By Kathleen Mullane

Milford Hospice:

As always the Hospice needs your help. And with this in mind the Annual Coffee Morning, which is being held over many years here in Athea, will once again take place on Thursday, September 20th in the Community Hall. It usually starts after 9am with the local volunteers having “an array” of cakes, buns etc for everyone. Once again your support for this most worthy cause would be greatly appreciated. All donations, big or small, would help a lot.

Post-Office:

Hopefully as many signatures as possible on the questionnaire, given out by our local Credit Union staff were given into our C.U. Office, before the deadline on Sunday evening. Everyone is asked to get behind those who are trying to revert the decision of our post office closure. It would be devastating for our village and we must try “to hang on” to all the conveniences we have in comparison to other small towns and villages who are like “ghost towns”.

Graduation:

A lovely graduation ceremony at mass on Saturday night last for the altar-servers who served our parish well over the past 2 years and have now moved on to secondary schools – and a new group of servers are now being trained to take their place. We wish them well.

Congratulations to Liam Woulfe (son of Nancy and Timmy, Gortnagross) and Cathy Sheehan (Clare) who were married in Clare on July 14th. They held their reception in the Radison Blue Hotel near Limerick and spent their honeymoon in South Africa. Wishing them all the best for the future.

Don’t forget the much looked forward to GAA Commemoration Social on October 5th at the Devon Inn with music by Neily O’Connor. Tickets are now on sale for €30 at Paul Collins’ Shop and are selling fast. Some family tables are already booked and this is advisable if you want to sit with family. It promises to be a wonderful night of memories and meeting old friends etc. A great night is anticipated.

“Time is Up” – Irish people will never have to change clocks back again as daylight savings will be scrapped by the EU in March 2021. A majority of 84% of people across Europe want “turning back the clocks”  scrapped according to results of a European Commission public consultation. Just got this great news – I’m sure everyone will be delighted not to have the long dark, dreary nights over October onwards. Then on the other hand some might like the longer hours to relax and look forward then to the arriving of “the summer time” when the clocks go forward. Well roll on 2021 I say!

Words from a dying man which are very true –

“Don’t worry about the housework, – “Take time out to smell the Roses”.