DEATH:  Sincere sympathy to the families of the late Mike Barry, Cahir and Breda Gleeson, Mountmahon whose deaths occurred over the Christmas season.  We also offer our sympathy to the daughter and extended relations of the late Noreen O’Rourke, Clash.  May their souls rest in peace.

ST. ITA’S WRENBOYS:  The Wrenboys were out over Christmas collecting for Fr. Tim Galvin and Fr. John Moloney.  They want to say a special thanks to Mollie Walsh, daughter of Shay and Mary who was their youngest member and who played the accordion.

SAFE JOURNEY:  We wish Fr. Shoji a safe journey and a great visit with his family in India this January.  He’ll be sorely missed here in Abbeyfeale.

ABBEYFEALE FARMERS’ MARKET SPONSORS ONE OF THE OSKAR FILMS:  Each of the seven films being made to help St. Ita’s Sheltered Housing raise funds will be sponsored to the tune of €1,000 and in order to get the ball rolling  the stall holders at the Farmers’ Market raffled a Christmas Hamper to cover the cost of a  sponsorship.  The draw was held in JD Harnett’s  Cryle View Bar on Sunday, December 22 and the hamper was won by Mairead Tierney, Athea.   Many thanks to everyone who purchased lines.

ABBEYFEALE FARMER’S MARKET: Greetings from Abbeyfeale Farmers’ Market which was set up in April 2003 and which over the years has moved from the Community Centre, New St to St. Ita’s Hall to the small Square and from Friday to Saturday and back again to Friday.  We’re gone from 15 stalls on day one to 3 at present but we’re still hanging in there!  Every Friday morning I get up at 5.30am and bake brown bread full of goodness – wheat and white flour, oat bran and pinhead oatmeal mixed with buttermilk, a pinch of salt, some bread soda and a spoonful of sugar and baked in a hot oven until you tap it on the bottom and hear a hollow sound indicating that it is baked through.  I also make ginger bread loaded with spices and beaten with a wooden spoon until the melted butter and treacle and eggs coat the Odlums white flour into a chocolate coloured mass.  Then around 8am I start making scones – fruit, cheese and chive, plain and brown so that when I arrive at the market the steam is still rising and they are ready to be eaten with butter and some homemade blackcurrant or raspberry jam which is made from fruit picked on balmy summer evenings and frozen a couple of hours later.  Fruit that by the way that has never been sprayed or fertilized with chemicals and is grown with the aid of homemade compost.  We may be small but every year stall holder Helga Henn donates vegetables from her organic farm on the top of Dromtrasna, Seamus Quinlan – the beekeeper from Kilmanahan whose local honey is sold by Helga donates  honey from his 15 hives, Bridie Scully Collins and Bridie O’ Shea donate strawberry plants as well as shrubs and house plants, Mairead Daly brings hand picked apples from her trees and Kate Murphy and her John Paul 2 Award students harvest vegetables, make scones and buns and along with Maria Quinn, Trish Roche, Ann O’Meara and Mary and Kate McGill put together a couple of tables laden with freshly picked vegetables, plants, shrubs, scones, cakes, jams, honey and sell them after Sunday Mass twice or three times a year.  All the money raised goes to Fr. Tim Galvin’s Mission in South Sudan and since Fr. Shoji has moved here to assist Fr. Tony in the parish a donation is also made to run an orphanage in the diocese that he has been seconded from.  Abbeyfeale Farmers’ Market may be small but we are making a difference to the lives of people in far flung places and this Christmas Season we have donated a huge hamper to St. Ita’s Sheltered Housing for its Night at the OsKars fundraiser, the money raised will help the elderly in our local community.  Hopefully we will be able to continue to meet in the small Square every Friday morning from 9-1pm from mid-January to Christmas every year, we would be delighted to welcome new stall holders to the market.

MICHEAL ENGLISH COMES TO DUAGH:  Every one of the 800 plus people who attended the concert in the church last week will tell you how wonderful it was so if you missed out be sure and mark March 27, 2020 in your diary.

WOOD TURNERS: The secretary of the Kerry Chapter of the Irish Woodturner Guild is Bob Cosgrave and  he has issued an invitation to local woodturners to come to their monthly meeting in Tralee on the second Tuesday of each month between 7-10pm.  Contact Bob Cosgrave 087 2833507 for further information.

GATE CLOSED:  The church gates will be locked each evening at 8pm for the winter months

AFTERNOON TEA DANCING:  Fr. Casey’s, Sunday, January 12 from 3-6pm in aid of Fr. Martin Mc Cormack’s African Project.  Music by Donie Walsh and Anthony.  Admission €5.  Raffle on the day.

COMMUNITY SUBSTANCE MISUSE TEAM:  A free and confidential service for under 18’s and their families impacted by substance misuse is provided on the first Wednesday of the month in St. Ita’s Hall from 2.30pm – 5pm.  Contact Kristeen Laing 086 4141854.

KERRY LONDON ASSOCIATION AGM:   January 15, Sala Room, Crown Hotel, Cricklewood at 7pm.

NEW COURSES STARTING IN JANUARY 2020 IN THE OLD TECH:  The following new classes are starting up in January 2020: Demonstration cookery, Cookery for Special Diets (Gluten free etc), Childcare QQI Level 5 & 6, Healthcare QQI Level 5,  Arts and Crafts, Beginners Horticulture/Vegetable crop production(Gardening-Learn when and how to set seeds, care for plants etc), and Creative writing (Different forms of Creative Writing styles such as short stories, poetry, drama, short sketches and plays)

If you wish to register for any of the above free classes, please call Mary in the office: 06831198 or log onto www.learningandskills.ie.

YOGA CLASS:  Wednesday from 7 – 8.30pm Abbeyfeale Rugby Club.  Ring Mike on 087 2732591.

WEST LIMERICK SINGING CLUB: The club meet on the first Friday of each month in Philip Enrights, The Ramble Inn, Church Street from 9pm.

FIRST FRIDAY REFLECTIONS WITH FR.  SHOJI:  On the First Friday of each month, Fr Shoji will lead an hour of Praise and Worship in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel beginning at 9am.

TRADITIONAL MUSIC CLASSES ATHEA:  Tutor Michael Broderick, Top of the Town Friday nights; Beginners 7.15 – 7.45pm, Advanced 7.45 – 8.15pm.

COMMUNITY ALERT: ABBEYFEALE COMMUNITY ALERT: 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.  Then, in year two you will also receive a bill for the monitoring fee so in year one the bill will be €90 and in year two and every other year after it will €162 approx.  Committee members are Sean Broderick, Michael O’Kelly N.T., Seamus Stack, Mossie Gleeson, Kathleen Collins, Mary McArthur, Buddy and Brenda Barry, John O’Sullivan, Billy Quirke N.T., Cllr. Francis Foley, Mary Jo O’Connell, James Joy, Denis Collins, Marian Harnett.

HARNETT MAGAZINE:  Some Harnett Reunion magazines are still available at Ann Lyons Shop and from James Harnett, also the final items of Harnett merchandise are available at Heavenly Gifts.

ABBEYFEALE PARENT & TODDLER GROUP: 11am – 12.30pm every Tuesday and Thursday, St Ita’s Hall. New people always welcome. Suitable for parents/care givers and children aged birth to 4 years including children attending pre-school. This group is an opportunity to meet other parents and play time with your baby/toddler. This is a free service and priority is given to those in receipt of social welfare payment or living in social housing. Contact Mary on 087 9382883.

WEST LIMERICK TOASTMASTERS:  Develop your speaking skills and your self confidence at West Limerick Toastmasters.  First and third Wednesday of the month September – June in the Desmond Complex from 8 – 10pm.  New members welcome.  Contact Charles 087 7972855.

SCHOOL OF MUSIC AND DRAMA:  Sephira School of Music and Drama has opened on Main St .  All ages are welcome.  Contact Ruth Joyce on 085 2052384 /[email protected] or look them up on Facebook.

ABBEYFEALE BOOK CLUB:  St. Ita’s Hall, the second Wednesday of each month September – June from 7.30 -9pm.   All welcome.  Refreshments served.

THE IRISH CANCER SOCIETY is looking for volunteers to drive patients to and from their chemotherapy treatments in all public hospitals nationwide. Volunteers will need their own car but all expenses are paid. If you have 2 free days a month (Monday – Friday) and an active email address we would love to hear from you. Please call Laura on 01 2310 594, email [email protected] or go to www.cancer.ie for more information.

HELPLINE FOR MEN SUFFERING DOMESTIC ABUSE:  A new helpline has been set up and will operate 36 hours a week on 1800816588.

GROW COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH MOVEMENT IN IRELAND.   Meet on Wednesday’s at 8pm in the Seanchaí Centre, Listowel. This programme is open to all and is free of charge. No introductions needed. Just come along. For more information, contact Jerry, 086 0271990.

MASS TIMES IN THE PASTORAL AREA UNIT:  Abbeyfeale – Saturday 6.30pm   and    Sunday   9.15am & 12noon.    Athea -   Saturday 7.30pm and Sunday 10.30am. Mountcollins   – Sunday 11am.  Templeglantine – Saturday 6pm and Sunday 10.00 am.  Tournafulla    -   Saturday 7.30pm.

ABBEYFEALE PARISH CHURCH:  Fr Tony Mullins PP 087/2600414.  Fr Brendan Duggan 087/0562674. Fr Denis Mullane 087/2621911. Fr Shoji Vargihese      089/4431922 Parish Church 068/51915. Parish Office; Open 11:00 – 1:00 p.m. Tues. – Fri. (068) 31133    Email: [email protected]   Limerick Social Services:  061-314111.    AA    061/311222 Al-Anon 086/8143425. Parent Support worker 068/31019.  Accord NCW 069/61000.   Samaritans Freephone 116123 or text 087/2609090 or email [email protected] Aware (Depression & Anxiety) 1980 303 302 National Suicide Helpline (Pieta House) 1800 247 247 Irish Advocacy Network (Peer advocacy in mental health) 01 872 8684 Pieta House (Suicide & self-harm) 01 623 5606 IACP (Counselling & Psychotherapy) 01 230 3536 Shine: (Supporting people effected by mental ill health) 01 860 1620 061 – 412111 or Free phone 1850609090 A.A. 061-311222 A  l-Anon 086-8143425 Bereavement Support: 068 / 31203    068/ 31262    068/51984    St Vincent De Paul    Tel 087/1213560 .  Counselling Appointment    061/314213.  Masses:   No morning Mass Monday, evening Mass at 7pm. Daily Mass 10am Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday except in the event of a funeral when Mass will be at 11am.   Saturday Morning Mass at 11am.  Wednesday 11am New Year Day World Day of Prayer for Peace.  Saturday 6.30pm Michael Collins, Upper Purt Month Mind.   John Collins, Ballaugh and deceased family members.   Jimmy Daly, Dromtrasna Collins.  Jimmy Quirke, Kilconlea Upper. Thomas Enright ,Rathoran 3rd Anniversary. Sunday 12noon Jim Joy Ballaugh & Peg Joy Convent Road.   Sheila & Billy O’Connor, Mountmahon & and Anthony O’Connor .  Little Christmas  Day, Monday, January 6 -  Masses at 10am & 7pm.

Adoration  will resume on Tuesday, January 7.

RAMBLING HOUSES:   Monagae 2^nd. Monday of the month.   Knockalougha, Duagh on the third Tuesday of every month.