Tomorrow is National Fish and Chip Day in Ireland.
The story goes that back in the 1880’s a ship heading for America stopped in Cobh and a young Italian called Giuseppe Cervi stepped ashore and kept walking until he reached Dublin. He worked in the city as a labourer, earning enough to buy a turf-burning cooker and a handcart, and started selling chips outside the pubs and theatres. His first fish and chip shop was in Pearse Street next door to Trinity College, where he made a killing, selling to the well-to-do Protestant university students and lecturers.
The first chip shop in Abbeyfeale was run by the late Paddy and Norrie Kennedy. It was situated up near the local cinema and, to my mind, sold the best chips and the tastiest soup in Ireland at that time.
The chips were hand-cut from new potatoes that had been dug up in local haggarts that very morning. They were dished out in liberal portions with lashings of salt and vinegar and plenty of red sauce. Fish was not yet on the menue, but you could augment your meal with a couple of plump Donnelly’s or Dinny’s sausages. It was a repast fit for a king, and proved especially tasty following a few bottles of stout in the many hostelries down the town. It was also an ideal fortification and preparation for the later trials and tribulations that faced us in Tom Tobin’s Dance Hall
Soup was also on the menue. You could order any flavour you liked, as long as it was oxtail, and it was so thick and creamy and nourishing that you could stand a spoon in it. It was usually accompanied by a couple of generously-carved cuts of pan loaf, fresh from Larry Ellen’s Bakery in The Square.
The original chip shop is gone now. And most of us who used to congregated there to sample those simple culinary delights have also moved on and scattered to the four corners of the globe.
But, from London to Rome, from New York to Boston and from Dublin to Cork, wherever we now are, we still fondly recall those memorable Sunday nights as we stood in line for our regular order of soup and chips in Paddy Kennedy’s
To my mind, nothing ever since has tasted as good!
WEST LIMERICK RADIO NEWS
There will be a table quiz and raffle in aid of West Limerick Community Radio in Steve and Marie Smith’s Ploughman Bar on Friday, May 28 next. Quiz Master Lorcan Curtin. Come and meet your favourite presenters in the flesh, get to know the person behind the voice. The first of the Summer Hooley’s kicks off on Bank Holiday Saturday in the Devon Inn with Pat Jordan and Finian’s Rainbow and special guest Eddie Carey. Tickets just €10 for a great night of dancing. Confined members draw tickets are on sale at €6 per month for six months with the first draw for €1,000 in monthly prizes in June. Contact any of the local volunteers or the office on 069 66200 for further details. The next car boot sale and indoor market will be held on Sunday, June 13.
GOLFING SOCIETY
Our next outing is our Captain’s Prize Day at Newcastlewest Golf Club on Saturday, May 29,sponsored by Captain Tim Kelly and additional prizes sponsored by Crowley & Keane Quarry & Plant Hire Ltd. Tee-times are 09.00-11.10.To be included in the draw for tee-times text your name to 086-2234074 by 6pm this evening Wednesday, May 26. Players are asked to be at the clubhouse 30 minutes prior to their tee-times.
DEATHS
Sincere sympathy is extended to Mary Ita (Barry) and family on the death of her brother Denis Barry, late of Shepherd’s Bush and Clash Road. Denis was son of the late Paddy Barry who lived just above Johnny King’s on the way to Meenahela Creamery. May he Rest In Peace.
ICA;
An exhibition of I.C.A. memorabilia will begin at 7.30pm at Abbeyfeale Library on Thursday, June 3rd. This is an open invitation to I.C.A. members, past and present to join in with this centenary celebration. We would also like to welcome anyone who wishes to join with us and be part of this evening.
PARISH OUTING
The outing is to Fota Island Wildlife Park and Cobh for this year’s trip which takes place on Tuesday, July 6th. Early booking advisable. Contact Peg on 31232 for more details.
COLLECTION
The annual Fine Gael church gate collection will be taken up at all Masses on the weekend of May 29 and 30.
QUIZ
A Table Quiz will be held in Jack O’Rourke’s Bar, The Square, Abbeyfeale on Friday May 28 in aid of the RehabCare Centre in Listowel. All are welcome.
GAA;
Limerick will play Waterford in the Munster Senior Football final on Sunday week, 6th June. Kerry will play Cork in the other semi-final on the same day.
David Lacy Memorial Cup; Fr. Casey’s V Mountcollins – Sunday 30th May in Abbeyfeale at 7.00pm
West Junior A Championship; Fr. Casey’s V Drom/Broadford – Thursday 3rd June in Newcastle West at 7.30pm
SOCCER
Abbeyfeale Utd A 0, Newcastle West 1. Abbeyfeale Utd B 1, Killeaney 4. Sunday 30th May; Abbeyfeale Utd A V Carrig Celtic A at 11.30 am

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