Dia is Mhuire díobh go léir a cáirde and welcome to my Report.
The sun is shining warm and bright on this lovely Bank Holiday Monday. Looking out my window as I write, my favourite tree in the garden my little Japanese maple is shedding it’s red leaves, forming a red carpet on the ground beneath. A little further down my Raspberry canes are weighed down with fruit. My neighbours Cosmos are still lording the view with their grand display of purple blossoms. Up to eight or ten feet high they have stood up like no other, to the punishment of the weather for the past number of months. Cosmos will definitely be on my list for next Season DV. I will miss my little red tree when the leaves are all gone, but it’s bare limbs will reveal the far off hills which it has been hiding from my view for months. There is always a redeeming feature.
Many thanks to all those who compliments us on our show with Frank and Siobhan Lewis on Kerry Radio on Saturday. These are the sort of things that we meet along the way and when they do, we do our best to promote our place as best we can. Thanks again for your encouragement.
There was a very visible change in our weekend Masses this weekend. To see Alter Boys was a very big change and surprise to say the least. There were three at the Vigil Mass and just one at the 11.30 on Sunday. It must have been rather daunting for the little lad but he acquitted himself very well. It was plain to see that Fr. John made him feel very much at ease. It was a far cry from the way the Alter Boys of old attended to their duties in rigid and uneasy fashion. I can’t recall when they were dropped maybe it was because of the pandemic. After all it is blamed for every thing else and may as well blame the dropping of Alter Boys also. Anyway they are back and we hope they are back to stay.
Sadly this week we are parting with one of our oldest and most treasured ladies. Maureen(Maura) Falvey is gone to Heaven in her mid 90’s and her requiem Mass is on today at 2 pm. We will miss her cheerful presence in our town. Her jaunty hairstyle and neat attire stayed with her to the end. I know Maureen all my life. Normally we didn’t have much in common with the town children but the Duggan’s were very like ourselves in many ways. They talked the way we did and they were into animals and whatever else makes young people comfortable with each other. Maureen worked very hard with her mother to bring up the large family of 11. They had a hardware shop in the dip of the town right on the edge of the street not set back like it is today. One day my father sent me to town for a half a dozen pig rings. We had two large hardware stores in the town Square and he told me to get them in either of them. But I was shy of those so I went down to where I felt comfortable. Maureen was inside the counter and we chatted while she was giving me the order and I was asking her about the rest of the family. I asked where was Noel now. ( he wasn’t Noel C that time, just Noel) So she looked at me straight in the eye and stated that Noel in up the country learning business and he’ll come back here and wake up Millstreet. Need I say more.
Times were hard and Maureen (Maura) being the determined person she tried everything. She drove buses in England and did a taxi service when she came back to Ireland. She bought what we called Daniel O’Connell’s Shop in the West End built it up in the new, with a grocer shop at ground lever and a diner above. It was a real Godsend to our town because there was no other like it. If there was ever a need for someone to sing or dance or act in any one of the lovely concerts that were held back then she was ready to fill it. Different people have different accounts of her successes. and she never lost her joyful friendly self. Always a joy to meet. We will Miss her. Our sincere sympathy goes to Maureen’s (Maura) entire family.
Pig Rings , I’m sure lots of people don’t know what pig rings are or what they’re for. Looking back they must have been the most cruel form of pig control. Pigs by nature will dig up anything they can if left to the own devices. They could put their snout under a door or gate and throw it off the hinges or throw anything aside to get where they wanted to go. They love to search for grubs and worms and if they got into a green field they would start and in a very short time turn a green pasture into a ploughed up space. All of those upturned sods had to be forked back into place. A task which never failed to infuriate farmer jones. Nothing for it but bring on the pig rings. There is a ridge around the pig’s snout and this would be adorned with rings. There was a special tool for the job. The poor offending animal had to be held up by one and the ring installed by another. Much the same as you see body piercing done today.. but far less hygienic. Sows got the most punishment because they would be living out around the place, either rearing a litter or waiting for her litter, and you’d often see a one with most of her puss done with those rings. Sometimes they got septic and had to be removed in case she died of poisoning . but most of the time they stayed. Young pigs got the same treatment ,but smaller ,if they were to get their freedom for a while. It hindsight I perish the thought of those creatures of old who populated our farmyards with sores like that. In time there was a plan B where rings resembling a bull ring was fixed on between the nostrils to the same effect. TG.
A million Congratulations to our gallant Quiz team who were successful in the Munster Final at the Weekend. (John Tarrant, Connie Healy, Jerry Doody & Pat Sheehan ,and we wish them every success in the Final at the INEC on November 18th.
Get your dancing shoes at the ready for the Jack Keogh concert coming up in Carriganima on Saturday, November 4th. Another great night in the lovely village guaranteed.
The dark evening are upon us and we must find many ways to fill them. I doubt if we’ll have many hours of good television to pass them for us. As I’m not a fan of the Soaps, my choice is limited. So we would be well advised to search for a plan B. Speaking for my own age group I have to say that we are luckier than most because there are so many outlets these days for the elderly. The Men’s Shed is nearing the completion of it’s grand refurbishment. They will announce their official opening when the time is right. The Active Retired Group program is full of things to do. Line dancing started this week, and it is important to note that Men are welcome to join. Marie’s singing classes on Thursday nights are getting bigger all the time, with more men joining up. Chair yoga on Fridays from 3 to 4 o’clock is very rewarding for the benefits that it gives to aching joints. This is only a snippet of what is available .Coffee and scone at Linda’s every Thursday morning after ten o clock Mass . I find it helps to spend as much time as possible in the out of doors in the daytime. A walk if its fine ,a drive in the car if its not. Or meet up with a friend ..Better still remember that we have wonderful bus and train services serving Millstreet. A train passes through our Station every hour. A spin to Killarney will give you under two hours there before another train will bring you back or you can stay longer and get a later one. There is ample parking at the Station yard. For the likes of us there is no need to get a ticket. Just hop on. We also have an excellent bus service in town, check it out. All or some of these will help to keep your heating bills down keep you in touch with what it happening in your community and help to make the long nights seem not so long.
Eucharistic Adoration continues in our Church today Tuesday with a break for the Requiem Mass foe Maura Falvey. Please support it well and let us all join in the prayers of the world for Peace. Prayers to alleviate the sufferings , especially of children in troubled parts of the World. Maybe give a few bob to a charitable organisation. It is important that we all join together in this strive for Peace. Eucharistic Adoration is said to be one of the most powerful but any prayer any time is good.
Here are the results of this weeks Lotto Draw which was held on Bank Holiday Monday Night. Numbers drawn were 10,20,21,24 and the Jackpot was not won. €100 went to D&D c/o Michelle Whelan. Seller was Michelle and she got €50 sellers prize. €50 went D. Twomey and family, Station Road. €20 each to Bebe. c/o Lehane, Mary Jo Buck, c/o Tom Carroll, Mary McSweeney, Killarney Rd. c/o Joan. Anita Brown c/o The Bush Bar. Jorden Kiely c/o The Bush Bar. Brian Kenny, Killarney Rd. c/o Colemans. Martin O’Donoghue, c/o Colemans.& Hazel Bartley, Killarney Rd. c/o Colemans. Next draw Sun. November 5th. Jackpot €13,400.
I want to wish you all a very Happy and safe Halloween
Sinn a bfuil a Cairde, Slán is Beannacht Dé libh go léir.
