“It’s that time of Year”

Well “it’s that time of the year” yet again when ‘Pancake Tuesday’ is upon us as I put pen to paper this Monday night – that meaning a few hours over the frying pan tossing and turning – squeezing lemons and grandchildren waiting with bated breath wondering when the next pancake will be ready – the joys of it!

In days gone by pancake Tuesday was the day when the flour, eggs etc would be all used up in readiness for Ash Wednesday when there would be complete fasting. Nowadays ‘fasting’ is almost a thing of the past – however, I suppose everyone has the good intentions of staying off the sweets, biscuits, cigarettes, drink etc for the duration of Lent – 6 weeks and 4 days to be exact!. Maybe it’s as good if not better that adults and children “take on” something rather than “giving up”. Call to see a neighbour, help an elderly person with their housework or shopping, pick up the rubbish along your road, leave off the TV until later in the evening, take to the roads for a walk, make time for yourself for a change!

Well, the “Couch to 5k” which was a great success last year will be starting back again on Tuesday & Thursday nights from March 18th at 7pm at the hall. Like ‘Operation Transformation’ it will start off slowly – but week after week it will gain momentum and you will be surprised after a short while what you can conquer (and who knows you might take on the Ballybunion run on Easter Saturday-which is a great day out for families with a children’s run before the adults). Everyone is welcome on the Tuesday/Thursday nights and at a later stage the group will be split into two as last year.

The Community First Responders thank everyone who gave so generously to their Church gate collection at the weekend. A total of €816 was collected. Thanks also is extended to all those who stood at the collection points. The CFR’s do great work and make sure you have their number at hand always in case of necessity 087-2737077.

The father of a child who recently had collapsed told me that within a few minutes of ringing the CFR’s one night 4 or 5 CFR’s came to the child’s aid until the ambulance arrived later. Isn’t it just wonderful to have them at our disposal day and night.

This Thursday night at 8.30 on RTE 1 “Jigs & Wigs” should be interesting for all those young and not so young Irish dancing enthusiasts.