THE HALL - 50yrs on 7th Dec:

V.de Paul COLLECTION: On Friday 29th Nov, a collection day will be held at O'Grady's Supermarket, Ballingarry, on behalf of the St. Vincent dePaul Society. All funds are used locally. Many of you support our work - and for that we Thank you. Without this help we simply would not be able to support our fellow parishioners, on your behalf. In addition to funds, we are always looking for volunteers. If you are interested, please contact us on our designated phone number, 087-1602110.

THE COLLEEN BAWN: Saturday 30th Nov; 8pm; Granagh Community Centre: The Full Moon Theatre Company, from Clare are performing their highly acclaimed production ‘Ellen Hanly- Colleen Bawn… the Eyewitness Accounts’, this coming weekend. This year marks the bi-centenary of Ellen's death. Much of the history of her short and tragic life was lived in our local parishes and has been remembered and well documented by local historian Patrick C Fitzgerald . We now have another source of insight and information through the work of Patrick T. Fitzgerald, Adare, in his most recent book. A very entertaining and informative night is assured. Tickets on the door; Adults €12. Students €10. Children Free.

THE HALL - 50yrs A GROWING: On Sat 7th Dec at 8pm, Granagh Development Association will be marking fifty years of Granagh Community Centre. We will be organising a display of photos etc from organisations that have used the Hall, over the years. If you were a past member of organisations such as he card committee, Macra, youth club or attended any function in the Hall, you may well see a younger version of yourself on display !!!! All welcome to join us and light refreshments will be served. The time limit is probably too short to get all the old photos in, for this event, but I would ask you to look them up anyway. There are so many out there, hidden away in drawers and attics, it would be a shame to loose them and the history attached. We would love to copy them to the computer and so have them digitised for future generations. Christy Kerins, who wrote the GAA history, is currently researching a history of both parishes, but is finding it difficult to find information on Granagh. This is one of the reasons we need to gather as much information as we can, before it disappears.

CHOMHBHRÓN: Our sympathies to the Noonan families on the death of Paddy Noonan of Clontemple, who passed peacefully at home, last week, after a short illness. Son of the late Paddy & Mary Noonan, Granagh, he is survived by his wife Sheila, daughters, sons, in-laws, seven grandchildren, his sisters Kay Moloney, Marie Loftus and Betty Curtin, his brothers Derry and Joe, relatives, neighbours and many friends. He was reposed at O’Grady’s with Requiem mass in Ballingarry on Saturday, November 23rd, and burial afterwards in St. Mary’s New Cemetery. Go dtuga Dia aoibhneas na bhflaitheas dó.

TRÓCAIRE: Living Gifts, are Changing Lives! Choose a Gift. Your loved one receives a beautiful Card. You change a families' Life.!! A € 55 Mother & Baby Kit. A story of thanks - Somalia is one of the most dangerous places to have a baby. Many mothers tragically lose their babies or die themselves during childbirth. Amran Abdi would have been one of these women but for maternity services and training for midwives provided by Khalil hospital, which is run and supported by Trócaire. Complications during the birth of her baby meant Amran needed an emergency c-section. Thanks to doctors & midwives, her beautiful baby boy was delivered safely and she has recovered fully. Risks during childbirth are very high for Somali women - hospitals with maternity services are a lifeline in communities. She said ... " I am so thankful for the lifesaving services I received at Khalil hospital. If I had this care previously, I might not have lost my other two babies" If you would like to purchase a Gift this year, Mary O'Regan will be selling them on behalf of Trócaire - On Saturday 14th, after Mass. I have a selection which includes; €5 - Soap. € 8 - Baby Chicks. € 15 - Seeds & Tools. € 15 - Solar Light. € 20 - School Lunches. € 30 - School Kit. € 50 - Help a Granny. You can also order by phone on 1850 408 408 or online at www.trocaire.org/gifts. All the information is in the brochure at the back of the Church.

NOVEMBER ROSARY: Many thanks to the members of the Bereavement group for arranging the rosaries at Shanabhotha and Granagh graveyards during the month. It is an old and lovely tradition.

GRANAGH UTD: Great success in the Club at present. Well done to Conor Clifford Granagh Utd U16 Captain, who has won the award for U16 Desmond Inter league Player Of The Year. Congratulations also to Seán O’Gorman and Paul Murphy on being voted Player Of The Year in their respective Divisions. Seán for the U13 league and Paul for U12 Div 4. It caps a great season where Granagh captured two league titles at under 13 and under 12, Div 4. The U12s qualified for their semi final and are into the last 32 in the country. Well done to the players and their coaches. Team: - Darragh O'Donoghue, Lewis Ferguson, Alex Sheehan, Luke Hourigan, Paul Murphy, Conor O'Shea, Jack O'Kelly, Liam Kingston, James McCarthy, Edward Purtill, Liam Power & Diarmuid Kiely. The U13 team also qualified for last 32. Team:- Aaron Deane, Conor O'Shea, Jack Mulqueen, John Hayden, Jack Fitzgerald, Cian McDonagh, Darragh Carroll, Adam Hourigan, Niall O'Brien, Jack Aherne, Paul Griffin, subs Bryan Horgan, Jack O'Kelly & James McCarthy.

COOLRUSS XMAS LIGHTS: They are back to dazzle again this year... The Big Switch is happening at 5pm on Sunday 1st Dec. Of course Santa will be there and special guest will be Meg Curran aka Megalicious and recently one of the Calendar Girls.!! The lights will be on from 5.30pm - 9.30pm each evening until 5th Jan. Donations will go to :- St. Joseph's Charleville, Pieta House and Breast Care UHL.

LIGHT up a MEMORY: Sunday 8th Dec, 6.00pm: The official ceremony to mark the illumination of the Light up a Memory Tree will take place at Milford Care Centre. The Lights will remain illuminated until Sunday 5th January 2020 at 6.00p.m when Mass will be celebrated at Milford Care Centre for all those remembered on the Light up a Memory Tree. If you wish to sponsor a light, you can do so online - www.milfordcarecentre.ie/light-up-a-memory/ . By completing the process online, you can also participate in the online Tribute Book which has become a popular method to let your relatives and friends know that you have sponsored a light in memory of your loved one. You can also purchase Christmas Cards through their online shop.

TIME TO VISIT ? Christmas is fast approaching and there are lots of celebrations planned for the festivities. Spare a thought for the lovely residents of the local Nursing Homes, that may not be able to venture out to enjoy the atmosphere. They would welcome any dancers, musicians, singers, storytellers, etc to visit and bring a little of the Christmas magic into their home. The local homes include, St. Gobnaits' Ballyagran; Beech Lodge, Bruree; Caherass, Croom; Croagh Nursing Home; Beechwood and St. Catherines' in Newcastle West and Dromcollogher Daycare Centre. So, if you are in a position to visit at any time during the month of December, give a ring to make an appointment.

DIARY: Wed 27th - 30th: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at Lime Tree. Sat 30th: 'The Colleen Bawn' play, in Granagh Community Centre, 8pm. Sun 1st : Bruree Xmas Fair, 12-4pm/ Adare Xmas Fair, 12-5pm & Coolruss Xmas Lights switch on, 5pm. Tue 3rd: Yoga in Granagh Hall. 7.30p. / Also, Croom Active Retired, Tea Dance. Wed 4th: Yoga in Bruff (Carebright), 9.15am & 7pm. Fri 6th: St. Joseph's Xmas Market, C.ville, 11am -3pm. Sat 7th: Kilmallock Xmas Market, 11-2pm. Sun 8th: Art Fair at Milk Market, 11-4pm. Thur 12th: Limk Youth Service Xmas Fair, 10-2pm & Drumcollogher Organic College Fair 5-8pm.. Fri 13th: " Entertaining Angels" play in Knockaderry, 8pm.