All of the talk is about Brexit and the border at the moment and things are looking serious.
Back in the day, Paddy Butler owned a small farm just south of the border and he did a bit of smuggling in his spare time.
Every Friday evening Paddy would cycle across the border with a small box of sand on the carrier of his bike. He would pause at the tiny custom post where customs officer, Harry McGee, would emerge to carry out an inspection for contraband goods. Harry would pay particular attention to the box of sand, sifting through it and letting it run through his fingers.
He knew that Paddy was smuggling something but could never figure out quite what it was, and Paddy wasn’t prepared to make him any the wiser.
This went on for several years, with Paddy and Harry becoming good friends. Paddy would bring Harry a copy of the Irish Press and Harry would reciprocate with the Belfast Telegraph.
Both men would sit down at the border and smoke their pipes while discussing the affairs of the day. Then Paddy would mount his bicycle and continue on in to the six counties with his box of sand while Harry closed down his customs post and headed for home.
Harry finally reached retirement age and Paddy visited the customs post one last time. The two men shook hands and wished each other well.
“Before you go,” said Harry “can you tell me what you were smuggling all these years because it has been driving me mad?”
Paddy looked around to make sure that nobody was listening and then leaned in towards Harry.
“Bicycles.” he whispered, before turning and cycling away.
THE DEATH OF MIRIAM JOY:
The following tribute has appeared in the local Abbeyfeale Notes
“No words of mine would suffice to say how much Abbeyfeale was rocked this week by the death of the late Miriam Joy Fitzgerald who grew up on Grove Road and who was a very popular teacher in Dromtrasna N.S. She also taught in the Boys N.S. and in Knocknasna after graduating.
Over the days of her removal and funeral thousands of people paid their respects to her husband Pat, her sons, her parents, brothers and sister and to her in-laws.
The purity of the voice of one of Miriam’s pupils singing ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’ at her funeral Mass, the poem by Emily Dickenson 'Hope is the thing with feathers’ which was read after Communion: Hope is the thing with feathers. That perches in the soul, and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all, and sweetest in the gale is heard; And sore must be the storm. That could abash the little bird. That kept so many warm. Her husband’s eulogy and her son straining on tippy toes to hold on to his mother’s coffin as she was carried to the waiting hearse brought the church to tears.
May she rest in peace.”
CONGRATULATIONS:
Our own Patsy Sweeney, Killarney Road has just been elected to a
second consecutive term as President of Castleisland Golf Club.
DREAMS:
The Limerick GAA DVD is for sale in Ann Lyons’s, The Square.
YOUTH
CHOIR PRACTICE: The choir will rehearse on Thursday from
4.15-4.45 in the church and we look forward to their performance on
Christmas Day at Mass.
CANTATA:
Scoil Mhathair Dé students will perform their annual Christmas
Cantata on Thursday, December 13 at 7pm in the Church of the
Assumption.
THE
JOY OF CHRISTMAS: The church was packed on Sunday evening for
the annual Carol Service under the direction of Senior Choir Director
Dee Dennison. Dromtrasna, Meenkilly and the Boys N.S joined the
church choir, Riona and Helen and the Lost Souls in performing carols
and hymns for the Christmas season. Well done to all involved.
RAMBLING
HOUSE: A Christmas rambling house will be held at Fr Casey’s
club house Abbeyfeale on Thursday, December 20 in aid of the
Chemotherapy Day Ward at Kerry General Hospital. Your
support would be greatly appreciated and all singers, dancers,
storytellers and musicians all welcome to attend. Doors open at
8.30 and show begins at 9pm. Spot prizes and Santa will also
make a visit on the night.
ICA:
Mainistir na Feile are holding their annual Christmas Parts in Leens
Hotel this Friday night. It is the culmination of a very
successful series of meetings and activities since the Guild
re-convened last September to an increased membership. Joe Weir
was on hand with lots of exercises at their venue in the Adult
Education Centre and some availed of his classes in Feale Fit Gym in
Mountmahon. Carol O’Keeffe, Federation Officer brought a
breath of fresh air with her Aerobic classes and later flower
arrangement and Christmas decoration lessons. The Guild
re-opens in February 2019 in the same venue. Meanwhile we wish
all our readers a Holy, happy and peacefilled Christmas and New Year.
RANDOM
ACTS OF KINDNESS: Abbeyfeale parish invite parishioners to make
a commitment to doing some act of kindness in the lead up to
Christmas. We have erected in the sanctuary of the church our Parish
Random Act of Kindness Tree. We ask you to write your intended act of
kindness on the cards provided and hang it on the tree. In this way
we will all draw encouragement from one another, and hopefully be
inspired to carry out some act of kindness between now and Christmas.
Let us do our bit to make everyone a little happier.
GLÓRACH:
The approach of Christmas is often accompanied by the usual dread of
trying to think up of an original present for your loved ones.
Here at the Glórach Theatre, we are marking the event by offering
Gift Vouchers that will entitle the holder to entry to any
concert/play/film/other event of their choice in the New Year.
With many events ahead of us in January and February, they will have
immediate options, and best of all, theY are visually, a beautiful
voucher. To purchase a Glórach Christmas Voucher, please call
0871383940.
Bingo
continues on Monday nights at 8.30 pm, with a break for Christmas
Eve, thanks to all our loyal patrons, travel safely and we hope you
continue to enjoy the night.
Tickets
are almost sold out for our Seán Keane concert that takes place on
Saturday, December 15th at 8 pm. To book or check availability
for the legendary Galwegian singer, please call 0871383940.
ABBEYFEALE
FOR AFRICA: The annual cake sale in aid of Fr. Tim Galvin’s
Mission in South Sudan was a huge success last Sunday and we would
like to thank all our loyal bakers for supplying the stock and all of
you who called in and purchased. We raised in excess of €1,500
and you can be assured that Fr. Tim will put this to good use.
SHOP
LOCAL: Vouchers are available this year in Abbeyfeale town to
give as Christmas gifts and help encourage the shop local campaign.
The
Abbeyfeale Gift Voucher can be purchased at Abbeyfeale Credit Union
in denominations of €10, €20 and €50. Abbeyfeale
Community Council kindly asks that everyone throughout the Abbeyfeale
area keep our wonderful Community in mind when thinking of shopping,
doing business and/or socialising. It’s a hugely important time of
year for business survival and job retention throughout the
Abbeyfeale area and every euro spent locally is a vote of support to
keep our Community alive. The
writer is aware of a local small shopkeeper who is unable to sell
popular boxes of biscuits this year because the price they can be
bought at in the Cash and Carry is much more than they are being sold
at in the multiples. Never forget that if you need a few
messages on tick there is no point in approaching a multiple so give
everyone a turn and keep our town viable and vibrant.
BOOK
ON SALE: The Treaty Triumph celebrating Limerick’s All
Ireland Hurling win is on sale at Ann Lyons’ in the Square.
.
CHRISTMAS
PARTY: West Limerick Set Dancing Club are holding a Christmas
Party in Fr. Casey’s on Saturday, December 15 with music by Donie
Nolan and Maura. Hot Food. Admission €20.
CHRISTMAS
WALK: The annual Christmas Walk along the Great Southern
Trail Greenway will take place on Thursday, December 27. Assembly is
at the large carpark behind Leen's Hotel, Abbeyfeale,
Co.Limerick between 12.30pm and 1.30pm. The hotel is on the
N21 and the public bus services stop a few hundred metres from the
hotel. The Bus Éireann services from Tralee via Listowel at
11.00 and from Limerick at 11.35 are recommended. Walkers will
be transferred by Coach House Travel courtesy shuttle coach from
Leen's Hotel car park to Tullig Wood/Devon Road from where they
will have a choice of either a 5.75 miles [9km] or 4.5 miles [7km]
stroll, mostly along the old railway, back to Leen's Hotel where they
can enjoy seasonal mince pies, whipped cream and tea/coffee at their
leisure. All walkers must wear visibility vests as the final
kilometre is through the streets of Abbeyfeale and involves crossing
the busy N21 which must be crossed at the zebra crossing close to the
hotel. Cyclists, with visibility gear and lights, are also
welcome and we suggest that they also meet at the hotel at 12.30
and cycle outwards along the Greenway for approximately one
hour towards Barnagh or beyond and then return in time to enjoy the
refreshments. We recommend that cyclists also wear a helmet for
their own safety. Nollaig Shona do gach éinne agus beidh fáilte
romhat ar an 27ú.
|
12:18 AM (11 hours ago) |
|
PROLOGUE" Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo Da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein."
H. Jackson Brown Jr.
DEATHS;
We offer sincere sympathy to the families of the late Miriam Joy
Fitzgerald The Grove and Castleisland and Kitty O’Callaghan,
Ballaugh. May they rest in peace.
MASS
TIMES: Mass Times in the Pastoral Area Unit; Abbeyfeale -
Saturday 6e.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. Parish
Church 068/51915. Parish Office; Open 11:00 – 1:00 p.m. Tues. -
Fri. (068) 31133 Email: fealechurch@eircom.net
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@samaritan.ie
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
Al-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. Saturday Masses
11am and 6.30pm. Sunday 9.15am and 12 noon. Mass
Intentions: Wednesday 10am Garry and Elizabeth Davy.
Thursday 10am Fintan Morris Longford. Friday 10am NO MORNING MASS.
7pm Memorial Mass Denis O’Donnell Cahir and Dublin.
Saturday 11am Madeline and Dan Murphy Leens Hotel. Tom
O’Brien, Collins Park. 6.30pm Peggy Woulfe, Ballaugh.
Joan Aherne, Nora Keane, Moss Keane and Denis Keane. Jim Power
O’Connell St. Ita’s Road. Joe Cotter Purt. John
Hayes Fealesbridge/Ardagh. Sunday 9.15am Phyl O’Kelly,
Killarney Rd. Sheila and Timothy Murphy. Patrick and
Mai McEnery, Kilconlea. Bridie and Kathleen Dillian,
England. 12 noon Eileen and Paddy Cahill and deceased O’Neill
family members, New Street. William T Flynn and deceased
relatives.
Advent
Prayer “ Hail and Blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son
of God was born of the pureVirgin Mary, at mid-night in a stable in
Bethlehem in the piercing cold. At the same hour vouch
safe O My God, hear my prayer and grant my petition.
THE
DEATH OF MIRIAM JOY: No words of mine would suffice to say how much
Abbeyfeale was rocked this week by the death of the late Miriam Joy
Fitzgerald who grew up on Grove Road and who was a very popular
teacher in Dromtrasna N.S. She also taught in the Boys N.S.
and in Knocknasna after graduating. Over the days of
her removal and funeral thousands of people paid their respects to
her husband Pat, her sons, her parents, brothers and sister and to
her in laws. The purity of the voice of one of |Miriam’s
pupils singing ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’ at her funeral
Mass, the
poem by Emily Dickenson 'Hope is the thing with feathers’
which was read after Communion: Hope
is the thing with feathers. That perches in the soul, and sings the
tune without the words, and never stops at all, and sweetest in the
gale is heard; And sore must be the storm. That could abash the
little bird. That kept so many
warm.
Her husband’s eulogy and
her son straining on tippy toes to hold on to his mother’s coffin
as she was carried to the waiting hearse brought the church to
tears. May she rest in peace.
CONGRATULATIONS:
Our own Patsy Sweeney, Killarney Road has just been elected to a
second consecutive term as President of Castleisland Golf Club.
DREAMS:
The Limerick GAA DVD is for sale in Ann Lyons’s, The Square.
YOUTH
CHOIR PRACTICE: The choir will rehearse on Thursday from
4.15-4.45 in the church and we look forward to their performance on
Christmas Day at Mass.
CANTATA:
Scoil Mhathair Dé students will perform their annual Christmas
Cantata on Thursday, December 13 at 7pm in the Church of the
Assumption.
THE
JOY OF CHRISTMAS: The church was packed on Sunday evening for
the annual Carol Service under the direction of Senior Choir
Director Dee Dennison. Dromtrasna, Meenkilly and the Boys N.S
joined the church choir, Riona and Helen and the Lost Souls in
performing carols and hymns for the Christmas season. Well
done to all involved.
RAMBLING
HOUSE: A Christmas rambling house will be held at Fr Casey’s
club house Abbeyfeale on Thursday, December 20 in aid of the
Chemotherapy Day Ward at Kerry General Hospital. Your
support would be greatly appreciated and all singers, dancers,
storytellers and musicians all welcome to attend. Doors open
at 8.30 and show begins at 9pm. Spot prizes and Santa will
also make a visit on the night.
ICA:
Mainistir na Feile are holding their annual Christmas Parts in
Leens Hotel this Friday night. It is the culmination of a
very successful series of meetings and activities since the Guild
re-convened last September to an increased membership. Joe
Weir was on hand with lots of exercises at their venue in the Adult
Education Centre and some availed of his classes in Feale Fit Gym
in Mountmahon. Carol O’Keeffe, Federation Officer brought a
breath of fresh air with her Aerobic classes and later flower
arrangement and Christmas decoration lessons. The Guild
re-opens in February 2019 in the same venue. Meanwhile we
wish all our readers a Holy, happy and peacefilled Christmas and
New Year.
CHARITY
CÉILÍ: A céilí will take place in Moyvane Hall on
Thursday, December 27 from 3 – 6pm with music by Donie Nolan.
It is a fundraiser for the Stack Family, Moyvane. Further
information from Marie 087 9542102.
SUNDAY
MASS IN DUAGH:Fr. Jack O’Donnell is offering an extra Mass at the
weekend in Duagh Church each Sundayat 11.30 a.m. between now and
Easter.It was a great success last Sunday and we thank those who
are availing and supporting it. We appeal again for volunteers who
will do the readings, Eucharistic ministers and counters etc. to
help with the Mass.
RANDOM
ACTS OF KINDNESS: Abbeyfeale parish invite parishioners to
make a commitment to doing some act of kindness in the lead up to
Christmas. We have erected in the sanctuary of the church our
Parish Random Act of Kindness Tree. We ask you to write your
intended act of kindness on the cards provided and hang it on the
tree. In this way we will all draw encouragement from one another,
and hopefully be inspired to carry out some act of kindness between
now and Christmas. Let us do our bit to make everyone a little
happier.
GLÓRACH:
The approach of Christmas is often accompanied by the usual dread
of trying to think up of an original present for your loved ones.
Here at the Glórach Theatre, we are marking the event by offering
Gift Vouchers that will entitle the holder to entry to any
concert/play/film/other event of their choice in the New Year.
With many events ahead of us in January and February, they will
have immediate options, and best of all, theY are visually, a
beautiful voucher. To purchase a Glórach Christmas Voucher,
please call 0871383940.
Bingo
continues on Monday nights at 8.30 pm, with a break for Christmas
Eve, thanks to all our loyal patrons, travel safely and we hope you
continue to enjoy the night.
Tickets
are almost sold out for our Seán Keane concert that takes place on
Saturday, December 15th at 8 pm. To book or check
availability for the legendary Galwegian singer, please call
0871383940.
ABBEYFEALE
FOR AFRICA: The annual cake sale in aid of Fr. Tim Galvin’s
Mission in South Sudan was a huge success last Sunday and we would
like to thank all our loyal bakers for supplying the stock and all
of you who called in and purchased. We raised in excess of
€1,500 and you can be assured that Fr. Tim will put this to good
use.
SHOP
LOCAL: Vouchers are available this year in Abbeyfeale town to
give as Christmas gifts and help encourage the shop local campaign.
The
Abbeyfeale Gift Voucher can be purchased at Abbeyfeale Credit Union
in denominations of €10, €20 and €50. Abbeyfeale
Community Council kindly asks that everyone throughout the
Abbeyfeale area keep our wonderful Community in mind when thinking
of shopping, doing business and/or socialising. It’s a hugely
important time of year for business survival and job retention
throughout the Abbeyfeale area and every euro spent locally is a
vote of support to keep our Community alive. The
writer is aware of a local small shopkeeper who is unable to sell
popular boxes of biscuits this year because the price they can be
bought at in the Cash and Carry is much more than they are being
sold at in the multiples. Never forget that if you need a few
messages on tick there is no point in approaching a multiple so
give everyone a turn and keep our town viable and vibrant.
BOOK
ON SALE: The Treaty Triumph celebrating Limerick’s All
Ireland Hurling win is on sale at Ann Lyons’ in the Square.
.
CHRISTMAS
PARTY: West Limerick Set Dancing Club are holding a Christmas
Party in Fr. Casey’s on Saturday, December 15 with music by Donie
Nolan and Maura. Hot Food. Admission €20.
CHRISTMAS
WALK: The annual Christmas Walk along the Great Southern
Trail Greenway will take place on Thursday, December 27. Assembly
is at the large carpark behind Leen's Hotel, Abbeyfeale,
Co.Limerick between 12.30pm and 1.30pm. The hotel is on
the N21 and the public bus services stop a few hundred metres from
the hotel. The Bus Éireann services from Tralee via Listowel
at 11.00 and from Limerick at 11.35 are recommended. Walkers
will be transferred by Coach House Travel courtesy shuttle coach
from Leen's Hotel car park to Tullig Wood/Devon Road from
where they will have a choice of either a 5.75 miles [9km] or 4.5
miles [7km] stroll, mostly along the old railway, back to Leen's
Hotel where they can enjoy seasonal mince pies, whipped cream and
tea/coffee at their leisure. All walkers must wear visibility vests
as the final kilometre is through the streets of Abbeyfeale and
involves crossing the busy N21 which must be crossed at the zebra
crossing close to the hotel. Cyclists, with visibility gear and
lights, are also welcome and we suggest that they also
meet at the hotel at 12.30 and cycle outwards along the
Greenway for approximately one hour towards Barnagh or beyond
and then return in time to enjoy the refreshments. We
recommend that cyclists also wear a helmet for their own
safety. Nollaig Shona do gach éinne agus beidh fáilte romhat ar
an 27ú.
KERRY
PARENTS & FRIENDS Presents a Gala Christmas concert in
association with Kerry Choral Union on Sunday, December 16 in St.
Mary’s Church, Listowel at 7.30pm. Tickets from parish office &
Whelan’s Shop €10.
HARNETT
INTERNATIONAL REUNION 2019: Calling all Harnetts based West
Limerick, North Cork and North Kerry. We are well into
planning for our big weekend next July and we’d love you to get
involved and be there to meet up with people from all over the
world who share your DNA. We have a dedicated email address
which you can use to get in touch; HarnettReunion2019 @gmail.com
You can follow developments on our FB page too.
