Eily’s Report – 7th March

Dia is mhuire diobh go leir a cairde and welcome to my weekly Report.

Heart warming scenes on our website this morning of the great celebrations by our GAA enthusiasts as they laud their stars and our historic Wallis Arms Hotel accommodating them in style. Many congratulations to all involved.

A beautiful Monday with the sun shining and the washing waving in the breeze and a yellow warning of snow and cold winds in the forecast. It’s a recipe for making the most of the remaining hours of this lovely day. It was a race against time last week when Clara Mountain above us was set alight, just days before the end of season. The huge inferno made a great impression on all who saw it. Controlled burning has been part of life for those  who own sections of Mountains and rough land. From experience they know when the time is right, taking  into consideration the direction of the wind and the proximity to local forests. Over the years we always loved to watch once we knew that nothing was in danger. The scene never failed to get us all excited at the wonder of it all. Sometimes it happened at night when the dark skies were lit up for miles around. In our young days local  farmers with rushy land with patches of furze growing on it would put a match to it and we’d all enjoy the bonfire-like occasion. The heat of it and the smell of burning furze stays with you all your life.  In the days before handy chainsaws and other mechanical trimmers, people made much more use of fire. This time of year when cows would be eating their way through the new fresh grass, fences had to be opened to let them into new pasture. Gates were scarce and gaps were often over grown with briers and weeds.  My Dad being a pipe smoker was never without a box of matches in his pocket and one flick made short work of opening a gap as the flaming vegetation filled the valley with a gentle wave of smoke and gave off a beautiful smell  that filled the evening air.  One you’d never forget.

Controlled burning improves the land/mountain because it gets rid of everything and clears the way for new growth. It a different story when national forests catch fire and robs the State of valuable timber. TG it doesn’t happen very often and the open burning will never fail to raise excitement and wonder. I had the feeling that some little children were afraid, perhaps thinking that homes and all would go up like what they saw  on television happening in Australia. You just never know what they’re thinking, like the little lad I told you about before in Beara when we were going to see the copper mines down there.  He was lagging back the whole time and when his Dad asked him why he said what will I do if I step on one. We may not notice, but they are taking everything in.

This is a little piece that I found in an old book recently. “There are little eyes upon you and they’re watching night and day, There are little ears that quickly take in everything you say, there are little hands all eager to do everything you do and a little one who’s dreaming of the day(s) he’ll be like you. You are setting an example every day in all you do, for a little one who’s waiting to grow up to be like you.”  And now with the burning season and the Hedge-cutting season closed until next autumn, things of the wild are free to build their nests and dig their burrows and do what nature intended for them.

I bet there are many more like myself, who have a Dyson (chargable) hoover which has given up. My second one did just that last week.   I said this is just not good enough. So I  searched the panel on the back until I found a number and rang it. A nice lady answered and I told her my story, first my age and then went on to say that some of my family also have ones that have stopped. She was very helpful and by my description she said it sounded like that the battery was out. So asked me for the registration number which I found with great difficulty and then my name and address plus my area code, then we hung up. Can you imagine my dismay and delight next day when the replacement part was delivered right to my door and all is well in my cleaning department again. Only goes to show that you should let the makers know if their product doesn’t work for you.

Oh dear me, our roads are in a dreadful state, litter litter litter. Rubbish of all sorts dumped right before our eyes. Brightly coloured plastic bags with multi coloured tins and cartons spewing out of them blowing in the wind. Shameful to say the least and in springtime when evenings are getting longer and brighter and  when Mother Nature is dressing up the countryside with beautiful blossoms of every hue, and size.  On behalf of all right-minded people I’m asking the perpetrators to  please refrain from this terrible habit and bear in mind that there are heavy fines for those who are caught.

Still with roads, be warned of wild deer roaming and crossing roads. A large one was seen dead on the main road at Cloghoula recently. It was pretty large and the driver who spotted it waited for help to remove it off the road in case it caused an accident. But spare a thought for the driver who killed it in the first place. They are numerous in many of our byroads also. So be warned.

If you are like me and don’t wash the(small) paint brush properly, maybe leave down for a minute and don’t come again until the next day when its all hard and unworkable.  By sheer accident I discovered that a little spray of WD40 can do the trick.

The count is on for this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. There was a good attendance at the special meeting last Tuesday night, and judging by the reaction our 5 o’clock  event in honour of our Patron Saint will be bigger and better than ever. Following in our footsteps will be the ever popular St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Carriganima on Sunday March 19th. Give them your full support.

Here are the results of this weeks lotto draw which was held on Sunday night. Numbers drawn were 1,6,24,30 and the Jackpot was not won. €100 went to Breda Bourke, Dromagh, The Seller was her Mom, Ann and she got €50 sellers prize. €50 went Paddy O’Connor, c/o Colemans, €20 each to Catherine Buicke, c/o Capabu. Kathleen O’Leary, c/o Jimmy O’Leary, Mary Rose Kelleher and Mike Keane, Bertie Batt Ahern c/o The Mal Paso. Geraldine Dennehy, c/o Joan Casey. PJ O’Sullivan c/o The Bridge Bar, A Pistol for rings c/o The Mal Paso, Phil McCarthy, Lackabawn, Next Draw March 12th. Jackpot €6,600.

All systems go in Cullen again this week . They’re task almost complete for another year.

Great to see the resumption of the popular Gramophone Circle following the long break due to Covid. It will be held as always at the Canon O’Donovan Centre on This Friday night March 10th starting at 8.15.Presenter Maurice Linehan. All are very welcome.

First Holy Communion and Confirmation times are approaching soon again.

So different from our day. Children from Derinagree and District will be confirmed in Derinagree and children from Millstreet will be confirmed in Millstreet on Thursday April 20.   In the forenoon at Derinagree and in Millstreet on that afternoon.   For First Holy Communion, Children of Derinagree will receive that First Holy Communion on Saturday April 22nd and in Millstreet on May 13th.

Brochures and application forms for Diocesan Youth Day which will be held in Lisbon, Portugal this year are available at the bottom of the church.   It will be held from July 31st to July 8th for 18 to 35 year olds.

Eucharistic Adoration in our Church every Tuesday from 10.30 to 7.15.

Legion of Mary meeting every Tuesday at 7.30 pm at the Parish Centre.

Diocesan Eucharistic Adoration Retreat will take place on April 27th 2023 at the Church of the Resurrection in Killarney by Fr. Jim Linehan. Your support would be very much appreciated. For details ring Maureen at 087 951 4352. Or Margaret at 087 297 6304.

National Eucharistic Adoration Pilgrimage to Knock takes place on April 22/23. 2023.

Mass in our Church every day. On Friday of this week Mass will also be at 10am  preceded by Stations of the Cross from 9.30. Please be reminded that part of the Stations of the Cross are included in all morning weekday masses during Lent. And morning Masses are preceded by the Holy Rosary from 9.40.All of these services are available on screen.

“Please,” “Thank you,” “I’m sorry.” Pope Francis teaches that although these words are easier to say than to mean, they are absolutely necessary. They are part of good manners, meaning respect and the desire for the good of the other, not hypocrisy or pretense. This Lent let us lead by example, and mean these words when we say them.

Please wrap up and keep warm the forecast is for a very cold and snowy snap.

Agus sinn abfuil a cairde Slán is Beannacht Dé libh go léir.