Car Boot Sale And Indoor Market
The monthly car boot sale and indoor market in aid of local community radio station WL102fm will take place at the Community Centre, NCW on Sunday next May 15 with gates opening at 7.30am. Take the chance to do a clear out and exchange unwanted goods or gifts for cash. A stall at the market costs either €7/€10 and you don’t need to book, just turn up on the day.
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.
Silver Jubilee
It’s 25 years ago since the Parish Priest at the time, Canon James Neville decided to build a chapel dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament at the side of the Parish Church here in Abbeyfeale. It’s a well-used chapel with morning Mass at 8.15am most mornings, adoration all day Tuesday and Friday and evening adoration Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It’s also used for small weddings as it seats up to 60 people comfortably and by families for Sunday Mass with prayer groups and reading groups based there too. It’s an oasis of peace in a busy town where people can pop in for a moment of contemplation and peace. After 25 years of continual use the parish council decided to re decorate it and commissioned some painting and upholstery and a beautiful new floor. They have invited everyone to a blessing on Saturday, May 28 following Mass at 7pm which will in turn be followed by the Corpus Christi procession with the First Holy Communicants leading it and finally the blessing of the chapel. There will be cup of tea afterwards in the Day Care Centre.
Are You In Crisis
There are several organizations who will help if you are under pressure and these include the newly formed West Limerick Crisis Intervention Team who can be reached on 085 1777631, the Mind Our Farm Families is a dedicated suicide and self-harm phone line 1890 130 022 between IFA and Pieta House. The phone line for IFA members will put farmers and their families in direct contact with a Pieta House trained therapist. Then there is the Samaritans on free call 116 123 or Console 1800 247247.
St. Mary’s Boys N.S. Excel
A hearty congratulations to all involved in the St. Mary’s Boys National school concert that took place on Thursday night last at Coláiste Iosaif agus Íde. Amongst the many highlights were line dancing, synchronised swimming, the exploits of the Irish football team in various international tournaments, a wonderful exploration of 1916 through ballad and of course the sketch that made it to the Abbey Theatre, before a grand finish with a message of inclusion and a rousing version of Amhrán na bhFiann.
For many of us who attended St. Mary’s, memories of concerts at the old convent hall linger fondly, as they will in the future for all the excellent performers who took to the stage last night. All the talk at the Farmers’ Market on Friday was how Tristian Murphy aged five played a tour de force as controversial soccer pundit Eamon Dumphy.
Community Alert
A huge thank you to all who contributed to our annual church gate collection. The sum raised was €675.
West Limerick Toastmasters
The last club meeting of the season takes place at the Desmond Complex next Wednesday, May 18 from 8pm. Why not go along and see what you think and if you find it might be for you then you have the summer free to think about it before you need to commit.
Get Walking, Get Talking
Come along to one of five forest walks organised around the country by IFA in association with See Change, Coillte and Mental Health Ireland this May. The Let’s Talk and Walk events encourage people to take time out of their busy lives, go for a walk and support the campaign to change minds about mental health – one conversation at a time. The walks are part of a month-long national Green Ribbon Campaign organised by See Change to get people talking openly about mental health problems and to break the stigma of silence associated with mental health. The most local of these walks will take place next Sunday, May 15 at 3pm at the Forest Park in Doneraile.
Child Protection Training
West Limerick Resources is offering two workshops in relation to Child Protection for staff and volunteers of community run organisations this May. Workshop 1 will provide an introduction to Child Protection and takes place on Saturday May 14. Workshop 2 covers developing your organisations Child Protection Policy and takes place on Saturday May 28. Both workshops will run from 10am-4.30pm in the Desmond Complex, Newcastle West. To book contact Dearbhla on 069 62222 or email dconlon@wlr.ie. Funded under the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2015-2017 which is funded by the Irish Government and co-funded by the European Social Fund and includes a special allocation under the Youth Employment Initiative
Co. Limerick Beekeepers Meet
Co. Limerick Beekeepers Association will hold its next meeting on Thursday, May 12 at 8pm in Mungret GAA. Guest speaker on the night is Michael Maunsell and the topic will be ‘Diseases and Record Keeping’. Paul O’ Sullivan from Bee Supplies will be in the car-park from 6.30pm, if anybody wishes to purchase any equipment before the lecture.
Alzheimers Tea Day
Wednesday, May 11 from 11-2pm at the Adult Education Centre, Mountmahon. Every one welcome and do take the opportunity too to find out about all the groups who meet there weekly ie The Wednesday Club, ICA, Active Retirement and the Men’s Shed. There are also a range of classes available in everything from furniture restoration to computers to business at the Adult Education centre and now is a good time to be planning for autumn.
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 on Church St
Mary Nuala Healy told me that her daughter Brid Ann has opened a shop selling cosmetics, not a salon applying them as I suggested in last week’s notes. It’s on Church St., (opposite the Boys N.S.) and 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, oh, and tell them I sent you!
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.
