Dia is Mhuire díobh go léir a chairde, and welcome to my weekly report.
How is it possible for me to continue to walk the line which started for me in the early thirties when life was so primitive to the world of today where the great Richard Branson was able to fly into space and be back on time to watch the match on Sunday. I think that we should start to look at ourselves in a different light. Well, we were always led to believe that we were not very bright and indeed told that we’d never do any good. I think it’s time that we gave ourselves a bit of credit in fact give ourselves a pat in the back for the way that we have coped with all the changes that we have endured over the years. I’m thinking again of the old man that I mentioned last week, who herded his cow on the long acre. A humble person in every respect, yet his contribution to the life of his surroundings was immeasurable. He was there every day, he met everybody as they came and went and interacted with them all. He met those going to the creamery and met them again on their way back. They’d have a word each time perhaps there would be some unfinished dialogue, where either were at a loss to know the end but on the return journey the creamery goer would have solved the mystery when he talked to his counterparts as they awaited their turn to dispose of their milk and that would be relayed to the man-with-the-cow, while the beast of burden availed of a quick mouthful of grass off the ditch or a slug of water from the roadside streamlet. Very often the Angelus Bell would ring out across the valley from a distant church and each would remove his headgear and silently pray. Mind you at such times they’d say the short version to get back to the chat. He met the little children as they walked to school. Maybe not in the mornings, because he wouldn’t be up that early, but sure as anything, he’d be there in the evening when they were coming home. They didn’t all come at once but in dribs and drabs, which gave him a better chance to talk to them all. The first question without fail always was of course, “How many slaps did you get today” and each of them related their tales of woe but woe didn’t last long when he went on to enquire about their young lives in his own light hearted way very often leading to some funny incident or happening from his own past. From their daily encounters he knew them all by name and who their parents were, what class they were in (he didn’t say it like that but ”what Book are you in?” how many were in the family where did their father work. Did your mother hear from her sister/brother in America lately and of course the big news would be if an immigrant was planning to come home for a holiday. As time went on children grew up and took on some of the chores that went with the time. Boys and girls took on more grown –up roles and all went on under the gaze of the lovely old man on the ditch. As well as knowing the people, he knew everybody’s animal. The story goes that one day a young girl passed along with a donkey and cart, he said “are you such a man’s daughter?” “I am, Sir, says she and how did you know me Sir?” “ah” says he, “I knew you out of the donkey” All the stories of the day were related by the old man at his fireplace that night from whence they were taken to other fireplaces on the wider area welcomed and relished and shared, better than any six o ‘clock news of today.
The Long Acre was common in Ireland then and the role of the likes of the old man on the ditch could be multiplied over and over ensuring that the truth was always told in the story of the real Rural Ireland.
I’m glad that Richard Branson beat them all in the race to space. He always struck me as being a very human person. Never hiding the fact that he’s delighted with his success in life. I’m sure that he feels like pinching himself too when he looks back on his incredible climb in his life. But i still can’t believe that I’m here to see it happen. In my childhood, I used to see the elders looking up at the sky at night, especially when someone was seeing a caller off on a moonlit frosty night when the moon so big and golden and so far away. While the others talked about the night sky, we youngsters tried to see the man whom we were told lives there. In our childhood imagination ,we believed that we really did see him. I wonder did R.B. ever look up when he was young ,never dreaming that one day, he, himself, may be one of the Men in the Moon.
More and more of our memorial sites are being highlighted at the moment, because it’s their centenary year. Due to the present circumstances, the organisers cannot advertise these events because of the fear of overcrowding. But that does not stop us from viewing them when ceremonies are over. I think we owe it to those who gave their lives for us to go and see where they fell, and view the efforts which have been made to preserve their memory. On a quiet moment, it is nice to go there, spend some time reflecting on the times that were. Look around at the lie of the land. Ask yourself, why did the lads choose this spot to continue their brave work, in the fight against injustice, for us. It must have taken an immense amount of planning and preparing. And all the time thinking of the danger an ambush would be to the surrounding countryside, because of the reprisals which always followed . And yet the local people were fully behind the them.. It would be incredible for any one of us today to think that one of our sons or daughters could be mutilated and killed as a result. I’m glad that the memorials are set in stone, and not in man-made materials ,which were often stolen in the past. I feel very sentimental about these places, because when I was a child, the bitterness of the ‘Fight’ wasn’t still really over. There were still some people who didn’t agree with the outcome ,and at Fairs and Markets and other gatherings ,you could still hear them venting their disdain on others. But time is a great healer.
Our weather is making sure that everything is well watered and even though the rain is not welcomed by all, it is very necessary. A few showers make more change on a struggling plant than all the watering in the world. The soft muggy days were frowned upon in the past. Blighty days, they’d call them, which sent every potato grower scurrying for the proper spray to kill the fungus. It can be a good time to look out for wild mushrooms. They are a rather novel find today but are well worth the search if you find some. Today’s highly manured fields don’t seem to grow them like the hungry paddocks of old. But keep your eyes peeled when you’re out and you can never tell what Mother Nature would serve up .
Do other people have the same problem as I, with ash trees coming up all over the place. I have a Rowan tree which I got planted in the garden, because I love it when it is hanging down with red berries. but not all the volunteers coming up are of that breed. In some cases they can’t be seen until their heads show above others away inside among other shrubs ,beyond my reach. If left unchecked, I will be living is an ash jungle, which I have no notion of letting happen. So the anti-ash battle goes on. I was given a jar new seasons gooseberry jam, and it tastes divine. Others are to follow, blackcurrant, strawberry and later on the Blackberry. What a wonderful array of goodies we have to look forward to in the coming weeks. Buíochas le Dia. I was given a lovely lemon tree in a pot and it’s hanging down with fruit and blossoms, I doubt if they will be made into jam.
We have a new diner in town. With the ever popular Jerry Collins now enjoying his retirement we are glad to welcome a new business into his space. A beautiful red mobile diner, stands ready to serve up teas, a variety of coffees, buns and cakes, sandwiches and lots more as they get the business up and running . A picnic table complete with parasol on site where you can enjoy a cup with a friend or partake of a filling snack to see you on your way and the good news is that the filling station operates as before for petrol and diesel. Further to that we have a new Sweet shop in town. Children of all ages are flocking to this new haven of goodies in the West End. We wish these new businesses every success in our town and ask people to support them well.
There are still some pet owners who do not respect the rules of our Town Park by not cleaning up after their dogs. This is a very worrying situation because if it continues, the Committee will have no option but to ban pets from entering the Park in the interest of the health of all who go there. So we would appeal to these people to respect our lovely Park.
Last week I mentioned The O’Riordan family, Ballnatona who are part of a European body called Brave Herders who market Dexter cattle for their beautiful meat and this week their neighbours Conor and Lavinia Sheahan, of the same address, have taken to producing beef from a Japanese breed, entitled Wagyu renowned for the distinctive flavour. So your Rib-eye will even better from now on.
The drive to get everybody vaccinated goes on, with many people waiting for the second jab. This Thursday the program goes on at our Tullig Medical Centre. Bit by bit people are beginning to feel safer and are moving out more, meeting others and talking about many things which have remained bottled up for almost two years. It may surprise us to know the worries that some folks have. I met a man recently who lives alone and would like to get a cleaner in ,but is hesitant to do so because of many claims of harassment ,sexual or otherwise cases that have been made against his equals.
It’s great to see our church filling up to capacity for our Masses. But I was asked by a few people, to mention, that now there are three seating places in the seats, it would be great if those arriving first would move in to the middle space and leave the outer seat vacant for those coming after. Because of all the warnings and fears of the past, people are still hesitant about passing too close to one another.
Here are the results of this weeks lotto draw which was held on Sunday night. Numbers drawn were 2,5,17,31 and the Jackpot was not won. €100 went to Mark O’Sullivan, Clondrohid. The seller was Rita O’Reilly and she got €50 sellers prize, €50 went to Margaret Smith. Murphy’s Tce, €20 each to Mick & Tim, c/o the Bridge Bar, P.J.Creedon, Cloghoula, Denis Murphy, Ballydaly. Sean and Mick c/o Tom Carroll, Pamela Barrett, Drishane Road. Tim O’Leary, Knocknagree, Maria Murphy, c/o N Tarrant. Anne O’Connor, Murphy’s Tce. Jackpot for next week €13,800. Get your tickets right away for this great prize. Those who would like to pay in advance ,ask any member of the Committee. Many thanks for your continued support
Slán agus Beannacht libh go léir. Have a good week..
