By Peg Prendeville
Congratulations to Leona O’Grady, formerly of Glenbawn, who got married to Keith Cotter in St. John’s Cathedral last Friday. We wish them a lifetime of happiness.
What a wonderful weekend we had in Ballyhahill with the opening of Sive on Friday night. This was the first production of the newly formed Drama group, under the direction of Eleanor McSweeney and Caroline Gee, and it turned out to be a huge success. For my own part this is the first play I have been involved in even though some of you may know I used to do sketches as a child. I took on this challenge to prove to myself that I can still learn lines even though it might take a longer time! It was a daunting experience waiting in the dressing room before going in front of a real live audience in comparison to rehearsals in an empty hall. But once one enters the stage and gets into character the time just flew and before we knew it, it was all over and the audience was standing in unison to applaud our efforts. This is when the buzz comes and it was so lovely to meet family and friends afterwards and to hear that they enjoyed the performance so much. We will repeat it all again on Friday and Saturday this coming weekend. I will be playing Mena on Saturday while Jayne Daly will play her part on Friday night. I hear that both performances are almost sold out so if you need a ticket better book it fast by ringing 069 82106 or 069-82245 / 085-1088445.
The switching on of the Christmas lights will take place in Ballyhahill Church grounds on this Sun 9th December. This will commence at 5 pm sharp. Carol singers will be on hand and Santa will drop by to make the occasion extra special. Afterwards the lights in the tree in the Community Hall will be switched on followed by light refreshments in the hall. All are welcome to come along and enjoy the occasion to mark the start of Christmas. All singers welcome to join the Carol Singers. You are reminded to bring your Santa hat!
Ballyhahill National School Parents Association is still selling lines for the Christmas raffle. Lovely prizes to be won.
In 2006/2007 a Fr Des O’Grady served as Administer in our parish. He returned to Dublin and served as Chaplain the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum for a few years until he retired due to developing Alzheimer’s disease. It was lovely and refreshing to hear him being interviewed in Sean O’Rourke’s programme of Radio One last Thursday and to hear how he is dealing so positively with his illness. “It is a great freedom to me” he says “as I have had to learn to surrender and to trust.” I hope we can all be so patient with ourselves as we get older.