SCARTAGLEN
CONGREGATIONAL MASSES RESUME
Many parishioners will be glad to have public masses again after the recent lockdown. The first congregational mass in Castleisland Parish will be celebrated on Monday next July 6th at 11am in Castleisland Parish Church. On Sunday July 12th masses where the public can again attend will be celebrated in Cordal Church at 9.30am and in Scartaglen Church at 10.30am. Numbers of course will be limited with social distancing and the usual directives applying.
CHURCH VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED
There will be a public meeting in Cordal Church on this Wednesday evening July 1st at 8pm, with a view to getting volunteers to help out with the return of congregational masses in Castleisland, Cordal and Scartaglen. Volunteers are needed to act as ushers, to guide people to their seats and to take names of people entering the church for contact tracing procedures and cleaners are also required to clean the church after each mass.
JOB WELL DONE
The general consensus is that the Government has done a good job handling the Corona virus crisis. The international view is that we moved swiftly into lockdown and have been honest and up front about the number of deaths recorded and cases confirmed. Leo Varadkar and Simon Harris in consultation with Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan got a lot of things right and one must give credit where credit is due for their leadership and for their quick and decisive action. The one big mistake I suppose was the way nursing homes across the country were dealt with, but then who hasn’t made a mistake in their lives? The people of Ireland in general deserve much thanks and praise for the manner in which they responded to the “stay at home” call and endured the very strict lockdown and let’s not forget the unsung heroes the frontline medical workers. From here on let’s hope that it is a case of onwards and upwards and that we can all enjoy some kind of “new normality”. As American writer Helen Keller said” Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much”. The United Nations has described the Covid-19 pandemic as “the worst crisis for humanity since World War Two” and this virus is something we will never forget when 20202 is mentioned.
GARDA FATALITIES
The recent fatal shooting in Castlerea of Detective Garda Colm Horkan brought to 89 the number of Garda who have died whilst in active service and the needless murder of Garda Horkan brought to mind that the first member of An Garda Siochana to die on duty was Sgt. James Woods who was shot dead in Scartaglen on 3 December 1923. James Woods was in his early twenties and was a native of Doolin in Co. Clare. The then Chief Commissioner of the Garda
General Eoin O Duffy said at the graveside oration for Sgt. Woods “be not daunted, carry on your work, you are doing useful and valuable work for Ireland yield only in death”. Let’s never forget the 89 brave Garda who yielded only in death in doing their duty in serving their country, in keeping the peace and keeping the people of this country safe.
LOOKING BACK
Some events and happenings in this locality around this time of year back in 1994: marriages were those of Tim O Connor of Knockrour West and Mary O Connor of Lisheen, Gneeveguilla who were married in Gneeveguilla Church and Patrick McEnery of Barna and Kathleen Ring of Ballydesmond who were married in Knocknagree Church. A death was that of Tom Prendeville who died in Kilrush and was originally from Knockeenahone. The late Corney Tangney was laid to rest in Scartaglen Cemetery. In Ladies Football, Ann Kerin of Scartaglen played at left full forward on the Kerry Junior Ladies team which lost to Cork 3-17 to 3-4 in the first round of the Munster Junior Championship at Beaufort. Marian O Connell of Knockeenahone played with the Kerry Minor Ladies team which beat Limerick 4-12 to 1-4.
FARM ACCIDENTS
To date thirteen people have died so far this year in farm related accidents and there’s only six months gone in 2020 and the figure includes some children. These are very busy times on all farms and farming organisations stress once again that supreme care and safety should be exercised at all times and particularly where heavy farm machinery and equipment is concerned. wishes to three parishioners who celebrated their birthdays last week. Kitty Griffin, St Patrick’s Terrace, Bridget Guerin, Dooncaha and Tony MacSweeney of Kilpadogue all celebrated significant milestones in this time of Covid -19. If Joe Kissane of Kissane Candles was asked to supply birthday candles he would have to make a grand total of 258 candles, so you can do the sums. Its good to hear that business is starting to pick up for Joe and Mary Kissane in terms of candles for weddings, christenings and all special occasions and hopefully all local small business enterprises will continue to do well.
TARBERT BRIDEWELL
Tarbert Bridewell which like all other museums and visitor centres had been closed since midMarch due to Covid 19 re-opened on Monday last with strict guidelines in operation. The coffee shop and exhibition centre are also open and the management and staff look forward to visits from locals and visitors over the Summer period with strict guidelines being followed. Call in and enjoy a coffee and cake, browse the books, crafts, baby gifts and souvenirs. Enjoy the new Audio Visual experience which has brought new life to the Bridewell story. The Bridewell is open daily from 9.30am to 4.30pm. Further information from 068/ 36500.
TARBERT TOWNLANDS
Continuing our definition of townland names this week and townland size- Kilpadogue or Kilpaddoge (415 acres) - the church of the rush light, according to tradition the monks kept a light burning at night in an old church to warn seafarers of a rocky coastline. This would be the forerunner of the modern lighthouse, and the light was provided from clumps of rushes soaked in tallow or animal fat.
Meelcon (164 acres) Bare hill, maol con, cropped or bare hill of the hound.
Pulleen (317 acres )- pollín, a small hole or pit. On its south side
Pulleen is separated from Lioslaughtin by the stream Clashnagaloon, the dividing line between the parishes of Tarbert and Ballylongford.
Ralappane (211 acres) rath lappain, the ringfort of Lappan, a rath was a circular mound or fort with trees for defence purposes. It was in existence when Petty carried out his survey in 1656/57.
Reenturk (135 acres) Rinn Toirc, the point or promontory of the boars, A double school for boys and girls of the locality was built here in 1868 and continued functioning as such up until 1967 when it was closed and the pupils bussed into the central National School in Tarbert.
Leanamíd ar agaidh an seachtain seo cughainn, le cúnamh Dé weeks ahead. The lord that” this too will pass”.
COMHBHRÓN GLÓR NA NGAEL
tells us
The death occurred at her home on Sunday, June 21 of Templeglantine’s most senior citizen. Mary Cotter, Barnagh, was in her 102nd year when she passed to her eternal reward. She was a welcoming, sincere and considerate lady who lead a long and active life taking an interest in nature and gardening. During her great life-span she witnessed many changes having come into this world at the end of the First World War and the great pandemic of the Spanish Flu and leaving it while we are still under restrictions of the Coronavirus Pandemic. Mary was a native of Knocknasna and came to work for the Sheehan family in her late teens. She met Jack Cotter, they married and raised a family of three girls and two boys. The family emigrated to London in 1964 and returned to Barnagh again ten years later. Mary worked again for the Sheehan family at the Devon Inn where she was renowned for her baking skills. She was a popular member of the community and highly regarded by all. Mary was predeceased by her husband Jack (1985) and her son Nelius (Dec. 2018). Her remains were brought from her home to Templeglantine Church on Tuesday morning for the private requiem mass. Neighbours, parishioners, relatives and friends lined the roadside in a guard of honour and to show their respects. After the private Requiem Mass which was streamed live, burial took place in Reilig na Trínóide. Mary is survived by her by her son John (Donegal), daughters Chris Sheehan, Bridie Weir and Marie McElhatton, sons-in-law Joe and Brendan, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces, extended family and friends. Go dtuga Dia suaimhneas síoraí dá hanam dilis agus solás dá clann agus gaolta uilig.
Many Irish words lived on in the local vocabulary long after the spoken Irish had ceased. Many of these Irish words were associated with trades, customs and practises which have disappeared or changed over time and as a result these words are now seldom heard. The following are some examples which were quite common locally and still can be heard occasionally to this day. Clais The name given to a little glen or hollow through which a little stream might run such as Clais na Muice in Meenoline or Clais an Aifrinn in Glenmore. Fustar he was in a great fustar, in a great hurry or rushing to get some task done. Gearcach a young bird that emerges from the egg, sometimes used for a very young person, “he is only a gearcach yet”. Giobalach used to describe an untidy person or torn clothes. Gandal means a gander, “he is a right gandal”, a person who is foolish and makes simple mistakes. Gamalóg a folish person. Scairt usually used to denote a growth or bunch of briars. Meitheal a group of people coming together to carry out some task such as cutting turf, saving hay, threshing corn.