Dia is Mhuire díobh go léir a chairde, and welcome to my weekly report.
This week I have to admit that I befriended the crow. I took pity on him, (so few people do) I told myself that he has to have a life that he too wants to meet a partner, build a nest and rear a family as his forebears have been doing since time began. I like to give my spare food to the birds ,one crow waits on the wire and when I throw it out he will call all the others. They come in droves and in no time the place is picked clean. One fellow seemed a bit different from the others I don’t know why but for the past number of days he had been hovering around a little lady crow. As the days went on they seemed to distance themselves from the main flock. At times he would do a little dance around her with one wing fanned out along the ground as he uttered some crow sounds. Just like you’d see on a David Attenborough program. Alas she often pretended she didn’t know he was there and she would eat her fill and wing it off to the next feeding ground over the hedge. But they must have reached an agreement because he was busy in my garden since then collecting dry matter to build his home in the rookery at the far off side of the valley. I couldn’t believe how far he had to go with his overpacked beak of his building material. ‘t’would be over half a mile around the road but not to him, he took the route as the crow flies. They still come for my scraps, steal some of my birdseed and some day I imagine they will be back with a flock of their own to clean up my lawn.
And talking of lawns, the sound of lawn mowers is filling the air both early and late and the sweet smell of new mown grass is as welcome as it ever was. The camellias and the flowering currents and yellow forsythia are adding great backing to the hosts of daffodils which are in full bloom at the moment. I saw a huge bed of purple heather in full bloom in someone’s garden last week and came to the conclusion that if you want to attract honey bees, then plan heather. It was festooned with them. Their loud buzzing was something that I thought was gone forever. We must get more bee-loving plants and do our bit to bring them back. The lovely weather in the last few days almost compels us to plant outside but we must be patient ,the worst thing we can do is plant too early and then get a night or a spell of frost that would put paid to all our great work. But there is still plenty to do in the garden and keep us busy in the out of doors ,which is the important thing.
People of my calibre were very happy when the County Council gave us a box of various things to keep us busy. Being distributed from the Day Centre each box contains a nice book which is full of things to do, quizzes, games, interesting articles, various pages to colour plus a pack of colouring pencils. And also a pack of playing cards. Many happy hours can be spent in colouring and drawing which I love. My book is on the table the whole time , and I’m never bored as long as I have something to draw or colour. Also included in the box is a nice container of seeds for the birds and even a bird feeder to hang outside and watch your feathered friends come and go. Things like that. I’m sure that in time when we get our freedom again we will compare the many ways that we used this free gift to keep up our spirits. Maybe have a competition for the best one. On behalf of all the two hundred recipients I want to say a sincere word of thanks the the Co Council for their lovely gifts.
Rachael Blackstone really did it for the women ,when she swept the board at Cheltenham and the man from Dingle to win the Gold Cup. Making history for Ireland but my heart went out to them when the venue was deserted because of Covid and they were deprived of the wonderful roar of the crowd for their big moments. Someone told me that the number of thirty two year ,old Rachael’s wins at the Festival, outnumbered the combined wins of all of the English. Wonderful ,As the fellow who led the Gold Cup winner away said to the man with the mike, ‘Class’.
We had lots of uplifting moments this past week, not least among the LTV 1 program By the renowned Dan Joe Kelleher on YouTube of the a night at the unoccupied house in Glountane which they Christened ‘The Castle’. Social nights were held there every couple of weeks in the early 80’s. Sad I suppose that we have lost these events which comprised young and old. The camera showed the people coming in the door everybody totally at ease with the setting. In the dancing, there was time allowed for the children to take the floor or sing or do a party piece. Others played cards. The local priest was there, he sang and mixed with those around him as one of the gang. That program is on our website now and I can safely say that it’s being enjoyed right around the world all thanks to Dan Joe Kelleher the man who pioneered local television.
Our Mass on St. Patrick’s Day was said by Fr. Billy Radley and our lovely choir attended. There were bursts of recorded music by our Pipe Band and thanks to Sean Radley ,a recording was played of last year’s rendering of Highland Cathedral ,when our Church organ joined our pipe band . The applause from the crowded church was deafening.
The History of the Pomeroy Family on our website this week makes fascinating reading. Impossible to read all at the one time but very well worth returning to.
Sean’s program last Tuesday night was truly fascinating. His long interview with Con Houlihan on the life of his beloved Cullen Pipe band was treasured by all who were tuned in and the good news is that Con will continue his second episode of his three part story of the band with Sean again tonight on CMS from 10 pm.
Next Sunday is Palm Sunday and for obvious reasons we cannot attend Mass to get our Palm Blessed. But Canon John has invited us to have some palm with us at home and he will bless it . Like the St, Bridget’s Cross ,the Blessed palm is a very important emblem to have in the home. It was said of old that if you keep blessed palm in your home, the house will never get burned. But apart from that like the Holy Water and St. Bridget’s Cross it is comforting to have it. On Saturday night next also our clocks will go forward and we will lose the hour that we got in the spring. Evening will be much brighter and folks will be out more so please be watchful of the changes that it will bring. Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday will all happen on the first, second, third and fourth of April. Lent is moving on and we’ll be asked for the contents of our Trocaire boxes also we will have to make one last effort to honour the sacrifices that we pledged to keep on Ash Wednesday. Our Parish Office is available for information at 029 70043.
All lovers of our Blessed Knock Shrine got a wonderful surprise this week when the Holy Father, Pope Francis elevated it to International Status. The crowds have flocked to this Holy Place over the years. I can recall when the People of Millstreet organised the first pilgrimage to Knock. It was a long and arduous undertaking that time. Trains were much slower and had to leave the station in the latter end of the night. Not everybody had an alarm clock or maybe a reliable one that time, so someone in the house would have to stay up the night before, to call the would-be traveller in good time in the morning and drive them in the pony & trap to the station. Pilgrims had to take their own food & drinks for the journey ,as there were no dining places at journey’s end. The train only went as far as Claremorris and the journey of about thirteen miles , was completed by bus.
Daffodil Day is looming, this weekend and this year again we must give on line please give all you can to this worthy cause. Our GAA Club reminds us that tomorrow Wednesday is the final day when you can purchase one of the Big Draw tickets. Details are on the website look them up and you could win a hefty prize.
The fine weather has brought the people out in huge numbers to explore the world around them. Our lakes and mountains continue to attract the young and old. For those who no longer have the ability to see the world on foot ,can drive out to any scenic spot and soak up the beauty of it all. Sadly I met a lady in the shop today and she asked me if I’d point out to people who walk with their dogs on the roadside, to please clean up after their pet. Others travelling there with their prams or go cars are not a bit happy when their wheels pick up what the dog leaves behind and very often its not seen until they get in home. Need I say more. And please keep our town and approach roads litter free.
Contact Marie Twomey if you would like to join a Yoga Class for beginners on line.
Be on the lookout at all times for something new and enjoyable ,and share it with someone who is finding it all very trying. Spring cleaning time is here. Time to smarten a few things up. Get rid of things that should be gone long ago. We are blessed to have a first class recycling facility on the edge of our town . The sunny days show what needs your attention. The windows are very grubby after all the storm and rain. But a run with the long handled mop & blade lets in the light ,brightens everything up and even improves the mood. Sometime recently I thought the day was very dull and gloomy, until I cleaned my glasses and put them back on, thus opening up a brighter world for myself in a flash.
That’s about it for me ,Have a good week. Slán agus beannacht.
