Eily’s Report – 30th June

Dia is Mhuire diobh go léir a cáirde and welcome  to my Report.

It’s not easy for me to say what I have to say to you today. But they say that it’s best to start at the beginning. So here goes. To tell you the reason why I was missing from my Report last week was that I was back at the CUH for the result of a biopsy which was taken a couple of weeks before.  To be told that I have cervical cancer. Men get prostrate trouble and we get cervical cancer, all to do the  similar parts of the body. All very treatable, if caught on time, so we live in Hope. The popular Jeremy Clarkson, TV and Top Gear star put the fear of God into every man in England recently when he announced that he had prostrate  cancer.  So much so that the clinics all over that country were flooded by men seeking to be checked.

The beautiful weather has lifted everybody on to a new high. Over the weekend the whole county and beyond was buzzing with the excitement of  countless functions being held all over the place. The great fundraiser at Dromtarrife came in for special mention as people danced in the open air, enjoyed refreshments of every ilk and children ran free in the open air. Ete.etc.etc.  At the same time the annual historic Charleville Agricultural Show  enjoyed great support. How I remember going there in the distant past and not by car or jeep but by the humble bicycle. Hoards of us pedalled along , with the wind in our hair and a song in our hearts.  And telling everybody all about it the next day and indeed the following week. The wonders of the biggest turnip, or head of cabbage. Or the finest cattle we ever saw.

Not to be outdone Seanie and all at the pub in Carriginma held a wonderful musical event on Sunday evening and drew huge crowds to the village that refuses to die. Out in Ballyvourney the theme was the same, plenty of sunshine and crowds and enjoyment for all.  I’m sure there were lots more.

The Mass at St. Johns Week on the 24^th of June was another amazing event. It was beautifully stewarded by dedicated locals who saw that every thing and everybody was catered for. The crowds came in their hundreds, the pipe band played and our Community Singers were there beside the altar as a lovely Mass was said by Fr. John with local man Fr. James McSweeeny at his side. All the while a busy camera crew from TG4 were recording it all on film to be show on our screens at a later date. After Mass Noreen Kelleher treated many people to beautyful refreshments in the open air at her historic home at Aubane Cross on the Butter Road.Many others left and went further up the mountain for the opening of the mighty Mushera Mountain dancing platform and the sound of their lively dance music and singing floated down to the glens below. And all because the weather was great. Buíochas le Dia.

And the good news is that the Summer weather is to continue. I admit it is a bit over the top for me and I have the luxery of being free to stay in from it while others have to work. Be warned that danger lurks.  An elderly lady came to grief when she put her hand for support, on a steel railing outside her door. It was roasting hot and burned her hand causing her to fall and got badly injured and had to be hospitalised with her injuries.

The peas that I  stuck down in a few pots are climbing up nicely and even a few coming into flower. Gardens are there to be enjoyed at the moment. The multicoloured roses and shrubs are a feast for the eyes. And rich chocolate coloured Japanese mable has nothing to do  but to look beautiful once mother nature fills it all those rich leaves.  It’s great to see the new potatoes in the shops after such a slow and wet spring. In the old days we always associated them  with the Cork Summer Show. An event we never missed back in the day.

The month of July will herald more equestrian events at the Green Glens.  PEI World Championship & Eventing.  U25 Millstreet International Horse Trials August 22-26. God be with the days when we went around to the shops the let them know that a big show was coming so that they could stock up with the rashers and sausages and the orange juices and so on for the B&B’s. Its great to see the colourful bunting up in the town. It creates and great air of excitement and puts a buzz around the place. Please do your part. Keep your own place clean and tidy and help the Tidy Towns Group to keep flowers in tubs watered at this time. The reopening of our Wallis Arms Hotel has given our place a welcome lift.  Their excellent food and services are second to none.

And the wornderful achievements of our young people is amazing. Far too much for me to keep up with. Look up our website and so on for details. We have so much to be proud of. But the struggle to stay a breast of things is a constant up-hill battle. A lot done and a lot more to do. People of my calibre can only sit and watch. But we can Pray, and pray we should for all those who are doing the work.

I’m seeing the specialist today (Tuesday) to hear the next step about my health. And you know how I love to quote the sayings of the old (wise) people of long ago. In times of some faint worrying news, their reaction was,

‘We’ll say natting (nothing) till we hear more’.

Slan libh.