Dia is mhuire diobh go leir a cairde and welcome to my weekly Report.
Our Church Choir outdid themselves on Sunday at 11.30 Mass. Our own choir were in great voice and they were joined by a number of Eukrainian people who sang a hymn in their own language. The sounds were so melodious. Canon John complimented them and the congregation showed their appreciation with a huge round of applause. Something we’d love to hear more of in the future. The readings on Sunday were deep rooted as they dealt with things that we’ve been learning since childhood about the end of the world and are more believable today than ever before. Down the years we have experienced signs and warnings that seemed to be true but never came to pass. I will never forget 1960. For years before it according to one of Our Lady’s Secrets in Fatima we were told that there was going to be three dark days that year. It was said in papers and magazines well in advance. Needless to say we were very worried and wondered if this was going to be the End. Unfortunately I fell pregnant that year with my second baby, which added to our own worries and that time you’d have a weeklong stay in hospital for your confinement and here I was with my lovely new baby away from the others at home. Consumed with worry I spent hours every night looking out of the hospital window, wondering if the sun would come up and it did. TG. The three dark days never came, not sunless ones anyway, but maybe there was some other explanation for it which escaped me. Other signs and prophesies came to light over the years and people who were stirred by them in various ways. So the bottom line is that we don’t know the day nor the hour, but always be at the ready.
The lady who celebrated her 100th Birthday last week is in no hurry to go anytime soon. She is as eager to live as anybody else. It was lovely for me to be there to celebrate with them all. She looked radiant for TV cameras which put her on our screens, which gave great encouragement to others and the personal message from Bertie Ahern was an added delight. The cheque from “The Small Man” as she called him won’t hurt either. She is blessed with great health and a wonderful loving family. What more could you ask for at one hundred, as we wish the lovely Sheila God’s Blessing well into the future. Good luck also to our own spritely Gubby Twomey who is a hearty one year more.
It’s that time of year again when we are reminded to renew our Text Alert for 2023. The rule remains the same, put your name and your address and your area code on a piece of paper and E10, put it in an envelope and hand it in to Wordsworth Bookshop in Millstreet or at Guerins Shop in Ballydaly before November 25th. This wonderful service gives great assurance to many people, especially those living alone. If you should know somebody who may not be aware of this renewal date please give them any help they need to do so, before November 25th.
Looking through old photos recently, lots of serious faces and lots of smiling faces. The smiles of many older people spoiled by gapped and broken teeth. We all have teeth, we suffer in their coming and very often in their going. Tiny babies suffer a lot when they are teething and can lead to many a sleepless night. From there, these days they are pretty well looked after, even chlorine added to reservoirs for their benefit. But in the old days there was very little and in some cases nothing at all to keep our choppers in good nick. Back then a toothaches were rampant. Most people got them sooner or later .Dentists were scarce and expensive so incisors had to be left in situ until they fell apart. There was no such thing as saving a tooth that time. If it did need a trip to the dentist it was extracted and that was that and without any injection to deaden the gum. The Boston Bar in town was the place where dentists came once a week or month I’m not sure and older people told me that in an effort to calm their nerves they were given a good strong whiskey in advance. It was a very painful experience every time. Little children had to attend the school dentist. Books could be written about the abject cruelty that they had to endure, and in hindsight I can’t believe how we as parents allowed it to happen. We sat in cold drafty waiting rooms, listening to their screams but were afraid to intervene.
When I see the way people treasure their teeth these days I look back in anger at the way we allowed ours to be whipped out for very little reason. I think that people that time were so afraid of getting a toothaches or maybe long suffering with them saw total extraction as a way out, a guarantee against never getting one again. There was a very long wait for dentures once all the teeth were all out. The rule, (unwritten) was to wait for nine months ,to allow the gums to heal and settle down before going for false teeth. It did nothing for the personal appearance and often led to the term ‘gummsy’ being allotted to the person in question. Getting dentures was a ceremony in itself and the transformation came in for many comical remarks. The first Sunday at Mass and there were very big crowds that time where all and sundry had a good look and a wisecrack to follow. ‘Look at Paddy, he got the teeth, he have a mouth like a letterbox.’ Not all replacements went well, many were worn for just going out, while others took them out to eat their dinner. Even in the bog , one day as they all sat round the fire to eat, one fellow put his choppers into his cap on the ground ,and was in no hurry to put them in again before taking a short nap, but alas the greedy crow made off across the moors with them and they were never seen again. But when they worked the false choppers were lovely and brought back the lovely smile and youthful appearance of many and made the long nine months wait ,worth it all.
Here are the results of this weeks lotto draw which was held on Sunday night. Numbers drawn were 3,15,24,26 and the Jackpot was not won. €100 went to Sean Twohig, Flintfield, The seller was Coleman’s and they got €50 sellers prize. €50 went to Peter Horgan, Kilmeedy , €20 each went to A B, c/o Michelle Whelan, The Gilbourne Family, Killarney, RD, Lucey & Sean Wiseman, c/o Colemans, David Tarrant c/o Jerry Lehane, Paddy Roche, c/o The Clara Inn, C. Buckley, c/o the Bridge Bar, Noreen @ Aroma, c/o Mary O’Connor and Patrick & Megan , c/o Joan Casey. Next Draw Nov. 20th. Jackpot €4,000.
The weather forecast told us that the weekend would be unseasonaly warm and close. It was just as well that we were forewarned because everybody felt so lethargic and could sleep all day and night. But today it has all livened up again and the wind is even welcome. Autumn leaves are well and truly gone by now, but those lovely beech hedges that you see here and there are a wonderful asset at this time of year regardless of wind or weather, so colourful in their greens and reds and russets. Something to keep our spirits up. Buíochas le Dia.
Eucharistic Adoration to-day and every Tuesday after 10am Mass to 7.30pm. Please sing up to do a given hour or drop in any time. Never leave the Blessed Sacrament alone.
Mass every day of the week in Millstreet !0am Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and 7.30 Monday and Friday. Legion of Mary Meeting at the Parish Centre every Tuesday at 7.30pm.
45Drives in Millstreet every Tuesday night Ballydaly, Cullen every Wednesday night and Ballydaly every Sunday night all with 8.30 start. Bridge also available as well as knitting etc at our local library. Please look up their list of hobbies that are available during the day.
Chair Yoga at the Day Centre on Friday afternoons. Singing with Marie On Thursday nights in the comfort of the lovely Adult Centre at7.30.
The Cullen and District Special Needs Association will hold their Annual Mass and Christmas Party on Saturday, December 3rd at 1pm. Anyone who is not on their list and would like to be there please contact any committee member.
Agus sin a bhfuil, a chairde, have a good week , Slán.
