Advent Wreath
Fiona Hunt lighting the first candle
A large crowd gathered at St. Bartholomew’s Church on Sunday evening December 3rd for the lighting of the first candle on the newest addition to the grounds of St. Bartholomew’s Church – Our Community Outdoor Advent Wreath. Following a blessing and prayers by Fr Tony Mullins and songs by the Church Choir, Fionn Hunt read for us the meaning of the first candle of advent, and switched on the first light on the wreath. The ceremony for candle two will take place this Sunday, December 10th at 5pm, where we will also have non alcoholic mulled wine to warm those who attend. Everyone is welcome, especially families and children. A word of thanks to everyone who was involved in the construction of the Advent Wreath – Pat and Bernie Higgins, Henry Moran, Damien Ahern, Hannah Mai Collins, Theresa O’ Halloran & Gerard Mullane.
Comhaltas Christmas Party
Gráinne Ahern, Francie Flavin, Eilish Geoghegan, Eibhlín Broderick and Jack Quaid at the Athea Comhaltas meeting at Batt’s Bar on Monday night
The branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann will hold its Christmas get-together in the Hall at 5pm on Sunday Dec. 17th. It will include recitals from the music and singing classes, followed by a session of music with lots to eat and drink. Everybody is invited to come along and join in the fun.
Graveyard Collection
Athea Community Council is sending collection envelopes to every home in the parish. This collection helps with providing petrol and machinery to keep our cemeteries in good condition throughout the year. The envelopes may be handed in to the Credit Union, where a box is available or they can be dropped into the Community Council Office.
Athea Drama Group
Rehearsals have begun on a new play which will be staged in the new year. “Turning Mammy” is a play in two acts by John McDwyer and we look forward to another great production by this very talented group.
Athea Community Council
The Annual Christmas Dinner for members of Athea/Carrigkerry/Old Mill CE Schemes will take place on Friday next at Brown Joe’s. Workers on the scheme have done great work during the years keeping places neat and tidy, cutting grass in parks and graveyards and helping to maintain schools, halls and churches. We are fortunate to have some very dedicated members who go above and beyond the call of duty because they have a great pride in their work. Thank you and Happy Christmas
The Way I See It
By Domhnall de Barra
If you haven’t heard the song “Fairy Tale of New York” over the past few days, you haven’t been listening to the radio. Ever since the death of singer Shane McGowan it has been aired on most radio shows because it was probably one of the most successful recordings he made during his lifetime. I must admit it is my favourite Christmas song because it strips away all the tinsel and nonsense about the festive season and gives us a glimpse of a life that is sadly lived by many at this time of year. Shane was a genius in one way and a child in another. He wrote some great songs and he brought a breath of fresh air to the music scene when he formed The Pogues, a band that fitted into no slot. There was a bit of Irish, rock, punk and other influences but they had a freshness and vitality about them that endeared them to their many admirers. Shane did not look like or act like a star. He didn’t wear fashionable clothes and would appear on stage smoking a cigarette and carrying a drink in his hand. Unfortunately it was the drink that eventually cut short his life but he left behind great memories and there is no doubt he will be forever remembered as a mould breaker, a rebel, a great lover of this country, a great singer and composer and a thoroughly likeable individual. There have been many arguments about whether the music The Pogues played was “Irish” music or not. It depends on what you call Irish music. Some purists have a narrow view of the term and take it to mean traditional Irish music only but that is not correct. Yes, authentic traditional Irish music, ,such as the reels, jigs, etc., is the most easily recognisable but there are many others. What the Clancy Brothers sang wouldn’t fit into that format but it was definitely Irish music. Then there are the compositions of people like Percy French who wrote about many parts of Ireland, songs like “Come Back Paddy Reilly to Ballyjamesduff”, “There is only one Street in Dronmcollogher” and “Are you right there Michael are you Right”. You could not say they are not Irish. There is a good story about ”Are you right there Michael”. He wrote the song about the West Clare Railway. This line originally operated in County Clare between 1887 and 1961. This 3 ft (914 mm) narrow-gauge railway ran from the county town of Ennis, via numerous stopping-points along the West Clare coast to two terminals, at Kilrush and Kilkee. When Percy French used it, the train broke down several times so he wrote the song describing the railway in a very poor light but in a funny way. The board of the West Clare Railway weren’t impressed, in fact they were incensed and brought an action against Percy. On the day of the trial, the case was due to start at the appointed time but there was no trace of Percy French. The judge wasn’t impressed but he decided to wait for a while but when there was still no sign of Percy he decided to go ahead in his absence. The solicitor for the West Clare Railway outlined his case stating that the words of the song were not correct and were doing great damage to the reputation of the line which, he assured the judge was in excellent condition and always ran on time. He had just finished when the door opened and Percy came in. He apologised to the court and the judge asked him why he didn’t turn up on time. Percy explained that he had arranged to be at the court house at least an hour before the time of the trial but misfortune had befallen him. “What is this misfortune that caused you to be so late” enquired the judge to which Percy replied, “ I came down on the train and it broke down three times and is just after arriving at the station an hour and a half late”. The judge took his gavel in hand, banged the desk and said. “I have heard enough, case dismissed”. There are many more examples of Irish music that are not regarded as traditional but they all have a place in their own right. So, we must accept that much of the music of The Pogues should be considered as Irish but it should be judged on its own merit. There is no doubt that Shane McGowan had a great influence on the music scene and he will be fondly remembered. May he rest in peace.
I saw an interview on TV lately where a Muslim, living in Ireland for many years, was talking about his experience of racism in this country. He said that most people were very welcoming and friendly but there were some who looked on him with fear and sometimes hatred. He explained that not all Muslims are extremists and try to live their lives according to God’s teachings but Islamic extremists get all the headlines and then they are all tarred with the same brush. This is true and I have personal experience of it in England long ago where we were all thought of as the “drunken Irish” and the “fighting Irish” because of the actions of a few in pubs at the weekends. The same happened in America when the Irish first arrived there. It is too easy to blame a whole nation for he actions of a few. As the man being interviewed pointed out; the IRA volunteers who planted bombs and carried out murders during the troubles in the North were more than likely all church-going Catholics. That did not mean that all Catholics were capable of such acts. The hard right, as we call them, see all foreigners as a threat but I wonder how they feel when they go to hospital and find out that the doctors and nurses saving their lives are mostly foreign nationals. They also probably support English football teams whose players come from all over the world. Mo Salah is a gifted forward for Liverpool and he is also a devout Muslim and can be seen in prayer before every match. We should never make general judgements because there are good and bad in every race and creed. Live and let live should be our motto.
Church Notices
Ide Naofe Pastoral Area (Athea, Abbey Feale, 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).
Baptism Information: Next baptism date is Sunday December 17th at 12 noon and on the fourth Sunday of the month thereafter. Contact parish administration for details.
Parish Administration: Tues-Fri 11am-1pm. call Siobhan on 087-3331459, outside these hours
text or email [email protected]
Feast of the Immaculate Conception: Friday next is the 8th of December and the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Mass on Friday 8th at 11.00am
Mass Intention Sun Dec 10th John O’Connell & his sons William & John. Donal & Ita Shine. Ellen Tierney. Patsy & Julia Kelly- Cratloe East. Mary Larkin. Paudie Mulvihill. Sr. Kit Scanlon.
Jack & Margaret Geoghegan
(All masses are streamed live on https://www.churchservices.tv/athea)
Outdoor Advent Wreath at St. Bartholomew’s Church Advent is a time of expectation and hope filled with rich traditions. “Advent” means “arrival” or “coming,” and it prompts us to pause each day in December and remember why Jesus came at Christmas. The advent wreath and candles provide beautiful symbolism for each week of advent as we wait for Christmas to arrive. The advent wreath is made up of five candles in total – three purple candles symbolising Hope, Peace and Love, one pink candle symbolising Joy, and one white ‘Christ Candle’. Advent lasts for four Sundays leading up to Christmas, beginning on Sunday December 3rd. This year, a large outdoor Advent Wreath will be placed at the front lawn of St. Bartholomew’s Church. On each Sunday evening of Advent, a short prayer ceremony will take place outside the church at 5pm, where the community will be invited to come together for the lighting of the candles. We would like to extend a special welcome to families and children and every member of our community.