My Jimdo Geocities Lifeboat
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Abbeyfeale Parish 22 Dec 2024
Dear Parishioners and friends
As we approach the Feast of Christmas, I wish to take this opportunity to
thank you all for your very warm welcome to me recently in moving to
Abbeyfeale and Athea, change is comparable with a lot of our lives, and it
does take a bit of time to settle into new surroundings again.
We also wish Canon Tony our best wishes in his move to Cratloe in Co.
Clare.
On behalf of Fr. Willie and Fr. Dan, I wish each of you every good wish
again this Christmas time. We hope you have a very nice time with your
families as you get together with each other and find a little rest amidst all
the busyness of life. Christmas does amplify lots of feelings for us and we
all react to it in different ways. Every possible lyric and song have been
written and sung about this season from Bing Crosby ‘White Christmas’ to
the Pogues’ fairy tale of New York’. The Beautiful carol, ‘Silent Night, Holy
Night heralds a joy to the world that God came from heaven and made his
home with us and so we ought to value this message always. Christmas has
been celebrated throughout history in good times and bad, in peacetime and
war, in times of abundance and in time of shortage, yet in all those situations
people have a way to celebrate Christmas. It is a message of light, hope and
of genuine love. We appreciate the great work done to make our churches
special this Christmas again with the cribs, trees and decorations.
Thanks to the many people who are so generous with their time in all
our parish activities bringing a great sense of life and welcome to our places.
In the true spirit of Christmas, we reach out to help where we can.
To the various charities that support individuals and families at
Christmas.
I am particularly conscious of families who lost loved ones
during the past year in our parishes, this brings its own particular
loneliness, all your intentions will be remembered in our Christmas
masses.
We wish our schools, teachers, staff, Board of Management, and
children a well-deserved break and a very Happy Christmas. Finally, for all
the little Ones and not so little who are counting down the day to Santa’s
arrival, how many sleeps left !!, he will be on the way. From mulled wine,
mince pies, to fruit cake and something for Rudolf he won’t be short of
energy but, with plenty of driving involved, let’s hope he goes easy on the
wine.
I wish family members who can’t be home this Christmas a peaceful and
safe Christmas wherever you are in the world. Be careful on the roads,
please slow down.
Happy Christmas everyone. Thank you for your kindness to us.
Beannachtai Na Nollag oraibh go leir. Fr. Tom, Fr. Willie and Fr. Dan
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HISTORY OF THE HILLS AND VALLEYS THAT SURROUND KNOCKANURE CHURCH YARD
By John Murphy.
The churchyard on Knockanure hill encircled by a large field affords a commanding view of the surrounding countryside. Rich in natural beauty history and local lore. Here is a roofless church where people prayed over 400 years ago. Down by the side of the hill is friars field in Barrett’s land where some Dominican monks found shelter after the Cromwellian and wars and lived there up to around 1804.Just a few fields away is the memorial to the three men who died at Gortaglanna. Pat Dalton, Paddy Wash and Lyons from Duagh the white cross marking where Mick Galvin was killed in the Kilmorna ambush of 1921 can be seen a short distance away. The broad wooded valley of the feale. The wood is the only thing that is left of the beautiful o Mahony Estate. The great house went up on smoke. Its resident at the time Sir Arthur Vicars was shot dead. The river Feale flows in a graceful curve before it seems to loose itself forever in the woods of Ballinruddery the home of the knight of Kerry. The castle still stands proudly in all its ruined glory. One old manuscript relates that the river got its name from Princess Fial. Out of modesty she went into deep water to avoid a gaze of a man and was drowned. Her husband a prince decided to name the river in her memory. On the hill of Duagh can be seen in the middle of which in a grove surrounded by a ditch. This is a Killeen. A burial place or unbaptised infants. Gorge Fitzmaurice the playwright lived near Duagh village. His plays portray the life style of the north Kerry rural scene a hundred years ago. In the hill beyond Duagh the river Smerla has its source. It flows down to meet the river Feale near Listowel. In 8 miles of its fertile valley, some 40 young men answered the call to the priesthood mostly in the 1920s to the 1950s period. More at link below
http://www.geocities.ws/
and more history below
https://northkerry.wordpress.
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Tribute by Tom Aherne Carrigkerry
TONY GEOGHEGAN: The death has occurred of Tony Geoghegan, Dunguib, Killenaule, Thurles, Co. Tipperary and formerly Glensharrold, Carrigkerry, Co. Limerick, on Thursday December 28, 2023 peacefully at Tipperary University Hospital Clonmel, surrounded by his loving family. Reposing was held at O’Connell’s Funeral Home Killenaule, on Saturday December 30, from 5pm to 7.30pm. Fr Tom Mangan led the prayers there. Arriving at St. Mary’s Church Killenaule on Sunday morning for Funeral Mass at 11am. Symbols of Tony’s life taken to the Altar, included Keys of the Church, Limerick GAA jersey, Newspaper-did the daily Crossword, Fags, Phone, Hat which went everywhere with him, Fresh flowers from the garden, Wren suit and accordion, Photo of Tony and Teresa and friends celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary.
The Mass was concelebrated by 7 priests Fr James O’Donnell, Fr Henry Mc Namara, Fr Jimmy O’Connor, Fr Danny O’Gorman, Fr Eamon Aylward, Fr Michael Ruddy SSCC, in St Mary’s Church, Fr Tony Mullins, Glenville Ardagh and Fr Mike O’Connor Ballyhahill. The choir assisted by family and friends came together for the hymns and the musical tributes. The chief celebrant Fr James O’Donnell paid a lovely tribute to Tony stating that he attended Christmas Eve Mass with his family last Sunday and that it was the end of an era. His passing took us by surprise as he was part of the Church and parish for the past 25 years as Sacristan for 20 years and with Maria a smoking partner since. A Sacristan has a constant place in a parish as priests come and go and Tony made all priests welcome supporting them and families at all happy and sad events.
Tony was born on July 1st, 1945, and went to Manchester to work, where he met Teresa Kelly, and they got married in 1967. They returned and set up home in Killenaule and he worked in Ballingarry Coal Mines. Tony spent 19 years as a prison officer in Portlaoise and later Limerick Prison . He became a driver with the local south care doc team in retirement. Hard working Tony was a proud Limerick man and the last 6 years were the sweetest of all, enjoying their All-Ireland successes, but he also endured many lean years supporting Limerick. Fr James concluded with, as his eternal life begins in the heavens Tony will surely light a candle for Limerick in their 5 in a row bid.
Martin paid a moving tribute also, stating he left us quietly and gently without fuss. He had the ability to collect friends and enjoyed people’s company. His passions included music, song, history, poetry storytelling. His father instilled the music and song into his children and grandchildren. He was happiest at sessions and singing songs, Sean South of Garryowen, The Galtee Mountain Boy, Newport Town etc. Mairead was thanked for her care of Tony, as Martin and Jacqueline lived in West Limerick. Jacqueline wrote and sang a song in tribute My own Carrig home and a few of the Glensharrold Wren group performed. Burial took place afterwards in Moyglass Cemetery.
Sympathy to his wife Teresa, children Jacqui, Martin and Mairead, sons-in-law Denis, Ray, daughter-in-law Jackie, grandchildren Anna, Saoirse, Orlaith, sister Joan, sister-in-law Monica, brother-in-law Michael, nieces, nephews, grand nieces, grand nephews, extended family, other relatives, friends and neighbours. May he rest in Peace.
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by Peg Prendeville January 12 2024
Happy New Year everybody. I can’t believe I have been writing Knockdown News for about twenty five years.
I’m sad to say the New Year is not starting very joyfully in the Knockdown area. Everybody is shocked and saddened after the unexpected passing of Patrick Langan from Glasha on December 28. He is sorely missed by, obviously, his wife Mairead and sons and wider family but also by all the neighbours around as well as the Vintage followers and Comhaltas followers and his friends from near and far. Though, I believe, he did not like the limelight he managed to make lots of friends and was very well known throughout the county and beyond. There is a great sadness in Knockdown at his passing. We are thinking of Mairead, John, Paudie, Eamon, Eddie and Georgie and all his family at this difficult time.
As if that was not enough we are all now thinking of the McSweeney family in Knocknaclugga who have been searching for John Michael who is on the missing list since January 6. It is one of the greatest tortures when a person cannot be found so we continue to hope and pray that this will happen soon. Everybody from the surrounding parishes are out, daily, helping the family search through the forest, where he loved to walk, and the surrounding area. Continue to keep them all in your prayers for a successful outcome.
These two events have put a damper on what was a nice, although very wet, Christmas. Wrenboys were out in force much to all our enjoyment. The North Kerry Harriers were out at the hunt in Glin Castle grounds on St Stephen’s Day, so there was something for all. It is all over now, decorations have been put away and we face into 2024 hoping things will right themselves and that we will all have a reasonably good year. We live in HOPE
https://www.athea.ie/
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Nora Lynch nee Flaherty 100 years
https://www.facebook.com/athea.tidytowns/videos/340438035403620
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Santa Athea
https://www.facebook.com/100064454781720/videos/pcb.736159428542543/1555676228518866
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Parish Newsletter: Sunday 17th December 2023.
Parish Newsletter / Leave a Comment
Parish Newsletter – 17th December, 2023. 3rd Sunday of Advent.
Church of the Immaculate Conception,
Glin, Co. Limerick.
Fr. Timothy Curtin (Coolcappa/Kilcolman) 086-3697735
Fr. Austin McNamara (Loughill/Ballyhahill) 087-2615471/069-82103
Sacristan Michael Fennell: 087-9828711
Diocese of Limerick Website: www.limerickdiocese.org
Eucharistic Ministers: Sunday 17th December: Alice O Shaughnessy, Sean Flanagan
Sunday 24th December 11:00am: Mary O Brien, Tommy MacNamara.
Sunday 24th December (Christmas Eve 8:00pm):Mary O Brien, Betty Ann McSweeney
Monday 25th December (Christmas Day 11:00am): Sean Flanagan, Alice O Shaughnessy, Marie McKenna.
Readers: Sunday 17th December: Nodlaig Adams.
Sunday 24th December 11:00am: Desiree Dore.
Sunday 24th December (Christmas Eve 8:00pm): Louise MacNamara
Monday 25th December (Christmas Day 11:00am): Erin Da Silva
Tuesday 26th December 11:00am: Teresa Culhane.
Eucharistic Adoration: Adoration every Friday from 5pm to 9pm.
Local Notes: if you would like to have a note placed in this section of the paper, please contact GlinNotes@gmail.com no later than 7:00 pm Sunday evening.
Glin Defibrillator: Emergency Number 068 59590. Please save the Glin defibrillator number to your mobile and/or near your landline. In the case of an emergency, call the number, give your location and a defibrillator will be brought to you by a trained responder. Please share with your family and friends within Glin.
Baptisms & Anniversary Masses: can be booked in the Sacristy.
Funerals: All funerals arrangements can be directed to the following:
Fr. Curtin: (086)3697735
Fr. McNamara: (069) 82103/(087) 2615471
Weddings: To book a Wedding please contact Fr. Curtin on (086) 3697735 or Pastoral Area Secretary Ann Dore, Foynes on (069) 65561 during office hours: Wednesday: 10a.m. to 1p.m., & 2p.m to 5p.m. Thursday & Friday: 9a.m. to 1p.m. & 2p.m. to 5p.m.
Mass Cards: Signed Mass Cards for the deceased are available at Glin Church. Please enquire from our Sacristan Michael after any of the Masses.
Anniversary Masses: Sunday 17th December: Michael & Josie Fitzgerald anniversary, late of Halfway, Killacolla. Patrick & Eileen Dalton anniversary, late of Glenagragra. Tom & Josie Sheehy anniversary, late of Turraree. David O Keeffe and daughter Ann, wife Margret, sons David, George, anniversary.
Wednesday 20th December: Josephine Childs and Michéal Culhane.
Friday 29th December: Maura Reidy 7th anniversary and son Patrick, late of The Mall.
Christmas Greetings: The people of the parish, would like to wish Fr. Curtin, Fr. McNamara and Sacristan Michael, a happy and holy Christmas and a peaceful new year.
Happy Christmas to you all! Nollaig Shona dhaoibh go léir! Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia!
Launch of Website: Glin Development would like to thank Cloverfield Glin Homes Daycare for Saturdays successful launch of the new and informative www.glin.info website. This exciting journey is to enhance our online presence and to create a dynamic platform that will serve as a hub for information, engagement and collaboration. The site is live and we invite you to log in and experience the user friendly design, engaging content and wonderful photography. The night was well represented by many of our Businesses, Clubs and Associations. A demo of the website was given by the designers Janus Design – Tom Moore and his daughter Tara. A lovely evening was had by all with wine and finger food to finish off the event. Videos of the introductory speeches can be seen on the website under the Community and News section. Thanks to John Prendergast for recording the event.
Christmas Concert: Well done to all the boys and girls from St Fergus NS who put on a wonderful concert last week in Glin Church. The numbers at the school are growing so much, that the school was split in half, with the smaller children performing earlier on in the day and the older group in the evening. Both groups did not disappoint! It was a wonderful start to Christmas. Well done to all the children and staff of
St. Fergus. As always, these concerts never disappoint.
Newsletter: Please note that the Parish Newsletter will not be available again until January. Wishing you all a very happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.
Glin Church Payments: There has been a few enquiries regarding annual payment to Church and Priests instead of using the weekly envelopes. Should you wish to pay by cheque, all cheques for Glin Church can be made payment to Glin Parish. Should you wish to make a payment to the Priest, cheques can be made payable to Glin Parish Dues Account. Thanking you.
Glin Rovers FC News: Glin Rovers have been busy planning for the festive season.
On St. Stephens Day morning, the club are planning a soccer tournament for past & present players. This will be followed with a €1,000 giveaway prize. All those who have generously supported our development by purchasing a ” BRICK ” on our Supporters Wall will have their names in the hat for the big prize of €1,000. Following on from this, that night we will be holding a Christmas Bumper Draw in ‘The Magpie Bar’, where €3,000 worth of prizes must be won. Three separate €1,000 prizes will be up for grabs which will replace our main Lotto draw on Sunday, 24 December. Finally, Glin Rovers will present their ‘Last Man Standing’ winner John Wallace and runner up Conor Shine with their prize funds. The club look forward to seeing you all. Make sure to follow us on social media for any updates.
Glin Development wishes to thank all the families that attended the turning on of the new Christmas Tree lights. We were blessed with the dry evening to officially light and bless our new Christmas Tree and Crib in Glin Square. Thank you to everyone who was part of making the event a big success. Thank you to Fr Curtin, Santa, Mens Shed, Bill Martin + Bridie and his crew, John Sheahan, Bernie and The Glin Singing Group, Big Maggie and Anita, Colm Ryan, John A Culhane and the rest of the Glin Development team who all played a part in bringing the evening together. Thank you to all who came along and especially all the children. Santa was overwhelmed with the welcome he got in Glin and said he will be back again in Glin on Christmas Eve. He remarked Glin is a beautiful village and he might like to retire here if Mrs Claus is agreeable. Have a wonderful Christmas everybody.
Glin Development: Collection tins are around the shops in the village. Any loose change you have, really would be appreciated. All money collected continues to go towards the new Christmas Tree and lights in the Square. Thanks in advance.
Glin Castle Side Saddle Meet will take place on St. Stephens Day – Tuesday the 26th of December at Glin Castle. Meeting & Leaving from Glin Village at 12 O’Clock. All jumping is optional. Photographers welcome! Riders riding astride also welcome of course!
A Poetry book “Celtic Visions” written by my Ger White, (sister of former Glin Librarian Peg Prendeville) are now available for €10 in Hogan’s Shop. This would make a lovely Christmas gift.
Glin Christmas Tree Farm: Located 1km outside of Glin on the Athea road. Call Sean 0860232023. There’s no doubt at all, that a real Christmas is beautiful, but you do need to water it! A dry Christmas tree is a dangerous tree.
GB Rovers FC: Well done to Honor Mulvihill who received Player of the Camp at a soccer camp run by Ireland International player Denise O’Sullivan in Cork earlier last weekend. Honor received beautiful boots signed by Denise. Honor is heading to the Barcelona Cup in June with her Limerick Desmond Team, if you would like to support Honor and this trip of a lifetime, she is selling tickets at €10 per line for a Monster Raffle. Please contact 087 3192449 to buy a line. Thanks to everyone that has purchased a ticket to date.
CE Scheme Job Opportunities at Glin Homes and Daycare Centre: There are three job opportunities: Office Administrator, Kitchen Assistant, Delivery Driver for Meals on Wheels. Please phone 068 26033 if you are interested in applying. Further details regarding the CE Scheme are at www.citizensinformation.ie
Adult Group Singing Classes: The group will now meet every Tuesday in Glin Library 12 noon to 1pm Please feel free to come along. Singing is a mood-enhancer, it improves your breathing, it’s a stress-reliever, it keeps you young, helps build your confidence and most importantly it’s great fun!! See you soon. Facilitated by Bernie Hayes, Askeaton/BallysteenA variety of music styles will be sampled and all are welcome
Glin Book Club: takes place monthly on the last Wednesday and Thursday of every month in Glin Library – excluding the month of December. We will return in the new year.
Glin Tidy Towns: out on Saturday mornings from 11 to 12 noon. Thanks to all the weekly volunteers.
Feed the Squirrels: Estelle has been busy on the Knights Walk cleaning out and topping up the feeders. This year, there is very little beech mast and acorns for them to feed on. If you would like to support the purchase of nuts and seeds, you can help by buying some cards which are in local shops. €2 each Thank you.
Glin Craft Club: Wednesday 20th in Glin Library at 10.30am. All welcome to this very popular class.
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https://www.limerickcity.ie/media/miscellaneous%20people%20106.pdf
Fr Tim Leonard killed 17 July 1929
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From Ireland to China and Martyrdom: The Legacy of Father Timothy Leonard
The priest was the first Columban missionary to die for the faith in China.
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The Mystic and the Martyr: Two Irish Priests, One a Great Scholar, the Other A Martyr in China
Jan 4, 2019 Brian Kelly
I have not been able yet to verify it yet, but I strongly suspect that our founder Father Leonard Feeney was related to these two holy priests, Father William Leonard and Father Timothy Leonard. The Leonards were from Balleycraheen, Limerick, a town very close to where the Feeneys were from in Ireland. And Father Feeney’s mother was a Leonard.
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The Way I See It
By Domhnall de Barra
It was good to be from Limerick last weekend as the boys in green produced one of the best second halves of all time to take their place in history, wining four in a row. It was not so much the victory but the style with which it was accomplished that made this game stand out as a display of hurling skill we have never seen before. They scored points from every part of the pitch including attempts from 100 yards and acute angles from both sidelines. I have been watching, and playing in my young days, hurling for may years and it is definitely the one I will remember the most. The celebrations continue and it was good to see so many in the green jerseys wallowing in reflected glory. That is something that has changed in recent years. In bygone days only the team wore jerseys but now most of the supporters also are decked out in the county colours. It is as if they were part of the team and they have been rewarded in recent years. Why is the inter county so popular and well supported ? It is probably because it replaces the constant battles between neighbouring tribes of old to decide who were the “top dogs”. If our team wins we feel we have the bragging rights over the other team’s supporters and it is like winning a battle of old. This is why the greatest rivalry is between neighbouring counties, especially for those who live close to the county borders. Neighbours who get on well during the year will act totally different to each other as a big match approaches and they have even been known to fall out. Thankfully, it doesn’t last too long and when the dust has settled life goes back to normal. This rivalry can be even more intense at club level and even worse in a parish league. I well remember the parish leagues of old when we knocked lumps out of players we played beside for the club. These games usually ended in a big row with spectators and all getting involved. In those days there was a sort of code about fighting. Fists only was the rule and using the boot was really frowned on by both sides. The worst you came out with was a bloody nose or a split lip. It was the talk of the day for a while but we all got together again when the club team took the field and local rivalries were forgotten. It is good that we can let go a bit of steam while following our favourite team and it really gives us a sense of belonging. At least we don’t have faction fights anymore!!
The untimely death of singer Sinéad O’Connor has taken over the airwaves for the past few days. It is tragic that somebody of her talent should die at such a relatively young age but I feel the reaction to it is away over the top. Almost every programme was give over to it with interviews of many people who knew her and constant playing of her records. Let me state straight away that she was a wonderful singer with a voice that was unequalled but she was not the Mother Theresa she is now being made lout to be. Yes, she championed the underdog and called out injustice wherever she saw it but the way she did so may not have been the best. I do not agree that tearing up the photograph of the Pope was justified because of the failings of some of the clergy. Yes, there was abuse of young, vulnerable people and the mother and child homes were awful places but that does not mean that the whole church was bad. The tearing up of the photo was an insult to many good priests and nuns who brought education and medical care to many of the underprivileged areas of the world and the millions of devout Catholics who believe in their faith. Sinéad became a Muslim in recent years and that religion has its own problems with extremists who think of us all who are not of their faith as infidels who should be killed. If Sinéad had torn a photo of the prophet Mohamed on television she would have been a target for thousands of Muslims and would almost certainly have been killed. She was a gifted, talented entertainer and deserves to have good things said about her but why did everyone wait until she was dead? We seem to be very good at that in Ireland, ignoring a person while they are alive and lauding them when they die. Even when the greatest villain dies somebody will say “ah sure, he wasn’t all bad”. There isn’t much point in saying nice things about somebody when they can’t hear you so why not say it while they are still living? There are many amongst us who are doing great things for their fellow men and women so, wouldn’t it be nice to show them our appreciation while they see how much we value what they are doing and have done. It doesn’t need to be someone important, it may be a member of your own family that you haven’t really talked too for a long time. If you love somebody, let them know it. You don’t know what tomorrow brings and the chance may be gone.
The Community Council “Lucky Numbers” Jackpot now stands at €17,000, a tidy sum for anyone to win. I had a query lately as to what we do with the money. The draw was initially set up to fund what was then called the FAS Scheme. This enabled us to keep the village tidy, do stone walls and paths, plant trees etc. Over the years we have erected townland signs around the parish, created the Giant’s Garden, funded the footbridge and helped the sporting organisations, the school, the hall and the church. We bought the building next to the Gables and plans are in the making to develop this structure for the benefit of the parish. Through the proceeds from the draw we have been able to pay back our loans on the bridge and the premises but we still need to do a lot of work so every euro we collect is important. A sincere thank you to all our supporters who sell and buy tickets on a weekly basis. Your generosity makes Athea a better place for us all.
https://www.athea.ie/
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News-23/05/2023
by DomhnallDB under News
The Way I See It
By Domhnall de Barra
The threat of AI (artificial Intelligence) is bigger than most of us think and could effect us in so many ways. We may think that we are smarter than machines but in actual fact we are not. This can be proved by using a simple calculator. Enter a seven digit number and multiply it by another high number. The calculator will give you an instant result, which will always be correct, while the human brain hasn’t got the capacity to do so, at least not as quickly. In these days of mass communication we have no idea if the voice we are talking to or the person we are messaging is a human being or a machine. We should take the warning from some of those who worked on developing AI seriously when they have fears for its use into the future. We use it all the time. When we pick up a phone and ask “Siri” for something we are using a form of AI. Modern cars will react to voice controls and are able to scan all the traffic around and alert us to potential danger. They can even drive themselves without any input from a human being. It is now possible to replicate someone’s voice to the extent that it would be impossible to know which is real and which is not. Images can also be produced with perfect copies of people and objects. It would be great help to those out there who thrive on distributing false information if they could have a video of someone actually saying something that is completely manufactured. This is not confined to a small minority, governments constantly spread false information and propaganda in the interest of “national security” so be very careful in future when receiving emails and messages on social platforms. What you see might not be what you think.
I had the sad experience of watching Limerick Minors being mauled by Kerry on Thursday night. It was a big comedown from the highs of the victory over Tipperary but, then again, this was Kerry where underage football is a kind of religion and there is a definite gulf in class. I think Limerick are far better than they were on Thursday night. Once Kerry came at them, following a period of twenty minutes where Limerick were on top, they looked like rabbits caught in the headlights of a car and once their heads went down it opened the door for the lads from the Kingdom who took full advantage. It brought me back to my days playing football for St. Ita’s College in Abbeyfeale. For some reason we played in the Kerry Colleges League, not the Limerick one, so we were pitted against teams like the CBS in Tralee who would have half the Kerry Minor team on it. Our best player in those days was also a Kerry minor, Billy Doran from Lyreacrompane, but the rest of our team, though talented in their own right, were no match for the Kerry lads. We were regularly on the wrong side of heavy defeats and it did our confidence no good. We did, however improve and eventually we defeated St. Michael’s, Listowel, a match in which I think I played my best football scoring 1-3 on the day. The Limerick lads may be down now but they too will learn from their defeat and I am sure, if the game was played again, they would give a far better account of themselves. Anyway they deserve our praise and thanks for giving us a great boost this year, especially our three local representatives who made names for themselves in the green jersey.
The local elections in the North are being hailed as a great success for Sinn Féin, which it was, but it is not the result I had hoped for. Yes, Sinn Féin gained seats and became the largest party but they took the extra seats from smaller, middle ground parties and not from the DUP who held onto what they had. This is not good for politics and is heading towards a huge divide between one extreme and the other with nobody having influence in the middle. We can see how bad that is by looking at America where the left and right are at polar opposites and there is no room for moderation. If Sinn Féin had taken seats from the DUP it would have given a very different message but the fact that they didn’t now means that there is little chance of the assembly being restored in the near future. Whatever the DUP say about the Northern protocol being the problem, I have a feeling they do not want to take part in the assembly with Michelle O’Neill as First Minister. There will now be renewed calls for a border poll but the time is not right for that yet and I fear the majority of people in the North would vote to stay in the UK for purely economic reasons. We can only watch and wait.
The latest proposals to “save the planet” involves re-wetting boglands and other lands that have been drained. This is coming from the very same body that gave grants to farmers, a few decade ago, to drain these very lands and use them for productive farming. It is bad news for places like Athea where most of the land used by farmers fits into this category. Following the advice to open dykes, drain lands, clear away ditches and hedgerows and use fertiliser is now seen as being the wrong thing to do. It seems that more and more animal species are in danger of extinction because their natural habitat has disappeared. Of course it is sad to see this happen but has every living thing a right to be there forever? Should we still have dinosaurs and mammoths wandering through the countryside? Trying to turn back the clock may be more difficult than it seems. If we go down the route suggested, Athea will become a wilderness like many other rural areas in the western half of the country. Small farmers will be a memory and, with a reduction in the population schools and shops will not be needed. Not a good prospect to look forward to. It is very easy to come up with figures and statistics but there has to be a balance and it is up to our government to make sensible proposals that will help the environment and also keep people on the land, otherwise we might all have to go back to living in caves. At least, if that happens, there will be plenty wild animals to hunt – oh no, I forgot, it will be illegal to kill them!!
Pat O’Neill will be walking from Killarney to Athea this week travelling from Killarney to Abbeyfeale on Friday 26th, and travelling from Abbeyfeale to Athea on Saturday 27th in memory of his friend James Collins who was a native of Athea. Pat is inviting people to join him on the walk ‘Running Up that Hill’. Anyone wishing to join Pat on Saturday are asked to meet at the Square in Abbeyfeale at 10am. An Oak Tree will be planted at the River Walk in Athea at 1pm on Saturday on completion of the walk.
https://www.athea.ie/category/news/
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DEATH of Billy (William) Collins, Knocknagorna, Athea, formerly of Chicago and London Hurling Clubs, on the 19th of October 2022 in his 94th year. Predeceased by his parents Pat and Mary, brothers Mike, Jack, Paddy, & JP, sisters Joan, Eileen and Sr Hilda, Nephews Pat, James, Denis, Billy and Michael McDermott. Sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his brother Dan (Chicago), sister-in-law Birdie, nephews, and nieces.
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Fr Gerry Roche 1941–2009
Fr Gerry Roche, 1941 - 2009
Fr Gerry Roche lost his life on December 11, 2009, following a break-in at his mission on the outskirts of Kericho town in Western Kenya. Gerry first arrived in Kericho in September 1968, having been ordained a priest for St Patrick’s Missionary Society the previous Easter. He was a native of Athea, Co Limerick, and the ninth of eleven children born to Edmund and Mary Roche of Benmore.
Gerry was one of the first Kiltegan priests to be sent to that area of Kenya. The pioneer missionaries were Mill Hill priests, brothers and sisters and it was from them that Gerry got his first introduction to mission. After a short period as assistant to an older Kiltegan man, Fr Christy Hannon, Gerry moved out on his own and began the mammoth task of setting up a thriving rural mission in Roret complete with church, priest’s house, convent, secondary school, health centre and a network of outstations.
In Roret, he became convinced of the central role of the catechist in the task of evangelisation. He learned the local language and tried his best to respect the customs of the tribe. For example, he invited the young boys, accompanied by their tribal mentor, to come to the church for Mass and a special blessing before they went into the wilderness to prepare for circumcision. He also instituted a traditional blessing at the end of Mass given by an imposing Catholic elder who chanted in praise and petition to Asiis, the God of the Kalenjin people, now recognised by those present as the God of Jesus Christ. He also realised the crucial role of religious sisters and invited them to participate in the work of the mission. He even gave up his own house to accommodate the Mexican Sisters of the Incarnate Word while their convent was being built. Roret became the template for Fr Gerry’s missionary work and he sought to reproduce it in the other missions he founded viz. Kipkelion, Matobo, Chebangang, Keongo and in Londiani and Sacred Heart Parish Kericho, now the cathedral parish, where he also ministered.
Gerry was full of life, joy, optimism and energy. He had a strong passion for justice and a deep empathy with the poor. He had a great love of the Irish language and of Irish traditions. He loved music and dance and sport and had an inexhaustible repertoire of songs. He had a deep faith which he nurtured by daily prayer and he had a mature loyalty to the Church and to the missionary society to which he belonged.
His personal charm made it easy for Gerry to collect money. The simplicity of his life and his boundless generosity stimulated the generosity of others. His own family were the first to respond and they contributed and collected large amounts of money for his missionary work over the years. The same can be said of friends in many countries. He usually spent part of his home-leave working in one or sometimes two American parishes and with the money he received he was able to subsidise the next part of his missionary endeavour. In his will, he wrote that he wished to thank all who befriended him throughout his life and the many people who funded his work have an honoured place among those befrienders. Indeed, I have no doubt that they too are grieving for him.
A farewell Mass was celebrated at Kericho Cathedral on the 17th of December. People were visibly shocked by Fr Gerry’s death and by the manner in which he died. However, they showed great appreciation for his many years of generous service to the community as they listened to the tributes of bishops, politicians and others. Then, his remains were taken to Ireland, accompanied by his nephew Mr Gerard Cunningham and his friend and colleague, Fr Paddy Hyland. He was waked in his sister’s house in Athea where a huge number of people came to offer sympathy to the family. The removal to the Church of St Bartholomew, Athea, took place the following morning, the 20th of December. The church was full to capacity for the Mass which was attended by nine of Gerry’s siblings. The tenth, a sister, was able to join in on a video link with Chicago. The ceremony reflected Gerry’s love for the Irish language and for Irish traditional music. He was interred in the nearby cemetery alongside the remains of his parents. His favourite songs were sung at the graveside as the snow began to fall.
Place of Rest: Athea, Co Limerick
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The Way I See It
By Domhnall de Barra
I’m back in the country again after my trip to Orlando and, to tell the truth, I am glad to be home again. It is, without doubt, a wonderful place with weather like our best summer and everything is well kept and maintained. It is very car oriented with little public transport and, of course, the cars are very big. They can afford to run these gas guzzlers as the price of petrol is about 65c per litre, which is cheap in comparison to here, but you’d have to wonder why they want to drive big trucks all the time. I had never before been to Florida so I was delighted to see the Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral and other places I had read about but not seen but the best part of the trip was meeting up with all my children and a couple of grandchildren. Danjoe came from Copenhagen, Daniel from Switzerland, Sean from Seattle and Bríd and Hollie travelled with me. It was such a pity Noreen couldn’t be with us but she is unable to take long flights anymore. I really enjoyed playing music with them, especially on St. Patrick’s Day when we played in a pub called the Harp and Celt for six hours. They really know how to celebrate the holiday over there with everyone dressing up in Irish costumes and making a great effort eating corn beef and cabbage and drinking pints of Guinness. I forced myself to drink a couple of pints as well and It was as good as you would get here. Some were surprised to learn that we don’t eat corn beef over here and I had to explain that when the Irish went to America they couldn’t get bacon like they had at home so the nearest thing to it was corn beef. Anyway, they enjoyed the Irish music and joined in the songs so a good time was had by all. We had another great day on Sunday watching the rugby match between Ireland and England in the pub. Again I felt obliged to take another pint or two, so as not to be unsociable, and there was great craic with some of the English lads there who had been watching the soccer match between Leeds and West Brom beforehand. The owner of the pub is English so he shows all the matches and there is a little club that congregate for that. I got talking to one of them not realising that he was Matthew Lewis, the actor who plays Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter movies. I discovered later that he had played golf with my son Sean so we got to rub shoulders with a real celebrity!! The only draw back to the trip was the travelling. Airports are a nightmare nowadays as you have to be there three hours before a flight and, if you are going to the USA, you have to go through security twice. Then there is a flight of nearly nine hours sitting in the same seat. It is almost impossible to sleep except in fits and starts so it can be very tiring. Maybe it is my age talking to me and telling me I am not a young fellow anymore when travelling all over the world was no problem but I am happy out in Athea and have no desire to leave it.
I was walking on the greenway in Abbeyfeale yesterday and I was surprised to see something I had never seen before. The tarmac walkway was covered with tiny worms all the way back towards Listowel, well the 2 miles I walked anyway, as if they had fallen out of the sky like rain. They were all dead so I am curious as to how they got there. Has anybody else seen anything like that?
It is that time of year when the spring work, as they called it was in full swing long ago. It was customary to give the dykes a good scouring and cut back the briars and bushes along the ditches. Top dress, or manure, would have been spread on the fields by this time to ensure good grass growth. It wasn’t easy work as the dung had to be piked into a horse car from the heap that had accumulated outside the cowshed over the winter. It was then dumped in heaps a bit away from each other and eventually spread over the surface with a pike. The dung was also used in the garden which would have been prepared in advance. To make a bed for potatoes “taobhfhóds” or sods, had to be turned over with a spade. This was backbreaking work but also required a certain amount of skill to get the correct length and depth. I remember trying to keep up with a very experienced man when I was a young lad. It almost killed me and I finished up with pains everywhere not least in the groin area that I used to push the spade. After that I went at my own pace. There is no doubt that men and women worked extremely hard in those days, sometimes for very little reward. Maybe some of the big farmers were ok and could afford to have a servant boy and girl to help out but most of the smallholders lived from hand to mouth and eked a bare living from the land. There weren’t many pastimes either except a bit of rambling at night to play cards or chew the fat with the neighbours. Those who lived near a river did a bit of fishing. In those days rivers were teaming with trout and salmon and of course plenty of eels. The fish provided meals for Fridays when meat dishes were not allowed by the Church and if one was lucky enough to land a salmon, it could be sold in town for a good price. Some people who did not have land fished for a living along the banks of rivers like the Feale. Their equipment was primitive; long rods with either worms or flies as bait. The first person to use a spinning rod and a minnow was a man called Blenner-Hassett from Tralee. He came to Duagh Bridge and reeled in 14 salmon before he was exhausted from all the playing. It was new bait for the salmon and they went mad for it. When the locals saw what transpired they all got spinning rods themselves and it became easier. Unfortunately the novelty value was gone for the fish and they didn’t always respond to the minnow just like the worms and flies. Fishing was a great art and provided a good income for those that were prepared to put in the time. Many of those that fished in the spring and summer went to England to work in the beet factories during the winter. Times were tough and they did what they had to do to survive. In comparison we have it easy now but we would not be where we are today without their sacrifices.
https://www.athea.ie/category/news/
Dún Laoghaire Micheál 2d
Interred in Kilfergus, Glin Co Limerick www.findagrave.com/memorial/208944862/patrick-sheahan
Dún Laoghaire Micheál 2d
Very detailed reports of funeral in Irish Independent 10 May 1905, including its passage by train from Kingsbridge (as noted by O Mac) to Limerick.
Apparently Patrick Sheehan was involved in previous acts of valour; rescuing an elderly couple from a fallen building and wrestling an escaped bull in Grafton St.
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While many Dubliners have not heard of Constable Patrick Sheahan before, the vast majority will be familiar with the monument in his honour which until recently stood at the junction of Hawkins Street and Burgh Quay, at least to walk past. It has been removed in recent times as construction is underway on the Luas bridge which will span the Liffey. Constable Sheahan was a member of the Dublin Metropolitan Police force, hailing from County Limerick. He lost in life in tragic circumstances in May 1905 when he was overcome by deadly gas in the sewers of Dublin as he attempted to rescue unconscious workmen. The events of that tragic day are well-documented in an article by Tom Donovan for the Old Limerick Journal, available to read in full here:
On Saturday May 6th 1905, a workman named John Fleming opened a manhole- cover at the corner of Hawkins Street and Burgh Quay at around 3 p.m. He descended a ladder into the 24foot sewer to investigate a broken pipe and he was immediately overcome by the deadly gas, as were two of his colleagues who rushed to assist him. Christopher Nolan, a who witnessed the incident, ran for help. He found Constable Sheahan, of College Street Station, standing at O’Connell Bridge. Tragically for him, he was on duty to relieve a friend who wanted to go to the theatre.
Sheahan’s heroics touched the heart of native Dubliners, as this young man of only 29 had given everything in an attempt to save others. In 1906 a monument to Sheahan was erected, paid for my public subscription, and placed at the site of the tragedy. Interestingly, it contains both Irish and English language inscriptions, and notes that: “This memorial was erected in memory of Patrick Sheahan,a constable in the Dublin Metropolitan Police Force who lost his life on the 6th day of May 1905.”
Illustration of Captain Patrick Sheahan from Jim Herlihy’s excellent ‘The Dublin Metropolitan Police’ (Dublin,2001)
Sheahan was a well-known and much liked character in Dublin, and stories of his bravery had existed in the city long before his death. One of my favourite stories about Sheahan related to him ‘single-handily’ wrestling an escaped bull on Grafton Street. Wondering how much fact and how much folklore was involved in the tale, we went looking for the newspaper reports of the day.
The Irish Times of 24 March 1904 details a ‘Exciting Incident In Dublin’ during which a number of police officers wrestled an escaped bull on Grafton Street. The paper reported that:
A large roam bullock which escaped from its keeper, between six and seven o’clock last evening, while being driven along Harcourt Street, created quite a scare in the locality, and before it was finally captured and slaughtered in the vicinity of Grafton Street, after a prolonged struggle with several policemen, it injured two persons, who were subsequently removed to hospital.
The animal had made a dash from Harcourt Street station in the direction of Wexford Street, knocking down a young girl by the name of Kathleen Regan in the process. Running madly through the city, it made its way to Whitefriar Street where the five year old Christopher John Walsh was struck. Its appearance on Grafton Street caused pandemonium, and it was here that men of the Dublin Metropolitan Police confronted the animal. Sheahan was not alone, as folklore has had it, but in the company of another DMP man, Constable Kerby. A local stableman named Thomas Arbuthnot joined the two police officers, as they followed the bull into Anne’s Lane. An extraordinary twenty-minute tangle with the animal would result in the two DMP men using a rope to essentially ‘lasso’ the animal, and when they succeeded in wrestling it to submission with the assistance of bemused Dubliners, they called on Martin Tierney. Tierney was a butcher on Capel Street. The bull, marked JSC on the left hip, found itself next in an Abattoir.
Just over a year after this incredible incident, Sheahan himself was dead. On an interesting aside, Shehan is a relation of John Sheahan, a fine traditional musician who is now the longest-serving member of The Dubliners folk band!
https://comeheretome.com/2012/09/11/constable-sheahan-and-the-escaped-bull/
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The Way I See It
By Domhnall de Barra
As I write, the weather people are predicting a cold snap from the middle of the week on. To the most of us it will be a minor annoyance as our houses are well heated and we have plenty of clothes to protect us from the worst of the elements but spare a thought for the many who do not have homes of their own, some who are living on the streets, sleeping in doorways and alleys with just the minimum of covering to protect them. Some are homeless by choice but there are a lot of people out there who once lived in relative comfort but who, for whatever reason, fell upon hard times and couldn’t afford to make the payments on their homes. It is a crying shame that, in this day and age with a country as prosperous as ours, we cannot house all our people. There should be accommodation available for anyone who needs it and it could be done if the will was there. How is it we can suddenly find places for thousands of asylum seekers, and rightly so, and we still have so many homeless Irish. I know all about the crash that caused house building to stop but that is only part of the story. House building is now so bogged down in red tape that it takes ages to even get off the ground. I built my house in the middle of the 1970s but if I was to forward those plans today they would be turned down even though that house, at the time, was seen as a vast improvement on those that went before. Myself and Noreen have been very happy raising our family in that house and, we did make some improvements along the way such as cavity and attic insulation and better windows and doors. Some of the homeless today would be very glad of it if they had it and wouldn’t it be better to have a house that maybe wasn’t up to all the modern standards but was still able to provide adequate shelter. We have now reached a situation where the price of housing is beyond most people’s budgets mainly due to all the extra regulations. Local authorities should build houses like they did in the last century; small simple dwellings that would offer people a foot on the ladder or allow them to rent at an affordable rate. It should be run by the government and not left to private developers who have just profit in mind as they have to if they are to survive. In the past, council estates were a part of every town and village and nobody was left homeless. It is time we returned to those days and put people and their needs at the top of the agenda. In the meantime every effort should be made to help those less fortunate who, this week, literally find themselves out in the cold.
Then there are the people who have lost their homes due to their landlord selling off the property and no other house being available.. This is a huge problem and there are those who call for a ban on evictions. Landlords have got a bad name in recent times but it isn’t always justified. Some tenants don’t look after the property they are renting and leave the place in a state of bad repair while others don’t pay their rent on time and there is very little the landlord can do about it. I heard of a case recently where the court granted an eviction order to a bank and it was sad to hear that it was a husband, wife and two children that were involved but then it was revealed that they had made no attempt to pay off any of the mortgage for 10 years. That kind of behaviour cannot be tolerated and we need to have a system that is fair to both owner and tenant or borrower. These are but a small minority and the vast majority of homeless people are in the situation through no fault of their own and they deserve all the help thy can get.
This was the time of year, long ago, when people started getting ready for Christmas. There were big events to look forward to and prepare for: the Christmas shopping, midnight Mass, the Christmas dinner, the wrenboys and lads coming home for the holidays. I say the “lads” because children, male and female, were always referred to as the “lads”. Back in the middle of the last century there was hardly a house in the parish that was not affected by emigration. The vast majority went to England and many of those made Christmas there annual holiday and came home. There was great excitement and anticipation among the whole family as Christmas approached and the day of the homecoming got nearer. When we were young we were in awe of them with their modern fashionable clothes, shiny shoes and the latest haircuts. they also had something we didn’t have; money in their pockets. We thought they were millionaires as they flashed the cash in the local pubs so it was no wonder that we couldn’t wait to go abroad ourselves and be like them. They played a huge part in the development of this country because most of them sent part of their wages every week to keep the home fires burning. This was very important in really hard times and helped those at home to improve their lives. Their presence at Christmas made a huge difference to the family and the local wider community. There are still a few who come for Christmas but they are now just like ourselves, as a matter of fact we might be doing better than they are. I do miss the excitement of the old days and the good feel factor of Christmas. It wasn’t all about expensive presents and plastic decorations, it was more about family togetherness and a shared love that kept us going when we didn’t have much in the material sense.
ATHEA
When I was just a little boy, many moons ago
I listened to my Father talk in accents soft and low
We sat together by the fire while wild winds howled outside
He talked about his birthplace, his eyes aglow with pride.
Ireland is a lovely land with mountains fine and grand
Rushing streams and Fairy Glens and miles of golden sand
Take the place where I was born where wild birds sing all day
It lies beyond the mountains, Son, it’s name is Sweet Athea.
In Winter when the snowflakes fall and all the world is white
Moonbeams dance their magic reels to flood the world in light.
Night birds screech their lonely calls from moorland far away
Winter is an awesome sight in the place I called Athea.
Daisies peeping from the ground, hedgerows turning green
April showers in shady bowers, meadows washed and clean
Flashing sleans out in the bog, lovely cups of tay
Springtime was a magic time in the place they called Athea.
All this happened long ago when I was just a boy
My Father? He is resting now in that valley way up high
No more I’ll sit beside the fire or perch upon his knee
Or hear his soft voice talking of the place he called Athea.
One day when my ramblings o’er and I have had my fill
I’ll build a home of wood and stone upon a high, high hill
I’ll gaze across my Father’s land where wild birds sing all day
In soft Summer rain I’ll shout his name in his Birthday Place, Sweet Athea.
Knockanare Exile
Athea News 7 Dec 2022
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16 Nov 2022
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The Way I See It 15 Nov 2022
By Domhnall de Barra
At this time of year you can’t help seeing people wearing the poppy. It is worn to remember all the British soldiers who died in the wars and raises funds for the British Legion which is a club for ex-servicemen. Nothing wrong with that, you might think, but every year it causes controversy, especially on this Island where many people don’t want to glorify anything to do with the British army. In the UK there is great pressure on people to wear the poppy and not doing so is looked on as not being patriotic and leaving the side down. TV presenters and sportspeople are almost forced to wear the emblem. Derry born footballer, James McClean, who plays his football in England, got into trouble with the media because he refused to wear it. One would imagine it was very understandable, given the history of the British army in that city, that somebody from the nationalist side of the divide would have reservations about wearing any emblem that could be seen as supporting the very people who were involved in the likes of Bloody Sunday. Would British people living in Ireland be expected to wear the Easter Lilly in commemoration of the IRA people who died? – of course not yet there is pressure on us all at times and it is wrong. There was a big discussion about the whole thing on the radio last week and some people said they would not wear an emblem that commemorated British soldiers who committed so many atrocities throughout the world while others said the Lily glorified the people who laid bombs in pubs in England during the troubles. The fact is there is no difference between the person who plants a bomb in a public place and the soldier who triggers a missile that will hit a block of flats and kill many people, It is all part of war and war is not nice or played by the rules. By right, war should be fought between armies but civilians became targets a long time ago. In the second world war both the Germans and the British bombed each other’s cities in the full knowledge that they were targeting civilian residential areas.. America dropped an atom bomb on Japan, probably the worst war crime of all, wiping out thousands of people in the process. Yes, war is horrible and we sometimes look at those who take part in it with rose tinted glasses. We have this romantic idea of a brave volunteer who joins up willing to give his life for his country but the reality is far from the truth. In the first world war there were regular career soldiers but the majority were conscripts who didn’t want to be there and those who had joined the army out of economic necessity because there was so much hardship at the time. Many of theses were Irish and there were some who fought because they believed, what John Redmond told them, that if Ireland supported Britain in the war, home rule would be given to Ireland in return. For whatever reason, they found themselves in the trenches and they basically became cannon fodder. Wars are not waged by soldiers, they are the plans of armchair generals who have no problem sending men forward knowing full well that the most of them are going to be killed. We see this in Ukraine at the moment where the Russian army is coming under pressure on the eastern front. They now have three lines of defence. In the front line are the conscripts, including prisoners, who are badly trained and ill equipped. In the second line are the reservists who have been recently called up and behind those is the regular army soldiers who are there to shoot any of the front two lines who want to retreat. So these “soldiers” are basically being killed by their own people. Soldiers do not have a say. They are programmed to obey and to kill and of course there are many in their ranks who are psychopaths and no army has a monopoly on those. Just look at what happened in our own civil war 100 years ago. So whatever way you look at it war is dirty and many crimes are committed by those who take part in it. Should we remember those who died in the wars—yes I think we should. The vast majority of those who died did not have a choice and many did give their lives so that we might be free. It should however be an entirely voluntary act to wear an emblem like the poppy or the lily and nobody should be coerced into doing so. There should also be mutual respect between the two sides and nobody should be made to feel uncomfortable, whatever side they support.
I got a bit of a shock the other day when I took a test and proved positive for Covid. I have had all my boosters and I thought I was in the clear after coming through the last couple of years but no, I was caught. To be honest I thought it was the usual head cold that I get at this time of year which lasts for a few days making me feel miserable but then is gone, but the Antigen test said otherwise. Now, I had heard that this test is not completely accurate so I consulted “Dr. Google” to see what the story was. On one site it stated that there was “positive proof” that the test was accurate but then on another site there was “positive proof” that the test will pick up the common cold. Both were backed up by people with lots of qualifications so, as they say, “you pays your money and you takes your chances”. Anyway, I am feeling fine and working away behind closed doors even though I have tested negative again so that I don’t pass it on to somebody who is vulnerable. I am not happy though because I missed the session in Knockanure on Saturday night and the golf in Ardagh on Sunday. Poor me!!!
Lillian is off sick at the moment so forgive any typos in this week’s newsletter. She has a job correcting my many mistakes every week so I hope you will forgive any you find. My best sometimes is just not good enough!
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FUTURE COMFORTS.
So now the trend’s electric cars,
In times I guess we’ll get to Mars.
Computers, smart phones, this high tech..
Makes some of us a nervous wreck.
Things are too clever now by half.
Will Robots be replacing staff.
The future doesn’t seem as bright.
With Price increases overnight.
To shop online might be OK.
But Stay In on delivery day.
And while it’s tempting on the Net,
Make sure you don’t run into debt.
Why do we need such HYPER stuff,
The OLD WAYS used to be enough.
Yet some things stay the same and that,
Is Cuddles from our Little Cat.
INDEED FOOD FOR THOUGHT
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The formation of An Garda Síochána on February 22, 1922, was a key moment in the establishment and evolution of new political and administrative structures in the fledgling Irish Free State. Throughout the year serving and retired members of the force around the country have been celebrating the 100-year anniversary. Guardians of the Peace is a newly written song by musician Tim Collins, Killeedy and performed by acclaimed traditional singer, Deirdre Scanlan, Monagea a member of An Garda Síochána, living in Clare. Accompanying the song is a video collage of historic images relating to policing in County Clare and the country, produced by Malbay Studios. It was premiered at the 2022 National Age Friendly Awards in Dromoland Castle, Co. Clare in October 2022. The arrival of the first Garda to Newcastle West will be remembered this Friday/Saturday with events taking place in the town.
https://www.athea.ie/category/by-carrig-side/
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BOOK; Big Sister, Little Sister, Red Sister
By Jung Chang From the Sunday Times bestselling author of Wild Swans, this “monumental work” (The Spectator) traces the lives of three sisters whose disparate paths left an indelible mark on 20th-century China. “An astounding story told with verve and insight” (Stylist). Biographies and Memoirs
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The Way I See It
By Domhnall de Barra
The government are once again tinkering with the opening hours for licensed premises. I have been amused by these laws over the years and I can see no sense in most of them. They have been influenced by religion and by those anti-drink fanatics who fear that if we, consenting adults, are left to our own devices we will spend every waking hour propping up the counter. Pubs could not open on Christmas Day and on Good Friday due to pressure from the Church who had great influence over politicians in days gone by. Sunday mornings were also excluded but that did not stop people nipping in the back door to have a quick drink after Mass. The guards knew it was going on and turned a blind eye until they were forced to make a raid by a new sergeant or inspector trying to make a name for themselves. The same thing happened at night when regulars were allowed to stay back behind closed doors for a bit of aftertime, There was one occasion in Abbeyfeale when the guards took action, mainly due to reports from the general public. They raided all the pubs and found people drinking in most of them. They filled their notebooks and all those “found on” as well as the publicans had to appear before justice Maguire the next court day. One by one, the pub owners took the stand and made their excuses. One man said they were trying to finish a game of cards while another said he was catering for a crowd coming home from a funeral and hadn’t the heart to throw them out. Yet another said his clock was slow and he didn’t notice it until it was too late and the drinks had been filled and paid for, Jim Lane R.I.P. took the stand last. The justice asked him what fable he could come up with to which Jim replied:
“ it was a fair cop your honour. I was trying to make a few extra bob and got caught”. Cyril Maguire looked at him and said: “ The only honest publican in the room, case dismissed” he went on to fine all the others while Jim and a big crowd went down to his pub in New Street to celebrate their good fortune. At one time closing time on Sundays was 10pm. In the summertime it would be still bright when we were all thrown out onto the streets. It was the custom for the guards to call at every pup at closing time and clear the house. As soon as their backs were turned certain customers were allowed in. At that time I used to play at Dan Gleeson’s pub, The Three Counties, and because I was technically employed I was allowed to stay on. We often played cards for an hour or two and were still home early. In the cities pubs had to close at the usual time buy night clubs could stay open until 3 am so drink was always available to those who wanted it. What a waste it was of police resources having to be physically present to make sure pubs closed on time. All it did was make sure that crowds appeared on the streets at the same time and there was many a disturbance due to this. I have always been of the opinion that pubs should be allowed to open whenever they like. People have more sense than they are given credit for and will make their own closing times. I saw this in operation when I was in Hew York where the pubs could stay open until 3 in the morning. There was no rush for last drinks or trying to squeeze in an extra one be gone home by midnight. You would have a few bar flies left and people coming off late shifts but that’s all but over here we couldn’t be trusted to do that.
The last thing pubs need at the moment is too much regulation. In rural Ireland the pub trade has gone away down and premises are closing week by week. When I was going to school in Abbeyfeale there were 42 licensed premises in the town. There are only a fraction of those left now. When we started doing the Community Council Lottery there were eleven pubs in Athea; today we have four left so it is easy to see the way things are going.. Of course there was too much drinking going on, especially in the ‘seventies and ‘eighties when first Tarbert and then Aughinish brought great employment to the area. When small farmers got the dole there was great celebrating in the pubs on the day it was paid out and everyone had a good time but wasn’t it wrong that money should be wasted like that. Even today, I know of pubs in Dublin put on music on the day the children’s allowance is paid out. Anyway, the pubs may be allowed to open until 12.30am everyday and night clubs can remain open until 6 am. Whatever about the 12.30 why would anyone want to be in a night club until 6? It is a formula for alcohol abuse and we all know the health risks associated with that. We must also remember that the sale of alcohol is highly taxed and is a big cash cow for the government. I loved having a drink in the local pubs. It wasn’t really about the alcohol but the company and the banter and we all need to let our hair down every now and then so I sincerely hope we don’t lose any more licensed premises in our village.
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July 2022
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Dr Kieran Murphy Celebratory Tea Party Update **
On August 1st 1984 Kieran and Val Murphy chose Athea as their home and set up a GP practice in our community. Since the beginning, Kieran and his staff have taken us under their wings and cared for us all when we needed it most. As a community we are eternally grateful for all Kieran has done for us, and for his selfless commitment to the medical needs of our community.
A sub committee of Athea Community Council, made up of representatives of voluntary groups in the parish, was established tasked with planning an event to mark this important occasion. On Friday December 3rd, on Kieran’s final working day, we presented Kieran with an invitation to a future ‘Celebratory Tea Party’. We are now glad to report that the date of Sunday, August 28th has been chosen for this community celebration, and preparations are well underway!
As part of the celebrations, we are asking people to have a search through their photo albums and to send us on some photographs of Kieran for inclusion in a display on the day. Photographs can be emailed to damienahern@gmail.com or dropped into Cairde Duchais ASAP.
The Way I See It
By Domhnall de Barra
A few really fine days at last to cheer us up, just a little bit, after what was a very wet and miserable couple of weeks. The long fine evenings brought me back to a time when carnivals were all the rage. The carnival was at least a week long festival, usually organised by the local G.A.A. club to raise funds and provide a bit of entertainment for the people of the parish. A couple of days before the start of the event the amusements rolled into town. There was great excitement amongst the young boys and girls as they watched the big lorries and trailers being manoeuvred expertly into position. The amusements played a big part in every carnival at a time when there was very little in the way of entertainment. Even watching them erect the tents and platforms for the various rides and stalls was exciting in itself. They opened up early on the evening of the first day and every other night after that. Of course they were open all day on Sundays. Unlike today’s elaborate constructions, the amusements long ago were fairly simple. There were the swinging boats, chairoplanes, bumpers, rifle range and hobby horses for the younger kids. There was also a stall filled with ornaments and useful items that were raffled every ten minutes or so. You bought your ticket and hoped your number would be drawn. If you were lucky enough to win, you would probably have spent a lot more than what the prize would cost in a shop but there was a great buzz attached to having the winning ticket. The swinging boats attracted young men who tried, by pulling hard on the rope, to make the boat go as high as possible. You could see the effort they were putting in as their ties flew in the wind behind them. In those days every young man wore a collar and tie when going out of a night especially as the trip to the amusements would be followed by a night at the dance. There was dancing nightly, usually in a marquee erected in some field, to some of the best show-bands doing the rounds at the time.. There were also various events organised for different evenings of the week such as churn rolling, slow cycle races, tossing the sheaf, donkey derby, athletics, tug-of-war, fancy dress, Carnival Queen and many more. A football or hurling tournament took place in the G.A.A, pitch and attracted teams from all the neighbouring clubs so there was something for everyone to enjoy. The pubs profited as well from the big crowds that gathered, not only from the parish but from neighbouring ones as well. They got an extension to opening hours which allowed them to keep serving a couple of hours longer than normal. My favourite was the rifle range. There would be a prize for a high score which was achieved by hitting the scorecard as near to the middle as possible at a distance of about fifteen feet. The further away from the bull’s eye, the lower the score. I was a good marksman but I learned early on that the sights on the rifles were tampered with to avoid having to give away prizes. I used to aim at the bull and then figure out how far away the shot mark was and then aim, taking this measurement into consideration. After a couple of turns I had it off pat and usually got a maximum once during the night. The man in charge soon copped on and I was banned after winning a few prizes.
The carnivals petered out at the end of the show-band and dancehall era and they were a great loss. It was good harmless fun and gave us all an opportunity to celebrate together as a community. The carnival was also the start of many a romance, some that ended up in wedlock. Yes, they were simpler days but there was a magic about them that no amount of modern technology can replace.
An article in a newspaper lately showed how much we are being screwed in this country by the big supermarkets. It compared prices for goods sold in British and Irish chains of the same stores and found that the Irish prices were far higher than those across the water, even for goods manufactured in this country. No wonder the big boys refer to Ireland as “treasure island”. This has been going on for years and we don’t seem to be able to do anything about it. It is part of a culture that says the acceptable charge for any item is what the market will take. We see this in hotel prices and the cost of renting a house. The costs soar when demand rises and supply falls but they could make a decent profit without charging astronomical prices just because they can. The price of crude oil has fallen regularly over the past couple of weeks but the price at the pumps stays well in excess of €2 a litre. If the price of crude had risen the cost at the pumps would have risen overnight. No, the market is driven by greed and the ordinary citizen is the victim. The war in Ukraine is being blamed for most of the price hikes but there are goods that are not affected by any outside influence which have risen sharply just because the opportunity is there and we have come to accept it.
My son Danjoe and his family are coming home next week for a few days holiday and, as he usually does, he tried to book a rental car. The price he was asked was over three times what it was the last time he was home last year. How can that be justified?. He told them what to do with their car and we have made other arrangements. While on the subject of rip-offs, how is the price of alcohol free beer more than the normal type? They say it costs more to extract the alcohol but what they don’t mention is the fact that there isn’t any government tax on the alcohol-free. If they are serious about reducing the consumption of alcohol and avoiding drink driving then wouldn’t it make sense to sell the product at the same margin of profit as the normal beers but, then again, that would be using common sense and that commodity is in very short supply at the moment.
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End June 2022
Athea Notes 29 June 2022-The Fleadh Goes West”
With less than three weeks to go to Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan 2022, we take a look at the fantastic line-up of events that are planned for Newcastle West.
Starting on Sunday, 10th July there will be a celebration of Aifreann na Fleidhe at 6.30p.m. in the Church of the Immaculate Conception with a mass composed by the late Garry McMahon. This will be followed later in the evening by the official opening of Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan 2022 in the Longcourt House Hotel where there will be music, song, and dance into the early morning. Also on Sunday night, Seán Ó Muimhneacháin will take the opportunity to launch his book ‘The Cuckoo Sings in May.’
On Monday, events will kick off at 1.00p.m. with an historical walk through the town of Newcastle West starting from the Desmond Castle. If you fancy a rib-tickling evening of stories and laughter, then Cleary’s Bar is the place for you with a storytelling evening hosted by Frances Kennedy starting from 9.00p.m.
There is an incredibly special event planned for Tuesday afternoon in the Red Door Gallery at 1.00p.m., where Louise Mulcahy will share her lecture ‘The Liam O’Flynn Collection: The Legacy of the Master Piper’. Join Louise as she takes you on an exciting journey through some of the unique aspects of the Liam O’Flynn Collection including little-known original compositions, quotes from Liam O’Flynn’s handwritten notes, manuscripts, photographs, and rare field recordings. This promises to be a highlight of the Fleadh so be sure to check it out. A late addition to the programme of events is a whistling workshop hosted by multiple All-Ireland winner, Anita Bennis. Anita will teach you how to improve your tone, your breath control, and your range. Check out this unique workshop in The Silver Dollar at 8.00p.m. And for those of you looking to hear a verse or even sing two yourself, then stick around The Silver Dollar at 9.00p.m. for a singing session hosted by Con Warren. Wednesday will see the start of the competitions which play a huge part of Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan. From 12.00p.m. on both Wednesday and Thursday at the Longcourt House Hotel, patrons will be treated to the crème de la crème of dancing talent in Munster with céílí dancing, set dancing and sean nós dancing on display until late in the evening.
On Friday, we will welcome the musician, singers & storytellers to the stage when the remaining competitions will take place in Desmond College and Gaelscoil Ó Doghair. Competitions will commence in both venues at 10.00a.m. If you still have some energy to burn by the end of the day, then be sure to head into the town of Newcastle West where there is sure to be an event to take your fancy. The Newcastle West Pipe Band will start proceedings at 7.00p.m. followed shortly after by a Wrenboy display showcasing the best of the strong tradition still alive and well in West Limerick to this day. The second singing session of the week will kick off in The Silver Dollar at 9.30p.m. – this time hosted by the wonderful Deirdre Scanlan of Monagea. Or if you find your feet are tapping and you can resist the urge to dance a few steps, then make your way back to the Longcourt House Hotel for a céilí with Donie Nolan. Admission is €10 and is payable on the door.Competitions will resume on Saturday morning at 10.00a.m. with an alternative activity for those not involved in competitions. The Newcastle West Farmer’s Market will take place as normal in the square offering a fantastic selection of arts, crafts, treats and the best of West Limerick produce. If you stick around the town until 2.00p.m., you will see a variety of talent as the Street Entertainment Competition gets underway. The culmination of the competitions each year at the Fleadh is the Senior Céilí Band competition which will take place at 6.00p.m. in Desmond College. Finally, in case you were not already wrecked from the week’s events, there will be an open-air concert on the gig-rig at Desmond Castle headlined by the mighty group ‘Fuinneamh’ starting at 7.00p.m. Anticipation is starting to build around the town for the festivities with many businesses dressing their shopfronts with bunting, instruments, dancing uniforms and the likes, all which help to bring the spirit of the Fleadh to the locals in the town. All businesses in the town are invited to follow suit and brighten up the town in the lead up to the Fleadh.
To keep up to date with preparations for Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan 2022 please follow the social media updates on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram by searching for ‘Munster Fleadh’ or the hashtag #TheFleadhGoesWest.
https://www.athea.ie/category/news/
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June 2022
The Way I See It
By Domhnall de Barra
This was an exciting time of the year for us in our young days because we knew the school year was nearly over and the holidays were around the corner. We would realise this when, one afternoon coming home from school, the sound of the mowing machine could be heard from more than one meadow. In those days farmers did not cut the hay until late June or early July. They would be watching each other to see who would make a start and as soon as the first blade of grass was mowed they all tackled up and started cutting. The plan was to cut just before a dry spell and, since there were no forecasts, they had to rely on one or two farmers who were good judges of weather. It didn’t always work out but most of the time it did and it was just as well because all the work had to be done by hand and without good weather the crop could be lost. They got their information from the cloud formations, the wind, the signs in the night sky, the flights birds and the habits of other wild animals who always knew what weather was in store. My neighbour, Mick Phil Woulfe, was a great man to give a forecast. Mick would put his thumbs inside his braces, look at the sky and the world around and declare “ther’ll be rain tomorrow but not before dinner time”. He was seldom wrong. The hay cut in those days was very different to what is called hay today. Today’s hay is just grass that could as easily be used for silage and is cut in the months of April and May. The hay long ago grew tall and straight and was laced with all kinds of herbs and wild flowers. It was not driven by artificial chemicals but natural farmyard manure and I’m certain was far better fodder than what cattle get to eat today. Anyway The sound of the mowing machine was music to our ears because we knew the Holidays were upon us. Unlike today’s children, who love going to school, we hated every day we had to enter the doors of that stark building where punishment was the order of the day. We had about a mile and a half to walk and the nearer we got to the school, the more apprehensive we got. Corporal punishment wasn’t just allowed. It was encouraged. The mantra at the time was “spare the rod and spoil the child”. Well, there was no fear we were spoiled and it was a rare day we escaped without a slap or two. Some people castigate those in charge at the time and especially educators from the religious orders like Nuns and Christian Brothers but they were no different from our own parents who also sought not to spoil us. If you got punished at school, you made sure they did not find out at home because, if they did, you were in for another beating. It was the culture at the time and we lived through it without too much damage What was far more damaging was the verbal abuse we got if we didn’t know the correct answer to a question. You could be called ”thick as a mule” , “an ignoramous” or some other demeaning term that made you feel small and unworthy in front of your class mates. No wonder some of us grew up with an inferiority complex that plagued us for much of our lives. Yes, the slap of a cane would hurt for a while but then it would go away however the stinging word settled in the head and festered there forever niggling away at our confidence and sense of worth. Schooldays were not the happiest days of my life and I envy my grandchildren who love their time in education. I do not, however, look back in anger or with a longing for retribution. In the main the teachers were doing their best to get us an education in the only way they knew how. It was the culture of the time and I am glad it has been consigned to history.
Athea N.S. celebrated 100 years in existence on Friday last and it turned out to be a wonderful occasion. Some of the children and adults dressed up in clothes that would have been worn in the 1920s and it highlighted how far we have come in that length of time. There wasn’t much money about then as it was just after the first world war and in the midst of our own struggle for freedom so clothing was very basic and people were lucky to have enough to keep themselves warm. Now we have a choice of outfits for every day and we lack for nothing Thank God. It was good to see Tommy Moran out and about. He has been a great friend to Athea causes over the years and is an example to would be entrepreneurs who might follow in his footsteps. There was nothing spared on Friday and the large crowd that attended were served teas, cakes, sandwiches and all kinds of goodies. Well done to Mrs. Watters and her staff and helpers who pulled out all the stops to mark a significant milestone in the history of education in Athea.
Athea National School 100th Year Celebrations
https://www.athea.ie/category/news/
June is Aphasia Awareness month. Eighteen months ago I did not know what Aphasia was but I soon found out. Aphasia is a condition that affects your ability to communicate. It can affect your speech, as well as the way you write and understand both spoken and written language. Aphasia typically occurs suddenly after a stroke or a head injury. Jim has aphasia which is why I am referring to it now. He cannot speak, read or write. Treatments such as speech therapy can often help recover some speech and language functions over time, but many people continue to have problems communicating. This can sometimes be difficult and frustrating both for the person with aphasia and for family members. It’s important for family members to learn the best ways to communicate with their loved one. Suggestions might include the following:
Include the person with aphasia in conversations
Simplify language by using short, simple sentences
Repeat key words
Use a natural conversational manner at an adult level
Encourage all types of communication, including speech, gestures, pointing, or drawing
Don’t correct the person’s speech
Give the person plenty of time to express themselves
Help the person become involved outside the home, such as through support groups.
For some people, computers can be helpful for both communicating and improving language abilities. Unfortunately Jim’s ability to speak has not improved but we get by with gestures and pointing etc. But it can be very frustrating and impossible to have a normal conversation. I just say all that here to bring awareness to this condition. It does not mean the intellect is damaged – just the ability to communicate through word or writing. Those of us who are not affected by it should be grateful. And I am. I would find life very difficult if I could not speak, read or write. Thankfully Jim is tolerating it very bravely.
As well as it being Aphasia month, this week is Carer’s Week which is relevant in my life now too. There are lots of events planned for carers all over the country. Busy times.
By Peg Prendeville
https://www.athea.ie/2022/06/knockdown-news-15-06-2022/
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The Way I See It
By Domhnall de Barra
The Fleadh is over and what a great few days of entertainment we had. The tone was set on Wednesday night when a big crowd attended the Top of the Town for a night of story-telling. Frances Kennedy had the audience in stitches with some of her yarns and she introduced some of the best story-tellers in the country to regale us. Time went so fast that I didn’t realise that I was standing in the same spot for over three hours until the following morning when the pains set in, but it was worth it. The following night brought singers from three counties together to join with the many singers from Athea who answered the call from Catherine Murphy and a lovely night was had by one and all. It was great to hear some young singers from the area who are keeping up the tradition. After the official opening on Friday night the Wrenboys from Athea and Tournafulla gave exhibitions on the gig rig and, unlike the last time we were there, there wasn’t a midge in sight. Saturday morning was busy with competitors looking for their venues, motorists trying to park in the wrong places, people looking for programmes and wristbands and stewards in their hi-vis jackets making sure everything was organised. A great job was done by the committee and all the helpers and the competitions ran smoothly. It was great to see the young musicians practising in the open air by the hall and down by the river. There was plenty of music around the village on Saturday night but the attendance at the concert was disappointing Those who attended were in high praise of the group “Fuinneamh” who are without doubt the best traditional group in the country at the moment. When they are famous, as they are sure to become, people will say “they were in Athea for the Fleadh”. Sunday’s competitions were staged a bit earlier than usual so that everyone could get to see the Munster final between Limerick and Clare and as soon as the match was over the sessions began. The Ceili in the Hall was a great success thanks to John Joe Tierney and his team. So, overall,. It was a very successful Fleadh and a credit to the organising committee who worked so hard, not just at the weekend, but in the weeks and months leading up to the event. It was the 10th County Fleadh in Athea who have hosted it more times than any other branch. Well done to all.
Things are almost back to normal again even though Covid is still amongst us and business is booming in the hospitality sector. There are however some disturbing signs that prices are being hiked ahead of what they should be and that certain people are trying to cash in on the return of tourists and indeed our native holiday makers. Hotel prices are away too high and there is no justification for that. A room that, pre-Covid, cost €100 per night is now being offered at three or four times that amount. Yes, the cost of living has risen but not by 300 to 400%. I was in a restaurant lately and was looking forward to a steak until I saw it priced on the menu at €46. I told the waiter I only wanted a steak, not the whole cow and ordered a very over-priced chicken. Needless to say I will not be dining there again. On the other hand, I had the pleasure of having a family dinner at the Devon Inn Hotel recently and I was more than surprised at how reasonable the prices were. Six of us had drinks, main course and desert, the best of food that included a steak for myself, all for a total of €150.30. I will definitely be going back for more !
My son Danjoe and his family are coming home on holiday from Denmark next month. He usually hires a car at Dublin Airport but when he tried booking this time he was quoted €3,000. I bought many a good car for less than that in my day and, again, there is simply no justification for it. He can have one of our cars while he is at home. We have seen this happen before and it is not sustainable. People are not fools and neither have they money in their pockets to throw away. The average holiday maker is an ordinary worker who saves up for a year to take a well earned break. If the cost of holidaying in Ireland is too expensive, people will vote with their feet and go elsewhere. They will kill the goose that laid the golden egg and when the bottom falls out of the market they will be crying to the government to bail them out again. They should be told exactly where to go.
The same could be said of the housing rental market. Just because there is a scarcity, some greedy landlords are exploiting the market and asking astronomical prices for what could be called very ordinary or even sub-standard accommodation. There was an article lately about a landlord in Dublin who had twelve people in a small two-roomed flat. There was no room for wardrobes or any other furniture and they all shared a tiny bathroom. For this they paid €600 each per month. The government need to step up security on this type of racketeering. They are operating outside the law and should be prosecuted. It is time to get back to local authorities and city councils building a plentiful supply of housing like they used to in the past. Leaving the housing to the private sector hasn’t worked except for the developers who walk away with huge profits. Nobody should have to pay a king’s ransom for a roof over their head and as a nation we have a responsibility to look after each other. Where there is a will there is a way. This was proven when we had to deal with the Covid pandemic and we can do it again with the housing.
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Kathleen’s Corner-08/06/2022
by DomhnallDB under Kathleens Corner
By Kathleen Mullane
WELL DONE ATHEA
The Fleadh is over once again, and yes it went off very well thankfully. The numbers in the various competitions were down, but of course this was to be expected as during Covid there was no music classes etc. The story-telling with Frances Kennedy on Wednesday night was enjoyed immensely, as was the singing night on Thursday at Top Of The Town.
The opening on Friday night had many people gather in the street and of course the Wrenboys were a major attraction. Competitions began on Saturday and the weather was an added bonus as many enjoyed sitting around the hall listening to the various groups and individuals practising for their events. The concert and ceili were thoroughly enjoyed by music and dancing enthusiasts.
The great message that came out of the Fleadh was the amount of people who commented on our BEAUTIFUL LITTLE VILLAGE. We met one lady from Limerick who went around to the hall kitchen to Colleen and Matt’s mini-restaurant. What she said was that you wouldn’t get the sort of food she got in a Top Hotel. That was indeed great to hear. So many commented on the flowers, hanging baskets and the general quaintness of Athea. So well done to each and every person who helped out with the smooth running of the Fleadh and gave of their time and effort to put ATHEA on the Map. Everyone should be proud.
8 June 2022
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Knockdown News-08/06/2022
by DomhnallDB under Knockdown News
By Peg Prendeville
I was very sad to hear of the death of neighbour Geraldine Costello, Turraree who was buried in Glin on Monday. Geraldine had been battling cancer for a number of years with great courage. Sincere sympathies to her husband Mickey and their children, Joanne, Eileen, Kathleen, Linda, Johnny and Robert. She is now re-united with her son James in Heaven.
Last weekend was Writer’s Week in Listowel. I managed to get a couple of hours there on Saturday for the launch of Mary Kennelly’s book “Into the Grey”. It is such a beautiful book of poems in memory of her uncles Brendan and Fr John. The actual launch was a lovely hour of poetry accompanied by songs from the “Rusty Songbirds.” These beautiful singers, Mary Moore, Siobhán Sweeney, Maureen Kennelly and Mary Kennelly, brought the large attendance together in song creating a lovely intimate atmosphere. Mickey McConnell had another beautiful song while the poet Mary read some of her poems. The event was officially launched by Minister for Education Norma Foley. Proceeds from the book go to Arus Mhuire Nursing Home Listowel and Tralee Our Lady of Fatima Nursing home. I would have liked to stay longer and soak in more of the atmosphere around the town. It made me realise how much we have missed in the last two years due to the pandemic.
8 June 2022
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May 2022;
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The Way I See It
By Domhnall de Barra
Josephine O’Connor receiving her retirement cake from Mary Egan at the GAA in Abbeyfeale on Saturday night last
I was invited to a surprise retirement do on Saturday night last at the GAA Club in Abbeyfeale. It was for Josephine O’Connor from Gortnagross who had been teaching set and social dancing in West Limerick and North Kerry for many, many years. The advent of the pandemic put an end to the classes for a couple of years so Josephine decided not to return when they resumed recently. I had been one of her pupils at the set dancing sessions at the GAA on Thursday nights until my knee started to give me trouble a few years ago. I used to look forward to those classes because I spent most of my life on stage, playing for dancers and didn’t get a chance to use the “heel and toe” myself. Josephine had a great way of getting her message across. It was all done through fun and laughter and everyone was so relaxed and happy. There was great camaraderie amongst the group attending and I was delighted to see most of them, one more time, on Saturday night. It was fantastic to see the floor full of dancers to a band from Dunmanway but with connections to this parish. Patrick O’Sullivan came to national prominence a few years ago when he was successful in the Glór Tíre competition on TG 4. He is a fantastic accordion player and singer and has his son Conor with him who is one of the best banjo players in the country and another great singer. Patrick’s mother is a sister of James (Jobber) O’Connor, Josephine’s husband. Anyway, it took me back to old times when dancing was the main form of entertainment throughout the country. Every town and village had a dance hall which was packed every Sunday night. Many couples met at the dance and stayed together for life. Dancing was so popular that, with the advent of the showbands, huge dancehalls were built all over the country. The showband era saw bands criss-crossing the island bringing their own brand of magic to the thousands of dancing enthusiasts. There were bars in those dance halls but they only served soft drinks. If you had a dance with some girl you liked and wanted to know if there was any hope for you, the acid test was to ask her if she wanted to have a “mineral”. If she refused you knew you were going nowhere but if she accepted there was a chance you might be able to see her home that night. Eventually the big dance halls lost their appeal due to the dancing lounges that sprung up beside the bigger pubs. They had the advantage of supplying alcoholic drinks and they soon took over completely. I spent a lot of my time playing in places like The Railway Bar and Jack Riordan’s in Abbeyfeale where couples came out at the weekend to have a dance and a social drink with the neighbours. In my opinion, it was a great boost to put on the best clothes and have a couple of carefree hours with friends. In Athea, there were two venues, The Top of the Town and The Gables. They were buzzing on Saturday and Sunday nights and the craic was great. Nothing seems to last forever and the dancing lounges gave way to the Discos. It was a complete change of scenery with dancing becoming a solo exhibition of rhythmic movement with no physical contact necessary. The dancing lounges either adapted or closed. In most small places they had no option but to close and it was such a pity. So, Saturday night brought it all back to me and I even graced the floor myself, endangering Noreen’s toes, and had a whale of a time. A big thanks to Josephine who passed on her knowledge of dancing to us over the years. It is no wonder that she taught dancing because she is one of Jack Hannon’s eight daughters, all great dancers. Jack was the best set dancer I ever saw on the floor so, as the saying goes, “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” I remember well, on the occasion of Jack and Nell’s Golden Jubilee, the eight sisters giving an exhibition of set dancing during the celebrations, something we probably will never again see. Happy retirement Josephine but I wouldn’t be surprised to see you on the dance floor again.
I was disappointed with the Eurovision Song Contest and the way Ireland was treated. You didn’t have to be an expert to see that some of the songs that were chosen ahead of us were, to put it mildly, rubbish, but, despite a great performance from the Derry girl and her group, other European countries ignored us and voted for each other. I was delighted to see Ukraine winning the event and it wasn’t just a sympathy vote, they had a good song but I think it is now time for us to seriously think about not entering the competition in the future until a fairer way of judging is found. While I am on the subject, how ridiculous is it to have Australia represented in the show. European, they are not. What next – countries from South America? Nothing would surprise me at this stage but the competition needs a serious overhaul if it is to keep its appeal.
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The Way I See It
By Domhnall de Barra
Somebody said to me the other day: “Isn’t there awful changes in Athea”. I had to agree but I think the changes are not confined to any one place, they are universal. There are big changes in the way people make a living with some of the jobs that were there when I was growing up, now gone forever. On the other hand we now have jobs we had no names for a few years ago. The biggest changes can be seen in rural areas. Up to the 1960s there was at least one or two horses on every farm. Most of them had two because they were needed to pull the heavy machinery that was necessary all year round. In springtime, the horse drawn cart would be used to draw the farmyard manure that had built up over the winter on to the fields where it was used as top dress fertiliser to boost the growing of grass. Then they had to take the milk to the creamery, go to the bog to draw out and, later on, bring home the turf. There was always a bit of spring ploughing and harrowing to do as every farm had a good garden and oats had to be grown for the horses. Ploughing was hard work and required two strong horses working in tandem. The ploughman also had to be skilful and there was great pride in leaving a straight furrow. In the summertime the meadow took over with two horses again needed to pull the mowing machine and one to pull the turner, raker and tumbling jack or slide. The horse did not even get Sunday off because the family had to be taken to Mass in the trap. So the horse was central to farm life and had to be well cared for. To connect the horse to the cart and various machinery, special harness had to be made. Most of this was made from leather and it provided a good living for a harness maker in every locality. They also made bags and stuff but their main employment was the winkers, collars, straddles, bellybands and breechings that made up the uniform of the work horse. It was a skilled profession but alas with the advent of the tractor, the horse gradually disappeared from farms and there was less need for the skills of the trade. Another profession that suffered from the loss of the work horse was the blacksmith. Horses had to be shod at regular intervals and there was also repairs to the farm machines. The common horse cart was made of wood with two big wheels. These wheels were protected by an iron band that was made and fitted at the forge. Every village had at least one blacksmith who made a good living but, again, that day is gone.
Another profession that has gone by the wayside is the making of clothing. We had tailors and dress makers who were busy sowing cloth together to make outfits. When I was growing up you could not walk into a shop and buy a suit of clothes. You had to go to the draper, choose a “suit length” from a type of material and take it to a tailor who would then measure you and make it into a suit for you. It took time and you had to go back to him a couple of times for fittings when he had so much done. The same procedure took place for women who wanted a dress or a costume made. Clothes were really expensive back then so it is no wonder that great care was taken of the “new suit”. It was worn for Mass on Sunday and immediately taken off and put away as soon as you got home. The “new suit” would be called that for years and years. Tailors were always portrayed as sitting cross-legged on a table, sowing away. I always thought this was only a myth until I actually saw the real thing. This was in the early ‘seventies while I was working as Munster organiser for Comhaltas. The secretary of Scartaglen branch was the daughter of a tailor and I used to call on her each month as part of my rounds. One day I called and when I knocked on the door, a male voice bade me come in. I did so and there was the tailor sitting cross-legged on the table, working away. This was coming to the end of the tailor era as shops now had off the peg clothes that could be bought at a very reasonable price. There are still some tailors in operation but they provide clothes for businessmen and other professionals that wear clothes to impress. The rest of us are happy to shop in Dunne’s and Penny’s for our outfits.
The shoemaker has also almost disappeared. As with the suits, ready made shoes were not available so the shoemaker was busy shaping leather over his last to provide cover for the feet. Working men got tough boots made with rows of studs imbedded in the souls. They were called “hob-nailed boots” and were very heavy. They were laced with leather thongs which we pronounced “fongs”. There was an expression in our part of the country that could be heard if somebody who had transgressed in some way needed to be punished. “he’d want a good “fonger” up in the arse” meaning, a kick in the backside with a hob-nailed boot. They were durable and heavy but were ideal for working on the land. The shoemaker was also busy repairing shoes and boots that had become damaged by wear and tear. Only a few remain today as shoes are relatively cheap and most of them are not made from leather anymore. Those are just three professions that have been lost to modern advances and we will never see them again. Our villages are fast becoming places to sleep rather than business hubs and it is a great pity. We are all the poorer for it.
https://www.athea.ie/category/news/
By Kathleen Mullane
WELCOME. MAY
May you be Happy, May you be well,
May you be Safe, May you find comfort.
May you have Strength, May you have Courage.
May you find Healing, May you have Peace.
May you have Joy, May you be filled with loving Kindness.
May you be Blessed Today and Always.
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April 2022
Retirement
Fr. Brendan will be leaving the parish on Easter Sunday after nearly six years with us. We will be sad to see him go and want to wish him the best for the future as he takes up a new position with his own religious congregation in Rockwell College, Co Tipperary. Fr. Tony and Fr. Denis will be taking over responsibility for the parish from Easter Sunday onwards.
We will be having an extra special mass on Easter Sunday to ‘Thank’ Fr. Brendan for his time with us and will be making a presentation to him on behalf of the parish – however if anyone wishes to make a personal donation to Fr. Brendan you can place your envelope in the offertory box and it will be passed onto him.
The Way I See It
By Domhnall de Barra
I wonder why people are so surprised at the horrific carnage inflicted by the Russians on the people of Ukraine in the northern region. Civilians have been shot, raped, had their throats cut and left dead on the streets with their hands tied behind their backs. Earrings have been forcibly ripped off women’s ears before they were raped and murdered. This should come as no surprise because it is the modus operandi of the Russian army. They have done exactly the same in other conflicts in other countries. It is well documented that, at the end of World War 11, any woman, of any age, captured in Berlin was repeatedly raped. It is a sad reflection on the human race that such atrocities can be committed on innocent people. Once upon a time wars were fought between armies but that changed in modern warfare when civilians became targets. It is not just confined to the Germans or the Russians; British planes bombed the suburbs of German cities and the USA dropped an atom bomb on the people of Japan. In the minds of the armchair generals the end justifies the means so it is not going to change any time soon. How far will Putin go? It is difficult to know because he does not think like ordinary human beings. He is cut from the same cloth as Hitler and Napoleon and they all thought they would create vast empires. They also found it difficult to accept defeat. Napoleon took 600,000 men to invade Russia and lost the most of them to the arctic conditions. He still wanted to form another army and would have done so except for the fact that his own people took the power away from him and banished him to St. Helena. Hitler spent his last days in a bunker, still believing he could somehow turn the tide and win the war. His own generals made many unsuccessful attempts to assassinate him. They have no sense of what is right or fair and build a fantasy world in which to live. The Kremlin issued a statement that the bodies lying on the ground in Ukraine were staged as propaganda for the western media. This is an insult to the intelligence but then, when you think that they will not even acknowledge that they are in a war and feed this garbage to the citizens of Russia on a daily basis there isn’t much hope for optimism. The only hope, in my estimation, is that, like Napoleon and Hitler in the past, Putin’s own people will turn against him. That is why severe sanctions are so important, even if the ordinary people of Russia will suffer in the meantime. The Ukrainian army has to be given military assistance in the form of weapons, tanks etc. to continue their heroic struggle, something Putin did not expect. What a pity so many countries are reliant on Russia for gas and oil. We are feeling the pinch here as prices rocket and we are told that food for animals and humans may get scarce after the Summer. How did we become so dependent on fuel from a country that is, to say the least, capable of anything. Time was when we were almost self sufficient. When I was growing up every house in rural Ireland had a garden. Every cottage was built on an acre so that some of the land could be cultivated and the rest would provide enough grass for a cow. Farmers always set a bit of land aside on which to sow potatoes and vegetables such as cabbages, turnips, carrots and parsnips. They might also set a bit of lettuce and rhubarb, or onions and beetroot. Most farms also had an orchard that provided a plentiful supply of apples. Those who were not farmers did not have orchards but their gardens supplied enough food for the most of the year. The cow provided milk and the calf from that cow provided much needed income when sold in the springtime. It was also common for people to rear pigs. They did not need much space as a small shed would accommodate six or seven bonhams. One or two of these would be killed for the table while the remainder would be sold when they were fattened. It is now illegal to kill pigs like they did in those days. Hens, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and other fowl thrived in every yard providing eggs and meat for the pot with a few left for sale at Christmas. By living this way the people of rural Ireland were self sufficient and needed very little money for items like tea, sugar etc. Somewhere, along the way things changed and the garden by the house disappeared. Most of the farmers also stopped growing vegetables and started buying from shops instead. They bought milk in cartons even though they were sending that milk to the co-op to be processed. It was all in the interest of “progress” and the government paid advisers to show farmers how to maximise their profits. Alas some of the advice was short-sighted. At one time the land was treated in springtime with farmyard manure which was the natural and organic way of doing things. Now we have fertiliser and slurry to drive the grass while at the same time ruining the soil. Experts tell us that within 20 years, if the use of artificial fertiliser and slurry continues, the soil will be too poor to produce anything. Maybe the very high cost of fertiliser is a blessing in disguise at the moment and will encourage farmers and their advisers to think of alternative ways. We should, however, think seriously about bringing back the gardens around the country. Apart from anything else, tilling a garden is good exercise and there is great satisfaction on watching your produce grow and mature. It is a great feeling to walk into your own garden, dig a bucket of spuds, pick a head of cabbage or turnip and cook them fresh for dinner. In many towns, nearby land is set aside as allotments for the people to rent and use to grow produce. This could be done in every town and village in the country. It is worth thinking about.
Update on Ukrainians In Cahermoyle
Just another update on progress with our Ukrainian friends staying in Cahermoyle on day 11. Things are going very well. Some of our guests have moved out to other family or friends or into houses during the past week. Another 50 Ukrainians landed on Sunday and I’m glad to say, everything was ready for them and all are being very well looked after. For example, a group of 40 from Cahermoyle went to Ballybunion last Sunday and really enjoyed the trip.
As a group (St. Kieran’s GAA club & Ardagh Dev Assoc) we are working very closely with management and staff at Cahermoyle house every day. This is working very well and the funding we have received from the public is being put to very good use, ‘plugging gaps’ in the system.
Because of the public’s generosity and the express wishes of all Ukrainians in Cahermoyle, we are organising a consignment of medical aid and equipment to be delivered to the Ukraine. This huge consignment will cost us €10,000 and we are assured it will be on the ground in the Ukraine within a week. We will be getting an itemised list of what we are sending with this money and will publish this list in due course.
Even after this consignment is paid for, we are still in a strong position financially to continue to support all aspects of life in Cahermoyle. We will continue to support the transfer of some guests to local houses and support families who have guests staying with them due to your wonderful financial support. Thanks everyone for all your financial support and all other support also. It has been amazing.
https://www.athea.ie/category/news/
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The Way I See It
By Domhnall de Barra
As the years go by changes occur on a regular basis. Some of these are caused by advances in technology which means that there isn’t as much manual labour as there used to be and, of course, we can now communicate with anywhere in the world at the touch of a button and fly half way around the globe in a day. At one time it took six weeks to sail to Australia, now people fly backwards and forwards all the time. When I first went to England it took just over 24 hours from the time we left on the train from Abbeyfeale to the time we arrived at Coventry station. Nowadays I could have my breakfast at home, have dinner in Coventry and be home again for supper! We also now have entertainment available 24/7 unlike long ago when we basically had to make our own entertainment. In the days before the gramophone and radio, many households in Ireland kept singing birds in cages to keep them amused and entertained. They were mostly canaries, linnets, and finches but many other types also finished up in captivity. It was cruel to those birds who were trapped in the cage, like a prisoner in a cell. Sometimes, when the weather was fine the cages would be hung outside the door. This must have caused great anxiety for the birds when they could see other birds flying free. As time went on, many of the songsters were born into captivity and there was good money to be made breeding singing birds for sale. This did not stop the trapping of wild birds. One method used was quite simple, especially when there was snow on the ground. A stick, about six inches long, would be put standing upright in the snow. This stick would have a piece of string attached to it, long enough to reach inside a nearby door or window in the house. A basin, the one usually used for mixing the dough for baking, would be placed, upside down, with one edge of the rim on the ground and the other resting lightly on the upright stick. A piece of food would be left under the basin and the trapper would go indoors, out of sight, and wait. Eventually a bird would come along and try to get the food. As soon as the unsuspecting creature went under the basin, the trapper pulled the string, dislodging the stick and the basin fell down imprisoning the bird inside. It was a horrible practice but I don’t suppose the people of the time gave it much thought. We never kept songbirds at home but I remember having a budgie for a short time. As youngsters, we were fascinated by this little bird who could imitate whatever was said. He didn’t last long because his cage door was left open by mistake one day and he flew out. I would like to tell you this story had a happy ending but alas the poor bird was domesticated and flew too near the cat who duly ate him!. I haven’t seen a bird in a cage for years and I hope I never will again.
There is another item you won’t see now that was common in every house long ago. It was very necessary in the bedroom in the days before electricity and piped water which made indoor toilets impossible. It was the chamber pot or the “po” as some people called it. One woman went into a shop one day and asked for a “goes under”. The shop keeper hadn’t a clue what she was after until she explained that it was “the yoke that goes under the bed”. The pots were on sale in several shops and came in different sizes and materials. The more opulent in the community tended to favour china pots while most people got the white enamel ones which were more durable and easily cleaned. Another woman asked a shopkeeper for a pot one day. When he asked her what size she wanted she stopped for a moment and after a bit of thought said, “one to hold the piss of four”. These pots had to be emptied every day and it was usually the women of the house who got this chore. They would take great care to make sure the coast was clear before venturing outside with their cargo and even then they would cover it up with a cloth just in case somebody might suddenly pass by and see what they were doing. An exception to this practice was a lady in Abbeyfeale called Kitsy Cotter. She lived across the street from the old church (now the boys school) and she would march out the door with her chamber pot as people emerged from Mass. She would engage passers by in conversation as she empted the contents into the gutter and rinsed the pot under the tap that was at the side of the street. Wasn’t she absolutely right not to try and hide something that was a necessary undertaking. Kitsy became famous in the early days of television when she was interviewed by the late Frank Hall for his weekly TV programme, Halls Pictorial Weekly. She was indeed one of the great characters of her time and would have all around her in fits of laughter. Yes, the chamber pot was part of my youth when there were always a few in the bed and more than one bed in the room. The smell of urine was strong in the morning but, like the farmer with cow dung, we got used to it and hardly noticed it after a while. The smell was made worse by the fact that young boys did not have a very good aim and overshot the pot at times! The great story teller, Daisy Kearney, tells the story of a young man who was sent to hospital in Croom many years ago. He wrote home to his mother saying he missed her, he missed the home made bread and he missed the pot under the bed. She wrote back saying he wouldn’t be missing her for much longer as she would be in to see him the following Tuesday and that she would bring a cake of bread for him. She finished with the line, “as for the pot under the bed, you always missed that anyway”. I can’t say I miss those days but they were normal to us as we didn’t know any different.
Another practice that went on in years gone by was the regular drowning of pups. Dogs would roam free around farmyards and, in those days, there was no talk of having them neutered so bitches were regularly made pregnant and produced large litters of pups. They could not all be kept because there was nothing to stop them from inter-breeding so most of them were put into a bag and drowned in some nearby water hole. It sounds pretty savage now but it was quite normal at that time. The same fate befell cats and their kittens, or “puisíns” as we called them. Animals like cats and dogs were not pets on the farm, they were workers, the dogs to herd the cows and the cats to keep down the rats and mice. In most cases they were treated well but there was the odd place where they were malnourished and did not survive for too long. Pets have a great time of it today by comparison and it is no harm. Maybe it has gone a bit too far though. I cringe when I see little dogs peeping out of handbags dressed up in clothes that should only be for human beings. This is not natural as animals have their own protection and can easily become over heated and uncomfortable. I also have a big problem with the creation of “designer dogs” by cross breeding different species. Maybe I am too long in the tooth to adopt all the new habits but I do think that we should not try to change the way dogs have been bred for centuries and it is wrong to try and make humans out of them. Leave nature alone.
War in Ukraine-
By Peg Prendeville
“The Russians are coming, hide under the bed”
How often in youth did I hear people say
And I wondered for sure if all Russians were bad
And I hoped and I prayed that I’d not see the day
When the Russians decided to start a big war
And pile pain on the neighbours who lived right next door
Led by a fanatic who was hungry for power
Bringing their standard of living right down to the floor.
For just as Covid 19 got tired and stepped back
Putin decided to light up the fuse
Despite assurances that it was not his plan
He sent in the troops and all hell broke loose.
But we mustn’t lose hope or cry out in pain
There’s good to be seen all over the earth
And we pray that it spreads deep into Ukraine
So, soon again, they’ll feel safe in their country of birth.
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Happy Retirement Dr. Murphy
On August 1st 1984 Kieran and Val Murphy chose Athea as their home and set up a GP practice in our community. Since the beginning, Kieran and his staff have taken us under their wings and cared for us all when we needed it most. As a community we are eternally grateful for all Kieran has done for us, and for his selfless commitment to the medical needs of our parish. A sub committee of Athea Community Council, made up of representatives of voluntary groups in the parish, was recently established tasked with planning an event to mark this important occasion. On Friday evening last, we were delighted to present Kieran with an invitation to a ‘Celebratory Tea Party’ which will take place in Spring 2022 at Con Colbert Hall, when it is safe to do so, allowing our community an opportunity to pay tribute to Kieran publicly. The invitation was beautifully designed by our own talented artist Mary Teresa Hurley. Thanks to Kieran, Val and family for all they have done for us, and wishing Kieran a long and very happy retirement.
CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEA
Timmy Woulfe, writer, historian, dance master, footballer extraordinaire has launched his book “As Tough as Tathfhéithleann”, a list of Irish words and phrases which were commonly used in the parish of Athea in the last century. This would make a great Christmas surprise for our ex pats.
The Way I See It
By Domhnall de Barra
It is the end of an era in Athea. On Friday last, Dr. Kieran Murphy put in his last shift at the surgery to start enjoying his well deserved retirement. Since his arrival in the village, 37 years ago, he has built up an exemplary practice and looked after the health of, not only the people of Athea but also the surrounding areas. His popularity underlines his manner as a GP and the way in which he made everyone feel special. Consultation time could be any length, which sometimes meant that we spent a little longer in the waiting room than we anticipated, but the patient’s welfare came before any clock and he was always willing to go the extra mile. In my own case I can say that he turned my life around. About 14 years ago I began to feel unwell and, like many other men, tried to deny the fact that there was something wrong until I got a bad pain one night and I had to go and see Kieran. I expected to be told that I had prostate cancer but was relieved to discover that it was diabetes.. I had not exercised since I gave up playing football etc in my late twenties so he laid out a whole new regime for me which included walking every day. After about six months he said to me at one visit; “I will keep you alive for another 13 years ‘till I retire and somebody else can be looking after you after that”. At the time I thought I would never last that long but, true to his word, I am still around and, due to his care, I am over two stone lighter and as healthy as I have ever been in my life. I’m sure many of you have similar stories to tell. He has the ability to make you feel special and more of a friend than a patient. In many ways, his coming to Athea was the saving of the place. If the clinic wasn’t there we wouldn’t have the Chemist, a great addition to the village. It also acts as a business hub because people who come from the surgery to get prescriptions often call into the local shops as well and this ensures that we are not like other small villages where all commerce has ceased. Athea Community Council set up a sub-committee to organise a farewell do where all the parish can pay their respects to Kieran but with Covid the way it is at the moment this will not happen until the New Year. On Friday evening last, a few of us met Kieran after he finished work and made a small presentation to himself and his wife Val. The real presentation will take place at the parish do which I hope won’t be too far away. The good news is that the clinic is continuing with Dr. Wallace from Glin joining the team. I wish her every success and hope I don’t have to see her too often!!
The cost of insurance is a big problem in Ireland at the moment. There are many reasons why this is so but it is hard to look any farther than the legal fraternity and the courts who seem to think money grows on trees. Rewards for injuries suffered in accidents, some of them superficial, are far higher in this country than in others, especially our nearest neighbour. There was one case lately where a child who suffered injury while being born, due to the negligence of the hospital, was awarded €30 million. I understand that the child will need life long specialist care and that a lot of money is necessary but that amount of money is far too much. At the other end of the scale there are those who have made a living out of falling in business premises and claiming off the insurance. In most cases the figures agreed are not too high and the insurer settles out of court but then the premium goes up and the business is in trouble. There was one guy from Cork who was well known for falling down open manholes and tripping over loose cobblestones and making small claims which were settled out of court. When he was in Germany one time, he saw an open beer cellar door on the street and couldn’t pass up the opportunity. He claimed from the insurance company but found out that they had a different system there and he had to go to a small claims court. The magistrate asked him what happened and he explained that he had fallen down because the door was open. He then asked him why he wasn’t carrying a white stick at the time. The Cork man was taken aback and protested that there was nothing wrong with his eyes to which the magistrate replied that in that case he had no excuse for not seeing such a big opening on the pavement and dismissed the case. A bit more of that type of justice here wouldn’t go amiss. The same applies to car insurance. The settlements here are sometimes way out of proportion and of course we all pay for them. There have been changes in the laws recently that should cut the legal costs and settlements but don’t hold your breath waiting for the premiums to return to normal.
It is difficult to understand this new variant of Covid. It was discovered by the authorities in South Africa who alerted the world only for some countries to immediately put a ban on travel from there. It was a knee jerk reaction and very unfair as it now is obvious that it is already all over the world. Where do we stand? I am one of the lucky ones who is fully vaccinated but I am now told that I could contract the new variant and also infect others. We don’t know yet how severe it is going to be but we must all now be cautious. The wearing of masks by young children has caused a bit of a stir with some parents not willing to let their offspring do so. I listened to some “experts” on the radio discussing it the other day and I was amazed at what I heard. One contributor bemoaned the fact that children had not been consulted before the regulation was put in place and that their civil rights were being ignored. How ridiculous can it get? A bit of decent parenting is what is needed. This idea of letting children decide what is or is not good for them is a nonsense. Bring back common sense.
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19 Nov 2021
Athea News
The Way I See It
By Domhnall de Barra
“Look in on your local” was an ad on TV a few years ago encouraging people to socialise in their local pub. Going to the pub wasn’t always the custom in Ireland, mainly because for hundreds of years the people of the country were subject to the ruling landlords and had very little money to spend. When we eventually gained our independence, and as we became more prosperous, the pub began to play a big part in the social life of the community. People who lived in towns and villages got into the habit of having a drink when the day’s work was done before they went home to their supper. It was a time to meet with their fellow traders and workers and discuss the news of the day. There were also a few in the bar who might be a little work shy but none the less had their own opinions on every matter. There were always a few characters who could be relied on to liven up proceedings, never letting the truth come in the way of a good story so a good time was had by all. People from the country did not go to the pub on a regular basis but, if they did have occasion to go to town for any reason, they always had a drink believing it was bad luck not to do so. As one man put it: “you couldn’t take a slate off the roof”. This was true when going to Mass on Sunday as well. After Mass, the women would do the shopping and the men would meet in the pub for a social drink with the neighbours even though it was illegal to be on a licensed premises at that time on a Sunday. There was always a side door or a back door open to accommodate the thirsty few and somebody kept a lookout for the guards who knew well what was going on but most of the time turned a blind eye. That could change if a new sergeant or super came to the district or if a squad car came from a neighbouring area. If there was a raid, those on the premises, whether drinking or not, would be summonsed to appear as “found-ons” at the next court day where they would be fined a small amount and then go back to the pub to drown their sorrows. Pubs really came into their own with the demise of the dancehalls at the end of the ‘sixties and the “dancing lounges” took over. People from near and far would gather at the weekends to have a social drink with the neighbours and dance the night away. I think it was great therapy and something for people to look forward to. Some of the lounges were very big but even the small pubs would put on entertainment at weekends. The word local to describe a pub came from England. It was the custom there for people to have a drink in the nearest small bar during the week and then to visit the bigger clubs in the centre of town at the weekends. When I lived in Coventry I was spoiled for choice. Next door to me were two pubs and a few doors down the street the Four Provinces Club catered for the Irish at the weekends. I seldom went there at the weekend because I played music at the Kerryman’s Club in the city centre on Sunday nights and I also used to visit a club called The Shamrock owned by a West of Ireland man called Tom Gaughan. Then there was a big club called the Banba that featured the big showbands from Ireland. These were where the Irish met over the weekends and I have very good memories of them. In England at the time there was too much time spent in the pub. Young lads came over from Ireland and got digs in houses. When they came from work there was nothing to do except sit in the room so most of them got into the habit of going to the pub and, not only did it affect their health, it also left them with very little money. Some became alcoholics and died well before their time but there were others who were able to temper their drinking habits and prospered in their adopted country. In Ireland the scene was a bit different but pubs flourished, particularly in the latter part of the last century. Since then there has been a decline in the pub trade with many rural pups closing down. When I was going to St. Ita’s College in Abbeyfeale there were 42 licensed premises in the town. There are now only a handful left. When we started the “Lucky Numbers” lottery in Athea, back in the ‘nineties, there was eleven public houses in the village, each one doing a good trade particularly at the weekends. At the time the drink driving laws were lax and people had their few pints and drove home. That all changed over time and, with the advent of home entertainment, the numbers going to pubs dwindled. Now we only have a few left and some of them are struggling to keep their heads above water. There is also of course the matter of expense. Back in the last century drink was relatively cheap but that day has gone and the cost of a night out now can be prohibitive. Say a couple agree to meet another couple at a pub one night. If they live in the countryside they will have to get a taxi there and back, A round of drink for four people can cost between twenty and thirty euro and there will be a few of them during the night. A babysitter may also have to be employed so, at the end of the day, a night out could cost over €100. That same couple can stay at home and have a few drinks, bought from the local supermarket or off-licence, for a fraction of the cost. So, I think the writing is on the wall for pubs as we knew them. Year on year, more traders are getting out of the market and, as one former publican said to me the other day; “you’d want to be mad to buy a pub now”
There was great sporting activity at the weekend with both the soccer and rugby teams winning their matches. I was absolutely delighted to see the crowds back again and the atmosphere created in the stadiums however I did not like when Irish fans started singing “The Fields of Athenry” when the All Blacks were performing their “Haka” a tribal warrior dance. This is a celebration of their culture and should be respected as such. There was also disappointment for me in the Ireland v Portugal soccer match when Ronaldo was booed by sections of the crowd every time he touched the ball. This is just yobbish behaviour, aping what happens across the water, and is an insult to one of the greatest footballers who has ever played the game. He showed his true nature when he gave his jersey to a young lady who managed to evade the stewards and get onto the pitch at the end.
https://www.athea.ie/category/news/
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Reflection
The Way I See It
By Domhnall de Barra
It was great to see people on the street in Athea on Sunday for the annual tractor run organised by Athea Vintage Club. There was something for all the family with a record entry in the main event. I wonder where all the tractors came from. I didn’t count them but I was a long time at the corner waiting for them all to pass by. The Trad Session after at the Top of the Town was also well attended with plenty of musicians from the very young to old codgers like myself. It was a joy to be able to sit down and share a few tunes with musicians who hadn’t played together going on for two years. It was a lovely day so well done to the organising committee who did a super job.
A lot of notable people in the arts world passed away over the past week or so. First we heard of the death of Clare accordionist Tony McMahon who hosted a very successful programme called “The Long Note” on Radio 1 for many years and also did a TV series with the late Barney McKenna. Tony had a unique way of playing the box. It was very traditional and nobody could touch him when it came to playing slow airs. He would close his eyes and get totally absorbed in the music. His health wasn’t great for a while and the last programme he did was called “Slán le Cheoil” in which he lamented the fact that he was no longer able to play the box as good as he would like. He leaves behind a great store of recording, none better that an album he made with concertina player and fellow Clare man Noel Hill. It is the best music for set dancing I have ever heard . May he rest in peace.
Next came the news that Paddy Moloney, piper supreme and leader of The Chieftans, had gone to his eternal reward. Paddy came to prominence when he was a member of Seán O’Riada’s group “Ceoltóirí Cualainn”. Seán wanted to present traditional music in a new way while still staying true to the tradition. He paved the way for the many groups who followed on, none more famous than The Chieftans. As the front man of the group Paddy was superb. He had a great way about him and endeared himself to all who met him. He succeeded in bringing Irish traditional music to the international stage and some of the most famous artists in the world performed with the group and made many recordings. He took the group to China and made an album on the Great Wall. He brought back a little Chinese folk tune that could be played on the whistle and I learned it from him. Some years later I was part of a small group of traditional musicians that was sent to China by the Dept of Foreign affairs in conjunction with a trade delegation. We got to play on the Great Wall at the same place where The Chieftains made their recording. One Sunday morning we were taken to a small square in Beijing where traditional Chinese musicians gather and play. It was like a Fleadh Cheoil with music every where and when they saw we had instruments we were asked to play and after a few selections I took out the tin whistle and played the tune I had got from Paddy’s playing. At once you could see the eyes light up and some shouted “Chieftans, Paddy Moloney” before joining in. Soon there were about fifty musicians playing away with me and it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. That is how well known Paddy was and how he made it easier for the rest of us to communicate musically with other cultures of the world. It was also lovely to hear the piping of our own Louise Mulcahy of Abbeyfeale, when she played in the background as tributes were paid to Paddy on TV. Louise is a daughter of Mick Mulcahy who was learning the box at the same time as me many moons ago. There were only two of us in the area then, look how many there are now!
Brendan Kennelly, the renowned poet from Ballylongford who spent most of his life as a professor in Trinity College, Dublin, also passed away over the weekend. Brendan was a genius but one of the nicest, most down to earth people you could meet. He said one time that if he had any airs and graces they would quickly be knocked out of him when he went home and helped in the family pub. One time, a wily old farmer was in the bar and said to Brendan “what are you at now?” Brendan said he was teaching English to which your man replied “that would suit you alright, a fine soft job” and turned away. Brendan loved Kerry and Dublin as well and he left many books of poetry and prose. The last time I met him was in Lystoll nursing home when myself and Noreen were visiting my aunt Mary. As we were coming out Noreen spotted Brendan in a sitting room so we went in to say hello Alas, Alzheimers had set in but he remembered Athea though and regaled all those in the room with a few verses of that comical song “The Road to Athea”. He was very happy and had that renowned twinkle in his eye. He has left a rich legacy that will be invaluable to future generations He will be sadly missed but always remembered with great affection as somebody who left a huge footprint on the cultural landscape.
Bridie’s Book of Gems Launched
Bridie Murphy from Glenastar, Ardagh launched her first book ‘Connections’ at Carrigkerry Community Centre on Sunday, October 17, before a very appreciative attendance. Bridie, a retired teacher, is known far and wide for her photography and now this talented lady has used her time during Covid to compile a selection of her poems, articles and photographs in book form. Gerard Liston was MC and he read one of the poems from the book and told a story about the glitter ball. Traditional music was provided by Donal O’Sullivan, Diarmuid O’Brien and Mike Murphy. Frances Kennedy told some funny stories about Bridie and Stephen in her own humorous way. Jeremy Murphy from the publishing company paid tribute to Bridie and looked forward to working with her again.
Bridie’s son, Stephen, read out a poem by her other son Kevin who was unable to attend telling the family story of the progress of the book. Seamus O’Rourke, Leitrim, author of Standing In Gaps and many funny rural stories came all the way to perform the launch. He told two of his own stories including the drawer and paid tribute to Bridie’s work before declaring it launched. Bridie read two of her poems and thanked all who helped to bring it to fruition. The book is available from Bridie and from local shops and is an ideal read. The proceeds from the book will go to Temple Street Children’s Hospital and the Irish Air Ambulance.
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19-10 2021
By Peg Prendeville
What a lovely night of fun, humour, poetry, music and laughter we had on Sunday night at the very successful launch of the book Connections in Carrigkerry Community Hall on Sunday night. Author and photographer, Bridie Murphy of Glenastar, organised this collection into a beautiful hardcover, colour book during the Covid 19 pandemic. The MC Gerard Liston did a great job and introduced us to Bridie’s son Steve who read a very humorous poem written for the occasion by his brother Kevin, who, sadly, could not be present on the night. This was followed by entertainer Frances Kenrick, book producer Jeremy Murphy Listowel, Bridie herself and the biggest surprise of all was when Gerard announced that the well known Seamus O’Rourke of “Standing in Gaps” fame was to launch the book. Seamus read two of his own pieces bringing some of us to tears at his rendition of “The Drawer”, as well as reading one from Bridie’s book. Bridie herself thanked many people for their help in bringing this book to fruition and read some more. As Seamus O’Rourke said, this is a wonderful book, written from the heart in simple style and containing some wonderful photographs. The book will be on sale in local shops @ €20. Profits go to Temple Street Hospital and Air Ambulance. Well done Bridie!
As if that was not enough in our family Bridie’s sister Ger White in East Grinstead UK has also put together a selection “Newspapers on the floor” which is being sold though amazon.com. Check it out. This too contains some lovely poems, some of local interest.
In spite of all that excitement it was a sad weekend for those of us who love poetry as on the same day, October 17th, we learned that two of Ireland’s most well known and loved poets had died. The wonderful smile and silky voice of Brendan Kennelly will be heard no more as Brendan died aged 85. I had the pleasure of hearing and meeting him many times and just loved his voice. The other great figure was Máire Mac an tSaoi aged 99, who also had a lovely reading voice and composed in English and Irish. Two great talents gone in one day but as always new talent born. And so life goes on.
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Music
Diarmuid O’Brien, Glin and Donal O’Sullivan, Carrigkerry music album ‘Abroad in the Back Kitchen’ will be launched in Hartnett’s Bar, Castleisland on Sunday, October 24, at 5.30pm. This year’s Patrick O’Keeffe festival sees the launch of the eagerly anticipated album ‘Abroad in the Back Kitchen’ from West Limerick musicians, fiddle player Diarmuid O’Brien and flute player Donal O’Sullivan. Donal and Diarmuid’s unique style of music contains the beautiful steady ‘rhythm’ and ‘lift’, associated with the West Limerick style of playing. Donal, described by many as “Master West Limerick flute player”, with his steady style and technical ability places him as one of the finest flute players in Ireland. He has performed with all the top musicians, appeared on TV and Radio and given freely of his talents to local events from a young age.
Diarmuid, once described by musician and teacher Nicky McAuliffe as “An old head on young shoulders, conscious and respectful of the music of West Limerick”, had won all Ireland honours by the age of 15. In 2007 Diarmuid released a CD entitled “Cairde Caridin” which received critical acclaim. Diarmuid and Donal’s album, which is accompanied by North Cork piano player Clodagh Buckley and Brosna bouzouki player Brian Mooney, features many tunes from the West Limerick area and beyond. Included are tunes and compositions from West Limerick musicians of the past, Martin Mulvihill Glin (fiddle), Paddy Taylor Loughill (flute), Patrick “Patneen” Ahern Glenagore (fiddle), Moss Murphy (fiddle), John Joe Harnett (flute), Tom ‘The Yank’ Nolan (flute) and Con O’Connell (fiddle).
https://www.athea.ie/category/by-carrig-side/
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ATHEA NEWS
Way I See It June 2021
By Domhnall de Barra
There was a touch of “egg on your face” in political circles at home last week. A Fianna Fáil member accused Sinn Fein of using volunteers and students to go from door to door, pretending to be from a polling company that did not exist, asking householders to fill out sample ballot papers. Sinn Féin admitted that it had been the practice but that it had stopped some years ago. Of course the media got on to it straight away and made a big deal out of it but, low and behold, the other two big parties suddenly put their hands up and confessed that they too had used the same method of polling in the past. The media kept the story alive trying to make a difference between those who pretended to be from a polling company and those who did not. It was all a storm in a tea cup. The reality is that all political parties take polls before elections. The ones with money use professional companies that don’t come cheap so it is no wonder that volunteers or low cost students were used in days when the coffers weren’t so healthy. There was much made of the “deception” tactics of those with the fake companies but what difference did it make? The person at the door was asked to fill out a sample ballot paper. It was up to them if they wanted to or not. The data provided would have been useless to anyone except political parties and it didn’t make one bit of difference what company or any the pollsters represented. It is the summer time and we can look forward to more stories like this as we enter the silly season. There was no need for such actions long ago as everybody knew what political party everybody else belonged to. I once had the privilege of listening to two party activists discussing a particular area before a general election. The conversation went like this. “He’s alright, he’s one of ours”. “What about the Casey’s”?(fictional name). “they are the other crowd always but Mick is back from England and he is a bit of a rebel and might be worth talking to”. Tom Donoghue would be ours but, blast him, he mightn’t go to vote.” “Make sure a car is sent for him so”. There was no need for pollsters at that time but I suppose things were a little more black and white in those days with the civil war parties commanding 90% of the votes in most rural areas. There were no big posters on every available pole either and the main means of communication was the after Mass speech. This would take place outside the church gate as people emerged from Mass. It was a good means of addressing the voters as 99% of the population attended the Masses on Sundays. Candidates for election and political dignitaries would shout through megaphones extolling the virtues of the party and promising all sorts of goodies if they won the election. Roughly half the crowd would be from the opposing party so a lot of bantering and heckling went on. To be honest, it was great entertainment and a bit of fun for us youngsters. I remember one time watching a group get ready outside the church in Abbeyfeale. Everything was set to go and as the church doors opened, a visiting TD took the mike and began to orate. One of the local members pulled him by the coat and said “take your time, that is only the Communion crowd”, referring to practice of some of the men who stood at the back of the church to leave as soon as the priest started to give out Communion. On another occasion a speaker who had trouble pronouncing Ps was responding to a jibe from someone in the crowd that he had been born with a silver spoon in his mouth and didn’t understand ordinary people’s problems. He said “I am not a rich man, as a matter of fact I am a peasant and all my people were peasants” (which sounded like “pheasants”). A wag in the audience shouted back at him; “come down out of that and don’t be making game of yourself”. Getting the people to come out and vote was another problem so cars were dispatched all over the area to bring voters to the poling stations. Some people, who wanted to remain unlabelled as it were, did not like to be seen in a particular party’s car but others took great pride in it. One man, who lived near me would go to the school, which was the polling station, in a Fianna Fáil car and then vote Fine Gael!. It took them years to find out they were being hoodwinked.
Today there will be a demonstration, outside where the Dáil is meeting in Dublin by people from Donegal and Mayo whose homes are falling apart due to the use of blocks affected by Pyrite and Mica. There is a scheme offering 90% of the cost of rebuilding but they want 100%. I have every sympathy with those who are affected by this problem but I have difficulty seeing how it is the government’s fault. If contaminated material was used, surely it is the companies who built the homes that are culpable. I have the same feeling about other redress schemes. How can the government of today, who weren’t in power at the time and had nothing to do with what happened decades ago, be held responsible and expected to pay out millions of Euros in compensation? People think government money is free but it is not. It is your money and mine that has been raised in taxes and there has been a huge drain on finances in recent times with the bank collapse and the pandemic payment which. Incidentally, we have to borrow to facilitate. There is no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow to pay for every ill in the state. We are , as they say, where we are so maybe it would be the best thing if we paid for the Pyrite and Mica problem and compensate those victims of the mother and baby homes and industrial schools and then draw a line under the whole process. We simply cannot afford it and it would not be fair if future generations were saddled with the bill for some misdemeanours committed today that will later be uncovered.
Delighted to see that Diarmuid O’Riordan’s Pharmacy will be administrating the vaccination for Covid beginning next week. It is a great opportunity for those over 50 who still haven’t got the jab to do so and avoid having to travel to Limerick, or even further afield if there is racing on. The more people that are vaccinated, the nearer we are to a return to normal life.
From Athea News site
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The Way I See It Tribute to Paddy Enright
By Domhnall de Barra
Last week we said goodbye to one of the last great characters in the parish, “The Kid”, Paddy Enright. The term “larger than life” is often used to describe exceptional people and Paddy certainly fitted into that bracket. Like many of us from the parish he had to emigrate to England where he spent some years before returning to settle in Templeathea. Since then he had a constant presence in the village hardly missing a day. He had a great sense of community and devoted much of his time to the GAA and the Community Council which is where I really got to know him. He joined us when we set up the lottery to finance the two FAS schemes that existed at the time and was a vital part of the team that ran the draw on Saturday nights. He also was employed on one of the schemes and created such a bond with the other members that he called in to see them and have a cup of tea several times a week up to the time he was taken ill. Paddy had a great presence and was in his element in the dance halls and dancing lounges of the past decades. He was always impeccably turned out in the best gear with not a rib of hair out of place. Although he never married, the ladies loved him because he was such a good dancer. He really cut a dash on the floor being one of the best ballroom dancers around. He enjoyed his few pints and the odd Gordons Gin to finish up the night. A keen sports follower, his favourite being hurling, he coached young teams back in the ‘eighties for Athea GAA. He was great company but he wouldn’t be slow in letting you know you were wrong if he didn’t agree with your point of view. One of his most endearing qualities was his ready wit. He could see the funny side of many situations and his laughter was infectious. An example of his quick thinking lies in the following story. A few years ago, heating fuel was stolen from the tank at the church. A couple of days later Fr. Kelly was locking the church gates after evening devotions. Paddy was passing by and without breaking stride he said “too late brother” and continued on his way. We will not see his likes again and Athea is the poorer place for that. May he rest in peace.
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By Kathleen Mullane
The death took place last week of Paddy Enright of Templeathea quiet suddenly in the Regional Hospital. Paddy was known far and wide and his funeral was testament to his popularity. THE KID, as he was affectionately known by many. A great supporter of all things GAA. He was a FRED ASTAIRE on the dance floor and was never refused a dance I’m sure. Many lined the route as his remains passed by Templeathea and flags flew and GAA members formed a guard of honour outside the pitch to bid him farewell. Requiem mass was followed by burial to Holy Cross. May he brighten the heavens above as he did on this earth while here.
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By Tom Aherne June 1 2021
We extend sympathy to Geraldine, Billy and the Liston family, Glenastar, Ardagh on the death of Geraldine’s brother Thomas Nolan, Waterpark, Shanid, Shanagolden, on Sunday, May 23. He was predeceased by his father William, mother Moira, brothers Noel and Liam. Thomas’s Funeral Mass took place in Saint Senan’s Church, Shanagolden on Thursday May 27, at 12 noon. Burial took place afterwards in Knockpatrick Cemetery. Sympathy also to his sisters Marina (Moyvane), Irene (Roscommon), Ann (Ballinasloe) and Laura (Shanagolden), sister-in-law Rose (Shanagolden), brothers in law, nieces, nephews,
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June 1 2021 from Athea News
Congratulations on 50 years of Priesthood and Pastoral Care
Rev. Michael J. Moroney from Templeathea, Co Limerick
Fr Mike was ordained on the 12th of June 1971 in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Thurles and his first mass was in St Bartholomew’s Church, Athea on the 13th June. His was assigned to the Baton Rouge Dioceses where he has made a huge impact in building communities both physically and spiritually.
In 2013, Fr. Mike was selected as one of the top 12 distinguished Pastors in the USA by the National Catholic Educational Association, and he is the only priest in the Diocese of Baton Rouge to ever receive this honour. In 2019 he was the first priest to hold the illustrious position of Grand Marshal in the 34th St Patrick’s Day Parade in Baton Rouge.
https://www.athea.ie/
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From Tom Aherne Notes Athea News 25 May 2021
People driving past Coolcappa village may have noticed a memorial stone on the roadside close to the national school and wondered what the story behind it was. Last Saturday was the 100 anniversary of the man it is dedicated to, Patrick O’Brien. Ger Greaney, who has a passion for genealogy has uncovered the following on Patrick: The crafted stone is in honour of a local volunteer, Patrick O’Brien, who lost his life 100 years ago. Patrick O’Brien was born in Riddlestown on the 12th of April 1896 to Charles O’Brien and Ellen Sheahan. He left for America in 1914 at the age of 17 to help provide for his aging parents. He returned from America to visit his widowed mother in 1921.
He died on May 21st, 1921 as a result of a booby trap bomb on the Tally-Ho Bridge near Rathkeale. ”When opening a filled in trench near Rathkeale he was killed by an explosion. On investigation, it was found that a Mills bomb had been placed in the trench, a foot from the surface, and a piece of wire was placed around a stone. When the stone was removed the pin of the bomb was drawn and the bomb exploded.” He was not found until the following morning and despite the attention of Dr. Hayes, he died from his injuries. This monument is in Coolcappagh, across from the cottage that his parents lived in. Ar Dheis Dé go raibh a hAnam Uasal. Members of Saint Kieran’s Heritage Association placed a wreath there on Saturday last to mark his 100 anniversary.
I came across a song about Paddy Dalton who I featured a few weeks ago on the 100 anniversary of his death by Crown forces in Gortaglanna on May 12, 1921. It was written by Tommy Scanlon and I include the five verses as follows.
In Athea’s lonely churchyard, by the Gale’s gentle waves,
Our hero lies sleeping in a green Irish grave,
Our own Paddy Dalton the bravest and best,
We will miss him forever in lovely Coole West.
He fought for his country, and died for the cause,
Against the cruel invaders he hated their laws,
For the dawning of freedom from slavery’s chain,
He gave his young life, but he died not in vain.
To your memory dear Paddy, who fought on the day,
And to all the grand boys from the old I.R.A.
Who fought for their country and died for their land,
To your memory dear Padraig, we have got a fine band.
We will play you sweet music a lullaby of rest,
And softly ’twill steal o’er the hills of Coole West,
We will beat the drums loudly and play Geal mo Chroi,
Until Ireland again be a home for the free.
Flow gently sweet Gale for guard they are keeping,
The angels above o’er the grave where he is sleeping,
While his band o’er the hill’s echoes music serene,
Keeping memory of the cause in our souls ever green.
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https://www.athea.ie/category/news/
Connie Brouder “The Boss”
Our dad, Connie Brouder, was born in 1926 which made him 95 when he passed away on Thursday morning, March 18, 2021. He had a long and interesting life and we’d like to tell you a little about him.
The Ireland Dad was born into was a very poor country, farms were between 30 and 100 acres, crops were poor, there was no electricity, no running water, no TV, just plenty hard work for everyone.
Dad was only 14 when his father died placing a heavy burden on his shoulders at such a young age – his mother Nell, brother Tom and sister Peggy. Of course there was no grief counseling in those days, you pulled up your boot straps and carried on. Maybe that’s what made Dad who he was. Dad’s family were just as poor or as rich as their neighbors surviving on a few cows, pigs and chickens.
Dad began his education under the tutelage of Master Danaher. There he learned all the core subjects including Latin and poetry. His favourite poems remained Sam McGee and Dan McGrew which he quoted often.
When Dad was 20 he married my Mom and the rest as they say is history. Mom and Dad had 14 children altogether including 9 boys and 5 girls and Nan (Dad’s mom) lived with us.
Living on a small farm meant lots of hard work just to get by, feeding 14 children was a challenge. While Mom managed the farm, Dad worked with his hands and this sparked his mechanical interest.
First to arrive at the house was a Willy Jeep. He immediately cut off the rear half behind the driver’s seat and turned it into a modern-day pickup. Over the rear axle, he installed a hydraulic lift identical to a 3-point linkage in a tractor. The jeep was now ready for action. His plan was to build a mowing machine that could be attached to the jeep. The welder had many uses and Dad learned as he went. I can tell you the mowing machine got full employment all summer. AND best of all, we got pocket money to go to the pictures.
Many of the fields in our area were full of stones; ploughing them was hazardous as the leaf point often shattered when it hit the rocks. The local farmers, tired of delays and costly repairs, asked Dad if he could do something. Dad came up with the idea of putting a sock of “mild steel” on the leaf point which acted as a shock absorber keeping it from cracking. Incidentally, that sock is on all ploughs today. Just in case any man should boast, Dad was blessed with more than his share of common sense. Thank God he passed it on to his children also.
Dad is not done yet, next on his list is designing the cock-lifter to attach to the jeep. Many of you may remember, before hay bales, we had hay cocks that had to be wound up onto a hay float and drawn one by one to the barn. This was very hard and tedious work, while anxious farmers watched the weather. With the cock-lifter, the tractor did all the work. Imagine the fun us boys had driving the jeep. God was certainly protecting us as we didn’t know a thing about safety. We attribute our longevity to the many “God Bless You’s” we got. What about his girls you might ask??? Well we were not to be outdone. We all worked hard but it didn’t seem like it as we got to ride on the tractor.
Since the hay is seasonal, Dad thought up another use for that jeep. When the Sputnik was launched in 1957, Dad got the idea for designing the lime spreader. Out came the welder again. Dad took the rear axle off a consul car, turned the crown wheel vertical and welded a directional spinner on the top of it. After that, he welded together a wedge-shaped box which held about a yard to two yards of burned lime. All he had to do then was pull the lime spreader with the jeep spreading the lime. A major advantage using the jeep was that it was 4-wheel drive and could travel anywhere.
In 1956 when electricity came to Tarbert, Dad got a manual from the ESB and taught himself how to wire houses and install milking machines for the farmers. This is how Dad operated, always up for something new.
Being a forward-looking man, Dad needed a change and turned to the building trade. First off was Tarbert Island where he worked for several years, then the 2-Mile Inn, and ABA making kitchens. Soon after, he was recruited by a man named John Sisk where he spent many years working. Dad’s hard work and sharp mind earned him the nickname “No Problem.” There wasn’t a thing he was asked to do that he couldn’t. Dad was fearless and always up for a challenge. I remember one time his car rolled under water, anyone else would have drowned but not Dad! He had the presence of mind to first open the window, wait for the water to rise and swim to safety.
Dad’s wonderful building projects ensured we were all employed at an early age. We picked up many life-long skills from watching him. And since Dad was also an avid car enthusiast, he didn’t mind when we filled the back yard with several cars – maybe I should clarify, they were fixer uppers. We may have spent a lot of time under those pieces of junk, but as long as they were drivable for the dance, we were happy.
Now while Dad may have worked hard, he played hard also. In the younger days it was Gaelic football and horseback riding. When his horse “Quart Pot” threw him, that was the end of the riding. Later on he had interests in reading, music, singing, dancing, and even local plays. Does anyone remember “The Shadow of a Gunman.” We loved hearing the shotgun blast. Dad played instruments like the piano-accordion and saxophone, all self-taught. He was blessed with a phenomenal memory and knew the lyrics of every song on the planet, putting us all to shame. I think we all disappointed Dad in the music area. We all loved music we couldn’t play a tin can. His grandchildren though saved the day.
While Dad was not the most patient man as many of his colleagues discovered, he was fair in his dealing with others. I guess what Dad gave us children was more by example than words. He worked hard but didn’t miss out on playing. He encouraged us to take risks and not back away from a challenge. He definitely encouraged everyone to go on to further education and learn about whatever interested them. He gave us the gift of learning by research and study to accomplish our goals.
I think he regretted not going to University himself. He pushed us to be better maybe not necessarily nicely but the only way he knew how. Being competitive himself he didn’t understand fear in others. He went full steam ahead and wasn’t afraid to make a mistake which is a good life lesson.
We all feel grateful to have as much time with him as we did. His memory will carry on.
I would like to thank you all again for coming and end with a short quote from one of his favourite poems:
“The Cremation of Dan McGee by Robert Service.”
There are strange things done in the midnight sun
By the men who toil for gold;
The Arctic trails have their secret tales
That would make your blood run cold;
The Northern Lights have seen queer sights,
But the queerest they ever did see
Was the night on the marge of Lake Lebarge
I cremated Sam McGee.
On behalf of the Brouder Clan, we want to thank you all for your kind words and condolences, may God bless you all.
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Mar/21
Sports-09/03/2021
by DomhnallDB under Sports
By Damien Aherne
Tickets for the Limerick Club Draw (formally Mackey Draw) are currently on sale through Athea GAA Clubforce, or by contacting any member of the Committee. There is a prize fund totalling €210,000 split over 10 draws, one draw a month from March to December. Tickets are usually priced at €100, but Athea GAA are currently offering a 10% discount on all tickets purchased through Club Force. 50% of the cost of tickets purchased is returned to Athea GAA, with the remaining 50% invested in the training fund for the Limerick Hurling & Football Teams. The first draw is scheduled to take place on March 27th, so anyone interested please purchase your ticket ASAP. The link for ClubForce can be found on our Facebook Page.
We would like to offer our thanks to John McAuliffe, Lower Road who has sponsored a bird feeder which was recently installed at our Walk & Talk Track. John did a fantastic job ensuring the feeder is ‘crow proof’ allowing smaller birds to benefit from feed. We look forward to monitoring the visitors over the coming months. Anyone interested in purchasing a similar type product can contact John directly.
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A new documentary on the life and times of singer Con Greaney will be broadcast on West Limerick 102 radio on Saint Patrick’s Day with the time to be announced. The well known singer passed away on June 22, 2001 in Saint Ita’s Hospital, Newcastle West aged 89 years. It is important that the contribution of Con to the entertainment scene is documented and preserved for future generations. Many of his songs both serious and comical will be included plus guests paying tribute to him during the 90 minute show.
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More Limericks
There was a young man from Athea
Who went out riding one day
While passing Derreen
A fair maiden he’d seen
She’s expecting a baby in May!
Anon.
There was a young man from Athea
Who insisted on walking each day
The climb up Tooradoo
Only gave him the flu
So in Cratloe he now plans to stay!
Anon.
Who to Believe
Domhnall de Barra
The urban rural divide was very evident on the Joe Duffy show last week. Katie Hannon, filling in for Joe, heard from a man who was complaining about farmers using bangers to scare off crows, the smell of slurry and the soiling of the roads. He also described farmers as “tax dodgers”. Needless to say there were many voices from the farming community but there were also quite a good number who supported his views. There is no doubt that living next door to a banger that is going off every 10 minutes all day is disturbing not to mention the awful smell from slurry but, if you choose to live in the countryside, you get used to the inconvenience. The bangers are used for less than a month and are necessary to protect farmer’s crops. Likewise, slurry spreading can only take place at certain times and, though the smell may be strong, it doesn’t last forever. My neighbour, Donal Woulfe, sends a text to Noreen when he is about to spread slurry and she then closes all the windows. The smell is gone in a very short time and things return to normal. Farmers are getting a hard time of it at the moment from animal rights enthusiasts, vegans and those who want to turn the land into wilderness. They also get criticised for the grants they get from Europe which some people say are unnecessary. Without subsidies farming does not pay. When Ireland joined what was then the Common Market it was agreed that they would be compensated for low prices so that people in Europe would have cheap food. That was the start of the “cheque in the post” . Sometimes there was more food produced than necessary and the surplus went to third world countries who were in need of support. When it comes to food it is a buyers market. The major supermarkets buy as cheaply as they can and because they buy in such bulk they control the market. If there wasn’t help from Europe we would have no food producers here. At the moment, beef farmers are trying to get a fair price for their animals but the plain fact is that they lose money on every beast they sell. They deserve to make a fair living for all the hard work they put into it. People who build or buy houses in the country should realise the type of environment they are going to live in and adjust to their new surroundings. It’s a bit like somebody buying a house near an airport and then complaining about the noise of jet planes all day and night. One can become used to noises and smells. I remember when I first went to live in England. I stayed with my aunt Nora in Coventry in a house that backed on to a main street. At first I could not sleep with the sound of all the traffic, a far cry from the motorless roads of Athea at the time. After a few nights I got quite used to it and it became background noise that lulled me to sleep, in fact, when I came home I had trouble getting used to the silence!! It is a two way street. Farmers can help by getting to know their neighbours and explaining to them what they are doing. They can also help by making sure no soil or manure is left scattered on the roads and minimise the use of bangers where possible. The benefits of living in rural areas far outweigh the disadvantages. Let us all try to get along and we will all be happier.
There is a big difference between the layout of graveyards in Kerry and Limerick. I have many relations buried in both counties due to the fact that my father came from Brosna and most of his family are now buried in various burial grounds in The Kingdom while my mother is a native of Athea so we also have graves in Limerick. I must say that in comparing both counties, Kerry comes out on top. Their design is simple; narrow walkways divide the rows of graves with the bottom of each grave towards the path.. There is no room wasted and each headstone is visible from the path giving easy access to each grave without having to cross another one. Today I had a good look at our own graveyard (new one) and I could see where mistakes were made. Paths were put in in advance and sometimes they run at angles to the lines of graves. There is very little access to some graves and a lot of room is wasted by the paths. We haven’t reached it yet in this area but in other parts there is a scarcity of ground for graves so it would make sense to avail of every bit of ground available to put in as many graves as possible. Another huge problem in graveyards is the surrounds that make it difficult to cut grass and keep the place clean. We all do it as it is the custom now but, in other areas surrounds are prohibited and large mowers can be used to keep the graves well mown and tidy. Some headstones are also not suitable being too big and ostentatious. There is a limit to height now but before that law came into being many huge headstones were erected. The bottom end of the graveyard in Abbeyfeale is an example of what I am complaining about. Huge headstones of the most expensive marble, rise up towards the sky surrounded by smaller statues and tablets making the grave look garish. Surely a simple headstone giving the names, addresses and ages of those buried there, is sufficient. I suppose there is a bit of “keeping up with the Joneses” involved too with people trying to show how much they remember their loved ones by spending a lot of money on their graves. I remember a story I once heard about the sales pitch of an undertaker. When a family called to him to choose a coffin for their departed mother, he showed them the cheapest first, then the next most expensive and finally the dearest one. Then he said to them; “I suppose ye will want the best for ye’re mother”. How could they say they didn’t despite the fact that the finest oak with gold handles is still going into the ground. The best way to remember those who have gone before us is to keep them in our hearts and pray to them every day. Pay a visit to the graves as often as possible and always remember that we are not far away from the graveyard ourselves. We know not the day nor the hour.
We weep over the graves of infants and the little ones taken from us by death; but an early grave may be the shortest way to heaven. Tryon Edwards
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ATHEA Village pumps still survive – one in front of the Butchers and one on the Abbeyfeale Road. These pumps were installed in 1935, with water coming down from Matthews’ Mountain.
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Tickets are now for sale for our Club Development Draw 2020. Tickets are priced at just €50 which covers entry into all 5 draws. Tickets can be purchased online through clubforce by following the link – https://clubforce.com/clubs/gaa-athea-gaa-club-limerick/. Tickets can also be purchased by contacting any of the following sellers; Kevin O’Keeffe, Roger Ryan, Paul Curry, Matthew Tierney, Neddie Hunt, Pat O’Sullivan, Mossie Ahern, Gerard Ahern, John Hunt, Ger Collins, Liz O’Sullivan, Dan McMahon, Martin Chawke, Podge Reidy, Mark Reidy, Oliver McGrath, Ned Mahony, Majella Dalton, Declan Dalton, Pa Ahern, Kathleen Mullane or Timmy Enright. Tickets also available to purchase at Athea & District Credit Union.
Athea GAA News;
BY EAMON MC ELLIGOTTI have trained senior and district football for Ballylongford and Shannon Rangers in Kerry since 2009. Football is in my blood. My uncle Jer D. O'Connor played for Kerry in the 60’s and Captained Kerry in 64. Football has always been extremely important to me. I play for Ballylongford, a club which has a strong connection to Athea, one of its most decorative players, having journeyed across the County bounds to manage Athea to a county title - the great Johnny Walsh.
Athea is a club which is held in high regard in Kerry with many North Kerry clubs seeking challenge matches as preparation before the North Kerry championship. I took over the running of Brown Joe's Bar in Athea in 2019 and took a keen interest in following the GAA in the village, especially knowing many of the players from school football in Tarbert Comprehensive. It was an extremely unlucky year and Athea slipped to Junior. Dropping to Junior A does not sit right with me especially with the talent that’s there. It is a community with unbelievable spirit and the GAA is no different. The facilities are top class, the committees both past and present, all sponsors, members and players should be extremely proud. In 2020, having spent over 10 years managing and training in Kerry, I showed an interest in the Athea job, I felt if I could contribute anything it would be great. The committee offered me the job. I was more than proud. Thankfully Mike Ahern and Roger Ryan have come on board, two people with a massive interest in Athea football. Unfortunately our preparation for the Junior Championship were cut short due to Covid 19. From essential interactions with the players, I have been overwhelmed by the level of dedication/commitment and genuine interest. There is a lot of talented footballers in Athea. I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever that this bunch of players will celebrate success in the very near future. It's great to be back on the field
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PAGE 05 PLAYER PROFILE - SPORTING LIFE DURING THE LOCKDOWN Carla Sheehy is a rehabilitation staff nurse working in the Rehabilitation Unit in St Ita’s Community Hospital in Newcastle West. She has worked there for the past 3 years. She trained to be a nurse in the Institute of Technology in Tralee in which she graduated in 2013. She has worked in numerous hospitals including University Hospital Limerick and University Hospital Kerry. Carla has played football with Athea Ladies Football Team since she was 8 years of age. In 2004, at the age of 13 she got the call up from manager Patie Higgins to the Athea Ladies Senior Football Team. In 2004, Athea Ladies had a remarkable year winning the County League title, County Senior Championship, Munster Intermediate Club title and the All Ireland 7-a-side Intermediate title. Athea won 10 County Senior Championship Titles in a row from 2001-2010 in which Carla won 7
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PAGE 07 TRACK INSIGHT MELISSA DALTON Introduction: Our household has a long association with Athea GAA. It began with my father starting to play football with the club at a young age. He went on to win a county junior title in the 1963 Championship which ended up not being finished until 1964. He further went on to win a Senior title with the club in 1968 which was the first ever Senior title for the club. Fast forward a few years and the rest of the family followed in his footsteps. Having grown up in a family with three brothers and my hugely influential father it was inevitable that Athea GAA would become a huge part of my life as I was growing up. From a very young age I was always interested in GAA and loved going to matches with my father. He would always bring me and the lads along with him whenever he was going to a match and we travelled the length and breadth of the county with him. It was from here my love for the GAA grew. My playing career began while attending Athea National School and playing with the School Football Team. This lead onto me joining the Athea Ladies Football club where I played for a number of years. During my years playing with the Athea Ladies I have lots of happy memories and memories that will last and I will cherish forever. One of my main highlights while playing for the club was captaining the U14 girls’ team which won the County title in 1999,
(Taken from Athea GAA Letter 24 July 2020)
Email: domhnall.barry@gmail.com
by Domhnall de Barra
Mass times: Tuesday and Friday at 7.30pm, Thursday and Sunday 10.30am. Remember that any Mass on any day will fulfill the obligation of observing the Sabbath Day.
People have been asking me when the hard copy of Athea & District News will be on sale again. Up to now it was not possible, because of health restrictions and the absence of local activity, to do the weekly production but now that things are slowly improving I hope to resume the week after next. It will be difficult because the bit of advertising we had is not there anymore and if the sales are not good enough I will have to pack it in. Please spread the word, especially to those who have not availed of the online version. The newsletter does not make a profit but that does not bother me, however I would be unable to continue suffering a loss every week. I believe the newsletter is a vital part of our community and gives a voice to all our organisations, societies, clubs and individuals. Not many villages have such a platform and it would be a great pity if, after all the years, it had to be closed down.
A worrying trend in the last few days is the fact that new cases or Corona virus are increasing. I watched with hope as the numbers continued to fall over the month of June and thought we would now be at the stage where no new cases would be reported. As soon as restrictions were lifted some people lost the run of themselves. The crowds drinking together in laneways near pubs in Dublin is symptomatic of the thinking that a: it doesn’t apply to us and b: we think the danger is all over. We just have to look to other countries where lockdown is being reintroduced to realise that this virus is far from being defeated and is a real and present danger. Contemplating going on a foreign holiday at the moment is nothing short of reckless. I hear people complaining about the fact that they have already booked and paid and the need their two weeks in the sun. Where did this idea that we all “need a break” come from? Our parents and grandparents worked harder than we ever did but they never needed to jet off to exotic places at least once a year. If you really must get away, try discovering our own country. You might not have the sunshine but the land is full of sights and hidden places that are the envy of the world. By doing so you will take away the risk of contacting the virus abroad and bringing it back to your friends and family. We have made too many sacrifices up to now throw it all away and return to square one..
C.D. Printing
Cratloe, Abbeyfeale
Ph: 068-42533/42351
087-6758762
Email: domhnall.barry@gmail.com
‘For all your Printing Needs’
*In Memoriam and Acknowledgement Cards
to personal specification*
Times are tough for local clubs and organisations who depend on raising funds locally. Athea Community Council has lost its only source of revenue; the weekly lottery. That was started back in the ‘90s to help fund the two FAS schemes that existed in the parish at the time. Since then, the weekly returns have funded much work in the locality including the building of the footbridge over the river which cost in excess of €350,000. the latest venture, just before Covet struck, was the purchase of the premises next to the Gables from Connie Herbert. This building offers great potential but unless we can get the lottery back on track in the near future, we are in trouble. We had great sellers who regularly returned money every week but their customers are gone because there is no bingo and pubs are still closed. What we really need are volunteers who will sell a few tickets to family and neighbours on a weekly basis. There is great goodwill out there but it needs to be harnessed. If you could sell a couple of tickets a week please make contact with any member of the Community Council or call me on 087 6758762
First Week May 2020
by Domhnall de Barra
This week we have the usual contributions from Kathlen Mullane, Peg Prendeville, Tom Aherne and Marian Harnett. We have nothing on the sports front; no surprise there. I sometimes wonder if there is anyone out there logging on to this every week as, despite my request for same, nobody has sent any pictures, articles, for sale items, poems etc. I would love to get some to fill our pages during theses lean times so start searching!. It’s great to be able to walk out in the fresh air within the 5km limit. We are very lucky to be living where we are with such beautiful countryside to enjoy. The other day I stood at the top of the hill, between Coole East and Keale. and the only Munster county I wasn’t able to see was Waterford. I suppose in normal times we take it too much for granted.
One of the saddest results of the pandemic regulations is the ban on funerals and people being present when loved ones are passing away. Funerals play a huge part in community life in this area. It is a time when friends and neighbours show their support by attending the removal, Mass and burial, recalling the life and times of the person who has passed on. The other day I got news of the sudden death of a good friend, Nora (Butler) Swan from Nenagh. She was a regular visitor to Athea, singing and adjudicating at most of the Fleadhs since the early 70s. She was one of the main attractions when she sang at the first concert, which was organised by Fr. Duggan, in St. Bartholomew’s Church, Athea. She refused to accept any fee or travelling expenses as the concert was for the Lourdes Fund. Considered one of the top female singers in the traditional world, she won three All-Ireland titles in a row, a great achievement. We were in concert tours all over the world together in the ’70s and ’80s and I have very fond memories of that time. It is only a few days since she called myself and Noreen We had great craic with her for about an hour. It was very difficult not to be able to go to her funeral but, thanks to the miracles of modern technology, we were able to watch the Mass in Nenagh on the laptop. She was a very special fried of Donie and Betty Lyons, Dromreask and often stayed in their house. She will be sadly missed by her sister Mary and all in the world of traditional music. We won’t see her likes again. May she rest in peace.
While I was on my walks recently, I was amazed to see the number of young people who are ignoring the social distancing recommendations. I counted four cars with more than two youths in them and I also saw groups huddled together in conversation. We see no danger when we are young but this virus is no respecter of age and can strike young and old alike so I would appeal to everybody to pull together for now. The more we conform, the quicker it will all be over.
I had a complaint the other day about dumping in the graveyard. It is an unfortunate fact of life that some people are litterers and just don’t care. Having bins available was suggested but, everywhere bins were provided, they had to be removed again because they were filled with household rubbish. in normal times the CE Scheme workers could deal with the problem but they are grounded at the moment. At the end of the day the graveyards are the property and responsibility of Limerick County Council so complaints should be addressed to them, preferably through your local representatives.
Contact me through: domhnall.barry@gmail.com
30 4 2020
by Domhnall de Barra
Once again we are a bit short on the news front but however we have items from Kathleen Mullane (Kathleen’s Corner), Tom Aherne (by Carrig Side), Peg Prendeville (Knockdown News), Marian Harnatt (Abbeyfeale Notes) and I have included an old photo in the Sports section which was sent to me be Denis O’Connell whose father Christy (brother of John O’Connell, Gortnagross) died recently. Christy was a member of the 1950 team that included some great footballers. Have a look.
Today is the last day in April, a day that had great significance for past generations. Pisógs were commonly practised by certain people and May Eve was a time when they were at their strongest. The Irish “Pisóg” comes from the English word “Pishogue” which is a term for magic or a spell. The people who practiced the black arts had the power to cause disease and sickness in animals and humans and to increase or decrease produce such as hay and milk. They were mostly women who were thought to be able to take the form of a hare or other animal. To get what they wanted they had to visit the property of their victims and touch the crops or animals. People were really scared of this so, on May Eve, they went around their lands and houses, sprinkling holy water to ward off the evil spirits. I remember my father and mother doing it and my wife Noreen does it to this day. Did they exist at all? There is very strong anecdotal evidence that they did and I can recall several stories from my own locality that would be hard to make up. One incident involved a farm that started to have bad luck. Calves and bonhams were born dead, hay rotted and milk went sour in the tanks. One local man told me that they were piking hay into the barn and every second cock had eggs in it, a common sign of pishoguery. Things were so bad that eventually they went to the parish priest who brought a colleague from the diocese who was trained to deal with the supernatural. They said Mass and blessed all the land. From that day forward their luck turned and everything went back to normal. Of course there were some exaggerations and pisógs were blamed for accidental misfortune that happens all the time. The clergy, at the time, did believe that there was evil afoot and helped the people where they could. I firmly believe hat evil does exist and is evident in the atrocities that occur every day in this world. Maybe there is always a war between good and evil and we struggle at times to be as good as we would like to be. Anyway, pisógs seemed to have died down but many people will not take the chance and the holy water will get a liberal sprinkling tonight.
I got a letter with a few photos from a person who does not want to be named (for obvious reasons) and describes himself/herself as “a friend of the earth” It basically says that the cutting of turf by machines does a very neat job laying out the turf but leaves the bog from where the turf was cut in an awful state. In bygone days the stripping sod was laid in the bog hole preserving the flora of the region but the new method means that valuable and rare plants and flowers will be lost. I don’t think there is much to worry about as the days of cutting turf at all are numbered. There is a ban coming on the burning of fossil fuels and, they say, turf causes far more pollution than coal. It is inevitable that things are going to change. New houses can no longer have chimneys so the writing is on the wall. Turf was very important in this part of the world and gave employment to hundreds of workers from late spring to the end of summer. Most households cut more than they needed for themselves and then had turf for sale to houses in towns and villages who had no bog of their own or to the many lorry men who sold it down the County Limerick. It was a nice little earner during tough times in this country.
More Changes
By Domhnall de Barra
I normally play golf on Sunday mornings but for the past couple of weeks the weather has made that exercise impossible. To be honest, I didn’t know what to do with myself with time on my hands and no plans as to how I should spend it. Storm force winds and lashing rain made outside trips undesirable, if not dangerous, so I read the papers and listened to the radio. There are some very good programmes on RTE 1 on Sunday mornings. World Report brings news from all over the globe and at 8.30am John Bowman goes through the archives for some very interesting recordings. After the news there is a marvellous programme called Sunday Miscellany, a mixture of poetry, interesting stories and a fine blend of music. In case you may be wondering, I am not getting paid by RTE for this endorsement of their Sunday morning programmes, it is just the fact that, due to golfing commitments, I had seldom heard them before or at least never really listened to them and was pleasantly surprised at how good they were. In one programme there was a section on Eoin O’Mahony. Eoin “the Pope” O’Mahony (22 March 1905 – 15 February 1970) was an Irish barrister, local councillor, and genealogist. He was well known as a “wit, raconteur, and fighter for hopeless causes”. He was born in County Cork and attended Presentation Brothers College, Cork and Clongowes Wood College. In an interview he made a comment that struck a chord with me. He said he wore his first pair of long trousers when he went to Clongowes at the age of 14. His mother did not know that long trousers were compulsory so he turned up in shorts to the amusement of his classmates. I hadn’t given it much thought but it got me thinking about the change that has come about in the way we wear clothes. When we were going to school long ago every boy had short trousers. The first long ones might come for the Confirmation but, up to that time the legs were left uncovered. We had two pairs, one for weekdays and one for Sundays, or part of Sundays to be exact because they were only worn for going to Mass and as soon as we got home they had to be taken off in case they got dirty. The weekday ones were made of strong, durable cloth such as corduroy. They were held up by a pair of braces. Underpants were unheard of in those days but we would have a vest in the winter. Heavy cotton shirts, with long tails and a jumper completed the “uniform”. Heads were usually cropped very close leaving just a bit of a fringe at the front. The reason for this was to avoid the head lice that were a plague at the time. Sometimes, in class, we had to share books with two or three heads stuck together trying to read the small print. I remember that there were two catechism books; the green one and the red one. We all had a green one but, for some unknown reason, there were never enough red ones to go around so we had to share giving ample opportunity for the lice to spread. My mother would watch us closely when we went home and, if we scratched our head at all, the fine tooth comb was out and the scalp was well raked. It was not a very nice experience, leaving the scalp very sore, but it was necessary at the time. The girls were worse off as their hair was long. It was either combed to the side or split in the middle. In those days girls always wore bows in their hair, one if parted to the side and two if parted in the middle. Again their dress was simple, skirts, blouses and cardigans being the most popular. Sometimes they might wear a “gymslip” but never were they seen in trousers of any kind. It was tough on them as they got older. As soon as they reached puberty they were put into corsets, not because they needed the support but it was the custom of the times as was binding the breasts with cloth to prevent them protruding. There is a line in one of John B Keane’s plays called “The Buds of Ballybunnion” when a woman from the country, on holiday by the sea says when getting ready to bathe; “O, the merciful relief of a loosened corset”. Footwear was also basic. We went barefoot for at least six months of the year and then wore boots or wellingtons. When it came to the fall of the year, free boots were distributed by the local relieving officer. They were sturdy and long wearing but were always too big. They were got that way so that we would “grow into them” but they were most uncomfortable. This had an effect on me in later life when I began buying my own shoes. I went in the other direction and got them as tight-fitting as possible also making them uncomfortable to wear. Children today would not dream of being seen in the outfits we had and that is no harm. Everyone theses days is wearing runners or sneakers which are light and warm unlike the heavy clogs we had. I sometimes miss the past and bemoan all the changes that have occurred but some changes are for the better and we are healthier and fitter because of them.
Changes in weather as well. Can anyone remember a time when we had so much wind and rain? I certainly can’t but we are not the worst off in this neck of the woods. Spare a thought for those unfortunate people who live along the Shannon in the West of Ireland. Imagine having all your land under water and your house flooded and not being able to look after livestock. This is not an isolated occurrence but something that is repeated even more frequently as the years go by. There are several ways of dealing with the problem but every time a solution is proposed, such as dredging the river, various groups object on environmental grounds etc. It is time to look after people first.
Great Expectations
By Domhnall de Barra
It is all over for another year and how quickly it goes by. All the months of preparation, the panic buying, the giving and receiving of presents, being nice to everyone (even the ones we don’t like that much!), the eating too much, drinking too much and sleeping in in the morning, are now behind us as we drag ourselves back into our everyday routines once more. To tell the truth, it is good to be back to something that resembles normality, a structure to our day because the most of us are not cut out for overindulgence. I wonder though if the true meaning of Christmas is getting lost in all the hullabaloo. The majority of people who celebrate at this time of year do not believe in Jesus Christ so why are they celebrating His birth? It would be easy to be judgemental and cynical but maybe it does not matter because, for a while, there is goodwill in the air and a sense of peace and surely it is what Jesus would have wanted for a birthday present. The only problem is that it does not last and we quickly return to our old ways in a world that is not a nice place, most of the time. I realise that it would be impossible to keep the spirit of Christmas alive all the time so let us be glad that we can experience it, if even for a short while, once a year.
The Wrenboy tradition survives in this part of West Limerick but the batches are getting fewer, especially the younger ones. We couldn’t wait for St. Stephen’s Day to go from house to house, playing our tunes and singing our songs, mainly because we had no money in those days and we felt very rich after we had divided the spoils in the evening. I suppose young people nowadays are so well off that they don’t need to go on the wren. It is a pity because they are missing out on a great experience. We would have prepared from the month of October when the bodhráns were made. The goat skins had to be treated and stretched over the wooden rim in a particular way which was known to very few in the area. As they used to say “there was a knack to it”. A well made bodhrán ( there were no bodhráns in our day, they were called tambourines) produces a sound that is full and round and when played properly can enhance and inspire the music. There is no finer sound than that made by a batch of wrenboys with fiddles, flutes and accordions accompanied by a number of bodhráns all played in unison. Let us hope that there will be a revival and that a tradition that goes back a long way in our parish is not lost.
The new year brings with it great expectations. We make resolutions that we will do better and change our lives. One person gives up the drink, another the fags etc but, for most of us it is short lived. It is good to have the intention, however long it lasts and some people do succeed in their goals so why not try. It is a time for wondering about the future and what it might hold for us. What a different place the world is now in comparison to what it was like 100 years ago. If it had been possible to freeze somebody at that time and awaken them now what would they think? They would probably think they had been transported to another planet such are the changes and I doubt if they would want to stay. I dread to think what it will be like if the world survives another 100 years. I would hope that the great advances we are making will result in the eradication of disease and sickness, that the third world will be brought into line with the rest of us and enjoy the benefits of prosperity and peace, that world leaders will do just that, lead, and work towards the greater good for all and not just for their own narrow agendas, that the threat of nuclear war will be removed by total disarmament, that Ireland will at last be united as a country that respects and embraces all cultures and religions and that my grandchildren and their children will see a reversal of the global warming that is a threat to our very existence in the not too distant future. Maybe I am dreaming but so what? I have been very privileged to have lived through an era of change that the world has never before seen. When I was born in 1945, just after the war, the world hadn’t seen much change for hundreds of years but since then it has changed beyond all recognition. At Christmas we were able to talk to and look at our relatives all over the world using the smart phone technology we now take for granted. There is much that is good in the world, we just need the political will to encourage and foster it. Great expectations alright but without hope, without a dream for the future, where are we.
The Journal and Overcharging
By Domhnall de Barra
I was asked the question the other day, “how do you make the Journal?” My flippant answer was, “with great difficulty”, so as we are at it at the moment, I will try to explain what happens, Work begins at the beginning of October when we start looking for articles and photographs. This is done through notices in the newsletter and personal contact Some people are regular contributors and they will respond in good time but others need a bit of reminding to make the deadline, actually that is our biggest problem, getting material in on time. We want to include everything but at some point you have to go ahead and start putting it together. In recent years most of the articles come in online but there are still a few that have to be typed up and that is time consuming. Anyway, all the articles are downloaded and placed in a file. Photos have to be scanned individually, registered on the computer and then brought into the photo shop to be cropped, resized and named. They are then saved into their own file ready to be inserted later on. Advertisers have to be contacted which also takes up a fair bit of time. Most of our advertisers have been with us for years and we are grateful to them for their continued support. After the deadline we start to bring the articles into the journal. Again they have to be placed in certain areas and have to fit into the designated spaces. This means tweaking text and spacing, leaving room sometimes for the insertion of photos and captions. Articles should ideally fit into pages, half pages or quarters but they rarely do but, by using a few publishing tricks, we eventually have them all inserted with no blank spaces at the bottom of pages. Pages of photos bring another challenge but one by one they are placed and the captions are typed underneath or at one side. They must fit into the available space, just like the text. Sometimes the quality of the photos, especially some of the older ones, is not very good but it is important that they are included because they are a reminder of a particular time in our history, As we go through the book the ads are placed throughout making sure that all the details, especially contact details, are correct. At last all the material is entered and we now add the index page and the editorial comment. The book is then printed and Lillian takes it away to go through it all looking for errors and making corrections. By this time the cover has already been designed and printed. It is made of heavier card with a glossy finish. When we have finally agreed that we are satisfied with everything it is over to me and I start printing. I set up the job on the printing press and send through a trial copy. The machine folds as it prints but, because there are so many pages, it comes out in three sections. I now have to check every page again and see if I have to do extra work on the photos. Once satisfied I set the required amount and off we go. The three sections have to be put together manually and the cover must be added before it is stapled in the middle and folded by hand. When I have five finished they are put into a clamp that puts pressure on the folded spines and they are then trimmed in the guillotine. It is all go between taking them from the machine, putting them together, stapling, folding and trimming but, at last, the books are ready for the shops. There is great pressure while all the work is being done but there is also great satisfaction when that first finished book comes off the press.
I was listening to the radio while I was doing a bit of work today and though I pay little attention to it as it is always on in the background, a woman’s complaint caught my ear. It was on the Joe Duffy show and she told of an experience she had in a particular restaurant when she was charged €14.50 for a glass of wine. I thought that this must be some rare vintage but no, it could be bought by the bottle for less than the price of the glass! It was actually more expensive than the meal she had and it led to other similar experiences being discussed. The owner of the restaurant came on and tried to defend the price; he should have kept his powder dry. It is just a rip-off and it is something we in Ireland are very good at. It is not so long ago that hoteliers and restaurant owners were lobbying the government to reduce the vat for them because they were doing so badly but now that the country is doing a little better and people have a bit of disposable income the masks are back on and they are acting like highway robbers. We will never learn in this country; it is one of the most expensive places in the world to live because greed has again taken over leaving most of us unable to afford rent, never mind a night out. It never lasts and sooner or later times will change and we will be listening to the sob stories again. The only way to deal with restaurants that overcharge is to vote with your feet and walk away. You can get really good wine in any supermarket for less than €20.
Another example of greed is the way hotels and airlines hike up their prices when a big event is happening. Let us say the Heineken Cup final (as it used to be called) was fixed for Glasgow. As soon as the date is announced the room prices in that city go to multiples of what they normally are. Likewise the price of a Ryanair ticket will go from about €60 return to €800. The fans are caught in a bind and have no other option but to cough up and accept it. It is as bad as blackmail because they are making enough already. A modest increase might be acceptable but the “make hay while the sun shines” mentality is alive and kicking.
From Athea News
By Peg Prendeville 13 11 2019.
It was lovely to see such a huge crowd in the Devon Inn last Friday night for the Lip Sync Battle organised by the Gerald Griffin’s male and female footballers. The atmosphere was great as 11 teams took part giving great fun and entertainment. Well done to them all and to all those who put in so much background work. I’ve summarised it, as best I can, in the following poem…….
Lip Sync Battle in the Devon Inn
You’ve heard of the Battle of the Boyne
And the battle of Waterloo
But there’s another which you may have missed
Just wait ‘til I tell you.
About this battle which was fought
And each side vowed to win
And were prepared to do or die
In the Lip Sync Battle in the Devon Inn.
For weeks they planned their tactics
And kept all under cover
No secrets were betrayed at all
As we were to discover.
Then came the night and all did gather
Amidst much noise and din
As the Gerald Griffins fought it out
In the Lip Sync Battle in the Devon Inn.
Some were there For One Night Only
And some who had No Clue
While Martin’s Angels shocked us all
As did the Chain of Fools.
Scrambled Legs and the Bally Boys,
Together with Good Looking Jim
Did their best to win the fight
In the Lip Sync Battle in the Devon Inn.
Then Mothers and Others joined the fray
And Blue Rose Bellas did not hold back
Ballyhahill Ramblers with Spice Lips too
Were not afraid and did not slack.
The battle was long and fearsome
As they fought kith and kin
Nobody wanted to lose this fight
In the Lip Sync Battle in the Devon Inn.
And when the energy was spent
And the warriors downed their tools
The judges gave their comments
Having outlined all the rules.
The audience was on tenterhooks
As we wondered who would win?
It was announced! For One Night Only
Had won the Battle in the Devon Inn.
Well done to all concerned
Who put so much work and time
Into getting this organised.
In such a limited time.
The Gerald Griffins men and women
From Bally, Loughill and Glin
Will be remembered for many years
For their Lip Sync Battle in the Devon Inn.
Sean Nós Dancing
By Domhnall de Barra
On Saturday last I watched the Sean Nós dancing competitions on TG4. This competition has gone from being the “poor relation” of the annual Oireachtas na Gaeilge gathering to being the most popular. A few short years ago, very few people outside the Gaeltacht areas, and Connemara in particular, danced in the Sean Nós style. In fact, in certain circles it was frowned upon and thought not to be proper dancing at all. What is Sean Nós dancing anyway? It is without doubt the purest form of Irish dancing and offers its exponents a freedom of expression that other forms do not. Until its exposure on TV we were used to the regimented type of Irish dancing that was created along with our independence by a commission set up by the government of the time. Though it adopted some of the Sean Nós steps, it had very little freedom of expression. The body had to be held rigid from the hips up and the arms were held close to the sides. It used a set of steps that were first danced with the right foot leading and then with the left. At the same time “Rinnce Foirne” was created. It was a set of dances for groups using basic traditional steps in synchronised movement. There were also dances that could be used at dances or Ceilithe such as The Siege of Ennis, Two and four-hand reels, the Haymaker’s Jig, Trip to the Cottage etc. These became very popular and were danced to the music of the céilí bands for years. Indeed, in the middle of the last century, even modern bands had to provide at least one round of the Siege of Ennis at all the dances. These were portrayed as “Irish” dances but they, in fact were not suited to traditional music at all. They were too rigid in their structure and did not allow for the type of improvisation that was the hallmark of the true tradition. Some bands adapted their music to suit this type of dancing, notably the Gallowglass Céilí Band and Donal Ring’s Céilí Band. They dispensed with all ornamentation and variation and played at a regular speed that was not only boring but far removed from the true tradition of band playing. Most of the dancing schools around the country still use this type of music when teaching young pupils. Irish dancing classes grew over the years and became big business. Some fantastic dancers have emerged from these classes and I had the pleasure of playing for many of them on touring concerts. In the early part of the last century there were other types of dancing steps being taught around the country. These were more traditional steps brought to the people by travelling teachers. They would come into an area, stay in some house in the area and, for a small fee, would teach anyone in the area how to dance. One of the most famous around the North Kerry area was a man called Dinneen. These steps are like a mixture of the Sean Nós and the modern step dancing. As time progressed, the travelling dancing master disappeared but the Irish dancing classes flourished until the latter part of the century when their popularity began to wane a little.
Then something happened that changed Irish dancing forever. At a Eurovision Song Contest, held in Dublin, a warm up act came on stage and blew everyone’s mind away. River Dace featured Irish dancers with intricate steps but with a difference. Gone was the rigid upper body and heads, arms and body were used to emphasise certain movements. They were lucky in having two of the world’s best in the lead roles, Michael Flatley and Jean Butler. The rest, as they say, is history and River Dance and other shows like it tour the world every year and are as popular as ever. This freedom of expression may have been thought to be new but it was a return to the past. The authentic Sean Nós dancers had been doing this all the time. The real Sean Nós dancer will only dance to certain tunes so that all the nuances of that tune can be expressed on the floor. They will shift their hips, wave their arms, bend from side to side and use any movement that will compliment the music being played. The true dancer has no fixed steps but will make them up as he/she goes along. There is a oneness between the musician and the dancer that gives them both a lift and is a joy to hear and behold when they really gel. Its popularity is at an all-time high and it has spread all over the country. It was good to see a young Ward man from Carrigkerry giving a fantastic exhibition on the TV last Saturday taking 2nd place. Unfortunately, it’s popularity may also be the cause of its downfall. Steps are now being taught that are not exactly true to the tradition and there is a sameness between all the dancers bar a few. Dancers should be encouraged to develop their own individuality and try to really understand the music before taking to the floor. Maybe I am being alarmist, I sincerely hope I am, but in the meantime I am going to continue enjoying every minute of it. I love dancing but, because I spent most of my life playing for dances I did not get an opportunity to try it out until a few years ago when I retired from playing for céilithe. I joined Josephine O’Connor’s set-dancing class and had a couple of fantastic years leaping around the place. I loved the freedom of expression the set dancing gave me and I even developed a bit of Sean Nós dancing when I was alone in the shed and no one could see me!! Alas, the years caught up with me and the knee started to act up so I had no choice but to give up. There is light at the end of the tunnel as I have recently had veins removed from both legs and the knee has responded to treatment so, maybe next year, I will return to the classes and make a fool of myself on the floor again.
By Domhnall de Barra
Music is one of God’s greatest gifts to mankind. Not everybody can play an instrument but most can sing or make some attempt. Even for those who, as they say, haven’t an note in their head, there is the joy of listening to music and it is surely one of the best therapies of all time. Listening to music has the ability to arouse all the emotions within ourselves and the really good composers knew how to arrange their notes to have the desired effect upon us. This is very noticeable in the early films before the “talkies” came in. The film was projected onto the screen without any sound so most of the cinemas employed a musician to supply mood music to accompany the scenes, usually on an organ. These musicians played music that enhanced the scene portrayed. It was fast and lively as the cowboy raced along on his horse pursued by angry Indians, soft and sentimental as lovers eyed each other for the first time or sad and lonely as a weeping face was portrayed. One minute it would be loud and boisterous, the next soft as a whisper. The audience forgot completely that the music and the film were separate items and did not realise how much they combined to covey the message from the screen. Even when the talking films appeared, background sound tracks were still used but now they were part of the film reel and the musicians in the cinemas became redundant. Some of the best soundtracks include Purple Rain, Dirty Dancing, Star Wars, ET, Harry Potter and Schindler’s List. Without the music these films would have far less effect.
Music is as old as time itself. The oldest instrument is the human voice and though there is no record of the first song, it wouldn’t surprise me if Adam or Eve didn’t warble a little in the Garden of Eden!!. What is generally described as “folk music” goes back to the very early times when composers made up songs for all occasions.
Some were in praise of local chieftans or landlords, others to commemorate notable victories in games or on the battlefields and all occasions of note. These songs are like pages of history, recording all the events of a locality for posterity. Our own folk music developed from the same source. Early tunes were taken from, and inspired by, the songs of local singers. As time went by some composers of music created more intricate works and so began the classical music that still exists to this day. Again, from folk origins, other forms of music developed. In America, there was a fusion of folk cultures from all over the world and even though they had many different origins, much of what we call modern music today is a result of the common thread that ran through them. Bluegrass music is closely related to the music of Ireland and Scotland but with more emphasis on stringed instruments, particularly the banjo, and a lively tempo. Down south traditional jazz had the same tempo as the Irish reel but it allowed great freedom for the musician to improvise. In the south as well the “blues” developed from the songs of the Negro slaves and generally told stories of hardship and deprivation in very soulful lyrics. “Rhythm and Blues” developed from these two types of music and that in turn gave birth to “rock ‘n roll” which is the forerunner of all types of popular music today. Bill Haley and the Comets are credited with being the first rock stars but it was really Elvis Presley who put it on the map. This music differed from the old folk music, not alone in it’s rhythmic beat but also in the fact that the songs no longer told stories. Love was the central theme for the most part and gave rise to the phrase “I love you baby” which appears in countless lyrics right up to the present day. Rhythm was vitally important as much of this music was for dancing. Up to this time ballroom dancing was the norm. Dances varied from slow waltzes and foxtrots to quicksteps, tangos, two steps etc. All danced with the girl in the boy’s arms. With the arrival of rock ‘n roll all this changed. A whole new way of dancing emerged which did not need synchronised steps but encouraged individual flair and interpretation. As time went on and the arrival of the pop groups contact between male and female on the dance floor became minimal and it wasn’t uncommon to see groups of females dancing in a group together. The music did not depend on great composition instead it got its appeal from repeated phrases that were easily remembered. In general, though there some exceptions, the lyrics had no great meaning and were the flavour of the month until replaced by something new and quickly forgotten. It is easy to dismiss pop music as meaningless but that would not give credit to some great musical artistes who stand out from the rest. I refer to the likes of Queen, U2, Bruce Springsteen and The Beatles all of whom created some wonderful compositions that cross all musical frontiers. As time goes by music changes but, side by side, there are those who keep the classical and traditional types alive. Irvin Berlin once said “there are only two types of music, good music and bad music”. If it is good in any class it can be enjoyed and the opposite goes for the bad stuff. We rely on music for our entertainment in many ways. We listen to it on the radio, watch it on television and go in our thousands to see our favourites perform live. What would a wedding be like if there was no music? I dread to think. People probably know me best as a traditional musician and while it is my first love I have a great appreciation of all types. It is not commonly known but I played in modern groups and bands on the drums, saxophone and clarinet even going so far as to hire an accordion player for my own group one time when I was playing the guitar. I think Shakespeare got it right when he said: “if music be the food of love, play on”.
COLBERT
William Colbert, First of 13 children : 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, #6
Feb 12, 2019
#52AncestorsCaliforniaColbertIrelandpaternal ancestors
Prompt for 2019, week 1 — “First”.
My great-grandfather, William Cornelius (aka Willie) Colbert, was the eldest of 13 children. He was baptized on 31 January 1877, in Moanlena, Mahoonagh Parish, Co. Limerick, Ireland, to Michael Colbert and Hanora Josephine McDermott.[1]
william colbert baptism record_mahoonagh parish_limerickgenealogy
William had 7 sisters, and 5 brothers, one of whom was Con Colbert, who was executed on 8 May 1916, after the Easter Uprising.[2]
Sometime in 1890 or early 1891, the family moved from Moanlena to Athea, as William’s youngest two siblings, Dan and Bridget, were baptized at Templetathea West, Athea parish, Co. Limerick. Williams’ mother Hanora died in childbirth with the last child born, Bridget, on 17 Sep 1892.
As a young adult, Willie became attracted to a young dairy maid named Eileen Houlihan, daughter of Charles Houlihan and Anna Carmody, also of Athea, Co. Limerick. The story goes that William’s father Michael wanted no part of William being involved with Eileen, so Michael paid the passage for Eileen to go to San Francisco[3], where her older sister Margaret had immigrated to in 1897.[4]
As one might suspect, that got Michael nowhere, as Willie soon headed to San Francisco himself. I found a passenger record for a William Colbert from Athea, who traveled to New York from Queenstown on the SS Etruria in July 1899, at the age of 22[5]. That fits with what I know of my great-grandfather. It also fits with the stated immigration date given on the 1910 Federal Census.
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Bits and Pieces
By Domhnall de Barra
I spent a few days in England last week visiting an old friend in Knowsley near Liverpool. When I say an old friend I mean it in more ways than one. When we got married, 49 years ago on Thursday, we moved to Liverpool from Coventry as I had just got a job with a transport company in Speake Airport. I visited the Irish Centre, in Mount Pleasant near Liverpool city centre, and I was invited to play a couple of tunes on the box. After I had finished playing a woman came and introduced herself as Celia Kilgallon,, originally from near Louisburgh in Mayo, now living with her husband John and family in Knowsley. She told me her brother, Tony O’Toole, who lived in Coventry and was a great follower of traditional music, had contacted her and told her that there was a great accordian player (her words – not mine!) coming to Liverpool. She said “will ye come out to the house next Sunday and I will kill a cock”. The next Sunday John Killgallon arrived at our humble flat in a big car and took us out to the house. John was a box player and played with the original Liverpool Céilí Band. He was also North West manager for UK construction and great company. Anyway we all got on like a house on fire and have been firm friends ever since. There was many a great session in that house over the years which included many of the greats from Ireland who would call there when they were on tour. John died a few years ago but Celia is approaching her 97th birthday and “going strong” doesn’t approach describing her. She lives alone and does all her own cooking, washing, ironing etc. Her mind is as sharp as ever and she has a memory any elephant would be proud of. Her only flaw is her hearing which is very bad but, thanks to modern technology, she has earplugs that operate with her tablet and can hear well enough with them. We had a great few days with her recalling old times and discussing every topic under the sun. She is one of the most remarkable ladies it has been my privilege to know for so many years and we look forward to her celebrating her 100th in the not too distant future.
The weather in Liverpool was fantastic. It was more like the Costa Del Sol than the North of England with the sun shining and people walking around in shirtsleeves and dresses; the warmest February on record, they tell us. I noticed a couple of differences between there and here particularly the prices. A phone lead I needed would have cost €23 in Tralee but I got the same brand in Prescot for £6. Petrol is about 30c a litre dearer than here and unlike in Ireland where it is cheaper, diesel is another 10c dearer again. We travelled by ferry which gave us the opportunity to fill the boot of the car with goods at a fraction of the price we pay for them here. Even groceries are far cheaper. No wonder the international super stores call us “treasure island”
We sailed on Saturday night and got into Dublin on Sunday morning. I had to keep the pedal down all the way home to be in time for the blessing of the plaque in memory of Dan Hanrahan who sadly passed away a year ago last week. There was a good attendance at the blessing which was performed by Fr. Brendan Duggan. I am proud of the fact that Athea Community Council honoured Dan in this way because he left us a legacy that will stand the test of time. I have a soft spot for stone masons since my grandfather, Dan Hartnett and his brothers were all masons. Some of their work is still in evidence around the parish. One of the Hartnetts worked on the bridge in Athea which was built after the collapse of the old wooden bridge. Dan worked on a scheme I was supervising in the early ‘nineties and for a few years created beautiful stone work all around the village. He was an artist and a perfectionist and it was great to see his family members and so many neighbours and friends at the blessing. May he rest in peace.
On a different topic completely, I was reading a newspaper in England and one article caught my attention. It was the story of a young man who wanted to join the police force to follow in his father’s footsteps as he is a detective inspector. He made his application, took the exam which he passed with flying colours and did a very good interview. Everything seemed to be going well until he was informed that his application had been rejected. The reason for his being rejected was that he was a white heterosexual British male. He would have been acceptable had he been gay, a member of an ethnic minority or had a disability. I had to read it a couple of times to make sure I was getting it right but no; it was true that he was being discriminated against on the grounds that he had no faults. Apparently the police are having trouble recruiting officers from ethnic backgrounds etc. to liaise with communities who will have nothing to do with white policemen. Good police work has nothing to do with ethnic background or sexual orientation. In the UK they have created large ghettos in urban areas that they have basically lost control of and they are now trying to use a different approach. As they say, good luck with that.
Having driven around over there for a few days I was so glad to get home to Athea. There is no place like it. I will end with this little quote
“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one that has opened for us.”
10 Years of Athea Community First Responders
By Rodge Byrne
It all started in 2007, when Dr Kieran Murphy, Athea Community GP, and I met up at the annual conference, known as www.Resus.ie. Kieran and I spent some time discussing how a Community First Responder (CFR) system would work in and around the parish of Athea. and attended a meeting in HSE South Ambulance services in Cork to get the process started.
How it developed
I was then a member of staff in the Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training team at Kerry General Hospital. I arranged for a CPR training colleague to kick us off, with the Irish Heart Foundation (IHF), Heart Saver CPR AED programme, in Con Colbert Hall in April 2008.
We cast our net across the community to see who would like to get involved in such an important service and excitingly, there was no shortage of interest. People came forward from the Fishing Club, Gun Club, Credit Union, GAA, Motorcycle Road Races Association, along with local pub staff, nurses, Irish Red Cross personnel and farmers – it was a mix of everyone from the community. In a village where the nearest ambulance is sometimes more than 30-45 minutes away, it was (is) about taking care of our own.
Raising money locally from donations and Church gate collections for training, equipment and resupply, the Athea Community First Responders (CFRs) was launched. Personnel across 2008-2010 had nationally recognised IHF training. We arranged to be contacted by the ambulance personnel if they were coming to our “patch” and hence a CFR would be first on scene, knowing what actions were most appropriate and equipment needed.
By 2010 we had developed key personnel to become instructors, just as the emergence of the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (Phecc) for Ireland became active. This organisation is the sole “Legal authority”, for all Pre-Hospital Care practitioners-providers and sets out 6 National Standards of competency. All of Athea CFRs progressed through such training, to increase their capability of dealing with a wider set of emergency care needs. With this new “Cardiac First Responder” qualification (CFR) personnel had expanded their competence and confidence.
Additionally, Athea CFRs had a joint endeavour with Kerry Civil Defence EMS team to train a number of personnel to qualify as Occupational First Aid (OFA) now known as First Aid Responder (FAR). In concert with this training Dr Murphy has provided a range of enhanced training sessions across the years on key topics and practices.
Why they become CFRs
My observation of CFRs, is that they, are motivated people willing to provide a “skilled helper” to others living in a community “where everybody knows everybody” and makes it a more personal service. Consequently, a family do not need to experience “helplessness” at this important time.
The importance of swift and speedy action in emergency care is critically important to ensure the best outcomes for residents, and thereby the parish is split into zones, with a number of responders in each zone.
What the CFR service provides
CFRs provide an on-call service to within the community for emergency care needs from 6pm to 8am Monday to Friday and from 6pm Friday to 8am Monday, 365 days a year (Yep 2017 a call on Christmas day too @14.22). The CFR phone holder acts as coordinator when they receive a call, they forward details to all CFRs of the nature and location of an incident.
Subsequently a group of responders will go to the scene to assess and carryout appropriate actions. Members of the team will have picked up the defibrillator and oxygen-breathing equipment from its position in the Defibrillator phone box outside Griffin’s Butchers in Main Street, Athea.
On that note Athea Tidy-towns vision for the “Telefon” box was an inspired choice to locate the defibrillator essentials from 2018 onwards and reaffirms our great working partnerships. Additionally 2018 saw the arrival of a second defibrillator awarded to us. We are surrounded by them / Athea GAA + Vales Football Club / and as of Jan 2019 Con Colbert hall (inside).
During 2008-2010 there were seven call-outs and several of those were heart attack-type events. In one instance, an individual received a stent in less than three hours. So these are critical responses and show the significance of incidents CFRs attend.
In 2012 on the last occasion of Road Races, and 6 minutes before the “official road closure order” came into force, CFRs had to travel up the circuit from the bridge to Knockfinisk to a person requiring assistance. In the same year Athea CFRs featured in the Irish Times: If you have access to on-line then search this statement, “Could this be the safest village in Ireland” it will take you to that article, along with a feature on TG4.
In 2014 a very demanding call involving multiple agencies that included CFRs first, followed by Shannon Doc presence, and Ambulance along with Gardaí to prepare for landing of the Irish Army Air corps, Rescue 112, air-medical evacuation helicopter.
In 2016 the whole CFR team underwent mandatory re-certification training that takes place every two years. Additionally we were approached by the NAS – Community Engagement
Officer for Limerick, requesting us to be re-registered as NAS 112-999 CFRs. Across the next 12 months we passed through the appropriate steps and hurdles e.g. evidence of training records = Phecc registrations / car insurance data / uniform requirements / equipment lists, and were incorporated into the 999 dispatch system.
Across the same period 2016-2017 the Athea CFR committee agreed that we should become a registered charity. Under the stewardship of Mary Sheahan Athea CFR Secretary it became a reality in early 2018. As you may know its takes a lot of background work to get registered and sets us apart from other groups that do not have such scrutiny applied to “what we do and how we keep our books”.
Athea CFR team members are trained to the Phecc.ie CFR Level 1 for First Responders, some members with OFA – FAR, along with other professional registered practitioners and instructors. Every two years CFR teams are required to undergo recertification training in addition to their attendance in the 1 hour training- testing session carried out every 90 days.
Looking ahead
Across the years the demand for NAS – CFR services has been continuously expanding with regular monitoring to ensure that the Irish system meets International protocols. To that end since 2012 the expectation is that, following receipt of a 112–999 call to NAS, CFRs are required to be at the “scene” within 7 Minutes 59 seconds. I am pleased to advise that Athea has consistently met that target. All responses we’ve had in the village and across the Parish in the 10 years of existence have been between three and five minutes. You’re in good hands!
As 2018 draws to an end and 2019 kicks off, I want to update “our community” on where we are and where we are going. Earlier this year we were re-registered and went live with NAS 112-999 service. Since that time we are providing CFR services to a wider area, therefore increasing the frequency of calls.
If you are concerned about a person in your home showing signs of any of the following:
Heart attack signs – Chest pain and short of breath
Stroke signs – Face weakness – Arm weakness or Slurred Speech
Choking – where the person cannot cough or make a sound – cannot breath
Unconscious or Unresponsive – doesn’t wake or move on their own or when you touch them
Cardiac arrest – Heart stopped – poor colour or changing colour not breathing
Call 112 or 999 and a group of Athea Community Responders will be dispatched to your Eircode – Home address, with all the necessary equipment prior to an Ambulance arriving.
For all other calls Dr Murphy’s surgery or Shannon Doc or 112-999 Dispatcher will advise
Lastly, I would like to invite any member of the community who might like to be involved in the First Responder organisation to get in touch CFR phone 087 2737077 or Rodge 086 3103233. Full, free training is given – equipment, uniform and identity documents issued / following Garda checking protocols and insurance indemnity. Rodge Byrne, Training advisor Athea CFRs
Useful websites to visit for more information
www.irisheart.ie for all matters regarding national F.A.S.T Campaign
www.phecc.ie for the national standards for Emergency Care Practitioners levels 1-6
Memorial Garden at Athea National School
As you know we now have a beautiful Memorial Garden in Athea National School dedicated to the memory of Ella Ahern, Jerome Carmody and Conor Hayes (of Carrigkerry) and their families.
I was, as a member of the School Board of Management, involved since the beginning of this project.
Our deepest thanks to Mrs. Margaret Watters, Headmistress, and all her Staff both Teachers and SNAs and all others who helped.
Special thanks to James O’Reilly, Sculptor cum Stonemason, who made the beautiful Marble Table from a large remnant from the original Athea Altar of 1832. I found this piece of marble in the Canon’s back shed. James cleaned it and then we realized it’s importance, it being part of the old altar.
We also found slabs of limestone from the base of the old altar which were transformed into seats for the children. James made legs for these “chairs” from waste black marble from his yard in Tournafulla. James provided all this “marble furniture” at basic cost to us.
Sincere thanks especially to Mr. John Sheahan M.C.C. and President of Newcastle West Municipal Council, for helping our project. Thanks to Mr. Gene Brouder, a true crafts master, so helpful in repairing the original school track in August. Ger Mullane was also helpful with the electrical work ‘gratis’. Thanks to John McAuliffe who repaired the two timber/steel seats, as a gift. Thanks to Mike O’Halloran for all the flowers and ornaments which he provided and supplied at a very, very good price.
Thanks to Domhnall de Barra and Lillian O’Carroll for all their help and advice with the project.
To the families involved God Bless you all.
Fr. Brendan Duggan
The Making of a Journal
by Domhnall de Barra
Athea Parish Journal has just been printed and goes on sale today. It is the 30th edition of a publication that has seen many changes over its lifetime. Technology has been a great boon, especially the advent of the computer which means nearly all our articles come to us already typed up. In the beginning everything was handwritten and had to be typed and prepared by the printer. Getting material online means it is a simpler “cut and paste” job that does not take as long. At one stage we would have several people involved in the preparation and finishing but now two of us can manage the whole lot ourselves. The work begins in September when we clear off the pages from last year and prepare for the new one. All our advertisers have to be contacted to see if they wish to continue supporting the journal. Without their financial input there wouldn’t be any publication. Then ads are placed in the newsletters looking for articles and photographs and reminding clubs and organisations that the deadline for submissions is the end of October (a deadline they constantly ignore!!). Articles that come by email are placed in a file on the computer to be transferred to the main file when ready. Photographs are placed in a special box to be scanned into the computer’s photo shop where they are resized and enhanced and put into a separate file. Some photos are old and may be faded so there isn’t much that can be done with them.
October passes and we begin to panic as some of our larger articles are still not in. Phone calls to remind them but very often they are waiting to include some event that hasn’t happened yet. At long last we think we have all the material and are ready to go. We start by placing the articles one after the other making sure that the ads are included and that text covers the whole page. Photos are put in at regular intervals making sure that, as far as possible, they do not back onto each other. We are just about ready when late articles and photos arrive and we have to re-jig. It would be easy to say the deadline is past but we try to accommodate people if we can. At last the book is full and we have the index sorted out so we do a test print that is scrutinised for errors and omissions. Sometimes the gremlins are at work and for no apparent reason pages go missing or pop up in the wrong places. It would drive you round the bend at times but eventually, once we are happy with it, or should I say Lillian is happy with it because it is she does all the proofing, it is ready for printing and now my job begins.
I have already bought plenty of paper and supplies of ink for the job so I set up the printer which prints the book in two halves. These have to be put together and the cover, which has already been printed on a different machine, is attached. The book is folded and placed on a spine stapler to be stapled. The books are put into a press, five at a time to “flatten” them out before being transferred to the guillotine for trimming. Now they are ready for the shelves and will be on sale at the usual outlets. It is a long, slow process but it is now much easier than it used to be. Originally, a printing had to be made of every two page spread, the first and last page starting off. A plate would then be made from that print and wound onto an offset printer. It would be inked up and the print would be transferred to the paper as it passed through the machine. If we needed 400 books we would print about 410 of each plate to allow for errors and blemishes. All the pages were done like that until the middle of the book was reached and then they were turned over and the opposite pages printed onto them. We could have maybe 30 stacks of printing laid out around a long table. Now they had to be collated by hand. This is where the work was labour intensive as several people were needed to walk along picking up one sheet from each stack until the whole book was together. The cover had to be added and then the books were stapled with a long hand stapler. This used to take a long time and I remember working late into the night when we were trying to have the books ready for the upcoming weekend. After each year I used to say to myself “never again” but then tiredness was soon forgotten and it started all over again the following year.
This year’s book has a mixture of current and historic affairs and a fair smattering of photos. One of the articles is about a woman called Joan Grogan who came from Clare originally I think but lived in Athea most of her life. I had heard of her but knew very little about her until I read the article which is extracted from a scholarly thesis by Niamh Ní Lochlainn submitted by Timmy Woulfe. It is a great read and very informative about the beliefs and customs of bygone days.
The sporting organisations give us a snapshot of their activities throughout the year and they are a valuable record that will be there for all to see in years to come. It is a special celebratory year for the G.A.A. as they honour the men of ‘63 and ‘68 who brought honour and glory to the parish.
Thanks to everyone who sent in photographs. Some of the old ones remind us, embarrassingly at times, of how we looked before the years left their mark on us. There is one old photo from Kilbaha N.S, about 1924 that, even though it is faded, shows pupils that some of our older readers may recognise.
Anyway I hope you enjoy it. It may or may not be our last one but we won’t make any hasty decision just yet!!
Change in Times
By Domhnall de Barra
I often comment about the great changes that have occurred during my lifetime (I hope I am not finished with it yet!!). Some of you may be fed up with it but it was such an interesting period in which to live. Some of the great changes are in crafts and employment. Who can remember the “telegram boy”? He was always referred to as a “boy” even though he might be middle-aged. In the days before mobile phones and even when land lines were few and far between, telegrams were a fast way to send important news for people without telephones. A telegraph operator tapped the message out in code using a machine called a Morse key. The message travelled to another operator who decoded the long and short taps into words, and then passed the message on. This was called a telegram. It was given to the telegram boy who delivered it on a bicycle. People used to hate to see the telegram boy coming because, more often than not it was bad news. They were used extensively during war time to notify next of kin if somebody was killed or missing in action. The telegram cost a shilling I think but I am not sure. With modern technology that job disappeared.
There was a harness maker in every town and village one time. They were needed to make tackle for horse and donkeys so that they might be able to pull carts, ploughs, mowing machines and other farmyard machinery. Winkers, collars, belly bands and britching were all needed every so often. They worked mainly with leather which was made from the hides of animals that had died. They also used steel, tin and alloys to ornament some of the harness that might be for a jaunting car or a “gig” as we used to call it. Some farmers used it when driving to Mass on Sunday in the trap. There could be a bit of rivalry between neighbours as to who had the nicest rigout. My own Godfather, Edsie White was a harness maker in Athea.
The shoemaker also did a lively trade. In the days before the invention of the wellingtons, hob-nailed boots were the normal working footwear. They were really heavy with thick soles and uppers that came up to the shin. They were laced with a thong that was usually made by the shoemaker and waxed to preserve it. The crowning glory was rows of studs or nails that were hammered into the sole of the shoe to protect the leather. Though a ton weight they were very durable and lasted a long time. They were the work boots but other ones had to be made for Sunday. These were usually the same shape as the hob-nailed shoe but were of lighter leather and a thinner sole with no studs. The old people used to refer to them as “my light shoes”. Only professionals and upper classes wore fancier footwear but there was a man to make them too.
The cooper made barrels out of wood and iron. The wood was cut into planks called staves that tapered slightly at both ends. The wood was slightly bent over steam so that when the planks were placed together inside iron hoops they formed a circle which was narrower at the top and bottom than in the middle. More hoops were forged in a fire and placed over the barrels at the top and bottom. They were also placed about a quarter and three quarters of the way down the barrel. They were hammered on tightly while very hot and were then cooled with water. As the iron cooled it contracted and pulled the planks together tightly making the barrel waterproof. A bottom was then made and secured permanently and a top was also made that could be removed. These barrels were used for water or any other liquid. Small ones called firkins were used to hold butter while it was waiting to be transported to Cork. The firkin was buried in the local bog which was like a deep freeze and kept the butter fresh. Another use for bigger barrels was to hold the salted bacon while it was being cured. The drinks industry used thousands of barrels for porter, beer, wine and spirits so coopers were kept very busy indeed. The advent of the steel barrel put an end to the local cooper. There are still a few who make barrels but none for local trade.
While tailors still exist in cities all the local ones have ceased trading. Every place had its own tailor long ago. He sat cross-legged on his table stitching the cloth together. In those days you couldn’t buy clothes off the peg so everything had to be made by hand or with a little help from a sewing machine. Getting a suit made was a big undertaking but everybody needed at least one for “good wear”. First the cloth, which was sold in bolts had to be chosen and the tailor then did his measurements. He sewed up the garment and then had the first fitting where he made slight adjustments outlined on the fabric with chalk. A final fitting was then arranged where minor alterations took place and at last the suit was ready to wear. The ladies got their costumes made by a dressmaker who was really a female tailor and alas they have now also disappeared.
These are but a few of the skills that have played a big part in our lives but are now surplus to requirements and consigned to memory. No doubt the world is a much better place for the advances in technology but there is a part of me that yearns for the simplicity and the ingenuity of bygone days.
Stranger than Fiction
by Domhnall de Barra
John (not his real name) was born the eldest of a family of six, into a small farm with the grass of 12 cows about a mile and a half from the town of Abbeyfeale. The farm had once been bigger but John’s father had a problem with the drink and every now and then sold a field to finance his habit. It was tough going for the family at the time, just after the second world war, and as soon as John was strong enough he took on the responsibility of running the farm in his father’s absence. He missed a lot of days at school and as soon as he reached the age of 14 he quit altogether. His father often came from the town in a foul mood and sometimes would take it out on his wife. John was also frequently at the wrong end of a boot up the backside or a clip around the ear. They tried to avoid him as much as they could but things came to a head one night when John came home after being at the pictures to find his father laying into his mother in the kitchen while the younger children were upstairs asleep. He was 16 at the time but all the years of hard work on the farm had turned him into a very strong young man. He could stand it no more and hit his father with a haymaker of a punch that landed flush on his jaw and sent him reeling backwards. On his way to the floor he hit his head on the kitchen with a sickening thud and lay lifeless to the world. His mother tried to revive him but to no avail. John panicked when he saw what he had done and, stopping only to grab a few pounds he had saved he ran out the back door and disappeared into the night. He spent that night in a hay shed and in the morning he made his way to the railway station at Devon Road (he did not want to be seen in Abbeyfeale) and got the train for Dublin and the boat to England. On the boat he struck up a conversation with two lads from Galway who were returning to London after being home on holidays. Three of them had come home but one decided to stay which was lucky for John because they offered him a room in their lodgings. Work was plentiful in England and he was employed, under an assumed name, straight away. He kept himself to himself as much as he could but he couldn’t get what had happened out of his mind. He dare not write home to his mother in case his whereabouts would be discovered and, like many a lonely man before him, he took solace in the bottle. Every night he drank alone in the pub hoping the liquor would ease the guilt he felt. One night he was on his way home, well tanked, when he was set upon by two ruffians who beat him up and took the few pounds he had left in his pocket. After a while he dragged himself up and tried to make his way home. Hobbling along he saw a light in a church he was passing and he got a sudden urge to go in. The church was dimly lit but it was warm and as he sat in the back row a strange calm came over him. Memories of going to Mass with his mother in Abbeyfeale came back to him and suddenly he broke down. Sobs wracked his body as the tears cascaded down his cheeks. In between the sobs he spoke to God asking for forgiveness for the awful crime he had committed and vowed there and then to put things right. He went home and for the first night since he left home he slept without being disturbed by nightmares. He drank no more and at the end of the month he took the train and reversed his steps back to Abbeyfeale. It was Christmas week and there was great joy at the station in Abbeyfeale as the homecomers were welcomed on the platform by their families. John left the train with a heavy heart and made his way down the Killarney road and into the Garda station. Sergeant Normoyle was sitting at the desk and without looking up asked John what he wanted. “I’ve come to give myself up” said John. That got the sergeant’s attention and he looked closely at John recognising him straight away. “What did you do”, he asked. “I killed my father” said John looking down at the floor in shame. “When did this happen” asked the sergeant. “Seven months ago” said John who was more than surprised when the sergeant stood up and shouted at him , “Don’t be wasting my time with your fantasies, get out of here and don’t come back”. John was bewildered but he had nothing better to do but make his way home. When he reached the house he was surprised at how neat and tidy everything was with all the walls painted and the yard as clean as a new pin. The lights were on inside and he peered in the window. The family were on their knees saying the rosary and he couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw the back of his father’s head as he kneeled at a chair beside the fire. John shook his head and blinked a few times to make sure he wasn’t seeing things but no, when he looked again, there he was. He lifted the latch and stood in the doorway. The younger children spotted him first and with shouts of “John, John” ran over and embraced him. His mother soon followed and then, for the first time in his life, he got a big hug from his father. John hadn’t long fled the house on the night of the fight when his father, who had only been unconscious, came to. He said it was the shock he needed to turn his life around. He had given up the drink and was at last the husband and father he should have been. After Christmas John returned to England in a different frame of mind. He worked hard and prospered and eventually married and had his own family. He was happy with his lot but he would never forget the joy of that Christmas he spent with the whole family, especially the father he thought he had killed.
Ardagh and Carrigkerry Notes
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Athea Tidy Towns
By Domhnall De Barra
Athea Wins Going For Gold and receives €10,500 in total from this competition
We travelled to the Strand Hotel in Limerick on Tuesday last for the results of the ‘Limerick Going for Gold’ competition. €80,000 in prize money was up for grabs as well as the much sought after ‘Limerick Going for Gold’ trophy. Athea has a good record in the competition winning the Limerick in Bloom on two occasions. The Liam McCarthy cup was also present on the night attracting a lot of attention. MC for the night was Richard Lynch from iloveLimerick accompanied by a jazz band.
The first prize of the night went to Damien Ahern who won the ‘Love your Limerick’ photography competition with a photograph of Athea captured during the snow in March. Damien won €500 for his efforts and also €500 for Athea Tidy Towns.
The last result to be announced on the night was the overall ‘Limerick Going for Gold’ prize with a prize fund of €10,000 sponsored by the JP McManus. There were 13 communities from all over Limerick short listed for this prize. The runners up in the competition were first to be announced and then the two remaining groups were invited on stage. Athea and Kilteely anxiously waited on stage for the results. As a first for the competition, it was decided that both groups would be joint winners in the competition and were awarded €10,000 each. This is a result we are extremely proud of and a just award for the continued improvement work in Athea.
This award would not be possible without the assistance and support of you, the parishioners and also our Fás workers and Tús workers who all work together to improve our area.
Special mention also to our four local councillors; Seamus Browne, John Sheahan, Francis Foley and Liam Galvin who have supported our efforts from the beginning and have invested a lot of time and effort various local projects. Thanks also to Patrick O’Donovan TD and Tom Neville TD for their support.
The trophy and cheque were on display before all masses last weekend. Further celebrations will be planned in the coming weeks.
Although our group were successful in securing €10,500 in total from this competition, we have many projects planned to spend this money on – heritage trail, wildlife walk, new Village signage etc. Fundraising for projects is still a priority and we are appealing to everyone to please support our church gate collection which will take place before all masses on October 27th and 28th. There has also been a suggestion to produce a calendar/Christmas cards featuring images of Athea. Watch this space!
Our group would like to welcome Molly Pepper on board who is completing her Gaisce placement with Athea Tidy Towns. Molly will be completing her volunteering hours cleaning the library
1968 Papers
Limerick Leader 1905-current, Saturday, September 14, 1968; Page: 18
ATHEA
The Present Day Players
The present Chairman of the club is Michael Costelloeand the team trainers are Johnny Walsh and Tim Woulfe. Now meet the players.
Tom O’Keeffe (goalkeeper) – 21 years of age. 5ft 9ins and weighing 10st 7lbs. An electrician, he was educated at Abbeyfeale Vocational School and the ESB Training School. At present residing in Dublin, he won the Western Minor Football Championships of 1964 and 1965 and the Frank Sheehy Memorial Tournament of 1967 with Athea. He has a brother Joe, also on the selection.
Michael (Morgan) Moran—(right corner-back)—21, 5ft. 9 ins, and weighs 11st 12 lbs. Educated at Knocknagorna National School, he won the West Limerick minor titles of 1964 and 1965 and last season won his first senior trophy when helping his club to victory in the Frank Sheehy tournament. He played on the county under-21 side this year—a competition we were most unfortunate not to win. He farms at Toureendonnell, Athea, but, like others of his colleagues, has to add to his Income by emigrating to London for the winter months.
Conor Mullane—As full-back, had a tremendous game against Oola. A brother of Johnny, who was so prominent with the county seniors three years ago, he farms at Knocknagorna, Athea, which school he also received his early education before moving to St Ita’s Secondary School at Abbeyfeale. Picked for the county minor football team in 1965, he is now 21, a six-footer, weighing 13st like the previous two players, he helped in the winning of a pair of West Limerick minor football titles and the Frank Sheehy senior tournament
Seamus Dillane (left cornerback)—A national schoolteacher from Templeglantine, comes from great Gaelic stock, being son of Matt Dillane, a man who has given a lifetime of service to the cause of Gaeldom and who is now a very valued member of the County Vocational Committee. I met another son of Matt's—Fr. Eamonn—during the week, playing an active part in the Kilfinane Festival. Seamus, who was educated at Colaiste Iosagain, Ballyvourney, and St. Patrick's Training College, Drumcondra, is 28, 5ft 10 ins and weighs 12st 12 lbs. He was a member of the county championship winning side of 1963, and also has many tournament successes to his name.
Missing from the line-out on Sunday will be regular right half-back Paddy Dalton, a product of Kilbaha National School and another member of the winning county title side at 1963 and of several tournament triumphs. 28 years of age, weighing 13st. and standing 5ft. 10.5ins, Paddy is a farmer at Direen, who also has to journey to London for the winter season.
Jim Barrett—A student at University College, Dublin, who received his early education at St. Michael's College, Listowel. Like the two previous players, he helped in the winning of the 1963 county and western junior football crowns and many other trophies in tournament ties A brother of centre forward, Jim, he is 24, 5ft 11 ins. and weighs 12st.
Murt Liston—21 years old, wearing the number seven jersey and captaining the side, he is the lightest member of the team at a little over 10 stone, 5ft. 9.5 ins. in height. An apprentice carpenter, now studying his trade in Limerick City, he is a former pupil of Athea National School and of Abbeyfeale Vocational School. The winner of West Limerick minor football honours in 1964 and 1965 and of the Frank Sheehy tournament last year, he played on the Limerick under-21 and junior football teams this season.
Joe Brouder (midfielder)—An agricultural contractor who was educated at Monemohill National School, Kilcoleman, and now resides In Athea, had a number of tournament wins in the club colours but is seeking his first championship medal. He is 25, his height is 5ft. 9ins. and he weighs 11st.
Tim Woulfe—One of the liveliest members of the side, is also the veteran of the team at 34 His height is 5ft. 10.5 ins. and he weighs 13st 5lbs. A national teacher in Athea, he was educated at St. Ita's, Abbeyfeale, and St Patrick's Training College, Drumcondra. He has played for the county In three grades—minor, junior and senior—and has county senior medals won with Western Gaels in both hurling (as a sub) in 1961 and football the previous year. When he won his West Limerick minor football championship medal in 1952, he had already western junior medals for 1949 and 1950 and a county Junior football memento for the latter year in his collection, to which he has since added a county junior football trophy for 1963 and many tournament souvenirs. A referee and administrator of much ability, he comes of a good Gaelic family and his father was a member of the Abbeyfeale side which won the county senior football title in 1915.
Michael Hayes, who fills the right half-forward position, is nephew of a great Athea player of other days, Jimmy Hayes. He is 22- 5ft. 10ins. and turns the scales at 13st Educated at Kilbaha National Schools, Moyvane, he won the county junior championship of 1963 before helping to collect the West Limerick minor football title of the following year. A county player in minor and under 21 ranks, he won a number of tournaments with Athea where he farms, which he mixes with a spell in London during the off-season.
Tom Barrett—At 31 is another of the old brigade and still an outstanding footballer. 5ft. 11 ins. high and weighing 13st., he was educated at Athea National Schools and now farms in the parish, With his home club he won the West Limerick minor football title of 1952 and the western and county junior crowns of eleven years later. He won a county senior football medal with Western Gaels in 1960, and was star of the day on that occasion, in addition to a good list of tournament successes, he has minor, junior and senior appearances in the county Jersey to his credit. His cousin. Dr. Kevin Barrett of Glin, helped in the winning of the 1950 Munster Junior football championship.
Ml (Haulie) Moran fills the No. 12 spot. At 20, the youngest member of the team, he is 5ft. 10ins. and weighs 12 st. 2 lbs. An apprentice carpenter in Athea, he was educated at Athea National School and Abbeyfeale Vocational School. A minor and under-21 footballer with Limerick, he won the West Limerick minor football titles of 1964 and 1965 and the Frank Sheehy tournament with his club. He is a cousin of Mick ("Yank") O'Connor of Treaty-Sarsflelds.
Sean McAuliffe, who will operate top of the right, is a Garda stationed at Hospital. Educated at Islandanny, Duagh and St Ita's of Abbeyfeale, he is 21, 5ft 10ins. and 11st. 12 lbs. in weight, Another of the West Limerick minor winners of 1964 and 1965 and of the Frank Sheehy tournament, he has played minor, under-21 and senior for Limerick. He is the son of Jack McAuIiffe, president of the Athea Club, and football star of the thirties with them, being in the winning of the first championship laurels—the 1937 western Junior football championship.
Gerry Carey (full-forward)—A Garda stationed in Athea, 29 years of age, a six-footer and, at 14st 8 lbs, the heaviest member of the team. Educated in Galway and by the S M.A. Fathers at Ballinafad, he won with them the senior football Mayo Colleges' championship. He has five junior football championship medals collected in three counties—East Galway, West and County Roscommon (1958),-West and Co Limerick (1963). In hurling he won the Connacht championship with Roscommon, and the Dublin Intermediate League with St Ita's In Limerick he played with the Claughaun and Garda teams and won the Frank Sheehy tournament as well as the 1963 junior laurels with his present club.
Kevin Dillon—Top of the left is another member of the Gardai, now stationed In Dublin. A native of Athea, he was educated at St Ita’s College, Abbeyfeale, and won the 1964 West Limerick minor football championship and the Frank Sheehy tournament with Athea, The tallest member of the team at 6ft. 2ins., he weighs 14st 7 lbs. and is 22.
Reserves
On the reserve bench we have Danny Barry, an accomplished musician who provides lively music on the team's outings A product of St Ita's of Abbeyfeale, he is 24, 5ft 8ins, and weighs 11 stone.
Joe O’Keeffe, brother of goalkeeper Tom, a woodwork instructor In Longford, who was educated at Abbeyfeale and Gorey. The winner of western and county junior honours with Athea in 1963, he is 27, weighs 11st 9 lbs. and stands 5ft 9ins.
Michael White—Educated at Rockwell College and now a clerical student at Holy Ghost College, Kimmage. Winner of the 1964 West Limerick minor football championship and of the Frank Sheehy tournament, he is 22, 5ft 10ins, and 12st. l lb. in weight.
Jack O'Connor — An Athea farmer, educated at the local National School and holder of trophies won in the western and county junior finals of 1964 and the Frank Sheehy tournament A 5ft 8ins, man, 11st. 3 lbs, on the scales, he is aged 29.
Ken Dermody — The local Garda Sergeant and club secretary, won a Munster Colleges' senior hurling medal with Thurles CBS., where he was educated. Whilst stationed in North Kerry he helped the "Kingdom" boys' to Junior All-Ireland hurling and National League hurling triumphs and this year was a member of the Limerick intermediate hurling team that won the county's first title in this grade. With Athea he has won the Frank Sheehy trophies.
Frank Collins—A gardener In Athea, was educated at Knockanure and won the western minor football double of 1964 and 1965 with Athea, as well- as the Frank Sheehy tournament. Topping the scales at 11st. 12 lbs., he is 5ft 11 ins in height and, at 20, has a fine football future before him.
Athea Club has given generously to county teams, for in addition to Owen Liston and Sonny Murphy, who won Munster junior football laurels in 1950, others to wear the Limerick jersey Include Jimmy Hayes, Tim Woulfe, Michael O'Connor, Tom Barrett, Johnny Mullane, Denis Moore, Mick and Sean Dalton, in addition to those mentioned as minor and under-21 players of recent vintage.
SENIOR FOOTBALL (9)—1946, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1956. 1957, 1963.
SENIOR HURLING (3)—1951, 1952, 1953.
JUNIOR FOOTBALL (1)—1951
MINOR FOOTBALL (4)—1949, 1951, 1957, 1964.
MINOR HURLING (3)—1949, 1950, 1951.
JUVENILE FOOTBALL (8)—1947, 1948, 1949, 1955, 1956, 1963. 1964, 1966.
JUVENILE HURLING (3)—1948, 1949, 1955.
COUNTY SENIOR CUPS :
FOOTBALL (2)—1960, 1961.
HURLING (l)-1960.
CITY CHAMPIONSHIP SUCCESSES JUNIOR FOOTBALL (7)—1946, 1947, 1950, 1951, 1957, 1958, 1959 MINOR FOOTBALL (7)—1949, 1950, 1951, 1957, 1964, 1965, 1967.
JUVENILE FOOTBALL (9)—1947, 1948, 1950, 1955, 1956, 1963. 1964, 1965, 1967 .
MINOR HURLING (5)—1949, 1950, 1951. 1955, 1967.
JUVENILE HURLING (6)—1948, 1950, 1955, 1956, 1959, 1964.
TOURNAMENTS: Duggan Cup, Senior Hurling (5)—1946, 1950, 1951, 1952. 1961.
Gleeson Cup, Senior Football (9)—1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1967.
Newcastle West Tournament, Senior Football—1953.
Retreat House Tournament, Senior Hurling—1955.
New Ireland Assurance Co. Shield, Junior Hurling (2)—1946, 1950.
Kerryman Cup, Junior Football (3)—1946, 1947, 1948.
Juvenile Football, City League—1965.
JUNIOR FOOTBALL (Two)—1950, 1963.
Winning Players: 1950 Moss Fitzgerald (goal)
Jim Broudor Maurice Leahy Sean Dalton
Paddy Mulvlhill Mick Dalton Sonny Murphy
Owen Liston (Captain) Dan Liston
Christy O’Connell, Darby Fitzgerald Tim Woulfe
Michael Scanlan Paul Bohan Pa O'Connor
Denis Moore (goal)
Ned Enright Richard O'Connor Timmy Hanrahan
Paddy Dalton Jim Leahy Seamus Dillane
Tom Barrett (Captain) Johnny Mullane
Michael Hayes Tim Woulfe Paddy Dwane
Tim Quaid Gerry Carey Jim Barrett
Sub. — Phil Woulfe.
WEST LIMERICK CHAMPIONSHIP SUCCESSES
JUNIOR FOOTBALL (Five)—1937, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1963.
MINOR FOOTBALL (Three)—1944, 1964, 1965.
Frank Sheehy Memorial Tournament, Listowel — Senior Football—1967.
Minor Football Players, West Limerick Champions: 1964
G Barry, Michael White, Conor Mullane, Mossy Doody, Murt Liston, Tom Browne, Tom Mullane, Michael Hayes, Michael Moran (Morgan), Michael (Haulie) Moran, Sean McAuliffe, Jim White, Patrick Geoghegan, Kevin Dillon, Richard Denihan.
Paddy Mullane, Tom Foley, Conor Mullane, Francis Sheehy, Murt Liston, Tom Browne, Jim White, Michael Moran (Morgan), Michael (Haulie) Moran, Tom O'Keeffe, Sean McAuliffe, Michael Quille, Sean Moran, Michael White,
Limerick Leader 1905-current, Saturday, November 02, 1968; Page: 3
ATHEA - THE CHAMPIONS
The cheers ring round the Gaelic Grounds, they echo far away,
The Limerick football championship has come to sweet Athea.
The dream at last it has come true,-no longer must we wait:
They've brought the Cup home to the West, these men of sixty-eight,
The first they beat was Patrickswell, next did Askeaton fall;
Then Oola's best they, failed the test with our boys to play the ball.
Next Came the Treaty Sarsfields in the final game to play;
Some wise men shook their heads and said "they'll surely, beat Athea."
The autumn sun was shining bright on that field near Limerick town,
When they came from Clash and Cratloe there, the village and Knockdown,
From Knocknagorna's hills as well from Keale, Coole West, Tooreen,
From Gortnagross and Knackanair and the vales of sweet Direen.
Then old men's thoughts they drifted back to the games they used to see,
And to men who fought in, harder fields to make our nation free-
Con Colbert, Gortaglanna, Paddy Dalton came to mind-
Many hearts with pride were beating for those days long left behind.
But every face is turned now to the scene of the present day.
The Treaty boys, they struggled hard, but were no match for Athea.
And when the final whistle went there was no doubt who was best.
The Cup has found a worthy home in its journey to the West.
Here's to the men of sixty-eight, with Con Mullane full-back;
Tom Keeffe In goal beside him "Morgan" Moran and Sean Mack,
Ken Dermody, Frank Collins and Mike Hayes made no mistake,
And when Gerry Carey gets, the ball the West is wide awake.
The Barrett brothers and Joe Keeffe were always to the fore,
And from a player like Timmie Woulfe no one could ask for more.
Murt Liston, the young captain, was indeed a shining light;
Kevin Dillon and Joe Brouder too. they played with all their might.
The other men who also served, the subs behind the scene
Tim Enright "Haulie" Moran and Pat Dalton from Direen,
Tim Keeffe and Danny Barry, Patie Moran, Jim Dillane.
Mick White and Jack O'Connor, too, strong men-of brain and brawn.
Your followers they are proud of you, gallant men of sixty-eight;
We will always look upon you as the greatest of the great
And in many a future battle we-well know you'll never fail
To bring the laurels often home to the town beside the Gale.
P J. BROSNAN . Knocknagorna, Athea.
September Memories
by Domhnall de Barra
The dawning of September, long ago, meant that school holidays were over and the Summer was gone all too soon. On the first morning back we trudged our way to the schoolhouse in Cratloe with no great enthusiasm for the treatment we knew we were facing from the teachers for the next few months until Christmas. In those days they made sure they did not “spare the rod and spoil the child” so we braved the elements and went like the condemned to their doom.
There was, however, light at the end of the tunnel as September was the month for the All-Ireland finals and the Listowel races. The hurling final was held on the first Sunday in September and the football was on the third. On the following week the races were on for three days in Listowel. As youngsters we were mad about Gaelic games and spent most of our leisure time kicking a football or playing hurling with rough imitations of camáns. Money was very scarce in those days so actually buying a hurley was out of the question but that did not stop us fashioning our own weapons out of old boards that we found lying around or furze roots. We didn’t have a proper sliotar either but used a rubber “sponge” ball that could be bought for 6d in local shops. Getting a football was even more difficult so we saved up and pooled our money to buy one. I well remember the excitement when we, having honed our skills on a rubber ball, at last had the required amount of cash and we purchased a brand new O’Neill’s football. It was made of leather with a rubber bladder inside that had to be blown up through a jowl that emerged from a slit in the leather casing that had to be laced up and tied afterwards. We felt like inter-county superstars when we got to play with a proper ball for the first time. On final day we all assembled at Dave Connors’ house in Knocknaboul to listen to the commentary of the great Micheál O Hehir. He could make the game come alive as he described every movement in graphic detail. We were “watching” the game with our ears. Afterward we would go out to the field and pretend we were the greats of the game we had just heard on the radio. Once the hurling was over we looked forward to the football final and the same scenario would be repeated. The players of those days seemed like giants to us and it came as a bit of a shock when we actually saw they in the flesh in later years and realised they were ordinary mortals. Great memories!
The week after the football final meant we would get a day off school to go to the races. At that time, race week was one of the most important weeks in the local calendar. By this time all the work was completed: hay and turf home and the spuds dug so it was a time for relaxation and celebration. Most of the parish went to the races although “the races” might be a misnomer. Many went to Listowel and had a great time without ever going on the course or even seeing a horse. I knew one man from Kilmorna who used to get the train to the races, go to the nearest pub to the station, which was known as Mike the Pie’s, and enjoy a few pints and a chat with like minded people until it was time to go home again. Others went to the Market Yard where the amusements were in full swing. In those days the three main amusements were the bumpers, the chair-o-planes and the swinging boats. It was not uncommon to see two fit healthy youths straining with all their might, pulling on the rope, to make the swinging boat go higher and higher with their ties streaming in the wind over their shoulders. Everyone wore a collar and tie going to “the races” in those days. There were all kinds of side shows with three-card– trick men plying their trade with one eye out for the guards and stalls selling raffle tickets for gaudy prizes. The racing enthusiasts went over the bridge to the island for the actual races which were on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. What struck me, the first time I went, was the great array of colour on display when the jockeys emerged from the weighing room to mount their horses. There was great excitement as the horses flashed by the stands and even more as they approached the winning post as punters cheered on their favourites. After the last race of the day people streamed out of the course and the pubs did a roaring trade. All the shops in the town made a great effort dressing up their windows for the races . On one occasion I remember staring at a cowboy suit, complete with holsters and guns, in a shop window in William Street. I would have given my right arm if I could have brought it home with me but alas it was way beyond my meagre budget so only the memory remains! On the Friday there were more horses but this time it was on the street for the horse fair and on Friday night the festival ended with the Wren Boy competition in the Square. This drew huge crowds and was quite a spectacle as the batches marched down the town with pikes of blazing sods held aloft to the marching music and the unique sound of the bodhráns. In those days all the batches were from local townlands and there was great rivalry between them. Afterwards there were great sessions in the local bars into the small hours. Yes, September had a lot to offer us and we grabbed it with both hands.
Walk a Mile with Me
Rest in peace Una Smith Mulvihill – You are home. 25th Oct. 1934 – 11th Feb. 2018
I’ve travelled far, far from the place of my birth
And been too many places all over the earth
But my heart stayed behind where I first saw the day
With my kindly neighbours in my home in Sweet Athea.
Back where the people are courteous and kind
And your face is kissed by the soft April sunshine
And the cuckoo is calling to welcome the May
Amid the peaceful surroundings in my home in Sweet Athea.
Composed by Paddy Faley
In a little house nestled on a hill just above the Gale river in Lower Dirreen lived Una Mulvihill. A quiet unassuming and sincere lady who led a life not known to too many. Una Mulvihill, born Una Smith in Maidstone, Kent and raised Church of England. She took Catholic instruction and was converted a Roman Catholic in 1953 at the age of 19. She was Baptised, got Communion and Confirmation all on the same day, two months before she married her husband Eamon, eventually moving back home to raise a family here in Athea.
How Una loved Athea and her little home in the country. How she loved her home, family and especially her Catholic faith. She took her faith very seriously, she placed it before everything. She also loved the Legion of Mary and was one of its founding members with Agnes Fitzgibbon, Nora Roche and attended meetings regularly in the church. As we enter the starting weeks of Lent I remember my mother and how she looked forward to Lent. Lent to her was almost like a New Year’s resolution to most of us. For most of us the penance of lent is a time to give up what we like the most, e.g. cakes, sweets etc. The physical benefits are of course dropping a few pounds in the process. But for Una her penance went deeper, crazy as it sounds and crazy as sometimes she was called.
To her it was a time of cleansing of the soul, a chance to redeem yourself. Una would rise from her bed at 4am most mornings during Lent, have her house in order and be on the road to walk the ring to Mass by 7.45am, the latest. She would walk up through Lower Dirreen onto the Glin Road, into the village to take Mass at the church at 9am, then return via the Lower Athea road home. The total mileage covered daily was 6½ miles. Her penance was to fast through the morning until she returned home at about 10.15am. She would pick a charity, then set an amount of 20p a mile for every mile she walked for that charity. Her target was 100 miles over the period of Lent. Nearly all the time she succeeded. In the beginning it wasn’t easy but as the years moved on Una became a visible fixture to people travelling the roads daily to work during Lent.
For over 50 years Una made this her own walk of faith. She achieved and secured many things from her suffering over Lent for her family, friends and those she loved in her life. Her secret was a belief in herself and most of all a very strong faith and love of her God and Our Blessed Mother. She suffered many, many trials in her life but would always place her worries and fears in God’s hands. “Ask and you shall receive” she would say. And the small miracle was, she always got what she wanted.
In the time we live in let her example not go in vain and may she be a beacon of hope and faith not only for her family but also her church and her beloved parish.
Taking a quote from one of the great leaders of our time
“I have walked the long road to freedom and it has not been in vain”
Nelson Mandela
Rest in peace Una Smith Mulvihill – You are home
25th Oct. 1934 – 11th Feb. 2018
Kathleen Barrett
Mothers Day prayer
Pastoral Prayer for Mother’s Day
Loving God, we give thanks today for mothers!
Thank you for mothers who gave birth to us,
and women who have treated us as their own children.
You teach us how to be good mothers,
cherishing and protecting the children among us.
Help us mother lovingly, fairly, wisely and with great joy.
Help us raise our children to be the people they are born to be.
We need your comfort here today, Lord,
because some are missing mothers, some are missing children,
some are parted by distance or death.
Comfort those who have given up their child for adoption,
or who chose not to give birth, and had an abortion.
Comfort those who longed to be biological mothers, and could not.
We pray for those here whose mothers have disappointed them;
we ask for grace in relationships where there is pain and bitterness,
for healing in relationships where there is abuse and violence.
Help our congregation be a space where people can feel mothered,
their gifts and talents appreciated and nurtured.
Finally, we pray today for mothers around the world;
mothers who cannot feed their children,
mothers who are homeless or without a homeland;
mothers who must teach their children about the dangers of bombs and bullets.
Help us create a world where mothers can raise their children in peace and plenty.
God of mothers, who created mothers, who came as a child and had a mother,
God our Mother,
loving us with a sweeter and deeper love than we have ever known,
hear our prayer this day, Amen.
PENNY WOULFE R.I.P. June 2017
Shock was the first reaction of the community in Athea at Penny’s passing away. There were so many facets to her own personal life, both within her own extended family and in her involvement in the parish that it would be well-nigh impossible for any individual to pay proper tribute to her. So, it was a pleasant surprise to hear heartfelt tributes from Kathleen, in her notes, and the Athea United Soccer club in last week’s Newsletter. All that would be a humble effort to give her due credit for her lifelong dedication to the various causes she served so willingly and so enthusiastically.
The only time-label I can put on the beginning of our friendship was sometime in the Sixties when I became principal of the Boys’ School : in other words half a century ago! Just some of the exploits we worked in were the annual carnival and the building of the Colbert Memorial Hall and, of course, her work as caretaker of the school would require a chapter in itself, even to scratch the surface of it !
If there was maybe a word to encapsulate her contribution during all those years I would describe her to be a carer. Penny was like a mother to the hundreds of small children she ministered to, even if it was only putting a plaster on a scratched knee or giving them something to ease a toothache. When any notable was in the school it would take her a very short period to rustle up refreshments for them.
Of course the school itself was like a personal property; herself and Thady kept it spotless and we, teachers had never to be concerned.
The highlight of the day for the infant children was spending the last hour with Penny in the Memorial Hall and she was as involved in the hall maintenance as the school. Herself and Nora Wrenn sat for endless hours there trying to sell minerals etc. in an effort to pay the costs of running the place. In a sense it was an unusual friendship, seeing that both were on opposite sides of the political spectrum. The glue that enhanced their friendship was caring !
I was fortunate to have a lifelong friendship with both so you can understand that it was so personal to lose a friend whose almost entire career paralleled my own. These few lines are but a snapshot of Penny’s lifetime and most people will accept it is a truism that she is busy in the great afterlife organizing things: old habits die hard ! We say farewell to one of the most outstanding women of our lifetime in Athea. Slán Penny.
Timmy Woulfe
Things Change
Times are always changing but I think my generation have lived through the greatest transformation the planet has ever seen. It is hard to believe that when I was born there was no electricity in most of rural Ireland. This meant all tasks had to be accomplished by hand or with the crudest of machinery. There was no water on tap. Rain water was collected in a concrete trough under a drainpipe at the gable end of the house and water for drinking was drawn from the spring well. Each house did not have its own well and it was common for neighbours to call to those who had one for the daily bucket, or gallon, as the case may be. We had a very good well at the bottom of the “garden” as we called it. All the neighbours used it and, from this time of year on, it was in great demand by people going up to the bog. They all called to fill the gallon with enough water for the kettle which was boiled over a turf fire in the bog hole. That well never ran dry no matter how the weather was, in fact when there was a lengthy dry spell the water got higher which, the old people said, was the sign of a real spring. Without piped water there were no toilets and people had to make do with shady spots out doors, not so nice on a frosty morning!
Families were big in those days and wash day, usually Monday, was quite an ordeal. Water had to be drawn from the trough or, in dry weather, from some local “spout”. The spout was a piece of pipe that carried water from a drain inside to the outside of the ditch and provided a constant flow. There was one of those on the roadside opposite Cusack’s house and that is where we drew our water from. Water had to be boiled in big pots over the fire and then transferred to a tin bath. A washboard was placed in the bath and the clothes would be spread over it and lathered with common soap before being rinsed, squeezed out and hung on a line to dry. It was hard work and totally dependant on the weather.
There were no cars or tractors in those days so horses and donkeys were used to pull carts, ploughs, rakes and other farm machinery. The ass was usually the one to pull the milk cart to the creamery. One of the hardest jobs was catching the ass in the morning. They can be very stubborn but cunning as well. If they didn’t feel inclined to be caught the job could take some time. It wasn’t too bad if they were in a field but sometimes they would be on the road grazing the “long acre” as they called it. It was the practice in those days for people who hadn’t much grass to let cows, asses and ponies graze along the road. Many a prayer was said for the wandering ass in the morning. After eventually getting the animal into captivity the harness had to be put on and the cart attached.
Milking was done by hand and poured into tankards that were placed in the cart for delivery to the creamery. No milk lorries calling to farms in those days. Most of the work was done by hand and great credit is due to the men and women who toiled so hard to make a future for us.
Education was very limited as well. Most people left school at the age of fourteen, not that they were in attendance all the time before that. As soon as they got big enough they were needed for the bog and the meadow and much more. The wealthier sent their children to secondary schools which were fee paying at the time but that was outside the scope of most people in a time, after the war, when things were not so good and money was scarce.
That then was the kind of world I was born into and indeed it was a world that hadn’t changed so much for hundreds of years. Then came electricity and it changed everything. There was the light to start with. Gone were the candles, oil lamps and “tillys” and, for the first time, we had decent light at night. Electric appliances followed swiftly; the iron, washing machine, cooker etc making life that much easier for everyone. At the same time the tractor made its appearance and before too long the motor car could be seen in front of most homes. Radio and television brought the world into our homes and the advent of free education gave everyone the opportunity to go to secondary school and on to third level. Technology began to really advance and soon we had devoices to do everything. We now got to the stage where we were able to send men to the Moon and back.
Now, I sit and watch a match that may be being played in Australia without even thinking about it. I can chat to my son in America on Skype — what a change from sending a letter that would take over a week to reach America. Where is it all going to end? I don’t know but I consider myself very privileged to have lived through the most exciting time the world has ever seen.
Domhnall de Barra
FR RYAN
Limerick Leader 1905-current, Wednesday, July 16, 1941; Page: 2
GOLDEN JUBILEE
Co. Limerick Priest Abroad
REV. P. A RYAN, SJ.
Rev. Patrick A. Ryan, S.J., Pastor of St. Joseph's Church in El Paso, Texas, celebrated the Golden Jubilee of his entry into the Society of Jesus, Sunday, May 18th.
The Mass was celebrated by Most Rev. A. J. Schuler, S.J., Bishop of El Paso, whose representative Father has been in many church and public occasions, particularly in the recent joint celebration commemorating the silver jubilee of His Excellency, Most Rev. Anthony J. Schuler, S.J., and the national dedication of the monument to Christ the King on top of Mount Cristo Rey, in El Paso. These celebrations were attended by the Apostolic Delegate to the United States as well as by the Apostolic Delegate to Mexico, and by the largest gathering of high dignitaries of the Catholic Church that has ever assembled in Texas. In addition to those already mentioned there were also present ten Archbishops, fifteen Bishops and many Monsignori and priests.
At the Pontifical High Mass, Rev. William J. Harty, S.J., pastor of Loyola University Church, New Orleans, preached the golden jubilee sermon. This was especially appropriate because Father Ryan spent much of his priestly life at Loyola. He went into the jubilation’s life from the time that he entered the Society as a novitiate in 1891 in the Southern Province, down to and including his activities at the present time. A very unusual tribute was paid to Father Ryan by the representatives of other faiths—Protestant and Jewish—in the organisation of a committee and the holding of a public demonstration to do honour to him, by giving him a dinner at the Hotel Paso del Norte on May 18th. The Mayor of El Paso and Mrs. Anderson, as well as Major-General Innish Palmer Smith, of Fort Bliss, were members of this committee. Rabbi Wendell A. Phillips, of Temple Mt. Sinai, and the Rev. B. M. G. Williams, of St. Clement's Episcopal Church; Dr. Orvllle Egbert, President of the Rotary, were the principal speakers at this banquet.
BORN IN PARISH OF GLIN. Father Ryan was born in Ballyguiltenane, parish of Glin, County of Limerick, Ireland, sixty-seven years ago. He is the son of the late Patrick Ryan and Bridget Kennelly. His mother was a native of Newtownsandes, County Kerry, and, came from a very religious family. Two of her brothers were distinguished Jesuits in the Southern Province, and one was Provincial at the time that Father Ryan entered the Society. Another brother was a member of the Order of the Christian Brothers.(Presentation Brothers in Cork) In his early days Father Ryan attended the National School in Ballyguiltenane, and at the age of fourteen entered Mungret College in Limerick, which has produced many eminent Churchmen, as well as men prominent in other walks of life. Father Ryan attributes a great deal of his success in the great Society to the instruction that he got in Mungret in his early years. To mention only a few of the many Jesuits
who were products of that institution, were the late Father Terence Shealy, S.J. who conducted Retreat Missions in Mt. Manresa, S.I.; the late Michael Mahoney, S.J., professor of philosophy in Fordham University for many years; Father Michael J. Kenny, S.J., who was one of the founders of that great Jesuit publication, "America," and of which he was an associate editor, representing the Southern Province, for eight years, and who is now stationed in Spring Hill College, Ala.
Among the members of the Hierarchy who were personal friends of Father Ryan, and who were products of Mungret, were:—The late Most Rev. Michael Gallagher, Bishop of Detroit; Bishop Turner, of Buffalo, and the present Archbishop of Baltimore, the Most Rev. Michael
J. Curley.
A VERY ACTIVE LIFE. Although now nearing the "allotted span," Father Ryan in writing to a friend says "that he doesn't feel older than if he were in his thirties." This is due to the very active life that he has led in the Society. His first assignment after his ordination in Woodstock in 1905 was In St. Aloysius Parish in Washintgon, D.C He was there only a few months when he was called to do more active work in Loyola University, New Orleans. Here he taught mathematics and ethics for seven years. He was the first Vice-President and Dean of Loyola University and during his term of office the departments of law, dentistry, pharmacy and extension courses and the summer school were started. He was pastor of the Sacred Heart Church in Augusta, Ga., in 1918, where he was a leader in civic affairs and became Diocesan Missionary in South Carolina with headquarters in Rock Hill. He was President of the New Orleans Province Endowment Fund and associate editor of "Jesuit Missions," a New York publication, where he celebrated his silver jubilee. Speaking of the work put into the promotion of this publication Father Kenny told a friend of Father Ryan recently in New York that Father Ryan went wholeheartedly into this work and visited more churches in the south in spreading the influence of this magazine than any other individual priest. Said Father Kenny: "when Father Ryan was given an assignment by his superiors he thought no other work in connection with the Society was as important as his, he was so interested in making it a success.
FINE SENSE OF HUMOUR. With all the serious work that he has been engaged in during his busy life in the Order, he always maintained that fine sense of humour which he inherited in abundance from his late father, who passed away only half a dozen years ago. Always jolly, kind, and affable. Father Ryan made friends wherever he went. One never forgot, however, that while in his presence, he was a priest and a devout one. The people of El Paso have given him honours second to no other individual who ever resided there. He has done great and noble work for the Society, whether in the class room, the missionary field or on the pulpit. He is an eloquent preacher. One paper speaking of him says-that in addition to graduating from Mungret "that he did some post graduate work in informal rhetoric in Blarney Castle before he left Ireland." JOHN J. SHEAHAN .
Limerick Leader 1905-current, Saturday, October 20, 1945; Page: 5
A GREAT PRIEST
LIMERICK LEADER
Who Was Beloved By Children
A saintly and exceedingly popular Franciscan Father passed away at Milford House, Limerick, on Tuesday evening of last week in the person or Rev. Father Stanislaus Ryan, O.F.M., attached to the Franciscan Community at Ennis. A native of Glin, Co. Limerick, Father Stanislaus, a great priest who was particularly beloved by children, was ordained in St. Isadore's, Rome, 42 years ago, and ministered in most of the Franciscan Churches in the Irish Franciscan Province. Before going to Ennis, he had spent ten years in Wexford and had filled the office of Guardian there for some years. He was also a Definitor of the Irish Province. During his eight years in Ennis, he was held in the highest regard by every member of the community. He was a familiar figure in the town and, on his daily walks, was always accompanied by a host of little children, who Idolised him. As a mark of respect to his memory a lecture in connection with the Thomas Davis Centenary celebration, arranged to be given in the Technical School, Ennis, on Thursday evening, 11th inst., was postponed to the following Sunday evening, while shops and business establishments in the town remained closed during the obsequies and funeral on Friday.
REMOVAL OF REMAINS. On Wednesday evening, 10th inst. the remains were removed to Ennis and placed in front of the High Altar in the Franciscan Church. They were met on arrival by the Very Rev. Guardian and members of the Community, and during the recitation of the Rosary by Rev. Father Valerian . O.F.M., there was barely standing room in the church. Prominent amongst those present were scores of little children who had enjoyed many walks and talks with the late Father Stanislaus. Very large crowds were present In the Friary at all times during Thursday to pay their respect to the memory of deceased and to offer a prayer for the repose of his soul. The obsequies commenced at 11 o'clock on Friday morning- with Solemn Office and Requiem High Mass, and the funeral took place the same day to Drumcliffe. After the Solemn Requiem Mass, over 500 children, boys and girls, from the local schools, marched in the funeral procession. "Father Stan," as he was affectionately called, was the children's friend, and never appeared in public without several of them clinging to his habit, and for them he always had sweets or other tit bits in his capacious sleeve pockets. All premises in the town were closed for the obsequies, which were attended by over sixty priests, all the chief houses of the Order being represented. Flags on public buildings were flown at half-mast, and Civic Guards marched in a body.
REGRET IN GLIN.
The death of Father Stanislaus (writes our Glin correspondent) is much regretted in Glin, His native place, by his numerous relatives and neighbours. He was a member of an old Glin family of the farming class, which has given many of its members to the Church. He has a brother and two uncle’s priests and an uncle a Christian Brother. He is son of the late Mr Patrick and Mrs. Kennelly Ryan, farmers, Ballyguiltenane, Glin. Deepest sympathy is offered his numerous relatives. (Note Kennedy was used in article in mothers name, which was a mistake)
Limerick Leader 1905-current, Monday, February 11, 1946; Page: 2
Application For Glin Licence premises Opposed and Late Fr. Stanislaus O.F.M.
Judge Barra. O Brain, S.C. opened the business of Rathkeale Circuit Court on Tuesday. The hearing was resumed of the case in which John J. Foley applied for a, new licence in respect of premises at Upper Main Street, Glln.
Mr. M. Danaher. B.L (instructed by Mr. M. O'Sullivan. solicitor) appeared; for the applicant and Mr, T. Donovan. B.L(instructed by Mr. J.J. Power. , State Solicitor) represented the State on behalf of which the application was opposed.
Mr. Danaher said the application was before the previous- sitting when the Judge adjourned the case to enable the State to produce further evidence regarding the number of existing licences in the area.
Mr. Donovan, said he was in a position to produce detailed evidence regarding the, number of licences and the population, etc., of the area. . .
Having heard the evidence of Sergeant T. McKeon, the Judge sad he would give his decision at Limerick during the Week.
THE DECISION.
In giving his decision on Thursday, at the Limerick Circuit Court, the judge said that the licence had been opposed on the grounds of the number of previous licensed houses in the neighbourhood, The licence formerly attached to it had been allowed to lapse, The evidence, he said, was produced by the Garda authorities that the population of 516 in the district was served by ten publichouse's, and five of these had-gone out of business. Ten public-houses, with ordinary luck, said his Lordship, should suffice for such a village, and the number of the publichouses in the parish was the-same as In the village. The ten existing public-houses catered adequately for the needs of the inhabitants, and accordingly, he (said, the application failed.
An Appreciation; Late Fr. Stanislaus O.F.M.
Mr. John J Sheahan the prominent Glin man in New York whole chairman of the great St. Patrick’s Day Parade in that city; has written for the Limerick Leader the following special appreciation the late father Stanislaus O.F.M. I have just learned of the death of a very old and esteemed friend,
Reverend Father Stanislaus, O.F.M. which took place at Ennis, Co Clare.
In private life he was, James Ryan, son of the late Patrick Ryan and Ellen Kennelly, and was born in the townland of Ballyguiltenane, Glin, Co. Limerick, , In his early years he attended the National School in Ballyguiltenane and got his elementary education, there under the tutorship of the late William Griffin, His mother was a native of Kilbaha, Newtownsandes, Co. Kerry, and belonged to a family who gave many of its members to the Church, one being Provincial of the Jesuit Society In the Southern Province In the United States, and another Provincial of the Presentation Order of the Christian Brothers in Ireland.( Should be Presentation Order):
After leaving school in Ballyguiltenane, James Ryan was sent to Rome, attended the Franciscan College and Seminary there and was ordained in the Eternal City 42 years ago. He served with distinction in many of the Franciscan houses in Ireland, at one time being advisor to the Provincial and other times Superior of Monasteries. For many years he was in the Priories In Wexford, but the last years of his life were spent In the Franciscan Monastery In Ennis, County Clare, Ireland.
As a child, James lived almost exclusively with his paternal grandmother, affectionately known to us as Bridget Fitzgerald, and even in those days of his youth exemplified not only In his external appearance, but in his every act, all those characteristics of piety arid modesty for which he was noted in his priestly life.
According to the reports of, his superiors and associates in the Order, his Outstanding characteristics were piety and a lover of young children; with whom he surrounded himself in his dally walks. The papers say that he carried a plentiful supply of sweets and other niceties in the capacious pockets of his robes and always gave them to the children who accompanied him in his strolls.
His brother Rev. Patrick A. Ryan, S.J., is an outstanding member of the Jesuit Society in America. He left Ballygulltenane School in 1888 and attended Mungret College in Limerick until 1891, when he came to America, and entered the Jesuit Society.in the Southern Provltice. where.ois -late _uncleV-jFather Kennelly, _waSj Provincial of the Society. He has had a distinguished and active career in that great Order. Vice-president and Prefect of Loyola University, New Orleans, for many-years; pastor of-many important churches in the South, one of the founders on the staff of "Jesuit. Missions," a monthly publication, and represented the Province on many, important conferences. In fact to-day, in his 73rd year, he is one of the most active men In the Order or Society. Altogether there were ten children In the Ryan family. The ones surviving are John and Daniel in Pittsburgh, William and Timothy in Now York City, and Rev. Patrick A., to whom I referred above.
The Ryans were near neighbours of ours. I played with them in my early years in Ballygulltenane, and have a vivid recollection of the great piety, of their mother, Ellen Kennelly. I hope God will be very good to James, who served his Master so faithfully and well.
JOHN J. SHEAHAN.
PLAY is the Thing” Jan 2017.
This is the time of year when amateur drama groups all over the country are putting the final touches to the plays they are staging for this season. We are lucky to have an excellent drama group in Athea and two in nearby Abbeyfeale. There is a good crossover of actors between the groups which is a healthy development and brings new talent to the locality. Listowel, and Ardagh also have very experienced groups.
The history of drama begins as far back as records are kept. Acting is a natural gift that most people have, even if they are not aware of it. We, in Ireland, are particularly good at it because we spend most of our time acting anyway. How often do we meet somebody we can’t stand on the street and though we are fit to choke them, we put on a happy face and inform them of the latest weather changes as if they were our best friend. We may look into a baby’s pram at a very ordinary, wrinkled little mite and declare “isn’t she gorgeous and the spit of her mother” even though she is just the same as any other newly born baby. We are born with this ability inherited from our forebears who had to put up with being ruled by a foreign power for eight hundred years. Over the centuries, the people of Ireland learned to say one thing and mean another simply to survive. They had to plot in secret and pretend to the authorities and the landlords that they were happy with their lot. Whatever the reason, there is a rich vein of acting talent in the country and especially in this locality. West Limerick and North Kerry have produced some marvellous poets and playwrights over the years and without them there wouldn’t be any plays to produce. Thankfully there is plenty of material to choose from and the process of selecting a play begins in the early Autumn. Having made a choice of play the next order of business is to cast the parts. Most of the time the director has somebody in mind for each part, or at least the main roles, and the play may even be chosen to suit a particular actor. Now the rehearsals begin. When first you read the script it can be intimidating. “How am I going to learn all these lines” is one of the first thoughts but you are committed now so, on with the readings. This continues for a few weeks and gradually you get to have a feel for the part and you are able to get into the mind of the character. The cast begin to use movement on a mock stage and, even though you still have to look at the script, some of the lines are off by heart already. Gradually, week by week it gets easier to remember and finally you are able to throw away the script. Not only do you know your own lines but you discover that you know most of the other actors’ lines as well. Finally the dress rehearsal comes and you put on the greasepaint and powder, get into the period costume and take to the stage. Now for the real thing – opening night. You get to the theatre early. There is a buzz in the dressing room which is a hive of activity with people coming and going, getting make-up, donning costumes, drinking cups of tea , coffee and even stronger liquid. You have a last glance at the lines and say a quick prayer that you won’t forget them on stage. “Five minutes” shouts the director and the butterflies are doing somersaults in your tummy. You suddenly have an urge to go to the toilet but it is too late. Last minute countdown and the curtains are drawn back. Though you can’t really see them you are aware of the eyes of the audience on you but you steel yourself and somehow you say your first lines without tripping up. End of the first scene and there is a generous round of applause. Great; this is what you have been rehearsing for since last October. This is why you left your cosy fireside on bad wintry nights to travel to a cold hall. When you feel that warmth and appreciation from the crowd, all the sacrifice is forgotten. Scene follows scene and before you know it the play is ended and it is time to take a bow. You are now walking on air and higher than if you were on ecstasy. There is nothing quite like the feeling of being asked to take that extra bow. Off with the costumes and on with the street clothes and back to normality until the next night and the process repeats itself. It is difficult to come down from such a high at times but life goes on and when the play is finished its run, all is forgotten until the next season.
I have been very lucky during my life to have had involvement with a few great drama groups. At the moment I am playing the part of Sonyy in “The Highest House on the Mountain” at the Glorach Theatre in Abbeyfeale. It is one of my all time favourite parts and is a change from the comical plays that have been so popular over the past few years. We are on until Sunday January 22nd. Athea are starting in early February with a play called “Anyone can Rob a Bank”. I hope you will support all the local plays and that you will get enjoyment from the efforts of local amateurs who sometimes give a very professional performance. Who knows, maybe you might become an actor yourself. The drama groups will only be too happy to welcome you. Break a leg!.
Domhnall de Barra
Characters
One thing I have noticed lately is the absence of “characters” from the locality. They were very much in evidence when I was young and added a lot of colour to our lives. The “character” was a bit eccentric, handy with the gab and very witty. He could cut you to ribbons with a few well chosen words if you had the misfortune to upset him but in general the banter was good natured and taken in good part. Most of them had very little schooling, going to the national school until they were big and strong enough to help out on the land or in the bog. Their “third level” education (we’ll skip the second level altogether) was the university of life. They graduated from this with flying colours and, being of a generous nature, were more than ready to share their accumulated knowledge with all and sundry, at least anyone who would listen to them. I have known a good few in my time and I recall some funny incidents that can be attributed to them. The late Bill Cotter from Knocknasna, God be good to him, was never stuck for words and was as witty a man as ever lived. Like many a man before him and indeed after, Bill left school early enough and, after working for local farmers for a while, eventually went to work in England where he lived for many years until he finally retire to live in Kingsland. He bought the house next door to my father-in-law Jack Hannon. They were great friends and had known each other from their time fishing together along the banks of the Feale. Bill would ramble into Jack’s at any hour of the day or night, as people used to do regularly in days gone by. Nowadays you have to make an “appointment”. He used to love to get a rise out of Jack and employed several methods of doing so. One day he came in and after exchanging the usual pleasantries Bill asked, “Jack. Will you tell me what would be good for fleas?”. Jack though for a moment and replied, “Well now Bill, the best thing for fleas is DDT.” Bill looked at him in mock alarm and said. “ O my God Jack, sure that would only kill them” He was at a wedding in Athea on another occasion and while waiting for the bride to arrive he went up to the Top of the Town for some refreshment. It was in the summertime and there were a few Yanks in the bar who were taking a break while touring around the country. Bill was in his usual good form and fell into conversation with some of the locals. He was wearing a flower in his lapel and one of the visitors who had been enjoying the local company asked Bill why he was wearing the carnation. Before he could answer one of the locals said “he is getting married today”. “That’s right” said Bill, “ she’s running a bit late so I thought I’d be more comfortable here”. “Is your fiancé from Athea?” enquired the Yank. “No”, said Bill, “I wrote away for her”. “Where did you write to” was the next question. “Ireland’s Own” said Bill and I hope they send me a good one, ‘cause I didn’t see her yet”. The Yank was taken aback and after some thought asked if Bill knew her name to which Bill replied “ah, the misfortune has no name sir, only a number” at which point the Yank gave up and left the company.
Bill did not always get his own way with Jack Hannon. He was in his garden one day, tending his flowers, while Jack was on the other side of the ditch thinning turnips. Bill invited him over to see his garden and showed Jack the lovely flowers he had cultivated. “ What do you think of them, aren’t they lovely Jack.” he reply came back straight away, “God knows they are Bill. They are lovely all right sure they’ll see you through the winter”.
I was very fond of Bill and found him to be a very intelligent, generous individual. He liked his few pints and was the life and soul of any party he attended. He had a repertoire of bawdy songs that he loved to sing, especially if there were a few straight laced people in the company who would be scandalised by the words of the song. Though unique in his own way, he was but one of many of the great characters who entertained us over the years. Alas they seem to have disappeared with the advent of TV and education for all. There is no room for them any more in the world of IT and mass media and we are all the poorer for that. Many of the characters would have gone far in the world if they had the benefit of education. In my varied career I have dealt with heads of state and government ministers but I have met men labouring for Murphy, Wimpy and John Lang who would buy and sell them. As a matter of fact the country would be far better off in their sensible hands than those who mismanage it at the moment.
Domhnall de Barra
By Tom Aherne
The death has taken place of Margaret (Maudie) Mullins nee Stack, Dunganville, Ardagh and formerly of Moyvane village, County Kerry, wife of the late Johnny, peacefully in the loving care of St Catherine’s Nursing Home, Newcastle West, on Sunday September 13. She lay in repose at Reidy’s Funeral Home, Newcastle West on Tuesday, September 15 from 6pm followed by removal to Saint Molua’s Church, Ardagh. Her Requiem Mass was concelebrated by Fr Tim Curtin, Fr Tony Mullins and Canon Frank Duhig on Wednesday at 11.30am. Family members participated in the readings, prayers of the faithful, offertory gifts and reflection prayer and Maura sang appropriate hymns.
Fr Tim provided an insight into Maudie’s journey through life during his homily. She was one of seven children and she was born on September 19, 1931. She enjoyed her time around Moyvane until she met the love of her life Johnny Mullins. They were married in 1960 and they worked side by side on the farm. It was dairy farming in the early days and dry stock later and Maudie participated in the chores. She had a warm welcome for all callers to their house and got on very well with her nephews, nieces and relatives. She liked her cigarettes and enjoyed her coffee meetings with neighbours and friends.
She attended Mass regularly and made annual visits to Knock and occasional visits to Lourdes. She took great care of her husband Johnny who died in 2000. Maudie was involved in the Meals on Wheels and Ardagh Social Club up to her move to Saint Catherine’s about four years ago. Her nephew, on behalf of the family, paid a heartfelt and humorous tribute to Maudie and thanked so many people for their kindness and help. Maudie was laid to rest afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. We extend our sympathy to her brother Eddie (Moyvane), sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, nephews, nieces, kind neighbours, relatives and friends. May she rest in Peace.
Looking Back West Limerick
Listening to the radio this morning I heard a man talk about the days of his youth when bees were plentiful. He remembered gathering bees in an empty jam jar with holes cut in the lid for air. Himself and his friends put the different coloured bees into different categories and would sit admiring them in the back garden. It wasn’t long before the bees, who had been scurrying around the jar, became listless and eventually stopped moving altogether. It struck him that there was something wrong and he realised that by capturing these lovely creatures and putting them in confinement was cruel and unnecessary.
It struck a chord with me because I remember doing the same thing myself in the field near our home in Cratloe. In those days the fields were full of wild flowers and the air was filled with the sound of bees flying from flower extracting the nectar and storing it in the little sacks down by their legs. It was easy to get the jar over the flower and slip the lid on before the bee knew what was happening. To the best of my memory we never kept them until they died but released them as soon as the novelty of capturing them wore off. Little did we think that the day would come when the honey bee would be an endangered species and liable to disappear altogether due to lack of flowers.
Progress has a price. Farming has become intensified with every acre being treated to produce as much grass as possible. The use of pesticides and the spreading of slurry have also contributed to the scarcity of the wild flowers that sustained the bee. It is however a serious problem. We need the bees for pollination otherwise plants will also die off. With this in mind the government are now advocating the creation of wild gardens along motorways and railway lines and are encouraging people with gardens to leave a little for the wild flowers. It is a very good idea and one which will cost very little. We can all do our bit for the bee and at the same time enrich our surroundings with the sight of the most beautiful wild flowers.
I suppose we were a bit cruel in those days but as children we did not realise it. Catching tadpoles and keeping them in a jar usually ended up with the death of the tadpole. We even had them at school and the teacher would let us keep them on top of a press for all to see. Another pastime was seeking bird’s nests. They were easily found and we used love to have “our own” nests. Some children would take out the eggs and play with them not realising that by doing so they were giving them a death sentence. The mother bird would have nothing to do with the eggs once they were disturbed and handled by humans.
This time of the year was a great time for us. Listowel races were coming up and we needed money to visit the Market Yard where the amusements held sway. There was no point in asking our parents for money as things were tight at the time and there were more pressing needs than financing our amusement in Listowel. The hedgerows however provide the answer. There was a factory in Brosna that made fruit juices. The best known of them was Pep Apple Juice but they also made blackberry juice. The hedgerows were full of blackberries that were just getting ripe at this time of the year so off we went with our gallons to collect the blackberries and take them to the local shop to be weighed and turned into money. For the benefit of the younger readers; a gallon was a round sweet tin that held eight pints of liquid and was used to bring water from the well and milk from the creamery. It takes a hell of a long time to fill a gallon with blackberries and when the task was completed we were covered in scratches from the briars and our fingers were blue as was our mouth from eating the ripe fruit. How happy we were with our couple of shillings in our pockets hitting off for the races. Happy days!
Domhnall de Barra
ATHEA NEWSPAPERS
ATHEA by Kathleen Mullane. Well Athea was “the hive of activity” on Saturday morning last when there were so many ESB trucks and workers there erecting the new tall ESB poles, which will improve our street lighting immensely – again another “plus” for our village. Incidentally I was talking to Connie Brouder recently, of Tournafulla/Mountcollins, when they were doing the road here in Templeathea towards Glin he said “ye don’t know how lucky ye are in Athea” -saying there wasn’t even a shop now in Brosna, Tournafulla or Mountcollins – and we are extremely lucky I thought – a post office, a Credit Union, a doctor, a chemist, a community hall, a butcher’s, a vet, 2 shops, a garage, a printers, hairdressers, football pitch, soccer pitch – beautiful flowers erected by the Tidy Towns, a betting office and I must not forget the pubs. So in all we aren’t doing too badly – like other small villages bereft of conveniences and of course Friday mornings it’s nearly impossible to get parking with fish, eggs and cakes and buns of all descriptions on sale. Well done to all and well done Athea.
Irish Water from Athea News
Briefs Athea Community Council on solution to longstanding sewage issues – modular treatment system offers cost effective treatment that will stop local pollution
27th May 2015 – Representatives of Irish Water recently attended a meeting of Athea Community Council in Co. Limerick to brief the local community on a long awaited solution it is implementing to deal with sewage related pollution in the village. At the moment, sewage from approximately 400 homes in Athea discharges with minimal treatment into the River Galey, a tributary of the River Feale, causing serious local pollution.
Changes in our Time
I was looking recently at a film made in the early days of television in this country and I was surprised at the change in the way the people of this locality express themselves. The programme was made in Abbeyfeale for “Radharc” in the early sixties. Much of it was filmed during a fair day in the town and a number of local men and women were interviewed about their lives and the locality. It was lovely to hear the old West Limerick/North Kerry dialect with the odd word of Irish thrown in for good measure. It brought me back to my own young days going to Kelly’s school in Abbeyfeale. On a fair day it was impossible to cycle through the town which was full of cattle, pigs, sheep and other livestock. Walking through, it was great to hear the tangling and deal-making of the farmers with the buyers, some of whom came from far up the country. They could easily be recognised by their accents which seemed strange to us. I remember the first time I ever heard a different accent to our own. It was as a young boy being taken to England on a holiday by my grandmother. We left Abbeyfeale station at 8am in the morning and having taken the train to Limerick, Limerick Junction, Kingsbridge (now Heuston Station), and Dunlaoghaire, went on the cattle boat to Holyhead. At Hollyhead we boarded the train for Crewe, changed there for Rugby and finally got the train to Coventry arriving at 8.15am, 24 and a quarter hours after leaving home. You could be in Australia now in less time. It was when I boarded the train in Holyhead that I heard a Welsh accent for the first time. I was amazed that it could be so different but I soon learned that accents changed from place to place, each with its own beauty.
In Ireland we had beautiful regional accents from Donegal to Waterford , Kerry to Antrim. They seem to be dying out and it is a pity. Young girls in particular have adopted a way of speaking that is influenced by a manufactured accent from Dublin 4. This way of speaking removes all the broad vowels with roundabouts being pronounced “rindabytees”, houses are “hyses” and apparently there is a big city on the South coast called “Quork”. There is also an upward inclination at the end of each sentence as if it was a question. Why are we so apologetic about our natural accent that we have to imitate the so-called celebrities on our airwaves? Some people went to England and America in their youth, lived their lives in those countries without ever changing. Others went for six months and returned speaking like cockneys and yanks. Is it a lack of self esteem and confidence that makes us want to blend in? Yes, we have to speak clearly and at a normal pace to make ourselves understood but keeping one’s own accent has never been a barrier to getting to the top in any profession. During my days as president of Comhaltas I had many dealings with RTE. The head of the authority at the time was Paddy Moriarty from West Kerry. He was also head of the ESB and many other national organisations but never compromised on his beautiful Kerry Gaeltacht brogue. Neither did his brother, the famous broadcaster Micheál. A man called Denis O’Connell from Moyvane was the top man in banking in this country for many years. You would never think he left North Kerry. How come it is only the Irish that have the tendency to change their accent? You would never find a Welsh or Scottish person doing so and the English have kept their own regional distinctive accents and encourage their broadcasters to use them. One final grouse: why have we all, men and women, become “guys”. We still have a bit of growing up to do.
Domhnall de Barra
Spring 2015
ATHEA
touch of Spring
By Domhnall de Barra
The weather over the holidays took a sudden turn for the better with some lovely sunshine and a feeling of Spring in the air. Though the mornings were frosty it didn’t interfere with the dawn chorus as all the birds seemed to all sing at once. It is a fantastic time of the year with everything coming to life and signs of rebirth everywhere. One night I looked out my back window and saw a fire over on the “cnockeens”. It reminded me of long ago when mountains were always set on fire at this time of year to get rid of the old growth and make way for the green grass that would grow afterwards. The burning was always controlled and of course there was no forestry in the area to worry about. Hardy Kerry cows loved the grass that grew after the fire and I am told that there was a higher butter yield from the milk. A couple of days after I saw the fire I walked up the mountain to see what damage it had done. Thankfully it seemed to have avoided the forests and just burned the turf banks. Any turf left in the bogs was in ashes but while looking at the ground I realised what harm has been done by the use of turf-cutting machines over the years. Where the bog has been cut out there is only what can be described as wasteland in very uneven small mounds. When the turf was cut with the sleán the bog was stripped first and the stripping sods were laid, exactly as they came off the bank, in the bog hole. By doing this, the turf cutters left the surface of the bog as they found it with no damage to the plant life. When the area was all finally cut away the bogland looked exactly as it did before the first sod was removed. The old people knew how to look after the mountain and leave it for the use and enjoyment of future generations. Peatlands contain a variety of plants including; Bilberry, Foxglove, Bog Cotton, Forget-Me-Nots, Gorse, Hawkweed, Sorrel, Sage, Sundew, Violet, Thistle, Heath, Vetch, Crowfoot, Speedwell, Skulcap, Bedstraw, Bog Asphodel, Cushweed, Dodder and Giant Rhubarb to name but few. There are also some carnivorous plants that attract and swallow flies and insects. These include Sundews, Butterworts and Bladderworts. The Bladderworts float on the surface of bog holes while the other two grow among the moss and heather. They all attract their prey by the beauty of their colours.
Imagine destroying all this beauty. It is happening as I write these few lines and it is such a pity. Many bogs have been preserved but nobody wants to see this happen as people need to harvest the turf for winter firing. Perhaps there could be some pressure brought to bear on the machine owners to do as the people before them did and take a little care with the surface of the bogs and leave them as they found them. It is not good enough to dig holes with diggers and destroy plants that have evolved over the centuries. I have come to love the boglands in recent years having hated them as a youth. The reason I did not like them was that, due to the fact that my father had a lorry and sold turf, we spent our entire summers footing, re-footing, heaping, drawing out and filling turf into the lorry. It was backbreaking work, especially footing. I didn’t notice much beauty in those days I can tell you but as the years flew by I came to appreciate the sounds smell and sights of the bog. There is no finer place to be on a sunny day in spring or early summer and now, thanks to the windmills, we have fine roadways from Knocknaboul to Keale through the heart of the mountain. If you haven’t already done so, take a stroll there one day. You won’t regret it.
From Tom Ahern
International Women’s Day 2015 has a local connection this year with Charlotte Grace O’Brien, Cahermoyle, Ardagh, one of two West Limerick women to be honoured posthumously on Friday 6th March 2015. A Civic Reception will be held in University Concert Hall Limerick to honour Limerick Women of Distinction Charlotte Grace O’Brien, Kate O’Brien, Limerick and Sophia Pierce, from Knockaderry. On Sunday March 8th Liz Gillis, author of ‘’Women of the Irish Revolution’’ will be the special guest in Newcastle West Library. The work done by the Daly sisters from Frederick Street, Limerick and Mary Spring Rice from Mount Trenchard Foynes, during the troubled times will also be recalled. It promises to be a lively and interesting evening with selected poetry music and song and all are welcome to come along and to join in the celebrations.
By Tom Aherne
The death has taken place of Patrick J (Pat) Brosnan Knocknagorna, Athea, and late of Dromada, Lyreacrompane, Co. Kerry peacefully in the loving care of the Bluebell Unit, St. Ita’s Hospital, Newcastle West on Thursday January 8th. He was predeceased by his wife Mary Normoyle, who was a native of Glenastar, Ardagh, on November 11th 2009. Pat composed many songs including The Lights of Carrigkerry while he was living in England in the 1960s and it was recorded by George Langan. The song is heard regularly on 102 FM Community Radio and other local stations. His passing was even mentioned in the Irish Country Living section of the Irish Farmers Journal. He was a familiar face in the locality attending Irish Nights, and collecting the various censuses for the C.S.O. He lay in repose in Kelly’s Funeral Home, Athea on Friday January 9th from 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm followed by removal to St. Bartholomew’s Church, Athea.
His Requiem Mass on Saturday at 12.00 noon was concelebrated by Fr Paddy Bowen, Fr Michael Cussen and Canon Kelly. Family members were very involved in the readings, prayers of the faithful, offertory gifts and hymns. Family members brought symbols associated with Pat’s long life to the altar before mass commenced. They included a sod of turf to show his love for nature and time spent working in the bogs. His pens which were used to cover a lifetime of news collecting and a number of publications in which his writings appeared over the years. Fr Paddy in his homily recited one of Pat’s Limericks from his published book and spoke of his loyalty to God, family and community. Margaret and Tina sang lovely hymns throughout the ceremony and Pat and Mary’s work for the church was remembered. His daughter Breda, on behalf of the family, thanked everybody and paid a lovely tribute to her father, and son Seán recited one of his compositions “Athea”.
Large crowds attended on both days to pay their last respects and to offer their condolences to his family on their sad loss. Pat was laid to rest amid wind and rain beside his late wife Mary in Holy Cross Cemetery on January 10th. Domhnall De Barra paid him a deserved tribute for all the work he did for the many organizations in the community and sang The Bard of Athea, one of his own compositions. This was composed to mark Pat’s 25 years writing the parish notes for The Limerick Leader. Con Fitzgerald sang one of Pat’s best known compositions The Turf Machine, and local musicians played a selection of music. Tina’s singing of ‘In my Father’s House’ on a bitter cold January afternoon touched all present.
We extend our sympathy to his son Seán (Listowel), daughters Sheila (Walsh, Athea ), Tina (Andrews, Dublin), Breda, (Burr, Canada), eight grandchildren, daughter in law Marie, sons in law Pat, Chris and Andrew, sisters in law Kathleen and Maureen Brosnan (Lyreacrompane), nephews, nieces, cousins, other relatives, wonderful neighbours and a very large circle of friends. May he rest in Peace.
The Ballyguiltenane Rural Journal will be in the shops this weekend. The family of the late Thomas J O’Donoghue has put the final touches to the journal which he had nearly completed before his unexpected death last December. This will be the 37th edition and it will be dedicated to his memory. The much admired journal was founded in 1977 and it grew to be one of the most sought after publications each December. The three founding members Thomas J. O’Donoghue, Paddy Faley, and Pat Brosnan, have all passed on, and we thank them for the great enjoyment they provided for readers at home and abroad over the 37 years. The final edition is bound to become a collector’s item, and an early purchase of the journal is advisable, and we look forward to its contents.
DEATH took place of Pat Brosnan of Knocknagorna, Athea & Dromada, Lyreacrompane, on 8th January 2015. Husband of the late Mary, survived by son Seán (Listowel), daughters Sheila (Walsh – Athea), Tina (Andrews – Dublin), Breda (Burr – Canada), grandchildren, daughter in law Marie, sons-in-law Pat, Chris & Andrew, sisters-in-law Kathleen & Maureen Brosnan (Lyreacrompane), nephews, nieces, Requiem Mass for Pat Brosnan was celebrated on 10th Jan in St. Bartholomew's Church, Athea, burial after in Holy Cross Cemetery, Athea. Pat was active in community organisations since early in life and continued giving help and inspiration to the very end.
DEATH: Joseph (Brown Joe) O'Connor ,Upper Athea, Athea, Husband of the late Joan. Predeceased by daughters Mary Dee and Bridget O'Connor, grandson Jason and son-in-law Jimmy Dee, survived by his sons Jeremiah (Athea), John (Templemore) Joseph (Midleton), daughters Ann (Reidy- Croagh) and Joan (O'Connor - Athea), sons-in-law, Richard (Dick) Reidy and Georgie O'Connor, daughters-in-law Marian, Joan and Patricia, grandchildren, great grandchildren, brother Jerry (Darby) - Philadelphia, nephews, nieces. Requiem Mass for Joe O Connor was celebrated in Athea Church on Sunday 11th January followed by Burial afterwards in Holy Cross Cemetery, Athea.
ATHEA
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/79289176?searchTerm=athea%20limerick&searchLimits=
Wednesday 12 February 1896 The North Queensland Register (Townsville, Qld.
MARRIAGE.
BARRETT—EVERT.—On the 6th Feb 1896 at St Columbas' Church, Charters Towers, by the Rev. Father Comerford, Michael Barrett, second son of John Barrett, Athea, County Limerick, Ireland, to Mary Evert, second daughter of John Evert, of Charters Towers.
Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW 24 Sept. 1892
Missing Friends; WILLIE M'COY, late of Carramere, will write to his Mother he will hear something to his advantage. Last heard of four years ago, when in Sydney. MARGARET M'COY, Curramere, Ballyhahill, Co. Limerick, Ireland
INFORMATION wanted of JOHN WALSH,. late of Athea, Co. Limerick, who left home in '81 ; last heard of in the employ of Mr. Foley, on the Darling River. Reply to John Raleigh (late of Ballyhahill), Cungegong, Moatefield PO.. N.S.W.
The Catholic Press (NSW 11 Dec 1930
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/106248503?searchTerm=athea%20limerick&searchLimits=
Mr. Maurice Woulfe.
On Wednesday, 5th Dec. 1930, Mr. Maurice Hayes passed away at his residence in Malakoff-street, Marickville, at the age of 42 years. He is survived by his widow and five young children, who mourn the loss of a dearly-beloved husband and father. The deceased had only lived in this country since January of this year. In the little time he lived here in his adopted country,
he endeared himself to many, to whom the news of his death came as a shock. He was born near Athea, County Limerick, Ireland, and had resided in Cork for seven years before coming to Sydney, where he was welcomed by his sister Margaret and brothers John, Richard and Cornelius. To his widow and children, brothers and sisters, and to his aged parents in Ireland, much sympathy has been extended. On Friday, 7th Dec. in the presence of his many relatives and friends, he was interred at Woronora Cemetery, after Requiem Mass had been celebrated for the repose of his soul at St. Brigid's Church, Marrickville.— R.I.P.
3rd Oct. 1929 Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW
Martyred Irish Priest's Words Recalled
'WHAT IF I WERE?'
That Father Timothy Leonard, of the Maynooth Mission to China, met his death bravely at the hands of bandits may be inferred from an incident recalled by Rev. W. Fenton, P.P.. of Athea, Co. Limerick (writes an Irish paper). When Father Leonard was organising Limerick in the interests of the Chinese Mission six or seven years ago, Father Fenton said to him: 'Has it ever occurred to you that you may be killed out in China?' 'What if I were?' said Father Leonard. 'After all what is it -.but a bad quarter of an hour, and then think of the reward. Many expressions of sympathy have been conveyed to Rev. Father McCarthy, P.P., Hospital, uncle of the martyred .priest. At the last meeting of the Limerick Corporation a resolution expressing, sympathy with the parents and relatives of Father Leonard was unanimously adopted. The Newcastle West Branch of the Catholic Truth Society tendered sympathy to the bereaved family, and it was ordered that a copy of the resolution be sent to Rev. Father Leonard, C.C., who is a brother of the dead missionary. Another relative of the late Father Leonard in the priesthood is Rev. William Quigley, a cousin, who is pastor .of St.John's Church in Seattle, Washington. During his early manhood the. late Father Leonard was an earliest student at Ring Irish College, Co. Waterford. Besides being a fluent speaker of Irish, he was widely read in Old and Middle Irish.
The Northern Miner (Charters Towers, Qld. 21 Aug. 1945.
The death occurred at Ayr on Saturday of one of the best known and respected of the district's farming community. Mr. Denis Ahern. of Air dale. The late Mr "Dinny" Ahern was a native of Athea, County Limerick
Ireland, where he was born in 1871 As a youth of 19 be came to Australia and went to the Lower Burdekin. where be engaged In agricultural pursuits on land owned by his uncle, the late Mr. W. D. Casey, so well known in Charters Towers mining. After 18 months there Mr. Ahern went to the Towers, where he became an amalgamator at the St. George mill. He was a successful speculator in mining, and later, acquired the farm land at Ayr - which he had known earlier, and since 1903 he had made, his home there
9th Sept. 1942 Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld.
MR DANIEL MORAN
The death in Brisbane of Mr Daniel Moran removed a former well known identity of Rockhampton and Mount Morgan. Born in Athea, County of Limerick, Ireland, Mr Moran arrived in Rockhampton in the S.S... Wahroonga In 1887. After working here for a number of years he moved to Mount Morgan, where he was employed by the Mount Morgan Gold Mining Company for more than 40 years. He subsequently went to Brisbane, and was employed by the Irrigation Department until his retirement. He was a member of the HACBS for about 53 years. The late Mr Moran is survived by his wife, five sons. Police-constable M. J. Moran, Rockhampton, Messrs D. Moran, NSW, V. Moran, Brisbane (now in the AD?), J. Moran, Townsville, and L. Moran, Brisbane (now in the RAAF), and three daughters. Mesdames E. J. Fuller, Gayndah district, R. Tilney, Caloundra, and C. Lambert, Cloncurry. Mr J. A. Moran, of Yeppoon, was a brother.
The North Queensland Register (Townsville, Qld. 17 Nov. 1897.
MARRIAGE.CASEY-PURCELL. On the 31st Oct. 1897 at St Columba's Church, by the Rev. Father Commerford, John eldest son of Thomas Casey, Athea, County Limerick, to Margaret, Eldest daughter of Michael Purcell, Charters Towers.
3rd Nov 1900 Clarence and Richmond Examiner (Grafton, NSW
Experiment on Potatoes.
Mr. O'Sullivan, postmaster at Athea, County of Limerick, has made a most interesting experiment on the protection of potatoes from the blight by the application of the principle which regulates the ordinary lightning conductor.. After a thunder storm, unprotected potato stalks show signs of blight ; and to guard against this, .Mr. O'Sullivan put down, at regular intervals in the drills on the potato patch, stakes which stood 6 feet above the ground. From stick to stick he stretched barbed wire, and connected each line with cross wires, thus framing a sort of network over the growing crop. The wires are said to attract the lightning and convey it to the ground without injuring the crop, and the protected stalks have been found to remain green, whilst the unprotected stalks close by were affected by the blight and withered.
Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW 32 Jan 1885
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/115466272?searchTerm=athea%20limerick&searchLimits=
A NOBLE AND PATRIOTIC LADY.
Mr Patrick R. Woulfe, of Cratloe Athea, County of Limerick, writes to the Nation, December 20th 1884 . Much is said at present, and with great cause, against 'landlordism,' but it is only fair that, whilst the cruel action of rackrenting and exterminating landlords should be detested, we should express our admiration of those whose noble deeds merit our appreciation, and who so generosity and tender feeling have brightened many a gloomy fireside, arrested hunger from the doors of those who often felt its piercing pangs, and kept many in their homes who otherwise be in the depths of want and sorrow. . . Sir, I think you will agree with me in saying that Miss Augusta Jane Goold, who has performed those 'many acts of goodness, who has . stayed so many evictions, and whose charity has been extended to the needy peasantry of Donegal, as well as to the cottiers and farmers of her late father's estate, deserves not only the applause and good wishes of her own tenantry, who have experienced so much of her gracious benevolence, but the regard of old Ireland. Her name is, I am sure, familiar to many of the Irish journalists of the day as a staunch advocate of ' national independence as the Goolds always were. The name of her grandfather, Thomas Goold, M.P., must always be respected by the Irish people as one of the incorruptible band of patriots who opposed the Union to the last. His brilliant speeches and powerful arguments in the last Irish Parliament may be compared with those of even the immortal Grattan, of whom Mr. Goold was the life-long friend and political colleague. Miss Goold' s uncle, the late deeply lamented and beloved Wyndham Goold, Esq., M.P., for the County Limerick, did such acts of kindness to his tenantry that his memory must always live in the grateful hearts of the people. At one time he forgave £1,800 of rents in one morning, such was his genuine sympathy with the difficulties of his people, on another occasion he paid all the poor-rates for his tenants when those rates amounted to no less than 7s. in the pound. It would take so long to recount even a small part of his good deeds that I pass at once to his successor, the Ven Archdeacon Goold, who during the twenty-five years in which he was landlord of these estates behaved with the most paternal kindness to his tenantry, acting on the principle that the landlord should be the tenant's best friend, and cultivating those feelings of mutual confidence and sympathy which it is to be regretted so many Irish landlords ignore. I have only mentioned the immediate ancestors of Miss Goold, but when I add that her family has always been distinguished for patriotism, and that no fewer than seven of the Goolds held commissions in Sarsfield's army, it will not seem wonderful that this lady should be an ardent Nationalist, and should inherit the generous characteristics of the race to which she belongs. The last act of kindness which she has done (I am omitting many others) shows her sympathy with her people, and proves her to be a worthy descendant of her ancestors. On the property of the late lamented archdeacon (which is now managed by trustees) there was a tenant who fell into arrears, owing to a fatal distemper amongst his cattle. He owed a considerable sum to the trustees, and was to be evicted unless he paid the larger part of this debt, which he was unable to do. He consequently prepared to give possession of his farm to the agents, and to leave his holding for whatever shelter he could find, when this noble lady intervened, as her tender nature could not bear to see an old man and his wife cast out on the world. Being unable herself to pay the large sum due to the trustee as the continual payment of rents and costs (in order to save the numerous poor tenants who were processed) had reduced her finances, she bethought of a plan to keep the people in their homes, by offering herself to take the farm from the trustees, and to keep the tenant as caretaker. The agents, Mr. T. Trench and Captain Verschoyle, considered this proposition (to be so kind that they readily agreed to accept it, remitting themselves all the arrears, except one year's rent, with the consent of the trustees. When ever Miss Goold takes possession of the farm there will be a demonstration of joy — the late tenant having declared that he will have an enormous bonfire to signalise an event of such good omen to himself — and all the Nationalists of the district will collect in large numbers to witness the rejoicings, and to join in the tribute of respect to the noble lady, who deserves our warmest gratitude.
Kilmore Free Press and Counties of Bourke and Dalhousie Advertiser (Kilmore, Vic.
28 March 1867
An account is given by Archdeacon Goold in the Irish papers of an unusual character in which he was the chief actor at Athea, a village upon his property, in the county of Limerick. A misunderstanding having; arisen between the Archdeacon and the Roman Catholic priest of the place, the Rev. Martin Ryan, to which the latter had made reference from the altar some days before, the archdeacon walked from the Protestant parish church on Sunday after the service into the chapel, and the service there having just concluded, he advanced to the altar rails and begged leave to make an explanation, adding on his honour "as a clergyman, and a gentleman that he would not utter one word disrespectful to Fr personally, or a syllable unsuited the character of the building." Fr reminded him that it was a very unusual proceeding, but having suffered him to proceed, Archdeacon Goold made his explanation and apology for the intrusion, and retired. The people, his own tenants, listened respectfully and priest and parson separated good friends.
19 March 1887 The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.
MARRIAGE, MULLANE—MELVILLE.—On the 24th January 1887, at St. George's, Carlton, by the Rev. J. H. O'Connell, Patrick John, eldest son of John Mullane, of Athea, Limerick, Ireland, to Kate, second daughter of John Melville, of Carlton.
Woulfe May 7th 1908 Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/109867015?searchTerm=athea%20limerick&searchLimits=
WOLFE'S LIMERICK ANCESTORS. ? In Lecky's history it is related that Wolfe charged, by choice, at the head of a regiment mainly Irish and Catholic at Quebec. . A century or so previously Wolfe's great grandfather. Captain George Woulfe, assisted his brother Jbranci, Superior of the Franciscans, in the endeavour to hold Limerick for faith and country against the King and the Parliament writes 'Historicus' in 'The Irish Catholic'). When the city surrendered to Ireton they were included in the twenty four proscribed and exempted from quarter. Francis was put to death, as was also his brother James, Superior of the Dominicans, who though safely outside the city at the time of the siege, yet, when al1 the clergy were dead or fled, came in to minister to the plague-stricken patients in the pest house, and being discovered by the Cromwellians, was forthwith hanged. Captain George Woulfe escaped to England, where he appears to have been more fortunate than if he had remained in his native land, for we find his grandson, Edward, a general. GENERAL JAMES WOLFE is described by his biographers as a good son, a staunch friend, gifted with all the virtues becoming an honourable man; a kindly, though strict, commanding officer, tall and slight, of Celtic type, with religious convictions strong and deep and as a soldier, a rare mixture of the dash and painstaking of Conde and the old Dessauor. Besides the Friars, Francis and James, who died for faith and country, George Woulfe, of Cromwell's time, appears to have had three other brothers — Patrick of Corbally, whose descendants went to Paris; Stephen, ancestor of the Chief Baron and of the Clare Woulfes generally and Richard he subsequent life there remains no ' definite historic trace. But. this Christian name occur very frequently amongst the 'West Limerick Woulfe who so remote progenitor turned up in the bogs in that quarter about Cromwell's time, and whose son or grandson James died 1704 the now thickly populated parish of Athea, then moorland, with only four dwelling houses in it, and whose descendants to-day, scattered over the world, from Ireland to Iowa, where one of them is a judge and an other in the State legislature, ? may be numbered by hundreds. IN THE CROMWELLIAN TRANSPLAN TATION over thirty Woulfes were removed from Limerick city and county, and they stood about fourth in point of numbers. Nearly one hundred years before Cromwell's time, David Woulfe, S.J., of Limerick, who studied under St. Ignatius Loyola himself, and side by side with St. Francis Borgia, went over to Ireland (the first Irishman of his Order to do so) as Papal Legate or Nuncio, entrusted with plenary powers to regulate public worship and make all necessary provision for education. He carried his life in his hands in the darkest days of Elizabeth, who refused to accredit representatives to the
Council of Trent, because, as she wrote to the Pope', 'Woulfe had been sent from Rome to Ireland to excite disaffection against the Crown.' David Woulfe suffered his share of persecution and imprisonment. His end is wrapped in obscurity; but it is believed that ultimately he died of starvation on the borders of Slane and Galway. Father Hogan. S.J., describes him as the 'most distinguished, perhaps, of all the citizens of Limerick.' The family appears to have been connected with Limerick; and the neighbourhood for at least six hundred years. Maurice was a Canon of Emly early in the 14th century. His — ancestor probably of the 'Nixes' (Woulfes) of Dungarville — was a guardian of the peace for the county in 1345, and the last of the name to figure prominently in the stirring deeds with which the City of the Violated Treaty is associated, was Philip, a young officer of the Munster regiment in Sarsfield's heroic defence against William of Orange.
17 Nov. 1915 Referee (Sydney, NSW
Poor Print
That well-known Irish authority on athletics, Mr. F. B. Dinneen', in a recent issue of Dublin 'Sport,' to hand, has something to say ' of the doings of P. J. Leahy, of Charleville, and Dan Ahearne, of Athea, Co. Limerick, ' in America Says' Mr. Dinneen
Gap here poor print
These handicap allowances are nothing when | compared with what scratch men are called upon to concede in Sydney, but that merely by the way. The 'Daily Tribune,' it will be noted, speaks of the previous record in the three standing jumps as being 35ft 9in, by W. S. Lawton. Now, that performance, done away back in 1876, was put up with weights, the previous best without weights being 35ft 8:,'in, by Ray C. Ewry in 1903. Again, it will be noticed, the 'Daily Tribune' speaks of' Leahy's 23ft in the standing hop, step and jump as a new American record, 'the previous record being 31f t 7in by W. W. Butler, etc. when Butler did that performance in 1886 he used weights: whilst the best amateur figures by an American without weights, viz. 34ft 7 in by Ray Ewry (done in Paris in 1900) are far superior. Again, in Ireland, away back in 1898 I (August 18), H. Courtney cleared 35ft 6in, and it was recorded that no weights were then used. Leahy's three standing jumps of 36ft is ' admittedly exceedingly fine jump, but the standing hop, step and a jump of 33ft is. not a great, although a fine performance. And, furthermore. although' the games at Chicago were said to be under American A.A.U. laws (which, nowadays, if memory serves, do not permit the '. use of weights in amateur contests), I understand that the Gaelic Association in Chicago allowed the use of weights. In the two, events named competitors were. I understand, allowed to either use weights or jump without' them at I their own option. It is necessary to know whether Leahy, used weights or not that is, for recordkeeping purposes. Georges Durbec, a first-class French 'amateur sprinter and hurdler was killed in the Argonne early in September. He won the 110 metres Hurdles, championship of Paris s a few years back
Referee Sydney NSW Wednesday 27 November 1918, by Prodigal.
THE RUNNING HOP STEP AND JUMP. The other day I mentioned that Dublin Sport was devoting considerable' space almost weekly to the great Irish athletes of the past — and, incidentally, I reproduced recently particulars of- the career of one, viz., Dr. T. M. Donovan, of Cork. Another issue of the paper has reached me, and in it there is a most interesting article on that great Irish event, the running hop, step and jump. Mention is made of many great performances. For example, I will give some of the old-time winners of Irish
championships and their winning efforts. Dan Shanahan, who won in 1886, 1887 and 1888. cleared 48ft 2iin in his second year, and 50ft Oin in his third. Beaten in 1889 by J. P. O'Sullivan, he won on two more occasions, viz., in 1890 and 1891. In 1892 T. F. Kiely cleared 49ft 7in, whilst P. J. Leahy won in 1898 at 48ft 7in, and P. J. O'Connor in 1899 at 48ft lin. Shannahan, at Dublin in 1886, cleared 49ft 6in, and . when he put up that 50ft Oin in the championship of 1888 the second man. P. D. O'Looney, of Macroom, covered 49ft 9in. A great man was Shanahan at the triple leap. In addition to the jumps mentioned, he is credited with 50ft 2in, 51ft lin at Newcastle West, 51ft 7in at Mallow in 1891 (there was a fall in the ground, how ever), and is reputed to have covered 52ft. at practice. Another great man at the game was John Purcell, who was always between 47ft and 48ft; in fact, he cleared 48ft 4in at Dublin in 1886. In the course of the article reference is made to our old friend, M. M. Roseingrave, of Gort.-who, when in Australia, did such great deeds in the racing livery of the old Sydney Harriers, and who now
resides in New Zealand. The Sport writer says: 'Two of Shanahan's countrymen had claims to rival, if not surpass his achievements — Roseingrave is reported to have leaped 50ft lin at his native place (Gort) on August 15, 1895, and there is no doubt he had in him the capacity to threaten seriously Shanahan's ?record; and Dan Ahearne, of Athea, after his arrival in the United States, devoted a' good deal of attention to the hop, step and jump, and of him an Irish American writer said that he broke Shanahan's record by leaping 50ft 2Jin.' In this issue I am unable to devote more space to the subject, except to incidentally mention that D. F. Ahearne, another Irishman, holds the world's accepted record at 50ft llin, but it must be remembered that this, like all American records, was made from a board take-off, which does not, or did not, obtain in Ireland., However, next week, all going well, I will have something to say as to the athletic capacity of Matt Roseingrave as we knew him.
5 April 1917 Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW
Much sympathy has gone out to the Very Rev. C. J. Hunt, C.SS.R., Superior of the Redemptorist Fathers in Victoria (writes our correspondent) in the sad bereavement the zealous missionary has just sustained by the death of his saintly old Irish mother, who passed away to her reward at Athea, Co. Limerick Ireland. Father Hunt received the. sad intelligence by cable last Tuesday week. Many prayers will be offered up for the eternal repose of the soul of the deceased lady, if for no other reason, in gratitude to Father Hunt and his noble band of self-sacrificing missionaries, who have done and are doing so much for the honour and glory of God and the salvation of souls. The deceased lady was in the 83rd year of her age. She went to Mass daily, and received Holy Communion daily. It was her custom to visit' the church and go around the Stations of the Cross daily. There were ten in family, five sons and five daughters. Two daughters became, nuns, one of whom died. The other is Sister Alphonsus, of the Hospital of St. John of God, Goulburn. A Requiem for the repose of the soul of Mrs. Hunt will be celebrated in St. Mary's Monastery, Ballarat, on a date to be named. It may be mentioned that Mr. Hunt, sen., predeceased the venerable lady. — R.I.P.
Of West Limerick5 April 1917 Freeman’s Journal Sydney NSW.
His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Duhig, Arch bishop of Brisbane, blessed and opened the new church as Peranga, Q., on Sunday week, and in the course of a splendid address said that Catholics had spent in the towns of Queensland tens of thousands of pounds, and in Brisbane and the suburbs of Brisbane hundreds of thousands in the erection of buildings for religious purposes. 'While I do not like the idea of any priest going into public life as an alderman,' added his Grace, 'because all his time is required for his spiritual needs, I like every priest to be a public-spirited man. I want every, one of my priests to work for the good of the people without distinction of their creeds so far as their temporal welfare is concerned.'
19 May 1932 The Catholic Press (NSW
WEDDING: Woulfe-Barrett. St. Brigid's Church, Marrickville, was chosen by Miss Kathleen Barrett, daughter of the late Mr. Michael Barrett and Mrs. Barrett, of Athea, County Limerick, Ireland, for her marriage on the 19th April 1932. to Mr. John Woulfe, younger son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Woulfe, also of Athea, Ireland. Rev. Father Michael, C.P., solemnised the marriage. The bride, wearing an ankle-length gown of white georgette and chantilly lace, and an embroidered tulle veil held in place with a coronet of orange blossoms, entered the church on the arm of Mr. Patrick Sheahan, of Marrickville. Her sister, Joan, in a frock of blue georgette trimmed with white fur, was brides maid, and Mr. Cornelius Woulfe attended his brother.
Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW 22 Jan. 1898.
MARRIAGE OF DR. AMBROSE, M.P.
At the Church of St. Francis Xavier, Upper Gardiner-street, Dublin, in December, the marriage took place of Dr. Robert Ambrose, M.P. for West Mayo, and Miss Mary Ryan, youngest daughter of Mr. George H. Miller Ryan, of Ingoldsby, Castleconnell, County Limerick. The Rev. R. Ambrose, CC Athea, County Limerick, officiated, assisted by the Rev. J. Quinlan, C.C., and Rev. J. Kenrick, C.C. The bride was given away by her uncle, Mr. John Ellard, Clerk of the Crown and Peace for the County and City of Limerick (in the unavoidable absence of her father through illness). The brides maids were Miss H. Ambrose, Miss M. Ambrose, Miss Eileen Noel Hall, and Miss Kathleen Butler, and were prettily robed in costumes of white satin. The bride wore a costume of white satin trimmed with Limerick lace, with white veil and wreath of orange blossoms. After the ceremony there was a dinner at the Gresham Hotel, and in the after noon the happy couple left for Rome and the Italian lake districts. The bride's travelling dress consisted of grey tweed, with a pretty toque to match. The presents, which were numerous and costly, included, from the bridegroom, a large diamond and sapphire brooch, and an exquisite tiara of diamonds. a pearl , necklace,; and diamond ornaments ; to the brides maids, gold watches and chains.
17 Sept. 1908 Catholic Press NSW.
MISSING FRIENDS. Any person knowing the whereabouts of Maurice O Connell native of Athea, County Limerick, Ireland, who came to Australia about the year 1863, kindly communicate with P. Naughton, Rawdon Island, Hastings River. NSW.
21 Nov 1903 Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW
Another Irish centenarian has recently passed away in the person of Mr. Thomas Sheehy, a collier tenant, residing on the property of General Dick son, Clounlehard, near Glin, in . the county of Limerick, who had reached his 110th year. He was born in the neighbouring parish of Athea in 1793, and when a boy worked at the making of the old mail coach road from Limerick to Tralee, which was Begun in 1806. He enjoyed splendid health up till a few months back. He was the oldest man m the Kingdom, his only rival in longevity, Mr. William Stuart, of Gortley, Letterkenny, 'the man who remembered Wolfe Tone,' having died in April last at the reputed age of 120 years.
The gifted and patriotic Franciscan, Rev. P. F. Kavanagh, author of 'The History of '98,' has been transferred from Limerick to his native Wexford, to the great regret of the people in the old city by the Shannon. Previous to his departure Father Kavanagh was presented with an address by the Committee of the Sarsfield Branch of the United Irish League, of which he was a member, and an ardent supporter of its principles. Father Kavanagh is well known to Sydney people, having served * number of years on the Franciscan mission at Waverley.
26 July 1929 Western Australia Perth.
BARRETT On, June 24, 1929, at Knocknasna, Abbeyfeale, Co. Limerick, Ireland, John, beloved husband of Mary Barrett, loving father of Rev. Bro. Matthew, Orphinton, Kent, Rev. Bro. Luke, Cork (deceased), John and ; Michael, Abbeyfeale; Thomas, Mt. Hawthorn, Perth; Sister Mary St Michael, Listowel. Kerry; Ellie (Mrs. Listen), Athea Kathleen (Mrs. Quill), Duagh Hannah (Mrs. Mulcahy), Templeglantine (deceased), Margaret (Mrs. O'Connor). Abbeyfeale (deceased), and loving- grandfather of Sister Mary Bernard, Oldham; Patrick and Michael Mulcahy, Templeglantine, John and Joseph Mulcahy, Fremantle; aged 78- years.
27 Nov. 1918 Referee (Sydney, NSW
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/120311579?searchTerm=athea%20limerick&searchLimits=
ATHLETICS
THE TRIPLE JUMP: IRISH MEN EXCEL A Sydney Schoolgirl Champion [ and Her Winning Records
THE RUNNING HOP STEP AND JUMP. The other day I mentioned that Dublin Sport was devoting considerable' space almost weekly to the great Irish athletes of the past — and, incidentally, I reproduced recently particulars of- the career of one, viz., Dr. T. M. Donovan, of Cork. Another issue of the paper has reached me, and in it there is a most interesting article on that great Irish event, the running hop, step and jump. Mention is made of many great performances. For example, I will give some of the old-time winners of Irish
championships and their winning efforts. Dan Shanahan, who won in 1886, 1887 and 1888. cleared 48ft 2iin in his second year, and 50ft OJin in his third. Beaten in 1889 by J. P. O'Sullivan, he won on two more occasions, viz., in 1890 and ?91. In 1892 T. F. Kiely cleared 49ft 7in, whilst P. J. Leahy won in 1898 at 48ft 7in, and P. J. O'Connor in 1899 at 48ft lin. Shanahan, at Dublin in 1886, cleared 49ft 6in, and . when he put up that 50ft OJin in the championship of 1888 the second man. P. D. O'Looney, of Macroom, covered 49ft 9Jin. A great man was Shanahan at the triple leap. In addition to the jumps mentioned, he is credited with 50ft 2in, 51ft lin at New castle West, 51ft 7in at Mallow in 1891 (there was a fall in the ground, how ever), and is reputed to have covered 52ft. at practice. Another great man at the game was John Purcell, who was always between 47ft and 48ft; in fact, he cleared 48ft 4in at Dublin in 1886. In the course of the article reference is made to pur old friend, M. M. Roseingrave, of Gort.-who, when in Australia, did such great deeds in the racing livery of the old Sydney Harriers, and who now
resides in New Zealand. The Sport writer says: 'Two of Shanahan's countrymen had claims to rival, if not surpass his achievements — Roseingrave is reported to have leaped 50ft lin at his native place (Gort) on August 15, 1895, and there is no doubt he had in him the capacity to threaten seriously Shanahan's ?record; and Dan Ahearne, of Athea, after his arrival in the United States, devoted a' good deal of attention to the hop,
step and jump, and of him an Irish American writer said that he broke Shanahan's record by leaping 50ft 2Jin.' In this issue I am unable to devote more space to the subject, except to incidentally mention that D. F. Ahearne, another Irishman, holds the world's accepted record at 50ft llin, but it must be remembered that this, like all American records, was made from a board take-off, which does not, or did not, obtain in Ireland., However, next week, all going well, I will have something to say as to the athletic capacity of Mat Roseingrave as we knew him.
I much regret to notice in my latest batch of English papers an announcement of the death of Mr.. Charles Martin Callow, a well-known, veteran of the Civil Service A.A. ahd the London A.C., who, as recently as June 3 last, celebrated his 82nd birthday. He was a great athletic enthusiast, and his particular hobby was the heel and toe branch of the game. I have particular reason to remember C. M. Callow, as he was the scratch man in the first open handicap walk I managed to win — at Richmond, ? Surrey, in 1876. When in London with our Festival of Empire team in 1911 I had the good fortune to meet Mr. Callow, who I had not seen -for 27 years, and he appeared quite unchanged — he kept up his road-walking until the last, and had competed in races until fully 70 years of age. I can still picture this fine sportsman as he ever appeared on the track — he invariably wore white flannel pants to the knee, a pale pink jersey, and ever had a brown leather belt around the waist. Among the competitors at the Signal lers' Camp Sports at the Show Ground last Saturday afternoon was- Corporal J. J. Walshe — no other than the hon. sec. to th-TN.S.W. A.A. A., and to the Botany Harriers. He won the 100yds. champion ship, and also the 440yds. handicap from scratch, conceding the other competitors 40yds. apiece. Although in no sort of form or condition, Walshe carved out the quarter — Mr. W. T. Kerr held a watch in 55sec, whrph was not too bad. ' ? News is to hand of the death, fighting with the American forces in France, of Lieut. John W. Overton, a well-known runner over distances from about 1000 yards upwards on the flat, and in cross country events. He was a Yale University student, and was captain of its track team. When at Yale he twice won the intercollegiate, cross-country championship — in: 1915 and 191&— whilst in the intercollegiate championships at Philadelphia in 1915 he finished second to D. F. Potter, of Cornell, who won the two miles run in 9min. 27' l-5sec. On March 17 last year Overton ran 1000yds.: in 2min. 14sec. (indoors), at New York, time equalled on March 16 this year in the American indoor championship by Joic Ray of the Illinois A.C. The figures stand, as a record. Each year All America teams are selected by the secretary-treasurer of the A.A.U., and they are published in Spalding's Athletic Almanac. In 1916 Overton was selected in the All-America : College team, whilst in 1917 he was chosen for both the College team and the All- America team.
Abbeyfeale Beet Campaign
http://abbeyfealeonline.blogspot.ie/
Older people will recall that there used to be a temporary migration to England during the winter months in the fifties and sixties, and indeed on in to the seventies. It was called “going on the beet” and involved casual labourers and small farmers travelling to England to work in the sugar beet factories of Allscott, Peterborough, Felsted, Selby, Nottingham, etc.
Most of these workers came from North Kerry and West Limerick as well as from Galway, Mayo and the Connemara Gaeltacht. They would travel to England in late October and return again when the beet campaign ended, usually in January.
A big contingent from Abbeyfeale travelled to the Allscott factory in Shropshire.
The factory would send a representative to the labour exchange in Newcastlewest each year to interview prospective candidates. If you were sound of wind and strong of limb and looked as if you could stay reasonably sober between shifts, you might be offered a job.
This was ideal for small farmers and for those who worked on the land.
Hay and turf and crops would all have been gathered and safely stored by October and a long dark winter with little to do, stretched out before them. “Going on the beet” offered them a respite from this and also gave them the opportunity of earning some serious money if they were prepared to work for it.
The workers would arrive in Allscott and join the permanent staff sometime in October, depending on the readiness of the beet crop out in the fields. They would sleep in dormitory huts across from the factory. These huts contained toilets, washing facilities and a television and games room. The huts were often overcrowded and could get very cold when the temperature dropped. Not exactly the Hilton – but adequate.
Meals were served in a large canteen within the factory grounds. Breakfast, dinner and supper were available at set times and were paid for with vouchers. Steak could be ordered but would cost extra. The food was edible without being remarkable and lads would frequently visit the nearby town of Wellington for a few pints and a slap-up feed of bacon and cabbage!
Once production started, the factory ran, non-stop, twenty four hours a day. There were three eight-hour shifts – 6am to 2pm, 2pm to 10pm and 10pm to 6am, seven days a week. Shifts were worked in rotation with free days and days-off between shifts. There was usually plenty of overtime and extra shifts available, and the pay was good compared to what could be earned at home – plus it was tax free!
Quite a few of the Abbeyfeale lads worked in the pulp store which was situated well away from the main factory. The heated and dried-out pulp that remained after the sugar had been extracted from the beet, was mixed with molasses and moved on a long conveyor belt to the store.
This belt was constructed on stilts, high above the factory grounds, and encased in a narrow timber-framed corridor that workers could walk through. It took several minutes to walk from one end to the other.
At the end of the conveyor belt were three hoppers, about the size of average creamery tanks. They were situated on a platform high above the floor of the giant storage facility. The platform was only accessible by ladders and it was here that the pulp was put in sacks ready for stacking.
The filling and sewing of the pulp sacks was an art form in itself. It was like a ballet dance and a polka set, rolled in to one.
Two teams of two managed the operation, with each team working constantly for half an hour before handing over to the other team.
One operator performed a fine balancing act with the hoppers before emptying the pulp into sacks and presenting the filled sacks to his team-mate for stitching. The stitcher took a length of string, threaded it through a harness needle, knotted it, speared a label and sewed up the sack with a few deft stitches and sent it down a long chute to the workers on the floor below. They, in turn, loaded the sacks onto handcarts for stacking, or for distribution as fodder to local farmers.
When the factory was in full production, up to four bags of pulp per minute could be manually filled, tagged and stitched, and despatched to the bottom floor. It was pure poetry in motion and not recommended for those suffering from a hangover. (which many of them were!)
This system is no longer in use in the new modern factories, and the art and craft of filling and stitching pulp sacks by hand has slowly faded in to oblivion
There was a pub about a half a mile from the factory. The Duck was a typically quiet English country alehouse for about eight months of the year. However, when the Irish arrived in October, all that changed!
The landlord was forced to quadruple his supplies of beer and whiskey and engage extra staff. He began supplying sandwiches and pork-pies and even changed the music in the jukebox to make the visitors feel more at home.
The place was packed every night with lads coming off their various shifts. There was darts and dominoes and cards and lively sing-songs, with never a hint of trouble.
The landlady permitted use of the telephone in the private quarters and there was often a long queue anxious for news from Ireland. The operator rang back with the cost of each call which was promptly paid.
The sugar beet campaign usually ended in late January, at which time lads gathered up their few belongings, packed their suitcases, collected their final pay, said goodbye to their mates and headed for Hollyhead and home.
Many workers spent years on the beat and built up lasting friendships with their co-workers from other parts of Ireland and also with locals from the various factories.
Most of these factories have now closed. Allscott finally ceased operating in 2006 and a couple of years later the factory was knocked to the ground and all traces of its existence have now been erased from the face of the earth.
Sadly, the men who “went on the beet” all those years ago have also been consigned to the fading pages of history.
Mary Brosnan RIP From Athea News Site
Published on the 25 November2009
WE are saddened by the passing of Mary Brosnan (nee Normoyle) of Knocknagorna, Athea at Saint Ita's Hospital, Newcastle West on November 11 after an illness bravely borne.
But we will cherish the legion of memories she left behind her. She was a native of Glenastar, Carrigkerry and a daughter of Maggie Ann Dillane, Glenastar and Willie Normoyle, Killeaney, Glin.
Mary was born in Glenastar in 1934 and attended Carrigkerry National School, picking up the nickname Gracey May along the way. Sadly her father died when she was only six years old and her mother died when she was nine years old. Mary went to live with her uncle Frank Normoyle and his wife Bridie Forde, a native of Rooskagh, in Knocknagortna, Athea. She continued her education in nearby Knocknagortna National School and settled in well in her new surroundings.
It was at a dance in Athea that Mary met the love of her life, Pat Brosnan from Lyreacrompane, and soon wedding bells rang for the happy couple, in Athea in 1960. Mary and Pat worked in England during the sixties, living at Flax Burton, Somerset. Mary worked in several nursing homes from 1961 to 1965 when she returned home, with son Seanie and daughter Sheila who were born in Bristol. Mary ran the family grocery shop until 1970 when the returning Pat went working in Limerick. The family was completed when daughters Tina and Breda were born in Limerick. Mary and Pat were a very united couple and married for 49 years, raising a fine family and sharing their talents with their local community.
Mary was a homemaker who was devoted to her family and was held in high esteem by all who knew her. She was known for her kindness, generosity and hospitality and she had a warm welcome for all who called to her home. Mary was a childminder to Conor and Mary B Mullane's boys for a number of years, when her own family were grown up. A regular church attendee, religion meant a lot to her, and she made numerous visits to Knock and had a special devotion to Saint Anthony, Our Lady and the Eucharist. She was also a member of the Civil Defence along with Pat, and their members assisted in the guard of honour. West Limerick and Kerry Radio was close to her heart and Sunday nights were spent listening to Athea's Mike Enright followed by Sean O'Reilly on Radio Kerry.
Mary liked to sing the old traditional songs and was featured on Radio herself on a number of occasions. She attended Feile Cheoil events, singing her favourite song "The Gypsy Rover". Dancing and card playing were other pastimes, and the Normoyle house was a rambling house in former years. Mary was cleaner of Athea Church during the 1980s and early 1990s and also took up the Mass offering baskets. She had a major operation to replace a valve seven years ago, and came through with flying colours, to enjoy good health, until her final illness in recent months. The large crowds that attended her removal and burial showed how highly the family are thought of.
Mary's removal from Kelly's Funeral Home to Saint Bartholomues Church took place on Friday evening, November 13, as the wind blew and the rain fell heavily. Father Paddy Bowen, a distant relative of Mary's, was chief celebrant of the requiem Mass on Saturday, assisted by Canon Patrick O'Kelly and Athea native Father Dennis Mullane.
Father Paddy delivered a thought-provoking homily recalling Mary's life of kindly deeds, and devotion to her family and community. Family members assisted with the readings, gifts and prayers of the faithful. Margaret Carrol's lovely music and hymns were most appropriate and uplifting for the occasion.
Breda Brosnan on behalf of the family thanked all the people who helped them since Mary's illness. Comhaltas, Cheoil Luimni, Civil Defence, Community Games and neighbours, formed a guard of honour as the cortege passed on its way to Holycross Cemetery.
The sun shone brightly during the burial as if to welcome Mary home. It was a peaceful scene overlooking the village she served so well. Donie Lyons delivered a few poignant tunes on the flute as the assembled crowd bid a final farewell to their departed friend. Pat thanked everyone who attended from near and far for the funeral which was a great source of comfort for the family. Daughter Tina sang "The Gypsy Rover", one of Mary's favourite songs, in a final tribute to her mother, whose presence on this earth since 1934 brightened up and enriched so many lives.
We extend sympathy to husband Pat (PJ Brosnan), Athea, correspondent for the Limerick Leader, son Seanie, daughters Sheila Walsh, Tina Andrews, Breda Burr, daughter-in-law Marie, sons-in-law Pat, Chris, Andrew, brother-in-law Ando (Andrew), grandchildren Siobhan, Roisin, Siobhra, Saoirse-Mai, Maggie-Mai, Eamon, Padraic, Thomas, other relatives and friends. A life well lived from scenic Glenstar overlooking the river Daar and Yieldings Waterfall to Knocknagortna in the parish of Athea, Mary Brosnan, may you rest in heavenly peace.
Mary Brosnan born 1934, died November 11 2009
Pat Brosnan Presentation Abbeyfeale 10 Nov. 2013
PAT BROSNAN, ATHEA
Domhnal Barry says, Thanks Pat Brosnan for all you have done for the community since you came from Lyreacrompane to live in Knocknagorna. He got involved in the voluntary work of many organisations; the unselfish work that keeps our community alive. Let us take a look at some of the contributions he has made. He was a memberof the G.A.A. an Community Games for many years and helped to raise much needed funds for the great work they do with our young people. A composer and singer of songs he is still involved with Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and holds the position of chairman of the Athea branch. He joined the Civil Defence and brought his skills as a nurse to bear on that organisation being always available to give aid. He got to know everyone in the parish through his work on the census forms. In recent years he has been active in the Church, taking up the collection at Mass and, until recently, cleaning the Church on a Tuesday. He supported all the local (and not so local) rambling houses and set up the group “Ceol Luimnigh” who had their own monthly sessions and performed voluntarily in local hospitals and nursing homes. In the recent “TradFéile” festivals he took responsibility for the entertainment on stage in the street and kept the music, song and dance going for the weekend. These are but a few of his contributions to the welfare of our society but it is in his writings that he has really done us proud. His weekly column in the Limerick Leader has kept people up to date with all the news of the parish. Since he started writing for this newsletter, many years ago, he has commented on local and national issues and is never afraid to air his opinions. His many books of poems and songs give the reader an insight into his knowledge and love for Athea and its beautiful scenery. It is no wonder that he has won many County, Munster and All-Ireland titles down through the years. I think his greatest honour came this year when he was chosen as one of only 12 people in Munster to receive an award for services to Comhaltas.
Grandparents Day”
Last Friday, on the insistence of my two granddaughters, I attended Grandparents Day at the Gael Scoil in Newcastle West. I didn’t know what exactly to expect but when I arrived the hall was full of people like myself. The children were up by the stage and sang beautifully during the opening prayers and readings and there was an exhibition of step dancing, sean nós, set dancing, hip hop, a beautiful rendition from the school choir and a large group of traditional musicians gave a flawless recital. Then the principal, Kathleen Shanahan from Athea, welcomed us all and did a wonderful slide show of what grandparents are and do. I was delighted to find out that I identified with each funny slide telling us how much we spoil our grandchildren such as; giving them treats they would not be allowed at home, allowing them to stay up late and watch TV, filling them with sugar and generally letting them get away with behaviour that would not be tolerated by their parents. There were little snippets like “grandparents have silver in their hair and gold in their hearts” tempered by “grandchildren for a couple of hours make you feel younger; any more than that makes you feel older.” It got me thinking about my own grandparents or rather the lack of them. I really knew only one grandparent, my mother’s mother who was always with us. My grandfather, Dan Harnett died before I was born and my father’s parents lived in Brosna so we only saw them when we visited and didn’t really have a chance to develop a relationship with them. That did not stop my grandmother Hannah, or Nana Barry as we used to call her, spoiling us. She had a shop at what is now known as Barry’s Cross in Two Gneeves and as soon as we arrived she would go into the shop and come back with Goggins lemonade and Polo biscuits, treats we were only used to at Christmas and very special occasions. I can clearly remember trying to make the bottle of lemonade last as long as possible by taking tiny sips near the end and sometimes letting the lemonade flow back into the bottle again and again. My grandfather Garret, died at the relatively young age of 65 when I was a young teenager. At home Nana Harnett looked after us and used to slip us sweets and stuff behind my mother’s back. She used to give me the odd Woodbine when I started smoking, before my parents ever found out. It would be frowned on today but back then smoking was not thought to be dangerous, on the contrary it was recommended to make you relax and relieve stress. All the film stars and sports people of the day smoked. She always had good advice to give and we went to her with all our troubles.
Today I thank God for the gift of our grandchildren and the opportunity to watch them grow and of course to spoil them rotten. During Parents Day a lot was said about love and the importance of hugs and kisses. We should never miss an opportunity to tell someone we love how we feel because there is no feeling better than that of being loved. It is especially important to young people who need their confidence boosting as much as possible. So, after a cup of tea and a selection of delectable cakes, I came away from the school in Newcastle in a very happy mood and looking forward to spending more time with my eight grandchildren in the future.
We get the best of them because when the going gets tough we can always send them home!
BY Domhnall de Barra
LIMERICK INFO
http://www.limerickcity.ie/Library/LocalStudies/LocalStudiesFiles/W/Writers-GeneralNon-Fiction/
What’s Happened the Games I Love?
By Domhnall de Barra
In the dim and distant past , when I was in the prime of my life, I played all kinds of sport. At the weekend I would play rugby on Saturday, soccer on Sunday morning and Gaelic football or hurling in the afternoon. This was during my time in Coventry and I really enjoyed those games. Sometimes on a Saturday I would go over to Aston Villa to watch the top teams like Man United playing. There were quite a few Irish players with English clubs in those days along with Scots and Welsh. Now it is all foreign players. It is not the survival of the fittest but the “survival of the wealthiest”. Absurd amounts of money is paid for little more than average players from all parts of the globe to the detriment of the home players. TV rights have filled the coffers of the Premier League clubs so money is no object for the privileged few. We now have a handful of “super teams” who have the ability to dominate the game for the foreseeable future. There is great pressure to secure results and players have perfected the art of cheating to get free kicks or even more disgusting to try and get an opponent sent off. Not the sport I once played and loved. I have no doubt in my mind that the whole house of cards will eventually tumble and then maybe we will get back to sanity in the game.
I played scrum half and sometimes on the wing in my rugby days. I was 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighed 10 stone 7 pounds. Would I have a chance on the field today? – not a hope. I would be swallowed by the giants who now occupy every position. Rugby has gone from a game of skill to a game of strength. In my day the idea was to avoid tackles by skilful footwork and pass or kick when there was no way through. Now the ball is taken into the tackle by choice. Crunching tackles are the norm for the whole 80 minutes. The players are conditioned for this by weight training and the use of substances that will eventually affect their health down the road. It is again the money in the game that has caused the problems. Win at all cost is the order of the day and if that means boring, negative tactics, so be it. Again not the game I loved to play.
Gaelic football is no longer the spectacle it once was. It is now a mixture of basketball and rugby with little emphasis on the traditional skills. I analysed a match recently and I came to the conclusion that every time a player is in possession of the ball he is fowled. Is it legal to punch players in the arms and elsewhere? Of course not but this is what happens. The man in possession is often surrounded by three or four players, pushed to the floor and prevented from getting up. No foul there according to referees. To be fair to them, if they blew for every infringement there would be little play. There is no defined tackle in Gaelic football. This needs to be corrected and there should also be something done about hand passing which has destroyed the game. The problem lies with the “win at all costs” mentality by well paid managers who must produce the goods or lose their jobs. I am lucky enough to have seen the game at its skilful best. Men like Mick O’Connell could pick the ball out of the clouds and deliver a kick pass of fifty yards or more. Bring those days back.
It is not all doom and gloom. Hurling, the best field game of them all, has gone from strength to strength and is breathtaking to watch. There is great rivalry but the games are played in a sporting way and the days of the “hatchet man” seem to be over. We have been privileged to witness some of the greatest games of all time in the past couple of seasons and I can’t wait for the start of this year’s championship. This just might be Limerick’s year!
Domhnall de Barra
From Athea News
By Peg Prendeville
Last May a group of our young people headed off from Shannon to the USA as J1 students eager for work and adventure. They included Niall Twomey and Jonathan Fitzgerald from Athea, Shauna Long and Sarah Prendeville from Knockdown and Michelle Foley from Glin together with four other friends. They are due home this weekend after a great summer. We will all be relieved to see them safely home. Some Irish parents of such students were not so lucky as you will remember from the tragedy in Berkeley last June. I could not resist putting some of their experiences into rhyme as follows.
Myrtle Beach 2015
From Limerick East and Limerick West
Tipperary and North Kerry
Came a bunch of eager students
Their moods were bright and merry.
They threw the dice upon the map
Then gave a mighty screech
When they saw where it had landed,
Smack bang on Myrtle Beach.
So they packed their bags and off they went
To have fun while working too
Nine Irish J1 students
Sure had a blast, tis true.
It wasn’t always easy going
With nine people in one room
Sometimes tension swelled the space
But they got the sweeping broom
And brushed out all the cobwebs
The anger and frustration
And then they laughed and had a beer
They’re a credit to their nation.
This happy group from Ireland
For freedom they did reach
They wanted fun and laughter
And got it all on Myrtle Beach.
And to add to the excitement
They thought Orlando would be fun
So they drove south to Florida
And let the laughter run.
And then on up to Washington
Niagara and New York
Sure we deserve a treat they said
After all that summer work.
But now 12 weeks are over
They are tired but quite elated
At all they did achieve this year
And all they celebrated.
But tis time for Mammy’s cooking
And clean fresh sheets in beds
They’ve had great fun but home is best
To rest their weary heads.
The Way We Were
I was just thinking the other day about how much things have changed in our world in a very short time. I am now 70 years old but in the relatively short time since I started going to school, I have experienced the greatest changes since the world began. In the late 1940s/early 50s there was no electricity, no running water, no telephone, no toilets, no TV, very few radios and a couple of cars in the parish. The roads were mainly stone and pencil with just the main routes tarred. If somebody who was born in recent times was somehow transported back to those days, they would not have a hope of surviving but we had no problem and took all the changes in our stride as they occurred. There were jobs to be done in those days that have been mostly forgotten about now. Even the terms used to describe them will be foreign to the younger generations. “Spreading top dress” was one of those. Cows were kept in the shed over the winter months and they were provided with a fresh bed of rushes every day. Of course the old stuff had to be piked out onto the dung heap outside the door. This heap grew over the months so when spring came and the weather improved it was filled into a horse drawn cart with a four prong pike and dumped in heaps in the meadows. When the time was right the farmer, or his servant boy, spread the manure, again with a four prong pike. This was known as spreading top dress and it was a very natural way of ensuring a good growth of grass. The four prong pike was one of three that were in use in those days. It was used mainly for rushes, cut briars and the like. The three prong was used for piking turf in the bog and the two prong was reserved for hay in the meadow. Different types of spades were also in use. An old worn one was used to dig the spuds while a good sharp one was used for “turning taobh fhóds”. This was getting the garden ready to sow spuds. A line of string was stretched along the ground and a line cut with a hay knife along it. Another line was cut paralleled to this one about four feet apart. Then a spade was used to turn sods from each side to meet in the middle. This was hard work and required precision with the depth and length of cut. This was left until the “seeds” were ready to be sown. Seed potatoes had little “eyes” from which sprouts appeared. Sometimes the potato could be cut in two, as long as there were enough eyes. The sods that had been turned were now folded back and farm yard manure was spread along the ridge. The seeds were then placed on top of the manure and the sods turned back again. To complete the operation the space between the ridges was dug up and the earth placed on top of the ridge, enough to prevent the frost from getting at the seeds but not too much to keep the sun’s heat from them.
“Scouring the dyke” was another spring activity. The dyke (which was really a ditch) carried water from the land drains and had to be cleaned out every year to ensure the “run of the water” as it was called. This was done with a spade, shovel and four prong pike. At the same time a briar hook or “slasher” was used to cut bushes and briars that grew on the ditch (which was really a dyke!). Most people in those days had a garden. The farmers had plenty of ground to till and cottages were built on an acre so that a garden was possible. Spuds were the main crop as well as cabbage, turnips, carrots, parsnips, mangolds, lettuce, peas, beans, beetroot etc. Farmers also sat oats for the horses who pulled all the carts and machinery. The oats required a lot of work, cutting, binding, putting into sheafs and eventually being threshed to separate the ears from the straw. Before machines arrived on the scene the threshing was done with a flail. The flail consisted of two sticks connected by a short chain. One stick was wielded by hand and the other stick would come down on the oats which was placed on a concrete floor and sever the head from the body. Hard work indeed but very rewarding and necessary for survival before the arrival of Tescos, Aldi and the likes. I might return to this later but it is no harm for people to be grateful for the sacrifices our forefathers made so that we would have an easier life.
Domhnall de Barra
By Peg Prendeville
Happy 30th Birthday Knockdown Arms
Thirty years ago ’twas born – a cause of celebration
When the Knockdown Arms opened its doors amidst wide speculation
Since then it has never slowed the pace but is growing by the day
With Ta and Ita’s guiding hands, providing fun and play.
Many celebrations have taken place since that day years ago
With christenings, birthdays, 1st Communions – it’s always on the go
Romances and retirement functions all took place right here
Funeral receptions catered for with reverence, don’t fear.
We’ve had concerts by the dozen where we sang and danced right through
We had table quizzes and race nights and dancing classes too
Poker games and Macra meetings, yes Ta has room for all.
Always ready for something new he had a Christmas stall.
It never once has faltered, even through the world recessions
We warded off our worries with lively singing sessions
Ta opened up a kitchen serving food as well as drink
And when depression threatened us Ta pulled us from the brink.
So Happy Birthday Knockdown Arms; we hope for many more
To keep the community together as we dance around the floor
Three cheers for Ta and Ita this enterprising pair
Who, we hope, will not retire at all and, for us, be always there.
The Age of Entitlement
While listening to the radio the other day, I heard a man who was about to deliver a talk to business people being interviewed. The theme was keeping business a success. He made a very interesting point that it is usually during the reign of the third generation that things start to go wrong. Somebody starts a business and works really hard to get it off the ground. Many sacrifice are made along the way and the whole family suffers for a while. Eventually the business takes off and becomes a success. In due course it is passed on to the next generation who, though well off, remember the hard times at the beginning. They usually improve turnover and hand over to their children a big business and lots of cash. This next generation have known nothing but affluence and had an easy life. They tend to let things as they are and are not motivated to develop the business further. Unfortunately there is no such thing as standing still in this age of rapid change and new technology so their competitors take some of their market from them and they begin to go down hill.
I got to thinking how this could be applied to ordinary life. Our parents, grew up in a time of abject poverty in this country. In the early part of the last century there were two world wars, the war of independence and a civil war. When Ireland eventually became a free nation it was broke so times really were hard. No electricity, no running water, very bad roads and damp houses that accommodated big families were the order of the day. Any work available was hard labour and very poorly paid at that. But they did not give in; somehow or other they got through and created a better start for their children. By the time they took over things had improved a lot and education was now available. This opened doors for many people who went on to good jobs and relative prosperity but they remembered their beginnings and knew the sacrifices their parents made for them. Now we are down to the next generation who are born into a very different world full of mod cons and devices that make life more comfortable. They have never seen a “poor day” and have always got what they wanted. Corporal punishment has long gone as well. Many of this generation grow up with a sense of entitlement. I am entitled to an education. I am entitled to a good job, near home, I am entitled to a house, near my parents. I am entitled to free health care. I am entitled to three holidays in the year, etc., etc. However I do not want to pay a household charge, I do not want to pay a water charge, I do not want to pay a health levy and as little tax as possible. I also need things instantly. Broadband has to be lightning fast or it is no good. My phone has to have all the bells and whistles and my TV has to be “smart” and cover half the wall. My car has to be the latest model and my house must be bigger than my neighbours or family members. I want all these but I want them now so the idea of saving up for something is old hat. I can borrow the money from my bank or credit union. The only problem is that they want their money back with interest and when things go wrong, as they sometimes do, I am in trouble.
I feel so sorry for people who are in trouble trying to pay off a mortgage when they have lost a job through no fault of their own. They should get every assistance but there are others who borrowed far too much money to build or buy mansions of houses that are too expensive to run who would be in difficulty if they never lost their jobs. It is time for common sense to prevail and people should “cut according to their cloth” Working class people, i.e. people who work for a weekly wage should not live in mansions of houses. Leave them to the people who can afford them.
I am not suggesting we go back to the small cabins but do a family of two adults and two children really need a house with six or seven bedrooms? There is more to life than working day and night to pay back a bank or building society. We are not entitled to everything. Somebody has to pay, and if we want services we have to pay for them ourselves. It is our own responsibility to get a job and improve our own situation. Maybe that means leaving home for a while but this is nothing new. Thousands of people have had to emigrate over the years and when things improve they tend to come back. We may have to wait a while for our own house. It does not have to be done all at once. I remember building my own house back in the mid-seventies. When the builder had finished we got the sitting room done up and one bedroom. It took years to furnish the rest of the house. It was done bit by bit as and when we could afford it. There was great satisfaction in coming home with a new piece of furniture or a carpet knowing it was bought and paid for. In this way we really appreciated every improvement we made and, though it was sometimes a struggle to make ends meet, we eventually got it all done. So let us forget about “entitlements”. The world owes us nothing; it is up to ourselves to create our own lives and make the best of our God-given talents while ensuring that those who aren’t so lucky are catered for.
Domhnall de Barra
RAIL LINE: Two years ago Waterford City & County Council and Kerry County Council were both awarded State funding for developing Greenways along old railways.
Waterford, as you can see from the attachments, will have excelled themselves and actually delivered double the expected route length before the end of 2016. The result will be a 50km state of the art cycleway along the CIÉ owned line. Waterford Council are now encouraging private enterprises to take advantage of their superb new amenity.
Kerry hasn't yet turned a sod along their Glenbeigh- Cahersiveen project which was promoted as being "shovel ready" two years ago; a statement still being contested by some of the private landowners who now own that old railway.
Meanwhile, the former North Kerry line, still in State ownership(like Waterford), languishes; there being no apparent impetus by Kerry County Council to develop it and thereby extend the 40km West Limerick Great Southern Trail Greenway to Listowel, Tralee and Fenit by a further 50km. Thus, the opportunity to have Ireland's longest Greenway at the doorstep of Kerry and Shannon airports is being lost and so is the spinoff to local businesses.
Kerry has deservedly been accorded accolades for its scenes in Star Wars. Unfortunately, when it comes to Greenways it is definitely orbiting in a different planetary system to Waterford.
Liam O'Mahony,
Cathaoirleach,
Great Southern Trail,
Domhnall de Barra
Characters (continued)
Last week I wrote about the “characters” in Irish life that enriched our lives so much but now seem to have disappeared. One such man was Con Curtin from Brosna. Con, or “Coneen Jack Maurice” as he was known locally, lived up the road from my father’s house about two miles on the Castleisland side of Brosna near a well known place called the “Black Banks”. Like many more good men at the time Con took the emigrant ship and worked for years in London. He worked hard and made a name for himself ending up with a good job as foreman in one of the tunnels that were being built at the time. Working in the tunnels was probably one of the most difficult and dangerous jobs at the time but the rewards were good as the wages were roughly twice what could be earned above ground. Con eventually became the owner of a pub in South London called “The Big Balloon”. As he was a well known and respected fiddle player the pub soon became a Mecca for traditional musicians both from around London and those visiting. The middle of the last century was a great time for traditional music, particularly in London so the place was alive most weekends. Con was a very witty man who had a ready answer for every occasion. One Sunday morning, a few of us were in the bar trying to cure ourselves after a mighty session the night before, when a dapper little gentleman came in the door, took off his overcoat and hung it up. We could see he was an ex serviceman who had made a mistake and come in the wrong door. The British Legion Club was just next door. As he made his way into the gloomy bar he realised his mistake but, not wanting to lose face, stopped just for a moment and then said to Con, “’alf a bitter please guv’nor”. He went down the bar to a high stool, took his handkerchief from his top pocket and proceeded to wipe the seat of the stool. He was just about to sit down when Con, who had been eyeing him out of the corner of his eye while filling the “’alf” of bitter, said, “my dear and decent boy, will you do me one favour before you sit on that stool?” “W’ats that mate” said the bemused visitor to which Con replied “will you take out that handkerchief again and give one wipe to the arse of your trousers.” The poor man didn’t know whether Con was in earnest or joking but he did as he was asked, to our great amusement, finished his drink in one gulp and got out of there as fast as he could. Con was a good musician with a great repertoire of tunes. He was also an adjudicator who was very unpredictable when it came to comments on the performances of the musicians before him. On one occasion he was judging an underage competition. A young boy who was just beginning gave a typical scratchy performance on the fiddle and of course did not figure among the winners. Afterwards his mother approached Con and asked him what he thought of her son. “Well”, said Con, “I’ll tell you one thing and I won’t be contradicted. He is the nearest thing to a fiddle player I ever heard”. The poor woman went away happy not realising what he had really meant. Another time he was commenting on the performance of a fiddle player who could only be described as flamboyant. He had put in lots of ornamentation and embellishments and expected to win easily. Con, however, had other ideas. “This man has great ability”, he said, “and I have one bit of advice for him. Put in the bits you left out and leave out the bits you put in and you will go far”. Later on in life Con came back to Brosna and opened a pub there as well. By this time he had quite a reputation and players came from all over the country to play in his establishment. One night the great Frankie Gavin was in the pub playing a few tunes when Con, who had been across the square in Flanagan’s Bar, came in and asked Frankie “what’s your name boy” “Ah Con sure you know me” said Frankie. “If I did”, said Con, “I wouldn’t be asking you”. I’m Frankie Gavin”, he said to which Con replied, “ah no, I have a record of that man inside and he is a good fiddle player’” It took a while before Frankie realised his leg was being pulled. I knew Con well and had many a session with him. Behind the rough exterior he was a very intelligent man, a fine musician and a character who will never be replaced. May he rest in peace.
Domhnall de Barra