Author: Michelle O'Keeffe

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

Spring is on our doorstep, I think that Friday March 1st, is the first day of Spring. Though sometimes you’d wonder. Anyway the Daffodils tell us that it is. I haven’t seen any baby lambs yet but  when they come, then it will be Spring in earnest.  We are all urged to plant things this year. One notice says to plant potatoes by St. Patrick’s Day, as we did in the past. I like to watch out for Good Friday every year to plant something because they say that anything that you set on Good Friday will grow.   It would be nice to plant a few things in a box and give it to someone who can’t do it themselves.

[read more …] “Eily’s Report 26th February”

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

The Spring like weather continues and the golden daffodils showing up all over the place are helping to put a little spring in our step as we make our way through 2019. I just saw a little line in something that I was reading that said that 10% accounts for what happens to us and 90% accounts for how we handle it. So let us be positive in our approach to the future.

The AGM of the Community Council was held on Tuesday night at the Wallis Arms Hotel. It was very well attended with many items up for discussion. The Treasurers report was very encouraging showing the healthy state that the Community Council is in financially, copies can be got on request from any member. Plans for the future include upgrading of the adult gym, the creche, and other amenities in that area. Garda Paul Lynch attended and he gave a detailed account of things around the area from a garda point of view. He complimented the Council on the great work that they are doing, thanked Dan Collins and Michele O’Keeffe for their great work in taking care of the Personal Alarms project and Marie Twomey  and Pat Murphy who take  care of the Text Alert scheme. In return the chairman Noel Buckley thanked Garda Paul for his contribution to the meeting adding that  the Garda presence around the town is deeply appreciated as well as around the schools, meeting the children and parent ,also at funeral times and keeping a welcome eye on things in general.  Garda Paul oversaw the election of officers. The committee was re-elected in block, in the interest of the continuation of the many projects that they are engaged in at the moment.  A Non-national man, with a business in the town was welcomed into the Community Council at the AGM.

[read more …] “Eily’s Report – 19th February”

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

The AGM of the Community Council will be held tonight (Tuesday)at the Wallis Arms Hotel starting at 8 sharp. Everybody is welcome to attend the AGM and a special invitation is extended to people who would like to become members.

The Community Council is a very powerful body and has achieved countless successes since its inception in 1977.  In 1977 the government issued a directive to all communities around the country to set up a local council in their own area. The order was taken seriously here in Millstreet and meetings were held not only in the town but also in country schools or halls outside of it. Each area proposed candidates and elections were held with a representative for each area chosen, so as to ensure a balanced  say for all.  Dr. Pat Casey was the first Chairman and he was faced with the daunting  task of setting up the foundation of a new venture that was to guide Millstreet through the future. From humble beginnings and many years of hard work and dedication the achievements of our Community Council are countless.

[read more …] “Eily’s Report -12th February”

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

Despite the weather warnings of many colours, we have come to the first week in February relatively unscathed by any adverse weather conditions.

And the Wheel of Millstreet keeps on turning, with the likes of O’Flynn Medical being awarded the Cork Chamber SME Company of the Year 2019 .

Young Ciarán O Sullivan, from Cullen, making waves in the field of Soccer.

We have news of a new business starting up in the Square, and some vacant premises being snapped up. It all helps to put us in a positive mood for the year ahead.

The AGM of our Community Council will be held on Tuesday night February, 12th), of next week. New members welcome to come to this meeting and become members. It starts at the Wallis Arms Hotel at 8 pm, and all are welcome.  [read more …] “Eily’s Report – 5th February”

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

A million congratulations to our brilliant Scór Sinsir team on winning the County Final which was held in Ovens. Team members were, Jerry Doody, John Tarrant, Con and Mary Meade.

Congrats also to the wonderful Cullen Ballad Group on winning the Munster Final. And we wish them every success at the All-Ireland final which will be held at Castlebar on February 16th.

[read more …] “Eily’s Report – 22nd January”

Dia is Mhuire díobh go léir a chairde, and welcome to my first report of 2019. I trust you are all well after the highs and lows of the Festive Season, and ready to meet the New Year with lots of hope and new resolutions.

Its starting off well here in Millstreet with the mighty Spring Farm Machinery Show at the Green Glens tomorrow Wednesday January 16^th, and continuing on Thursday 17^th, running each day from 12 noon to 10pm. All services at the venue will be up and running, and car parking  free.

Equestrian events for 2019  at the Green Glens include:

• the Millstreet  International Welcome Tour April 3rd-7th,
• the I.M.C.A European Individual Championships July 7th-13th,
• the International Horse Show August 14th-18th,
• the International Horse Trials, August.21^st -25^th , and
• the Pony Owners Show October 25^th -27^th .

[read more …] “Eily’s Report – 15th January”

The weekly lotto draw was held at Corkery’s Bar on Sunday night December 22nd. Numbers drawn were  8,20,23,32 and the Jackpot was not won. €100 went to Denis Murphy, St Josephs Gardens.

The seller was Margaret Murphy and she got €50 sellers prize.

€50 went to Jerry O’Sullivan, Keale. €20 each to Mairead McCormac, Longford, Joan Twomey c/o Graces Salon. Danny O’Mahony, c/o Patsy Mac, Tadg O Flynn Drishane, Eily, c/o Eily.

Margaret Casserly c/o the Camogie Club. Fr. James McSweeney ,c/o Eily, and Stephen Kelleher, Moulnahorna also c/o Eily.

Next Lotto Draw will be at the Mal Passo Bar on January 13th with a Jackpot on €11,400.

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

The howling winds and driving rains, which have continued all day are still  are at work outside as I settle down to write my last report before Christmas.  And pray that all will be safe.

This is  my last chance to remind you, to please shop at home. Please give our local stores and services one last push, to help them to survive into 2019 against all the pressures of on-line shopping and big department  stores.

The good work in aid of the needy goes on. And ‘Work’ parties are the order of the day as the days wear down to the wonderful festival of Christmas.

[read more …] “Eily’s Report – 18th December”

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

The year flies by and then when December comes it feels as long as the whole of the past year put together for little children checking the special calendar, where they open a door every day and wish the days would go a lot faster. Very often its a way for the parents too to check on the passage of time, but unlike the little ones their days go too fast as they try to remain abreast of all that has to be done before Santa comes.

The turning on of our Christmas lights in the town square on Friday night was a wonderful occasion. The design was in total contrast to that of former years. The plain white snowdrop decorations,  coupled with the delicate blue lights on the street trees, worked very well. The blustery weather calmed down just on time for the Pipe Band to do their part and the Community Singers gave recitals both at the opening and the closing of the ceremony. A very large crowd braved the cold to bring out the children and there was a real carnival atmosphere with people from many lands joining the fun as well as Santa Claus.

[read more …] “Eily’s Report – 11th December”