By Peg Prendeville

Congratulations to Mary O’Hanlon, Ballyhahill who was the lucky winner of the Killeaney Lotto on Sunday night winning €7,100. She will be presented with her cheque on next Sunday night and the lotto returns to €2000 again. Still a nice sum to win so keep buying the tickets.

On this Saturday, February 29th, libraries around the country are taking part in the first ever National Library Open Day. If it’s been a while since you’ve been in your local library, you might be surprised at what you can find there! Libraries are open community spaces with lots going on for everyone of all ages and interests. As well as that, library staff will be on hand to show you how your library membership allows you to borrow from 12 million items; choose from more box set options than Netflix, get eBooks, audiobooks, eMagazines and eNewspapers free and straight to your device, or try free online learning and language classes. So, if it’s been a while since you’ve visited your library or even if you’re a regular user, please come and see what’s on offer on Saturday 29th February! Unfortunately Glin Library does not open on Saturdays so I will be happy reading to children in Adare library instead.

Has there ever been a February with so much rain? I will let you know next week when I add up Jim’s monthly rainfall figures.

In the midst of it all I availed of my Free travel card and took a trip to Dublin last week and was lucky enough to get a lovely day where we explored around Howth and the lovely cliff walk around Howth head. We had a great view of Dublin bay across to Dunlaoghaire. I observed a few things in my travels. Firstly the rain-sodden land as we traveled up the country with many fields turned into lakes. Secondly the different accents, languages and colours of the human race especially in the city where one hears more foreign languages than the English we are used to. It is so different to the city I first visited almost forty years ago when I joined the Civil Service. Lastly, and I am a culprit myself, the amount of mobile phone usage. There is hardly anybody who does not have a phone in their hand. I can understand a lot of it as our phones are now mini computers with access to maps and information and bus times at the touch of a button. Traveling on the Luas each person instantly takes out his/her phone and smiles away to themselves as they text their friends or ring their partner checking what is on for dinner or informing them of the heavy traffic and how late they will be etc. It is entertaining for me to be observing life like this. The sad part is that nobody strikes up a conversation with the person beside them anymore.