THE Town has taken on a festive appearance on the lead up to Christmas Day. All of the shop windows are showing colourful displays, and the lights illuminating Main Street and The Square are adding greatly to the yuletide spirit. Many exiles are expected to return over the next few days to spend Christmas with family and friends.

May we at Abbeyfeale On Line wish all of our visitors to the web site a happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year. We shall have an update again as usual next Tuesday (Christmas Day) when we shall bring you some of the local happenings during this busy week.

MUNSTER ON COURSE!

Munster remain on course to qualify for the knock-out stages of the Heineken Cup following their 22-13 win ove Llanneli Scarlets in Thomond Park at the weekend. Munster now top pool 5 with 14 points. Wasps have 13 points and Clermont are on 10. Munster are away to Clermont in the new year and then face Wasps in Thomond Park in the final group match. With three teams still in contention and only one qualifying place, there is little room for error.Wasps and Munster are both 8/1 to lift the trophy, with Clermont at 16/1. Toulouse are favourites at 7/2 and Gloucester are 4/1.

CHERNOBYL;

A draw is being held in aid of the Abbeyfeale Chernobyl Children’s Fund on 22^nd December. Tickets are on sale locally at €2 each. Children from Chernobyl will be arriving on this Thursday 20^th December.

LA LE BRIDE;

`Welcome Spring’ a celebration is planned for the Church of the Assumption on Friday Feb. 1st next with Finbar Wright. The subscription is €30 and tickets which come with a special presentation envelope are selling rapidly. If you want to solve some of your Christmas present dilemmas then you should call to any of the following outlets , Buckleys Devon Road, Mann’s Costcutter, Tuohigs Supervalue, Kathleen’s Foodstore, Ann Lyons, The Square, Edmond Donoghue’s Convent St., and Moss the Farmer’s, Killarney Road. You can also order tickets by ringing the Parish Office at 06831133 between 11am and 1pm Monday to Friday. Funds raised go towards the ongoing renovation on the Church.

FUNDRAISER;

WL102fm’s Country Music Presenters are organising an Awards Night in the Rathkeale House Hotel on Monday 25th February next with Paddy O’ Brien as the headline act. Voting will take place over the next weeks. Tickets at €15 are currently on sale and can be ordered from the station on 069 66200.

RUGBY;

The Abbeyfeale RFC Christmas Party takes place in the clubhouse on this Sunday night 23rd December starting at 10 pm. This is usually a great night when all of the local rugby aficionados let their hair down and party ‘till dawn. Well worth a visit.

COURSING;

The local coursing meeting goes ahead on Saturday and Sunday 29^th and 30^th December. The event has attracted a top class entry again this year, with all of the fancied runners for Clonmel taking part. A veritable feast of coursing is expected over the two days.

SOCCER;

Abbeyfeale Utd A drew 1-1 with Old Mill at Riverside Park on Saturday evening. Paul Doherty scored for Abbeyfeale. The B team drew 4-4 away to St Ita’s on Sunday. David Moriarty scored a hat-trick, and Michael Brosnihan also found the net.