Brian Kennedy sings in Liskennett:

TEXT ALERT REGISTRATION: Completed forms and accompanying contributions will be collected at the Church, after Mass on this coming Sat 5th October by GDA members or can be dropped into O'Gormans on 5th and 6th October. Please note: All existing members must re-register to continue with this important service.

CHOMHBHRÓN: Our sympathies to the family of the late Liam Lynch, Carigeen, who passed peacefully on Sept 29th after a short illness. Very deeply regretted by his sorrowing sons Liam, Thomas and John, daughter Mary (Hanrahan), son-in-law John, daughters-in-law Helen, Catherine and Margarite, grandchildren, sisters Mary and Bridget, brother Noel, neighbours and friends. He was reposed at Daffy's Funeral Home on Tuesday 1st with Requiem Mass on Wed 2nd in St. Mary's Church, Croom followed by burial in Reilig Mhuire.

PARISH PILGRIMAGE: Anyone interested in joining the Parish Pilgrimage to Lourdes early next year ? If so, contact the parish office at balgranparish@gmail.com and leave your name and email address. If you do so before this Friday, you will be invited to an information meeting next week for all those who have signed up for the Pilgrimage. At this, we hope to have all the details of flights, hotel, costings etc. So, if you are interested in travelling be sure to let us know.

AGM TIME: Granagh Development Association will be holding their AGM in the Community Centre on Thursday week,10th Oct, 8.30pm. We hope new members will feel free to attend and thereby get involved in various parish projects that interest them. Volunteers are priceless and local organisations will go into decline without them. Rural parishes have to look after themselves these days, no one comes calling to ask what you need and hand over the money. If community facilities are to be improved we have to be able to avail of grants - so we need to put forward new ideas and follow that up with applications and voluntary labour. Get involved and have your say.

MENTAL HEALTH WEEK: Friday 4th - 11th Oct: Limerick Mental Health Week is an annual event that aims to promote positive mental health in the community through a series of public talks, exhibitions, workshops, events as health, as well as highlighting the support services available in the area. The aim is to highlight the serious topic of mental health in an open, engaging and encouraging way, reduce stigma and help to bring mental health into everyday conversations. The week marks the yearly World Mental Health Day on October 10th, and the theme of the day, for 2019 it is Suicide Prevention. LMHW boasts more than 20 individual, free events catering for all ages, interests and locations with highlights including our Opening Night, Shine a Light on the River, a Family Fun Day, An Evening with Arnold Thomas Fanning and our special closing event a Limerick Choir Night at St. Mary’s Cathedral. Check out www.limerickmentalhealth.ie

JOYCE BROTHERS FESTIVAL: Fri 11-Sun 13th Oct. Joyce Brothers Music Festival, Kilfinane, which celebrates the life, times and works of brothers, Patrick Weston Joyce and Robert Dwyer Joyce, who were famous Irish poets, writers and collectors of traditional Irish Music. The Music Festival commemorates and keeps alive the memory and spirit of the Joyce Brothers in the local area. The weekend festival includes historical walks and talks on the history of the locality during the Joyce Brothers era, live concerts and Seisiúin traidisiúnta, exclusive workshops and guided tours of the beautiful Ballyhoura area. Opening Concert featuring Liam O Connor, Jackie Daly and Matt Cranitch in the Church of Ireland at 8pm, Tickets: €10. Follow on - www.joycebrothersweekend.ie

PINK RIBBON EVENT: Sat 12th Oct, 7.30pm, Foley's Bar, Ballyagran: If you can, please help make the 9th, and final, Pink Ribbon fundraiser a memorable one! They have raised over €42,500 for Breast Cancer Research to date and the aim is to get to €50,000. Anyone who can help with raffle items or auction items Maura O'Sullivan would be most grateful! Auction items already received include - a Barry Crockett bottle of Middleton, worth in the region of €900 with a cert of authenticity and an invite for two people to visit the Old Jameson Distillery. A girls Pink Merc donated by Ger Mullane from funstuff.ie and several paintings are just some of the items. For anyone that would like to donate, you may do so by lodging to the following a/c - Maura O Sullivan - IBAN IE60AIBK93523973000010. AIB Bank, Newcastlewest.

BUALADH BOS: Sunday 6th - Saturday 19th Oct. Limerick’s only arts festival dedicated to children is taking place in the Lime Tree & Belltable. Bualadh Bos captures the imagination of young audiences with magical theatre, book readings, chatty talks, interactive workshops plus a host of other activities for the rest of the family too. See www.limetree.ie

LISKENNETT CONCERT: Delighted to see a big crowd in Liskennett for the Liam O'Connor Show on Sunday. What a Fabulous evening we had - such talent on stage. The venue was so comfortable and warm, they floored the arena this time and it was decorated beautifully with flowers and plants from St. Joseph's Garden centre. Liam O'Connor and family are so generous with their time and talents, his daughter Saoirse sings and plays the keyboard and his son Oisin plays drums and guitar. It was great to see Brian Kennedy looking so well after all he has been through and so good of him to take time to come and support Liskennett Equine Centre. A fantastic violinist, Tony Fitzgibbon from Mayo completed the line-up in the band, he had been recently playing with the famous Willie Nelson !! We had a wonderful dancing display from Rudy Picha, Ballingarry, who has progressed rapidly from his appearance two years ago. The ' Liskennettes ' group were brilliant, hope we will get to hear them again... well done to Cat Wilson Young, Kay Ryan, Helen Picha, Kathryn Martin, Susan Moran & Aine Bennis. Great to hear service users Peter Kirwan & Joe Collins singing their hearts out. Congratulations to David Doyle and team for a great evening's entertainment, looking forward already to the next concert....!!!!

BABIES ARRIVE: Congratulations to Annemarie O'Keeffe and fiance Mark O'Sullivan on the arrival of their twin boys. Conor & Padraig arrived safely at thirty eight weeks weighing twelve pounds in total. Wishing the new family health and happiness and oodles of energy for the parents.

FREE PUBLICATION: The Independant newspapers are giving away The Little Green Book, parts 1&2 with loads of ideas on how to tread softly on the planet. You can get free copies by ringing 1890130 130.

PARISH OFFICE: The office opening hours are as follows:- Wednesdays, 3.30pm to 7.30pm. The first Monday of each month, 3.30pm to 9pm. Phone Marian on 069-68661 for further info or to make an appointment before calling.

DIARY: Thur 3rd - 5th Oct: Eigse Michael Hartnett, NCW. Tue 8th: Yoga in the Hall at 7.30pm. Wed 9th: Monster Bingo, Charleville Park, 8.30pm. Sun 6th-19th Bualadh Bos children's Festival. Thur 10th: AGM of Granagh Dev. Assoc,8.30pm. Fri 11th: Granagh Utd, Pub Quiz. 9pm.