IRISH WHEELCHAIR ASSOCIATION Fundraising Shave Or Dye
Pictured right making a presentation to Toss O’Reilly of the Irish Wheelchair Association are Alan Mulvihill, Moss Brouder, Johnny Quaid, Paul Matthews, Betty Cotter, Jack Quaid, Ann Quaid and Declan O’Carroll. (missing from photo are Charlie Murphy, Morgan O’Connor, Raymond Barrett, Donie Cummane, Sean Flavin, Patrick Kiely & Joe Brouder who all participated in the Shave or Dye, and barbers Aisling McAuliffe and Brian Murphy). The cheque for €3,084 was presented at the Top of the Town.

Athea Tidy Towns

Athea Tidy Towns committee would like to say a sincere thank you to all the people who came out on Tuesday evenings to help with the clean up. It just shows that the community spirit is still alive and well in Athea.

Nóirín Ní Riain, Peg Prendeville, Librarian Aileen Dillane

 Book Launch

People came from all parts of Loughill/Ballyhahill parish and beyond for the launch of Peg Prendeville’s, “The Purple Pencil” reflective poems celebrating everyday life, at Newcastle West Library on Friday night last 16^th November. Peg lives in Glenbawn, Ballyhahill, with her husband Jim, and have five grown up children and four grandchildren. She is the daughter of the late poet and writer Paddy Faley and the written word also runs through her veins. Over one hundred people were present at the very comfortable premises for a very enjoyable evening of music and poetry. Nóirín Ní Riain, the Celtic spiritual singer, associated with the monks in Glenastal Abbey,  performed the launch in her own delightful way with tributes, quotations and a song of blessing that captivated the attentive audience. “What’s for dinner Ma” was Peg’s first book in 2001 which proved very popular, and her latest offering includes reflective poems celebrating everyday life.

The book includes a CD of the poems and it costs €12. Peg is an award winning writer for prose and poetry and many of her poems have been published in the Weekly Observer, The Ballyguiltenane Rural Journal, The Athea Parish Journal, and other publications over the years. Peg worked in Newcastle West Library for two years from 2002-2004 and it was a case of returning home for her latest launch. She is the popular librarian in Glin Library at present and had very kind words for her employers for their continued support during her speech. She is also the Editor of the Ballyhahill/Loughill Parish Annual for the past fifteen years and a tireless worker in the community involved in many clubs, and organizations.

The Stack Family, Catherine and Gerard, supplied music and Peg read many of the poems contained in the book after the launch. The staff hosted a cheese and wine reception, and Aileen was MC and spoke very highly of Peg and her finely crafted written word. A large number of books were sold and signed by Peg on the night. The book cover is very attractive on the eye and the contents runs to fifty four pages and includes 64 poems. The book is on sale in all the local shops, around West Limerick or from the author. It is published by Red Hen Publishing based in Duagh, Listowel, and Bridget McAuliffe, on their behalf, was present and also addressed the attendance. Peg has dedicated poems to her late parents Ellen and Paddy and all the poems include people, places and events close to her heart. It would make a lovely present for a special friend or a person in need of a lift, with its spiritual and uplifting messages. The CD is an added bonus and we recommend the publication and wish Peg well with sales of ‘The Purple Pencil’.

 Tom Aherne

 Athea Community First Responders

Hi to all from the Athea Community First Responders. It only seems a few years ago that we were setting up in the hope of being a real Emergency Life support presence available to assist our community in the event of serious need.
Well in October Athea CFR’s AGM saw the end of our fourth year of activity and with the election of a new committee we are ready for the 5th year of providing our enthusiastic responder system. Thanks for all the hard work for the last few years and now to more developments over the coming year. Sean Liston steered the committee over the past two years with excellent back- up from Mary Sheahan, Eilish Geoghegan and Dr Kieran Murphy, during which time the whole organisation underwent two yearly re-certification for HSE recognised  “Cardiac First Responders” training with the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council of Ireland. To date we are confident that all those who want to be involved and keep their skills live are in the system trained and ready for action.
The group’s activities involved some income generation from which we bought some re-supply of equipment. In the summer we held a training weekend for a group of keen and curious public members to gain the skills of Irish Heart Foundation, Heart Saver CPR-AED qualification. During the year we have seen the Knockanure De-fib group members join in with Athea CFR’s 90 day update re-familiarisation training. Additionally we supported Richelle Griffin to undergo the HSE National Ambulance Services (NAS) Instructor programme along with two other team members from the Knockanure De-fib group. Athea CFR Instructors have assisted the Brosna De-fib Group and elaborate training with the Abbeyfeale District Search & Rescue Team. Also during the last year Dr Kieran Murphy has been engaged providing ongoing teaching sessions covering a range of topics specifically designed to expand the responders understanding of what we are capable of providing. Mike Hayes instructor was busy throughout the year assisting HSE Ambulance training sessions in a few mass training processes.
5th year will see a host of activity with the new Chairperson Richelle Griffin at the helm assisted by Asst Chair Denis Casey, Mary Sheahan in the role of secretary, Eilish Geoghegan as treasurer, Rodge Byrne Training director and Dr. Kieran Murphy as Medical director. We are pleased to say the Instructor team welcomes to Athea CFR Richelle as new instructor and the two Knockanure recently approved instructors, (Anne Flavin, Margaret Carmody) into the fold.
In October Rodge was approached by the Irish Times to assist in the assembly of an article on “what we do, why and who” are the responders. That article appeared in the Health Supplement 06 November 2012. The article identified how many real call outs we have been to and briefly highlighted the outcomes. At the committee meeting held Monday 12 Nov we were pleased to celebrate those successes and reflect on a call out over the past weekend. Every time a call out happens we carry out a detailed review of timings / personnel who responded / what equipment needs were utilised. Kieran feeds back on the issues, and as is frequently the case, celebrate our notoriety with the HSE Ambulance services. Paramedics who arrive are always impressed with the speed of responses, coupled with the competencies displayed. Never complacent we are always evaluating ” what it is we need to do to develop training and understanding coupled with expanding skills training”.
Saturday 17 November 2012, Athea CFR’s will be engaged in assisting TG4 with completing a short TV appearance in upcoming screening of “Cuth an Pobal” date to be notified. We are growing our influence and celebrating what the community has achieved. We are recipients of the Irish Heart Foundation Heart Safe Community award 2009, we gained affiliation in Feb 2010, with the HSE West Ambulance services. Recognition with the Irish Heart foundation for our recent Irish Times appearance. Next year will see a number of responders represent Athea CFR at thewww.resus.ie two yearly Emergency Care Conference in Limerick.
We wish the community a healthy & happy 2013 but if that is not so, then you KNOW we are “on your doorstep and on our way”, remember the Athea CFR Emergency Phone number 087 27 37 077, If you Know a relative in the area who does not have our Number, please pick up further info (coming soon) from either of the shops, the Church and soon each household will receive a CFR Phone number sticker to apply to your Phone. 

Denis Murphy being filmed performing chest compressions on a junior manikin, watched by Mary Carmody, Fionnuala Fitzgerald, Roger Ryan, Kevin O’Keeffe & John Joe Tierney during filming with TG4 on Saturday last

Eilish Geoghegan performing back blows on an infant manikin watched by Willie Flavin, Margaret Carmody, Ann Flavin, Helen Twomey, Pat I Mulvihill, Sharon Reidy & Julie Gleeson during filming with TG4 on Saturday last