By Peg Prendeville

Happy 93^rd birthday to Jack O’Grady who celebrated last weekend. He has a great outlook in life and continues to enjoy each day he is given.

Best wishes to my neighbour Patrick Shanahan this week as he marries Siobhan Brosnan from Ballybunion on Friday 14th. We wish them both a happy life together.

Killeaney’s new Training Pitch is almost ready for use; it has been resurfaced, new fencing put up and the new lights will be erected very soon. Well done to the very busy committee members who continue to keep the pitch in excellent condition.

I am always interested in the adventures of others so was delighted to meet Brian O’Hagan last weekend and listen to his experience of sailing from the Azores to Cork recently. Brian is married to Rita Enright of Clounleharde and they live in Dublin. Brian’s hobby has always been sailing so when he got the chance to join other like-minded friends and sail from the Azores to Crosshaven in Co. Cork he took it. Steering was hard work; the muscles in the  arms, back and chest ached constantly from grappling with the wheel. And whoever was on the helm would often receive a breaking wave of ice cold water to the face. The waves breaking on the side of the boat slammed in with a deafening boom that would startle them from their sleep. The routine was eat, sleep, sail and steer. The steering broke down somewhere out to sea so they had to rely totally on the sails for the final leg of the journey. This was probably child’s play to Brian who has already sailed across the Atlantic some years ago. Anyway they docked in Crosshaven at 9am on the morning of June 8th, greeted by the open arms, banners and balloons of their cheering and tearful families. Well done Brian, we are glad you home safe …. until the next adventure.