Patrickswell News 23 Jan 2009

CHURCH NOTICES
Listed readers for masses this coming weekend, January 24-25, are as follows; Saturday at 7pm, Michael Wolfe, Sunday at 10am, Niall Sheehy, Sunday at 12, Julie D’arcy.
Eucharistic Ministers. Saturday at 7pm E.O’Byrne, R. Madigan, J.Tierney. Sunday at 10am, N.Murray, PJ O’Grady. Sunday at noon B.Enright, N.Quinn, P.Kirby. Please arrange a replacement if you are unable to fulfill any duty allocated to you. Weekday masses are at 9.30am Monday to Friday. The weekly prayer meeting takes place on Monday evening from 8 to 9pm and all are welcome. Listed readers for the month of February are as follows; Saturday at 7pm Dan Riordan, Sunday at 10am P.J.O’Grady, Sunday at 12noon Lena Mary Houlihan. Your generosity is asked for the church gate collection this weekend which is in support of the Senior Citizens’ Party Fund.

FRIDAY CLUB
The Senior Citizens Friday Club Members held their Christmas Party on December 19 in the Resource House. The Club Christmas Draw was held under the supervision of Fr O'Connor, and the results were as follows. 1st Prize A wool rug knit by the Members - J.Sutton, 2nd Prize R.Tully - A Hamper, 3rd Prize Kathleen Tierney - Voucher for a Leg of Lamb, 4th Prize Kate Nunan - Sunday Brunch at the Woodlands, 5th Prize Liam Shinnors - Voucher for Flair Hair Salon, 6th Prize Mary O'Grady - Bottle of Brandy, 7th Prize Gearoid Morrissey - Voucher for Vanity Within, 8th Prize Mr Hayes. - Bottle of Wine. Thanks to all our sponsors who donated the prizes above and also the prizes for the Club Draw. We would like to give our deepest sympathy to the Hall family on the death of John, who was a very fond member of the Friday Club and will be greatly missed.

TIDY TOWNS
Would all members please note that the first meeting of the year will be held in the Cu Chulainn this coming Tuesday, January 27 at 8pm. Top of the agenda will be our plans for this year’s Limerick in Bloom Competition, and items contained in the proposed Local Area Plan.

CREATIVITY IN OLDER AGE
Over one tenth of Patrickswell’s population is aged 60 years and over, with about 30 over 65-year olds living alone (Census 2006 figures). Patrickswell has a number of groups that welcome older people, such as the Active Retirement group, and the Friday Club, as well as all the other community and voluntary groups in and around the village. “Age and Opportunity”, the national organisation working to promote greater participation by older people in society is coordinating Bealtaine. This is the Irish national arts festival celebrating creativity in older age. It takes place in May countrywide and takes its name from the ancient Celtic festival celebrating springtime, so the event is about renewal, creativity and growth in ageing. The theme for Bealtaine is “Go and open the door” so people are invited to try something new that allows us to celebrate our constant learning and capacity for creativity at all stages of our lives.
Mo Foley would be interested in getting a small group of people together to come up with one or more activities or events for Bealtaine in Patrickswell that could be included in the Bealtaine Bulletin. A decision would have to be made quite quickly so as to meet the deadline of February 14 to submit to Age and Opportunity. The event(s) does not have to be very complicated but does need to be for older people, arts-related and new. It is amazing to see the level and variety of creative skills and talents in Patrickswell – perhaps a series of workshops on knitting, crocheting, painting, writing or goodness knows what could be organised? Or storytelling/poetry session some evening, an art exhibition displayed in business windows, a visit to an art gallery, going to a play, a community sculpture, a creative project for both younger and older residents in Patrickswell…the possibilities are endless! So far the Friday Club is exploring what it would like to organise for its members and Aesop Sign Systems on the Main Street Patrickswell is putting together an exciting creative project. If you or your group would like to actively and creatively promote participation of older people (that is people over 55 years) in the arts in Patrickswell as part of the Bealtaine festival, please contact Mo Foley of West Limerick Resources on 069-66298/087-9915873.

HEALTH AND HEALING
Mo Foley can also be contacted regarding an application which has been made to the County Limerick VEC for a tutor to run a Health and Healing course in the Community Resource House. This was made on behalf of the community by West Limerick Resources and is open to all if it goes ahead. We hope to have a decision in the coming weeks and will let people know in due course.

VOLUNTEER EDUCATION SEMINAR
This seminar, organised by the County Limerick Local Sports Partnership is aimed at supporting volunteers within clubs and provides advice and support to clubs looking for ways to recruit and retain existing volunteers. Volunteers are the life-blood of every sporting club/organisation. They dedicate hours of time and energy, working in a variety of ways. Without them, most sports clubs and associations would cease to exist. Volunteers are extremely valuable, and deserve considerable praise and thanks; however volunteers can sometimes be under-utilised or over-used and as such cease to be volunteers. Administrators, officials and coaches all fulfill an important role in sport. They may come from different backgrounds, and although some are paid, many act in a voluntary capacity themselves. The key to success is the way in which clubs manage the volunteer helpers for whom they are responsible. The seminar is being held on Wednesday February 4, in the Woodlands Hotel from 7 till 10pm. The seminar is free of charge, but booking is essential. For further details and booking please contact Kathleen Kennedy, Sports Administrator, at 061-496463 or email: infosports@limerickcoco.ie.