SCARTAGLEN

WATER SUPPLY LINE

It would appear that Scartaglen is one of the locations in the county wherein the public water supply is conveyed through some asbestos piping. Some people might be concerned about that but Irish Water have re-assured consumers that there is no risk to health. They said that “while asbestos can cause concern cancer if inhaled, it does not do so if inhaled, it does not do so if ingested through drinking water.

DEATH

The death took place unexpectedly last week of Maurice (Mossie) Spillane of Balloonagh Estate, Tralee and formerly of Knockrour East. The deceased gave wonderful service to Kerry GAA and to Austin Park Tralee where he was a gate steward for many years and he was also caretaker at Caherslee GAA Grounds.

The late Maurice was a passionate Kerry GAA Supporter and travelled with the Kerry GAA Supporters Club to countless games over the years. He was a most helpful and obliging official and Austin Stack Park will not be the same without him. His other big interest in life was dancing and he was a big fan of the late Big Tom McBride. The deceased is survived by his wife Mary, by his daughters Michelle, Tracey, Deirdre and Aisling and by his brothers Michael, John and Dan. Burial took place in Rath Cemetery on Saturday morning last. May he Rest In Peace.

SILAGE HARVESTING

Silage making will be moving into top gear over the next few week particularly if the weather stays favourable. It’s a time of year when safety is always a concern. The I.F.A. and Road Safety Authority (RSA) recently made a joint appeal to farmers and vulnerable road users urging them to be more mindful of the extra pedestrians and cyclists on our roads. The organisations named above are making a special appeal this year in light of the current corona virus situation asking that anyone driving farm machinery, especially on rural roads to cut back on their speed and understand that around every corner there could be a neighbouring family or friend. So safety first at all times is still the main consideration and safety on all farms is of supreme importance.

LOOKING BACK

Back in 1995, these were some of the happenings in this locality around this time of year: The Jimmy Hickey School of Dancing was going well at Knockeenahone Community Centre. At the Desmonds Ladies Football Club Line Dancing competition at The River Island Hotel, Siobhan and Catriona Hickey and Elaine Galvin were successful in the 14-18 Category. Belinda Cronin of Carker won a trophy with her prizewinning Aberdeen Angus bull at The Kingdom County Fair in Tralee.

Diarmuid Murphy and Ann Mannix of were married.

A death was that of Denis Brosnan of Northampton, England and formerly of Knockeenahone.

Dromulton man John Barrett won the NACA Road Race at Castledrum, Castlemaine with a great display of running. At the same event the late Nora Brosnan of Glounlea took top veterans prize with an excellent performance.

HELPLINE

A special helpline which is free and confidential, is available in Kerry to help people accessing non emergency and non-medical services.

The COVID-19 Kerry Community Response Forum includes over a dozen agencies and organisations including Kerry County Council, Gardai and GAA. This freephone number 1800 807 009 will be available 8am to 8pm seven days a week. A text line is also available, people can text SUPPORT followed by their Name to 50555. Requests can also be emailed to covidsupport@ .

The helpline, which is manned by trained volunteers, is focused primarily on ensuring that vulnerable members of the community or those living alone can access deliveries of essential items like groceries, medicine and fuel.

WORLD MS DAY

This Saturday May 30th is World MS Day and this years theme is “Connections”. MS Connections is all about building community connection, self connection and connections to quality care. MS Ireland have seen a number of crucial fundraising events postponed or cancelled this year due to the COVID pandemic, so any contributions that people can make would be greatly appreciated. MS Ireland are holding a Virtual Balloon Race to raise funds on this Saturday. You can keep informed of the local branch activities and information on Facebooks MS Society Tralee/ West Kerry Branch Page. A confidential helpline number is 1850 233 233. from 10am to 7pm for private prayer only. In the entrance porch there are sanitisers and disposable gloves. Seats in the main aisle have been taped off with the exception of three seats on either side at the top of the aisle. The sanctuary is dominated by the very striking Alan Higgins mural of the Risen Christ and Fr John’s Easter garden.

The Diocesan guidelines are to observe all the Public Health regulations and to either walk around or stand and pray. Maybe, this is an opportunity to revive the practice of the praying of the Stations of the Cross which has been in decline in recent years. There is an interesting history in the origin of this practice.

From the earliest times, Christians travelled to Jerusalem to see the holy sites where Jesus lived and was crucified, eventually becoming places of pilgrimage. Later, due to wars, travel dangers and other reasons it proved difficult for pilgrims to go on pilgrimage. In the 16th.century people all over Europe started making replicas of the Way of the Cross with small shrines in their own places. These shrines developed into the set of 14 Stations now seen in every Catholic church throughout the world. The very attractive Stations in St Mary’s Church were donated by the women of the parish in 1957. When you are leaving the Church you exit via the side door to the left.

FIRST COMMUNION

Last Saturday, May 23 was to be the big day for the boys and girls of Tarbert National School when they made their First Holy Communion. Unfortunately the pandemic of Covid -19 intervened. Fr Sean Hanafin who would have celebrated the Sacrament with them offered Mass for them last Saturday, praying that God would grant them the graces of friendship and support with their families and the love and support of the whole community. Beidh Lá Mór le ceiliuradh achu sar i bfhad le cunamh Dé

WINDOW ON THE PAST

50

years

ago

there

were

a number of important events, locally and nationally, in 1970. In June 1970 an Taoiseach Jack Lynch TD officially opened Tarbert ESB Generating Station which was blessed by Dr Eamon Casey, Bishop of Kerry. Mr Thomas Murray, Chairman of the ESB announced that two further units were to be built in Tarbert at a cost of 14 million pounds. Ireland had its first Eurovision winner with Derry girl, Dana singing ‘All kinds of Everything’.

Kerry captained by Donie O’Sullivan defeated Meath to win the Sam Maguire Cup in the first 80 minute All Ireland Final. Tom O’Donnell, a member of that team brought the first Senior All Ireland medal to Tarbert.

The first farm along the Shannon Estuary was sold by Eddie ‘the Yank’ Mulvihill of Kilpadogue for a big industrial development. Ned O’Hanlon, Dooncaha, a possible future Eddie Macken, came 3rd. in show-jumping at the Royal Dublin Horse Show in Dublin riding Woodpecker 11. Fr Con Holly CSSP celebrated the Silver Jubilee of his ordination to the priesthood.

Sr Eily Kiely who had spent 5 years in South Korea was appointed Superior at St Columban’s Clinic there. Fr Arthur Moynihan was Parish Priest of Tarbert.

Sgt Sean Liddy was in charge of Tarbert Garda Station assisted by Garda Frank Gallagher and Garda Pat Coneely, all residing in Garda living quarters in Tarbert.

Tarbert National School provided primary school education for the boys and girls of the Tarbert, Tarmons and Reenturk catchment areas with the latter two smaller schools having closed in previous years. Jane Agnes McKenna was Principal of St Ita’s College, Tarbert and along with her three teaching colleagues provided second level education for boys and girls drawn mainly from the Tarbert, Ballylongford and Asdee catchment areas.

In the local elections to the Listowel Electoral Area, John Purtill, Reenturk failed to be elected for Fine Gael. Tarbert U/14 and U/16 teams both won the North Kerry Championship. Former Kerry Minor Fr Tommy O’Hanlon played his last game for Tarbert when he lined out against Legion, Killarney, scoring 2 goals and 2 points. Later in the year he departed for the Columban Fathers Mission in the Philippines. He had been ordained in St Mary’s Church, Tarbert the year before in 1969.

This Window on the Past is part courtesy of the late Finbar Carrig and is dedicated to the memory of the late Fr Tommy O’Hanlon (Tanvir-shining light) who died suddenly in Lahore, Pakistan on 6 June 2010 aged 65 years. Solas na bhFlaitheas dá anamacha uasal dilis. life. As it was considered too dangerous in those troubled times to take his remains to his native place for burial, Templeglantine Graveyard was chosen as his final resting place where now an imposing celtic cross stands over his grave.

The burial took place at midnight on May 29, 1920 and members of the Templeglantine company of the Volunteers, along with others, were involved in arrangements for the burial. Information was collected in the 1970-80s from local surviving volunteers who were present at the burial on the night and their recollections were published in the local journal, Glór Inse

Bán 1994.

CÚRSAÍ EAGLAISE

Weekend mass for the three parishes was celebrated in Tournafulla Church on Saturday evening last and was relayed live via Facebook with the recording available later on the three parishes website. Among those remembered in the mass was Willie Scanlan, Lott’s Road, Inse Bhán and Margaret O’Sullivan, Coolanoran.

The following is part of the message from the Pastoral Councils read at the end of mass on the previous weekend. “We fully appreciate how difficult it has been for many whose jobs and businesses are effectively locked down. Likewise, our parish churches are experiencing the same financial loss as are many charities.

The Trócaire Lenten offering was not possible to collect this Easter time. As many of our parishioners have made requests and inquiries regarding these contributions, the Limerick diocese have nominated May the 30-31 for the return of all contributions including your contribution to church upkeep, the Easter Dues for the support of the clergy, and the Trócaire contributions.

Your support at this most difficulty time will be greatly valued and appreciated. Members of the finance committee will be present at the churches on that weekend.

Templeglantine Finance will be in attendance at the church on Saturday next from 7pm to 8pm and on Sunday from 11am to 12 noon, to accept donations.

WELCOME SOUND

The sound of the cuckoo is to be heard daily in some parts of the parish but especially in Inse Bhán where one seems to have taken up residence. Another bird, which in the past was also associated with this time of year, was the corncrake, but the distinctive sound of the corncrake hasn’t been heard in this locality for more than thirty years.

FIRE WARNING

Warnings have been given of late regarding the danger of forest fires during dry spells. There is now a considerable amount of forestry plantations in the parish and it is vital that these are not put in danger. Last year a hill fire in the northern side of the parish posed a great threat to a nearby plantation but thankfully it was brought under control before much damage was done. It is illegal to burn any vegetation growing on any land from March 1 to August 31.