Tarbert Notes - Week Ending 3rd January       ON the Saturday night before Christmas a great cheer rang out from the huge crowd in front of St Mary¹s Church when special guest Enda Gildea, Tieraclea Park switched on the lights on the Star of Bethlehem, the Christmas Tree and the Crib. Christmas was celebrated with the usual fervour and devotion in the parish with St Mary¹s Church crowded for the children¹s Mass at 6pm and 9pm Mass on Christmas Eve and again at the 9am and 11am Masses on Christmas Day. Great credit is due to the many parishioners both young and old who participated in the readings and offertory processions at the Masses. A special word of praise and thanks to Very Rev. Mossy Brick PP and Fr Tommy O¹Hanlon. Thanks also to Pat and Kay Higgins, the children¹s choir and their teachers, to soloist Oonagh O¹Hanlon and to organist Eithne Creedon and the senior choir for their contribution in the singing of the Christmas hymns. It was very noticeable at the Masses, the big number of Tarbert people who were home on holidays from many parts. For a number of families in the parish Christmas will be remembered with sadness with the loss of loved ones who passed to their eternal reward during the past year.       GAA CONVENTION: The Tarbert GAA Convention will be held in the Community Centre on this Saturday night, January 4 at 8.30pm (sharp). All nominations for club officers must be with ;the secretary, Joe Langan by January 31. It is important that there will be a big turnout of members, players and supporters at the convention. It is the one time of the year anyone can voice their opinions or make proposals.       CHARITY GAME: The annual charity game for the Thomas Lyndon Memorial Cup between the ³Oldies² and the OYoung Lions¹ will be held on this Tuesday, New Year¹s Eve at 2.30pm. This charity game for a very worthy cause is always enjoyable encounter and a big turnout of supporters can again be expected to attend.       PARADE: A big turnout can again be expected for Tarbert¹s grand old custom of ringing in the new year with a grand parade through the town led by blazing torchlights and musicians. The parade is one of the most enjoyable nights of the Christmas period and is also a special night for our emigrants at home for Christmas and for the many Tarbert people at home from many parts of Ireland who join in he celebrations and renew old acquaintances.       ST MARY¹S CHURCH: The special diocesan collection to be taken up at the Masses this weekend is for the Needs of the Holy Land. Mass on New Year¹s Eve will be celebrated in St Mary¹s Church at 7.30pm. Monday, January 6 is the Feast of the Epiphany, a holy day of obligation.       THANKS: A word of thanks and praise is due to all the members of the different organisations in the parish for all their work during the year for the good of the community. A special word of thanks is due to the Kilnaughtin cemetery group for their work in Kilnaughtin cemetery.       NEW YEAR¹S GREETING: The writer wishes a happy and peaceful new year to all readers of these notes at home and overseas and wish to thank all the people who supplied news items for the notes during the past year.       SYMPATHY of the community is extended to Mrs Helen Wrenn, Tarmons on the death in London of her brother, Mr Batt Kelly, late of Coolkeragh, Listowel. Sympathy is also extended to Eoin O¹Keeffe, Tarmons, Tarbert on the death of his sister, Catherine O¹Keeffe, late of Newmarket and Germany. Sympathy is also extended to Mrs Joan Stubbs (nee Shine) formerly of Tarbert on the death of her husband, John Stubbs, who died in England.           back to notes index