by Kathleen Mullane

As I write my few lines this gorgeous Sunday evening, I think we are so very lucky to be living in this part of our country and indeed of the world. When we see the awful happenings  in Beirut it’s heart- wrenching, then you go to India and see those poor families in the slums living 15 to a room and millions dying of Covid due to lack of medics etc. We are not stuck in high rise apartments unable to go out, we have so much to be grateful  for. Having spent a few hours on our beautiful  beach in Ballybunion  today with all the kids and families out enjoying  the sun we should not complain ever again, or as little as possible anyway

Congratulations are extended to Lisa and Shane O’Sullivan of Knocknagorna  Athea on the recent birth of their new baby boy they are naming Rian, a new brother for Sadie his sister. We also congratulate  the delighted grandparents Tom and Teresa O’Connor of Gortnagross and Margaret and Johnny O’Sullivan of Knocknagorna.

Happy days for Mark Reidy (son of Margaret and Paudie, Upper Athea) who recently became engaged to Anita Quinn. Wishing them all the very best for the future.

Best wishes are sent to all the first group of pupils who will be confirmed by Fr. Duggan this Saturday with the further two  groups confirmed on the 22nd and 29th August at 11 am.

This weekend the collection for Carol, our sacristan, will be taken up. Envelopes are available at the church  doors or you can also use your own. As we all realise I’m sure an amount of work has been done by Carol especially in recent months so your continued generosity would be appreciated.

The choir have moved up to the gallery this past week and the sound is wonderful from the new system well done. The Webcam is enabling many parishioners  worldwide to view mass from Athea which is so wonderful. It’s costing quite a bit to run and to have it installed so any donations big or small would be most welcomed by Fr.  Duggan, or I can pass them on to him.

Thought for the week-

Good friends are like stars – you don’t always see them, but you know they are always there.