Renovation of Community Council  Offices.

Athea Community Council have plans to refurbish their office on Con Colbert Street. The building is spacious and offers great possibilities. Finance has been obtained for a feasibility study to determine what can be done with the building. The council is looking for suggestions as to what the building might be used for. To this end there will be a public meeting in the near future to discuss possibilities. We have to look at what services are needed in Athea that aren’t being catered for at the moment. In the meantime, if anybody has any ideas, please contact me, Domhnall de Barra, at 087 6758762.

Month’s Mind

Month’s Mind Mass for Patrick Langan will be held next Sunday at 11am in St. Bartholomew’s Church, Athea

The Way I See It

By Domhnall de Barra

No sooner had the severe frost ended than a storm hit the country with great damage being done in the West and North West in particular. Fortunately, we in Athea, did not get the worst of it although it did knock the odd tree here and there. I have a feeling that storms are getting more frequent as time goes on so it must be to do with global warming. We are definitely getting more flooding and higher tides than we used to and I can’t see anything changing in the immediate future. At least we are not in a war zone like many unfortunate people throughout the world. What is happening in Gaza is to be condemned by every right thinking person and the excuse by Israel that they are “defending” themselves does not hold water. How can the indiscriminate murder of thousands of innocent civilians be described as “defence”.  It is ironic that it is now the Jews who are carrying out what can only be described as ethnic cleansing having been themselves the victim of Hitler’s regime during the second world war. They, of all people should know what  it is like to be persecuted. Not all Israelis are of the same mind. Many have voiced their opposition to this war and call for an end to fighting and a search for a solution that will allow both Palestinians and Israelis to live side by side in peace. At last The USA is calling for a two state solution but the Israeli leader wants to have control of the whole area.  Maybe if America pulled the plug on its military support it might have the desired effect. In the meantime the carnage continues and thousands more will be killed before sanity prevails. There are several more conflicts around the world where people have no choice  but to flee and look for sanctuary in other countries. Many thousands of them have come to Ireland, much more than expected, and we are legally as well as morally obliged to look after them. The sheer volume means the government is scrambling to find accommodation and are looking at every possibility around the country. This is not always welcomed locally and people protest as they did in Roscrea last week. The owner of Racket Hall Hotel, which is situated on the Dublin Road outside Roscrea, made a deal with the government who wanted to house asylum seekers there.  Local groups blockaded the entrance stating that there was no consultation from government and that there wasn’t enough services like schools and doctors in the area to deal with the newcomers. Some are genuine in their views but others are feeding off misinformation  being spread that single male migrants are a danger to young women in the area. Of course not all asylum seekers are squeaky clean but neither are all the people of Roscrea or any other town in Ireland for that matter. Most of them are  just looking for help and a chance to be a part of the community. People say it is about lack of services but I wonder if there would be so much concern if, for instance, the hotel was to be taken over by a group of Americans or British people. We have a fear and distrust of people with a different culture and skin colour and we must see past this if we are to be fair to those who are less fortunate than ourselves. Yes, the government must be more forthcoming with locals before they decide to house people in their area but nobody should have a veto on who lives in any particular area. Unfortunately some local county councillors are now jumping on the band wagon because there are local elections coming up and they can see votes if they appear to be backing the local community against the government. This is the ugly side of politics but it is understandable if you are standing for election. As you have to be seen to be on the side of the local people. Let us hope that lessons have been learned and that extra services will be provided where large groups of people are added to a community. Some of these migrants have skills and would be an asset where there is such a shortage of people to fill various professions. We need electricians, plumbers, carpenters, block layers etc. Not to mention nurses and doctors so we have to become resigned to the fact that these positions will be filled by people from overseas. We, the Irish, should know all about that as we went all over the world and did all kinds of work to survive. We now have a multi-cultural society which is only going to get more diverse as time goes on. This is to be welcomed and can only make Ireland a better place.

Last week I was writing about my introduction to set dancing at a wren night in Knocknaboul so I was more than interested to hear an interview on the radio with a man who had MS. He described getting it over 14 years ago but has managed to keep active all this time by learning and practising set dancing. He told of a French professor ( I don’t know exactly what his speciality is but it has something to do with the brain) who loves and plays Irish traditional music. He is so into it that he visits Ireland several times a year to sit in with trad sessions all over the country. He was in Feakle, Co, Clare, at a session and he noticed a man sitting at the bar who obviously had MS. When a set was called he got onto the floor and danced perfectly. He asked one of the local musicians what the story was and he was told that Tom was a great set dancer who danced every night. When he went back home he started experiments, giving  some people who suffered from MS exercises and steps to do and others learned set dancing. They all improved but the greatest improvement was in the group who were set dancing. He put it down to the strong rhythm of the music and the message that gives to the brain causing people to turn left or right at will without thinking. Did we ever think that dancing a few sets was good for the brain?  I can see John Joe’s classes in great demand into the future. Set dancing is a wonderful exercise and one I didn’t get into until a few years ago. I always wanted to dance but spent most of my life on the stage playing for dancers. “Around the house and mind the dresser”

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 morning 9.30am and Friday evening 7pm. Mass Intentiions Friday evening – Nora Ita Hunt A/v.

Sunday Jan 28^th  – Patrick Langan (m

Month’s mind). Timothy & Margaret O’Donoghue and their daughter Margaret and her husband Gerard (Slowey). Alice O’Sullivan. Martin Rigg.

David Tuohy S. J. All masses are streamed live on https://www.churchservices.tv/athea

Confirmation 2024 – a meeting will take place this coming Thursday evening Jan 25^th at 7.30 pm in the church for this year’s confirmation children and their parents.

Baptisms will be celebrated on the fourth Sunday of the month at 12noon. Next baptism course is on Tuesday Feb 13^th 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 nights – Beginners: 7.00-8.00 pm, Advanced: 8.00-9.00 pm. Venue: Plaza Hall, Listowel. For bookings, please contact 087 7541631

St. Brigid’s Day

To mark St. Brigid’s Day 2024, two events are currently being planned to take place at St. Bartholomew’s Church, Athea.

A workshop will be held at the Church on January 31st ( St Brigid’s Eve) at 7.30pm, where everyone is welcome to come along and make a St Brigid’s Cross. Materials will be provided, and there will be some experts at hand to guide you. Tea and Coffee will also be served.

During Sunday morning Mass on February 4th a short re enactment of the life of St Brigid will be acted out by some local children.

We would like to extend a cead míle fáilte to everyone to join us for both events,  to commemorate & remember this special saint.

Sr. Rosarii O’Sullivan

Dirreen, Athea

Last Tuesday, January 16th, in her 104th year, Sr. Rosarii left this world as gently and peacefully as she had lived. Her family, friends and religious community, immensely proud of her life’s journey, bid farewell last Friday to this pioneering woman in Our Lady of Apostles, Ardfoyle, Cork.

As a devoted missionary, Sr. Rosarii was committed to empowering Nigerian women through education. She achieved this goal by engaging in teaching and teacher training. Her active and inspiring presence in a developing nation was characterised by her deep immersion in and appreciation for Nigerian life and culture. A testament to her impact, many of her students have emerged as leaders and innovators in their homeland.

Upon her return to Ardfoyle, in 1994, after four decades in Nigeria, Sr. Rosarii continued her service to the local community and province, tending to the needs of others with her quintessential gentleness and patience. Remaining a proud Athea woman throughout her life, she stayed connected to her roots through letters and regular visits.

She is now reunited with her beloved sisters Mary (Dalton, Upper Athea) R.I.P. and Sr. Liam R.I.P. in their heavenly home. Sr. Rosarii leaves a lasting legacy of faith, gentleness, devotion, dignity, and education. She will be lovingly remembered by her niece Marian (O’Connor) and nephews Paddy and Jimmy (Dalton) and their families.

Sr. Rosarii’s Month’s Mind will occur in St. Bartholomew’s Church, Athea, on February 18^th at 11 am.

A little corner of beauty comes to Athea

People can treat themselves and loved ones to a bit of glamour and a pamper in Athea following the opening of new beauty business The Beauty Corner on Con Colbert Street.

Owner, Marie Heffernan, has been working in the beauty industry for over six years. With three spent in Ballybunion and another three years in the bustling Newcastle West, she choose Athea as the perfect spot to start her very own first venture.

“I’ve been absolutely delighted with the response from local people and businesses so far. So many people have popped in to say hello and wish me well, I’ve been made so welcome already, I can’t thank everyone enough.”

The Beauty Corner offers an array of treatments from facials, nails, waxing, eyebrow and lash treatments, tanning to occasion make up. Treatments are available by appointment only each Monday, on Wednesday 9.30am-6pm, on Thursday and Friday 9.30am-8.30pm and 8.30am-3pm on Saturday.

“Through years of experience working with so many beauty brands and I’m delighted to offer only the highest quality luxury products to my clients, including Juliette Armand for facials, VOESH for pedicure, BIAB/Shellac for nail treatments and LYCON for waxing treatments. The salon also benefits from a private pedicure room and separate treatment room so clients can expect to be pampered in luxury during their visit with us.”

“There are a lot of people who, for one reason or another, can’t travel to nearby towns to avail of their beauty needs so I’m delighted to be able to offer these services right here in Athea village. I also have a lot of clients travelling from West Limerick and North Kerry to use the salon so I’m hoping this also brings some footfall to the rest of the local businesses in Athea.”

The Beauty Corner will be hosting an official opening night on Saturday 27th January from 6-8pm and would love to see you there. As well as a chance to have a look around and meet Marie, there will be special offers on the night and a chance to win some exciting raffle prizes.

You can make bookings for The Beauty Corner and order gift vouchers by calling 087 4913896 or drop into the shop during opening hours.

For further information or to confirm your attendance at the opening night please email Áine Canavan on [email protected] or call 085 8478659.

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