By Pat Brosnan

Community Alert 

It is the time of year to remind people of the danger of fire in the home. Have you had your chimney cleaned? Are your open fires, stoves, electric or gas heaters safe, other fire hazards are electric blankets and overloading of electrical sockets. Have smoke and carbon monoxide alarms fitted. We must alert you to the ongoing problem of bogus sales and trades people calling to people’s homes or on the phone, do not engage with these people. For those wondering what to buy for an elderly relative or friend think security and safety for Christmas such as lighting, alarms, locks, monitoring devices etc. Remember if you see or suspect a crime ring 069-20650. Stay alert, stay safe.

(From Community Alert)

Christmas Party

West Limerick Set Dancing Club will hold their annual Christmas party at Fr. Casey’s GAA Clubhouse, Abbeyfeale on Saturday 13 December at 9pm with music by Taylors Cross Céilí Band. Tickets €20 available from Con, Nora or Kevin.

Draoicht for the Late Late Toy Show

Draoicht will be representing West Limerick on the Late Late Toy Show on Friday, 28 November. This group has members from six different parishes and originated at the Desmond College under the expertise of music teacher Miss Jude Keane. The members are Diarmuid and Laoise Curtin, Tournafulla. Emma Roche, Castlemahon. Jack O’Connor, Kilcolman, Brian Hartnett, Newcastle West, Patrick Moriarty and Ciara Brosnan, Templeglantine and Grainne Buckley, Broadford. They are currently playing in Arthur’s Quay each Saturday in November to mark the 25th anniversary of the shopping centre and are playing at concerts and fundraisers throughout the county. The  opportunity to perform on the Toy Show is very exciting for the members and their families.

Childline Launches Limerick Appeal

Childline has launched an emergency appeal in Limerick for donations so that vulnerable children can continue to access its service at nighttime. Nationally the charity needs 1.2millian in funding to keep the 24-hour service operational, the nighttime service has been available for 15 of childline’s 26 years of operation. Childline’s Limerick office is currently staffed by 43 volunteers who have provided more than 5,000 hours of listening time so far this year, answering a total of 31,291 calls. Childline’s West/Mid West regional manager Alex O’Keeffe believes that the service needs to be available on a 24 hour basis to give a voice to the most vulnerable children. Childline, which is run by the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, is almost completely reliant on public donations. Mr. O’Keeffe commented “It’s partly to do with the economic downturn people have a lot less to give, also the controversies surrounding charities have affected people making donations, the trust they had is gone”. If the nighttime service is closed it will mean that 45,000 calls from vulnerable children around Ireland will go unanswered in 2015. Donations can be made online at www.savechildren.24.ie or €4 text donation can be made by texting childline to 57911.

Kilmallock Senior Club Hurling Munster Champions

Congratulations to Kilmallock senior club hurlers who were crowned Munster champions after a gripping extra-time victory over Cratloe in the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday last. After the sides finished level after 60 minutes 3-15 to 1-21, Kilmallock outscored their Clare opponents by 0-11 to 0-03 in extra time to claim the provincial silverware for a third time. Kilmallock, who last won the Munster title in 1994 will now play Ulster champions Portaferry in February for a place in the All-Ireland final on St. Patrick’s Day.

Annette’s Fashion Show in aid of The Friends of St. Ita’s and New Rehab Facilities

Annette’s Abbeyfeale Christmas Fashion (Annual half price) Show will be held at Fr. Casey’s GAA Clubhouse, Abbeyfeale this Sunday, November 30th at 3pm. Please support this worthy cause.

Rambling Houses

Listowel Rambling House will take place in the Seanchaí Centre this Thursday November 27th from 9.15pm. Admission is free, tea/coffee served.

Mick Sheehy’s Rambling House, Knockalougha is held on the third Tuesday of each month from 9pm

Farming Seminar

A farming seminar will be held in the Listowel Arms Hotel on Monday, December 8th. Minister Simon Coveney will be guest of honour.

Shopping Trip

The Moyvane ICA annual shopping trip to Cork is on Wednesday, December 3rd. Bus leaves Moyvane village at 7am. Cost is still only €16.

Book with Eileen Roche on 087-6679943

New Radio Centre

Tune in on Sunday mornings at 11.00am to West Limerick 102FM for the new programme, Your Business, which features local business people and current business news. Any business people interested in taking part in this programme from Dromcollogher to Athea, Abbeyfeale, from Glin to Askeaton, Adare, Rathkeale etc. please contact Pat O’Donovan at 069-62713 or 087-9977340. The programme is presented by Pat O’Donovan and produced by Mary Lee. It goes out each Sunday morning from 11am to 11.30am.

Study due on Zero-hour Contracts

The Minister of State for Business and Employment, Gerald Nash, has said that if the law needs to be changed to protect low-paid workers or zero-hour contracts he will not shirk from doing so. Zero-hour contracts are prevalent in a number of sectors including catering, hospitality, teaching and the health sector, in both the public and private sectors. Under such contracts, workers have to be available to work at the discretion of the employer but have no guarantee of a fixed number of hours each week. Unions argue that this means that they experience huge uncertainty regarding both a regular income and planning family life. The Minister announced the Government is tendering for a study into the prevalence of zero-hour contracts in Ireland.

He expects the tender to be completed within four weeks and the final study should be finished by the end of March 2015. The group carrying out the study would be expected to consult with all the stakeholders including employees and employers. Mr. Nash said “work should always pay” and the study should examine how precarious work interacts with social welfare.

Troika Officials Back In Dublin

Troika officials began their second post-bailout mission to Ireland, to monitor the country’s progress after the financial crisis, this week. Top of the agenda for the representatives of the IMF, European Commission and European Central Bank no doubt will be the repayment of bailout loans. The Troika officials will meet teams from the Central Bank, Department of Finance, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the NTMA and NAMA. There will be no meetings with Government Ministers.

Valley View Emporium and Equine Retirement Centre

From Sunday 23rd November Kathleen Barrett, Knocknagorna, Athea will have a Christmas stock and Garden Centre sale. Great bargains to be had for all including jewellery, bags, Christmas ornaments etc. which would make ideal Christmas gifts. Also Christmas arrangements and wreaths made to order before Christmas. Deliveries made within a 5 mile radius. For further information contact Kathleen at 087-2361712.

Teens risk burn-out by playing too many Sports

The country’s young sports people are suffering serious burn-out due to over training and playing for too many teams across too many sports according to an investigation recently. Leading clinicians, sports scientists and coaches from a variety of disciplines are saying young people are pushing themselves over the top in training and they are warning that they are taking part in rigorous training regimes with what their bodies can handle. According to Mr. Mogna, a professor in Dublin City University School of Health and Human Performance said they “are seeing injuries in young people that were unthinkable 20 years ago”. He also said over-reaching is the first stage and means the combined workload doesn’t allow for adequate recovery. The problem is the next phase is overtraining, where you’re consistently over-reaching and don’t get appropriate recovery. At that point, you are looking at a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

West Scór na nÓg Finals

The West Scór na nÓg finals will be held at the new Community Hall, Castlemahon on Friday, November 21st at 8pm.

Schools Competition

Business studies students across Limerick are being encouraged to enter a unique competition entitled “Limerick Business Thru the Ages” organised by Limerick Chamber and sponsored by Dell. The competition asks students to research a business or entrepreneur from a period of time over the last 200 years. It has been designed to encourage awareness amongst students of the changing business landscape in Limerick over the last 200 years and how businesses need to adapt and evolve. Schools must register their interest in the competition and submit a proposal before December 12th.

Farm Waste

Limerick farmers are being encouraged by the local authority to avail of an upcoming opportunity to dispose of their hazardous wastes. The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) will operate a disposal centre in Abbeyfeale later this month. Waste items ranging from out-of-date pesticides to waste electronic and electrical equipment, waste engine oil and contaminated packaging can be deposited at Abbeyfeale Mart on Tuesday, November 25th from 9.30am to 3.30pm. For further information visit www.epa.ie or Lo Call 1890335599.

By Pat Brosnan

Palliative Care

A website has been launched to provide parents with greater information and understanding of palliative care for children. The children and young people palliative care website was developed by the All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC) to assist parents, guardians, carers and the wider public in understanding what children’s palliative care is and seeks to filter the wide range of information available on the internet to make it easier to find the right information. The site is available at www.cypph.com.

The Three Tenors for Newcastle West

The Three Tenors will perform in Newcastle West Parish Church on Sunday, 7th December. Organised by Newcastle West and District Lions Club this event is the club’s annual major fundraiser for local charities. Tickets for this wonderful event are now on sale at €25 and can be purchased at Tony Hayes’ Day2Day shop in The Square, Newcastle West. You can also get tickets by calling Mike on 069-61888 or Liam on 087-6780456. Tickets will not be available at the door so please buy yours now to avoid disappointment.

Bereavement Support Day

A Bereavement Support Day will take place in Ardfert Retreat Centre on Saturday, 29th November from 10am –4.30pm with Sr. Mary Lalor and Marie Geraghty-Stewart. For bookings and information please contact 066-7134276.

Athea Fair

The fair was held in Athea on Saturday last. We were blessed with the fine weather and it held out for most of the day. It was great to go down our local village and meet so many people and mingle with our neighbours and friends. There were plenty of stalls around the place and a wonderful atmosphere in our  village. Long may the annual fair continue and well done to all the people who worked and organised the wonderful day.

Mortgage Deposit Rules Could Ease

Central Bank Governor, Patrick Honohan, has indicated that there could be an easing of the rules that will require mortgage applicants to save a 20% deposit which is a lot of money to put together to buy a house as so many people have huge expenses and it is very hard to save money nowadays. Last month the Central Bank announced new mortgage rules requiring homebuyers to pay a deposit worth 20% of the value of a property. It also announced that banks will be restricted to lending three and a half times a borrower’s gross income. The regulations were due to come into effect on January 1st, however, there was political backlash to the proposed new rules and many argued the strict regulations would make it impossible for first time buyers to get on the property ladder. Mr. Honohan, the Central Bank Governor said the introduction of a mortgage insurance here is not trouble free but could relieve the problem of the high deposit requirements for first time buyers.

Kilmallock Defeat Sarsfields in Extra Time

Kilmallock and Sarsfields combined to produce a pulsating Munster club senior hurling championship semi-final that thrilled the large crowd at Fitzgerald Park in Kilmallock on Sunday last 9th November with two late points sealing a two point win for the Limerick Champions after extra time. Kilmallock play Cratloe of Clare in two weeks time in the Munster Club Championship Final.

Child Protection in Sport Awareness Programme

A course aimed at sports leaders, children’s officers, parents and anyone working with young people in sport has been arranged for later this month. The course, which is run over three hours on one night, is organised by Limerick Sports Partnership is scheduled for Wednesday, 26th November in the Woodlands Hotel from 7pm-10pm. Cost of course is €17 per person and registration is essential online at www.limerickcitysports,ie as places are limited to 16 per course. Participants must be over 18 years of age. Closing date for booking is Monday, 24th November. For more information on the course or other events email [email protected] or contact Kathleen at 061-333600.

The Late Marie Buckley and Jack Duggan

Sympathy is extended to Pat Buckley, Lower Rd., Athea on the recent death of his mother Marie pre-deceased by her husband Lar. May her soul rest in peace.

Also the death occurred of Jack Duggan of Keale. Sympathy is extended to his relatives and friends. May he rest in peace.