by Peg Prendeville

Sympathies are extended to both the McSweeney and Corbett families in Loughill on the deaths of Ger McSweeney and Eddie Corbett whose funerals took place last week. Both were much loved people in their area. May they rest in peace.

Knockdown Arms was in party mood on last Saturday night as Fiona Prendeville celebrated her 40th birthday with family and friends.. Many of the group were delighted with the opportunity to get out as those nights are becoming more rare for them due to rearing young children. I took on the task of having ten children under the age of  twelve for a sleepover to enable their parents to go out. So they all camped out together in the sittingroom with the floor covered in blankets and duvets. To be fair they were no bother once they got to sleep! So it was a fun night for young and old.

Best wishes to Nicole O’Sullivan who will be celebrating her wedding to Kieran Daly this weekend. Nicole keeps us all fit with her Keep Fit classes in Athea every week. Her combination of fun, music and exercise is the best.

Some of my grandchildren attend Derra Farm Equestrian centre each week and love it. I’ve been hearing them get all excited over the Derra Derby which was run over the past four weeks. Saibh Prendeville aged 10 was delighted to come 5th in her competition. It is great to see them enjoying all these events. I really admire Saibh and her younger sister Áine, who live next door to me, and who get up early each morning before school to check their ponies and make sure they have food and water and they are not afraid of the hard work involved in keeping the stables clean. It will all stand to them as they grow. My other grandchildren – the Dalys in Dromaggarraun do likewise. It keeps them all away from the phones for a while.

I include one of the poems from Ger White’s book “Celtic Visions” which I spoke about last week

Put the kettle on

The solution to every problem

The hiss of building steam

Once that kettle is boiling

A solution will appear.

I’ve seen it used at funerals

It’s the backbone of all Wakes

For every heartache ever had

That kettle eased the pain.

No science or medicine can compete

When everything looks wrong

The tried and true solution

Is to put the kettle on!