Extra Night for The Hucklebuck:

Theresa ' The Passion Hound' - All the latest News in The Messenger.

CHURCH NEWS:

Last Sunday, we remembered the first anniversary of James Hickey, Kilatal. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a Anam dilís.

Ash Wednesday Mass: In Granagh, on Wednesday 14th Feb at 7pm.

Thought for the Week. We seem to have multiplied our possessions but reduced our values.

GRANAGH PLAYERS:

EXTRA NIGHT: Saturday 10th Feb at 8pm.

We were very sorry to hear that so many people had to be turned away last weekend. The whole Cast, Crew & Band are delighted to be able to organise an Extra Night, to accommodate those whom we could not admit.

Every single chair was used, there wasn't standing room, no necessity for heating either, it was fans that we needed.! It has been a phenomenal success with people attending from all parts of the county and beyond. It struck a chord with many, bringing back memories of dancing to the big bands, meeting a first boy/girl friend, the excitement of your first dance and of course, the songs.

Jimmy Sheehy skilfully adapted the play to include all these elements, tying them together, while staying true to the story of one boy & one girl. This was the first play where we needed a live band on stage. Luckily we have Roisín Lavery in the parish who is an accomplished musical director & extremely talented keyboard player. Once she took charge of the music, we had no worries. She had worked previously with the drummer, John Daly from Limerick and so booked him in. John told us that he already played in Granagh, from the back of a truck parked at the Hall, for the Camogie All Ireland winners, back in 2014 !!! He never imagined that he would be back in Granagh again...

Our guitarist Eoin Butler has years of professional experience and along with the very talented Kieran Larkin, we had the bones of a band. Then she added our wonderful harmonisers, Trish & Susan, you just couldn't get better. Jim Chawke stepped up to take on the Brendan Bowyer role and John Kelly didn't even have to audition for Elvis.!

The play just would not work without the wonderful music. It adds so much energy to the play and at times you just want to continue singing and dancing. A wonderful night of entertainment, provided by so many local people, great credit due to each and every one for their contributions.

G. PLAYERS ON RADIO:

Saturday 10th; RTE 1, 8-9am; CountryWide. On one of the play nights we also had Diarmuid McIntyre from Grey Heron Media attending, as if it wasn't busy enough.!! He was recording snippets of interviews & chats to get a sense of what happens on the night of a play, from opening the Hall to the final song. Diarmuid was even sweatin' by the end of the night..! The show is presented by Philip Boucher-Hayes and will be up as a podcast afterwards, if you miss it. We don't even know what it will contain ourselves.??

CHOMHBHRÓN:

We offer our sincere sympathies to the family & relatives of Geraldine Costelloe (née McNamara), Navan/Clarina.

Geraldine passed peacefully, at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Navan, surrounded by her loving family .

Predeceased by her mother Mary, brothers Noel and Patrick. Geraldine will be very sadly missed by her loving husband Don, daughters, sons, grandchildren, sister Ann Fitzgibbon, nephews ( Kevin & Pat), brother Mike, other relatives and a large circle of friends. She was reposed at St. Joseph's Chapel of Rest, Navan, Requiem Mass was celebrated in St. Mary's Church, Navan, followed by Cremation in Mount Jerome Crematorium.

WHAT's ON:

Adare active retirement resume their weekly activities in Embury Close, 2.30 - 4.30pm, new members are always welcome. They have an exciting trip to Stirling, Scotland planned for May 19-26th. Six nights, seven days, €890pp sharing, B&B. More info contact Rosemary 087-9627150 or Tina 086-1685119, non members welcome.

DID YOU KNOW:

The Christmas Fm radio station runs an appeal every year and the listeners contribute in thanks for the music. This year the 'Magic of Christmas' appeal collected for children's charities. The total raised for 2023 was an amazing €324,000, divided between Barnardos, Barretstown, Make-A-Wish Ireland and the Community Foundation Ireland.

The funds go directly towards helping vulnerable children who are affected by traumatic life events such as poverty, abuse, neglect and bereavement, and to supporting children whose lives are affected by serious childhood illness.