Mary T and Denny Mulvihill celebrating 50 years of marriage recently

Athea Vintage Club

“Ladies & Gentlemen – please Start you Engines!!!!!!!!!!!!

Athea Vintage Club is once again back on the road for another year with exciting new routes for our annual Vintage & Modern Tractor & Car Road Run on Sept 1st 2024. The event this year is raising funds towards the development of Athea Playground, a much needed facility in the parish for decades.

We hope you will join us for Registration @ 11am.

Once again our Junior Kids Run will take place at 12.15pm but please come along early for some entertainment in the Church yard. We look forward to seeing our Juniors with Go Karts, Bikes, Trikes etc   We have raffle tickets on sale now and have some fantastic spot prizes.

There will have a traditional music session once again after the event at 4pm in Batts Bar.

We look forward to welcoming you to Athea once again. Let’s hope the sun shines!!!!

Please follow us on social media for updates

Facebook –

Athea Vintage Club & Road Run

Instagram – athea_vintage_club .

Community Council Survey

Thanks to everyone who has returned the hardcopy survey, or has filled in the survey online. Please continue to fill in the survey and return in the letter box at Athea Community Council Office or complete it online via https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QGQWF6R.

Two in person consultation sessions will take place at the Athea Community Council Building on Monday September 2nd, and Wednesday September 25th from 7pm – 8.30pm where you are invited to tour the building and to examine existing floor plans, and to provide us with your thoughts and ideas for its development.

Everyone is welcome.

The Way I See It

By Domhnall de Barra

I was listening to a discussion on the radio recently about careers and how young people should try working in the hospitality industry for a while before they went into the “real world”. That is what they called it and it upset me because it inferred that those who make a living in the industry don’t have “real” jobs. It is an insult to the thousands of waiters, waitresses, bar staff, chambermaids and many, many more who take great pride in their work and have fulfilled lives. It is especially important at this time when Leaving results are announced and students are plotting their futures depending on the number of points they get. It is a crazy way to decide one’s future and something should be done about it. For instance, it takes  a very high number of points to get into medicine but many of these points can be gained in subjects that will be totally irrelevant to their training in the future. Not getting enough points is seen as a failure but there is more to life than having a high powered job. The waitress who works hard at her job can close the door after her at the end of her shift and forget about work until the following day while a highly paid executive may be on call 24/7 and may end up with health problems through stress. Work should be about making enough money to live comfortably  with a bit to spare rather than the accumulation of wealth being the goal. Young people should be encouraged to look at apprenticeships to see if that is the type of work they would like. Before the introduction of free education, Miss Woulfe had a private secondary school for girls in Abbeyfeale . She was a very astute woman who once said “he who has a trade has an estate”. There is always plenty of employment for electricians, plumbers, mechanics etc. with really good wages.  It takes all kinds to make a world and everyone’s job is important. Perhaps it would be better if students, on finishing secondary school, had an opportunity to work in their chosen profession for a few months to see how they would like it, regardless of the amount of points they have. It would be much better than going into whatever course their points allowed to find out, a few years later that they weren’t happy in that profession. To get back to the discussion on the radio, I think they had a good point in saying young people should have experience in the hospitality industry. It will give them an insight into that life and maybe when they move on to their “real” jobs they will have more respect for those who serve them when they go out. Some people look down on others and don’t treat them as equals. I have seen some appalling behaviour in restaurants by customers like snapping their fingers for attention as if they were calling a dog. I have also heard them complaining about food etc. which is not the fault of the person serving them.  This is simply not good enough and we should treat others in the way  we would like to be treated ourselves. I would like to see changes in how people are paid. In too many cases, those working in hotels, bars and restaurants are on minimum wages and depend on the tips they get for a living wage. Unlike in America, not all customers tip in this country. In most establishments tips are placed in a single jar or glass and distributed equally between all employees at the end of the night. This is fair enough but in other places the owners take a cut as well. I would hate to see it change to the American way where you don’t have a choice. Your tip is built into the bill and is usually about 25%.  It is just a way of getting cheap labour because the hourly rate is so low that employees depend on the tips to survive. I will always leave a tip if I get good service but I will not do so if I don’t. It should be a personal choice to tip or not and people working in the industry should not have to depend on it.

There was a mighty session at Batt’s Bar on Friday night last with musicians and singers from Athea and neighbouring areas. In attendance I thought I was coming down for a quiet few tunes so I was more than surprised to find out that the night  was in my honour for getting the Árd Ollamh award at the Fleadh in Wexford. There was balloons, pizzas, sandwiches, chocolates, ,a lovely cake and plenty of booze to go with the music and song and I must admit I enjoyed the night far more than the one in Wexford. A sincere thank you to all involved in organising the event. You made it a very special occasion, one that I will cherish for the rest of my days. Thanks also to all those who gave me their good wishes and congratulations. It was much appreciated.  There is something very special about a good session in Athea. You won’t find the atmosphere anywhere else and I think it is down to the fact that we are all friends and enjoy each others company. I think back to the early ‘seventies when the branch of Comhaltas was formed in Athea. We have gone from strength to strength ever since and I make no apology for saying this –  we ran the most successful Fleadhanna Cheoil in the County on many, many occasions. A great feature of our sessions is the amount of young musicians who take part. They are the lifeblood of the branch and the future of music in Athea is very safe in their hands. Here’s to many more sessions.

Letter to the Editor

Domhnall de Barra awarded title of

 Ollamh by Comhaltas

In my younger days the name Domhnall evolved affectionately into Danny Boy, and so it was with Domhnall de Barra. Domhnall was an intellectual prodigy so it was generally expected that he would go on to succeed academically in higher education. However, Domhnall had set his sights on a different career because from an early stage, music was his forte. He pursued his musical career, under the tuition of the Moloneys of Devon Road, in particular the button accordian. In the course of time he immigrated to England and pursued his musical career further by joining the Liverpool Céilí Band. Sometime afterwards he was appointed director and the founder of Céilí branches across Munster. The result was outstanding – old branches that were dormant came to life, new branches were formed and Domhnall acquired a strong reputation as an accompanist to dancers. In this regard, he piloted Athea set dancers under age and senior to All Ireland Scór success. He also directed several Scoraíocht branches, again to All Ireland success. Apart from his general Comhaltas activity, he formed and directed many outstanding Comhaltas touring groups. In the course of his career he became president of Comhaltas twice and was obviously highly revered for his continued involvement in traditional music. It was no surprise to those who would have followed his career that he was recently awarded the title of Ollamh by Comhaltas. This was a reward for his lifelong dedication to all things musical and Gaelic in general. Congratulations Domhnall and may you continue to wear your recently acquired title with pride.

Timmy Woulfe

Church Notices

Parish Pastoral Unit (Athea/ Abbeyfeale/ Mountcollins/ Templeglantine/ Tournafulla).

Canon Tony Mullins 087 2600414, Fr. Willie Russell 087 2272825, Fr. Denis Mullane 087 2621911.

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 August 31^st 7.30pm: Pat Collins. Ned Kiely. Denis McNulty. Sean & Ita Bradley. Nuala, Gaetano, Maria and Antonio Missorici. Ned & Delia Langan.

Lena O’Keeffe. All masses are streamed live on https://www.churchservices.tv/athea

Baptisms take place on the fourth weekend of the month. Parents who wish to baptise their child in the next few months should contact Siobhan on 087-3331459.

Farewell to Fr. Tony – Fr. Tony Mullins is leaving us towards the end of September. It has been decided to make a presentation to him on Saturday Sept 14^th after mass in Con Colbert memorial hall. If you would like to contribute to a collection in his honour, please pick up an envelope in the church and return before Sept 14^th , by placing in the offertory basket at any of our masses.

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

Athea Community Council

Lucky Numbers Draw   26/08/2024

No’s Drawn: 2,  9.  13.  28.  No Winner

Lucky Dips

Anne McGrath,                  Glin

Agatha & Mags,                c/o Bingo

John Matthews,                 Athea

Mag Barrett, Templeathea West

Sellers Prize:  Jerry Brouder & Damien Ahern

Next Draw:  02/09/’24  Venue:  White’s

Jackpot €22,300

by Tom Aherne

ANNIVERSARY: Congratulations and best wishes in the future  to Timmy and Catherine Madigan Ballyegna,  Ardagh who recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

DIAMOND JUBILEE: Congratulations and best wishes in the future to Sr, Bridie Falahee Carrigkerry native who recently celebrated her Diamond Jubilee, with her sister Sr, Peggy Falahee in Dublin.

EXAMINATIONS: Congratulations and best wishes in the future to all students who received their Leaving Cert results on Friday August 23.

GAELIC GAMES: St Kieran’s lost to Adare by 1-12 to 0-6 in round 4 of the County Senior Football Championship played at Askeaton on Thursday August 22. They trailed by 1-6 to 0-1 at half-time. They will need to get a result against top of the table Mungret/St Paul’s in the final round in mid-September in order to progress to the knockout stages. TEAM: Ray Noonan, Mike Shanahan, Diarmuid Mulcahy, Mossie Shine, Aaron Heffernan, , Brendan Mc Carthy, Sean Long, Lorcan Murphy 0-1, Darragh Treacy 0-1,  Cormac Mann, Noel Callanan 0-1,  Michael Long, Alan Daly 0-1, Dylan Moloney 0-1, Eoin Mc Enery 0-1. Subs Liam Kennedy, Kevin Meade, Anthony Mullins.

St Kieran’s defeated Ballysteen by 3-20 to 0-1 in round 5 of the West Junior B Football Championship played in Rathkeale on Sunday August 18. They play Dromcollogher/Broadford in the semi-final.

St Kieran’s drew with Killacolla Gaels 1-12 each in Group 2 round 4 of the County Minor B Hurling Championship  in Ballyagran on Wednesday August 21.

Cormac Murphy and Joey McClellan  from the St Kieran’s club were part of the Limerick squad who defeated Wexford by 2-10 to 1-9 in the All-Ireland Under 16 Football O’Donovan Cup Championship at Mallow on Saturday August 17.

LADIES FOOTBALL: Old Mill lost to St Ailbe’s by 1-12 to 0-4 in round 2 of group 1 of the County Senior Ladies Football Championship played at Old Mill on Saturday August 17. They play Ballylanders in round 3.

ROUNDERS: St Kieran’s lost to Castletown/Liam Mellows from Wexford  by 25-12 in the quarter final  of the junior rounder’s championship played  in Tallaght on Sunday August 18.

MEMORIAL UNVEILED:  A Plaque was unveiled  by Cllr John Sheahan in the old burial ground Ath na gCorp Clounleharde, Ballyhahill on Sunday August 18. Fr Michael O’Connor performed the blessing, and a large crowd attended. On March 12,1580, the Clounleharde massacre took place and 400 lives( men, women, children,) were lost when attacked by Pelham and Elizabethan troops. Well done to the committee who organised the event and put in place the memorial.

SPLIT THE POT: Congratulations to Tommy Dillane who won € 500, in the July , Creeves Celtic FC Split the Pot monthly draw held at the Thatch Newbridge . Tickets to enter the draw are available from committee members, club managers, at Neary’s Ardagh,  Inver five crossroads Rathkeale and the Thatch Newbridge. All support will be greatly appreciated.

LOTTERY DRAW: The Ardagh Development Association and Saint Kieran’s GAA joint weekly lottery   draw took place on Monday August 19.The numbers drawn were 1,11,12,30, and  there was no  winner of the € 6,500 Jackpot. Congratulations to the five lucky dip winners who received  € 40 each: John Dillane Ballinabearna, Mike Liston Glenastar, Darragh Treacy Ardagh, Shane Treacy Shanagolden,  Winnie Murphy Coolanoran. Next week’s  Jackpot will be € 6,600. People can play online using club force on the club’s Facebook page, with 6pm on Monday evening the deadline. The tickets are also on sale at the usual outlets, and all support will be appreciated.  Both organisations wish to thank all the people for their continued support.

RADIO DRAW: Congratulations to Michelle Dowling Newcastle West who won € 270 in the West Limerick 102fm 50/50 draw, held on Friday August 23. The tickets cost € 2, or 3 for € 5 and they are available from volunteers, in local shops, (including Moloneys Carrigkerry,  and from the radio station.  All support will be appreciated. The station can be contacted at 069-66200 if people have news of interest to the West Limerick area.

FLAG FLOOR: The weekly music and set dancing session,  for the month of September at the Flag Floor Glensharrold, Carrigkerry  continues on Tuesday’s from  9pm to 11.30. Music by Donie Nolan and friends, teas are served,  and all are welcome for a good night’s entertainment.

RAMBLING HOUSE: A rambling house will be held at Jim’s house Newbridge on Friday August 30, at 8.00pm. All musicians, singers, storytellers, dancers and listeners  are welcome to attend.

CLUB DRAW: The Limerick GAA Club draw for August will be held on  Saturday August 31 and announced during the Limerick Live 95fm sports show from 10am to 11am.  The entry fee for  the draw is € 10, per month and € 21,000 will be given out in prize money each month.  The top prize is €10,000 and the star prize this month is an Apple iPad worth €500. To join contact the local St Kieran’s club members in person, or online through the Club force App with direct options available. The club will receive 50% of all membership received which is vital for the running of it over the year.

SINGING CLUB: The next West Limerick Singing Club session will be held in the Ramble Inn Abbeyfeale on  Friday September 6, at 8.30pm, with guest artist  Joe Mac Sweeney. No Singing Session on Friday October 4, due to the Garry Mc Mahon Festival. On Friday  November 1, at 8.30pm the guest artist will be Donie Nolan.

RELAY FOR LIFE: Alice Barrett Glenastar, Ardagh is participating in the Relay for Life for the Irish Cancer Society on Saturday September 7, from  1pm  at Croagh GAA Club in memory of her father Jack Barrett. She has sponsorship cards available if anyone would like to help her secure some sponsors to help this very worthy cause. People can also donate through https://. relayforlife.

SET CÉILÍ: A set Céilí will be held in the hall Milford (P56 PN28) on Saturday September 7th, from 9pm. It is a very popular venue for  Limerick and Cork dancers and a warm welcome awaits all. Music by Uí Bhriain Band  and tea  and treats served. Admission is € 10.

CEMETERY MASSES DATE: Mass will be celebrated, at,  Clounagh Cemetery Reens Ardagh on Sunday September 8, at 2pm.

DANCING CLASSES: The Mc Cormack Kelly school of Irish Dancing will resume on Friday September 13, in the community centre Ardagh at 7pm, for  beginners and improvers in step dancing and Céilí, followed by Sean nos dancing from 8pm. All ages and abilities are welcome. For enquiries text Robert on 087 1343745.

by Kathleen Mullane

    MANY   CONGRATULATIONS

This week we welcome new babies to our parish which is indeed an exciting time for families.

Emmett Flavin, along with his partner Michelle Brosnan, welcomed their first baby recently, a little boy they are naming Ogie Patrick. Proud grandparents Teresa and Mike Flavin are super excited along with Michelle’s parents Kathleen and Mike Brosnan. Congrats all around .

Donna and Joe Loughlin of Galeside Athea were blessed with their new baby girl they named Precious,  a little sister for their 2 boys who are delighted to have a sister. Congrats to the delighted parents also.

We extend a huge Congrats to all those who received their Leaving Cert Results last week, all doing so well. They are wished all the best for the future whichever path they choose to follow.

Mary and Denny Mulvihill celebrated a very joyous occasion over the weekend with their family when they celebrated their Golden Jubilee —50 years married . Here’s to many more years of health and happiness for them both.

This week sees a last chance to purchase your ticket for GAA Development Draw which has some great prizes ,and the first draw is due to take place this weekend and continues until Xmas with some Bonus Draws.  i have a couple of tickets left at 50 euro if anyone wants one.

This Saturday is the last day for forms to be given in to any member of the VDP for anyone who wishes to apply for one of the houses being built near St. Bartholmew’s Villas on the Glin Road . I have some forms if anyone is interested.

Envelopes are available at the 3 Church door entrances for a donation to be left in for Fr. Tony who will be leaving us shortly .The envelopes can be given in to any basket at masses by 14 th September when Fr Tony will say his final Mass with us here in Athea. On the other hand, if parishioners wish to make their own private card donation, they are welcome to do so. As we are all well aware, Fr Tony was a true friend to many as he gave consolation and help to many during his stay here in the Athea- Abbeyfeale Area. He is wished all the very best when he takes up his new appointment.

This Friday sees the 1974 —5O th class reunion of all the ladies who attended the Convent in Abbeyfeale those years ago. All are welcome to The Failte in Abbeyfeale on the night.

   THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

You’ve got to get up every morning with Determination

if you’re going to go to Bed with Satisfaction .