By Marian Harnett

  1. BRIGID’S BLESSING:  May Brigid bless the house wherein we dwell.  Bless every fireside, every wall and door.  Bless every heart that beats beneath its roof.  Bless every hand that toils to bring its joy.  Bless every foot that walks portals through.  May Brigid bless the house that shelters us.

SOCIAL DANCING IN THE ROCK:  Rockchapel community centre committee are  starting  adult dancing classes in the community centre every Thursday night from 8.30 –  10pm.  If you are interested in learning to jive, waltz or quick step or just want to come to enjoy a nights dancing please text or ring Breeda 087/6818113 or Philomena 087 6809249. . Come alone or bring a partner.€10 per person – pay as you go.

ABBEYFEALE ICA:  The local branch will resume meeting at the Adult Education Centre Mountmahon on Tuesday, February 7th at 7pm.   New members welcome.

PAUSE FOR PEACE:  To mark the new Bank Holiday in honour of St. Brigid  the Tourism Board for Co. Kildare and Solas Bhride Centre and Hermitage have joined together and launched a global ‘Pause for Peace’ calling on people all around the world to stop for a minute’s silence at 12 noon (local time) on the 1st. of February.  There are currently 23 wars being fought throughout the world.

FREE BUS TO DIVINE MERCY CONFERENCE: Divine Mercy conference Saturday, February 18 RDS Dublin.  A free bus will leave from the Church of the Assumption, Abbeyfeale at 6am sharp and leave the RDS on the return journey at 8.30pm sharp.  To book your seat contact 087 2788834.

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE SICK:  There will be a special day Mass and anointing of the sick at 2.30pm on Saturday. February 11 in the Church of the Assumption, Abbeyfeale.ADULT IRISH SPEAKING CLASSES:  Abbeyfeale branch of Conradh na Gaeilge has recommenced  their very successful ‘ Coiral Comhrá on Wednesday evenings  from 7.30 – 8.30pm in the LCETB located in the Old Tech, Mountmahon.  The main aim is to promote advanced level ( Ardchúrsa)..  The classes will run for six weeks and cost €30.  Further information or to book your place from Donal Murphy on 068 31661 (9am – 5pm.)

 “A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF RE. WILLIAM CASEY P.P.:” Copies of the relaunched book are now sold out.

JOBS: Kerry Group are currently recruiting for General Operatives in Listowel.

It is a full-time, seasonal position. The shift will depend on a team you join, and it can be either 12 hours a day, 4 days on 4 days off or 8 hours a day, Monday to Friday. Overtime is available.

https://www.jobalert.ie/job/general-operative-group-5..

NCW FILM CLUB:   Film Juniper – when a young teenager is suspended from school and asked to look after his feisty alcoholic grandmother as punishment, the time they spend together turns his life around.  This Friday 3rd February, in the Desmond  Complex screening at 8pm sharp€8/card payments accepted.  For further information phone 087 6877970. Come early  and enjoy refreshments.

TRAINING:   For catechists will take place in Limerick city February 3-5, hosted by the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia. All are welcome and no previous formation is required. Spaces are limited. Registration closes on January 27.  . Please contact [email protected] for more information or to register

WEST LIMERICK SINGING CLUB:  The club will meet in Philip Enrights on Churh St. on Friday, February 3 at 9pm.

WALKING: Operation Transformation – Ireland Light’s Up. The weekly walks in Athea continue on Thursday evening at 7pm.

AFTERNOON TEA DANCE:  Paddy Quilligan is the star attraction for Mary McArthur’s first tea dance of 2023 in Fr. Casey’s Club House, Sunday February 19 from 3-6pm.  Admission €10.  All funds to Kerry Hospice.

A MYSTERY SOLVED:  When I came to live in Abbeyfeale and if I took my father in law for a drive and we were headed in the Brosna direction, at a certain spot on the Kilmanahan side he would always bless himself and say a prayer for the dead. He told me that there was a memorial stone on the ditch but that it was now overgrown.   My father in law Willie Maurice Harnett aka The Boss was 15 years old in 1923 and on January 27 he was setting daffodils on the avenue up to his house when he heard shots fired from the Kerry side.  Later that day word came from town that  a Captain Coye had been killed near to the junction of the Killarney road on the Kilmanahan side.  Until the day he died he prayed for that man about whom I often wondered.  The mystery was solved when a neighbour saw an obituary notice on rip.ie for the” 100th Anniversary of Captain Pádraig Coye ( Mac Aodha) National Army who lost his life in a civil war ambush at Kilmanihan East, Brosna, Co. Kerry.  He was an Irish Army Captain from Galway, stationed in Brosna.  May he rest in peace. “

MESSAGE FROM MAUREEN FINNEGAN:  “We are collecting used stamps to help Servite Sisters look after 120 girls in St. Marys Home, Myanmar, formerly known as Burma.   The Sisters were providing food, shelter and education to the students up until the military coup 2020 when all schools were shut.   They live in a regime that is very controlling and dangerous, the prices for rice, oil and food have risen so the Sisters and their students are struggling as are all the poor in Myanmar.   The used stamps collected are given to a stamp collector who pays €5 per kilo, so the more stamps we can collect the more funds we receive and with your help we can do this. Our priests in Marley are Servite priests so that is the connection between Ireland and Burma.”  Maureen continues;
“Thank you to all those people who were collecting stamps pre Covid you can now either drop them into a box which is in the church porch side entrance near the Sacristy side of NCW church or give them to me, Maureen Finnegan 087 9845102.  Stamps cut from envelope with just one inch around it please – no envelopes.  Thank you.”

ROSE OF TRALEE: The communities in Limerick that will select Community Roses are Newcastle West, Adare and Abbeyfeale, and a Rose will also be selected in the city.