Dia is Mhuire díobh go léir a chairde and welcome to my report.
With the ties of Lent behind us and a wonderful Easter also slipping away, we can begin to plan the rest of Spring -March ,April and May, I have to make a note of them as I’m never quiet sure of the months of each season. May seems so far on in the year that you could be forgiven for thinking that it was summer but summer it is not. In my youth “Spring Work” was the most important thing of the year and because there were none of the mod cons of today to get the work done it required careful planning and meticulous use of time to prepare the land for the planting season. Everything going at a slow pace, walking pace I suppose. To plough a field turning just one sod at a time took days instead of the super fast methods of today, where a tractor pulling a four or more board plough can do the likes in a matter of hours. If my memory serves me rightly, most of that work would be done in March or April, depending of the type of land and the weather. Preparing for the Spring Work was a ritual in itself. The preparing of the horses and their tackling was paramount. Harness makers were a very important part of the process. In some places the harness maker came to the farmhouse where all the bits and pieces were put before him. I can remember as a very small child when such was the case in our home. His name was Billy Alex, don’t know if that was his full name but I never heard of him being called anything else. He was deaf and dumb and known to have a fiery temper. Our Dad told us that if we went near him, he would stick us with the awl. This was to make sure that our small fingers didn’t go off with his pliers and treads and his other pieces of equipment. He worked where the light was best at the big kitchen window ,with the straddles and britchens etc strewn on the floor around him, and he came every day till all were repaired. We would watch him with interest from afar and were fascinated by his craft. The horse collar required special attention, had to be packed with curled hair paying special attention to where the most pressure would come for the beast of burden. If it wasn’t done properly it would redden the horse’s breast and nothing could be worse on a busy ploughing day. It didn’t always turn out right and I can recall my Dad coming in from the field and get part on an old sock, pack it with some curled hair to put inside the horse collar to take the pressure of the wounded part so ploughing could continue. We would watch Billy making the special wax hemp he would stand the awl on the wooden window sill and use it to hold the hemp using the required number of lengths which he would twist running the end down along his knee ,and then rubbing on the ball of wax which made the end product a strong durable yarn to sew/repair the thick leather harness in place. As he worked, the everyday things went on in the other part of the kitchen. The iron range was stoked up with turf and sticks to bake the daily bread and to cook the dinner for us all, Billy included, and we eyeing him out of the corner of our eyes in case we angered him in any way. And get stuck with his awl. My Dad would rush in from the fields ahead of the rest and make a cake and put it in the oven to bake while eating his dinner, my brothers warned to keep up the heat . In hindsight I’m sure poor Billy was harmless but our Dad had to make a strong case so that we’d obey in his absence. The harness maker brought the things he needed for his work, the leather and tacks, hemp, wax except the curled hair. This my Dad would have for him. Made from the long hairs from the horse’s manes and tails which was always carefully saved at clipping time. He would make it into tight curls in much the same way that little girls wrinklets were done and tied up tightly then put into a pot of water on the range and boiled for hours until the shape was set. When dried it was all teased out to form a mass of springy ,unyielding filling for hardworking horse’s harness. All finishing covering was done with strong white coarse cloth with blue lines and to see them showing as the beast of burden pulled the plough was a proud moment indeed for both horse and man.
I got some feedback about the book of life which I mentioned last week. I wish that all people of my own age group could have a copy of this lovely book which I got from one of my granddaughters lately. They say there is a book in every one. But to get it done is the trouble. People of our calibre have a lot to tell a lot to pass on. I still think of Charles Mitchell the first man to read the news on Irish Television. He retired and some time later he was asked about him life in retirement and his reply was that he had so much to give but that nobody wants it. We all want to give but those whom we want to give to have no time to listen. They are too busy with their own young working lives , We haven’t forgotten our own day when we didn’t listen to our older people and it was only when they were gone that we realised what we had lost and lost it forever. The questions posed in this little book are just the sort that feeds the mind. Brings back events and memories of the past and there are pages for us to jot them down for posterity. No need to reply to them all only the ones which are relevant. She got it on line from Amazon or some one of those online places a system that is common to the younger generation and I can’t think of a nicer gift for a son or daughter to give to a parent. Mine says ’Dear Nan’ on the cover so they order the term which is right for them and think of all your answers that they will read ,when you are no longer there to say it in your own words.
This week I must wish a very Happy Birthday to the world renowned Joanne O’Riordan who will be 26 on Sunday next April 24th. We share this day every year with Johnnie McAvoy and many others. Joanne is spending her big day in New York and I wish herself and her family all the joys of the Big Apple on her birthday.
Joy of joys tonight we will hear the sweet voice of our dear Sean Radley as he returns to Cork Music Station from 9 pm doing what he does best, bring people together in every part of the world. While still recuperating seven weeks after major surgery Sean finds the energy to bring himself to us on air. Welcome back Sean.
Our Holy Week Devotions were well attended, we must thank the members of our Clergy for their trojan work in making them so fulfilling and devout. Some I watched on screen others in the church, all with the same effect. The Church Choir and the many lay people playing their part , enhancing the story of the Risen Christ. The weather, though cold, gave lots of hours of sunshine giving people the opportunity to engage in outdoor pursuits.
And on Easter Sunday our Commemoration committee held their annual memorial ceremony at the monument in the Town Square. The Divine Mercy Novena which was started on Good Friday at 3 o’clock continues every day this week, ending with the closing ceremony on Sunday April 24th at 3. It can be attended in the Church each day at 3 pm or continued at home.
Out in the garden the first thing up after the grass is cut are the dandelions, but we must refrain from the common impulse of destroying them. We are told in good authority that they are a very vital part of our honey bee system and also food for the little birds, when other foods are not available. When we were young we were cautioned not to go near the dandelions because they were so poisonous, nowadays they are included in salads.
Here are the results of this week’s lotto draw which was held on Bank Holiday Monday night. Numbers drawn were 5,6,8,18 and the Jackpot was not won. €100 went to Joanne Dabble, Murphys Tce. The seller was the Clara Inn and they got €50 seller’s prize. €50 went to Dan O’Riordan West End. €20 each to Paddy O’Connor, Ballinkeen, Healy Family, Keale, Dan Riordan St. Joseph’s Gardens. Timmy Sullivan, Headford. 3Jokers & 1Princess, Donal, Kate, & Jack, Laught, Rathcoole, Elowe Savage c/o The Bridge Bar, Thomas Connor, Woodland Drive.
Jackpot for next week €20,000. Draw on Sunday April 24th.
Slán agus beannacht.
