DEATHS: Sincere sympathy to the families of the late Geraldine Tobin, Knockbrack, Ian Cahill, Galway & London who died in London recently, Denis Fitzgerald, Glensharrold, Athea and Mrs Kathleen Kelly Donegal and Knocknasna.

ABBEYFEALEGOOD: It was bittersweet to see the late Canon Neville who was interviewed while he was in Flurry’s for a haircut on the recent programme – he died two days later. The diocese contacted the film makers and they have agreed to make the full interview available to the diocesan website. We have also shared it onto the various Abbeyfeale FB pages.

TROCAIRE: Now that Lent is over, you can forward your contribution to www.trocaire.org, or to Trocaire, St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, or keep the box and contribution until the current restrictions cease and return to the parish office.

AGE ACTION & RED CROSS COVID 19 HARDSHIP FUND: Age action has launched a Covid 19 Hardship Fund in conjunction with the Red Cross to respond to the immediate needs of older people in vulnerable situations across Ireland experiencing additional hardships at this time. A once off grant payment to the max of €500 is available to anyone experiencing hardship as a result of Covid 19.

Who Can Apply: Older people in need of assistance, family members supporting an older person and carers of older people, social workers and local voluntary organisations or community groups providing direct assistance to individuals within this target group.

How To Apply: The COVID-19 Hardship Fund Application Form is available hardship2020 Phone: Irish Red Cross at 01 6424600 or Age Action at 01 475 6989.

FUNDRAISING: Electric Ireland & Pieta launch urgent Darkness Into Light ‘Sunrise’ appeal for funds. As the walks cannot now take place as planned on May 9th, a Darkness Into Light ‘Sunrise’ appeal is taking place on that day. This special appeal encourages people to donate what they can to this vital charity and to come together while remaining apart by getting up at 5:30am to watch the sunrise and to show community and solidarity with those impacted by suicide. Pieta are also asking people to spread the message and offer hope by sharing their sunrise moment using the #DIL2020.

MESSAGE FOR THOSE WHO ARE COCOONING; If you are living alone and need assistance or advice phone one of Abbeyfeale Community Council Helpline Numbers any day 9-5pm on 068 31169, 068 32080 or 087 7571144. The Gardai are also available on 06830010 and they too will pick up medicines, messages etc.

ABBEYFEALE COMMUNITY ALERT: Wash your hands with soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds every time you leave the house, re-enter the house, do the shopping, unpack the shopping and any time you think you should. There is a really dirty cruel horrible scam on the go these days where the crooks send out a text stating that they are the HSE: “Someone who came in contact with you tested positive or has shown symptoms for COVID -19 and recommends you self – isolate/get tested. More at COVID – 19 anon.com/alert. IGNORE Do not click on the link, they can steal your credit card and personal details in seconds. This is not how you will be contacted if you have been in contact with someone. Another one is where they ring you up( mar ya) from the HSE to send you a supply of face masks, sanitizers etc to keep you safe(!) and then they look for your bank card details. DROP THE PHONE. Avoid ‘opportunities’ to work from home with no interview, no previous experience and a heart stopping remuneration package. They’ll be looking for a fee in order to begin work/training. Remember that all the shops have designated times in the early morning for shopping for the elderly or if you are cocooning and need shopping or messages, contact the local committee who have been set up by Abbeyfeale Community Council on 068 31169/068 32080/ 087 7571144 any day between 9-5pm. The Gardai are also available to help vulnerable people and will call to people, collect shopping or medicines so if you want help ring them. Do also ring Abbeyfeale Gardai on 068 30010 (Three hundred ten) if you have concerns over callers/ travelling salesmen, if the phone is unattended the call will be answered in NCW and the local squad car will be notified. Don’t entertain callers offering to do jobs around the house. When 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. If you fulfil the criteria for a panic button the installing company will drop the gear to your door and then let you set up the connection yourself with assistance over the phone from their staff. I have been assured that it’s only a matter of connecting a cable and anyone can do it. I have not included the phone numbers of the committee in this notice but if you want to get a panic button then ring Abbeyfeale Garda Station on 068 30010 and they will contact one of us. 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 Michael O’Kelly N.T., Seamus Stack, Mossie Gleeson, Kathleen Collins, Mary McArthur, John O’Sullivan, Billy Quirke N.T., Cllr. Francis Foley, Catherine Daly, Marian Harnett.

ESSAY: World Vision Ireland extends essay deadline for children at home during COVID-19 shutdown. World Vision Ireland has extended the deadline for their Climate Change Essay Competition so that children can write essays in their homes, while schools are closed during the COVID-19 shutdown. The charity is calling on children across the country to put pen to paper and enter their Climate Change Essay Competition, which will be judged by Ryan Tubridy. The winner will get the chance to meet Ryan Tubridy in the RTE studios (when schools and businesses reopen) and will also win a €500 Smyths voucher. World Vision Ireland’s Climate Change essay competition 2020 is opened until the 30th April for children between the ages of 8 and 18. The entries will be narrowed down to the final 10, and celebrity judge Ryan Tubridy will choose the winning essay.

HELPLINES: Men suffering domestic abuse operates 36 hours a week on 1800816588. Men’s Aid (Amen) 01 5543811 Monday – Friday 9-5pm. 24 hour helplines for women suffering domestic abuse 1800 341900 or Adapt 1800 200504. 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 affected by mental ill health) 01 860 1620 061 – 412111 or Free phone 1850609090 A.A. 061-311222. Al-Anon 086-8143425 Bereavement Support: 068 / 31203 068/ 31262 068/51984 St Vincent De Paul Tel 087/1213560 . Counselling Appointment 061/314213. ALONE; has launched a national support line and additional supports for older people who have concerns or are facing difficulties relating to the outbreak of COVID-19 (Coronavirus). Professional staff are available to answer queries and give advice and reassurance where necessary. The support line is open Monday to Friday, 8am-8pm, by calling 0818 222 024. Hours may be extended to meet the demand.

CHURCH SERVICES: Mass is being celebrated every day in the Church of the Assumption and broadcast on churchservices.tv and Monday to Friday, the Stations of the Cross are also being broadcast at 3pm. RTÉ will air Mass every weekday at 10.30am from St. Eunan’s and St. Columba’s Cathedral, on RTÉ News Now. West Limerick 102fm will broadcast Mass on Sunday morning from Abbeyfeale at 10am. Radio Kerry will also broadcast Mass on Sunday mornings at 10am.. On Sunday mornings RTE 1 broadcast either Mass or Christian worship prayer at 11am . If you have Sky or one of the other TV packages, check out EWTN Catholic religious station for broadcast Masses and prayers. On the RTE Saorview channels, if you keep moving up through the tv channels you get to the radio channels coming through the TV, and on them there is Saroview channel 210 that broadcasts Radio Maria Ireland – a lovely station of Mass, Rosary, prayers and conversations on religious topics.

Virus-free. www.avast.com

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