By Kathleen Mullane

Congratulations 

A couple of new babies to be welcomed this week. Firstly far away from home, but we must not forget them, are Lorraine and Paddy Horgan who were blessed with their new baby girl out in Saudi Arabia – they are calling her Zara, a new sister for their little boy Cillian. We congratulate the proud grandparents also – Doris and John Horgan in Rathronan and Joan and Tom O’Brien here in Templeathea. Incidentally granny Joan is lending a ‘helping hand’ in Saudi for a little while, congrats to them all

Next we send good wishes to Sarah and Martin Chawke who were blessed with their first baby during the week, a little girl they are calling Darcy – congrats to the new grandparents Marion and Dick Chawke in Gortnagross and Kathleen and Jerry Griffin, Brookfield House.

A reminder that two school fundraisers are going ahead this week. Firstly, Gaelscoil Ó Doghair, Newcastle West (where Kathleen  Shanahan is principal) are holding their special fund raising bingo on this Wednesday night. All bingo lovers are asked to support.

On Thursday Athea N.S. are holding their annual sponsored fund raising walk. Over €35,000 was spent on school renovations this summer – so you might give a couple of Euro if asked by the schoolchildren.

‘Team Hope’ are in the process of organizing the shoeboxes for Christmas which go overseas to the very needy children in different parts of the world. It’s great for our younger children and teenagers to actually put a shoebox together and when you see these kids opening their boxes on TV and their smiling, happy faces it’s so worthwhile. After all it’s a time of ‘giving’ and ‘sharing’.

Well done to Athea ‘Tidy Towns’ who last week travelled to The Strand Hotel in Limerick where they received a great cash prize for their efforts in this year’s competition. Well done to all the volunteers. This weekend  the Tidy Towns have their annual Church gate collection, which no doubt will be supported wholeheartedly. Athea is admired by all passers by 

Well, Donal and Lillian are trying to put yet another Christmas parish Journal together and with just 10 weeks to go to Christmas it’s up to all clubs and individuals to help out by getting their articles, photos, poems, stories etc into them as quickly as possible. From my own experience it’s no easy job putting the journal together, especially if you are waiting for things to come in, so “Hurry Up” is the message.

St. Ita’s: Many thanks to all who gave so willingly at the masses over the weekend in aid of St. Ita’s, Newcastle West and to all who stood at the collection points. A total of €640 was collected. And now the new unit is opened and is a huge asset to those who go for respite etc.