Liskennett Forest Car-Park: Lookin' Good.

LISKENNETT CAR-PARK: Progress is being made at the new car park but there is still more to be done, not to mention the paperwork ! Sheridan Cedar Landscapes, Castleisland were the Coillte approved contractors for the project and have done a fabulous job on the site. A solar-powered barrier is in the process of being installed, signs will be going up and the pathway will be stoned. Another item from the 5-Year-Plan can be ticked off, thanks to the hard-working committee.

CLEAN-UP: On this Thursday 23rd, 7.30pm - 9pm: Volunteers needed for a general clean-up, weeding & planting around the Church, School & Hall. Plenty of hoeing to be done, so bring your implements. It would be great to have a few people, who are interested in flowers, to look after the containers..

AN ORGANIC DAY OUT: On Sunday May 26th, the Organic college in Drumcollogher are inviting you to a celebration of Gardening and Food. There will be gardening talks, demos, An Meitheal member stalls with organic veg, plants, jams & preserves. They will also give tours of their gardens. All Welcome, 2pm-5pm.

DISTRICT FORUM: Tuesday 28th May at 7.30pm: The next Ballyhoura Development Golden Vale District Forum takes place at Newtownshandrum Community Hall, (Eircode: P56 D522). Ideal for those new to making applications or those looking to brush up on their skills, this event will also have a round up of current grants and funds available for your projects and expected future rounds. The workshop on "Crafting Successful Grant Applications for Community Projects" will bedelivered by Tom O'Leary of O'Leary and Associates. With an interactive approach, Tom will explore with you the best approaches to use when seeking funding for your project, the resources to draw on and how to best express the need for your project to match funder requirements. Members from all groups in the Golden Vale district are welcome to attend, they include - Ballyagran/Castletown, Ballyhea, Banogue, Bruff, Grange, Meanus, Bruree, Colmanswell, Croom, Dromin, Athlacca, Effin, Granagh, Herbertstown, Kilmallock, Knockainey, Lough Gur and Manister. CONGRATULATIONS: Huge congratulations to Rebecca Noonan who was awarded the ' Div 3 Player of The League ' at the Camogie Association Awards in Dublin on 10th May. Rebecca has devoted her time and energy to Limerick Camogie as you can see from her many achievements. Club Honours: - U14 League 2009 & 2011, U16 League 2012, Senior League 2013, Senior County 2013, 2014 & 2015. County Honours: - U14 Rose Malone Blitz 2009, U15 Inter County blitz Dublin 2010, Junior League 2014, Junior A All Ireland 2014. An Oskar for the Mustard Seed: Congrats to John Edward on being awarded the 'Best Restaurant Manager in Munster’ at the Food Oscars hosted by the Restaurant Association of Ireland, in Dublin last week.

LIMERICK SINGS: The 7th annual Limerick Sings International Choral Festival takes place from Thursday 6th to Sunday 9th June with choristers from the US joining local and national choirs for a weekend of song throughout Limerick City and County. On Saturday 8th June, at 4pm in the Holy Trinity Abbey, Adare, the Festival Proms concert is happening, Tickets €10.

BIRTHDAY WISHES: Congrats and Best wishes to all those celebrating birthdays recently. Paul O'Brien celebrated his 30th at the weekend. Some more I heard of - Vera Sheehan, Kay Chawke, Darren O'Hanlon, Mike Hourigan and Amy Dore. Hope you all enjoyed your day.

HOW TO HELP SAVE THE PLANET: YOU can have a big impact on moving us all toward a greener future, by the individual choices you make each day. These are some of the easiest and most effective ways, in three key areas, to reduce our carbon footprint and help improve our quality of life. Transport: For us in rural areas a car is a necessity, but when you intend to buy your next car, make sure it’s fuel efficient and low polluting. Energy: Reduce your home heating and electricity use. A more energy-efficient home will lower your utility bills and reduce the emissions that cause climate change. Choose energy-efficient appliances. New refrigerators, for example, use 40 per cent less energy than models made just ten years ago. Change to energy-efficient light bulbs. Unplug computers, TVs and other electronics when you’re not using them. Wash clothes in warm (not hot) water. Improve home insulation. Dryers are energy hogs, so hang dry when you can. Think about installing Solar Panels for your hot water needs. Food: There are so many humans on the planet, simply feeding ourselves has led to all kinds of environmental havoc — air and water pollution, loss of soil and reduced biodiversity. It’s time to clean up our act. We can have a huge effect on climate change by simply changing a few of our food habits. Here’s how. Eat wisely and don't waste food. Choose foods that are local, organic and low on the food chain whenever possible. Make the most of seasonal foods. Buy sustainable seafood. Take care of your trash. Composting all organic waste — and recycling paper, cardboard, cans and bottles — will help reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with landfills.

DIARY: Mon 20th - 26th May: Limerick's African Community celebrate their rich culture and heritage. Fri 24th: 'Where the Willow meets the Ash', comedy in F. Gate, 8pm. Sat 25th: Cottage Market, Kilmallock, 11am. Sun 26th: Vintage/New Tractor Run, Buttercup Farm, 12pm. Tue 28th: Yoga Class in Community Centre at 7.30pm.