Owners Pat O’Sullivan and John McAuliffe with his sons in law Kevin O’Connor and Stephen Hanrahan along with Derry O’Carroll from Duagh were celebrating a major victory at Towcester on Saturday night when the Liam Dowling trained De Lahdedah won the English Greyhound Derby.
Photo Moss Joe Browne.

C.L.G. Áth an tSléibhe 

by Damien Ahern

U14 Ladies Championship

Round 1

Athea 4.3 Askeaton / Ballysteen / Kilcornan 3 pts

Well done to our U14s who had a good start to this year’s championship last Wednesday night in Ballysteen with a hard fought win over ABK.

Athea U-14 Ladies

U14 Mens Championship

Athea will play near neighbours Abbeyfeale in round 4 of the Division 1A Championship on Thursday July 11th in Abbeyfeale at 7pm.

All Ireland U16 Final

Limerick V Antrim

Kinnegad Co Westmeath at 3 pm

Saturday 13th July.

Best of luck to Maeve Murphy, Geraldine Carmody and captain Grace Hunt who play in the All Ireland C final this Saturday 13th July.

The club are taking a bus to the final – there is still 4 seats still remaining for anyone who wishes to travel. The cost of bus is €23 and it will be leaving at 10 am please contact Mary Ita on 0874141157 to book a seat ASAP.

County U18 Football Championship  

We were well beaten by Adare in the first round in Ballyhahill last wednesday night (5-09 to 2-4). we were missing a good few players due to work  commitments and holidays. The players on duty all tried very hard  with great displays from James Hunt, Donnach Daly and Luke Buckley. Team– Fionn Histon, Harry Fitzgerald, James Hunt, Luke Buckley, Sean Twomey, Tomás Ahern, Jamie Collins, Kaelon Lonergan, Tadhg Ahern, Jack Sexton, Rory Cleary, Fionn McNamara, Jack Adams, Donach Daly, Tom Ahern, subs, Charlie McDonagh and Fergal Leahy.

Round 2. The U18s play St Kierans, away in round 2 on Sunday evening next July 14th at 7.30pm followed by a home game on Wednesday July 17th against, Askeaton/Ballysteen/Kilcornan, and on Wednesday 31/07 we are away to Newcastle West.

County Premier Mens Junior Football Championship

Athea 0-11 Mungret 1-07

We had a hard fought win in Foynes last Saturday in Round 2 of the Championship.  Despite playing with the wind in the first half we only led 0-7 to 1-3 at half time. We played better in the second half to secure a deserved win, thanks to some stout defending and the accuracy of Andrew O’ Riordan up front. There were great displays from Micheál Dalton, Andrew O Riordan and Eoin O Shea. Team  Tomás Ahern, Eoin Sheahan, Calum Buckley, Tommy Quaid, Micheál Dalton, Alan Kelly, Jason Kelly, Jonathan Fitzgerald, Eoin O Shea, Jack O Connor, Evan Curry, Andy Ahern, Daire O Shea, Andrew O Riordan and T.J. Hunt. subs used Kevin Murphy, Martin Chawke, James Broderick, David O Connor, Mark Reidy. also Michael Tierney, Aiden Curry and Ger Collins.

Club Development Draw
Tickets for the annual Athea GAA Club Development Draw are now on sale from all sellers, or also online via Club Force.  There will be one draw per month from August to December, with a total prize fund to the value of €7450. Prizes per month include – 1st Prize €500, 2nd Prize €300, 3rd Prize €200, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th Prize €100, 8th Prize 1 Free Ticket for Club Draw 2025. Bonus Xmas Draw in December €100 X 2. All support is greatly appreciated. *Please note that tickets for the above 2024 Draw may have already been purchased via Club Force, please check this before purchasing from a seller.
Split the Bucket
Congratulations to Lily Somers who was last week’s winner of Split the Bucket, going home with the grand total of €397. Next Draw Monday 15th July. Envelopes can be purchased at Dick Whites, Collins Shop, O’ Riordan’s Pharmacy, Athea Credit Union, Brown Joes, Batts,Bingo at Con Colbert Hall on Friday nights, Chinese Takeaway, Gables Grill and during events at Pairc na nGael. Thanks to everyone for your continued support

C.L.G. Áth an tSléibhe 

by Damien Ahern

Maeve Murphy accepting the cup

U11 Football
We had an early start on Sunday morning away to St. Kierans in Coolcappagh in the first round of the U11s Go-Games. We started the game well and kicked some fantastic points with all players combining very well with some excellent hand and foot passing on display. Against the wind in the second half we were under pressure at the start however our defence stood strong and we finished the game well with a well taken goal from Edward Kelly and a great point on the run for Kaleigh Finucane, Tiarnan Fitzgerald also kicked 4 great points in the first half ably assisted by Conor Hayes.

U12 Football
We made the short journey to Abbeyfeale on Friday evening to take on our neighbours Fr. Caseys in our first U12 challenge match of 2024. We fielded two teams, each team playing 3 matches each. Our boys and girls played some excellent football, kicked some fantastic scores and defended brilliantly. All the Athea players worked very hard for each other for the full 60 mins and demonstrated excellent team work. Thanks to Fr. Caseys of hosting.

U13 Football

Athea U13 Football Team

There was an excellent performance from our U13 football team on Mondat evening beating Askeaton Ballysteen Kilcornan 3:12 to 0:6

U17 Mens

Athea/ Glin/Griffin’s had a good win over Croom/Ballybricken/Bohermore in Round 2 of the league. They are away to Killacolla Gaels on Wednesday evening in Bruree.

Junior Mens

Our Adult team had a good win over Gerald Griffin’s in a challenge Match on Monday, putting up a good score of 2-17.

U15 Girls Féile competition

Athea U-15 Football Team

Huge congrats to our U15 team in winning the Division 3 Feile competition in St Patrick’s last Sunday. 1st group game was against the hosts Patrick’s where Athea won 10.11 to 4.1 . 2nd game group game was against Pallasgreen where after a closely contested game, winning out in the end 4.2 to 3.3. This set up a final against Cappagh. Only the minimum separated the sides at half time but a spirited second half  finished 8. 5 to 4.3 in favour of Athea. Huge well done to all the girls for their heart and determination and to the management team of Stephen O’ Rourke, Mary Hunt, David Murphy and Liz O’ Sullivan. Huge thanks also to the parents for their early start and the supporters who kept the girls going all day. Speedy recovery to Eimear Hunt who missed the day due to injury.

U16 League Round 2

Athea Ladies U-16

Huge well done to our U16 team who continued their winning ways Monday evening,  when they played Askeaton/ Ballysteen / Kilcornan  at home.
It was a great team performance thanks to ABK for the sporting game.

County Teams

Best of luck to Kayla Sheehy and  Limerick  U14’s as they take part in the All Ireland series in Portlaoise Saturday.
Hard luck to Rebecca Collins and Limerick minors who got defeated 3.12 to 3.3 in their minor Munster final on Sunday
Adult Ladies League Division 2 Round 3

Best of luck to our Adult Ladies when they play Murroe / Boher in Murroe 7.15 this Wednesday night.
Clothes Collection

Our next clothes collection will be Monday 13th May. Start that spring clear early. Do not discard any clothing material in household waste. Drop them up to the field. Funds generated from this collection goes to buying new equipment for the season ahead.

Split the Bucket
Congratulations to Kathleen Liston who was last week’s winner of Split the Bucket, going home with the grand total of €340. Thanks to everyone who supported this draw, with the GAA’s half of the pot being donated to the Carol Liston O’ Connor Fund.  The next draw will take place on Monday May 6th. .  Envelopes can be purchased at Dick Whites, Collins Shop, O’ Riordan’s Pharmacy, Athea Credit Union, Brown Joes, Batts,Bingo at Con Colbert Hall on Friday nights, Chinese Takeaway, Gables Grill and during events at Pairc na nGael. Thanks to everyone for your continued support.
Athea Community Games
Church Gate Collection
Athea Community Games Church Gate Collection will take place on Saturday May 4th. Your support would be very much appreciated.
Annual Sports Day
The Athea Community Games Annual Sports Day will take place on Sunday May 12th from 2 – 4pm, weather permitting.
Healthy Athea
Good 2 Go
The Athea Good 2 Go Programme continues on Fridays from 10.30am at Con Colbert Hall. Come along and join our leader led group physical activity sessions for Adults aged 55+ followed by cuppa & chat.  For further information contact 087 6103840.
Weekly Card Game
A weekly card game will commence at the Athea GAA Club House on Tuesdays evening April 30th from 8pm – 10.30pm. All are welcome, please come along and bring a friend.

by Peg Prendeville

Wednesday is World Kindness Day. I know there is a topic for every day of the year and every week of the year and, to be honest, I tend to dismiss them all. But this one caught my attention. It’s a message from Acquired Brain Injury Ireland who say “we want to remind you to be kind and understanding to everyone you meet. Brain injuries are invisible and because of that, many brain injury survivors are often misjudged. Just because they look “completely fine”, it does not mean they don’t struggle with certain things, such as memory problems or communication difficulties. We never know the battles someone is facing so please choose to be kind! Anyone can get a brain injury at any time and there should never be any judgment or shame. Instead, we need to show understanding and kindness.” I know that a Stroke is a brain injury and I can see the fallout from that every day. A person may look great but the hidden brain injuries are invisible to all but those who live with them. Just a little thought for today.

A little gathering was held recently for Helena Flavin who worked in Newcastlewest library since 1985 but who retired this year. I had the pleasure of working with her for two years and want to wish her and her husband Mike and son Tom many happy years ahead. No doubt she will put her energy and creativity to other uses as time goes on. She was dedicated to her job and so generous and kind to all with whom she worked.

There are whispers going round that work on the new Knockdown shop will begin early in the New Year. We can’t wait for it to come back as it is badly missed in the area and beyond.

I recently came across the following article and thought it was no bad idea. Here is a snippet.

“I didn’t like winter back then. Like many people on the Earth path, I struggled with the increasing expectations as we approached Christmas. It felt counter-intuitive to what I wanted to do: snuggle up at home and take the pace down a notch or three. Yet, there were work projects that ‘had to get done in time for Christmas’. And as work demands increased, social pressures did too. There were Christmas parties, family expectations, and Christmas shopping beckoned.
Yet, when I looked outside, nature was doing the exact opposite of what I was doing. There was a gradual slowing down. The trees shed their leaves, and the mammals crawled into their dens. As the ground froze over, a stillness enveloped the countryside. It was peaceful and calm, a far cry from my life and how I felt inside.
This realisation led me to take steps to align myself with what nature was doing so I shifted my focus to celebrating the turn in the wheel of the year and now, I look forward to winter. “