PROLOGUE: "I am old but I am forever young at heart. We are always the same age inside. Know that you are the perfect age. Each year is special and precious; you can only live it once. Do not regret growing older, it’s a privilege denied to many!"
Richard Gere .
PUB QUIZ; A Pub Quiz will be held in Cryle View Bar on Friday next, March 11 to help with the costs of running the parade. There will be numerous spot prizes and your support would be appreciated.
ST PATRICK’S DAY PARADE: Preparations are continuing for the annual Abbeyfeale St Patrick’s Day Parade which goes ahead on Thursday,March 17. All Ireland winners, Templeglanine Comhaltas, will open proceedings with a traditional music session on stage in The Square at 3pm. The parade will start at Mountmahon Industrial Estate at 4pm and proceed down Main Street to the reviewing stand in The Square. It will be led by the ever-popular Rathkeale Brass Band and will be followed by the various floats, pageants, exhibitions, novelties, clubs, etc. The number of entrants seems to increase every year and they bring great divergence, originality and colour to the occasion.
There will be a prize for Best Float and Best Window Display and it is also proposed to award a special award for Best Youth Section. Participants should assemble at Mountmahon from 3pm and they are reminded that they are responsible for the insurance of their own individual vehicles.
We hope to have a big entry again this year and that crowds will assemble along the parade route to cheer on the various floats and participants.
FLEADH BY THE FEALE 2016: The Fleadh by the Feale Committee are pleased to announce that plans are well under way for this year’s festival. We are celebrating 22 years of this marvellous weekend in May and working hard to ensure that as each year passes it gets better and better. We are delighted to announce that the wonderful Mary Black and her band will head up the Celebrity Concert this year. She is regarded as an interpreter of both folk and modern music and we are thrilled that she will be joining us to celebrate on the May Bank Holiday weekend. She comes to us from her ‘Down the Crooked Road tour’ and we look forward to welcoming her to Abbeyfeale. While we put the finishing touches to our programme you can be assured of a weekend full of music, song and fun. Tickets will be available shortly so keep an eye on our webpage www.fleadhbythefeale.com or on Facebook Fleadh by the Feale. So be sure to mark this 22nd year of the Fleadh by the Feale in your diary; it begins Thursday April 28 until Monday May 2.
LECTURE ON THE RISING: Rathkeale and District Historical Society is partnering with Limerick City and Co. Library Service to deliver a special 1916/2016 Commemoration lecture in the Community Arts Centre in Rathkeale on this Friday March 11. This event is part of the Irish State’s programme of events to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising. Beginning at 8.30pm all are welcome. The Arts Centre is above the library in the Rathkeale offices of Limerick City and County Council
RE – ENACTMENT AT GLENQUIN CASTLE: On Sunday, April 24 Con Greaney from Newcastlewest has organised a re-enactment of the gathering of 300 volunteers who came there from 11 villages and as far away as Milford in North Cork on Easter Sunday 1916. Under instruction from IRB man Charles Wall of Dromcollogher they were to come prepared with a blanket, three days rations and a firearm. The plan was to march to Barnagh to take over the train which would have the arms that came into Banna the night before. Now, 100 years later their ancestors will answer the call and come to Glenquin to remember the bravery of family members. A plaque will be erected at the Castle to mark the centenary of the heroism of ordinary people who did extraordinary things. An invitation has gone out to people to join the march to Glenquin. Further details as they come to hand.
“TRY A LITTLE KINDNESS”: This is the name of a new CD which will be launched on Thursday, April 14 in the Rathkeale House Hotel. The CD which was made by four Traveller men -Willie, Danny, Christy and Ned Harty – was supported by the West Limerick Primary Health Care Project for Travellers. There will be stands at the event from; HSE Suicide Prevention Office; West Limerick Community Crisis Response Team; Adapt Domestic Abuse Services; West Limerick Mental Health Association; Console; Samaritans; National Traveller Suicide Prevention Service.
ABBEYFEALE HARRIERS: The Abbeyfeale Harriers would like to thank everyone for their support at the recent hunting festival including: The participating packs which were The Dungannan Foxhounds & the Minerock Harriers, The Macroom Foxhounds, The South Tipperary Harriers & the Rockfield Harriers, and The Scarteen Foxhounds. The hunt followers that came from all over Ireland and beyond. The Publicans who kindly sponsored the food after each hunt. The Scartaglin Harriers and the Rockfield Harriers for hosting the meets in Scartaglin and Farranfore and most importantly the landowners in the areas that were hunted and who have always been very supportive. We hope everyone enjoyed the weeks hunting and camaraderie. Unfortunately due to severe weather conditions Wednesday’s and Friday’s meets involving The Carraigshane Harriers and The Togher Harriers had to be cancelled. However we hope to be able to rearrange these two meets for a weekend in March, date yet to be decided, where we’ll look forward to meeting many of you again. For more information phone 087 6258933.
FASHION SHOW WITH WINE RECEPTION: A special event is taking place in the Rathkeale House Hotel next Friday night with doors open from 7pm. Newcastle west Agriculture show are hosting a Fashion Show with proceeds going to the Brothers of Charity. Nine models who are service users with the Brothers of Charity will take to the catwalk and join the models from Glamour, The Agency to showcase a range of fashions from Ashling Maher, Annette’s Boutique, Bella Sola, G Boutique, Noel’s Menswear, Kimino, Platform, Scanlon’s Menswear and Ela Maria. The Brothers of Charity have an outreach in Mountmahon where 8 local people avail of the services on offer so your support of the Fashion Show would be welcome.
WEST LIMERICK RESOURCES JOBSEEKERS NEWSLETTER: Jobs on offer this week include a bus driver for the Day Care centre here in Abbeyfeale and a care assistant. Then in the County, a telesales executive with Hunt Office Supplies, a fundraiser with Focus Ireland, several nursing and care assistants positions and much more.
YOLO CLUB: The club is holding a fund raising table quiz at the Ploughman Bar on Friday, April 1. Starting at 9 pm.Spot Prizes Galore. Your support will be very much appreciated.
ST. MARY’S BOYS SCHOOL: The school received fantastic news during the week. The community answered their call for votes in the All Ireland Drama Competition which was organised by the Abbey Theatre, RTE and the Department of Education and Science and they came first out of the six runners up. The students will be performing their play on the stage of the Abbey Theatre after Easter. Abbeyfeale has been the home of drama down through the years with people like MaryJo Prendeville, the late Dan Leahy, Dick Woulfe and latterly Denis Hobson keeping the flag flying so well done to these boys who will represent Abbeyfeale Drama on the stage of the iconic Abbey.
GET READY FOR THE CHARITIES ACT: West Limerick Resources is running two workshops for community groups to help them prepare for changes in regulation that come into force on April 16th. Workshop 1 on Thursday March 10th from 7-9pm will look at the implication of the Charities Act on your organization and how to ensure you are compliant. Workshop 2 on Tuesday March 15th from 7- 9pm will examine the Governance Code and how your organization could benefit by signing up. Both workshops will take place in West Limerick Resources offices, St Mary’s Road, Newcastle West, Co. Limerick. Contact: Irene at iocallaghan or 087 2298204.
CONCERT: Traditional fundraising variety concert by West Limerick traditional singing club on Saturday March 12 in Fr Casey’s GAA club, Abbeyfeale. The concert will include a variety of Traditional Musicians, Singers, Storytellers and dancers all for just €10. Please support. West Limerick singing club are also hosting a night of songs in remembrance of 1916 on Friday April 1 in the Ramble Inn, Abbeyfeale at our monthly singing session which takes place on the 1st Friday of every month.
FUNDRAISING DANCE: Joanne McMahon fundraising dance in aid of Burns Unit, St James Hospital at The Railway Abbeyfeale on Saturday, March 12 at 9 30pm with music by
Mike Condon. Finger food served. Please support this worthy cause.
SOCIAL DANCE CLASSES: Every Tuesday night in the Railway Bar, Abbeyfeale from 8-9pm for beginners and advanced from 9-10.30pm. All welcome.
ADULT CHOIR PRACTICE: Wednesday evenings at 8pm in Church of the Assumption.
LEAVING CERT IRISH ORAL EXAM: A one day intensive Easter revision course will be held in Halla Inse Bán, Templeglantine on Monday, March 21. Bookings with Máirín 087 4344745.
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ATHEA DRAMA: The Athea Drama Group’s production of ‘The Hen Night Epiphany’ will be staged for one final Sunday night at Con Colbert Hall Athea on March 13. The sell out play which is directed by Oliver McGrath will be supporting the Ronald McDonald house at Crumlin Hospital and the Joanne McMahon fundraising effort for the Burns Unit in St. James’s Hospital. The cast features Annette O’Donnell, Angeline O’Donnell, Nora Hunt, Louise Ahern & Ria Browne.
FEALE FIT: Best of Luck to all the Fealefit members taking part in the Killarney Adventure Race this coming Saturday. Fealefit / St Ita’s Ac Charity 5k Walk / Run sponsored by Kostal Abbeyfeale St Patrick’s day morning March 17 at 10am with a Green theme ,€10 to register. No times, No winners, No pressure just the enjoyment & achievement of completing 5k. All money raised will be donated to charity. This is a fun community event to help raise money for charity so we ask people to help in any way they can with stewarding the course, whatever you can provide for refreshments, baked goods etc – anything left over will go to homeless. 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!! ‘
GATHER BY THE FEALE: The Gather by the Feale committee would like to hear from anybody interested in organising and running an event during the Gather by the Feale Festival in July 2016. If you have any ideas please contact Orla Dennison 0878045013 at your earliest convenience.
VIKING BOXING CLUB: Training on Tuesday and Thursday nights in the old Flamingos with entrance next door to the back entrance of The Coffee Pot on Colbert Tce. Contact Noel 087 4360339. All age groups welcome.
TLC: You are invited to register with www.teamlimerickcleanup.ie for the second annual Team Limerick Clean Up which takes place on Good Friday, March 25 from 10am – 1pm.Join The Clean Team and be part of history!
For further information, please email tlc@limerick.ie or call 061496200.
ABBEYFEALE PARENT & TODDLER GROUP: parent and toddler group meets every Tuesday and Thursday in St. Ita’s Hall form 11 – 12.30pm. New Mum’s, Dad’s and toddlers are always welcome.
RURAL EMPLOYMENT & EDUCATION SERVICE: Are you looking for some support and guidance to help you get back into training or back to work? The Rural Employment Service is a free, confidential service based in Newcastle West providing career guidance supports, CV and interview preparation supports and advice on training and education courses. Contact Finn (087 759 1951), Ivana (087 653 5156), Adrienne (087 277 3294), or like us on Facebook WLR Rural Employment Service for the latest updates on job vacancies and training courses.
ART CLASSES ABBEYFEALE: Art classes take place each Thursday in the Abbeyfeale Further Education and Training Centre (Old Tech) from 10 – 12pm. This educational programme has a relaxation and social aspect. This is a time out space to enhance mental and emotional health. If you are interested in joining this class please contact Mary on 087 9382883. Supported by West Limerick Resources and the Limerick – Clare Education & Training Board.
AA: Narcotics Anonymous meet on Monday evenings in the parish office. AL Anon meet there every Tuesday evening and AA meet there on Friday evenings. Go to www.pioneerassociation.ie and pledge the short term pledge for Lent. Local representative is Rita Horgan, Killarney Rd. May with a jam packed agenda which included a cycle challenge, a family fun day, a dance and a variety concert with over €28,000 raised and donated to First Light and Bru Columbanus including a donation being made to the Hope Foundation. Plans are now in train to continue the good work begun last year and carry on fundraising in Zoe’s name for good causes with children’s charities Make a Wish Foundation, Community Games, Hope Foundation and the playground in Abbeyfeale Town Park being the chosen beneficiaries this year. There are a number of events pencilled in and these include:• Back 2 School Theme Party, Railway Bar Abbeyfeale Easter Sunday Night 27th March – Doors open 9pm. Entertainment with Band No Direction & Late night Dj.- No Homework, No exams, just fun with your old Class mates….A night not to be missed
• Family Fun Day Sunday 19th June from 2pm at Fr. Casey’s GAA with kiddies disco at 6pm. A day out for all the family with lots of great activities, enjoy the old reliables and lots of new & exciting games to keep all the family entertained!
• Relay Run to Dublin – A once in a lifetime 3 x day Relay run to Dublin starting July 29th in Abbeyfeale & finishing at Make a Wish Foundation headquarters in Dublin July 31st taking in some of Ireland’s biggest towns & Cities along the way!
REMEMBERING ZOE BACK 2 SCHOOL THEME PARTY: Easter Sunday March 27 at the Railway Bar with doors open at 9pm. Music by No Direction followed by a late nite D.J.
No Homework, No exams, just an excuse to dress and have fun with your old Class mates. All funds raised to Remembering Zoe nominated charities 2016: Make a Wish Foundation, Community Games, Hope Foundation and Town Park Playground. No Direction have kindly started the ball rolling by waiving their fee and performing gratis.
DRUGS INITIATIVE: The Irish Bishops Drugs initiative programme for confirmation children will take place on Wednesday night March 9 and Wednesday night April 13 from 7:30pm until 9pm at Scoil Mháthair Dé. Both Confirmation candidates and parents are invited to attend.
QQI LEVEL 5 CARE SKILLS MODULE: Family Carers Ireland are offering this course in Patient Moving and Handling one day a week for five weeks from 9.30 -4.30pm. Further information from 05793 70221.
LIMERICK DIOCESAN SOCIAL SERVICE: Counselling provided on Mondays in Abbeyfeale. Ring 061 314213 for appointment.
SUPPORT GROUP: Abbeyfeale Bereavement Support Group Tel. 068/31230 or 068/51984 or 068/31262.
DIOCESE OF LIMERICK SYNOD: Synod Opening Mass is on Sunday, April 3 in St John’s Cathedral at 7pm. Parishes have been invited to pray for the Synod on Monday and Tuesday, and on Wednesday April 6 a Pastoral Area liturgy is being planned for each of the nine areas. In Abbeyfeale Salesian Sister Sr. Vera Hehir will facilitate a prayer session for Naomh Ide Pastoral Area in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel at 7pm. Synod Closing Mass is on Sunday, April 10, in St John’s Cathedral at 7pm. There will just be one Mass in Abbeyfeale on the Friday, April 8 at 8.15am, the same on Saturday, April 9 at 7pm and on Sunday, April 10 at 9.30am.
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. Masses: No morning Mass Monday, evening Mass at 7pm. Tuesday – Saturday at 10am except in the event of a funeral when Mass is 11am. Mass Intentions: Thursday 10am Mary and James Scully, Mountmahon. Saturday 11am Micheal Walsh, Dromtrasna. 7pm Peg McCarthy, Caherlane, Kitty Fitzgerald Railway Bar. Sunday 9.30am Fintan and Mary Anne Collins, Sean, Margaret and Lukeen Scannell, The Hill. 12 noon Mary Collins, The Hill John, Eileen, John Jnr Ahern and James Taylor.
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 of the yard.
WAY TO GO KIDS: The programme starts in the Community Centre in Newcastle West on Wednesday, April 6 and will be delivered by the HSE together with Limerick Sports Partnership over the following 9 weeks. For further information on the programme or to register please go to http://www.limericksports.ie/ or contact 061 333 600.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS IN DUAGH: Every Friday at 7.30pm in Duagh Church.
DOMESTIC ABUSE GROUP FOR MEN WHO ARE BATTERED: AMEN is based in Navan at St. Anne’s Resource Centre, Railway St. and provides a helpline on 046 9023 718, Email: info@amen.ie
TALK ON SUBSTANCE MISUSE: The free talk on substance misuse which took place at the Desmond Complex was very poorly attended by parents whose children are at risk of coming in contact with drugs and alcohol. Part of the training given included some pointers on how to deal with family members presenting the signs of drugs taking. Signs to look out for include; Drunken behaviour and slurred speech. Short term memory loss, deterioration in performance, loss of concentration, loss of coordination. Bouts of talkative, excitable and overactive behaviour, fidgeting, difficulty sitting still. Decline in performance in schoolwork or youth club activities. Marked or uncharacteristic mood swings, aggression or apathetic behaviour. Truancy and lateness for school, college, work etc. There are other signs but all of these may mimic those of other causes and so should not be used as the basis of making assumptions or accusations. The community substance misuse team can be contacted on 061 317688 www. Csmt.ie
MAUREEN’S FIRST DAY TRIP OF 2016: Day Trip Sunday, March 20 leaving Newcastle West at 8am. First stop full Irish breakfast in the Harbour Hotel Naas, where you can order homemade bread, scones and cakes and collect same in the evening when we return for choice of four course dinner menu. Visiting the Kildare vlllage with a choice of 80 different shops and a trip to the Newbridge Silver premises where you can also visit the very interesting museum upstairs. For more information and booking contact Maureen 087 9845102. Spring Break April 24-27. Staying in the Cavan Crystal 4 star hotel, with complimentary use of the award winning leisure centre. Leaving NCW at 9.30am.. On our way to our hotel we will be calling to see St. Mel’s newly refurbished cathedral in Longford. On Monday we will board our bus directly after an early breakfast to travel to Armagh where we will visit both St. Patrick’s Cathedrals, the Church of Ireland and the Roman Catholic. Also we intend visiting Cardinal Tómas O’Fiaich Memorial Library which is close by. Tuesday we will trave to Monaghan to see the Cavan Crystal premises. During the day we wlll be touring and in the evening in our hotel dancing on Sunday night, Monday night we will have our special entertainment and sing song, Tuesday dancng. We have a full and interesting itinerary. All those who have paid their deposit can pay the balance now all monies to be in no later than Friday, April 18.
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 1pm 365 days a year.
MEDJUGORJE: Pilgrimage to Medjugorje – 35th Anniversary. Departing from Shannon. Wednesday, September 7. Half board accomodation. Contact John O’Brien 086-8938984.
COMMUNITY ALERT: Two weeks ago my email was hacked and a message sent to anyone who I had ever been in touch with by email that I had left my bag behind in a taxi in Portugal and if they could help with funds it would be much appreciated by the hacker. It took two days to wrestle control of my a/c out of the hands of someone in Athlone in the first instance then Nigeria and Johannesburg and all I can say is to check your security settings and don’t click on a link if you don’t know what it is about. I must have done so but have no idea when or what. This week a piece in the Kerryman warns locals to watch out for contacts from a company calling themselves International Directory Services with information about a package delivery. People in West Kerry have been asked to spell out their names which seem be an attempt to extract address information and match it to mobile phone numbers.
WEEKEND FOR YOUNG PEOPLE: Next weekend the Focolare Movement based in Prosperous, Co. Kildare is hosting a weekend for young people between 17-35 years to explore the theme of Mercy. A key-note talk, workshops, art, music, prayer and time to relax Book on foclareyouthireland@gmail.com.
THE END OF ALL THINGS EARTHLY: Bishop Brendan Leahy and Veritas Publications invite you to the launch of Faith Profiles of the 1916 Leaders which was edited by David Bracken. It will be launched by Dr Kenneth Kearon Church of Ireland Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe on Tuesday, March 15 at 6.30 p.m. at Mary Immaculate College, South Circular Rd, Limerick. All Welcome! For those who wish to attend, this will be followed at 7.30 p.m. by a talk presented by the Dominican Church, Limerick, entitled ‘Edward Thomas O’Dwyer, Bishop of Limerick 1886–1917: A Figure of Controversy’, delivered by Edward O’Callaghan OFM as part of the Prophetic Voices – Past and Present Lenten series.
Abbeyfeale Gathering Festival 