
John and Pat Hunt met up with cousins Maria and Tesha Fitzgerald at Athea Races on Sunday
County Council Improvements to Abbeyfeale Road
Following representations by Cllr John Sheahan, he is pleased to inform the community in Athea that drainage works will commence on the Abbeyfeale road starting at the junction of Colbert Street towards the speed limit in the next week or so. These works are necessary before an overlay of macadam takes place. The overlay will be done in two stages half this year and the remainder next year.
Athea UTD. A.G.M.
AGM of Athea United; will take place at the Clubhouse, V94ESR3, on
Friday 11th July at 8.00pm.
Fundraiser for Athea Playground
Newcastle West Cycling Club present the Dual County North Kerry & West Limerick 50km & 90km Cycle challenge.
All proceeds go to the development of the playground in Athea.
In conjunction with the Cycle, a 5km family fun walk or run around the ring in Athea will also take place. With bucket collections to raise funds for the playground.
Best dressed runner competition on the day!
Date: 16th August 2025
Cycle Times: 9am- 90km 9.10am 50km. €30 ENTRY fee.
Walk time: 10am.
The Way I See It
By Domhnall de Barra
One good thing about driving is the fact that I always have the radio on and I get to hear things that I otherwise might have missed. The other day I was on my way to play golf in Beaufort and I heard an interview with a very interesting lady who was talking about the Brehon laws. I had heard of them before but did not have any great knowledge about them so I was fascinated by her contribution and decided to look into them with a little more depth. Brehon law was the ancient legal system in Ireland, first documented in the 7th century, and was very progressive even by today’s standards. The laws were not written and were given to the people by the Brehons or Druids who learned them from their forefathers. It was the local communities that decided how to interpret the laws and there was a very common sense approach to this. Women had equal rights to men and everybody had a standing or rank in the community. The punishment for wrongdoing was decided on “the punishment fits the crime “ basis. Even very serious crimes like murder did not carry the death penalty. The person who committed such a crime lost their social standing and had to compensate the family for the loss they had suffered. They may have to spend the rest of their lives working for that family but nobody was executed. If somebody refused to co-operate and all avenues were exhausted they were put in a boat without oars or food and pushed out beyond the tide. It was then left to nature to decide if the person was washed ashore in another place or was carried out to sea never to be heard of again. They had a very interesting custom when it came to marriage. A couple who wanted to make a home together could do a trial period of one year. If at the end of that period they decided they did not want to continue they could go their own way and all property was divided equally between them. Doesn’t it make perfect sense? When we are young we are more likely to be in lust than in love and may have no idea of what living with somebody for a long period is like. I often think of the people in the early part of the last century who had matches made for them, especially among the farming community. Two people would arrive at the altar, probably both virgins, without any knowledge of each other whatsoever. They just had to accept it and , though many of theses arrangements worked out ok, I’m sure there were many who were miserable for the rest of their lives. Things have improved a lot today as couples may know choose to live together for a few years before tying the knot. This makes sense to me. Divorce was also allowed under the Brehon laws. All goods and property were equally divided and there were no solicitors involved. There were several grounds for divorce and once they were met there was no problem. Of course there was no money at the time so every thing was paid for in goods. A good farm was valued at 24 cows while one with poorer land would only fetch only 12 cows. Here are some of the stranger Brehon laws.
Musicians / Artists
- The harpist is the only musician who is of noble standing. Flute players, trumpeters and timpanists as well as jugglers, conjurers, and equestrians who stand on the back of horses at fairs, have no status of their own in the community, only that of the noble chieftain to whom they are attached.
The poet who overcharges for a poem shall be stripped of half his rank in society
Relationships
February first is the day on which husband and wife may decide to walk away from the marriage.
- If a man takes a woman off on a horse, into the woods or onto a sea-going ship, and if members of the woman’s tribe are present, they must object within 24 hours or they may not demand payment of the fine.
- The husband-to-be shall pay a bride price of land, cattle, horses, gold, or silver to the father of the bride. Husband and wife retain individual rights to all land, flocks, and household goods each brings to the marriage.
- A husband who through listlessness does not go to his wife in her bed must pay a fine.
- If a pregnant woman craves a morsel of food and her husband withholds it through stinginess or neglect he must pay a fine.
- If a woman makes an assignation with a man to come to her in a bed or behind a bush, the man is not considered guilty even if she screams. If she has not agreed to a meeting, however, he is guilty as soon as she screams.
- When you become old your family must provide you with one oatcake a day plus a container of sour milk. They must bathe you every 20th night and wash your head every Saturday. Seventeen sticks of firewood is the allotment for keeping you warm.
Random
- Whoever comes to your door you must feed him and care for him with no questions asked.
- It is illegal to give somebody food that has been found with a dead mouse or weasel.
- A layman may drink six pints of ale with his dinner but a monk may drink only three pints. This is so he will not be intoxicated when prayer-time arrives.
These laws were removed when the British invaded and the advent of Christianity also frowned on some of the practices. We still use the British legal system today and I wonder if we are any better off?
Church Notices
Priests: Fr. Tom Mangan 087-2348226, Fr. Willie Russell 087 2272825, Fr. Dan Lane 087 2621911.
Mass Intentions: Friday July 11th 3pm, Funeral Mass for John O’Connor (New York and late of Markievicz Park). 7pm, Billy, Bridie & Kerry Histon. Saturday July 12th 7.30pm, Patsy & Josie O’Sullivan (Toureendonnell). The Fitzgerald family (Park Upper), Mossie & Hannie Fitzgerald and their sons Sean & Paddy and aunt Maureen Moore.
All masses are streamed live on https://www.churchservices.tv/athea
Graveyard Masses: Holy Cross on Tuesday evening July 8th at 7pm and Templeathea on Tuesday evening July 22nd at 7pm.
Baptisms take place on the fourth weekend of the month. Parents who wish to baptise their child in the next few months should contact Siobhan on 087-3331459.
Parish Administration: Tues-Fri 11am-1pm. call Siobhan on 087-3331459, outside of these hours text or email [email protected] Facebook: Athea Parish Church Community
Athea Community Council Lucky Numbers Draw 07/07/’25
No’s Drawn: 3, 7, 21, 30. No Winner
Lucky Dips
Ned White, Athea
Mike Hussey & Sarah Stack, Ballyduff
Karina & Mike Buckley, Athea
Richard Collins, Lower Road
Sellers Prize: Agatha Barrett & D. De Barra
Next Draw: 14/07/’25 Venue: White’s
Jackpot €26,400

Maggie Collins from Athea who was hoping to sell her pony at the Listowel July fair on Thursday with the help of her father Tom and uncle Timmy.Photo Moss Joe Browne.