Knockanure Notes – 12th September, 2007

THOUGHT: Some people bring great happiness wherever they go, others whenever they go” Kathleen Corrigan.

NEW Moon on Sept 11th, we are having marvellous fine weather at present, it is very welcome after the long wet spell. Apples, plums, haws and blackberries ate nearly ripe, a big proportion of plums and blackberries are diseased and inedible.

The Kerry Evening Post of Wednesday September 2nd 1857, reports that the country has never been blessed with more favourable harvest weather than the last fourth night, Hay and green crops saved in the finest condition, we hardly hear of the potato disease. Butter production is down due to the dry weather, the average of “firsts” is down among firkins sent to Cork Butter Market due to warm weather, but prices are rising. First Quality butter made 109, Sixth Quality made 63.

HISTORY: September edition of the Nation reports death of John F Hewson aged 78 years. September 1st 1961 Harvest Dance was held at the Six Crosses, admission 3 shillings, dancing from 9pm with Ina O Flaherty and her Showband , the following day Maurice O Connell of Moyvane was beaten by inches at Dromkeen Sports. September 4th 1971 Kerryman reports that Con Keeffe of Kilmorna won the high jump at Knocknagoshel sports for the 6th year and that Dan Keane presented Tops of the Parish at the Feale Baron Festival on last Saturday night. September 1967 free secondary school transport started over 3,500 Kerry students were accommodated. September 1963 the oldest bridge in the country in regular use was blown up in Castlemaine, it was built 1215. September 13th 1937 St Ita’s College Abbeyfeale opened, around 1947 James Dore opened a school in Glin and Jane Agnes McKenna opened a school in Tarbert. Mick Mackey and Princess Grace died Sept. 13th 1982. Edel Quinn born at Kanturk on 14th Sept. 1907, she went to school at the Pres. in Tralee for a time, Edel died in Nairobi May 12th 1944. The Times of Sept. 19th 1867 reports on the rescue of Fenians in Manchester and the killing of Sgt Bret.

The Earls left the country 400 years ago this month and Pope Pius v received the Earls gave them a pension, the Earl of Tyrconnell died 1608, Hugh O Neill died 1609 and the old Earl of Tyrone died in 1616. Thaddaeus Clancy was martyred near Listowel on Sept. 15th 1584. Several priests were martyred in the storming of the Rock of Cashel by Lord Inchiquin on 15th Sept 1647.

September massacres of 1792, in a few days over 1,200 prisoners were killed during the French Revolution.

100 men and boys arrived at the Jamestown settlement from England in 1607, they had a preacher called Robert Hunt who used a sail to make a church and a pole tied to a tree to make a pulpit , fire destroyed everything after eight months, two thirds of the new settlers including their preacher were dead on the first anniversary of their arrival. 30 intact hives from 900 BC were found by archaeologists in the ruined city of Rehov in Northern Israel some time ago.

Pope Benedict XV1 went to Austria last weekend to mark the 850th anniversary of the Shrine of Our Lady of Mariazell, he also visited the Holocaust memorial in Vienna to 65,000 Jews killed in Austria by the Nazis.

FOOD sector in Ireland employs around 300,000 people while in Europe it is said to employ 2.6 million. Food additive E128 has been withdrawn because of questions about its side affects. World Seafood Congress will be held at Croke from 25th to 27th of September. Veal must now be from animals less than eight months and rose veal must be from animals less than a year.

The European Food Safety Authority is in existence for only five years and have compiled 450 risk assessment reports, did anybody tell them that it is over eating, processed and idleness are the biggest dangers to heath. Holly’s Gala shop in Moyvane has healthy eating leaflets by Aveen Bannon.

BLOOD: 642 donors attended the recent blood transfusion clinic in Tralee.

CANCER: Triple testing for breast cancer will be mandatory for patients from now on, following recent disturbing revelations.

BOOK: “Lifelines Folklore” a book composed of stories from elderly South Kerry people is now available. Paddy Faley of Ballyhahill aged 88 years has his photo featured in the Positive Ageing exhibition which will tour the country.

Changing Ireland Website is at www.changingireland.ie

PARKS: The 60 biggest cities in America spent $4.3 billion on their parks in 2005; their combined acreage is over 800,000

EDUCATION: Grants E 2,528,000 for equipment are promised to UL, Mary I are getting E 310,000 and LIT are getting E73,000. UL attracts 1200 international students from 70 countries. Bank of Ireland survey reveals that 40% of students have cars; one in five students intend buying a new car; 30% of students work less than 20 hours per week; 56% plan to travel abroad half students earn E400 per month, socialising cost E162 per month while groceries and expenses amount to E221 per month.

RACES: Listowel Races runs from 16th to 22nd, thousand from home and abroad will throng the streets of Listowel , both day and night. The Races were held in Moyvane in 1857 they continue now as the Listowel Races, the Island Racecourse was owned at one time by Connell’s, Sullivan’s and later by the O Leary’s

BEST Wishes to Dan Keane on his Birthday September 17th.

Happy Retirement to Hugh Friel who is retiring from the Kerry Group at the end of this year, Kerry Group have travelled a long way since Hugh and Denis started working in a rented caravan in the Canon’s Field in 1972.