The death took place  during the week of Margaret  Danaher of Templeathea who was in her nineties and a Mayo woman who had moved many years ago from England  to Athea. People came to pay their last respects at the family home on Tuesday  and Wednesday. Burial followed  Requiem Mass on Thursday  to Holy Cross  Cemetery. Sincere  sympathy is extended to  her daughter  Barbara, and sons Maurice and Michael and long time friend  Neddy  O’Hanlon. May she rest in peace.

It’s great to see our Masses being attended this past week having had no access to our church  for Mass since March. As stated before,  your obligation  to attend Mass on Sunday does not apply at the moment  so you can attend either on Tuesday  or Friday  evening  at  7.30 pm or Thursday  and Sunday  morning at 10. 30 pm. Webcam has now been installed in Athea Church so now everyone  at home, especially our elderly, will have better viewing, sound etc.

Well, I was in Killarney during the week and as we all know at this time of the year it would be buzzing with tourists, music in the streets  and pubs and coaches and buses all over the place. Now I know the weather was so wet this week and that would put a bit of a slight damper on things however, the streets were so remarkably quiet, not a tourist or a coach to be seen, many places closed down, hotels near empty, not a sound of music  ringing out and when the shops closed in the evening it was like a ghost town— so eerie!!

Please God in the not too distant future things will pick up somewhat and it’s important for all of us to support those that are struggling. It’s only when you go out  and about to tourist  areas that you see and realise  the effect the Covid  virus is having on all areas, from hotels to those that rent out bikes, to musicians and so much more-we live in hope