Dia is Mhuire díobh go léir a chairde, and welcome to my last report for 2020.
How we have longed for this Christmas to come in order that we could put all our ability into making it a good one, so as to make up for all that we have endured during the year. They say be careful of what you wish for. Little did we know that our plans would be skewed at the eleventh hour. But like everything else in life, we’ll have to grin and bear it. As we’ve said so many times, we’re all in it together, when we have digested the situation and find that there is no way out of it. We will move up another gear and make the best we can of it. The scary accounts they are giving us about how rapidly it can spread will drive us into a state of determination and self-survival that will give us new strengths that we never knew we had. We will make sacrifices because we know we must. Being flippant or blaze about it will not do. So our last few days in the run up to Christmas Day on Friday, will be different in every sense of the word. How I can recall those heady days when my own children were small. It was not the same world then. Winter time on the farm was very demanding cattle being housed during the long winter months had to be tended every day. Tended only by man power and indeed helped by woman power. There was no press button solution to anything then. But the trip to Cork on Christmas Eve or maybe the day before it was a must, an annual day out .That morning the cows were left out to water earlier than usual and were given their daily supply of hay .Pigs ,Hens , and any other livestock all got an early breakfast while the children ,fussed around indoors ,getting their own things done ,by way of dressing and invading their piggy banks and their lists of ‘Must Haves’ , from the big city. The last thing anybody wanted to hear was that there was a cow due to calve, or a sow due to farrow. Devastation , utter devastation, panic, tears , tantrums. Disappointment if there was. In such case there was the inevitable delay, the waiting for the new life to make its way into the world, prayers, curses anything to hurry the process up. But eventually we’d all pack into the little Anglia and head off. Parking didn’t seem to be a problem in the 60s. And in a little over an hour our off springs were released to the wild which was Cork City on Christmas Eve. I find it hard to believe how primitive it all was ,compared to today. It was the early days of toys having movements, How we marvelled at them ourselves ,and gloried at the joy that the little children got out of staring at them. It was easy to impress ,children then, and indeed parents also. Sore feet were ignored as we traipsed from shop to shop, street to street, looking at all the wonders of the big city ,as the world prepared for the birth of Christ. We’d go into any chapel along the way, where the massive crib would be all at the ready . The children all amazed ,and asking countless questions about this and that. Finally after having some food on the hoof ,and seen all the lovely things, it was time to make our purchases, it was often hard to make a secret purchase , to have as a surprise ,or Santa Gift for the stockings by the fire on Christmas morning. And then the spending of ‘their own’ money. The little something that made it for them . We never missed the trip down the Coal Quay, with its numerous bright stands ,and sales women shouting out the lists of their wares. How we loved their funny use of words, two-and –sixpence all the dolls. The last few boxes of train sets, give this free with it, holding up a rag doll or an orange–. The place would be packed ,and people in festive mood , saluting one another , shouting out bits of news and Christmas cheer. As night fell, a heavenly atmosphere fell down and gave the Coal Quay an out of this world feeling ,the darkness ,brightening every lamp and bulb ,reflecting off the shiny wrappings and toys and boxes strewn around the place. As we all chewed on the wonderful goodies that were to be had in abundance in the stalls and the children drank their lemonade from the bottle which they held firmly by the neck , it was time to bid our annual Christmas Eve Day in Cork to a close. Children tired and maybe cranky with fatigue ,we once again piled into the reliable Anglia and headed out the Carrigrohane Straight. We all sang together, our Christmas songs with all ours hearts, Dan driving R.I.P. me holding the youngest, John D, on my lap and the Girls Geraldine & Nora in the back. No seatbelts . In no time our tired little charges were fast asleep, still clutching the favourite purchases.
I drove through that same Coal Quay at this past weekend. Alas it is all modern now and the latest restrictions have taken away all the friendliness and homeliness that I knew in the 60s. But we had our day.
Life is still what you make it and now that we are wading through a Global Pandemic, let us see what we can do. We still have a couple of days to go before the world shuts down for the birth of our Lord. We can still look around and see if there is anything that we can do for each other. Some people may now be afraid to go to the shops to buy presents, But there is no need because there are people out there who do not need presents. They may need a little maintenance work done, like the add on the telly, to fix a creaky or falling down garden gate, put a second handrail on the stairs or on some steps in the garden. Their yard may need to be power washed, their dog taken for a walk. Bring a few things from the shop and post their letters. Perhaps buy that very last Christmas card which they’d love to send. Stay for a chat. Listen to their story of how a son or daughter was due home from abroad and can’t come now. Lots of people are suffering in that way this Christmas. And they are not all old or infirm, but lonesome that their loved ones can’t come home.
Listen in tonight from 8-9 on our streamed church for an hour of Virtual Carol Singing.
Here are the results of this weeks lotto draw
Numbers drawn were 7, 11,14,22 and the Jackpot was not won. (Though one lady was out just one digit)
€100 went to Nora O Sullivan, c/o the Camogie Club. The seller was Sheila Lane and she got €50 sellers prize, €50 went to Jerry Heineken c/o Tom Carroll. €20 went to Shane Brown and Catherine Jerks. Dan and Maurice Twomey, Dublin, Paddy O’Connor , c/o Reens, Catriona Twohig, Annagloor, Breens, Liscahane, Juliette Crowley c/o Colemans. Donagh Reardan, Minor Row, Helen O’Connor, Tullig.
The next Lotto draw will be on January 3rd 2021. Jackpot €12,200.The Lotto committee would like to thank all those who have supported them so well and wish them a very Happy and Safe Christmas and a Happy 2021.
Please be reminded that only a few 2021 calendars remain. If you have difficulty in getting one ,contact any member of the Community Council.
There is a wide range of fundraising going on at the moment , please support them in the best way you can. The kindness of people ,this year have never been equalled before. It’s as though everybody wants to help, and that is a wonderful note to bring this historic year to a close. Above all make it a Christmas to celebrate the birth of our Divine Lord. That is what Christmas is all about, end of story. It’s not the commercialisation, the hype, it’s what we are here for, we’re only passing through. Make Christmas Holy .Church Services so different this time. Confession which was a big part of our Christmases of old is now made very easy if you like. Compared to the long queues that we had to endure outside the four confession boxes in our church and the long hours that our priests had to endure, listening to us begging God’s forgiveness. Now, because of Covid we are told that those who tell God they’re sorry and say an act of contrition, can be happy in the knowledge that they are forgiven. The all important act of contrition was well planted in us in our young days. There were variations but this was ours. “Oh, My God I am heartily sorry that I have ever offended you and I detest my sins above every other evil because they offend you my God, I firmly resolve by the help of your heavenly Grace never more to offend you ,but to amend my life, amen.”
If we have nothing ,we have each other. Please pray for those who are not well or in Hospital or receiving treatment at the moment. Our deepest sympathy goes to all those who lost loved ones recently. People are still anxious to show their feeling for the bereaved and have taken to standing along the road when a friend or neighbour’s funeral cortege is passing. The idea is also helping neighbours to meet and have a chat in a safe environment.
On a brighter note, Santa came early to Kilmeedy on Sunday when a kind gentleman, who does Santa for a family in the district every year but couldn’t go indoors this year, beat the ban by letting all the neighbours know that he would tour the area on Saturday afternoon gaily bedecked as Santa travelling on a towed car trailer. Being pre –informed, there were crowds of Children and their parents at every gate along the way and in spite of the rain, a high- spirited time was had by all. Many thanks to all involved.
That’s about it for me now and for 2020. Many thanks for your encouragement and support during the year. Please take good care of yourselves and of each other.
I wish you all a very Happy and safe Christmas and New Year. See you in 2021. D.V.
