AROUND THE DISTRICTS
CASTLEMAGNER A MESSAGE FOR OUR SENIOR CITIZENS
Castlemagner Community Development Association would like to remind the elderly members of our community to keep sending us your memories of days gone by, whether these be stories, poems or prayers, we would love to hear them. Many of you will have received a stamped addressed envelope by now so please put your thoughts on paper and return them to Mary O’Sullivan (086 0717761) by July 10 Also, do not hesitate to contact us if you know someone who would like to be part of this or if you would like further details.
We are delighted with the response so far and would like to thank those of you who have already contributed. We hope to publish these memories in a book later in the year.
TIDY TOWNS
Tidy towns continue to meet every Tuesday evening outside Castlemagner hall at 7.30 p.m. to do some weeding, planting, litter picking and other general tidying up. The committee covers Castlemagner village, Cecilstown village and the surrounding area. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to help wherever possible to help keep our little community/parish look as good as possible.
KILLAVULLEN SCHOOL’S OUT FOR SUMMER!
This week the two primary schools in the parish, Killavullen NS and Ballygown NS, are finally on their summer holidays. It is time for the children and the staff alike to log out of online and remote teaching and to unplug themselves from devices for a few weeks.
Little did anybody know starting the school year off at the end of last summer that it would all come to such an abrupt end. Had it been suggested it would have been laughed at and declared impossible. It is always said that education is about home and school working together and this year it was proven beyond doubt how it works. It has been a school year which will most certainly go down in history as being one of the most historical and memorable yet in recent times.
In our parish we are very fortunate to have two schools which are staffed by the most conscientious and dedicated of people. Each and every one has a role to play in the lives of the young people in our community. Thank you for all you do for the younger people in our community.
You all go above and beyond on a daily basis and our children are very fortunate to have your influence in their lives. To all the pupils – have a great summer and keep in mind your safety as you enjoy yourself: safety on the road, safety near water and safety on the farm.
Slán Libh to all those in sixth class. It certainly wasn’t a typical end of year for all who reached the wonderful milestone of completing Primary Education but both schools have done a superb and remarkable job of making sure you still had a memorable end to your year. Best wishes to you all as you embark on your Secondary Education.
FARMER’S MARKET RETURNS
Killavullen Farmer’s Market returns this Saturday. It is one of the oldest markets in Ireland, located at the Birthplace of Nano Nagle. The market is continually evolving. From humble beginnings it has grown, has survived many ups and downs, and is determined to flourish again under these ‘new normal’ conditions.
The market has spent a lot of time working out best practice in the current Covid-19 situation, consulting with the HSE and relevant authorities. There will be one entrance and one exit point, with hand sanitizer available on the way in, and on the way out.
There will be no stalls in the tunnel but the large outdoor spaces will be used. All current stallholders will be taking their own precautionary measures too and will be spread out around the grassy area.
Food producers will have their produce in packaging where possible as per the guidelines. For those visiting the market it is asked that you also follow all the guidelines which are now becoming part of how we live among each other.
If you are feeling unwell or have been in close contact with somebody who has symptoms it is asked that you would not attend. When purchasing it would be ideal if you had the correct change if possible and if somebody else is at a stall ahead of you, please stand 2m behind and form a queue.
The organisers would also welcome any tips or advice you may have for improvement or adjustment to how it is run in the current climate. All stallholders will be there this Saturday with a range of products from locally grown veg, handcrafted baked goods, breads, jams, chutneys, cordials, smoked salmon, fresh raw milk and yogurts.
Finally, unique to Killavullen Farmer’s Market is the KOB (Killavullen Organic Buyers Group) Here you can order bulk food and household supplies at discounted prices. All products are sourced from SUMA WHOLESALERS so check out their website if you are interested and come along to the market to find out more.
If you have any concerns about the market please contact 086 3761816, you can also use this number for any special requests you may have. It is great to see this regular event back up and running. Best wishes to the stallholders and the organisers for a successful and healthy season.
CHURCHES RE-OPENING FOR PUBLIC MASS
Our Churches are re-opening for public Masses from June 29. The government has brought forward the reopening of churches for public worship to Monday, June 29.
Anyone, who is unwell, especially those showing symptoms of Covid-19 should stay at home and participate in church life through the radio, TV and the social media. The same applies to anyone who has been in recent contact with someone who has had the virus. The Sunday obligation to attend Mass continues to be suspended.
The doors of the church (including the Nano Nagle porch at Killavullen) will be left open at Mass-times. Sanitize your hands on entering the church and, on Sundays, take a missalette. Please observe respiratory etiquette when visiting our churches. Physical Distancing: please stay two metres away from others, except your family members. Make greater use of our front seats.
Our churches are cleaned regularly by volunteers and sacristans. Those parts in human contact (door handles, microphones, shrine candles, etc) are sanitized after Mass.
The celebrant alone will distribute Holy Communion for the time being. He will sanitize his hands regularly and wear a face-covering. Those, who wish to receive Holy Communion should approach the altar through the centre aisle and return to their seats via the sides while maintaining 2m distancing. Communion is to be received on the hand.
A return to public worship, however gradual, is a sign of hope for our parish. Mass will not be the same while the threat remains. There will be no choir (apart from a cantor) or altar-servers or formal Entrance Procession. The Offertory Procession is suspended as is the Sign of Peace.
Arriving to church early and leaving a few minutes afterwards will help avoid gathering around the doors. Baptisms and Marriages are permitted with small attendances. Funerals are limited to the Funeral Mass, with less than 25 persons.
LADIES’ FOOTBALL
Killavullen Ladies’ Football Club is preparing for resuming training. It is a great sign giving hope to us all to see a return to games for our young people.
Registration was held earlier this week and more details will follow. Thank you to those who give up their time to train and mentor the Killavullen ladies’ football teams at all ages, especially this year with so many guidelines and safety procedures to adhere to.
PARISH CLEAN UP
The approach roads to Killavullen are looking amazing now with our newly exposed brickwork on all the bridges and the clear pathways.
Thank you to all who have undertaken this work. It is a great sign of the pride we have in our own community to all who travel these roadways. We would.
MEALS ON WHEELS
Mallow Meals on Wheels can provide a hot meal with either soup or a dessert Monday to Saturday for €5 per day to anybody in our parish, who may wish to continue to avail of this service or for new people who may wish to get a hot meal delivered daily. A cooled meal can also be delivered on Saturday which can be put straight into the fridge to be heated up on Sunday.
During this pandemic the meals will be delivered to Killavullen and our Willing Hands Group are only too happy to help deliver them to those who have signed up. All our volunteers are discreet and do not want people to let pride get in the way of this amazing service.
Please pass this information onto those you have contact with who may benefit from it. If you would like more information please contact Sheila at 085 2414879 for details.
COVID-19 VOLUNTEER GROUPS
In Killavullen two groups have been set up in response to cocooning and self-isolation requests by the government. One group is a telephone group. A group of willing volunteers have offered to ring locals as they isolate and cocoon. They will be a friendly voice in the day to break up the monotony and the loneliness than can sometimes occur. This group will also ask if anything is needed or required, shopping, prescriptions, milk, newspapers, stamps etc. They will then pass this information onto the second group.
The second group is a Willing Hands Group. This group is one which is made up of people will get what is needed and are willing to deliver the items to those cocooning or isolating.
If you are cocooning or isolating and this service would be of benefit to you please contact Gillian Forde at 086 3845655 to be included and tell your friends. If you have a relative or neighbour who you think would benefit please let them know. To make this service work we need to have contact numbers from those cocooning or isolating.
There are two very informative websites now active in our parish and worth checking out on a regular basis: killavullenparish.ie/ killavullengaa.com/
It is also worth keeping an eye on the Parish Facebook page, the newly formed group Look after the Elderly in Killavullen and the Killavullen GAA Facebook.