by Kathleen Mullane

“Congrats to All”

I suppose first of all we must congratulate Dublin on their very exciting win in the All-Ireland on Sunday last. With a few Dublin connections in the parish it is only right that we should do so. Many agreed it was good for football to have a change and I’m sure Kerry no doubt will be back in the not too distant future.

Good wishes are extended to Tommy O’Mahony of Templeathea who celebrated his 60th birthday along with family last week.

We welcome a new little baby into the parish. Aaron Hunt was born to Fiona and Jason of Templeathea, a little brother for Dylan and Courtenay last week. Congratulations are sent to the happy parents and of course the grandparents, Kathleen and Jerry Griffin, Brookfield House, Athea and Joan and Anthony Hunt, Gortnagross.

We congratulate the Athea U-14 boys who had a great win last Friday night over Hospital/Herbertstown in the quarter-final of the county, they now are into the semi-final. Well done also to the intermediates who drew with Hospital/Herbertstown  on the night.

Congrats and well done to all those who did the lovely baking for the coffee morning on Thursday last; it was exceptional. Well done also to everyone who supported the  coffee morning.

Congrats also to all those who received Junior Cert results last week.

Congrats and good wishes go to Jennifer O’Connor of Gortnagross, daughter of Josephine and Jim “the Jobber” O’Connor who on Saturday last was married to Martin Sutcliffe of Dublin in Duagh. It was an evening full of traditional music with Joe O’Keeffe being accompanied by renowned box-player Donal de Barra who made it literally “talk”. There was some excellent dancing by the “Strawboys” and  newly weds Donal and Amy O’Halloran (grandson of Mary and Ned O’Keeffe) who performed a “brush dance”.

One thing I got out of this particular wedding was that it is so important for young people to learn to dance. Each and every one took to the floor and were a joy to watch and with John Joe Tierney and the bride’s mother Josephine teaching dancing here in Athea there’s no excuse for “young” and “old” not to learn the basic steps and of course if you get the opportunity to learn even any musical instrument, jump at the chance – it can take you a long way. Incidentally at our table at the wedding we met Mick Wrenn of Lenamore, Ballylongford and his good wife, who years ago had spent some time in Athea creamery working. He now travels the world with Kerry Co-Op.  He remembered working with Patie Sullivan here in Athea creamery and in Listowel with Chrissie Vaughan and Helen Carroll. I was told of a story of how one day as he was supervising there was “sand” on the factory floor and he asked where did it come from. Helen answered, “where do you think, the Sahara”.