Caheragh and Dromore Parish Newsletter Christmas 2018 CHRISTMAS EVE MASS CAHERAGH 6.30PM (CAROLS AT 6PM)
CHRISTMAS DAY MASSES DROMORE 10AM CAHERAGH 11.15AM
(THE OFFERTORY COLLECTION AT CHRISTMAS MASSES FORMS PART OF THE PRIESTS’ INCOME IN CORK AND ROSS DIOCESE) CONFESSIONS SKIBBEREEN SUNDAY 16TH DECEMBER 6PM DROMORE WEDNESDAY 19TH DECEMBER AFTER 9.20AM MASS CAHERAGH FRIDAY 21ST DECEMBER AFTER 9.30AM MASS DROMORE SATURDAY 22ND DECEMBER AFTER 8PM MASS CAHERAGH SUNDAY 23RD DECEMBER AFTER 11.15AM MASS BANTRY SUNDAY 23RD DECEMBER 6PM
Wishing all a happy and peaceful Christmas Fr. Daniel Pyburn P.P. Dromore, Bantry, Co Cork, 028-52985 and 087-1303135
St Vincent de Paul Society.
The St Vincent de Paul Society, Skibbereen are very grateful for your generous response to their annual church gate collection weekend of the 8th and 9th December. €927.40 was received, all of which will go towards helping families finding it difficult especially at Christmas time or any time through out the year. Thank you.
Offertory Envelopes
I am very grateful to all who used the offertory envelopes in 2018 and I encourage you to do so in 2019. Please use them at Masses in Caheragh and Dromore and also if you are at Mass in churches which surround Caheragh Parish such as Bantry, Skibbereen, Drimoleague, Drinagh and Kilcoe. It would not be feasible to bring the envelopes to churches which are further away than those. Also, the parish can receive financial rebates from the Revenue Commissioners for offerings given to the parish by taxpayers. I urge anyone who pays tax to complete the form which is available in the porches of Caheragh and Dromore churches and return it as soon as possible. Fr. Daniel Pyburn P.P.
Professor Gerry O'Sullivan Memorial Park
The life sized Memorial is currently in the process being sculpted. It is hoped the unveiling will take place late spring/early summer next year. We are also planning on developing three Themed Gardens. Fund raising will commence in January. In the meantime we have obtained a loan from Skibbereen Credit Union to enable us to make the scheduled payments for the sculpture.
WEDDINGS The following were married in Caheragh church in 2018 and we wish them happiness and the blessings of Jesus Christ: Roseanne O’Sullivan and Declan O’Donovan Sinead Lynch and Noel Furlong CHRISTENINGS The following were christened in the parish between 1st December 2017 and November 2018 and we welcome them into the family of the Catholic Church: Rosie Eileen KINGSTON, Madore Eoin Michael O’NEILL, Colomane East Darren Anthony O’SULLIVAN, Kilmore, Drimoleague Kate Ellie MOYNIHAN, Aughaville Brianna Eirena GLANVILILLE, Coronea, Skibbereen Páraic Martin CROWLEY, Glenbannoo, Bantry Rían Patrick O’DONOVAN, Colomane East
Lily Abigail CROWLEY, Lissane Amy Marie McCARTHY, Glounathnaw Zachary Joseph CASEY, Cooragannive Alex Turner HEAPES, Glandart Luán Mícheál HAMILTON, Tooreen Emma Margaret FLYNN, Tralibawn Tiarnan Brian CROWLEY, Bunalun
Weddings and Christenings occurring beyond the Parish, of whom the Newsletter were notified are included in our thoughts and wishes. Sian Cicel, Wales and Eoin O’Mahony, Rearahanagh Sinead Newman, Ballydehob and Stephen Harnedy, Caheragh Sean Robert HARNEDY, Caheragh
Abbie LAWLOR, Rearahanagh
The Captain Francis O’Neill Co.
THE CAPTAIN FRANCIS O’NEILL MEMORIAL COMPANY had a successful year. In comparison to last year the weather was suitable for their outdoor events this year. The Open-Air Platform Dancing at The O’Neill Monument in Tralibane was a great success on the longest day of the year. There was a large attendance and all had an enjoyable evening dancing to the music by Tim Joe & Ann. This event is held each year on June the 21st weather permitting. The Annual Pattern Day & The Annual O’ Neill walk was held on Sept. 9th. The Annual O’Neill Walk took place from Tralibane Bridge to the Monument via O’Neill’s Birthplace led by Timmy McCarthy where refreshments were served compliments of Alan & Valeria Kingston of Glenilen Farm, preceded by Traditional Irish Music at The Bridge. Our thanks to Vince Crowley and all traditional musicians and Bantry Comhaltas who entertained a large attendance of walkers at Tralibane Bridge and all the way to The O’Neill Monument in Tralibane on time for the Pattern Dancing to begin, Music was supplied by Tim Joe & Ann. The next events on the O’Neill Calendar for 2019 are Ceili on Friday Jan 4th Music by Tim Joe & Ann. Ceili on Feb.1st. Music by Jerry McCarthy & Liam Photo of the Traditional Musicians taken at Tralibane Bridge prior to the Annual O’Neill Walk. Healy in Caheragh Hall. Also there are Ceili Classes held in Caheragh Hall each Monday nights during the year. All are welcome.
Caheragh Community Association / Caheragh Hall
The Church Gate Collection for Caheragh Hall was held in early October. The Committee would like to thank the local Community for their generous donations which have been coming in since then. The total amount raised to date is €2040. This amount was collected at the Church Gate collection, through the local schools and churches. We thank anyone who helped in any way, handing out and dropping back envelopes or helping at the church gate collection. This donation will be used for the halls on-going expenses. The insurance is one of the largest annual expenses and was paid recently, totalling €1760. The Committee hopes to keep the hall in a good state of repair and plans are in place for the coming year to upgrade the electrical system in the hall.
Caheragh Vintage Threshing Committee.
As we looked forward to December 1st when the ‘fruits of our labour ‘were presented to our beneficiaries, we look back on our season of flag days. Flag days provide the backbone of our fund raising efforts and are spread over a wide area of Cork and Kerry. These, together with the Threshing Day are a bedrock which generates funds so badly needed. Indeed we had another bumper year of fundraising by the Threshing Committee who donated €62,000 recently. Dr Declan Soden accepted a cheque for Breakthrough Cancer Research. He spoke about the work done at present on Immuno therapies and stated that 40,000 new cancer patients are diagnosed in Ireland this year. Research is ongoing and showing positive advances. Catherine Kingston, Chairperson Dreeney Parents Association acknowledged a donation from the threshing committee towards a new water filtration system in the school while Kathleen Harnedy on behalf of the Defibrillator Group said funds would be used for the purchase of new defibrillators. We would like to pay tribute to our tireless volunteers, who turn out in all weathers, driving miles to the various sites where we are welcomed and supported. None of us could fail to recognize the invaluable support of volunteers on the threshing day –they are so many and so generous with their time - days like this are so heartening. Many thanks to all those who helped in any way! This kind of support ensures that, the future of the Vintage Threshing is, with the support, unfailing dedication of committee and volunteers ensured for many years to come, perhaps in our lifetime we can witness ‘Cancer Breakthrough’. A Happy Christmas & Good Luck in 2019. Any queries to Pat 31910
Caheragh Threshing Presentation 2018: Front: L to R: D.J. Dinneen, Chairperson; Catherine Kingston, Dreeney NS Parents Association, Dr Declan Soden Breakthrough Cancer Research; John Scully, Treasurer; Kathleen Harnedy, Defibrillator Group; Pat Gregory, PRO and Len Gregory. Back L to R: Dan McCarthy, Defibrillator Group; Kieran O'Sullivan, Tim McCarthy, Orla Dolan, Breakthrough Cancer Research, Kathleen Kirby, Secretary; Eileen Scully, Sean Collins, Tim O’Sullivan, Sean O'Sullivan, Margaret O'Mahony, Shane Scully and Mary Cadogan. (Missing is Pat Joe Hourihane & Teresa Keohane).
Caheragh National School
It has been a very busy first term here in Caheragh NS. In September, we welcomed 7 new Junior Infants to our school community who have all settled in very well. Our pupils have been taking part in lots of different activities such as swimming, tin whistle and hurling, with plenty more activities planned for Terms 2 and 3. In October, our senior quiz team took part in the Skibbereen Library Quiz and the Senior Room worked hard to come 2nd in Ireland in the Maths Week Senior Target Board Challenge. We also had great success in the Sherkin Island Environmental Competition, in which 13 of our pupils won prizes, and also in the Skibbereen Credit Union Art Competition. In November, our 5th and 6th class took a trip to the LifeTime Lab in Cork City to complete a workshop on Electricity and Circuits where they created some very interesting gadgets! Our 2nd Class are also very busy preparing to receive the Sacraments of Penance and The Eucharist. All 11 took part in the Enrolment Ceremony in November. As is the tradition in Caheragh NS, we have been doing our bit for charity whereby the pupils collected nearly 60 shoeboxes for the Team Hope Shoebox Appeal and once again this year, we will be collecting donations for the St. Vincent de Paul Christmas Food Appeal. We are of course continuing our work with the Active School and Green School Initiatives, as well as the Health Promoting School Programme, for which our school’s HPS Team created a Good Deeds Advent Calendar for the pupils in our school to follow. The Senior Room are once again taking part in the Junior Entrepreneur Programme and are at the early stages of developing their mini-companies. There have been some new initiatives added to the school this year – an Infant Club running daily from 2-3pm for Junior and Senior Infants and a Homework Club on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3-4pm. We have also installed a beautiful new kitchen in the school, designed, produced and installed by Clohane Wood Products and partly funded by our wonderful Parent Association. We are really getting into the Christmas Spirit here in the school, learning carols and creative festive art. We are looking forward to our school’s upcoming trip to the Panto in The Everyman Theatre in Cork, where we will see a production of Cinderella. Once again we will be putting on a Christmas Concert, open to the whole community, which will take place in The Church of the Holy Family on Friday 21st of December at 11:15am, so please come along! We in Caheragh NS would like to take this opportunity to thank the community for their ongoing support and we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2019.
Scor na nOg and Scor na bPáistí.
Community Games Football
Music Group.
Ballad Group.
Emma Hegarty and Eleanor Keating after winning the U12 All Ireland football final in the Community Games last August. Play.
Siobhan Holland Completes NYC marathon.
Dancers.
CAHERAGH & DROMORE DEFIBRILLATOR GROUP
The group continues to meet regularly to practice Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and use of the automated External Defibrillators (AED). These are installed at various locations throughout the parish. We would encourage as many people as possible to partake in the practice sessions. Sincere thanks to all those who contributed to our successful Coffee Morning and Cake Sale held at Caheragh Community Hall on November 4th last and we trust all enjoyed this very sociable get together on a dull November morning. This year we received a very welcome financial boost form Caheragh Threshing Committee. Ongoing costs of insurance, maintenance and replacement AED’s are a constant issue. The committee would like to wish one and all a very Peacful, Happy Christmas and good health for the coming year.
Dreeny National School Christmas Greetings to the Caheragh Community from all in Dreeny National School. We are delighted to introduce our new Junior Infants they are Emma Mc Carthy and Kate Lynch. We hope they will enjoy the next eight years of learning and fun. In September we welcomed Ms. Kennelly in the junior room, Ms Luttrell in the senior room and in November Ms. Maher in resource. To add to the new pupils and teachers we welcomed our chicks that we hatched in the school, we named them Paul, Gary and Sanita. In the classrooms each week brings something new from covering the curriculum to art and music. Each Wednesday we welcome music teacher Martina French who is teaching the tin whistle and is preparing the pupils for the Christmas Concert. In Dreeny we strive to achieve a physically active school community so in October the whole school got the chance to visit Douglas Gymnastics Club to work on our gymnastics skills. The gym is a state of the art facility and the children got to work with the coaches and try out all of the apparatus. Everyone loved the foam pit in particular. A fantastic day was had by all. Also in October the pupils commenced six weeks of swimming classes in Dunmanway Swimming Pool. It is heartening to see children as young as four years making progress in the water and then the ten year olds learning life saving skills. It is essential that every child is taught how to swim. Back on the pitch we will be starting five weeks of hurling coaching with John Paul O’Sullivan in December and these will be followed by five weeks of Football in the New Year In the junior room during Aistear the children were learning all about doctors and nurses. We had a number of visits from parents that are working in these areas. The children loved asking questions and learning about their important jobs. We would like to thank Dr. Michael Kingston, Nurse Claire O’Neill and Midwife Catherine Kingston for giving so freely of the time. The children in the senior room were working hard preparing for the Skibbereen Library quiz. Niall, Cathal, Adam and Katie were selected for the team with Jack as the sub. They thoroughly enjoyed the quiz and represented the school being placed 4th overall. Well done. Author E.R Murray and Alan Early brought the children in the senior room on a leap through Ireland as they discussed the books they have written. The children learned about Ireland during the Celt, Viking, Victorian and Georgian eras. They were also lucky enough to listen to the authors read from their books and participate in a question and answer session. A maths week was held in October this is a nationwide celebration of Maths. We in Dreeny joined with all the primary school nationwide to explore, appreciate and understand the importance of promoting maths. We had lots of fun through a huge variety of events and activities. Work is underway in preparation for the sacrament of First Holy Communion. We recently had the enrolment Mass for our First Holy Communion recipients Dylan O’Donovan, Matthew Crowley, Sam Kingston and Colin Kingston. We look forward to the First Holy Communion day in May 2019. This brings us up to Halloween, on the last day of school before the midterm the children came to school in their spooky costumes. This dress up day was a fund raiser in aid of Bru Columbanus and it raised €80. As a treat we made chocolate covered apples, played lots of games and had a Halloween parade to show off all the costumes. In early November the children took part in the Christmas shoe box appeal for the less well off children in third world countries. It is so nice to see the real spirit of Christmas is still alive in the hearts of these children. Science week was held from Monday 12th to Friday 16th of November. The children had a fascinating week of technology, engineering and science experiments. The children became junior scientists and participated in some interesting experiments. We had a fun science fair on Friday the 16th. The senior room children demonstrated some explosive experiments such as the ‘erupting volcano’ and how to make slime and lava lamps to the children in the junior room. On Monday 26th we welcomed Aoife from the Lismore Heritage Company for a mobile science workshop. The children became forensic scientists and detectives for the day. A super week was had by all. It is treat time for the children; we are going on a magic carpet ride to see the Pantomime Aladdin in the Cork Opera house on Wednesday 12th December. The children are very excited in anticipation of this well deserved outing as they are working so hard. Well done. Our much loved Christmas Concert will be held in school on Thursday 13th December at 12 noon and all are most welcome. Refreshments will be served after the production by both junior and senior rooms. Finally we would like to wish all our fellow parishioners and readers a very happy, peaceful Christmas and many blessings in 2019.
Young at Heart Club (Caheragh Active Retired Group).
We have had a busy time when our members got out and about to enjoy various functions. A visit to the Beara Coast Hotel for dinner and entertainment was enjoyed, while the Mealagh Valley Community Center pulled out all the stops to provide a truly enjoyable day (the superb scenery was a major bonus). We have planned a ‘Shopping Day’ to Little Island followed by dinner in The Viaduct. Festive Dinner and dance in the West Cork Hotel is one to look forward to on 4th Dec, followed by a quiet get together in the hall. May we wish all a Holy and Happy Christmas and a Prosperous and Happy New Year.
Tadhg MacCarthaigh Ladies Football
The Caheragh ladies club have enjoyed another successful year with the continuing development of the underage girls reaping rewards; this year in the form of U.18 girls reaching both the county and West Cork finals, U.10’s winning the Eilish Collins Memorial Plate and the U.14’s reaching the County league quarter final. With a few personnel changes the junior ladies equipped themselves well in their new county championship grade and capped the season off by clinching the West Cork junior championship title with a win against Keelnameela. Of course, none of this would be achieved without the tireless endeavours of the club officers, trainers, players and supporters. Date for the Diary – The ladies hold their annual fundraising table quiz on Thursday, 27th December in The Coachman’s Inn at 8p.m. All are welcome.
Junior Ladies West Cork Champions
U10 Hurling Blitz
Minor Ladies, West Cork & County Finalists u14s
u10’s winning the Eilish Collins Memorial Plate u12s
Dromore National School
It has been a busy, hardworking and enjoyable term in Dromore National School. This year we had the pleasure of welcoming eight new pupils. They have all settled in extremely well and are a wonderful addition to the school. We have had various visitors to the school. We had a very special visit from Sr. Máire Bríd who previously taught in Dromore. Sr. Máire Bríd entered the Redemptoristine Nuns in November 2016 and it was wonderful to see her again and hear about her daily routine in the Convent. She makes an annual visit to the school. Siobhan visited the school for a day of African drumming and dancing with all classes. We had some excellent news in October when Natalie from the Irish American Partnership visited to give us the good news that our application for funding had been successful. We received $2500 which was incredibly generous. We have used this money to purchase some Izak9 maths cubes for the senior room. We have also had plenty of trips and activities outside of school. In September, the Senior Room completed their swimming lessons in the new pool in Dunmanway. The Senior room had a very enjoyable visit to the Lifetime Lab in October and spent a great day learning about electricity. The Senior room is also involved with the West Cork Stories of the Revolution project with Skibbereen Heritage Centre, with visits from William Casey. We had the Enrolment Mass in November where four of our students enrolled for the sacraments of First Penance and First Communion. They have been working hard on learning their prayers, and they are also involved in lighting the Advent candles in preparation for Christmas. We all planted bulbs for Spring & dug our potatoes. We were very successful in the Sherkin Island Art Competition with fourteen pupils receiving a prize. Two pupils won prizes in the Bantry Credit Union Art competition. One of our senior infants won the Munster Regional Winner in the Junior Category in the ESB Stay Safe, Stay Clear poster competition. This means his poster will be used on their annual calendar. The children of Dromore have supported the Christmas Shoebox appeal for many years. This year, there were lots of beautifully wrapped and thoughtfully filled shoeboxes. Alma from Agrikids came with Garda Bridget to talk about farm safety. Cathal from Road Safety Authority visited us early in September to remind us about being safe on the road. The pupils were invited to Deerpark House Nursing Home in Bantry and Fairfield Nursing home in Drimoleague, to sing carols and play their instruments and they enjoyed getting to share some Christmas joy with the residents. We also collected non-perishable food for St. Vincent De Paul. We had our Christmas play for parents on 12th December which we all greatly enjoyed. What a tremendously busy, creative and enjoyable term it has been. The children of Dromore have supported the Christmas Shoebox appeal Nollaig Shona Daoibh go léir.
A trip down memory lane
Confirmation photo from the mid 1950’s taken at the grotto at Dromore Church.
Tadgh MacCárthaigh GAA News.
The 2018 season has just ended and it is time to reflect on what was a successful one overall. The Junior A team were back in Division 1 of the league and after a slow start gained much momentum finishing in 4th place. In the Championship after losing to Carbery Rangers in the first round, the team went on a great run of four victories over Clan Na nGael, St. Mary’s, Kilmeen and Ballinscarthy, to qualify for the West Cork Final against Kilmacabea where they were unlucky to draw the game and lose the replay by five points. In the County Championship a depleted team lost to Delaneys by a single goal after some very suspect refereeing decisions. Despite this, the team had a great season with much to look forward to in 2019. The under 21 footballers had an amazing season winning the West Cork title in some style with a brilliant display against neighbours Clan na nGael in the final. They had two games with Cobh in the County quarter final before defeating St. Peter’s from Duhallow in the Semi- final and played Donoughmore in the County final in Pairc Ui Rinn on Friday 20th July. After an outstanding game of football the team suffered a heartbreaking one point defeat scored in injury time, however the huge crowd of supporters present helped to lift the spirits.
U21 West Cork Champions & County Finalists The minor team also made the final of the Rebel Og West Championship with three wins on the trot over Carbery Rangers, Kilmichael and Kilbrittan. In the final they came up against a very strong Naomh Abán team and were beaten but showed great potential for the future. The under 16 team lost to Western Gaels in the Championship but bounced back to win their league section final with victory over Clan na nGael and went on to contest the County final against Newmarket where they lost out to a very strong side who had also won the Championship. The under 14 team had a good league run before losing to Ahan Gaels in the Semi-final and also in the first round of Championship. The under 12 team also had a very successful season before losing the Cup semi-final to Kilmeen but ending the season on a winning note with victory over O Donovan Rossa in the shield final. The underage club also fielded teams in under 6 ,8 and 10 with large numbers turning out and held a very successful Cul Camp in July while ending the season with a big medals presentation in November. Great credit is due to all the players and mentors who worked so hard during the season with all the various teams. The club together with the Collins Family presented a new Fergal Collins Memorial Cup for the West Cork under 16B Championship, with the old Cup kept by the Caheragh club as the last winners in 2017. On the inter County front the O Driscoll brothers Kevin and Brian continued to represent the club on the Cork Senior football team, who had a tough season overall. Finally, as the festive season approaches, the club would like to wish all players, mentors and supporters a very Happy Christmas and a healthy 2019.
Junior A West Cork Finalists