by Kathleen Mullane

Catherine Tierney of Templeathea and Stephen Reidy of Abbeyfeale who celebrated their wedding on
Friday last at St. Catherine’s Church, Ventry, Co. Kerry, followed by reception at the Dingle Skellig Hotel.

 IT WASN’T TO BE

Well, hopefully everyone has got over Limerick’s loss in the hurling on Sunday, but you know what it’s not the end of the world. They’ve had a magnificent run up to this and we can only imagine the dedication , time,  commitment, eating the proper food and above all the many hours that their wives, partners and children and families are minus their presence during their training schedule which no doubt is never ending. So its nice for them to sit back take a well deserved break and revitalise for next year and no doubt they will be back with a vengeance.

Sincere congrats and good wishes are extended to Catherine Tierney daughter of Margaret and Ted of Templeathea who on Friday last was married to Stephen Reidy of Abbeyfeale. The Nuptial ceremony was performed by Fr. Tom Mangan in St Catherine’s Church in Ventry, Co Kerry. The reception was held at The Dingle Skellig Hotel where a great day was enjoyed by family, relatives and many friends. Here’s to the happy couple and their future happiness.

Congrats are extended to Fr. Michael O’Shea, a brother of Sean of Templeathea, who has been made a Canon. We wish him all the very best in his new role.

Well, climate change is definitely with us when we see the awful bush  fires in California. Then storm Beryl has wrecked havoc in Jamaica and the Caribbean demolishing houses in its path leaving families with little or nothing. Even in the USA today the temperatures were in the high 40s and breathing even with air -conditioning was so difficult I’m told. My daughter tells me you couldn’t even go out in it. So, in a way, I know we all complain about the rain and the cold sometimes but at least we don’t have any extremes of temperatures and even if it is wet, throw on a coat, grab the brolly and off with you. You definitely will reap the benefits of it.

I was listening to a talk on the radio the other day and it stated that many Irish people are lonely on their own. There was a special day recently called A HELLO DAY where we were asked to say Hello to everyone we met. We must, it said, instil into our young people to salute people when passing, it means a lot. Being nice to everyone is the cheapest kind of medicine especially to our elderly.

And I forgot to mention there was one super excited man last week and that was Fr Willie when Clare won. We will have to wait and see the outcome now between Clare and Cork as Fr was maybe hoping for a Clare v Limerick game —-or was he……

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

Don’t Hate Yourself for who you Aren’t—

Start Loving Yourself for who you ARE.

by Kathleen Mullane

 HERE COMES MAY

Well I’m sure everyone like myself will be glad to see the end of April, more especially all who are weather dependant from farmers to nurseries selling plants, to tourist towns, hotels, activity centres, to those waiting to cut their turf, to potato and vegetable suppliers and many more, but thankfully the temperatures are due to rise this week. We keep the fingers crossed. Wednesday being May 1st means Tuesday is May Eve, a day long ago, or maybe not that long ago when everyone, especially farmers, were out with the Holy Water sprinkling it all over the cow houses and land to keep the piseogs away. One wonders was their truth in the old stories although I remember my Mother telling us stories she had heard from her mother about strange happenings on the farms in those days and we were in awe at the tales. Actually a good number of people visited the Blessed Well in Templeathea on Saturday last which is the Special Day for Visitation being the last Saturday in April to pray for special intentions.

This weekend sees the collection being taken up for the Athea Community Games at the church gate so your support for the youth would be appreciated.

This Saturday night sees the Annual WEBCAM collection at Mass, and I must say its such a brilliant service agreed by everyone, parishioners and those away from home who can join in on Mass, funerals, weddings and a lot more your support would be appreciated.

Yesterday on my walk I found 3 cans within feet of each other all with the R symbol on them which could be returned to any of the return banks, instead its easier to throw them out on the road and cause more litter. Do some not realise they can get a refund and also keep our roads Litter Free.

If you were watching RTE 1 on Saturday night last THE SONGS OF IRELAND with Pat Shortt and other musicians and singers travelled around beauty spots which were beautiful ,and one realises we are living in such a lovely part of the World  with some fab scenery we should appreciate it.

This Wednesday night sees the second last Bible Scripture reading taking place at the Library from 7.30 -8.30 this week Sean O Mochain will speak on The Epistles  all are welcome.

Its that time of the year that I hear many saying they must do a wardrobe clear out and put the winter clothes in the background and pull out the summer clothes. The Vincent De Paul shops in nearby Abbeyfeale and Newcastle are grateful of any donations clothes, books etc. and you never know you can find these shops a treasure trove often as we have found out many times .

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

Asking for HELP is a sign of STRENGTH

Even in DARKNESS a LIGHT can SHINE

by Kathleen Mullane

      OUT AND ABOUT

Thanks is extended to all those who took the time out to call in to the Hall  on Thursday morning last and donated to the annual Coffee Morning in aid of Milford Hospice and to all who sent in donations also. Well done again to the organisers  and to those who baked the lovely cakes etc. You can still donate if you were unable to make it on the day by giving it to Tom O Keeffe.

Congrats to the Athea u-13s who won the County Final at the weekend an up and coming group of young boys no doubt. Watch this space.

Congratulate to my own grandson Aidan Curry who celebrated his 21st over the weekend with family and friends.

Wasn’t it great to see Kathleen Flaherty of Kilmorna winning the Ladies Day Best Dressed at Listowel Races on Friday last. Her beautiful blue crochet 2-piece which she got crocheted for her 35 years ago  won her the fabulous prize of a trip for 2 to New York and spending money. Don O Neill, the top fashion designer from Kerry, was one of the judges on the day. Don designed for the rich and famous in New York and beyond. Some of the papers praising Kathleen for her outfit  and just being so nice and down to earth  stated the following and I quote—-

BE A KATHLEEN NOT A KARDASHIAN.

Another said describing her at her age was —-

ELEGANCE IS NOT A NUMBER

Well done to her and hopefully others will take a leaf out of her book.

Sincere sympathy is extended to Ned Enright and his family and relatives here in Athea on the passing last week of his daughter Margaret Kirrane of Old Glebe, Tuam who went to her eternal reward in Galway Hospice having been ill for sometime. May she rest in Eternal Peace.

Don’t forget the over 55s club begins this Tuesday  in the Hall  from 11.30-12.30 and includes Wellness and Self -Discipline, Chair Aerobics and Games with refreshments afterwards. For further information on this and all other keep–fit classes contact Nicole on 087-9459971.

If anyone has been watching Marty Morrissey’s Big Picture Show showing disappearing Dublin in the 1960s or so with lovely photos of life as it was then the traders in Moore St, photos of people out dancing having fun, a big change now with streets terrorised by fighting and killing

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

LIVE YOUR VALUES—Kindness, compaassion, generosity of heart, shared humanity. These Past Years haven’t been easy but by living your values the world is better for It.