Athea Vintage Rally This Sunday, July 28th

 Best of luck to the newly reformed  committee who are looking forward to a fine day on Sunday  to hold the much looked forward to Vintage Rally and hopefully the sun will shine for them this year.

This will be a fun-filled day for all the family starting at 12 noon in Gortnagross. The events planned will include Sheaf Tossing, Dog Show, Fastest Milker competition and lots more. The day will end with a parade of vehicles through the village at 4 pm. So go along and enjoy a great family day out.

Trip to Waterford

August 18th to 23rd.

Staying in Tracey’s Hotel in the City centre  which has a Leisure Centre. Full Irish Breakfast and dinner included for €345pps. + €50 extra for single supplement.

Coach Tours daily including the Johnson’s Castle Museum,. John F. Kennedy Park and many more places. Full payment by 5th August.

Contact – Marie Wrenn  on 087-7674832 or Joan Fitzgibbon on 087-9865005.

Summer Seisiúns

Comhaltas Summer Seisiúns  are taking place in a number of venues at the moment. These provide fantastic entertainment for locals and visitors alike over the Summer months. The Devon Inn, Templeglantine is one of the venues and their show takes place every Thursday night from 9pm.

The Listowel Arms Hotel hosts a seisiún on Wednesdays from 9pm.

Bruach na Carraige, Rockchapel on Tuesday nights at 9pm

Cois na hAbhna  puts on two shows per week on Wednesday’s and Friday’s at 8.30pm.

So there is no shortage of entertainment for lovers of traditional music, song, dance and storytelling.

“Congratulations to one and All”

Firstly we send heartiest congratulations to Norma Brouder of Templeathea, daughter of Noreen and Gene, who over the weekend has become engaged to John Paul O’Riordan, son of Joan and Willie of Upper Dirreen, Athea. Indeed great celebrations all around.

Next we congratulate Caroline and Paudie Murphy (who now reside in Templeglantine) on the birth of their new baby girl they are calling Ava – a little sister for their young son Aaron. Congratulations are also extended to the proud grandparents Mag and Pa Sheehy of Lower Dirreen and no doubt auntie Sheila and Con Kearney are delighted with the new arrival also. 

It was a big celebratory birthday for Joe Ahern of Templeathea when he turned “50” at the weekend and celebrated with a party at Donie’s attended by family and friends. An enjoyable night was had by all. Congratulations to Joe on reaching this milestone.

Congratulations to the newly reformed Athea Vintage Club who have a new committee and are having their ‘Big Day’ this Sunday July 28^th starting at 12 noon up in Gortnagross. There will be directions to the field in the village. This will be a great “Family Fun Day” out with something for everyone. There will be Sheaf-Tossing, a Dog Show, Pony Rides for the Kids, the Fastest Milker competition which should be interesting and much more! So come along view the Vintage vehicles, enjoy the activities and the parade that evening. We hope the weather stays dry for the occasion.

Well huge amounts of Turf have been removed from the surrounding bogs during the fine spell of the past few weeks, bales, silage and hay have been saved, so everyone is delighted to have their work done so early this year unlike last year when in many cases turf had to be left in the bogs. Now it seems we have a “DROUGHT” situation –one extreme to the other, however we shall not complain in case it rains again!

Congratulations again to the “Tidy Towns” people who have been watering the flowers in the village during the HEATWAVE, a lot of work involved. Incidentally if you’re passing any areas and see weeds appearing don’t be afraid to pull them like in the pansies area planted on the bridge, with everyone’s help Athea will definitely be the place to live in.

As I write these notes on Tuesday morning the rain is once again pattering off the window pane but for once I do not complain. A little bit is needed now and then to keep the earth moist and farmers happy. It was great to experience sun and heat for a while but it reminds us that we are not used to it and sometimes find it difficult to function. However, it is nice to know that our New Zealand weather forecaster tells us that more is on the way. George Langan, too, has got caught up in the madness of it all and has compiled another CD called July Madness. He is offering it free with every Dvd of Lovely Clounleharde, which costs €5. It is now available at the Knockdown food-store. Well done again George. It is nice to know that you are keeping busy. I look forward to hearing it. The Clounleharde DVD is a treasure for anyone living in Glenbawn, Knockdown, Clounleharde, Glenagragra, Glasha.

Glin was a buzz with excitement last weekend with the Triathlon taking place on a very hot Saturday. It cannot have been easy for the participants. There was a carnival atmosphere throughout the weekend. To mark the 1st Anniversary of Glin Heritage Trails, Glin Development is running a Poetry and Art competition. It is open to Children under 12, Children over 12 and adults (over 18). The theme is “The Knight’s Walk”. All entries (either art or poetry) for the competition must be completed and submitted on or before Friday 2nd August. All entries must have Name and a contact number attached. Please submit your work to Glin Library, where it will be exhibited on the run up to the festival.

Glin Library has a most beautiful exhibition at the moment. It is a collection of Carol Noonan’s Art which includes paintings and sculptures. These are all new pieces which have not been exhibited before and shows how busy and creative Carol has been for the past year. Please call to see it.

The Great Southern Trail [GST]  will be the subject of Radio Kerry’s Frank Lewis programme this Saturday 27th July from  9a.m. to 11a.m. http://www.radiokerry.ie/programme/saturday-supplement/

The programme was recorded last Sunday at eight different locations along the GST between Rathkeale and Abbeyfeale. Denis McAuliffe, Vice-Chairman of the GST organised the twenty contributors who spoke on the history, flora, fauna and folklore of the district. The recordings were also interspersed with poetry recitations and songs. It should be an interesting programme.