Parish Notes

Church News

Parish Liturgy

Readers of the Word

Dromin Sat 22nd Timmy Murphy

Athlacca Sun 23rd Aoife Fox

Ministers of the Eucharist

Dromin Sat 22nd Maria Kelleher

Athlacca Sun 23rd Alice McAuliffe & Marie Kelleher

St Patrick's Day: The feast of St Patrick was celebrated in great style. Both churches in the parish were suitably decorated for the celebration. As part of our celebrations shamrock was blessed, the choirs sang beautiful Irish hymns and chants. We remembered and prayed for those who could not be home for the occasion, many who have had to emigrate seeking employment abroad.     

‘Do this in Memory of Me’ The next Mass in preparation for First Holy Communion will be celebrated in Athlacca Church next Sunday 23^rd of March at 10.00a.m. 

St Joseph’s Foundation: Plans are at an advance stage for the annual Spring Fair in aid of St Joseph’s Foundation which will take place on Sunday, 13^th of April. The next meeting to discuss this event will take place on Tuesday next, 18^th March at 8.30p.m. in St Joseph’s workshop, Baker’s Road.  Your help with this event would be greatly appreciated. We would be delighted if you could attend the meeting.

Lent: As an aid to help us understand Lent and its significance in our lives, a desert scene has been created at the entrance of Athlacca Church. Lent is a season when we make a special effort to renew our faith and our relationship with God. During these days of Lent we go into the desert, so that we can remove all of the inner “clutter” from our lives. This desert scene which will change each week as we move towards Holy Week will stand as a visual reminder to all who enter the church, that God is calling us to turn away from our sin and follow the way of the Gospel. Thanks to Karen and her family for creating this liturgical scene for us.

Altar Society: It is hoped to set up an Altar Society in Athlacca Church. The role of an Altar Society is to assist and help the sacristan in preparing the church and altar for all liturgical celebrations, including Sunday Mass and the various liturgical seasons throughout the year. If you are interested in getting involved contact Karen Fox, Parish Clerk in Athlacca Church.

Trocaire: This year’s Trocaire campaign is well under way. Trocaire boxes are still available in both Churches. Last year the parish of Dromin Athlacca contributed €2,403.00. Please assist in this year’s campaign by having a Trocaire Box in your home.

Support the Simon Community: The Simon Community have a National Bag Pack coming up on the 4^th of April in all Mid-West Tesco stores and are hoping to recruit volunteers from around the diocese. If you are interesting in helping the Simon Community with this fundraising project you should contact Michelle O’Rourke, Mid-West Simon Community, PO Box 489, No 1 Lower Shannon Street, Limerick. Tel: 061 608980 or www.midwestsimon.ie All support welcome.

Bereavement Support Services: The next Bereavement support information evening will take place in Milford Care Centre on Wednesday 26th February 2014.   7:00pm – 8.30pm. For further information about the night please contact Mary O’Sullivan at 061 485800 or email m.osullivan@milfordcarecentre.ie or a member of the Social Work Department. These hour and a half-long evenings are designed to give general information on grief and bereavement to bereaved people, their family and friends. 

Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes: June 21^st – June 26^th. All flights from Shannon Airport. For further information contact the Lourdes Pilgrimage Office at the Limerick Social Service Centre, Henry Street, Limerick on 061-314111. Opening hours Mon, Wed & Fri 10.30a.m to 1.00p.m. and from 2.00pm to 5.00pm. Thu 2.00p.m. to 5.00p.m. Travel Agent to the Pilgrimage: Pilgrimages Abroad Tel 01-6359300. Email: pilgrimages@eircom.net 

Results of 45 drive in Athlacca 13th February

Winners with 10 games - Dolores Barry & Eddie O'Dea

Second with 9 games - Mick Maume & Alick Burke, James O'Leary & Mike McAuliffe

Table Prizes - Denis Walsh & D.J ., Tom Dunworth & Theresa Brosnan,  Joe Finn & Tom O'Riordan ,Chrissie O'Sullivan & Ruth Fox

Raffle - Theresa Brosnan, Eddie O'Dea Pat Condon, Kathleen Barry, Jim Carey, Joe Sheridan, Liam Riordan, Joe Finn, M.M. Noonan

Cards every Friday night 8.30 p.m.

Boxercise/Fitness Classes
Anyone interested in getting a little fit and want to do some great exercises, there are classes every Monday  and Wednesday night from 8pm – 9pm.  Open to over 16’s, male and female welcome. For further inquiries contact Vinnie Cronin 0879239257

Set Dancing

Set Dancing will take place in the hall every Thursday night and if you would like to join please contact Bridget, the class costs only €4. This is a great way of meeting people and having a good fun plus you get nice and fit.

Limerick Garden Plants Group

Thursday March 27^th: Limerick Garden Plants Group are very excited to be hosting the undisputed queen of Irish gardening, Helen Dillon at our club. Helen never fails to deliver an enthralling talk and we are particularly lucky that she has just finished putting together a brand new lecture, so new in fact that she doesn't even have a name for it yet! We would like to extend a warm Limerick welcome to anybody who would like to come along and be part of this fantastic night. We anticipate a large crowd so we advise that the tickets, which cost €12 each, should be purchased in advance. Refreshments are included in the cost and there will be lots of desirable plants for sale on the night, plus a bumper raffle.

The venue for this and all of our other talks is the Southcourt Hotel, Raheen, Limerick All talks take place on the 4th Thursday of the month and start at 8pm sharp.
For more information and for ticket sales please contact Deborah at terranovagardens@eircom.net or connect in with her on her Facebook page.

GAA News

Membership needs to be paid as soon as possible. €20 for adults and €10 for Students.

Lotto being changed to Saturdays from the 15^th onwards.

The Duck Race will take place on Sunday 23^rd.

Match News

Dromin/Athlacca v’s Bruree in Athlacca this Sunday at 12 noon in a Minor South Hurling Championship.

Shamrock Gaels

Shamrock Gaels medal presentation & awards evening  took place last Saturday evening in Athlacca hall, medals won throughout 2013 were presented along with most improved players & Most Valuable Player ( "MVP Award") voted by the players, awards for each age group & overall best team of the year were awarded also.  It is great to see such vitality and in our underage players and it gives us great hope for the future of Dromin Athlacca Team. Congratulations to all the boys and girls may they have a great 2014.  Also we should congratulate the parents who take them to training, to matches, look after their gear, support them through hail, rain and sometimes snow.  No doubt our children are our future and will get loads of praise, but the parents who sacrifice hours of shuttling them to and fro are to be commended on their bit to our champions.

Gaa Lotto Results
Numbers: 11, 18, 20, 24. No Winner!
Lucky Dips:
€40 - Deirdre Callanan
€20 - Rose Harvey
€20 - Pat Harvey

Referee Course

If anyone is hoping to do a refereeing course please contact Shane Kenny on 0863453735

Fixtures

The ACHL is coming up fast. We have been put into group three along with Hospital Herbertstown who we play on the 1^st of April in Athlacca. Throw in at 6:30pm.

Murroe on the 8^th of April in Murroe. Throw in at 6:30pm.
Ballybrown on the 20^th of May in Athlacca. Throw in at 7:30pm.

Effin on the 27^th of May in Effin. Throw in at 7:30pm.

Parish Notes

Birthday Greetings: We would like to send Birthday Greetings to: Eva Sheehan, Ruth Clark, Shane Rabbitt, Anna Brennan, Kieran Shortt, Elaine Hedderman, Ann Burke and Shane Kenny who all celebrate their birthdays over the next few days. Also a very special Happy Birthday to Gemma Ryan who celebrated her seventh birthday last weekend.

Church News

Parish Liturgy

Readers of the Word

Dromin  Sat 15^th Mary Brosnan

Athlacca Sun 16^th Aine Barrett.

Ministers of the Eucharist

Dromin  Sat 15^thNora O’Keeffe.

Athlacca  Sun 16^th Alice McAuliffe & Karen Fox

Altar Servers Athlacca Team C

Sun 16^th Charlie, Enda, Isobel, Anna & Evan 

Dromin Church 

The maintenance work in the interior of Dromin Church is now complete. This work included repair to the internal walls surrounding all the windows where damage from water was evident. This work was carried in July 2013 by Constructive Solutions, Clonmel. In recent weeks the entire interior of the building has been painted and a new carpet has been laid on the sanctuary area. The painting of the church was carried out by United Colours Decorators, Limerick. The carpet was supplied by D.J. Hayes & Co Kilfinane . The cost of phase one of the work was € 39,729.00. Phase two of the work will be on the exterior of the building including repairs to the parapet/coping stones on each of the gable ends, some minor repair works to the roof, replacement of existing gutters and down pipes and the redecoration of the external walls. It is hoped to begin phase two of the project by June of this year. As phase two of the work begins it will be necessary to raise funds in addition to the weekly offertory collection. Parishioners who are in a position to contribute a little more to the weekly offertory collection are encouraged to do so. If you would like to make a once off donation towards phase two of the work it would be most welcome.    

St Patrick's Day

The Vigil Mass for the feast of our national saint will be celebrated in Dromin Church on Sunday 16th of March at 7.00p.m. Mass on St Patrick’s day will be celebrated in Athlacca Church at 10.00a.m.

Support the Simon Community: The Simon Community have a National Bag Pack coming up on the 4^th of April in all Mid-West Tesco stores and are hoping to recruit volunteers from around the diocese. If you are interesting in helping the Simon Community with this fundraising project you should contact Michelle O’Rourke, Mid-West Simon Community, PO Box 489, No 1 Lower Shannon Street, Limerick. Tel: 061 608980 or  www.midwestsimon.ie All support welcome.

Recent Deaths: We pray for Mr Paddy Howard RIP, late of Gorey, Co Wexford, who died on Wednesday 5^th of March. We remember him in our prayers and offer our sympathy to his sister Alice McAuliffe, Athlacca, and to all of his relatives in the parish. May he rest in peace. The death has also take place at the Milford care Centre, Limerick of Mrs Phyllis Collins RIP, Dromin. Her funeral took place in Dromin church and the burial was in Dromin cemetery.  We extend our sympathy to all the members of her family in the parish. My she rest in peace. 

Our sincere sympathies to the Collins and O’Malley family on the death of their mother Phyllis Collins, Ballinastona, Dromin last weekend. Ar deis Dé go raibh a hanam

We would also like to send sincere sympathies to Matt O’Callaghan on the death of his mother Alice O'Callaghan.  Matt covers the sports news in the Vale Star. Ar deis Dé go raibh a hanam

Bereavement Support Services: The next Bereavement support information evening will take place in Milford Care Centre on Wednesday 26th February 2014.   7:00pm – 8.30pm. For further information about the night please contact Mary O Sullivan at 061 485800 or email m.osullivan@milfordcarecentre.ie or a member of the Social Work Department. These hour and a half-long evenings are designed to give general information on grief and bereavement to bereaved people, their family and friends. 

Trocaire Boxes 

Trocaire boxes are available in both churches. you are encouraged to join the Trocaire Lenten Campaign.  

Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes: June 21^st – June 26^th. All flights from Shannon Airport. For further information contact the Lourdes Pilgrimage Office at the Limerick Social Service Centre, Henry Street, Limerick on 061-314111. Opening hours Mon, Wed & Fri 10.30a.m to 1.00p.m. and from 2.00pm to 5.00pm. Thu 2.00p.m. to 5.00p.m. Travel Agent to the Pilgrimage: Pilgrimages Abroad Tel 01-6359300. Email: pilgrimages@eircom.net 

Results of 45 Drive in Athlacca 7th March

Winners with 11 games - Chrissie O'Sullivan & Ruth Fox

Second with 8 games - D.J. & Denis, Ted & Lucy, Pat Condon & Mike Greene

TablePrizes - Anne Potter & Josie Lynch, Mike Minogue & S,. Hanrahan, Dano & Mary Sheehy, Brendan & T. Mahoney

Raffle -€50 - Joe McDonald, €30 Ruth Fox €20 Pat Condon, €10 each to Joe Carey, Ted Hynes, Noreen Hayes & Tom Linehan

We would like to offer our sympathy to Sean Madden on the death of his brother in law and Pat Naughton on the death of his father in law. May they rest in peace.

Colaiste Iosaef Enterprise Students

Congrats to Colaiste Iosaef Enterprise students in the County Enterprise Awards. Intermediate runner up went to Hurl PM and Best Marketing went to Buzz Buddy in the Senior category.

Boxercise/Fitness Classes
Anyone interested in getting a little fit and want to do some great exercises, there are classes every Monday  and Wednesday night from 8pm – 9pm.  Open to over 16’s, male and female welcome. For further inquiries contact Vinnie Cronin 0879239257

Set Dancing

Set Dancing will take place in the hall every Thursday night and if you would like to join please contact Bridget, the class costs only €4. This is a great way of meeting people and having a good fun plus you get nice and fit.

Limerick Garden Plants Group

Thursday March 27^th: Limerick Garden Plants Group are very excited to be hosting the undisputed queen of Irish gardening, Helen Dillon at our club. Helen never fails to deliver an enthralling talk and we are particularly lucky that she has just finished putting together a brand new lecture, so new in fact that she doesn't even have a name for it yet! We would like to extend a warm Limerick welcome to anybody who would like to come along and be part of this fantastic night. We anticipate a large crowd so we advise that the tickets, which cost €12 each, should be purchased in advance. Refreshments are included in the cost and there will be lots of desirable plants for sale on the night, plus a bumper raffle.

The venue for this and all of our other talks is the Southcourt Hotel, Raheen, Limerick All talks take place on the 4th Thursday of the month and start at 8pm sharp.
For more information and for ticket sales please contact Deborah at terranovagardens@eircom.net or connect in with her on her Facebook page.

GAA News
 Lotto Draw
Numbers: 11, 18, 20, 24. No Winner!
Lucky Dips:
€40 - Deirdre Callanan
€20 - Rose Harvey
€20 - Pat Harvey

Membership needs to be paid as soon as possible. €20 for adults and €10 for Students.

Lotto being changed to Saturdays from the 15^th onwards.

The Duck Race will take place  on Sunday 23^rd.

Referee Course

If anyone is hoping to do a refereeing course please contact Shane Kenny on 0863453735

Fixtures

The ACHL is coming up fast. We have been put into group three along with Hospital Herbertstown who we play on the 1^st of April in Athlacca. Throw in at 6:30pm.

Murroe on the 8^th of April in Murroe. Throw in at 6:30pm.
Ballybrown on the 20^th of May in Athlacca. Throw in at 7:30pm.

Effin on the 27^th of May in Effin. Throw in at 7:30pm.

Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.

Across the world people celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.  Whether quietly with their family, at a Church service, or boisterously in a pub, millions will join in marking the anniversary of Ireland’s patron saint. St. Patrick’s Day is without question the biggest celebration of a national day across the globe.  In the big American cities, in Moscow’s Red Square, in Montserrat (the only place besides Ireland to declare the 17th of March a full public holiday) and even in Nigeria, people bedecked in green will be proclaiming themselves Irish for the day.  Because of its global nature, St. Patrick’s Day has traditionally been celebrated with more fanfare abroad than in Ireland.

Limerick’s Parade Route: Starting at Punches Cross the parade entrants will march down O'Connell Street, finishing at the Island Road. 70,000 spectators throng the streets of Limerick every year for the St Patrick’s Day parade and the 2014 festival promises to be the best yet!

Limerick is Ireland's largest St. Patrick's Day Parade outside of Dublin. There are numerous floats, community groups and bands providing a riot of colour, noise and entertainment for Limerick's largest audience.

Bruff Parade starting at the Primary School at 2p.m. The theme of this year''s parade is "Bruff''s Day of Culture". A Duck Race has been organised between the two Bridges at the end of the town with many prizes .

Kilmallock Parade: After 12 noon Mass starting at the Church and going up town.   

Rathkeale Parade This year’s theme I Love My Town. The parade is on Monday 17th starting at 12.30 at Hennessy's corner. Entrants to meet outside Tadgh O'Connor''s DIY Store from 11.30-12.15. Road closed at 12.15.

Charleville’s Parade: Starting with Community Mass at 12 noon in the Church. Then continuing on to Holy Cross Graveyard.

 

Is it Shamrock or is it Clover?

Although similar, clover when in flower has either purple or white flowers, the shamrock has tiny yellow flowers.  The difference between Shamrock and Clover is Shamrock is smaller, easier to get out of the ground, doesn’t have the thick root system of the clover and the leaves don’t have the white lines though it that clover has.  Clover also has tiny little hairs on the back of the leaves, Shamrock doesn’t.

 

Memory Lane

During the week I got a lovely photo from Mary Ring in California.  Mary was telling me that it would have been their dads birthday last weekend.  Many of you will remember Patrick Joseph Ring better known as Dodo… He was a lovely man and a great worker. Dodo worked for Kilmallock Co. Council for many years and always had the roads leading to Athlacca clean and tidy, the drains at the sides of the roads were always kept clear and the water tables on other roads were always to be seen.  Dodo was a great singer and always sang while he worked.  He had only one mode of transport and that was his trusty bike.  If you didn’t see Dodo, you knew he would be around if you saw his bike.  He is often spoken of fondly in the parish yet.

Death of an actress

The actress Eileen Colgan, best known for her portrayal of the role of Esther Roche in the RTÉ drama Fair City died last Tuesday. She enjoyed a 17-year career at the Abbey Theatre from 1971 to 1988 and appeared regularly in shows that included The Winter’s Tale , Measure for Measure , The Hostage , Ulysses in Nighttown , Richard’s Cork Leg and Talbot’s Box. She had a long career in theatre and worked opposite Michael Bryant, Judi Dench, Maurice Denham, Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Thomas Gibson.  Her career spanned from 1964 to the present. May she rest in peace.