Discover Duhallow Issue 85

IT WAS A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU IRD

Duhallow Share Insight After Meetings

The Board and Staff of IRD Duhallow are all buzzing having just finished a marathon of twenty-nine community consultation meetings. This was part of our community roadshow which was held over February and early March. We are all in agreement that we are energised and enthused by the wonderful reception that we received

from the hundreds of community representatives we met as part of the process. The purpose of these meetings was to hear the challenges and opportunities of the community groups and businesses around the IRD Duhallow region and ascertain what their priorities are.

■Cont’d on pages 12&13

One of the breakout meetings in Donoughmore

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Editors Note

Are we all good after all the excitement of both St. Patrick’s day and the Cheltenham Horse Racing festival? The Discover Duhallow team hope you are. We see that you were enjoying St Patrick’s day throughout Duhallow in particular thanks to Sheila Fitzgerald’s wonderful pictures.

We have plenty for you to delve into for Issue 85. As we head towards Easter 2023, Mariia Palchak showcases how the occasion is celebrated in Ukraine. IRD’s Alannah O’Callaghan and Nuala Riordan are leading the Duhallow Way challenge and Scoil Mhuire Kanturk and Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra have been busy as well.

Finally, IRD wishes to thank all of you who attended the various community meetings that were held recently. Here’s to the next step!

Tadhg and Caleb

Email: Discoverduhallow@irdduhallow.com

Phone: 029-60633

Last Chance For Rebels Bounty Tickets

Ticket sales for Rebels Bounty 2023 will close at 1pm on 30th March, when the draws for Jan/Feb and March will take place. There will be no further entries to the Draw for Rebels Bounty 2023.

This is the last chance to join this fantastic draw, that has a total prize fund of €500,000 in all cash prizes. Rebels Bounty has 12 monthly draws with 360 chances to win.

Tickets remain at €100 p.a. which when broken down is only €1.93 a week.

As we have exceeded our base sales of 100 tickets for a Senior Club, every ticket sold from now on is €100 straight profit for Kiskeam GAA Club.

Don’t let this opportunity pass you by to support your Club, and maybe boost your own finances in the process.

How to enter

Join online: gaacork.ie/rebelsbounty

Contact Club Co-ordinator: Donie Cronin 087-6773043.

Email: doniecroninkiskeam@gmail.com

Contact a Club Officer.

ABOVE: Mary Moynihan recently paid a visit to the children in Banteer Creche with two friends of hers - Ginger and Cookie. Martin O’Neill got to meet them as well while on a food delivery run for DCFS, Newmarket.

Photos by Tadhg Curtin

DON’T FORGET

Clocks go forward

Sunday 26th March

Congratulations to Paudie Keane and Kate on their recent wedding!

Upcoming Events in Duhallow Star Trax

Sunday March 26th 3-5-30pm.

Mike Condon

Startrax

Music Venue

Knocknagree P51HH2Y.

Cultúrlann Newmarket

Saturday April 1st 8pm

The hilarious comedy INDIGESTION with Seamus O Rourke.

Ticketstop.ie and local shops

Saturday April 15th 8pm

An Evening with John Spillane in Concert

Tickets available in local shops from 3rd April and at door on the night.

Saturday May 6th 8pm

Ye Vagabonds in Concertticketstop.ie

Have an upcoming event? Send details to discoverduhallow@ irdduhallow.com

Locals participating in the 1st IRD Duhallow Safetalk Course of 2023 in The James O’Keeffe Institute Newmarket with tutor Lorna Hurley as part of the North Cork Rural Community Health Project.

The Ned Tarrant Memorial Tractor Run committee recently launched its tractor run for 2023 at Healy’s Bar, Kilcorney.

L-R Matthew Sheehan, Dan Joe Collins, David Murphy, Johnny Sheehan, Humphrey Healy, Patrick Buckley, and Pat Cremin.

Photo by John Tarrant

Can We Run That Back?

In memory of Michael Murphy, Andy Moynihan will be undertaking an incredible feat - a 76km car run in reverse!

“It is my intention to reverse a car around Duhallow, taking in as many villages as I can,” Andy said.

This fantastic endeavour is in support of Pieta, a non-profit organisation who help people through suicidal ideation and self harm. Pieta employ over 200 therapists and support staff, and they operate in 20 locations. Despite this, the demand for their services is ever increasing, and 80% of their funding comes from fundraiser events.

This vital organisation has helped over 60,000 people and with his plan of action, Andy has sent even more support their way.

Scan the QR code using your phone camera to donate and see updates as the big day gets closer.

Boherbue Girl Guides Edel Daly, Aoife Cronin, Súin Drew, Susan Ryan and Ellen Healy all set for the Boherbue Girl Guides Fundraising Walk

Photo by Sheila Fitzgerald

Scoil Mhuire News Community

International Women’s Day

As part of International Women’s Day, our second year history group visited Hanna SheehySkeffington’s statue. The group also visited the site where Hanna was born in 1877, right in the heart of Kanturk. Prior to eaving the building, our classes researched Hanna’s contribution to women’s rights in Ireland.

Badminton Girls under 19 and under 16 teams:

Scoil Mhuire Town League

Lana Dugdale, Ciara O’Hanlon, Jessica Cremin, Sarah Archdeacon and Louise O’Brien, Clodagh

O’Brien, Kate Healy, Una Keating, Eimear Barrett

Badminton Boys Under 19 and under 14 teams: Roman Khemych, Oisin Burke, Macdara Neena, Brion O’Keeffe, Jamie Green, Mark O’Regan, Aidan Mulcahy, Aaron McCarthy, Adam Winkle, Jayden Kearney

Represent your school in Scoil Mhuire Kanturk’s Primary School Basketball Tournament!

Date: Girls Tournament – 28th March 2023 Boys Tournament – 30th March 2023

Location: Scoil Mhuire Kanturk Gym

Time: 5.30pm – 9.00pm

Grainne O’Sullivan, Michael McGrath (Munster Badminton President), Jessica Cremin, Ciara O’Hanlon, Lana Dugdale and Louise O’Brien

Munster Badminton Champions

Scoil Mhuire had four teams who represented Cork at the Munster badminton championships including under 19 girls and boys, under 16 girls and under 14 boys. The under 19 girls finished runners up, so close....

Further Education is now operating under the new name of Macroom F.E.T. Centre, eBusiness Park and we are holding our OPEN DAY on Thursday March 30th from 9.30 am – 3.30 pm. We are excited to be running courses in conjunction with Morrison’s Island campus, Cork so that students can now avail of the same courses in their own community. No need to travel for your studies as we have the same quality assured courses on your doorstep. In addition, we are now under the Management of Ms. Helen Ryan, Principal of Morrison’s Island Campus (formerly known as Cork College of Commerce) and one of the largest Further Education Colleges in Ireland. For the coming year we are offering the following QQI Day courses:

30th March 2023

• Office Administration/ Business Administration

• Business with Retail (Business Studies) NEW

• Healthcare Assistant (Health Services Skills),

• Nursing Studies

• Special Needs Support (Intellectual Disability Practice) – (SNA Course) NEW

All at QQI Level 5. We are now enrolling for our next academic year for September 2023.

 Office Administration/ Business Administration



Office Administration (Business Administrator)

 Business with Retail (Business Studies)

 Business with Retail (Business Studies)

 Healthcare Assistant (Health Services Skills)

 Healthcare Assistant (Health Services Skills)

 Nursing Studies

 Nursing Studies

QQI Level 5

 Office Administration (Business Administrator)

 Business with Retail (Business Studies) N NEW

 Special Needs Support (Intellectual Disability Practice)

Again, our Open Day will be held on Thursday March 30th from 9.30 am – 3.30 pm, where all are welcome to discuss their future education options with all our experienced Tutors and we will be holding Walk-In interviews too on the day for anyone who would like to sign up on the 30th for our courses, teas, coffees and refreshments will also be available on the day. We look forward to seeing you on Thursday March 30th!

All interested applicants — please apply at: https://morrisonsislandcampus.ie/ macroom/

Email Bernie: BAngland@ccoc.ie or Padraig: Podriscoll@ccoc.ie

Or call us on 086-0140217, eBusiness Park, Bowl Road, Macroom, P12 FV30



 Special Needs Support (Intellectual Disability Practice)

 Healthcare Assistant (Health Services Skills)

 Nursing Studies

 Special Needs Support (Intellectual Disability Practice) N NEW

Photos by SHEILA FITZGERALD

Kanturk

Margaret Colten, Betty Twomey, Jo O’ Leary and Barbara Beaton, known as ‘The Kanturk Pickers’ were at the Kanturk St Patrick’s Parade

Paddy’s Day In Duhallow

RIGHT: Anton and Kate Rusinova of Kanturk Community Art Link made this amazing Elephant who was one of the star attractions at the Kanturk St. Patrick’s Parade

Newmarket

Local Musicians entertained at the Newmarket Parade INSET: The Celtic Heroes took part in the Newmarket Parade

Boherbue

Johnny Lane was manning the Boherbue Co-Op Float at the St. Patrick’s Parade in Boherbue while Donal Curran was St. Patrick for the day.

Kilbrin

LEFT: Laura Brosnan, Grace Harrington and Chloe McCarthy with their Teacher Geraldine Murphy enjoying the St. Patrick’s Party at Kilbrin National School.

RIGHT:

Eimear Heffernan and Anina May Cremin played at the Party

Knocknagree

Mike Courtney, Norita Casey and Mairead O’ Sullivan were ‘Building Knocknagree’s Future’ at the Knocknagree St. Patrick’s Parade, and Pat O’ Connell took on the role of St. Patrick for the Knocknagree Parade

BELOW: Harpists Muireann O’ Hanlon, Mahilet O’ Leary, Vy-ha O’ Leary and Isobel Hynes were first on stage at the Agnes Cronin Remembrance Concert in the Church of the Sacred Heart, Kiskeam, on St. Patrick’s night.

Kiskeam

BELOW RIGHT: Mike Sheehan and Sheila Fitzgerald on stage at the Agnes Cronin Remembrance Concert in the Church of the Sacred Heart, Kiskeam, on St. Patrick’s Night

It Was A Pleasure

So why are we holding public consultations?

IRD Duhallow is currently preparing a bid for the LEADER strategy for the Duhallow region. As a company, we have successfully delivered four LEADER programmes since we were founded in 1989, which have brought jobs, enhanced community facilities, environmental improvements as well as amenities to the region. Due to a welcome change in Government Policy, IRD Duhallow has now once again been invited to bid for the next LEADER programme as the LAG where our Board with locally elected members that can make decisions on LEADER in its own right. The strategy for this bid must be submitted by July and is based on the needs and priorities of the people living within the IRD Duhallow region.

ABOVE: Attendees at the Community Meeting in Bweeng

LEFT: Amanda O’Sullivan who is the IRD Duhallow Board Representative for Macra na Feirme at the Banteer Consultation Meeting.

What is the area that IRD Duhallow is bidding for?

The IRD Duhallow area crosses the boundaries of two Local Authorities, North and South Cork, as well as Kerry. It is what Europe recognises as a natural area of development, with common challenges and opportunities across the area and so it makes sense to view this region together as a whole. This IRD Duhallow area is small enough to be cohesive and shares common purpose. It is also large enough to support development and achieve sustainability.

It has formed and cohese over three decades and with remarkable achievements in all communities. We look forward to the next programming round and working with you all to achieve even more!

Boherbue

Carriganima

To Meet You All

How do I have my voice heard?

IRD Duhallow has already undertaken consultations with a large number of groups we work with including tidy towns, farmers, youth, women as well as and older people; businesspeople, those working and looking for work, people with disabilities and people caring in the home. We have worked with those with environmental interests on River Catchment, Biodiversity as well as community planting projects. We have also engaged through our European Smart Village Initiative and the follow on Place Standard Survey. If you haven’t had the chance to feed into our strategy yet you can still do so, and it is vitally important that all voices are heard from people in the region. We have circulated the place standard survey throughout the region. The questionnaire invites local people to give their views about their quality of life, sense of place, local amenities, and facilities. Already over 1200 people have completed this survey and the form will continue to take submissions until the 31st of March.

To complete the Place Standard Questionnaire, visit the following link, or use the accompanying QR code. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdJR5SYPQQf7fkvnJJeLDqTmwpWjcoyJ-50xG3J2ftb59YzFQ/ viewform

If the idea of a form puts you off, or if you know of anyone who would like to submit their views and may have literacy or other issues, please pick up the phone and contact any of our Development Officers who will be happy to hear your views. Our offices can be contacted on 029-60633 or by email: duhallow@irdduhallow.com.

We will have our LEADER strategy submitted in July and will have started our social inclusion strategy. Once completed we hope to be back to you all with a concrete plan.

Meetings throughout the community

ABOVE: Kilbrin

TOP RIGHT: Freemount RIGHT: Ballinagree

Щасливих Великодніх свят! - Happy Easter!

By MARIIA PALCHAK

Easter is one of the brightest, most celebrated holidays in Ukraine. ‘Easter’ in Ukrainian is ‘Velykden’, which can be translated as ‘Great Day’, which shows how important this holiday is in the country. It has a lot of unique traditions and rituals inherited from the ancestors. However, some of those traditions have modified over the years to suit modern families customs. In Ukraine Easter is celebrated the week after Catholic Easter (in 2023 it is celebrated on April 16). Usually, the preparation for Easter begins two months in advance. Lots of people lent and fast and are very strict about it. Everyone awaits Easter day, as it always brings cheerful mood to the country and gathers families together to celebrate.

Orthodox Ukrainians have the same tradition as Catholics about celebrating Palm Sunday, but there are certain differences. The holiday itself is called Willow Sunday (Verbna nedilia), and pussy willow branches are used to bestow

health and luck upon a person this day. There is a tradition with deep pagan roots of gentle switching of one person by another. When it comes to Easter week itself, Thursday and Friday deserve a special attention. Clean or Holy Thursday (Chystyi Chetver) is a very important day of the Easter week. This day all the family members should take a bath or a shower before the sunrise and then all the house should be

cleaned during the day. Also you can start baking Easter bread ‘kulich’ or ‘paska’ this day. There are certain rituals concerning Easter bread as well. The person baking it should do it in silence and with happy thoughts only. There’s a saying that if you’re trying to bake ‘paska’ in a bad mood or being in argument with someone it will never have a proper look or taste.

‘Good Friday’ follows ‘Clean Thursday’, no hard, physical work should be done this day. You are not supposed to listen to loud music or have any arguments with others. It is the day for staying calm and finding harmony inside you.

On Saturday people usually put Easter products in a basket to prepare for visiting the Mass in the church.

Except for already baked or bought Easter bread, Easter eggs (pysanka and krashenka) should definitely get into the Ukrainian Easter basket. Pysankas are eggs with special ornament decoration and folk patterns. Each of these patterns have their

Willow Sunday in church

Easter blessing with Holy water

special meaning. Krashenka is an egg, dyed with a food colouring. Originally it was red colouring only, which symbolized the blood that Jesus shed for the sins of the people.

People can also put baked meat and wine in their baskets. And when the basket is already set, they can head to the church. Lots of people choose to spend the whole night at the church, as this is how long the Easter mess is going on in Orthodox cathedral. However, some prefer to come early in the morning to

have themselves and their Easter baskets blessed with Holy water, that is being sprinkled by a priest all over the people, who gathered around the church on Easter day. After the mess is over and everyone got their blessing, it is time to go home and start the festivities. The traditional Easter greeting is ‘Christ is Risen’, and the reply to this is ‘He is Risen indeed’. On your way from church you are supposed to greet

everyone you meet and spread this gospel.

When people finally get home they set the table, but despite of having all the culinary treats in front of them, the meal should start with Easter cake. Every single crumb should be eaten and never thrown away.

And of course, it is not possible to celebrate Ukrainian Easter without playing ‘navbytky’. To play this game you should pick one of the Easter eggs and so does your opponent. Then you smash two eggs together, saying Easter greetings to each other. The winner is the one whose egg remained unbroken!

Щасливих

Великодніх свят!

Easter bread ‘Paska’ and krashanky.

Marina Pavlova from Ukraine is currently working in DCFS, Newmarket. Here she preparing various cakes including a First Holy Communion cake.

ABOVE: Navbytky LEFT: Easter baskets ready to be blessed.

Interest

The Duhallow Way Challenge Begins!

By ALANNAH O’CALLAGHAN

On the border of Cork and Kerry stand two distinctive mountains that form part of the Derrynansaggart range. These peaks, notable due to their breast like shape, are called the Paps of Anu (Dá Chích Annan) and have obvious fertility connotations. The mountains are named after Anu or Annan who is known in Celtic mythology as the mother goddess of Tuath Dé Danann, a legendary group of divine invaders who ruled Ireland until their final defeat at the hand of the Milesians. To the base of the Easterly Pap is the first section of the glorious Duhallow Way, a 76km waymarked trails that starts in the Clydagh, comes through the Slyguddal pass, crosses the Derrynasaggart mountain range, continues to follow parallel to the River Blackwater until Bweeng. From here you have the option to continue along the Avondhu Way to complete the full 168km of Blackwater Way. The Duhallow Way section of this trail is richly varied and offers spectacular vistas while traversing untamed bog, forestry, open mountainside and quiet roads. Over the coming months, IRD’s Walking group is going to be walking sections of this trail and will have completed it by the end of Summer 2023. We’re calling it the Duhallow Way

Challenge.

To start off the challenge, the group walked the Slyguddal section of the trail on Saturday March 11th. We met at Shrone Church under a threatening grey sky and carpooled to the start of the walk at the top of the Slyguddal. As we started walking, it starting raining, and though it continued for the duration of the walk, we can confirm that the valley is equally as beautiful in the rain as it on a clear day. The mist which covered the tips of the Paps at the start of the walk started rolling down the hillside towards Gleannafreaghaun (Shrone) lake made the valley even more magical. We stopped several times along the way to take in the view and to hear about the flora, fauna, folklore, and history of the area that Nuala and others in the group had to share. Over the pass and to the Clydagh, we went to see the misty view, and after a quick chat with a local farmer we turned back on ourselves. Again, we were blown away by the view (not the wind!) with the lake to our left this time. The return was mostly downhill, and the company and the promise of a hot drink and biscuits made it

much easier.

The walk is perfect for those who want to admire the Paps close up without going to the top - the upgrade to the first section of the Pass that IRD completed over the past year has made the path more accessible, and far less muddy and wet.

Starting from where you park your car at the start of the Slyguddal Pass and walking over and back to the Clydagh Valley is 6.5km, and take approx. 1h45 – 2hrs. For those who want a longer walk, there are a variety of options in the area and each as breath-taking as the last.

If anyone is interested in joining us on our next walk, we will be walking the Claragh Loop on Saturday April 8th @ 12pm. The walk is free, but registration is essential. To register please call Nuala or Alannah on 029 60633 or 086 0849 955. Everyone is welcome and there will be tea and coffee after the walk as usual. The Duhallow Way joins onto the Claragh Loop and is part of our Duhallow Way Challenge. All walks we do go up on our website, Facebook page and out in the monthly newsletter so keep you can keep an eye out for walks throughout the year.

Enjoying a hot cuppa after the walk

Nuala Riordan telling the group about the history of the area.

Bweeng Walkway Breaks Ground

Bweeng Community Grounds is a community owned facility in Bweeng, Co. Cork which is used by the entire community whether by individuals looking for somewhere safe to walk, parents with young families who can allow their children to enjoy the freedom to explore or take part in organised events. The 7 acre site includes a Community Centre, Pre School, dressing room, toilets, meeting room, kitchen, stage/hall, Children’s playground, Basketball / Tennis Court, 650 metre walkway with lighting, car park, and seated areas.

The Bweeng Community Sports and Recreational Facility is set to rejuvenate an unused section at the back of existing grounds into a multipurpose recreational hub that can be used by all the community. The development will extend the existing walkway which will be fully

lit and provide a safe walkway for all ages to enjoy. The development will include a 200 metre all weather running track, within the centre of the track will be a level playing area for use by all organisations. This development will be fully wheelchair accessible and will also include accessible gym equipment.

Phase 1 of this development is currently ongoing; this phase will include the following:

• Enclosing the new ground donated by boundary farmer, this allows footprint of track to fit.

• Extending tarred walkway and lighting same.

• Levelling site

IRD Duhallow CEO Maura Walsh, with Development Officer Louise Bourke and members of the Bweeng Community Sports and Recreational Facility at the breaking of ground of the new running track.

Have A Good Look In The Mirror

By ALICE O’BRIEN Churchview Psychotherapy, Millstreet

If you’ve ever lived with a toddler you will know the constant battle against the smudgy handprints. They get everywhere, especially on the glass and the mirrors. All over- they’re like octopuses. But, think about it, when a toddler walks past a mirror they see themselves, and they rejoice. They kiss and hug their own reflection. They really celebrate the person they see before them, they appreciate themselves, they love themselves.

Now think about yourself. What happened the last time you looked on the mirror- what thoughts did you have? Did you celebrate the person you saw looking back at

you or did you focus on what you perceive as a flaw? Did you ridicule your body for its size or shape? Did you focus on the lines around your eyes instead of the life inside them? Whatever you did it wasn’t the same as what the toddler does, the celebration of what you saw.

So, how do you start to appreciate yourself more? Well, you could look at yourself as a whole person, not just on how you look. There is an endless list of your positive qualities, or characteristic that you have that have nothing to

do with how you look. Focus on them, write them down and accept them.

Your body is so much more than how it looks on the outside. You might have had a battle with cancer that your body has fought with you. You may have survived a heart attack or be healing form an injury. Your body may have given you children, or helped you walk a mountain. All the things that you can’t see when you look in the mirror. So, what are you grateful to your body for? Write a list to remind yourself.

If you must focus on your reflection, try positive statements; try telling your reflection that you appreciate yourself, your life and your looks. There is only one of you so who better to be thankful for that than you.

Boosting Flexibility and Joint Mobility

By MAIREAD O’KEEFFE New Leaf Health Store

The benefits of maintaining an active lifestyle are huge. Nearly every aspect of your health – from your ability to focus, to your ability to fall asleep at night – can be improved with regular physical activity but you need to support your body with the right nutrition. Often, people don’t think about their joints until they are experiencing discomfort. But being proactive in caring for your joints will ensure that you can continue doing the activities you love and enjoy.

If your job is very physical, you can be prone to repetitive strain injury and other muscle damage. Athletes can also have mobility problems as continuous training can lead to sore muscles and reduced flexibility. Finally, with age, we gradually lose the ability to move a joint through a full range

of motion. By age 70, 25%-30% of overall flexibility can be lost.

There are certain exercises that may be helpful for improving and maintaining flexibility in the joints. Warming up before exercising is essential. Resistance training e.g. stretchbands can be good for people of all ages to improve flexibility.

I asked Brian Buckley what he recommends to keep joints flexible when they are being pushed to their limits. Brian is our brand ambassador - an endurance athlete and winner of the 200km Kerry Way Ultra in 2019.

“As an ultrarunner I need my body to allow me to run a continuously high volume of mileage in training and compete in long distance ultra marathon races. As a result, looking

after my joints is very important to me. Running is a high impact sport on the knees, hips and ankles and adding in unstable, rocky technical terrain on trails increases the pressure on these joints. Taking Solgar 7 daily helps me to prevent and eradicate joint pain and discomfort particularly in my left hip which I have suffered with before,” said Brian.

Solgar 7 can help people of all ages to continue to pursue the activities that they love, whether it’s gardening, hiking or endurance running. Solgar 7 contains UC-IIa specialised form of collagen as well as seven advanced bio-active ingredients to support mobility, flexibility and range of motion in people of all ages.

March - Month Of Joseph

By TOM DENNEHY

During the month of March, one of the most important feast days we celebrate in the Church calender is the feast of Saint Joseph, one of our greatest saints. St. Joseph was given a most important mission when God entrusted the care of Jesus, the saviour of the world, to him. He would protect Jesus during his earthly life. St. Joseph was a very holy and upright man, a model in humility and obedience. St. Joseph said Yes to God on many occasions throughout the earthly life of Jesus.

God asked him to flee into Egypt so that Herod could not kill the Child Jesus,”Behold an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph, saying, Arise; and take the child and his mother, and fly to Egypt and be there until I shall tell thee. For it will come to pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy Him.” Matt 2.13.

He was present at The Presentation of the child Jesus in the temple to support Our Lady when Simeon told her in his prophesies that this child “is set for the fall and resurrection of many in Israel”, and he warned her that “thy own soul a sword shall pierce”. Luke 2.34-35.

He was present when Jesus was lost for three days and after much searching and distress, was found in the Temple in Jerusalem where the doctors were astounded by His intelligence and the replies to their questions.

Jesus went home with Joseph and Mary to Nazareth and lived under their authority and Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature and in favour with God and man. Luke 2.46-52.

St. Joseph watched like a father over the only begotten son of God,

Our Lord Jesus Christ, conceived by the Holy Spirit and protected Mary His Mother. He was of the line of David, but while having this royal ancestry, he lived in very modest conditions.

Joseph was a righteous man, poor, silent, humble, gentle, patient and full of gentleness. He was faithful to the will of God.

Devotion of Great Saints

Saint Faustina in her diary entry in 1203 tells us, “ St. Joseph urged me to have a constant devotion to him…He promised me special help and protection”.

St. Teresa of Avila wrote “Knowing by experience St. Joseph’s astonishing influence with God, I would wish to persuade everyone to honour him with particular devotion.”

Pope Francis

Pope Francis declared 2021 as The Year of St. Joseph. Many people consecrated themselves to St. Joseph as their spiritual father and deepened their knowledge of him and prayed for blessings from God through his intercession.

On March 19th, 2021, Pope Francis elevated Ireland’s Marian Shrine of Knock to international status and decreed it to be a Eucharistic Shrine. On Aug. 21, 1879, St. Joseph was present with Our Lady, St. John and the Lamb of God on the altar with the angels hovering overhead. He also appeared in the final apparition at Fatima with the child Jesus in his arms and he blessed the world.

St. Joseph as Patron Saint

St. Joseph is patron saint of The Universal Church. His protection is very much needed in these times when our Church is under attack by media and so many do

not practise their faith with many Christians being massacred daily.

He is also patron saint of families, fathers, migrants and on May 1st, we celebrate the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker. He is also patron saint of the dying and for a happy death.

St. Joseph offers protection to all who come to him in prayer, whoever you are or whatever your needs or worries. He continues to intercede for us in Heaven acting as a living witness to our living God.

Consecration prayer to St. Joseph

O dearest St Joseph. I consecrate myself to your honour and give myself to you, that you may always be my father, my protector and my guide in the way of salvation. Obtain for me a greater purity of heart and fervent love of the interior life.

After your example may I do all of my actions for the greater glory of God, in union with the Divine Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. O blessed St Joseph pray for me , that I may share in the peace and joy of your holy death.

Amen

Memorare to St. Joseph

Remember, O most chaste spouse of the Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who implored your help and sought your intercession was left unassisted. Full of confidence in your power I fly unto you and beg your protection. Despise not, O Guardian of the Redeemer, my humble supplication, but in your bounty, hear and answer me.

Amen

Mother’s Day for Carers

Members of the Duhallow Carers Group celebrating a Mother’s Day Coffee Morning in the James O’Keeffe Institute.

Mary Farrell, Breda Buckley and Mary Roche.

Sheila Crowley and her grandson Theodore

Marie Healy, Joan O’Connell, Eoin O’Connell and Colette Murphy.

Nora O’Halloran enjoying a manicure with Kristina Lipskaya of Croi Beauty.

Linda Murphy getting her nails done with Kirstina Lipskaya of Croi Beauty.

Photos by TADHG CURTIN

The Magic of ABBA Comes to Rathmore

From Tuesday the 14th to Wednesday the 15th of March 2023, Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra was proud to present their first ever School Musical entitled, ‘Thank you for the Music’ directed by the school’s music teacher, Rebecca Stryker. The entire production team, students and staff worked extremely hard to ensure that audiences were highly

entertained, and they did not disappoint. The show contained a captivating storyline, lighthearted comedy and of course timeless music. What more could one ask for!

Preparations began last September when auditions took place. The lead cast and chorus members have been busy rehearsing ever since to

ensure their first show was one to remember. This was a whole school event with cast and chorus members ranging from first to sixth-year groups. Students involved have described the event as the highlight of their school year, an amazing experience and overall just great fun!

We cannot wait to see what they have in store for next year’s event.

Sophie Sheridan played by Ali Doyle

The three possible fathers Harry, Bill and Sam played by Mollie Herlihy, Setanta O’Callaghan and Sean O’Keeffe

Donna Sheridan played by Leaving Certificate student, Saoirse Casey with her fellow cast and chorus members

School principal Denis Kerins makes a presentation to Musical Director Rebecca Stryker after the final show

Musical Director Rebecca Stryker, with Lead Cast Members. Celebrating after their final show Wednesday Evening Chorus members partying at Sophie’s Hen Do!

The Lost Mother of Ireland

By CALEB O’CONNOR

As Duhallow residents, we’re very familiar with the iconic Paps on the horizon. Their full name, the Paps of Anu, tells its own story. Across belief systems, there are consistent figures and the Mother is an easy one to identify, from the Christian virgin mother Mary to the Greek Gaia to the Hindu Parvati, mother figures hold a special place and usually, the same space. They are the bringers of fertility, nature, and nurture, who are as strong as they are beautiful and kind. Anu is no different.

With all that said, there is not much to know about her. Even her name can be a point of contention, existing as Anu, Danu, and even Dana.

Many stories, while inspirational and lovely, tend to be a fiction

added to the mythos by those who worship her now, but in truth, with the loss of our ancient practices, we lost these stories too.

So what do we know? She is the most ancient of the celtic gods and is heralded as being closely tied to fertility as mentioned, but also with poetry, art, knowledge, and wisdom. The Tuatha Dé Dannan followed her teachings and accepted her embrace. She nurtured and strengthened them and this knowledge and even magic brought the Tuatha Dé Dannan back to Ireland as a mist. Yes. As a mist.

Ireland’s landscape is magical, enrapturing, and inspires story and fantasy far beyond what we are sure we know. Is this Anu’s

presence? Her influence? Do her teachings continue through us as some innate knowledge? While there’s little for us to know, we are not utterly without resources. Lora O’Brien of the Ogham Academy has a video on Anu, her naming, and her identity as the triple goddess. It is sad to see her stories lost to time, but perhaps as we share what we do know, we can find their source, and uncover our buried knowledge.

The Paps of Anu on a clear day.

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

Terms & Conditions:

Deadline for submissions is noon on Friday, March 31st, 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.