Margaret O Connor (Secretary), John Hunt (Chairman) & Mary Ellen Quille (Treasurer) at the AGM of Athea G.A.A. Club
Camino de Santiago
2024
A group from Athea are hoping to do the last 100km of the Camino Frances from Sarria to Santiago from the 12th – 19th June 2024. The Camino de Santiago (The Way of St James) starting from Sarria is the most popular section on the Camino de Santiago. This section, from Sarria to Santiago, is perfect for pilgrims who want to experience the Camino de Santiago and enjoy some easy walking, (average 20km per day) spectacular scenery and meeting new people.
Anyone interested, please contact Denise on 086-6095716 by sending a message, including your name and contact details.
The Way I See It
By Domhnall de Barra
We are into the coldest few days we have had so far this winter and it brings back memories of long ago when this would be the time for the wren nights to take place. For those of you who may not be familiar with the wrenboy tradition, it was the custom for batches of wrenboys to visit houses in the parish on St. Stephen’s Day where they would play music, sing songs and maybe do a dance or two. The people of the house gave them a bit of money and they would move on to the next place. After Christmas they would ask some local if they could have a party in the house for a night and they would buy in plenty of drink and food with the proceeds of the collection on St. Stephen’s Day. I well remember one such party, the first one I was ever taken to, at Davy Connors’ house in Knocknaboul. I was only about ten at the time and I was taken by my mother and father. It was a frosty night and there was a white film over the grass with the stars twinkling. As we walked back the passage, we could hear the sound of an accordion playing and the beat of dancing feet on the floor. Inside the door, under the soft light of an oil lamp, Jack Gleeson was sitting with his chair against the wall playing a polka for the dancers on his ten key accordian. His feet were not just keeping time with the music he was playing but were thumping the floor with great force causing him to look a bit like Christy Moore today with his face covered in sweat. Just then Patcho Gleeson, Timmy Woulfe and Colm Danagher arrived and took out their instruments. Timmy and Colm had acccordians and Patcho had a wooden flute that he but together piece by piece. Somebody handed him a pint of porter. He took one big swig of it first and then I was fascinated to see him pour some of the dark liquid into the flute and shake it until it came out the holes. I now know it was to make the playing of the flute easier by moistening it and covering up any tiny cracks in the wood. Four men got out onto the floor of the kitchen and when the music started they beckoned to their partners to join them. I stood watching them in awe and as the musicians started the Knocknaboul set I was mesmerised. After eight bars of music they started to dance and I was completely blown away by the rhythm, grace, agility and the swishing of skirts as they circled around the small space as one unit. In the second part, each couple took turns to dance on their own. It was called the “single figure” or “show the lady” and it gave them to opportunity to show off their footwork. They encouraged each other to greater heights with shouts like “come on Tom” or loud yahoos. The music was great and the dancing was equally as good but it was the great understanding each group had of the other that lifted the whole performance. I was captivated by the whole thing but especially by the tunes being played. All too soon I was taken home by my mother while my father stayed on ‘till morning. I didn’t want to go and I listened as we went down the road to the sound of the music which was fading away with every step. Trying to sleep that night wasn’t easy because every time I closed my eyes my head was filled with music and I could see the dancers again. First thing in the morning I jumped out of bed and got my mouth organ and then the tin whistle and tried to play some of the tunes I had heard the night before. I had a good recollection of one of them, a tune with the curious name “behind a bush in Parkana” and I was making a fair hand of it until I was told, in no uncertain terms, to stop making noise as people were trying to sleep. This did not deter me as I quickly put on clothes and made my way out to the turf shed where I could play away to my heart’s content. That night changed my life and I had caught a bug that has stayed with me ever since. I have been lucky enough to be given the gift of music and it has been good to me over the years. I made a bit of money too which enabled me to put my children through college but I really enjoyed just playing, especially for dancers. There is nothing quite like playing for a good set and I had the good fortune to play for some of the best. It was my privilege to play for the Athea Sets, junior and senior, that won All-Ireland titles back in the 1970’s. Those sets were formed and coached by Timmy Woulfe, the asccordian player from my first wren night, a man who has dedicated much of his life to teaching set dancing. I think the best dancers I ever played for came from just over the border in Rockchapel. They were two men, Jessie Collins and Moss O’Connell who used to dance with their girlfriends, later to become their wives, and they danced opposite each other when I used to play in The Rock or at Hourigan’s in Newmarket. They were fantastic dancers who could interpret the music in a way that made me want to play better and better. It was as if they instinctively knew when I was going to use some variation in the music because they would at the same time replicate it on the floor. Of all the places I played, I enjoyed Hourigan’s in Newmartket the most. The patrons who gathered there on Wednesday nights throughout the summer were the nicest people you could meet and also great dancers. They would be sitting along the wall waiting for the music before we even got there and the floor would be full all night. Sets were the order of the day with the odd waltz thrown in to give them a breather. Alas, those days are gone and even though we have good musicians and good dancers today, they wouldn’t, as my father used to say, “hold a candle” to the people I mentioned. I hear some musicians playing slides and polkas now and they leave me emotionless. The soul is gone out of the music possibly because modern set dancers are obsessed with speed and lose out on the rhythm and phrasing that was evident long ago. To play dance music properly you have to understand the movements and try to be in sync with the steps that have been handed down from generation to generation. I would give anything if I could return for a while to Davy Connor’s house in Knocknaboul all those years ago and experience once again the joy of the wren night.
Athea Community Council
Lucky Numbers Draw 15/01/2024
No’s Drawn: 18, 20, 21, 27 No Winner
Lucky Dips
Mgt. & Jimmy Danaher, Athea
Mike Dalton, Glenagore
Tony McAuliffe, c/o Lal
Nora, Mag & Family,c/o E. Fitzgerald
Sellers Prize: Agatha Barrett & Eileen Fitzgerald
Next Draw: 22/01/’24
Venue: Batt’s Bar
Jackpot €19,000
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).
Weekday masses this week Tuesday & Thursday morning 9.30am and Friday evening 7pm. Mass Intentions Thursday Gerry Naughton, Friday Nora Lynch (months mind) and Sunday Jan 21st – Mary Leahy, John & Catherine Leahy and their daughter Joan Phelan. Mary Collins. Mollie Ahearn & her husband Jack.
All masses are streamed live on https://www.churchservices.tv/athea
Baptisms will be celebrated on the fourth Sunday of the month at 12noon. Next baptism course is on Tuesday Feb 13th Templeglantine Sacristy at 8pm. Please contact Siobhan 087-3331459 for further details. Eucharistic Adoration and The Devine Mercy Chaplet on Tuesday morning after mass.Parish Administration: Tues-Fri 11am-1pm. call Siobhan on 087-3331459, outside these hours text or email [email protected]
Social dance classes for adults: Waltzing, jiving etc : Monday 22nd Jan. Beginners: 7.00-8.00 pm, Advanced: 8.00-9.00 pm. Venue: Plaza Hall, Listowel. For bookings, please contact 087 7541631