By Kathleen Mullane

‘Out & About’ 

Sincere congrats and good wishes go to Nellie & Francie Flavin of Hillside Drive who both celebrated their “60th” birthdays with a joint party at the Top of the Town on Saturday night last. Everyone had a most enjoyable night.

Birthday wishes are also sent to Sarah McCarthy, daughter of Nora and Eugene of Templeathea, who celebrated her 21st birthday along with family, relatives and friends at O’Sullivan’s Bar in Abbeyfeale also on Saturday night last. A great time was had by all.

This Friday, January 15th is a very important day in nearby Kileedy – it’s ‘St. Ita’s Day’ where everyone does ‘their rounds’ and visits the graveyard. They also have a night of celebration in the local hall that night. God rest my father Mossie Browne – his birthday was on January 16th – however, being a native of Kileedy, he always claimed it was on “January 15th”- so that he could go down and celebrate with friends despite my mother insisting that he was a day early!

Well this weekend sees the Athea Ladies footballers holding their annual Church gate collection. This is one of their main fundraisers for the club and your generosity, as always, would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks to everyone who has taken the bother to drop me in stamps from their letters and cards. “Fr. Stamps” from Kiltegan will be well and truly pleased when he collects them from Donal and Lillian.

Also great credit is due to Pat O’Connor of Knocknagorna who did great work along with Fr. Bowen in preparation for Christmas – from power hosing to erecting the crib to cleaning out the water-fonts etc. indeed well done.

A good crowd attended the AGM of Athea GAA at the Clubhouse on Saturday night last. Jacqueline O’Connor (secretary) read the minutes of last year’s AGM and gave a very detailed secretary’s report. Maireád O’Donovan (treasurer) gave us an account of the club finances and thanked everyone for supporting the club’s fund-raiser at the greyhound track. Paul Curry (chairman) stated that 2016 would be a year that the club needed as much fundraising and financial help as it could get in order to repay the cost of the new pitch and running track etc, which will be a huge assed to our parish.

If any of our parishioners, at home or abroad, would like to contribute a sum to the new pitch they would have their names on a “Patron Board” at the pitch to acknowledge their generosity. Also the club have €10 tickets on sale at the moment with 1st prize of a car and other great prizes. If you could sell or buy some tickets it would be great.

Thanks to Jacqueline, David and Claire for the lovely tea, buns and sandwiches after the AGM.