Tarbert Notes - Week Ending 15th November       TARBERT lost one of its oldest and most highly revered parishioners in the death on November 5 of Mr James (Sonny) Finnucane, Kilpadogue, which took place after a very brief illness, at Tralee General Hospital. In his 94th year he was the oldest man in the parish and was a member of an old and respected local family. Sonny retained full possession of his faculties right up to his death and had a keen interest in local and national affairs and kept up to date with all the happenings through his radio and TV. Sonny was blessed these past years to have the tender loving care of his sister, Hetty. His death leaves a void in the older generation for he had spent all of his 93 years in his native locality. He worked on the Leslie farm for over 30 years before his retirement in 1974. He was a playing member of the Tarbert football teams of the ’30s and was one of the last surviving members of the old Regatta and Marquee committee of the ’50s. Always pleasant and cheerful, Sonny was the best of company and was well known for his ready wit. He was a great favourite with both young and old and will be sadly missed. These late years he loved to celebrate his birthday with his sister Hetty, relatives and his many kind neighbours and friends. There was a huge attendance at the removal of the remains from St Mary’s Funeral Home to St Mary’s church. The remains were shouldered to the church by nephews and neighbours of Sonny. The chief concelebrant at the funeral Mass on Friday was Sonny’s nephew, Fr Gerard Finucane, Knoxville, Tennessee and formerly of Meelick, Co Clare. The other concelebrants were Very Rev Mossy Brick, PP, Tarbert and Very Rev Philip O’Connell, PP, Ballylongford. Family members and friends participated in the readings, prayers of the Faithful and Offertory procession. Sonny is survived by his sister, Mrs Hetty Houlihan, Kilpadogue; niece, Mrs Noreen Pattwell, Kilpadogue; nephew, Fr Gerard Finucane, son of the late Tom Ashe) Finucane, other members and nieces from Clare, Limerick, Wexford, Tipperary and Portlaoise; grand–nephews, grand–nieces, relatives, friends and neighbours, to whom sympathy of the community is extended.       SYMPATHY: Sympathy of the community is also extended to Mrs Margaret Cournane, Tarmons, on the death last week of her mother, Mrs Margaret (Babe) Crean, Oakview, Tralee.       FUN QUIZ: A fun quiz night in aid of the local Special Olympics host town group will be held at Coolahan’s bar on this Friday night, November 15, commencing at 9.30pm sharp. Your support will be appreciated so come along and enjoy the occasion with Quiz Master Der Connor.       ESTUARY AC: Indoor training for Estuary AC will take place every Thursday from 7pm–8pm in the Comprehensive School Gym. New members welcome. Indoor competitions will take place in the new year.       JUVENILE FUNCTION: The annual juvenile football function will be held on this Sunday evening, November 17, at the Lanterns Hotel. Medals will be presesented to both the victorious U–12 and U–14 teams. Players from the U–16, U–10 and U–8 teams will also be present. All are welcome.       BEREAVEMENT GROUP: Christy Kenneally of TV and radio fame, will give a talk on “Life After Loss” at the Lanterns Hotel, Tarbert, on Thursday, November 21, at 8pm. Tarbert Bereavement Group are sponsoring this visit of Christy Kenneally and everybody is welcome.       GAA LOTTERY: There was no winner of the €1,600 Jackpot in the GAA Lottery draw held at Coolahan’s Bar on Sunday night. The numbers drawn were: 11, 14, 20, 24. Lucky Dip winners of €30 each were: Anne O’Sullivan, Bridie Heffernan, Maureen and John Stack, Patrick Pattwell. Bar prizewinners were: Bottle of Brandy sponsored by Tomás Coolahan: Anne Stack; €15 each: Finbar Carrig, Mike Sheahan, Paddy Kelly, Tim Lynch; promoters prize, €15: Joe Langan. The next Jackpot will be €6,200 and the draw will be held at Carmody’s ar this Sunday night. All are welcome. The club would like to thank everyone for their continued support of the Lotto each week and wishes to remind supporters that the draw is held at 11.30pm on Sunday nights.       GOLD PIN PRESENTATION: At the Vigil Mass on Saturday night concelebrated by Very Rev Mossy Brick, PP and Fr Gerard Finucane, Mrs Eileen Leahy, Glencullaire, was presented with a gold pin to mark 50 years total abstinence as a member of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association. The presentation was made by Mrs Mary Holland of the local Pioneer Branch. Congratulations and well done to Mrs Leahy.       NK C’SHIP: A last minute point earned Duagh a draw against Ballylongford in the NK championship quarter–final played in Shannon Park, Tarbert, on Saturday. The replay takes place on this Saturday again in Shannon Park.       JUNIOR TEAM: At Glin sportsfield on Saturday, Tarbert junior team lost to Clounmacon in the Div 2 North Junior football league final by a score of 1–7 to 1–5. Over the hour Clounmacon were deserving winners with their better team work, while the Tarbert team gave full commitment but squandered away numerous scoring chances during the game. The team was: J Costello, K Deenihan, M Carrig, N Kelly, N Flynn, E Holly, M Boland, F Scannell, E O’Connell, A Langan, J O’Donnell, B Kiely, N Stack, C Lanigan, J O’Dowd. Subs: A Sheahan, B Langan. J Langan, S Stack, E Egan, J Diggins.       CROSS–COUNTRY: Congratulations to sisters, Aoibheann Sorcha and Sinéad Prendiville, Pulleen, who won gold medals with Listowel Athletic Club in the girls under 15, 1500m at the Munster AAI uneven ages cross–country championship held recently at St Augustine’s College, Dungarvan.       COURSING: Well done to John Flynn, Doonard, on his success at Listowel coursing with his greyhound, ‘Isn’t She Gallant,’ who won the Brown Bookmakers All–Age Bitch Stake. In the Oaks Trial Stake, JP Prendiville’s dog, Swanky Tamara, was just beaten in the final.           back to notes index