Congratulations to Athea ‘s own Ciarán Griffin, receiving the Captain’s Prize from Brian Mangan, Captain, Newcastle West Golf Club.
This is the highest prize in any golf club so well done to Ciarán who came first in a field of over 170 competitors.

Joe Aherne – Final Walk for Crumlin

A reminder that Joe Aherne’s final walk for Crumlin Children’s Hospital is taking place on this Saturday, August 5th. Leaving Ardagh Church at 9 o’clock sharp. Doing a 3 mile loop in Athea at 12 o’clock with refreshments in the hall, then on to Listowel, finishing at 4 o’clock at Super Valu.

Mairéad McDermott Coffee Morning

Sincere thanks to all who generously donated and attended our recent coffee morning. The amount raised came to a staggering €6,200, which will go towards Mairéad’s life saving treatment in Turkey. A special thanks must go to Fr. Kevin McNamara for his support and promotion of the event. Thanks again to our kind sponsors Garvey’s SuperValu Listowel, Kearney’s Bakery, Paddy Lynch Golden Vale, Colleen Reidy Catering and Rose’s Shop Athea.

West Limerick Singing Club

Will hold their next monthly singing night on this Friday, August 4th in the Ramble Inn in Abbeyfeale from 9.30pm. All singers, storytellers, entertainers, and audience members will be most welcome to come along and to join in the fun.

Donie Lyons, a founding member, will launch his new CD, The Lovely Banks of Blaine, during the night. It features 22 tracks of music and song and all are welcome to come along.

West Limerick 102fm.  50/50 Draw Tickets

The raffle takes place weekly live on air in West Limerick 102fm. Studios ‘The more that’s in the more you win’. Tickets only €2 each on sale now  in local shops and West Limerick 102fm offices, Pat O’Donovan offices North Quay, Newcastle West, Ann Lyons, Abbeyfeale, Beauty Bliss, Rathkeale & Brouder’s Shop, Athea. Call us on  069-66200

€135,270 for rural recreation projects will boost tourism in Limerick

Minister of State for Finance & Public Expenditure and Reform and Limerick TD, Patrick O’Donovan, has welcomed the allocation of €135,270 for rural recreation projects in Limerick.
“Limerick has been allocated €135,270 for rural recreation projects, which is extremely welcome and will help to boost tourism here in Limerick and in the surrounding region.
“This funding is part of €11 million in funding for over 200 projects nationally under the 2017 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, announced by my colleague Michael Ring, T.D Minister for Rural and Community Development.
“The Scheme is part of the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development and is designed to maintain and improve our outdoor recreational infrastructure including for example our green-ways, blueways and walking trails.
“Limerick projects receiving grants include
· River Walk at Templeathea, Athea· Mullaghareirk/Broadford Ashford walking trails· Attycran Loop, Kilbehenny· Promotion of trail infrastructure in the Ballyhoura region· Shannon Estuary drive, Ballysteen Pier· Clare Glens Loop Walk, Murroe· Darby’s Bed Loop Walk, Galbally· Doon Convent Farm Walk· Glin Heritage Walking Trails· Kilfinane – Slievereagh Loop· Knockfierna Famine Memorial Walks· Manor Fields, Adare· Moor Abbey Loop, Galbally· Castleconnell Walk· The marketing and publicity of outdoor recreation amenities, facilities and activities across Limerick, through West Limerick Resourese and Ballyhourna Development
“Recreational tourism is growing year on year and so it is crucial we continue to improve facilities and encourage more visitors. Figures from Fáilte Ireland show that the hiking and cycling tourism markets are worth approximately €1.2 billion to the Irish economy.
“Aside from the obvious tourism benefits, it’s also hugely important that we maintain and develop our outdoor infrastructure to encourage everyone to keep fit and live a healthy active lifestyle.
“Eighty per cent of each project is funded by the Government grant, with Limerick City and County Council making up the difference.
“Minister Ring has confirmed to me that he expects to make further announcements under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme in the autumn.”

THE WAY WE WERE

Domhnall de  Bara

The grandchildren from Denmark, with their parents, are with us on holidays at the moment. It is great to have them around and it gives us the opportunity to be tourists in our own country for a change. It is over 30 years since I last visited Bunratty so  we went there the other day as part of the weeks outings. I had forgotten what a wonderful place it is and what a graphic description of life in Ireland as it used to be, indeed the type of life I, and most people of my age, were born into. It may have been a simple life but the people of that era worked really hard to eke out a living from the soil. They had the help of fairly simple horse-drawn machines which were on display in the farmyards. It brought back memories of summers long ago when the sound of the mowing machine could be heard over long distances. For us it meant we had fine weather coming and a warning that a bit of hard work was around the corner. There was a variety of machines on display for turning or tossing hay and of course the “raker” for gathering it into rows for the “tumbling jack” to gather in heaps to be made into cocks or wynds. Whatever about the humans, the horses worked long hours. It was no joke for a pair of horses pulling a mowing machine all day. I’m sure they looked forward to Sunday when the most they  would have to do is pull the trap to Mass.  It was also nice to see the forge where our own Tadhg Shine worked for many years. The only thing missing was the smell. There was a special smell from the forge long ago, especially when the smith was shoeing horses and the hooves were burning from the hot metal shoes. That, mixed with the heat and the pungent aroma of horse manure gave the forge its own unique scent. The old schoolhouse brought back memories too. I would like to say they were pleasant ones but I would be lying. My school days were the worst days of my life and I can only remember a place like a prison full of fear and excess punishment for the slightest misdemeanour or just for getting a question wrong. Thank God those days are gone and children today are taught in a bright, cheerful environment by teachers who know how to bring out the best in them without intimidation. I could go on and on about the various memories from the past evoked by the displays in Bunratty. Suffice to say it was a memorable outing and one that every child in the country should see so that they may have an appreciation of the sacrifices the people of that generation made. They did it to give us the life we have today and we should be eternally grateful to them.

It got me thinking as well about the jobs that had to be done which are no more.  Water had to be drawn from the well in buckets or gallons and, on the day for washing the clothes, extra water was needed to be boiled in a big pot over the open fire. The fire had to be started in the morning. Sometimes there was a coal or two left from the night before but, if not, “cippins” had to be gathered . These dry pieces of wood acted as tinder as the turf was often slow to start burning. Food had to be prepared for hens, turkeys, ducks and geese as well as pigs and calves and cows.  Every yard had a machine called a “pulper”. This was like a big metal basket into which turnips or mangles were placed. There was a handle on the side that turned two rollers. These rollers crushed the turnips or mangles into a pulp, hence the name, to be added to meal for feeding the animals. Turning the pulper was no easy task but there were others less agreeable. One of the worst jobs I remember was cleaning the hen house. This house was usually a very small, confined space and the smell was atrocious. You could suffocate when disturbing the rushes that were covered with droppings.  For those who did not have cattle there was the job of going to the local creamery for milk. We used to go to Cratloe creamery for a gallon of milk. We never asked for a gallon of course but would buy four pints of milk for a shilling. The manager would take the money and fill up the gallon, twice what we paid for. On rare occasions an inspector might be present and the manager would have to give us the exact amount. The milk would have to be spared that day!.

Big families were the order of the day and each member of the household, down to the smallest child, had their own jobs to do. A small child might get the job of watching a hen who was “laying out”. This could take hours, or even days, as the hens were very good at hiding their nesting places. The older children helped with all the work and there was a great sense of achievement when all was done. I am glad that I went to Bunratty and relived some of my youthful days. It makes me appreciate what I have today.