PROLOGUE:
"A woman has the last word in any argument. Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument."
Author Unknown
AFTERNOON TEA DANCE: The last Tea Dance for the season is next Sunday at Fr. Casey’s, Abbeyfeale with dancing to the Kentucky Ramblers from 3-6pm. Teas served, Raffle. Proceeds to Abbeyfeale Parish Community Garden. All welcome.
ANNUAL TOWN PARK DOG SHOW SUNDAY MAY 10: The biggest and best Fun Dog Show in Munster takes place on this Sunday May 10in Abbeyfeale Town Park. Judging in 12 classes along with many other side events including, guess the name of the puppy, great raffle, and lots more. Lots of additional rosettes this year. Refreshments available on site. A great day out for all the family – this is a fundraiser for the upkeep of our beautiful town park. So please come along on Sunday May 10 starting at 2.00 p.m. Don’t let the weather deter you – as marquees will be erected if required.
REMEMBERING ZOË: The weekend in honour of the late Zoë Scannell is almost upon us with a full schedule of events planned to commemorate a special little girl much loved and always missed by her family and the wider community of Abbeyfeale. On Friday, May 15 there will be a variety concert in the Glorach starting at 8pm sharp. Tickets at €10 are in demand so contact Margaret Curtin on 087 7565361. Then on Saturday morning we have the 8 parish Cycle Challenge leaving Fr. Casey’s at 10am for a 105 km tour of West Limerick followed by a local 35km cycle leaving at 1pm. Registration for both cycles will open at Fr. Casey’s on Friday, May 15 from 7-9pm and again the following morning from 8 -9.30am and later from 11am – 12.30pm. Contact John 087 2258808 for further details. Later that evening we will have dancing to the Michael Collins Band in the Sports Complex at Fr. Casey’s from 9-late with Micheal and his band promising to send everyone home sweatin’ Admission €10. Sunday will bring the weekend to a fitting close with a Family Fun Day at Fr. Casey’s grounds from 2-6pm. A raffle will run all weekend with two tickets for Ed. Sheeran among the many prizes. All proceeds from the weekend will be donated to Bru Columbanus and FirstLight.
THIRD ANNUAL GATHER BY THE FEALE JULY 16-19: A huge thank you to all the volunteers from so many different organizations in the parish who helped us bag pack in Tesco two weeks ago and over the weekend in Supervalue . Thank you too, to all the people who gave us donations as they did their shopping. We are just finalising the details for the planned festival and have confirmed Hermitage Green – the acoustic folk rock group from Limerick as our headline act for the Festival Marquee on Saturday, July 18. Other highlights will include A Cradle of Swans at the Glorach Theatre – a mix of music, visual art, drama and the spoken word, the annual Food and Craft Fair on the Cobbles in the Square, the Family Fun Day, the first annual Race for the Title (Athletics Ireland 10k Road Race and mini athletics), Cinema under the Stars, the first annual Soapbox Derby down the Hill Road, Spin City amusements in the Square, a darts run and much, much more. Guaranteed loads of family entertainment so be sure and mark it in the diary because Abbeyfeale will be the place to be next July.
BENEFIT DANCE: A special dance in aid of the Remembering Zoe Benefit fund will be held at the Sports Complex at Fr. Casey’s on Saturday, May 16 with dancing to Michael Collins Band from 9pm.
KNOCKNASNA N.S. STUDENTS CLEAN UP: Well done to the pupils, parents and teachers in Knocknasna N.S., who carried out a big Spring Clean of the area before the Easter Holidays.
TOWN PARK NEWS: The first clutch of moorhen chicks of 2015 has hatched in the park. They are sheltering on the island in the pond and can be seen swimming in that area following their parents. The chicks are gorgeous, black and fluffy, a wonderful sight for young and old. This is also the time of the year when you will see the newts late in the evening. The newt is like a tiny crocodile, about 2 inches long, and is one of only three native amphibians, the others being the frog and the natterjack toad. The Annual Town Park Dog Show on Sunday May 10 is fast approaching. The students of all the primary schools in the area are preparing their pets for the show. We hope for a large turnout on the day, along with sunshine. Please note that for the summer months the town park gate will be locked each night at 9.00 p.m.
BANK OF IRELAND NATIONAL ENTERPRISE WEEK: We are having a ‘Digi Awareness’evening with late opening on Tuesday May 19 (6 to 8pm) and will have some members of the Banks social media Team on hand with sample devices to demonstrate use of Tablets/ smartphones as well as the Banks website. While our focus is how these items can be used to make banking easier we would welcome general enquiries (”bring along your own new smartphone!”) and interest as we all get to grips with the myriad of new options arising. The following morning on Wednesday, May 20 we will host a Business Networking Coffee morning 10 – 11am in branch and the social media team will be on hand to talk about social Media including Facebook /Linkedin Twitter etc. We would like to extend the invitation to local business people to call by and get some useful practical pointers. The hope is that a similar networking and exchange of contacts could take place at another venue later in the summer. The twice yearly Show Your Business opportunity for businesses to showcase in branch will this year be available each Thursday and Friday through May.
HORSE AND PONY RACING: For the continued success of this meeting we urgently need new committee members. Anyone interested can contact Toddy McMahon on 0872029395, or Vincent O’Connor on 087 1470013.
YOUTH CLUB: All clubs are meeting at 6.45pm on Friday evening and everyone to wear comfortable footwear. Registration for the first year club is the on Thursday 21 from 7.30-8pm. All young people must be accompanied by an adult and due to a limited spaces its first come first served. Registration is €10.
I.C.A. Our next guild meeting will be on Tuesday May 5. Due to unforeseen circumstances it became necessary to switch our activities for the meetings on Tuesday May 12 & 19. . We are now holding our auction on Tuesday May 12 and our final session of Pilates on Tuesday May 19. Our meetings are held at the Community Education Centre, Mountmahon. New members are always welcome.
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: Novena to St. Joseph Monday at the 7pm evening Mass. Our Lady of Perpetual Help Novena each Friday morning at 10am. Adoration every Tuesday and Friday from 8am – 10pm and Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6-8pm. 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.
BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT: A support programme for Adults is held every Thursday night 7.30 – 9pm. The local group can be contacted at 068 31203/31262, 31741, 31322 or 51894.
MEN’S SHED: The Men’s Shed is open every Monday evening from 6 -9pm. New members are always very welcome.
IRISH DANCING: The popular Irish Step dancing and Sean Nos Dancing classes continue in the Top of the Town each Thursday evening with step dancing at 7pm and Sean Nos following at 8pm. Beginners most welcome.
CALLING ALL FARMERS: Willie O’Regan Farm Consultant 087 9796914 is available to help with applications for the Glas scheme.
COMMEMORATION FOR TIMOTHY O’NEILL LANE: Our commemoration will be held on May 9, 2015. Blessing of the Timothy O’Neill Lane grave in the Old Graveyard, Brosna, Co. Kerry will take place at 3p.m. on Saturday afternoon. An t-Athair Mícheál de Listiún will officiate. Afterwards we will retire to Halla Inse Bháin, Templeglantine, Co. Limerick, where we will have the unveiling of an outdoor display table, outlining the life and times of Timothy and a reception will take place in the Halla. Our reassembly here will be c.4.15 p.m. A book stall will operate in the halla for the sale of “The West Limerick Man, Who Wrote a Dictionary” by Seán Mac an tSionnaigh(12 euro) and “Focal agus Foclóireacht T.O’Neill Lane” by Seaghan Mac an tSionnaigh.(10 euro). A bus will be organised to run from Templeglantine at 2 p.m. to the graveyard in Brosna returning directly afterwards to Halla Inse Bháin, in Templeglantine for the unveiling of table display and reception, arriving there at c.4.15p.m.The return journey will take in O’Neill Lane country at its best, including Mountcollins, Knocknadiha, Gurteen – ancestral home, the National School in Templeglantine and finally Halla Inse Bháin, Templeglantine. The bus is free. A plaque will be placed in Gurteen on another occasion and an indoor one will be presented to the National School, Templeglantine. All welcome on the day.
DAY TRIP TO BLOOM: Day Trip to Bloom 2015 Festival of Gardens on Sunday, May 31. If there is sufficient interest we will take a bus. Concession tickets for Senior Citizens booked on line €15 each – if booked on site on the day €17. Each person would be responsible for booking their own ticket. If you are interested please contact me as soon as possible. Maureen 087 9845102.
DARKNESS INTO LIGHT: Walk/Run will take place in Newcastle west on May 9 @ 4.15am in aid of Pieta House.
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. The next meeting will be on Wednesday, May 6. Further information from Bridget on 087 2343227.
MAUREEN’S JUNE DAY TRIP: We are going to the beautiful Glen of Aherlow on Sunday, June 21 which will be at this time of year a blaze of colour. Also we will go to Swiss Cottage in Cahir and we will be having our breakfast and dinner in Kilfinane. Names are being taken now so if you’re interested in a good day out now is the time to contact Maureen 087 9845102.
ALZHEIMERS TEA DAY – A Day to Remember: – please support Alzheimer’s Tea Day and cake sale at the Red Door, The Square, Newcastle West on Thursday May 7 from 10 – 4pm. The Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland is over thirty years in existence providing care and family support. Every euro raised locally on tea day assists in the provision of ongoing services for families in Co. Limerick.
DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE: Limerick Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes will takes place from June 21 -26. For further details contactpilgrimage
IRISH COUNTRY icmrrequests
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.
BINGO BUSSES: Eoin 087 2522402 leaves for Castleisland from outside Tuohig’s Supervalue at 7.40 pm every Tuesday and Dinjoe goes to Shanagolden.
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.
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).
COUNTRY MUSIC ON THE INTERNET: Joe’s Country Kingdom www.irishcountrymusicradio.com Saturday 9pm-Midnight (Irish Time)
Tuesday 8-11pm (Irish Time) features Irish Country Music, Irish traditional music, humorous stories and Cowboy Corner.
Abbeyfeale Gathering Festival 