L to R.
Pictured at Brown Joe’s Pub.
Jerry Brouder.
Timmy Murphy.
Pat Nolan.
John Fealy.
Sean Wall(winner). Pat
McSweeney
Timmy Sheahan.
John
Heffernan
ATHEA FISHING CLUB
We had a great turn out for our river competition on Saturday evening for the JIM DALTON MEMORIAL CUP which was won by SEAN WALL. Second was TIMMY MURPHY. River conditions were perfect & a good number of trout were recorded. As ever with all anglers competing, the big one always escape. A big THANK YOU to EAMON & his staff in BROWN JOE’S PUB in laying on some tasty bites during the weigh in.
THANKS TO ALL WHO COMPETED IN THE COMPETITION.
The Way I See It
By Domhnall de Barra
For a good while now, especially since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, our TV screens have been full of horrendous scenes of murder and mayhem not to mention the shootings in America where schoolchildren were the target of people who are obviously mentally disturbed. It is really shocking at first but, as time goes on we almost become immune to it and it somehow isn’t real anymore. It is as if this is now the new norm and it is like watching a film rather than actual events that are taking place. The recent shooting in Copenhagen brought this home to me in a very personal way and made me realise how devastating it is for those who are involved. My teenage granddaughter, Mia, was shopping in that store when the gunman opened fire. She was on her way to a nearby concert with friends and they stopped to do a bit of shopping. When the shooting started they fled through a door and hid in the kitchen. Luckily the shooter was apprehended before he found them but when Danjoe rang and told me about it I got an awful shock. I can’t imagine how the relatives of those that died feel but it must be absolutely terrible. In one sense the people in the store were lucky that the gun laws in Denmark are not as liberal as those in America otherwise the gunman would have had a high-powered assault rifle instead of the single shot hunting rifle he had and many more would have been killed. When are we going to say enough is enough and ban guns altogether. I don’t buy the “self defence” theory. If nobody has a gun then there is no need to have one to defend yourself. There is a big problem with illegal arms and as long as it is a lucrative business there will be plenty of people ready and willing to supply them. It amazes me how, like drugs, guns can be smuggled into the country so easily. There are copious amounts of drugs in every town and village in Ireland, all brought into the country illegally. This could not be done without certain officials turning a blind eye. Money speaks all languages, they say, but the price we pay in senseless deaths is too high. Anyway, Mia is ok after her ordeal and we were glad to be able to chat with her and hear her story. “There but for the grace of God go I”.
I was walking down the Church Road the other day when I came upon a few men trying to get cattle from a field to go across the road. They were having a bit of trouble rounding them up so the man who was on the road asked me if I would guard one side so he could go and assist his comrades. With the extra help they soon got them rounded up and onto the road. It brought me back to days of yore when cattle had to be walked to the fair. A very important man on those occasions was the drover. Cattle don’t like walking on the roadway and look for every opportunity to get into fields, gardens, lawns or any little roadway left or right. The drovers were experts at keeping them moving and stopping any escape along the way. Going to the fair was a big event and had to be done very early or the best pitches in the town would be gone. Up at cockcrow, they gathered the animals and proceeded along the road to the town and found a suitable spot, preferably near the centre. The townspeople usually erected barriers outside their windows to prevent damage from “braddy” cows but generally it was well organised. When it came to dealing another expert was called upon. He was known as the “tangler”. Some worked for the cattle buyers and some for the farmers. Depending on whose side they were on they praised or found fault with the animals. They were up to all sorts of tricks. If a farmer asked €5 for a cow they would tell him he was out of this mind and offer him three. He would of course refuse but after a while another man would come and offer him just two. A third man would come, look at the animal and say it wasn’t even worth bidding on. By this time the farmer would be getting worried and when eventually the first man returned with his original bid he was inclined to make a deal. The tangler then intervened trying to find common ground between what the farmer wanted and the buyer was prepared to accept. There would be a lot of spitting on hands and slapping them until finally all that was left to sort out was the size of the luck penny. The deal wasn’t complete until they repaired to a nearby pub to seal it with a drink. Pubs would be full up all day and many men got very drunk. It wasn’t so much the amount they drank but the fact that they had been up since early morning without any food and had little resistance to porter that was a lot stronger then than it is now. Crowds attended the fairs out of curiosity and a good sing-song in the pubs was not unknown as the day wore on. The fairs also attracted other people like the sellers of ballads. They had the words of popular songs printed on coloured sheets of paper which they sold for a couple of pence. Some would also sing the songs and collect a few bob that way. Musicians also got in the act. I remember a man called Jackson, from Limerick City, who regularly played the accordion at the fairs. He was a very good player and he had an open purse hanging off the accordion to hold the money. We were in Moss Riordan’s pub in Abbeyfeale late one fair day when Jackson came in to get the money he had collected changed into notes. He had over nine pounds, this at a time when a man’s wages in the bog was only three pounds a day; not bad collecting. He said “some people pays me for the music and more pays me to go away”. Other people came to make a few shillings selling various goods or doing the three card trick, a game where they used three cards, one a queen, then spread them face down on a small table and asked the punters to bet on which card was the queen. He would usually let someone win at first but it was a con and the operator had to be on the lookout for the guards because it was illegal. Eventually the day would draw to a close and the townspeople were left with the task of cleaning up the mess on the street made by so many animals. Times have changed over the years but I still remember the excitement of the fair day and all the fun we had as youngsters. “Progress” comes at a cost.
Right: Friends Mary Ahern and Alice Hunt pictured in Croke Park to cheer on Limerick in the All-Ireland Hurling semi-final
BARTHOLOMEW’S CHURCH, ATHEA
Athea Parish Church Notices
Saturday Evening Mass July 9th at 7.30pm
Mass Intentions: Patsy O’Sullivan, Toureendonnell. Josie & Jack Liston, Mary Ryan (nee Liston) and Michael Quinn (Co Clare)
Readers: Kathleen Mullane & Tom Denihan Eucharistic Ministers: Pat Higgins & Majella Dalton
Weekday Mass Times this coming week: Tuesday & Thursday morning at 9.30am… Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and the Devine Mercy Chaplet on Tuesday morning.
We extend a warm welcome to Fr. Mike Moroney who is home on holidays at the moment and will be helping out with masses in our parish over the coming weeks.
Recent Deaths: We extend our sympathies to the family and friends of the late Pat Buckley, Lower Athea and Kay Higgins, Knockdown, Athea.
All masses can be viewed online via the following link https://www.churchservices.tv/athea
Parish office hours: (Mon – Fri) 11am to 1pm. Contact Siobhán on 087-3331459 or email [email protected] – outside of these hours please leave a voice/text message. The next baptism course will be on Tuesday July 12th.
**Dr Kieran Murphy Celebratory Tea Party Update **
On August 1st 1984 Kieran and Val Murphy chose Athea as their home and set up a GP practice in our community. Since the beginning, Kieran and his staff have taken us under their wings and cared for us all when we needed it most. As a community we are eternally grateful for all Kieran has done for us, and for his selfless commitment to the medical needs of our community.
A sub committee of Athea Community Council, made up of representatives of voluntary groups in the parish, was established tasked with planning an event to mark this important occasion. On Friday December 3rd, on Kieran’s final working day, we presented Kieran with an invitation to a future ‘Celebratory Tea Party’. We are now glad to report that the date of Sunday, August 28th has been chosen for this community celebration, and preparations are well underway!
As part of the celebrations, we are asking people to have a search through their photo albums and to send us on some photographs of Kieran for inclusion in a display on the day. Photographs can be emailed to [email protected] or dropped into Cairde Duchais ASAP.
More updates to follow…..
Community Notes from West Limerick Resources CLG
SICAP – Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme: The SICAP team is available to assist individuals and groups across West Limerick who feel that they could benefit from our support. If you would like more information on the programme and the supports available, please email SICAP Co-Ordinator Dearbhla on [email protected].
SICAP RURAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICE (RES) / YOUTH EMPLOYMENT SERVICE (YES): If you are currently unemployed or work part-time, the Employment Service offers 1:1 support and career planning around education, training, and employment opportunities. To find out more contact Finn 087 759 1951 or email [email protected], Eddie 087 653 5156 or email [email protected]
SICAP SELF EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS: If you are considering Self Employment and would like to know more about the process involved you should contact our Enterprise Support Officer Brenda Heath 087 766 9952 or email [email protected]
WEST LIMERICK JOBS: Follow facebook.com/WestLimerickJobs for daily posts on job vacancies and training opportunities throughout West Limerick.
SICAP FAMILY SUPPORTS: For free support and guidance for parents and caregivers contact Mary O’Connor 087 938 2883 or email [email protected], Stefanie Jaeger Liston 087 398 2925 or [email protected]
SICAP LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS: West Limerick Resources provides ongoing support to Local Community Groups in the West Limerick area. Should your group require any support, guidance, or training contact Damien on 087 904 2477
SOCIAL INCLUSION AND COMMUNITY ACTIVATION PROGRAMME (SICAP): The SICAP initiatives are funded by West Limerick Resources CLG under the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2018-2022, which is funded by the Irish Government through the Department of Rural and Community Development and co-funded by the European Social Fund under the Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020.
SOCIAL FARMING:
Social Farming is the practice of offering activity on family farms as a form of Social Support service. In Social Farming the farm remains a working farm at its core but invites people to participate in the day-to-day activities on the farm. Interested farmers & farm families who would like to hear more about Social Farming please contact Eadaoin, at West Limerick Resources CLG, on 087 366 3842 or email her [email protected]
LEADER OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: The LEADER Transition and EURI Programmes are now open for applications for eligible community and enterprise projects. Grant aid for capital works is currently available to all at a rate of 75% to a maximum €200,000 however funding is limited and will be awarded on a first come, first serve basis. Funding is also available for eligible training and A&D projects. Please note conventional retail, agriculture, childcare, healthcare and on-going running costs are among the areas ineligible for LEADER funding. For more information or to discuss your ideas please contact one of our development officers: Caitriona Scully (Enterprise, Tourism and Food Projects) – [email protected] or Aimee Grigg (Community Projects) [email protected]
Exciting new destination website for the Shannon Estuary Way!
The popular waterside tourist route, the Shannon Estuary Way, which incorporates Counties Limerick and Clare, is to benefit from an exciting new promotional website. The website was officially launched by Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Patrick O’Donovan TD at Quinn’s De Bucket Bar & Restaurant in Kildimo, right on the Shannon Estuary. The development of the website is a result of the collaborative work between business and community representatives right around the Shannon Estuary Way and will offer a valuable platform for tourism businesses to showcase their offering ahead of the summer season.
Check out the website here at www.shannonestuaryway.ie
FREE INFORMATION AND SUPPORT SERVICE
As Part of Rathkeale Pre Social Cohesion Project Lillian Doolan has been appointed as
Community Support Officer. Lillian is available by appointment to Help and Support all Rathkeale Residents with Information on Rights and Entitlements in the following areas:
HEALTH, SOCIAL WELFARE, HOUSING, FAMILY AND RELATIONSHIPS, DEATH AND BEREAVEMENT, JUSTICE, GOVERNMENT, CONSUMER RIGHTS, EDUCATION AND TRAINING
This is a Free, Confidential, and impartial Service
Appointment Times: Mon to Wednesday 9.30 to 4.30 (Closed 1pm to 2pm)
Call, Email, Text, or WhatsApp [email protected] 0873986814
THE JOB CLUB: We work with ‘job ready’ people who seek training and advice on job seeking skills and is open to unemployed people of all ages. It is a free and confidential service to help you plan, actively seek and secure realistic work opportunities by providing individual or group support and guidance sessions in all areas relating to looking for a job, particularly the preparation of CVs, cover letters and interview techniques. The Job Club is funded and contracted by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. For further information please contact Helen, at West Limerick Resources CLG, on 069 77664/087 147 2330 or email [email protected] or Nicole on 087 095 7653 or email [email protected]
Further information on all our activities and projects is available on www.wlr.ie or check out our Facebook page: www.wlr.ie/facebook