Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin

Joe Aherne  would like to express sincere thanks to everyone who supported him in raising funds for Crumlin Children’s Hospital. He would like to thank the sponsors, Athea Credit Union, Listowel Credit Union, Athea Vintage Club, Knockdown Vintage Club, Ballygowan Water, Tesco NewcastleWest, SuperValu Newcastlewest, SuperValu Listowel, Kearney’s Home Baking, Treaty Plant Hire, General Hardware, Limerick 95FM and West Limerick 102FM.

To those who helped with transport, made signs and posters. Thanks to all those who obtained sponsorship cards, to DB Printing and the local papers. Thank you to Con Colbert Hall committee for the use of the hall facilities and those who provided and helped with food and refreshments. Thanks to the Gardaí in  NewcastleWest and Listowel and to all the stewards on the day. Thank you to the walkers who supported him on the day, those who helped with the bucket collections and most especially to those who gave so generously. The total amount raised was €13,520.

 Athea Tidy Towns

Here is a sneak peak of the defibrillator  telephone box which arrived on Colbert Street, Athea on Thursday last. We are now seeking sponsorship from the community towards the defibrillator telephone box. In exchange for sponsorship, a plaque of acknowledgement will be erected. Sponsorship can be made by an individual, family, business or indeed in memory of a loved one. If interested please contact any member of the committee.  Thanks to those who have supported the project to date ; Brigid O’ Brien & Family USA, Siobhan Barrett & Family, Athea and our local councillors Foley, Galvin, Sheahan & Browne.

The box will be launched in Athea in the coming weeks. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for the date.

CFRs AGM

A large crowd attended last Thursday night for CFRs 9^th AGM.  All sitting officers were re-elected.  Medical Director – Dr. Kieran Murphy; Training Adviser – Rodge Byrne; Chairperson – Paudie Quille; Secretary – Mary Sheahan;   Treasurer – Eilish Geoghegan; Quarter Master – Pat I Mulvihill.   The group would like to thank the following.   Dr. Kieran Murphy for his continued leadership, advice and attending all our meetings.    Fr. Brendan Duggan for attending and offering his support.  Denise O’Riordan for presenting us with a new defibrillator on behalf of Bank of Ireland.  Damien Ahern of the Tidy Towns who gave us a detailed account of the progress of the construction of the defibrillator phone box.

Under the guidance of Rodge Byrne, the group purchased a Brayden Manikin this year.  This has proven very useful for training, as the manikin will only illuminate, if a person is doing CPR properly (correct hand position, speed & depth).  The group are always looking for new members.   Rodge will giving a PHECC accredited CPR / AED course in Abbeyfeale in ADSAR centre on Wednesday 27^th September from 6-10pm. The cost of this course is normally €65, but any Athea person doing the course will only have to pay €35 as the group will cover the rest of the cost.  If a person joins the CFRs, the €35 will be reimbursed after a year – enquiries to Paudie on 087 9957611.

Bridie Broderick, nee Moran (Clash, Athea), with friends and family in Listowel last week.
L-R: Helen Woulfe, Nora Broderick, Bridie, Eileen Woulfe, Mary Woulfe, Joan Lane and Billy Broderick

Learn to Dance

At the Top of the Town:

Classes resume on Monday, September 25th from 8.30 pm to 10.30 pm. Learn to set-dance, waltz, quick-step, jive, fox-trot and more.

Railway Bar, Abbeyfeale:

Starts on Tuesday, 26th September from 8.30pm to 10.30pm for waltzing, quick-step, jive and fox-trot.

GAA Club, Abbeyfeale:

Resumes on Wednesday, 27th September for improvers – set-dancing and new sets also taught. 8.40pm to 10.30pm. All are very welcome

They Are Back

Domhnall de Barra 

The summer break for the politicians is over and we have the prospect of another circus for the remainder of the life of this government. I say circus because if you didn’t laugh at what goes on, you would have to cry. The government will propose motions that the opposition will oppose even though if they were in power they would probably be going down the same road.  It is all about getting elected and getting enough deputies to give your party power and nothing will stand in the way of that. Maybe some of them have the good of the country and its citizens at heart but they will not jeopardise their positions if an unpopular bill is likely to cost them votes. That is the way things are. All the other parties say they will not have anything to do with Sinn Féin in forming a coalition but they want them to be part of the power sharing executive in the North. The day is coming when they are going to have to deal with Sinn Féin, whether they like it or not, and when push comes to shove, noble principles will be sacrificed to the greed for power. The same could be said about Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. There are no great differences between the ideologies and policies of both parties but they shudder when a grand coalition is mentioned. Maybe they will have to if the left continue to gain support. The country needs strong government at the moment; a government that is not afraid to take the tough decisions necessary if we are ever going to deal with all the issues such as homelessness, health service etc. The way things stand at the moment, the government have no chance of doing what is needed because they are depending on people with vested interests to back them. One of the first things they will do when the Dáil sits is to sign off on the bill to return money to those who paid their water bills. This is crazy. They should have put that money to good use and gone after those who did not pay instead. I am one of those foolish people who actually did pay my water bill. I did it, not because I liked the idea but, it was the law of the land and I believe in democracy. Protest is a right for people to show those in power what they think and to try and influence decisions but what happened at the water protests went far beyond what is acceptable. The fact that the government caved in to them  will only encourage more protest by people spurred on by anarchists whose only aim is to topple the government and bring in some form of communism. A communist was once described by somebody as a person who has nothing but wants to share it with everyone else. It has failed all over the world and those who espouse the ideals of Marx and Lenin are living in cloud cuckoo land. Our water system is in a bad state. Pipes are springing leaks all over the place and many households have to boil their water before use. The government can’t afford to foot the bill for the renovation of the water system in Ireland but at the same time they can afford to return money that was paid, according to the law, by honest citizens. It beggars belief. The money is gone and I, for one, would gladly leave it where it is to help, even in a small way, to improve the water for all. I know this view will not find favour with many people but it is how I feel and I don’t expect everyone to agree with me. Paying bills is not popular but they are necessary if our way of life is to continue. Those of us living in the country always paid for our water and continue to do so.  My old school master, Jim Kelly in St. Ita’s in Abbeyfeale used to say “there is nothing free –  somebody has to pay”. This is true but there are many in this country who don’t care who pays, as long as it is not them!.  The budget is coming up and already we have all the lobby groups fighting for their own interests. This is not a time for giveaways or token gestures. The ship is just about afloat and heading in the right direction. If there is any leeway I hope that the politicians use it to help those in most need, regardless of who they vote for. We live in hope.

By Kathleen Mullane

‘Congrats’ 

Yet again another week of ‘new babies’ and other congratulations! Firstly, congrats and good wishes are extended to Elaine and Rob Collins of Knocknagorna on the birth of their first baby, a little girl they are calling Eimear. Congrats also to the proud grandparents Noreen and Matt Tierney of Templeathea and Kathleen and Paddy Collins in Knocknagorna.

A first baby also for Andrea Greaney and Jeremiah Healy, a little boy they are naming Finn. Best wishes also to the first time grandparents Ita and Tommy Greaney, Templeathea and Mary and Teady Healy in Abbeyfeale.

Birthday wishes go to Noreen Brouder of Templeathea who celebrated her 60th birthday along with family and friends recently at the Top of the Town. A great night was enjoyed by all.

Thanks are extended by the organizers of the Coffee Morning last week, to all those who came along and supported the very worthy cause in aid of Milford Hospice.

Well, the Listowel Races are over for yet another year and thankfully the races were able to go ahead every day even though the ground was “testing” at times after all the rain. Wednesday saw big crowds attending for the Kerry National. And of course Friday, being Ladies Day, saw a massive crowd there and the sun even shone out! There was every colour under the sun – hats of unbelievable shapes and sizes – and of course young ladies “wobbling” over and back with the ‘highest’ of heels – but isn’t it all a bit of fun. Now once the races are over it’s settling down properly for all the students – the nights are drawing in – but you know what, we are alive and well!

Don’t forget “World Gratitude Day” on this Thursday, September 21st – so if you need to say ‘Thank You’ to anyone – this is the day to do it – a word of ‘thanks’ means a lot.

Well done to the Athea Ladies Intermediate team who, despite not winning against St. Bridgids in the final in Bruff on Saturday last, put on a good display, despite missing 3 of their key players and Maedbh Nash suffering from concussion, it wasn’t easy for them.

What a lovely mass on Wednesday last for the Athea National School children to start their year. The singing was beautiful – well done to all.

Thought for the Week:- ‘Just because you made a mistake, doesn’t mean that you are a mistake’.

By Peg Prendeville

There was great excitement in Loughill/Ballyhahill last Saturday when the Gerald Griffin’s Ladies, captained by Aimee Woods, brought home the Junior County Cup to the parish. They certainly hit the headlines even before the game at all with their early start at 9am but it paid off. Well done. Congratulations too to the U12 girls who won the County Shield in Rathkeale. Great promise for the future.

Ballyhahill featured well in Listowel on Ladies day with some women making it to the final selection for their fashions. It was one of the better days weatherwise which suited all those ladies who go to such trouble to look glamorous. Congratulations to Carol Stanley, Brid Brouder and Lisa Daly who featured in the Irish Examiner on Saturday. Looking through photos on Facebook it seems that every woman there was in style. Well done to all those who can spend a day walking in high heels and still keep smiling! Meanwhile I was left babysitting while the Mammies had a day out!

The local ICA guild had the September meeting last week. There are lots of competitions coming up so the members will be busy deciding which to enter. The guild congratulated Geraldine Cahillane on winning first prize for her Limerick Lace at the Limerick Show during the summer. At each meeting a member speaks on a topic of interest and again, it being Geraldine Cahillane’s turn, she delighted the members with her information on local garden birds. Pauline produced a lovely tea and all the members enjoyed the camaraderie and chat that follows. The guild wishes good luck to the new Hall Committee members and look forward to working with them in the future.

It was lovely to see Eileen Kilmartin give a flying visit home last week to see her Dad Jack O’Grady and give a quick call to the neighbours.

Tickets are on sale now in Knockdown for the Cookery demonstration in the Parish Hall Ballyhahill on October 1^st at 4pm. There is a raffle on the tickets if one cannot attend but wishes to support the  event. The Ballyhahill School Parents Association will launch the Cookery Book with all the pupils’ favourite recipes. The book will also include a photo of each participant. All funds raised go towards the school.

I am delighted to hear that Kearney’s Home Baking is listed as a Finalist in the Irish Food Awards ‘Blas na hÉireann’. The Irish Food Awards is the biggest competition for quality Irish produce in Ireland. The winner will be announced on September 30^th. It might be another win for the parish.

It is nice to know that the Athea Newsletter is read across the world. I know that Micheal Long formerly of Turraree loves reading it in Texas every Thursday night.

Apologies

I hate making mistakes especially when it comes to people’s names so I apologise for two which I’ve made in recent times. The six children who started school in low infants in Ballyhahill should have read as follows: Ayda Daly, Grace Campbell, Klara Phillips, Thomas Rimmer, Charlie Conway and Donncha Kennelly. Two weeks ago there was a photo with Ashlee Woods who won the Killeaney Lotto. She was pictured with her Uncle Denis, who bought the ticket for her and not her father Jim as I incorrectly stated. Apologies to all.