By Peg Prendeville

We Irish are known to be a nation of begrudgers but I think that is an unfair judgement on us. Wasn’t it great to see Gerard Barrett on the Late Late last week talking about his success at directing movies and films. Gerard, son of Joe and Peggy, attended Tralee IT where he studied Film, TV and Media. He also worked and trained with Kerry Radio and West Limerick 102fm. Barrett won the IFTA Rising Star Award at the Irish Film and Television Academy Awards in Dublin for his debut feature ‘Pilgrim Hill’. Previous winners of the award include Michael Fassbender and Saoirse Ronan. In 2012 at the age of 24, Barrett’s debut feature film ‘Pilgrim Hill’ premiered at the Galway International Film Festival in Ireland went on to have its World Premiere at the prestigious Telluride Film Festival in Colorado. In January 2014, Barrett shot his second feature film ‘Glassland’ in Dublin, starring Jack Reynor, Will Poulter and Toni Collette. ‘Glassland’ had its Irish premiere in July 2014 and will soon be in all cinemas. Now Gerard, though only 27 years, is to step behind the camera for an adaptation of Susannah Cahalan’s bestselling memoir ‘Brain On Fire: My Month Of Madness.’ Hollywood, here we come. Well done, Gerard.

Congratulations to the Knockdown Vintage Club together with Estuary Macra which presented the Vincent de Paul with a cheque for €1,818.23 on Saturday night in the Knockdown Arms.

Ballyhahill School needs to be painted externally so the Parents Association is hard at work fundraising for this. The next fundraiser is a Table Quiz in the Knockdown Arms next Friday week, the 24th of April. There will be a raffle and loads of spotprizes and fun. Please

All Diocesan Synod questionnaires for Loughill/Ballyhahill parish must be returned at this Sunday’s Masses. Place them in the baskets or hand them to Fr Austin, Jean or Peg, whichever is most convenient. This is the opportunity to make your voices and concerns heard at Diocesan level, so do consider replying to the questions. At least we can’t say we were not asked.