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Bringing In A Brand New Year.

Wishing all of our readers, both at home and abroad, a very happy 2025.

To all of our many readers and followers on social media, goes the wish that individually you each experience a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year during 2025 and indeed, in the years beyond.

Bringing In A Brand New Year.

Lyrics: American blues singer, pianist and songwriter the late Tony Russell “Charles” Mose Brown, (1922-1999).
Vocals: Charles Mose Brown.

Bringing In A Brand New Year.

At the stroke of midnight,
On that great holiday,
Gonna have a ball,

And that ain’t all,
Gonna chase my blues away.


I’ll be bringin’ in a brand new year,
Bringin’ in a brand new year,
Gonna have a dance,
Take a chance at romance,
While bringin’ in a brand new year
.

Gonna be a big parade,
Got my resolution made,

Listen, dear, won’t you meet me here,
While bringin’ in a brand new year.


Gonna ride a bubble,
Way up above the stars,
And while I twirl,
Above the world,
Gonna take a trip to Mars.

I’ll be bringin’ in a brand new year,
Bringin’ in a brand new year,
Listen, dear, won’t you meet me here,
While bringin’ in a brand new year.

Sailin’ down a rainbow,
I’ll play with Lady Boone,*
If she raises a sigh,
Or winks her eye,
I won’t be back ’til June.

I’ll be bringin’ in a brand new year,
Bringin’ in a brand new year,
Listen, dear, won’t you meet me here,
While bringin’ in a brand new year
.
Oh listen, dear, won’t you meet me here,
While bringin’ in a brand new year
.

END.

[* Boone: From an old French nickname ‘bon’ meaning ‘good’– hence ‘Lady Good’.]

Death Of Martin Meagher, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with sadness that we learned of the death today, Tuesday 31st December 2024, of Mr Martin Meagher, Ard na Croise, Thurles, Co. Tipperary and formerly of Coláiste Mhuire, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Mr Meagher passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, while in the care of staff at the Community Hospital of the Assumption, Castlemeadows, Gortataggart, Thurles.

His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family; his devoted wife Eileen (née Ryan), daughters Majella and Rae and son Thomas, brothers John and Phil, sons-in-law Eugene and Nigel, brother-in-law Eamon Ryan, sisters-in-law Mary (Meagher), Elizabeth (Hassett) and Bridie (Anglim), adored grandchildren Martha, Declan, Agnes and Ben, nephews, nieces, extended relatives, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Meagher will repose at Hugh Ryan’s Funeral Home, Slievenamon Road, Thurles, on Thursday afternoon, January 2nd, from 5:00pm until 7:00pm same evening.
His remains will be received into the Cathedral of the Assumption, Cathedral Street, Thurles, on Friday morning, January 3rd at 10:30am, to further repose for Requiem Mass at 11:00am, followed by interment, immediately afterwards, in St Patrick’s Cemetery, Moyne Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

For those persons who are unable to attend the funeral service for Mr Meagher, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.

The extended Meagher and Ryan families wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time, and have made arrangements for those persons wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.

Note Please: Family flowers only. Donations in lieu, if desired, to the Sue Ryder Foundation, Holycross, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Death Of Alice Griffin, Formerly Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with sadness that we learned of the death yesterday, Monday 30th December 2024, of Mrs Alice Griffin (née Considine), Ballyboden, Co. Dublin; formerly Rathfarnham, Co. Dublin and Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by her beloved husband Phil and siblings Sean, Paddy and Nonie; Mrs Griffin passed away peacefully at her place of ordinary residence, surrounded by family.

Her passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sorrowing family; sons Michael, Danny, Philip, daughters Norita, Mary and Bríd, sisters Maura and Margaret, grandchildren, great grandchild, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended relatives, neighbours, friends and loving home-carers.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mrs Griffin will repose at Larry Massey’s Funeral Home, Eden Centre, Grange Road, Rathfarnham, (D16 VO46), on Wednesday afternoon, January 1st, from 2:00pm until 4:00pm.
Her remains will be received into the Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Ballyboden, White Church Green, Dublin 16, (D16 W263), to further repose for Requiem Mass on Thursday morning, January 2nd, at 11:30am, followed by interment in Kilmashogue Cemetery, Edmondstown Rd, Rathfarnham, Dublin.

For those persons who are unable to attend the funeral service for Mrs Griffin, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.

The extended Griffin and Considine families wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time, and have made arrangements for those persons wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.

Seasoned Love.

Seasoned Love.

Lyrics: Irish singer/songwriter Eleanor McEvoy.
Vocals: Eleanor McEvoy.

Seasoned Love.

Felt anticipation early in the spring,
I looked forward to the riches it would bring,
Then I smiled the day it led my heart to you,
Cause it seemed like the world was smiling too.

Then we laughed and drank and sang in summertime,
And I felt your body always close to mine,
And our love was so exciting and so new,
And it seemed like the world was laughing too.

Things got colder when the autumn came along,
But we straightened out the things that had gone wrong.
As the leaves displayed their ever changing hue,
It seemed like the world was changing too.

Then the winter brought the rain and then the snow,
And I cried out loud the day I saw you go,
And I didn’t really know quite what to do,
Cause It seemed like the world was crying too.

I felt happiness inside when you were near,
Felt a surge of tenderness when you’d appear,
And I feel so messed up now that I messed with you,
And it seems like the world is messed up too.

END

New Hate Crime Legislation Comes Into Force.

  • Criminal Justice (Hate Offences) Act 2024 increases prison sentences for certain crimes motivated by hatred.
  • Law will protect people targeted because of certain characteristics including race, colour, sexual orientation, gender, and disability.

An order has been signed, which will come into force today (Tuesday 31 December), under the Criminal Justice (Hate Offences) Act 2024, which increases prison sentences for certain crimes motivated by hatred.

This new legislation provides for crimes, which are proven to be motivated by hatred, or where hatred is fully demonstrated. For example, the legislation ensures that assault aggravated by hatred, or damage to property aggravated by hatred, will attract higher prison sentences. Where hatred is not proven, a person can still be charged with assault or damage to property.

This legislation will protect people targeted because of certain identity characteristics namely – race; colour; nationality; religion; national or ethnic origin; descent; disability; gender; sex characteristics and sexual orientation. The Act creates new, aggravated forms of certain existing offences – i.e. hate crimes – where they are aggravated by hatred of one or more of these protected characteristics.

Ireland has faced criticism from the Council of Europe and other International Human Rights bodies, which had, until now, highlighted that there was no specific or statutory provision for hate-aggravated offences in Ireland.

Incitement to hatred and hate speech are criminalised separately under the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act 1989, which continues to remain in force.