Discover Duhallow Issue 83

Duhallow Natives Pilot the Skies Together: P12&13

AWARD SEASON

Applications Open For Kerry Community Awards

Applications are now open for 2023’s Kerry Community Awards. Since 2004, the awards have run to celebrate and reward the work of community and voluntary groups from across the county. Until now, they’ve been held in the Dromhall hotel, but due to renovations, the event is now to be held in the Rose Hotel Tralee.

While recent years have seen a change in the traditional May date, this year will see the Awards on the 25th of May.

A total of 20 winners will receive a selection of prizes, from trophies to silverware, with monetary rewards in the mix.

Helen O’Sullivan of IRD Duhallow presents a silver award in 2022 ■See page 8

Editors Note

Get ready for the Summer! It’s a little early, but spring is a great time to get your Summer garden in order. This issue celebrates a variety of Duhallow folks - Tom Keneally, author of Schindler’s Ark which became Schindler’s List visited the region. And on top of that, Tadhg spoke to two local pilots. Have a look towards the back for a little folklore from yours truly - with the help of the National Leprechaun Museum. And while it’s a bit late for Pancake Tuesday, we got to share Siobhán’s delicious protein pancake recipe. Truly jam packed!

Community News

Churchview Therapies

Alice O’Brien and Sharon Bailey of Churchview Therapies are celebrating one year in business this month. They are delighted to announce the re-branding of their business to Churchview Therapies and to welcome Claire O’Leary of ‘Thrive Wellness’. Claire is a Kinesiologist and will be providing Kinesiology sessions from Churchview. Alice and Sharon would like to thank Claire for joining them, they would also like to thank their families for all the support, their clients for choosing their business and Alice would also like to especially thank Discover Duhallow for the opportunity to write her regular column. All three ladies are excited for what their business has in store and look forward to many more years working together.

Castlemagner

Sinsir Club

Christmas Party

ABOVE: Castlemagner

Community Singers performing

INSET: Cutting the cake at the Christmas Party

L-R: Alice O’Brien, Sharon Bailey and Claire O’Leary

Duhallow Round-Up

Congratulations

To Ray Fleming, a great Gneeveguilla Greyhound man. He was honoured with the 2022 Hall Of Fame Award at Tralee Greyhound Stadium in February by the Kerry Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association.

Gneeveguilla GAA Club

Our Annual Social takes place on March 4th in Gneeveguilla GAA Hall.

Music from Hell for Leather.

Tickets €35

For bookings, contact Adrian O’Connell - 087 9589794.

For further info, please contact Hollymount

N.S

Enrolment forms will be available from the school office or can be posted to families call: 0647758269 or

email: Hollymountns@gmail.com

Horticulturist Catriona Bohan will give a talk on spring gardening on Wednesday 1st March at 8pm in the Trade Union Hall Kanturk. Plants on sale on the night. Refreshments served. €5 per person.

On The Ball

Well done to James O’Connell from Donoughmore who won the last 3 all Ireland under 18s snooker tournaments!

James will be going to Malta to represent Ireland U18s and U21s. Best of luck, James!

Millstreet Vintage Club

run

Feb. 26th

Registration from 10.30am at Millstreet Day Care Centre P51 RY10

Take off at 12 noon

Refreshments served Scenic route planned

Everyone welcome. Contact Dan O’ Riordan for details: 087 2452569

Emma Hickey and Muireann Buckley at the David Foster Ball where Millstreet International Horse Trials was awarded Best International Event 2022.

RATHMORE

Scór na nÓg

We’re looking for competitors to take part in Scor na nOg. All young people under 17 can take part in the following competitions:

- Figure/Céilí Dancing

- Solo Singing

- Ballad Group

- Recitation/Scéalaíocht

- Nuachleas/Novelty Act

- Group Instrumental Music

- Set Dancing

- Table Quiz.

Competition dates

East Kerry Scór na nÓg

Saturday 11th March 3pm

Fossa Community Hall

County Final Scor na nOg

Saturday 25th March

6pm

Currow.

For more information or if your child is interested in participating, contact Cathal on 0877656500

Rathmore GAA

Rathmore GAA Club Victory Banquet will be held on Saturday. March 11th. Your opportunity to join in celebrating an historic year for the club. More information to follow.

Gratitude from the Panto

Kerry Parents and Friends Association would like to express their sincere gratitude to The Marian Players, cast and crew, our great audiences and everyone who supported Panto In Rathmore 2023. After the final show, on Patron’s Night, an outstanding cheque for €22,000 was presented to the Association. This large donation is exceptional at present when fundraising is so restricted.

Dick Godsil Memorial

An open invitation to all former and current Cadbury employees to attend a meeting at Rathmore Community Centre to discuss a suitable memorial for Dick Godsil, the man who brought Cadbury’s factory to Rathmore. The meeting will be held on Tuesday 28th February at 8pm.

Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir. Photos by Sean Radley.

Community News

Through 2023, Kanturk Credit Union will share old memories of KCU through the years. If you have paper clippings of photos, please contact them on Facebook or email info@kanturkcu.ie.

ABOVE: Some of Kanturk Cycling Club members at the junior Credit Union Cycle Race in Kanturk.(1996)

Front row, from left: Denis Lynch, David Murphy, Eoin Daly

Back Row, L-R: Helen Curtin Club Coach, Dan Curtin, Anthony Tancred, Junior cycle tour director Pat McQuaid, KCU Manager Donal Scannell, Jeremiah and Sean Murphy, Willie Curtin, and Cormac Daly

Application forms now available for Kerry Community Awards

Online:

• www.kerrycoco.ie/kerry-community-awards-2023/

• www.kerryppn.ie;

Physical copies:

• The Community Department, Kerry County Council, County Buildings, Rathass, Tralee

• The Kerryman Office, Denny Street, Tralee;

• Kerry PPN;

• Kerry County Council Branch Libraries and Area Offices;

• Credit Union Offices in Kerry;

• Local Development Offices;

• Local Post Offices.

Closing date: Friday, March 16th

KISKEAM

Kiskeam Events Group had a successful 2022. We held 4 events throughout the year. An Easter Egg hunt, A Darkness into Light walk, Halloween Spooktacular Experience, Santa Experience along with our Christmas Markets.

• The Easter Egg Hunt was held at Kiskeam Forest Walkway and approximately 150 children participated in the hunt.

• The Darkness into Light walk was a meaningful morning for the community to remember all who have been impacted by suicide and self-harm. That morning approximately 100 people walked and planted a flower in remembrance. The planter is situated in the village and is a constant reminder of the event. All funds raised went to Pieta House.

• People travelled from all over for the Halloween Spooktacular Experience. 222 people young and old turned up on the evening.

• Santa Experience was another wonderful event. 175 children visited Santa and Mrs Claus at Santa’s Grotto. The Christmas Markets were added to this year’s event. 19 stalls were there on the day resulting on a magical Christmas experience.

Kiskeam Events Group would like to thank everyone who donated, sponsored and gave their generous time to make each event such a success. This could not have been possible without the fantastic community spirit we have in Kiskeam.

For more information check us out on our Facebook page:

Kiskeam Area and on Instagram @kiskeamarea

RIGHT: The support we received in 2022 enabled us to donate €300 to the Bumbleance Children’s Ambulance Service.

Kiskeam Development Association Events Plan for 2023

Monday April 10th

Easter Egg Hunt Kiskeam Forest Walk

Saturday May 6th Darkness Into Light Kiskeam

Sunday October 29th Halloween Spooktacular & Horror Experience Kiskeam Community Centre

Sunday December 10th Christmas Markets & Santa Experience Kiskeam Community Centre

Dance the Night Away

Geoff’s Bar Castlemagner was the place to be for Castlemagner GAA faithful on Friday night, as their first Strictly Castlemagner event was officially launched.

The dancers were introduced to those present, who had a chance to purchase tickets – which will soon be like gold dust – for the event which will be held in the Charleville Park Hotel on Saturday, March 25th at 8pm.

The 12 couples have been rehearsing diligently under the expert eye of choreographer Miriam Ball and will no doubt be in tip-top shape by showtime.

The winners on the night will be determined by public vote and judgees marks, and funds raised from the event will be targeted at the construction of a new astro turf pitch, redevelopment of the existing clubhouse, parking, and facilities at the club grounds in Castlemagner.

For more information on the event, check out their Facebook page.

The club is proposing to develop an astro-turf training facility and redevelopment of the club house in the heart of Castlemagner village. The club intends developing the state-of-the-art amenities to complement the existing playing facilities, the recently developed walkway in conjunction with the development of a brand-new playground for the huge benefit of the burgeoning community. Combined these facilities will provide an enviable sporting and leisure facility for use by all the community.

Details of the event and fundraising campaign are available on-line at Castlemagner GAA club’s Facebook page, in the local press and locally within the

community. “This is going to be one of the finest sporting facilities we will ever build for use by the club itself and for all visitors to our club,” says Siobhan O’Connell, chairperson of the committee given the task of driving the project; “The huge benefit of this new facility is that we will be able to use it in all kinds of weather”.

The intention is to make the facility available for use for all ages from the adult club teams down to the multitude of juvenile teams which play under the umbrella of Croke Rovers and the Castlemagner Ladies Football Club. The facility would also be available to other local groups and organisation such as the local school and creche, the local walking group, local keep fit enthusiasts and the local active Sinsir club.

The realisation of that ambition will depend on the continued support of the community and beyond contributing vital financial assistance towards the cost of the venture.

We are appealing to householders in the community and other individuals, organisations, and the business community to support us in

providing this marvellous facility. This amenity will not only greatly benefit this generation, but generations to come.

We are lucky to have many sporting heroes who have represented the community of Castlemagner on the divisional, county, provincial, international, and indeed Olympic stage; all of whom spent part their sporting careers on these grounds. The boys and girls of today and tomorrow will hopefully progress to sporting adulthood, and we need to redevelop our existing facilities to help make these dreams a reality.

Castlemagner GAA Club has provided magnificent facilities in the community over the years. As well as developing the pitch and changing rooms, the club has recently developed a hurling wall as well as a walkway on its grounds which provides a magnificent amenity for local people to exercise.

Now Castlemager GAA club are embarking on a new and exciting chapter with the all-weather astroturf facility and redevelopment and extension to the club house & dressing rooms.

Some of the dancers taking part in Strictly Castlemagner’.

Photos by Brian Power and Paul Gallagher.

Interests

What to Plant in February

Daffodils are opening alreadyevery year it feels too early! But if you’re envious of the tiny sunshines in the yards around, maybe it has inspired you to get your own kaleidoscopic spread. While it’s too late for daffodils and indeed a share of other flowers, February still has some chance for some of the later bloomers.

There is still time to plant some bare root hedging, shrubs, bare root roses, and trees

Allium

Expect bloom: May - August

Bare root roses should go down in early spring

Dahlias

Expect bloom: May - mid October

Agapanthus

Expect bloom: Mid to late summer

Geraniums

Expect bloom: Early summer

Echinacea

Expect bloom: July - September

Lupins

Expect bloom: May and June

Don’t forget the borders!

Border and filler plants can be purchased and placed now! Pansies, violas, and primroses can all be planted now to bloom for summer!

Lilies

Expect bloom: June - August

Japanese Anemones

Expect bloom: Late spring to late autumn

Know your garden

Sometimes things don’t work in your soil, sometimes they work in unexpected ways. Experimentation is the only way to know your garden and to find that perfect spot. Keep an eye on the weather, and happy planting!

Come Fly With Me; Duhallow Men

By TADHG CURTIN

aspects of Maths and Physics. I really didn’t enjoy learning languages and I was never very good at them. How did you arrive at your current position?

huge amount of paperwork to be completed every day.

Any advice for students hoping for a career in your field?

What is it really like?

It is a very enjoyable job as no two days are the same. However, that alone brings its own set of challenges. Flying with different crew members and constantly changing weather means we always have to be at our best. We always operate as a multi crew, which means there are two pilots, and we carry two cabin crew also.

Luckily, as Emerald Airlines only operate regional routes, it means we return to Dublin every day so don’t have to overnight away from base. This gives us a great work/ life balance.

What subjects did you most enjoy in school / college?

I am a very practical person and love using my hands so naturally Woodwork and Metalwork were very enjoyable for me.

I also enjoyed the problem-solving

When I finished school, I joined a flying school in Waterford who were offering a course which enabled me to complete all my flying licences and also get a Degree in Aviation Business with Waterford Institute of Technology. Once I completed that, I started my first job with Stobart Air as a first officer. With them, I was based in both Dublin and Cork. In 2019, I completed my upgrade course to become a Captain which was a huge milestone for me. Unfortunately, due to the COVID 19 pandemic, Stobart Air went into liquidation and we all lost our jobs. In 2022, Emerald Airlines started up and I was hired as a Captain with them.

Have you any regrets?

I wouldn’t say I have any regrets. I am a fairly positive person and like to believe that every experience in life, whether good or bad, shapes who I am as a person and creates the path to where I am now. What do you love most about your job?

I love that every day is different. Each day has a new challenge and the view out of the window is constantly changing. What do you least love about your job?

The paperwork. Everything now must be recorded and filed. I understand that this is all down to safety so that errors can be traced and prevented but it leads to a

For people interested in a career in aviation, I would strongly suggest doing a voucher flight with any of the training schools just so you can get a feel for what flying feels like before you jump into a full course. They also hold career seminars for interested people which can be very helpful and informative.

But for choosing a career in general, I believe you should choose something that you love to do because it really is true what they say, if you love what you do, you never have to work a day in your life.

Can you talk about how covid interfered with flying and how that affected you?

COVID was extremely damaging to the whole aviation industry as most people know but for me personally, it had a huge impact. I was laid off in March 2020 and didn’t get back flying until April 2022. In the meantime, Stobart Air went into liquidation so I had to look for a new job once things started to get back to normal.

In the time when I was out of flying, I was forced to look for other work and took up a position with a concrete cutting and coring specialist in Millstreet. This was a huge career change for me, but I think it has really reminded me that I’m very lucky to have a career in which I love what I do.

Two sons of Duhallow, Cormac O’Mahony, Derrinagree and Alex Dennehy, Kilcorney hold the occupation of airline pilot. Tadhg got to talk to them about how they got be a pilot and what the job entails.

Cormac with his son CJ. Cormac O’Mahony, Airline Pilot and Captain with Emerald Airlines

Men Pilot the Skies Together

What is it really like?

Every day is different, between dealing with challenging weather conditions, delays and technical issues with the aircraft there’s always something to keep you on

your toes. What subjects did you most enjoy in school / college?

Physics, engineering and construction studies as I liked working with my hands.

How did you arrive at your current position?

I started training at Atlantic Flight Training Academy in October 2017 and finished at the end of January 2019. Then, I got my first job with Stobart Air based at Cork Airport in April 2019, and I am now flying with Emerald Airlines operating the Aer Lingus Regional routes based out of Dublin Airport since May 2022.

Have you any regrets?

No, granted not every day is plain sailing but I still look forward to coming into work and I get great satisfaction from the job. What do you love most about your job?

I enjoy the people that I work with and meet on a day to day basis, the challenge of manually flying the aircraft and the sunrises and sunsets aren’t bad either!

What do you least love about your job?

The 3:45 a.m. alarm when doing early flights and missing out on events with family and friends. Any advice for students hoping for a career in your field?

Have a look around at different flight schools, do plenty of research on the job itself to be certain that it’s a career that you want and always have a plan B as the industry can go through ups and downs.

Can you talk about how Covid interfered with flying and how that affected yo?

Covid was a massive interruption in my career, initially we were told that flying would stop for a few weeks and in the end after just over 2 years I finally got back to flying with Emerald Airlines. The industry has picked up again very quickly and I’m looking forward to a busy summer schedule!

Special thanks to Cormac and Alex as well as Owen Dennehy, Rathcoole, for suggesting the feature.

Cormac took this picture from the cockpit of a flight he was piloting circa 2016. As he mentions, the view out of the plane window is constantly changing.

Like Cormac, Alex gets to experience sunrises and sunsets differently to the rest of us.

Alex Dennehy, Airline Pilot and First Officer with Emerald Airlines

Thomas Keneally Visits IRD Duhallow

On a dry, bright February day, IRD Duhallow was delighted to host award winning author Thomas Keneally and his wife Judy who are visiting the local area from Australia. Thomas Keneally is best known for his non-fiction novel Schindler’s Ark, for which he won the Booker Prize in 1982. This book was eventually adapted into Steven Spielberg’s film Schindler’s List in 1993, which won an Academy Award.

Thomas Keneally, who has well documented and established links to the townland of Glenlara in Newmarket, was accompanied by relatives Catherine and Danny Culloty on a visit to Clonfert graveyard in Newmarket. Here

Sheila O’Sullivan and Kathleen Angland, who participated

Duhallow’s LEADER Historic Grave research project, met with Mr. Keneally along with project facilitator and archaeologist John Tierney and IRD Duhallow’s Development Officer Nollaig Murphy.

John Tierney gave Mr. Keneally an in depth account of the historic geographical features of Clonfert graveyard including the famine plot in the graveyard. He outlined in detail the historic clues that are embedded in historic headstones and the symbolic meaning that

can be attached to same when tracing your ancestry. John also explained the significance of the inscriptions and etchings that can found on historic graves and explained that many of these represent the finite nature of the human lifespan and the significance of the afterlife.

Sheila O’Sullivan gave an account of the immense heritage value of Clonfert graveyard and the role of the LEADER funded historic grave training project in recording the headstones of the cemetery for future generations to see. The care and attention given by local volunteers in attending to the graveyard to the date was also highlighted. Thomas who has a deep interest in the history of Irish emigration, heard from the group in relation to the turbulent social, economic and political context in relation to which his grandfather Tim would have been born into in Glenlara. The role of the emigrant in supporting their families in Ireland, long after their departure to foreign shores was also explored. Sheila O’Sullivan and Catherine Culotty specifically

identified the exact graves which Thomas Keneally had ancestral connections to and provided information regarding his forebears.

Following on from this, Thomas visited the James O’Keeffe Memorial Institute, where a further discussion of local history occurred with CEO of IRD Duhallow Maura Walsh and Vice Chairperson of the Board of IRD Duhallow Ann Maria Bourke. The James O’Keeffe Institute was once a convent and training school for young women who were aspiring to join religious life through joining the Sisters of St. Joseph. Thomas also visited the statue of St. Mary MacKillop foundress of Sisters of St. Joseph. Many of the women who studied under the tutelage of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Newmarket ministered in education, nursing, social work, and pastoral care of the poor and suffering in Australia. The group had a very pleasant and interesting time meeting Mr and Mrs Keneally, we hope that they enjoy the rest of their visit to the Duhallow area.

Representatives from the IRD Duhallow Historic Graves Group Sheila O’Sullivan and Kathleen Angland in the company of Thomas Keneally in Clonfert Graveyard, Newmarket along with tutor John Tierney and Nollaig Murphy, IRD Duhallow.

ABOVE: John Tierney highlights some of the distinctive features of historic gravestones to Thomas Keneally

Thomas Keneally visits the James O’Keeffe Institute and statue of St. Mary McKillop

Apricity - It’s All About Mindfulness

By ALICE O’BRIEN Churchview Psychotherapy, Millstreet

Winter is over according to the calendar, and we are entering Spring. It would be easy to look back over the last three month and recall all the wet and windy days, the cold, the snow, the icy roads. But, have you heard of apricity? Bet you experienced some moments of apricity over the winter, you just didn’t know it. Apricity is the feeling of warmth from the sun in winter. So, if you were out for a walk on Christmas day and you turned your face to the sun, feeling the warm rays, then you experienced apricity. It’s interesting how we don’t notice these moments when we are busy, when we are so immersed in our routine of getting on with the day,

we don’t have the time to notice these small moments of pleasure. Mindful moments are so important. They can help us to regulate stress, reduce anxiety and lessen our worry. Mindfulness is also very beneficial for our physical health, with research showing us that mindfulness reduces blood pressure, heart disease and helps with chronic pain.

So, how do you have a mindful moment?

• Start by paying attention to your surroundings, the sights,

sounds and smell around you.

• Focus your attention on your breath, when your mind wanders bring it back to your breath.

• Accept yourself- be kind to your wandering mind, do not be critical of yourself- just come back to the present moment.

Remember, if you are new to mindfulness, then it takes practice, so find ways of being mindful throughout your day, weave it into your routine, maybe when you are stuck in traffic or out walking the dog.

Jon Kabat-Zinn, the founder of mindfulness based stress reductions describes our thoughts are being like waves, we can’t control them, but we can learn how to surf. So, treat mindfulness like your surfboard.

Managing Alcohol and Fat Loss

By SIOBHAN O’SULLIVAN SOS Fitness

When it comes to fat loss, alcohol and the habits we have around alcohol can certainly have an impact on fat loss results. I want to give you some tips on managing your alcohol intake but also consider other factors when it comes to alcohol. This is something I work on with lots of my coaching clients.

The first thing to consider when it comes to alcohol, especially if trying to drop body fat, is to take time and consider the events that you will have a drink at. If we took a drink every time it is offered, we could end up drinking every weekend! So if you have a busy social calendar coming up, sit down and plan for the events

you will drink at. Best friend’s wedding – you will probably have a drink at that. A distant relatives 60th birthday party – you may decide to drive for this one. So, sit down and plan for the upcoming events and when you will be drinking.

When it comes to the day of the event in question, some tips:

– Keep your meals high protein and high in volume i.e., lots of veg

– Increase water intake on the day you are going out. Drink at least 2 litres of water on the day you are going out.

– Stick to light beers or clear spirits with low calorie mixers when out

– Have a glass of water for every 2 alcoholic drinks

– Get out and burn some energy on the dancefloor - this will keep you away from the bar!

– Avoid the takeaway at the end of the night.

In the next issue, I will give some tips on how to manage the day after you have been out –managing the day after is key to long term fat loss results.

For more information on nutrition coaching, check out my website https://sosfitness.ie/nutrition/

Got to Give It Up

By MAIREAD O’KEEFFE New Leaf Health Store

Lent is here and many people make a decision to give unhealthy habits up, or take new things up. Here’s some tips to help you.

If you are giving up sugar then Chromium can be a really helpful supplement to support you. Studies have found it may help to reduce hunger, cravings, and binge eating.

Some people give up alcohol for lent. Removing alcohol from your diet for 4 weeks can help to improve your liver function as your liver will start to shed excess fat. If your liver function is not too badly affected by alcohol, it can recover within 4-8 weeks. You will

IN THE FRAME

also see improvements in your skin, your sleep, your energy, your weight, and your blood pressure. It can be helpful to take milk thistle to support your liver repair and vitamin B complex, especially B1, can help reduce fatigue and brain fog.

People who are quitting smoking for lent might like to try rhodiola. Rhodiola supplements have been found in studies to relieve nicotine cravings and boost willpower, and may help to get you over that first difficult month.

If you are giving up meat or dairy products for lent then you should make sure to supplement your vitamin B12. We get a lot of our B12 from those foods, and if we don’t get enough B12 we lack energy and feel tired.

Making a commitment to get

more exercise during lent can be a great thing to do, and it can set you off on a new health journey. Try Revive Active to boost your energy levels and help you get started.

One of the best things to give up during lent is negative thinking. Be grateful for what you have in your life; the people, animals and surroundings. Don’t be overthinking and self-critical. Love yourself.

of a 3 month supply of Udo’s Choice Super 8 Immune Microbiotics + Vit C Vegecaps is Elaine Cooper, Mallow

Picture taken in the gardens of Killarney house on a beautiful sunny day. Taken by and sent to us from Tomás ó'Keeffe, Lyre

Interests

Lent: Believe The Good News of the Gospel

By TOM DENNEHY

On Ash Wednesday each year, we hear the words of the priest as he marks the sign of the cross with the ashes on our foreheads -repent and believe the Good News of the Gospel.

We live in a world dominated by bad news of wars, disasters, and all kinds of upheaval. Sadly today, good news is not worthy of broadcast to our people who need and hunger for the good news that the Gospel gives us.

The message of the good news is what is promised in God’s Word, specifically Christ’s birth, Christ’s death on the cross and Christ’s resurrection giving us the promised hope of salvation for all those who believe in Him.

Each year, we welcome the season of Lent as we welcome Spring and all that it brings. We enjoy a stretch in the evenings, the birds as they sing in full voice, and the daffodils beginning to bloom. We put the dark days of Winter behind us and we begin to reflect on our own lives and our relationship with God and one another.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday, a period of 40 days, excluding Sundays. Throughout the Lenten season, we remember the events leading up to and including the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. His life and teaching are the foundation of the Church that He founded. The 40 days of prayer are significant as Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights in the desert overcoming the temptations of The Devil by quoting Sacred Scripture: “It is written, Man shall not live on bread alone but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God”. “ It is said, You should not put the Lord your God to the test”

“Get away Satan. It is written: the Lord your God, shall you worship and Him alone.” Matthew Chapter 4.4-11

The colour purple is predominant during Lent and has many meanings. It’s the colour of the robe Pontius Pilate put on Jesus before his crucifixion. Purple is also the colour of royalty and represents that Jesus is our King. Priests wear red vestments on Good Friday and Palm Sunday to signify the death of Jesus on the cross. White, the colour of joy, is worn on Holy Thursday and Easter Sunday.

As we begin our Lenten journey in preparation for Easter, let us set out a plan for how we can improve our relationship with the living Jesus. We can do this by setting aside time for him each day and invite him into our lives by setting up a sacred space in our homes where we can light a candle, read Scripture and invite Him to speak to our hearts. We need to do this in order to develop a personal relationship with Him. When we know Him personally we will find our fasting, alms giving and prayer much more meaningful as we will be doing it out of love for Jesus who loves us and who died on the cross for love of us.

So as we begin our Lenten journey, let us make every effort to prepare now to be ready to

encounter the Risen Jesus on Easter Morning. How can we prepare?

1. Fast from something that is preventing us from being the person God wants us to be. We embrace the old tradition of giving up something we like in order to bring some discipline into our lives.

2. Start an exercise routine that will help us to enjoy nature and the beautiful world God has created.

3. Spread the Love of God to all we encounter by being kind, compassionate and making time for others

4. Evangelize others by telling them about Jesus and what He has done for us by His death on the cross

5. Consider doing something positive. Visit a neighbour or phone someone who may be lonely or bereaved and show your care and concern.

6. Give to a charity that is caring for our world which is very much in need today.

7. Let us make every effort to spend more time in prayer and return to Holy Mass if we are able to do so. If we have been watching online we are not receiving the Holy Eucharist which is the Living Bread and food for our souls and gives us the power to become more compassionate and caring people. We will also avail of all the graces that are being poured out at every Holy Mass.

8. Avail of the Sacramental grace of Confession and be reconciled to a God who loves you unconditionally.

I’ll Be There For You

FILM REVIEW

By TADHG CURTIN

That’s what friends are for... until they aren’t. A friendship comes to an impasse which leads to dire consequences in Martin Mcdonagh’s fantastic, blackly comic, and melancholic drama, The Banshees of Inishereen (2022).

I really admire the audacity of opening a movie about a friendship ending... at the end of the friendship. We haven’t seen our two main characters in better times, no flashback to before the fracture. We are only getting introduced to our main characters and the older of the two, Colm Doherty (Brendan Gleeson) decides to sever his ties with the younger; lovable but simple Pádraig Súilleabháin (Colin Farrell). Not only are we trying to settle into this story, we, like Padraig, are completely thrown as to why, although the reason why is revealed later on.

debut, Tarantino made a heist movie where you never see the heist. Well here, we are trying to piece together a friendship right as its been ended. Tarantino has always been an influence on McDonagh. You see it in his dialogue and his dark humour. And as funny as Banshees is, it gets grim in places when it comes to blood.

Set in 1923 on the island of Inishereen during the Irish Civil War, Banshees evokes the austerity of early 20th century island life in Peig and the rural, communal idyll of The Quiet Man But darkness lurks beneath the surface which keeps the audience off balance. Throwing off the audience is something that Martin McDonagh does really well. It reminds me of Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs, for his movie

The actors are given a rich tapestry to play with. It’s great seeing Gleeson and Farrell together onscreen again. It’s been 16 years since they teamed up for McDonagh’s In Bruges which also had a tremendous sense of melancholy. As a simpleton who is the son of a corrupt policeman, Barry Keoghan nearly steals every scene he is in. However, Kerry Condon’s recent Bafta win for her performance as Farrell’s sister Siobhan, has me conclude that as great as all the male leads are, I feel she is the movie’s MVP. She is a woman pointing out the absurd nature of how extreme the male ego can be, delicate one moment, violent the next. She is better than her environment and wants to escape it. But she loves her brother, and defends him.

In a lot of Irish movies, I usually feel there’s always the slight cringe of ‘Oirish’ paddywhackery but this

is a universal story. You could set this anywhere around the world. However, the Irish catholic guilt that lurks in here does add to the proceedings. And I’m always a sucker for folklore, superstitions, the paranormal in general. It’s an interesting title that suggests one thing but, well, you’ll see. The movie sounds melancholic as well. American composer Carter Burwell gives it a beautiful sound; haunting one minute, hopeful the next.

Banshees lingers in the memory long after the end credits roll. It’s about many things; friendship, someone trying to better themselves, the idea of creating art as a way of being remembered, humanity’s capacity to be cruel to one another, traditions and folklore - good and bad. I don’t say this lightly but Banshees is one of the greatest Irish movies to hit screens in a long time.

Available to stream on Disney+ and to rent on YouTube.

Interests

Sidhe of Little Fairy Forts

By CALEB O’CONNOR

Growing up, I got the usual warnings - don’t talk to strangers, eat all your dinner, and stay away from fairies.

Searches for fairies online bring up little women with big butterfly wings or mushroom circles with a soft sparkly filter. This romanticised fairy is sweet, kind, and promises gifts and fun. And is definitely not the ones I was warned about. The way we think of fairies here is not quite with a fear or respect, but more the way you would speak of a predator in the woods that you’ve never seen. There’s a knowledge embedded in us.

Back before history, before any of our legends, there was a war. The Tuath Dé Danann (those who worshipped the Goddess Danú) were cast to the bottom of Ireland. Literally below the island itself. They didn’t quieten - their rambunctions raised hills and formed circles of tree and rock. Their name changes - Aes Sidh, or people of the mound, and as time trickled on, they became the Sidhe. Fairies.

This history is somewhat lost on us, but the safety precautions are not. As you read, you’re likely remembering your own warnings. But do you remember how to stay safe?

Fairy forts/Fairy rings

Do you know where your closest fairy fort is? You should. So you can avoid it. There are an estimated 60,000 of them across the island, with some dating as far back as 600 BCE. They’re usually noticed by the aforementioned rings of trees or stones, but what do you do if you spot it too late? Is it game over?

Not as long as you’re careful. Walk backwards while apologising for the intrusion. Don’t turn your back until you’re out of the ring, and make sure anyone with you follows the same steps.

Horseshoes

As a child, I didn’t understand why so many houses had horse shoes above the door. They didn’t even have horses! But a number of years back, I met the manager of the National Leprechaun Museum, Mark O’Gearain. The name of the museum is bait, he told me, and they show Irish folklore in a fun, interactive

setting. I won’t spoil the whole tour, trust me when I say it’s worth it. But it was here I learned that those horse shoes were to stop fairies from coming in the door! Fairies weakness is iron, something that’s stood across fairy lore across the globe. But the next use of iron might not be so universal.

Iron nails

By far the most curious defence I’ve heard is this; Get a clay pot and put iron nails into it. Then fill it with urine. The scent attracts them and the iron weakens them. It’s unclear if this will trap them or kill them, but what a way to go.

Maybe this piece has you scratching your head or maybe you’re nodding along. Our culture of story telling has left some things lost to time, spoken for the last time before anyone who could read this was here. To keep our traditions and folk tales alive, we have to share them. And maybe they are just stories. But better safe than sorry, right?

If you’re interested in more of Mark’s folklore and story telling, check out his Instagram; beardedbadgerstorytelling.

Fairy Fort in Roscommon

On the door is just as effective as they still couldn’t pass the opened door.

To be in with a chance to win a €20 voucher for Duhallow Community Food Services complete the crossword and post with your name and contact details to: Discover Duhallow Puzzle Competition, James O’Keeffe Institute Newmarket, Co. Cork

Or simply scan completed puzzle or take a snap with your phone email to discoverduhallow@irdduhallow.com

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Deadline for submissions is noon on Friday, March 3rd, 2023.

First correct entry drawn will win a €20 voucher, valid for three months from date of issue, to be redeemed for food at the Duhallow Community Food Services. No cash alternative. Winner will be named in subsequent issue of Discover Duhallow. One entry per person. No correspondence will be entered into. Voucher to be collected from Duhallow Community Food Services, Newmarket.

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