Gerry Griffin with his dog Paddy
Baptismal Information Night
Correction
There will be a Baptismal Information Night in the Church Sacristy in Tournafulla (not in Athea as was stated last week) on Tuesday, March 13th at 8pm. Any parents wishing to baptize their babies must have this course completed beforehand. For further details contact Theresa at 087-1513565
Athea Ladies Football Registration Evening
Athea Ladies registration evening will take place on Friday evening next in the club house from 6pm to 7 pm.
Anyone interested in playing football are asked to attend. The cost of registration is
Adult players €52, U18 €39.
U6 & U8 €22.
Ladies Monthly Night Out
Due to the bad weather we had to cancel last week so he next ladies night out will be held on this Friday, March 9th in Brown Joe’s with all the usual fun and games, quiz and bingo. The proceeds of this night will go to Headway who care for people with head injuries.
Rally for Life
Buses leaving West Limerick for the Rally for Life in Dublin on Saturday, March 10th. Please contact John (087)1127477.
Church Gate Collection
The annual Church gate collection for Crumlin Children’s Hospital will take place on Saturday 24th/Sunday 25th March. Your support would be much appreciated.
Parachute Jump
Michael Ahern from Garrygloss is doing a parachute jump on March 24th in aid of the children’s ambulance “Bumbleance”. Sponsorship cards are in the shops and pubs. Your support would be appreciated.
Bodhrán Lessons
Bodhrán lessons will be held in Athea on Saturdays at 3 0’clock depending on numbers. If interested contact 087– 7527127.
Pretend Sick
Unfortunately our performance of ‘Pretend Sick’ was cancelled on Sunday night last due to unsafe travelling conditions. The good news is that the charity performance will now take place on Sunday night March 11th at Con Colbert Hall at 8pm instead. The proceeds of this night will be donated to two charities namely; Áras Mhuire Nursing Home, Listowel in memory of Mike Parkes RIP and Brú Columbanus, Cork who provide free home from home accommodation to the relatives of seriously ill patients in Cork Hospitals. Doors will be open at 7pm on Sunday and it is advisable to be there early to secure a seat. Don’t miss this hilarious production that everyone is talking about!
Child Protection Workshop
Athea Coiste na nÓg will be holding a child protection workshop this evening Wednesday March 7th at 7pm to 10pm in the Clubhouse. It is important that all coaches attend. If there is anyone in the Parish that wants to attend, they are more than welcome. Please contact Jacqueline with your name on 086-0670091 to book a place.
Walk a Mile with Me
I’ve travelled far, far from the place of my birth
And been too many places all over the earth
But my heart stayed behind where I first saw the day
With my kindly neighbours in my home in Sweet Athea.
Back where the people are courteous and kind
And your face is kissed by the soft April sunshine
And the cuckoo is calling to welcome the May
Amid the peaceful surroundings in my home in Sweet Athea.
Composed by Paddy Faley
In a little house nestled on a hill just above the Gale river in Lower Dirreen lived Una Mulvihill. A quiet unassuming and sincere lady who led a life not known to too many. Una Mulvihill, born Una Smith in Maidstone, Kent and raised Church of England. She took Catholic instruction and was converted a Roman Catholic in 1953 at the age of 19. She was Baptised, got Communion and Confirmation all on the same day, two months before she married her husband Eamon, eventually moving back home to raise a family here in Athea.
How Una loved Athea and her little home in the country. How she loved her home, family and especially her Catholic faith. She took her faith very seriously, she placed it before everything. She also loved the Legion of Mary and was one of its founding members with Agnes Fitzgibbon, Nora Roche and attended meetings regularly in the church. As we enter the starting weeks of Lent I remember my mother and how she looked forward to Lent. Lent to her was almost like a New Year’s resolution to most of us. For most of us the penance of lent is a time to give up what we like the most, e.g. cakes, sweets etc. The physical benefits are of course dropping a few pounds in the process. But for Una her penance went deeper, crazy as it sounds and crazy as sometimes she was called.
To her it was a time of cleansing of the soul, a chance to redeem yourself. Una would rise from her bed at 4am most mornings during Lent, have her house in order and be on the road to walk the ring to Mass by 7.45am, the latest. She would walk up through Lower Dirreen onto the Glin Road, into the village to take Mass at the church at 9am, then return via the Lower Athea road home. The total mileage covered daily was 6½ miles. Her penance was to fast through the morning until she returned home at about 10.15am. She would pick a charity, then set an amount of 20p a mile for every mile she walked for that charity. Her target was 100 miles over the period of Lent. Nearly all the time she succeeded. In the beginning it wasn’t easy but as the years moved on Una became a visible fixture to people travelling the roads daily to work during Lent.
For over 50 years Una made this her own walk of faith. She achieved and secured many things from her suffering over Lent for her family, friends and those she loved in her life. Her secret was a belief in herself and most of all a very strong faith and love of her God and Our Blessed Mother. She suffered many, many trials in her life but would always place her worries and fears in God’s hands. “Ask and you shall receive” she would say. And the small miracle was, she always got what she wanted.
In the time we live in let her example not go in vain and may she be a beacon of hope and faith not only for her family but also her church and her beloved parish.
Taking a quote from one of the great leaders of our time
“I have walked the long road to freedom and it has not been in vain”
Nelson Mandela
Rest in peace Una Smith Mulvihill – You are home
25th Oct. 1934 – 11th Feb. 2018
Kathleen Barrett