PROLOGUE: "It’s not how long you live, but how you live, that matters most."
Jill Whitman
SEASONS GREETING: A happy, holy and healthy Christmas is wished to all readers of the Abbeyfeale notes.
DEATHS: Sincere sympathy to the Broderick family Mountcollins on the death of Hannah Maria Broderick (née McCarthy, Cahir). Sympathy is also offered to the family of the late Joe Cotter, Upper Purt. May their souls rest in peace.
CORN NA FEILE: Abbeyfeale coursing club will hold the 44th Corn Na Feile Coursing Meeting on Monday and Tuesday, December 28 and 29. Coursing on both days will start at 11.30am. Then on Saturday, January 9 from 9.30pm the annual coursing dance with dancing to the ever popular Joe O’Keeffe band will take place. Admission €10
Finger food will be served on the night.
AN INTERGRATED APPROACH TO PHOTOGRAPHY FOR BEGINNERS: Professional photographer Marie Keating in association with West Limerick Mental Health Association is running a two hour course for amateur photographers in the Desmond Complex on Wednesday, January 13 from 7-9pm. It must be pre booked so text Photography along with your name and number to 0857722475. All participants must bring a camera with a manual function.
TONY NOONAN ON TV3: The Noonan family’s Christmas Extravaganza is being featured on TV3 at 8.30pm on Tuesday night.
CONNIE HARNETT MEMORIAL SWIM: The second annual Connie Harnett Memorial Swim will take place in Ballybunion on New Year’s Day at 1pm. This is a fundraiser organised by Connie’s wife and family in honour of the popular cattle dealer from Abbeyfeale who died in 2014. Monies raised will be divided between the Sagart Lourdes Fund, Nano Nagle Listowel and St Joseph’s Unit Listowel community hospital. Donation buckets will be in place on the day and there will be a raffle with loads of prizes to be won. Monies collected will be divided between The Sagart Lourdes Fund, Nano Nagle Listowel and St. Josephs Unit, Listowel Community Hospital.
Refreshments will be served on the beach and there will be complimentary hot food at Christys Bar in Listowel on the way home. Please come out in force. Fancy Dress is optional on the day. Great fun is guaranteed. Enquires to 086 3151447
COMMUNITY ALERT: Chairman James Stack along with all the committee would like to wish everyone in the community a happy and safe Christmas and New Year. Now that the group is registered with Pobal it is hoped to get all applications for security systems sorted out early in the New Year and to get panic buttons installed wherever they are needed. We also plan to start working on the text alert system early in the New Year so big plans afoot.
ABBEYFEALE FARMERS MARKET: A big thank you to all our customers for their support over the last 12 years. Helga Henn will be in the Square on Wednesday, December 23 with a selection of locally grown, chemical free vegetables, free range eggs and Christmas marmalades to tide you over the Christmas season.
ABBEYFEALE FOR AFRICA: Our heartfelt thanks to all who supported the Cake Sale .It was a very successful fundraiser. We wish you a very Happy and Peaceful Christmas.
FEALE FIT NOTES: If you wish to join Fealefit for Running / Tri – Athon or adventure race training in the New Year please don’t hesitate to contact us. All event training is free of charge and open to all levels of fitness…see www.Fealefit.com for all details on training & Upcoming events or Contact Shane 087 2891015 Kadie 087 7771552!!
OFFICIAL BLESSING AND OPENING OF COLÁISTE ÍDE AGUS IOSEF: Fr Tony Mullins, Dean of the Cathedral Chapter and representing Bishop Brendan Leahy imparted the Blessing on Colaiste Ide agus Iosef at the official opening on December 11 last.
HOPE FOUNDATION FUNDRAISERS: Five TY students are travelling to Calcutta in the spring with the Hope Foundation. Fundraisers being organized by Cian Blair, son of Josie Foley and Bill Blair to help with the €3,100 that each student is expected to raise and which will be used to help children in desperate need in Calcutta . There will be a Golf Classic on St. Stephen’s Day (December 26) at Newcastle West Golf Club and then two nights after Christmas, on December 27 a Trad night is planned for Fr. Casey’s GAA Clubhouse here in Abbeyfeale. Cian’s father Bill is calling on all golfers, clubs and societies to please support the classic and any offers of help will be willingly accepted by Bill on 086 0768978.
HAIL AND BLESSED: Hail and Blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in a stable in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold . At the same hour, vouchsafe O My God to hear my prayer and grant my petition. Amen.
LIMERICK DIOCESAN SOCIAL SERVICE: Counselling provided on Mondays in Abbeyfeale. Ring 061 314213 for appointment.
SUPPORT GROUP: Bereavement Support Abbeyfeale Bereavement Support Group Tel. 068/31230 or 068/51984 or 068/31262.
THE HILLS OF OLD KILCOLMAN: This traditional music C.D., proceeds of which are going to Milford Hospice is for sale in Ann Lyons, The Square and Philip Enright’s Ramble Inn.
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, Sundays 9.30am and 12 noon. Mass Intentions: Wednesday 10am Edward & Kate Reilly and deceased family members, John Collins, Church Street. No 8.15am on Thursday morning, 10am Ellen Kehoe. Christmas Carol recital 8.30pm, Vigil Mass 9pm Pro Populo. Christmas Day 9.30am Pro Populo. Carol recital 11.45am, 12noon Pro Populo. St. Stephen’s Day Saturday 11am Pro Populo 7pm Joan Ahern, Nora Keane and family members. Betty & Willie Flynn, the Hill. New Years Day Mass @ 11am. No 8.15am Mass during Christmas Season. The Adoration will cease on Tuesday, December 22 and will resume again on Friday January 8. Christmas Greetings and Plan giving: We thank all people who organized and distributed the calendars, Christmas greeting and plan giving envelopes to your homes. We ask each household to use the envelopes for the offertory collection, if you did not receive a box and wish to do so please contact the sacristy. 068/51915 during Mass times. We thank you for your support to the church throughout the year. The CHY3 returns this year was up. €19,655 We appreciate your consideration in returning the CHY3 forms and making this cheque possible. Parish Clerks Collection will be taken up on January 2/3. Readers Missals, New readers list and Missals for 2016 are available in the sacristy for collection during any on the Masses. The church Webcam is now officially switched on and broadcasting live. Almost anyone in the world can now view live broadcasts of events in Abbeyfeale parish church by logging onto www.churchservices.tv/abbeyfealeparish. A direct link from the parish website has been set up. You are asked to use car parking spaces in the Church car park before you start parking in the middle
For further details contact the College on 063-83604 or check out our website: www.organiccollege.comChristmas is almost upon us and what better way to celebrate than to support local community enterprises and come home with some unique Christmas gifts. Money spent locally will recycle within the community as well as giving the buyer top quality food and crafts.
NEW YEARS DAY WALK: For the New Year’s Day walk at Knockfierna Hill, meet at Ballingarry Hall at 2.15pm, leaving the Rambling House at 2.30pm followed by tea and rambling house session. This event marks the 30th anniversary of the rambling house sessions which were first held in 1986. For further information contact Pat on 0879977340.
MAUREEN’S OUTINGS: Panto on Sunday, January 31 2016. This is the 53rd Panto performed by the Killorglin Players Madame Butterfly alia Mrs Aladdin starting at 6pm. in the INEC. A bus will be leaving Newcastle West at 3pm. and we will pick up in Abbeyfeale at the Church. By leaving on time we will be able to have some refreshements before the show starts. For more information and booking contact Maureen 087 9845102.
Spring Break; April 24-27, 2016. We will be staying in the Cavan Crystal 4 star Hotel, Cavan. On our way up we will stop off in Longford to see St. Mel’s cathedral that was destroyed by fire 5 years ago and reopened last Christmas. We have a full and interesting itinerary, touring by day and dancing after dinner in our hotel. On Monday we will go to Armagh where we will visit the Roman Catholic Cathedral and the Church of Ireland Cathedral also we will go and see the Cardinal Tómas O’Fiaich Memorial Library. We intend going to Monaghan to see the Cavan Crystal premises. All those who have already given in their names must confirm their booking with a deposit of €25 to secure our hotel booking. Contact Maureen 087 9845102.
ADAPT: Support is available in Newcastle West each week and there is a new survivors group called ‘Let’s Talk’ which is open to women. A 24 Hour Freephone Helpline is available 365 days a year at 1800 200 504. Court accompaniment and many other supports are also available.
SENIOR HELP LINE: Do you need someone to talk to? Senior Help Line is a confidential listening service for older people by older people for the price of a local call anywhere in Ireland, LoCall 1850 440 444. Senior Help Line is open from 10.00am till 10.00pm, 365 days a year.
Abbeyfeale Gathering Festival 