By Kathleen Mullane

WHAT A WEEKEND

Well it all started off on Friday last up at Pairc na nGael. The ATHEA to Croke Park Walk and home again totalling 520k return trip. By Friday evening there was over 2,000 donated. By Saturday night it was over double that amount. And can you believe it on Sunday night it had gone to over 7,500  Euro and donations are still coming in.

The BUZZ  that was up at the pitch was unreal. From kids with their parents, to walkers from outside our parish, to pensioners, even the dogs did their 5k. Even the heavy downpours throughout the weekend didn’t deter the enthusiasm of the walkers and those who chose to run the distance, some returning from their laps LIKE DROWNED RATS.

It was lovely also to see Johnny Mullane and Billy Collins coming along. Billy having donated to starting off the hurling club a couple of years ago for the youth and Johnny who recently sponsored a dug out, his photo being displayed on the back of the dug out.

What can one say about the organisers and those who helped to make the fundraiser possible, only SO WELL DONE. When the tarmac is laid on the walking track this year ,you can be proud of your dedication to ATHEA GAA. Well done to all whose generosity knows no bounds in these difficult times you can also be proud. There are some lovely memories of photos taken over the weekend on the Athea GAA facebook page where you can still donate on go fund me. Here’s to the walking track having a tarmac surface.

James Nolan will be laid to rest on May 25th and condolences can be posted to RIP Kelly’s undertakers. James will be laid to rest in England. May he rest in peace.

The death has taken place of Patsy O’Connor of Keale, at St Catherine’s in NCW. He is survived by his brothers Tom  and Gerard and sisters Mary, Nora and Anne. Patsy will be buried in Holy Cross following requiem mass. May the light of heaven be his.

Isn’t it great to see things re-opening and getting back to some sort of normality at last. Let’s learn a lesson from Covid however – forget The RAT RACE and take 1 step at a time. And we have all learned I’m sure the importance of friends – family and neighbours over the past couple of years. We are only all passing through .

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK-:

IF YOU CANNOT DO GREAT THINGS, DO SMALL THINGS IN A GREAT WAY.