by Kathleen Mullane

‘Happy Christmas’

It’s so strange to be writing about Christmas and I don’t think it’s just me – nobody can believe it’s that time of year again! Last Christmas seemed to be such a short time ago. It must be the very good weather we’ve had over the last number of weeks – that the festive season has crept up on us so suddenly. Anyway to all the readers of the Athea Newsletter – I extend sincere good wishes and all the very best of health and happiness in the New Year ahead. Incidentally, congrats to Lillian and Donal on yet another great parish journal – really colourful and with loads to read, indeed a lovely present to send overseas to our exiles.

Well done to Jim Herbert of Coole whose son T.J. played for him on Winning Streak on Saturday night last and did very well – a new kitchen no doubt “is on the cards” for MaryAnne now.

Thanks is extended by Teresa Flavin (area co-ordinator) to all those who gave in shoeboxes recently, a total of 3,286 boxes were taken to orphanages in Moldova – Well done to Athea N.S. also.

Congrats to Elaine Tierney (Collins), Knocknagorna who recently celebrated her 30th birthday along with her family and friends. Apologies to Katie Scanlon of Upper Athea, I was led to believe it was her 30th, now I have been informed it was her 21st – but I know they are having me on – Happy Birthday anyway Katie – you’re as young as you feel.

The Credit Union AGM is on this Friday night at 7pm in the office. All members are welcome to attend.

It’s lovely to see the Cross up at the Holy Cross Cemetery re-lit again and this is thanks to Athea Credit Union who sponsored it being fixed, it’s a real focal point in front of the cemetery.

The AGM of our Community Hall takes place this Wednesday Dec 18th at 7pm in the hall kitchen. It would be great if more people would come on board and share their ideas and views etc, after all, the hall is yours – “The people of Athea” and a great asset to our parish.

Well done to all those who helped out in any way with the Going Strong Christmas party last week – all voluntary, those who gave spot-prizes, did baking and so much more. Bridie O’Shea retired having been 15 years treasurer of the Going Strong and Mary Kelly presented her with a gift for her many years of great work.

Christmas can be a lonely and difficult time for some, so we remember the following lines

“There’s always a light in the church, no matter how much you’ve been hurt

What’s promised will be, look up and you’ll see, there’s always a light in the church”

by Tom Aherne

The following are the Lottery results from Neary’s Bar, Ardagh on Monday 9^th December. The numbers drawn were 3, 5, 15, 22, and there was no Jackpot winner. Congratulations to the lucky dip winners as follows, €60 Nora Cronin c/o Curley’s. €60 Bobby Woulfe c/o Neary’s. €60 Patsy and Tina Madigan c/o Madigan’s Ardagh. €30 Tom Neary Ardagh. €30 James Prenderville c/o N Dineen. €30 Hannah Green c/o Foley’s Reens. Next week’s draw will be held in The Old Mill Bar, and the Jackpot will be €8,800.

The Tuesday Social Club would like to extend a sincere thank you to everyone who contributed so generously to the Irish Night in Neary’s Bar, Ardagh, held on Saturday 30^th November. The total rose amounted to €576.80.They extend their thanks also to Tom Neary for his welcome and generosity and also to the musicians and singers who turned up on the night.

Carrig Celtic lost 3-1 at home to Rathkeale in the Premier Division of the Desmond League on Sunday 8^th December, with Seanie King scoring their goal. They remain in the top half of the league table.

Old Mill drew 2-2 away to Newcastle West Rovers in Division 1 with Paddy Downes, and Brendan Mc Carthy scoring their goals.

Creeves Celtic B defeated Saint Ita’s 2-1 away in Division 3 with Andy Scully and Jason Ahern scoring their goals.

Carrig Celtic ladies received a walkover from Saint Ita’s in Division 1 of the Desmond Ladies League.

We extend our sympathy to Margaret, and Paddy Reidy and family Ardvone, Ardagh, on the death of Margaret’s mother Ellen (Nell) Mulvihill nee Mulvihill, Killeaney, Glin. Her remains lay in repose at her residence on Wednesday from 4pm to 8pm. Requiem Mass on Thursday 12^th December, at 12 noon in Church of the Immaculate Conception Glin, followed by burial in Kilfergus Cemetery. Sympathy also to other family member’s relatives, and friends. May she rest in Peace.

The death has taken place in Dover England of May Wright (nee Cahill) who was a native of Main Street, Ardagh. Her family owned the Post Office there before it moved further down the Street to Curley’s where it is located at present.  Her grandfather was Joe Manger, who was a former manager of Ardagh Creamery. She moved away from the village to England where she spent her working life as a nurse. We extend sympathy to her husband Eddie and other family members. May she rest in peace.

The Limerick G.A.A. Club draw for December took place in the Weigh Inn Ballysheedy on Friday 6^th and the Saint Kieran’s club had no winners on the night. This was the final draw for the year and the club would like to thank all who participated.

The annual Saint Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal collection took place at all Masses in Ardagh/Carrigkerry on the weekend of Saturday/Sunday 7^th /8^th December. The Society would like to thank all who gave so generously to the collection and to all who stood at the collection tables.

A residential roadside farm of 125 statue acres was sold by Public Auction at the Courtenay Lodge Newcastle West on Friday 6^th December. The farm was sold on the instructions of the representatives; of the late Charlie McCarthy who died earlier this year. It is located at Moig on the main Ardagh to Shanagolden road. It is one of the most outstanding farms to come on the market for a good while, and it attracted considerable interest amongst the farming community. Lot 1 contained 77 St Acres with derelict Residence and Yard and it sold for €700,000, amounting to €9,090 an acre. Lot 2 contained 48 St Acres, and it sold for €575,000, or almost €12,000 per acre.   The entire 125-acre farm made €1,275,000 which was a very respectable €10,200 an acre. The new owners of both lots are local progressive farmers.

Orders are currently being taken for Christmas wreaths for graves and door hangers with all proceeds going to charity. Contact Moira on 069-76256 or 086-2123560.

A new book has been published on the history of the diocese of Limerick, with each parish dealt with individually.  The Ardagh/Carrigkerry and Coolcappa/Kilcolman parishes have been allocated three pages each. It contains a hardback cover and it was edited by Liam Irwin, and it makes interesting reading. Part I deals with the history of the Diocese, and part 2 with the individual Parishes. The Parishes have been allocated copies and it will not be on sale in the shops. People who wish to buy a copy which costs €20 are asked to call into the sacristy in Ardagh and Carrigkerry and to Fr Denis Mullane, in Coolcappa/Kilcolman. It would make a nice Christmas gift for a special friend.

On sale at present in the local shops are the Ballyguiltenane Rural Journal, Athea Parish Journal and Castlemahon/Feohanagh Parish Annual. They all contain a very interesting mix of articles, reports and photographs, and make ideal reading over the holiday period.

Accord Marriage Care Service, Newcastle West, provides marriage preparation courses for couples choosing to get married in the Catholic Church. There are still some places available on their course on Saturday 18^th January 2014.For further details please telephone 069-61000 or email [email protected]

Under the terms of the Roads Act 1993, householders, landowners, and occupiers of land are obliged to take all reasonable care to ensure that the trees, ditches, hedges and other vegetation growing on their land are not or could not become a danger to people using or working on a public road. Examples of hazards might be dead or dying trees, ditches or hedges, interfering with traffic, blocking footpaths, obscuring road signs or obscuring a view of the road ahead. People are required to fell, cut, log, trim or remove such trees, ditches and hedges. The liability for damage or injury resulting from such hazards will rest with the householder/landowner/occupier. A lot of trees, ditches, and hedges have been cut back in recent weeks around the locality and thanks to all who have done so. It increases the visibility for all road users, which in turn decreases the number of accidents.

Carrigkerry N.S. is holding carol singing at the school on this Thursday 19^th December from 11am to 2pm.

Kilcolman National School Fundraising Committee is holding a children’s disco on Friday 20^th December from 6-8 pm in Coolcappa Hall. € 5 per child, €10 per family, Children must be accompanied by an adult, and all are welcome. Contact Linda086-8886065 with any queries.

A fundraising table Quiz to raise funds for Sinéad Mulcahy, Coolcappa to go to Ghana will take place in The Ballintemple Inn, Newcastle West; on Saturday 21^st December at 8pm. Sinéad will travel as part of a group with the Water Global Brigade for 10 days next Easter to help the Ghanaian people. They will build water storage units that will collect rainwater during the winter to enable a water supply during the summer droughts. They will also build toilets, and teach about water purity. Sinéad and each member of the group have to raise €1,500, before they can go on the trip and help out with the project. Sinéad would really appreciate support for the quiz and other fundraising events.

Saint Kieran’s GAA Club is hosting a charity road hurling competition, on Saturday 28^th December, around the Ardagh countryside.  Three members will make up the participating team, and all interested are asked to contact Secretary Ivan Neary in the coming week.

A Christmas Dance Camp will take place in Coolcappa Hall from Monday 30^th December to Friday 3^RD January from 11am to 12.40pm each day. The Camp will be suitable for ages 5 to 13 and contact Sinéad on 085-1375003.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody who helped me to compile these notes over the past year. I would like to wish fellow correspondents,  Domhnall and Lilian, and staff of Athea and District Newsletter  and all readers at home and abroad a very happy and peaceful Christmas and a bright 2014.

By Peg Prendeville

Sincere sympathies to Martha Fitzgerald, her children Sandra and Kenneth and extended family in Ballyguiltenane/Glin on the death of her husband Willie at a young age during last week. Death is difficult at any time of year but even more so coming up to Christmas. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all.

It is lovely, at this time of year, to see our young people returning from foreign lands for the Christmas season. We welcome them all and hope that, if it is their wish, that one day they will be able to return for good.

I take this opportunity to wish a Happy Christmas and New Year to editors Domhnall and Lillian and my fellow correspondents, Pat, Tom and Kathleen and all readers of the Knockdown News column. Go mbeirfimid beó ar an am seo arís. See you in 2014!

I will end the year with the Kerry Christmas Carol. I am not sure who wrote it but it is a lovely, easy gentle way to lead us into next week.

Brush the floor and clean the hearth,

And set the fire to keep,

For they might visit us tonight

When all the world’s asleep!

Don’t blow the tall white candle out

But leave it burning bright,

So that they’ll know they’re welcome here

This holy Christmas night!

Leave out the bread and meat for them,

And sweet milk for the Child,

And they will bless the fire, that baked

And, too, the hands that toiled.

For Joseph will be travel-tired,

And Mary pale and wan,

And they can sleep a little while

Before they journey on.

They will be weary of the roads,

And rest will comfort them,

For it must be many a lonely mile

From here to Bethlehem.

O long the road they have to go,

The bad mile with the good,

Till the journey ends on Calvary

Beneath a cross of wood.

Leave the door upon the latch,

And set the fire to keep,

And pray they’ll rest with us tonight

When all the world’s asleep.