Raymond Brouder, Jerry Brouder and Seán Fitzgerald with some of the ducks that were put in the river by the Gun Club

New C.E. Scheme

Due to new rules by the Department of Social Protection (who are now responsible for all C.E. Schemes) Athea have had to amalgamate with Carrigkerry/Old Mill. Despite these changes work in Athea will continue the same with our own participants and supervisor and the same will apply to Carrigkerry/Old Mill. It will mean that a total of 35 people will employed between both places.

Annual Day Trip

Our annual day trip this year will be going to visit Áras an Uachtarán on Tuesday, July 15th. Due to security reasons all names need to be forwarded to the Áras by June 29th at the latest and photo I.D. will be required on the day. To secure your place contact Marie Wrenn 087-7674832 or Joan Fitzgibbon 087-9865005

By Kathleen Mullane

Well done to the Athea U10 soccer team who were gallant winners of the Shield on Sunday last at the Knockdown Family Fun Day. There was great excitement all around not only from the players but all the parents couldn’t contain their excitement either! The shield was presented to the captain Fergal Pierse amid great scenes. Well done to all. They beat Glin 4-1. On this Friday night June 27th the annual ‘Awards Night’ takes place at the Top of the Town, organised by Athea Utd. If last year is anything to go by it should be a great night with our young players doing some great ‘disco moves on the dance floor.

Also on this Friday night the Benefit Dance in aid of Martina Tierney (sister of Sandra O’Sullivan) who has MS will be held at the Devon Inn. Tickets have been on sale all along at €5, you can also buy on the night. There’s loads of spot prizes and music is by Donie & Maura. Please support this worthy cause.

 Athea was “buzzing” again on Saturday last when up to 150 cyclists had a ‘water stop’ here in the village. They were with the Askeaton touring club all cycling for a worthy cause, donned out in the blue/red and white. Well done to each and every one of them for doing this quite arduous cycle over the 2 days.

Congrats and well done to all the participants from Athea who took part in the Community Games on Saturday and Sunday last in Mungret. They all gave it their best shot and it’s “participating” that counts not winning.

 Just a few days left now to purchase a ticket for the 2014 Athea GAA Club development draw. There is a special prize of €1,000 for fully paid up members. Tickets are just €80 or €10 x 8 draws. A total of €11,800 will be paid out in prizes. Pitch improvements are on the agenda for later on this year. Your support would be gratefully received.

Can you believe “the longest day of the year” has passed and gone already! With the beautiful spell of glorious weather we are having at the moment, the month of June seems to have flown by, with it hardly getting dark at all. The birds are singing at 4.30am each morning and how lovely it is to listen to the “Dawn Chorus” -except however when it is interrupted with flocks of crows and magpies fighting! However, the hot weather has everyone in good form and everyone has a ‘spring’ in their step – rumour has it we may be getting more hot weather form “The Azores”

By Peg Prendeville

The Full Moon Barndance in Ballinruane, Kilmeedy, is a unique charity Barn Dance held on the first full moon of the summer in West Limerick. Each year a different charity is chosen; to date Barndance has raised in excess of €50,000. Barndance was born in 2011 and with such success is now an annual event. It will be held this year on July 11/12^th. Tickets cost €50 pp including a free bar. This year, all funds raised will go to St. John’s Ward of Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin. This is the ward which has looked after Mark Sheahan, Clounleharde for the past few years and it is great to hear that Mark’s treatment is almost at an end and he is doing great thanks to the care he got while in St John’s Ward. His parents Margaret and Martin are more than grateful to the Barn Dance committee members for the wonderful work they are doing as they feel that Crumlin hospital deserves all it can get. The money raised is going to be used to build accommodation for parents of sick children who want to stay in the hospital. The tickets can be bought through Margaret and Martin as well as other members of the Barn Dance group. It is important to remember that this year there is a Kiddies night on Friday 11^th July with a children’s party, including Bouncy Castle, from 9 to 11 pm, admission only €5. All support will be greatly appreciated. If interested contact Margaret on 086 3609476.

Congratulations to Lisa and John Wallace on the birth of a baby boy Jack recently, a brother for Harry. Congratulations too to Lisa and Diarmaid Daly on the birth of a boy, Ríain, on Sunday night, a brother for Noah and Ayda. All are doing well, thank God.

Killeaney AFC wishes to thank all who supported the Fun Day last Sunday. It was great to see so much colour and so many people enjoying themselves in the nice weather. Some clever people brought their rugs and had a picnic. The scenic walk through Spahill was enjoyed and was a new experience for many. It is very pleasant to walk through a bog when one knows there is no work to be done on the way. Who knows but next year there might a gallon of tae and currant cake midway!

We have all enjoyed the brilliant weather these last few weeks but I think of  those students who were doing exams and who had to stay indoors studying and now that the exams are almost all over the weather is threatening to change slightly. But let us hope it will continue to be pleasant enough.

Welcome home this week from foreign parts: from Australia Thomas O’Connor and Seán Prendeville, and from Korea Paudie and Seánie Cummane and Patrice Reidy. It is good to see them returning, if only for a holiday.