Members of Athea Community Art Group receiving their Cricut Maker3 machine. Thank you to SSE Renewables Community Fund for making this possible
A.G.M. Of Athea Community Council Ltd.
The A.G.M. Of Athea Community Council Ltd. takes place this Thursday night, May 16th at 8pm in the Community Council Office. Every adult, normally living in the parish, is entitled, as a member of the council, to attend. We look forward to seeing a few new faces.
George Langan on Air from Knockdown
George Langan’s Country Music Showon www.corkmusicstation.com will be Broadcast live from the Knockdown Arms on Saturday 18th May commencing at 7.30 followed by the Billy O’Brien Band which will also be live on air. This event is to coincide with the Knockdown Vintage – Patrick Langan Memorial Run Presentation which will take place at 9.30 on the night.
If you would like to send a greeting to any of your family or friends wherever in the world they may be, you can do so live on air
SUMMER SOLSTICE GO YELLOW JUNE 20 – 23
Grow Mental Health provides free, non-judgmental peer support groups for those dealing with mental health challenges or life’s struggles. Based all over Ireland with in-person or online meetings.
Each year we fundraise to provide this much needed community service through Go Yellow walks/runs/workshops/information sessions or any fundraising event that helps.
To donate visit www.Grow.ie or [email protected] or contact 061-318813
Darragh Casey, grandson of Joe & Betty Aherne, who competed in the Munster championship swimming competition last weekend with fantastic results; PBs in all his events and will go on to compete in the national championships in Dublin in July.
1st in 200m IM, 2nd in 400m IM, 2nd in 800m Freestyle, 3rd in 50m Backstroke, 3rd in 100m Backstroke and 3rd in 400m Freestyle
The Way I See It
By Domhnall de Barra
I notice that there is a lot of objection about a proposed wind farm between Ardagh and Kilcoleman. Newcastle West Golf Club has circulated its members because some of the turbines will be very close to parts of the course. One thing we are good at in this country is objecting. If somebody mentions the erection of a mast for instance, a committee will be formed straight away to oppose it. Much misinformation and disinformation will then be used to further the cause, like saying that transmissions from masts are harmful and can cause cancer and other life threatening consequences. This, despite the fact that the same masts are erected in our cities close to schools and residential areas and people somehow are not dropping like flies. I heard of one objection to a wind farm stating that they would cause accidents because motorists passing by would have their attention drawn to them and wouldn’t have their eyes on the road. People have their own reasons, some of them very genuine, but others are for the wrong reasons and maybe born out of a fear of the unknown. I am no stranger to wind turbines. If I look out my front window they are there and also outside my back window. To be honest, I like them and they are the first thing I look at in the morning to see what way the wind is blowing and how strong it is. There is a certain calmness about them that I like and I love walking near them , or in some cases, under them. Some complain about the noise but I find it is no more than listening to the rustle of the wind through trees. There is a problem at times when the vanes cause the sunlight to flicker through windows and this can be dangerous for people who suffer from Migraine attacks but the operators of the turbines will turn them off at those times if they are asked. The truth is, we need these turbines to comply with our aim to have energy that does not rely on fossil fuels to create it. Moneypoint is still using coal to generate electricity but that has to end by 2025. Objections are holding up developments all over the country. Not even one site has received planning permission over the past twelve months. Getting planning permission for anything in this country is a nightmare. A development in Clare was stopped because a tiny snail, which apparently is in danger of extinction, was discovered on the land. Another development in Castlegregory golf course was halted because a rare type of frog called a Natter Jack Toad lives in a pond there. Abbeyfeale had a site for a new graveyard turned down because it was home to a family of badgers. What human beings need seems to be very far down the list of priorities. Is the survival of a tiny snail more important than developing green energy? Would the badgers not find a new home in the locality if they had to leave the field in Abbeyfeale? I sometimes think common sense is in very short supply whereas there seems to be no shortage of so-called “brains”. Of course we have to have planning laws or else people would do what they liked but I think we have gone away over the top in the way planning applications are held up, sometimes for years on end. There is also the problem of conflicting directives from Europe. One is the conservation of certain areas while the other says we have to have renewable energy. The argument can be made that anywhere wind turbines are erected will affect the flora and fauna of that region but so can the building of roads throughout the country. Certain areas should be protected but there are those who think that any interference with the land should not be contemplated. Their philosophy is that we should all leave the countryside to wildlife and go and live in big towns and cities. Farmers are now being paid to leave parts of their lands idle and I must say that the result is an eye sore. The ubiquitous Rowan tree spreads all over the place along with briers and other types of fungus and undergrowth that is, to say the least, unsightly. We are also asked not to mow our lawns in May so that wild flowers will be available to the bees. I did this with one of my lawns last year but the result was not what was expected. Very few flowers grew and it was very difficult to cut in September. To get back to wind energy, I hope that farms can be given permission as soon as possible so that we can reduce our carbon footprint and help the environment. We are going to need a lot more electricity into the future. Already jobs are being lost because firms who want to have data centres in Ireland cannot get connected to the national grid because of lack of capacity. We are also being urged to change to electric cars but where is the electricity going to come from if not from turbines?. It is not good enough for people to object to developments just because they do not want them in their back yard. They are not as bad as people think and the good they can do far outweighs any negative effects. I would invite people who have reservations to come to Athea and walk along the roads between the turbines in Coole West. They may be surprised at the sights and sounds and experience a walkway through the bog land that is a direct result of the development, not to mention the scenery which is breathtaking. None of us knows what the future will bring but we do know the consequences of not taking action now. We owe it to future generations to minimise the damage we are doing to the planet. Creating clean energy is a big step in the right direction.
Church Notices
Parish Pastoral Unit (Athea, Abbeyfeale, 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).
Masses this week- Tuesday morning 9.30am and Thursday evening 7pm.
Eucharistic Adoration and The Devine Mercy Chaplet on Tuesday morning after mass.
Mass Intentions Sat May 18th 7.30pm: Patsy Dalton (months mind). Denny Barrett. Mary O’Carroll Woods and all deceased members of the O’Carroll family. Mary & Mossie Brown. Nellie, Denny & Mick Mullane. Margaret Cummins & Mary Vaughan. Patsy & Peggy Browne. Mary (Molly) White. All masses are streamed live on https://www.churchservices.tv/athea
Baptisms take place on the fourth weekend of the month. The next baptismal preparation meeting takes place in the sacristy Athea, Tuesday evening May 14th at 8pm. Parents who wish to baptise their child in the next few months are encouraged to attend. Please contact Siobhan 087-3331459 for further details.
Parish Administration: Tues-Fri 11am-1pm. call Siobhan on 087-3331459, outside these hours text or email [email protected]
Helen O’Donnell at the Hall
Everyone welcome to come along on Wednesday night to Con Colbert Hall, Athea at 7.30pm to meet Helen O ‘ Donnell – a community candidate for Limerick’s Directly Elected Mayor 2024. Tea and Coffee will be served and young local talent Michael Kelly will perform some songs. Everyone welcome.
Athea Community Council
Lucky Numbers Draw 13/05/2024
No’s Drawn: 5, 6, 10, 21. No Winner
Lucky Dips
Ann McAuliffe, Donal & Ann’s
Ned White, Athea
Rob Collins, Athea
John Mullane, Templeathea
Sellers Prize: Eileen Fitzgerald & Agatha Barrett
Next Draw: 20/05/’24 Venue: White’s
Jackpot €20,800
Group who said the Rosary in Abbeyfeale on Saturday for the conversion of Ireland