Patrickswell news for w/e July 29th

CHURCH NOTICES: Listed readers for this weekend July 30-31, The Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, are as follows, Saturday at 7pm Ellen Foley, Sunday at 10am Niall Sheehy, Sunday at 12noon Julie Darcy. Eucharistic Ministers, Saturday at 7pm Mary Collins, Mary Bennis, Breda Carroll, Sunday at 10am, Michael O’Mara, Mary Enright, Michael Punch, Sunday at 12noon, Seamus Enright, Patricia Barry, Rory Bennis. Please arrange a replacement if you are unable to fulfill any duty allocated to you. Weekday masses are at the usual time of 9-30 am Monday to Friday. The weekly prayer meeting takes place at 8 pm on Monday and all are welcome. Listed readers for the month of August are as follows, Saturday at 7pm Dan Riordan, Sunday at 10am P.J.O’Grady, Sunday at 12noon Michael Punch.

 PARISH NEWSLETTER: There will be no publication of the weekly newsletter during the month of August.

CEMETERY MASS:

The annual masses for the deceased of the parish will take place in Clounanna on Tuesday August 9, and in Patrickswell on Tuesday August 16, commencing at 7-30pm.

COLLECTION: Many thanks for your generosity to the church gate collection last weekend, which was in aid of the Irish Wheelchair Association. The total raised was E650. Sincere thanks also to the collectors.

LOUGH GUR: Lough Gur Guides and Red Viking tours have teamed up to bring you a magical tour of Lough Gur. Commencing on Sunday August 7 from Bank Centre, or join your guide at 11am at the Heritage centre at Lough Gur. Red Viking tours departs Bank Centre, Limerick on Sunday mornings at 10.15am, this half day tour begins with a trip through the countryside passing by Ballyneety, Rockstown Castle and Herberstown.  Enjoy a guided walking tour of Lough Gur and see the wonderful sites such as The Spectacle’, Carrigcrothera, Bourchiers castle, Bolin Island, Crannóg, the Wishing Seat and the Lime Kiln. Take time to wander through the visitor centre with their many wonderful exhibits and audio tour of this enchanted area. Depart and move towards Grange to stop and see the Giants Grave and the famous Grange Stone Circle.  www.loughgur.com 087 285 2022

Bookings from Limerick city: 061 353033 or www.redvikingtours.com

BLOOD DONORS: The Irish Blood Transfusion Service requires three thousand donations of blood every week, and a donor clinic is being held at Coláiste Chiaráin, Croom, on Thursday August 4 from 6 to 9pm. You can visit any blood donor clinic as long as ninety days have elapsed since you last gave blood, and you are urged to please give regularly. There will be donor clinics in Castletroy and Kilmallock the following week. For more information contact the Donor Information Line on 1850 731137, or their website.

RURAL DEVELOPMENT: The Rural Development Group, also known as Leader, is designed to target resources to improve the quality of life in rural areas and the diversification and development of the rural economy. Support is available for both community projects and enterprise development. West Limerick Resources has recently appointed two new staff members under the Rural Development Programme. The programme, which runs until the end of 2013 offers a range of support to both community projects and enterprise development. Tim Coffey is the new Renewable Energy Development Officer, whose role is to give advice, support and facilitate renewable energy and sustainability projects in West Limerick. Tim is an engineer and has experience in the areas of wind, solar, ocean and bio-energy. He can also give guidance and support to feasibility studies and energy management projects.

Morgan Boohan is the new Enterprise and Project Officer, and is responsible for providing support and guidance to small businesses located in the West Limerick area. West Limerick Resources is also offering mentoring support to existing businesses who wish to explore all areas of their business including new product development, reducing overheads, business diversification or expansion.  Business mentoring and training will be provided by experienced and professional business advisers at a rate of 80% of costs and is open to all business types with the exception of mainstream retail and mainstream farming. Interested individuals are however advised to contact Eleanor McLoughlin at West Limerick Resources on 069 66299 or email emcloughlin@wlr.ie to confirm eligibility.  Support is also available for eligible training projects and technical assistance.  For more information on the programmes or the supports available please contact one of the Project Officers, or visit the website, www.wlr.ie

ABINGTON CHURCH: Abington Church, Murroe is open to visitors each Sunday up to August 21 next from 2 to 4pm. Historical information on display. Refreshments served.  If you are in the Murroe area on a Sunday afternoon, do visit this unique, highly decorative and recently restored church.

FESTIVAL OF LUGHNASA: This Sunday, July 31, Ireland's oldest festival, “The Festival of Lughnasa” will be held at Knockfierna. A guided tour of Knockfierna hill will start from the Rambling House at 2.30pm followed by an evening of story and song at the Rambling House. All are welcome.  For further details contact Pat O'Donovan 087 9977340 or Marion Hanley 087 9741387.