By Marian Harnett
PROLOGUE: Dear Saint Christopher, protect me today in all my travels along the road way. Give your warning sign if danger is near so that I may stop while the path is clear. Be at my window and direct me through when the vision blurs from out of the blue. Carry me safely to my destined place, like you did Christ, in your close embrace. Amen
DEATH: Sincere sympathy to the Fitzgerald family on the death of Nuala Maher, Waterford City whose funeral took place in the Church of the Assumption on Saturday last. May she rest in peace.
COFFEE MORNING: There will be a coffee morning in St. Ita’s Day Care Centre on Saturday, July 15 from 11-2pm in aid of the Primary and Secondary Schools in the parish of St. Mary Magdalen, Riwoto, South Sudan. This is the parish where the late Fr. Tim Galvin served for many years before his untimely passing last February. Fran Leahy originally of New Street, Abbeyfeale went to St. Mary Magadalen in 2015 and again in 2016 as a volunteer in the Primary School. She is returning there in September for 3 months. All funds raised will go directly to fund the two schools. Your support will be appreciated.
- ITA’S HALL RENOVATION WORKS: The Management committee wish to advise that the Hall will be closed to the public from Monday, July 3 until early February 2024 to allow for the refurbishment and upgrade of the Hall, recently funded under the Community Centres Investment fund.
MAUREEN’S OUTING: We are starting our day picking up passengers at 8.30am. Listowel the Square, Abbeyfeale opposite the church 8.45am. and Newcastle West opposite the Longcourt House Hotel bus stop at 9am.. Fitzpatrick’sbus will then take us to Cork City Goal we have our own guided tour at 10.30am.which last for 45 minutes. This is a very interesting tour and you will be surprised at what you see and learn. There are stairs with handrail, that takes us to different level. Once we have completed the tour there will be free time in Cork City where there is soo much to see and do, no shortage of places to get refreshments and of course lots for those who are interested in Retail Theraphy. Weleave on board our bus at 3.30pm.travel via Killarney to Castleisland for dinner at 5.30pm. in the River Island Hotel for choice of starter, main course , dessert and tea & coffee.. For more information and booking your seat contact Maureen Finnegan 087 9845102.
OFFICIAL OPENING OF ABBEYFEALE TOURIST OFFICE: The official opening of the Tourist Office based at the Work Hub building on Main St. (the old Provincial Bank) took place on Tuesday, June 27. In one of his last duties before he left office the official opening was performed by Mayor Francis Foley. Almost twenty Volunteers each, donate three hours a week to cover the hours of 10am-1pm for the months of June, July and Aug. The Tourist Office is located at the Workbase E-Hub on Main Street, following collaboration between the Management of the Building and Abbeyfeale Community Council. For more info email [email protected] If you’re in town any morning give a call in.
WEDNESDAY CLUB HOST A COFFEE MORNING: The club will be hosting a coffee morning in memory of the late Bridie O’Shea, Clash Cross at the Ploughman on Friday, July 21 with all proceeds to Adapt Limerick. They will also collect toiletries, underwear etc. for the women who use the services of Adapt. A raffle will also take place and your kind support is requested. For many years Bridie coordinated a clothes pick up at her home
WALK FOR JIM: After he received a diagnosis of terminal cancer the late Jim O’Connor, Rathoran had been planning to organise a walk for the cancer bus but events overtook him and he died on Christmas Day 2022. His wife and family have taken on the mantle of organising the walk and it’s now planned for Sunday, September 24 on the Kingdom of Kerry Greenway from Abbeyfeale to Listowel and starting at 11am.. The walk will be in aid of the Cork Kerry Bus operated by the Kerry Cancer Support Group.
FIRESIDE MEMORIES – THE JUNE FAIR
“Wisha, do you remember the great Fair Days that were held in Abbeyfeale?
Every year there were ten or more, today there’s not one, a chree.
A big one was held in November, ah! But June’s was the best of them all.
‘Twas known as the Famous 29th, the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.
The Jobbers would come from all over, from the north, south, east and the west.
They’d ‘put up’ at Keefe’s, John Richards and Colbert’s, who had feather beds of the best.
From breaking of day the Fair morning, the roads to town would be black,
With cattle and drovers and horses and carts and beggars with bags on their backs.
You’d see tinsmiths with pannies and gallons and the man with the three card trick.
Ballad sellers and singers and Soss with his bell and jewmen with parcels of silks.
And do you remember the ‘standings’ that would set up below in the Square?
Displaying the latest in fashionable style, Oh! My, how we’d gathered to stare
The air would be heavy with noises, voices raised in ‘barg’ning and song,
The swishing of ash plants and the slapping of palms and the constant dropping of dung.
And when we’d be feeling hungry, shure we’d head up for WD’s,
For a schlep of hot bread with brown sugar on top, those days we were easily pleased.
The Hirings took place at Joy’s Corner, shure that was the first place we met.
“I picked you from out of the crowd that day”. “Wisha, now will you listen to that!”
“You were eyeing the boys from Brosna, Oh! You were the noted flirt”
“I was only making you jealous, a chree, you’d your eye on a damsel from Purt!”
“ The first Fair after we married, only three days man and wife,
You took me, dressed up in my wedding costume, I was never so proud in my life”
“Twas a pale blue dress with flounces and you had your hair pinned high”!
“ Do you remember all that Mike?
“Shure, weren’t you the light of my eye!”
“Going home in the heel of the evening, you stopped the pony and trap.
And picked me a bunch of wild daisies………..”
“Maggie, now, that’s enough of that…
Now all that is left are memories, gone are the farmer’s boys.
The toll man has passed through the Golden Gate and hushed are the stall women’s cries.
“But I wonder if up there somewhere, midst the sound of celestial chimes,
Do they hold a Heavenly 29th, like we did, in the rare ould times?”
Margaret O’Connor – O’Shea