An Emigrant Returns Home:-

The death took place in the Marie Curie Hospice, Hamstead, London on December 18th of Thomas (Tommy) Britton Formerly of Lismolin. Tommy had been unwell all during 2004. he was 69 years of age and the oldest of the family of the late Pierce and Bridget Britton of Lismolin. Tommy was unmarried and emigrated to England as a young man. Prior to that he had worked in the old Ballingarry mines and then he was involved also in mining in Avoca, Co. Wicklow from where he went to England. There he worked on the buildings and later in life he took up a position with the local council. he worked for a number of years in Tottenham Cemetery until he retired from that position about four years ago. During his time he was the recipient of a number of awards for floral displays and tidiness in Tottenham Cemetery. During his time in London Tommy was embraced by the Irish Community. He was also a lover of traditional Irish music. Many of his London friends turned out for a special mass said for him in St Pauls, Wood Green, pre-Christmas. Among these was one of his closest friends, Frank Jackson who was unable to make the final trip to Ireland. The funeral of such a man as Tommy Britton reminds us sharply of the huge number of Irish people who emigrated to England and other places in the 1950's and early 1960's. many of them returned in later years to Ireland but some settled in England and never came back. They never did lose their Irishness and became part of the great Irish diaspora for whom President Mary Robinson was the first to light a candle. Prior to Tommy emigrating to England he had spent some time in the Irish army. Tommys remains were returned to Ireland and Mullinahone for burial. His removal from Bretts Funeral Home to St Michaels Church was on New Years Eve and his funeral mass was said in St Michaels on New Years Day by Fr John McGrath P.P. who himself had spent time with Irish emigrants in England during the 1960's and early 1970's. Prior to the mass Kelly Fox, Gavin Keane, Rachel O'Meara and Enda Keane grandnephews and grandnieces of Tommy displaced a horseshoe, a mouth organ, a photo and a plaque, items which remembered Tommys life. the horseshoe Tommy buried as a child in Lismolin and many years later he recovered it from its burial place while home on holidays. The plaque came from his gardening days. His two nieces Marie Coffey and Lorraine Keane read at mass while the offertory gifts were presented by his sisters Rose Fox and Eileen Hartley and his niece Orla Britton. The prayers of the faithful were recited by Lisa Healy and Martin Glynn. At the end of the mass Martina Fox who had visited Tommy many times in England and helped arrange his final homecoming read the prayer of St Theresa in her uncles memory. After mass burial took place in St Michaels Cemetery, Killaghy. An emigrant had finally returned home. After the funeral refreshments were served in the Knocknagow centre with thanks to Tommy Ryan and in Byrnes of Lismolin thanks to Joan and Seamie Byrne. Tommys months mind mass will be said in St Michaels at 9.30am on Sunday January 30th. We extend our sympathy to Tommys sisters Rose Fox, Mary Keane, Alice Flaherty, Margaret Brett, Eileen Hartley and his brothers Willy Britton and Eddie Britton. Also to his brothers in law, sisters in law and to other members of his extended family and friends. Now that Tommy is finally home may he rest in peace.

Super Concert:-

Listening to "Saturday Scene" with Denis O'Sullivan on Tipp FM over the weekend, I suddenly took notice when I heard the voice of Patsy McCormack formerly of Killaghy / Ballyvadlea. Patsy is big into the music band scene and he is organising a huge Tsunami relief concert with five live bands on this Thursday night January 20th at 8.45pm. Helping Patsy out was Independent TD Seamus Healy. Among the bands taking part are Swans of Eirn, Donal Lyons of TG$ fame, Black Velvet and Loose Connection. Entry fee is only EU10 and this admits one to both the music and a huge EU1000 raffle. There will be a number of guest speakers on the night and all proceeds are going to the Red Cross. We wish Patsy and his helpers every success in the Clonmel Arms and if any music fan has the night fee then the Arms is the place to go. Good luck Patsy.

Man in the Middle:-

Our man in the middle, referee Victor Direen has been returned as the treasurer of the South Tipp Referees. Well done Victor. Now that you can refocus on red and yellow cards we will expect to see you even more active on the playing fields during the coming season.

2004 Files:-

Looking through our files for the early months of 2004 the following items caught our eye. In January we learned that 2003 had been very low in rainfall, less that 800mm (32"). Mullinahone was suffering from the sounds of silence. Kilkenny Radio had closed down at Christmas and Tipp FM couldn't be picked up in the village. Later in the year KCLR replaced our neighbour on the air waves and 95.3FM later in the year brought the sounds of Tipperary loud and clear to Mullinahone. Rainfall in January was normal but there were a number of deaths of residents within the parish or people from Mullinahone residing elsewhere. In the annual credit union quiz there were wins for Mullinahone NS and Drangan NS at local level. We read of the deaths of Margaret (Pearl) Tobin and Connie Condon, the last of the Landy family. We had news of a book launch in Easons with "Everybody has a Bono Story". The local youths soccer team won the local clubs first soccer trophy but our local lotto spent a month in the sin bin when paper work wasn't in order. A million euro was put aside for road repairs in the greater Mullinahone area. A useful amount in an election year. With roads and buildings in order is water to be the new priority? Sad times again in Mullinahone as we moved into Spring with the deaths of Mary Power, Peggy Scott and most unexpectedly Tommy Healy. By now the daffodils were in bloom.

St Michael's Parish:-

the parish Trocaire Collection for Tsunami relief amounted to EU8,860. A magnificent sum. Condolences to the White family, Clonlahy on the death of Sr Kathleen White, Presentation Convent Maynooth, and to Mary Mullally, Ballinacloghy on the recent death of her father Ned Doogue, Arles, Co. Laois. First Communion 2005 will take place in St Michaels Church Mullinahone on Saturday May 21st. It has already been announced that Confirmation will be administered in Mullinahone on Wednesday April 20th. Easter comes early this year with Easter Sunday on March 27th with Lent beginning on Ash Wednesday Feb 9th.

Local Lotto:-

Draw took place on Monday Jan 10th. The winning numbers were 2, 13, 21 and 26. There was no jackpot winner but three winners shared the match 3 prize of EU150. Congratulations to Frankie Houlihan, Kevin Maher and Josephine and Philip Britton. next weeks jackpot could be EU1600.

Chiropodist:-

Our visiting chiropodist will be in the Community Centre on Monday next January 24th at 10am. She will not be visiting in February.

Slow Down:-

Congratulations to the Co. Council staff on getting the new metric speed signs erected around the parish. the old 30mph signs around the village have been replaced by 50kn/hr signs. As regards speed this is only a very small change. However nearly all the rest of the roads around the parish will be governed by the new 80km/hr rule from Thursday January 20th. This is a slowdown of 16kn/hr or 10mph on the previous limit. Only the national primary road passing through Poulacapple now has a 100km/hr or 62.5mph and many contend this is too fast in the vicinity of Poulacapple NS. The parish in general will certainly be slowing down from Thursday.

Co-op Walk:-

On Sunday week last January 9th amid threatening weather a hardy group set off around the 4.2mile route via the Mass Rock. Near the finish a sprint ensued and Plucky Postman Joe proved his agility. There were no prizes just "hot" liquid refreshments which were appreciated by all. EU800 was raised between the walk and A Scone for Asia morning held later in the week at the co-op. Well done and thanks to all.

Quizes Old adn New:-

Confirmation has been received that the 1959 Poulacapple NS team consisted of Ann Gardiner, Eamon Gardiner and Kathleen Kennedy of Culogue. Still no news on the Mullinahone Girls NS team. Information please to Ricky Sheehan. A Tsunami Relief Table Quiz has been arranged for Quirkes Lounge on Thursday week January 27th at 9.45pm. Your support would be appreciated.

Juvenile AGM:-

The AGM of our juvenile football and hurling club has been postponed for a week. The AGM will now take place on Friday night January 28th in the Sportsfield Pavilion. All parents as well as interested parties are invited to come along. Last year our underage highlight was our under 16 hurlers reaching the county final which they lost by only 2 points. Next year the spotlight could fall on a different group but the most important thing is to see both football and hurling being developed down the ranks.

Ann Steps Down:-

At the recent AGM of CJ Kickhams GAA Club Ann Pollard of Carrick Road stepped down from her position of assistant treasurer, Ann was a tower of strength in the club during recent years both for her work as Tipp Draw co-ordinator , as registrar of members and as a fund raiser of such events as Dog Nights and Buskar Races. Her enthusiasm for work and her background experience will be very difficult to replace. With Ann Actions spoke louder than words. She has been replaced as assistant treasurer by Sean O'Meara, Ballydonnell.