Lucky Ireland - Temps in Europe 40+

CHURCH NEWS: Graveyard Masses; In Granagh Cemetery on Thursday 20th July at 7.30pm and in Kilmacow on Friday 21st at 7.30pm. Mass celebrated on Sunday 9th was in memory of Willie & Mary Biggane, Kilmore. REMEMBERING OUR DECEASED: For the month of July, we lovingly remember our family, friends and neighbours, whose mortuary cards are displayed on the Church noticeboard:- Bernard Chawke & Ted Tierney, Granagh. Sr. Mary Bennett, Graigacurra. Johanna Chawke, Ballyvologue. Margaret Sheiran & Mary Clifford, Kilmacow. Mary & Willie Biggane, Kilmore. Patrick Morrissey & Maurice Barrett, Doorluss. Willie Lee & Tom Sexton, Lisduane. Stephen Chawke, Mungret. Mairead Cagney, Castletown. John Sheahan, Banogue. Bridget McEniry, Derryclough. William Sheehy, Croagh. Owen Neville, Shannon. Peg Houlihan, Athlacca. GOOD LUCK LADIES: The 2023 Women's World Cup kicks off in Australia and New Zealand on Thursday. This is the ninth Women’s World Cup with thirty two countries participating, the largest number ever. Eight countries are playing at the tournament for the first time, including Ireland, Haiti, Morocco, Panama, Philippines, Portugal, Vietnam and Zambia. It is estimated that around 4,000 fans from Ireland are travelling to the tournament, but there’s also a huge number of Irish people living in Australia now. Ireland is playing the opening game in Australia against the hosts who are known as the Matildas. Australia is going to be a tough opponent, they are ranked tenth, while Ireland is 22nd. This is their eighth appearance at a World Cup and they've made it to the quarter-finals three times. Added interest for us in Limerick is team member Claire O'Riordan, a Newcastle West native, who has had a superb season with Glasgow Celtic. She scored her first international goal against Zambia in a friendly last week and her performance has been enough to see her make the squad. The game against Zambia was O'Riordan's 19th international senior cap since her debut against Hungary in March 2016. Multi-talented O'Riordan has played camogie and Ladies Gaelic football for Limerick, she then made her name in the Women's National League with Wexford as a striker. There, the highly rated O'Riordan won league titles and the FAI Cup.

CONGRATULATIONS: Lots of happy events this month, that I know of. Sending congratulations to Australia; for Amy McCarthy & Johnny Jordan on the birth of their first baby, a little girl, Isabelle Grace, born on the 13th July, all doing well. Happy 34th birthday wishes to Orla Noonan. Moving up the scale, Mike Chawke was celebrating one of those roundy birthdays with the US contingent arriving in force.. Adding to family numbers, his sister Rose is expecting the arrival of twin grandchildren later on in the year. Another Chawke - Niamh tied the knot with her beau Peter Hughes on Friday last. It wasn't a great day but she got in the door before a shower and afterwards a brief sunny spell welcomed the happy couple. Not many knew that the evening before, Kathleen our sacristan, spotted a hive of bees after landing in the church grounds. They were probably taking a rest from all the rain. She got on straight away to the Barretts' who kindly removed them safely to a new hive. This was probably not included in her job description !!!! Moving up another step, Thomas & Anne Hickey were celebrating their Ruby anniversary, forty years together, a great achievement these days.!! Good health, Good Luck & Happiness to all.

GRIEF SUPPORT: Thur 10th Aug, 7.30, Rathkeale Parish Hall. A non professional group of people gathering to support others. Grieving can be a lonely process, it may help to talk. For further information contact Catriona, 087-4776505. POP-UP SHOP: Mon 17 - Fri 28th Jul, 10am - 3pm, Weekdays. Great idea from St. Joseph's Foundation, their Pop Up Store at Moran's, Charleville will open from Monday 17th with pre-loved fashions. Further Donations of clean, good quality items are welcome. For queries please contact Susan, on 086 033 3310.

PLACES TO VISIT:

Terra Nova Fairy Garden: Open for one last Summer until 27th August 10am - 6pm. The garden is quite unique, a visitor attraction wrapped around a family home, a lush half acre filled with little surprises. Visits include complimentary refreshments in our Hobbit House and the garden is also home to Ireland's largest fairy shop. . We advise people to book on 0876352204, address is Dromin, V35 V389.

Foynes Flying Boat Museum: Open Tue - Sun, 10am to 5pm. Their new Maureen O'Hara exhibition is now open! See her Academy Award, the original horse trap from The Quiet Man, dresses, movie costumes and more! Relax on Maureen's sofa in the sitting room and enjoy clips from her iconic films.

TRÓCAIRE/ ONE DAY: Trócaire is celebrating 50 years of working together with partners, staff, donors and supporters to create positive and lasting change. You may have seen the 'One Day ' Advertising Campaign on Tv, which showcases the profound impact of these collective efforts, highlighting the countless “One Days” where lives have been transformed. One of the many campaigns Trócaire has supported was the movement against Apartheid in South Africa. Donald Woods was a South African journalist and anti-apartheid activist. As editor of the Daily Dispatch, he was outspoken against apartheid policies and led protests against the killing of his friend Steve Biko, who was killed by police after being detained by the South African government (1977). Soon after Biko’s death, Woods was himself placed under a five-year ban. He was stripped of his editorship, and was not allowed to speak publicly, write, travel or work for the duration of his ban. He and his family were subjected to increasing attacks and harassment and were forced to flee from South Africa to London. Woods continued his campaign against apartheid in London but faced many constraints to his work. Woods is just one of the many journalists and advocates who were silenced and threatened for speaking out against the Apartheid in South Africa from 1948 to 1994. Trócaire was one of the first Irish NGOs to become involved in the struggle against the Apartheid system in South Africa. As well as campaigning on the national and international stage, Trócaire funded grass roots projects for schools, youth organisations and trade unions. It also raised awareness of injustices in South Africa by bringing prominent speakers, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Donald Woods to Ireland. In 1977, Woods reached out to Trócaire and asked for help in buying a typewriter to document the struggles of the anti-Apartheid movement and to tell his friend Steve Biko’s story. With a small grant from Trócaire, Woods was able to restart his work and wrote “Cry Freedom” which became a best-seller and was turned into a film by academy-award winner Richard Attenborough. “You were with us in the dark days of the struggle,” Woods said of Trócaire, “Now you continue to support us in redressing the injustices that remain after apartheid; we are grateful for Trócaire's support in training the new African journalists that are essential for the continuation of the present transition process and for the future development of a healthy civil society in our new democracy.”

One Day in 1993, finally, the ANC, the National Party and 19 other parties agreed a new constitution and in the same year, Nelson Mandela and De Klerk won the Nobel Peace Prize. In 1994, Mandela became the leader of South Africa. KNOCK NOVENA: If you happen to be attending the novena,14th - 22nd August, there will be a showing of a short film called, ‘The Letter’ three times a day, every day for the 9 days of the Novena ,11am, 1pm, 6pm. The Letter, tells the story of a journey to Rome, of a group of people, to discuss his encyclical letter Laudato Si’ (Caring for our Common Home) with Pope Francis. Five people representing the groups that are most affected by the climate crisis travel from different countries to meet with Pope Francis in the Vatican and share their personal stories with him. The exclusive dialogue with the Pope, included in the film, offers a revealing insight into the personal history of Pope Francis and stories never seen since he became the Bishop of Rome.

DID YOU KNOW: 15th July: The folklore history is as follows:- when St Swithin, after being waked, was buried, by his monks, who dearly loved him, they thought the simple “house of clay” was not befitting their lord abbot, so they determined to build a costly mausoleum which would more suitably mark his last resting-place on earth. But St. Swinton, who during his life detested ostentation or display of any kind, would not have been happy with this wasteful expenditure of time and money which could be better spent helping the poor and needy. Accordingly when his monks had completed this beautiful mausoleum they named a day (July 15) on which the mortal remains of the saint were to be publicly exhumed and transported to the new, more befitting abode. But the prayer of a humble servant of God prevailed. Early that morning the floodgates of heaven opened, and one continuous downpour of rain prevailed and continued, without intermission, for the succeeding forty days. The country for miles around was flooded, which gave all parties, St Swithin’s monks included, much concern. Thereupon, they all prayed to God to lessen His anger against them, and earnestly besought their holy abbot, Swithin, to intercede for them. It was at this point he appeared to one of his monks and revealed to him how displeasing it was to God, to spend their time in such a useless display and forbade ever interfering with his remains thereafter. The command was obeyed, and ever since when it rains on St Swithin’s Day, the succeeding forty days will be times of anxiety for the agriculturist for ever !