Dia is Mhuire díobh go léir a chairde, and welcome to my weekly report.
Many thanks to all those who reacted to my report last week. It’s great to feel that you are all out there. Joseph Booth all the way from WA, to our own Mick O Connor and lots of others in between. Mick’s contribution to my story about the dandelions did a lot to jog my memory even further of it’s uses and the other ingredients that the women used in order to keep the life in the young chicks in the springtime of the year. As he said the mix comprised of dandelions, young nettles and hardboiled eggs, all finely chopped and fed to the baby fowl as a cure for the pip. The pip was the enemy of all young chicks and a nightmare for those hoping to rear them. But what was the Pip? It was some sort of worm that settled in the throat or windpipe of baby chicks and baby turkeys. It was easy to spot because it caused them to force open their little beaks in a sort of yawning or vomiting movement and the continuous action prevented them from taking any food or drink, needless to say they soon weakened away and died. Losing hen chicks was bad enough but losing turkey chicks was a disaster. Hens lay and hatch the whole year round and there was an all year market for their produce but not so with the precious turkeys they produced eggs in the Spring and hatched their young and had only one time of year for there product to be sold, which of course the Christmas trade. So the efforts to save the turkey chicks was paramount. Everywhere that women met in the Springtime of the year, sooner or later the pip came up in the conversation. Another method they used was to stand the affected little bird into the top of a bag of white lime and gently shake it so that it would inhale the lime dust which would kill the offending grub in it’s airways. Some women even tried to snare the grub with a strand of horsehair bent into a loop and ever so gently fishing it out and often with average success. When these measures worked there was a real atmosphere of success and a sharing among others but alas when it didn’t, that was a different story. It’s a long time now since I left the farmyard and I wonder is the Pip ever heard of today.
When we were sent out for the nettles, we would put an old sock over our hand. It was long before the rubber glove came on the market and as well as getting some to the chicks we’d have to bring some for our own dinner. Three feeds of Nettles in May and three in June was deemed to be a great boost to our iron intake and the custom never allowed to die when we were young. I’m sure would be just as beneficial today. Nowadays we are told to put some nettles into a tub of water and use it to water and it makes an great feed for our plants.
Following 137 days of the stoppage of shopping for non-essential items who can blame us from bursting out there to see what we’ve been missing. The very thought alone is stirring. Already our hairdressers have trimmed and beautified countless numbers of anxious people. Even those of us who let nature choose our colour like to get the feel of a nice cut-n-blow. Many are using the transition to let nature take it’s course while others are still sitting on the fence. Either way I’m sure that a trip to the shops regardless of the colour of the hair, spirits will be on the rise. Shopping in line will I’m sure get put on the back burner. We all like to see and feel and fit before we part with our green stuff. I’m not an advocate of shopping on line, but as I was in need of a good pair of casual shoes a friend placed an order for me now that was about two months ago and the footwear didn’t come yet so that’s it for me as far as shopping on line is concerned.
We are delighted to be able to go to Mass again, even though the reception is better at home on the laptop and we love to hear what the priest is saying. The return of the congregation of course means more work for those who spare no effort to keep our beloved church a safe place to come to. Following every service all the seats have to be wiped and cleaned before the next one comes on. We have to offer our deep appreciation to those who carry out this work . Copies of the parish News letter are available at the end of the Church and it conveys the message of our Bishop Ray with regard to the safety regulations that we are asked to obey. We must still continue to implement social distancing, we must continue to ensure that the maximum number is not exceeded, we must wear our face covering while in the Church and must sanitise both in entering and exiting the Church, Refrain from congregating outside the church door after Mass and a reminder that the Sunday obligation is still suspended, funerals and weddings confined to 50 in the church. (Of all the rules above mentioned, I think the one about not congregating at the Church door after Mass has to be the most difficult. Having seen friends inside that you haven’t met in ages, it seems the natural thing to make for them outside before they disappear into the distance. But we must try. )
The news letter continued with a message from Canon John, to use his own words,” I also want to thank everyone who has continued to support our Parish financially and for the continued support and encouragement you have given me in the past 14 months. During the Month of May we ask Our Blessed Mother to watch over and protect all of us.” – Fr. Fitzgerald.
There is also a reminder to households who haven’t returned their Trocaire Boxes to please drop them into the Parish Office this week.
The open places continue to draw the crowds, our Town Park offers the great release from strain and stress as you make your way around its cinder track, distracted by the views of the mountains and all the way to the horizon. Sometimes chatting to a friend or deep in thoughts all of your own. Tubrid Holy Well is another must, to stand and look at the smooth flow of pure spring water, spend a while just looking at it beside the lovely scene of Lourdes, makes you marvel at the wonder of it all. People of my ilk have time to do these things, things that we skimmed over during our busy younger years. It is delightful to see the sign for Tubrid Well put in place at the road. So important for people who are not familiar with the place.
The allocation of the flu vaccine goes on with the required age being lowered all the time. Today it is to the over forties. Needless to say it doesn’t always run according to plan. Some not called when they thought they were entitled, others, perhaps husband and wife called for the same day but in two different towns and so on. But most people are pleased with the outcome on the whole. One couple told me that they were called to two different towns near the same time on the same day. But on arriving at the first venue the man explained his dilemma and following a short wait they were both vaccinated in the same place and returned home full of praise for the system.
As well as all the other things that are making a comeback, our Community Council are about to give it a try. They have planned a meeting to be held tonight (Tuesday)May 18th at the Beer Garden of the Wallis Arms Hotel. Starting at 8.30.entry by the Bar Lane, Tonight’s meeting will be held on a trial basis , and judging by it’s success, will determine how future meetings can go until the present situation becomes more clear.
This is Eurovision Song Contest week and Sean Radley will feature on the subject on todays News Talk Program on RTE. It is not possible to say the exact time . Sean interviewed some long distance cyclists in town one day last week and his findings will be included in his program tonight on Cork Music Station starting at 9.30. Noel C Duggan was interviewed recently by representatives of a Spanish TV Network again about Eurovision. Our staging of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1993,is still making waves around the world, and I think that reminders of it should be displayed in many outlets in the town. We seem to have hidden it away, while other countries come and want to see this small town with the big heart.
The harsh weather is making it hard for our blossoms to look their best, in some cases just to hold on ,but the lawn keeps on growing and a fresh cut lawn never fails to spread out it’s sweet aroma. The birds are building away and now that the swallows have come in force and chosen the site ,they are drawing building material of every kind ,from clammy mud to soft wool and bits of moss. My car will have to sleep outside from now until the hatching season is over. Easier to let it out than having to wash it every time. Cleaning my cement yard was made very easy ,when I spread some cheap washing powder all over it before the showers of hail. The icy droplets made short work of the grime and saved me the unwelcome task of power washing..
Silage time is looming. In some cases the grass is ready but the weather is not allowing the huge machines to traverse the sodden ground. Please God it will soon dry up and let the important task of harvesting the vital Winter feed go ahead.
Please continue to keep the rules and stat safe. Pray that the problem of the cyber bullying of our Health Service can be solved.
Slán agus Beannacht libh go léir.
