By Kathleen Mullane
“Parish Festival Comes to an End”
Well, the revived parish festival ended on Sunday evening last and everyone agreed it had been a great few days. A great crowd attended the pub quiz at the Top of the Town on Friday night and of course the ‘Going Strong’ Summer party had a huge crowd attend. Well done to the organisers and those who helped on the day and of course to Colleen Reidy who provided the gorgeous food. It was a great opportunity for all to meet up and chat and enjoy the music and atmosphere. The drama on Saturday and Sunday night was also well attended and well done to all who partook, it wasn’t easy learning ‘the lines’ during the summer holidays.
Sunday saw the 5k walk/race taking place and well done to all who registered and took part. The 1st man home was young Gavin Dillon of Abbeyfeale who did the Templeathea ring in just 18mins! Next was Donal Leahy of Lower Athea and 3rd was Michael Lillis. The 1st woman home was Elaine O’Keeffe with Mary Sheahan in second place and Michelle Curry in 3rd. Pádraig Enright was the first boy home with Andrew O’Riordan in 2nd place and Michael Tierney 3rd. We all got ‘soaked’ but it was great fun. Thanks to Carol O’Connor and Denise O’Riordan and their helpers for the lovely tea and sandwiches etc afterwards. The committee also thanks Kearney’s Home Baking, Ballyhahill for sponsoring the cakes on the day and Twomey’s Bakery for the bread and Eilish and Leo Geoghegan for the welcome water and Patsy and Marisa Hayes for handing it out at Fairy St. Cross!
The GAA festival tournament on Sunday attracted a great crown, all eager to see their husbands and family members taking part. Four teams partook and in the end the “Dirreen Dynamos” captained by Tim O’Riordan won through. “Rumour has it” that there were some sore bones and stiff legs after the games! Well done to all especially the “well seasoned” players – an enjoyable barbecue at Paul Collins’ was enjoyed by all afterwards amidst the excitement of the Mayo/Kerry game (keep your flag flying Paul Curry up there in Dirreen) and Margaret Barrett in the Lower Rd.
The committee of the parish festival deserve a huge “thank you” for all their work all week namely John Redmond, John Joe Tierney, Carol O’Connor, Denise O’Riordan, Helen O’Connor & Margaret Carroll – here’s to next year.
Congrats to Lisa & Neilus Hunt on the birth of their little boy Fionn recently. His brothers and sister Grace are delighted. Congrats to the proud grandparents also Thady Hunt of Coole and Mary and Henry Moran of Toureen.
Congrats also to Anne Marie and Maurice Horgan on the birth of their little boy who we are all thinking about and remembering in our prayers. A little brother for Nancy their little girl.
Good wishes are sent to Canon Kelly also who is presently in hospital-hopefully he will be ‘out and about’ very soon again.
It was sad to hear of the death of Fr. O’Gorman of Tournafulla over the weekend, another lovely man gone to his ‘eternal reward. He will be sadly missed by his parishioners, relatives and so many friends. ‘May he rest in peace’.
Registration for the 2014/2015 season with Trish Phillips will take place at the hall from 6.30-7.30pm on Wednesday September 3rd. All are welcome – new players, boys/girls are especially welcome. A great way of keeping fit for our youth.
Well it’s ‘back to school’ time once again and how quickly the summer hols have gone by – however we were lucky with the weather and all the kids are going back revitalised after the sunshine. Best of luck to all who are starting college shortly and secondary school and to all who will be receiving their Junior Cert results soon.