By Kathleen Mullane

“Hurricane Ophelia” 

Well as I put pen to paper on this Sunday evening there’s been “an eerie silence” around all day. Since morning there’s been a gloom and as they say ‘The Calm Before the Storm’. Hopefully it won’t hit us too badly and that above all that everyone will be safe. And with an almost complete closure of all schools, crèches and even some shops traffic will be little or nothing on the roads. The last dangerous storm was ‘Debbie’ 50 years ago.

Sincere congrats go to Gerald Cunningham (son of Nora and Timmy of Dirreen) who has been appointed as the Irish Ambassador to Milauwi. Indeed a great achievement. Well done Gerald.

Sympathy is extended to Catherine Liston of Dirreen on the death of her sister Mary Foley (nee Cronin) of Killarney last week. ‘May she rest in peace’.

Mass for the late John Joe Quaid will be held on Saturday 28th at 12 noon here in Athea church. His ashes, which are brought from England, will be buried after mass.

Thanks to everyone who gave so willingly to the Church gate collection at the weekend. A total of €760 was collected in aid of ‘The Friends of St. Ita’s, NewcastleWest’. Well done to all for their generosity.

Next weekend before all masses the church gate collection will be taken up for Athea Tidy Towns. As we are all well aware the group do tremendous work in and around the village and it’s looking so well over the past number of years – so please give what you can.

Well the Fair Day is not too far away now and this year it will be on Saturday, November 4th. This is always a great day for adults and children alike, so on with ‘the wellies’ and hopefully it will be a dry day that everyone will enjoy.

It was a good weekend for Athea basketball teams. On Saturday the U16 boys travelled to Tralee where they beat Gneeveguilla 43-40. On Sunday the U14s had 2 games and were unfortunate to lose by just I basket to St. Brendan’s in Tralee. However they made up for it in their home game by beating Tralee Imperials by 14 pts. Well done to all the players and their mentors.

There is going to be a ‘Halloween Disco’ in the Community Hall here in Athea over the bank holiday weekend. (you can check time and date. And the money raised will be going to the organization ‘Straight Ahead’. (I think that’s what it’s called) it’s in aid of ‘Scoliosis’, indeed a most worthy cause.