by Peg Prendeville

Congratulations to Domhnall on being awarded for his work in Comhaltas over the years. I look forward to reading about his week in Wexford.

A large crowd is expected at the official unveiling of the monument in Clounlehard at the Old Burial Ground of Ath na gCorp. This site opposite Gary Flavin’s house is the site where 400 men, women and children were slaughtered by Elizabethan forces on March 12, 1580. Let us hope that this Sunday 18^th August at 3pm will see a fine evening to make it more comfortable for all present. The committee has done a lot of work in recent months.  All welcome.

Maybe I’m wrong but I would think that most people have been watching the Olympics for the past  two weeks and especially the return of the Olympians with their medals. Kellie Harrington stands out among them and is loved by all. It has an added interest for me as Portland Row, where Kellie is from, is where Jim and I spent our first few years as Civil Servants in the Dept of Posts and Telegraphs in Aldborough House which is located on the corner of Portland Row and Killarney St where the welcome home concert for Kellie was staged. Then and now it would be considered a rough area of the city and one would not walk down Seán McDermott street at night on ones own. So it must be a great treat for the people of this area to be seen in such a positive light now that Kellie has brought Olympic medals home to them. She is an inspiration to all with her zest for life and her wonderful singing voice. Boxing is not a favourite sport of mine but she has brought lots of pleasure to boxing fans.

Bon Voyage to our daughter Sarah and her boyfriend Gerard Nash who are returning to Dubai for another year. Sarah has enjoyed the country ways, far removed from the skyscrapers and sun of Dubai, for the past few weeks. She has been a great help in the garden, strimming, hedge cutting and powerwashing and entertaining her nieces and nephews who will miss their “fun aunt” who treated them to days out and sleepovers. I wish I had her energy! But I am grateful to have had it too when I was her age. However, we move on and slow down!

Work is progressing on our local Knockdown shop. We look forward to the opening.