!6 of the 21 grandchildren of Thady and the late Nora Ita Hunt. They were celebrating family birthdays in Gortnagross. The birthdays ranged from 9 to 88.

Thérese Prendeville Play at Glórach

A new play called Katie by local playwright Thérèse Prendiville will be coming to the Glórach stage, Abbeyfeale, on Sept 8th, 9th, and 10th at 8pm. Katie tells the story of Tony & Maureen’s grief-stricken journey as they mourn the loss of their only child, Katie. Tony & Maureen, with the help of friends, are desperately trying to navigate their way through the painful, complicated world of grief. This play explores themes of love, loss, hope, and relationships. Tickets available at 0871383940 or online www.glorachabbeyfeale.com

Athea Vintage Club

The Annual Vintage & Modern tractor & Car Run will take place in Athea on Sunday Sept 3rd. This event raises money for local charities and brings great life to the village.

Proceeds this year are in aid of Sophie Mulligan for Ronald McDonald House and Mid-West Parkinson Association. This is a great family fun day so don’t miss it.

Community Council

The weekly “Lucky Numbers” Community Council Lotto Jackpot now stands at €17,200. this would be a lovely win for somebody and the money raised is going towards keeping Athea clean and tidy, maintaining the graveyards, hall, church etc., erecting townland place names and other projects. Projects in the pipeline include renovating the offices at Con Colbert Street so that the building can be used for the benefit of the people of the parish. Tickets are on sale at Collins’ Shop, White’s, Batt’s or from any of the many sellers.

The Way I See It

By Domhnall de Barra

I was at the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil  in Mullingar during the week. The Liverpool Celi Band got together again for a special concert to commemorate the band winning at the same venue 60 years ago. Members of the band have changed over the years but the spirit of the Livepool is alive and very much in evidence with the group that are playing today. I had the privilege of playing with most of the original line up in the late ‘sixties and early ‘seventies and I will never forget those times. They would play anywhere at the drop of a hat, airports, train stations, car parks, in fact anywhere there were people who wanted to hear and enjoy the music. The music was never taken too seriously –  enjoyment was the name of the game but even though it appeared casual that music was of an extremely high standard. They were the first ceili band to appear on the BBC’s flagship show, Sunday Night at the London Paladium and to tour America. Even when I returned home to work for Comhaltas they always kept in touch and I regularly joined them when they played in Ireland or when I was visiting Liverpool. Sadly many of the original members have gone to their eternal reward but the spirit lives on. The band was filmed in Mullingar by TG4 so I suppose we will future in one of the programmes at a later date. While on the subject I really enjoyed the TG4 Fleadh programme on Saturday night, especially one item that featured a black man from Africa who not only spoke perfect Irish but also danced in the Sean Nós style like a veteran from Connemara. He has been in Ireland a good few years and he explained that when he told his family he was going to live in Ireland his Grandmother told him to learn the language and immerse himself in the culture of his adopted country and then he would fit in like a native. He certainly achieved that. I also saw a group of women from Japan, decked out in their beautiful traditional costumes, play Irish music and dance Clare sets like they were from Milltown Malbay. What is it about Irish traditional music, song and dance that attracts people from other countries?  I suppose, due to the work of Comhaltas over the years, it has become one of the strongest cultures in the world. Joe Cooley, the great Galway box player who lived in America for most of his life once said, “Irish music is the only thing brings people to their senses”.  Whatever it is, it was evident in Mullingar that it is now a worldwide music that is enjoyed and played by people who have no contact whatsoever with Ireland. Long may it last.

As the time for the budget gets closer kites are being flown by politicians who are testing the waters to see how various proposals will be accepted. There was a time when we found out on budget day what the minister had in store for us but now, through carefully orchestrated leaks, we know well in advance what to expect.  Everybody wants a piece of the cake and the lobbying intensifies as time goes by. A rise in the old age pension is sought along with the children’s allowance and a helping hand to struggling mortgage holders and renters. While I agree that anyone struggling should be helped, I am not in favour of across the board increases that will be paid to those who don’t really need it. The children’s allowance is a good example. It is given to all families, regardless of their income, so multi millionaires will say thank you very much and pocket the extra money.  Forget about the wealthy, does the allowance really go to looking after children.?  Yes, there are families who depend on it and spend it wisely but there are also those who look on it as extra disposal income. During my teaching years I worked in Dublin during the summer holidays. Near where I worked there was a labour exchange where the children’s allowance was paid out once a month. There was a pub nearby and on that day they had live music and refreshments. The place would be rocking on the strength of the children’s allowance and a good time was had by all. Of course families in need should be helped but is this the best way to go about it?  The hospitality industry is trying to keep the VAT rate at 9%  even though Covid is long gone and they are fleecing the public. The price of dining out is now prohibitive and forget about hotel rooms, especially in the big cities. Despite that there is still a big demand and we have had a very good tourist season so there is no point in having the poor mouth. Everyone should pay the same VAT rate and that’s that.  I think there should be something done about room rates in hotels and the price of concert tickets. If a big show comes to town the price of rooms rockets to three or four times their normal rates.  I also hear of concert tickets being offered for up to €1,000. This is madness and there should be something done about it. I have no problem with people making a profit, that’s what they are in the game for, and they should be well rewarded for the job they do but taking advantage of people to profiteer  is not on. They will eventually kill the goose that laid the golden egg if they continue as they are and we will all be the worse off for it.

And what about the banks?  There is a huge difference between the rate they charge for loans and the rates they pay on saving deposits while they accumulate huge profits in the process. There is a lack of competition in the Irish banking market and where you have that it is easy to control rates without fear of losing clients to competitors. TDs have been calling on the government and the central bank to do something about it but I, for one, will not be holding my breath.

St. Bartholomew’s Church Athea

Ide Naofe Pastoral Area   (Athea, Abbeyfeale, Mountcollins, Templeglantine and Tournafulla).

Canon Tony Mullins 087 2600414, Fr. Willie Russell 087 2272825, Fr. Denis Mullane 087 2621911 and Fr Dan Lane 087 2533030 (retired).

Priest on call

20^th Aug:   Rev F O’Dea        087-2443106                         27^th Aug: Rev. W Russell               087-2272825

Mass on Thursday evening at 7pm.

Eucharistic Adoration & The Devine Mercy Chaplet on Tuesday morning after 9.30am mass. House Calls: Each month Fr Tony, Fr Willie and Fr Lane visit the sick and the housebound in our parish … if you would like to add your name to the list or the name of a family member, please contact parish admin at the number below or any one of the priests directly.

Baptisms on the 4^th Saturday of the month at 2.30pm – next date Saturday August 26^th .

Next baptism course on Tues Sept 12^th at 8pm, contact Theresa for further details 087-1513565.

Parish Administration: Tues-Fri 11am-1pm. call Siobhan on 087-3331459, outside these hours text or email [email protected]