THE BOOK IS OUT !!!

CUAN MHUIRE - MARKET:

Thursday 22nd, the Farmer's market will be held from 10.30am - 12.30pm, at the Garden Centre, Bruree. Shop local and get lovely homecrafted Christmas gifts. You just might meet Marian Kelly, Kilmore who runs her own stand of mixed gifts for the Alzheimer's Society.

VINCENT dePAUL COLLECTION:

Saturday 24th at 7.00pm Mass: Granagh Church gate collection for the local branch of St. Vincent dePaul. Each year the local conference helps and supports people in the community. The support provided is very basic and includes help with food, heating and education costs. To continue to help those who need it most, they must raise €3,000 every year. They would be extremely grateful if they could rely on your generous support again this year. Remember - give a little, it helps a lot....

If you miss them this weekend, they will also be collecting at O'Grady's Spar, on Friday 30th Nov.

CEMETERY ROSARIES: On the Sundays of November, the Rosary is prayed at our cemeteries for our dearlydeparted. Everyone is welcome to join ; Shanbhotha at 3.00pm and Granagh at 3.30pm.

TROCAIRE GIFTS:

Christmas gifts of Love to help make this world a better place.??? These gifts keep on giving for years..you are helping improve lives so that people can escape poverty and look forward to a better future. A gift of €5 will provide Soap to a family in Sudan, for six months. €8 - a gift of a Chick will provide nutritious eggs for the home and extra for sale. €15 - A Solar Lamp, a safe replacement for the kerosene lamp which will give families light for six hours nightly. €15 - will also supply a struggling family with Seeds and Tools. €20 - will give four children a hot lunch every school day for a month, in Somalia. €30 - A school Kit, which will help send a child to school, pay fees, teacher salaries, books and pencils. €50 - A goat who will provide nutritious milk and baby goats. €50 - can also be given as a gift to Grandparents who have to take in orphaned children as a result of illness, accident or war. Please buy one this Christmas !!!! You can send a cheque to Trocaire, Freepost NS244, Maynooth, Co. Kildare or call 1850 408 408 or do it online at www.trocaire.org/gifts

GRANAGH PLAYERS:

The ladies and gents of Granagh Players have been homeless for the past few weeks as the Hall is still drying out. They have been moving between the Parochial House and Granagh Pebbles, for their rehearsals. This year, our producer, Jimmy Sheehy has chosen ' The Informer' by Tom Murphy, adapted from a book written by Liam O'Flaherty(1896-1984). The action takes place in Dublin in the early 1920s after the Irish Free State came into being. A bit of background on the writer.

Liam O'Flaherty was born on the Aran Islands, a native Irish-speaker, although he wrote almost exclusively in English, except for a small number of short stories in Irish.

O'Flaherty was an uncle of GAA commentator and writer, Breandán Ó hEithir. At the age of twelve, he moved to Tipperary to attend Rockwell College. Six years later, in 1914, he moved to Dublin to attend UCD and Clonliffe College. He intended to enter the priesthood but in 1917 he joined the British Army as a member of the Irish Guards, under the name 'Bill Ganly', serving on the Western Front. He was badly injured in September '17 during the Battle of Langemarck, in Flanders. It is speculated that the shell shock suffered was responsible for the mental illness which became apparent in 1933. After being discharged he went travelling to Canada and New York, where he joined the Communist Party. He returned from the front a socialist and having become interested in communistic beliefs in his 20s, he became a founder member of the Communist Party of Ireland in 1922.

He performed a number of odd jobs before writing his first novel in1923. He wrote fourteen novels, a number of short stories, and countless other works and received the Irish Academy of Letters Award for Literature. The Informer was first published in 1925.

The novel was made into a film firstly in 1929, directed by Arthur Robinson. In 1935, the well-known director John Ford, a cousin, also made a film of The Informer, starring Victor McLaglen, which won four Oscars. In 1970s, 'The Molly Maguires', a historical drama was released in the US, starring Sean Connery & Richard Harris and in a smaller role, Malachy McCourt as the bartender. There are similarities in the stories and is loosely based on the play theme, as Harris joins the Mollies and becomes an informer eventually turning in his comrades.

Tom Murphy, who adapted the play, only passed away in May this year. He had an intimate understanding of Irish identity, tackling themes of religion, emigration and redemption. Some of the plays he wrote include - 'On the Outside/On the Inside', ' A Whistle in the Dark', ' The Gigli Concert', 'Bailegangaire' and many more.

He adapted 'The Informer' for the stage in the Dublin Theatre Festival, 1981, with Liam Neeson as Gypo Nolan. The only word from the camp so far is that Johnny Hanley's bed is required again this year...!!!!!

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS:

And we think putting up our tree lights is hassle ??? There has been a lot of hard work going on for the past few weeks to get houses decorated for several Charitable causes. The big switch-on for Tony Noonan's Christmas Lights is Saturday 24th from 4pm. Then we have Caoimhe's Christmas Lights, the big switch-on will take place on Saturday 1st at 6pm.

Finally, Coolruss Christmas Lights will shine out on Sunday 2nd Dec at 5.30pm. Santa is going to visit Coolruss, so bring your camera, your letters to Santa and email address. As always *Admission is free*, however, money collected goes to charity.

REMEMBERING OUR DECEASED:

For the month of November, we remember our family, friends and neighbours, whose mortuary cards are displayed on the Church noticeboard:- Sean O'Brien, Ballyguile. Dan Monckton & John Toomey, Kilatal. Thomas O'Connor, Knockfierna. Michael Sheehan, Ballinleena. Seamus Biggane & Patrick Fitzgibbon, Kilmore. Margaret O'Brien & Mary O'Gorman, Granagh. Canon Liam Houlihan, Salford. Catherine O'Brien, Doorluss. Alma O'Leary, Castletown. Thomas McCann, Kilfinny. Michael F. Sheehan, England. Rev Eddie O'Dwyer, Pallasgrean. Patrick O'Grady, Ballingarry. Mary T. Healy, Dublin. Michael Storan, Croom. Maureen Murphy, Templeglantine. Thomas Neville, Croagh.

ST. JOSEPHs' : Golden Jubilee Raffle. St. Joseph's Foundation, Charleville have launched their Jubilee raffle to assist with the provision of respite care. Thanks to their very generous sponsors, they have the following fabulous prizes up for grabs at only €5 per ticket. 1st Prize - €3,000 Holiday Voucher with €2,000 spending money or €5,000 cash. 2nd Prize - 2 nights B&B, plus evening meal and €250 spending money at Killarney Plaza Hotel. 3rd Prize - €500. 4th Prize - €500. 5th Prize - 3 months membership of Thrive Fitness, Charleville.

GREYBRIDGE & THE QUEENS:

Greybridge Classic Club held their table quiz last weekend and they took that opportunity to celebrate the crowning of Louise Crowley ( secretary of the Club) as Macra Queen of the Land. A large crowd gathered at Dempsey's Bar for her arrival with outside lighting provided by Diez and John Deere. She received flowers and presentations from both the Club and the Macra.

In the 54 year history of Macra Queen of the Land there has been only one other Limerick winner - Chris Clifford in 1990. As it happens Chris is now living nearby and she was present on the night also. A unique occasion surely, as Louise said, she wasn't even born when Chris won.!!

Louise was chosen from thirty Queens representing counties and regions from all over the country and further afield in the contest, selected for their personalities, agricultural connections and community involvement.

She had won 'Best Emerging Female Farmer' at FBD young Farmer of the Year Awards in September, she just graduated in November from CIT with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and is now secretary of Crecora Manister Croom branch of Macra na Feirme, as well as being a full-time farmer.!!!!

Greybridge Classic Club are to be applauded for all the fundraising they have carried out over the past ten years, the figure raised has now reached €140,000. There is a lot of organising, outings and collecting in that amount of money, only for people such as these, the charities in this country would be very much worse off.

Louise, in turn, officially presented cheques, on behalf of the Club, to the Motor Neuron Association, Cliona's Foundation and the Manister Ladies Club.

HISTORICAL SOCIETY:

Friday 23rd November. at 8.30 pm. Rathkeale & District Historical Society will hold their next meeting in the Community Arts Centre New Line. Topic: DUNRAVEN ESTATE: Speaker: Lady Geraldine, Countess of Dunraven. All are welcome. Admission Free.

CONGRATULATIONS:

Sending our best wishes and congratulations to Mary & Donagh Noonan, Kilmore who celebrated their 30th Wedding Anniversary on Saturday 17th, by renewing their vows. There were celebrations in The Rock afterwards and to round off a perfect day, Ireland beat the All Blacks.!

DRAMA IN MANISTER:

Manister Drama group are presenting hillarious drama comedy "Nobody's Talking to Me" by Tommy Marron on Saturday 1st December and Sunday 2nd December at 8pm in Manister Hall. Tickets available at the door. Great fun entertainment and raffle on the night.

DIARY:

Wed 21st Nov: Give Blood, Scoil Dean Cussen, Bruff, 5-8pm.

Thur 22nd: Coffee for Milford Hospice,Springfield Castle. 10am-12.

Fri 23rd: Rathkeale Arts Centre- Talk on Dunraven Estate by Lady Geraldine at 830pm.

Sun 25th: 'Funny Business', Knockaderry Drama Group. 8pm.

Wed 28th - Sat 1st: Cecilian Musical Soc - ' The Producers'.

Sat 1st & 2nd Dec: 'Nobody's Talkin to Me' - Manister Drama.

Wed 5th & 6th: 'Before' by Pat Kinevane at The Belltable.

Sun 2nd Dec: Bruree Christmas Fair, 12pm - 4pm.