Timmy Woulfe, Johnny Mullane, Patie O’Sullivan, Pat Sullivan and Paul Curry at the GAA Celebrations on Monday in the Community Hall on Monday last
St. Bartholomew’s Church Athea
Friday May 5th (first Friday) 7pm. Margaret White, Babe (Ann) Griffin & Birdie Ahern.
Saturday May 6th 11am – First Holy Communion
Saturday May 6th 7.30pm – Intentions: Months Mind – Tim Enright.
Anniversaries – Mary (Molly) White. Denis Collins – 1st Anniversary.Ministers of the Word: Jade McMahon & Paul Curry.
Ministers of Eucharist: Margaret Ahern & Pat Higgins.
All masses are streamed live on https://www,churchservices.tv/athea
Baptisms on the 4th Saturday of the month at 2.30 from April to Oct incl. Next baptism course on Tues evening May 9th at 8pm.
Parish Office: Mon/Wed/Fri 11am-1pm. Call 087-3331459, email [email protected]
Trocaire Boxes can be handed at any mass during the week or at the weekend from now on.
Cards for First Communion, Confirmation and Exam Blessings available from the sacristy or contact the parish office 087-3331459.
Announcement from Kelly’s Undertakers
Following almost 100 years of service to the parish of Athea, it is with a heavy heart that I, Mary Theresa and Kelly’s Undertakers announce that we will close our business with effect from 28th May 2023.
Kelly’s Undertaker’s was started in the early 1920’s by my grandfather Timothy J. Kelly, affectionately known as T.J., who ran the business for c50 years. Following his death in the 1978 aged 92yrs, my mother Peg Kelly O’Connor, continued the business which I then took over from her in the mid 1980’s to the current day, assisted for the past 10 years by my husband Denny Mulvihill, who has been a valuable asset to me and to the business.
During my 50+ years of service to the parish, I have kept my promise to my grandfather that I would keep the business in the ‘KELLY’ name and that I would continue the business for as long as I could. Alas, “all good things must come to end” and I feel that the time has come for me to retire. This decision was not an easy one, however, I feel it is the right decision for me and Denny (who are not getting any younger) and for our family.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people of Athea for their loyalty and support down through the years. It has been an honour and a privilege to be able to assist and guide so many families at such a vulnerable time and to be invited into their homes. No matter how prepared a family are when a loved one dies, the emotional stress can be very traumatic. We have always done our best to take as much of the worry and responsibility as possible away from a family when organising a funeral and have always aimed to handle the arrangements with dignity, compassion and professionalism.
A very special thank you to all those people who have helped us carry out our duties over the years from hearse drivers and hearse cleaners to road marshals, all the clergy, parish clerks, the local Gardai, grave diggers, singers and musicians, my neighbours, my husband Denny and of course my colleagues in the trade.
Although I will be retired, I will always be available to guide and help any family in the parish who might need assistance during a bereavement. This service will be done voluntarily so please feel free to phone me at any time on 087-2708603.
Again, a million thanks to the people of Athea, all those who have helped Kelly’s Undertakers in the last 100 years and of course to my loyal friends and family.
Slán,
Mary T.
Kelly’s Undertakers
Email: [email protected]
The Way I See It
By Domhnall de Barra
There is a very important event happening in a few days time in the U K; the crowning of prince Charles as King. It will be a huge celebration full of pomp and ceremony in keeping with tradition gong back centuries. Whether you are for or against royalty, it is very important to many people across the water and indeed to some on this side of the pond. The reality of the situation is that the monarchy is not what it used to be when Kings and Queens ruled the world and demanded loyalty from their subjects. In the UK it is now merely cosmetic, having no political power or influence over government decisions. Yes, just like our own president, they sign bills into law and they accept ministers when they are selected but that is as far as it goes. The argument goes on as to whether an end should be put to the whole circus but that is for another day’s discussion and the world will be watching the latest monarch being crowned. Leaders from all over the globe will be in attendance and one of those will be Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill, the First Minister in waiting of Northern Ireland. Her acceptance of the invitation has brought the predictable response from some die hard republicans who are opposed to the monarchy and all it represents and feel she is not being true to the principles of her party. She, however, has stated that she is going there as a representative of all the people of the North, Catholic, Protestant, republican, loyalist and all in between and she is absolutely right to do so. It is the mature, pragmatic thing to do and should be applauded as such but that would be expecting too much. RTE of course had to dig out Peadar Tóbn, a former Sinner who is now leader of the Aontú party, who voiced his opposition to Ms O’Neill’s attendance quoting all the old arguments of the wrongs done by the British to Ireland and espousing the same divisive ideas that should be left in the past. The present Royal Family did no harm to Ireland, in fact members of their own family were victims of IRA bombings during the troubles so the old arguments no longer carry weight. It is right and proper that the head of the Northern Ireland assembly should represent the people of the North regardless of her own private views. I should clarify that I think the idea of a monarchy in this day and age is ludicrous and should be consigned to the past but it is the choice of the British people and that choice must be respected. We have our own institution where we have a President as head of state who is, more often than not, an ex-politician who is being rewarded by his/her party for services rendered.
We have been extremely lucky in recent years that we have had some outstanding holders of that office in Mary Robinson, Mary MacAleese and Michael D. Higgins but the reality is that they have no real power and are controlled by the government of the day as to what they can do or say. They are very important as representatives of our nation and that is the role the Royals play in the UK. So, let them enjoy the occasion and we, as good neighbours, North and South, will take our rightful place at the table.
Another controversy that has reared its head lately, on the airwaves and in the Dáil, is the sale of a house in Patrickswell some years ago to the wife of junior Minister Niall Collins, T.D. It was started by an online outlet called “The Ditch”, that I know very little about, and of course was immediately taken up by members of the opposition and some journalists who smelt blood and went on the trail. From my understanding, Limerick County Council had a plot of land that Niall Collins’ wife had an interest in buying and a meeting of the council, attended by Niall in his capacity as a councillor, voted to put the property on the market. She eventually acquired the land so now some wrongdoing was suspected. There is no doubt that Niall Collins should not have attended or voted at that meeting when his wife had an interest in buying the property but there was no “sweetheart” deal here, the land went up for auction and was bought by the highest bidder. When the sale finally went through Niall Collins wasn’t on the council as he had been elected to the Dáil. Nothing to see here, you would think, but RTE proceeded to interview members of the opposition who were demanding an appearance in the house to answer questions. I must admit that it makes me sick when I see some of theses politicians taking the moral high ground when all political parties are guilty of favouritism when it comes to looking after their financial supporters. For years this country was destroyed by “pull” where people were piked into government jobs they were totally unqualified for just because they came from certain families who were staunch party supporters. We have greater things to worry about than the sale of a house in Patrickswell and whether Niall Collins should be hounded out of office on account of it. Move on.
It was nice to see Johnny Mullane, Timmy Woulfe, Paul Curry and Pat Sullivan being honoured by Athea G.A,.A. at a ceremony in the hall on Monday last. Johnny and Timmy Are among the few Athea people to have worn the Limerick jersey with pride and their achievements are legendary. Paul Curry and Pat Sullivan have given years of voluntary service promoting the club and guiding it from having a field at the side of the road to one of he best facilities in the county. Very few people understand the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes in clubs all over the country by volunteers who give up their free time to make their club a success. Athea G.A.A. has a proud history and we in the parish should be grateful to our committee for what they have done and continue to do on our behalf. It was also nice to have the County Chairman, our own Sean McNamara, in attendance to make the presentations. Well done to everyone concerned and the best of luck to Athea G.A.A. going forward.
Tom OKeeffe, Johnny Mullane, Teresa Mullane & Timmy Woulfe at the celebrations