by Kathleen Mullane

‘Out and About’

Everyone is very welcome on Sunday next to the Athea Community Games Annual Sports Day which takes place at Pairc na nGael (The High Field). The registration for all the boys and girls starts at 2pm, with the races proper getting underway at 2.30pm sharp. So far this year Athea participants have done very well in the various Community Games Competitions, bringing home medals. It is hoped Sunday will be a great ‘Family Day’ out for everyone from ‘tiny-tots’ to mother’s and father’s races and who knows there might be some exciting finishes! There will also be novelty races on the day. Anyone wishing to take part in the Discus Throwing, Javelin, High Jump, Shot putt, cycling on grass or Long Jump is asked to contact Michelle Curry (Secretary) on 085-7322747 as these competitions will be staged at another time. It’s great for children and young adults to be involved in sport of any kind. We hope that the weather “will be kind to us on Sunday”.

This weekend also sees the Athea “Coiste na nÓg” holding their Annual Church Gate Collection before all Masses. Please support them as best you can –‘our young people are the backbone of our community’.

Just an up-date on our ‘Scrap Fund-raiser’ for the Athea Community Hall. Once we thank all of you who have taken the bother to go through your premises and donate your scrap to our ‘DRIVE’. Eventually we will get around to all of you who have rang to have yours collected. Old Cars and Vans are especially welcome. At present we are negotiating to get the best price possible from the various scrap-dealers and as soon as the heap starts getting moved on to the dealers, we will keep you informed of how much it’s making towards the hall debt.

I came across these nice few lines recently –

“Though clouds may pass across the sun,

And hide it from our view,

Remember that it’s never really gone

It’s there the way it’s always been,

And we will see its light again

Just as stormy skies move on…

So too when clouds of loss may hide

The happy times we knew,

And all the days seem darkened by our sorrow,

Remember that the light of love

Shines constant like the Sun above

And it will warm our world again tomorrow “