Patrickswell news for w/e May 11th.

CHURCH NOTICES: Listed readers for this weekend, May 12-13 The Sixth Sunday of Easter, and The Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, are as follows, Saturday at 7pm Ellen Foley, Sunday at 10am Niall Sheehy, and Sunday at 12noon Julie D’arcy. 

Eucharistic Ministers, Saturday at 7pm, Michael Houlihan, John Collopy, Maria Bucke. Sunday at 10am, Kathleen Enright, Sam Milburn, Joanne Tierney. Sunday at 12noon, Michael McDermott, Eileen O’Shea, Louise Carey.Please arrange a replacement if you are unable to fulfill any duty allocated to you. Weekday masses are at the usual time of 9-30am Monday to Friday. The weekly prayer meeting takes place at 8 pm on Monday and all are welcome. Items for inclusion in the weekly Parish Newsletter should be handed into the sacristy by 9-30am on Friday or contact Fr. Muiris O’Connor on 353711 or 0866075628. Alternatively they can be emailed tomuirisoc@eircom.net.

ROSARY: In honour of  the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, the Rosary will be recited at the shrine this Sunday evening commencing at 7pm. An open invitation is extended to all to join in and pray for your own intentions and for the needs of the parish.

COLLECTION: Sr. Consilio Fitzgerald of Cuan Mhuire, Bruree will be holding her annual church gate collection this weekend, and any support will be much appreciated in these hard times. We would like to thank our very loyal collectors over the years

CONFIRMATION AND FIRST COMMUNION: Patrickswell National School Parents’ Association wishes to congratulate the pupils of 5th and 6th class who recently received the sacrament of Confirmation in the Church of the Blessed Virgin. on Friday April 27 from Fr. Crawford. The teachers were Mr.Crowe and Mr. O’Connor. Music for the occasion was provided  by Mrs. Russell, musicians and choir, and the ceremony was celebrated by Fr. O’Connor, Monsignor Lane and Fr Collins. This Saturday, May 12, the First Holy Communion ceremony will be held at 11am.

WOMENS’ EXERCISE: A class runs on Wednesday mornings from 11am until 12noon in the GAA Hall. Classes are free to those in receipt of social welfare payments. To book a place phone Irene in West Limerick Resources at 069 66298.

 BLOOD DONORS: The Irish Blood Transfusion Service will be holding a donor clinic in the Community Centre, Doon, next Wednesday May 16 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 a donor clinic in Bruff the following week. The 28day deferral for WNV no longer applies, as the service has now commenced testing for it. For more information contact the Donor Information Line on 1850 731137, or their website.

COMMUNITY GAMES: The annual Athletics Day has been scheduled for Sunday  May 20, and medal winners at this meeting will go on to represent Crecora-Patrickswell area in the county finals in Mungret in a few weeks time. Full details will be made available through the schools. Venue as always is Crecora GAA pitch, and we are very grateful to the club for the use of their facility. Registration will commence at 2.15 pm. Events 60m, 80m, 100m, 200m, 600m, 800m, 1500m + fun races. Races for Toddlers, U6s to U16s and Mothers & Fathers.

VOLUNTEER FOR ADAPT:  ADAPT Services work to support women who experience domestic abuse, and their children, across Limerick City and County. We will be holding our Annual Church Gate Collection in Patrickswell on Saturday June 9 and Sunday, June 10 and we are appealing for local volunteers to get involved.

If you think you can give us an hour on the day, or get a group together in your area, please contact  Laura Bohan on (061) 412354 or by email @ volunteercoordinator@adaptservices.ie.

GOLF SOCIETY: Our second outing of the year took place in Nenagh Golf Club recently, and again we had a wonderful turn out of 42 golfers all vying for top honours. We had a very popular winner in Jimmy O’Rahilly who is one of the founding fathers of the society all of twentyone years ago, and in that time while he featured in many of the secondary prizes this is the first time for him to take the podium for first place. The results were as follows, 1st Jimmy O’Rahilly 38points,

2nd Dean Gillane 35points, 3^rd Gerry Molyneaux 35points, 4^th Ian Kelleher            35points, 5th Brian Geoghen 35points, 6th Eamonn Kelleher 34points.
A special word of congratulations must go this week to David Carroll who is the son of Kieran and Patricia Carroll for winning the Senior Scratch Cup in Tralee with a fine score of 74, which equates to a 2 over par for the course. As a result of this win David is now playing off a handicap of 1. David looks to have a very bright future in the game of golf. The remaining fixtures for the year are as follows,
Saturday May 19 Rathdowney, Saturday June 9 Castleisland, Saturday July 28 Adare Manor, Saturday August 18 Castlemartyr, Ger Considine’s Captain’s Prize, Saturday September 22 Salthill, Jim O’Grady’s President’s Prize.

 CROSSROADS DANCING: This Sunday May 13 would be the nearest Sunday to the old traditional date for the Fair of Stonehall, and sees the return of  an afternoon of dancing in Kilcornan, commencing at 3pm, with local musicians and singers taking part, and all are welcome.

LOUGH GUR: Wildlife expert Geoff Hunt will be hosting a Pond Magic workshop at Lough Gur Lake on Saturday May 19 from 11am until 1pm. Participants are requested to bring an empty plastic bottle with the top half cut off, a net if you have one and a change of clothes should you get wet. This workshop is particularly popular so book early. Cost is €6 per child and bookings can be made at 061-385386, 061 385186 or 087-2852022

WORLD DAYS: Next Tuesday May 15 is observed annually by the United Nations as the International Day of Families, and celebrates the importance of families and family life. This year’s theme is, “Ensuring a work- family balance”.