‘Congrats One & All’
Firstly this week I’ll start by sending congratulations to all those who celebrated important birthdays over the past week.
On Friday night last, twins Aoife & Aisling O’Connor of Knocknagorna (daughters of Kathleen & Patsy) celebrated their 21st birthdays along with family and friends at their home. Then on Saturday night Chris Hayes (son of Breda and Pat) had a great 21st in a marquee in Lower Athea attended by all his relations and friends.
It was 30th birthday celebrations for Sean Mullane of Knocknagorna also on Friday night when he travelled to Limerick Greyhound Track to celebrate his special day. Michael Brosnan (Smiley) had a surprise 30th sprung on him at Murphy’s in Abbeyfeale by his family. I better mention my own youngest daughter Katie who also celebrated her 30th on Saturday night last along with her teacher friends in Killarney. Congrats go to all the ‘birthday people’.
Sincere congrats and the very best of luck to the Athea Ladies football team who play in the Co. Final on this Friday night against St. Ailbies in Askeaton at 6.45pm. They are looking for as much support as they can get. The U-10’s play during the interval also, which should be exciting for them.
Congrats and well done to the Athea Minors who, over the weekend, won the west “12” a side Minor semi-final beating Cappagh Kilcornan 2-14 to 2-4. Best of luck to the Intermediates who play the Co. Championship against Gerald Griffins this Saturday, September 1st in Foynes at 6.15pm.
Congrats to all those who so far have volunteered to raise “Awareness” with regard to suicide by walking in the Tomathon which starts on September 11th for 9 days taking in 250k from Athea to Dublin. There are now 12 suicides a week in our small island which is an alarming figure. All those wishing to walk for more than 1 day must register immediately with either Mike Hayes or Caroline O’Connell for Health and Safety reasons. The walk will start off from the Hall at 11am and anyone can join the group anywhere along the journey and walk a few miles to support the cause. Those already registered for the walk are-Mike, Maura, Michael & Patsy Hayes, Joe, Betty, Sean, Linda & Mike Aherne, Ned Mahony, Ciaráin Griffin, Gerry O’Dwyer, Eamon Fox, Breda Flynn, Liz & Mary Jane Murphy, Margaret O’Connor, Eileen Prendeville, Eimear Thornton, Sean Leddy, Noreen Brouder x2, Seamus Ahern, Karina Buckley, Andrew & Ciarán Barrett, Kathleen & Emma Mullane and baby Ava Mulvihill and of course all the friends of Tom Moran who will travel down from Dublin. Fr. Bowen and Canon Kelly will bless the walk.
On asking my little grandson Andrew what subjects he’d like to do when he goes to secondary school he said, woodwork and home economics, I said why not metalwork instead of home economics, he replied “In case my wife couldn’t cook and I would starve!”