Jimmy Deenihan, Minister forArts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht cuts the tape to start the Athea Road Races on Sunday last

TradFéile Weekend

After the buzz of motorbikes last weekend  it’s the turn of traditional music, song and dance this weekend during the annual TradFéile festival.

The festival starts on Friday night with a busking competition in the street at 8pm followed by prizegiving at the Top of the Town and a session. There will be a Musical Pub competition later in the night and a Ceilí at The Gables at 9.30 with Donie Nolan supplying the music.

On Saturday there will be sessions in the pubs for all to enjoy. Sunday kicks off with a Traditional Singing session at the Top of the Town with Donie Lyons from 3pm followed by  Fáilte Isteach  (amhránaíocht, craic agus caint faoi ceol no haite as Gaeilge) at 5pm.

On Sunday night we have a grand Concert in Con Colbert Community  Hall starting at 8pm and compered by Jacki O’Connor of West Limerick 102 Radio fame, featuring the best of traditional music, song and dance with performances from the John Joe Tierney Dancers, Traditional Youth Groups, Micheál O’Shea, Frances Kennedy and the Templeglantine CCE Group (All-Ireland Champions in Ceilí Band and Grúpaí Cheoil and now performing in Sesiún at the Devon Inn every Thursday night). There will also be sessions in the pubs ‘til late.

To round off the weekend we have a special Traditional Percussion Accompaniment Competition at The Gables at 8pm. where competitors may play bodhrán, bones, spoons or drums. There will be a prize for each category plus an Overall Winner’s Prize.

To close the weekend there will be Farewell Sessions in the pubs.

So come along and enjoy the craic over the weekend.

Thank You

The Pallottine Fathers wish to thank all who contributed to our recent Church gate collection on 16th/17th July. Amount collected was €557.60. May God bless you with good health and His peace.

Athea Foróige Youth Club

Athea Foroige Membership  2011 – 2012

Membership Renewal and New Members.

Automatic membership is NOT guaranteed.

Anyone interested in either re- joining or becoming a new member must get a PARENT to call (not text please) Natalie before 13th August.

And, if you know of any adult who has expertise in sports / woodwork / art / fashion / music / cooking or anything else let me know.

Notes from WEST LIMERICK  RESOURCES

CRAFTY CORNER

Crafty Corner – this group hope to meet in the autumn (date & time will be decided by group at an information evening )and share skills and knowledge on knitting and crochet. The group will be informal and relaxed and it is hoped that members will share their skills so the group will learn together. If you are interested please contact the office in Abbeyfeale on 068 32444 & ask for Dearbhla or Nora.

RAINBOWS

New application forms are available from the WLR offices in Abbeyfeale & NCW for the autumn Rainbows Peer Support Programme. Rainbows is a free peer support programme for children who have suffered a loss or who are grieving.  Full details are available from Mary or Dearbhla in the office on 068 32444 or drop into us in The Square.

FAMILY NETWORKING DAY

There will be a Family Networking Day on Tuesday July 26th. The location and time will be Abbeyfeale Rugby Club from 2pm to 4.30pm. To participate, children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. There will be face painting, indoor and outdoor games, and quizzes for all the family to participate in. It’s an opportunity for the family to have fun together. Healthy fruit snacks provided. This is a WLR, HSE, and Limerick Sports Partnership Initiative. Any queries, please contact 087 9382883.

ADAPT COLLECTION

Adapt House, the support service for women and children who have experienced violence in the home, held church-gate collections on June 18th & 19^th.  €712.44 was collected in Athea and €638.57 in Abbeyfeale. Adapt would like to thank both communities for their generous support.

Due to the  TradFéile weekend, there isn’t any draw on Saturday 30th July. Normal srvice will be resumed next Saturday August 6th

‘Great Racing’

Well, after a year’s absence of the Athea Road Races, everyone was eager to see how the return of this year’s racing would go, especially in these recessionary times – one wondered would the weekend be well supported. Well, during the week there was “a bit of a stir” around the place as the road signs were erected, the ditches were cut, the large bales put in place all in readiness for the weekend.

It was great to see the trucks delivering extra loads to the shops and pubs and food outlets in the village. The bike-races are a great spin-off to many other things. Saturday the trials day and Sunday the main day’s racing would hopefully be a success, we all hoped, and of course the weather would be a major factor. Well, campers and vans of all descriptions and sizes started to converge on Athea from Thursday onwards. Some picking out a “good spot” others heading up to the paddock at the top of the hill which was like a “small village”.

The roads closed early on Saturday morning with the trials starting at 1pm. This would be the quieter day everyone realised, but it was the start of “what was yet to come” and it started ‘The Buzz’ around the place. Good crowds in the village on Friday and Sunday would be a great asset to every business.

People started to converge on Athea early on Sunday morning armed with rain-gear, picnics and drinks for the day. Unfortunately the heavy mist was a bit of a damper on the day – however, it didn’t lessen the spirit of the spectators. The roar of the bikes started and the vantage positions were all taken up by the onlookers. Thankfully all the races were run off without a hitch and accident free. It was a sight to see the throngs of people converge on the village after the races and the droves of riders on their bikes leaving for their various destinations.

In all a great weekend– here’s to next year – well done to all.

The bike race was also a great asset to our fundraising for the Hall. And where would Athea be without the hall on an occasion like this where people could use the toilet facilities and have teas and coffees served up by Mary Kelly and her team of dedicated helpers. Also the bucket collection for the hall which took place during the weekend. A total of approximately €2,000 was raised from the teas and the buckets.

Apologies for my sympathies re: Mary Dalton in last week’s newsletter. It should have read sister-in-law of Peggy Dalton not sister. Also sympathy to Nancy Hanrahan, Clash and the Brouder family of Knocknagorna.