GIFT GUIDE A taste of Christmas pages 19-26 www.westcorkpeople.ie & www.westcorkfridayad.ie December 4, 2020 – January 14, 2021, Vol XVI, Edition 220 FREE Old Town Hall, McCurtain Hill, Clonakilty, Co. Cork. E: [email protected] P: 023 8835698 TIME TO CHANGE NEW PEUGEOT 3008 TEST DRIVE THE NEW 3008 AT CLARKE BROS THIS JANUARY Bandon’s very own Sister Act ‘The Ryan Sisters’ have launched their debut CD ‘A Christmas PLUG-IN HYBRID, PETROL, DIESEL Collection’ . (l-r) Ella, Mary-Jo and Angela Ryan recorded remotely the 10 Christmas songs over the past number of months. For further information, check out @angelaryanmusic and @ellaryanmusic on Facebook and Instagram. Pic: Ivo Yotov, livetimephotography.com CLARKE BROS LTD Remember Cork’s homeless children Main Peugeot Dealer, ith Christmas fast ap- Against this challenging backdrop, and amazed by the generosity of ClonakiltyCLARKE Road, Bandon, BROS Co. Cork. proaching, and children the team at Good Shepherd Cork is people who call into Edel House with Tel: 023-8841923 Web: www.clarkebrosgroup.ie around the country determined to make this a memorable presents for the women and children (BANDON) LTD Weagerly anticipating Santa’s arrival on and magical Christmas for all the in our services, with Christmas treats, Main Peugeot Dealers Christmas Eve, please spare a thought children in their services. food items for our annual Christmas for families who will be homeless in Allison Aldred, CEO, Good Shep- dinners, together with donations Clonakilty Road, Cork this Christmas. herd Cork, said: “This year we are which are essential to us being able Bandon Children currently living in accom- all anxious about whether we will be to provide the range of supports our Co. Cork modation provided by Good Shepherd able to visit family and friends over service users need,” concluded Ms. Cork at Edel House on Liberty Street the Christmas season. Families in Aldred. 023-8841923 (an emergency shelter for women and homeless services have the additional If you would like to help make children), the Redclyffe family hub on challenges of meeting family and Christmas 2020 magical for families www.clarkebrosgroup.ie Western Road, and those supported in friends, and making Christmas spe- who are homeless, you can make a B&Bs, may worry that Santa won’t cial, when home is a small room in a donation at www.goodshepherdcork. know where to find them if they don’t crowded emergency shelter or, worse ie, or by post to Edel House, Grattan have a place to call home. still, a B&B. When you add the social Street, Cork. Donations can be made At the end of September there were distancing requirements in a shared in person, but please contact the team over 150 children, from 62 families, facility, the requirement to wear in advance at info@goodshepherd- in emergency accommodation in Cork masks at all times in communal areas cork.ie or make contact with Claire and Kerry. Many of the Cork families and the vigorous cleaning regimes at 086 604 5241 so that the team can were supported by services provided required in shared kitchens and bath- manage social distancing require- by Good Shepherd Cork, during a rooms, making Christmas magical for ments. Contact Ian Carey year, which has been extremely diffi- children is very difficult indeed. cult due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Every Christmas we are delighted The Gift of Something to Look Forward To…. Weekend Breaks | Day Spa Packages | Afternoon Tea | Dinner for Two Tel: 023 8833143 www.inchydoneyisland.com 2 December 4, 2020 – January 14, 2021 her papers were in a locked box. He forced the lock, injured ‘Tis the season for traditions his hand, got lockjaw and died. Just in time for Christmas, ‘Pretty Interesting His- She was released aged 75 and tory’ has launched the latest in a series of whim- enjoyed life to the full until she died at age 98.” sical visual anthologies of Irish women’s social Grateful that all of her history – ‘The Curious Lady’s Guide to Marriage’. family members, especially her The writer, designer and illustrator behind these mum who is in her 70s, have remained safe and well during humourous historical guides is Jenny Dempsey, this pandemic, Jenny is hoping a self-proclaimed history obsessive and talented that she’ll get to see them this graphic designer, who through her beautiful illus- Christmas if the restrictions are lifted. trations and fetish for time travel, gives an interest- “I don’t celebrate Christmas ing and accessible insight into the past. very well at the best of times,” she laughs. “Usually I have three Christmases. One with he Curious Lady’s Jenny Dempsey describes my family in Wicklow, which is Guide to Marriage’ her work as “making children’s my mum, my brother, his wife explains how to find books for adults. I use lots of and their four loud, exuberant ‘Ta man, how to live with a man, illustrations and include little boys. This usually takes place in and where to turn if you don’t snippets and fake newspaper early December so it’s not very actually want a man! From cuttings for people to discover.” Christmassy and it is dominat- ‘How to wear the latest, flimsy, Her penchant for time travel- ing by excited shouting. see-through dresses without ling means that family outings “The second Christmas is Jenny stepping into Bantry House ballroom from the servant’s entrance contracting consumption’ to usually end up at some museum with my daughter and her fa- ‘Alternative life choices for and when someone makes a ther. We come together for gift The “relatedness of ev- and Britain’s subsequent war lady married a 35-year-old Irish spinsters’ each of the 90 pages remark – about anything – she giving and a meal on Christmas erything” is what she finds created great prosperity in Cork man. Perhaps she thought he is a fascinating mixture of gen- finds herself replying with day. None of us like turkey, no fascinating in her research for where the merchants stocked loved her, but he loved her rich- tle humour, quirky drawings phrases like ‘funny you should one believes in Santa and we the guides. She explains: “For the ships and clothed the navy. es more and demanded she hand and historical fact. mention that because in the past don’t go to mass, so that’s not example the French Revolution The war also needed men to them over. She refused and A native of Co Wicklow, they did it this way…’ very Christmassy either. in 1789, which created the fight so the British government hid her jewels in her wig and Jenny lives in Bantry with her “When I visit an old house “The third Christmas is the French republic, created an in- had to relax their ban on Cath- petticoats. He locked her in the daughter. Jenny talks to Mary or heritage site,” says Jenny “I one in my imagination. The terest in the fashion styles of the olics entering the forces. This attic where she spent 22 years O’Brien about her fascination find myself imagining how life idealised Christmas where my ancient republics of Greece and was a step forward for Catholic trying to keep sane by recording with the past, how it influences was like for the women who house is bigger, I am thinner, Rome, which is why the Re- Emancipation...and so on.” her thoughts by pricking them her work and daily life and how lived there. What did they laugh Bing Crosbie is making eggnog gency fashions some years later Even more intriguing is the on the wallpaper with a pin. some of the Christmas traditions about, cry about, rage and roar and all the decorations are favoured, white, flowing muslin tale Jenny shares of Lady Cath- Eventually she broke down and we take for granted today actu- about.... I’m not a historian, but exquisite twinkling 19th century ally came to pass. I decided to find the answers.” gowns. This rise of Napoleon cart. “Aged 53, this rich English told her wretched husband that Continued on next page... CNM Training Successful Practitioners CHANGE CAREER Season’s Greetings to all our Train to become a… customers from everybody at Shanahan’s Nurseries Nutritional Therapist • Berries give a richness no garden should be without. There are some Herbalist Attend a FREE wonderful berrying shrubs – Skimmia, Acupuncturist Online Event Holly, Viburnum and Nandina to name a few. Homeopath • Plant Heathers now for Autumn/ Winter colour. * Evergreen and hardy Health Coach *Excellent ground cover * Easy to care Natural Chef for *Ideal for planted containers. • Native Bare root trees - A wide selection, including: Beech, Hazel, Postgraduate & Short Courses Part-time studies Hawthorn, Willow etc. NEW Study in class or online • Wild bird feed and feeders at very keen prices. Colleges across Ireland and the UK Gift Vouchers available at our Garden Centre or by phone/email. Shanahan’s Nurseries (300 Metres from Fernhill House Hotel) 01 878 8060 www.naturopathy.ie OPEN TUES TO SAT, 9am–5.30pm (OPEN THROUGH LUNCH). For gardening tips like us on Facebook or visit our website! www.shanahansnurseries.ie December 4, 2020 – January 14, 2021 3 ..Cont’d from previous page glass from Bavaria.” “The third Christmas They invited all their friends, a Jenny feels it’s probably supper was served, and she got about time she instigates some is the one in my imag- a new dress for the occasion. Christmas traditions herself. “I ination. The idealised Both books were produced heard Jeffrey Archer on the ra- Christmas where my from actual diaries and you can dio recently who gives a famous get a copy through the current champagne and shepherd’s pie house is bigger, I am owner Brigitte Shelswell White party every year.