Daniel Hannon Barry who graduated from
Cork Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Applied Physics and Automation pictured here with his grandparents Noreen and Domhnall Barry, Cratloe

Graveyards Collection

The annual Church gate collection for the upkeep of the graveyards  will take place this weekend, Sat. 29th/Sun. 30th October at all Masses. Envelopes have been distributed to all households. Your support, as always would be greatly appreciated 

Athea Parish Journal

We are appealing to all organisations and people who wish to submit material (including people that may be living abroad)  to please start doing so now and where possible to email all material to us at [email protected]. Photos can be dropped in to the office for scanning and will be returned safely.

More Changes

Continuing the theme of last week’s ramblings, I couldn’t leave the subject without mention of a couple of more items that have  almost, if not completely, disappeared. The bicycle was a great invention and, because it was relatively inexpensive, provided a much needed mode of transport to the general public. Bikes were heavy and sturdy in those days, not a bit like the streamlined, lightweight models of today. The basic ones didn’t have any gear changes or covering for the chain. This was a problem for men whose trouser legs at the time were quite wide and could get dirty  or, worse still, get got up in the chain causing the bike to stall and the rider to take a tumble. A device was created called the “bicycle clip”. There were two main types; one  which was a bit like a clothes peg  and the other a round clip that fitted around the ankle with the trouser leg folded inside it. The clothes peg type trapped the  trouser leg when it was pulled outwards leaving a good bit of cloth on the outside flapping away in the breeze but safe from the workings of the machine. Unlike today, when there is a uniform for everything and cycling clothes are tailor made for the job, people had only two sets of clothing; the working clothes and the Sunday clothes. The working clothes were often once the Sunday clothes that had passed their best.

Ladies also had a problem with their clothing on bicycles but it hadn’t anything to do with trousers. If they were wearing their good overcoats there was a danger, because they were long, that the  tail of the coat would get dirty with the spray from the back wheel of the bicycle so they turned up the hem of the coat and pinned it around the waist. It saved the overcoat but, on a windy day, there could be more exposure of thighs than they wanted, much to the amusement of the young bucks around the place..

It was also necessary to have a means of lighting during the dark hours. The “flash lamp” was the most popular before the invention of the dynamo that worked through contact with the rotating wheel. The flash lamp was especially designed for the bicycle and fitted on the front of the bike. It was powered by a battery that had to be changed every so often. You wouldn’t see many flash lamps now.

There is a line in one of John B. Keane’s plays, The Buds of Ballybunion, where country women are on their annual holidays at the beach which goes: “Oh, the merciful release of a loosened corset”.  Up to the ‘sixties all women wore corsets. When a young girl reached a certain age she was harnessed into one and condemned to suffer it for the rest of her life, except when she got pregnant of course. I remember my mother’s one  well. They were hideous instruments of torture; cloth wrapped around the body from the buttocks to the breasts reinforced with strips of whale bone and laced tightly up the back. I suppose they were designed to give ladies an “hour glass” figure but they must have been most uncomfortable to wear. The only corset you will see now is in the sexy underwear department of  a dress shop but they bear no resemblance to the monstrosities that went before. Women’s lib got that one right!.

Another item that has gone by the wayside is the “tea chest”. Tea did not always come in a packet as it is today. Like many other commodities like sugar, it came in bulk to the shop and had to be weighed  for the customer in pounds or half pounds. The tea came in a box about two and a half feet square and three feet high (a guess!). It was made of a light wood frame with hardboard sides lined with silver paper. It was put to many uses in the kitchens of old but  was mostly used  as the play pen for small children. Mothers lived a very busy life and there was much work to be done around the house and the farm. The child in the tea chest was safe from harm and could be left for a while on its own. There was a slight problem with tiny tots who were teething. They would bite at the wood around the top and there was a danger that they could bite off a splinter that could do them great harm. The problem was solved by fixing an old bicycle tyre around the rim of the tea chest. Now the baby could chew away to its heart’s content. The hard rubber would not tear and was very good at  breaking down resistance  in the gums making way for new teeth. We all saw a term in the tea chest and it didn’t do us any harm.

Another useful item was the “butter box”. This box came from the creamery and was used to hold  56 pounds of butter. When empty it could be put to many uses including a receptacle for turf by the fire. It was also very handy  for conversion into a small chair for a child. All that needed to be done was remove half of one side and make a seat of it. The rest of the box could be left as it was.

There are many other things and customs that were commonplace when I was young that are now either gone completely or are very scarce. It just shows how quickly the world is changing. Will we be able to keep up with the pace?

 Domhnall de Barra

Athea Gun Club

We recently held our AGM at the Top of the Town. We would like to thank the outgoing committee for the great work they have done over the past couple of years and the new officers are as follows. Chairman: Paddy Michael Griffin. Secretary: Raymond Brouder. Treasurer: Colm Leahy.
It’s that time of year again and with the pheasant season approaching we would like to encourage people to clean and check their guns thoroughly before use. On Tuesday, November 1st we will hold our annual long tail competition in the Top of the Town. Last entries will be taken at 7.15 and measurements start at 7.30.

I would like to thank farmers and land owners for allowing us to hunt on their lands. I would urge all members to be respectful of landowner’s property and close gates and fences while passing through. Keep membership and insurance with you at all times as you may be asked to produce. On that note, safe shooting and happy hunting.

The following tribute was composed by former Mungret College student, Johnny Perrem

AXEL FOLEY

Axel, where have you gone?

Your place with us was immense

Still is

Absent without leave

Offside

Our penalty and our price to pay

You left your position on the field of life

A gaping hole – in fact bigger than that

Our defences weakened

Perhaps not critically

Our attack without its thrust for now

Our faith in life jarred and shaken

Without you

Your sudden departure

Through that great door

We are down a man

A great great man

A friend

Irreplaceable

Farewell Axel

Rest as you have earned the prize

Our love travels with you

Now and always

Thanks for the memories

Thank you for being you

You were bigger than life itself

That’s how it feels

Rest in Peace

By Kathleen Mullane

Summer Ends 

Another week of new babies last week. We send many congrats to Helena and Arthur Mooney who have been blessed with their first baby, a little girl they are calling Nancy. Mary Ellen and Denis Collins of Templeathea are the very proud grandparents, congrats to them also.

‘Down Under’ there was a first baby for Karen and Tom Walters, a little boy they are naming Thomas – we send good wishes to Noreen and Andy O’Riordan of Dirreen who have become grandparents again.

This weekend sees the end of ‘Summer Time’ and unfortunately all the clocks go back on this Saturday night and with the lovely, frosty, fine weather we’ve been experiencing it’s a pity that it’s going to be much darker an hour earlier. However, ‘Tempus Fugit’ or in plain English ‘Time Flies’ and before we know it we will be looking forward to Spring and the longer days again. Why is it that we are constantly wishing our lives away?

Well, preparations are now underway for the GAA fund-raising Lip-Sync which will be taking place on February 4th at ‘The Devon Inn’ and make sure you keep this night available, it’s going to be so much fun to say the least! Athea has supported the Dog night at Tralee track previously in huge numbers and hopefully the ‘Lip-Sync’ will have the same support from Athea and the surrounding areas.

The pitch, which is now looking great, needs flood-lighting, fencing and the running track to be finished and the debt is gone from a large figure down to approximately €70,000. so it’s another great project backed by our Athea community. We now have a very safe bridge, a much used Community Hall, a great soccer pitch, beautiful graveyards and church and of course with the Tidy Towns doing tremendous work throughout the year we are indeed blessed to say the least, considering some small villages don’t have a shop or post office, never mind a resident doctor, chemist and much more!

Well, Mary Anne at the Credit Union is a “dab-hand” at window dressing and the Halloween theme is lovely in the window next to Brouder’s Shop and she gets the message across to beware of the ‘Moneylenders’ and have a talk with your local Credit Union here in Athea which again is another great asset to our parish. If Mary Anne is ever out of a job, window dressing is her “Forte”. 

“Happy Halloween to one and all

and Happy Trick or Treating to all the kids”

By Peg Prendeville

Patie ‘The Yank’ Geoghegan R.I.P.

One of Knockdown’s favourite characters has bade farewell to us. Sincere sympathies to the family and friends of “Patie the Yank” who has died aged 93. Patie’s birthday was well known as it was on Valentine’s Day and there was always a little party and cake for him in Knockdown where he celebrated with his friends and neighbours. He was well loved by all the people and well looked after in St Ita’s Hospital for the past two years. Previous to that his kind neighours looked out for him and ensured he had the best of attention. He was a Glin coursing man and a member of the club has paid the following tribute to him on the Glin Community News FB page.

“Today we heard of the passing of Patie The Yank ( Geoghegan ) He spent his early years in Spa Hill and worked on The Scheme – the elder locals will know the story. He always dabbled in a few dogs in his earlier years and learned his trade with that man from “Bricktown”. In their day they were a good outfit and had many a decent hound; that time they were noted for pulling off the gamble. Later Patie moved to The States and plied his trade there for a few years, hence he got the title “The Yank”. His heart was never far from Crock and he returned to his home patch. He was a proud and dedicated member of Glin Coursing Club and in his lifetime he saw the club course at 5 different venues, but his heart and soul was in The Famed Gortahollow . He won The Local on a few occasions, once with a bitch with the “Slounane “prefix when he had the late Bill Moloney in his corner. To the very end that was the one that gave him the greatest thrill. He was always a happy go lucky type as he used say no matter what you had all you could have was one dinner in the day and he claimed no day was done without a few “beers”. In later years Knockdown was his favourite haunt and there he was happiest amongst his friends, of which he had many. He was a person you could spend hours with and never miss the time go by. May He Rest In Peace”.

Sincere sympathies too to the McSweeney family in Knocknaclugga on the death of Bridget’s mother Bridget Dillane of Kinard Cross, Ballyguiltenane who died this week.

I attended and took part in the newly composed ballad competition at the Garry McMahon festival in Abbeyfeale last weekend. It is great to know that new songs are always being written and sung. The winning song was on the subject of emigration. Congratulations to the committee who ran it so efficiently.  

The Loughill/Ballyhahill Liturgy committee is organising a Harvest Thanksgiving Mass in both churches this weekend to which all are invited. Special prayers and gifts will be presented. It will be in Ballyhahill this Saturday night at 6pm. Mass times in the parish will change on the 1st November so the Saturday night Mass on and from  November 5th will be in Loughill and the Sunday 10 am Mass will revert to Ballyhahill.

Ballyhahill Development Association is organising a spectacular outdoors Halloween event for all the family on this Sunday 30th Oct 2016, commencing at 4 pm sharp to 5.30 pm. This fun filled ghost and witch trail kicks off at the Community Hall, Ballyhahill where you can meet the ‘ Bally’ witch who will regale you with some terrifying tales of Halloween. On this spooktacular adventure you will be greeted by friendly witches (and not so friendly), mysterious creatures, ghouls and spooky ghosts. A surprise awaits you around every corner as you journey along this eerie and spooky route. There will be treats for the children in the Community hall afterwards and light refreshments for the adults. Children to be accompanied by adults. Admission: €2 each