NETTLES 'A PLENTY:

CHURCH NEWS:

At the weekend, anniversary masses were celebrated for John O'Brien, Woodcock, Maurice Sheehy, John & Mary Ellen McMahon, Coolruss. First Holy Communion will be celebrated on Saturday 13th at 11am, we hope the families have a very special day and hopefully the weather remains dry. It is also the feast-day of Our Lady of Fatima.

CAMOGIE WALK:

Sun 14th May, 12pm, Community Centre. The ladies from granagh/ballingarry camogie club are holding a fundraising walk on Sunday next. All donations appreciated and all welcome to take a walk.

STROKE AWARENESS:

May is National Stroke Awareness Month. The more we know about it, the more we can help ourselves to stay healthy, although the advice may not be the easiest to take ! During this month, take some time to consider your alcohol intake and make sure you're staying within the recommended limits. This can not only help to reduce your risk of stroke, but also improve your overall health and well-being. Excessive alcohol intake can lead to high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms, and other cardiovascular issues, all of which can increase the likelihood of stroke. A stroke happens when blood cannot reach the brain. Alcohol also causes other problems that can lead to strokes or makes them worse,e.g. high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, weakened heart muscle. If your heart muscle is 'droopy' and stretched, it cannot pump blood around your body very well. If the blood flow to other parts of your body is not enough, it can damage organs and tissues. It can also cause symptoms like: breathing difficulties, extreme tiredness, swollen legs and feet, irregular heartbeat, heart failure. Binge drinking and high-risk drinking over a long time can affect how quick your heart beats. Alcohol can make the heart beat too quickly, or irregularly. Heart rhythm problems are called arrhythmias. Alcohol affects blood pressure and the heart but also, your good looks, fertility, the brain, the liver, the stomach and may cause weight gain. HISTORY WEEK:: Fri 12th May, 8pm, Knocklong community centre. A great opportunity to hear Gerard Shannon’s talk on Liam Lynch and a chance to buy his biography on General Liam Lynch. This year marks one hundred years since the death of General Liam Lynch. Saturday, May13th at 10.30 a.m; Knocklong; 'Brother Against Brother' - an appraisal of the Civil War in Six Counties will be chaired by Tom Toomey, Limerick, and will aim to give a balanced insight into the Civil War which took place between June 1922 and August 1923. The speakers are Tomas MacConmara, Clare, Liz Gillis, Dublin, John Borgonovo, Cork, John Flannery, Tipperary and Pat McCarthy, Waterford. Tue, 16th May; 7pm. Kilmallock Library will be hosting a roundtable discussion on The Inevitable Conflict - Essays on the Civil War in Limerick. There is a wonderful lineup of speakers and the event will be chaired by Dr. Seán Gannon of the Local Studies Dept. Speakers, Dr. Brian Hughes & Siobhan English, M.I.C. Limk and Dr. John O'Callaghan, ATU, Sligo. All are welcome to attend. This is a FREE event with light refreshments beforehand. Fri 19 - Sun 21st; 8pm, Old Chapel Rooms, Kilfinane. West End Drama present ' Women of the Revolution' a one act play based on Angela Hennessy's book - 'Local Women of the Revolution'. Book your tickets on 087-9717976. DID YOU KNOW: Three meals of boiled nettles during the month of May will keep you free from sickness throughout the year. Ne'er cast a clout til May is out - in other words, deep the drawers on !! So far so good - ' A wet and windy May fills the haggards with corn & hay '. In case you're thinking of whitewashing - not a good idea seemingly until after 1st June.