by Kathleen Mullane
OUT AND ABOUT
A few congrats are in order this week and we send congrats to Amy White in England, daughter of Gerard and Anne who has become engaged to Remy Villulles over the weekend. Best wishes to them both on this very happy occasion.
Another happy occasion was celebrated on Friday night last at The Railway Bar in Abbeyfeale when a gathering of family, relatives and friends came together to celebrate Mary T Mulvihill’s 70th birthday. It also was her husband Denny’s 78th so celebrations all around. A great night was enjoyed by everyone.
Congrats to all the volunteers who made sure traffic and parking etc ran smoothly on Saturday last at the GAA pitch for the biggest game between Newcastlewest and Feenagh took place with over 500 in attendance. The pitch was in tip top shape for the game and, with the music out over the speakers at half time etc. and the parking lanes all newly lined out, Athea can be proud of this wonderful facility. And despite the wet evening on Thursday last for Step To The Beat and a Remembrance Walk for the late Angela Leach with everyone holding their little candles. It was so nice to have Angela in everyone’s thoughts as we did laps in her memory.
It’s great to hear that Athea is going to get ramps on the street near the corner coming down from Abbeyfeale. These will help hopefully in reducing vehicles speeding over the Bridge and through the village especially around the school area as parents drop their kids off. It’s also great to see footpaths now going back the low road and up the Upper Athea road from the village. So many I’ve spoken to wish that footpaths would come out the Glin Road as there is a treacherous bend after the sewerage with it being nearly safer now to go to the opposite side of the road near Tim Scanlon’s than venture around this bend and put one’s life at risk. Suggestions have been made if it were possible to make a little entrance in at the side ditch of the sewerage so everyone could walk through the River Walk in Safety and avoid this bend. We wait in anticipation to see what can be done and also at the Bridge between John Mullane’s and Cunningham’s, another death trap, especially with so many big trucks now on the roads. Road safety is so important these days with many accidents.
Athea Going Strong will hold their annual Christmas Party in December with the Christmas dinner, dancing, raffle and the usual fun festivities etc preceded by Mass. We will have the date for the party next week and more details with regard to payment and contacts for same. All welcome.
A huge shock for the parish yet again today Monday as news filtered through on the passing of Anne O’Keeffe of Upper Athea. I will have more about Anne in next week’s notes as everyone is coming to terms with her death today, especially Tom and her family and relatives who are in our Thoughts and prayers at this difficult time R.I.P .
Thought for the week
Believe that you have it and you have it.