We are delighted to be donated this Coursing Cup from the Ward Family in Abbeyfeale which will be housed in our Library. Inscribed on the cup is ‘The Gale Trophy’ – Athea Coursing Club 1948. A return to the parish after 72 years.

Corona Virus  (Covid-19)

Everybody is advised to please observe good hand hygiene practice, in the home, workplace etc. as it is believed to be most important in breaking the chain of infection. Anyone who has been subjected to close contact with a person from a designated risk area who develops symptoms should immediately contact a GP via phone and not attend  a GP or emergency department in person. If possible apply surgical mask and isolate yourself. Also keep up to date with any and ever changing regulations in this regard. Keep safe.

Knockdown Vintage ClubCharity Vintage Run

Sunday 29th March 2020 at 1pm. Light Refreshments will be served. Music by  Deel Dinger from 4 – 6pm.

Raffle for numerous prizes including a Weekend Away.  Proceeds in aid of  the

Symptomic Breast Unit UHL.

1st. Prize: 2 nights B&B at Lough Rynn Castle Estate & Gardens, Mohill, Co. Leitrim. 2nd. Prize: €100 Voucher for The Devon Inn Hotel, Templeglantine. 3rd. Prize: Monster Hamper plus numerous other prizes.

Draw will take place in The Knockdown Arms on Sunday 29th. March 2020 at 6pm after the Vintage Runs. Tickets €2 each or 3 for €5. For Further information Contact  Patrick Langan 087-2452695

Dave Noonan 087-2500938

Athea Tidy Towns Volunteers Jim Sullivan, Eileen Sullivan, John Scanlon, Margaret Scanlan, Thady Hunt, Jamie Kelly, Henry Moran & Colin Mumbray working on the River Walk

Athea Tidy Towns

Athea was the proud host of the Newcastle West Municipal District Area Meeting on Wednesday last at the Carnegie Library. This meeting is usually held in Newcastle West, but thanks to a motion put forward by Councillor John Sheahan, it was agreed to hold the meeting in Athea and to receive a presentation from Athea Tidy Towns. There were 14 in total in attendance at the meeting including Councillors Sheahan, Foley, Collins, Ruddle, Scanlon and Galvin as well as Gordon Daly  Director of Service for the District, Ger O’Connor, Senior Executive Engineer, and Padraig Vallely Executive Engineer Roads. Athea Tidy Towns were invited to present at the meeting on projects completed with the assistance of Limerick City & County Council Funding in the last number of years and also current issues facing the development of our village. All present were thanked for their assistance since our group were established in May 2012.Some notable projects completed include; Construction of Defibrillator Telephone Box, Erection of Flower Basket Ornate Poles, Purchase of new Entry Signage, Development of the Athea Heritage Trail, Upgrade of Athea Library and development of River Walk all made possible by the assistance of our local authority.

Going forward, our group have requested the council’s help with the development of an overall plan for the village which would take into account the streetscape, parking, public lighting, traffic calming, under-grounding of services etc. We are also requesting further engagement with the owners of Derelict Buildings in the village which are a blight on our streetscape.

All present were suitably impressed with the progress Athea has made in the last number of years – commenting ‘Athea was not only an example to the county, but was also an example to the country on what can be achieved by a committed group of volunteers’. The various representatives and staff have all pledged their support  and have already been in contact with us to arrange a follow-up meeting.

Work continued at the River Walk on Saturday morning, spearheaded by our landscape specialist, Colin Mumbray. A variety of mixed fruiting hedging was planted and is now almost complete. As soon as the weather improves we hope to begin work on the path. We welcomed Padraig Cronin from the Hen Harrier Project to Athea on Wednesday to give him a tour of our new River Walk project. We are very grateful to the support received from the Hen Harrier Fund towards this project

The Athea Tidy Towns local competitions will return in 2020. Categories to include

1. Best Kept Front Garden
   2. Best Kept Business Premises/Private House on Colbert Street/Barrack Street
   3. Bee Friendliest Garden

Terms and conditions:
1. Areas to be judged MUST be located inside the speed limit signs
2. Applicants may enter more than one category
3. Judging to take place in July/August
4. Prizes will be awarded at an awards ceremony in late September
5. There is no fee for entry into the competition

More details to follow.

For the last 7 years, the annual Athea Tidy Towns Fashion Show has been a highlight of the social calendar of the year in Athea. Year on year we have been completely humbled by the support of our local community and visiting boutiques. Following a committee meeting, we have decided to postpone the Athea Tidy Towns Fashion Show for 2020. We are lucky to be a part of a very active community with a variety of active local organisations. Events already scheduled to take place during Easter includes a Concert at the Church in aid of Athea Lourdes Fund, Team Limerick Clean up on Good Friday and Athea Midnight Walk on Good Friday Night in aid of Athea Lourdes Fund & Athea GAA. Also Rás na Mumhan will pass through Athea on Easter Saturday. It is fantastic to see such activity happening around us but as a committee, we have decided not to put a strain on our parishioners by asking them to support our fashion show during this busy week. However, we would encourage you to get out and enjoy the above events and appreciate the hive of activity taking place around us at the moment.

Finally, we would like to pay tribute to Margaret Carroll and her team who have expertly organised the fashion show for the last number of years. The reputation of the Athea Fashion Show is a testament to your commitment and ability. We will be back!

Common Sense

By Domhnall de Barra 

I am indebted to Amena Parkes who sent me the following during the week. It was posted in the London Times a few years ago by Ian Armstrong .  It is even more relevant today than  it was back then.

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:

• Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
• Why the early bird gets the worm;
• Life isn’t always fair; and
• Maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place.
Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.
It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.
Common Sense took a beating when you couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realise that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.
He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;

• I Know My Rights
• I Want It Now
• Someone Else Is To Blame
• I’m A Victim

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

Corona Virus

Covid 19 is wreaking havoc around the world. This morning’s news is that Italy is in lockdown because of the scale of the infection in the population. It will have the same effect as a world war with businesses going to the walls because of sickness and shortage of components. Governments who are already strapped for cash  will have to find resources from somewhere to keep the economy alive. There is talk here of putting a type of national government together for the duration of the crisis. This makes good sense because this problem transcends party politics and we need a strong administration to make what may be unpalatable decisions. It has not got out of hand here yet but Italy was where we are now just a couple of weeks ago. With this in mind, is it time for us to act locally to prevent  the spread of the virus?  I think it is. Unnecessary  public events and meetings should be postponed for the time being and everyone should observe the hygiene advice, especially about washing hands and keeping them away from faces. Bodily contact with other people should be avoided at all times; no handshakes or hugs. Remember this is not forever, it will pass away before the summer, hopefully, but we now have a chance to stop people getting sick and even dying from unnecessary contact with someone who is infected. Our immune systems are not as good as they used to be, especially in those of us who are not so young anymore. Clubs and organisations should think seriously about acting in the public interest before it is too late.

By Kathleen Mullane

Well, hopefully most of the St. Patrick’s Day Parades will go ahead as planned this year and that the majority of them won’t be affected by the Corona Virus. In days gone by – as children we all waited in anticipation to await the display of colourful badges that would go on sale. We would race with our few shillings and pence to buy one before they would be all gone. Bunches of shamrock were posted to families in England and overseas, sometimes being fairly withered when it got to it’s destination – nevertheless it was “a great memory” of Ireland and home. Everyone wore something Green – with the girls hair tied up in ribbons. Now there’s flashing lights, hats – beards – green beer and a lot more. On St. Patrick’s Day everyone claims to have “A Drop Of Irish Blood in Them”.

These days – Morning, noon and night its the “Corona Virus”. However what’s not mentioned is that 1 child dies every 30 seconds from Malaria in Africa and these are U/5 children. It’s terrifying – imagine 3,000 a day and not a word about it! The health experts here on the Late Late Show have warned everyone to calm down and not to panic – or jobs will be lost. Take it from the experts!

Next Saturday morning, March 14th at 11am there will be a mass of Anointing and Healing here in the church, this is a very special mass.

Keep the date Sunday, April 5th in your diary. The “Grand Concert” takes place here in our church, starting at 6.30pm. Emily Clarke of renowned singing fame will head the show – Maura and Donie will lend their talents and of course Mike Guina – who had everyone on their feet last year – will be on his trumpet. There will be singing and dancing in abundance and some great raffle prizes on the night. By supporting our fund-raising concert you are helping to send our youth helpers and invalids from the parish to Lourdes in June on the Limerick Pilgrimage. Tell your friends as it promises to be a great night.

The Athea Tidy Towns Volunteers were busy on Saturday morning last planting near the River Walk on the Glin Road. No doubt when the weather improves, they will be able to continue their great work. The Good Friday “Limerick Clean Up” is on the horizon and we will all be out cleaning up our roads, which have been strewn with bottles, cans and rubbish since Christmas. We all have to do our bit and pick up other’s mess!

By Peg Prendeville

The Lenten Station Masses will be celebrated in Ballyhahill on this Wednesday  11th March @ 7pm and in Loughill on this Thursday 12th March at @ 7pm.

Yoga Classes, with Monika, are held on Mondays in Cloverfield Day Care Centre in Glin from 6pm for beginners and 7.15pm for advanced. 

Glin Baby & Toddler Group meets each Friday morning in Ceol Corbrai Hall, Glin.  Parents with young children are welcome from 10am, family contribution is €3. Refreshments are provided.

We know now that all St. Patrick’s Day parades are cancelled. My grandchild Lucy, who has Spinabifida, had been asked to be the Grand Marshall in her home town of Abbeyleix so, naturally, she is very disappointed but they assured her that she will be invited to do it next year instead!

We live in different times. It is very strange to see the Holy Water fonts in Churches filled with sanitizers and wipes instead of Holy Water. I was up the country at the weekend and had an opportunity to visit Knock on the way home. Not a drop of water to be got! But we have nothing else to do only deal with whatever situation we are in so let us be mindful of washing hands regularly with soap, coughing into our elbows, avoiding close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms and maintaining at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.  Most of all do not panic. If we all play our part we can contain this virus. But even if we get it most of us will be able to get over it, please God.