DEATH: Sincere sympathy is offered to his wife Mary, sons Patrick and Gerard, sister Mary, in laws and extended family on the death of community activist Mike Barry, Caherlane whose loss will be felt throughout the Abbbeyfeale area. May his gentle soul rest in peace.

PROLOGUE: Advent Prayer: 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, hear my prayer and grant my petition.

ADORATION ON CHRISTMAS DAY: On Christmas Day we celebrate the birth of our Saviour and so we will have one hour of adoration in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel from 5-6pm. Adoration will resume on Tuesday, January 7, 2020.

LAUNCH OF A NIGHT AT THE OSKARS: The Winners’ Circle Saturday, January 4 at 9pm. Films and roles will be announced on the night. There will be music and finger food. Save the date. Rehearsals will commence on the week beginning Monday, January 13 and continue each week until the week of Feb 3. Filming dates are Saturday, February 15 and Sunday, February 16 and Saturday, February 22 and Sunday, February 23.

CONNIE HARNETT SWIM: The 6th annual swim takes place on New Year’s Day in Ballybunion. Donations will be made to the Hope Foundation, Comfort Chemo in KUH and Ward 2D in CUH. To date in excess of €39,000 has been raised for local charities.

GLÓRACH NOTES: Bingo c Monday, December 30 starting time at 8.30 pm, most definitely a fifty two week service! With lots of events already lined up for the new year, we look forward to seeing ye in 2020. Nollaig shona daoibh go léir.

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS FROM ABBEYFEALE COMMUNITY ALERT: Abbeyfeale Community Alert was formed in 1998 under the Chairmanship of the late Phil O’Kelly. Since then we have organised security systems for people in our community who have reached the age of 65, who live alone or with someone of the same age. In 2010 we started to deal with Pobal and they changed the conditions to allow for elderly people over 65 who have young people living with them and who are absent for long parts of the day to apply for a monitor. They also removed the need for people to disclose their weekly income on the application form that they have to fill. In the last few years the committee have started to organise a summer outing and a Christmas Lunch and this summer we travelled to Bunratty Castle and finished the day with a lovely meal at the Devon Inn. Our 4th. Christmas lunch was held in Fr. Casey’s Clubhouse on Sunday, November 24 where we were joined by Sgt. Ber Leetch who is the crime prevention officer for Co. Limerick and whose after dinner speech was full of simple ideas for how to keep ourselves safe. She talked about how to make the house look occupied when it was in actual fact empty – pair of wellingtons outside the door, dog bowl there too, lights on timer switches, stimulated TV light on a timer. Never leave a ladder lying around the yard, always turn on the alarm when going out, keep the doors locked when inside, if someone comes to the door and you don’t want to open the door tell them you have lost the key. She also suggested keeping a list of important numbers by the phone and making sure that you have your eircode handy. Our Fire Officer also spoke on Fire Safety in the home advising that candles should never be used in the event of a power cut – keep a torch and spare batteries handy. He also said that every house should have at least one working smoke alarm as well as a carbon monoxide alarm, close all internal doors at night, do not to smoke in bed and always put up a fire guard when going to bed. If you are or know someone who has reached the age of 65 then be sure and encourage them to get in touch with any member of our committee and complete the simple application for a security system which will guarantee them peace of mind.

THE OSKARS: Over the course of the next four months 7 short extracts of popular mainstream films will be made in Abbeyfeale as a fundraiser for St. Ita’s Daycare and Sheltered Housing. Funds will be raised through sponsorship of the films, fundraising of an agreed sum by the actors and participants who can organise events over the next few months ie pool/dart tournaments, coffee mornings, table quizzes, concerts etc – the possibilities are endless and will provide plenty of opportunities to think outside the box. The sale of tickets to the gala night in the Devon Inn on March 20 next when the films will be judged and awarded Oskars for best film, best actor, actress, best supporting role, best comedy actor/actress etc etc will also provide a revenue stream. This is the chance of a life time to participate in an event which will be a talking point for years to come, to have documentary evidence of the night you walked on the red carpet and be able to produce the DVD to show your grandchildren in years to come. We have had nothing but positive reports from groups all over the country who have already participated about the fun and the self esteem and self confidence to be gained. Training in acting will take place on Tuesday evenings in January from 7-7.30, 7.30 – 8.00, 8.00 -8.30, 8.30 – 9, 9.00 – 9.30 and 9.30 – 10pm and shooting of the films will take place over the following month on the weekends. Further information from Jane on 068 51850.

ABBEYFEALE FOR AFRICA: The a/c remains open at the Credit Union should anyone wish to donate.

ABBEYFEALE FARMER’S MARKET: Christmas Greetings from Abbeyfeale Farmers’ Market which was set up in April 2003 and which over the years has moved from the Community Centre, New St to St. Ita’s Hall to the small Square and from Friday to Saturday and back again to Friday. We’re gone from 15 stalls on day one to 3 at present but we’re still hanging in there! Every Friday morning I get up at 5.30am and bake brown bread full of goodness – wheat and white flour, oat bran and pinhead oatmeal mixed with buttermilk, a pinch of salt, some bread soda and a spoonful of sugar and baked in a hot oven until you tap it on the bottom and hear a hollow sound indicating that it is baked through. I also make ginger bread loaded with spices and beaten with a wooden spoon until the melted butter and treacle and eggs coat the Odlums white flour into a chocolate coloured mass. Then around 8am I start making scones – fruit, cheese and chive, plain and brown so that when I arrive at the market the steam is still rising and they are ready to be eaten with butter and some homemade blackcurrant or raspberry jam which is made from fruit picked on balmy summer evenings and frozen a couple of hours later. Fruit that by the way that has never been sprayed or fertilized with chemicals and is grown with the aid of homemade compost. We may be small but every year stall holder Helga Henn donates vegetables from her organic farm on the top of Dromtrasna, Seamus Quinlan – the beekeeper from Kilmanahan whose local honey is sold by Helga donates honey from his 15 hives, Bridie Scully Collins and Bridie O’ Shea donate strawberry plants as well as shrubs and house plants, Mairead Daly brings hand picked apples from her trees and Kate Murphy and her John Paul 2 Award students harvest vegetables, make scones and buns and along with Maria Quinn, Trish Roche, Ann O’Meara and Mary and Kate McGill put together a couple of tables laden with freshly picked vegetables, plants, shrubs, scones, cakes, jams, honey and sell them after Sunday Mass twice or three times a year. All the money raised goes to Fr. Tim Galvin’s Mission in South Sudan and since Fr. Shoji has moved here to assist Fr. Tony in the parish a donation is also made to run an orphanage in the diocese that he has been seconded from. Abbeyfeale Farmers’ Market may be small but we are making a difference to the lives of people in far flung places and this Christmas Season we have donated a huge hamper to St. Ita’s Sheltered Housing for its Night at the OsKars fundraiser, the money raised will help the elderly in our local community. Hopefully we will be able to continue to meet in the small Square every Friday morning from 9-1pm from mid-January to Christmas every year, we would be delighted to welcome new stall holders to the market.

WALK/RUN TO HONOUR DEE: A walk/run to honour the memory of Dee Harnett will be held on St. Stephen’s Day. Gathering at the Railway Yard at 11am. Refreshments in the Railway Bar afterwards. All proceeds to MidWest Cancer Foundation.

MICHEAL ENGLISH COMES TO DUAGH: Every one of the 800 plus people who attended the concert in the church last week will tell you how wonderful it was so if you missed out be sure and mark March 27, 2020 in your diary.

WOOD TURNERS: The secretary of the Kerry Chapter of the Irish Woodturner Guild is Bob Cosgrave and he has issued an invitation to local woodturners to come to their monthly meeting in Tralee on the second Tuesday of each month between 7-10pm. Contact Bob Cosgrave 087 2833507 for further information.

DARTS TOURNAMENT: Sunday, December 29 in The Ploughman Bar from 5pm. Spots, Raffle for hamper. Proceeds to Fr. Tim Galvin.

GATE CLOSED: The church gates will be locked each evening at 8pm for the winter months

WRENBOYS NEEDED: Paddy Finucane has put out a call for Wrenboys for the annual trip around the Hill on St. Stephen’s Day.

NOONAN’S CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: Congratulations to Noonan’s who have been chosen as Energia’s most Christmassy Home.

AFTERNOON TEA DANCING: Fr. Casey’s, Sunday, January 12 from 3-6pm in aid of Fr. Martin Mc Cormack’s African Project. Music by Donie Walsh and Anthony. Admission €5. Raffle on the day.

COMMUNITY SUBSTANCE MISUSE TEAM: A free and confidential service for under 18’s and their families impacted by substance misuse is provided on the first Wednesday of the month in St. Ita’s Hall from 2.30pm – 5pm. Contact Kristeen Laing 086 4141854.

KERRY LONDON ASSOCIATION AGM: January 15, Sala Room, Crown Hotel, Cricklewood at 7pm.

NEW COURSES STARTING IN JANUARY 2020 IN THE OLD TECH: The following new classes are starting up in January 2020: Demonstration cookery, Cookery for Special Diets (Gluten free etc), Childcare QQI Level 5 & 6, Healthcare QQI Level 5, Arts and Crafts, Beginners Horticulture/Vegetable crop production(Gardening-Learn when and how to set seeds, care for plants etc), and Creative writing (Different forms of Creative Writing styles such as short stories, poetry, drama, short sketches and plays)

If you wish to register for any of the above free classes, please call Mary in the office: 06831198 or log onto www.learningandskills.ie.

YOGA CLASS: Wednesday from 7 – 8.30pm Abbeyfeale Rugby Club. Ring Mike on 087 2732591.

WEST LIMERICK SINGING CLUB: The club meet on the first Friday of each month in Philip Enrights, The Ramble Inn, Church Street from 9pm.

FIRST FRIDAY REFLECTIONS WITH FR. SHOJI: On the First Friday of each month, Fr Shoji will lead an hour of Praise and Worship in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel beginning at 9am.

TRADITIONAL MUSIC CLASSES ATHEA: Tutor Michael Broderick, Top of the Town Friday nights; Beginners 7.15 – 7.45pm, Advanced 7.45 – 8.15pm.

COMMUNITY ALERT: ABBEYFEALE COMMUNITY ALERT: A man who claimed to be a Garda called to an elderly couple last week in Co. Kerry and asked them to give him the money they had in the house for safekeeping. He stole €2,600. No Garda will ever call to your door and ask to see what money you may have in the house. Press your panic button if that happens or if anyone calls to your house who makes you feel uncomfortable. Panic is panic so anytime you feel it – press that button, that’s why you are wearing the button on your wrist and paying a monitoring fee yearly. Do not walk on any road at any time of the day or night without wearing a Hi Viz jacket and preferably carrying a lamp. Be security conscious: Take photos of your valuables and security mark them with your postcode and house number. This can deter thieves and help the police to recover stolen items. Set a timer to switch your lights on and off at varying intervals when you’re out to make it look like someone is at home. Stay well this winter, get the flu jab, invest in a good warm cap and wear it to keep the heat from escaping out through the top of your head, wear layers: Several thin layers of clothing will keep you warmer than one thick layer, as the layers trap warm air between them. Try and stay active as this gets the blood coursing and keeps your feet and hands warm. Once you reach the age of 65 and live alone or with a person/s aged over 65 you are entitled to receive a monitored alarm system. But if you have younger people living in the house who are out for long periods of the day then, because you are spending hours alone you are also entitled to the system provided that you are over 65. The free equipment is provided by Pobal following an application from Abbeyfeale Community Alert, there will be a monitoring fee to be paid from the second year of installation to the installing company of €72. Please note that this fee has increased by €6 and is payable in a lump sum each year after year one. Should you not have a landline the installing company Task provide a sim card at a rate of €7.50 per month payable from day one. Then, in year two you will also receive a bill for the monitoring fee so in year one the bill will be €90 and in year two and every other year after it will €162 approx. Committee members are Sean Broderick, Michael O’Kelly N.T., Seamus Stack, Mossie Gleeson, Kathleen Collins, Mary McArthur, Buddy and Brenda Barry, John O’Sullivan, Billy Quirke N.T., Cllr. Francis Foley, Mary Jo O’Connell, James Joy, Denis Collins, Marian Harnett.

HARNETT MAGAZINE: Some Harnett Reunion magazines are still available at Ann Lyons Shop and from James Harnett, also the final items of Harnett merchandise are available at Heavenly Gifts.

ABBEYFEALE PARENT & TODDLER GROUP: 11am – 12.30pm every Tuesday and Thursday, St Ita’s Hall. New people always welcome. Suitable for parents/care givers and children aged birth to 4 years including children attending pre-school. This group is an opportunity to meet other parents and play time with your baby/toddler. This is a free service and priority is given to those in receipt of social welfare payment or living in social housing. Contact Mary on 087 9382883.

WEST LIMERICK TOASTMASTERS: Develop your speaking skills and your self confidence at West Limerick Toastmasters. First and third Wednesday of the month September – June in the Desmond Complex from 8 – 10pm. New members welcome. Contact Charles 087 7972855.

SCHOOL OF MUSIC AND DRAMA: Sephira School of Music and Drama has opened on Main St . All ages are welcome. Contact Ruth Joyce on 085 2052384 /info or look them up on Facebook.

ABBEYFEALE BOOK CLUB: St. Ita’s Hall, the second Wednesday of each month September – June from 7.30 -9pm. All welcome. Refreshments served.

THE IRISH CANCER SOCIETY is looking for volunteers to drive patients to and from their chemotherapy treatments in all public hospitals nationwide. Volunteers will need their own car but all expenses are paid. If you have 2 free days a month (Monday – Friday) and an active email address we would love to hear from you. Please call Laura on 01 2310 594, email transport or go to www.cancer.ie for more information.

HELPLINE FOR MEN SUFFERING DOMESTIC ABUSE: A new helpline has been set up and will operate 36 hours a week on 1800816588.

GROW COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH MOVEMENT IN IRELAND. Meet on Wednesday’s at 8pm in the Seanchaí Centre, Listowel. This programme is open to all and is free of charge. No introductions needed. Just come along. For more information, contact Jerry, 086 0271990.

MASS TIMES IN THE PASTORAL AREA UNIT: Abbeyfeale – Saturday 6.30pm and Sunday 9.15am & 12noon. Athea – Saturday 7.30pm and Sunday 10.30am. Mountcollins – Sunday 11am. Templeglantine – Saturday 6pm and Sunday 10.00 am. Tournafulla – Saturday 7.30pm.

ABBEYFEALE PARISH CHURCH: Fr Tony Mullins PP 087/2600414. Fr Brendan Duggan 087/0562674. Fr Denis Mullane 087/2621911. Fr Shoji Vargihese 089/4431922 Parish Church 068/51915. Parish Office; Open 11:00 – 1:00 p.m. Tues. – Fri. (068) 31133 Email: fealechurch Limerick Social Services: 061-314111. AA 061/311222 Al-Anon 086/8143425. Parent Support worker 068/31019. Accord NCW 069/61000. Samaritans Freephone 116123 or text 087/2609090 or email jo Aware (Depression & Anxiety) 1980 303 302 National Suicide Helpline (Pieta House) 1800 247 247 Irish Advocacy Network (Peer advocacy in mental health) 01 872 8684 Pieta House (Suicide & self-harm) 01 623 5606 IACP (Counselling & Psychotherapy) 01 230 3536 Shine: (Supporting people effected by mental ill health) 01 860 1620 061 – 412111 or Free phone 1850609090 A.A. 061-311222 A l-Anon 086-8143425 Bereavement Support: 068 / 31203 068/ 31262 068/51984 St Vincent De Paul Tel 087/1213560 . Counselling Appointment 061/314213. Masses: No morning Mass Monday, evening Mass at 7pm. Daily Mass 10am Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday except in the event of a funeral when Mass will be at 11am. Saturday Morning Mass at 11am. Morning Mass this Christmas week at 11am Mass Intentions: Friday 11am Denis Collins, Convent St. Saturday 6.30pm Dan Meehan, Kilmorna. Sunday 9.15 John and Hannah Mai Lane and daughter Catherine Rawcliffe. 12 noon Mrs. Nora Healy, Upper Knocknasna.

Adoration will resume on Tuesday, January 7.

ST PADRE PIO PRAYER GROUP Listowel, The first Friday of every month. The ceremony begins with the Rosary at 6.45pm,

RAMBLING HOUSES: Monagae 2nd. Monday of the month. Knockalougha, Duagh on the third Tuesday of every month.