Lorrha Notes
Parish Calendar.
The 2021 Lorrha parish calendar is not to be missed and is a lovely keepsake or a present for anyone whether living be it home or abroad. You can purchase the calendar in the shop in Lorrha village, Colettes hair salon, Pat Hough’s, Mulrooney’s at The Ferry, O’Meara’s Super Valu Portumna, Boathouse, Salmons, Lorraine’s hair salon, 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. In this pandemic year where family may not be home for the Christmas, why not send them a piece of the parish in the shape of this calendar. If you would like to have a calendar posted to you, call (086) 8647166 or email info@54.171.167.182.
Late Michael O’Meara.
The death occurred on Wednesday December 9th of Michael O’Meara, Curraghgloss House, Lorrha, peacefully at home in his 104th year. Known to all as Mick O’ the Hill, he lived a long and fulfilled life pursuing the hobbies that was of interest to him and involving himself in many clubs and organisations. Born and raised in Roughan, Rathcabbin, he came to live in the Lorrha end of the parish on his marriage to Carmel in 1952. As a young man he served in the LDF and later the FCA and the Red Cross in the 1940’s. As a farmer he was involved with the IFA and the North Tipp Ploughing where he and his late brother Eddie were often called upon to help judge competitions. He started to play hurling at junior level with Lorrha at a young age working his way up to the senior ranks, and in later life, served as a selector and officer of the club and was President at the time of his passing.
A founder member of Rathcabbin drama group, he not just proved himself to be a popular thespian but also a director of note. He had an interest in everything and in everyone and could converse on any subject. Pre-deceased by his wife Carmel he is survived by his family, sons Gerard (Cork), Declan (Lorrha), Emer (Cullinan, Tramore), Deirdre (Collins, Nenagh). Father-in-law of Kay, Marion, John and Christy. Sadly missed by his family, his 14 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren, his nephews, nieces and very wide circle of friends.
After funeral Mass in St. Ruadhan’s Church, Lorrha on Friday, 11th of December, burial took place afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. May he rest in peace.
Church News.
The following Mass times are in operation. Monday Mornings at 9.30am in Lorrha Church (except Bank Holidays), Saturday evening at 6.30pm in Lorrha Church and Sunday morning at 11.30am in Rathcabbin Church. Other Masses in the Pastoral area, Borrisokane: 7.00pm Saturdays and 10.30am Sundays. Terryglass: 9.30am Sundays. Kilbarron:8pm Saturdays.
Masses for Christmas this depends on the stability/situation of Covid -19.
Christmas Eve in Lorrha at 7:30pm and Rathcabbin at 9.pm. There will be three Masses in Borrisokane, 2pm, 7pm and 9pm. Kilbarron at 6pm, Terryglass at 9pm.
On Christmas Day there will be Mass in Rathcabbin at 11am, Borrisokane 11am,Terryglass 9:30am.
As you see there are extra Masses but the restriction to 50 and social distancing means that it will be impossible to provide for everyone who wishes to attend a Christmas Mass. So, we recommend the following as the way forward and beg for your understanding: –
- First come first admitted till the limited capacity is filled. Note the total time permitted is one hour, mass and entry and exit included.
- The well wrapped up could stay with strict social distancing outside the doors listening to speakers.
- You could follow the Mass on webcam (from Borrisokane)
- You could watch, listen to parish Masses from home and receive Holy Communion at weekday Masses leading up to Christmas: Lorrha 9:30am Mon 21st , Borrisokane 7pm Tuesday 22nd and Kilbarron 7.30pm Wednesday23rd. (Think of the 12 days of Christmas)
- Mark Christmas at home with a special liturgy and visit a crib in the parish and pray there.
- We aim to keep Masses to 40 mins as there is ventilation and cleaning required in between Masses.
Our priority is that everyone is safe as we celebrate the wonderful feast of Christmas with restrictions that we hope we will never see again. It is now a mandatory for everyone including the priest to wear face masks except when public speaking.
Christmas E-Retreat.
The Youth 2000 Christmas E-Retreat will take place from the 18th – 20th of December. Registration is now free on www.youth2000.ie
New Scam.
Gardai are advising the public to be vigilante to a new scam which is in operation at the present time. Individuals are calling to houses and trying to extract money from the homeowner in exchange for a spraying job of their house to prevent catching the Covid -19 virus. Be warned, Gardai are saying ‘that just doesn’t happen so don’t engage in conversation with those people’. You are also advised by the Gardai not to give any information to strangers about your neighbour’s or about people in your locality, such as names, suitable times to get them at home etc. If you do not know the caller, Gardai are advising you not to open your door to them. Be warned.
Well Done.
Congratulations to Darragh Guinan who won the inaugural Marion McKeon memorial wall ball competition in Cistercian College Roscrea and we also congratulate Conor Kennedy who won the Feile hurling skills North Final. We wish Conor and best of luck in the County Final. Well done to Liam Donoghue on representing the parish so well in the football competition.
Hard Luck.
Commiserations to Kevin Cahalan and the Tipperary minor football team who lost their quarter final to Clare last Saturday. Kevin was the only player from north Tipp who made the starting 15, and he is the first ever Lorrha player to start a minor football championship match for Tipperary. A great achievement Kevin.
GAA News.
There was No Winner of this weeks lotto jackpot of €11,550. The numbers drawn on 14 December were: 5-7-17-21. 5 Match 3’s share €100: Siobhan Ryan, Martin Corrigan, Vincent Liffey, John Maher, John Moore. Promoters: Thomas P Cahalan, Joe Cleary, Internet.
Next Monday’s draw will be for a jackpot of €11,700 with €100 Match 3 pot so why not be in with a chance of Christmas cheer with a big win. Team 2 in charge of the draw. Thank you for your continued support.
The Christmas jackpot is at €11,700 with a Match 3 pot of €100. You can play online at clubforce.com. 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).
RIP: Sympathies to the O’Meara family on the death of club president Michael O’Meara. Mick O’ the Hill, as he was known, lived to 103 and was involved with the club for many years. Firstly as a player, winning a County intermediate medal in 1946 and a North Tipperary senior medal in 1948. He also lined out with Tipperary on a number of occasions. After his playing career, Michael gave lots of his time to the club as an administrator, serving as treasurer, trustee and finally as club president. May he Rest in Peace.
Tipperary: Hard luck to Kevin Cahalan and the Tipperary minor footballers on their loss to Clare at the weekend. None the less, it was a proud day for the club with Kevin becoming their first Lorrha player to start a minor championship game for Tipperary.
Féile Skills: Congrats to Conor Kennedy who won the North Tipp Féile hurling skills finals on Saturday and we wish him the very best of luck in the County Final. Well done also to Liam Donoghue, who represented the club in the football competition.
Wall-ball: Congrats to Darragh Guinan who won the Marion McKeon memorial wall ball competition in Cistercian College Roscrea last week.
Tipperary GAA draw: Well done to Declan ‘Lack’ O Meara who won €1000 in the Tipperary GAA draw over the weekend. Congrats also to David Cleary, Ballyoughter, who won €200. Thanks to all promoters and members for their continued support.
Mandatory pre-booking on Intercity rail services from 18th December to 6th January
50% of capacity available for use during period of Christmas inter-county travel
Iarnród Éireann has reminded customers that it will be mandatory to pre-book Intercity rail travel, for travel from Friday 18th December 2020 to Wednesday 6th January 2021 inclusive.
Government COVID-19 measures in place during this time permit non-essential inter-county travel for the first time in up to three months, and 50% of capacity is available for use on board rail services and all public transport.
Pre-booking Intercity travel will ensure the available capacity is effectively managed, providing rail customers with a safe and sanitary travelling environment over the Christmas and New Year period.
Intercity travel can be pre-booked at www.irishrail.ie along with further information, and customers are advised:
- Please only travel if your journey is necessary, and avoid peak and busier times if at all possible
- Holders of existing tickets (e.g open returns, season tickets, DSP free travel) can also pre-book their Intercity reservations during these dates at no charge via irishrail.ie or at 1850366222
- 50% of seating is available for pre-booking and for use on board. Seating will be unassigned, and customers are asked not to sit in seating designated as restricted, to ensure appropriate distancing
- Face coverings are mandatory on public transport and in stations
- Iarnród Éireann is continuing to implement enhanced cleaning and sanitisation measures on trains and at stations, with a focus on customer touchpoints
- Catering services remains suspended on board Intercity, and alcohol is prohibited on all trains
- Revised schedules are in place from Christmas Eve 24th December to New Year’s Day 1st January inclusive, and customers should check times. There are no rail services on Christmas Day and St Stephen’s Day.
Iarnród Éireann thanks customers for pre-booking their Intercity travel, and for their continued cooperation and overwhelming compliance with measures in place during COVID-19.