By Kathleen Mullane
Athea Ladies football club will hold their annual Church gate collection this coming weekend, 18th/19th January before all Masses. Your generosity, as always, would be much appreciated as it keeps the ladies club going.
After Mass on Saturday night, the ladies AGM will take place in the clubhouse at 8.15pm. It is very important that a parent attends with each young player. New members are always very welcome.
Well, wasn’t it a “sight to behold” on last Thursday evening up at Páirc na nGael, when “Athea Lights Up” walking initiative in association with Athea GAA – Operation Transformation – and Get Ireland Walking, had a great crowd of men, women, youths, children and even babies in buggies take to the track from 7 to 8pm. Despite the misty conditions – no one seemed to mind – some jogged, some walked, newcomers strolled, but all agreed after doing the 7 laps (5k) that it was so enjoyable. We met up with people and chatted along the way, then you might meet up with another person en route. A total of 170 registered their names but nearer to 200 were in attendance. Well done to all. Come along again next Thursday night, all are welcome, newcomers too.
On Wednesday night last, on the Radio Kerry programme “In Communication”, with John McGill, we heard Johnny Quaid of Templeathea speaking about his accident some years ago which unfortunately left him wheelchair bound. But this didn’t deter Johnny who came across in his talk as so inspirational, he hasn’t looked back but looked forward being involved with the senior “Kingdom Wheelblasters” basketball team in Tralee, winning tournaments with wheelchair pool-playing teams and now he is studying at Tralee IT doing a course in media and radio (I think). As his interviewer said, he would be a great ambassador to go around to secondary schools and show students what life is all about and give some inspiring talks. No doubt he would be welcome to our Vixens basketball teams to show how life goes on. Well done.
Isn’t there a slight “stretch” in the evenings already and we’re 2 weeks into the new year, before we know it, it will be Spring, we are always wishing our lives away. We must not complain again either about the weather, when we see the awful devastation in Australia to people’s homes, their livelihoods, all the millions of animals dead. Neither do we have earthquakes, typhoons, volcanoes, tsunamis, drought, so we should be more than grateful.