Archive for April, 2015

News-30/04/2015

Billy McKenna, Teddy O’Connor, Jim Carmody, Lillian O’Carroll, Jim Sheehy & Pa Kiely outside the Community Council premises

Billy McKenna, Teddy O’Connor, Jim Carmody, Lillian O’Carroll, Jim Sheehy & Pa Kiely outside the Community Council premises

Three Athea Children qualify to represent Limerick at the

National Community Games Finals in Athlone

The Athea Community Games Cross Country Team had an extremely successful afternoon last Friday 24th. All the competitors ran very well and five of the children brought home medals.  Thomas McEnery, Anne-Marie Pierse and Dermot Pierse all qualified to represent Limerick in the national finals competition which will be held in Athlone this August.  Emily Pierse became the U16 Limerick County Champion for the 1200m.  Congratulations to all the children who ran and put in enormous effort for these tough long distance races.

 Church Gate Collection

In aid of Rehab Foundation this weekend  May 2nd/3rd. Your support would be greatly appreciated.

Limerick Diocesan Synod 2016

Your Church, Your Voice   We need to hear from you  so have your say

 The Limerick Diocesan Synod will take place in 2016 and will be the largest meeting ever held in the Limerick Diocese. It is important that everyone has the opportunity to shape this future and influence what the Church will look like in Limerick in the years ahead. We need to hear from you so have your say.

Questionnaire’s are available at the following outlets:

O’Riordan’s Pharmacy, Collins’ Shop, Rose’s Shop, Griffin’s Butchers, Post Office & Credit Union.

There are collection boxes in all these outlets and you can put your completed questionnaire in a sealed envelope and drop it into the box or give it to any of the 4 Parish Delegates: Mary Ita Casey, John Redmond, Pat Higgins or Mike Hayes.

A Time For Generosity

North Africa and the Middle East have seen a string of uprisings and revolutions in the recent past leaving hundreds of  thousands dead and many homeless and fleeing for their lives from Islamic extremists who are worse than the Gestapo ever were. Some make it to the northern coast of Libya where they are further exploited by traffickers who charge them large amounts of money to ferry them across the Mediterranean to seek refuge in Europe. Many of these unfortunates, women and babies amongst them, perish at sea or in some cases are thrown overboard. Of course not all who come to Europe in this manner are genuine refugees but can be described as economic migrants seeking a better life in the “free” world. That has been the case for a long time but recently there has been a flood of genuine refugees who would be butchered to death if they returned to their own country. The topic has  been debated on the airways for the past few days and differences arise as to how many Ireland should take or if we should take any at all. The debate on the  Joe Duffy show was started by a Cork woman called Áine Ní Chonaill, a racist bigot who would have fitted in perfectly with Hitler’s regime in their persecution of the Jews, black people and any other than the Aryan race. She would like to have a wall built around the country and keep everyone out forgetting the fact that Ireland’s emigrants have populated the world since the mass emigration started after the famine. Imagine if the ships that bore our forefathers were turned back at Ellis Island not to mention Australia, England, Canada and all the other countries. Even today there are thousands of Irish living and working illegally in America because of the lack of employment in their own land. Our government is continually making  representations  to the powers that be in the US to legalise these workers and rightly so, but how then could we possibly turn around and say “we don’t want to take any refugees” ?   In the present circumstances we need to show humanity and compassion for our less fortunate brothers and sisters and take our fair share. Nobody is suggesting that the doors be open wide and let everybody in but it is the Christian thing to do. Remember, the vast majority of these people have done nothing wrong apart from being from the wrong religion or the wrong tribe.

The world owes the people of Africa a debt because they first of all colonised most of it and then stripped it of its natural resource before leaving a mess behind them. They were in such a hurry to get rid of rulers like Khadafy that they did not realise the consequences of leaving whole areas in a political vacuum that is now filled by extremists. They may have talked of “freeing” the people of Iran, Libya and the likes but the reality is they were protecting the vast oil deposits in the region. The whole place is in turmoil. I worked in Libya in the ‘eighties and found it a lovely place. I saw no poverty while I was there even though the rule of law was strict and unforgiving. Everybody knew where they stood under the dictatorship. With Khadafy removed there is abject poverty and warring factions tearing each other apart. So much for “freedom”.  It is a time for generosity on our part. We must take our fair share of refugees and, at the very least, give them the opportunity to stay alive. It may be our own case someday.

Domhnall de Barra

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Kathleen’s Corner-30/04/2015

By Kathleen Mullane

‘Out & About’

 Sincere congrats go this week to Moira O’Riordan (daughter of Joan and Willie, Upper Dirreen) who, on Friday last, was married to Ian Sheehy of Kilcornan here in Athea Church. The bride was assisted by her sister Anne-Marie and by Maireád Kennelly, Aileen Harrison and Kelly-Anne Sheehy. The best men were Hugh and Michael Sheehy, Michael O’Neill and Anthony Fitzgerald. The flower girls were Emily O’Riordan and Emily Kelly and the pageboy was Noah Sheehy. Fr. Finnerty performed the Nuptial Ceremony. Everyone had a great day at The Devon Inn Hotel and the newly-weds are honeymooning in Italy.

We also congratulate the Athea Intermediate football team who, on Saturday last, won the 1st round of the championship in Foynes against Glin on a score of 2-8 to 0-8. Well done to the players and Pat Higgins their trainer.

Last week we were writing about our lovely weather, however, as I write these few lines this Monday night, there has been hail, rain, thunder, frost and ice this morning and everyone is finding it so cold in comparison to last week. But as the saying goes “April showers bring May flowers”. However, if the weather is all we have to complain about we’re not too badly off considering the terrible earthquake that has struck Nepal – with thousands wiped out (4,000 already) and hundreds still missing and the snow avalanche on Everest – thankfully we here in Ireland don’t experience extremes of weather and long may it stay so.

Don’t forget to get out the Holy water this Thursday – “May Eve”. I’m not sure if the custom is still in operation but in years gone by the farmers blessed their cattle etc. and other animals to keep away the evil spirits and piseogs etc. that might call on May eve!

A final call by Fr. Bowen for any Trócaire boxes that you may have forgotten to bring into the church or if you like you can put your donation in any envelope and mark it Trócaire.

A big day for the boys and girls of Athea N.S. who will be receiving their 1st Holy Communion on Saturday, May 16th. The ceremony takes place at 11am. And there are 26 in all receiving the sacrament. We wish them the best for their big day, for which they’ve been well prepared by teachers, clergy and parents alike.

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Knockdown News-30/04/2015

By Peg Prendeville

I went to the film Glassland in Listowel on Monday night. A very powerful film! Once again congratulations to Gerard Barrett who seems to have the knack of being able to get inside people’s minds and understand their strengths and weaknesses. Go and see it.

 

There was a big turnout in Knockdown for the Table Quiz in aid of Ballyhahill N.S. on last Friday night. Credit is due to the Parents Association for the work that went into organising such a successful night. It was a night of fun followed by music and song. Well done to all for taking part and helping to raise funds towards painting the school.

 

Cycle Against Suicide is an initiative started by Irish entrepreneur, Jim Breen, as a result of his appearance on RTE’s Secret Millionaire programme. The main objective of the Cycle is to raise awareness of the considerable help and supports that are available for anyone battling depression, self harm, at risk of suicide or those bereaved by suicide. Each day, the Cycle Against Suicide will cover an average of 100 km and cyclists can participate in as many or as few legs of the Cycle as they wish. It began last Monday and will be passing through Glin on Sunday next and stopping for a lunch break in Tarbert at 2pm. The community in Tarbert would appreciate any donations in the form of sandwiches, cakes, biscuits or beverages to help feed the cyclists as they pass through. There may be a couple of hundred, who knows? If you can do anything to support this worthy cause please ring Breda Lavery on 0871909880. If you can’t then maybe you can give moral support by waving on the cyclists as they pass through on the N69. Their motto is “Together, shoulder to shoulder, we can Break the Cycle of Suicide in Ireland!

The Irish Cancer Society will hold a church gate collection in Loughill/Ballyhahill on next weekend of  Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd May  and will appreciate all support.

The Parish Liturgy group is organizing a Parish Mission in Ballyhahill Church on  21st to 24th May. This will be conducted by the Vincentian Fathers. All parishioners are invited to take part by attending one or all of the ceremonies. More details later. The children in Ballyhahill School will receive their First Holy Communion on this Saturday the 2nd May at 11 a.m.  We wish them and their families every blessing and hope the weather will be kind.

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