You can get totally messed up trying to please everyone with what you do, but ultimately, you have to please yourself.”
Pierce Brosnan

DEATH:  Sincere sympathy to Trish and family on death of Ritchie Roche, Ballaugh and late of Castlemahon.  May he rest in peace.  His funeral Mass was  held on Saturday Rr in the Church of the Assumption.

THE FAMILY ROSARY FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER: Archbishop Eamonn Martin has asked families to pray the rosary together in what is called the Family Rosary Crusade.

WEST LIMERICK COMMUNITY RADIO PLAYING THEIR PART:  WL102fm has provided a great service throughout West Limerick since the lockdown began with Mass broadcast every Sunday morning at 10am to all the people who are cocooning .  Advertising and fundraising pay their expenses and like everyone else they need money to survive.  Please buy a ticket for their weekly draw and help them stay on air – it’s as simple as that – you’ll never miss the water ‘til the well runs dry.  Tickets on sale at Ann Lyons’s, The Square for €2 each.  Please be generous in your support.  They are also need volunteers to help run the station.

ABBEYFEALE DRAMA GROUP STALWART:  There was widespread dismay as the news broke this week that Richie Roche had gone to his eternal reward.  Ritchie, the son, husband, father,| Kostal supervisor, church reader,  actor, sports fan and great neighbour gone far too soon.  He was a worthy successor to Dick Woulfe with his expressive mobile face that could convey a multitude of feelings on stage in the  blink of an eye.   Everyone who knew him will have their memory of him and this is mine:  We had a cow calving unexpectedly and no calving jack to hand so I asked Ritchie who happened to be passing would he come in and lend a hand. Ritchie was dressed for going out, not for farming,  but without hesitation he came into the shed and caught a hoof and had the calf out in a couple of minutes.  She was a fine heifer calf who grew into a fine cow that had several calves of her own and was known always in our yard as Ritchie’s cow.  You have left your mark, Ritchie on Abbeyfeale, and we will all be the worse off for your loss.

PRAYER FOR OUR DEAD:  November is the month of remembrance and for Christians it is a special time of prayer for all the faithful departed.  It is a difficult time for all those who have lost loved ones. But for people of faith, there is comfort in the knowledge that our loved ones are in God’s safe keeping. The November Lists (Purgatorial Society) for the Dead are in your Box of Weekly Envelopes and also available at the entrance door to the Blessed Sacrament Church. Your loved ones will be remembered and prayed for at Mass on All Souls Day which is on Monday, November 2 and at every Mass during the month of November. Our dead are also prayed for at Mass on each First Friday during the year. All Souls Day Mass will be celebrated at 7.00p.m. on Monday, November 2. Parishioners can drop off their November Lists, Mission Sunday donation and Weekly Offerings to the Blessed Sacrament Church next Sunday afternoon from 2pm to 4pm. Thank you for your continued support

BLESSING OF CANDLES AND REEMBRANCE CEREMONY: Prayer Services for the dead will take place in Cathedrals and Churches throughout the country at 3pm on Sunday, November 1. People are invited to participate via webcam and other online media services. The Ceremony in Abbeyfeale will begin at 3.00pm. During the ceremony a blessing will take place of your own personal candle at home which you may decide to take to your family graves at a later stage, observing social distancing and the travel restrictions.

ABBEYFEALE FARMERS’ MARKET:  Abbeyfeale Community Council (ACC) will distribute free Sanitiser at Abbeyfeale Farmers Market this Friday 9:30am -12 noon. Must bring own bottle. 500ml per person while stocks lasts.

BE WINTER READY:  Keep warm, eat well and avoid unnecessary travel. You should eat regular hot meals and drink plenty of fluids, this will keep you warm and will give you energy to keep active.  Ensure you have sufficient supplies of food and of any prescription medicine you may need. Keep active indoors.  Have sufficient fuel supplies to maintain adequate heating in your home.  Ask your relatives and neighbours for help if you need it. Keep their phone numbers on a list beside your phone.  In icy weather, wear well-fitted shoes with non-slip soles if you have to go out but try to limit walking outside during the cold weather.  Consider wearing a personal alarm so that family or neighbours are alerted if you fall.  If you have a fall, even a minor one, make sure you visit your doctor for a check up.  Leave a low energy light on at night time, preferably one with a high light output. Use a non-slip shower or bath mat.  Make sure wires or cords from lamps, telephones etc. do not trail where you walk.  Arrange furniture so that you can easily move around all your rooms.  Remove rugs or use non-slip tape or backing so rugs will not slip.   Consider installing hand rails on both sides of the stairs.

THE ANNUAL NOVEMBER MASS FOR PATIENTS WHO HAVE DIED IN UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL KERRY IN THE PAST YEAR:  This includes those who have died in the hospital, those who have experienced pregnancy loss, and those who have died within the Palliative Care Services.  We also remember at this Mass deceased employees of UHK both current and retired.  Monday, November 2 at 7pm.  Live streamed on www.churchservices.tv/tralee.

CHURCH NEWS:  The church has closed and Masses are now back on line on  www. Church Services tv.   Masses at the usual times:  7pm Monday, 10am Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Saturday Vigil Mass 6.30pm, Sunday 10am and 12 noon.  The Blessed Sacrament Chapel is open every day from 11-6pm for private prayer.  We are grateful for the financial support received from parishioners through what has been and continues to be a difficult time for everybody. Like every other charity the church has experienced a sharp fall in its income since last March. We want to make parishioners aware that you can now make a donation to the parish, through the parish website. Click on to the parish website at www.abbeyfealeparish.ieand you will see a Donate button on the right hand side on the front page of the website. Just follow the instructions and you will be able to make a donation to the parish.  Our thanks and appreciation to all who continue to support the mission of the Church in Abbeyfeale Parish.   . The celebration of Masses will continue online during this period, except for the 11.00am Saturday morning Mass which will no longer take place.  All Mass intentions that are booked to be celebrated over the next three weeks will be offered as planned.  Parishioners can link in online through the Church Services TV Network and the 10.00am Sunday morning Mass will continue to be broadcast on West Limerick 102FM.  Priests will not be making any house calls in the parish during the current situation, except for a necessary pastoral visit. All contacts with the church should be through the telephone or by email. [email protected] Tel Church 068/51915 during Mass times.

ACCORD PRE-MARRIAGE COURSES AND COUNSELLING SERVICES: Until at least May 2021 Accord pre-marriage courses will take place live on-line with up to 12 couples; via ZOOM, they will be interactive and delivered by 2 presenters. Accord has also resumed face to face counselling. Contact Accord by Phone or online to book.

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WEST LIMERICK RESOURCES SICAP RURAL AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT SERVICE would love to hear from you about the training and skills (Safe Pass, Manual Handling, Food Safety, Infection Control for example) you need to improve your work prospects. We have a very short anonymous questionnaire on our Facebook page which you can complete in less than a minute, or if you would like to go through the questionnaire in person, you can contact Finn (087 759 1951) or Eddie (087 653 5156) directly and we can talk you through the questions over the phone.  Your feedback will help us to design and plan our winter training schedule, so please take part and help us to help you get back to work.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TBNM82N

ALONE:  We provide resources and training to new and well established befriending and support services. Training options are available to both the staff of services and their volunteers.  It might be worthwhile contacting WLR on 06962222 to see if they would coordinate a group of volunteers and then organise training.  Further information : email [email protected] or call ALONE on 01-679 1032.

ABBEYFEALE COMMUNITY ALERT:  Be wary of phone calls whose numbers you don’t recognise, don’t answer and if they want you badly enough they’ll leave you a message.  The same goes for unsolicited emails, never click on links and make sure you have a working anti-virus.     Don’t fall for offers that seem too good to be true – there is no such thing as a free lunch. There’s a whole load of scams on the go at the minute including texts about TSB cards being locked even if you never had an account with TSB.    If you get an unsolicited parcel from Amazon keep it or dump it but don’t send it back and if it contains seeds definitely do not sow them, maybe burn them.  If you do get a call and they are looking for bank details hang up and ring the bank but not until you hear the dial tone as the scammer could have left your line open. Now that the winter is on its way be sure and check that your security lighting is in working order.  Check the panic button is working by pressing it and speaking to the monitoring service – that’s why they are there 24 hours a day and why you are paying a yearly monitoring service fee.  Gardai are asking people to let them know when people call selling goods or offering services on 068 30010. 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. If you fulfil the criteria for a panic button the installing company will drop the gear to your door and then let you set up the connection yourself with assistance over the phone from their staff.  I have been assured that it’s only a matter of connecting a cable and anyone can do it.   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.  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.    We recently received a query about the application of VAT to the monitoring charge, your bill shows VAT but it is included in the cost not extra to it.  Committee members are Michael O’Kelly N.T., Seamus Stack, Mossie Gleeson, Kathleen Collins, Mary McArthur, John O’Sullivan, Billy Quirke N.T., Cllr. Francis Foley, Catherine Daly, Maurice O’Connell, Marian Harnett.

WEST LIMERICK RESOURCES:  The Offices of West Limerick Resources remain closed to the public but all staff are available to contact. Please ring 069 62222 with any queries and you will be directed to the appropriate staff member.

HELPLINES: 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.

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  Aware (Depression & Anxiety) 1980 303 302 National Suicide Helpline (Pieta House) 1800 247 247 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.  ALONE; has launched a national support line and additional supports for older people who have concerns or are facing difficulties relating to the outbreak of COVID-19 (Coronavirus). Professional staff are available to answer queries and give advice and reassurance where necessary.  The support line is open Monday to Friday, 8am- 8pm, by calling 0818 222 024. Hours may be extended to meet the demand.

PROLOGUE:  Those who leave everything in God’s hand will eventually see God’s hand in everything.  Abbeyfeale Parish Newsletter.

DEATH:  We offer our sympathy to the wife and family of the late Neilie Flynn, 20 Belfrey Heights and founder of Flynn’s Taxi’s.    May he rest in peace.

PRAY THE FAMILY ROSARY FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER: Archbishop Eamonn Martin has asked families to pray the rosary together in what is called the Family Rosary Crusade.

MENTAL HEALTH IRELAND:  The Mental Health Ireland Art & Photography Competition is now open for entries to all Secondary School, Special Education and Youthreach students!   The deadline for entries is 5pm on November 12.  It has been a turbulent time for many of our young people. They have faced new challenges and continued to grow up in a reality very different to the one they were prepared for at the start of the year. With this in mind, the theme of our 2020/21 Art and Photography competition is ‘Reflecting on How I’ve Grown’ – in the face of the uncertainties and challenges of the year.  This is a celebration of our young people, and we want to give them the space to reflect on what they’ve learnt and how they’ve grown during these tough times so help us spread the word to the young person/s in your life! National winners in all four categories in both Art and Photography will receive a One4All Gift Card, feature in Mental Health Ireland’s calendar alongside four additional Judge’s Choice entries and their pieces will be publicly exhibited in 2021!  As a partner piece to this year’s Art & Photography Competition we are hosting online Five Ways to Wellbeing workshops for Parents, Guardians and Teachers of secondary school students.

EVENING CLASSES:  New Courses starting in September/October 2020 in the Further Education & Training Centre, Abbeyfeale (The Old Tech).  The following free classes are starting up soon:  Beginners Art, Painting Level 5, Cookery class, Machine sewing, Furniture Upholstery, Furniture Restoration (Level 5),   If you wish to register for any of the above free classes, please call Mary in the office: 06831198 or log onto www.learningandskills.ie, click on ‘our courses, and select the location as ‘Abbeyfeale’.

PROMOTING YOUR BUSINESS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA: This free course will be held on Tuesday, October 20, from 9.30am to 1.00pm.  This training will be carried out through Zoom and pre-booking is essential.  During this workshop you will learn how to use your social media platforms to strategically promote your business.  The training is being delivered by Sandra Hennessey of BeDynamic and supported by Limerick Local Enterprise Office, it is open to all new and existing businesses operating in the West Limerick area. In relation to one-to-one, group meetings and the current situation regarding Coronavirus, please see Notice to Public above. For further information and to book your place, please contact Aimee Grigg at West Limerick Resources on 069 66295 or email [email protected].

WEST LIMERICK RESOURCES SICAP RURAL AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT SERVICE would love to hear from you about the training and skills (Safe Pass, Manual Handling, Food Safety, Infection Control for example) you need to improve your work prospects. We have a very short anonymous questionnaire on our Facebook page which you can complete in less than a minute, or if you would like to go through the questionnaire in person, you can contact Finn (087 759 1951) or Eddie (087 653 5156) directly and we can talk you through the questions over the phone.  Your feedback will help us to design and plan our winter training schedule, so please take part and help us to help you get back to work.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TBNM82N

GLÓRACH DRIVE IN BINGO:  Due to its success it is planned to continue the Bingo for the Sundays in October at Fr. Casey’s GAA Grounds. Gates will be open from 1pm and Game Time is 2.30pm.   Glórach are guaranteeing a minimum of €3,050 in prize money each Sunday.  Wheelchair friendly facilities are available.

WEST LIMERICK COMMUNITY RADIO PLAYING THEIR PART:  WL102fm has provided a great service throughout West Limerick since the lockdown began with Mass broadcast every Sunday morning at 10am to all the people who are cocooning .  Advertising and fundraising pay their expenses and like everyone else they need money to survive.  Please buy a ticket for their weekly draw and help them stay on air – it’s as simple as that – you’ll never miss the water ‘til the well runs dry.  Tickets on sale at Ann Lyons’s, The Square for €2 each.  Please be generous in your support.  They are also need volunteers to help run the station.

CHURCH NEWS:  The church has closed and Masses are now back on line on  www. Church Services tv.   Masses at the usual times:  7pm Monday, 10am Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Saturday Vigil Mass 6.30pm, Sunday 10am and 12 noon.  The Blessed Sacrament Chapel is open every day from 11-6pm for private prayer.  The Pastoral Council made a presentation on behalf of parishioners to Fr Shoji at a special socially distanced ceremony in the church on Thursday evening last. Parishioners were able to follow the presentation online through the Church Services TV network. Fr Shoji expressed his deep gratitude to all parishioners and thanked everyone for their kindness and assured all that if they had to go to UHL he’d be delighted to see them.

ABBEYFEALE FARMERS’ MARKET:  Helga is back with a fine selection of locally grown vegetables which are chemical free. We also have a new stall holder – Máire Griffen from Beale who has set up a new company called OrganiGo making organic noodles from beetroot, butternut squash and courgettes and we hope you’ll all give her a turn.

ABBEYFEALE COMMUNITY ALERT:  Be wary of phone calls whose numbers you don’t recognise, don’t answer and if they want you badly enough they’ll leave you a message.  The same goes for unsolicited emails, never click on links and make sure you have a working anti-virus.    Remember to quote my late mother there are useful articles out there just waiting to relieve you of your hard earned cash so don’t fall for offers that seem too good to be true – there is no such thing as a free lunch. There’s a whole load of scams on the go at the minute including texts about TSB cards being locked even if you never had an account with TSB.    If you get an unsolicited parcel from Amazon keep it or dump it but don’t send it back and if it contains seeds definitely do not sow them, maybe burn them.  If you do get a call and they are looking for bank details hang up and ring the bank but not until you hear the dial tone as the scammer could have left your line open. Now that the winter is on its way be sure and check that your security lighting is in working order.  Check the panic button is working by pressing it and speaking to the monitoring service – that’s why they are there 24 hours a day and why you are paying a yearly monitoring service fee.  Gardai are asking people to let them know when people call selling goods or offering services on 068 30010. 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. If you fulfil the criteria for a panic button the installing company will drop the gear to your door and then let you set up the connection yourself with assistance over the phone from their staff.  I have been assured that it’s only a matter of connecting a cable and anyone can do it.   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.  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.    We recently received a query about the application of VAT to the monitoring charge, your bill shows VAT but it is included in the cost not extra to it.  Committee members are Michael O’Kelly N.T., Seamus Stack, Mossie Gleeson, Kathleen Collins, Mary McArthur, John O’Sullivan, Billy Quirke N.T., Cllr. Francis Foley, Catherine Daly, Maurice O’Connell, Marian Harnett.

WEST LIMERICK RESOURCES:  The Offices of West Limerick Resources remain closed to the public but all staff are available to contact. Please ring 069 62222 with any queries and you will be directed to the appropriate staff member.

HELPLINES: 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.

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  Aware (Depression & Anxiety) 1980 303 302 National Suicide Helpline (Pieta House) 1800 247 247 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.  ALONE; has launched a national support line and additional supports for older people who have concerns or are facing difficulties relating to the outbreak of COVID-19 (Coronavirus). Professional staff are available to answer queries and give advice and reassurance where necessary.  The support line is open Monday to Friday, 8am- 8pm, by calling 0818 222 024. Hours may be extended to meet the demand.

PROLOGUE:  “Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under the trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.”
John Lubbock

ANNUAL FAITH CAMP:  This is the 8^th annual Faith Camp in Abbeyfeale and Martina has been in touch to say  ‘Our faith camp has been cancelled this year due to the Covid 19 restrictions but we have gone online instead.  Our online name is Campa Mhuire Mhathair.  It’s a free online Catholic Faith Camp for children aged 5-12 and will be held from Monday, July 27 to Thursday, July 30.  We will have many experienced young leaders guiding our activities, including Art, Drama, Music, Sport and Baking and our new “Into the Deep” sessions on Bible Stories,  live streamed morning prayer at 10am, Mass at 12 noon,. Bonus sacramental preparation material daily for First Communion and Confirmation children. ‘  Check out www. holyfamilymission.ie/summercamp.

ABBEYFEALE COMMUNITY ALERT:  AGM will take place at the Garda Station at 8pm on Thursday, July 23.  New members welcome.

HELP FOR YOUTHS:  Our 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.

STEWARDS NEEDED:  P.P. Fr. Tony has put out an urgent appeal for extra stewards to allow all Masses to be celebrated with a congregation from next weekend.

SCAM PHONECALLS:  We got one ourselves and despite the fact that I’m always reporting on them I still got a fright to be told that €1400 had been taken off our card and they need my details to rectify the card.  Drop the phone is the best advice I can offer.

WEST LIMERICK COMMUNITY RADIO:  WL102fm has provided a great service throughout West Limerick since the lockdown began with Mass being broadcast every Sunday, loads of country and western music, (all genres of music but you see where my heart lies!), a daily rosary and local news from the county as well as current affairs and documentaries.   By the terms of the licence that they get to broadcast, they must raise a share of their running costs in the community that they serve and over the years volunteers have organised concerts, car boot sales, tea dances and sold raffle tickets as well as organising a yearly church gate collection at all the local churches.  That all came to a halt on March 14 last and they are now hoping to restart the weekly draw in order to get an income stream going again.  Tickets are on sale all over the West Limerick area and in Abbeyfeale at  Ann Lyons’s, The Square for €2 each and the first draw will be on Friday, July 17.  Please be generous in your support.

CARS AND VANS ACTING SUSPICIOUSLY:  Dogs being stolen – be careful.  Several reports locally of men calling to houses looking to buy dogs.  Don’t leave them out unless they are accompanied.

OPENING OF PARISH CHURCH: We are obliged to adhere to the two-meter social distancing rule.  Parishioners need to be aware that the obligation to attend Sunday Mass remains suspended. The practice before the lockdown of parishioners attending Mass on a Saturday evening or Sunday Morning is not practical or safe in this circumstance.  We are suggesting that some people come to Mass during the weekdays. Some parishioners like to attend Mass daily. We are asking these parishioners to attend just once a week for the time being. If you come to Mass and discover that when you arrive that the maximum number of people is already in the church, parishioners will be able to hear Mass in the car park through the outside loudspeaker system which is at the Grotto side of the church. Holy Communion will be distributed at the Grotto.  Again the 2-metre social distancing must be strictly adhered to while attending Mass in the church car park. To maintain safety and prevent the spread of the virus, the church will be cleaned after each Mass.  In line with HSE guidelines, Parishioners are encouraged to wear face coverings while in a confined area. This is the responsibility of each individual.  Attending Mass will see significant changes and we ask you to follow the instructions below. There will be only one entry point to the church that is the main door at the front of the Church. When you are entering the church, remember to maintain the two-meter social distance. Stewards will direct you to the hand sanitizing stations and then to your seats. The seats will be clearly marked. In line with social distancing the seats will accommodate three individual people and family members may sit together.  When families attend together, they will be allocated one seat to themselves.  We ask you to cooperate with the stewards. At Communion time, stewards will direct you to Holy Communion and at the end of Mass we are asking people to exit the church gradually and safely. Do not come to Mass if you have a cough or feel you could have a temperature. We will continue to broadcast our Masses online.

FARMERS’ MARKET REOPENS:  The weekly market has returned to the small square from 9-1pm every Friday.  We thank you for your continued support.

FACE MASKS:  Kathleen Quinn has made face masks which were donated to local nursing homes.  She has a selection available for sale so contact her on 087 2802704.  There are also masks available from Peg Grady at Batt’s and Maureen Hickey of Pins and Needles.

WEST LIMERICK RESOURCES:  The Offices of West Limerick Resources remain closed to the public but all staff are available to contact. Please ring 069 62222 with any queries and you will be directed to the appropriate staff member.

RETURNING TO WORK TRAINING PROGRAMME: Prepare for the post Covid19 workplace with this FREE 3 part certified programme covering Infection Controls, PPE: Correct use and disposal, and Manual Handling.

11am to 1pm July 28^th, 29^th & 30^th in NCW.  Pre-registration essential as places strictly limited due to social distancing. Priority given to those in receipt of a Jobseekers payment.  Contact Finn 087 759 1951, Eddie 087 653 5156 or email [email protected]

WEST LIMERICK RESOURCES:  The Offices of West Limerick Resources remain closed to the public but all staff are available to contact. Please ring 069 62222 with any queries and you will be directed to the appropriate staff member.

RETURNING TO WORK TRAINING PROGRAMME: Prepare for the post Covid19 workplace with this FREE 3 part certified programme covering Infection Controls, PPE: Correct use and disposal, and Manual Handling.

11am to 1pm July 28^th, 29^th & 30^th in NCW.  Pre-registration essential as places strictly limited due to social distancing. Priority given to those in receipt of a Jobseekers payment.  Contact Finn 087 759 1951, Eddie 087 653 5156 or email [email protected]

SICAP 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 around education, training and employment opportunities. To find out more contact Finn on 087 759 1951 or email [email protected] or Eddie on 087 653 5156 or email [email protected] or Dee on 087 918 5557 or email [email protected] or Adrienne on 087 277 3294 or email [email protected]. Check out the RES Facebook page for the latest in employment and training opportunities in County Limerick & beyond www.facebook.com/RES-144618922850869/

SICAP SELF EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS: If you are considering Self Employment and would like to know more about the process involved you should contact our Enterprise Support Officer Brenda Heath 087 766 9952 or email [email protected]

SICAP EMPLOYER SUPPORTS: If you have potential job opportunities and would like to find out more about our supports and services or you would like to advertise for FREE in our weekly newsletter please contact Dee, on 087 918 5557 or email [email protected]. We would love to hear from you.  Further information on all our activities and projects is available on www.wlr.ie or check out our Facebook page: www.wlr.ie/facebook

FURTHER EDUCATION: Even in these difficult times it is good to make positive plans for the future. If you hope/intend on going to college in September 2020 WLR can support you with your SUSI Grant Application Form. Leaving Cert Students, Mature Students and Parents are welcome to contact Adrienne on 087 277 3294 or email [email protected] for advice and guidance.  The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2018-2022 is funded by the Irish Government through the Department of Rural and Community Development and co-funded by the European Social Fund under the Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020

SOCIAL FARMING: Social Farming is the practice of offering activity on family farms as a form of Social Support service. In Social Farming the farm remains a working farm at its core but invites people to participate in the day to day activities on the farm. Interested farmers & farm families who would like to hear more about Social Farming please contact James, at West Limerick Resources CLG, on 087 366 3842 or email him [email protected]

ABBEYFEALE COMMUNITY ALERT:  Funds received from participants when we set up the Text Alert system some years ago have now run out so if you are still interested in receiving text alerts then we’d appreciate a further contribution of €10 payable to whoever you joined with originally.  Our AGM will be held at Abbeyfeale Garda Station on Thursday at 8pm.  If you don’t know your Eircode ring 0818 300005 and key in 4 on the menu and a real human will talk to you and look up your code ( I was looking for an eircode for an address and couldn’t figure out how to get it and so I rang that number and did all of the above and a very nice man sorted me out so I am speaking from experience).  It’s the most important part of your address because if you have to have an ambulance come for you or yours and you give them your Eircode they can travel straight to your home without having to be getting directions from people they meet on the road thus saving a pile of time.  If you are the victim of domestic abuse the Gardai ‘have a pro – arrest policy where a power of arrest exists to protect spouses or partners and your family’.

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. If you fulfil the criteria for a panic button the installing company will drop the gear to your door and then let you set up the connection yourself with assistance over the phone from their staff.  I have been assured that it’s only a matter of connecting a cable and anyone can do it.   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.  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.    We recently received a query about the application of VAT to the monitoring charge and our trusty assistant secretary made a call to the installation company to be told that the bill you receive from year 2 shows a breakdown of the charges which includes VAT but it is not an extra cost.  Committee members are Michael O’Kelly N.T., Seamus Stack, Mossie Gleeson, Kathleen Collins, Mary McArthur, John O’Sullivan, Billy Quirke N.T., Cllr. Francis Foley, Catherine Daly, Maurice O’Connell, Marian Harnett.

HELPLINES:  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.   BEREAVEMENT SERVICE:  A new national freephone bereavement support line has been launched by the Irish Hospice Foundation in conjunction with the HSE to assist staff and the public during the Pandemic.. The national freephone service, 1800 80 70 77 is available Monday to Friday from 10am to 1pm.  Samaritans Freephone 116123 or text 087/2609090 or email [email protected] Aware (Depression & Anxiety) 1980 303 302 National Suicide Helpline (Pieta House) 1800 247 247 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.  ALONE; has launched a national support line and additional supports for older people who have concerns or are facing difficulties relating to the outbreak of COVID-19 (Coronavirus). Professional staff are available to answer queries and give advice and reassurance where necessary.  The support line is open Monday to Friday, 8am-8pm, by calling 0818 222 024. Hours may be extended to meet the demand.

CHURCH SERVICES:  Mass is being celebrated every day in the Church of the Assumption and broadcast on churchservices.tv .    RTÉ will air Mass every weekday at 10.30am  on RTÉ News Now. West Limerick 102fm will broadcast Mass on Sunday morning from Abbeyfeale at 10am.   Radio Kerry will also broadcast Mass on Sunday mornings at 10am.. On Sunday mornings RTE 1 broadcast either Mass or Christian worship prayer at 11am . If you have Sky or one of the other TV packages, check out EWTN Catholic religious station for broadcast Masses and prayers. On the RTE Saorview channels, if you keep moving up through the tv channels you get to the radio channels coming through the TV, and on them there is Saroview channel 210 that broadcasts Radio Maria Ireland – a lovely station of Mass, Rosary, prayers and conversations on religious topics.