WEDDING BELLS: Congratulations to Julette O’Sullivan, daughter of Bridie and Gerry, Killarney Rd. and Niall Barrett who celebrated the sacrament of Marriage here in Abbeyfeale on Saturday last. We wish them every happiness in their married life
PARTY: The Senior Citizens Christmas Party will take place on Sunday 5th Dec. at 1.00pm in the Listowel Arms Hotel. Please contact Noreen 068-49238 or Eileen 087-9313912.
ROSARY: A 9 Day Rosary Novena beginning Tuesday, November 30 and ending on Wednesday, December 8. People all over Ireland will pray the Rosary together each evening at 9pm. On the final evening at 9pm on Radio Maria the Primate of All Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin will lead the final Rosary live. If you are gathering to pray in groups, we encourage you to gather safely adhering to local Covid 19 regulations.
PADRE PIO DEVOTIONS: Castleisland on Tuesday, December 21 at 7.30pm. Witness by:
Joan Hussey, Tralee, “She will share her story about the heartbreak felt by the loss of her little boy”. Church services.ie/castleisland.
CONGRATULATIONS to Norma McMahon from Coolaneelig, Duagh, who has been named Kerry Carer of the Year by Family Carers Ireland.
GREENWAY section from Abbeyfeale to Kerry Border was recently reopened.
CHU4CH NEWS: Mass Intentions: Thursday 10am Michael Collins Purt Harry O’Shea, Convent Road Month Mind Special Intention Acknowledgement for those who supported Bridie at this difficult time . No Saturday Morning Mass. 6.30pmWilliam & Nora Flynn and deceased relatives Jackie & Ann Lyons & Noreen Lyons and members of Lyons and O’Donoghue families. Sunday 10am James Mc Enery, Kilconlea Upper Month Mind 12noon Mary & Maurice O’Connell and deceased members of the O’Connell and O’Riordan families.
SICAP FAMILY SUPPORTS: For free support and guidance for parents and caregivers contact Mary O’Connor 087 938 2883 or email [email protected] (Abbeyfeale) and Stefanie Jaeger Liston (NCW/ Askeaton/ Rathkeale) 087 3982925 or email [email protected]
CHANGES TO THE MARKET AT THE BARNAGH HUB: It will now be a morning/afternoon market from 10-2pm and will take place on Saturday, December 4,11,and 18 and Sunday, December 5,12 and 19.To book a free pitch contact Eileen from 9-2pm on 085 2552890.
OBERAMMERGAU PASSION PLAY 2022 -Fr. Dan O’Riordan will be the spiritual director for this pilgrimage. It takes place from August 7-13 and will include category 1 Passion Play tickets. Flights from Dublin direct to Munich. For details contact Premier Travel on 021 4277700 or email [email protected] .
LAST DATES FOR POSTING LETTERS AND CARDS FOR CHRISTMAS: Rest of the World December 4, USA December 9 and Ireland December 21.
FIVE THINGS WE CAN ALL DO: Five things to help “drive down” COVID-19 Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, has asked anyone who has plans to socialise in the next four weeks to do five specific things to help “drive down” Covid. Speaking on Thursday evening, he said: “Incidence of COVID-19 remains concerningly high, with 62,401 cases reported in the last 14 days. We need to continue to make every effort we can to drive down incidence of disease and break the chains of transmission. The best way we can stop COVID spreading to the people we meet is by meeting fewer people and avoiding crowds. Dr Holohan said, that “If you are socialising, think about the risk associated with the activities you have planned. Remember the simple steps you can take to keep both you and the people you meet with safe: 1. Wear a mask correctly, 2. Meet outside if possible, 3. Avoid poorly ventilated indoor spaces, 4.Practice good hand and respiratory hygiene, 5. Be mindful of your contacts in the days after socialising, and especially consider anyone you meet who may be immunocompromised or vulnerable to COVID 19.
SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION: In the coming week parents of children in 6th class will be invited to register their son or daughter in the parish Confirmation preparation programme. These registration forms will be distributed through the parish schools. While no dates for Confirmation have been decided yet, the parish will shortly begin its preparation for the sacrament. It is planned to have a number of preparation meetings with the children and their parents. These meetings will be held online. We also intend to organise a number of Masses with the children and their families with a special focus on Confirmation and preparing for celebrating the Sacrament. GLORACH BINGO: Sunday at the GAA grounds Abbeyfeale, starting time of 1.30 pm.
RETIREMENT: There will be a presentation to Doctor Kieran Murphy, Athea to mark his retirement in the Community Centre Carrigkerry on Sunday, December 5 at 3pm. He has provided his services since 1984. Dr. Murphy has patients too in the greater Abbeyfeale area who may wish to be associated with the above.
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: The committee members say that they are deeply grateful to everyone who helped us out over the last month. Don’t forget our bag pack courtesy of Twohigs Supervalu on the 3/4 December 3/4. Regrettably, due to Covid restrictions we have had to cancel our pub quiz at O’Rourkes bar on December 10.
CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEA: Timmy Woulfe, writer, historian, dance master, footballer extraordinaire has launched his book “As Tough as Tathfhéithleann”, a list of Irish words and phrases which were commonly used in the parish of Athea in the last century . This would make a great Christmas surprise for our ex pats and if Mary Flynn is not stocking it you have only to ask her and no more than the late Ann Lyons RIP she’ll have it on the shelves in jig time. By the way congratulations to all at An Siopa Milsean on winning Today FM’s Cadbury’s Sound Town 2021.
MORE PHRASES BUT THIS TIME FROM UP NORTH: The following was sent to me by Jer Keneally, Knockanure: The Richness and humour of Ulster Norn (Northern) Ireland speech
Compiled by Sr Dympna O’Daly, as heard regularly in her neighbourhood.
“Here’s me” – This is what I said.
“Keep it lit” – A word of encouragement.
“Howl yer whist” – Be quiet!
“He’s a real melter!” – He does my head in.
“Call around for a yarn” – yarn = a chat.
“Bout ye?” – How are you?
“Wind yer neck in” – Stop talking.
“Gurning” – Complaining.
“Do you think I came down the Lagan in a bubble?” – Do you think I’m stupid?
“It’s a wee bun” – It’s very simple.
“I’m foundered” – I’m cold /freezing.
“I’m dying for a poke” – for an ice-cream.
“I’m sundered” – I’m embarrassed.
“Going for a dander”- Going for a stroll.
“Boggin” – Dirty, very unkempt.
“There’s more meat on a butcher’s apron” – A very skinny person.
“As thick as champ” – Not very intelligent.
COMMUNITY ALERT NEWS: Human traffickers grounded in 29-country sweep of European airports and roads
Action days yield further arrests for money laundering, modern slavery, and other crimes
Between 8 and 12 November, Europol supported large-scale international action against trafficking in human beings. 29 countries*, led by Austria and Romania, took part in the action days, which were coordinated by Europol and Frontex. The activities saw more than 14 000 law enforcement officers target trafficking routes on roads and at airports. This resulted in 212 arrests and the identification of a further 89 trafficking suspects.
The action days aimed to combat human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation, forced criminality and forced begging. Europol coordinated the five action days from its 24-hour Operational Centre, which provided the participant countries with informational crosschecking, secure communication channels, and a range of analytical capabilities throughout the operation. The action days took place under the umbrella of the EMPACT security mechanism/framework.
Results from 8-12 November**
212 arrests, for offences including trafficking in human beings, money laundering, pimping and fraud
147 668 persons and 91 856 vehicles checked
327 additional investigations initiated
Casting the net wide in pursuit of traffickers
The action days sought to identify and arrest human trafficking suspects as they transited across Europe, as well as to identify and protect trafficking victims and prevent associated document fraud. Europol coordinated national police, passenger information units, border guards and national agencies that counter human trafficking. Together they created a tight net around trafficking routes, with national police and border agents performing roadside checks, while the passenger information units checked airline passengers.
This led to law enforcement identifying 593 adults and 57 minors as potential human trafficking victims, which included nationals from countries in four continents. Officers stations at EU airports were able to identify a large number of victims as vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation. Those identified were either successfully referred to the UK’s National Referral Mechanism, or returned them to their home countries with welfare checks or police assistance put in place upon their return.
There were also seizures of goods such as false driver’s licenses, weapons, and hard drugs. The information gleaned from these action days has led to the opening of 327 new cases, along with the possible identification of further suspects and of human trafficking. This enhancement of cooperation between EU agencies, national law enforcement, and actors such as passenger information units, will inform similar future investigations into these serious criminal activities.
Law enforcement also targeted a wide range of possible locations for human traffickers, such as bars, brothels, nightclubs, nail bars, massage studios, and strip clubs. This diverse range of target areas was the result of intelligence showing that traffickers were deploying multiple methods for recruiting their victims, such as the ‘lover boy’ method and threats of violence against victims’ relatives.
*Countries involved: Austria (Action Leader), Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania (Action Co-Leader), Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, North Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo***, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina
**Results are still to be collated from activities in Luxembourg and Malta.
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