DEATH: We offer our sympathy to the family of Con O’Sullivan. St Itas Housing whose funeral took place during the week. May he rest in peace.
SANTA COMES TO ABBEYFEALE: He will be chatting to children and reading out their letters at 5.45pm on Friday, November 27 on the Abbeyfeale Christmas Lights FB page and at 6.30pm he’ll turn on the Christmas lights. An event not to be missed.
ANNUAL MASS FOR BEREAVED FAMILIES: Mass for parishioners who were bereaved in the past twelve months will be celebrated next Friday evening 27th of November at 7.00p.m. Unfortunately, due to the current restrictions on attendance at church, it is not possible to have family members attend in Church. However, the Mass will be livestreamed on our Church Services TV webcam at www.abbeyfealeparish.ie During the Mass the names of all who have died since the 1stof November last year will be read out and a candle will be lit for each one of them. Please pass this information to relatives who live outside of the parish.
SHOP LOCAL: We are grateful to all the local shops and businesses who help distribute the Parish Newsletter each weekend. It helps parishioners keep in touch with the parish. At this challenging time of restrictions for all shops and businesses we encourage parishioners to support where possible local shops and businesses, especially in the lead up to Christmas.
VISIT PARISH CHURCH: The Blessed Sacrament chapel is open each weekday from 11.00am to 6.00pm and on Sunday’s from 1.00pm – 6pm.
RED WEDNESDAY 2020: Red Wednesday is an initiative of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), a Catholic charity dedicated to the support of suffering and persecuted Christians. In Ireland, Red Wednesday will take place on November 25. Red Wednesday is a day to draw attention to the plight of those who are persecuted and oppressed for their religious beliefs. Cathedrals, churches and public buildings around the world will light up in red to show solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Christ. The Parish Church in Abbeyfeale will be lit up in red from Tuesday, November 24 -Tuesday, December 1. It is clear that the persecution of Christians is worse today than at any time in history. In terms of the number of people involved, the gravity of the acts committed, and their impact, not only are Christians more persecuted than any other faith group, but ever-increasing numbers are experiencing the worst forms of persecution. Red Wednesday provides us with an opportunity to pray for all who suffer because of their Christian faith. Along with lighting up our church in red, parishioners will have an opportunity to pray for suffering Christians during two hours of Adoration. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will take place on Wednesday from 11am – 1p.m. Entrance to the Church will be through the Blessed Sacrament Chapel door. Why not call into the church and spend a few minutes in prayer. On the evening of Wednesday 25th,you may like to link into a Liturgy of Witness with Archbishop Eamon Martin from St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh at 7:30pm. This is a beautiful opportunity for the faithful to gather as a community of witnesses and pray not only for persecuted Christians –but also for the persecutors of Christians.
COMPLETE THE LYRICS: Mary Murphy has been thinking about the past year and has put together a few lines. She’s hoping that people will don their thinking caps and continue the lyrics to make a song that will be our anthem for 2020: ‘’Ring a Ring a Rosy, As the year declines, We’ll remember 2020 and the Quare Old times.’’ We’ll have a Christmas Cake from the Abbeyfeale Farmers’ Market for the best effort.
NOONANS CHRISTMAS LIGHTS; The family have organised an online fundraiser and you can donate at this link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/noonans-lights-for-charity
WEST LIMERICK COMMUNITY RADIO PLAYING THEIR PART: WL102fm has provided a great service throughout West Limerick since the lockdown began with Mass broadcast every Sunday morning at 10am to all the people who are cocooning . Advertising and fundraising pay their expenses and like everyone else they need money to survive. Please buy a ticket for their weekly draw and help them stay on air – it’s as simple as that – you’ll never miss the water ‘til the well runs dry. Tickets on sale at Ann Lyons’s, The Square for €2 each and Moss the Farmers’.
CHARITY WALK: On Tuesday, December 1, Joe Dowling of Carrigkerry, will start his charity walk in the Demesne in Newcastle West, and aims to complete the walk by mid-December. Joe is asking anyone that can afford a donation, to contact Councillor Francis Foley in Tadgh O’Connor’s in Newcastle West, Dooley’s Pharmacy in The Square, Newcastle West, Pat Geaney, Knockaderry or Moloney’s Shop in Carrigkerry where you can put your name on a Sponsorship card. 100% of the funding will go to the NCBI . Joe is a brother of Michael J Dowling CEO of Northwell Health New York, who was recently announced as a winner of a Presidential Distinguished Service Award which will be presented in December
A MESSAGE FROM JAMES HARNETT; One of the most distressing aspects of the pandemic lockdown was the curtailment of the traditional Irish funeral. Baptisms, confirmations and weddings can all be postponed, but funerals must take place at the time of death. At the very time in their lives that the bereaved most require the support of friends and neighbours, Covid 19 has greatly restricted that community involvement. New ways have been found to offer sympathy and support to those in mourning, online books of condolence, live streaming of Requiem Mass, guards of honour at church and cemetery. At present funeral homes are not open to the public, so, in memory of deceased friends and neighbours in this month of November, Harnett’s Funeral Home has displayed on its window a selection of memoriam cards collected by the late Moss Harnett from the 1950s to the 1990’s.
DEBUT NOVEL LAUNCH: At a recent launch ceremony in Newcastle West the Mayor of Limerick, Cllr Michael Collins welcomed the publication by The Limerick Writers’ Centre of the debut novel of local writer Pat McLoughlin entitled The Canary in the Mine. The novel charts the ups and downs of a diverse collection of Irish emigrants who come together in 1950s London. In their daily struggles, the full spectrum of conditions, emotions and feelings are experienced: love, companionship, loyalty, separation, abuse, honesty, deceit, despair, but above all, hope – they all have a story to tell. The proceeds from Pat’s novel will go to Friends of St Ita’s. It is available at the following: Ann Lyons’s shop, Abbeyfeale; or www.limerickwriterscentre.com.
BE WINTER READY: Be Prepared: Have a small supply of non perishable, easy-to-prepare foods. Keep extra supplies of essential medication in case it is difficult to get to the doctor/pharmacy. Have an adequate supply of fuel for heating/cooking and if possible a suitable alternative should the main supply fail. Have batteries for torches and alternative light sources in the event of power cuts. Have a water container to ensure a supply of drinking water. Know how to turn off your water supply. Keep mobile phones charged up -have local emergency numbers in your phone. Have a suitable snow shovel (but any shovel or spade will do). Know your EIRCODE. (HSE website).
LYREACROMPANE JOURNAL: The Lyreacrompane and District Journal is on the shelves once again – thirty years after it first appeared. This Lyre Journal is the largest yet – 108 pages packed with local history accounts and photos old and new. The articles deal with local history from the general area and also takes in stories and accounts from as far afield as Knocknagoshel, Moynsha, Islandanny, Duagh, Kilmorna, Listowel and Castleisland. Four local murder cases are revisited including the killing of Bob Browne in Knockalougha. February 2021 is the centenary of that tragic event. More details on Amelia Canty, the rebel woman from Lyreacrompane are revealed. The story of Duagh’s ‘bridge to nowhere’ is recounted. The journal has humour and tragedy from the past and some wonderful ideas for future development.As always, this Journal will be of particular interest to those away from home and its appearance in this year of the Pandemic has been specially timed to give people abroad, who may not be returning home this year, a chance to get it in time for Christmas. The Lyreacrompane and District Journal, Number 13, is available at Annes Shop in the Square and at Twohig’s SuperValu in Abbeyfeale. It is also at Watsons in Duagh and other outlets in Tralee, Listowel and Castleisland. The Journal, which costs €12 plus post and packaging, can also be ordered from – Lyreacrompane Journal, The Glen, Lyreacrompane, Listowel, Co. Kerry. For more information please call 087 285 3570.
CHURCH NEWS: Fr Tony Mullins 0872600414 Fr Dan Lane (Retired) 087/2533030 Fr Denis Mullane 087/26219. The church has closed and Masses are now back on line on www. Church Services tv. Masses at the usual times: 7pm Monday, 10am Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday except in the event of a funeral when Mass will be at 11am. Saturday Vigil Mass 6.30pm, Sunday 10am and 12 noon. The Blessed Sacrament Chapel is open every day from 11-6pm for private prayer. Mass Intentions: Thursday 10am Con O’Sullivan St. Ita’s Housing who died last week. Friday No 10am Mass, 7pm Bereavement Mass. Saturday 6.30pm Sonny McCarthy, Caherlane. Sunday 10am Anna Costello and the deceased stall holders of the Abbeyfeale Farmers’ Market. 12 noon Dick Danaher, Church St. and Shanbally. Monday 7pm Deceased members of the ARA(Active Retirement). Parishioners can link in online through the Church Services TV Network and the 10.00am Sunday morning Mass will continue to be broadcast on West Limerick 102FM. Priests will not be making any house calls in the parish during the current situation, except for a necessary pastoral visit. All contacts with the church should be through the telephone or by email. Fealechurch Tel Church 068/51915 during Mass times. The Tree of remembrance will be in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel for the month of the Holy Souls. You are invited at your own convenience to place the names of your deceased relatives on it. Tags will be available beside the tree. Parish Finance: I am very aware that it is a challenging and stressful time for everyone. During this time of economic uncertainty, the ongoing financial support of all who contribute to the parish is greatly appreciated. In recent weeks we have put a donate facility on the parish website and parishioners have begun to use this facility to make contributions to the parish. This is a simple method of contributing to the parish. Just click on to the parish website at http://www.abbeyfealeparish.ieand you will see a Donatebutton on the right hand side on the front page of the website. Just follow the instructions and you will be able to make your donation to the parish.
ACCORD PRE-MARRIAGE COURSES AND COUNSELLING SERVICES: Until at least May 2021 Accord pre-marriage courses will take place live on-line with up to 12 couples; via ZOOM, they will be interactive and delivered by 2 presenters. Accord has also resumed face to face counselling. Contact Accord by Phone or online to book.
ALONE: We provide resources and training to new and well established befriending and support services. Training options are available to both the staff of services and their volunteersFurther information : email hello or call ALONE on 01-679 1032.
ABBEYFEALE COMMUNITY ALERT: Just a reminder that if you have a panic button and you change your telecom provider you need to let us know as if you change to an Internet provider then there is a cable that we have to get for you. Also wear the button – hanging it off the bedpost or on the back of the armchair or putting it in the cupboard will be of no use if you fall or have an unwelcome caller. What if you hit it off the door and it goes off, that’s what you are paying a monitoring fee for – to have it answered immediately. An Garda Síochána are hoping that by raising awareness of some simple crime prevention measures, such as locking up and lighting up, less Irish families will have to endure the pain of being burgled this winter. If going out, Irish homeowners should endeavour to make sure their home looks occupied – to Lock Up and Light Up. Use timer switches to turn on lights, lock all doors and windows, store keys away from windows and letterboxes, and use your alarm. Taking these simple steps will lessen a home’s vulnerability, deter burglars and protect homes. ( Lock up, light up campaign). If you have a panic button, check to make sure it is working by pressing it and speaking to the monitoring service – that’s why they are there 24 hours a day and why you are paying a yearly monitoring service fee. Gardai are asking people to let them know when people call selling goods or offering services on 068 30010. 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. There may be some confusion over the word free – the equipment which costs in the region of €400 is provided free of charge by Pobal as is the first year of monitoring but after that you will be charged by the installing company for the monitoring. 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. If you wish you can arrange a direct debit and pay this amount off monthly. We recently received a query about the application of VAT to the monitoring charge, your bill shows VAT but it is included in the cost not extra to it. Committee members are Michael O’Kelly N.T., Chairman Seamus Stack, Secretary Mossie Gleeson, Assistant Treasurer Kathleen Collins, Assistant Secretary Mary McArthur, John O’Sullivan, Billy Quirke N.T., Cllr. Francis Foley, Catherine Daly, Maurice O’Connell, Assistant Treasurer Marian Harnett.
WEST LIMERICK RESOURCES: The Offices of West Limerick Resources remain closed to the public but all staff are available to contact. Please ring 069 62222 with any queries and you will be directed to the appropriate staff member.
HELPLINES: Hospice Bereavement Line 1800807077 Monday to Friday 10am – 1pm. Jigsaw support line is now up and running on freefone 1800 JIGSAW (544 729). It will provide free mental health support and advice to young people aged 12 to 25 years old, and parents or concerned adults who live in the Republic of Ireland.
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 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. ACCORD; are now offering over the phone counselling for couples, Individuals & family members during this time of unprecedented stress & pressure during these weeks of COVID-19. Call: 01 5313331. 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.
Abbeyfeale Gathering Festival 