BRIAN KENNEDY - RETURN VISIT....

ROSARY IN THE GRAVEYARD: For the next two Sundays in November, rosary will be recited in Shanabhotha at 3pm and in Granagh at 3.15pm.

PAROCHIAL HSE SURVEY:

We will be asking you to complete a survey relating to our Parochial House, shortly. We need to update our information since the last survey, which we could not act upon, due to Covid restrictions. The question we are asking is where can you go in Granagh, to meet your neighbours, have a cuppa and a chat ?

We feel that we have a wonderful amenity right at the heart of our parish which could be used as a community hub for various activities and contribute towards combating rural isolation & loneliness.

We have just been given a two year lease by the diocese and this is our window of opportunity to show that we have realistic and relevant plans for the house and its grounds. If plans do not go ahead, the house will be sold. We would love to hear your opinions and suggestions relating to uses for the house and grounds as, ultimately, it will be you, the people of Granagh, who will decide whether the project will go ahead.

There are a number of funding streams for such projects available and, should your response to the project be a positive one, we would look to access these funds to conduct a feasibility study. Ballyhoura Development will assist with the application process and your surveys will be vital in showing that there is widespread community support for the project, should that be your view.

We wish to stress that, in developing this amenity, we would not seek to cut in on any existing amenities in the parish but would rather seek to fill a gap that we believe exists for a place to drop in and meet others at different times of the day. Some of you may wish to use the space for remote working, while others may feel that the site would be ideal for a childcare facility.

Community hubs have been developed in other parishes with great success, with each community adapting the hub to their own needs. You might like to look up Glenbrohane(converted an old pub), Kildorrery(refurbished several older buildings in the village) and Ballysteen (converted an old library).

‘'Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name And they’re always glad you came.’'

These lines from the old television series ‘Cheers’ show the importance of having a place at the centre of the community where everyone can feel at home and we believe that the parochial house, serving as a community hub, could be such a place. However, it is what YOU think that counts and the project will be progressed or dismissed depending on your opinions. We would be grateful if you could take the time to complete and return the survey.

LIGHT UP A MEMORY:

Milford Care Centre will again be running their ' Light up a Memory ' Christmas campaign. As in previous years, they are reaching out to you with a special request to sponsor a light in memory of someone special this Christmas. The official "tree illumination" ceremony will take place virtually on Sunday 5th Dec at 6pm on their facebook and website pages. To sponsor a light, visit their page - www.milfordcarecentre.ie By completing the process online, you can also participate in the online Tribute Book, in memory of your loved ones.

LIAM O'CONNOR SHOW:

Sunday 12th Dec, 3pm: Liskennett Equine Therapy Centre presents the excellent Liam O'Connor Show in the Indoor Arena, where there is plenty of fresh air. Special guest Brian Kennedy ! If you didn't get to go last time, book your ticket now. Tickets cost €20 and are available by phoning David Doyle on 087-273 4150.

DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS:

You may have heard of the above or as it is officially known, MSF.ie - Médecins Sans Frontières. I was reading through their newsletter and again it struck me how different our lives are, depending on where we live. And, how hundreds of thousands of people struggle daily to exist while elsewhere people's thoughts might be on travel, shopping, dining etc. For example, did you know that the people of Afghanistan have been affected by more than twenty years of war. MSF have a huge hospital in Helmand province and try to carry on working while fighting goes on around them. They have nearly 1,000 Afghan staff, their emergency room treats more than 500 patients a day and a maternity ward with an average of 60 deliveries a day.! July/August the fighting got progressively worse and they were getting 30 to 40 people for surgery daily with bullet wounds and injuries from explosions. These people arrived walking or on bikes in 48 degree heat. The health system wasn't in great shape, but now has essentially collapsed. That's why it's so important that MSF is still there giving people the basic lifesaving healthcare. They continually need contributions to send their medical teams around the world to help those suffering as a result of wars, starvation and now Covid. Annually, they send 2,500 international staff, where the need is greatest. This year they have travelled to Brazil, Haiti, Sudan, Kenya, the Congo, Madagascar, Yemen and Kyrgyzstan in central Asia. An example of your support - €12 per month could pay for blood transfusions for three people; €12.75 could pay for an emergency kit to treat 72 wounded; € 14 could provide a surgical kit for an MSF hospital; €21 could send a doctor to the field for three days. See www.msf.ie or 1800-905-509.

MARKETS & FAIRS:

Sunday 21st Nov; 11am - 3.30pm: Christmas Food & Craft Fair. Urban Co-Op shop in the Eastway Business Park, Ballysimon Road. They will also open on 5th, 12th & 19th Dec.