Legion Newsletter – Autumn 2006 

“Today I saw a poster –

Saying ‘Anyone can catch the ‘flu’,

So – the thought flashed through my mind

‘I must catch up with you’!!!

Hope you all enjoyed the Summer

So nice – that some could call

Here – we come with news of all at home

As we welcome in the Fall.

We really are behind the time –

Bordering on a state psychotic

Resulting from huge doses

of a strong antee – biotic” –

Forgive “licence” with spelling – necessary for rhythm right here!!!

 

Just as I was about to start off your newsletter I found myself in hospital in Mallow – bitten on both legs by a visiting foreign mosquito – nine bites in all – resulting in cellulitis (and you probably thought there were “no flies” on me) turned out nasty – but, thank God am now back in action and ready to join you on our usual – 

Trip Around Town:  Well, if you approach from Moses Bridge end we know exactly the distance to town, as a newly erected signpost there tells us it is 0.5 Km. to Kanturk and right in front of the library (formerly Burke’s, Main Street) we have four other new signposts pointing us to the Church, the Courthouse, Kiskeam, Boherbue, Newmarket, Abbeyfeale and Mallow, Cork, rest a moment – look straight down Strand Street and on your right, - lower end - you come to “Living Quarters” – (section of John Linehan’s – Auctioneers – seen in a previous issue – former home of the late Maureen Murphy) – proprietress Miss Patricia O’Sullivan from neighbouring Cullen.  “Living Quarters” specialises in timber floors, marble sinks and household accessories –Email livingquarters10@yahoo.ie  Many of us connect the term “yahoo” with a derogatory term for an insufferable human being – I believe it originated in “Gulliver’s Travels” – well to return to our travels – a little bit up the street, same side (formerly Manley’s – many years ago, The Stand Hall) – we come to a vacancy, as William O’Brien has transferred his business “Kanturk Motor Spares” – to Greenane (the walk will help reduce “spare tyres”!!) to Tim Browne’s Garage.  Almost forgot – slight detour – reverse to “Temperence Hall”, newly refurbished by members of Kanturk Community Council and made available to local groups for their meetings and activities – looking splendid inside and wearing its “external” age well – as the plaque on the wall says “Kanturk Traders’ Union” 1881.  As Napoleon said “an army marches on its stomach” – so – here goes over the Bridge to O’Brien Street, “Philpott’s Corner”, to meet Patricia Moylan (née Kenny, Newmarket Road; daughter of Jerry and the recently deceased Joan (née Hannon) – Patricia and her husband Brendan (son of Neilie and the late Joyce, Banteer Road) are joint proprietors of “The Daily Grind” carrying an extensive menu of ‘Take Away’ – on the go goodies – soup, sandwiches – a variety of breads, smoothies, beverages and a specialized coffee menu, using “Fair Trade” coffees – So, now that you have news “from the horse’s mouth”, you might as well dine “on the hoof” as well!! as there is a loyalty card for regular customers for tea, coffee and sandwiches.  Now, if you have “walked the buckles off our shoes” the answer is “in the bag”!!  Magnificent, stylish up to date “NISIO” supplying shoes, bags, scarves, jewellery, accessories of all kinds cheering up the top end of  O’Brien Street (formerly Denny Winters – Bookie’s Shop – ( in a previous life the residence of the late Miah O’Mahony and family) and run by charming young proprietress Niamh Barrett, daughter of Billy & Joan who live next door now.  For several generations Barrett’s Bar, O’Brien Street has been a family business – and, as we go to press “Bob’s Bar” in Percival Street is about to re-open after massive re-furbishment (we told you about this in last issue).  Across the road, in Percival Street opposite Bob’s (one time P.D.’s – grandfather of the present proprietor Dan Dennehy) we have a new B&B, run by Margaret Cotter (wife of Gerard, Newmarket Road, and formerly of Main Street-).  This is “The Welcome” B&B, - so with all those developments in town – we suggest that generally for Kanturk “B&B” translates as “Better and Better” – and, our Church, - your Church – refurbishment is progressing favourably thank God.  Looking upwards one can see much work done on the ceiling – dry lining – timbers stripped to original and varnished, tiling restored and extended to look like original – white stone with gold lettering on Dean O’Regan’s tomb (pp at the time of the opening of Church in 1867) once again visible as all old carpet has been removed – hopefully this weekend some of the scaffolding will be removed, reducing the exorbitant cost of renting it, Canon Terry expresses appreciation of the donations sent by some of you, our newsletter friends to help with the cost of the work.  He says now – “there is light at the end of the tunnel” – I’d say what we really need now is a “crock of gold at the end of the rainbow”!!1  A very interesting piece of history was given to me by Mary McKinley (née Herhily of Bluepool) her grandfather – his brother and his cousin Paddy Baker (of Main Street) and Justin McCarthy – on their return from working in the South African Diamond mines, made a gift of the main altar to their parish church.  Still in Church Street, and showing how “multi national” we have become, we have an “Eastern European Shop” – called “UPÉ” and run by a lovely Lithuanian lady providing food from their own countries for our very wonderful new friends from Eastern Europe.  Every week now the Irish Catholic newspaper publishes a “Polish Page” which we have photocopied and Legionaries deliver it to Polish families, who are in the majority here.  Getting across in Town; - Kanturk Access Group – Chairperson – Ben McAuliffe, St. Theresa’s Place promotes improved access to buildings, facilities and services for all – The “special crossings” that resulted in their efforts were not legally recognized – but, Minister for State, Mr. Batt O’Keeffe, dealing with such matters has stated that we will have 3 legally recognized access crossings with flashing lights before the end of this year – one each in Strand Street, O’Brien Street and Main Street.  We pray that we shall ‘see the light’ perhaps the relevant Government Department may give us a “Budget Conscious” solution at Christmas time getting little members of Rudolf the Red nosed Reindeer’s family to preside at each crossing and lead us across!  We’ll let you know; - and when in town you may avail of a Golden opportunity (mentioned briefly in previous issue), Dutchman Arie Spier, Goldsmith/Designer/Jeweller, Main Street) you’ll find a wonderful selection of gold, diamond, silver and costume jewellery on the first floor over Charisma Boutique (one time Bourke’s Furniture store run by Johnny O’Keeffe, Coolekereen, (before that Bourke’s Meal & Flour shop in the days when Bourkes’ owned the flour mill in Newmarket Road – one time a Famine Hospital).  Arie and his wife Erna from Amsterdam came to Ireland – loved it – and settled in Lyre, Banteer, quite close to Bould Thady Quill Country.  His expertise in the Jewellery business rivals Bould Thady’s sporting prowess - one might say –

 “For gilding, for golding  - repairing and “cloning”

For cleaning till gleaming your chains or your rings,

Just bring then to Arie – quick service – won’t tarry –

Returning their brilliance to all precious things” –

Incidentally – free cleaning and polishing – a voluntary donation for charity – and, NO, I’m  NOT A BENEFICIARY”!!! 

A Moving Experience:  Well, this is exactly what you will experience if your exceed the permitted parking time in town, being “moved on” with a warning from our newly appointed Traffic Warden – Mary Healy from Kilcorney.   Try, breaking the regulations again – but beware of the consequences!! 

The Gold Rush:  Well, very much Gold – and yes a bit of a “rush” too as two generations of Donovans made the journey from Australia, for the Golden Wedding Anniversary of P.J. & Sheila Donovan, Newmarket Road, (P.J. from Rosary Lodge, Kilroe and Sheila from Boherbue- married in London 50 years ago – now – that wasn’t all, as bigger brother Fr. Richie came from Colwyn Bay, Wales, to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of his ordination.  Now, “The Golden Boy of the O.M.I.” – so, we had a huge Donovan invasion for the celebration.  Fr. Richie was the chief concelebrant at this “Jubilee Mass” and the homily was preached by Fr. Padraig, a Columban father – son of the late Tom Donovan – you can all thank Fr. Rich for producing and printing our “Newsletter Selection” published in 2003 for the 70^th anniversary of the foundation of the Legion in Kanturk – of which every member of the Donovan family of Rosary Lodge was a member. 

Marriage:  We wish many happy years of marriage to Jennifer Lynn Finnegan – Florida – and John Brendan Cunningham of St. Theresa’s Place, Kanturk, son of Timmy and Hannah – married in New York.  Michael Breen, Mountain View – son of Sheila and the late Mickie and Nora Conlon – from Horsemount, Kilcorney.  Derval Fitzpatrick – Curragh, daughter of Una and Derry and Eddie Vaughan, Gortmore, Banteer. Rita – daughter of  Marie and Eugene Winters, Coolacussane and Alan Callan of Donoughmore.   And then there was the groom (I hasten to add – not a Kanturkman) who, just before the wedding reception said to his bride – “I’m so sorry darling, that you don’t like my Best man”!!  The Bride says “I’ve seen a lot of terrible ones but – this one TAKES THE CAKE”!! – Really – “aren’t you exaggerating dear”? – Bride, “not at all – I sent the police after him TO GET THE CAKE BACK”!!  Lucky he wasn’t in the habit of “taking the flour” first – or, there may not have been on opening Bridal Waltz at that reception!!  - and, then, there was the story of the couple whose romance did not end in marriage – as the plumber, who wanted to finish with his girlfriend declared “It’s all OVER, FLO”!! – sure, maybe that was “in the pipeline for some time!!! 

Climb Every Mountain:  The Wandering Rebels, Cathal Cronin (Butcher) Strand Street, Gerard Burns, Ardrahan and Dave Angland, Dromagh, did just this but not quite to “The Sound of Music”, but, to a mixture of sunshine, the sound of the wind and rain – they climbed 4 Peaks – the highest in each of the 4 Provinces – in 3 days – and by sponsorship raised €15,000 for the charity “Focus Ireland” to help provide homes for the homeless.

Planning Ahead:  The Sue Ryder Foundation has received planning permission for a Sheltered Housing Development, consisting of 40 x 1 bedroomed apartments, 12 x 2 bedroomed apartments on the Newmarket Road, included in the plans are a fully serviced complex with communal facilities all contained within 2 x 4 storey blocks and 1 x 3 storey block, ideally situated close to the town park, church, medical centre and shops.  Sue Ryder care describes itself as a “registered charity that provides accommodation for and support for older people who are unable to live independently in the community”. 

Deaths:  Please pray for the repose of the souls of the following friends.  Maggie May O’Connor, New York – (née O’Sullivan – daughter of Jerh & Mrs. Jerh) – pub Strand Street and wife of Donal (Pierce) O’Connor, Watergate Street).  Mary McSweeney – Lismealcunnin; John O’Riordan,  Kilbrin, (uncle of Denis, Percival Street);  Marie Kiely, Lismire – daughter of Richard and Nancy (née Daly, Rathranna);  John McCarthy, Lismire;  Jimmy Corbett, Greenfield – husband of Kitty (née Murphy, Greenfield).  (Incidentally, Kitty has asked us to express thanks to all of you who wrote to her when Jimmy died).  Kitty Cashman, Hospital Hill (retired nurse from Kanturk Hospital);  Maurice Murphy, Upper Bluepool (retired from Kilbrin area);  Paddy Bowles, Murphy’s Tec; Mill Road, (husband of the late Mary – née Flynn, Bluepool);  Eddie Thornton, Buttevant, late of Paal – brother of Nora(Thornton) O’Reilly, O’Brien Street;  Catherine Daly, Newmarket, sister of Joan Barrett, O’Brien Street; Con O’Keeffe – Glanmire – late of Strand Street.  May They Rest In Peace. 

Our Edel:  On Sunday, September 17^th we had the Commemoration of the 99^th anniversary of the birth of Venerable Edel Quinn (born in Kanturk, September 14^th 1907) with rosary and prayers at the Venerable Edel Quinn statue in Edel Quinn Place – and slides and a talk on her life by our new Curate and Legion Spiritual Director, Fr. Eamonn McCarthy.  Afterwards all enjoyed chat, tea and biscuits – all this across the road from the Shrine in the G.A.A. Club rooms.  Look out, please God, for centenary celebrations in 2007.  Should you require more prayer leaflets for family or friends, we’d be delighted to send them to you on request. 

Are You Game!  William Heffernan, Kilbrin – a student of Scoil Mhuire, Mercy Secondary School, selected to play on the Munster u18 schools’ Soccer Team; Anthony Nash son of Garda Tom Nash, Kanturk Station- won an All-Ireland medal with Cork Intermediate hurlers, was chosen for the senior team – but alas, Kilkenny reigns supreme.  And sisters Sinead & Deirdre O’Reilly, Lismire and Geraldine O’Flynn, Banteer – past pupils of Scoil Mhuire who mad an enormous contribution to the Cork Ladies football team’s All-Ireland victory.  Congratulations to all and to the hard working fundraisers of Kanturk Soccer club – Catherine Hussey, St. Oliver’s Place, won the €5,400 jackpot recently – another winner at bingo in the Edel Quinn hall recently – Mary (Kenneally) Corbett, Pulleen won the €5000 jackpot.                                               

Credit Union Bursaries:  Recently Joan Lucey & Peggy Lucey-Ring, presented third level “Michéal Ó Luasa” bursaries” – in memory of the late Michael Lucey, O’Brien Street, a founder and life long serving member of Kanturk Credit Union, to the first beneficiaries of the Bursaries, Timothy Collins of Nadd, Banteer, and Helena O’Riordan, Castleview, Kanturk. 

That’s all for now – remember – “you can’t change the past, but you can change the future” according to a famous philosopher – but, if you CHANGE your address, please notify us. 

God Bless you all. 

 Sarah (Sheehan) O'Connor

_______________________

For The Legion of Mary