Dia is Mhuire dióbh go léir a cairde and welcome to my Report.
It’s not often we get good news but to hear that our town is being given the princely sum of €117,000 for local improvements on a Monday morning, it is enough to brighten up anyone’s day. Well done to those who succeeded in netting this welcome shot in the arm for Millstreet and as time moves on we look forward to see the changes that it will make.
First Holy Communions are the order of the day at the moment . The children from Cloghoula National School received their Communion in Ballydaly Church last week and this Saturday May 4th it’s the turn of the children of Cullen who will have their ceremony in their own local Church. Following that on May 11 May it’s the turn of the little girls of the Presentation National School and the boys of Scoil Mhuire in Millstreet. In the build-up to their special days the children and their parents took an active part in what is called ‘Grow in Love,’ at the 11.30 masses in recent times and we wish them God’s Blessing at this important time in their lives and pray that the blessings which they will receive through the Sacraments of Penance and the Blessed Eucharist will stand to them in whatever road life takes them in their future years.
The road through life can be long or short but the day of your First Holy Communion stays with you forever. I can clearly recall my own big Day. A humble affair if ever there was one, but at the same time the memories live on. In the preparation for the real thing the nun had us schooled in every detail. Even receiving the bread into the mouth. She would have a piece of bread (loaf) up her wide black sleeve and as we went up to receive she would dole out a morsel which we were strictly warned not to chew, but to swallow. Not to chew in case and iota of the Blessed Host should get caught in our teeth and be thrown out with a cough or a sneeze. In later years at Stations etc where Holy Communion was given, some people asked for a sip of water when they got the chance, to wash down the Host in case of any mishap. Perhaps they still carried the warning that was instilled into them during their own school days. It took a bit of practice but we managed. However when we got the real thing, we found no problem in getting the tasty flat disc down the throat. We were all dressed in lovely white dresses and veils which made us feel special. Hand-me-downs were common and the finery was passed on time and time again. The nuns gave us tea and bread and jam in the convent after the ceremony and how we relished it. But knowing me I did have a mishap when I spilled the tea on my lap. Ruining the virgin white of my handed down. Parents were not at Holy Communions back then, or if they were I have no memory of it. As our mother was dead, I wouldn’t have her anyway. So I was taken by my sister who was a mere 18 months older than me. It was all handled by the nuns/teachers. My sister brought me the mile walk home in my stained apparel and our housekeeper Pete made nothing of giving it a good soak in suds and bleached it as good as new on the hedge.
A Question, can anybody tell us something about ‘The Mettle Bridge’. Popular man with the camera Sean Corbitt approached me with a picture of it at Reen’s Chemist shop last week and asked myself and Frankie, where is was. A fine view of it can be got from the back gate of Drishane Estate. I’ve heard of it all my life but never heard what or why its function was. The Finnow River which rises at Coomatrush Lake, and the great Black Water meet around that point . So there I leave it in the hope that somebody will be able to enlighten us and let us know more about it.
Seano Murphy’s Photos from the past are creating great excitement on Facebook at the moment. Each one brings back faces and places and leaves us asking for more. Thank you Seano.
Don’t forget to tune in to Sean Radley tonight from 9.30. on Cork Music Station which can be reached through our website. Of late he is playing many of Jimmy Reidy’s gems from the past. Plus a lot more.
Many thanks to all of those who sent messages and cards etc for my birthday. Passing on to 91 almost came unknown to me. Time flies when you’re busy. The week also marked the first birthday of my youngest great-grand son, in Cork. Making photographs rather novel with a massive ninety years between us. Moments to treasure.
John Magee, the Chaplan at our Community School organised a gathering of the Transition Year students and some senior citizens at the Parish Centre on Monday morning following 10 am Mass. There was great interaction as the they engaged in a variety of games. Scrabble, Drafts, Cards, Bridge , 45, and so on, while sipping friendly teas and coffees and an array of sweet bites. All in all it was a most enjoyable event many new acquaintances were made between the ages and vows to meet up again. Many thanks to Chaplan John Magee for arranging this happy occasion.
The men’s shed is open every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday ,Friday from 2 to 4pm.
Active Retired weekly Coffee ‘n scone at the lovely Kall & Dyyne Restaurant every Thursday from 11.
The Kall & Dyyne open every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday from 9.30 to 5.30. Closes at 4 on Sunday. For details ring 029 71079 .
Chair Yoga Friday, from 3 to 4 at the Day centre.
For details of the many other available events ring Mary 087 053 7172 .
45 Drive at the Day centre every Tuesday night. In Cullen on Wednesday, and Ballydaly on Sunday nights all starting 8.30 sharp.
Our Community Singers with Marie acquitted themselves very well at the evening Mass on Saturday. And came in for much praise from the congregation. Please note that singing sessions continue every Thursday night with Marie from 7.30. All welcome.
Wednesday is the first of the holy Month of May and all over the country people are arranging the recitation of the Rosary at grottos etc during this month of Our Lady. At Tubrid Well the Rosary will be said every Monday and Wednesday evening during the month of May and also at Aubane on every Thursday of the month. All starting 8pm. Please support them well.
This Tuesday morning an Autism Awareness celebration is being held at the Presentation School, from 10am to 12noon. All welcome .
Communal First Saturday Mass will be held at the Church of the Resurrection Killarney on Saturday May 4th at 8. All welcome.
Let us pray for peace and all those who are sick or worried in our parish. Some who are in hospital and awaiting test results and also let us thank the Lord for those whose prayers were answered and for those who are travelling this Bank Holiday weekend we pray the God will keep them safe.
Here are the results of this weeks lotto draw which was held on Sunday night. Numbers drawn were 3,9,16,26 and the jackpot was not won. €100 went to ‘The Mill Workers’. O’Regans Mill was the seller and they get €50 sellers prize. €50 went to Dylan Sheehan, c/o The Bush Bar. €20 each to C O’ Shea Lackadota, c/o Kevin Hickey, Geraldine Dennehy, Ballydaly c/o Joan Casey, Mary Naughton, Cullen, c/o the Juvenile Club, Tommy Burke, c/o Ann Burke, Nora O’Sullivan, Laught, c/o Colemans, Mike Sheehan, Minor Row, Conor & Lily Mae Hickey, c/o D. Hickey, Orla Kiely, Liscahane, c/o P. Healy.
Next Draw on Bank Holiday Monday May, 6th. Jackpot €4,600.
Sin a bhfuil de cairde, I wish you all a very safe and enjoyable May Bank Holiday weekend. Slán.
The Metal Bridge referred to in your report Eily, is situated as you correctly point out near Wallis’ Bridge over the Finnow river on the glebe road,at the FRONT entrance (not currently used) to the Drishane estate. It is the railway bridge over the river and bridges the Townlands of Dooneen and Drishanebeg. A pathway exists under it, regularly used by fishermen accessing the Blackwater. It replaced a wooden structure that my best recollection suggests was damaged during the troubles over 100 years ago. I stand to be corrected on the exact timeline and detail which I’m sure is fully catalogued either locally or in the vaults of Iarnród Eireann. Suffice it to say that it was considered to be a marvel of engineering of its time, immune to being burned or damaged in that way. They must have done some thing right as it has stood the test of time and continues to carry the best that the train service throws at it, not to mention the various floods that even we have seen in our lifetime…
….. and its only a stones throw from the Doody house where Jerry and Bertie lived. I spent a fair bit of time in the house visiting when I was young and used to fish the Finnow and the Blackwater manys the day. I fished the Doody pond a lot about 55 years ago.