Marian Leahy and staff of Killeline Care Centre, accepting a cheque for €2,500 from Duck & Swan Committee members, Jerry Brouder, Brendan Sexton, Francie Flavin and Helen Barry
Duck & Swan Club Raises €2,500
Jerry Brouder writes: “ I would like to thank everyone for their generosity and donations to this worthy cause. As there are so many families that are touched by Alzheimers, it is a cause that is close to my heart. We would like to thank Domhnall de Barra who sponsored the big hamper and to all of our sponsors.
Thank you to the ticket sellers, to everyone that gave spot prizes and to all that helped on the night.
A big thank you to Helen, Batt’s Bar, for the use of the premises and to all the musicians who provided the entertainment on the night.
Marian Leahy and staff members accepted the cheque on behalf of Killeline Care Centre
VINTAGE ROAD RUN
Knockdown Vintage Club will host their Annual Charity Road Run on Sunday 30th March 2025. Draw tickets are on sale at the moment for worthy charities Contact:
Margaret Culhane Hon. Secretary 087230 3918 .
A two hour documentary named
Father and Son
The story of Paddy Finucane, TD and his son Mick.
Paddy’s 26 years in the Dáil
Footage of the Gale River in Moyvane in the 1940s
Also footage of the Brick and Cashen Drainage work in the 1950s
And Donal Bill Sullivan’s story when he found Con Dee in Cooilbee Bog on May 12th, 1921
At Clounmacon Community Centre On Friday, 4th April at 8 o’clock
Refreshments served Adm €10
The Way I See It
By Domhnall de Barra
Language is our main means of communication and most countries have their own version. There are some similarities between many of the tongues but, in general, they are completely different and can vary a lot from district to district. Here in Ireland, although Irish is our official language, the vast majority of us use English in our everyday transactions. The use of English in this country is just over a hundred years old which is why it wasn’t spoken correctly for years. It was forced upon us by the English when they occupied our land because they thought that by getting rid of the language and the Catholic religion they could break our spirits. That is why the penal laws banned the teaching of Irish and the practice of saying Mass. As usual the Irish people refused to roll over so they devised ways to get around the laws. Hedge school sprang up all over the place where dedicated teachers educated the local children, usually outdoors. I remember hearing of one that was located in the Glen in Cratloe and I believe there was one over in Clash and other parts of the parish. The priests got around the Mass ban by leaving the churches on Sundays and saying Mass at a secret location, usually with a rock for an altar so they became known as “Mass rocks”. There are a few throughout the area with one near the village on Costelloe’s land. The English language slowly became the tongue of the people but it was very different from what was spoken in England. They still used many words and phrases from the Irish handed down to them from their parents and grandparents Things began to change with the advent of radio and television when we were exposed to other dialects throughout the country and heard proper pronunciation for the first time. Schools also played their part in the development of the language and with the creation of free secondary education more and more of us began to change the way we spoke. Roll on to the modern era and now there is no comparison between the way young people pronounce their words to the way we used to long ago. One of the nice things about our country was the different accents from North to Sought and East to West. You would never think Ireland was just a small island if you heard the accent of a person from Donegal and then someone from Dublin. Even Dublin had many divisions with completely different accents North and South of the Liffey. This is because the more affluent citizens of the South side created their own way of speaking to emphasise what they thought was their superiority over the Northsiders. That practice continues even to today with a new accent coming from the Dublin 4 area which is very alien to the rest of the country. They have succeeded in taking all the broad vowels out of the language leaving us with words like “hises” for houses, “rindabite” for roundabouts and apparently there is a city in the sought called “Quark”. It is the most annoying accent I have ever listened but is copied mainly by those who think they need it to be “hip” or an aid to their career prospects. It upsets me when I hear people who were born and reared in Gaeltacht areas, especially those working on television, speaking in this ridiculous way, something they must have worked hard to achieve. What a relief to hear people like Daithí Ó Shea and Daniel O’Donnell speaking in their own accents and not being ashamed of it. Language is about communicating and, as long as it can be understood by those you want to reach, any accent is good. Unfortunately young people today are getting their accents from the internet, phones and American programmes. It is just a sign of the times and I fear that, within a fairly short time our regional accents will have disappeared. Some of the trends today are just annoying like starting every sentence with “so”. Then there is the use of the word “really”. Things are not very good anymore, they are “really, really” good. There is also phrases like “and stuff” which are added to the end of a list and don’t get me started on the use of the word “awesome” I could go on giving examples but I am sure you all have your own pet hates. There is a word “gay” that is used to describe homosexuals. Now, I am a very tolerant person and I think that all sexual persuasions should have equality but I resent them confiscating that word which used to mean happy and funny. It appears in many of our older songs like The Rollicking Boys around Tandrage. “Here’s to the boys who are happy and gay, singing and dancing and tearing away” . Also there is a line in another song which goes “with a gay gallant youth by her side”. If we take the modern version of the word, he wouldn’t be much use to her, would he? Since I am on the subject, I do have a problem with Gay Pride marches. Like I said all persuasions deserve to be equally recognised but if I organised a “straight” parade in the morning, I, and all those marching with me, would be classed as a homophobic. Don’t worry, I have no notion of doing so. I would just like to see a level playing field and not to be made feel less worthy.
Church Notices
Priests: Fr. Tom Mangan 087-2348226, Fr. Willie Russell 087 2272825, Fr. Dan Lane 087 2621911.
Masses this week- Tuesday morning 9.30am, Friday evening 7pm and Sunday 11am.
Intentions: Sunday 30th March: Billy & Kathleen Casey. John Joe & Helen O’Sullivan (Carrigkerry), Mary O’Sullivan (Athea), her granddaughter Chloe Hickey and her parents Jerry & Birdie White.
Eucharistic Adoration and the Devine Mercy Chaplet every Tuesday morning after mass.
To book a Mass intention contact the sacristy after mass or contact Siobhan on 087-3331459.
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.
ALONE are seeking volunteers in the ATHEA area. Full training and support provided. If interested, please contact Caroline on 086-4040910.
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 24/03/’25 No’s Drawn: 2, 4, 18, 22. No Winner
Lucky Dips
Declan & Rebecca Barrett, Athea
Eileen Barry, Athea
Bertha Byrne, Templeathea
Declan Curtin, Marian Lodge
Sellers Prize: White’s & D. De Barra
Next Draw: 31/03/’25 Venue: Brown Joe’s
Jackpot €24,800
