Lorrha Notes

                                                     HAPPY EASTER TO ALL OUR READERS

Late Mai Hough.

The death occurred on Saturday March 17th of Mai Hough Annagh Birr.
Born in 1918 to Tom and Mary Ann Kennedy Mai was one of a family of seven girls who went to school in Redwood. She moved down the road on her marriage to William Hough in 1942 settling in Coolross Rathcabbin and raising a large family which has left a legacy of 28 grandchildren and 6 great –grandchildren. Like so many of her generation Mai worked hard throughout her long life both inside the home and outside on the farm facing many trials and challenges along the way. However together with the support of her husband and family her bright outlook and her love of life all obsticals were overcome and life continued. Mai was dealt a severe blow though when she was left without her husband at the young age of 61 but she proceeded to learn to drive. Her family being reared at this stage she had the independence to go visiting family and friends socialise enjoy music and play a game of cards. She remained independent up to the age of 90. Mai spent the last two years of her life at Eliza Lodge Nursing Home Banagher where she died peacefully surrounded by her family.
Sympathy is extended to her family sons Tom (Killeen) Kieran (Annagh) Desmond (Carrigahorig) daughters Colette King (Dundalk) Dympna Ryan (Doon) Ann O’Hara (Killimor) Mairead Ritchie (U.K) her sister grandchildren great grandchildren sons –in-law daughters-in-law nieces nephews relatives and friends on the great loss. After funeral Mass in Our Lady Queen of Ireland Church Rathcabbin on Tuesday March 20th burial took place in Bonoham Cemetery. Ar dheis De go raibh a ainm dilis.

Easter Church Ceremonies.

Holy Thursday: Mass of the Lord’s Supper will be celebrated in Rathcabbin Church at 8p.m. with Confessions at 7.30p.m.
Good Friday: A day of Fast and Abstinence. Celebration of the Passion of our Lord in Rathcabbin Church at 3p.m. Outdoor Stations of the Cross – weather permitting in Lorrha at 8p.m.
Holy Saturday: Easter Vigil in Lorrha Church at 8p.m. Confessions at 7.30p.m.

Choir Practice.

Choir practice for all members on Wednesday April 4th at 8.30p.m.in Rathcabbin Church. A good turn out is hoped for in preparation for Holy Week and Easter.

Booking for Eucharistic Congress

Due to the small number of people indicating interest in travelling to the Eucharist Congress on Thurs 14th June the Parish Pastoral Council has decided to invite those who are interested to register as a group to attend the Congress instead on Friday 15th June which will be Killaloe Diocesan day. Special transport arrangements will be in place for that day and we expect to be able to avail of them. Anyone interested should complete a form available at entrance to church and return it with 30 euro to Mary Coen by Easter Sunday. More forms available on request.
Enquiries to Mary:090-9747972 or 087-2601413

Energy Tip For The Week.

The energy tip for this week from the green school committee in Scoil Lua Naofa Lorrha is: Use a lagging jacket on your emersion heater. An 80mm jacket can cut heat loss by 75% and this will save energy. The hot water will stay hot longer and money can be saved on heating.

Tracing Carroll and Heenan Families.

Carol O’Connor is trying to trace her Carroll / Heenan relatives. Carol tells us she visited lovely Lorrha last year on a family history quest and is planning to come back again in June to continue the research into her Carroll / Heenan ancestors. She is looking for people she can talk to who might have some information about those families.
On 19-1-1837 John Carroll and Judith Heenan from Lackeen were married in the Catholic Church at Lorrha. Their children were baptised in the Catholic Parish at Lorrha as follows: 26-11-1837 William 10-3-1839 John 1-4-1843 Thomas 26-4-1846 Margaret 11-2-1849 Patrick 29-6-1857 James.
The two eldest William and John migrated to Australia. John is my great grandfather. Griffiths Valuation showed that in 1851 the family were living at Kilcarren. When the father John Carroll died in 1879 his son James was the informant and they were living at Lahinch. When Julia Carroll the mother died in 1884 at Lahinch Edward Reddan was the informant and householder. It was known that some of William and John’s siblings went to America. There are no records of Thomas Margaret Patrick and James marrying or having children in the area. It is likely that the 4 of them migrated to America. If anyone can provide additional informarion about this family Carol would love to talk to them when she get’s to Lorrha in June.
Her email address is carol.oconnor@bigpond.com

Two last Nights of ‘Steel Magnolias’

Portumna Players will stage Robert Harlings play Steel Magnolias for a further two nights Good Friday 6th & Easter Sunday 8th April. Curtain up at 8.30pm. The group has chosen the Galway Hospice as their preferred Charity for this production; a percentage of the door receipts will be given to them.

Course Reminder.

FAS / Offaly Local Development Company Training Courses: “Healthcare Support” (FETAC level 5) will commence in Birr May 2012 (6 month full-time) Applications to FAS Employment Services Tullamore telephone 057 9321921. Informal enquires to 057 9120000.

Local Bus.

A local bus will travel to Athlone on the first Friday of every month. The bus will depart from Portumna Sq.at 10.30a.m.and will stop en route. It will depart Athlone at 4.30pm. Travel pass accepted. Phone IRD at (090) 9741867 for further details.

Gun Club News.

Lorrha/Rathcabbin Gun Club held their poker classic in Mahers last Friday night. Thanks to all who supported the night and provided spot prizes and also to Cavanagh’s Foundry Birr for sponsorship. Also to Mark Mannion for running the Night. The winner was Sean McDermot 2nd Noel Gleeson 3rd James Heenan 4th John Horan5th Catherine Power 6th Bobby McLaughlin and 7th Eammon Slevin.

Fundraiser.

Lorrha and Dorrha Historical Society: Hear ye hear ye! A buffet style Medieval banquet (Medieval fancy dress optional) is to be held in Maher’s Shed on Friday 13th April at 9p.m. Try some of old style pig on a spit or roast venison A lot of fun games on the night with juggling person in stock arm wrestling and raffle. Also there will be a sword fighting display. Prizes for best dressed man and maiden on night . Dance the night away with some traditional music. Tickets available from Maher’s shop Colette’s hair dressing salon or contact James 0872031798. Proceeds in aid of Beire Breifne Walkway.

5 Day Weather Forecast.

Today Wednesday April 4th.

Cold bright and windy in places this afternoon. Many areas will be dry with sunny spells but there will be some well scattered rain or hail showers also these mainly in coastal areas of Connaught Ulster and Leinster. Top temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees.

Tonight

Very cold with clear spells tonight. Most places will be dry but there is still a danger of a few wintry showers in parts of the southeast. Lowest temperatures between +2 and -2 degrees with a widespread frost and some icy patches.

Tomorrow

Still quite cold and breezy tomorrow Thursday with highest temperatures 7 to 10 degrees. Many areas will be dry with sunny spells at first cloud will increase with some showery rain moving into northern areas later.

Outlook

Thursday night: Cloudy over Connacht and Ulster with patchy rain or drizzle and minima of 4 to 6 degrees; clear spells over Munster and Leinster with minima of +2 to -1 degrees and local frost/icy patches.

Good Friday: Mostly cloudy on Friday with scattered outbreaks of light rain or drizzle. Somewhat less cold but still rather cool; highest temperatures 10 to 12 degrees in moderate to fresh northwesterly winds. Cloudy and rather mild Friday night with patchy drizzle and lowest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees.

Holy Saturday: Some bright or sunny spells but many areas cloudy with some patchy drizzle about. Getting a little milder with highest temperatures 10 to 13 degrees in moderate to fresh northwesterly winds. A mild night with temperatures not falling below 6 or 7 degrees.

Easter Sunday: Slightly milder again with highs of 11 to 14 degrees. A blustery day with fresh westerly winds. There will be some bright or sunny spells in the morning then cloud is likely to thicken with persistent rain spreading southeastwards during the day.

Easter Monday: A possibility of cool wet weather but uncertain.
Easter week: Changeable weather conditions dominated by mobile Atlantic systems tracking close to or over Ireland feeding in mild but occasionally wet and windy weather.

Smile Awhile.

Two Irishmen were standing at the base of a flagpole looking up.

A blonde walks by and asked them what they were doing

Paddy replied ‘We’re supposed to be finding the height of this flagpole but we don’t have a ladder…’

The blonde took out an adjustable spanner from her bag loosened a few bolts and laid the flagpole down.

She got a tape measure out of her pocket took a few measurements and announced that it was 18 feet 6 inches.

Then she walked off.

Mick said to Paddy ‘Isn’t that just like a blonde!

We need the height and she gives us the bloody length!!