Organisers of the very successful Donkey Derby which took place at the Top of the Town, Athea on Saturday night last

Organisers of the very successful Donkey Derby which took place at the Top of the Town, Athea on Saturday night last

Coiste Chairman Pat O’Sullivan presenting Johnny Cotter with his prize as his donkey Knocknaboul Rocket won the Auction Race

Coiste Chairman Pat O’Sullivan presenting Johnny Cotter with his prize as his donkey Knocknaboul Rocket won the Auction Race

John Hunt M.C. for the Coiste na nÓg Donkey Derby at the Top of the Town on Saturday night last

John Hunt M.C. for the Coiste na nÓg Donkey Derby at the Top of the Town on Saturday night last

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tote ladies for the night, Alison Brady, Ann Tierney and Julie Finucane

Tote ladies for the night, Alison Brady, Ann Tierney and
Julie Finucane

 

 

 

Athea Vintage Club

Charity Car and Tractor Road Run in aid of The Butterfly Club – West Limerick Branch will take place this Sunday 12th June in Athea with participants gathering at Brown Joe’s Bar, Athea village at 1pm. Traditional Music Session will follow after road run. Please support this worthy cause. For more information please contact Francie on 087-6666850

Limerick Community Games County Athletics Finals

The athletics final will take place on Saturday, June 11th at Mungret GAA Grounds and will commence at 11am sharp.

The children who qualified in the U5/U7 fun run will only need to attend on Sunday, June 12th at 12pm to participate in the annual parade and the races will commence after the parade.

If you have any queries regarding the competition please contact Mary Hunt or Caroline Pierse. Wishing all the competitors the best of luck in these County Finals.

Afternoon Tea Dance

The wonderful Mike Condon will be providing the music on June 12th in Fr. Casey’s Clubhouse, Abbeyfeale for an afternoon Tea Dance in aid of Recovery Haven.  Everybody welcome to come along.

Open Afternoon Tea Party

There will be an Afternoon Tea Party on Thursday 30th June at the Top of the Town Bar, Athea from 3 to 6pm. Music by Ger Conaghan. Hot and cold food and spot prizes. Everyone welcome.

However, we will need names and numbers for the catering before Sunday 26th June. Names can be given to Brouder’s Shop or Peggy Casey (068-42134) before 26th June. If transport is required please let us know at time of booking.

The Tea Party is sponsored by Athea Parish Festival Committee.

Wishing the Festival every success from the Tea Party Organisers.

Living with nature

One of the great advantages of living in the countryside is the fact that we are close to nature all the time. I am fortunate that I have a beautiful view out of my back window taking in from Tulig and Sugar Hill, through Cratloe and up to Knocknaboul, the Cnoceens and Keal.  Where once there was bogland there is now an abundance of trees and wild plants that give a natural home to many wild creatures. Just below the house we have a fox that comes to feed on stuff left out at night. There is also a badger and his family. Unfortunately, every so often one of them gets run over crossing the road. The pheasant can be heard and of course the Cuckoo this time of year. Hares and rabbits can also be seen and we get an occasional visit from a herd of deer that roam the woodlands over as far as Rooskagh.  I have watched the deer grazing in the morning early. There are usually 14 or 15 of them and as they graze two of them are on lookout. After a while those two will lower their heads and two others will take their place. I was amazed at their sheer size when I first saw them The slightest noise startles them and they rush off jumping fences like Arkle.

The back garden is full of all kinds of birds from beautiful finches and tits to ugly greyback crows. Four magpies gather on the lawn in the morning and, standing facing each other, they seem to be discussing their strategy for the day.  They are quite loud and don’t seem to fear anything. On a misty morning the place is alive with cobwebs. They are so pretty in the early morning light with the little beads of water shining like jewels. I read somewhere that there are over 2,000 spiders in the average back garden. If they weren’t there we would be overrun by flies and midges and they are harmless though many people have a phobia about them. When I was young they were in every room in the house. They made their webs up in the corners of the ceiling and because the doors were open all day there was a plentiful supply of flies and insects to be trapped.

In those days there were animals all around the house. Apart from cows and calves, most houses kept a goat, a donkey, pigs, turkeys, geese, ducks and hens. Some houses kept Guinea hens, a smaller type of fowl. The hens would often wander into the kitchen, flying over the half-door and it was a full time job hunting them out. Dogs and cats co-habited with ease. The cat was there to keep down the mice that usually found there way into the flower and meal bins and the terrier worked outside hunting down rats. The sheepdog had an easy life and was only called into action twice a day to round up the cattle.

Bugs and beetles of all kinds wandered around the floor  and the air was full of honey bees, wasps, dragon flies and butterflies. We just took them all for granted, all except the fleas that sometimes invaded the beds. If one of those parasites was found the DDT would be produced and war was declared. Another parasite that caused us a bit of bother was the “sciortán” (excuse the spelling). This mite made his home in the hay and of course we were always playing in the hay barn. You wouldn’t know one of them was on you until it was too late and the bloodsucker had swelled to about 10 time his normal size. No harm came of the bite though it was a bit of a shock to discover one feasting away on the body.

Some  birds are no longer to be found locally, such as the corncrake and the plover or “pilibín” as we used to call them. The wild honey bee is now in danger of extinction as well due to disease so conservation  policies are to be welcomed.

To live in harmony with other creatures on this planet is a privilege and a joy. They enrich our lives and keep a balance to our existence.

 Domhnall de Barra