Community News - Castlemagner/Rathmore

CASTLEMAGNER

As the first month of spring is well and truly here we can already see a promising stretch in the days. No doubt there is a renewed sense of hope with a host of buds and green shoots appearing. Daffodils, bluebells and snowdrops are already bursting through with delightful winter heathers already blooming. The great cycle of nature brings the promise of renewed hope, light and life.

Castlemagner Church Choir

Castlemagner Church Choir has resumed for special church events. It was uplifting to see once again so many coming together after Covid, to lift the roof of the church with great song on Christmas night. The choir in Castlemagner is as much a social gathering as it is a ministry, where friends, neighbours and community members meet. There is an informal approach to the singing, and anyone is welcome and encouraged to join. Our next choir event will be on the eve of St Patrick’s Day, Thursday the 16th of March, at the 7:30pm Mass. For further information please ring 086 8521808.

Castlemagner Sinsir Club

Castlemagner Sinsir Club will resume on Thursday February 16th at the usual time of 12 noon. Singing For The Mind classes with Maria Twomey will begin again on Tuesday 14th February. New members are always welcome. We hope to continue with a full packed calendar of events in 2023. It is with the appreciated support of the members that the Sinsir Club stays alive and vibrant.

Castlemagner Sinsir Club is proud to have made its annual generous contribution to Cork Penny Dinners, one of Cork’s oldest caring charitable organisations, serving up to 2000 freshly made meals per week. They aim to help all who struggle, and those in need. Cork Penny Dinners provide a hot nourishing meal of soup, main course, dessert and tea/coffee daily. In addition sandwiches, biscuits, fruit and juice are also available to take away as an evening meal for those in need.

Casttlemagner Sinsir Club wishes to extend warmest best wishes to all members and to the wider community for the New Year of 2023. What a wonderful thought it is that some of the best days of our lives haven’t even happened yet. We look forward to outings, to holidays, to being together, and enjoying each other’s company in many new and exciting settings. The coming year brings a sense of renewed hope and a new beginning. New adventures are just around the corner. Here’s to a year full of joy, laughter, and unforgettable memories with unforgettable friends. Let us endure whatever comes and be there to support each other in the true spirit of community that the Sinsir Club aims to foster. As the club pursues new hopes and dreams, may the year bring much success and may our journey together be one to remember.

Rathmore

Congratulations to Caitlyn O Connor from Scoil Pobal Leaving Cert Class of 2021 who was awarded a Quercus Scholarship recently in UCC for excellent academic results, where she is studying Dentistry.

239 Entrance Scholarships were awarded to first year students UCC. Entrance Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic achievement in the school leaving examinations, and recognise and celebrate students’ commitment to excellence and their desire to succeed and reach their full potential. Students represented 115 schools in Ireland and 1 school in Poland. Well done Caitlyn - the best of luck with your studies!

Caitlyn O'Connor

Thank you from Rathmore SVP

St. Joseph’s Conference

Rathmore sincerely thank all who donated to our Food Appeal. This year, we involved all our local schools and we thank Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra, Holy Family N.S., Gneeveguilla N.S., Knocknagree N.S., Ballydesmond N.S., Meentogues N.S., Shrone N.S.,and Hollymount N.S.,Danu Childcare, for their generous donations of food which enabled us to fill all our food hampers. We thank the staff of Teach Íosagáin, Rathmore, for allowing us to use a room to make up the hampers. We also wish to thank all those who donated very generous hampers and lots of toys for young children. We were overwhelmed with your generosity and your food donations enabled us to help families in need in our area. In conjunction with our annual Church Gate collection, our volunteers fundraised outside Kearneys Centra, Ballydesmond and outside Kelly’s Londis, Hickeys Centra and O’Keeffe’s Circle K forecourt, Rathmore – the response to this was fantastic, and we wish to thank everybody who supported us on both days.

The response to our Church Gate Collection at the four churches in Rathmore Parish and the church in Ballydesmond was tremendous, and again, we sincerely thank all who came to support us and who gave generously to the collection. We also acknowledge and thank you for donations to our Credit Union and Bank accounts. We wish to thank Shrone N.S. who kindly donated the proceeds from their Christmas Jumper day to our collection. It has been a difficult year for many families and because of the great generosity of the community in our area to support our organisation; we are always in a position to help those in need. We look forward with hope to a better and brighter New Year.Míle buíochas – We wish everybody a happy and healthy New Year.

Our number is 087 3462332.