Lorrha Notes
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL AND STAY SAFE
Reminder.
A gentle reminder to purchase your copy of the 2021 Lorrha parish calendar before it sells out. You can purchase the calendar in the shop 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. The calendar as usual is packed with photos from the past and the present and makes a lovely gift for anyone whether living at home or abroad.
Church News.
With Level 5 restrictions back in force, religious services move back on line. Both Lorrha and Rathcabbin churches will remain open for anyone wishing to pray privately. Weddings can have up to 25 guests up to January 2nd 2021 and six guests from 3rd. January until further notice while all funerals are confined to immediate family only.
Anniversary Masses.
For 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.
Help Line:
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 COVID-19 (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.
Back Again.
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.
Rathcabbin Community Hall Ltd
The hall needs your help. It 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 we 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 (envelopes are available in church porch and from Kelly’s shop or from any Hall Committee members).
Third Lockdown is Here Again.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan is very concerned about the extraordinary growing number of Covid-19 cases in Ireland over recent days. New level five restrictions are in force as we all know by now. So do keep safe everyone and be very careful over the coming days and into the new year because you do not want to catch this awful virus or pass it on to someone else. However, it’s not all doom and gloom with the announcement of 10,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid 19 vaccine arriving in Ireland on Saturday last, St. Stephen’s Day. The rollout of the HSE national vaccination programme, is expected to commence this Tuesday Dec. 29th. First up for the jab will be health care workers and care home patients and rightly so.
AWARE:
Is available to help people experiencing isolation during lockdown, over Christmas or at anytime. Support is available by going to www.aware.ie or https://www.aware.ie/support/support-groups/
New Years Greetings.
A happy and healthy new year is extended to all as a new year of hope is just around the corner. With the Covid -19 vaccination about to commence, this will be a new year of great hope and expectation that by next Christmas, society will have returned to normal, or at least close to it. So do welcome the new year like no other and stay safe too.
GAA News.
There was No Winner of this weeks lotto jackpot of €11,850. The numbers drawn on 28 December were: 3-9-11-19. No Match 3. Lucky Dips: Liz O’Hara, Denis Maher, Pat Carroll, Alan Joyce. Promoters: Louis McCormack, Thomas P Cahalan, Mulrooney’s Gala.
Next Monday’s draw will be for a jackpot of €12,000 with a Match 3 pot of €140 with Team 4 in charge of the draw. Thank you for your continued support and a Happy New Year to all.
NEW COVID RESTRICTIONS
With the number of Covid-19 cases continuing to increase, the Government is bringing new, harsher restrictions into effect for the country for the start of 2021. Here is a summary of the new restrictions with full details below. Please read carefully.
Visitors to your home or garden
No visitors except for essential family reasons or those in your support bubble
Domestic travel
Stay at home except for travel for work, education or other essential purposes, or to take exercise within 5km of home
Retail
Essential retail only from close of business from today December 31
Primary and secondary schools
Re-open on January 11
Work
Work from home unless working in essential health, social care or other essential service that cannot be done from home
Weddings
Maximum of 25 guests up to and including January 2; maximum of six guests from January 3
Funerals
Maximum of 10 mourners At Level 5, the public health risk means that you will be asked to stay at home, except for travel for work, education or other essential purposes, or to take exercise within 5km of home. There will be no gatherings other than small numbers at funerals and weddings.
Social and family gatherings
In your home or garden: No visitors are permitted in private homes or gardens except for essential family reasons such as providing care to children, elderly or vulnerable people, or as part of a support bubble. Other settings outside your home or garden: No social or family gatherings should take place in other settings.
Weddings
Up to and including 2 January, a maximum of 25 guests can attend a wedding ceremony and reception, whether indoors or outdoors. From 3 January, up to 6 guests are permitted.
Organised indoor gatherings
These are controlled environments with a named event organiser, owner or manager. For example: business, training events, conferences, events in theatres and cinemas or other arts events (excluding sport).
No organised indoor gatherings should take place.
Organised outdoor gatherings
These are controlled environments with a named event organiser, owner or manager. For example: outdoor arts events, training events. No organised outdoor gatherings should take place.
Exercise and sporting events
Training. People may meet with people from one other household in outdoor settings when taking exercise.
No indoor or outdoor exercise group activities, including those involving children, should take place.
Outdoor golf and tennis are not permitted.
Individual training only. No exercise or dance classes. No indoor or outdoor gatherings involving “individual training” except for professional and elite sports.
Matches and events
Professional, elite sports, horse racing, greyhound racing and approved equestrian events only are permitted to continue behind closed doors. No other matches or events are to take place.
Gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools
Gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools must close from close of business on 31 December.
Religious services
Services will be held online. Places of worship remain open for private prayer.
Funerals
Up to 10 mourners can attend.
Museums, galleries and other cultural attractions
All venues closed.
Online services available.
Bars, cafes and restaurants (including hotel restaurants and bars)
Take away food and delivery only.
Wet pubs
Closed.
Nightclubs, discos, casinos
Nightclubs, discos and casinos will remain closed.
Hotels and accommodation
Open only for essential non-social and non-tourist purposes. Anyone staying in a hotel on 30 December can complete their stay.
Retail and services (for example: hairdressers, beauticians, barbers)
Face coverings must be worn. All retail, other than essential retail, must close from close of business on 31 December.
All non-essential services remain closed.
Work
Work from home unless essential for work, which is an essential health, social care or other essential service and cannot be done from home.
Domestic travel restrictions
People will be required to stay at home except for travel for work, education or other essential purposes, and will be permitted to take exercise within 5 km of home. People away from their place of residence on 31 December are permitted to return to their place of residence.
You can travel outside 5 kilometres of home for the following reasons:
– travel to and from work, where work involves providing an essential service
– to attend medical appointments and collect medicines and other health products
– travel to attend disability day services
– travel to attend a court
– for vital family reasons, such as providing care to children, elderly or vulnerable people, and in particular for those who live alone, but excluding social family visits
– for food shopping
– for farming purposes (food production or care of animals)
– to attend a wedding or funeral
– to visit a grave
Schools, creches and higher and adult education
Early Learning and Childcare Services remain open with protective measures.
Schools open from 11 January with further review on precise situation in advance of that date.
Higher, further and adult education should remain primarily online.
Outdoor playgrounds, play areas and parks
Open with protective measures in place.
Transport
Face coverings must be worn. Walk or cycle where possible. Avoid public transport – essential workers and essential purposes only. Public transport capacity will be restricted to 25%.
Over 70 and medically vulnerable individuals
Those aged over 70 years and over and the medically vulnerable should exercise judgement regarding the extent to which they engage with others and in activities outside home. Specific guidance will be provided.
Visiting long-term residential care facilities (nursing and care homes)
Suspended, aside from critical and compassionate circumstances.