I Wandered lonely as a Cloud,

That floats on high o'er vales & hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering & dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

& twinkle on the Milky Way,

They stretched in never-ending line,

along the margin of the bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company.

I gazed-and gazed- but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon the inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills And dances with the daffodils.

WATCH YOUR WASTE: Every household in Ireland is responsible for 117kgs of food waste per year. That’s between €400 and €1,000 per household per year, thrown into the bin. And it’s not just a waste of money, it’s also costing the earth. Food waste sent to landfill does not harmlessly break down but instead releases methane, a greenhouse gas twenty five times more potent than carbon dioxide. Where possible we should prevent food waste in the first instance. Top tips to prevent food waste include checking your cupboard before you shop, have a list, only buy what you need and don't be tempted by special offers on perishable foods. Do you know that: - 60% is Avoidable food waste such plate scrapings, leftovers, gone off fruit and veg and passed its date perishables. We can control this waste easily, by serving smaller portions at meal times and by shopping smarter. 20 % is potentially Avoidable food waste – things like bread crusts, potato skins. This waste could be used in another way; crusts could be made into bread crumbs and frozen until you need them. 20% is Unavoidable food waste – such as banana skins and chicken bones, but this doesn’t have to end up in landfill. It can be recycled by using your food waste recycling bin. Most households are entitled to a Food Waste Recycling service from their waste collector.

CHOMHBHRÓN: Our sympathies to the family of the late Josie Meehan (nee Kelly), the Downs, Ballingarry, who passed away peacefully, at her home, on 23rd February. Beloved wife of Peter and dear mother of Theresa, Kate, Helen, Majella, Sinead, Ronnie and Joanne, predeceased by her parents Bunny and Ellen Kelly and her brothers Pa and Tom. Deeply regretted by her loving husband, daughters, brothers-in-law Mossie and Dave, sister-in-law Joan, sons-in-law Tossie, Gerry, Shane and Eddie, grandsons, grand daughter Ali, great-grandson Jake, relatives and friends. Requiem Mass was celebrated in Ballingarry with burial afterwards in St Mary's Cemetery. May she rest in peace.

USED STAMPS: Many thanks to Katherine Fitzgerald, Kilfinny and her collectors for a huge bag of used stamps. They were sent off to the Mission centre in Dublin.

BALLYHOURA - Keep Well Campaign:

Ballyhoura Dev has launched an addition to their website which is about supporting people to access resources, information and training opportunities, all in one site, which will help them to stay healthy, both mentally and physically, through these challenging times. In there you will find supports, resources and information on wellness events which are being run either by Ballyhoura Development or by other organisations. Ranging from mindfulness talks to parenting resources, mental health supports, nutrition & cooking to Arts & Culture events. We hope you'll find something of interest! More info on www.ballyhouradevelopment.com International Womens' Day: Monday 8th March, 11am - 1pm: - International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women's equality. IWD has occurred for well over a century, with the first gathering in 1911. Today, IWD belongs to all groups collectively everywhere, it is not country, group or organization specific. The theme celebrates the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. Register online for a virtual celebration of all the women who have made huge contributions during the Covid-19 pandemic to help promote mental health and positivity in Limerick & Cork. Special guest speakers include - Mary Fitzgerald - Proprietor of Fitzgerald’s Woodlands House Hotel & SPA. Nikki Bradley - An Adapted Adventurer & Motivational Speaker. Cllr Mary Linehan Foley - Mayor of County Cork. Katie Sheehan - Producer at Spin South West. Nicola Dennehy - A Life Coach and Proprietor of An Tobar Wellness Centre. For any further information contact Laura Moloney McCarthy on Lmoloney@ballyhoura.org or 086-3959361.