By Kathleen Mullane

‘Bits & Bobs’

Well, as I said last week, we were in for a few more storms and definitely last week saw storm ‘Desmond’ hitting our shores. Thankfully we, here in this part of the country, weren’t badly hit like places in Cork etc., some of whose business premises were ruined yet again from flood waters. We still have to get through storms Eva, Frank and Gertrude but hopefully these won’t occur until 2016 – giving us a break!

Well, we welcome two new little baby girls into our parish this week, first babies for two happy couples. Lorraine and Gary O’Connor of Templeathea were blessed with baby Emily during the week – congrats to them and to Mary Anne and Jim Herbert of Coole, the proud grandparents.

Also Mary Ita and Gerard Collins of Knocknagorna have had their new baby Grace this week. Good wishes are also extended to them and to happy grandparents Peggy and Bill Casey and Kathleen and Paddy Collins.

The AGM of Athea & District Credit Union takes place on this Friday night, December 11th at 7pm at the Credit Union Office. All members are invited to attend. The Credit Union is invaluable in our community and we are extremely grateful to have such an establishment which is so well run by excellent and helpful staff.

Following our hall meeting on this Monday night several proposals and discussions were brought up and spoken about. The FAS workers were praised for always being on hand when help is needed at the hall, whether it be for a bit of painting, lighting or erecting something or other. More blinds and extra lighting was proposed for the small hall and sports hall.

We are all well aware that the sports hall is such a huge asset to our community and Trish Phillips Ahern, along with her helper Tina Byrne, do untold work with the girls and boys basketball teams of all ages. With regard to the basketball, Trish hopes to take a boys and girls team to Barcelona in a few months time where they will take part in important competitions there and which will be a great life learning experience for them.

Money needs to be raised for the trip and we are asking anyone out there who may be able to help our either financially or help with some fundraising we would be delighted to hear from them. Our youth are the backbone of our community and sport keeps them off the street – and the basketball teams have come on in “leaps and bounds” with their training over the years, so please help them