PROLOGUE: "One of the best feelings in the world is knowing your presence and absence both mean something to someone."
Author Unknown.
DEATHS: We offer our sympathy to family of Timmy Cahill, Dromtransa and to the family of Leslie Stemp, 33 Cedarville whose funerals took place during the week. May they rest in peace.
100 YEARS A GROWING: Meenkilly N.S. is holding its Centenary Celebration on Saturday, June 13. The celebrations will start with the celebration of Mass by Bishop Brendan Leahy at 12 noon and will be followed by light refreshments and live entertainment. This is a Community Celebration and all present and past pupils are invited as well as members of the wider community. The organising committee have made every effort to contact all past pupils. Apologies for any omissions so please accept this as your invitation.
TOWN PARK NEWS: The park committee would like to thank Matt Doody for making the metal fabrication for our new toilets. Not only did Matt do an excellent job, but he took no fee. Many thanks Matt. The Town Park Dog Show will now take place on Sunday June 7 at 2.00 p.m. We hope for a fine day and a large turnout. The dog show contributes greatly towards the running costs of the park. We would like to thank all those who have already contributed. If you cannot attend the show but would like to contribute, you can leave your contribution in an envelope at Moss Harnett Spar. Please leave your name and contact details if you would like an acknowledgement.
REILIG IDE NAOFA: Clean up every Thursday evening from 7-9pm weather permitting.
ARA NA FEILE: New date for Visit to Glenstal Saturday, June 6.
KEYS FOUND: A set of keys were found at the front of the Parish Community Garden, the keys look like safe keys. Contact Fr. Joe. A set was also found in the church with a little red hat on the keyring. Contact the sacristy.
YOUTH CLUBS: A great night was had by all at the park on Friday evening last for the last evening of clubs for the summer months. A big thank you goes to all the leaders for their work and to the youths as well for turning up week and after week. We hope everyone have a great summer. Any queries contact Kate 0876210490 or Anthony 0872264023.
MASS AT KILLEENAGH BLESSED WELL: Holy Mass will be held at the Well next Friday at 7.30pm. All are welcome to this annual celebration that has its roots in times gone by.
CLASS CEILI: Josephine O’Connor will be holding a ceili at Fr. Casey’s on Saturday, May 30 from 9pm for all her students.
THIRD ANNUAL GATHER BY THE FEALE JULY 16-19: Just 9 weeks to go until the third annual Gather by the Feale kicks off on Thursday, July 16 with A Cradle of Swans at the Glorach Theatre – a mix of music, visual art, drama and the spoken word. As well, the Carnival will open in the Square, the Bat walk takes place in the Town Park and the Darts Run gets underway. Then on Friday the Food and Craft Fair on the Cobbles on Friday will be followed by a visit to Fitzgeralds Stables for the under 13’s, the children’s novelty fancy dress motor parade down the Main St. takes place from 6.30pm and will be followed by the Battle of the Feale, the Carnival in the Square and the Cinema under the Stars as well as entertainment in various pubs around town. Saturday is a packed day with The Race for the Title setting off at 10am, the Soapbox Derby down the Hill Road starting at 2pm and continuing until 6pm, Spin City in the Square, Hermitage Green in the Marquee at the Grove supported by No Direction and Sound as a Pound and all that will be followed by live music in various pubs. Sunday brings the festival to a close but not before the Family Fun Day in the Grove which will include the All Ireland Tug of War and Sheaf Tossing events, Zorb soccer tournament, Berge Motor Track, Bouncy Castles, face painting, arts and crafts, games and all the things that go to make a family have a fun day out. To round off the evening we have the much anticipated Battle of the DJ’s in the festival Marquee and of course the town will be buzzing with music in the pubs. Stamina will be required in bucket loads!
RACE TO THE TITLE: Gather by the Feale are shooting a Fun Promo clip to promote the ‘Race to the Title ‘ Festival event and all local businesses and people are welcome to be part of it. Please Contact Shane 087 2891015 if interested or for more details.
LIMERICK BEEKEEPER ASSOCIATION: Membership details can be found on the following website: http://www.limerickbees.net
SPACES FOR JOBSEEKERS: Are you out of work? Are you looking for a space to share, vent, learn and socialize with people in the same boat? Join ‘Spaces for Jobseekers’ in Abbeyfeale. Group meets on a weekly basis and are open to old and new members of all ages. Activities include training, information sessions etc. The times are as follows: Abbeyfeale, The Old Tech, and Room 10 on Mondays at 2.30pm. If you are interested, please contact Ivana at West Limerick Resources on 069 61316, or simply come along and check what it’s all about.
ATHLETICS EVENING: Abbeyfeale Community Games will be holding our Athletics evening on Tuesday, May 26 in the GAA field. Registration at 6pm with races starting at 6.30 SHARP. There will be events from toddlers to U16. Children must be from the Abbeyfeale Community Games Area. There will also be novelty events on the night. Any adult or youth who is willing to help out or for further information please ring Maurice Cullinane on 087 6315169.
FEALEFIT NOTES: Fealefit Couch to 10k training every Friday. training is free of charge and open to all levels of fitness, this is a beginners program to allow you first conquer the 5k and progress to 10k and all in preparation for our Festival 10k July 18 Gather by the Feale’s ‘ Race to the Title ‘. Training continues this Friday @6.15pm at Fealefit, Abbeyfeale. Dublin Marathon Training commences start of July! Contact Shane 087 2891015 or Kadie 087 7771552 for details. See www.Fealefit.com for all details on training & Upcoming Events!
DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE: Limerick Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes will takes place from June 21 -26. For further details contactpilgrimage
WEST LIMERICK TOURISM: West Limerick Tourism is a voluntary organisation established to raise the profile of tourism in West Limerick and to foster a spirit of support and co-operation among the tourism and hospitality trade in West Limerick. West Limerick Tourism has a committee of nine drawn from various sectors including accommodation, visitor attractions, retail & pubs, visitor services and heritage. West Limerick Tourism has a membership of approximately forty but would like more businesses to get involved. The annual membership rate is €30 and a membership form can be obtained by e-mailing visitwestlimerickmedia. Please note that accommodation providers must be Failte Ireland approved.
SUMMER BRIDGE: Abbeyfeale Bridge Club “Summer Bridge" will be starting Thursday May 21 at 7.30pm in the Railway Bar, Abbeyfeale, members, beginners and visitors all welcome.
BREAKING TRAD: Congratulations to our own Donal Murphy, eldest son of the late Dan R.I.P and Maureen Murphy, Main St. who has recently formed a new traditional band entitled Breaking Trad alongside fiddle player Niall Murphy, multi-instrumentalist Mick Galvin and singer songwriter Lisa Canny who plays the harp and banjo. Between them, they have toured extensively around the world, performing at major festivals and music venues and touring with some of the biggest names in several different music genres including Four Men and a Dog, Cara Dillon, De Dannan, Dance star Michael Flatley, Bluegrass guitarist/singer Dan Tyminski (Alison Krauss and Union Station), Country legend Randy Travis and many more. Their music has been described as ‘Dazzling’, ‘unorthodox and unique’, and ‘high octane’ and it has been said that they are reviving traditional music with a fresh and modern twist.
They launched their first album entitled ‘Breaking Trad’ at the recent Fleadh by the Feale and we wish them great success with it. The album is available from www.donalmurphy.net, CDbaby, iTunes and all good records stores throughout the country.
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.
LOUGH DERG PILGRIMAGE: Saturday May 30 – Monday June 1. Fee €120. Bookings 087 3966399.
GATES CLOSING: Please note that for the summer months the town park gate will be locked each night at 9.00 p.m.
EASIER PARENTING COURSE: The Adult Education Centre every Tuesday. Booking Mary 087 9382882.
I.C.A.: Our meetings are held at the Community Education Centre, Mountmahon. New members are always welcome.
INFORMATION EVENING IN MILFORD: The Next Bereavement Support Information Evening will take place in Milford Care Centre on Tuesday, May 26, 2015 from 7.00-8.30pm. The bereavement information evening is designed to give general information on grief and bereavement to bereaved people, their family and friends. Members of the Bereavement Service will be in attendance to provide general information on grief and bereavement.
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: Thursday 10am Tim & Ellen Healy, Caherlane & Eily Healy London and Caherlane. No 8.15am Mass on Friday morning. Friday Mass @ 7.30pm At Killeenagh Well. Saturday 11am Hannah Mai O’Connor, Bogmount nee Broderick. Intentions for next weekend Saturday 7pm Bridget, Patsy, Danjoe & Jeremiah Murphy, Banard. Sunday 9.30am Patrick & Vera O’Connell Purt . 12noon Tim & Margaret Finnucane, St Ita’s Terrace.
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. The Rosary will be held at 7.30pm every evening during May. CHY3 Forms Tax Rebate Scheme Many thanks for the generous financial support you are giving to our Parish. Thanks to people like yourselves, the Parish can benefit from the Tax rebate Scheme available to Charities. Contributions that exceed €250 can help the Parish through this scheme if you are liable for Income Tax of any form including pensions, we hope that you will consider filling out the CHY3 form. You may be aware that the Minister for Finance announced changes to the operation of the Charity Donation Scheme in the Budget 2012. The main changes announced are as follows. 1. Donations from all parishioners both PAYE and Self— Assessed are now treated the same with the tax refund being repaid to the charity in all cases. 2. A new enduring certificate CHY3 is now being issued and is valid for five year and may be renewed at the end of that period. If you are happy to participate in the scheme please fill in your CHY3 form signed and dated and return to Fr John O’Shea. Thanking you for your support. The amount returned to our Parish for last year through the CHY3 forms was €18,764.53. We thank you for making this cheque possible. If you have mislaid the form a new one can be got through the office.
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.
LSSC COUNSELLING PROJECT:CLast year the Counselling Project at Limerick Social Services Council worked with over 850 people from Abbeyfeale, Kilmallock, Newcastle West, Rathkeale Limerick City and beyond. We do so quietly and with respect for the depression, stress, bereavement and relationship difficulties that people faced and we aim to keep doing it. If you want more information or wish to enquire about our project, please contact our Centre on 061-314111 MEN’S SHED: The Men’s Shed is open every Monday evening from 6 -9pm. New members are always very welcome.
UPDATE FROM FR. PAT MOORE: “The last few weeks I have spent at home in my native Asdee, feeling my body heal and valuing this time though it hasn’t always been easy to experience. A few months ago our great local poet Brendan Kennelly wrote to me a personal letter of support and in it he quoted from his memorable poem "Begin":
"Though we live in a world that thinks of ending,
That always seems about to give in,
Something that will not acknowledge conclusion
Insists that we forever begin"
How often have I felt that truth affirmed as I am relearning the taste of food and tried to return to some normal way of eating. The first real taste that registered was a new potato with salt and butter melting down along its sides!
Mention of Brendan Kennelly reminds me of a story he told me years ago when as a student in university he was in his father’s garage one day when a man on a tractor drove in from Asdee. Brendan couldn’t help noticing the book he had in his coat pocket. It was James Joyce’s Dubliners and Martin Mulvihill, for that is who it was, gave Brendan a frank and a fair assessment of what he thought of the book, such was Martin’s varied interests.
Martin Mulvihill, our neighbour, our community activist, our mentor died in his 90th year last week, in our parish here. We all sympathised with his loving wife Peggy and family but we all felt the loss of such a sincere leader in our community, who made faith real for us all in a life giving and humorous way. To remember Martin is to feel inspired and to want to contribute in a life giving way to the people around you, wherever you are.
“Moltair e ages sin in ar dtost,” as they say in the Irish, he is praised even when we are silent.
This morning comes news of the death of Mike Walsh of Duagh. Mike was a warrior. He, and his two sisters, had their lives seriously interrupted by the medical condition known as Fredericks Ataxia from their mid twenties onwards. Having buried his two sisters, Mike lived out his life with his inspiring and loving mother in Lisrue. Over the last few weeks Margaret was able to care for Mike at home in a loving atmosphere, helped by Theresa and Bob, family, neighbours, friends and carers. It’s a gift to us all to experience the inspiring lived life and faith that Margaret and Mike showed us all. It is a home where Heaven touches Earth and we all have sensed the love and healing from beyond in Margaret’s presence.
My friends Bob and David drew my attention to the healing words of Thomas Merton:
"When we are alone on a starlit night, when by chance we see the migrating birds in Autumn descending on a grove of junipers to rest and eat, when we see children in a moment that they are really children, when we know love in our hearts or when, like the Japanese poet Basho, we hear an old frog land in a quiet pond with a solitary splash –
At such times the awakening,
the turning inside out of all values,
the newness,
the emptiness and the purity of vision that makes themselves evident,
all these provide a glimpse of the cosmic dance"
Martin Mulvihill, Mike Walsh the Warrior and Margaret Walsh we know through your witness that there is a cosmic dance going on and that Beauty shines with a light from beyond itself.
Love is the name of that light.
ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR: An Arts & Craft Fair will take place in the Seanchaí Centre, Listowel on Sunday May 31 from 11 am. Free admission.
WRITERS WEEK LITERARY AND HISTORICAL TOUR: Listowel Writers’ Week Literary & Historical Tour departs on Saturday, May 3O at 2 pm and will visit Ballylongford & Tarbert. Tickets available at (068) 21074 or online at www.writersweek.ie.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL PREVENTION SEMINAR: Towards 2016 – A Drug and Alcohol Prevention Seminar. SAVE THE DATE! Wednesday June 17, 2015. The Mid-West Regional Drugs and Alcohol Forum and the Western Region Drugs Task Force in partnership with the Diploma in Drug and Alcohol Studies at the University of Limerick want to hear your voice! Join us for the big THINK IN…An interactive seminar to consider good practice and the future direction of prevention work in the drug and alcohol sector. HAVE YOUR SAY.
RAMBLING HOUSE: Listowel Rambling House will be held in the Seanchaí Centre, Listowel on Thursday May 28 from 9.15 pm. A great evening of traditional music, song, dance & storytelling is guaranteed. Admission is free, tea/coffee served.
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.
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.
IRISH COUNTRY icmrrequests
RAMBLING HOUSES: Ita McQuinn has changed the date of her Monagae Rambling House to the 2nd Monday of each month instead of the 3rd so the next one will be Monday, June 8 and everyone is welcome – singers, storytellers, musicians, dancers and those who just like to sit and listen and enjoy. Every performance needs an audience. 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 