by Kathleen Mullane

  BITS AND BOBS

Sincere Sympathy is extended to the O’Sullivan Family of Lower Athea, on the passing of Patie last week at a great age into his 90s. Many came to pay their final respects in Lower Athea to a man who was known far and wide by so many, from his days in Athea Creamery to his years being involved in Athea Vincent De Paul and Athea Voluntary Housing. Patie was a great man to help out at the Church Gate Collections always volunteering, his generosity knew no bounds. He supported the yearly A.A Good Friday  meeting and many more such get-togethers for which he will be remembered. Requiem Mass on Saturday was concelebrated by Fr. Willie Russell, Fr. Tom Mangan, Fr. Denis Mullane and Fr. Chris O’Donnell. Patie was laid to rest in Holy Cross .

May his Generous Soul rest in Peace.

Congrats is extended to Niamh Ambrose of Lower Athea who celebrated her 18th Birthday recently along with her family and relatives all having a great time for the special occasion.

Also on Saturday night last Sarah Scanlon of Templeathea celebrated her 21st Birthday along with her family and friends at Brown Joes here in Athea .A great night was enjoyed by everyone.

Ryan Carroll, son of Margaret and Tommy celebrated his belated Birthday in Nashville in the USA with family  recently, a great place to celebrate a 30th birthday.

I don’t know if anyone was watching Futureville recently when they were focusing on Athlone but they said this could be the way things could go in any city or town in the not too distant future. High rise blocks of modern flats were the order of the day and robots were doing a lot of the work that people do now like serving in restaurants etc.

If our parents were to see the difference now from when they grew up  they wouldn’t believe it .Mobile phones and computers that can do almost anything and find out a multitude, paying with cards rather than cash, scanning your own groceries, getting your match tickets etc on your phone, ordering your shopping and clothes on-line.  I remember my mother, God rest her, when one day we had driven up to McDonald’s drive through and we had ordered through the speaker and she got right annoyed  saying why would we try to fool her in believing you could talk through a speaker and that your food would be ready in a few minutes at the other end of the queue .We were laughing so hysterically that we couldn’t order and had to leave the queue, those were the days, how things have changed.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

GOOD COMPANY UPON THE ROAD

IS THE SHORTEST CUT.