THE death took place recently in South Tipperary General Hospital, A lovely friendly family woman, Peggy will always be remembered by her smile with which she greeted all. The mementos presented at her funeral mass by younger members of her extended family mirrored her life and lifestyle.

She was essentially a family woman with great pride in her own home. A family photo showed her love of family and the cookery book spoke of her many homemaking skills. A bingo book showed her wish to socialise with friends, family and neighbours at the end of the day.

Peggy was a local herself, being a member of the Bradshaw family of whom her brother Jack Bradshaw, Ballinacloghy is now the sole survivor.
Peggy married the late Paddy Freeman in the 1940s and together they reared their family of two sons and two daughters.
Her remains reposed in the mortuary chapel of St Michael's Church in accordance with her wishes. Her funeral mass was celebrated in St Michael's by parish priest Fr John McGrath, who was most attentive to Peggy during her declining health.
The readers at her mass were her grandniece, Patsy Maguire nee Bradshaw, and her grand-daughter, Mary Freeman. The responsorial psalm was sung by family friend Áine Byrne.

During the entire funeral mass hymns were provided by Sean Byrne and his sisters Áine, Rosemary and Mary. They were accompanied by the Cullinane's on organ and flute. Seán is husband of Mandy Freeman.
The prayers of the faithful were recited by Danny Freeman (great grandson), Clodagh Dunphy (great grand-daughter), Mark Dunphy (son-in-law), Maureen Hennessy (family friend), Noelle Culligan (family friend) and Pat Freeman (grandson).
Burial took place after Mass in the family plot in the adjacent cemetery.

Peggy is survived by her sons, Jim Freeman (Cappaghnagrane), Bill Freeman (England) and her daughters, Mary Pregazzi (Isle of Man), and Jo Dunphy (Clonmel) and their families and extended families. To all of them we extend our sympathy as we do to her brother, Jack Bradshaw, her sister-in-law Peg Bradshaw and all Peggy's friends and neighbours.
During Peggy's funeral mass the gifts were presented by Peggy's daughter-in-law Jane and her son-in-law Mark. Again our condolences to all as we mourn the passing of a kind, gentle and above all, smiling lady.

local lotto – The local lotto jackpot was not won on Monday night, April 23. The numbers drawn were 1, 2, 4 and 26. We did however, have a match-3 winner who scooped e150, congratulations to Peter Treacy. Next draw will be on Tuesday, May 8 because of the bank holiday Monday, when the jackpot could be worth e5,300. A tidy sum even when compared to another jackpot won locally recently. However, you won't win if you are not in.

Underage gaa – Somewhat neglected in recent times have been our underage football and hurling teams. These players are most important. We hear many saying that they are the future of the GAA sufficient to say that without young players there can be no future for the GAA at either club or county level.
Our juveniles are officially organised at under-12, under-14 and under-16 level. In more recent years, under-10 is a group to which more attention is being paid.
In modern times, it is necessary that at a minimum two or three people should be looking after each team or panel. Sometimes this is not easy. A touch of the J.F. Kennedy philosophy is called for 'ask not what your country can do for you rather what you can do for your country".
In future weeks we will endeavour to report on what has taken place in the week tht has passed and the games that are coming in the week ahead.
At the moment club games are focused on the under-12 football championship and the under-14 football championship. Our under-14s have also been competing in Féile Peil Na n"g (football) as well as Féile na nGael (hurling).
In Féile Peil we lost to Carrick Swan on Sunday by a narrow margin. The game was played in Carrick-on-Suir. In Féile na nGael earlier in the week, we defeated St Mary's in round one. On Tuesday night we beat Ballingarry by 3-8 to 1-4.
The following night we went down in the final to a strong Kilsheelan/Kilcash side 2-9 to 1-5. Our cause was not helped by a number of our players having a surfeit of games in the championship, in school and also in soccer tournaments all coming at the same time.
Tonight (Wednesday) our under-12s play Ballyporeen in football while tomorrow (Thursday) it is the turn of our under-14 footballers to tackle Clonmel "g.
On Saturday our under-12 footballers conclude their football championship with a game against Ballingarry. Again three games inside a week is not helpful to our cause though we could be out of the chance of winning honours or competing in the knockout stages. Hopefully next week we will have better news to report.

Recent death – We recently reported the death in England of the late James Clancy and his funeral in his native Mullinahone. His widow, Bridie, and his family are grateful to relatives and friends for their expressions of sympathy and mass intentions received at that time.

Thanks to all who attended the funeral and to parish priest Fr John McGrath for welcoming the family back to Mullinahone.
James Clancy's funeral arrangements were handled by local undertaker Dan Kennedy.
God's blessing is extended to all as well as the gratitude of the family.

help needed – Have you got some time to spare? Are you new to the local community? Would you like to have loads of fun and craic? If you are a would-be or budding actor/actress/singer/ instrumentalist, come along to a meeting of the Slievenamon Musical Society on May 10 at 8.30pm in the Cloneen Sports and Social Club. The group is also looking for people who are not interested in taking to the boards in any musical show, but who would be willing to help out in any way e.g. creating sets, making costumes, helping with make-up, hall booking, raffle posters, fundraising activity, door, catering etc.

This society has a long tradition of promoting and encouraging talent, young and old, enabling them to get involved and take pride in their own musical society.
Remember from little acorns great oak trees grow. The next production will be staged in November but now is the time for forward planning.
Do come along (if only for a chat) and get involved, make new friends and have fun (you might even join in for one of the weekends away). All are welcome.

Mid-summer ball – Slievenamon Musical Society will hold its annual Mid-Summer Ball on June 23 in Cloneen. Dinner will be served at 9pm sharp followed by dancing to Never Heard of Them, followed by Disco until the early hours. It looks like music of all kinds 'ad infinitum'. Tickets are e30 per person, available from any member of the society or locally from Teckie Brett. Come along for the night of your life. Again all are welcome.

School enrolment – Anybody wishing to enrol their child in Scoil Mhuire, Kilvemnon, kindly contact the school for an enrolment form. You are requested to return same to the school before May 15.

Parish newsletter – First Confessions will take place on Friday, May 11 at 7.30pm. This is in preparation for First Communion which will take place at a special mass in St Michael's Church on Saturday, May 26 at 11am.
Friday is the first Friday. There will be Masses in St Michael's at 10am and 8pm. Only morning First Friday calls will take place. There will be confessions both before and after morning and evening masses.
The parish regrets the recent death of Jim Woods, Rossane and extends its sympathy to his brother John in Ballytarsna and his sister Bernadette in Aherlow.

Anniversary masses this weekend Friday at 10am, Ellen Butler, Beaverstown; Saturday, 8pm Ellen Hickey nee Tobin Carrick Street; Sunday at 9.30am Nora Noonan, Ballycullen.
The Chalice Programme for confirmation families in the parish is drawing to a close. Last week's keeper was the family of Jessica Watson. When the present rota is complete a new rota consisting of the First Communion families 2007 will begin.

Reflection – Friends are relatives you make for yourself last year.

Our review of the events of 2006 as seen in the Mullinahone newsletter is almost at an end. This week we look at November. Brian Larkin of Carrick Road was married to Diane Roberts of Bunclody. Cemetery prayers were arranged for Sunday afternoons in the local cemeteries. Fr Tom Kennedy formerly of the Crab Ditch, Poulacapple passed away in Australia. Mullinahone reached two county football finals minor and intermediate and won both within 24 hours. Mullinahone photographer Donal O'Brien spoke to the ladies club and community games looked for people to join them.
Kathleen McCarthy nee O'Sullivan died in the United States and Coolagh Cards meant that Christmas was coming. The GAA club advanced into Munster via Cloneen in the club intermediate championship. The parish mourned the death at too young an age of Paul Cronin of Ballyduggan.

The local lotto worth e9,250 was won by Mary Fitzgibbon of Carrick Street. November passed into December.