DAFFODIL DAY:

CHURCH NEWS:

Last Sunday, we remembered the the anniversary of Rhona Kiely. I measc na naofa go mbeidh sí I gcónaí.

Mass Requests can be taken in the Church every Thursday, Friday and Sunday, after Mass. Mass Cards/Bouquets are also available after any of the Masses.

Fourth Sunday of Lent: Happy Mother’s Day from Trócaire. We wish all mothers throughout the world well on this day. Women, and in particular mothers, often bear the huge burden of the impact of the climate crisis. On this Mother’s Day as we celebrate and give thanks for all mothers, we think especially of Ilma and her family in Guatemala, who are on the Trócaire box this year. Ilma loves her children dearly and wants her children to have a good life, a better life than she has had. The lack of stability in their lives due to climate change worries her desperately, including her fear, for their very lives during hurricanes and floods. May we be a “voice for the voiceless” and urge our political leaders to take the urgent action that is necessary to bring about a more sustainable world for all. Your Trocaire box donations are vital to help families like these.

GIVE BLOOD: Wed 26th & Thur 27th, Colaiste Iosaef Kilmallock. 17:50 - 21:10. For an appointment, please call 1800 222 111.

DAFFODIL DAY:

This Friday 28th Mar: 1- 4pm at the Hall. The most important day for the Irish Cancer Society. Drop in for a cuppa & a chat. Mary Morrissey will have all the usual products on sale - Towels, Trolley Keyrings, Reusable Cups, Card Sets, Pens, etc. Raffle also on the day.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE HALL:

Wed 26th Mar: 1- 3pm: Second week, Smartphone Technology Course. To book 087-0030313.

Wed 26th Mar: 10am: Ladies Club. Join us for a cuppa & chat with Rosemarie from 'Sonas' Health Store. €5.

Wed 26th Mar: 7.30-8.30: Nidra Yoga with Eileen. No experience necessary, bring a mat & blanket.

Fri 28th Mar: 1- 4pm: Daffodil Day in aid of the Irish Cancer Society.

Fri 28th Mar: 8pm. Table Quiz in aid of Tidy Towns at The Rock Bar.

Thur 3rd Apr: Chair Fitness at 11am. Five wk programme, to book in 087-2768730.

Wed 9th Apr: Cookery Demo with Wade Murphy, Cheese & Wine plus Raffle from 7.30pm.

Sun 13th Apr: 3pm-5.30pm: Social Dancing is back with music by Steve Connery. €10pp including refreshments

Sat 26th Apr: 6pm. Family Movie Night. €5 per child incl popcorn/drink. €5 per Adult incl tea/coffee.

GRANAGH UTD:

Fri 16th May: Golf Classic - Major fundraiser for the Club to help carry out much-needed renovations to the clubhouse. €200 per team of three and €100 per tee box. Along with a Fantastic Raffle. More details to follow. Plenty time to sort out your 'waggle'.

CUCKOO TRACKING:

Heard a discussion on this subject during the week, most interesting. Cuckoos are well-known birds, but their distinctive song can be confused with several other species. Despite their popularity, Cuckoos are rarely seen and, when they are, can easily be mistaken for a bird of prey. The Cuckoo is a summer visitor to our shores, the males arriving in late April and leaving again as early as the first week of June. Their diet here consists of hairy caterpillars..!!

Cuckoo numbers are in decline, so since 2011, BTO researchers have been fitting tracking devices to Cuckoos breeding in Britain and Ireland. Ireland’s National Parks & Wildlife Service have tagged three Cuckoos breeding in Killarney National Park - named Torc, Cores & KP. You can see the routes they take to eventually arrive in Africa.

Torc, for example, flew to Croatia, Greece, Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina, Czech Republic & Germany, stocking up on food. He finally headed south, crossed the Mediterranean to Algeria and then flew 1,595 miles directly to southern Niger. What a journey... More info on www.bto.org

DID YOU KNOW:

23 Mar,1847:- An extraordinary act of generosity. Despite living in dire conditions themselves, the leaders of the Choctaw Nation in Oklahoma gathered $170 (equivalent to €4,000 today) after learning about the Irish suffering during the Famine, a gesture of solidarity from a community that had also endured suffering and death.

24 Mar,1958: - Elvis Presley joined the U.S. Army.

25 Mar, 2001: - Ballymun, is transformed into the Bogside for the filming of 'Bloody Sunday'.

26 Mar,1999: - John Hume reveals that he intends to donate all of his Nobel Peace Prize money, £280,000, to charity and victims of violence in Northern Ireland.

27 Mar,1839: - Birth in Glenavy, Co. Antrim, of John Ballance, Prime Minister of New Zealand.

28 Mar,1964: - First pirate radio station near England (Radio Caroline).