by Peg Prendeville

Congratulations to all the students who got their college places on Monday. We wish them well in the years ahead and sincerely hope that the country will have jobs for them by the time they graduate. We wish a good and enjoyable night to those who are off to their Debs in Tralee on next Friday evening. It is always an exciting occasion for them, especially the girls who look so glamorous when they are dressed up.

 

Congratulations to John and Noreen Long who are the proud parents of another little boy, Mark, who was born last weekend. Congratulations to Nana Maureen and Granda Séamus too of course!

By the time you read these notes a new Rose of Tralee will have been chosen. It was a very exciting occasion for Liza Mulvihill from Glin, who celebrated 96 years last week, and who attended the Rose Ball in Tralee on Monday night. Liza is the great grandaunt of the New York Rose, Erin Loughran, and in her interview mentioned Liza and the camera showed her clearly, looking well and enjoying herself. So who is afraid of getting old when exciting things can still happen?

 

Congratulations to Stephen Cummane and Linda Flynn both originally from Loughill/Ballyhahill parish who got married in Nerja in Spain on Sunday last. We wish them all the best for their future together. Their family and friends travelled out and enjoyed temperatures of up to 40 degrees.

 

Jim and I drove to Dublin on Sunday to the match. It took 2¾ hours from closing the door at home to parking in Drumcondra. I remember the first times we drove to Dublin in the 70’s. It was definitely an hour longer if not more. But the roads have been improved so much and all the towns have been bypassed that it has made the journey shorter …. but more boring! While once we passed through Shanagolden, Askeaton, Kildimo, Clarina, Limerick, Annacotty, Lisnagry, Birdhill, Nenagh, Toomyvara, Moneygall, Dunkerrin, Roscrea, Borris-in-ossory, Castletown, Mountrath, Portlaoise, New Inn, Ballybrittas, Monasterevin, Kildare, Naas, Johnstown, Rathcoole before entering the suburbs of Dublin we now pass Carrigkerry, Ardagh, Adare, Dublin. That is a big change. I wonder will there be as many changes in the next 30 years as there have been in the past?