Discover Duhallow Issue 74

Scoil Mhuire Kanturk Golf Classic Tees Off P12&13

Rural Community Health Project Launched

A new initiative aimed at addressing the issue of suicide and self-harm within rural communities across north Cork was officially launched recently at the Mercy Centre in Mallow. A collaboration between the HSE/ Cork Kerry Community Healthcare and IRD Duhallow, Avondhu/Blackwater and Ballyhoura Development Partnerships, the Rural Community Health Worker Project for north Cork was launched by Deputy County Mayor Cllr Deirdre

O’Brien.

The project aims to work with and enhance existing services to improve the health and wellbeing of a community, through a series of health-focused initiatives. The project welcomes referrals from professionals, community, and voluntary groups as well as selfreferrals. To find out more contact IRD Duhallow Rural Community Health Worker Majella Canty: majella.canty@irdduhallow.com

IRD DUHALLOW REVAMP IS HIRING

FULL-TIME CRAFT/WOODWORK OPERATIVE VACANCY

Furniture restoration, to include wood repairs and finishes.

Restoration of upholstered furniture, including cleaning, mending and re upholstery Advising customers on the services available through IRD Duhallow Revamp, providing excellent customer service

sales

Efficient recording of stock inventories,

A Qualification and/or experience in the

cabinet making and carpentry industry.

A good knowledge of all wood finishes and application methods

A full driving license is essential

the reuse sector.

inwards and work

out Ensuring the cleanliness of the workshop and the maintenance of tools in accordance with health and safety regulations

Lifting and moving furniture

Working as part of the team, showing initiative and a enthusiasm to learn Willingly absorb responsibility and take on

tasks as they arise across our ever evolving social enterprise

operation

Editor’s

Amy Brosnan from Ballydesmond Handball Club travelled to Tyrone last weekend where she won the GAA Handball All-Ireland Juvenile Softball GU14 singles 2022 .She defeated Lucy McCullagh Tyrone on a score line 15-8 11-15 15-9

Sympathies:

Sympathies To Joan, Maura, Denis & Tim Twomey their families & extended families on the death of their sister Eilish Twomey Inches, Rathmore. Eilish was laid to rest on the Tuesday 20th September in St Mary’s Cemetery Millstreet.

To the Dineen family on the death of their Aunt Eibhlis McManus (nee Dineen) Galway & Hollymount. Eibhlis funeral took place in Tuam Galway on Tuesday 20th September. May Eilish & Eibhlis rest in peace

Miracle Prayer

Dear heart of Jesus,

In the past I have asked for many favours. This time I ask for a very special one. Take it, dear Jesus, and place it within your own heart, where your Father sees it. Then, in His merciful eyes it will become your favour and not mine.

Amen.

There was a great turnout at the Rathcoole Development Association Yoga and Coffee Morning, held recently in the Dromtarriffe GAA Hall, Rathcoole. Photo by Tadhg Curtin.

Duhallow

Community News

Clonbanin Centenary Committee Set to Launch Historical DVD

A fascinating new DVD documenting Clonbanin’s Journey through the War of Independence 1920 – 1921 will be launched at Dromtariffe Parish Hall on Friday, October 14th at 7pm.

Excerpts from the three hour documentary will be screened on the night, admission is free, refreshments will be served and DVDs can be purchased for €20 at the event.

With the central focus on Clonbanin, the Production documents the outstanding bravery and strength of character of the Volunteers as they overcame almost insurmountable odds as they battled British forces. This professionally produced DVD which is presented by Clonbanin Centenary Committee and introduced by former Mayor of Cork County Gillian Coughlin features a wealth of historical information which is documented by video, still photography and drone footage and includes several narrations by Committee members and various other historians. Details of the Plane Crash landing in Drominagh, along with information on the O’Connell and Clancy shooting with all the associated footage is told by Marie Vaughan Casey and the song is performed by Sheila Fitzgerald. Bill Cody’s Clonbanin Ambush is recited by David Collins and the story of Clonbabin Ambush is outlined by Donal Cashman and Donal Canty, accompanied by in depth historical footage. Noel Keating outlines the final resting places of the freedom fighters to a backdrop of drone and still imagery. The Badgers Hill history along with Kate Hickey’s invaluable involvement in the War of Independence is narrated by Pat O’Brien and John Arnold and the personal story of the hostage

Maurice Slattery is told by Seamus Buckley.

A further segment in the DVD which is narrated by Noel McCarthy chronicles the history of Spike Island, including it’s involvement in the War of Independence and association with Clonbanin, Duhallow, North Cork and all other areas connected with the Ambush.

The memorable Centenary Celebration of Clonbanin Ambush which was held in October 2021 is featured in yet another segment with video footage, photographs and lots of memories courtesy of Seán Radley.

“There are many more segments and chapters too numerous to mention included in the DVD, this is certainly

a collectors item chronicling the history of Ireland’s fight for freedom, commemorating the centenary of Clonbanin Ambush and honouring the women and men of the War of Independence” Charlie Drake of Clonbanin Centenary Committee said.

The DVD Documentary was produced by Old Road Studio, Ballydesmond. Visit the Clonbanin Ambush Centenary Commemoration Facebook page for further details.

The Clonbanin Centenary Committee.

Photo by Sheila Fitzgerald

Rural Community Health Project Launched

The IRD Duhallow Women’s Group with Rural Community Health Worker Majella Canty.

Superintendent Joseph Moore & Garda John Hennessy with Rural Community Health Workers Majella Canty, Lorna Hurley, & Jacki Hehir.

Deputy Mayor of Cork County Cllr Deirdre O’ Brien with HSE Staff and community health workers.

Deputy Mayor of Cork County Cllr Deirdre O’ Brien with Rural Community Health Workers Majella Canty, Lorna Hurley & Jacki Hehir

Maura Walsh , Eileen Linehan, Helen O Sullivan, & Majella Canty with Deputy Mayor of Cork County Cllr Deirdre O’ Brien.

Maura Walsh with Deputy Mayor of Cork County Cllr Deirdre O’ Brien at the launch of the Rural Community Health Project

Skillnet Business Networks

Launch New Language Learning Hub for Ukrainians in Ireland

29 September 2022: Three Skillnet Business Networks based in the south-west of Ireland have launched a new learning hub –Eirelingo – to help Ukrainians in Ireland develop English language skills.

Rural Food Skillnet, Duhallow Skillnet and South Kerry Skillnet developed the learning hub to support Ukrainians with no or limited English to develop the language skills needed to work in sectors with a high demand for workers including construction, healthcare, hospitality, and retail. The three Skillnet Business Networks identified the opportunity to address the skills gap, which would enable displaced people from Ukraine in the south-west to engage with state services and find work. Recent research carried out by the Networks highlighted the largest stumbling block to working in Ireland was English language proficiency, with 67% of the 500 respondents describing themselves as having poor or little English.

Niall Collins, Minister of State with responsibility for Skills and Further Education at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, addressed attendees from the south-west region

and members of the Ukrainian Community at the launch in Tralee, Co. Kerry.

Speaking at the launch, Minister Collins said: “From talking to Ukrainian people and our government agencies around the country, a key issue we are seeing is that English language skills are a major barrier for our new neighbours entering the workforce. “The launch of the new ‘Eirelingo’ online learning hub will help Ukrainian people break down this barrier and develop the language skills needed to work here in Ireland. We want to support you with the skills to work in Ireland and this new initiative will help those who wish to work in areas like construction, healthcare, hospitality and retail.”

Maura Walsh, IRD Duhallow CEO said: “Duhallow Skillnet is delighted to be involved in delivering this new online learning hub. ‘Eirlingo’ is a free resource which will give learners a high quality online learning

experience remotely and support the learning of English language skills with bite-sized segments. The App was developed by a team with expert knowledge on the latest education research and a proven expertise in designing, developing and delivering learning resources. As a result, ‘Eirlingo’ will enable Ukrainians to set their own learning journeys, help them to develop their new language skills, integrate into local communities, and allow them to become a valuable part of our region’s business economy”.

Dave Flynn, Director of Business Networks, Skillnet Ireland, added: “For Skillnet Ireland and our Skillnet Business Networks, helping people to develop the skills that employers need is at the heart of what we do. This new online learning hub from three Skillnet Business Networks will enable participants to develop and practice their language skills and avail of job opportunities in the southwest. It’s a very positive development for the region and for Ukrainians who are seeking employment in Ireland.”

The Eirelingo learning hub is available at: https://www. laskavoprosymo.ie/ Mariia Palchak presenting Korovai - a traditional Ukrainian bread to Minister Niall Collins with Louise Bourke and John Moriarty.

LEADER in the community

Spotlight on Floodlighting of Newmarket Tennis Courts

Spotlight on Floodlighting of Newmarket Tennis Courts

With the support of LEADER funding, Newmarket Community Development Association was delighted to be able to add floodlighting to the redeveloped tennis courts in Newmarket. The aim of this important project was to further enhance the area’s recreational offering and to make the facility available throughout the year, irrespective of hours of daylight. The facility is available to all members of the public and has disability access to ensure that the entire community gets to enjoy the tennis courts.

The newly installed floodlighting ensures that the facility is accessible throughout dark winter nights, at a time when there is

traditionally a decline in sporting activities due to a lack of suitable facilities.

This leads to significant public health benefits across all sectors of the community, particularly in those who do not traditionally partake in team sports which are currently catered for locally on an individual or small group basis. It promotes physical fitness and mental well-being and

#SICAPstories

Navigating Co-Parenting

By STEPHANIE MOYNIHAN

IRD Duhallow was delighted to host a virtual workshop on Co-Parenting facilitated by Coparenting therapist Eithne Drinan. Co-parenting describes the sharing of duties of raising a child of parents who are separated.

This important workshop focussed on how to manage coparenting offering practical tips and strategies, effective communication tools and strategies to support parents on their journey of coparenting. It further looked at on therapeutic and helpful tools to help parents to support their children through times of change. This community education offering was very well received, giving parents a safe environment to

share their experiences, engage with one another and to be supported in their individual journeys.

The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2018 –2022 provides funding to tackle poverty and social exclusion through local engagement and partnerships between disadvantaged individuals, community organisations and public sector agencies. Administered by Pobal and

a social outlet to be enjoyed by all. The Floodlighting is LED lighting which will significantly reduce the electricity used by the lights therefore minimising the environmental impact.

funded by the Irish Government through the Department of Rural and Community Development, it also receives funding from the European Social Fund under the Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020.

The importance of a positive mind-set during your Job search

By STEPHANIE MOYNIHAN

Exercising and spending quality times with friends and family will

IRD Duhallow are hosting a farm health & safety event on Friday 21st October from 1pm until 4pm. This is an interactive event with demonstrations from the emergency services, there will also be an opportunity to get blood pressure checks and information on mental health, cancer prevention and heart health.

To register for this event please contact Rural Community Health Worker Majella Canty, majella.canty@irdduhallow.com

Scoil Mhuire Kanturk Golf Classic Tees Off

Scoil Mhuire Kanturk held a Golf Classic Fundraiser in Kanturk Golf Club on the 23rd and 24th of September. It is 20 years since the last Golf Classic was held. It was wonderful to be back using the fantastic community amenity of Kanturk Golf Club and golf course to support the continued develop ment of facilities in Scoil Mhuire. Denis Keating, Principal thanked all involved in Kanturk Golf Club, Club Captains Ger Buckley and Yvonne Stadler, Club Presidents Noel Hennessy and Kate O’Brien as well as club officers, course staff, volunteers and members for their generous support today and for the fantastic condition in which the course is presented for our teams and guests. He thanked Patrick and his staff for the food

served and refreshments through out the day and to Andrius and Lidl Kanturk for supplying the refresh ment pack to teams.

We would like to thank all who have supported our school by entering a team, sponsoring a hole or a tee box or making a donation. In particular a special thanks to spon sors Munster Business Equipment and Paul Buckley of F45 Gym in Cork for their generous sponsor ship. Thank you to those who have donated such an impressive range of prizes for this classic. Thanks also to all who have donated priz es for our raffle.

To the Scoil Mhuire community, students, teachers, parents, past pupils, past staff and our school suppliers, thank you all for your generosity of time and effort in

making this event the major suc cess that it is. In particular, Mr. Keating paid tribute to Gerald Crotty and Padraic O’Connell for their immense efforts over the last number of months planning and driving this fundraiser. Thanks also to Tadgh Leahy for his expertise in scrutinising score cards and finalis ing competition results.

Our aim has been to raise €20,000 to upgrade the chang ing rooms of the school gym for the benefit of our students and wider community. The intention is to refurbish the changing areas, recommission the shower facilities and upgrade the heating sys tem. Mr. Keating was delighted to confirm that thanks to the efforts of all involved that they have been successful in meeting their target.

LEFT: Main sponsor Vincent Meade Munster Business Equipment with Denis Murphy and Neily Meade

RIGHT: 2nd Prize –Conor Madigan, Conor Madigan II and James Madigan past pupil

Winners of the golf Classic Donal Begley, John Corbett and Denis Walsh with Denis Keating, Principal.

Gross Prize winners Colm Keating and James Clernon, past pupil with Denis Keating.

Claire Hennessy, Katie Cahill,Catherine Barrett, and Julie Dennehy

4th prize Denis O’Connell with Denis Keating and Tadgh Leahy

Raffle prize winners Louise O’Keeffe, Patsy O’Connell, Mary Ellis and Cathy Forrest.

3rd prize - past pupils John Duggan and Peter Earlie with Denis Keating and Tadgh Leahy

Best Ladies team-Kate O’Brien, Pat O’Grady and Phil Crotty with Denis Keating and Padraic O’Connell

Student Boys team, Rory O’Keeffe and James O’Connor with Denis Keating

Threshing Day with Jerry Foley

By his granchildren, AVA HOGAN & TEGAN HENNESSY

Granddad Jerry was born and raised in Killowen Newmarket Co. Cork. He was born on April 5th 1938, he is 84 years young! When he was young, he lived in Killowen with his parents Agnes and Patrick and four siblings. Granddad has three daughters and seven grandchildren. Granddad enjoys a simple life on his farm; he loves nature and watching the changes each season brings on the farm, meeting people; chatting with his neighbours; going to mass on a Saturday night and spoiling us!

Granddad has a great love of farming which is what he spent his life doing. His other passion is for mechanics and everything vintage!

Granddad and his friends have travelled the country in search of various vintage machinery throughout the years. One of his happiest days was when he sourced and bought himself a threshing machine, so September 18th, 2022 was a very exciting day for Granddad. He had been preparing all week for this – it was his annual “Threshing Day”.

Grandad is never short of helpers!

L-R Ava Hogan & Tegan Hennessy.

Darragh Hogan, Arlene & Elise Hennessy. Grandads’ biggest supporters!

Jerry Foley

Thankfully, when the day finally came the weather did not disappoint. Granddad and his friends had been getting the threshing machine ready all morning, while others were getting tea, coffee, cakes buns and sandwiches ready for the

anticipated crowd of spectators. By Mid-morning the thresher accompanying tractors and baler were set up in the yard ready to go.

At lunch time the crowds came to see the old vintage threshing machine in action, the sandwiches

& buns were eaten, the tea and coffee drank, and the threshing machine was in full swing with granddad on top feeding in the sheaves of grain. The day was great craic and a massive success. We are very lucky and proud of our granddad Jerry!

LEFT: Threshing machine prep under way. ABOVE: Threshing machine in full swing. Photos by Liam Hogan. Find Liam’s work online at liamhogan.smugmug.com

Health

Do you discuss your mental health? No, why not?

By ALICE O’BRIEN

Would you tell people if you were feeling down? If you didn’t have the motivation to do your daily routine? Would you admit to others that you avoid situations due to anxiety? In other words, would you be open and honest about your mental health, or would you cover it up? Might you opt for another excuse- maybe something related to your physical health instead- vomiting bug perhaps or the flu?

To be honest, most of us would cover it up, we suffer mental illhealth in silence, which confirms our false belief that we are the only ones who feel like this, we might even believe that we are weak or flawed because our thinking is not always perfect. Funny how

we never expect our physical health to be perfect at all times.

We don’t mind if we get the flu or an occasional joint pain or sprainthat’s OK! But it is not OK to feel sad, to feel depressed or to be nervous or anxious at times?

When you do talk to others, it is amazing how many amateur therapists there are around and how much advice you might get.

Things like- read a book, go for a walk, take a bath, try to think

differently. People want to tell you what they did, how their cousin swears by yoga or sea-swimming or whatever is in fashion at the moment.

But, before you suffer under the cold shower because your neighbour says it cured her brother’s depression think about this; the only expert on you is you. You know what is right for you. You know what you are feeling because you know what is normal for you- and if it feels wrong for you then you deserve to be looked after. So, attend you GP and tell them what is on your mind. They will never judge you or think negatively of you. Seek help, attend therapy if you need to and talk to a professional. Get some research based advice and follow it if it feels right. Trust yourself and your feelings and never suffer in silence.

Free Yourself From PMS

By MAIREAD O’KEEFFE New Leaf Health Store

One in four women experience severe PMS every month. Common premenstrual symptoms include emotional irritability, anxiousness or feeling down. Combine these with headaches, extreme bloating, constipation or diarrhoea and understandably women are dreading this time.

Susan Sheehan, Women’s Health Practitioner, shared with me her own experience and expertise in enabling women to heal. She says it is normal to feel tired in the days before your period but women do not need to suffer the way they are. And as Susan reminded me, we have around 450 periods and cycles in your life. So that is a lot of days to be in pain!

We need to understand our

whole monthly cycle, Susan shares.

The term Menstrual Cycle has become much more widely known, many of us grew up only knowing about our period or ovulation. As women we have a whole cycle of different physical energy levels and emotions throughout the month. We have a rhythm where we feel lighter after our period, more hopeful, then moving into the next phase of living fully and feeling incredibly extroverted at ovulation and as we slide, or slam, into the days before our period we want to be alone and hibernate.

And all of this is normal, and happens every month.

If we make our whole monthly cycle a companion rather than an unwanted friend, the angst and pain will begin to ease. Some practical tips include slowing down in the few days before your cycle. If you struggle with cramps - have warming soups and stews or curries rather than dry foods. Headaches and migraines are caused by too much energy going up into the head so you need to reduce running around and stress where you can, even by 10-15%.

Within two months of being aware of what your own patterns are, and making small changes, Susan has guided many women to live freely from PMS.

Susan Sheehan is based at New Leaf in Charleville every Wednesday, and can be found at www.susansheehan.com or 087 0641086.

Susan Sheehan

Tim O’Connell Sells Us On Auctioneering

By TADHG CURTIN

A staple of Kanturk Mart, Tim O’Connell has been working his auctioneering gavel since 1983. Tadhg Curtin got to chat with him about what exactly his job entails.

I got involved because my father died in 1983 and he was one of the founder auctioneers here.

The O’Connell’s have been auctioneers here since the beginning, so it’s a long tradition. Is it just here?

I have my own auctioneering business as well. Farming and that things too, business. When I started off here, it was actually two sales a week – every Monday and

Tuesday. Monday was pigs – a substantial amount of pigs came through here, and it was well known for it Tuesday was like today, calves and cattle. With Covid, a lot of auctioneering went online (40% of the marts sales and purchases are done online). The online business has helped the mart business, We were sceptical about it at first, but since it’s come in, it’s the modern way of doing business, it’s become very popular and easy to manage, a great thing being an auctioneer

Tim in the auctioneer’s

box, running an auction in Ring One, Kanturk Mart .September 2022.

If you’re encouraging people to get into it, what advice would you give To become a livestock auctioneer?

It has become very difficult. Now to become one you have to go and do an educational course in Dublin, before that you have no practical experience, you have to have a

license. Someone is going away and getting educated, and they don’t know if they like it or want to do it and there’s a big fall off. The system is wrong,

I think they should allow young fellas to do a small bit of it under the eye of a licensed auctioneer and then if he likes it and wants to do it, it’s then he should go away and get his education. I’m fascinated with auctioneering and the rapid speed of calling an auction, how do you preserve your voice?

I suppose that’s years of practice. It doesn’t affect me. I don’t have a sore throat, it’s like a fella working all day with a shovel. Your voice wouldn’t be gone in the evening?

No. If you take a break, for five minutes it’s good for you, but if you have a flying trade, you enjoy it, Auctioneers enjoy it, if you enjoy it, you keep at it. If you don’t like it, like any job, you get tired and you get, you know upset, and you want to get out. You like the banter, tis good. As regards speed, some fellas are faster than others, it’s all to do with experience. When you’re a young fella, your mother shows you how to tie your shoe, and you have to look down at your shoe but as you get older you do it without looking. Much the same type of thing, it’s all practice. You get to feel the whole system of it.

L- R: Liam Murphy Auctioneer, Tim’s father, John O’Connell Auctioneer, Dermot McCarthy Auctioneer and Dan O’Reilly, Ballyheist, Auctioneer.

Tim O’Connell

Steering for Gold

By DANIEL O’LOUGHLIN

I have a confession to make; Racing games are a genre I’m not that familiar with. Don’t be misinformed, dear reader, I do like racing games. I just don’t have as much play experience with them as other gaming genres. Having said that, if the majority of them are as good as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe then I have definitely been missing out.

Originally released on the Wii U in 2014 as Mario Kart 8, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe released in 2017, is the same game on Switch with all the Downloadable Content(DLC). It seems that now is the perfect time to pick up and play this game as it is getting DLC all its own. Starting in March 2022 and finishing in early 2023, the Booster

Course Pass consists of six content drops total, eight courses per drop. It is not surprising that Nintendo is still supporting the game considering its sales numbers. As of this review, Deluxe has sold 45.33 million copies. It is the best selling Nintendo Switch game and with very good reason. At the start I mentioned how I don’t play a lot of racing games. I’ve enjoyed playing this game so much that the inevitable Mario Kart 9 has a high standard

to reach. I recommend for new players to play 50cc setting first to become accustomed to the driving gameplay before tackling the harder classes. No matter if you’re eight or eighty Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is accessible to everyone and anyone can appreciate the impeccable design, surprisingly well developed mechanics, terrific retro tracks and new tracks alike as well as the satisfying rewards. It is a title that’s sure to come first place in your heart.

WIN!

be in with a chance to

for Duhallow

Services complete the

and post with

Duhallow

Competition, James O’Keeffe Institute Newmarket, Co. Cork

name

the

simply scan completed puzzle or

a snap with

phone email to

& Conditions:

for submissions is noon on

October 14th 2022.

correct entry drawn will win a

voucher, valid for three months

date of issue, to be redeemed for food at the Duhallow Community Food Services. No cash alternative. Winner

be named in subsequent issue of

Duhallow. No correspondence

be entered into. Voucher to be collected from Duhallow Community Food Services, Newmarket.

October - Month of The Holy Rosary

By TOM DENNEHY

October is the month of the most holy rosary. Today we are never in more need of its power to intervene in a world which is being threatened to be overcome with evil and war.

In all her apparitions Our Lady has implored us to pray the rosary. She has told us it is so powerful it has the power to stop wars.

What makes this prayer so effective?

It is because the Rosary is both prayer and meditation. It is addressed to the Father, to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to the Holy Trinity and it is a meditation centred on Christ. It is important that we pray each word slowly and distinctly as each Hail Mary is new just as water gushes forth from the spring, we give our prayer to Our Lady who makes it perfect, and she gives it to Jesus who works a miracle with it.

When we pray the rosary.

*We meditate on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and Mary’s role as mother of God and our Mother.

* We open our minds and hearts to God’s holy will so that the Holy Spirit can enlighten us to a deeper understanding of our faith.

*We encounter a peace that only God can give. No matter how anxious and troubled we may be, we find a peace that is very much lacking in our world today.

Saint Padre Pio had great devotion to the rosary, He always had a rosary in his hand and prayed the rosary many times every day. He said “If we do what we have always done, what our fathers did before us, we cannot go wrong. Satan wants to destroy this prayer, but in this he will never succeed. The rosary is the prayer of those who triumph

over everything and everyone. It was Our Lady who taught us this prayer, just as it was Jesus who taught us the Our Father. The rosary is the weapon against the Devil and the evil in the world today.”

How to pray the Rosary

The rosary is a scripture-based prayer, it begins with the Apostles Creed which summarizes the great mysteries of the Catholic faith. The Our Father, which introduces each mystery, is from the Gospels. The first part of the Hail Mary is the angel’s words announcing Christ’s birth and Elizabeth’s greeting to Mary. St Pius V officially added the second part of the Hail Mary. The Mysteries of the Rosary centre on the events of Christ’s life.

There are four sets, The Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious and The Luminous added by Saint John Paul 11 in 2002. The repetition of the rosary is meant to lead one into restful and contemplative prayer related to each mystery. The gentle repetition of the words helps us to enter into the silence of our hearts, where Christ’s spirit dwells.

The rosary is our greatest prayer

after Holy Mass. There are 15 promises attached to those who pray the rosary daily given by Our Lady to Blessed Alan De Le Roche. They include

1. Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall receive special graces.

2. I promise my special protection to all who shall pray the Rosary. It shall be a powerful defence against Hell. It will help us to overcome bad habits and thereby decrease sin.

3. Whoever shall have true devotion to the Rosary shall not die without the Sacraments of the Church.

4. You shall obtain what you ask of me by praying the Rosary.

5. I will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God and shall deliver from Purgatory those who have been devoted to the rosary.

6. The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven.

Our Lady’s message in Medjugorje August 25, 1995. “Dear Children; I invite you to prayer. Let prayer be life for you. A family cannot say it is in peace if it does not pray. Therefore, let your morning begin with morning prayer, and the evening end with thanksgiving. Little children, I am with you, and I love you and I bless you and I wish that every one of you be in my embrace. You cannot be in my embrace if you are not ready to pray every day.”

Let us all make a very special effort to pray the rosary every day. Why not begin with one decade? You can pray it when at home, or driving in your car, or out and about on your walk or wherever you are. I promise you it will change your life and the lives of those around you.

Interests

Brother Malachy’s Thought for the Day

How Great Thou Art? What do the scientists say? We are God’s unique masterpiece. It is true, we take a lot for granted. Our hearts beat an extraordinary 100,000 times a day. There are 100,000 miles of blood vessels in our body. There are 100 million light sensitive cells in the retina of our eyes. Our brains can make thousands of calculations in a second while only using the same amount of power as a ten-watt bulb. We can distinguish over 4000 smells and we can see stars that are a million miles away. The heart pushes 2000 litres of blood through our system each day. In the middle of all these interesting statistics we have our own unique fingerprint and DNA print. Our bodies are truly extraordinary and yet we often trivialise much of what we do because we simply take so

IN THE

much for granted. Everything around us just doesn’t happen. We are part of God’s tapestry, God’s unique masterpiece. What a shame if we take it all for granted. Let us see how precious we are in Jesus’s eyes. The last shall be first and the first shall be last.

Brother Malachy (R) with his brother, the late Willie Buckley (L), RIP.

Brother Malachy Buckley was born in a place named Ferrendoyle, which is situated just beside Derrygallon Cross in 1932. He joined the foreign missions and as part of his long career has thought in cities and towns in Ireland along with far flung places such South Africa and Mauritius. Brother Malachy holds fond memories of his childhood, and states that despite his long life of travelling far and wide, he has never experienced a variety of activities and events such as what he encountered during his idyllic childhood in Derrygallon.

Readers are invited to share their photographs with us - the best will feature here.

sure to caption

image and provide

full name and details of where the photo was taken.

Pictures

Space Rocks

By TREVOR O’DONOGHUE

NASA’s recent Dart mission to deflect an asteroid’s path, serves to illustrate just how precarious Earth’s existence is. We are at the mercy of what the Universe throws at us. Our atmosphere and magnetic field serve us well in protecting us from cosmic rays, eruptions of particles and energy from the Sun, and the small meteors that continually bombard us. The presence of large planets like Jupiter and Saturn in our Solar System act as protective big brothers, sweeping up any wayward asteroids that happen to pass by on the way to Earth.

Nevertheless, Earth has suffered a violent past. A quick glance at the Moon in binoculars shows its cratered surface, each crater the result of a strike from space. Earth would look similar, but plate tectonics, erosion, and life on Earth have eliminated most of the evidence of our violent past. However, it is not a matter

of ‘if’, but more a matter of ‘when’ the Earth gets struck by a large asteroid again.

65 million years ago, the Earth was hit by a large asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs. The impact of the city sized asteroid created an 80 km creator, just off the Yucatan Oeninsula in Mexico. The resulting clouds of ash and dust created nightlike conditions that persisted for years, if not for decades. Plants died off and entire ecosystems were decimated with most large animals going extinct.

With almost 30,000 Near Earth Asteroids (NEO), NASA has their hands full keeping an eye on them all. Find out more at eyes.nasa.gov

When conditions did improve, evolution took off and created

an abundance of plant and subsequent animal life. Who is to say whether humans would have evolved, let alone survived, alongside the dinosaurs and become the dominant species we are today, if the asteroid didn’t impact 65 million years ago.

The Dart mission was a great first step and a proof of concept. We can target and hit a fastmoving asteroid. However, in order to truly protect the planet, we have to ensure we find these asteroids well in advance and develop powerful early strike capabilities that can divert the course of asteroids away from the Earth. We will probably find all the larger ones with time to spare, but it is the smaller ones that sneak through that could prove to be problematic.

Hopefully NASA’s planetary defence work will continue and will be on hand to disrupt or destroy the path of any incoming asteroid before it reaches us.

The doomsday scenario. A large asteroid impacting the Earth.

Interests

Heavy Metal

REVIEW

By TADHG CURTIN

Before he put people off swimming at the beach, Steven Spielberg made vehicles in your rear-view mirror the most ominous sight in his suspenseful, cracking debut, Duel (1971).

Steven Spielberg is one of the greatest cinematic masters of the last 50 years. One of the few names known both to critics and the ordinary guy on the street, Spielberg actually got his start on television. He launched his movie career by directing a made for television movie called Duel Based on a Richard Matheson short story, Duel is such a simple premise. A business commuter is pursued and terrorized by the malevolent driver of a massive tractor-trailer.

Orson Welle’s Touch of Evil.

The action is fantastic. It works as one long chase movie with brief respites here and there. We never see the other driver throughout which makes it even more unnerving. They shot the chase sequences with a specially created camera car that was low to the ground - this same car was used to shoot Bullitt’s car chase three years before. Composer Billy Goldenberg implements a very unique music score that’s percussive and experimental which adds to the tension and chaos on screen.

This solidified his reputation as a wunderkind and set him on his illustrious path to greatness.

Duel had a tremendous run on television and as a result, It was actually released as a feature length movie in Europe, with 20 minutes added to its screen time. Indeed, Spielberg can count himself amongst the many artists who could have remained unknown in their homeland if European critics hadn’t given the appropriate accolades.

Duel is one of the great made for television movies. They were a popular thing back in the day, a genre that operated between T.V. and cinema. They still exist in certain forms today - the hallmark channel for example. Nowadays, streaming seems to have overtaken them. Dennis Weaver is terrific as the poor individual who decides to overtake the wrong driver on his commute. Jittery, paranoid, out of his wits - Spielberg had remembered his energetic performance in

The movie’s ending is utterly spectacular but for Spielberg it was only the beginning. Before Duel, Spielberg worked on the T.V. pilot of Rod Sterling’s The Night Gallery where he got to direct the legendary Joan Crawford. Crawford wasn’t keen on a director with little experience but she quickly recognised a great talent in Spielberg. She encouraged him to keep doing what he was doing, told him that Hollywood was always slow in recognising a true talent and pointed him out to the right people in the business.

Spielberg has said that he saw Duel as pure Hitchcockian suspense stating it was: “Psycho meets The Birds on wheels!” It’s that and then some. It’ll keep you hooked and possibly make you anxious the next time you’re driving on your own journey! Available to stream for free on Youtube. Type in: Duel (1971)