Walk and Fund raiser for ill child well suported.

I am not on the fund raising committe for the fund raisers.As far as I can see the GAA Club is fully behind it but it is GAA friends of Swiss and his wife's sisters who are driving it rather than the GAA Club as such.
In any event I spent a few hours on Saturday last watching the people who participated in the walk/run as they passed through Dunderry.
I wqould guess that about 500 people ,men,women and children participated.Many of these were not from the Parish ,fair dues to them.
They came on all forms and shapes.Ispotted Trevor Giles among them looking as fit as ever.Swiss himself participated.
A lovely Bird --her married name---from Rathcairn pushed her child around the course.
This most compassionate of nurses nursed me during my stroke in Navan Hospital 8 years ago AND I CANNOT PRAISE HER ENOUGH.
It was particularly pleasing to see the number of men and women pushing prams around the course.
Afterwards a concert and auction was held in Rathcairn Hall.
It was well attended too and the Auction was well supported.
Thus far a raffle has been held in Kilbride school ,a non uniform day in Dunderry School,a fully subscribed   raffle in  KILMACUD CROKES AT THE all Ireland Club sevens ,the walk ,a draw,the reception in Rathcairn and the AUCTION ,ALL OF WHICH HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.
Just shows how decent people are when the cause is right and the organisers are trusted.
I hope and pray that the fiunds raised help the misfortunate young chap in the coming times.

Disrespect for Ameican National Anthem is appalling.

I have always had difficulty spelling the word "appalling".
Of my grandfather's 11 siblings 8 emigrated to the USA between 1880 and 1920.Only one ever returned in the 1970's for a weeks holidays when he himself was in his seventies.He was a retired firefighter in Chicago.
I am grateful for the chance that the USA gave my ancestors and would never disrespect the Anthem of that Nation irrespective of whether Republicans or Democrats ruled the Country.
Three of my granduncles ,Mallons from Bohermeen,brothers of my granny fought with the IRA against the British Empie in the War of Independence in  and my grandparent's house was a safe house .
I don't know what their politics were after the end of that war but suspect that Fianna Fail was favoured.
Even though Michael Collins was one oif ,if not the most effective guerrilla fighters ,ever to take up the cudgels against a colonizing power anywhere in the world and struck fear into the Empire with well marshalled and brilliantly executed assassinations and such like at the time and became an icon for Fine Gael right up to the present I don't think that they were ever Fine Gael men .
In ant event every Irish man and woman I know.no matter what their political allegiance ,gives full respect to our National Anthem "Amhran na Fiann"irrespective of which Party or combination thereof is in power.
In other words respect for our flag and Anthem supersedes political allegiance.
We see now that certain well healed sportsmen and entainers think so little of the National Anthem of the country that suckled them and gave them and continues to give them such mind boggling incomes that they deliberately chose the insult and belittle the flag and Anthem of the Nation that gave such marvellous opportunity.
Do they not know that millions are just risking life and limb to get into a Country of such opportunity and must,as far as I know swear allegiance to the flag and Anthem of the USA BEFORE GETTING FORMAL ADMISSION TO FULL CITIZENSHIP.
Yet these ungrateful yobbos  chose to piss on the Country that is so good to them.
I am not surprised by this as the Democrats and certain beaten Republican contenders and many media concerns are unable to take their beating by Trump in the Presidential race and are stirring up hatred against him and his supporters at every hand's turn.
This combination of seditious forces are doing more to belittle the USA than all the combined enemies of the States put together.
There must be some law to bring these ingrates to account and if there is it should be immediately applied.
If not these people ought have the courage of their convictions and get out of a country they so despise,that is if any other Country would take them.

Michaels 1-10.Dunderry 0-11.IFC.

We died with our boots on sadly.No complaints.Our luck just ran out.Fuller report later if I am up to it.

Hail Jesus in Sport.

I note in passing that Cork Senior Camogie Team had a Team Mass before the Final.They won.
I note that Westmeath Junior Camogie Team climbed Croack Patrick two weeks ago.They won.
I read that the Waterford Senior Manager announced before the Senior Hurling Final that he is not A BELIEVER in Catholicism but would never the less would be saying a few prayers in the off chance before the game.They lost.
There is a message here.

The smal ball game around Dunderry,

Well there are positives and negatives.
On the negative side we gave a walkover to Kiltale in the Senior Hurling Championship recently.We were unable to field a team.This is not good and is a first for Dunderry in any Senior competition as far as I know.
On the positive side Jamie Leavy,the son of Tommy--Timber--Leavy captained Meath Minor Hurling Team to the Minor B hurling Championship.
For the benefit of those who don't know Jamie is the grandson of Paddy Kavanagh ,former Club Secretary ,Intermediate Football Championship winner with Dunderry and Bohermeen and  REFEREE OF  football All Ireland.He is overjoyed.
The ladies too are coming good and Aoife Minogue will be playing for Meath in the Intermediate Camogie Final against Cork this coming Sunday in Croker.
Two busses will be leaving Dunderry to attend.
As President of the Camogie Club  I couldn't be prouder.
I understand that Claire Coffey from Baconstown .whose mother is Aggie Commons from Betaghstown  of our Prish is Captain.Her father Matt is a good friend.
Following on from some unpleasantness against my own Daughter Mags some years ago she now plies her Camogie trade with O Mahony's and they will be playing Dunderry in theIntermediate Club semi final shortly.
Should be interesting.
Her DAUGHTER is a Dunderry player.
As are a few cousins.
All in a day's sport.

Some tangible help for Swiss and Eadeen.

I probably have spelt the name of Damien's wife wrong.It does not really matter.What does matter is that they are in a place that anyone of us would not wish to be,but have to keep it together for the sake of their sick child.May God help them.
I have it on the best authority that some of their friends are putting their heads together to organise a solidarity fund to help them out.
When more particulars are to hand I will let ye know.

TESTING TIMES FOR SWISS AND HIS WIFE.

Probably the most devastating news a family can receive has been visited on the most decent of families with the news that their son at about 4 years old has been diagnosed with a rare and extremely serious malady.
The Church was overflowing tonight as their friends and neighbours and all who heard about the Rosary recitation crowded in and fervently prayed that God and Mary  in their  infinite mercy and compassion would see Their way to cure this most dear and loved child.
The bonds that are formed during childhood and in rural growing up were well illustrated as Brian Newman  and Donal Daly ,home from the States and England ,were amongst the may who showed up in solidarity .
Donal recently brought home his daughter to make her First Holy Communion with the Dunderry kids of which my grand daughter Ciara was a celebrant also.
We are a close and deeply caring community indeed.

Yet another burgalry.

Reports are filtering in of yet another burglary in the Parish.This time the thieves got entry via the fields at the back of the house,tranquilizing 4 guard dogs in the process and forcing entry when there was no one at home.
Clearly they had intimate knowledge of the surrounding area  AND HAD CASED THE HOUSE THOROUGHLY BEF0RE HAND.
All landowners should run from their lands all trespassers especially those whose identity they don't know.Especially those professing to be hunting rabbits or hares,whose capture is illegal in the first place.
This shit has got to stop or brr stopped.

On the bright side

Our good friend Kevin Conroy is back in town for a few days.Glad to see him around.His late father John did tremendous work in the GAA Club for years prior to his death ,particularly in selling life memberships for the Club at E.500.00 A POP ,A SUM NOT TO BR SNEERED AT.
What a pity that the promise to erect a permanent memorial and scroll to those who walked the walk has yet to be honoured.
T.Dowd Senior recently con celebrated a birthday with Ted his son. T was 70 and Ted 40.
We had roast pig,song craic and gargle and footballs and sliotars flying in all directions.
A night to remember and the very best of craic.
Reports are still drifting in of people not there getting in a few cans ,opening the windows and grooving to the warbles of the great Paddy MC Garry.
T,sang his rendition of Kevin Barry to universal approval .
In his day and time T.was to British GAA WHAT GEORGE BEST WAS TO SOCCER.
Both appear ring to play was an event and Tommy's Etna surpasses any day any of Georges women by a country mile.
Plus she has lasted the course far better too.
Tommy the ALL Star and his family and Cathy and Dolly and their families were there too.
Jimmy was in fine fettle despite his more scarce public  appearances of late.
Gerry Coogan is home from Boston  for  a special birthday party too and the Second Dunderry Judge  ,Paul Fitzgerald is home from  New Hampshire to visit his family .
On a personally low side a Bart Simpson low life has called me "lower than a knacker "while separated from me by a chain link fence at a GAA Match.I am unsure exactly who he is trying to insult,me or the travellers and fully appreciate how travellers must feel when so addressed.
I have  GOOD MIND TO TELL HIS NEIGHBOURING TRAVELLERS OF HIS IDENTITY but will keep my powder dry for a while.
The weather is brutal for making hay and I am caught with about 10 round bales on the ground soaked to the
GILLS.
I am determined however to keep at it until it is fit for bailing.
This is called stupidity.
As per usual the place is abuzz  with rumours of one sort or another .

IFC.Dunderry 0-11.Trim 0-11.

Today I qualify for my bus pass.Yesterday and not for the first time this year we committed barefaced robbery in securing valuable points against the run of play in the Inter Championship.
All our Birthdays came together in doing a job we had to do and Napoleon's adage that the most important quality in a General was pure "LUCK" never ran truer.
Consider this team that didn't  field yesterday.

                                           Garret Dooley.
Red Callaghan                      Finn Stephens.               Sprog Stephens.

JP Kenneally                        Simon Carty                   Alan Garry

            Paddy Kenneally                            Liam Dempsey

Cyril Halton                          T.J.Garry                     Lukie Martyn

Martin Garry                   Connor Dempsey        Christopher Harrington.

Subs.John Kelligher,Gerry Murray,Aaron Feeney,Ciaran Mulvenna,Ivan Mc Cormack.Tosh Garry,Michael Martin.Joey Martyn.
NON PLAYING CAPTAIN IS OF COURSE SWISS CLARKE .
I would definitely fancy it to go far.
Had we a Fairy Godmother with loads of mullah with an ability to cure injury we could field such a team.
Gives an idea of what we are missing and lost potential.
The team we did in reality field and which did bring home enough bacon was;-

                                                        Jennings
Aaron Newman.                            Davy Mack                        Jordan Martyn

Mark Kane                                     Conor O Shea                   Chuck Dempsey

                                  Bomber                             Baby Doc

Oisin Martyn                                       Stephen Coogan                     Gooch Daly

Alex                                                      Morgan Callaghan                A Watters.

Subs used.Andy Coogan,Kenny Fay and Declan Dub Mahon.
Athboy is a fine ground and bathed in brilliant sunshine the most civil of officials had the place humming.
Not much wind sa speir and we were hoping for a good result given our missing list.
They opened with a bang and had two points up before we caught our bearings.
Bob wouldn't be fit but himself and Bomber achieved parity in midfield ,which was no mean feat with a determined Frankie Murphy giving it his all as per usual for the townies.
After 10 minutes we took over  and played with confidence and panache setting a goodish pace and edging into a 4 point lead by half time on a scoreline of 0-8 to 0-4.
Mark Kane had benefited from the corn fed steak he had clearly devoured in the States with some searing runs down the wing and I was again impressed,but not surprised  by the contribution of Oisin Martin who played with a vision beyond his years.
For four months four years ago I was a mentor with his age group and that panel was particularly talented .It is to the DETRIMENT  of the Club that a more bountiful harvest was not saved from that crop and lessons ought be learned .
In the latter half of the half our younger guns excelled to a man and had Trim on the rack.
The second half was a different animal altogether as Trim hammered us everywhere except on the scoreboard.
They missed chance after chance including a penalty which our veteran goalkeeper Jennings saved after out psyching entirely  the taker .
Jennings is like a General marshalling his troops and he is not shy in making the necessary calls at times of distress and in the last  fifteen minutes he made many wise calls.
Trim totally dominated play in the last fifteen minutes and missed score after score ofter making the wrong shooting decision but then again the luck was on our side.
More often than not in recent years they have got more than their fair share so we will gratefully accept what came our way last night.
We were way off the pace the second half and even with a weakened team it was not good enough.
But hey we are still in pole position.
Long may it last.
Scorers were Kane 0-1.Bomber 0-1,Oisin 0-2,Cougar 0-6.5 frees,.Morgan 0-1.
Apropos nothing Morgan is not the first player to field for Dunderry with Welsh blood coursing through his veins.
Fair dues all round for the second steal of the year in this competition.
We do have lucky Generals and indeed corporals.

Not impressed with Leo at all.

Eight years ago this month I had a serious stroke sand survived Navan Hospital,which then had neither the machinery to identify whether the cause was either a  bleed on the brain or a clot.Nor did it stock the medicine to dissolve a clot nor had it any one trained to administer the clot busting medication were it available.
As  result of my entering the General Election campaign immediately following my discharge  the omissions outlined above were put in place so those subsequently admitted for a stroke had at least a fighting chance .
My left side was badly affected by the stroke ,my arm and hand in particular.
I was crying out for the attentions of a physiotherapist.
This month, eight years later ,the HSE SUPPLIED MY FIRST HOUR'S PHYSIO TREATMENT.
That's right 8 years later.
Now I understand that Leo the current Taoiseach spent some time working in Navan Hospital before I was admitted.
The paucity of stroke treatment hardly escaped his attention.
Did he do anything about it do you think.Well no he didn't.
He has since been Minister for Health amongst other Cabinet positions.
Has he done anything about 8 years delays in providing physio for people like me.Well no he hasn't.
Do you think that I am remotely impressed by all the razzmatazz he is putting out about himself.
Well no I am not.

The Lord Mayor is dead.

Dunderrians worldwide will know who I  mean.As decent a man as ever lived.

Definition of misery .

I heard the Black Crow saying that were he to win the Lotto he would concrete the bog,such was his dread of futtin turf while being ate by midges.
Most people hereabouts would agree,although there are those strange individuals who would demurr.
But if threr is one job more hateful this time of the year it is pulling ragworth before cutting a meadow.
As hateful as it gets.

Dunderry Parish blessing of graves 2017.

Dunderry..                    Saturday 8th July after  7.30 .P.M. Vigil Mass

                                     Sunday 9th July after 11.00 A,M, Mass.

Churchtown,                 Tuesday 11 July at 7.30 P.M.

Retaine                          Wednesday 12th July at 7.30.P.M.

Claddy                           Thursday 13th July at 7.30.P.M.

Kilcooley                        Thursday 13th July at 8.00 P.M.

Kilbride                           Sunday 16th July after after 7.00 P.M.Mass.

Moymet                           Tuesday 18th July at 7.30.

Blackchurch                     Thursday 20th July at 7.30P.M.

GRIM REAPER ON RAMPAGE AROUND DUNDERRY.

There were two funerals in the Parish today.Mrs,Finnegan from Robinstown's funeral was held in Robinstown Church and Johnny Gough's funeral Mass was held in Dunderry.
Last week it was  Danny Mc Gourty's turn.
And we all know a few others going through the wringer of severe illness.
Those of us who are religious ought say a prayer for the ill and their families and those who are not might find that a prayer would not be wasted either.
Having been through the mill myself I well know devastation the bereaved feel after the death of a loved one.
Religious people believe that death is a new beginning in an altered state .
I believe this although it is hard to believe in a merciful God at times of distress and overbearing suffering.
Oremus.'

Proud day for Dunderry Gaels.

Today in Croke Park Meath beat Louth in the Leinster Junior Football Final.
Conor --Bomber--Farrell,Paddy Kenneally and Stephen Coogan were on the crew.
Not bad for a Small Parish.
Well done lads.

Mount Mellary Monastery and quitting the fags.

I recently saw a clip on the Trappist Monastery in the Knockmealdown Mountains in Waterford and it set my mind racing back to a true story I was told by the late Maurice Kennedy with whom I once worked in the Estate Duty Office many moons ago.
That particular Office ,which was in my view erroneously disbanded  many years ago ,produced many people bordering on the cusp of genius and it is undoubtedly true that two former members had indelible and long lasting consequences for  Irish society in the persons of Yvonne Murphy who after leaving that Office produced the Report bearing her name on clerical sex abuse and John Hurley,who after leaving that Office headed up the Dept.of Finance and later the Central Bank during the implosion of the the economy of this country during and in the run up to the financial recession.
Both of these persons had left the Office before I joined but Maurice Kennedy was still there when I  joined and left.
To me he was a genius who had a massive store of knowledge on Estate,Legacy and Succession Duties at which we worked and more importantly he had the rare ability to condense the most complicated matters  into short concise paragraphs.
If he had a vice it was his love of the cigarettes which blighted his health and which he tried many times unsuccessfully to quit.
He was from Waterford and when a child went on retreat to Mount Mellary,which he much enjoyed.He appreciated its remoteness and its accessibility in particular and enjoyed the fact that it had no shop nor was near any such place.
Years later when living in Dublin he was smoking 80 Craven A fags a day and hit on the plan of signing in to Mount Mellary for a period to kick the habit.
He was s dropped off at the gates with only his suitcase and only a few  shillings in his pocket ready for the fight.
When settled he went walkabout and to his horror discovered that not only had a tuck shop been opened but that the only fags they sold were Craven A.
Another failure clocked up.
Later still this oral spray came on the market which when sprayed caused the partaking of tobacco fumes to make the victim  vomit .This worked perfectly for him and he quit the fags.
The only problem was that he became addicted to the spray ,which was more expensive than the fags and he had to go back on the fags to fix his addiction to the spray.
My father was right when he said to me on my wedding day "You just cannot win Dai".
As long as I knew him Maurice never did succeed in quitting the fags,

Killer Ass draws comfort from Human Behaviour

There is this mare ass who runs with a full jack.They do be at it.She was in full blown foal lately and I watched her like a hawk.But just missed the actual birth by about an hour I would guess.
When I came on the scene the foal was in a heap lying on the ground but alive and half licked.I got him to his feet ,all legs and wobbles and put him to his mother's tits.
Utterly devoid of any maternal instinct she proceeded to kick the head offa him.I just got him to safety before she killed him outright.
For 48 hours I kept him alive with warm milk but in the end he was so abused that he just keeled over and died despite my best efforts.
I never saw the likes of it in the animal world.
I had a word with the mare ass and asked what the fuck she was at .
Her reply stunned me.
She said she was a rabid feminist and her own bodily integrity trumped all other rights that related to her body.She was repulsed by the contact of the foals lips to her tender tits and totally felt that the stretching of her precious hide during pregnancy was revolting and her bodily integrity most certainly trumped any rights the unborn foal might have.
Had she the facility to kick the foal to death while in her womb she would have most certainly have done so but sure just a few minutes wait into its birth was just as good from her perspective.
I have named her Justine,Alison ,Kitty ,Vincent,Ivana,Joan,Ruth,Mary Lou,and enrolled her in Lucifer's Arch Bigot's and Odious Usurpers of Religion Party ,Sinn Fein,The Workers Party,People before Profit ,The INDEPENT Alliance,Social Democrats and others who favour the murder of the innocent unborn ,Parties.
Lately the jack is back at it again and even though she is being humped I see her eyeing the Bull."You hardly would "said I.
"None of your business baby.its my body and I'll do as Like to."
Being a ass whisperer is not all its cracked up to be.

Death of Jackie O Connor,Robinstown.

Former talented Dunderry Football player,puller of pints par excellence,the very best of company ,a great drinking buddy and gentleman to his fingertips Jackie O Connor has lost his short AND VALIANT  fight against the big C and has gone to met his Maker,where he will be pulled through the Pearly Gates to meet again all those he he greeted throughout a lifetime full of joy and craic and decent living.
He will be missed most by his loving wife Olive,daughters Lorraine and Jackie and son Randal and their spouses ,his grandchildren ,sole surviving sister Maura and extended family and friends who are legion.
I don't know Lorraine and Randal as well as Jackie his daughter who I coached and managed through many years of Camogie competition for Dunderry and who I hold in the highest regard as both a competitor and as a human being.
Like her father she is the real deal.
M y late uncles told me many's the time that Jackie was a footballer of the highest talent but not overfond of training.
As  a puller of pints both they I and a host of others from near and far thought the world of him and have only pleasant memories of him.
He will be reposing in 14 Rochford Manor ,Trim the home of his son Randal and his family from 4.00 pm. to 8.00 p.m Friday 28 th APRIL
The following day ,Saturday he will leave his family home at the Old Terrace ,Robinstown to arrive in Robinstown at noon with funeral afterward to Dunderry Cemetery,where he will be laid to rest beside a host of his old friends.
AR DHEIS DE GO RAIBH A HANAM DILIS.

Further developments Re Dunderry Day of Shame.

The shameful incidents that happened in Dunderry on Easter Monday have been broadly outlined by me in my most recent Blog.
You will notice that I named no names as I did not witness the incidents personally.Presumably the identity of those e will become clear at a later date.
For drawing attention to this outrage I have been informed that Dunderry is a corrupt place and that at least one of those who objects to what I wrote has particulars of unlawful activities which allegedly occurred in Dunderry ,the inference being that the said person is prepared to use this alleged knowledge against anyone who voices disapproval of the events that occurred,especially me ..
The sources of any rumours or unpleasantness that happens to you regarding past activities,real or imagined , will not be hard to figure.
Naturally actual knowledge of what these alleged  activities are would probably involve unlawful activity of the associates of the person making the veiled threats.
Being far from perfect myself I await developments but will not be blackmailed into silence.