Dia is mhuire diobh go leir a cairde and welcome to my weekly Report.
November the first, The Feast of all Saints,A holiday of Obligation. Masses as for Sunday.
Oh my goodness how it brings back memories of freezing cold winds and chilblains. I’m not sure if that’s the proper spelling because I can never remember seeing it written down. But I can well recall the blistered fingers and toes which broke out when winter came. I have no idea of when they gave up coming and it’s not easy to explain to young people today what they were like and the pain they caused. Putting on the boots and stockings in the morning was the worst. Sore crusty feet had to be packed into them and funny enough once installed and after the first couple of steps they seemed to soften and away you went to school or whatever until time came to remove them all again at bedtime when removing the footwear seemed to release the demon, soreness again. Then a rub of the unbeatable pink ointment for the night. Fingers didn’t escape either and even though the complaint affected mostly children all ages could get them. In fact we knew one man in the area who even lost fingers and toes to them and his winters were his dreaded time of year.
Fairs were held in various towns at the beginning of each month. The day for selling pigs was called Market Day while the one for cattle was known as a Fair Day and they always ran in succession. The Fair Day first and the Market next day. I’m not sure if this is right maybe it’s the other way around, well anyway they were very important occasions in the lives of farmers and other stockholders. The Fair Field which is now the car park at the back of Minor Row would be parked with cattle brought in on the hoof from long or short distances and as a child I often wondered how each owner controlled his own. The buyers came round looking very smart in the laced up leather brown boots to match his brown attire, swinging overcoat and an ash plant in hand. The ash plant was a must taken from the ground at the proper length and thickness the root end used for a firm grip and from years of doing the fairs it took on a tanned seasoned appearance with this the buyer would poke an animal to see it from all sides before gaily moving on, leaving the unfortunate owner wondering if he’s ever come back. All of this was their ploy to make the seller come down in his price. Meanwhile back at the ranch as they say in the best Westerns, the wife eagerly awaited his return to see how he got on at the fair. He wouldn’t come early because whether he did business or not there was always things to see and do in town on Fair Day. The second hand clothes people lined the streets with their wares all laid out on the ground, and many a good bargain was purchased if he had money after making sale. The fish woman called Maimy, came in the morning bus from Cork and put her crates of herrings on the ground outside the barrack gate and planked herself down beside them. She was a fairly large lady and as she made sale she wrapped the fish in news paper for the buyer and he put it into his coat pocket while Maimy packed the cash down inside the top of her above the knee stockings. If she needed a break, she could go without a bother because a friendly Garda who was always standing at the barrack gate minded her goods while she was away. Travelling musicians came to town on Fair day and played in the streets and the pubs (often handing out sheets of songs and poetry) where a lively step was often enjoyed. One fellow invited the lady behind the bar to take the floor but after the first few steps he stopped and said wait wan minute Mary until I put the herrings in my other pocket. At the November Fair a man came into town with a horse butt of apples. He would un tackle the animal and put it away and leave the shafts down on the ground thus exposing his display of every hue. How difficult it is today to explain how we hungered for one of them as we made our way home from school through the crowds, but pennies were the things that dreams were made of back then. As the day wore on very often a fist fight broke out when spirits arose and as it was almost the done thing, many people didn’t go home until after the fight. It made a great talking point in houses for weeks.
Meanwhile back at the Ranch, as they say in all good Westerns, the “Bean a Tighe” waited anxiously for her man’s return. Needless to say she was anxious to hear how he got on at the Fair, because very likely she was the one who gave a special do to that animal or animals to prepare them for sale. She could have the money already be earmarked to cover the cost of Winter clothes for the children or so while he may need to build a new wall somewhere outside and put a bit aside for the rainy day. To find no sale was a big disappointment. Dreams no matter how practical were dreamed ,but failing to sell shattered them all. It often meant that the stock should be marched off to a neighbouring town which would be on sooner than our own again. Macroom fourteen miles away was often the place and the long treck started soon after midnight growing sons and friendly neighbours all helped . Knocknagree was another of much the same distance where they tried to make sale. But the Fairfield there is facing North and it was renowned for being the coldest place you ever stood on a November Fair Day.
Still with things and people of the Land. I took a stroll down to the Green Glens a few days after the National Dairy Show and I couldn’t be but impressed by the number of changes which had to be made to stage the mammoth event. Looking down following two days of heavy rain the place where hundreds of vehicles parked in brilliant sunshine a couple of days earlier the place was a swamp. I hope that all involved will give thanks to God for that wonderful gift. But we must all be grateful to God. It’s been a wonderful year and there were bumper crops both in the wild and farmed land and we watched in horror as the cornfields of Briton and the Continent went up on flames in the scorching sun. Only the grace of God saved us from a similar fate. It’s late harvest now and it wouldn’t be amiss for us to have a Harvest Thanksgiving ceremony of some kind to let our Maker know that we appreciate his wonderful gifts and put our trust in Him for the future.
In these troubled times people from all over the world are turning to God on Social Media, and even though it is often frowned upon it can also join us all together when the need is great.
Hats off to the lovely Village of Carriganima, the village that refuses to die. While other bigger places have thrown in the towel, the people of that historic place fight on. They celebrate every occasion, they run their own transport, they keep their church neat and clean. They have highlighted their heroes of the past and they dance and play music at every opportunity. And now they’ve outdone themselves in decorating the beloved village in style for Halloween. Go there and admire their artful efforts and creations, and tell them that they are great.
Well done to all those who pulled out at the stops here also to make it a very enjoyable Halloween for both children and adults. The discos and the Dress-up parties and so many other things that help to keep the spirits of a Community in top gear. The wet weather did nothing to dampen their spirits as they forged ahead with their plans and just as darkness fell ,the rain ceased and the streets and terraces filled with droves of excited youngsters in flashing apparel, with breathless parents in tow ,and knocked at every door where they got a friendly welcome and an assortment of goodies for Halloween. Well done.
Our Active Retired Association Christmas Dinner will be held at The Wallis Arms Hotel on December 10th. For details contact Mary 0870537172.
With the month of November comes the time to remember our dear departed. The month of the Holy Souls. Masses today at 11.30 .
Tomorrow Wednesday November 2nd Mass for the Holy Souls at 10am and 7.30 pm. Blessing of the graves on next Sunday November 6, in Cullen after 9.30am Mass. In Millstreet after 11.30 Mass, in the Churchyard, St. Mary’s and Drishane. Many other Masses and prayers will be said throughout the Month of November,please attend them well in memory of our dear departed. RIP.
Special indulgences can be gain in November by visiting a graveyard and praying for the dead.
The incessant rain is leaving many roads and paths very broken and slippery ,sodden leaves not helping. Please take extra care on these places to avoid falls or injury .
Agus sin a bhfuil, a chairde, have a good week ,Slán.
