Athea Flood Relief Scheme – Public Participation Day No. 2

As part of the ongoing development of a viable Flood Relief Scheme (FRS) for Athea, Co. Limerick, Limerick City & County Council (LCCC) and the appointed Environmental and Engineering Consultants Ryan Hanley, wish to invite members of the public, local businesses and organisations to attend the Public Participation Day No. 2 (PCD) to present the emerging options for the Athea FRS

The event will take place in the Con Colbert Community Hall, Athea, Co. Limerick, on Wednesday21^st February 2024.

Drop in any time from 5:00pm to 8:00pm.

Athea Drama Group 

Athea Drama Group are currently busy rehearsing for their upcoming production of  ‘Turning Mammy’ by John McDwyer, described by the playwright himself as ‘a comedy with a few serious bits’. The cast is made up of Julie Moloney, Johnny Corkery and Mary Ellen Tierney. The play will be staged at Con Colbert Hall, Athea on March 16th, 17th, 18th, 21st, 23rd & 24th at 8pm. The booking line will open shortly, watch this space for updates. The play is not suitable for children.

Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann

Craobh Áth an tSléibhe

Congratulations to both Clodagh O’Mahony  and Joe Murphy  who were prize winners at the Lixnaw  Feile Feabhra recently

Joe came first in the singing U-13 and Clodagh took second place in the fiddle U-13 competition.

Well done  also to their teachers at the weekly classes in Athea.

 

The Way I See It

By Domhnall de Barra

The continuing saga of RTE and its mismanagement shows how out of touch with reality some people in privileged positions are.  There seems to be different rules for executives from those who actually do all the work. I heard one employee complaining that the building he was trying to work in was in very bad repair with pieces falling off the roof but there wasn’t enough money in the kitty to do the necessary repairs while, at the same time, golden handshakes of almost half a million were being handed to people who were voluntarily leaving their posts. Now, I have no problem with somebody who is being let go because there is no longer sufficient work for them getting proper redundancy but why should someone be rewarded because they decide they want to go? Maybe I am missing something but it makes no sense to me especially since the individuals concerned are on inflated salaries in the first place. It looks like there was a cosy little group who felt they were entitled, to such an extent that they didn’t even bother getting the approval of the board for actions taken. It also appears that the word of the DG was final and nobody questioned it even when they knew what was happening wasn’t according to the rules. This has all come to light because of the Ryan Tubridy affair but we have to ask ourselves, how long has it been going on. How much public money has been wasted and how many have walked away with their pockets lined.  To be fair, the board was also negligent in its duties on behalf of the government and should have had a more “hands on” approach.  Changes will have to be made and anyone connected to the recent debacles should be let go immediately.  It has already cost a lot of money because many people have stopped paying their licence fee.  I think this is the wrong approach because  it is breaking the law and is hurting the very people who were the victims of injustice within the station. Sinn Fein have suggested scrapping the licence fee altogether and giving an amnesty to those who haven’t renewed their licences. This would be a slap in the face to all the law-abiding citizens who have  paid their fees. Direct funding would also create a state broadcaster completely controlled by the government of the day who could use it in whatever way it liked. The history of state controlled stations is not good and we should not go there.  What we need in this country is proper funding through proper taxation. We have a household charge here that gives us nothing in return. We have no choice but to pay it because it is collected by the revenue commissioners and they are very good at what they do. It is suggested by others that they also be given the job of collecting the licence fee. It is one answer but times have changed and  a lot of people get their programmes from other devices rather than TVs and radios. I think the answer would be to have a household charge, like they have in other jurisdictions, which includes the licence fee but I wouldn’t stop there.  It should also include all the other services we need like water and bin collection.  It would cost a bit more but nobody would mind if they were getting the proper services. It would probably be less than what we, in rural Ireland, are paying for all the different services at the moment. At some stage, the government decided that privatisation was the answer to everything and we now know, to our cost, that privatisation is good for the contractor, not the consumer. Local councils should be empowered to provide the services once more and, while I’m at it, go back to building cottages in the countryside. Trying to get us all into towns and cities, where it will be easy to provide services, will not work. As I have written in the past, RTE is a very good provider of entertaining and informative programming and it needs our support to keep going. Let us hope that a blueprint for managing RTE into the future is established quickly so that we can never again allow anything like what has occurred to happen again.

Church Notices

Parish Pastoral Unit (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. Eucharistic Adoration and The Devine Mercy Chaplet on Tuesday morning after mass.  Lay Liturgy with Stations of the Cross on Friday morning at 9.30am.

Mass Intentions this week : Friday 23^rd at 7pm-Mike Dalton (months mind).

Sunday Feb 25^th at 11am- Joan O’Halloran (months mind). Maurice Crowley,  Jim, Ellie and Pat Kiely (Knocknagorna). Jeremiah & Marie O’Connor and Dan & Mary Carroll.

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

RIP We remember in our prayers this week Philomena Keily (nee Kiely) Templeathea and Michael Noone, California (husband of Noreen Woulfe, South Keale Athea.) may their gentle souls rest in peace.

Lenten Scripture Reflection: A Journey through the Bible, Starting Wednesday Feb 21^st and every Wednesday until Mar 27^th in the Library, Athea from 7.30pm-8.30pm. Followed by a cuppa and chat. Presented by Pat Higgins 087=2034626 and Sean O Mocháin 087-2321375.

Baptisms are on the fourth Sunday of the month, contact Siobhan for further details.

Parish Administration: Tues-Fri 11am-1pm. call Siobhan on 087-3331459, outside these hours text or email [email protected]

Knockdown Vintage Club

Patrick Langan Memorial Vintage Run

24th March 2024

This year’s event is indeed tinged with great sadness with the loss of our esteemed founder and Chairman Patrick Langan who departed this life in December last.

In 2010 in a corner of the Knockdown Arms, no doubt on a Saturday night, Patrick, with the help of Dave Noonan hatched up a plan- and from it followed the birth of Knockdown Vintage Club.  The first event was held on that year and this was the foundation for what was to follow. It can now be said that it has been an outstanding success. It has grown and developed over the years to be one of the best Vintage runs of its kind in the country. This achievement is due in no small way to the passion and expertise that Patrick showed for his love of this event.

Patrick had laid the foundation for this year’s Run before his untimely passing; therefore, it is only fitting that we would continue with the “show” in his Honour and with the blessing of his Family.

Subsequently, we want our 2024 Vintage Run to be the best ever as we know that Patrick will be with us in spirit.

Our Annual Charity Vintage Run takes place on Sunday 24th March 2024.  This year the proceeds are in aid of two very worthy charities:

Mid-Western Cancer Foundation UHL

Parkinson’s Association of Ireland. (Mid-West Branch)

Both charities offer vital services to our community and are well deserving of our support. These charities have impacted on the lives of many families in our community and further afield and it is our privilege to assist them in their endeavours.

Registration will commence at 12 noon in The Knockdown Arms

Light Refreshments will be served from 12 Noon.

The Vintage Club welcomes all Vintage Cars and Vintage Vehicles

A raffle will also be held on the day with numerous prizes including

1^st Prize

€300 Voucher for Fitzgerald’s Woodlands House Hotel.

2^nd Prize:

€150 Voucher for The Crown Decorating Centre Newcastle West

3^rd Prize:   Monster Hamper

Numerous other prizes

Tickets €2 each or 3 for €5.

A special draw for all those who participate will take place immediately after the Runs. An Auction will also take place, and we hope that this too will add to the entertainment. This will commence at 4pm.

Different Sounds will provide the entertainment between 5pm to 7pm.

Since our foundation in 2010 the Club has raised in excess of €60,000 for various charities, and the Club has gone from strength to strength.  This could not have been done without the help of our sponsors, participants and the general public. Your continued generosity is much appreciated. We look forward to welcoming you all on 24^th March 2024. Come along for a Fun Day out with all the family.

Donations can also be made to our Go Fund me page at  https://gofund.me/0627fbf6

Contact Dave Noonan 087 – 2500938

or

Margaret Culhane 087 2303918

for any further details.

 

Athea Community Council

Lucky Numbers Draw  19/02/2024

No’s Drawn: 4,  6,  16,  21. No Winner

Lucky Dips

Mikey & Jordan,                Upper Athea

Tommy White,                   Upper Athea

Ryan & Megan,                  Athea

Nora Cotter, Coole West

Sellers Prize: Lal Browne & Agatha Barrett 

Next Draw:  26/02/’24   Venue:  White’s

Jackpot €19,600