By Pat Brosnan
New Fairy Trail A Great Addition to our Parish
The brainchild of the local Tidy Towns group – Athea’s latest tourist attraction behind the Memorial Hall and Giant’s Garden was officially opened recently and has attracted huge interest from locals and visitors alike. Along the trail live fairies Lu, Nookie, Fiachra, Nóinín, Ciaróg, Sun, Shine, Paige, Lucey and Croí who will each have their own fairy door and a purpose which will be displayed on a plaque beside each door.. The location where each fairy lives will be indentified by lifting toadstools along the route.
The unique attraction will house its own “worry tree” called Cróga which was included to take away any worries you may have by placing your hand on the plaque attached to the tree. At the end of the trail there is also a fairy postbox where you can post messages to the fairies. This will be a fantastic addition to our village and will be open to the public all year round for free. Everyone is welcome to come along. Also featured on the launch was the raising of seven new flags at the Giant’s Garden representing Ireland, Munster, Limerick, Athea GAA, Athea United, Athea Basketball and Athea Tidy Towns. Their inclusion in the park was made possible thanks to sponsorship from the brothers of Kathleen Casey, Chicago and Athea Utd.
Search for Feale’s Fittest Family
Do you think your family have what it takes to become the “Feale’s Fittest Family”. Do you have the stamina, motivation, fun factor that might see you claim the coveted title for the first time ever. If so the people at Feale Fit, Abbeyfeale want to hear from you. Ahead of next month’s Gather by the Feale festival, the search is on to find the Feale’s Fittest Family, with organizers looking for families from Athea, Abbeyfeale, Duagh, Knocknagoshel, Templeglantine, Mountcollins, Brosna and Rockchapel to do battle. Family teams must consist of four members who must be related. Parents and siblings to aunts, uncles and cousins. Each team must consist of at least one adult male and one adult female (one of whom must be at least 30 years old and the other at least 40). Children participating must be at 16 years of age. Each family will pick a mentor to assist in their training schedule and during the competition. The families will be asked to take part in plenty of promotional work before and during the event in July. The family must be up for the fun, willing to accept all challenges and most importantly not afraid to get wet. If you think you’ve got what it takes and are up for the challenge, contact Shane 087-7645582.
Great Southern Trail Midsummer Big Walk
Bookings are now being taken for the Great Southern Trail’s Midsummer Big Walk which takes place on Saturday, June 21st. The fourth annual 36km trail will commence from Abbeyfeale Old Railway Station at 10.30am and will travel the 36km route of the old railway to Rathkeale. Devon Road Station and Tullig Wood will be passed en route with the ascent continuing to Barnagh – the highest point on the trail-13km from Abbeyfeale. Organizers are advising those taking part to bring a packed lunch which will be enjoyed at Barnagh, where participants can also take in panoramic views and explore an old railway tunnel. Then 10km to Newcastle West where there will be a break for afternoon tea. The final 13km to Rathkeale brings walkers past Ardagh, where the famous Chalice was found in 1868. In Rathkeale certificates will be presented to those who completed the entire 36km (22miles) on foot. Anyone wishing to take part is asked to register at [email protected] June 14th. A registration fee of €10 is payable in advance to Great Southern Trail, 9 Bishop Street, Newcastle West.
Listowel Writers Week
Young poets from Kerry and West Limerick dazzled with their choice verses in a writers week favourite that continues to remember a former chairman of the festival in the most appropriate way possible. The Dan Keane “Memorial Primary School Poetry Competition” – run in association with ‘The Kerryman’ brought yet another generation of rhyming talents to public awareness at Listowel Community Centre during Writers Week. Though Knockanure native Dan passed away in 2012 his spirit very much lives on through the annual competition. Great credit must be given to Gabriel Fitzmaurice who was on hand to help maintain Dan’s encouraging approach and help out the young competitors in this year’s competition. This year saw talents like Sinead Scanlon, Aoibhan Linnane, Kaylin Foley, Saoirse Cahill, Gerard Browne, Rebecca Falvey, Maeve Dalton, Kieran O’Connell, Paul Walshe, David Quinlan, Sam Prendiville, Erica Thomas, Thomas O’Connor and Aideen Cronin all recognized for their poetry.
Congratulations
Congratulations to Con Warren CCE Áth on tSléibhe, winner of the English Singing and Newly Composed Ballad at Fleadh Cheoil Luimnigh. He will now go forward to represent Limerick and Athea in the Munster Fleadh Cheoil in Killarney. Best wishes to Con.