Eily’s Report – 04th May

Dia is Mhuire díobh go léir a chairde, and welcome to my weekly report.

Well now that’s the May Bank Holiday Weekend over and done with. To get two fine days out of the three wasn’t  bad  and Monday, wet and wild forcing people to take things easy whether they  want to  or not. In spite of all the places which are still not opened, there was plenty to see and do  over the weekend. Mountain climbing and hill Walking were among the most popular and the clear fresh air gave views of far off places and the yen to travel on and see more. Roads have been improved in many out of the way beauty spots which gives the motorist full access to hidden gems which were only for the tourist on foot up until now. The new Macroom bypass motorway pops up  here and there and makes interesting viewing . To see it in the making leaves the mind boggling at the enormity of it all, thanks to the equally enormous machinery which makes small work of the changes that present day living demands  and it’s nice  for us to know  when we’ll be travelling over this new development in the years to come ,that we saw it  in  it’s infancy.

Needless to say the lack of coffee shops, restaurants, loos  and accommodation did  spoil the weekend for many but we are accustomed to waiting now and it will be worth it all the first time that we can choose our favourite diner and sit again with our  friends and read the menu and place our order and talk and talk and talk, looking into the eyes of the friends whom we have been avoiding from behind a mask for so long.

Those waiting for their hairdresser to resume  are among the most impatient. Since our looks play such an important part of our being, the locks can make or break the end results and now that their crowning glory  is within reach we wish them all the joy that a new hairdo can give. I’ll bet it will bring  a smile to many a (pretty) face again.

The Month of May, the month of Our Blessed Lady. The month which brings worshippers to many an outdoor Grottos around the world, to give praise and honour to the Mother of God. Our beloved Tubrid  Well being one of the most popular.   It is looking it’s best at the moment, now that it got a new facelift, newly painted throughout, emphasising it’s many features. The man- made Rosary beads all round the bubbly well and the Crucifix at the point where the overflow is harnessed and the beautiful spring water  pumped to the reservoir on Clara Mountain, for all of us to enjoy it on tap. What a blessing for any town and it’s people. The Statues of Holy Mary and St. Bernadette  also look resplendent. The abundance of seating gives the patron a place to sit and rest and reflect in this haven of tranquillity. For obvious reasons the customary mugs are no longer there, so those who like to take a drink of this clear gift from  God, may like to bring their own. Mass was celebrated on the last Friday evening in May, over the years. But alas ,not this year, as far as I know.                                                                                        I was asked to say that there is no signpost for Tubrid Well on the Killarney road and people are finding it hard to find the entrance. I hope this will be corrected as soon as possible.  Thanks to local co-operation  Our Marian Grotto at Liscahane will be planted with beautiful flowers as soon as nights are frost free.

I’m one of these people who got a phone call from a man with a strong determined voice to say that I was being investigated for money laundering and to press number one to get the details. TG I had the foresight to hang up. His voice was a change from the squeaky ones that  we’ve been getting for years, so he could be deemed legitimate. I’ve seen accounts in the news  paper of people ,especially elderly , who were conned out of large sums of money by these people. They rang me twice in as many days, so I rang the Guards and they told me to just hang up on them.  So be on the Alert.

The mild weather over the weekend gave us a false sense of safety in the garden. So I put out some rather tall plants, like the tropical palm in a pot and so on, only to find them stretched flat on the patio this morning. It has happened before and they survived so I’m not unduly worried. The first stalk in my potato  bag has peeped above the earth. I planted three  ,so there’s more to come. I have no problem with the  other little  seeds which have not shown yet. We get frost every night and they are much safer hidden in the warm earth. The long suffering dandelion is enjoying a season of glory, since we are told that they provide vital food for the birds during the early Spring when other foods haven’t come through yet. For the life of me I can’t say why it was condemned so much in the past. I suppose in a neatly mown lawn like the humble daisy ,they blotted the scene and paid the price. Away from the lawn their bright yellow heads and rich green leaves are as lovely as any other flower which had to get constant attention. As I said another time, the only use I ever saw being made of the Dandelion was when they were chopped up small ,mixed with hard boiled eggs and fed to baby turkey chicks. It had an Irish name that time. It never saw it written down but it sounded like ‘Coshrovaun’. Did anybody else hear of it I wonder. The strong  winds of Bank Holiday Monday have played havoc with the lovely Cherry Blossoms, the Magnolia and many more tender-petaled shrubs. I’m glad my precious Laburnum wasn’t in bloom for it. Last year as it was all set to put on it’s lovely yellow coat, the wind came fast and furious and blew all it’s tendrils to kingdom come. I always wanted to own a Laburnum since seeing them  as children in the convent grounds as we made our May Day walk singing out our lovely hymns as we went. Then a few years ago one came into my life and this was my big chance to see it flowering in my very own patch, But alas, it was not to be. So  now I’m waiting and hoping for better luck in the next few weeks.  Do you know that there is an App on your phone now which will give you details of all your plants. Just take a photo and the phone will do the rest. Must get someone to put it on mine.

Lately A few  horses have  being brought to a fields not very far from here.  Sometimes I can hear them neigh and the sound of a horse neighing is music the my ears. I love horses, all horses. From the biggest Clydesdale to the smallest pony. They have to be the nicest, cleanest most loving animals. Where young people of today are born into cars & tractors and mechanical things we were born into the animal kingdom. The horse was our tractor, our motor car, our only answer to all the workings of a farm. A great bond existed between the farmer and his beast of burden. They understood one another to the point of almost one thinking the same as the other. Like a gentle neigh when the feed of hay and mangolds was coming and the serious stand to attention when the master said stand up there or stop or go or go back. As children we loved stealing little treats for the horse. They weren’t always given some oats which they loved but we’d go to the loft when there was nobody looking and steal some for him,  and get the lovely little horsey greeting in return. When there was a lot of hard work to be done such as in the Spring ,for the ploughing and the tilling the summer at hay time and the harvest when saving the corn, the beast of burden had to be well fed to give him strength and the best thing to do that was to feed him lots of oats. The same oats that is used today to make our porridge and cornflakes and  still  continues to be  the greatest source of energy and vitality for us, as it was for the working horse of long ago.

We have lots of lovely things to look forward to when our world lights up again. Our Carnegie Hall is destined to get a new multicoloured coat and our Museum is promising us an official opening  in the Fall to show off all the new improvements that have been carried out during Lockdown. Many places in the town have been upgraded and painted. New places opened, and a real effort will be made to make it a litter free town and everybody will be asked to play their own part. At the moment some members of the Community Council are gathering a detailed list of all that Millstreet has to offer the visitor to our town and people are asked to help as best they can with this important project. If you can help please ring Mary at 0863128444 or Michelle 0879227415.

The end May be in sight for the end of covid19but please bear in mind that we still have a great many people who suffering from depression  or just down and out. It only takes a friendly word or a listening ear to make the difference for some body who feels alone and marginalised. On the other hand those who are not doing too well ,would not be ignored if they could pluck up their courage and ask someone for help. Everybody is made aware now of the need there is out there for a kind and gentle response to a plea for help. Money isn’t always the problem, neither is age and judgment is a no no. A person in need of help is someone like you or me but without blessing of a good home, a family, friends, a job, health .

People  who are fully vaccinated are told that they are free to loosen the bond of Covid a little, it’s a great feeling.  Dr. Tony O’Holohan has been our guide since the outset, begging us to stay in ,wash our hands, wear our mask, social distance,  we obeyed him and when he is telling us now that we are safe to  get out there and resume our ways of living, I think we should take him at his word. There is many a story that is itching to be told and many a dream to be dreamed ,many a mountain to climb . Workers going back to work. Children going back to school. Regardless of age I think we should all play our own part in getting our society up and running again . How we’d love to be able to go to Mass in our Church.

Don’t forget to tune in to Sean Radley tonight from 9.30 to 11 on Cork Music Station and on Sundays after 11.30 Mass.

sin a bhfuil de cairde, have a good week,

Slán agus Beannacht libh go léir.