By Kathleen Mullane

“Gone to the Dogs” 

Well this Saturday night October 15th is a big night for the Athea GAA and also the parish. It’s a night when Athea will be “gone to the dogs” literally. Hopefully it will raise much needed funds for the proposed pitch development. It’s going to be a brilliant family night for everyone down to the children who will have face-painting and bouncy castle etc, and of course we mustn’t forget the moms and dads who can be in with a chance of winning “best dressed lady or man”. Children are free and it’s just €10 for the ticket which includes entrance and inclusion in a draw for €500. There will also be a bus or maybe two travelling to avoid taking your car and I’m sure you will be informed by the GAA committee as regards giving in your names for seats, the bus will be sponsored by us.

We congratulate the Athea Ladies Football Club who will also celebrate their 25th anniversary on the night! In other words – “BE THERE”.

As someone who was registering with me for the 5K run last week and having a cup of tea after said to me on being at home in Athea for the Bank Holiday weekend and I quote “what a great Community Spirit there is in Athea” and that’s very true if you think of it even all who helped and organized the Parish Festival last weekend, down to the Tidy Towns people and each and every organization in our small but great little village – here’s to “Athea”!

Well I’m writing these few lines a week in advance as I will be away visiting family in the USA, news on that next time around.

Last week saw the annual parish pilgrimage to Knock and Fr. Bowen, who led the trip, said that it was a lovely day, full of devotion, prayer and “community closeness”

Well we are almost half-way through August and the final couple of weeks of the school holidays, no doubt uniforms are being organized, books bought and school bus tickets sorted these days and still no days of what you could call real summer weather. I wonder how those depending on the tourist trade in places like nearby Ballybunion and the like survive with little or no income with the cold, wet weather.

This Saturday of course is August 15th – the feast of The Assumption and an important day with the vigil Mass on Friday evening as usual at 7.30pm.

Wishing Canon Kelly all the very best as he recuperates in St. Catherine’s in Newcastle West. Hopefully he will be out and about again very soon.