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.