by Kathleen Mullane

‘Congrats All Around’

Sincere Congratulations and good wishes go to Peggy Casey of Colbert Street who recently celebrated her 70^th Birthday along with her family, her two daughters Anne Marie and Maireád travelling home from the USA for the occasion. A very enjoyable night was enjoyed by all the family and relatives.

Another Birthday congratulations goes to Margaret O’Mahony of Coole and St Albans, Herts, England, who celebrated her 40^th Birthday in London on Saturday last. Old school friends travelled over for the occasion. A great weekend was enjoyed by all.

We also send heartiest congratulations and good wishes to Jacqueline (Jackie) Murray (daughter of Mary and the late John) who was married here in Athea on Saturday last, having travelled many miles home to be married. The lucky man was James McCarthy of Mountcollins. A great day was enjoyed by everyone at the Devon Inn. The happy couple will return to reside in Australia.

We send good wishes and a very speedy recovery to Domhnall de Barra who was taken suddenly ill on Sunday night last while playing his part in the drama  ‘Lovely Leitrim’ here in the hall . We are glad to hear that he is doing so well in hospital and hopefully he will be out and about very soon again.

Congratulations and well done to the Athea United Youth team who put on a great display of football on Sunday afternoon last at The Vales against well known Galway team Mervue United and were unlucky not to win – having given them a “good run for their money”. Well done to all the players, subs and young Cillian O’Connor along with his dad Tom, who did a great job training them. Well done to Athea United for having The Vales in such excellent condition.

Any of our young people who didn’t get to register with Coiste na nÓg on Sunday last can still do so by contacting any of the Coiste committee. A once-off payment on registration will cover for the whole season, so parents won’t need to dip into their pockets any further.

Caroline O’Connell will be taking photographs again this year at the Confirmation in Athea on Friday March 9^th. This year it is not being done through the school instead you can contact Caroline directly on 068-42029 or 087-6643307 for more information.

You are asked to please support the Church Gate Collection this weekend, which will be taken up by The Athea Community First Responders who are indeed a vital part of our community and are a great gift to have and we never know the day or the hour we may need to call on them.

Help is needed by Mary T and Denny Mulvihill on April 7^th/8^th for bag-packing in order to raise much need funds for AISLINN – the Adolescent Treatment Centre which depends on Voluntary contributions. Any young people or adults wishing to give an hour or so ring Mary on 087-2708603 or Denny on 087- 2848014.

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07`:an address given by C. S. (Todd) Andrews the then Managing Director of Bord na Mona in 1954. Todd was a grandfather to my son-in law Chris Andrews and it was a rather unusual coincidence that we were both mentioned in the same article for very different reasons of course. Sister Elizabeth is a member of the Starken family whose father was a German engineer that came with his wife and family to Lyre when the first German turf-cutting machine was brought there at the time in 1938 that Bord na Mona first started development of Lyreacrompane Bog and which gave such valuable employment to local people for several years. The Starken family integrated well into the local community in Lyre and became very popular.  Sister Elizabeth’s late brother Frank, who worked with Bord na Mona in the Midlands at one stage, played for the Offaly football team.

Well Done Lisa

Congratulations to Lisa Shine of Kinconlea Upper who was the winner of the Reed Competition U-17 in Ceol an Geimhridh which was held in Hospital on Sunday February 19.  Lisa, who is a member of Templeglantine CCE, has been a regular performer with Ceol Luimnigh in recent years. She has won several prizes in various Comhaltas competitions including All-Ireland Prizes.

Graduation

Congratulations to Conor Fennell, Glenagragra who recently graduated from Limerick University with a Masters (1^st Class Honours) degree in Information and Security Networks.

Recent Deaths

The death occurred during the week in Listowel Hospital of Mary Ellen Buckley (nee Barrettt) of Tarmons, Tarbert. Deceased, who was a native of Lower Dirreen , Athea, was a well liked member of the local community in her adopted parish where she had lived for several years and where she was pre-deceased by her late husband Pat. A large number of people called to pay their respects at the removal to Tarbert Parish Church and there was also a big attendance at the Requiem Mass and the funeral afterwards to the local cemetery. Sympathy is extended to her sister-in-law Mary Barrett, Lower Direen, her nieces, nephews and other relatives. ‘May her soul rest in peace’.

The death occurred during the week in Dublin of Margaret Scollard who was a native of Knocknagorna, Athea but who lived in Raheny, Dublin for the past several years where her sister Phil Kerin and members of her family took care of her. Margaret was a member of a well known and highly regarded Knocknagorna family  none of whom lives there anymore. She was a daughter of the late John and Mary Bridget Scollard and she was also predeceased by her brother John and sisters Anne and Mary. Sympathy is extended to her sisters Phil in Dublin, Josephine in England, her brothers- in-law Robert and Tony in England, her nephews and nieces in Dublin, England , United States and North Kerry as well as her other relatives in Limerick, Dublin, Kerry and further field. ‘May her soul rest in peace’.

Interesting Exhibition

According to a recent article in the Limerick Post by Rebekah Commane there is going to be a very interesting exhibition this weekend at Pery’s Hotel, Glentworth Street, Limerick City featuring key items from the War of Independence and the time leading up to it from 1913 to its aftermath in the Civil War up to 1923.

The exhibition is on Saturday and Sunday March 3 and 4 from 10am to 6pm each day. There will be a wide range of items belonging to those who participated in the war including medals, letters, photographs, clothes and so forth. Tom Toomey author of “The War of Independence in Limerick” will give a lecture on the Civil War and how it is relevant to local history. It will take place at 2pm on both days.