Aaron Gillane pictured with some Limerick hurling fans at the Vintage Run in Athea last Sunday

C.E. Scheme Vacancies

There are a number of vacancies in the local CE Scheme (formerly FÁS). Athea is joined with Carrigkerry and the Old Mill but Athea has its own workforce. There are positions for clerical and general operatives. To qualify, a person must be on some social welfare benefit for at least 12 months.

Anyone interested please contact the assistant supervisor, Clare Ryan, at the Community Council Offices.  This scheme has been in existence for a long time and is of great benefit to the community. At present there are workers in the Hall, the Church, graveyards and general maintenance and street cleaning.

The Way I See It

By Domhnall de Barra

One of the disadvantages of getting older is suffering loss of memory, well not really loss but temporary absence!  It can be quite embarrassing at times like when you meet somebody you know well and can’t remember their name. The harder you try to recall the name the worse it becomes. I start going through the alphabet to see if something will trigger recognition but, more often than not, it won’t then, out of nowhere, when I am not even concentrating on it, the name appears in my mind like a big banner. Where was it hiding when I needed it? I can remember things that happened when I was a child but I can easily forget events of a few days ago. My earliest memory was when I was in a play pen. When I say “play pen” but it was probably an old tea chest  that was handy for keeping little children in one place. I was with my aunts in the house who were minding me while my mother was out. My mother had four sisters, all younger than her, so I was spoiled rotten by them. Anyway I was throwing a tantrum because my mother was not there and the aunts were trying to appease me  even putting on records on a gramophone to shut me up. I was having none of it and bawled even louder until at last my mother appeared. I was delighted until she picked me up, put me across her knee, and gave me a few smacks on the bum. I have no idea why that stuck in my mind to this day but it taught me a lesson. There was another incident with the tea chest that I can remember. My mother used to work for Dr. O’Mahony in Abbeyfeale and he would regularly call to our house even though she wasn’t working for him anymore after getting married. On one occasion he brought a kid goat that he wanted rearing to the point where it would be ready for slaughter. I was about three at the time and of course I was very curious about this kid goat who was kept in a tea chest. I leaned in over the rim, trying to play with the kid, but I overbalanced and fell headlong inside. The goat had a great time licking my ears until my father heard my screams and rescued me.  I can tell you I did not try that trick again. If I can remember that far back why can I suddenly forget what I came into a room for? It happens to me regularly. I have some purpose in mind but, for some reason, I am left scratching my head as to what was so urgent to bring me to the room in the first place. Retracing my steps usually has the desired effect but not always and it may be hours later I will remember and feel very foolish. Maybe I am complaining too much when so many people are suffering from serious loss of memory. I had an aunt who had Alzheimer’s disease and was in a nursing home in England for about ten years. We would go and visit her every so often but as she gradually got worse she wouldn’t recognise us at all but she was always in a good mood and smiled a lot. She could however remember words of songs and her prayers in Irish. Eventually it got to the stage when she couldn’t string a sentence together and there was no communication. Then one day I was sitting opposite her and suddenly her eyes opened wide  and she looked at me. Then she said, in a very clear voice, “you’re the image of your father”. As soon as she said it she closed her eyes and they were the last words she ever spoke to me. I wonder what happened for that brief moment that allowed her to speak naturally. I will leave that question to the professionals but the workings of the mind are fascinating. So, if I meet you on the street and can’t remember your name, forgive me –  I will have it before I go home!

Following on the awful deaths of those young people on the roads there is a lot of talk about road safety with people and politicians complaining about lack of Garda presence on the roads and the need for more legislation. There is no doubt that speed plays a big part in many accidents but not so much on the motorways as on the mior roads where some of the speed limits are completely wrong. For example; there is a road  which is on he coast between Galway and Clare that is narrow and has  acute bends every couple of yards. The limit on this road is 100. Now it would be impossible to do 100 Ks an hour never mind the danger it would create to other road users. There isn’t much chance of being checked for speeding on that road. Then you have stretches of dual carriageways with speed limits of 40 and that is where most of the speed cameras are situated. The speed vans are supposed to cover areas where bad accidents have occurred but you will find them just inside speed limits where there are easy pickings in areas of no danger. When it comes to motorway driving , it is not the speed but the sheer ignorance of road users that is the problem.  The general rule is; you travel in the left lane and overtake on the right or middle lane and return to the left as soon as it is safe. The outside lane is for overtaking slower traffic in the middle lane again returning left as soon as the manoeuvre is completed. Some drivers stick to the middle lane oblivious to all around them while others take over the outside lane even if they are travelling slower than everyone else. This causes  some motorists to overtake on the left which is very dangerous and can cause n accident in a split second. The problem is the fact that learner drivers are not allowed on a motorway. They have no experience on them while they are learning but, the minute they have past their test they are free to go on the motorways and travel at speeds they maybe have never done before. The rate of bad driving on our roads is appalling, People overtake you on country roads across continuous white lines and approaching bends and crosses but when you reach the next town they are just ahead of you at the first lights they meet. What is all the rush for? It is not worth putting yourself and others at risk so that you can reach your destination a few minutes earlier. A little patience and courteously goes a long way on the roads.

Church Notices

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). Sunday duty Sept 10^th – Rev. Fr. J Cussen 087-7810960

Weekday masses on Tuesday morning at 9.30am and Thursday evening at 7pm.

Eucharistic Adoration & The Devine Mercy Chaplet on Tuesday morning after mass.

House Calls: Each month Fr Tony, Fr Willie or 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 Sept 23^rd .

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]

Intentions (All masses are streamed live on https://www.churchservices.tv/athea)

Limerick Co. Council

Town and Village Renewal Scheme 2023

Expressions of Interest (EOI) are being sought from town/village community groups and/or business interests with respect to the Town And Village Renewal Scheme 2023. All EOIs submitted should be consistent with the government policies; “Our Rural Future” and “Town Centre First”. Under the 2023 Scheme, 5 no. EOIs can be selected for progression to full application stage for submission to the Department of Rural and Community Development to a maximum value of €1.5million

EOIs open August 21^st  and the closing date for completion of EOIs is 12 noon, Monday 18th September.

After the closing date, Expressions of interest will be assessed for suitability based on the information provided and the required supporting documentation submitted.

The TVRS 2023 Scheme Outline, “Our Rural Future – Ireland’s Rural Development Policy 2021-2025” and “Town Centre First – A Policy Approach for Irish Towns” are all available on Limerick.ie by clicking Town and Village Renewal Scheme 2023 | Limerick.ie

Expressions of interest forms are available online at https://mypoint.limerick.ie/en/applications

Should you have any queries, please contact the Rural & Community Development Department at [email protected]  or by phone on 061-557116