By Kathleen Mullane

‘Out & About’

Apologies last week when writing about ‘Valentine’s weekend’, I forgot to mention another engagement which had occurred some time ago. Mary O’Sullivan, daughter of Vera and Jim of Upper Athea, has become engaged to Jason Twomey, son of Bridie & Mike also of Upper Athea. Sincere congrats and good wishes go to the newly engaged couple.

Well things are well underway for the forthcoming production from the Athea Drama Group entitled “The Hen Night Epiphany” by Jimmy Murphy. It contains adult themes and will be staged here in the hall on February 25th, 27th & 28th and also on March 3rd, 5th & 6th. No doubt it will be hilarious so make sure and put those dates in your diary/calendar.

Sincere sympathy is extended to Bill McKenna of Upper Athea on the death of his mother Joanie of Lyreacrompane recently. Many paid their last respects at Lyons’ Funeral parlour. She had reached a great age into her nineties. May she rest in peace.

Don’t forget to buy your tickets for the forthcoming National Club draw, at just €10 a ticket there are two prizes of a car, trips with the All Stars, travel vouchers and much more. Monies raises from sales go directly to the cost of the new GAA pitch.

To all those who are presently in hospital in the parish and not very well and those recuperating at home we wish them all a very speedy recovery and hopefully they will be up and about again very soon.

Thanks to everyone who so kindly attended my sister Patsy and my uncle Billy Browne’s funeral in Kileedy over the weekend, it was very much appreciated. What really stuck out was the “community spirit” that was shown by everyone from the children at the National School who did a guard  of honour to the GAA ladies who gave out the very welcome soup, sandwiches etc afterwards. The kindness and generosity was unbelievable. I just thought – in every small community here in Ireland, Athea included, everyone pulls together when needed and that’s the beauty of living in a small village or town. Some may argue that everyone knows everyone else’s business, but what about it if they do – in a way that helps everyone to watch out for everyone else’s neighbor and if they don’t pass at a certain time or aren’t in the usual place on a certain day – one knows it’s out to the ordinary and makes sure they are ok or questions where they are. No doubt if we were living in a city we would hardly know our next door neighbor and “community spirit” would be unheard of.