THE Millstreet Parish Church Restoration Appeal are seeking a positive show of support from those at home and abroad towards their 'Buy-A-Brick' campaign.

Through the project, it's hoped to raise a substantial amount towards the church renovation fund. St Patrick's Church is regarded as one of the finest buildings within the Diocese of Kerry. No major maintenance work has been undertaken since the 1930's and as a result, time and elements have taken their inevitable toll on the fabric of the building.

The church project commenced in April 2008, the work focusing on the exterior and concentrating on long needed repairs. Amongst the detailed project, the church was completely re-slated and all flashings replaced. All walls were re-plastered and the stone work re-pointed while stained glasses required full restoration and protective storm glazing.

Also included in the €3.2 million project was the revamping of the former Nun's Choir to accommodate a pastoral centre. A new boiler house was built to service the heating of both the church and the pastoral centre. Some of the heating pipes had deteriorated and required renewing with the electrical services upgraded for health and safety reasons.

Likewise, the church yard had deteriorated beyond repair and replaced with block paving appropriate to the size, colour and scale of the church.

To date in excess of €1m has been collected for a project costing €3 million plus to complete. There are over 22,500 bricks laid on the church grounds. To support, the Millstreet Parish Church Restoration Appeal, Millstreet natives at home and abroad can support the cause on purchasing a brick or two at €50 per brick.

Cheques and bank drafts can be forwarded to the Millstreet Church Renovation Fund, The Secretary, Parish Office, The Presbytery, Millstreet Town. 2009/10 season, screening on Thursday nights at 10pm with a repeat on Sunday at 8pm.

Over the past few months, the LTV camera men have been busy building up a bank of events that have been happening and they are looking forward to sharing them to viewers far and wide in the near future.

New programmes will appear each week at the same times and will be available on VHF Channel 4 and on UHF Channel 50. TRIP TO CROKE PARK: To celebrate the 125th anniversary of our Gaelic games, Kealy's Coaches is organizing a day trip to Croke Park on October 21 offering people the opportunity to experience the history of our national games to see first hand how the GAA has developed over the last 125 years. Also the tour will look at the behind-the-scenes functions of one of the finest stadia in the world. It will comprise of a full guided tour of the complete stadium, audio-visuals, bringing to life players, matches and countless memories of the past 125 years. Seats must be booked and paid for two weeks in advance as there are only a limited number of seats left. The coach will stop for breakfast on route and for dinner on the return home with a short tour of Dublin City later in the evening Further information available on request. Contact Darren at 029/79016 or 087/7994045. BTEI COURSES: BTEI have secured funding to run a variety of short accredited courses in North Cork to service the increased demand for part-time education. With a huge increase in unemployment, the need for certified up-skilling in a changing workplace is more apparent. Over the next number of weeks, short BTEI programmes in Childcare, Horticulture, Security, Healthcare, Art, Computers, Social Studies and Food/Cookery will be offered in a number of localities throughout North Cork. Anyone interested in gaining qualification for security work will be interested in the FETAC Level 4 Basic Guarding Skills and Door Security Procedures course, to be run in Mallow and Fermoy shortly. This certified course enables participants to gain employment in the security sector. It is hoped that the remaining FETAC Level 3 and 4 programmes in cookery, childcare art and social studies will be finalised over the next number of weeks.The Back To Education Initiative (BTEI) addresses the need for much greater flexibility in delivering courses to adults who want to achieve certification in their chosen area of study. Accreditation with FETAC acknowledges these skills. Over 440 participants are undertaking BTEI courses in North Cork in 2009 alone. BTEI aims to give students an opportunity to combine a return to learning with family, work and other responsibilities. Anyone who has left full-time education can take part in a BTEI course. Free courses are given to those who have left school early, those in receipt of Social Welfare payments and Medical Card holders. All others are charged a fee. Anyone interested in any of these courses can contact BTEI, Mallow Return to Education Centre on 022 - 55452. PRAYER SERVICE: An Informal Services of prayer, praise and Bible study organized by the Methodist Church continues on the second Sunday of each month at 7pm on meeting in the Canon O'Donovan Centre on Clara Road. The next meeting is planned for this Sunday, October 11. Everyone is invited to attend. Further information can be obtained from Rev. Laurence Graham the Methodist minister in Killarney or ringing at 064 6631613. PIPE BAND: Millstreet Pipe Band would like to sincerely thank all those who supported their recent Church Gate Collection at Millstreet and Ballydaly. The proceeds of the collection go towards the ongoing running costs of the Pipe Band and are very much appreciated. BALLYDALY CHURCH: To honour the 80th Anniversary of the blessing and opening of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Ballydaly, a special Mass will be celebrated by Fr. Sean Tucker on Tuesday, October 13 at 7.30pm. CULLEN HEART RESPONSE UNIT: An enrolment night takes place in Cullen Community Centre for a defibrillator course on Wednesday, October 14 at 8pm. Training for those newly enrolled is scheduled for Saturday, October 31 or Saturday, November 14. THANK YOU: Mary Fitzgerald extends a sincere thank you to all those who supported the recent coffee morning in aid of Marymount Hospital. A total of €1,910 was raised for the worthy cause. The Knocknagree Cancer Committee have launched a monster Draw in aid of Marymount Hospice to take place at a Gala Dance at the Glen Eagle Hotel on Monday, November 30. Tickets are on sale over a very wide area and the agent in Millstreet is Mary FitzGerald. SINN FEIN: Duhallow Sinn Féin are organising a fundraiser for October 25 in Bobs Bar, Kanturk at 9pm. Music is by The Irish Brigade. PILATE CLASSES: Pilates Classes operate in Millstreet on each Tuesday night from 7.30 - 8.30pm and 8.30-9.35pm. The location is upstairs over Michael Thornton Auctioneers office. Contact Siobhan on 087 9224665 for booking. CLUB DRAW: Millstreet GAA are in the midst of supporting the Cork County Board promoted Clubs Fund Raising Draw with another new series underway. The draw acts as a fillip boost to the development of club facilities across the county in addition to enhancing the quality of gaelic games for youth at club and school level. The draws take place on a monthly basis and feature an array of attractive cash and other prizes. The club welcome new participants — a year's subscription is €100 paid yearly or monthly. Further details on the draw are available from club officers. NO JOY FOR CAMOGIE GIRLS: Millstreet were at the receiving end of a defeat by Brian Dillons in the semi final to County U16 Camogie Championship hosted in Ballinlough last Saturday. For most of the contest, Millstreet provided skilful and spirited resistance yet they came up short to match their opponents guile and flair. In fairness, Millstreet didn't relent too easily from a side that fielded as Emer Twomey, Jessica Dunne, Laura Dennehy, Aine Herlihy, Orla Kiely, Anna Jean O'Reilly, Kelly Murphy, Allanna Barry, Muireann Murphy, Leanne Kelleher, Kayleigh Sheahan, Aideen Buckley, Leanne Murphy, Kate O'Keeffe, Lydia O'Reilly. Subs. Ellie Cronin, Sophie O'Leary, Marie Buckley, Ellie Dineen. WELL DONE: Millstreet referee Denis Hickey officiated at the County U12 Football Championship Final between Diarmuid O Mathunas and Gleann na Laoi in Kilmichael last Saturday. The game finished in a draw.