PROLOGUE: "Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’" —Martin Luther King.
DEATH: Sincere sympathies are offered to the family of the late Nora O’Keeffe, Graigue who died recently. May she rest in peace.
MEENKILLY NS CARD GAME: Winners with 16 games Beth Collins, Dan Joe Casey, Patsy Kelly. Runners Up with 11 games: Sean O’Connor, Liam O’Connor, Dick Fitzgerald. Eileen Reidy, Con Lane and Liam Lane. Table prizes; Marion Roche, Noel Murphy, Larry McAuliffe. Door Prize; Dan Brosnan. Tickets; John Lyons, Noel Murphy, Mary McCarthy (twice), Nora Lyons. Thanks to each and every one for turning up on such a bad night but an enjoyable night was had by all.
YOUTH ACTING COURSE: West Limerick Resources is planning to offer a two day (Saturdays January 24 & 31 from 11am – 5pm) youth acting course this January and is currently seeking participants. Free of charge and open to young people aged 10-16 years based in the West Limerick area. This course is likely to take place in the Abbeyfeale area (to be confirmed shortly) Contact Suzanne on 069 79114 or email srowley to book a place.
YOUTH ACTING COURSE: West Limerick Resources is planning to offer a two day (Saturdays from 11am – 4.30pm) youth acting course this January and is currently seeking participants. Free of charge and open to young people aged 10-16 years based in the West Limerick area. The course will run in Glorach Theatre Abbeyfeale on Saturdays January 24 and 31. Contact Suzanne on srowley to book a place.
DONKEY DERBY IN AID OF UNDERAGE RUGBY: Saturday, January 31 at 9:00pm
The Winners Circle Abbeyfeale. Please support.
SUE RYDER: As the cold weather continues, remember we still have a large selection of coats and scarves here at Sue Ryder, Abbeyfeale. Our books are still only €1 and get 4 books for €3. This week we also have some brand new uniform jumpers for Athea National School. We are always delighted to receive donations of clothing, footwear, bags, working toys and bric a brac. We regret that we are unable to recycle old duvets, pillows, broken toys or electrical items. Thank you for all your donations of paper bags. We definitely won’t run short any time soon but we would still appreciate it, if you continue to keep them for us.
Thank you for your continued support.
RAMBLING HOUSE: Listowel Rambling house will take place in the Seanchaí Centre, The Square on Thursday January 29th from 9.15 pm. Admission free, tea/coffee served.
NIGHT CLASSES: Listowel Community College are offering both hobby and professional
Night courses commencing on January 26. . Courses include; French, Spanish,
Cake Decorating, Computers, Operation Transformation, First Aid, Introduction
to Childcare, Parenting for Teenage Years and many more. Enrol now
online at www.kerryetbcourses.ie Phone 0860289958 or 06821023 for further details.
GATHER BY THE FEALE: We had our first meeting for 2015 and the agenda included events to get us going again and to help fund the very exciting programme that is planned. Three in all– the very successful pampering day is booked for the Devon Inn on Sunday, March 22 and will make a wonderful gift idea for Mothers Day, birthdays and Valentines. Abba Delicious – Europe’s No. 1 Tribute Band are coming to the Railway Bar on Easter Sunday night for an evening of ‘ Knowing me, knowing you, ‘ Lay all your love on me’’ Gimme, Gimme a man after midnight’ and much more and then on the May Bank Holiday w/e we’ll be doing bag packing in Tuohigs Supervalue. This is a festival for all the family from the toddlers to the grandparents so plans include a night in the Glorach, the hugely popular family fun day, Guinness and Oyster night, battle of the businesses, and a celebrity concert. As the weeks go on I’ll be bringing you the finalised programme and as always if you’d like to get involved or have ideas about how to improve the festival then please call to Bridget in Mary Dan G’s. Be sure and keep the weekend of July 17-20 free and invite all the relations home – the craic will be mighty. Follow us on Gather by the Feale facebook page, twitter @GatheringAfeale, our blog gatheringabbeyfeale.blogspot.ie or our webpage abbeyfealefestivals.wordpress.com
CLOTHES COLLECTION FOR ABBEYFEALE UNDER AGE RUGBY: Please dig deep and clean out any unwanted clothes, household textiles (Curtains/bed linen) bags and shoes in Aid of Abbeyfeale Underage Rugby. Black bags can be dropped to the Rugby Club Monday to Friday between 10am – 12 Midday or during any training session or home games. Final collection date is Saturday, January 31 at 12 noon. Your support is greatly appreciated.
REMEMBERING ZOE: Little Zoë Scannell’s tragic death last June caused a sense of shock and disbelief to descend over the parish of Abbeyfeale and surrounding parishes. Now as we come to terms with her sudden loss the parish has decided to remember her with a weekend of activities that she would have been at the heart of – had she lived. All funds raised during this weekend will be donated to Brú Columbanus who offer ‘home from home’ accommodation for the family of seriously ill patients in Cork hospitals, and to FirstLight who offer support to suddenly bereaved parents and families. A donation will also be made to the Hope Foundation. During the ‘Remembering Zoe’ memorial weekend on May 16/17 two cycling events are planned for Saturday 16th. The main cycle will start at 10am, setting off from Fr. Casey’s GAA Pavilion and travelling 105km through the 8 Parishes that surround Abbeyfeale. Then, at 1pm a second group will set off on a fully controlled 35km circuit of Abbeyfeale. Refreshments will be provided before and after both events with a food stop provided in Mountcollins Community Centre at approximately the half way point of the 105km route. Water stops will also be provided at designated locations along both routes.
Shower and changing facilities for participants will be available at the GAA Pavillion.
If you would like to participate in either of these cycling events please contact the cycle organisers: John Collins (087 ) 2258808, Tom O’ Shaughnessy ( 087 ) 6820506.
GLOBAL BRÍGADES: Ashling Mangan daughter of John and Marie will be travelling to work in Honduras this summer with Global Brígades and in order to raise funds she will be running a Teen Disco in Abbeyfeale. The disco takes place at The Rugby Club on Friday, January 23 from 8-10.30pm, it will be fully supervised and no alcohol will be allowed.
GET FIT FOR THE NEW YEAR WITH MEN ON THE MOVE; A fitness programme for men aged 30+ will run from Wednesday, January 21 for six weeks from 7-8pm in Colaiste Ide agus Iosef. Contact Mairead Limerick Sports Partnership on 061 333600.
GREAT SOUTHERN TRAIL: The GST has had a number of very successful and enjoyable short holiday breaks to Belgium, Germany, Spain and Italy during the 2001-2006 period as well as four long weekend trips to the North of Ireland. But since the recession we have not ventured abroad! If there is sufficient interest we can consider organising a return visit to Germany in late Spring 2015.Preliminary enquiries with Ryanair show that it is cheaper for each person to book their own flight.
Suggested dates are: flying out from Kerry Airport to Frankfurt Hahn on Wednesday, April 29 with return on Monday, May 4. Alternatively we could travel out on Wednesday, May 27 and return on Monday, June 1. If you are interested in this holiday please reply to me with your date preference a.s.a.p. Along with booking your own flight you must have your own travel insurance. Once in Germany your 5 nights B&B in a 3 star Hotel, all travel, bicycle hire, rail-bike hire [http://draisinentour.de/en], Rhine boat trip and visit to Koln (Cologne) will be included for an additional€400pp ( single supplement approx.€50).
The Hotel will be the Badische Kellerey in Kastellaun [ a town similar in size to Listowel or Newcastle West]: which hotel we have used on all three previous group visits….with several participants returning on later occasions for private holidays…such was their satisfaction.
The four full days [Thursday, Friday, Saturday
and Sunday] will be given to: Rhine Valley tour and cruise, City visit to Cologne, Cycle along a 40km closed railway using 4 person special rail-bikes [http://draisinentour.de/en], Cycle/walk on the Schinderhannes Radweg [http://www.rhein-mosel-dreieck.de/en/radeln/schinderhannesradweg.aspx]. This latter is a Greenway similar in length to the developed section of the Great Southern Trail. This trip will also give us the opportunity to promote the GST in Germany as our development has progressed hugely from 2006 when the GST had only 4 disconnected sections open.
WIN A TRIP TO CROKE PARK: Limerick Youth Service has the perfect New Year’s ticket for every GAA supporter-a trip to Croke Park for the next 10 All Ireland hurling & football finals for €5! The prize is part of a New Year’s fundraising initiative by Limerick Youth Service that includes two tickets to the football and hurling finals, including accommodation, until 2019! Spend €5 on a ticket to enter into a raffle for this amazing prize that includes overnight accommodation at a top Dublin hotel. Run in partnership with Youth Work Ireland, the New Year’s raffle also includes excellent runner up prizes including an Apple iPad and €500. The raffle is a major fundraising opportunity for Limerick Youth Service with funds raised going to local youth clubs, groups & projects. Closing date for entry is Saturday, January 31 with the draw taking place on Saturday, February 7 at Youth Work Ireland, Dublin.
For more information please visit dermott or at 083-1726898.
CEILI: Ceili Mor in Raheenagh Community Centre Saturday, January 24 at 9.30pm. €10 includes Tea/Coffee & Food. Music by "Mountain Road Ceili Band". Raffle on the night with numerous spot prizes. Come along and enjoy traditional set dancing as well as waltzing – music to suit all. Proceeds to Scoil Ide Naofa Parents Association. Further information Majella 087 9919489.
GREAT SOUTHERN TRAIL: A recent article in The Irish Times describes the Great Southern Trail as follows: “.An enchanting glimpse into the forgotten world of steam travel, the trail offers unique access to a 36km stretch of West Limerick/North Kerry that was part of the Limerick to Tralee railway line from 1867 to 1975. Community groups still lament the passing of their Great Southern and Western locomotives and have strived to reopen the line as a walking/cycle route; so far only the 36km stretch between the wonderful Palatine museum in Rathkeale railway station and Abbeyfeale via Ardagh is open. It will eventually stretch to Tralee.”
GLÓRACH NOTES: PRO for the Glórach Theatre Lorcan Curtin writes; “Cliabhán translates as cradle from Gaelic, and a very apt name it is for this building within the Glórach as it has nurtured a variety of artistic forms in recent months. Local artists have begun to convene there for life drawing sessions, a first for both the Glórach and Abbeyfeale. Writing workshops were held there with Eileen Sheehan in November and from this a writing group has emerged, meeting on a fortnightly basis. Like a fledgling learning to fly, it’s been exciting taking these few small steps to develop the space in the cliabhán and glimpsing at the future creative possibilities that are emerging.”
PANTO: Jack & The Bean Stalk performed by the Killorglin Players for one night only in the I.N.E.C. on Sunday, February 15, leaving Newcastle West at 3.30pm. picking up at the bus stop outside the church in Abbeyfeale. Seats must booked and paid for in advance. We will have time for refreshments before the panto commences at 6pm. For booking and more information contact Maureen 087 9845102.
ARA NA FEILE ACTIVE RETIRMENT GROUP: Our AGM is on Wednesday, January 21, 2015 @ 2pm in the Adult Educational Centre. Everyone welcome and we look forward to new members joining.
FEALEFIT NOTES: Nutrition for a Healthy Lifestyle Friday 23 January 6.30pm @ Fealefit. A Motivational Talk with Eileen Lane – Nutrition Advisor on key dietary factors to promote Health & Wellbeing. Contact Shane 087 2891015 to book your place. Fealefit Running / Adventure race & Tri Athlon training every Saturday, all the training is free of charge and geared towards enabling people achieve goals they never thought was possible. Contact Shane 087 2891015 or Kadie 087 7771552 for details. Seewww.Fealefit.com for all details on training / classes & Upcoming Events.
IRISH COUNTRY icmrrequests
BEE KEEPING COURSE: The course with tutor Seamus Quinlan of the Kingdom Beekeepers has finished for this year. It was held at the Adult Education Centre, Abbeyfeale every Tuesday from 7-9pm and will resume on the first Tuesday in February. Further information 087 6866450.
I.C.A: Due to the inclement weather, it was necessary to cancel the meeting scheduled for Tuesday January 20. It has been rearranged for Tuesday, February 3 at 7.30pm at the usual venue, the Community Education Centre, Mountmahon, weather permitting of course, new members always welcome.
THOMOND ARCHAELOGICAL & HISTORICAL SOCIETY: Canon Donacha O’Malley will give what promises to be a most interesting talk on Limerick Postcards, ‘A Journey’ on Monday night January 26 at 8pm at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. All are welcome. For further information contact Pat O’Donovan P.R.O. 087 9977340.
ARRA PLAYERS NCW: They are putting on a very exciting play at the end of January. The play "The Memory of Water" by Shelagh Stephenson is the story of 3 sisters and their partners who gather at the home of their recently dead mother, and revisit the past in poignant and often hilarious way. The first night is Thursday, January 29 in the new hall in Castlemahon. Put this night in the diary for a special charity performance. Tickets are €10 at the door, and for that you get a token to choose which charity gets your money. The 4 charities are Cystic Fibrosis, St. Vincent De Paul, Brothers of Charity, and Rathfredagh Cheshire home NCW. Your money, your token, your choice, and enjoy a great play.
MEN’S SHED: The Men’s Shed is open every Monday evening from 6-9pm. New members are always very welcome.
GRANAGH PLAYERS: Their new play is ‘The Buds of Ballybunion’ by John B. Keane and it will be performed in Granagh on Friday, January 23, 24 and 25 as well as the following weeks. The Play is a musical comedy based on the farmers’ annual two week holiday, when the harvest was completed. This particular motley bunch have been meeting for the last thirty years. They stay in a lodging house where they were offered a room and a fire or stove to cook on.
MAUREEN’S TOURS: Spring Break Friday, April 24 – Monday, April 27. Visiting the Giant’s Causway, Newgrange, and much more. Staying in Drogheda which has much to offer in sightseeing. It is important to give in your name as soon as possible as the hotel has to be booked. For more information and booking contact Maureen 087 9845102.
.RAMBLING HOUSES: Ita McQuinn holds her monthly Rambling House on the 3rd. Monday of the month in Monagae Community Centre while Mick Sheehys Rambling House, Knockalougha is held on the 3rd. Tuesday of each month from 9pm.
ABBEYFEALE PARISH CHURCH NOTES: Parish office 11-1pm Tuesday-Friday 068 31133. Parish Support Worker 068/31019. Counselling Appointment 061/314213.Church 068/51915, Canon John O’Shea P.P.: Tel: 068 – 31157 : 087 – 9708282, Fr Joe Foley CC: Tel: 087 – 2618412. Mass Tuesday – Saturday at 10am except in the event of a funeral when Mass is 11am. Mass Monday at 7pm, Mass on Saturday 11am followed by Confessions, Vigil Mass 7pm, Sunday 9.30am and 12 noon. Mass Intentions: Wednesday 8.15 Mary Maher R.I.P., Thursday 8.15am Sean Browne R.I.P.,Thursday 10am Mary Harnett, Knockbrack. Friday 10am John Moore, Shanbally. Saturday 7pm Tom Doody Kilconlea Months Mind, Kathleen Harnett, Mountmahon. Sunday 9.30am Denis McEnery, Dromtrasna, Dick Prendeville St. Ita’s Terrace. 12 noon Patrick Broderick, Dromtrasna Collins and deceased family members. Paddy and Nancy Fitzgerald Meehahela.
St. Anthony Novena takes place each Monday at the 7pm evening Mass. Adoration resumes Friday, January 9. It is now the responsibility of family members and relatives, if they require a visit, to let the priest know when people are in hospital.
ADORATION COMMITTEE MEETING: Sacristy Wednesday, January 21 at 8pm.
PASTORAL COUNCIL MEETING: St. Ita’s Hall Monday, January 26 at 8pm.
BINGO BUSSES: Eoin 087 2522402 leaves for Castleisland from outside Tuohig’s Supervalue at 7.40 pm every Tuesday and Dinjoe goes to Shanagolden.
BRIDGE: Abbeyfeale Bridge Club every Thursday at 7:30 pm at the Railway Bar. Visitors welcome. Anybody interested in Bridge Lessons contact 087 3344909.
BUS SERVICE: Cork Colleges Bus Service: Fitzpatricks of Listowel & Abbey Coaches. A bus will serve Abbeyfeale (5.20pm), Newcastlewest (5.40pm), Dromcollogher (6pm) each Sunday evening and will return on Fridays at 1.30pm and 6pm. €10 per seat, Call 087 3966399.
ADAPT: There is a support worker in Abbeyfeale each week to meet women one to one by appointment. The worker can listen to women and support them in keeping themselves and their children safe. Ring Sheila on 061 412354 for more information or to make an appointment.
ABUSE OF STIMUNANTS: For support around drug and alcohol use the HSE Drugs & Alcohol Helpline is available Monday to Friday, 9.30am and 5.30pm. This confidential service has both a freephone Helpline helpline).
WEST LIMERICK TOASTMASTERS: Toastmasters hold their meetings in the Desmond Complex on the first and third Wednesdays of the month from September to June from 8.30 – 10.30pm. First meeting of the New Year will be on Wednesday, January 21. Further information from Bill on 087 9079223.
BEREAVEMENT SUPPPORT: The local group can be contacted at 068- 31230/51984 /
Abbeyfeale Gathering Festival 