‘It’s the Real McCoy’ Maura (Louise Ahern) doing her weekly shopping

Athea Village Festival

The festival will take place from Thursday 30th July to Monday, 3rd August.

There will be something for everyone to enjoy starting with an Afternoon Tea Party at the Top of the Town on Thursday from 3-6pm,  Basketball, Soccer and GAA tournaments, tug-of-war, Fancy Dress Parade, 5k road race, Barman’s race, plus loads more activities to participate in. Athea Drama Group will stage ’It’s the Real McCoy’ again on Saturday and Sunday night. So do come out and support all the events and enjoy the craic.

 Athea GAA Church Gate Collection

Saturday August 1 & Sunday August 2

Annual Church Gate Collection at all Masses this weekend. Your support as always would be greatly appreciated.

 Athea GAA “Gone To The Dogs”

At the moment there is still an opportunity to sponsor a race at our race night on August 15th in Tralee Greyhound Stadium.

• Sponsor a Race on the night – €500 (includes a full page ad in Programme)
• Joint Sponsor a Race – €250  (includes a half page ad in Programme)
• Place a full page advert in the Race Programme – €100
• Place a half page advert in the Race Programme – €50

Please contact either Jacqueline O’Connor on 086-0670091, Paul Curry on 087-6501673 or Liz O’Sullivan on 087-6699783 or any member of the committee Paul Collins, Leo Geoghegan, MaryIta Casey, Eilish Geoghegan, Roger Ryan, Neddie Hunt or Mairead Donovan.

More Than One Way Make a Buck

Last week we had a look at some of the witty, true sayings of people who weren’t actually trying to be  funny at the time. This week I want to dwell on another Irish phenomenon –  the “cute  hoor”. This description was used by the late John B. Keane to describe Kerrymen in particular but they are to be found all over Ireland. The following true story is a typical example. There were two brothers who did not believe that work was at all necessary to survive. As a friend of theirs said “if there was work in the bed those two would sleep on the floor”   They firmly believed that all that was necessary was a stroke of a pen at the right time to make a fortune. For years they tried various get-rich-quick schemes, including bookmaking, to no avail until one day news was brought to them of a dog that was for sale in Cork. They were reliably informed that this dog came from a very good litter and, because the owner, a farmer with no interest in greyhound racing, hadn’t a clue about the dog’s real worth, it could be got at the right price and a fortune could be made at the track. The next problem was finance. They spent the day calling in favours and promising the moon in return and eventually raised the €1,200 necessary for the purchase. They duly collected the dog and, on the way home, called to the track in Newcastle West to give him a run. The dog trotted around the track more like the tortoise than the hare but they did not despair as they put the poor showing down to tiredness after the car journey. The following day they tried again and if anything the dog had got slower. Realisation dawned that they had been “sold a pup”. They rang the previous owner to be told that he never said the dog could run and it was tough luck if he couldn’t. What to do! After long deliberation they came up with a plan. They had a friend from their days before they lost their bookie’s licence who was still taking bets at the track and made a deal with him. The following Saturday night they entered the dog in a good quality race and made preparations. One of them spent all day cutting up the Evening Press in the shape of €20 notes. These were rolled up with one genuine note on the outside to look like €1,000. The other brother set about informing all and sundry of the great dog that was definitely going to win. On the night of the race they approached the first bookie trying to lay a bet of €1,000 on the dog. The bookie in question wouldn’t take any more than €100 so they moved on to the next who also told them where to go. The word spread that the boys were trying to pull off a coup so the bookies wiped the dog off their boards, all except the friend at the bottom of the line who continued to lay the dog and accept bets. Needless to say he had plenty of takers.  The race started and our dog trotted around after the rest of them, stopping occasionally to admire the crowd.. The two brothers pretended to be very upset and swore that someone had interfered with the dog and probably doped him.  People who had backed the dog weren’t too pleased but accepted the boys’ explanation  and left it at that. When all was over they retired to a local hostelry  where they met their friend the bookie who gave them €2,000 out of his takings. Not only could they pay back the €1,200 they had borrowed but they were €800 in profit. Happy days !.  A good outcome to a bad investment. Now, if they weren’t “cute hoors”, I don’t know who was.

Domhnall de Barra

By Kathleen Mullane

‘Bits & Bobs’

Sincere congrats and good wishes go this week to Mark Griffin (son of Joan & Dan) who was married recently to Siobhán Mahony of Lixnaw. The Nuptial ceremony was performed by Fr., Mossie Brick. The bridesmaids were Danielle Griffin, Denise Lynch, Aileen McEllhiney, Louise Shanahan & Stephanie Corkery. The best men were Raymond Griffin, Jonathan Sweeney, Timmy Mahony, Johnny Flavin & Joe Griffin. The pageboys were Aidan Mahony & Darragh McEllhiney and the flower girls were Katelyn Mahony & Abigail McEllhiney. A great day was enjoyed by everyone at The Devon Inn. The newlyweds are honeymooning in Lanzarote.

There are still a few seats left on the bus travelling on the annual Athea parish pilgrimage to Knock. It leaves the Memorial Hall at 7.30am on Thursday morning. Bookings can be made with Rose at Brouder’s Shop immediately.

Sincere sympathy is extended to Jim Geaney and his family of Toureendonnell on the death  of his sister Noreen O’Connor (of Athea and formerly of Brosna). She was laid to rest on Thursday in Brosna. Sympathy to the extended Geaney family also. ‘May the light of heaven be hers’.

As I write these few lines on this Monday night, you would presume it was more like a “November” night as one looks out the window. But don’t despair yet – it’s meant to be a nice Bank holiday weekend and this will be great for our “Athea Parish Festival” which kicks off this Thursday afternoon with the Senior Citizens Tea Party which is free. It’s going to be a great weekend with so much going on. The “programme of events” has been distributed to parishioners at this stage and there’s something for everyone from a basketball tournament on Friday to “The Real McCoy” on Saturday & Sunday night and of course “a must” for the kids on Sunday – the Fancy Dress parade at 12 noon followed by the 5k road race at 2pm. There are football and soccer tournaments, tug-o-war, go kart racing and an open air Disco to conclude on Monday evening at 9.30pm with DJ Jer. Some great reasons to stay in Athea for the Bank holiday weekend! All that’s needed now is a bit of sun.

Sincere sympathy is extended to Rose McAuliffe and her family on the death of her mother Maureen Brosnan over the weekend. She was laid to rest in Currow.

‘Go ndeana Dia trócaire le na hanam’

By Peg Prendeville

I have just returned from a two day break – staycation, I think it is called – in Killarney which is my favourite spot in the country. There is no limit to the different walks one can take within Muckross Park and there is always something else to see. That is if the sun is shining of course. But when the mist is covering the mountains and a wind blowing in off the lake it is a different matter! What a disappointment. But in spite of the weather the hotels and bars are busy with tourists who do not seem to mind what the weather is like. “We come because the people are friendly and we expect to get rain, so we are not disappointed,” they say. It is good that they have this attitude because otherwise we would all be abandoned this summer. Even the Croagh Patrick pilgrimage was cancelled for the first time last Sunday because of bad weather and I am sure the Foynes air show was affected also. Maybe it might pick up in August. We must keep hoping.

Here is a flashback to July 2005. Who remembers?

1. Féile Peil na nÓg celebrations took place all round Limerick last weekend. Gerald Griffins hosted the Spanish group and two girls Maria Descehada and Ellne Peschoda from Barcelona were hosted by Thomas and Marcella O Grady, whose daughter Ciara was taking part. Even though no matches were won the club had a great weekend, what with the parade and disco and all the excitement a visiting team brings. Fr Tim welcomed them in Spanish at Mass on Sunday and Mary Moore and some of the school pupils helped the choir adding an extra touch to the ceremony. The pupils in Scoil Naomh Mhuire in Ballyhahill made a magnificent flag for the parade – so much work was put into it. It is a credit to the school.
2. Gerald Griffins summer camp is lucky in the week they picked. The children are having a great, if hot, time under the sun from 10.30 to 2.30 learning football and hurling skills in the pitch every day. Lots of suncream being used these days. Isn’t it grand and we didn’t even have to buy an airline ticket?
3. The Killeaney AFC wall was painted.