Lorrha Notes
Some of the huge amount of rubbish which has been dumped in Redwood Bog and which some locals have helped to clean up Pic: Rose Mannion
Rathcabbin Hall committee member Eamon O’Meara shows how far up the water damaged the presses in the kitchen of the hall when a water pipe burst recently destroying the unity and floor covering. Pic: Rose Mannion.
A Special Appeal.
Please help the Rathcabbin Hall committee from making a difficult choice about the future of the hall. They are making a special appeal for your support right now. The community hall requires vital repairs to the roof. If repairs are not made unfortunately the hall will have to close. Due to Covid restrictions no fundraising can be held at the moment, which means the members are looking for support from the community. No matter how small of a donation it will all help. You can donate on line on our gofundme.com page. You can also donate by cash/cheque (envelopes are available in church porch and from Kelly’s shop or from any Hall Committee members). The committee are asking the public to please get behind them on this issue as no one wants to see the hall closing permanently.
Crime Prevention Videos.
Gardaí are recording a series of online videos giving crime prevention and road safety help and advice to the public. The current Covid-19 lockdown restrictions mean that the community Gardai cannot hold their normal round of crime prevention public meetings or have crime prevention information stands at community meetings and events so their response to this is to produce the online videos.
The first video focusing on road safety advice for people walking and cycling on public roads and other road users. The second video will highlight the problem of unsolicited contacts where people receive cold calls or unwanted texts/emails asking them to click on a link to divulge personal information. The video addresses the upcoming roll-out of the Covid vaccines and gives advice on how to deal with suspicious callers/texts. It also offers practical advice for those who experience people calling to their homes offering cleaning and maintenance services.
Another video in the series will offer advice to people who are victims of domestic violence and provide information on how they can access information and help.
The final video will focus on burglary and theft crime prevention and will be brought out as the country moves towards the easing of the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions. This video will aim to highlight that with increased flexibility of movement, people should be aware criminals will also be on the move looking for opportunities to capitalise on people leaving their homes unattended. All videos can be viewed on the Tipperary Garda facebook page.
Helpline For Farmers.
Teagasc – The Agriculture and Food Development Authority has opened a dedicated helpline to assist farmers with queries in relation to Covid -19 matters. Farmers can call (076) 1113533 which is open from 9.30am to 5.00pm Monday through to Friday or go on their website www.teagasc.ie where there is loads of information on all matters farming. Teagasc is advising farmers to continue to use their advisor’soffice and mobile numbers to make contact as usual.
eLearning Courses.
Family Carets Ireland with support from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Dormant Accounts Fund which is administered by Pobal, has launched a suit of free eLearning courses providing information and guidance to those caring for loved ones at home and can be accessed through www.familycarers.ie The courses cover the key aspects of caring ie self care, coping with grief, nutrition and hydration, positive communication, and continence care. Eack key aspect includes an introduction and over view of the topic and allows family carers to work through the information at a time and pace that suits them. Further information is available by calling free phone 1800 24 07 24 or visit www.familycarers.ie
Enrolment.
Rathcabbin National School is now taking enrolments for the next school year. Contact Mr. DArcy at the school for information or have it sent out by text/ring 0864140102 or email principal@rathcabbinns.ie. Thank you.
The Vaccine Commences.
Over the next three weeks, all of the country’s over 85 year olds should be vaccinated against the Covid -19 virus. About 20,000 vaccines will be distributed to 84 GP practices across 20 counties this week while next week will include a further 384 practices and the last lot of practices will get their vaccine around the first week of March. Then it’s the time for the over 70 year olds and so on down the line until every citizen in the country is vaccinated against this deadly virus.
As we can all appreciate, this is going to take time but most of all this will mark an very important week in the fight back against the virus. With Level 5 restrictions still very much in sharp focus and no sign of a let up, we the public have to continue isolating and on guard as this virus is not gone anywhere but still very much at large. The rate of close contacts are going up again which means that the positivity rates remain high with about seven in every ten of the new cases identified as the UK variant of the virus which is proving to be much more aggressive. So there is a lot of uncertainty out there yet. Do continue to adhere to the public health guidelines and stay safe.
Copies Remaining.
If you haven’t purchased your copy of the 2021 Lorrha parish calendar, there is still time to get a copy. The calendar can be purchased in Lorrha village, Mulrooney’s at The Ferry, O’Meara’s Super Valu Portumna, Boathouse, Salmons, Heenan’s Borrisokane, Flynn’s of Carrigahorig, Buckley’s Super Valu, Birr.
Church News.
As level 5 restrictions continue, both Lorrha and Rathcabbin churches remain open for anyone wishing to pray privately. Weddings can have up to six guests and funerals can have ten people.
Masses are available online as follows:
Live at Borrisokane mass times- 7pm Saturday and 10:30am Sunday- and a recording from Fr Michael from Terryglass. Please check the following links: www.twitch.tv/borrisokaneparish. www.killaloediocese.ie/parish/borrisokane/. www.terryglass/kilbarron https://bit.ly/3bhnxfj
Weekdays Masses on Webcam 10am.Tues, Thurs, Fri. from Borrisokane.
Lenten Conversations.
Knock Shrine are hosting on line faith discussions at 8.30pm on the six Thursdays of Lent, which commenced on February 18th last. Chaired by Fr. Eamon Conway who is a Professor of Theology in Mary Immaculate College, the conversations will explore a different theme each week with guest speakers involved. The discussions will be streamed online on the Knock Shrine website where people from all over the world can engage. On February 25th ‘Living Christian Faith as young adults’ will be discussed. The remaining topics are ‘ Living Christian Faith in the classrooms as young teachers’ March 4th. ‘Living Christian Faith in Christian life’ Mar 11th. ‘ Proclaiming Christian Faith as a Priest or religious today’ Mar. 18th. Studying Christian Faith ‘ Mar.25th. Anyone wishing in taking part can do so on www.knockshrine.ie/watch-live or on facebook@knockshrine.
Anniversary Masses.
Anyone wishing to book an anniversary mass please contact the Parish Office on 090-9747009. Both Fr Tom and Fr Michael are happy to include anniversaries in their weekend masses, in Terryglass by audio on Saturday evenings and on webcam on Sunday mornings in Borrisokane.
Marriage Preparation During Covid:
Accord CLG is providing a 4 hour facilitated virtual interactive programme for couples preparing for marriage. See Accord.ie or phone 01 5053112.
Support.
A Covid-19 support line is available for older people and is managed by ALONE, a national support line and additional supports for older people who have concerns or are facing difficulties relating to the outbreak of the Coronavirus. Professional staff are available to answer queries and give advice and reassurance where necessary. The support line is open seven days a week, 8am – 8pm, by calling 0818 222 024. You can also contact the Samaritans: Ph: 116,123, Text 087 2609090, email jo@samaritans.ie . Pieta House: Ph 1800 247 247, text HELP to 51444. Aware: Ph. 1800 804 848, email supportmail@:aware.ie
Lending a Hand.
If anyone needs a helping hand during this latest Level 5 restrictions, Lorrha GAA club would like to offer their services whether it’s to collect groceries, collect prescriptions etc. Ring Joe Dolan (0879673124), Maureen Guinan (0872426965), Niall McIntyre (0857623158), David Fogarty (0872681134), Colm Kennedy (0868170633) all of whom will be happy to help.
GAA News.
Lotto:
There was No Winner of this weeks lotto jackpot of €3,150. The numbers drawn on 15 February were: 1-5-29-30. 1 Match 3: Paula S & Paddy C win €100. Promoters: Margaret O’Brien, John McLeish, Liam Reddish. Next Monday’s draw will be for a jackpot of €3,300 with a Match 3 pot of €100 so make sure you are in the draw. Team 3 in charge of the draw. Thank you for your continued support. The lotto jackpot is at €3300 with a match 3 pot of €100. You can play online at clubforce.com while lotto envelopes can be dropped off at the clubhouse, at Mulrooney’s, Kelly’s, or at the Scéal shop.
If you need Lotto envelopes, contact chairman Joe Dolan (0879673124), Hubert Duggan (0872185995) or Kevin Molloy (0876738986).
Fundraising: It’s obviously a difficult time to be mentioning fundraising but with our Euro Millions term coming to an end in May, we will be re-joining again for the year. All syndicated members will be contacted from April to see if they wish to take part again for the forthcoming year. The club have also decided to run a calf-rearing scheme. More details to follow.
Membership: for 2021 is now due. Rates are unchanged from last year. €90 – Adult player; €50 – Minor/College student; €30 – Non-playing Adult (+€70 extra for gym membership); €20 – Juvenile (16 & under); €90 – Family (2 adults & 2 children, capped at €100 for three or more children). No player can play or train without having their membership paid. Membership can be paid to registrar Louise Mannion (087659887) or online on either of the websites clubforce.com or foireann.ie. Contact Maureen (0872426965) if you are having issues signing up.
Vaccination Centres.
The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD, has confirmed locations for 37 vaccination centres across Ireland for the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme.
The 37 centres have been confirmed by the HSE, with at least one in every county. These centres will support the vaccination of the general population in a safe and efficient manner. While currently vaccines are being administered in healthcare settings and by GPs, many people will be offered their vaccination in these centres, having self-registered online.
In North Tipperary the Abbey Court Hotel in Nenagh is one venue. It is important to note that the centres will be of different sizes and operating hours will be based on vaccine supply and catchment area need. These centres will be ready well in advance of vaccine supply when they will be used as part of our programme. People can expect to see these vaccination centres ready and waiting in their county, the vaccination programme would only be limited by the availability and reliability of supply in these early stages of the programme. In the coming months supply will increase substantially and we will see these centres operating to full capacity and administering vaccines to the general population, following the Government priority list.
Inland Fisheries Ireland fishing for young poets in Tipperary
Inland Fisheries Ireland and the Blackrock Education Centre are running the national ‘Something Fishy’ poetry competition aimed at 5th and 6th class primary school students in Tipperary and nationwide. It is an opportunity for students to get creative at home and learn about fish. This is the second year the competition has been run as a fun way for students to learn more about fish and their environment while also being in with a chance to win some great prizes.
The competition is to write an acrostic poem; in which the first letter of each line spells out a word. Each student is to spell out the word ‘STREAM’ to write their own acrostic poem. Students are also encouraged to illustrate their poems with their own artwork. Only one entry is permitted per student and it is to be original work. The closing date for entries is Friday, 28th of May 2021. Parents/ Guardians are being asked to email the entry to outreach@fisheriesireland.ie and to include the student’s name, class (5th or 6th) and school name and address. The entries will be divided into three categories: 5th class in one category, 6th class in another and there is also a category for entries in Irish. The winning illustrated poems will be chosen by a panel of judges.
Suzanne Campion, Head of Business Development at Inland Fisheries Ireland said: ‘We are delighted to launch this competition for the second year in a row and we are looking forward to seeing the imaginative works the young poets create. There are lots of fun and interactive resources available on www.somethingfishy.ie, to help inspire budding poets.’
Susan Gibney, Director of the Blackrock Education Centre said: ‘We are looking forward to being involved in the second year of this competition. The poetry competition is a great way to inspire students to engage in learning in an innovative way. As an education centre it is great to be part of new ways to involve students in learning particularly during current times.’
Winners will be announced on the 18th of June 2021 and prizes are as follows:
Three Categories- 5th and 6th class and Irish language category
1st prize- Fishing kit (to the value of €100)
2nd prize- Outdoor field trip kit (to the value of €50)
3rd prize- Goody Bag (to the value of €30)
Each category has three prize-winners winning the above prizes.
For any queries, please email outreach@fisheriesireland.ie.