GOOD NEWS, This Week:

Monotropa uniflora, (no chlorophyll,)

Bluberry family.

COOLRUSS XMAS LIGHTS: Through the generosity of you the public, we raised €7,350 and so we are able to divide that between our three charities - Pieta House, St. Joseph's Foundation Charleville and Rise for Daithí. We received more money this year for charity, than last, so thank you very much. This year we had some very generous donations but everything counts big or small. We missed our opening night with Santa and the big crowd that is usually around that night but we definitely had more people visit this year and all kept themselves socially distanced. So to everyone that helped- Pauline and Kevin on building the indoor village, Eamon with his jeep and trailer, David our carpenter, Brendan our Electrician. Pat for his amazing tractor for the Santa drive, to the local press for helping us spread the word and of course a Special word to Santa. A big thanks from Bernie, Kevin, Ciara and Joe, the team at Coolrus Christmas Lights. LISKENNETT FOREST: Well done to Anne Hickey & Co who applied some time ago for a grant to help continue making improvements in Liskennett. In total ten projects in Limerick have benefited from this measure of the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme. We received €6,588 which will go towards signage and improvements. At present there are unprecedented numbers using the car park, weekends especially, as the Covid lockdown continues. Parking on the roadside is extremely dangerous and a hazard for oncoming traffic. We would ask people to avoid doing this and wait until a space becomes available in the car park. Maybe pop back to the shop for a coffee & ice-cream, while you wait. CLASSES ONLINE: Everything is online these days, so you can exercise, meditate, learn how to crochet, all kinds of everything. Thursday 21st Jan, 8pm. Get gardening organically in Spring - a webinar with Organic mentor Jim McNamara and host Carmen Cronin. To register for this free event, please email info@limerickgardenfestival.com. Weekly yoga and meditation classes on Thursday evenings - Hatha Yoga 6.30-7.30pm. Breathwork & Meditation 8-9pm. Check out www.eileensheehan.com for all the details.

HAPPY NEWS: Belated congratulations to Emer Hickey, Kilatal on her engagement to Ronan Mullane on New Year's day. Wishing you lots of joy and happiness in this new chapter of your lives! DID YOU KNOW: 17th Jan, 1950:- The Great Brinks Robbery. 18th Jan, 1951:- First use of a lie detector in the Netherlands. 19th Jan, 1966:- Indira Gandhi elected India's 4th Prime Minister. 20th Jan, 1961:- John F. Kennedy, took the oath of office . 21st Jan, 2008:- Black Monday in worldwide stock markets. 22nd Jan,1970:- The Boeing 747 makes its first commercial trip to London. 23rd Jan, 1977:- The Alex Haley book "Roots" is turned into a TV mini series.