Fr Michael Moroney

Athea Native Fr. Michael Moroney

Honoured with National Award in United States

Fr. Michael Moroney of Templeathea received a National Award from the National Catholic Education Association at their Convention in Houston, Texas on April 2nd 2013 for his outstanding work with Catholic Education.

He was one of the twelve pastors in the United States to receive this award and the first in the Diocese of Baton Rouge in the State of Louisiana. This award is given to pastors who have done outstanding work with Catholic Schools.

Fr. Moroney is son of the late Dan and Maireád Moroney of Templeathea. He received his elementary education at Athea National School and high school education at Mount Melleray Abbey and his college education at St. Patrick’s College, Thurles where he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Baton Rouge in Louisiana. Fr. Moroney holds a Masters Degree from Loyola University in New Orleans. While serving as pastor of parishes throughout his priesthood he has held jobs as the Director for the Office of Religious Education for the Diocese of Baton Rouge and continues to serve the Diocese today as Matrimonial Tribunal Judge, member of the Bishop’s Cabinet, Ecumenical Officer. He has been a teacher and guidance counsellor at the High School level and has been a pastor of four parishes, all having large schools. today he is the pastor of St. Alphonsus with a very young and growing community with a very active school.

Rally for Life in Dublin July 6th

 This is the last opportunity to stand up for Life and send a clear message to our Government not to legalize for Abortion. It is really important there is a huge turnout on the day.

We are especially asking all those who have not been able to attend before to make a huge effort this time. Your presence on the day could make a difference. A bus is being organised from the Parish. To book phone Pat – 087 2034626 or Mary 068 42116.

Tom Lynch 1922-2013.

     An  Appreciation

By George Langan

 LynchTom

‘Procrastination is the thief of time’ was the line he used when answering a family history letter of mine some years ago but sadly the Lord’s call is something that cannot be postponed and so on May 30th 2013 my uncle Tom Lynch at the grand age of 90yrs departed this world to be once again re-united with his family and friends in God’s heavenly kingdom. Tom was born in Glasha, Athea on December 27th 1922, one of a family of eight to George Lynch R.I.P. April 3rd 1971 aged 88yrs and Nora Barrett R.I.P.  1955. His grandfather was James Lynch and his great-grandfather was called George. James was married to Brigid Culhane from Leitrim Middle, Moyvane, Co. Kerry. James, who died on 4-8-1893 at a relatively very young age (46yrs), from a back ailment, so we believe, was responsible for the opening and making of the famous Kerry Line roadway. Following his death, his wife took over the responsibility for the maintenance and upkeep of this road.   

Tom got his primary education at Ballyguiltenane National School under the tutorship of  Mr O’Grady and Mr Casey. His class-mates as far as he recalled were as follows – Tom Sheahan, Ballyguiltenane, Ned Enright, Dromreask,  John Culhane,  Ballyguiltenane, (he died when he was in 6th class), Mikey Culhane, Ballyguiltenane, Dan Culhane, Ballyguiltenane and Mr. Casey’s two sons Sean (who became a priest) and Padraig who lived at The Terrace, Glin. He got some sort of secondary education from Mr James Dore in an old empty farmer’s house that was in the ownership of Mick Adams, Glin. After leaving there, he served his apprenticeship to a solicitor in Listowel. Like so many of his fellow citizens back in the forties, he endured the heartbreak of taking the emigrant ship to seek employment and so in the year 1946, at the age of twenty four, he emigrated to England where he remained for five years.  He later headed for the U.S. to join his brother Dan and his sister Joan. His father and mother took him to Newcastle West by pony and trap from where he got the bus to Cobh having spent the previous night in the Central Hotel, Bridge St., Newcastle West. My grandmother Babe Langan accompanied them to N.C.W.  Said Tom, ‘’the sailing took six days, eating, drinking and dancing every night ‘till dawn.’’  He initially stayed with his aunt Mary Lynch Bunce at 124 Villa Street, Rochester, New York. Soon afterwards, he went to live and work in Chicago. As far as he could recall his first visit home to Glasha was in 1955 the year his mother died. He worked in the U.S for a few more years before eventually returning to London where he remained until his retirement. He moved to St. Leonard’s on Sea in the south of England for a well-earned rest before spending a few years in the Isle of Man. He eventually returned home to Ireland spending time in Glasha, Tralee, Dromcollogher and finally to Abbeyfeale where he lived out the final years of his life.

Over the years, Tom dabbled in a bit of poetry from time to time but from whom he inherited the gift he could not say. He couldn’t recall there being any poets or sages in the Lynch family. One of his poems that springs to mind was one he wrote in the early 1980’s known as ‘Modern Progress’ It was around the beginning of the computer era and it went as follows

 

I dream of the days and old-fashioned ways

Before life got confused with inventions

That has addled our brains, brought stresses and strains

And left us with headaches and tensions.

To move with the times is called progress alines

Where life’s a continual rat race

To reach for the stars after stopping in Mars

If ever they jet us to that place.

 

But that as it may but I’ll venture to say

That predictions too often come true

And before very long unless science is proved wrong

There’ll be nothing for man left to do

Take the silicon chip with a built in horse whip

To make robots perform just like men

Who will work night and day without overtime pay

And wont stroke over tea-breaks at ten.

 

They can wire TV sets and put engines in jets

They can make the spare parts for our trains

And they never get tired for their bodies are wired

To a mass of mechanical brains.

I have no crystal ball to tell what may befall

In the forthcoming decade or two

But computerised schemes will put paid to our dreams

Of a future with skies over blue.

 

Now heaven forbid but I’ll bet you a quid

Or a dime to a fistful of dollars

That the whole human race will be launched into space

Lest we stop teaching science to our scholars.

In a less sombre view let me add a refrain

To this preview that’s only hear-say

For no matter how great are the threats to our fate

Where there’s a will there’s always a way.

 

When the oil wells run dry don’t sit down and cry

Just because you can’t drive your new rover

Get a good lively ass that will take you to Mass

And your problems of travel are over.

 He was close to us all, was kind and generous to a fault and hadn’t a bad word to say about anybody.  He always stayed at our house in Glasha when he came home for his Christmas holidays. He was a decent catholic and always attended midnight mass in Athea when midnight mass was midnight mass. He respected the church and the clergy and I can remember him speaking so exceedingly of the said church on such nights, of the beautiful crib’s and the lovely sermons that the priest’s had given.

Tom remained single in life, had reasonably good health and enjoyed living to the full. He loved the theatre and was passionate when it came to the musicals.  And wasn’t it poignant as he was being lowered to his final place of rest that his sister Joan and brother Dan bade him a fond farewell with a couple of verses of Edelweiss from one of his best loved musical’s, The Sound of Music.

Yes Tom,

‘Blossom of snow may you bloom and grow

Bloom and grow forever’…….

Rest in peace.