GLENROE/ BALLYORGAN

GLENROE TIDY TOWNS 2021 TIDY TOWNS COMPETITION

The 2021 national competition was a desk-top evaluation exercise, with the adjudicator taking a virtual tour of Glenroe via the maps, photos and information we submitted. We achieved an increase of 8 in our overall marks this year.

DRY STONE WALL

We expect you all have admired the newest stretch of dry stone wall rebuilt in the herringbone style on the Spittle Road from O’Brien’s entrance to Glenroe Cross. We are so fortunate to have such excellent tradesmen. A big thank you to John Dunne, Liam Coffey and to Tom Fraher, who retired in August this year.

RECYCLING SINGLE USE PLASTICS

Did you know that ‘soft’ plastics may now be put into the recycling bin?

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

The annual church gate collection for St Martins Conference, which incorporates Glenroe, Ballyorgan, Ardpatrick and Kilfinane will take place at all churches this weekend, December 11th and 12th.

The theme of this year’s appeal is “Impossible Choices” which reflects the struggle a lot of our community face daily.

GLENROE BALLYORGAN PARISH

Tuesday, 7th December: Feast of The Immaculate Conception Vigil Mass, Glenroe at 7.30pm. Wednesday, 8th December: Feast of The Immaculate Conception Mass 9.30am, Ballyorgan. Thursday, 9th December: Mass, Glenroe 9.30am.

TAX REBATE

Glenroe Ballyorgan Parish can avail of a tax rebate on all contributions of €250 and over before 31st December, 2021.

Fr Michael O’Shea can be contacted on 087-9791432 or by email at mjtoshea@ gmail.com. Fr Anthony Bluett can be contacted on 087-1848833.

GLENROE GAA LOTTO

There was no winner of the club lotto jackpot of €2,800 on Thursday, 2nd December. The numbers drawn were 7, 19, 20 and 28. Congratulations to lucky dip winners Matt Myres Kilcruig, Kate Dawson c/o Sean Coffey, Tom O’Callaghan, Ruppulagh, Lorna McCarthy, Ballyshane, Paddy Hayes, Effin and Emma Lee, Tully.

The next draw will take place on 16th December with a jackpot of €3,000. Tickets from usual sellers or play online at hhtp://www.glenroegaa.com/club-lotto.

If you have a notice that you would like to have included in the Glenroe-Ballyorgan notes, please email nicolajdennehy@gmail.com by 8pm Sunday. Pat Creed. May Ann’s gentle soul rest in peace in God’s Heavenly Kingdom.

CONGRATULATIONS TO AOIBHEANN CLANCY

Heartiest congratulations from the community to Aoibheann on her achievement in winning the SSE Airtricity “Player of the Year” award recently. May you continue on your journey and achieve even greater accolades in the years to come Aoibheann.

ICA

The members of Kilbehenny ICA Guild had a Christmas meal on Friday night in the Hunters Rest, Mitchelstown. Full compliments to The Hunters for a sumptuous meal which was served up. Everybody present enjoyed the perfect meal.

Our project for this year is the knitting of the figurines of the crib, which will be raffled during the week. Also there’s a bottle of whiskey and 2 bottles of wine up for grabs. Best of luck to everybody who bought tickets.

BINGO

Bingo continues every Sunday night with very good prizes for the winning. As always, thanks very much to everybody who supports the bingo weekly, your valued support is very much appreciated by the committee of Kilbehenny Community Centre. “Keep those eyes down.”

“I didn’t think they could better last year” was one person’s response to the atmosphere in Killavullen last Saturday evening. From 5pm, cars bedecked from bonnet to boot in a variety of Christmas decor started to come to the pitch from all corners of the parish and beyond as the reputation of last year’s drive by had spread.

Windows were rolled down, sunroofs peeled back while children and adults dressed in Christmas attire, Santa hats, and headbands alike waved, called and smiled to each other from the confines of their car. Phones were used to chat to family, friends and neighbours sitting in cars in other rows. Happy Christmas greetings bounced from car to car, as the excitement built. Christmas lights, tinsel, antlers, bows, candy canes, reindeer and even Christmas trees were cable tied, knotted and wrapped around every and any part of the cars and each new car to enter the pitch brought a blast of welcome from the horns of the already parked cars.

The occupants remained in their cars at all times munching on Christmas nibbles, sipping from travel mugs, just happy to be together while staying safely apart. A Christmas car karaoke filled the air. Christmas carols were bellowed from the cars, waving arms kept time making the atmosphere truly electric.

A naughty elf aided by two other elves ran amuck between cars, ducking and diving, waving in through windows, capturing the attention of the children and sneaking up on unsuspecting adults giving them a fright much to the delight of the little ones. Olaf the Snowman and a dancing inflatable turkey danced up and down among the waiting lines of traffic, joined by a walking Christmas tree. A penguin and a plum pudding led them all.

When the Christmas lights on the street above the pitch started to come on, the atmosphere changed once more. All eyes strained to see the first glimpse of Santa and he appeared to shouts of pure and utter delight and glee, and that was just the adult reaction! The high pitch squeals from the children was beautifully intense. Santa was proudly led through the village by the local vintage tractor club, who lit up Killavullen Bridge as they parked along it. Each and every tractor was alight in sparkling and twinkling lights and it certainly gave one TV advert, which features a convoy of red trucks a run for its money! Holidays are coming but in true Killavullen Community together style!

Car horns drowned out the music, such was the excitement. High above the crowd safe, in a caged box on a loader, Santa was presented to the crowd. Everybody could see Santa and Santa saw everybody. He made a quick detour into the pitch grounds, and it looked like Santa was as happy to see the gathered locals, as the waiting crowd were there to see him. There is only one word for it “Magical”. It was next to impossible not to feel a lump in your throat and the sensation of tears of happiness threatening to trickle. The impossible was made possible.

Santa was in Killavullen for the children, bringing a semblance of normality and order to the lives of adults and children alike. The pandemic which dominated lives for the most part of the last two years still influenced the evening, but it could not take stop the Christmas spirit. People stayed apart from each other, but were all together and simply delighted to be so. Santa left the pitch led by his tractor parade to make his way to his grotto to meet the crowd.

One last surprise awaited. As he travelled over the Blackwater Bridge it was lit up. This was a new feature to the lights last year and it was a fitting tribute to the year that was. The picturesque Killavullen Bridge signals the path to home for many of us. It is lit this year to keep in mind all those who can’t be home this year, and hope to return, and it is also lit up in memory of those who have gone to their eternal reward. We keep their memory in our hearts here in Killavullen.

Cars were led out of the pitch in orderly rows and slowly trailed the road to Monanimy. A red star by a Christmas tree welcomed eager eyed passengers to the beginning of the trail. Monanimy Hill was illuminated by a mixed variety of Christmas lights and features, snowflakes, reindeer, lanterns and Santa’s lit the way to the top of the hill where a poignant crib scene nestled among bales reverently marked the entrance to an old graveyard.

The Grinch tried his best to stop each car from driving towards Santa, telling the occupants of cars that Christmas was cancelled and to go home. Fortunately the children would not take heed and proceeded along the road towards a rather lively elf, who helped bring back the spirit of Christmas by spraying the children with giggle juice from time to time, stopped cars, did tyre checks, and took the letters from the mesmerised children while sometimes berating the adult occupants of the car. The elf posted all the letters through her letterbox. They are currently on their way to the North Pole, just in time for the last orders for the sleigh.

Santa waited in his grotto and as each car passed him by, windows were rolled down for excited faces to say hello. Santa, knowing everybody, such is the nature of his job, was able to have the banter with the occupants young and old. Some adults got more than they bargained for when they asked for presents! Every child was assured that Santa would be back around again on Christmas Eve and to make sure they went to bed when they were told.

Before leaving, each car was given a Santa pack for Christmas Eve with reindeer food for his hard working steers, a Christmas mask for Santa’s face in case he lost his flying along, a report card for the naughty elf to be filled in and a magic lump of coal which the children are to place in their fire on Christmas Eve to quench the fire so Santa can arrive safely. An “I saw Santa in Killavullen” car sticker and stickers for the children.

The whole event from start to finish was overwhelmingly magical. Due to the strict Covid restrictions, the event was organised mainly through group chats where ideas and images were thrown out to sub groups for discussion, perusal and often a few sighs and eye rolling! It wasn’t unusual to see a text start with “I was thinking….”. The groups, all volunteers, co-ordinated by Roseanna Looney and Marie Cremin helped out in a variety of ways.

Time was given to install the lights in in the village over a few days and nights in the lead up to last Saturday. The Killavullen reindeer decoration was made, string attached, bagged and sold. Reindeer food was prepared. A life sized image of Santa was printed so people could take a photo

with Santa for their family albums. Stickers were created and printed. A grotto was made, as was a post office and the Grinch’s Den. People donated their own outdoor lights for use along the paths without being asked. Stewards came forward offering their time to direct traffic.

The whole thing was dependent on Community spirit, and Killavullen you did not disappoint. In all, over 200 cars trailed along the road last Saturday evening. To be honest we lost count! Eventually as word began to spread, cars with just adults in it gave a drive by, some cars came back at the end for one more drive around. This for the committee was just the icing on the cake. Seeing locals who have been staying safe at home, avoiding meeting people could safely drive around the ring and feel part of their community once again.

On The Good List: The committee would like to acknowledge and thank the following for their extra kind contribution to the smooth running of last Saturday evening, without these kind-hearted, community spirited people and families, the event would have fallen flat. Before Santa left we made sure he put an extra tick beside their names on the good list!

All the residents on the street in Killavullen village who moved their cars to allow us to have access to the village, as well as the householders who have plugged the street lights into their homes for the festive period. The residents of Monanimy: The Richter family, the O’Suilleabhain family, the 3 Dorgan households, the Fitzgerald family, Julia Sheahan and family, “Nannie Ann” and Noel Burns, Maura Murphy, John and Jackie Sheahan and the Shanahan family deserve to be praised too. They were more than kind and obliging allowing the committee to take over their roadway last Saturday, giving us power to light the features and being more than willing and obliging to offer help and assistance.

The stewards, the decorators, Santa’s tea ladies, Ballygown NS and Killavullen NS, John Hannon for the PA for our karaoke, Killavullen GAA Club, Timmy O’Sullivan and the Vintage Tractor Club, Fr Condon, Fr Hegarty, Sile O’Reilly and Kate Murphy, Jack Sheehan, Mick Rea, David Brosnan, Brian Larkin, Elaine Cronin, Kevin and Marion O’Regan, the Gardaí, Hannah Martin, Katie Turner, Aideen Cagney, Molly Taylor, Caoimhe Griffin, Ellie Looney, Elizabeth Palmer, Ryan Roche, Charlie Cremin, Sean Taylor and the decoration sellers: Marie Lane, Siobhán Luddy, Noelle Flynn and Denise Hanrahan.

We would also like to thank Darren O’Brien for taking fantastic photographs and to 80 Media for making a video of the night. Finally a word of thanks to those who dressed up on the night to make it all come alive: Eoghan “Naughty Elf” Forde, Elf Steven Rea, Elf Ronan Lankford, Niamh O’Regan the dancing tree, Orla O’Regan the Christmas turkey, Abbie Snowman O’Shea, Paul The Grinch O’Sullivan, Mary “Postal Elf” Taylor, and a special word of thanks goes to Santa. We hope he enjoyed his trip to Killavullen and made it safely back to the North Pole. We are already counting down the sleeps to Christmas Eve.

KILLAVULLEN CHRISTMAS DECORATION

Over the last few years we have sold a commemorative Killavullen Christmas Decoration, which has graced the Christmas trees in our parish and have been sent to trim the Christmas trees of those who hold Killavullen in a special place in their hearts around the world. This year is no different. 2021 is marked with a Christmas reindeer.

The decorations will be for sale over the coming weeks and you can arrange to get one by contacting Marie 0868071807, Roseanna 087-1320325 or Gillian 086-3845655. Decorations are €5 each, packaging and posting extra if required. We have a limited supply available and would encourage you to get yours before they are gone, particularly if you are sending them overseas.

PHOTOS WITH SANTA

This year the annual family photos with Santa will be much more difficult to take. With this in mind, we will have a life sized Santa picture in the village if you wish to stop there and take a photo. This will be up for a few days and we would encourage you to feel free to take your festive family photo.

Lastly, the Committee would like thank those who attended for their generous support on the night. It was so easy to run when every car adhered to the strict guide to remain in cars without question or fuss. The event was a donation only event and the kindness you expressed by digging into your pockets, has meant Killavullen can be lit up again in the future.

Covid-19 could not dull the Christmas sparkle in our community. It has given us, the organisers, the boost of confidence needed to know the hours of work put in behind the scenes are not in vain. We wish you all a very happy, safe and peaceful Christmas season and hope the Killavullen Lights have helped to lift the spirits of all who travel by at the end of a year that Killavullen will never forget. Beannachtaí na Nollag Daoibh Go Leir.

Committee: Roseanna, Paddy Looney, Marie and Tommy Cremin, Mick and Mary Taylor, Nicky and Roche, Paul Stafford, Alan Brennan, John O’Reilly and Gillian Forde.

KILLAVULLEN COMMUNITY COUNCIL LOTTO

Lotto is back up and running on a bi-weekly basis, with the bonus ball in the National Lottery being the lucky number in each draw. The winners for last week were Donie Mellerick on Wednesday, Dec 1st and Pakie Mansfield on Saturday, Dec 4th. Thank you to all who support this fundraising drive.

KILLAVULLEN NS

Killavullen NS is holding a Christmas raffle this year once again, as they are unable to hold their annual flag day in Mallow. There are many prizes to be won and you can buy tickets online at www. ecomm-pay.com/ killavullen-ns. Please state raffle as the reason for payment. Tickets are €5 for one or €12 for 3. First prize is €150 shopping voucher.

KILLURA GUN CLUB

Killura Gun Club are holding their Christmas draw for a monster hamper, money prizes and much more. Tickets are available from all club members and at The Haven Bar.

CHECK IN ON PEOPLE

Covid-19 is a very important issue in all communities. We as a community need to make sure that our more vulnerable people and those who are isolated or live alone, those who cannot drive or who cannot get supplies as easily as some of us can are looked after. In our own neighbourhoods we can check with others around us to ensure that they have all the essentials they need. It is also important to check in with these people to ensure that they are feeling well and to reassure them they have supports if required.

EIRCODES

Eircodes are a vital piece of information all the time but in particular at the moment. Keep yours written by your phone. For those who are checking in on older or more vulnerable people at this time make a note of their Eircodes also.

BUY LOCAL, THINK GREEN

It’s a good idea to be mindful of our local businesses as we approach Christmas and the prospect of Christmas shopping. If we all could try to keep our spending more locally it could help make the next few weeks less worrisome for the people who own and work such places. Remember these are often the businesses who we turn to for spot prizes and vouchers for our local events. It is time to express our gratitude by our support.

KILLAVULLEN FARMER’S MARKET

Killavullen Farmer’s Market takes place every second Saturday. Social distance guidelines are taking place at every market and all attending are being compliant and adhering to all safety measures, which makes the market a wonderful and safe place to be. The stallholders are looking forward to seeing you all at their next market on December 11th.