by Peg Prendeville

Great excitement in our household this week as my two oldest grandchildren start secondary school in Tarbert. Noah Daly and Clodagh Prendeville, cousins and best friends, are growing up very fast. Meanwhile one of the youngest, Ellen Prendeville, begins pre-school in Ballyhahill on Wednesday. I wish the best for them all and hope they have a happy future. When I think of the tragedy in Clonmel I can only imagine the pain of the parents and grandparents in that situation, having gotten their children to Leaving Cert and then gone!

I know I took a break on my own recently so last week I took Jim on a break to his sisters in Co. Meath. It is good for everybody to have a change in company and conversation and we enjoyed a lovely week catching up with his nieces and nephews. Thanks to Mobility Direct in Dublin who rent out hospital beds to those who need that facility as it made life much easier on us all. The sun shone most of the time so we had some lovely times sitting out and enjoying the company. I got to meet a workmate whom I’ve not seen in nearly 20 years. It was great to catch up on our lives.

While we were away great things happened at home. The wedding of James Shanahan and Erica Guzman took place in Kenmare. Congratulations to them and best wishes for the future. The engagement of James FitzGerald, Ballyhahill and Sinéad O’Connor, Moyvane was announced. This lovely couple live in what used to be Liam Enright’s house. Great news to hear.

And two babies were born – a baby son, Dylan, to Paudie Cummane and Magaly in Spain and a baby son, Liam,  to Kim and Thomas Mulvihil in Glenbawn. It is lovely to hear of young life and love surrounding us