PROLOGUE: "Know the true value of time! Snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness, no laziness, no procrastination. Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today." Lord Chesterfield Stanhope.
DARKNESS INTO LIGHT: Just a few days left until the Darkness into Light next Saturday, May 7. The 5 km walk/run sets off from the Community Centre at 4.15 am and takes participants through the sunrise to a finish with refreshments. This is truly a fitting way to support the work of Pieta House Self Harm and Suicide Crisis Centre. Registration fees with t-shirt: €25 – adult; €15 – seniors, students, jobseekers; €65 – family (2 adults & 2 children); Children under 14 free – must be accompanied by an adult. You can register at the Red Door Gallery at the following times: Thursday, May 5 – 6 to 9 pm; Friday – 3 to 9 pm and last minute registration at the Community Centre from 2 am on Saturday. Online registration:
FEALESIDE STRICTLY COME DANCING: Only 4 more sleeps to the extravaganza that is the Fealeside Strictly Come Dancing. Sunday night next 13 couples from Abbeyfeale and environs including Tournafulla, Duagh, Knocknagoshel, Mountcollins and Rockchapel have come together under the umbrella of Fealeside Strictly Come Dancing and have spent the last few months rehearsing and preparing for this night. It’s all happening in the Devon Inn with doors opening at 6.15pm and show beginning at 7.30pm sharp. Tickets at €20 are available all over town from The Hair Company, Cryle Dry Cleaners, Leens Hotel, to Betty’s Hair Salon to Moss the Farmers, Eurosavers, Esther’s Boutique and more. There will be a mega door prize, entertainment at the interval and it will all be followed by a Disco with music from the 60’s to the present day so promises to be a great night. Chief Judge Micheal Healy Rae will be joined on the judging panel by Mayor of Limerick Cllr. Liam Galvin, Anglela O’Rourke, The Square and yours truly. All funds raised will be shared between Abbeyfeale Town Park, Abbeyfeale Tidy Towns and the Christmas Lights so it’s a real community effort and your support is kindly requested. Check out our facebook page for updates.
REMEMBERING Zoë CYCLE CHALLENGE 2016: The annual "Remembering Zoë" cycle challenge in memory of 8 year old Zoë Scannell from Abbeyfeale who died tragically in June 2014 takes place on Sunday, May 15 next. The Cycle event will raise much needed funds for child focussed charities and facilities for children. This year’s beneficiaries are Make a Wish foundation, Community Games, Hope Foundation and Abbeyfeale Town Park Playground. This year’s challenge consists of 3 cycle routes, 110Km, 75Km and 40Km. Routes and distances to suit all cyclists from beginners to advanced. All participants will receive a special edition Finishers Medal. Catering facilities before and after at Abbeyfeale GAA clubhouse, food stop/refreshments on all routes, parking onsite/close by and shower facilities available. Registration for the three routes 110km, 75km and 40km will take place at Fr. Casey’s Friday May 13 from 6-9pm and on Sunday, May 15 from 7.30am. Further information from John 087 2258808 or Tom 087 6820506. The remembering Zoe Family Fun Day will be held on Sunday, July 3 next and then on the August Bank Holiday weekend runners are sought for a once in a lifetime experience when The Remembering Zoë Relay run to Dublin for Make a Wish Foundation will take place.
NEW BUSINESS IN CHURCH ST: Delighted to welcome a new makeup salon which has just opened in Church St., (opposite the Boys N.S.) It stocks a wide variety of makeup brands which include Loreal, MaybellIne, NYC, and the very popular Sleek. Be sure to pop in for excellent quality at a great price!
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION: Takes place on Saturday, May 21 at 11am. Church gates will be locked on Friday evening at 10pm to facilitate parking.
TABLE QUIZ TO AID SYRIAN REFUGEES: A table quiz to aid Syrian refugees will take place at Thomas T.J’s, New St. on Friday, May 20. Quiz Master Lorcan Curtin. A raffle for a mega hamper will also be held on the night. All funds to the Red Cross who work in the refugee camps. We hope that you will support us and even if you’re not into quizzes come along for a chance to take home the hamper.
INVASIVE SPECIES FIELDTRIP: West Limerick Resources will be running a half day fieldtrip to see first-hand the impact of invasive species in West Limerick on Tuesday May 31. This will include training on identification but will look in more depth at the practical steps involved in appropriately maintaining areas affected by invasive species including site inspection, risk assessment, monitoring and correct removal techniques where appropriate. Open to members of local tidy towns groups, CE schemes or others involved in environmental enhancement work including trails management. Passengers can be collected from Newcastle West and Abbeyfeale. Free of charge but limited places available. To book contact Michelle on 069 61540 or email MMcCarthy3@wlr.ie. Supported under Local Agenda 21.
RELIG IDE NAOFA GRAVEYARD CLEAN UP: The clean-up starts shortly. Every family with a grave is asked to give just one hour a week to keep the graveyard pristine.
ABBEYFEALE HORSE AND PONY COMMITTEE: An invitation to new members has been issued by the committee. If you would like to get involved please contact Toddy 087 2029395.
FEALE FIT NEWS: Well done to all Fealefit & St Ita’s Ac members that ran the Great Limerick Run over the weekend especially our little athletes who took part in Saturday’s kids run! Well done also to the members that took part in The Bewildered Challenge, busy weekend for Fealefit @ events! All Fealefit 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.
WELL DONE: The annual Fleadh by the Feale was an outstanding success and on behalf of all the publicans, restaurants, businesses who benefited and those who attended the various events can I say APPROVED FUNDING FOR SCOIL MHÁTHAIR DÉ: Good to hear that the school has been approved for the provision of electrical work with funding from the Summer Works Scheme.
SPEECH & LANGUAGE WORKSHOP: West Limerick Resources is offering a FREE Speech and Language workshop in St. Ita’s Hall, Abbeyfeale on Tuesday, May 3 from 11am to 12pm. Facilitated by the Speech and Language Clinic, this workshop is open to all parents of toddlers and those working with children. If you have a concern regarding your child’s speech this is the ideal place to explore your concerns. Please contact Mary on 087 9382883 for further information.
DYSLEXIA WORKSHOP: A FREE Workshop on Dyslexia will be delivered by the Dyslexia Association of Ireland and will examine how to get an assessment and what it means, encouraging your child to read for pleasure and the SOS spelling method. Free and open to parents and those who work with children, this workshop will take place in the Further Education and Training Centre Abbeyfeale on Wednesday, May 4 from 7.30-9.30pm. Contact Mary at West Limerick Resources on 087 9382883 for further information.
SUE RYDER; It’s spring and here at Sue Ryder we are currently filling our rails with wonderful colours! So, if you are planning that early holiday or have a special occasion coming up, pop into our shop on |Main Street, Abbeyfeale and you just might find that special item!
This week we are introducing the Sue Ryder loyalty card. Ask us about it when you next visit us. We also have a sale on selected men’s shirts, priced at just €1!
A special thank you for all your generous donations to our shop. We accept clothing, shoes, bags, bed linen, curtains and bric a brac. Unfortunately we are unable to accept electrical items, duvets, pillows, broken toys and video tapes. Thank you again for your continued support.
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.
INVITATION TO PILGRIMAGE: Bishop Brendan has issued an invitation to the people of the diocese to visit St. John’s Cathedral and walk through the Holy Door during this year of Mercy. The cathedral is open between 9am and 6.30pm each day and directions as to the prayers to be said to gain an indulgence can be found beside the Door which has a banner over it.
TELEPHONE SUPPORT: TeenLine is open 8pm-11pm every night. If you’ve had a bad day or need to talk to someone who will listen FreePhone 1800833634 or text Teen to 50015. Samaritans can be reached 24 hours a day, every day on 1850 609090.
LIMERICK SOCIAL SERVICES: A reminder that Limerick Social Service Council has an office in Abbeyfeale. There is a parent support worker available to any parent/family member or School who would like any support or guidance on any issue they may be having difficulty with. Information and details of supports available can also be accessed. This service is free and confidential to all in the County Limerick area. Any questions you can contact : Mary on 068-31019 / 0863514700 or call into the Parish office.
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.
AA: Narcotics Anonymous meet on Monday evenings in the parish office. AL Anon meet there every Tuesday evening and AA meet there on Wednesday afternoons at 3pm, Friday evenings at 8pm and Sunday mornings at 10am.
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. . Mass Tuesday – Saturday at 10am except in the event of a funeral when Mass is 11am. Mass on Saturday 11am. Mass Intentions: Thursday 10am Exams Mass. Saturday 11am Micheal and Eily Broderick Upper Purt. 7pm Maura Leahy Knockbrack, sister Nora Kavanagh, brother William Harnett. Sunday 9.30am Denis O’Brien Purt. Parish Clerks Collection takes place at all Masses on May 15/16.
Church Webcam is now officially 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.
IRISH CHURCH MUSIC ASSOCIATION SUMMER SCHOOL: Wednesday, July
6 – Saturday July 9 in St Patrick’s College Maynooth, with this year’s theme being ‘God, Full of Mercy’. For more contact Mary (086) 8128266.
THE IRISH CANCER SOCIETY’S VOLUNTEER DRIVER SERVICE: The service is currently seeking volunteer drivers to drive local patients to and from their chemotherapy treatments in Tralee General Hospital, Cork, University Hospital & the Mercy University Hospital, Cork. We are looking for volunteers to pick local patients up at their homes, drive them to the door of the hospital, and pick them up again when they are finished their treatment and bring them home. Driver expenses are paid. Telephone Rebecca on 01 2316 642 or email transport@irishcanc
DICKENS IN LIMERICK: Dickens in Limerick, written and performed by Laurence Foster on Friday, May 6 at the Belltable, 69 O’Connell St, Limerick.
‘ It is Limerick in 1858 and Charles Dickens is on a reading tour of the City. To promote his novels and display his skills as an actor and raconteur. Laurence Foster’s one-man-show recreates this period in which Dickens casts an amusing eye over Limerick – and interweaves his stark descriptions of Arthur’s Quay, Pery Square, Limerick Jail, the Famine, the Workhouse and various characters he encountered, with pertinent sections from such favourites as A Christmas Carol, Hard Times, Pickwick Papers and Oliver Twist.
The result is an acting tour-de-force which brings wonderful life to some of Dicken’s most well-known characters as well as an insight into the man himself.
Tickets €12 and €10 concession. Box Office: 061 774 774Web: www.limetreetheatre.ie
CHORAL CONCERTS IN KNOCK; On Saturday, May 14 three separate choirs with 120 members in total, leading operatic soloists and the RTE Concert Orchestra will come together in the newly renovated Basilica in Knock. The concert under the baton of David Brophy will include ‘The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace’ written by Welsh composer Karl Jenkins as well as a special piece for 1916 written by Patrick Cassidy, a Mayo man now based in Hollywood. Tickets 094 9388100 or see knockshrine.ie
WOMEN OF THE WELL: Rejuvenate your spirit with a weekend retreat for women. Call Knock Shrine on 094 9388100.
MAUREEN’S OFF TO CLONAKILTY: Make a note in your diary……Sunday, May 22. Clonakilty Model Railway Village. When you walk into this model village you are stepping back in time and will see life as it was in 1940’s. See the old West Cork Railway line portrayed in delightful miniature serving towns. The models and figures are handmade. Depicting busy market days this is a joyful discovery for both young and not so young alike. Relax in the unique tea room set on one of the authentic train carriages with a view of Clonakilty. We will have our usual breakfast and choice of dinner menu in Mallow. We have a number of names already as this is a very popular day trip. For more information and booking contact Maureen 087 9845102.
MUNSTER PARKINSON’S DISEASE CONFERENCE: There will be a conference in the Radisson Hotel, Ennis on Sunday, May 29 from 10.30am -4pm. To book a place ring 1800359359 before May 23.
VOLUNTEER IN AFRICA: Humanitarian Volunteers are looking for volunteers to travel to Kenya on June 26, 2016, for two weeks. No experience required and no age restrictions. Supervision provided. Volunteers will also visit the resting place of the Venerable Edel Quinn. Volunteers will pay their own costs. If you can assist teaching English, or assist with sports, games, arts, crafts or more, then you can make a real impact on the lives of the poorest. Contact Denis 086 8520271.
BURREN OUTDOOR RETREAT: Friday, May 6-8 during Burren in Bloom month. Booking Des Tully 085 1614951. See Burren Outdoor Retreat FB page.
LIMERICK WOODTURNERS SEMINAR: Limerick and District Chapter of The Irish Woodturning Guild celebrates the 25th anniversary of its founding in 1991. A seminar will be held in the Kilmurry Lodge Hotel on Saturday, May 14. Three leading exponents of the craft will give demonstrations on the day. Our own Liam Flynn from Abbeyfeale will showcase his unique sculptural Hollow Forms, his work can be found in Museums both here and abroad. Donal Ryan from Borrisoleigh will demonstrate functional and decorative gallery pieces and Christien Van Bussel – a potter and woodturner from Holland who now lives and teaches in Wicklow will demonstrate decorative techniques, carving and the application of vibrant colours. If you wish to attend contact Brendan on 0879181435 or email limerickwoodturners.com
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
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 services available.
KNOCK RE DEDICATION: A national rededication ceremony has been announced for Saturday, July 16 following the extensive refurbishment of the Basilica of Our Lady, Queen of Ireland, at Ireland’s National Marian Shrine, Knock, Co Mayo. The Basilica was officially opened on July 18, 1976, and has since become one of the most visited landmarks in Ireland, providing shelter to millions of pilgrims to Knock Shrine over its 40 year history. Over the last two years, the Basilica has been completely modernised as part of a major, renewal project at Knock Shrine, called Witness to Hope. One of Europe’s largest single flat pieces of mosaic has also been installed in the Basilica as part of the refurbishment. Cardinal Séan O’Malley, the Archbishop of Boston, will perform the official rededication ceremony at 3pm on Saturday, July 16. Cardinal O’Malley is leading a historic first-ever chartered pilgrimage from Boston to Knock for the rededication ceremony. Fr Richard Gibbons, PP, Rector of Knock Shrine, said everyone is welcome to the ceremony
CAMP VERITAS: Camp Veritas is a summer camp run for youth aged from 12 to 18 years old. It is about fun, faith and fellowship. There are lots of fun and sports activities planned over the week, but the main focus of the week is to bring the young people to the living presence of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament and to deepen or awaken their faith. It is being run from June 26 -July 1 at Maynooth University, Co. Kildare, Ireland. The cost is €450 if paid online or cheque mailed to USA, Euro equivalent if cash or cheque in Ireland. More details – click ‘read more’ or see the groups Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Camp-Veritas
PILGRIMAGE TO HOLY LAND: Archbishop Eamon Martin will lead a Christian solidarity pilgrimage to the Holy Land from September 9 – 17 next on a direct flight from Dublin. It will be an opportunity to visit holy sites and walk in the footsteps of Jesus in Bethlehem, Nazareth, Galilee and Jerusalem. It will also be an opportunity to visit the tiny Christian community in the region known as ‘The Living Stones’. Price approx. €1,168 per person sharing. Call 01 8783111 for further details.
FOOTSPEPS TO FREEDOM: Hereunder is the speech which organiser, Ger Geaney, gave at the Gathering at Glenquin Castle on Sunday week last.
‘On a special day like today it is important that we do not lose sight of what or who we are remembering. Today of course we are commemorating the beginning of the Easter Rising in 1916, but we are also remembering the part played by the brave men and women of West Limerick and North Cork and how they helped to shape the country we have today.
Because despite what most of the media have reported in the last few weeks, men and women from outside Dublin did have a part to play in the Rising.
There were many volunteers in West Limerick and North Cork playing their part in April 1916. We remember from Monagea , Con Collins who was in Kerry helping Roger Casement and Domhnall Sheehan who drowned in Killorglin on the way to Banna beach. In the GPO fighting side by side you had Pat and Jim McNamara from Loughill, James and Mattie Flanagan from Killoughteen and Garret McAuliffe from Newcastle West. Also there was Paddy Sheehan from Templeglantine ,Mossie Collins from Tulligmacthomas Templeglantine, JJ Geoghegan from Adare and Eamonn Dore from Glin . In North Cork you had Jim Brislane from Milford just back from a two month jail sentence for volunteer membership in 1915. He was later jailed in Belfast in 1918 where he was taught Irish by Dan Collins from Arranagh Monagea, not too far from here. There were also two teachers in the Christian Brothers School in Charleville living in Milford, Sean O Dea and Larry Hedivan , both arrested on Good Friday for amongst other things writing anti -British slogans on the walls of the Imperial Hotel in Charleville, an act that got them sent first to Richmond Barracks in Dublin and later to Wakefield prison in England. And who could forget the Land League priest Fr Eugene Sheehy from over the road in Broadford. Born in 1847 he spent his life battling for tenants’ rights and used every parish he ministered in to further the cause of Irish Freedom. In Bruree he taught Irish history to all the altar boys including one Eamonn De Valera. He retired to Dublin and was a personal friend to many of the signatories of the 1916 proclamation including his lifelong friend Thomas Clark. On Easter Week 1916 at the age of 72 he was smuggled into the GPO and stayed with the rebels until their surrender.. On his deathbed in 1917 his last words were "if only I could have died with Tom Clarke”. Of course the most famous of all the West Limerick volunteers was our own martyr Con Colbert who was born in Castlemahon and lived in Athea and Kilcolman before being executed for his part in the rising on May 7th 1916. And there are others that we should remember , innocent bystanders like Janie Costello from Kilmallock , a typist shot twice while looking out a top floor window of her rooms in Dublin or Michael O Connor a teacher from Ballyhahill on holidays in Dublin for the Easter Weekend and shot in crossfire in the Phoenix park. We should also remember the very first person who died in the rising in Dublin, a Constable named James O Brien from Ballybeg in Glin County Limerick and a soldier in the British Army named Patrick Leen from Abbeyfeale, accidentally shot by a fellow soldier while cleaning their weapons.. Because in commemoration we are not judge and jury, we were not there and do not know the context of the whole story. This nonpartisan and neutral position is going to become more and more important as we head towards the 100th anniversary of one of the most tragic events in Irish a history, The Irish Civil War.
The men and women of the Rising in 1916 were mainly members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, and were first drawn from the membership of the Irish Volunteers. The volunteers were founded at a meeting in Wyns Hotel in Dublin in 1914, a meeting attended by the afore mentioned Con Colbert. The volunteers were started as a reply to the Ulster Volunteer Force set up by Edward Carson a year earlier. The first volunteer group set up outside Dublin was started in Athlone but the second ever group set up was formed in West Limerick in Dromcollogher.
They were founded by the local Catholic Curate Fr Tom Wall and the nationalist Ernest Blythe in 1915.Ernest Blythe was the son of a Presbyterian farmer in Antrim while Tom Wall came from a strong republican family in Bruff County Limerick. Fr Wall along with the curates in Newcastle West , a Father Hayes from Bruree and Father Kelly ,later the Parish Priest of Templeglantine went on to form the backbone of the Volunteer movement in Limerick right up to and including the War of Independence. Not only did Fr Wall begin a National Volunteer group in Dromcollogher but he also founded volunteer divisions and Cumann Na Mban groups in Feohanagh, Milford, Broadford and Tullylease. In Charles Wall from Dromcollogher he found an able and willing commander with a quick mind honed by amongst other things, military training he received in Sheare’s Street in Cork in 1915. Ernest Blythe then moved on and began volunteer divisions in Killeedy, Monagea, Killoughteen, Newcastle West, Tournafulla, Athea Mountcollins and Templeglantine. He famously said of Templeglantine that it was unique in Ireland as it had "neither a protestant, a policeman nor a public house"
And so fast forward to the end of April 1916.Charles Wall, the leader of the West Limerick Volunteers was on the Tuesday of Easter Week given the plans for the rising and the part that the West Limerick Volunteers were to play in it. Over the next four days he contacted the leaders of all the volunteer groups in the area. They each instructed their men that on Easter Sunday they were to march here to Glenquin Castle. They were to travel on foot on small groups to avoid detection and each man was to bring a blanket, their weapon and three days rations. They were all told that this was not a drill and that they were to prepare for some sort of engagement.
They never knew what they were actually meant to do in Glenquin. Only Charles Wall was party to that information. He knew that the guns being landed at Banna Strand by Roger Casement were being smuggled on to a train. The West Limerick volunteers were to take over this train at the Devon Road Station in Templeglantine and take it first to Limerick and later to Gort in Galway to distribute the guns. From there the men of West Limerick were to fight their way across to link up with the rebels in Dublin. And so these groups of brave volunteers set off for Glenquin Castle, not knowing if they would return. They set off, some armed with rifles, some with pistols, some with old shotguns and more than half of them armed with only what were known as 98 pikes, And there you have the definition of patriotism and bravery, willing to take on the best equipped army in the world with little more than a glorified slash hook.
And so they made their way to Glenquin coming as many did this morning from places such as Tournafulla, Ardagh, Carrickerry, Athea, Kilcolman, Templeglantine, Mountcollins, Broadford, Feohanagh, Monagea, Newcastle West, Dromcollogher, Killeedy, Ashford ,Killoughteen, Raheenagh, Castlemahon, Strand , Milford and Abbeyfeale. They spent three hours at the castle in the rain waiting for the guns that never came. All the while they were being watched by a dozen armed RIC men who would surely have put up little resistance in the event of a struggle. As we know the message that the rising was being called off reached Glenquin in the early evening and following a prayer from Fr wall and Fr Hayes the volunteers dispersed, walking back the same road they came.
Though they did not get to fight on that occasion, it does not take from the fact that they were willing to lay down their lives for what they believed in, and it’s that bravery that we salute today. Many were later arrested, imprisoned and murdered in the cause of Irish Freedom.
It is important that we remember the sacrifices these people made for this country, it is important that our children remember, without them there will be no 150th anniversary of the rising.
Today we celebrate our own history. The sacrifices that the men and women of West Limerick and North Cork made do not belong to any political creed or political party, this is your history. We should not be afraid to call ourselves republicans; we should remember the men of Glenquin with pride and honour that memory.
It is easy to forget. After 1966 there was a flurry of commemoration. They named Sheahan’s road in Newcastle West after Domhnall Sheehan . already mentioned from Monagea Con Colbert Community Hall in Athea,, and Buckley’s Terrace in Dromcollogher was called after Pat Buckley who perished when a local IRA unit set fire to the l court house there. But three men died that day, How do we remember the two other men that died, Liam Danaher and David Brennan who’s brother Paddy led the Broadford Volunteers here 100 years ago. Is it time we looked again at how we name new estates, parks and streets. Isn’t it time we remembered these patriots properly. In my view it’s simply not good enough to give housing estates names like fir grove or river view. What’s the point in calling the latest roadway, “The New Road" It’s Pointless labelling the local GAA Grounds as just "the hurling field". The actions and sacrifices of these men and women, and the boys from Glenquin should be displayed for all to see and must never be forgotten.
To go back to the question I posed at the start. What or who are we remembering today. In my opinion when the tricolour is raised later and the national anthem is sung we should all take a minute to remember fir agus mnà croga as Iarthar Luimnigh agus Thuaidh Corcai", the brave men and women of west limerick and North Cork who sacrificed all so that we can enjoy the freedom we have today, a freedom we should never take for granted.
Abbeyfeale Gathering Festival 