Dia is Mhuire díobh go léir a cáirde and welcome to my Report.
A beautiful sunny Monday gets the week off to a great start. For those of us who do not have to go out only now and then, the bright sunshine beckons to us to venture out and when we do, we will always find something to attract your attention. Be it an old pan that we threw out with some waste for the birds or a flower pot that would be better off out of sight. Putting up the Christmas decorations takes up most of our time indoors at the moment, but it would be a pity if it took from what is going on out of doors. My camellias don’t flower until the Spring, but I found one with its rich red blossom out in full regalia and ready to brighten up my Christmas even before it came. Perhaps I don’t get up early enough to see my little wren these mornings or maybe he is gone into hiding knowing that St.Stephen’s day is not that far off.
As always around Christmas time the number of collections for good causes increase. Our St.V de Paul members held their annual Church gate collection on Saturday/Sunday and all money raised will be used locally while others ask for hampers of dried and tinned foods to be given to those in need in parts of Cork City. This year some people have decided to give money to the charity of their choice instead of giving presents and in some cases charities are giving Christmas cards telling the relevant people that x-amount was given in their name by the named giver.
This week we say goodbye to two lovely men of our community. Martin O’ Connell’s passing took us all by great surprise when he passed away so peacefully in the comfort of his own lovely home at Mount Leader. At his requiem Fr. John went through the long list of his working years and leisure activities that the lovely Martin did in his 67 years of life. We all have our own memories of Martin. I will miss the friendly impromptu chats when we met in the street or in a chance meeting in one of our restaurants when we would have a meal together better than taking up two tables. An interesting man we were never short of something to talk about. It was no secret all those years ago when Martin was the only survivor of a long list of pregnancies that his parents had to endure before their one and only Martin lived. His lovely mother Sheila had us all praying that she would succeed in the end and finally the prayers worked.
David Barrett will be missed also. I know him and his brother Tony all my life. David worked in construction and when his health failed he was fortunate to be placed in one of the lovely houses at the Canon O’Donovan, sheltered housing where he was sure of the best of care including his meals. Outside of that he liked to venture out and meet people. But his ability was limited and this is where his co-resident Peggy Tarrant came into play. Peggy had her own car and herself and David were regular customers at the Aroma Cafe a day or two in the week. They were the perfect example of combined effort. She had the car and he had the desire to go out and for as long as his health allowed they had their tea out and took in some short trips. We would meet them there and catch up with the latest news before saying, see ye again soon. God rest our two lovely men, Martin O’Connell and David Barrett, we will miss their presence in our town but we are confident that they will be looking down at us from Heaven this Christmas.
The singing of the Children from our National Schools came across beautifully on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Well done to all who prepared them so well for their big occasion. Our Pipe Band joined by Siobhan Bourke on the Organ brought the house down at or 6.15 Mass on Saturday night. Always a specialty in the run up to Christmas.
You never know who is listening or from where. Canon John’s voice rang out loud and clear all the way in far off Hong Kong on Sunday December 7th and on Sunday December 14. Fr. Billy Radleys voice reached the same people in far away Perth in Australia. Geraldine and Mick were on their way to visit the son David and his family for Christmas. They stopped off in Hong Kong for a couple of days sightseeing on the way and got our Sunday Mass. Again this past Sunday at the their final destination Perth, Australia, they got the clear voice of Fr. Billy Radley. Our wonderful Streaming Service brings it all home to our folks out there in the far corners of the world, giving us the cosy feeling that even for a short time we can be all as one. We know that the streaming service is a great for people abroad who cannot make it home for the funeral of a loved one. It’s a far cry from back then a daughter who was years in the U.S. and could never come home and when her dear mother passed away she asked those at home ring her on the phone when the Mass bell was ringing for her mother’s funeral so that she could hear it. Sometimes we take things for granted and forget the value the wonderful things that we have today. It’s always good to take a look back and see how far we have come and be thankful.
I’d like to say a special hello to Denis Lehane at his home in Wales and thank him for his lovely letter and wish him a very happy Christmas.
And more happy times, I want to say many congratulations and best wishes to the lovely Deirdre Meade, Cloghoulabeg daughter of Con & Mary who married Bertie Buckley, The Brake, Boherbue in Millstreet Church recently. We wish them the best of health and happiness in the years ahead.
The rain and storm are not the only hazards on our roads. A motorist ran into wild deer in another area last week and did extreme damage to the car.
Look up the website for details of a Comedy night at the GAA Hall this Saturdaynight and look up our website every day for details of all that happens in Millstreet and beyond.
Keep a keen eye on it for details of our Mass etc times for the Christmas period. Further to that there are cards in the church which you can take away and they give all the details of our Church services for the Christmas period. Pass them around.
Eucharistic Adoration in Millstreet Church every Tuesday from 10.30 am to 7.30 pm.
Confessions in Millstreet every Saturday from 12.30 to 1.
Legion of Mary meeting every Tuesday night at the Parish Centre from 7.30 All welcome.
The Pink Advert Candle was lit at Masses at the weekend, that means there is only one more to go before we come to Christmas Week. The Great feast of the Birth of Christ is fast approaching . Let us pray that we will celebrate it in a real God loving way.
Just a few copies of our 2026 Calendar still in the shops. An ideal stocking filler. All proceeds go to local needs.
Community Council Church Gate collection will be held at our Masses at the week end. Please support them well.
Shop at home and support our shops and stores. They all give vouchers which makes shopping a labour saving exercise. Then the recipient can buy the item they want instead of getting an unwanted gift. Oh dear when you have lived as long as I have lived, this sort of wisdom comes naturally, from years experience.
Sinn a bfuil a cairde, Slán is Beannacht De libh go leir.
Eily looking forward to your reports in 26