Bro. Paul in Eldoret 18th January 2008
Good morning or evening to all my family and friends around the world . . . How I wish that I could report peace and calm here in this part of Kenya which has been extremely badly hit by very violent clashes, sporadically since 31 December up to today at least. Alas, it is not so!

I understand that many of you have been tuned into radio and especially TV over the past three weeks following events here. I also realize that sometimes TV tends to exaggerate the problems for the sake of getting something like a 'scoop' on the news. However, no matter how graphically it has been portrayed, please believe me, it has been very bad here on the ground.

I must also stress that we Europeans and Americans, Missionaries, and other non-citizens like us, have not been directly been caught up in the mayhem except to say that our ordinary way of life has been completely disrupted and many in the affected areas, like myself, have been virtually house-bound since the New Year. That may explain all the emails that have been emanating from my office here near Eldoret!  One should also stress that there are vast areas of Kenya that are completely at peace and carrying on with their lives normally or as normally as possible. You may be aware that other countries to the west of Kenya (Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, the Sudan, and The Congo) rely heavily on the Kenya port at Mombasa for all their major imports. These neighbours are being badly affected in terms of trade etc. as the main trans-Africa highway runs from Mombasa through Eldoret to places west.

The other way we have been affected is that we are generally working with poor people and it is the poor people who have been affected most of all. An African proverb says that when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers! So it is in the present crisis where the poorest are the grass. It is not pleasant to see what has happened and that is an understatement.

In spite of the fact that more mass action rallies are being planned for today (Friday) in Nairobi and major towns including Eldoret, there is still some hope on the horizon as Kofi Annan along with two other eminent people are coming to mediate in the dispute. We pray that their efforts will bring peace and genuine reconciliation to our country's leaders.

I would like to thank all of you who have been sending messages of support to us here at this very troubling time. The world is such a small place now and more than ever we can say that 'no man is an island'.

There is so much more we could add but . . .

May God Bless all of you and may He also spare a blessing for Kenya and her people.
Paul D. Brennan (Bro.) Eldoret and Kabongo.

Graduation

Lisa Hanrahan, Rathcoole, Fethard, who was recently conferred with a B.Ed in Montessori.

With the White Heathers
From Coolbawn on Sunday 6th they found in the fort at Coolbawn Cross.  Hunting over the hill through Guiry’s they checked at the River bridge at St. Johnstown.  Hounds were at fault here they did carry the line across the road to Sparrow’s where they lost him.  Drawing up stream through Kilkennybeg to Bawnbrack they failed to find.  Moving to Kennedy’s at the Killenaule / Fethard road they ran back to Prout’s.  When eventually hounds could be recalled from this vast covert a move was made back to Roan.  A short run from here over the hill towards Killenaule finished the day.  The Ballyluskey White Heather Harriers meet next Sunday, January 20th, at Loughcopple at 11am.

Fethard Bridge Club Results
The results of Fethard Bridge Club game played on Wednesday 9 January were:

1st Gross: Nell Broderick and David O’Meara;
2nd Gross: Berney Myles and Alice Quinn;
1st Nett: Bridie Lee and Mike Burke;
2nd Nett: Kay St. John and Rita Kane. 

Anyone looking for a partner please contact Berney Myles at 32038.

Patrician Memorabilia Required

Transition year students at Patrician Presentation Secondary School, Fethard, preparing a collage for the Patrician Brothers Bicentenary event on 30th January.

The Patrician Presentation Secondary School wishes to compile a display of objects and memorabilia relating to the era of the Patrician Brothers in Fethard 1873-1993. The organising committee would be grateful for the loan of memorabilia such as medals, photographs, documents and any related objects for a period of around two weeks in conjunction with the Bicentenary celebrations on 30th January.

All items will be credited, if wished, and returned safely to you after the celebration. Please contact the school or Pat Looby, art teacher, if you have something you wish to be displayed.

Fethard Juvenile GAA Club
Fethard Juvenile GAA Club will hold their annual general meeting on Thursday, 24th January 2008, in the Tirry Community Centre at 7.30pm.  All parents of juvenile members are invited to attend this AGM, so please come along and support your club.

Leanness Programme Presentation:

Photographed at the presentation on ‘The Seven Steps to Balance’ at Butler’s Bar new meeting room on Main Street, Fethard, on 9th January were L to R: Martin Keane, Martha Blackett, Marianne Shortall, Ann Butler and Desmond Doyle.

Last week Mr Desmond Doyle, Co-Author, Dipl. Health and Nutrition Trainer, made a presentation on ‘The Seven Steps to Balance’ at Butler’s Bar new meeting room on Main Street. The presentation was based on Dr. Bahadori’s book ‘Leanness Programme’, now its 4th edition, which aims to help people find a way to understand and combat such things as stress eating. Or show them how to enjoy the temptations of the buffet on an all-inclusive holiday, enjoying food while helping them to lose weight. The programme actually encourages overweight people to discover and enjoy food and by doing so enhance their lifestyle. The way to successful weight loss is not over the body mass index or the weighing scale, is not found in the purchase of expensive drugs or diets. It is found in rediscovering the ancient wisdom of balance in body, mind and spirit. Using small and simple steps. The book, now available at Newport’s Newsagency, invites you to walk that pathway to weight loss and vitality in body and soul.

Fethard Walled Towns Parade

Fethard Walled Towns Parade is featured on the cover of the latest edition of the Heritage Council's magazine 'Heritage Outlook'. The parade was held on 26th August last year and featured children from Nano Nagle National School, St. Patrick's Boys School and Killusty National School with heraldic banners created under the direction of local artist Ms. Pat Looby.

Patrician Bicentenary celebrates Fethard’s educational heritage
On Wednesday, 30th January, the Patrician Presentation Secondary School will host a ceremony to celebrate the Bicentenary of the Patrician Brothers 1808- 2008.

The Patrician Order was founded on 2nd February, 1808 by Daniel Delaney in Tullow, Co. Carlow. Then, in 1873, three Patrician Brothers: Bro. Augustine Holton, Bro. Vincent Riordan and Bro. Arsenious Fitzpatrick established a monastery in Fethard on the site of the old Presentation laundry. Thus for one hundred and twenty years the Patrician Brothers together with the Presentation Sisters provided education for the people of Fethard and made an enormous contribution to the cultural formation of the town.

The people of Fethard and the surrounding areas are cordially invited to join in the Patrician celebrations on Wednesday, 30th January. The celebrations will begin with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Patrician plot in the grounds of the Holy Trinity Parish Church followed by a concelebrated Mass at 11am in the adjoining church. Afterwards at 12.30pm you are welcome to partake of light refreshments in the Secondary School.

Open Night at Patrician Presentation Secondary School
Patrician Presentation Secondary School will hold an open night for prospective incoming pupils and their parents on Monday night 28th January at 8pm. All enquiries to the school office Tel: (052) 31572.

Died Recently
The death has occurred of Mrs Marion (McCarthy) O'Connor, 44 St. Patrick's Place, Fethard, on Monday 14th January. Reposing at McCarthy's Funeral from 5pm on Wednesday 16th January. Removal at 7pm to the Augustinian Abbey, Fethard.

Requiem Mass at 1pm on Thursday followed by interment at Calvary Cemetery.

Fethard & Killusty Community Council
The next meeting of Fethard & Killusty Community Council will take place at 8.30pm on Tuesday night 22nd January.

Hunting News
From Kedrah on Monday 7th hounds found by Knockgraffon, this fox just ran down the large field of stubble under the moat and got to ground in the rough patch by the Suir.  Dr. McCarthy’s plantation held a brace.  After some good covert hunting hounds hunted across the Church Road to Kelly’s.  Running straight to the top of the hill they swung right-handed as if for Hymenstown.  Wheeling in a right-handed loop the fox ran back to the plantation where he was left.  Hymenstown proved blank.  Finding again near O’Connor’s they had a nice run back once again to Dr. McCarthy’s.  Hunting from the glen under O’Connor’s hounds found it difficult to hold the line out of covert.  Hitting it off near the house they ran a very fast good circle and back to covert.  Their fox ran again up by the house, looked to be running the same circle as before when he was lost near the road.

Wednesday found Earlshill covered with snow.  Hunting on foot Derry found near the old Coalmine.  Scent was very patchy.  Hounds, however, stuck well to their task and had a good forty minutes if somewhat rather slow.  The torrential rain brought this hut and the day to an early conclusion.  At Mullinahone on Thursday hounds hunted exceptionally well in Finnane Wood.  Despite their best efforts however Charlie could not be persuaded to leave covert, two short circles out over the Drangan Road to the Graveyard and back was the best that could be achieved.  Poor scent was the order of the day from Ballingarry on Saturday.  A fox from Ryans was hunted down towards the plantation on the Crohane side and lost.  Foxes proved hard to find afterwards.  Grawncole, usually a certain find, was blank.  Hounds eventually found on the hill over the road.  Running down towards the Commons hounds ran left-handed to the Ballynonty road which they crossed.  Finding it difficult to hold the line they checked where Derry called a halt in quickly failing light at 4pm.