A scene from the play with Oliver McGrath & Louise Ahern
Athea Drama Group
The hilarious comedy ‘It’s The Real McCoy’ is getting great reviews and continues in Con Colbert Memorial Hall, Athea on this Thurs. 12th, Sat. 14th & Sun. 15th The play starts at 8pm with doors open at 7.30pm. Please come early if you want to get a seat.
A combination of high drama and amazing Irish wit – ‘It’s The Real McCoy’ is not to be missed!
Down Syndrome Limerick
A sincere thank you to all who so generously gave to our Church gate collection last weekend which totaled €636. Thank you also to the collectors.
Appeal for collectors
This weekend Feb. 14th/15th there will be a Church gate collection in aid of The Daughters of Charity, Lisnagry. The organizers are appealing for volunteers to take up the collection in Athea (which was always done by Thady Woulfe in the past). If you can help please contact Shay Sweeney on 086-2594796 he would greatly appreciate it.
Athea, Carrigkerry, Old Mill Association Ltd.
C.E. Scheme Vacancy
We are currently seeking applicants for a Secretary (based in Athea). The position will be vacant in early April. Those wishing to apply will need to be receiving a payment from Social Welfare for at least 1 year in order to qualify. Please contact 068-42301 for further details.
Athea St. Joseph’s Young Priest’s Society
Next Meeting will be on Monday, February 16th in the Sacristy at 7.30pm.
All promoters are requested to attend and new promoters would be very welcome.
Parish Message
Thank you, dear editor, for granting me space in your newsletter to inform all members of our community about something that should be common knowledge. But first read this, a story that is true-
‘It is Sunday; time 3.45pm; I’m in Thurles, Limerick are playing, the hurling is fantastic and I’m very excited and enjoying myself. Then the mobile rings and I answer-
“Fr. Bowen, my grandmother’s anniversary is next month, when can you say Mass for her?”
Holy smoke; I will not tell you my reaction, my caller did not realise that the parish diary is kept in the Sacristy and bookings of all kinds can only be made in the Sacristy. This includes, not only bookings for Masses, but also bookings for weddings and baptisms. A quick look at the times of our Masses and anybody should know the hours I am in and around the church and I do accommodate people as best I can. I do hope that this message (in your newsletter) will put an end to a lot of the silly business I have endured for the past six years.
Note: That phone call during the hurling match is just one of many similar calls I have received.
Thank you again, dear editor.
Fr. Bowen.
News from local TY Student Molly Denihan
Tarbert Comprehensive’s Transition year students travelled to Macroom Co. Cork on Friday to compete in an inter-school talent competition. We competed against six other schools. We had two groups from Tarbert, one group performed a one act drama called the ‘Romantic Lover’ and the other group performed a light entertainment show which was written by Tarbert teacher Mary Carrig. Athea was well represented by Niamh O’Connell, Grace Leahy, Aisling O’Shea, Laura Curry and Corinne Gibbons. We will find out during the week if we have qualified for the next round. We have already recorded the play in Tarbert Community Centre and entered it in a nationals school competition sponsored by Bord Gais.
On Sunday the U17 girls basketball played Chorca Dhuibhne and we had a great win and an exciting game, the score was 39-36 to Athea. The Athea basketball club also were involved in making teas and coffees during the interval of Athea Drama Group’s play on Thursday and Saturday night as a fundraiser for the club. Athea Drama group had a great start to this year’s production drawing large crowds. Edwina Sheehan was excellent in her role and Lorcan McAuliffe was also very impressive as stage manager, the rest of the cast also gave excellent performances.
At the moment there is great excitement in Tarbert Comp, people who are going to this year’s debs are searching on different websites for dresses. Many people have found that some sites are not reliable for instance if anybody logs onto the
‘Penny Deals’ site we have discovered that this site is based in the Ukraine and because of the conflict at the moment in that area orders are not being processed.
I would like to send happy birthday wishes to Maurice Hayes, Lower Athea who celebrated his 21st birthday party on Saturday night.
Molly Denihan
Rural, Community and
Social Centre (RCSC)
Community Alert
A meeting took place last Wednesday evening in the Con Colbert Hall. Diarmuid Cronin (Community Alert Officer, Southern Region) explained how the Community Alert system works and the information needed to set it up here in Athea.
We will be going ahead with this facility due to the positive response received at the meeting. Anyone who wishes to join the group can collect a form from Brouder’s Shop and please feel free to take one for neighbours and friends.
Completed Forms with the €10 fee can be left in Brouder’s where they will be collected by the Community Text Alert Committee.