Spring is in the Air
Dick Sheehy’s goat “Snowflake” with her three kids who were born recently
Athea Motorcycle Road Race 2011
Athea Changes Date, but all else stays as is……..
Athea Road Race Club are pleased to announce that the road races will go ahead this year from Friday 22nd to Sunday July 24th with the kind permission of Faugheen RRC.
Although the date has changed all other matters remain as is, with the Prize Fund topping the €20k as always committed by the Athea RRC. After cancellation of the event in 2010 due to financial circumstances, the club and its members have worked tirelessly over the past twelve months fundraising and making grant applications to the various bodies. In the past twelve months there has been two fashion shows, rock nights, poker runs, bag packing to name but a few of the various fundraising drives completed to make sure Athea Road Races 2011 happens.
At the start of the year, the club restructured its committee and have been meeting on a regular basis to ensure the occurrence of the races. The circuit is currently being resurfaced and plans are under way to further ensure all health and safety factors are being held to the highest standard for the event. We will be holding a marshal training day in the coming weeks in Athea, anyone interested please contact the club by phone or email at [email protected] or contact Joe Whelan at (087) 9873496.
On the Friday night of the event, the club will hold a RSA road safety awareness programme with the help of Cian Driscoll and Rodger Byrne. Also on the night the club will have a demonstration of an Electric Motorbike by Go Eco, along with live music open air. On Saturday night after the practice sessions, the band “Equipped” will perform in the back bar of The Gables. Equipped are known by all in the racing world as Ciaran Donnelly, is a member. On the Sunday afternoon after the Races an AC/DC tribute band will perform open air weather permitting for all. Over the weekend there will also be stunt displays and amusements in the village.
The club look forward to welcoming old and new friends back to the village in July for what’s promised to be a packed weekend of cracking racing and great entertainment. The club would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused by change of date as it was outside of their power, it will however revert to their original dates at the end of June from 2012.
Hope to see you all there! Keep ‘er lit!
Easter Rising Commemoration
West Limerick Sinn Féin will hold its Easter Commemoration in Athea on Saturday next, Holy Saturday, at 3:00 pm. Convene in front of the Con Colbert Memorial Hall. There is an open invitation to everyone who wishes to commemorate the sacrifices made on the nation’s behalf in 1916. More generally of course we commemorate all of those who have given their lives for Irish freedom. After the wreath-laying ceremony the main speaker will be West Limerick/North Kerry T.D. Martin Ferris. Beidh fáilte roimh gach éinne.
Knockdown Vintage Rally
A meeting will be held in the Knockdown Arms on this Thursday, April 21st at 9.30 p.m. with regard to the upcoming Vintage Rally to be staged in Knockdown. Everyone is welcome.
LK Charity Cycle
“The Athea MRC are organising a leisure cycle on Easter Monday, April 25th. The nominated charities are the Brothers of Charity Services in Listowel and the Brothers of Charity Services in Newcastle West. There will be an increased number of cyclists along the following routes:
Route 1. Athea to Abbeyfeale, Duagh, Listowel returning to Athea via Bolton’s Cross and Gortaglanna.
Route 2. Athea to Abbeyfeale, Duagh, Listowel, Lisselton, Ballybunion, Asdee, Ballylongford, Tarbert, Glin returning to Athea.
Residents and visitors to the area are asked to exercise due caution and keep animals e.g. dogs, under control between 12 noon and 6 pm.”
Con Colbert Community Hall
SCRAP FUNDRAISER
We are asking you to go through your garages, sheds, houses, fields etc. If you have any bits of metal, iron, aluminium, old machinery, bicycle frames, cars, radiators, pots, pans, whatever you no longer need, we will gather it up, the money raised will go towards paying off the hall loan.
Your scrap metal can be collected or dropped off to a central location.
If you would like to help out ring either
Caroline O’Connell on 087 6643307 or
Kathleen Mullane on 087 1233361
for more information.
We will also take old car batteries
Table Quiz & Barbecue
A Table Quiz & Barbecue in aid of Nano Nagle special School will be held at the Top of the Town on Friday, April 29th at 9.30 p.m.
Great spot prizes on the night. Please support this worthy cause.
WEST LIMERICK RESOURCES
GLIN TOURISM LTI
Expressions of interest are sought from individuals interested in taking part in a new Certificate in Tourism which will offered by Glin Development Association in association with the FAS Local Training Initiative (LTI). To be based in St Paul’s Heritage Centre, Glin, the free course offers FETAC level 5 accreditation and is open to those aged 16-35 years who have less than leaving certificate or did not go to college. Some places may be available to those outside these criteria. Contact Dearbhla on 068 32444 or Adrienne on 069 66296.
CERTIFICATE IN RADIO PRODUCTION:
Expressions of interest are sought from those interested in taking part in a 35 week FETAC level 5 training programme in Abbeyfeale. Consisting of eight modules including Communications, Radio Programme Production, Sound Engineering & Production, Media Analysis, Work Experience, Skills for Journalism, Business Administration and Event Production, the programme will offer practical experience within a radio environment along with additional support for those experiencing difficulties accessing the labour market or other education programmes. Funded by FAS, 80% of participants must be 16-35 years, have less than Leaving Certificate or not have gone to college. A full FAS training allowance may be available to eligible participants. Contact Dearbhla on 068 32444 (Mon–Thurs) or Adrienne on 069 66296.
TOURNAFULLA PARENT AND TODDLER GROUP:
A new Parent & Toddler group is now running one morning per week in Tournafulla hall. Funding by WLR, the FREE six week programme will look at 1) Running a Parent and Toddler Group, 2) Understanding Children’s Behaviour, 3) Importance of Play, 4) Imaginative Play, 5) Creative Play and Open ended Materials, 6) Block Play. Grandparents also welcome. Contact Dearbhla (Mon – Thurs) on 068 32444.
ARA NA FEILE ACTIVE RETIREMENT:
The next group meeting will take place in the West Limerick Resources Office, The Square, Abbeyfeale at 2:30pm on Wednesday April 20.
West Limerick Sinn Féin
Collections
We wish to say a sincere ‘Go raibh maith agaibh’ to all who gave so generously at the Church gate collections in Feohanagh, Feenagh Tournafulla, Mountcollins and Castlemahon at the week-end. Cuirfear an t-airgead seo in úsáid chun leas an phobail, go háirithe cosmhuintir na tíre.
Cúige Meeting
At the Cuige Mumhan meeting in Mallow on Sunday last we heard details of preparations surrounding the visit of the Queen of England and Sinn Féin’s response. There will be events organised which will correspond with her itinerary but which will not be confrontational. Many issues such as the involvement of British undercover agents in the conflict have not been addressed. Most significantly, the request for information by a joint Oireachtas committee in 2008 regarding the Dublin-Monaghan bombings has been ignored by the British.
United Ireland Conference
On June 25th groups and individuals will be invited to address a United Ireland conference in Cork City Hall. Details may be found at www.unitedireland.ie. More information will be available in the coming weeks.
Abbeyfeale Sinn Féin Office
The office in Abbeyfeale is open 6 days a week and is available to all to call in. It is open from 10.30am with Martin Ferris in attendance on Saturdays from 11am. Please feel free to call in.
An Phoblact
The monthly newspaper will shortly be available in the Parish, more details will be available in the coming weeks. It is currently available for €2 in the Abbeyfeale Sinn Féin office.
DEVON DISTRICT FINE GAEL
A meeting to discuss nominations for the Kerry North/Limerick West AGM scheduled to take place in May will be held in the Devon Inn on Easter Monday night at 9pm. As this is a very important meeting all members are requested to attend.
Congratulations
“Congratulations to Claire Carmody, Direen, Athea who was presented with a Community Games County Medal last Tuesday night in Rathkeale, for winning the U10 Girls Community Games Art Competition. Well done to Claire on her achievement”
BANK HOLIDAY HOOLEY
The first of West Limerick 102fm Summer Hooley’s will take place at Fr. Casey’s Clubhouse on Bank Holiday Monday, May 2 from 9.30 – 1am with dancing to the Moynihan Brother’s Band and John Buck. Admission €10. Raffle on the night