Discover Duhallow Issue 79

IRD Duhallow, DCFS and the staff of the James O’Keeffe Foundation were celebrated for their years of service at the recent Board of Directors Christmas Dinner. In a time where Ireland’s work force has become more fluid and transient, Chairman of IRD Duhallow Michael Twohig noted that it was great testament to the companies

be celebrating up to 30 years of service for some individuals. He also noted how important companies such as IRD Duhallow and the many social enterprises operated within its structures are as employers within the local, rural economy.

Maura Walsh celebrated 30 years at the helm of IRD Duhallow

Editors Note

It’s finally here! The countdown to Christmas and we sail off into a new year. Already there are plans all over Duhallow for new year events - walks, plays, and everything else. It’s been a wild ride this year, but we appreciate everyone hanging on and supporting us, reaching out to us, and showing their appreciation for Discover Duhallow. We return on Friday the 13th of January, hopefully it will prove lucky for us! To close out the year, we have a mini In The Frame of Esther - a lovely pup who appeared in the previous Christmas issue who sadly passed away this year. Have a wonderful Christmas, readers, and a prosperous new year! -Caleb and Tadhg

Email: Discoverduhallow@irdduhallow.com Phone: 029-60633

Keep an eye out online for the latest issue of Discover Duhallow, revisit your favourite articles, and have a look into what we’re doing next. www.facebook.com/ discoverDuhallowMagazine

call in or email 029 71445, a call at events, lunches, and dinners. with us! We host a us give all your Holidays enquiries@wallisarms.com t us please inquiries all for For sizes group all your Celebrate Celebrate your all for us enquiries@wallisarms.com

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with events, lunches, and dinners. a call at 029 71445, call in or email

Santa Paws - Esther poses in front of the family Christmas tree

Sympathies

Sympathies to Maureen Moore, daughter Breeda and son-in-law Nichlas, grandchildren Lorna, Declan and Billy and the families, on the death of Willie Moore Clounts.

Willie was laid to rest on Monday 5th December in Gneeveguilla.

To Neily Joe Kelleher, Karen, John, Neil, Hugo, Emma, Jeremy and Kenneth, grandchildren and families, brothers and extended family on the death of Annette Kelleher Gorthnahaune Bui East.

Anette was laid to rest on Tuesday 6th December in Rathmore.

To Eilish Finnegan and family on the death of her father John Crowe whose funeral took place in Ruan, Co Clare on Monday 5th December.

To Benny Joe O’Connor & Mairead (O’Connor) Byrne & families on the death of Maura O’Connor, Umeraboy, Knocknagree.

Maura’s funeral took place on Monday 12th December in Knocknagree.

To John, Denis, Kevin, Jerry & Sheila Carroll on the death of their brother Tim (Timmy) Carroll, Doon Tralee late of Nohovaldaly and Knocknagree. Tim was laid to rest in Rathmore on Thursday 15th December.

May Willie, Annette, Maura, Tim, and John rest in peace

Samaritans

The Samaritans will hold their Christmas Church Gate Collection on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day across all churches in the parishes

Improved Buses

The improved Macroom, Millstreet Rathmore Killarney bus route 257 will now operate seven days a week with 3 daily return services. This will improve accessibility between the newly bypassed Macroom, Clondrohid village, Millstreet train station and on to Killarney.

Two services will operate on Sundays. There will also be additional stops in Millstreet, linking up with the train station. More Details in the Bus Eireann office or website.

Sam To The Summit

What are you doing on St. Stephen’s Day?

A historic event, a day of days. Join us in bringing Sam Maguire to the summit of the Paps.

We need your support. All funds raised to the Kerry - Cork Health Link Bus and The Brian Lawlor Trust. Meet 09:30 26/12/22 in Glenflesk GAA.

Donate now at https://www.idonate.ie/ fundraiser/samtothesummit

Thank You Notice from the Cultúrlann committee

Cultúrlann MacAmhlaoibh opened its

Throughout

So the

you all a very

it

have

like to

doors to the public in April with its first ever event; a concert by the Duhallow Choral Society. Since then, there have been a number of events, concerts, drama, CD launches, the McAuliffe Clan Rally, Christmas Craft fair as well as numerous regular events like Irish classes, the weekly Monday seisiuin, the weekly rehearsals of the Choral Society, the Monthly Alzeimers Cafe, the Monthly Writers Meet-up and Many more.

it all, there has been tremendous support fo the Cultúrlann, its work and all its events from the general public, Without this support,

would

been impossible to be as successful as it has been in the seven months since its opening.

committee would

say a very heartfelt thank you to all its supporters, patrons, and performers, and to wish

happy Christmas and a peaceful and blessed 2023.

Murphy’s New Homes Gift Jerseys

Santa paid a visit to the IRD Duhallow Afterschools with Mrs. Claus and an elf helper! The kids got to meet Santa and got some selection boxes!

Right: Santa asks Kiera what she wants for Christmas as her sister Anna

Liam Murphy (Murphy New Homes) presenting the Jerseys to the under 15 team of coaches, Shane Heffernan, Eddie Vaughan, and Leonard Barry.

Leonard Barry, Shane Heffernan, Liam Murphy, Eddie Vaughan, Nathaniel Asante, Evan Vicaire, Darrin Dugdale, Kaylum O Donoghue, Daniel Vaughan, and Kyle Singleton.

Jimmy Moore, Leonard Barry, Shane Heffernan, Liam Murphy, Eddie Vaughan, and Mick Wall.

Kanturk AFC would like to thank Murphy New Homes for giving the Club a set of Jerseys for their under 15 Boys team. Club members were delighted to meet up with former Kanturk AFC player Liam Murphy who presented the Jerseys to the club. https://mgroup.ie/

sits with Mrs. Claus

Photos by Tadhg Curtin

The Reunion Christmas Party Community News

CURTIN

LEFT:

A bird’s eye view of the “The Reunion Christmas Party” held in the community centre Rockchapel

Kevin O’Connor as he sings a song to entertain the crowd

Fr Stritch sings a song about “The Rocks” success in the GAA field

RIGHT: Marty Tom Murphy tells a yarn that had everyone in stitches

Sean Lyons, Denis Callaghan, Henry Keogh, Ann Cronin, John McNulty and Timmy Connors add to the festivities with their music Pat Murphy and Aeneas Murphy enjoying the craic.

Photos by NEILY

Best Selling Cork True Crime Series

Murder Most Local; Historic Murders of Mid Cork is the newest book in the Murder Most Local series. It tells the gruesome stories of true historic murders in Mid Cork. This is the 6th book by Cork author Peter O’Shea. His last 4 books were also part of the Murder Most Local series. West Cork, North Cork East Cork and South Cork sold out quickly in many outlets, but all Cork independent bookshops are now fully restocked. These books can be read in any order and cover over 200 murder stories around Cork. Mid Cork tells about true historical murders from near Kanturk to Millstreet, south to Macroom, and west along to Gougane Barra and on to Bantry. The area is covered with historic serious crimes.

Peter encourages everyone to shop local and support local this

Christmas. Murder Most Local is available in the following outlets –Wordsworth Millstreet, O’Learys Supervalu Macroom, O’Keeffes Supervalu Millstreet, Cooneys Bookshop Macroom, Smyths Supervalu Kinsale, Bandon Books Plus, Skibbereen Bookshop, Kerr’s Bookshop Clonakilty, Fields Supervalu Skibbereen, Bookstόr Kinsale, Scally’s SuperValu Clonakilty, O’Farrells Bandon, Bantry Bookshop, Carrigaline Bookshop, Cottrells Gala Ballinhassig, Midleton & Fermoy Books, McCarthy News Midleton, Philips Bookshop Mallow, Vibes & Scribes, Kanturk Bookshop, Gadai Dubh Books, Fitz-Geralds Bookshop Macroom and many more. For more information, please see www.facebook.com/ ballycottonhistory

Reader reviews

“I look forward to reading them again in case

I missed anything, I found all the books fascinating but the West Cork more so because I am from the area”.

“Once I picked up your books, I couldn’t put them down”.

“Really enjoyed the first 3 books”. “It’s been absolutely flying off the shelves”.

“Peter is a hugely talented author. All Murder Most Local books well worth a read. Meticulously researched and so well written”.

Millstreet Community School

Open Night

The school welcomed the community back into the school on Open Night, and new students and their parents were impressed with new developments, with total refits of the Science rooms, as well as new equipment in Engineering and Construction, representing a huge investment in the future of education in MCS with cutting edge facilities now in all practical classrooms.

MCS would like to wish a very happy Christmas to all students and their families, and we pray that the message of peace will prevail in 2023 in our lives and in the world.

Stand Up Awareness Week

Belong To’s Stand Up Awareness Week is a time to take a stand against homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying. The Ambassador School’s project with Art teacher Ms Moynihan made posters expressing the school’s commitment to inclusion and equality as well as every students’ commitment to be an ally against all forms of bullying and discrimination. The Student Council also organised each year group to wear the pride colours.

Ukrainian Day

MCS is committed to celebrating diversity in school life and on November 22nd, Ukrainian students and staff, along with their parents, showcased their culture, with food, music, song, national costume and information on this wonderful country. Thanks to Olena Herasymova, Alla Kolobova, the students and their parents.

BT Young Scientists

The BT tradition continues this year with six TY groups preparing to exhibit in Dublin in next month. Best of luck to the sixteen students with their presentations.

SVP Collection

Sport

The school’s Junior(below) and Senior camogie teams have advanced to the semi-finals and the u-16 hurlers have also progressed in a great spell with the hurleys in MCS. Students did well in Athletics also, with Rachel Gaffney, Oran Kiely and Finn O’Dwyer medalists in Riverstick Cross Country

MCS Student Council organised a hugely successful food collection for SVP and local SVP volunteers Eileen O’Sullivan and Dan Joe O’Keeffe collected the food for delivery at Christmas.

The Fastest 5k In Ireland Community

Duhallow Athletic Club held their 25th anniversary race, and it was a standout!

The race is reknowned as the fastest 5k in Ireland, and is the second win in a row for Eimhin O’Broin in 14.28. Sinead O’Connor Leevalve was the fastest of the women in 16:27. This field had Irish Olympian Paul O’Donovan, rally driver Barry Meade, journalist Brian O’Connell and lots more, all with one aim; a 5k personal best on an established renowned course.

372 athletes finished in spite of the icy conditions generally but our course was great with thanks to Cork County Council and Billy and his team were superb. Massive thanks to our main sponsor Ayrton Group, Kieran and the lads for their outstanding traffic management, as well as Fitness Solutions Mallow.

Thanks to our associate sponsors Tipperary Water, Fyffes Ireland, T Ryan Foodstore Newmarket, Safaris Niteclub, Estuary Wholesale Supplies Limited and Facecook catering. Special thanks to our own club members. The local Gardai, Irish Red Cross, Newmarket GAA, Instacoffee, and those who operated our wonderful race. Michael and Peggy Hourigan of Safaris Hiland and the O’Connor group Newmarket for their parking facilities. To all our other fantastic stewards from all over Cork / Kerry/ Limerick.

Thanks to all our other sponsors including spot prizes.

Thanks to Premier Timing Systems for timing our event. Thank you to all our media partners the Corkman, C103, Discover Duhallow, Running In Cork, TMC photography, and John Tarrant.

Finally, thanks to all the community and businesses in Newmarket for their support and understanding.

Banteer News

Banteer Community Sportsfield official opening in January

The official opening of the new complex at Banteer Community Sportsfield is planned for Sat 14th Jan 2023 with Minister Heather Humphries attending –more details to follow.

The project is now complete and with an investment of almost €2.2 million, it provides the Banteer and Duhallow areas with a top class facility that will serve many generations going forward. The facility includes state of the art new community building with new changing rooms, toilets, disabled facilities, spectator stand area, museum, digital hub and café facility. With IRD Duhallow as the lead applicant a major grant of €1.3M was approved in Feb 2019

towards the development project from the Government’s Rural Regeneration and Development fund, Project Ireland 2040 under the Department of Community and Rural Development. A Sports capital grant was also approved along with Leader grants for the inclusion of a renewable energy system, carpark and digital hub in the new building with a grant also from Cork County Council.

The demand for the astro pitch facility is such that the facility has been in use 7 days a week with for example 18-20 games/week being played there in recent weeks. The inclusion of a digital hub at the facility adds another much-needed service to the area allowing people to work from their home area.

Banteer Lyre and Districts Community Council have a questionnaire for our locality to complete by December 2022. Your Community Your Voice! IRD Duhallow is conducting a survey of the quality of life, sense of place, local amenities and facilities. The findings will help local community groups to formulate their plans for their community and will feed into the strategy for the region. The survey only takes a brief few minutes and all within the region are encouraged to please complete it. To access the survey click on the following link: https:// forms.gle/guxd3ieiyNFYY4LA6

Banteer/Lyre Foroige wish to thank all who contributed to the recent collection for Cork Penny Dinners.A huge amount of food and other items were collected and delivered to Cork thanks to Eamon Tarrant and Willie Murphy

Responses are confidential and anonymous. Dr Brendan O’Keeffe has exclusive access to this database, and he will collate the findings for the communities that participated in the IRD Duhallow Smart Villages Training Programme (during autumn 2022). The results will be circulated to the community groups in spring 2023. This questionnaire is open to everybody in the community - of all ages, as all views and perspectives are important, but it should not be circulated to minors without the consent of their parents/ guardians, teachers or designated youth leaders.

Banteer Lyre and Districts Community Council Thank You Notice

Badminton every Monday in the Community Center in Banteer from 8.30pm to 10pm.

All are welcome to join up and there will be games for all levels from beginners up to experienced players..Season will run to mid March 2023..Registration detail to follow.

What’s On In The Glen Theatre

All shows start at 8pm Wed. 28 Dec. - Fri. 30 Dec. Banteer Drama Group present God Rest His Soul by John Hank Regan”

Sat. 14 Jan 2023 Sean Keane

Sun. 22 Jan 2023 Declan Nearney and full band in concert.

Mon. 6 Feb 2023 Special Concenious “Bluegrass Band”

Sat. 11 Feb 2023 Phelin Drew “Songs and Stories of the Dubliners”

Sat. 11 Mar 2023 Jack Rourke

Sat. 25 Mar 2023

Ann Gildea: How To Get To Menopause And Enjoy It

Banteer Bingo at Banteer Community Centre on every Tuesday at 8.30pm. Playing for jackpot of €4000. Looking forward to seeing everyone.

Banteer Social Adult Badminton

IRD Duhallow Celebrate

Michael Twohig recognised Nollaig Murphy’s 5 years of service with IRD Duhallow

Michael Twohig making a presentation to Maura on the occasion of her 30th year at the helm of IRD Duhallow.

IRD Duhallow Chairperson Michael Twohig making a presentation to Triona Dennehy for 15 years of service with IRD Duhallow.

IRD Duhallow Chairperson Michael Twohig makes a presentation to Margaret O’Connor celebrating her 25 years of service to IRD Duhallow

DCFS Director Eileen Linehan making a presentation to Olive Casey who recently celebrated 20 years with the company.

DCFS Director Eileen Linehan making a presentation to Julie O’Flaherty for 5 years of service with DCFS.

Celebrate Years of Service

Mary O’Connell celebrated 15 years with the RSS

Mary Wallace with Neily Cronin. Neily was acknowledged for his ten years of service with the RSS.

Mary Wallace making a presentation to Bridget Keating for her 15 years of service with RSS

Mary Wallace made a presentation to Margaret Murphy on the occasion of Margaret’s 10 years with the RSS.

Mary Wallace and Nuala Riordan. Nuala was celebrating 10 years of service with IRD Duhallow’s RSS Scheme

Mary Wallace and Nora Shine who was recognised for her 15 years of service with the Rural Social Scheme.

Photos by MARIE FLEMING

“On Christmas Day”

On Christmas morning at the home farm, we awoke with a thump of excitement. It was still dark, but we jumped out of bed and tumbled down the high narrow stairs. The only light in the kitchen was the glow of the Sacred Heart lamp and the fading embers of the fire, but we were directed by anticipation and instinct. Bulging stockings yielded up oranges, apples, crayons and colouring books. Games of ludo and snakes and ladders brought forth squeals of delight, and one year I got a new school satchel into which I eagerly buried my face for the fresh leather smell. Sometimes a soft cloth doll or wooden toys were danced around the kitchen, and Meccano was yanked out of boxes. No matter what we got, there was wild excitement.

When we calmed down, a discussion was held as to who would walk the three miles into early mass in order to be home to mind the goose that my mother would by then have put in the bastible over the fire. I always volunteered because I loved the walk in the silent world of frost and stillness, and when we reached the top of the hill we stood at the gate onto the road and counted the Christmas candles flickering in the windows along the valley. Normally the valley would be clothed in darkness, but this was Christmas. Christmas was different. And Christmas was magic.

After the dark road, the church was flowing with light. We were bursting with excitement to see the crib - after all, this is what it was all about. First there was mass to get through. We thought that it would never end. When the priest left the altar, we made a beeline for the crib and had to take our place in the long queue, craning our necks around bulky adults to get a peep. Finally, we were there, standing in front of the baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the cow and the donkey, all nestled down into golden straw with the star sparkling down on them. We loved it and dropped our big brown pennies into the box to help Jesus do whatever it was he needed to do.

On arrival home, it was then our job to change the coals on the cover of the bastible with the long iron tongs and watch all the pots my mother had left cooking around the fire. Earlier, she had swung the bastible over the built-up fire, and when it was heated, she laid her goose into it. It was important to get it off to a good hot start, otherwise we could finish up with a pale uncooked goose. Then she covered it with the veil saved from the killing of the pig. The veil was part of the lining of a the pigs stomach which looked like a net curtain of circles of fat held together by a transparent veil. If she did not have a veil from her own pigs, she procured one from Danny the Butcher in town. During cooking, the veil kept the goose moist and tender (we had no knowledge of cholesterol to worry us.) The heated lid went on top of the bastible, and around this she laid a circle of hot coals. When she had gone to mass, it was our job to regularly change the hot coals on the cover and to keep the fire well banked up with turf and logs beneath it. First, it was time for breakfast, and on the table was the large ham with its glazed mustard and breadcrumb coat. My brother carefully carved slices, and we savoured it with delight, knowing that there was more to come later. We tidied up the kitchen that was now filling with the aroma of roast stuffed goose and entertained ourselves by playing all the new records and exploring our new toys. When my mother arrived home, there was a flurry of getting everything ready for the Christmas dinner. We were usually sitting by the time the King’s speech began, at 3pm. Every year, the king, and later his daughter, the present queen, was part of our Christmas dinner. In later years, turkey became fashionable in Ireland, but to me nothing every again tasted as good as that Christmas goose, floating in a sea of golden grease and oozing rolls of gorgeous potato stuffing. It was probably a dietician’s nightmare, but oh boy did it taste good.

After dinner, Santa’s generosity was spread all over the kitchen floor. We played ludo and snakes and ladders

- Excerpt from Home For Christmas by Alice Taylor

and fought over the rules of the game with my mother acting as peace negotiator. Colouring books were filled in and fairy stores were read. Later, my father - probably glad of the break - slipped out to see to the cattle, and when he came back it was time for supper. Despite the gigantic dinner, we were quite ready for it.

Afterwards we played cards, and this could sometimes lead to WWIII. Eventually my mother called it a day and got us all on our knees for the rosary. With the calming repetition of the rosary came peace, quiet, and the realisation that a tidal wave of tiredness was about to submerge us. We all trailed up the dark steep stairs bearing sconces with candles. It was always a day to remember. The memories of our childhood Christmases sleep within us for the rest of our lives, and every Christmas awaken with a blend of mystery and magic. Then the Christmas Past and Christmas Present, the believable and the unbelievable dance together. Heaven and Earth join hands, and our celebrations are the bridge linking those two worlds.

Alice Taylor is a best selling Irish author born in Newmarket. Since 1986, her work has been turning heads and her extensive catalogue of nostalgic creations has grown as recently as 2020 with the release of The Nana. Her Memoir, To School Through The Fields, published in May 1988 was an immediate success and quickly became the biggest selling book ever published in Ireland. She went on to give a radio interview on The Ray D’Arcy Show. She went on to appear on everything from Woman’s Hour to The Late Late Show and has written nearly 20 books of memoirs, fiction, and poetry.

New Equine Therapy Centre Plans Revealed

St. Joseph’s Foundation are delighted to announce a new ambitious plan for a Regional Residential, Respite and Equine Therapy Centre in Kanturk, Co. Cork.

Following the success of St. Joseph’s Foundation’s Liskennett Farm, which opened in Granagh, County Limerick in 2015, St. Joseph’s Foundation identified the need for a similar centre of excellence in the North West area of Co. Cork to support children and their families from across the region. Suitable land at Meelaherragh, Kanturk was donated by Ms. Kate Jarvey, philanthropist and founder of the Crann Centre in Ballincollig to St. Joseph’s Foundation.

Michael Hegarty, Chief Executive Officer, St. Joseph’s Foundation States “It is absolutely mind blowing to meet someone who gives so generously without fanfare, coupled with their genuine excitement to support people with disabilities live their best life. Kate’s enthusiasm for this project is as overwhelming as it is encouraging.”

Finding the suitable site was just one hurdle in seeing this plan gain momentum, St. Joseph’s Foundation required capital funding to further advance the hope to develop a world class service in Kanturk. St. Joseph’s Foundation costed the development at €2.7 million and needed to secure a funding stream to advance the development.

St. Joseph’s Foundation approached the Chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters, Mr. Michael Moynihan TD, who has indepth knowledge of the sector. With Deputy Moynihan’s support a series of meetings were convened. The initial meeting was organised with Minister Anne Rabbitte, Minister for Disability’s, in June and preliminary support for the vision for the Kanturk development was given.

Michael Hegarty also says “As the

development includes an Equine Centre, which provides alternative therapy for children, using what is internationally known as “horse boy method”, a therapy which is both educational and sport related, Deputy Moynihan also convened meetings with Jack Chambers, TD, Minister for Sport and Gaeltacht Affairs, Norma Foley TD, Minister for Education and Michael McGrath TD, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform”

St. Joseph’s Foundation’s Kanturk Development Agreement Meeting at Cork International Airport Hotel; Michael Hegarty, CEO, St. Joseph’s Foundation, Anne Rabbitte TD, Minister for Disabilities, Michael Moynihan TD, Chairperson Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters, David Doyle, Development Manager, St. Joseph’s Foundation and Majella Daly, Head of Disability Services, HSE (via Zoom)

further €700,000 will be allocated from Government 2023 Capital Funding Programme.

In September, a further meeting was held with Minister Rabbitte, Deputy Moynihan, David Doyle, Development Manager, SJF (who first introduced Horse Boy Therapy to Ireland in 2015), Michael Hegarty, CEO, SJF and Majella Daly, Head of Disability Services, Cork Kerry Community Healthcare and overwhelming support from all divisions was given.

St. Joseph’s Foundation was delighted to receive confirmation that €2 million was secured for the development out of 2022 Capital Funding and a

It is envisaged that planning for the project will be submitted to Cork County Council in the coming weeks and with council approval and the support of the local community in Kanturk, it is hoped to start works on the project in early spring 2023.

“This project could not have advanced to this exciting stage without the support of the Minister Rabbitte, Minister McGrath, the Government of Ireland, Cork Kerry Community Healthcare, Kate Jarvey, David Doyle and the whole team in St. Joseph’s Foundation”.

BELOW: Drafted plans for the centre

Health

2022 - A Great Year

By ALICE O’BRIEN Churchview Psychotherapy, Millstreet

It is hard to believe that 2022 is coming to an end. It is true to say that lost time is never found again. It is very normal for us to reflect back on the year that just was. We try to measure the year based on what we think is important. We might look at what we have achieved, what we have earned or what we have bought, where we have travelled or what material good we have acquired during the year.

What if we measured the year based on other priorities. What if we measured the year based on what we have done for ourselves instead of what we have got for ourselves? If we

counted the year as a success from all the interactions we had. So if we looked at the comfort we have provided to others, the conversations we had with people who were distressed. If the year’s success was measured by how often we made others laugh or brought a smile to someone’s face.

If we remembered every time we were kind and compassionate to others, every time we had meaningful conversation, would we remember the year in a different light?

So, let’s decide to view our year as a success because we are good people, because we are important to others and because the people around us are glad to have us. Let’s decide that relationships and people are important, that fun and laughter are our currency.

Let’s decide that the value in life, the value in the year cannot be measured by things but by feelings, kind words and smiles. When we view 2022 in this light, we can face into 2023 in a gentler manner; in a more selfcompassionate way because we see our importance and we see our successes.

So, as the year draws to an end, let me take this opportunity to thank everyone who read these articles, to thank everyone who stopped me in the supermarket to say they enjoyed them. But, most of all let me thank the staff at IRD Duhallow and Discover Duhallow for giving me an opportunity to put pen to paper.

Happy and Peaceful Christmas to all. Looking forward to many more insights in 2023.

Coping with “Stressmass”

By MAIREAD O’KEEFFE New Leaf Health Store

Christmas is meant to be a happy and joyful time, but this isn’t how everyone feels at this time of the year. The expense of gifts and food, the pressure of shopping, and the expectations of the season can make Christmas an extremely stressful time for many people. Overindulgence can also lead to people feeling unwell and drained.

No matter how much planning you put into Christmas to prevent stress, there will be surprises (good and bad), so try to not take setbacks too seriously. People are more likely to reminisce about the burnt sprouts than the perfect potatoes.

L-theanine occurs naturally in green and black tea and may be a helpful supplement to relieve stress. Research shows that L-Theanine can change the levels of dopamine and serotonin in our brains, thus decreasing stress, but it doesn’t cause drowsiness.

To deal with a stressful moment on the day, passiflora can help calm your nervous system down and help with anxiety, panic and stress.

A.Vogel Passiflora Complex Spray contains extracts of Passion Flower & Lemon Balm, as well as Zinc, which protects cells from oxidative stress. Christmas can also be a time of over indulgence putting strain on the liver. There are some supplements which may help your body to deal with it.

Milk thistle is a well known traditional herb used to help cleanse the liver and several studies show milk thistle can improve liver function. A Vogel Milk Thistle tablets or Viridian Milk thistle tincture and both great supplements to try.

NAC stands for n-acetyl cysteine, it is an amino acid which helps your body to produce glutathione, your body’s most powerful antioxidant, many studies have found supplementing NAC to be beneficial to liver health, lung health, fertility and dealing with cravings.

Wishing you a very happy and healthy Christmas from all of us at New Leaf.

Interests

Christmas - Celebrating Christ With Us

By TOM DENNEHY

The birth of Christ is the most significant event in the history of the world.

The birth of Christ was not the ordinary birth of an ordinary man. It was the birth of the most unique person in history. The birth of Jesus Christ was the incarnation of God himself, in other words God himself became Man and became one of us. The significance of this is profound and it will take eternity for us to appreciate. The conception and birth of Jesus Christ was the promised redeemer sent to die on the cross for us and God’s faithful promise fulfilled.

About 700 years before Jesus was born the prophet Isaiah prophesied concerning the birth of Jesus, “The Lord Himself will give you a sign; behold The Virgin will conceive and bear a son and she will name him Emmanuel which means God with us. “ Isaiah 7;14.

The first to receive the good news of the birth of Jesus were the shepherds who had no standing in the community but were chosen by God to tell the world about the birth of Jesus.

Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared to them with the glory of the Lord shining around them. As they were terrified, the angel said to them, “don’t be afraid; I am here to give you good news, great joy for all the people. Today, a Saviour has been born to you in the town of David. He is The Messiah and the Lord. Let this be a sign for you; you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger”.

Suddenly, the angel was surrounded by many more heavenly spirits, praising God and saying,” Glory to God in the highest and Peace on earth to whom God loves”

When the angels had left them and gone back to Heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “let us go as far as Bethlehem and see what the Lord has made known to us”. So they came hurriedly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. On seeing Him they related what they had been told about the child, and all were astonished on hearing the shepherds. Luke 2.9-18

Jesus came in to our world as a little baby. He could have come as a great king but he chose to come as a humble little child needing love and affection. The hunger in the heart of God for the love of man is expressed in the profound humility of these two words, Baby Jesus.

God’s great desire for intimacy with man is clearly shown, as no one is ever afraid to come close to a baby. A baby is vulnerable. A baby reaching out for love with open arms is irresistible.

During Christmas let us reach out to Jesus and hand over to Him everything that is weighing us down, all our anxieties and all our troubles.

He tells us, “come to me all who labour and are overburdened and I will give you rest, rest for your soul”.Matt.11.28.

When we attend Holy Mass we encounter the very same Jesus born in a stable in BethlehemBethlehem means house of bread. The very same baby Jesus is even humbler still as He is present in the Sacred Host in Body, Soul and Divinity and has kept his promise to be with us always until the end of time.

He came among us to show us how to love and how to forgive. In his missionary life he healed the sick, cleansed the lepers, restored sight to the blind and raised the dead. He calmed the raging storms and fed the multitudes. He

spoke with authority and treated everyone with respect, especially the poor and downcast.

He chose twelve apostles and ordained them to go out to the whole world and proclaim the good news of God’s Kingdom to the ends of the earth.

We read in John 3;16, ”God so loved the world that He gave his only Son that whoever believes in Him may not be lost, but may have eternal life”. This is the reason why Jesus was born in to our world on Christmas Day. By His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead He has conquered death and given us eternal life.

He is with us today, as He has sent His Holy Spirit to be with us and wants to live in our hearts. Most especially He wants us to respond to His great sacrifice for us by spending time with Him in prayer, Holy Mass and in Adoration. He wishes us to have a personal relationship with Him and He will change our lives forever.

Let us celebrate Christmas with Joy and Thanksgiving to a God who loves us beyond human understanding.

Christmas Competition

Duhallow News

Well done to all the fantastic competition entrants! We could only pick 3, but every one of them brought a smile to our faces and the creativity by everyone was incredible! Well done to our winners Maggie, Madison, and Danielle!

Maye

Áine Mary

Kate Roisín

Orla Ella

Sofia

Liam

TJ Ellen

Olivia

Abi

Aoibheann

Lucy

Grace

Frank

Joe

Ria

Emma

Sally May

Danielle Madison

Maggie

Joan

Sarah

Kara

Room With A View

FILM REVIEW

By TADHG CURTIN

That great cynic of cinema, Billy Wilder, softens up and gives us one of the great romantic movies set around Christmas with his definitive classic, The Apartment (1960)

A few years ago, I wrote about the melancholy of Christmas when writing about The Dead, a movie about a New Years party of people reflecting on the past. Billy Wilder’s classic, The Apartment has two lonely people with hopes and plans for the future, during that noisiest of holidays; Christmas. The film follows an insurance clerk, CC Baxter (Jack Lemmon) who, in the hope of climbing the corporate ladder, lets more senior coworkers use his Upper West Side apartment to conduct extramarital affairs. He is attracted to an elevator operator, Fran Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine) in his office building, unaware that she is having an affair with his immediate boss Mr. Sheldrake (Fred MacMurray).

Jack Lemmon was one of the great actors of cinema, a man who played the every man so well. CC Baxter is quite pathetic at the start, cowardly bowing to his superiors by giving up his private space so they can get their extramarital kicks. The equally great Shirley MacClaine’s Fran is just as pathetic. Fran is a beautiful young

woman, hopelessly devoted to an older married man who won’t leave his wife. CC and Fran are certainly up there in the pantheon of flawed and troubled romantic couples. The Apartment is certainly a big difference from Wilder’s other great comedy just from a year before, Some Like It Hot. It’s more muted. It’s very adult and practical in its depiction of romance, letting it simmer gently rather than boil. Its black and white photography adds to our two characters loneliness, removing the garish colours of the season that pollute everywhere. Christmas can show someone that even in the biggest crowd with the most noise, one can feel the most loneliness. The movie certainly gets heavy, MacLaine’s character Fran, attempts to take her life. We see a doctor frantically trying to resuscitate her, slapping her out of unconsciousness, a Christmas tree, right beside them, adding a blackly comic juxtaposition to the whole thing.

In her essay, Why The Apartment is the greatest Christmas film of all time, Clarisse Loughrey points out: “... even in the bleakest of Christmases, there’s always hope. It thrives on it. And it’s precisely hope that

Billy Wilder’s beloved 1960 film offers the world… a film that deals with love. Real love. A kind quiet, pained, but with eyes fixed on the stars above.” That’s what I love about this movie, it comes off as a romantic movie for adults. There’s really no grand gestures, there’s just two flawed human beings who gradually make the right decisions to better their lives. Having made the movie sound bleak in parts, it’s anything but. Hope and love triumphs in the most deserving way for our two characters. Your heart will be tingling.

The movie’s final line “Shut up and deal’’ is in the pantheon of great movie line closers matching Wilder’s other great closer “Nobody’s perfect” from Some Like It Hot. If you haven’t already, shut up and experience The Apartment’s magic for yourself. Available on DVD, Blu Ray and to rent on Youtube

Baby Massage – Benefits for Baby and You

By DENISE FENTON Bundle of Joy Baby Massage

Whether you are helping your baby off to sleep or easing a gassy tummy, a gentle massage can work wonders for your little one. The power of massage can be very soothing and even therapeutic. Us grown-ups are not the only ones who crave a soothing massage every now and then. Babies also find it very calming and relaxing. Of the five senses, touch is one of the most developed senses at birth. Research suggests that touch through baby massage has enormous benefits for helping babies grow and thrive. Massage is so beneficial for your little one in so many ways. You will be able to help relieve discomfort from gas, wind, colic, and teething pain. Your gentle massage strokes will help your baby feel sleepier and stimulate all the systems in their tiny bodies to help them grow. It is also such a lovely way to tune into your baby and learn how to read their little cues and signals. When you give your baby a massage, you stimulate the central nervous system. This sets off an amazing chain reaction: It makes the brain produce more serotonin (a feel-good chemical) and less cortisol (a stress hormone). As a result, your baby’s heart rate and breathing slow down, and he or she becomes more relaxed. Massaging your baby will also boost the production of serotonin for you along with other “happy hormones” such as oxytocin and dopamine, this will in turn help you to relax too.

You can learn how to massage your baby over 5 weeks at a baby massage class. I am a Certified Infant Massage Instructor and trained with Baby

Massage Ireland. I demonstrate the massage strokes on a doll while you massage your baby. I teach massage strokes for the full body as well as a specific colic/gas routine. We also cover topics like, relaxation techniques for parents, the benefits of baby massage, types of cry and how babies communicate through crying, adapting massage strokes to suit your baby as they grow and baby reflexes. The relaxed class is completely baby led and so if baby needs feeding, changing or is simply happy to look around that is perfectly fine. Classes are suitable for new-borns to pre-crawlers. Baby massage class is not only a lovely bonding opportunity for you and your baby, but it also gives you the chance to get out to meet others. Once babies are snoozing happily after their massage, we always take

time to have a cuppa and a treat. I run the classes in a cosy room in Tureencahill Community Centre (P51 T663). There is ample offroad parking, and a ramp should you wish to wheel in a buggy. I am currently taking bookings for 2023. Denise Fenton – Bundle of Joy Baby Massage, 087 7669859. Further information about baby massage is also available on www. babymassageireland.com where there is also a list of instructors by county.