By Marian Harnett

PROLOGUE:  Be like a tree.  Stay grounded. Connect with your roots.  Turn over a new leaf. Bend before you break. Enjoy your unique beauty. Keep growing.  Joann Raptis.

CLOCKS SPRING FORWARD:  The clocks go forward on Saturday, March 25.

FUINNEAMH IN CONCERT:  The band who have recently performed on TG4 and RTE 1 return home to help raise funds for Fleadh by the Feale which is held annually on the May Bank Holiday weekend. The group will be joined by the young lassie with the gorgeous voice Eileen Broderick and also by the Sliabh Luachra Musician in Residence Eoin Stan O’Sullivan and you are guaranteed a great night’s entertainment.  The fundraising concert will be held at the Glórach Theatre on Saturday, March 25.  Tickets €15.  Booking 087 1383940.

THERESE’S DRAMA CLASSES:  Following on her very successful Autumn Drama Classes Therese Prendeville will be commencing her Spring classes at the Glórach Theatre on Saturday, April 1 for children aged between 7-12.  Further information from 086 1944852.

‘TEARING AND DRAGGING’: If you missed the Abbeyside Players latest production in the Glórach then you have two further chances as they move to the Rock on Saturday night next, March 25 Booking line 087 6828113.  Then it’s on to Tournafulla on Saturday, April 1 with booking on 087 9694405/087 6377310.

  1. CASEY’S LADIES FOOTBALL CLUB:  All members welcome to return to their groups, contact Mike on 087 2279922.  Registration online Foireann.ie select Fr. Casey’s Ladies football club.

TEMPLEGLANTINE CAMOGIE CLUB RECRUITMENT DRIVE:   U6, U8,U10, U12, and U14 teams are looking for members. If you were born in the years 2015/2016 contact Margaret on 087 2440786, born in the years 2013/2014 contact Kiara on 087 9287847, born in the years 2011/2012 contact Brigid on 087 9288499 and born in 2009/2010 contact Olive 087 7645582.  Training for U6 started outdoors at Templeglantine pitch from 10.30 – 11.15am on Saturday March 4.Training for U8 has started indoors on Tuesdays 5-6pm at Fr. Casey’s.  Training for U10 started Saturday, March 11 from 9.30 -11am in Templeglantine.  Training for U12 is to be confirmed.  Training for U14 9 – 10.15 outdoors at Templeglantine pitch started March 4.  Registration now open.

DRAMA WORKSHOP IN ABBEYFEALE: John Nelligan sent the following; “ Anyone  can  Whistle!  If that’s true, and it is; then that principle will, also, hold good for the assertion that “Anyone can Act”. As we, all, know the journey of a thousand miles starts with that very first, faltering, step. Equally, the path to a career in Hollywood starts with attendance at the Drama League of Ireland workshop on acting skills at Glórach on March 25th.   Famous actors, from our Tri-County area of Cork, Kerry and Limerick, who benefitted, greatly, from attending acting workshops are, Cillian Murphy, Michael Fassbender, Richard Harris, Fiona Shaw and Lorcan Curtin.  Somebody once said that: “Life is an act and we are all actors in the arena of life.”  Therefore, a helping hand in navigating the currents of modern life is always welcome.  So, don’t delay in booking one of the, just, twenty places available, by e-mailing [email protected] or phoning 01 296 9343.  Attendance costs €20, with the workshop opening at 10am and closing at 5pm.”

TOURIST OFFICE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Work has started on bringing a Tourist Office to Abbeyfeale and you can help make it happen! Are you a proud Abbeyfeale person? Do you have 2 hours or more per week to welcome visitors to our beautiful town and give them some information that will help them enjoy their visit? We have hours to suit your lifestyle. The new Tourist Office will be in the WorkBase E-Hub building on Abbeyfeale’s main street. Full training will be provided Contact [email protected] if you are interested.

DEE RETIRES:  After almost 44 years as Conductor of the Abbeyfeale Senior Choir, Dee Dennison stepped down on St. Patrick’s Day after the 12 noon Mass. There were tears and cheers and a standing ovation for a modest gentleman who was never one for the spotlight. Fr. Tony in his homily said that there are no words that express the gratitude of the parish for all the work that Dee, a perfectionist, put in over all the years since Pope John Paul 2 came to Ireland. The countless rehearsals, up skilling, attention to detail, attending workshops from Cork to Maynooth, the many hours of  research searching out new hymns and music. He went on to say that Dee has been the glue that kept the choir together – a choir that helped to lift the spirits of the many thousands of people who have attended services here in Abbeyfeale down all those years. He finished by saying “you brought us all closer to God” before making a presentation from the parish to Dee. Fr. Tony also announced that Bishop Leahy had recommended Dee for the Benemerenti medal which is awarded by the Pope to members of the clergy and laity for service to the Catholic Church and which he will be presented with in June. Fr. Tony also welcomed Rebecca Stryker who is to be Dee’s successor and said he knows Dee will be a great mentor to her. Dee in his reply said that he was privileged to conduct the choir and that he enjoyed the last 44 years but without the people who turned up every week for the rehearsals  hail, rain or snow he couldn’t have done it.  The Mass then concluded with a rousing rendition of ‘Hail Glorious St. Patrick’ conducted by Dee. We want to wish Dee many happy and healthy years of retirement and look forward to seeing him performing with the Lost Souls at Mass, in the Glórach, at Fleadh by the Feale and even the odd time in the pub.

DOLLY DAY: The O’Connor family are continuing to fund raise for Kerry Hospice and Comfort for Chemo. This time the late Jim’s sister Cora is organising a Dolly Day in honour of Dolly Parton when an attempt will be made to establish a Guinness World Record for the most

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people dressed as Dolly Parton. Cora has form with making the Guinness Book of Records as she it was who organised Nunday in Listowel some years ago. Registration will open shortly.

SET DANCING: With Timmy Woulfe Monday nights at 8pm in the Marian Hall, Moyvane, There are also Set Dancing Classes at Fr. Casey’s Club house Wednesday nights.

LEARN TO DANCE:  Social dancing classes in the Plaza Hall, Listowel every Monday night for beginners 7.30 – 9pm.  Waltzing  Jiving, Quick Step, Foxtrot.  Everyone welcome.

GREENWAY: Limerick Council will start work on a new Greenway car park at Station Road, Newcastle West in early 2023. Design teams have been appointed to design Greenway Hubs at the Ardagh Stationhouse and the Abbeyfeale Railway Goods Shed.
TAYTO PARK REOPENS:  The Irish Theme park, formerly known as Tayto Park is to reopen on Saturday, March 25 with a new name – Emerald Park.

LISTOWEL BINGO:  Bingo is back Sunday night in the Plaza, Church St, at 8.30pm. Welcome back to all old and new players.

COMMUNITY ALERT:  Reducing your energy use; Bleed your radiators, it makes an amazing difference in the amount of heat that they radiate.  Turn off lights as you leave the room.  Do not leave phones charging over night or the dishwasher or washing machine on. Close doors so that in the event of a fire the blaze will be contained.  FAST is the checklist for a stroke.  Face – Check to see if one side of the face droops, Arms – Raise both arms, see if one drops down. Speech- check for slurring.  Time – if the answer to these is yes call 112/999 immediately. Five ways to Wellbeing:  Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning.  Give.  www. mentalhealth Ireland.ie    If you have medical equipment that requires electricity, ensure that your electrical supplier is aware and that you are on the ‘Special Services Register’ so that they can prioritize your house.   Layers are the best choice for staying warm in cold weather. Not only do the winter clothes themselves act as insulation, but the air between the layers insulates, too. If you have to drive in the frost leave plenty of time to reach your destination and to defrost the windscreen.  I was at a meeting recently where the Garda made a presentation and they emphasised that road accidents caused by speed, drink and drugs are a problem as well as on line scams and romance frauds.
Leave a low energy light on at night time, preferably one with a high light output..Use a non-slip shower or bath mat.  Make sure wires or cords, such as from lamps or telephones, do not trail where you walk. Arrange furniture so that you can easily move around all your rooms.  Keep the floors clear from items such as papers and books that could cause you to trip, Remove rugs or use non-slip tape or backing so rugs will not slip. Consider installing hand rails on both sides of the stairs.  Ask your relatives and neighbours for help if you need it. Keep their phone numbers on a list beside your phone.  Learn your Eircode – if you have to call for help it will take the services straight to your door.  Write ICE before your next of kin’s number in your phone so if you cannot communicate the services will be able to contact your next of kin.  If you suffer from a gambling addiction there is a counsellor/psychotherapist available at the Listowel Family Resource Centre.  Further information from 068 23584. If you are 65, you live alone or with a person/s aged over 65 you are entitled to receive a monitored alarm system. But if you have younger people living in the house who are out or if you spend long periods of the day on your own then,  because you are spending hours alone you are also entitled to the system provided that you are over 65.  The free equipment is provided by Pobal following an application from Abbeyfeale Community Alert, there will be a monitoring fee to be paid from the second year of installation to the installing company of €72.  There may be some confusion over the word free –  the equipment which costs in the region of €400 is provided free of charge by Pobal as is the first year of monitoring but after that you will be charged by the installing company for the monitoring.  I have not included the phone numbers of the committee in this notice but if you want to get a panic button then ring Abbeyfeale Garda Station on 068 30010 and they will contact one of us. Should you not have a landline the installing company Task provide a sim card at a rate of €7.50 per month payable from day one with a deposit of 6 months payable on the day of installation.  Then, in year two you will also receive a bill for the monitoring fee so in year one the bill will be €90 and in year two and every other year after it will €162 approx. If you wish, you can arrange a direct debit and pay this amount off monthly.    Committee members are Michael O’Kelly N.T., Chairman Seamus Stack, Secretary Mossie Gleeson, Assistant Treasurer Kathleen Collins, Assistant Secretary Mary McArthur, John O’Sullivan, Billy Quirke N.T., Cllr. Francis Foley, Catherine Daly, Maurice O’Connell, Assistant Treasurer Marian Harnett.

RAMBLING HOUSES: Every 1st Thursday of each month there is a Rambling House in the Community Centre in Knockanure. All musicians, singers, dancers and storytellers are most welcome to attend. Knockalougha on the 3rd. Tuesday of the month.. Ita McQuinn’s Rambling House is on the third Friday of the month at the Desmond Complex, Newcastle West at 8pm. Listowel Rambling House takes place on the last Thursday of every month from 9.15 pm in the Seanachai Centre.