by Marian Harnett
PROLOGUE: The best times in our lives were not about what we had, but who we were with.
DEATH: We offer our sympathy to the family of Mary Wallace, Nee O’Connor Coolewest , Athea whose funeral took place during the week. May she rest in peace. Jesus, Mary, I love you, save souls.
SAVE THE DATE!: We are delighted to announce that the singing group Celtic Brothers are returning to Abbeyfeale for our annual Christmas Concert which will be held on Friday 15th December. More information in the coming weeks. Tickets will go on sale on the 1st of November.All proceeds in aid of St Ita’s Hall renovation work.
LETTER FROM A PARENT: “Every thanks and good wishes for the future to Frank Nelligan who has retired from teaching at St. Mary’s B.N.S., Abbeyfeale, following an unblemished career which commenced in 1982. His entire teaching career was spent in Abbeyfeale. Rightly regarded as a fair-minded, amiable and a highly skilled and dedicated teacher by his colleagues, parents and the school authorities, Frank took on and diligently executed several vital roles in the school, including the preparation of the boys for the sacrament of Holy Communion – and post of Vice Principal. May Frank long enjoy his future years in his beloved Abbeyfeale.”
A Parent.
ABBEYFEALE AFTERSCHOOLS: Jobs available for Afterschool Assistants, Fetac Level 5. Email cv’s to brookviewchildcaretralee@ gmail.com
CALAMITY JANE: Newcastle West Musical Society presents Calamity Jane in Feohanagh/Castlemahon Hall V42 XH99 on Thursday November 2 – Saturday 4 and the following Thursday 9 – Saturday 11.Tickets: Adults €20, Children €10. Admission paid at the door.
CHRISTMAS LUNCH: Abbeyfeale Community Alert would like to invite you to our annual Christmas Luncheon and Social Afternoon with dancing to the wonderful smooth mellow sound of Paddy Quilligan. Tickets at €20 are going on sale in Kathleen’s FoodStore, Batt’s in the Square and An Siopa Milsean this week and in order to be able to confirm numbers with the caterers will be removed on Monday, November 20th.
ONE WOMAN SHOW: ‘Live n’ kickin’ Frances Kennedy’s new one woman show in St. John’s Theatre, Listowel on Friday, November 10 at 8pm. Bookings 06822566.
INVITATION TO JOIN THE CHURCH CHOIR: Join the Abbeyfeale Church Choir just in time for the Christmas Season! Are you a male singer looking to be a part of something truly special this holiday season? Abbeyfeale Church Choir is thrilled to invite talented male vocalists like you to join us as we prepare for the festive and joyous Christmas celebrations! We welcome male singers of all ages and experience levels to be a part of our choir. Whether you’re a tenor, baritone, or bass, if you have a passion for singing and want to add your voice to our harmonious ensemble, we would love to have you!
Our rehearsals take place every Wednesday evening from 7.30-8.30pm with our next rehearsal on the 08th of November 2023. To express your interest please email Rebecca at [email protected]. Alternatively, you can also visit the sacristy during church hours to sign up. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this wonderful musical journey as we prepare for the Christmas Season. We can’t wait to welcome you and make beautiful memories together!
MASS: Annual November Mass for all who died within University Hospital Kerry over the past year, including in Palliative Care Services, Maternity Services, relatives of hospital staff and former staff. The Mass for the Dead will be celebrated on Monda, November 6th. @7pm in St Johns Church Tralee and will be live streamed on www.churchservices.tv/tralee
ATHEA ARTS AND CRAFTS GROUP OPEN DAY: Saturday, November 4 at the Library from 10-3pm.
VOCATIONS: 18th-19th November in St. Patrick’s College Maynooth for those interested in exploring a vocation to the Diocesan Priesthood. Accommodation and meals will be provided for in the seminary. Those wishing to attend should contact Deacon Conor Bradley, Vocations Director, on 087-3664057 to reserve a place.
DIGITAL LEARNING HUB every Friday from 10:00 to 11:00 in Listowel Library. For more information or booking, please contact Mary Swaine, Kerry ETB ALL Team, 086 7969627.
BUSINESS START UP TRAINING FOR UKRAINIAN PEOPLE: A 2 day Start Your Own Business Training programme for Ukrainian people will take place over 2 days on November 14/15 at the Longcourt House Hotel Newcastle West and will be delivered with the help of an interperter. Participants who complete this training will understand the process and legal requirements of starting a business in Ireland. Places are limited and need to be booked in advance by contacting Brenda on 087 766 9952 or Kseniia on 087 117 7283. A limited number of one-to-one meetings with a professional business advisor will also be available to participants who complete this training programme.
SSE RENEWABLES AIRTRICITY COMMUNITY FUND IS NOW OPEN: Through Tournafulla, Rathcahill, Dromada and Athea wind farms in West Limerick and Lenamore projects. Eligibility: Applications are welcome from local community groups and not for profit organisations located within 20 kilometres of the wind farms with priority given to groups within 5 kilometres. Closing date for applications is November 17 th , 2023. For further information please emailcommunityfundireland@sse.
ABBEYFEALE BRIDGE HAS RESUMED: Abbeyfeale Bridge is back on Thursday nights in the Day Care Centre at 7.30pm. New Members welcome.
MARKET IN KNOCKNAGOSHEL: Knocknagoshel Over 55’S Services annual Christmas Market on Sunday, November 19 at 12 noon in the Community Centre V92 WV70. Contact Noreen to book a table 0863487298.
LISTOWEL FOOD FAIR: Celebrates its 28th anniversaryp this year from Thursday 9th – Monday 13th November.Opening ‘Celebratory Awards Banquet’ with Darina Allen at the Listowel Arms Hotel on Thursday, November 9. More on Food Fair at www.listowelfoodfair.ie
OPEN DAY AT THE DAY CARE CENTRE: There’s always a welcome at St. Ita’s Day Care Centre every Tuesday to come along and socialise with your friends. Join them for tea and scones, bingo, a card game or two, 4 course lunch, music, singing, poetry, a story or two before you head off sustained by more tea and some goodies. Call Manager Jane 068 51850 for more information. Chiropody Services restarting at St Ita’s Day Care Centre on Monday 20th November and every 6 weeks thereafter. For appointments ring 068 51850.
FERRY: Winter Schedule Ferry Time Change: The winter sailing schedule commenced Sunday, 1st October 2023 with sailings from Killimer every hour on the hour from 7.00am to 7.00pm and sailings from Tarbert every hour on the half hour from 7.30am to 7.30pm. Sunday sailings commence two hours later at 9.00am from Killimer and 9.30am from Tarbert.
Tickets available at local outlets, including Kennelly’s Homevalue Hardware & BD Agriparts, or email [email protected]. Price €15.
SET DANCING IN MONAGAE: Fiona 086 3510774 has two classes in Monagae – Tuesday 8.30pm and Thursdays 9pm.
GROW MENTAL HEALTH GROUP meets in Seanchaí Centre, Listowel every Wednesday evening at 8:00 pm. No referrals necessary. Just come along or telephone Jerry at 086-0271990.
ST. ITA’S HALL RENOVATION WORKS: O’Callaghan Contractors have begun work in St Ita’s Hall. They were awarded the contract following a Public Procurement Process. All works are scheduled to be finished by the 31st January 2024.
DANCE CLASSES IN FR. CASEY’S: Every Tuesday from 8-10pm.
CHURCH NEWS: Contact numbers for the Parish Priests of the Pastoral Area: Fr Denis Mullane 087/2621911.Fr Tony Mullins 087/2600414. Fr Willie Russell 087/2272825. Fr Dan Lane (Retired) 087/2533030. Fr James Ambrose (Retired) Tel 087/774075. Baptisms in Abbeyfeale will be celebrated on the first Saturday of each month at 5.00pm. Also, on the second Sunday of the month after the 12noon Mass. Contact the Sacristy 068/51915 during Mass Times. Parish office 086/8661651 Anne Secretary 11am to 1pm. Eucharist Adoration every Friday in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel from 10.30am – 7pm.
Baptisms in Abbeyfeale will be celebrated on the first Saturday of each month at 5.00pm. Also, on the second Sunday of the month after the 12noon Mass. Contact the Sacristy 068/51915 during Mass Times. Eucharistic Adoration takes place in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel every Friday after morning Mass until 7pm. Divine Mercy Meeting takes place every Monday evening after the 7pm Mass Confessions on Saturday evenings at 6.00pm and after Mass Thursday before the First Friday. A priest will be available after Mass on weekdays if a parishioner wishes to celebrate the sacrament. Mass Intentions: Wednesday 10am All Saints. Thursday 10am All Souls Catherine McCarthy nee Harnett Thursday 7pm All Souls. Friday 10am Purgatorial. Saturday 6.30pm Noel Roche, Knocknagoshel 14th Anniversary. Ita O’Connor Rathoran. Kathleen O’Connor, Mountmahon. Anna Nash, Knocknasna Months Mind. Sunday10am Peter O’Connell, Purt. James & Bridget McEnery and son James McEnery, Kilconlea Upper. 12noon Johnny Lane, Kilconlea Upper.1 November – All Saints Day All Saints’ Day, also known as the Feast or Solemnity of All Saints, is celebrated every year on 1 November. On this day, which is a Holy Day of Obligation, we honour all of the Saints and ask them to pray for us. Mass on All Saints Day – Mass on All Saints Day Wednesday 1st of November at 10.00am. 2 November – All Souls’ Day. All Souls’ Day or more formally ‘the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed’ is a solemn celebration commemorating all of those who have died and is observed on Thursday 2 November. Mass on All Souls Day at 10.00am and 7.00pm. An indulgence, applicable only to the Souls in Purgatory, is granted to the faithful, who visit a cemetery and pray, even if only mentally, for the departed.The indulgence is plenary each day from November 1-8; The plenary indulgence is earned under the usual conditions: Going to Confession, receiving Holy Communion and praying for the Pope’s intentions (usually one Our Father and the Creed or Hail Mary).Prayers in the Graveyard: Prayers for all who are buried in our parish graveyards will take place this Sunday 5th of November beginning at St Mary’s graveyard at 2.00pm, the Old Graveyard at 2.20pm and Reilig Íde Naofa at 3.00pm.”Ní imithe uainn atá siad, ach imithe romhainn”. Purgatorial list are in your box of envelopes . These lists should be brought tothe church next weekend so that all names can be included in all Masses during the week and every First Friday during the year. Some will be available on theAltar at the weekend. Graveyard Church Gate Collection will take place on the weekend of the4th /5th Nov. Your support is greatly appreciated.
ANNUAL MASS FOR ALL THOSE WHO DIED IN 2023 :The Annual Mass for all those who died since this time last year will be celebrated on Friday 17th of November at 7.00pm. During Mass a candle will be lit for each person who has died during the past twelve months and a member of their family will be invited to bring the candle to the altar. For those whose relatives died outside of the parish and you wish to remember them on that evening please call into the church and give their name to be added to the list. It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead. We have loved them in life, let us not forget them in death . St Ambrose
USED STAMPS: Your used stamps can do so much and it is worth taking the time to keep them cut approximately l” around them and drop them into a box provided in the Church in NCW under the table in the porch Sacristy side entrance. There are 120 girls in St. Mary’s Home Mynmar the Servite sisters look after them providing food, shelter and education up until 2020 they were going to school but since then schools are closed. They live in a regime now that is controlling, dangerous along with prices escalating for rice, oil and food, struggling as are the poor people in Mynmar. We manage to get money out to Sister Salette in person from friends who are travelling home to their district where the sisters live. With the used stamps we collected we give them to a stamp collector who gives us €5 per kilo so the more stamps we can get the more funds we receive. If you wish to post stamps to me my name is Maureen Finnegan please give me a call 087 9845102. Thank you for helping.
KEEP FIT: classes in Athea every Tuesday morning at 11.30am. Details Ring 087 9459971.
MASS SCHEDULES FOR THE WINTER; Weekend Mass in Tournafulla is on Saturdays at 7.30pm and in Mountcollins on Sundays at 11am.
PRAYER MEETING IN THE DESMOND COMPLEX: Janice Carraig hosts a prayer meeting on the last Sunday of each month at the Desmond Complex.
MAUREEN’S LAST TRIP FOR 2023: This will be our last trip for this year. We will be leaving Listowel the Square at 8am on Sunday 12th November to go the Blanchestown Shopping Centre, Dublin where you will have the opportunity to browse around 180 shops and there are 25 restaurants where you get refreshments. The largest shopping centre and your shopping is made convenient, if you buy something that is large and heavy you can drop this into the bus and continue in comfort. Fitzpatrick’s bus will pick up in Abbeyfeale 8.15am. opposite the church bus stop. Devon Inn 8,20am. Killarney Road NCW 8..25am and NCW Opposite Longcourt House Hotel bus stop at 8.30am.. then en route Rathkeale Hse Hotel 8.50am. Adare Heritage Centre 9.10am and the South Court Hotel Car Park 9.30am. Early booking advised to avoid disappointment, payment must be paid to confirm booking. For more information and booking contact Maureen 087 98435102.
ST. JOSEPH’S YOUNG PRIEST SOCIETY: The monthly meeting of the society takes place on the first Tuesday of the month in the parish office.
SOCIAL DANCING IN DUAGH: “Social dancing has commenced in the Duagh Sports and Leisure Complex on Friday nights 8:30 – 10:30pm. €8 entry fee. Complimentary teas and coffee. Door prize on the night”.
CYCLISTS ON THE GREENWAY: A request has issued that cyclists would ring their bells to signal their approach as walkers who can be engrossed in conversation or the scenery or listening to music get a shock when they, the cyclists suddenly whizz past and accidents could easily occur if walkers were not aware of cyclists about to pass them out. I’ve also been asked to remind cyclists that they should not cycle on the footpaths when they come up town.
MEALS ON WHEELS: Available from St. Ita’s Day Care, Convent St. Collect or have delivered. Order before 11am. Phone 068 51850. Wednesday November 1 Bacon and Cabbage or Roast Beef. Thursday, November 2 Turkey Steak or Lamb Chop. Friday, November 3 Fish Pie or Meat Alternative. Price List: Soup €1, Dinner €7, Half portion €5. Vegetables and Potatoes plate €3.
DANCING Classes with Timmy Woulfe in the Marian Hall Moyvane Monday nights at 8pm.
RAMBLING House in Tarbert on last Saturday of the month. Listowel the last Thursday of the month. Knockanure Rambling House first Thursday in the month. Ita’s Rambling House at the Desmond Complex is on the 3rd. Friday each month. Knocalucka is on the 3rd. Tuesday of the month.
GRINDS: Eimhear Flannery 086 8822215 is offering grinds to 5th years and Leaving Certs in Biology and Chemistry.
GREEN CARD: The US Department of State announced that the electronic enrollment period will roll out on Wednesday, October 6, at 12pm and will close on Tuesday, November 9 at 12pm, the Miami Herald reports. Those interested in immigrating legally to the United States must submit their applications electronically only through dvprogram.state.gov.
Officials warned that those planning to apply for the lottery “do not wait until the last week of the registration period to enter as heavy demand may result in website delays.”
https://www.irishcentral.com/
COMMUNITY ALERT: Press your panic button to check that it is in working order before the winter. The staff in headquarters ask you to press the button every month. The annual Christmas Lunch will take place in Fr. Casey’s Clubhouse on Sunday, November 26 followed by music and dancing to Paddy Quilligan. If something sounds too good to be true then more than likely it is so be careful out there. Warn your teenagers about how easy it is to become a money mule but if they receive a criminal record it could affect their chances of travelling or taking out a morgage. Take care on the roads and make sure that you are visible to other road users so if walking wear a high viz jacket and after dusk carry a torch and if driving turn on your lights if the wipers are on. Lock the doors of your car when you are inside, do not leave a handbag visible on the seat. When you are at home keep the two doors locked so that if someone calls a second person cannot enter the house through the back door while you are occupied at the front door. Once you reach the age of 65 and 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 for long periods of the day 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. Please note that this fee has increased by €6 and is payable in a lump sum each year after year one. 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. Committee members are Michael O’Kelly N.T., Seamus Stack, Mossie Gleeson, Kathleen Collins, Mary McArthur, John O’Sullivan, Billy Quirke N.T., Cllr. Francis Foley, Susan Daly, Catherine Daly, Marian Harnett.