by Peg Prendeville

Christmas is in the air with various events taking place. A lovely night was had in Ballyhahill last Saturday night when Santa and Mrs Claus arrived at the Parish Hall and led many excited children and their guardians down the street to the Church to help Neilie Clifford turn on the Christmas Tree lights. Sweets were handed out, Paddy Mullane sang Christmas 1915, the children sang Silent Night before Santa led the way again back to the Hall where more treats and hot tea were made available to all. Then the schoolchildren put on a short delightful performance of Christmas songs while many children got hugs from Santa. His most friendly wife and himself danced to the music and everybody went home in good cheer. Thanks to the Ballyhahill Development and the Hall committees and the School for joining forces to create a magical night in the parish.

Then on Sunday night it was the Estuary Rollers turn to entertain. I believe there were 229 tractors, all lit up in Christmas lights, starting in Listowel and coming through Knockanure, Moyvane, Tarbert, Glin, Ballyhahill and finishing in Knockdown. I watched them from my front door winding their way, with horns blaring, as they snaked their way up through Clounleharde and back to the Knockdown Arms. They really do put in a lot of work wiring up their machines with multicoloured lights in order to raise funds for two worthy charities – the Nano Nagle Special School, Listowel and the Milford Care Centre, Limerick. Thanks to Estuary Macra members for the great work.

Unfortunately the weather was not very kind to Glin Fair on Saturday morning. It was cold and wet but lovely and warm in the Ceol Corbrai where there were lots of Arts and Crafts to be admired and bought. Almost every town around is holding these Craft Fairs and it is lovely to see them back after a few bare years of covid.

I spent a few days in East Grinstead, Sussex with my sister last week while Jim was in respite. It is a lovely small town with everybody very friendly and a lovely feeling of safety everywhere. I have never seen any disturbance of any kind. I travelled cheaply with Ryanair but unfortunately my flight home was delayed causing me to miss my bus down from Dublin. However I got a later one and got home safely. Meanwhile Jim did not have the luxury of travelling – nor would he want it – and though he was not ecstatic about his two weeks away he appreciated the kindness of the staff of Beechwood House. It was obvious that he was glad to get home to his own comforts though. It is just another experience that we have clocked up in our lives. I enjoyed the break very much.

Meanwhile two of my grandchildren got a great treat with their Dad by flying to Liverpool to attend a match at the weekend. Times surely do change from generation to generation. We loved our annual trip to Newcastlewest each year to buy new clothes!!