Issue 1379 November 7th 2021

TRÓCAIRE SPECIAL APPEAL FOR EAST AFRICA 6th & 7th NOVEMBER – The Bishops of Ireland have called for a National Church Collection on 6th & 7th November to support Trócaire in providing life-saving aid to vulnerable communities in East Africa & DRC, where millions of people are being pushed to the edge of starvation. Trócaire teams are already responding on the ground & are ready to provide life-saving assistance but need more resources. Any support the Parish can give to this Emergency Appeal will help the urgent work of Trócaire & their hardworking local partners. For more information see www.trocaire.org This collection will replace the share collection.

Mass intentions this week: Rita Hamilton (RD) Blessington, Mary Plunkett (RD) Leitrim

Saturday 6pm Mass: Frankie Keogh (2^nd A), Paul Garry (A)

Sunday 10am: Josephine Flynn (RD), Carol O’Riordan (A)

We remember the following: Deceased Members of the Clarke & Nixon Families, Michael Byrne, Richard Reid, Charles & Catherine Reid

Monday: Mass for Blessington List of the Sick,

Tuesday: Birthday Mass, Birthday Mass

Wednesday: Christy Miley (RD), Patrick Nolan (RD)

Thursday: Eamon Tully (RD), Rita Hamilton (RD)

Friday: Kathleen, Jim & Seamus Corry, John Galvin (A)

Message from Archbishop Dermot Farrell – The Covid-19 pandemic has been a particularly difficult time for those who have lost loved ones and have often had to cope with their grief without many of the usual spiritual and community supports.To pastorally support everyone who has suffered the pain of bereavement during the pandemic, and in the context of the month of November as the traditional time when we remember our dead, on next Sunday, 14 November at 3.00pm, the Bishops of Ireland will undertake a pilgrimage to the International Eucharistic and Marian Shrine in Knock. The bishops will concelebrate Mass for all those who have died in our country during the pandemic, and for their families. At the Mass the bishops will also offer prayers of thanksgiving for all those who so selflessly sacrificed so much during the pandemic.  This Mass will be live-streamed on knockshrine.ie  and broadcast on the RTÉ News Now digital television channel and online.  The bishops invite everyone to join with them in prayer on this solemn occasion.

►Saturday 6^th November: 6pm Mass in Blessington, November Mass of Remembrance 7.30pm in Lacken. Remembering all who died during 2020 and 2021

►Sunday 7^th November: 10.00am Mass in Blessington, 11.00am Mass in Manor Kilbride, 11.30am Mass in Crosschapel. November Mass of Remembrance 11.15am Mass in Valleymount. Remembering all who died during 2020 and 2021

►Tuesday 9^th November: Holy Hour & Rosary offered for the intentions of our families from 7pm to 8pm in, Blessington

Valleymount Country Market Sunday 7^th November from 10am to 3pm in Valleymount Community Hall

November List of the Dead. Envelopes available in all the Churches. Masses offered on the 1st Friday of every month throughout the year.

St Brigid’s N.S. Manor Kilbride is now accepting enrolments for the next school year, 2022 – 2023. To enrol your child, please call Charlotte in our school office on, 01 458 2550 or find the enrolment documents on our school website http://manorkilbridens.scoilnet.ie/blog/ We hope to hold our Open Evening in February, which will give prospective parents & parents of children already attending, a chance to have a look around our lovely school.

Lacken National School is looking for qualified SNAs to substitute in Lacken School. Please send you application to school@lackenns.com  by 15^th November

Lacken & Valleymount – November Mass of Remembrance: Saturday 7^th November at 7.30pm in Lacken Church on Sunday 8^th November at 11.15am in Valleymount Church. During this Mass we will remember all our loved ones who have died during 2020 and 2021

IS ALCOHOL CAUSING PROBLEMS FOR YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW? Do you want to stop drinking? Is there an alcoholic in your life? Blessington Alcoholics Anonymous Group is hosting an OPEN PUBLIC MEETING in St Joseph’s Hall, Main St. Blessington on Monday 8^th Nov at 8pm. The purpose of this meeting is to reach the still suffering alcoholic through a third party, family & friends by letting them know that AA exists, where it can be found & what it can offer. With speakers from Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon. Refreshments served. All welcome.

Blessington Educate Together are now accepting enrolments for the next school year 2022-2023.  Enrolment forms can be downloaded from our website www.betns.ie or contact the school office on 045 865 281 or email office@betns.ie

Gaelscoil na Lochanna is now accepting places for the 2022-2023 the school year. You don’t need Irish to send your child to the Gaelscoil! Tá an FÓGRA BLIANTIÚL MAIDIR LE LIGEAN ISTEACH fógraithe anois ar www.gaelscoilnalochanna.com mar aon le foirm iontrála agus eolas faoi Oíche Oscailte Fhíorúil. (3ú Samhain, 7:30) Spriocdháta dona hiarratais ná 24ú Samhain agus cuirfear tuistí ar an eolas ar an 1ú Nollaig. Beidh ar thuistí/chaomhnóirí an áit a chinntiú roimh/ar an 21ú Eanáir 2022. Tá 60 spás sna Naíonáin ar fáil (más chuí). The ANNUAL ADMISSIONS NOTICE.with enrolment forms is now available to view on the school website www.gaelscoilnalochanna.com. Applications for spaces are due before/on the 24th November 2021 & parents will be notified on the 1^st December. Parents/Guardians will then need to confirm their acceptance of the place on/ before 21st January 2022.There are 60 spaces available in Junior Infants.

Lacken National School are now accepting enrolment applications for the 2022/2023 school year. Please email school@lackenns.com  or contact the school office on 045 865086.

Donard Glen Community Talent Show – For One Night Only!! Don’t Miss it!! Saturday 20th November. All Proceeds in aid of Donard Community Hall & Baltinglass Hospital. Tickets €5 at the door. For more details call Edward 087 877 7580

Rugby at Russborough for age groups U6, U7, U8, U9, U10, U11, U12, U13, boys & girls! Tuesday 7pm to 8pm & Saturday 11am to 12:30. All Welcome to Blessington Mini-Rugby! blessingtonrugb@gmail.com

Vales Around Cloughlea Festival 2021:  GUIDED NATURE WALK: through Ballyward Forest Sat 6^th Nov at 11am. For details contact Aidan 086 3958207.  CONCERT Manor Kilbride Community Hall,  Saturday 6th November at 7.30pm, Dónal Lunny, Paddy Glackin & Phil Callery. Pre-booking for the above events essential. Contact Maria 087 9656257 or e-mail oldkilbride@gmail.com  ART & CRAFT EXHIBITION:  Sunday 7^th November 12noon – 4pm. Manor Kilbride Community Hall: Music: Kilbride & Lakeside Young Musicians. All welcome to drop by. Organised by Kilbride & Lakeside Music Committee & Glen Heste Pure Mile Group. Supported by Wicklow Co. Council Arts Dept

West Wicklow Chamber Music Festival ‘Winter Weekend’ The West Wicklow Chamber Music Festival‘s inaugural “Winter Weekend”, will take place from 12^th to 14^th November at Russborough. Tickets & further information from www.westwicklowfestival.com

Community Pool for West Wicklow are delighted to announce the return of our Christmas Market to Russborough House & Park this December! The Christmas Market will take place on Saturday December 11^th and will feature live music; face painting & of course, Santa will be there too. If you are a local business, artist or crafter & would like to take part please contact us by email at poolforWestWicklow@gmail.com

REMEMBERING – All welcome to join us at the Pro-Cathedral on Sunday lunchtimes in November for Remembering. The choirs associated with the Pro-Cathedral present a series of four Sunday lunchtime performances singing a varied and wide-range of choral music. At each performance, we will remember those lost during the Covid period in a special way. November 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th all at 1.15pm Admission is free.

Blessington FC is delighted to see the rapid growth in Girls Soccer. We now have 3 all girls teams that train weekly & play in the DDSL & MGL leagues. We have spaces in our Soccer Academy for Girls born 2014, 2015 & 2016. Our Academy runs on Saturday afternoons @3pm in the GAA Astro pitches. If you’re interested in signing your girls up you can contact our Academy Director Tony by email to academy@blessingtonfc.com

Lacken-Kilbride GAA Night @ The Races. Our annual race night is back! Are you feeling lucky….? Saturday 13^th November from 9.30pm in Zeller’s Pub ~ Lacken. Buy your horse for €20 (buy as many as you like!!) today online or in person from any committee member. For any businesses or high wealth individuals! You can sponsor a race or advertise your business in the Race Night booklet. Just €50 for a Half Page Advert, €100 for a Full Page Advert or €100 to sponsor one of ten races. Prizes to be won: Horse Winner Prize: €50, 2nd Place Horse: €30. You don’t have to in Zellers on the night, buy a horse in advance and you’re in the mix! All proceeds from this race night will be used to help develop our new Club pitch in Kilbride which will officially open to games in March/April 2022 to develop our underage academy, our male & female playing teams as well as our community walking track. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND GOOD LUCK! Contact: lackenkilbridegaaclub@gmail.com 086 311 3443 with any queries.

Anam Cara South Dublin supporting bereaved parents, is holding its monthly Parent Evening for bereaved parents on Mon 8th Nov at 7:20pm in the Maldron Hotel, Tallaght. This event is free & open to all bereaved parents regardless of the age your child died, the circumstances of their death, or if their death was recent or not.

A family of three is looking for a house/ apartment to rent in Blessington area a.s.a.p. Please call 086 864 8033. Thank You!