Pat’s Corner

News-20/05/2015

 

 

The Goold Monument

The Goold Monument

Laura Curry, Corinne Gibbons and Aisling O’Shea who were presented with Certs at the Tarbert Awards Night

Laura Curry, Corinne Gibbons and Aisling O’Shea who were presented with Certs at the Tarbert Awards Night

Derek & Tina Byrne with their son Adam and daughter Katie who made her communion last Saturday in Athea.

Derek & Tina Byrne with their son Adam and daughter Katie who made her communion last Saturday in Athea.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Athea Tidy Towns

In the past week some fantastic progress was made at the site of the Goold Monument. The boundary ditch has been cleared and replaced with timber fencing which widens the area considerably and makes the area more inviting for visitors. Also the magnificent piers at the entrance have been raised which allows us to fully appreciate their unique design. A professional cleaner is also currently attending to the monument which will return it to its former glory.

Efforts are continuing on gathering information on our planned heritage trail which will involve erecting plaques at 20 points of Heritage in the village and mapping them in a brochure. This will also include erecting a plaque at Gale View House – the home place of Con Colbert which will coincide with the 2016 centenary celebrations next year.

The committee would like to offer our sincere sympathies to Pat Higgins and family on the death of  Darragh Lanigan R.I.P. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.

The “Going to England”

There is a lot of talk, particularly since the fall of the Celtic Tiger, about emigration. There is a big difference between emigration now and what happened in the middle of the last century. After the 2nd World War there was abject poverty in this country which was just trying to find its feet after 800 years of British rule. Everybody was in the same boat except for the few who were lucky and wealthy enough to get an education and become teachers, civil servants etc.  Very few went beyond national school and some didn’t even complete the full term there as they were required to work on the family farm or take any kind of work to supplement the family income. Jobs were few and far between at a time when there were big families in every house so emigration was the only answer. England had been devastated by the war and needed building up so there was an opportunity for employment on the building sites and roadways. “Going to England” in those days took as long as going to Australia today.  I remember in the early ‘sixties getting the train from Abbeyfeale at 8am on Friday. There was a change at Limerick for Limerick Junction, then onto the train to Kingsbridge where we changed again for Dun Laoghaire. The boat was very primitive by today’s standards and was used to ferry live cattle as well. Most people sat in the open air all night. Arriving in Hollyhead, we took the train to Crewe where we waited for the London train. On then to Rugby and the final change to the Coventry train which got into the station at 8.15am Saturday morning; a full twenty four and a quarter hours travelling !  Those who arrived first made it easier for those who followed on because they were in a position to put them up for a while and point them in the right direction for employment. The Irish were not generally welcome in Britain in those days. Boarding houses often had the sign “No pets, no blacks, no Irish”  printed on the front window but they were needed to do the work and gradually became accepted by the majority of the English who are in the main a very fair race, in fact they were much better to the Irish workers than some of their own who exploited them. Girls got work in factories, hospitals and as maids in big houses while the men mainly worked on the buildings. Much of the work was sub-contracted to Irishmen who were known as “subbies”. They would arrive at a central point in the town on a Monday morning where the men looking for work gathered. They took as many as they needed and if any of them did not come up to scratch they were not taken the following day. As in all walks of life there were good and bad subbies, some treating their men well while others overworked and underpaid them while lining their own pockets. Going home to Ireland often was not an option. No cheap Ryanair flights in those days and the travelling time was too long. Many of the men spent their wages in the pub (staying in the digs all night was not an option) and only came back home for funerals.  Others sent money every week to help those at home. Indeed many households depended on the letters from abroad to survive.  The Irish communities in England gradually grew and  eventually became an important part of the country’s development. They became involved in all walks of life, including politics, and made a name for themselves.  The beginning though was tough; hard work and the heartache of being separated from family and friends in a foreign land. Today’s emigrants have no such troubles. They are all well educated and are only a couple of hours away at any time. They can thank the early travellers for the opportunities that exist for them today.

 Domhnall de Barra

Comments Off on News-20/05/2015 more...

Pat’s Corner-17/12/14

By Pat Brosnan

Speech Writing Competition

Action Aid has had a lot of interest from schools across the country for the organisation’s speech writing competition and wishes for more entrants from Limerick and Cork before the 16th January 2015 (deadline). Action Aid hope that the time off at Christmas will be an opportunity for young people interested in entering to finish their drafts. The competition is open to all Secondary School students aged 14-17. The top six students will be invited to Dublin to deliver their speech in front of an esteemed panel of judges and the winning two students will travel with their teacher to Nepal to see the programme first hand. The choice of topics are:

  1. Why do women make up 70% of people living in poverty around the world and what can be done about it?
  2. “Let us wage a global struggle against illiteracy, poverty and terrorism and let us pick up our books and pens. They are our most powerful weapons”. Education is fundamental to ending poverty and violence.
  3. Violence against women keeps communities in a cycle of poverty.

For more information on the competition visit http://www.actionaid.ie/speechwriting-competition.

C.D. Launch

Maura Nolan’s CD “Am le Cheile”, launched earlier this year, is available at O’Rourke’s Shop Loughill/Ballyhahill, St. Ita’s Hospital, reception area and Desmond Complex, Newcastle West, Hogan’s Shop, Glin, Heavenly Touch, Gift Shop, Abbeyfeale, Rathkeale P.O., Roche’s Mace Supermarket, Templeglantine, Mullanes Supermarket, Knockdown, Athea, Moloney’s Shop, Carrigkerry and Lynch’s Shop, Feenagh. It includes old songs which Maura got from residents of St. Ita’s Community Hospital, Newcastle West where she sings twice weekly. It would make a lovely Christmas gift for friends and relatives, a percentage of sales will be donated to the “Friends of St. Ita’s”.

I.F.A. Launches New Farm Safety Campaign ‘Save Lives’

The IFA has launched a new farm safety campaign Save Lives to raise awareness of the dangers of working on the farm and to encourage farmers to always think Safety First. Save Lives is an acronym of safety messages to think safety when farming. The safety messages are carried throughout the 2015 IFA calendar, launched last week, as well as on new Save Lives pens, which will be distributed through IFA meetings and events over the coming months in order to keep safety at the front of people’s minds. A number of events and initiatives as part of the Save Lives campaign are planned for the year ahead.

Wedding Fayre Tea Party

A Wedding Fayre Tea Party will be held at the Devon Inn Hotel, Templeglantine on Sunday, January 14th 2015 from 2-5pm with models from the Celia Holman Lee agency. For more information telephone 069-84122.

Recent Death

Sympathy is extended to the O’Donoghue family, Dromerisk, Glin on the recent death of Tom O’Donoghue. May his soul rest in peace.

Christmas Wishes

A very Happy and Peaceful Christmas to everybody and especially all the readers of our local Newsletter.

Comments Off on Pat’s Corner-17/12/14 more...

Pat’s Corner-10/12/14

By Pat Brosnan

Multiple Sclerosis Research Project

The University of Limerick is undertaking a significant medical programme to help combat Multiple Sclerosis (MS). “Step it Up” is a new physiotherapy-led exercise and education programme for people with MS. Researchers at U.L., working in collaboration with MS Ireland, the Health Research Board and colleagues in the United States, have developed this new programme aimed at tackling the symptoms of MS such as muscle strength, walking mobility, fatigue and management of the condition. Those interested in participating should contact project co-ordinator Sara Hayes by email at [email protected]

Civil Defence

County Limerick Civil Defence ARA held their annual Mass for deceased colleagues and their AGM at De Bucket in Kildimo recently. The following officers were elected: Chairperson: Anne Denihan, Athea. Vice-Chairperson: Kitty O’Sullivan. Secretary: Paddy Hyland. Assistant Secretary: Maura Lyons. Treasurer: Pauline Fitzgerald. Assistant Treasurer: Joan Hevenor. PRO: Phyllis O’Halloran.

The good wishes of all present were extended to Pat Brosnan, our colleague and former chairperson.

Toy Appeal To make a Child’s Christmas

Barnardos has launched its annual Toy Appeal, supported by GLS Parcelshops. The children’s charity is asking shoppers in Limerick to add the Barnardos Toy Appeal to their shopping list this festive season to help make a child’s Christmas.

Barnardos needs gifts for children aged from babies through to teenagers. The charity has a handy gift guide available on its website www.barnardos.ie to help shoppers choose age appropriate gifts. For the fifth year GLS Parcelshops are supporting the Barnardos Toy Appeal and they guarantee that all gifts dropped to any of their 160 GLS Parcelshops nationwide by Friday, December 19th will be delivered to Barnardos in time for Christmas. The GLS Parcelshops in Limerick are located in Knock Shrine Bookshop, Little Catherine Street, Limerick City, Vokes Hardware, Main Street, Adare, Hogan’s Newsagents, Main Street, Glin. Barnardos CEO Fergus Finlay said “many thanks to GLS Parcelshops and those who so generously give gifts to the Toy Appeal. We can make sure that the children and families we work with experience that magic this Christmas”. They are truly grateful that, for the fifth year running, GLS Parcelshops will make sure that every child they work with will receive a gift in time for Christmas.

Youth 2000 Ireland

Youth 2000 Ireland will be hosting their annual Christmas Retreat in Newbridge College, Newbridge, Co. Kildare from Friday, December 12th to Sunday, December 14th. Many young people from across Ireland (aged 16-35) are expected at this donation only event with all newcomers very welcome. This is a great opportunity to find out what your faith is all about in a friendly, chilled out atmosphere. Free buses available. Online booking is necessary at www.youth2000.ie or phone 01-675690.

Brosna Heritage

The Rambling House is on again this Thursday night December, 11th. All welcome.

Christmas Concert in Glin

The Three Tenors will perform in Glin Church on Tuesday, December 23rd at 8pm. Tickets available from any member of Glin Development or contact Siobhán at 087-9944245.

ALONE (No one deserves to be lonely at Christmas)

Alone, the charity that supports older people in need, has launched a Christmas campaign highlighting the isolation and loneliness of older people around Christmas time. At the launch of the campaign ALONE called on members of the public to reach out to older members of their community who may be isolated or lonely this holiday season. This risk increases at Christmas when the nights are darker and the days are colder, making older people less inclined to leave their homes. This winter they are asking and reminding the generous Irish public to check in on their older neighbours for a cup of tea, a quick word of kindness, or just to see if they need a lift to the shops. People are often surprised to learn that loneliness is actually a greater health risk than smoking or obesity, said Sean Moynihan, Chief Executive Officer of ALONE. If any person is concerned for anyone in particular you can contact ALONE for advice and support. You can help an older person by ensuring they have enough food, medication, heat and they are ok this Christmas. Thankfully most older people will enjoy a happy Christmas surrounded by their families but ALONE is urging the general public to be vigilant for those who are vulnerable. ALONE can be contacted on 01-6791032. To make a donation and help ALONE’s work this Christmas time visit www.alone.ie

Sympathy

Sympathy is extended to Mary Daly (Fr. Bowen’s housekeeper) on the recent death of her sister in England. May she rest in peace.

Best Wishes

Best wishes to Fr. Denis Mullane, new parish priest of Mountcollins/Tournafulla parish as well as Templeglantine. We wish him well in his ministry and many happy years in the parish.

Dancing Club Party

West Limerick Set Dancing Club will hold their annual Christmas Party in Fr. Casey’s Clubhouse in Abbeyfeale on Saturday, December 13th at 9pm. Music will be provided by Taylor’s Cross Céilí Band. Tickets are €20 and are available from Con, Nora or Kevin.

Comments Off on Pat’s Corner-10/12/14 more...

  • Site Management

  • Articles Archive

  • Copyright © 1996-2018 Athea & District Notes. All rights reserved.
    iAthea theme by Chris Grainger of AtheaPC & Cubic Cow | Powered by WordPress
    Click to access the login or register cheese