Author: Marie Guerin

Dia is Mhuire díobh go léir a chairde, and welcome to my weekly report.

Fondest greetings everybody as we embark on a new week, with the hope of a vaccine for Covid19 filling us with new hope and a new determination to keep the spread of the killer disease  as low as possible until that magic formula arrives.  The weeks of our lockdown are passing slowly by, a little over two weeks to go, I think, the light at the end of any tunnel tells us that there is a way out and that’s what we want to hear. le cúnamh Dé

Christmas remains in the balance as far as travel is concerned, but it hasn’t stopped our  business people from setting up their shops and stores and displaying their wares giving us ample time to get to work on our gift list. Christmas decorations are going up in all the shops and their choices of gift ideas has to be seen to be believed. The well known plea to shop at home was never so important. Since last Christmas businesses have been literally shell shocked by  what has hit them in one short year and we must all play our part in helping them to stay afloat  and not only that but to build themselves up to a confidant future.  Thanks to our business ladies we will have Christmas lights in the town  in spite of all the negativity they are forging ahead and asking people to fund them on a voluntary basis rather than asking business people to foot the bill in light of all that they have been through since Covid19  began. Donations are still being accepted and can be handed in to Niamh at Wordsworth bookshop. To Noirin’s Boutique or Catherine at her auctioneering business office, West End. They deserve our support so please give generously.

[read more …] “Eily’s Report 17th November”

Dia is Mhuire díobh go léir a chairde, and welcome to my weekly report.

What a difference a goal can make. I’m sure you know by now that my knowledge of football or any competitive game is almost nil. My many interests are elsewhere. But I cannot fail to be  overjoyed, proud  and plain delighted at the lift which that winning shot scored by Mark Keane, for Cork at the  very last minute on Saturday  evening gave to every red blooded Cork person in every corner of the world. Where else would you get such a return for a kick of a ball that put Kerry out of the Munster Final. Most people were forced to watch it at home for obvious reasons, the loss of companionship  and banter meant that it was a fairly noiseless event as matches go, but when that ball went in all hell broke loose. Babies and other resting folk were roused out of their sleep, peaceful dogs and cats scrambled for shelter by the explosion of screaming cheers that went up in every house. It is still almost unbelievable that Kerry will not be in the Munster Final.  The importance of sport cannot be over rated. Win, lose or draw, sport of any kind brings people together, it’s great to see youngsters getting the chance to be part of it and better still to see girls making their presence felt. Even those who have no competitive skills have have a part to play. Looking back I can recall a some lads who did no more than mind the coats for the players, or the water and they were made part of the whole and  made just  as important as the players themselves. On winning day they were fitted into the group photo to go down in history with the rest.    As I said at the outset, I know very little about sport, I could never watch a match, if my side were losing it would be all too much for me.  But I’d always want to know who won when all was over. I had a friend like that, she would go off out during the play and on her return ask the husband who won. One day when she came back and asked him who won, he said he didn’t watch it at all and she said didn’t you know I’d want to know  who won, he said yes and if your side lost you’d give out to me.  When your side wins  you’re as happy as them all. Well done Cork.

[read more …] “Eily’s Report – 10th November”

Dia is Mhuire díobh go léir a chairde, and welcome to my weekly report.

November never lost it. It had the name ever of coming in cold and blustery, the yellow flood and gale warnings of the past week helped it to live up to it’s old name.  When fairs were held in towns years ago the November Fair was always the one that few people looked forward to. Fair fields were open places and unprotected from wind and weather and the grassy surface was no match for galloping hooves and hobnailed boots.  So when stock owners had to remain beside their animals for long periods in the hope of making a sale there was nothing for it but stand your ground and put up with it. November Fair in Knocknagree stands out as the one most talked about and still is for all the wrong reasons. The Fairfield  is high and open and facing north  bordered at the back by the houses of the village. Sleety showers  in November drove cold into the hearts and souls of all  who traded there, the likes of which they never forgot. We don’t get many icy showers now but November still has the power to send us scuttling for last years warm woollies.

[read more …] “Eily’s Report – 3rd November”