My Jimdo Geocities Lifeboat
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Ó Danachair, Caoimhín (Danaher, Kevin) (1913–2002), university lecturer and folklorist, was born 30 January 1913 in Athea (Áth an tSléibhe), Co. Limerick, the second eldest of four sons of William Danaher, a primary school principal, and his wife Margaret (née Ryan) of Martinstown, Co. Limerick, also a primary school teacher. Educated at Athea national school, Mungret College, Limerick, and at UCD, he graduated BA in 1936, and received a Higher Diploma in Education the following year
https://www.dib.ie/biography/o-danachair-caoimhin-danaher-kevin-a2392
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Woulfe Athea
https://wolfe-brendan.medium.com/the-book-of-athea-part-1-e8a5691ce4de
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April 2024
The Way I See It
By Domhnall de Barra
“The news of the week was the announcement by Leo Varadkar that he was resigning as leader of Fine Gael and also standing down as Taoiseach. It came as a shock to most of us, not because it might happen but because of the timing. He says he is no longer the man for the job and basically has had enough but I fear there is a little more to the story than that. Fine Gael has been losing popularity to such an extent that sitting TDs are queuing up to announce they will not be contesting the next election. Rats and sinking ships comes to mind so I would not be surprised if the “suits” in charge of Fine Gael didn’t tap him on the shoulder and persuade him to do the decent thing and fall on his sword because, under his leadership, the party had no chance in the next election. They will say that those TDs who are resigning are getting old and have given great service but I don’t see the same thing happening in other parties. The writing is on the wall and it is no great surprise with our democratic system where we get an opportunity every few years to show our leaders what we think of them. It is a bit like Lannigan’s Ball with stepping in and stepping out again. While in opposition, parties gain popularity because they can promise the electorate the sun, moon and stars without having to deliver. The same happens to our neighbours east and west. In the UK the Tories and Labour swap over every few years. In the last election, the Tories under the leadership of Boris Johnson had a landslide victory which is going to be reversed in favour of Labour later this year. In America, the Conservatives and Democrats take turns in power as well so it is no surprise that we are about to give the heave ho to the establishment parties next time in favour of Sinn Féin. They have performed well in opposition but if they get into power the ”yes minister” factor will come into play. “Yes minister” was a British comedy series that lampooned the relationship between the department secretary and the govern minister. It was a really good program but was closer to the truth than most people like to believe. It is the department secretaries who have the real power. While ministers have to be elected and selected for office, department secretaries are permanent and will see different ministers come and go. A minister may come in with a great idea to which the secretary may say, yes minister, but if you do that then this will happen which will trigger this but of course it is your decision. When they get into government, parties will realise that there are limits to what can be achieved but that carries no weight for the electorate who gave them their votes to carry out what they promised. The government are getting blamed for all the woes of the country but people have short memories. We did have the big financial crash that left us in serious debt and we are living through a post pandemic world that is full of war and upheaval. No matter who was in power the result would have been the same. I think where Fine Gael went wrong was in the last leadership contest when they chose Leo over Simon Coveney. Coveney is a very good politician with a head for business and finance but also has the common touch, something Leo does not. He was to appeal to the modern, yuppie types, particularly in urban areas and maybe he did but the party suffered at rural level. I think Simon Coveney would have made an excellent leader of both party and government but that ship has sailed. I am afraid we are in for more of the same with Simon Harris who is more akin to Leo than Coveney. It is too late to rescue the party now. They must resign themselves to a stint on the opposition benches for a while and allow some others to follow in their footsteps. Will it affect candidates in the upcoming local elections? I hope not because I believe that party politics should have little bearing on who we elect to local councils. We should look at the candidates in our area and chose the one we think will do the best job for us, regardless of political affiliation. Local authorities now have a decent budget to distribute so we need someone local who will deliver for us. On the national level the message is simple. People need a job, place to live, a health service that is fit for purpose, a cost of living that does not break the bank and a future for their children. The government have done a great job of attracting employment to the country but what good is that when somebody who commands a decent salary cannot take a job in certain locations because there isn’t an affordable place to buy or rent. There is a scarcity of construction workers at the moment because they are all working abroad and who can blame them? At the end of the day, it is how much of your money you can keep. Even if we had enough workers, are w building the right type of houses? There are so many regulations attached to building these days that delay the start of production but all that could be simplified. All people want is a decent place to live, not an upmarket manor. Get back to what we did in the last century and build terraced houses in towns and villages and cottages in the country. It worked then so why wouldn’t it work now? Where there is a will there’s a way.
Congratulations to Athea Drama Group on a magnificent production over the past couple of weeks. It was a good comedy, what we all need at the moment, and the acting was very professional, far above what one would expect from a local drama group. There is one more performance on Thursday night but I am sure there will be requests for more.
https://www.athea.ie/category/news/
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Reflect
The Way I See It
By Domhnall de Barra
Last week I was writing about the rewetting of peatlands and the effect it would have on our own area. It was such a change from not so long ago when farmers were being paid to drain those very lands to make them more productive. It got me thinking to how fast things have changed, not over hundreds of years but, in my own lifetime. When I was growing up we were surrounded by farmers who were milking 10 or 12 cows. They raised big families on those holdings and wanted for nothing. The reason they were able to do so was simple; very few overheads. They lived off the land setting their own spuds and vegetables in a garden plot and of course they had their own milk so the only things they had to buy were commodities such as tea, sugar, flower and meal. Since there was no electricity there were no appliances and no ESB bills. They did have to keep a horse, and sometimes a donkey, to pull the carts and farm machinery and everything was done by hand. This included milking the cows morning and evening. The milk was poured into churns that were taken to the creamery in the mornings. There were two creameries in the parish, Cratloe and the Village, and they took the butter from the milk and then gave what we called “back milk” that would be fed to calves and pigs. These creameries had their own butter-makers and farmers would take a pound of butter when needed and the cost was taken off the monthly payment from the creamery. It was a labour intensive operation on those farms but they survived. The first changes came when the electricity arrived. This was soon followed by the milking machine which made life much easier for those who could afford them. The second big change came with the arrival of the tractor. Hundreds of second hand small tractors were imported into the country and they took over from the horse. James Horgan R.I.P. was the main dealer in this area and he supplied many a small farmer with Fergusons and Fords. Now the overheads were getting bigger and it became much more difficult for the small farmer to survive. Eventually Cratloe Creamery closed and Athea was taken over by Kerry Co-Op. It was not in their interests to have hundreds of small farmers to collect milk from so the push came on to have bigger and bigger holdings. Gradually the number of farmers dwindled but there were more cattle on the lands with more intensive methods of creating more production. Grants were given to knock ditches and hedgerows to make bigger fields and the use of artificial fertilizer was encouraged. The modern way of farming was light years away from my neighbours with their few fields and small numbers of cattle. Nothing stands still and we are now at a crossroad again with farming being blamed for much of our carbon emissions. I have no idea what is going to happen but I am sure of one thing, places like Athea will never be the same again and, in the meantime places like China, India, South America and Russia will continue as if nothing has happened and all our efforts will be in vain.
I was travelling home from a Comhaltas meeting in Kilfinnane the other night when I came upon a silage tractor and trailer almost turned over in the dyke. It had gone out of control going around the bend and slipped sideways. I stopped to see if I could be of any assistance but I was more than surprised that the driver was just a young boy. He was certainly no more than 12 years of age and wasn’t a bit phased by what had happened. Now, this was not a small tractor but a huge modern one that is capable of high speeds on the road. Should one so young be entrusted with the handling of such a huge machine? I know it is difficult to get experienced drivers at times but using people at such a young age is highly irresponsible. They are putting their own and others lives at risk and should be out playing football or hurling or anything rather than driving heavy machinery during all the daylight hours. He told me he had made a phone call and, sure enough, while we were talking another tractor came, attached a tow rope and pulled the unit and trailer out of the dyke. Luckily, this time, there was no damage and nobody was hurt but I dread to think what might have been. This, unfortunately, is not an isolated incident as I have seen many young drivers on the roads of West Limerick over the past few years. I do not know what the legal age is for driving a tractor but I am sure it is not low enough to cover the young lads I have seen. Roads are very busy at this time of year an it is no place to be driving after a very long day at the wheel. Weariness can creep in and mistakes are made. No point in lamenting afterwards – be careful now.
The opening of the new doctors premises brings the clock full circle because it was once owned by Dr. McGrath back in the early part of the last century. It is very well located in the centre of the village with its own parking facilities. We wish Dr. Bríd Wallace every success in her new centre. It will play a vital part in the future of the village as does the Pharmacy and the Shop.
https://www.athea.ie/category/news/
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By Tom Aherne
WREN PRESENTATION: The Glensharrold Wren Group held their presentation evening at Carrigkerry Community Centre on Sunday, May 21st. All the members and guests were welcomed, and a short history of the group was outlined as follows. Glensharrold Wren Group were formed by 3 neighbours and school friends in 1956 Johnny Kennelly, Tom Kennelly and Tony Geoghegan. They held their wren nights in Kennelly’s house from 1959 to 1978, dinner dances in the Devon Inn Hotel, Ardagh Hall, Carrigkerry Community Centre, Hayes House, Athea and the Flag Floor, Carrigkerry. They released 2 cassette tapes of their music song and dance in 1993 (plus history booklet) and 1998. Performed on Radio Kerry and Radio Limerick, West Limerick 102 fm Documentary, Dan Paddy Andy Festival, Athea Fleadh Cheoil, members birthdays, cemetery tributes and other various events.
Since 1993 the group have made many presentations to worthy causes in total over €30,000. The members understand it has been difficult for groups to fundraise due to Covid in recent years. Following a member’s meeting it was decided to assist a few local organizations. As a result, 6 groups benefitted from the presentation from unused funds collected in previous years. The groups to benefit were Carrigkerry National School, Carrigkerry Community Centre, Ardagh/Carrigkerry Comhaltas Branch, Clodagh’s Fundraiser, St. Kieran’s GAA Field Development, Friends of St. Ita’s Hospital Newcastle West. In conclusion all who received funding expressed their sincere thanks to the group members for their generosity which will greatly assist them in their ongoing activities.
https://www.athea.ie/category/by-carrig-side/
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May 2023
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PARISH PASTORAL UNIT ABBEYFEALE, ATHEA, TEMPLEGLANTINE, TOURNAFULLA, MOUNTCOLLINS
30th April 2023 www.abbeyfealeparish.ie email fealechurch@eircom.net Church Sacristy 068 - 51915 Parish Office 068 – 31133
‘Take the Risk for Christ’
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the initiation of the annual World Day of
Prayer for Vocations, instituted by Saint Pope Paul VI in 1963 during the Second
Vatican Council. The World day of prayer for Vocations is also referred to as
Good Shepherd Sunday. We see in Jesus, the Good Shepherd, the heart of every
calling. At a special conference held in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, last
Tuesday to mark the 60th anniversary, a Year for Vocation to the Diocesan
Priesthood was launched, on the theme ‘Take the Risk for Christ’. Speaking at
the conference, Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan, Bishop of Waterford and Lismore
said, “In spite of all the distractions of modern life God is still calling men to
follow him in this way, of that we can be sure. Pope Francis has written a
message to us for this Year for Vocation, and the Holy Father encourages us to
propose priesthood to the men of this generation with faith and confidence.”
Bishop Cullinan concluded “I ask people all around the country, and indeed
wherever this message is heard, to pray throughout this year, especially, that
there will be a particular focus on priesthood so that seeds will be planted in
young men’s hearts and that – with God’s help – this special year will produce a
lot of priestly vocations.”
Prayer for Vocations
God our Father, send workers into your harvest.
May the Spirit we received in baptism
Touch the hearts of many
To offer themselves in priesthood, religious life
And other forms of service.
Give the parents and families of our diocese
The wisdom and courage to support young people
In searching for and following the call of God in their lives. Amen
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July 2022
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The Way I See It
By Domhnall de Barra
A very disturbing incident occurred in Abbeyfeale last week involving the robbery and assault of an elderly man. That it happened is bad enough but the fact that it happened in broad daylight, on the side of the main road, at 5.30 in the afternoon is an indication of what lengths thugs will go to, to get money. The man assaulted had previously had a robbery in his house and consequently carried a good bit of money with him when he went out. He had been shopping at a store not far from where the attack took place and I suppose his attacker noticed that his wallet was full. He must have followed him the short distance to where he was doing a bit of work in a field by the road. He approached the man and asked him if he had lost a wallet. Without thinking, the man reached into his pocket and took out his wallet only to have it snatched from his hand before being brutally kicked and beaten and left helpless on the ground. Luckily he was able to give the Gardaí a good description of his assailant and the thug was arrested shortly afterwards. A couple of days afterwards I was walking in the town park in Abbeyfeale and, in a secluded area, I noticed four well-built teenagers coming towards me. For the first time in my life I felt uncomfortable and nervous in the realisation that, if they wanted to mug me, I could do nothing to stop them. Fortunately they were ordinary decent young men who saluted me and passed on. It is absolutely wrong, and a sign of the times, that anyone should not feel safe in a public park in the middle of the day. We hear about robberies and muggings taking place regularly in major towns and cities but I never dreamed it would happen in my own back yard. I have lived in many countries in my lifetime and, in the past, I was able to walk through streets at night without a worry in the world. In the 1960s I lived in Coventry and every Sunday night I played the accordion in a place called the Kerryman’s Club in the middle of the city. After finishing playing we usually stayed on for a couple of drinks and very often the last bus home had departed when I came out. I used to walk through the city and out about two miles to get home and never once was I bothered by anyone. I had the same experience in Liverpool, a tough city with busy dockland and indeed in Dublin up to the 1980s. There are parts of Dublin now where nobody is safe from attack at any time and I can promise you I would not attempt to walk alone in those areas. Even in rural Ireland, those living in remote areas, especially elderly people, are afraid of being attacked and robbed by gangs in vans who seem to be able to operate with impunity. What has happened in our society? Should we go back to old style policing where the local Gardaí lived in the community and had first hand knowledge of all that was going on. Very often they were able to prevent crimes before they happened as they knew who the criminals were. Now they are stationed many miles away and in no position to answer a distress call in time Then we have the ridiculous court system where the same miscreants appear, time after time, charged with similar offences. On one occasion lately, there was a man up for burglary who had 159 previous convictions. How is that man at large when it is obvious that he has every intention of repeating his crimes and please spare me the social workers who plead for those in court who come from “deprived” backgrounds. We all came from “deprived” backgrounds in comparison to the lifestyle of most people today. We grew up in hard times but we never resorted to robbing and stealing. I believe the punishment should fit the crime and, having served a sentence, if somebody commits a crime again they should be put away for a long time. The only problem is that jail. nowadays, is more like a hotel than a place of punishment. We are reminded of prisoners “civil rights”. Well, I believe that if somebody deliberately breaks the law they should forfeit those rights. It is a sad reflection on a country that was once known as the island of saints and scholars. Thankfully, the man attacked in Abbeyfeale is on the road to recovery but the mental trauma will live with him forever. It should act as a warning to anyone to make sure they don’t “flash the cash”. You never know who is watching you.
Are we ever satisfied? Last week everyone was moaning about the lack of a summer and the amount of drizzly, dismal weather we were getting so one would imagine we would be very happy to see a change for the better with temperatures soaring and sunshine at last. Not so; I have met many people who “can’t stand the heat” and long for cooler weather. Of course it can be uncomfortable if temperatures go above what we are normally used to but aren’t those who complain about it the very same people who pay hundreds of Euros to jet off to the sunspots of the world where temperatures are much higher than what we experienced during the weekend? The beaches of southern Europe are full of Irish people soaking up the sun and fair play to them so why can’t we take the proper precautions and enjoy it here as well because we don’t get that much of it and most of the time we are cursing the rain. We did have the hottest day since 1887. Now there is a clamour about global warming, the use of fossil fuels, motor cars and dairy herds saying if we don’t get rid of them we are going to have more weather extremes. Can somebody tell me what caused the extreme warming in the late 1880s ? After all there were no cars, petrol or diesel. Intensive farming wasn’t even in the common vocabulary and the turf machine hadn’t been invented yet. I know we have to do our bit but are we really in control? The Earth has cooled down and heated up over time with no help from us and just a slight variation in our orbit around the Sun will change everything so the future is unpredictable, no matter what we do. In the meantime, don’t wish the summer away and enjoy every bit of good weather that comes our way. We will get enough of the bad kind.
https://www.athea.ie/category/news/
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Video link
https://youtu.be/MplqX6yEpFQ
Filename
Limerick Fleadh Athea at end Jimmy Hickey June 2022
Video link
https://youtu.be/XoxrdS3xnpo
Filename
Limerick Fleadh June 2022 in Athea.mp4
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Reflection Athea May 2022
A New Springtime In our Parish – A New Beginning
Dear parishioners, as you are aware Fr Brendan Duggan retired from parish ministry on Easter Sunday. We thank Fr Brendan for his years of dedicated service to the people of Athea and we wish him all the best for the future as he takes up his new appointment in Rockwell College.
Under the new Pastoral Area structure in the diocese of Limerick, Fr Tony Mullins and Fr Denis Mullane will be looking after the pastoral needs of the people of Athea. Athea parish is part of the local Pastoral Area of parishes that also includes the parishes of Abbeyfeale, Tournafulla, Mountcollins and Templeglantine. Fr Denis and Fr Tony are assisted in the overall running of the five churches in the pastoral area by the Pastoral Area Council. The Pastoral Area Council is comprised of representative of the five churches in the area along with the priests of the area. There are 16 pastoral areas in the diocese of Limerick.
Fifteen years ago, there were eight priests working in the five parishes in the pastoral area. Today there are just two. This will mean some changes in all five parishes. In the parish of Athea these changes include new arrangements for mass times, funerals and baptisms. While there is no longer a priest resident in the parish of Athea, Fr Tony and Fr Denis will provide all the services required by parishioners in Athea. They are supported in this role by an active Pastoral Council in the parish and by many voluntary lay people who assist in a variety of ministries in the church and in the parish community. In this newsletter we outline the services that continue to be available to parishioners. Fr Tony and Fr Denis wish to extend an invitation to all parishioners to join with them weekly in offering Mass as a community. We welcome the involvement of parishioners in celebrating Mass and in particular the children and young people of our parish.
Over the past two years parishioners have had to cope with a variety of restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic has had a impact on all of us. Many have returned to living life as before, others are not as confident as before, especially some of the more vulnerable members of the parish. The pandemic has also impacted on young people and their lives were curtailed in a way that we could never have imagined prior to the lockdowns. Now as we begin a new era in the life of the parish we invite and encourage parishioners of all ages to reconnect with parish and church life. Pope Francis recently said that “A Catholic parish is a community of communities, a sanctuary where the thirsty come to drink in the midst of their journey, and a center of constant missionary outreach.” It is at Mass that we experience the fulness of communion with God and with each other. In the Eucharist we are fully nourished by the Lord. Fr Tony and Fr Denis look forward to welcoming you. Mass times are included in this newsletter.
https://www.athea.ie/category/news/
The Way I See It
By Domhnall de Barra
The front page of the newsletter today carries the sad news that Griffin’s Butchers are closing down at the end of the month. It is sad because it is the end of the line for a great family business that has served the people of Athea for many decades. It is just another example of the effects of big business on small retail outlets. I wrote lately about the many trades that once were thriving in our community but have now become just memories. The big supermarkets have hoovered up most of the small businesses in our rural towns and villages. It is no longer viable for specialist outlets to compete with the multi-nationals who can sell produce at a lower rate than would make a profit for the shop on the street. At one stage I thought that, by concentrating on supporting local enterprise, we would be able to reverse the trend but now I am not so sure. Times have changed and habits have also. Younger generations are not cooking dinners like their parents and grandparents used to and there is a strong move away from eating meat to vegetarianism. We just have to accept the fact that village life, as we knew it, has come to an end and we are extremely lucky to have a really good shop, Hairdressers, Garage, the chemist and a doctor’s medical centre here in Athea. I am retiring myself in the near future and that will be another business gone. I would love to have something to pass on but, again, the big boys have cornered the market and it is no longer a viable concern. It is a new world and I hope we can adapt and future generations will enjoy a totally different way of life. On a personal note I would like to wish Gerry a very happy retirement. His family have served us well and I know there are many of you out there who will miss his smiling face behind the counter.
As many of you know, I do a bit of walking most days and during those rambles I meet a lot of people. We always salute each other and then we do the Irish thing; talk about the weather!. Nothing wrong with that and it is a great opener to further exchanges if people are that way inclined. I was thinking lately about the different ways we use to describe the climate and how funny some of them are. The weather conversation consists of stating the obvious and the other person agreeing with it. “Isn’t it a glorious day” – “absolutely beautiful” We have so many ways to describe a wet day. It is raining, raining heavy, bucketing down, teeming out of the heavens, lashing down, pissin’ down, drizzely, squally, a squib, “dirty”, rotten, and one I could never understand: “raining cats and dogs”. If anyone knows where that came from, please let me know. My neighbour, Johnny Woulfe, or Johnny Patsy Mick, as we knew him, used to describe a wet day as “middlin’ damp outside” . On the other hand, if the climate wasn’t too hot, it might be described as perishing, freezing, cool, chilly, hard, skinning cold or arctic. You might be told: “there’s a nip in the air” or “ there are no flies out today”. One man in Abbeyfeale, Peter Healy who ran a very successful car dismantling business, was a great wit and one day when a man told there were no flies out he replied: “one thing’s for sure, any fly you will meet out today, ‘tis home he’s going”. Describing a hot day was no different. There were various descriptions such as : glorious, beautiful, scorching, sweltering, too close and “a fine day thank God”. Isn’t it great that we have such diversity of terms that enrich our vocabulary and I know there are many more than I have included here. What is important is to continue exchanging pleasantries and telling each other what we already know! I have lived in other parts of the world where people don’t salute each other and, if you attempted to do so to a stranger, you would be looked on with apprehension as if you had some ulterior motive. So, “’tis a fine soft day, thank God” is music to my ears.
The County Fleadh Cheoil is almost upon us and you might even say it kicked off last Friday night with the launch at the Top of the Town. Over twenty musicians turned up to entertain the locals and visiting dignitaries and a great session ensued. There were many singers who also added to the atmosphere and the Top of the Town provided very tasty food for everyone. Now that the mood is set we look forward to next Wednesday night when the festival starts with the story-telling night at the Top of the Town. This proved to be a great success last time we ran the event as was the singing night which will be repeated on Thursday night at the same venue. These bring back memories of the past when people had to make their own entertainment and sat around the fires at night, telling stories and singing songs. Athea was always a great place for singing, mostly songs composed by the many poets and ballad makers who lived in every townland. Most of those songs have survived and are being sung by young singers today. Traditional songs are an important part of our heritage because they paint a picture of a point in time when life was very different to what it is today. The one thing that has not changed is human emotions and we can empathise with the stories of emigration, unrequited love, war, comic happenings and all the other topics described in verse many years ago. It is important that those traditions are kept alive and Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann are doing their best through events like the Fleadh Cheoil to ensure they passed on to future generations. We, here in Athea, are proud to play our part.
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Nathaniel Clements (d. 1771) was the 18th-century equivalent of a Minister for Finance and a very influential political figure. He became MP for Duleek in 1727. It was he who built the house now know as Áras an Uachtaráin, the home of the President of Ireland. His grandson Henry Theophilus Clements (24 July 1820‐7 January 1904) was the son of an Henry John Clements (1781-1843) MP for Leitrim, and for Cavan. He was the nephew and inheritor of the estates of the ‘wicked’ Third Earl of Leitrim; and he was a soldier who spent most of his childhood in France.
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The Way I See It
By Domhnall de Barra
I’m just back from a few days at Fota Island Resort where we had a re-union of the Barry family. It was great to meet the relations again and we had plenty of time to catch up and reminisce on our days growing up in Cratloe many moons ago. It was also great to meet all the younger generations of the Barry clan who also have fond memories of their young days spent at my father and mother’s. Of course their memories and mine are vastly different, such are the changes that occurred in Ireland after the second world war. Anyway, a good time was had by all and myself and Noel even managed to squeeze in a round of golf ! I couldn’t help noticing how much the cost of food and drink has increased since before the pandemic. You’d want very deep pockets to stay in hotels for a vacation, and that is just for the essentials. On one of the nights we were there I noticed a crowd gathering with all the men in formal black tie dress. I thought it might be a wedding until I noticed the odd politician amongst the attendance. As it turned out it was the Lord Mayor’s Ball, a very prestigious occasion with a string quartet playing outside the ballroom door as they went in. It got me thinking about the “black tie” dress and why we do it. We live in a republic where every citizen is supposed to be equal so why would we try and ape the dress of the British nobility. Surely, by this stage, we are confident enough to be ourselves and dress as ourselves rather than foreign peers of the realm. Weddings too have fallen for this mimicry. I can’t understand why the groom and his attendants want to wear the morning suits worn by the English aristocracy. Apart from anything else, it is a total waste of money, money that may be badly needed when the couple want to take out a mortgage on a house or any other of the many expenses that go with setting up home together. While I am on the subject; I think weddings, in general, have got totally out of hand. The costumes cost a fortune and is there really a need for stretch limousines or vintage cars to take the bride to the church, a place of worship that more resembles a nursery with all the flowers and plants that are on display from the gate to the altar. The reception area is also heavily decorated, at a price, and we can no longer sit on chairs unless they are hidden by a white cover. The wedding meal, normally priced between €30 and €40, now costs nearer €100 and a band that would play in a pub for two hours for €300 is costing €2,000 for the same amount of time at a wedding. These are but a few of the ways weddings are being exploited for vast profit because people are led to believe that they need all these trimmings or they will appear mean. Maybe I am getting too like Victor Meldrew in my old age but I hate to see people being conned out of their hard earned money. It is, however, their choice and if it is what they want to do and it makes them happy, good luck to them.
The elections in Northern Ireland shows that the political scene is changing. For the first time in history, a nationalist party holds the most seats and are entitled to nominate the first minister. Sinn Féin have done remarkably well on both parts of this island and are on course to make big gains in the south in future elections, if they continue on course. Though Sinn Féin have the most seats they have roughly the same support as the Unionist parties together. It brings the possibility of a border poll taking place as provided for in the Good Friday Agreement. There hasn’t been much emphasis on it during the election campaigns and I think they would be well advised to delay bringing it to the table for a while yet. Most of us would like to see the country united but it is unlikely that a border poll would succeed at the moment. Many citizens of the North who vote nationalist do not want to be part of the Republic for economic reasons. They are far better off, especially at the moment where they enjoy the benefits of being part of Britain as well as getting the benefits of the European union. The election in the North was not fought on border polls but on the bread and butter issues that effect every household. The success of the Alliance party is to be welcomed as it shows that there is a growing middle ground that don’t want to perpetuate the Orange and Green rivalry. The DUP has dug a hole for itself putting all its eggs in the “scrap the protocol” basket. People are more interested in getting the assembly up and running so that they can get on with the administration and there is little hope of the protocol being scrapped. The DUP are depending on Boris Johnson to save them but they won’t be the first to be disappointed by that Prime Minister. There is no easy solution but the future lies with diplomacy and the ability of the UK and Europe to hammer out an accommodation. The future of the North cannot be held to ransom because a political group, who once abused the power they had, want to again have their own way, regardless of the welfare of the people they represent.
https://www.athea.ie/category/news/
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St. Bartholomew's Church was built by Fr. John Ryan in 1832 on a site donated by Thomas Goold. It is Gothic in style with its high pitched rood and tall elegant windows. In 1862, Fr. Martin Ryan consecrated, remodelled and enlarged the church at a cost of £650 and also installed a bell. Fr George Quain added a spire to the church in 1905 and a new bell. The entire church was renovated in 1986/87 by Fr Thomas O'Donnell P.P. and was completed by Fr. Patrick Kelly P.P. It was rededicated on October 18th 1987 by Bishop of Limerick Jeremiah Newman. Canon Tony Mullins 087 2600414 Fr. Brendan Duggan 087 0562674 / 068 42116 Pastoral Council - Siobhán Barrett - 0872237858
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A touch of Spring
By Domhnall de Barra
“Anois teacht an Earraigh beidh an lá dúl chun shíneadh,
Is tar eis na féil Bríde ardóigh mé mo sheol.
Ó chuir mé i mo cheann é ní chónóidh mé choíche
Go seasfaidh mé síos i lár Chondae Mhaigh Eo.”
That is the first verse of a poem we learned at school long ago composed by the great Irish poet. Antoine Ó Raifteirí. whose statue can be seen in Eyre Square, Galway. In it he says that now Spring has arrived and there is a stretch in the day, after St. Brigid’s Day he will hoist his sails and venture into County Mayo. He spent his days wandering from town to town and village to village, telling stories, drinking and composing poems. It is a very fitting piece for this time of year because it officially marks the end of Winter and an expectation of better times to come. I noticed that the birds are singing in the mornings now and some continue all day. Very soon things will begin to grow and take new life and the cycle of nature will start all over again. I wonder if we really appreciate the beauty that surrounds where we live as we often ignore it or take it for granted. There is a prayer I say every morning that I got from Fr. Kelly a good while ago. Part of it says: “This day is full of promise and opportunity, let me waste none of it. This day is filled with mystery and the unknown, help me face it without fear or anxiety. This day is blessed with beauty and adventure , make me fully alive to it all.” One good thing that has come out of the current pandemic is that most of us now have plenty of time on our hands to pause and take in our surroundings. I like to walk every day and I also like to vary the route I take. I have written before about the great views to be had from the top of Knocknaboul along the roads through the windmills over to Keale. Last Saturday I did a walk I haven’t done for a few years; out the Glin Road, down to Barry’s Bridge and back to the village via the Lower Road. It is a bit longer than the other “ring” by the graveyards but it is well worth the extra time and effort. Coming down through Dirreen there are great views overlooking the village and spanning from Rooskagh back to Blot’s Hill. I stopped for a while to take it all in and there was something very calming about it. Something else happened during that walk that was, to me, very strange. As I walked along I began to realise that, though I passed many houses, there was no sign of life anywhere. It was a slightly eerie feeling, not even a puff of smoke from a chimney or a warning bark of a dog and it seemed as if I was the only living thing in the area. I was glad to see a couple of other walkers who passed the way. I suppose it is a sign of the times we are in and the fact that people are staying indoors as much as possible. Anyway, I recommend this particular walk to anybody who appreciates the world around us and, while I am at it, I’d like to complement the people on that route whose houses are so well kept and presented.
Another casualty of the virus is the “Biddy”. Across the border in Kerry, it was the custom for groups of entertainers, like Wrenboys, to go from house to house on St. Brigid’s Day raising money. They were referred to as “Biddy boys”. At one time they would dress up in straw hats and women’s clothes and carry a straw doll or Brideog. This custom can also be found in parts of Ulster. I remember going with a group to Killorglin raising money for Abbeyfeale Rugby Club. Dr. George O’Mahony was president of the club at the time and he had connections in “Puck”, as we used to call it however, the custom was not strong in that particular area and the takings were light. It was strong around Duagh and Knocknagoshel but, like many other rural customs have been dying out in recent years. There was great devotion to St. Brigid and some people are of the opinion that there should be a national holiday on her feast day. I wouldn’t mind.
There are a lot of people in the parish working from home at the moment, because of the pandemic, and the chances are that some may never again return to offices on a full time basis. With all the advances in modern technology it is quite possible to work from home for a firm anywhere in the country or throughout the world for that matter. Working from home is not easy if you are used to an office structure and the watchful eye of an overseer but many have found that they actually get more done when they set their own rules and time tables. If it works out it will be a great help in years to come with less cars on the road and less demand for huge office buildings in towns and cities. This should also have an effect on the price of housing since there won’t be any reason to live near the job. It is a well known fact that housing in Dublin is now beyond the reach of ordinary couples. Now, the cost of building a house is the same whether in Dingle, Longford or Dublin; it is the cost of the land on which the house is built that makes the difference in price. If large office buildings are not required, the price of housing will drop as more land becomes available. There will also be less traffic on the roads which should help in reducing our carbon footprint so it makes sense. To achieve the goal of having the majority of those who can work remotely, it is vital that we have a good broadband system throughout the country and, alas, this is not so. It is difficult to make sense of some of the work that has been left undone. For instance, the wires have been laid from Abbeyfeale to Athea, passing my front door. They then connected everyone from Athea as far as Margaret Liston’s, the last house in Knocknaboul, and from Abbeyfeale to Cratloe creamery leaving all of Cratloe along that route without faster broadband. I wonder why but I have since learned of other areas around the country that have the same story to tell. It is vital that the government makes the provision of countrywide broadband a priority. The rewards are there for them if they do.
I recently changed my main fuse board from the old fuses to trip switches. I should have done it years ago but, as the saying goes, “if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it”. Anyway, as a result I have a good few fuses that I now have no use for so, if there is anybody out there who still uses them just give me a call at 0876758762 and you can have them free of charge.
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Georgie Langan for his FB chat and music on Cork Music Station every Saturday night, Joe Harrington on Saturday and Tuesday nights and Seán Keane on Sunday evenings. Elle Marie O’Dwyer also puts on lovely shows regularly as well as the well known Daniel O’Donnell.
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The Irish Way
by Domhnall de Barra
Ireland is famous throughout the world for its hospitality. It was the land of “a hundred thousand welcomes” and this has been portrayed in many plays and films, sometimes a bit patronisingly, but no less true of what we used to be. There was a time, not all that long ago, when front doors in rural Ireland were never locked. Times were hard, particularly after two world wars and a savage war of independence plus a civil war into the bargain, but it brought out the best in people. There might not be much in the larder but whatever was there was shared out to all-comers. If you happened to call to a house at dinner time, a plate was put in front of you and a refusal would be taken as an insult though we all refused at the beginning and had to be forced to accept. It was thought of as a form of politeness to refuse at the start and I remember well being caught out by doing so on one occasion. Johnny Brick and myself were coming home from a wren party in Knocknasna, early on a cold, frosty morning. We were starving with the hunger as we trudged our way past Gurteens onto the Cratloe road. We knew that the Cusacks would be up early because Jim worked at the creamery so we called in, as passers by often did at the time. There was great welcome for us and we had to give an account of the goings on at the wren nigh but eventually Kathleen asked us if we would have a cup of tea and a bite to eat. Being well brought up we immediately refused saying we weren’t hungry at all. After saying so twice Kathleen disappeared out the back door and there was no more talk of food!
We argued on the way up the road, blaming each other for being too effusive in our refusals but we had to bear the hunger pangs until we got to our house and I put the kettle on. My mother heard the racket and took over, cooking a fine breakfast for us. You would think that would have taught me a lesson but no – it happened to me again when I went to England to work during the school holidays. I was put working on a rockery in a country mansion and was told they would look after me. About 11am a grey haired lady stuck her head out the window asking me if I wanted something to eat or drink. Instinctively I said “no thanks” though I was warping with the hunger, being a growing lad of 16 at the time. That was the last I saw of the grey head but it was also the last time I refused something offered if I really wanted to accept it.
The open door policy meant that neighbours were always wandering in and out of each other’s houses. As children we used to gather in a house or piece of land to play together. In the summer it was outdoors with football, hurling, running, jumping etc and all types of children’s games. When the winter nights came we learned how to play 41 and 110 and some of us learned a few tunes on the whistle or how to dance a polka set. As neighbours we really did grow up together and learned as much from the older members of our group as we did from parents. There was no age barriers. Fourteen year olds played games with six year olds and boys and girls mixed as well on occasion. We were welcomed by whatever house we descended on and usually got a cup of tea and a cut of bread to sustain us. There was a genuine welcome in those days but I wonder if there is a change in modern times. Doors have to be securely locked now with burglar alarms and cameras to deter intruders. It is a sad fact that there are those in our community who make a living out of breaking into houses and making off with the contents so we all have to be vigilant.
Nowadays you wouldn’t dream of opening a neighbour’s door and walking in uninvited. Life has changed and people do not congregate in each other’s homes as they used to. The advent of radio first and then television meant that people had their own entertainment and did not need the social interaction that kept them up to date on current affairs. The lack of interaction is a bit sad for someone like me who was brought up in a very open community. I knew everybody living within a five mile radius of our home as I was growing up. Now, there are people living a few hundred yards away from me that I do not know and have rarely seen. We always acknowledged each other with a salutation, no matter how many times we met each other. Nowadays, neighbours children will pass you by and totally ignore you. They also have kind of unwritten rules that determine who they “hang out” with. There is very little intermingling between different age groups. 16 year olds would not be seen dead with 14 year olds and so on. By doing this the younger age groups are denied the experiences of the older groups which might be a great help to their development. I am not being critical of young people. Just like us they have their own ways of doing things and, to be honest, I know very little about their world which is so influenced by modern technology but I do think they are missing out on the sense of community we had and shared with each other. I would encourage people to continue saluting those they meet. A smile and a “good morning” costs nothing but they can make people feel a little better and not feel isolated. Let us also continue to have a welcome for others, especially those from other lands who come to live amongst us. Remember all our relations who were forced to wander all over the world, to try and make a living, and treat our visitors as we would have had them treated. We still can be “the land of a hundred thousand welcomes” Céad Míle Failte.
A north Kerry man from Duagh, Kevin Dillon captained Clonakilty in the 1968 county senior final when they lost a replay to Carbery. He then won a South West junior medal in 1977, but before that he also lined out for the Cork footballers for a number of seasons in the mid to late 1960s.
All three Kerrymen – Griffin, Dillon and Quirke – settled in Clonakilty and had sons who played senior for Clon.
Athea Graves
https://youtu.be/QEz1C4I5Uf0
by Domhnall de Barra 26 June 2020
Next week sees another step on our road back to normality. It is very difficult to see how local pubs are going to be able to survive if they have to limit customers’ time, maintain social distancing and provide substantial meals. We will have to wait and see. The opening of Churches for Mass will be greatly welcomed by the general public but the restriction to 50 people is a joke. The smallest Church I know is in Gougán Barra and even there 50 people would be a very small crowd. I do not envy priests who will have to stop churchgoers at the door because the 50 places have been taken. Having said that, I have seen the regulations blatantly broken at some funerals recently where big crowds attended the church service and the burial so I suppose the 50 will become elastic and stretch a bit.
The CE scheme are busy at the moment keeping the grass cut and the streets clean. It pays dividends because, no matter where I go, people are commenting on how well Athea is looking and what a great place it is for voluntary work. It makes me feel proud o be a part of it so well done to the Community Council, Tidy Town’s and all the other organisations who work to make Athea a better place for us all. Keep up the good work
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June 2020 Athea News
A wild and wicked race!
by Noran Sexton
It’s a long way from Lower Athea to Norway but for London-born Helen Mullane the possibility of competing at one of Europe’s most prestigious, yet gruelling, dog-sledding courses representing Ireland was something she could never have imagined. Helen, who is the daughter of Leo Mullane, originally from Lower Athea, and Caroline Dunne from Cavan, was first introduced to dog-sledding during a holiday to Tromso, Norway where she got the opportunity to try out the sport. Then, after a hectic period of work in the film industry she decided to take a few months out to learn how to train dogs in Norway and found herself with a new career. Over the past five years, Helen has lived in Norway, Alaska and Sweden where she has worked with some of the world’s top dog trainers, or ‘mushers’ as they are known as.
Helen signed up for the arduous race known to many but completed by few, where she would single-handedly drive a team of huskies across 650km of wild, snow-capped terrain with temperatures plummeting to -30C. After an intense training regime, race day arrived last February, and Helen, accompanied by her twelve huskies, set off from the start line of the Femundlopet course in Norway representing Ireland. To survive, she took short periods of rest huddled with her dogs to maximise body heat. Sleeping arrangements during the race involved Helen sleeping on her sled bag and the dogs sleeping out front with their coats and some straw. Four days later, and in very challenging conditions, she completed the race in 19th position. Helen now has her sights set on partaking at one of the world’s most famous courses in Alaska.
Helen was recently the subject of a documentary on RTE Radio One called the Long Run where she spoke about completing the challenging race. She has also been busy publishing a book called “Nicnevin and the Bloody Queen” which will hit shelves in Ireland this August.
https://northkerry.wordpress.com/2020/06/03/north-kerry-and-west-limerick-people/
End May Athea notes, by Domhnall de Barra
This is a busy time of the year with the turf and silage cutting. I can’t remember a better year for the turf, the weather was so good. It is strange to see it being brought home already. The windmills have been a great blessing in some bogs as they provided good roads for access. The turf machines are also able to lay the sods close to these roads which makes the harvesting much easier. A big change from the old days of the sleán when some of the banks were a good distance from the nearest passage. Turf had to be drawn out with donkeys and ponies until the tractor made its appearance around the 1960s. With the passage of time we are going to lose much of the terminology associated with turf cutting. People won’t know what a sleán was or how it was worked. Around this area it was driven downwards into the bank but in other areas it was used horizontally. This was known as a “breis sleán” (hope I have the proper spelling!). The man who piked the sods away from the slean was said to be “branching”. Not many people outside the bog areas would know that. I remember one time when my son Danjoe broke his ankle playing ball in the back yard. He was taken to the hospital in Tralee to have it set. When we eventually got in to see him he had a smile on his face so I asked him what he was smiling about and he told me that while he was waiting in a cubicle he could hear the conversation between an Asian doctor and a patient in the next cubicle. As is normal procedure the doctor asked the man what he was doing when he sustained the injury to his ankle. “Branching turf” was the reply. “What were you doing, running, jumping, falling” asked the doctor a bit testily. “I said I was branching turf, were you ever in the bog you fool” came the retort from the man from Lyreacrompane. No wonder Danjoe was amused. “Stripping sods” were cut off before the sleán could be used and the first sods at the top were referred to as “bár fhód”(top sod). This sod could be light and stringy and there wasn’t much heat out of it but it was great for starting the fire. Of course turf has to be “footed” and some people “re-foot” (pronounced ray foot). It would be a great pity if all these terms were forgotten and I’m sure there are a lot more i haven’t mentioned. If you know any please send them on.
Even though the competition has been cancelled for this year, Athea Tidy Towns are out making our village look better. Great credit is due to these volunteers who give of their time on our behalf. I’m sure they would not mind if a few more people from the village joined their ranks. If there weren’t volunteers we would have a very drab life with no sports clubs, drama groups, community development etc. many hands make light work and there is great satisfaction in seeing your work come to fruition.
We were talking the other day about jobs we hated doing when we were young. Some didn’t like going to the well for water or bringing in the turf. I have two that I hated doing and they both have to do with hens, referred to as chickens nowadays. We always had hens, as most households did because of the eggs they laid and the meat the produce when past their laying years. We knew all the hens by name and they all had their own peculiarities. They usually laid the eggs in the hen house but occasionally one of them might get awkward and find a secret hiding place for her eggs. During the holidays we enjoyed everyday which wasn’t half long enough for us. I might be ready to go fishing, swimming or playing football when my mother would tell me to watch a particular hen who was “laying out”. This might seem an easy task but the hen was smart and would soon know you were observing her movements. It became a battle of wits as she tried to avoid you. She wouldn’t use the nest while yo were watching so this task could take all day. A covert operation had to be mounted where you blended into the background and observed from a distance. Eventually she would lay the egg and your task was completed, but the waiting around, wasting valuable time was awful. The other job I didn’t like was cleaning the hen house. The droppings mingled with the rushes on the floor creating a kind of dust that could be suffocating. It was also full of lice and the smell was unbearable. It was a great fertiliser for growing potatoes but that smell would stay up my nose for days. Simple but happy days.
contact at domhnall.barry@gmail.com
by Domhnall de Barra
As you can imagine, news is in short supply at the moment due to the lack of local activity. If it wasn’t for social media we would have no contact at all. I’m glad of the phone calls from the family and friends that we can’t physically meet at the moment but, having said that, I won’t be upset if I never again see a video or cartoon on my phone. I am kept busy deleting them from all the various groups I am involved with., however, if it keeps people amused at this trying time, carry on!
This week we have Abbeyfeale Notes, By Carrig Side, Knockdown News and Kathleen’s Corner. There is also a new category called “Classified”. There is one ad in this section this time but it is open to anybody with any item to sell. Just email me at domhnall.barry@gmail.com or phone 087 675 8762.
Despite the current restrictions, Pa Walsh got a great send off from people, not only from Athea but from the wider soccer fraternity, as his remains were brought from Abbeyfeale to Athea and out to “The Vales”. Although physical contact was not allowed, the route was lined with those who wanted to pay their respects. Since Pa came home from Germany he has devoted his time to the development of Athea Utd, especially the underage teams. He was a good player in his day and a better manager and, through his involvement in the weekly lottery,,he was instrumental in raising much needed funds for the development of the club. It is right and proper that his activities should be lauded and , by naming the new stand in his honour, Athea Utd have made sure that he will never be forgotten. Thanks Pa for all your work for the youth of the parish. It is much appreciated.
Another man who passed on the other day was my own neighbour, Dan Gleeson. Dan worked in England from an early age and once held the job of valet and chauffeur to the chairman of the Lloyd group in London. He returned to Ireland in the early ’70s and bought a bar in Abbeyfeale which he christened “the Three Counties” . It became a very popular watering hole for people from Athea, especially at a time when closing time on Sunday nights was 10pm. Dan did not enforce that time too strictly and many of us took advantage!! I have great memories of the place as I played there every Sunday night for years. The money from that gig paid my mortgage for a long time. Dan was in a nursing home for the past couple of years. His wife Breda passed on just a few months ago. May he rest in peace.
The weather remains fine at the moment but there is little growth due to the fairly cold nights. For the past few years we have had no real Spring. Winter has struggled on into late April. I wonder if this is just a passing phase or is it symptomatic of global warming. A late growth is bad for farmers who want to let the cattle out having been feeding them indoors since last October. Once the temperature improves grass will start to thrive as will all the other weeds and unwanted plants. The time of the lawnmower has arrived along with the strimmers, hoe, rake, spade and shovel. At least we now have plenty of time for it.
Common Sense- By Domhnall de Barra
I am indebted to Amena Parkes who sent me the following during the week. It was posted in the London Times a few years ago by Ian Armstrong . It is even more relevant today than it was back then.
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:
Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
Why the early bird gets the worm;
Life isn’t always fair; and
Maybe it was my fault.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place.
Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.
It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.
Common Sense took a beating when you couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realise that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.
He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;
I Know My Rights
I Want It Now
Someone Else Is To Blame
I’m A Victim
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.
‘Teen Creed’
Don’t let your parents down, they brought you up,
Be humble enough to obey, you may give orders some day.
Choose companions with care, you become what they are.
Guard your thoughts, what you think you are.
Choose only a date who would make a good mate.
Be master of your habits, or they will master you.
Don’t be a show-off when you drive, drive with safety and arrive.
Don’t let the crowd pressure you, stand for something, or you’ll fall for anything.
By Kathleen Mullane.
Who Would be a Politician
By Domhnall de Barra
Some people I have met thought I was a little harsh on our politicians, and those who aspire to high office, in last week’s column. Maybe I was but I was only pointing out the obvious; if you don’t tell everybody you will give them what they want, then they will not vote for you, so candidates have to make promises that they know in their hearts and souls they have no hope of fulfilling. To put the record straight, I have nothing but admiration for somebody who goes before the public with a view to getting elected to office. Canvassing is a real nightmare, having to trudge from door to door, listening to those who are for you as well as taking the insults of those who are not. I genuinely believe that they want to do good and have the public’s interests at heart when they start off. If they do get in to power they soon realise what is possible and what is not. We may think the country is run by politicians but, in actual fact it is the senior civil servants who call the shots. There was a programme on TV a few years ago called “Yes Minister”, a comedy that showed how a civil servant manipulated a British cabinet minister, who later became prime minister. Though it was definitely a piece of comic fiction it was probably much nearer the truth than most politicians would like to admit. The civil servants are the people tasked with managing the various departments, no matter which party, or group of parties is in power. They will soon make known what is possible and what is not. Politics is the art of appearing to please all the people all the time, an impossible task. The most of them work very hard at their job and despite the fact that some members of the public begrudge them their salaries, I do not think they get paid enough for the sacrifices they make. Apart from trying to run the country they have to be available to their constituents night and day and are for ever holding clinics at every spare hour they have. This is not counting the people who continually turn up at all hours on their doorsteps with their problems. I heard Dick Spring talking once about a time when his father Dan, who was a labour TD in North Kerry for many years, had to get up from his Christmas dinner to answer the door to a supporter who had a problem. Their families suffer as well because they rarely have time at home. I certainly would not do the job for any amount of money so they deserve to be rewarded for their sacrifices. When I said “don’t believe a word out of their mouths” I meant it because they have no other choice but to offer the sun, moon and stars or otherwise they have no hope. The best approach is to look at your local candidates and decide which of them might be able to influence decisions that could favour your wish list. For many years people voted blindly on party lines, regardless of policies but that day is gone. The latest opinion polls show that there are three parties now neck and neck with Sinn Féin being the surprise package. Well, it may be a surprise to some but not to me. Since the near demise of the Labour Party, there is nobody representing the ordinary working man, or so it seems. People feel they are being ignored and are genuinely looking for a change. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will attack each other but there is no real differences in their policies and a whole raft of the public are getting fed up with the same old, same old and are looking for an alternative. Sinn Féin are the party they are turning to despite the fact that they are offering the sun moon and stars, with all the other galaxies as well, with no hope of delivering on their promises. My old school master, Jim Kelly, used to say: “remember gentlemen, there is no such thing as free, somebody has to pay”, and he was right. It is impossible to have the type of give-aways that Sinn Féin propose with the state the country’s finances are in at the moment. It would be good though if they were in coalition with either Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael so that they might be able to get some of their policies adopted. There is no reason for those two parties to rule out being in government with Sinn Féin. As I said before, if they are good enough to govern in the North, they are good enough in the South as well. With only a few days to go it looks like we are on the brink of making history in an election in this country with neither Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael in pole position. Uncharted waters indeed and it throws up huge challenges for everyone. It is however in your hands so, please do take the time to cast your vote. It is a right that many of our forefathers gave their lives for. I still think that this is one of the best countries in the world. Yes there is much wrong with it but we have weathered a huge storm and, with the right political will, we can tackle the health, housing etc. It won’t happen overnight so we have to temper our expectations with reality. This includes slowing down the mad headlong rush to put us all into electric cars, get rid of fossil fuels, remove cattle from farms and all the other measures that won’t make a blind bit of difference as long as the major powers like China and America continue to ignore the warnings. We don’t want a country where the most of the land is either in forest or covered with windmills making it impossible for rural populations to survive. There has to be a better way.
Jan 2020
Community Council Offices Secured
At long last, after a struggle of six years, title of the building that was once Pa O’Connor’s, in Con Colbert Street, has passed to Athea Community Council Ltd. Like many others we were victims of the negligence of one solicitor who has since been struck off by the Law Society. All’s well that ends well however so we can now look forward to developing this building for the benefit of the community. A feasibility study is being arranged but we would also welcome any suggestions you readers may have on the subject. We thank all of you who buy our weekly lottery tickets as that is the main source of the income needed to purchase this building. Through your support we are well ahead of schedule in our repayments to Athea Credit Union.
2019
On WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, Joseph J. Ahern, CEO of the 100 Club of Chicago and Barrington resident, was awarded the Richard J. Daley Police Medal of Honor by the Chicago Police Department, its highest honor given to a citizen.
http://www.qbarrington.com/pdf/ja19-community-barras.pdf
The 100 Club of Chicago honors the brave men and women who serve in public safety, police and fire departments throughout Cook, Lake and McHenry Counties, who risk their lives on a daily basis so that we can be safe in our homes, workplaces and communities. We honor the fallen by hosting a roll call of our public safety professionals who lost their lives in the line-of-duty. Fallen Heroes
http://www.100clubchicago.org/
ATHEA NEWS 16 10 2019
Minister officially opens €2 million Athea wastewater treatment plant
After years of waiting and several disappointments, the Athea wastewater treatment plant has been finally officially opened by local Minister, Patrick O’Donovan TD.
Fr Tim Leahy
Fr Tim Leahy born 8th November 1894 at Woodview Athea. Ordained for Davenport, Iowa in June 1919. Irish Independent 1944 had article on Bernadotte the last surviving male descendant of his line killed in plane crash. The first Bernadotte a French general who married Deiree Cleary who came from Limerick as did Michael Cleary his mothers uncle who bought the original Cleary’s for £100. When Gavin Duffy was deported to Australia, Cleary took his place as editor of the Nation. His son Robert and wife died young and their orphans became wards in chancery . Three children died young the last boy died flying in War 1 in 1918. Cousin Charles Cleary killed in Indian Mutiny. Cousin Dr. Pat Cleary killed in Kilmallock rising in 1867. Fr Tim’s grandfather was an only son and his father was also an only son. His father had 7 boys and 4 girls. Fr Tim Leahy served in America and then went to diocese of Han Yang, Hupeh in Central China in 1930. There was a great amount of disease including leprosy among the people. Meals were at 11 am and 6pm. Christians celebrated 5 great feasts and some added St Patrick’s Day. Great folds in his area where four million died in 1931. After working in China for 10 years he got chance to take a holiday at home, in May 1940 he left Shanghai for USA. When he arrived at Fr. Harnett’s house in San Francisco, he realised he had put on weight, he was just under 9 stone leaving China. He heard of German war successes while in Honolulu . When he reached Davenport he got great welcome and support for his mission. Fr. Waldron was Superior of the Columbans in America at the time. Bishop Fitzmaurice of Wilmington and Glin and well known to all of us, his brother Dr John Fitzmaurice of Castleconnell was married to Josephine Leahy a sister of Fr. Tim. Fr Leahy was anxious to become an army chaplain while waiting to go back to China, so he went to Canada and visited Montreal where his brother now dead once lived
Where have they Gone
By Domhnall de Barra
Looking back over the years, we have been blessed in this area by the amount of talented poets and writers that lived amongst us. Through their songs and verses they recorded for us all the happenings of the times. In earlier times it was the custom to make up songs in praise of local landlords. This was a kind of two way street because the landlords often gave financial support to ensure they got a good review. Wars and local battles were recorded as well as sporting successes and other notable events. Poets could be cruel as well and had no problem ridiculing those they didn’t like in verse. In later years emigration gave them plenty scope to highlight the loss and sorrow felt by those who had to stay behind while their families left for foreign shores to try and make a living. Unlike today, it took over 24 hours to get to England and weeks to get to America or Australia so some of those taking the ship were unlikely ever to be seen again. That is why they had the “American Wake”. Our parish was decimated during the first half of the last century due to the lack of employment. Not a house in the local townlands was spared. The poets and rhymers told us of those leaving their native homes and these songs were sung at rambling houses and gatherings and were especially popular with those who had emigrated. A song about home brought a tear to the eye of many a hardened navvy in the pubs of London, Birmingham and the likes. Love stories were also popular especially those about unrequited love. No occasion was spared and we now have a wealth of material that gives us a snap shot of life at a particular time in this area. There were poets in every townland. I could count five alone in Knocknaboul. Some were better than others but it is wrong to be critical of people who had only basic education and had the courage to take the pen in hand. But, times change and with the passing of Pat Brosnan, Paddy Faley and Dan Keane, in recent years we have seen the last of the poets. There aren’t any young people following in their footsteps, more’s the pity and we are the poorer for that. With the advent of social media, writing has changed completely. Pen and paper are gone and we communicate through facebook, Instagram etc. The art of writing is dying with abbreviations that are used in text messages. I was looking at a message on a youngster’s phone the other day and she had to explain much of the terminology to me. I suppose we can call it progress and it is just another way of communicating which is the really important thing but I miss the old writing that we learned at school. Each person had a distinctive style of handwriting, some more legible than others. My own writing was appalling. When I started in secondary school in Abbeyfeale, the head master, Jim Kelly, on looking at my first English essay said: “ I hope you have leanings towards the medical profession, Mr. Barry, because that is the only place your writing will make sense” Even today I have problems reading my own writing never mind expecting any one else to do so. Some people though had beautiful hands. I have examples of handwriting by the late Maighreád McGrath and, even when she was in the latter part of her life, it was beautiful to behold. Although perfectly legible, it had a flourish that an artist would be proud of. She wasn’t the only one to possess such qualities but alas I fear we will see it no more. Much of what we learned about grammar is now also obsolete. Our language is now influenced mainly by television and the worst of American TV in particular. It drives me around the bend when I hear our own presenters referring to everyone as “guys”. People say things like “I am so not going to do that” I could go on with more examples but I fear that I am a bit like King Canute trying to keep back the tide. Our rural accents are in decline. You wouldn’t know now if a person came from Connemara or Wexford, especially females. There is some light at the end of the tunnel however. Some young people are composing songs and while most of them are utter rubbish there are one or two who show great poetic ability. I am thinking of people like Ed Sheeran who have the ability to string a few verses together. We can only live in hope that the day of the poet is not gone completely and that they will develop through the modern media.
Emmigration From Athea to Baltimore: From Athea News site
The article below was sent to us by Tom Hunt who lives in Seattle. It is a fitting piece for Christmas when we remember all our family members who have had to emigrate from these shores over the years.
The Story of Hunts, Woulfes and O’Connors
Four sons of Johanna Harnett and two daughters of John and Catherine O’Connor left the Athea area in the 1880’s and 1890’s for Baltimore, Maryland in America. This is their story, with details from parish records and Irish civil records provided through research by Limerick Genealogy.
Woulfe & Hunt brothers
On the 17th of February in 1857, James Woulfe and Johanna Harnett married in the Athea Roman Catholic parish. The location of marriage wasn’t specifically noted. James and Johanna had three children baptized in the Athea parish and two lived to adulthood—James J. Woulfe (baptized 17 Oct 1858 (with godparents Daniel Harnett and Mary Sheehy) and Margaret Woulfe (baptized 21 Sept 1864 (with godparents Edmund and Honora Woulfe). The family lived at Crataloe as that was recorded for each of the baptismal records. Unfortunately, James Woulfe died in 1864, leaving Johanna with two small children.
Johanna (Harnett) Woulfe remarried to James Hunt on 7 February 1865 at St. Bartholomew’s Catholic Church in Athea, with witnesses Richard Woulfe and Denis Murphy. Civil marriage records had begun by this time and James Hunt was described as a 36 year-old bachelor from Upper Athea. Johanna Harnett was a 29 year-old widowed farmer from Crataloe. The fathers of the bride and groom were recorded as Maurice Harnett, a farmer and Timothy Hunt, also a farmer. James Hunt and Johanna had five children with parish baptismal records, Timothy J. (baptized 6 Jan 1866 (with godparents Patrick Harnett and Johanna Quirke), Michael Joseph (baptized 10 Sept 1867 with godparents Michael and Elizabeth Hunt), Margaret (baptized 12 Mar 1869 with godparents Timothy Dalton and Honora O’Connor), James (baptized 14 Jun 1870 with godparents Timothy and Honora Hunt) and John (baptized in 9 Aug 1872 with godparents Patrick and Mary Hunt).
O’Connor sisters
On 2 February 1864, John O’Connor and Catherine Enright, both from Templeathea were married in the Athea Roman Catholic parish, with witnesses Timothy Hayes and Thomas O’Connor. The civil records show that John was a 26 year-old bachelor and Catherine was a 22 year-old unmarried woman. The fathers of the bride and groom were Thomas Enright and Michael O’Connor. John and Catherine had parish baptismal records showing six children. Bridget (baptized in 25 Jan 1865 with godparents Thomas Connors and Julia Connors), Mary C. (baptized in 18 Oct 1866 with godparents James O’Connor and Mary Enright), Michael (baptized in 4 Oct1868 with godparents Martin Kiely and Margaret O’Connor), Thomas (baptized in 10 Dec 1870 with godparents John Aherne and Mary O’Connor), Daniel (baptized in 6 May 1875 with godparents Michael Greaney and Mary Mulvihill) and Johanna (baptized in 23 Jun 1881 with godparents Cornelius Greaney and Margaret Enright). The family’s address was shown as Clash for three births and then Coole (for Daniel).
Emmigration
We don’t know exactly why the Hunt brothers and Woulfe brother and O’Connor sisters chose Baltimore, Maryland, but it may have been that family or friends were living there, or because of Maryland’s history of toleration for Catholics.
Maryland had been established as a colony that accepted Roman Catholics, a beginning that continued in its personality as a state. Many immigrant groups from Catholic countries chose Maryland—Germans first, then Irish, and later Italians. The port city of Baltimore was often their destination. Baltimore, Maryland in 2018 is not a very large US city (population around 600,000 and currently ranked the 29th largest), but in 1850 it was the 2nd largest US city, and in 1900 was still the 6th largest US City, with about 500,000 citizens. As a city Baltimore was growing rapidly during the time they emigrated—from 267,000 people in 1870 to over 430,000 in 1890.
It seems like Timothy Hunt emigrated first. One of his US census records gives 1880 as his arrival year, while Michael’s records show 1886 and James Hunt 1887. James Woulfe’s record shows arrival in 1882. We know that Bridget and Mary O’Connor emigrated together in 1889 or 1890.
Life in America
All three Hunt brothers and both O’Connor sisters settled in Baltimore, Maryland. James Woulfe lived in Baltimore for a while, but settled in Chicago, Illinois. The Hunt brothers started out working in steel mills. James Woulfe owned and ran a saloon in Baltimore and then a saloon and store in Chicago.
James J. Woulfe married Johanna Roche in April 1882. They had eight children who lived to adulthood—Minnie (1884), James Joseph (1885), Anna J. (1887), Margaret (1891), Helen (1892), Nora (1894), Maurice P. (1896), and Edmond J. (1901). James and Johanna made some trips back to Ireland and many of their descendants still live in the Chicago area. In addition to the Woulfe family name, there are O’Sheas, Slaughters, Peers, Fitzgeralds, and Pembrokes.
James Hunt and Bridget O’Connor were married on 11 June 1893 at St. Ignatius Catholic church in Baltimore with witnesses Thomas O’Connor and Mary O’Connor. James and Bridget had four children who lived to adulthood—Marie (born 1894), James Charles (born 1896), John Joseph (born 1899), Johanna (born 1904) and Elizabeth (born 1906). James Charles Hunt (who was my grandfather) married Helen Marie Dunn and they had two children who lived to adulthood—James Charles, Jr (1928) and John J. (1935), both of whom were accomplished athletes and students. James C. Jr, my father, graduated from the Naval Academy and served in the US Air Force for 28 years. John “Jack” graduated from Princeton and also received a Ph.D. from Harvard before working as a school superintendent and college professor.
Timothy Hunt and Michael Hunt married sisters Ella Falvey and Catherine Falvey, though not on the same date. Timothy and Ella had three children who lived to adulthood – James (1889), William J. (1891) and Charles T. J. (1895).
Michael Hunt and Catherine/Katie Falvey had seven children who lived to adulthood—Gertrude (1893), Bessie (1895), Nellie (1897), Catherine/Cathlene (1901), Marie (1903), Madeline (1905) and Loretta (1908). Michael Hunt remarried later in life to Helen Marie Rogers and they had one daughter Helen Marie Hunt (1936).
Mary C. O’Connor married Patrick J. O’Rourke in 1901. They had two children who lived to adulthood—Mary C. (1904) and Margaret A. (1907).
While Bridge and Mary O’Connor emigrated from Ireland to America, some of their brothers also lived for a while in America and returned to Ireland where the family still lives in County Limerick in the Athea area. Some of Bridget’s descendants have visited and enjoyed connecting with their homeland, including my sister Cathy Hunt in 1984 and my parents James Charles Hunt, Jr. and Margee Hunt in 1992/1993.
Conclusion
I am grateful for the blessing of being part of this extended family and many ancestors who lived and worked in Ireland and the United States. Most of their stories are lost now to time, but I know that there were many happy times and probably quite a few difficult and trying times.
Celebrating Christmas
Domhnall de Barra
It is Christmas time and once again a type of hysteria grips the public who rush from shop to shop seeking presents and supplies for the festive season. Money is spent as if it was going out of fashion and it may not even be one’s own money. Certain people have a habit of borrowing for what they term “necessities”. They “need a break” so, even though they can’t afford it, they borrow enough to take them to one of the sunshine holiday spots to relax and refresh themselves. Problem is, when they come home they have to make the repayments on the loan they raised to be ready to borrow again for Christmas. It is a never ending circle that costs them a lot of money in interest payments but, if they are happy doing that, who am I to argue with it. My point is that money is spent very unwisely at this time of year. Take Christmas cards for instance. It is nice to get cards from people who are away from home or that we do not see too often and it helps us to keep in touch but why, in heaven’s name, are we sending cards to next door neighbours that we see and talk to every day. Between the price of a decent card and the cost of postage it could come to anything between €2 to €4. Multiply this by 10 or 12 (very conservative estimate) and the expense is mounting. Of course if you get a card you must send a card so it would make sense if we could agree with our neighbours that we won’t continue the practice. The same can be said of presents. At one time only the younger members of the family got presents from Santa at Christmas. Buying for others was unheard of until relatively recent times. Now, almost everyone we know has to be given something, especially if you suspect that they may be buying for you so we all end up with heaps of stuff we don’t need and maybe do not even like. I do like the idea of Kris Kindle, also referred to as Secret Santa, where a family or a group of workmates decide to buy a present for just one person in the group. A limit of how much may be spent is agreed and there is a draw for partners. Every gets a present and gives one and they are all happy. When it comes to buying presents for children we really go overboard. Peer pressure comes into play here as we have to ensure the presents our lot get are not less than what the neighbours children will brag about so, to hell with the cost, we have to save face at any price!!. Do I sound a bit like Scrooge? Maybe I do but I don’t intend to. I just wish people would have a bit of common sense and save some of their hard earned money. What is everybody celebrating anyway. It should be about the birth of Jesus but it is more about celebration for the sake of celebrating than anything else. We should really think about what Christmas is all about. The story of the Nativity is a great one. There are two versions in the bible by Luke and Matthew and though they differ slightly they agree on the important points. Let us look on it from a human viewpoint. Mary is highly pregnant living with her husband Joseph in Nazareth. Her time has almost come when they are summoned to Bethlehem where a census is being held. Now, in those days there were no roads , just trails through rocky land and desert which were used mainly by camel trains that brought goods from town to town. The journey was well over 100 miles and there were no cars, trains or buses so Mary had to ride on the back of a donkey. I wonder how long that journey took; it must have been several days but can we imagine how Mary felt sitting on that donkey. I have ridden a donkey in my time and , believe me, it is not a comfortable experience. Mundane things like washing and going to the toilet created new challenges in the circumstances in which they found themselves. Since there were no cafes on the way, I presume that they brought the equivalent of the “ham sandwich” with them as food for the journey. Imagine then after the hardship of the road to discover that there was no accommodation to be had due to the crowds gathered for the census. How must Joseph have felt when he realised that he could not find a place for the woman he loved and the ‘soon to be’ mother of the son of God. He must have thought that he had let her down and what was going through Mary’s mind as she knew that her time was at hand and the only place available was a stable to be shared with animals. In these humble surroundings she finally gave birth to a son who was to be known as Jesus. That baby was destined to be the most important man in the history of the world but he couldn’t have entered it in more humble circumstances. One version of the story tells us that an angel appeared to shepherds while another tells of the three wise men who followed a star to find the stable and proclaim the news to the world that the Saviour had been born. This is what we should really be celebrating at Christmas; the fact that God sent his only son to live amongst us as a mere mortal and in the end give up his life for us. We can celebrate that great event by showing a little more kindness to all and especially those who are in worse circumstances than ourselves. It is not about expensive gifts; it may just be paying a visit to somebody who is alone and maybe lonely at this time. It may be just calling up a friend we have neglected for some time or putting an end to some dispute, especially among family members. We can use this period to become better human beings in an age when there is so much turmoil in the world. I love Christmas and look forward to getting together with the extended family, share the joy of all the kids with their new presents and feel the warmth of affection that the occasion creates. I hope you all have a really enjoyable one and a happy and Prosperous New Year.
More ramblings from yesteryear
By Domhnall de Barra
I write a lot about the past, mainly because I remember it with great fondness and I miss the very simplicity of the times and the wonderful nature of the people. Long ago we really had communities that cared for each other. You might not think it at times if you overheard a discussion but, even though we loved to talk about the neighbours, when anybody was in trouble everybody rallied around. I noticed this very early in life because my father had two best friends, Con “Pete” Broderick and Willie Healy. Con came to our house rambling at night, as was the custom at the time, and all the local news was trashed out. Then the two of them would talk about “Healy” and find great fault with him. When my father met with Willie – they were great drinking buddies – the subject would turn to Con Pete and the laugh would be on him and, although I was never privy to a conversation between Con and Willie, who met every morning at the creamery, I’m sure they spoke about “Barry” in the same way. Despite this they were the very best of friends and would do anything for each other.
Times were tough in the middle of the last century after the second world war and Ireland trying to find her feet as a new nation. There was very little money about and even big farmers were put to the pin of their collar to survive. Labourers lived in cottages and an acre of land supplied by the County Council and big families were the norm. Most people kept a “cow for the house” but when the cow went dry they never did without milk because a neighbouring farmer would give a bottle to keep them going. In return he would expect a day in the bog or in the meadow and it worked out well. Nobody was left on their own. If somebody had a meadow of hay down and the weather was about to break, all the neighbours pitched in and the hay was saved in no time. Going the road at that time one might come across animals grazing along the ditches and the grass margins. Cows, horses and asses roamed along quite contented and, in general, took no notice of people passing by. This custom of grazing the “long acre” as it was called, was widespread, especially when grass got scarce. It was illegal of course and people could be taken to court and fined. A man who shall remain nameless was before the judge in Abbeyfeale charged with allowing his cow to graze unattended on the roadside. He was found guilty and when the judge fined him50 shillings he said: “a fair price your Honour, I’ll take it again next year”. Trying to find the pony or ass to bring the milk to the creamery in the morning was a difficult task at times because they could wander quite a way from the house and could take any route they wished. After finding them you could find that they weren’t too anxious to come back and be tackled up and there would be a chase for a while until somebody volunteered to help and the animal was brought under control. Asses, in particular, could be very stubborn when they wanted to be and could spot weakness in a person a mile away. I remember one that belonged to Johnny Patsy Mick Woulfe, in Cratloe, who would do anything for Johnny but would blackguard the life out of me when I took him to the creamery or the bog.
There was another time at home that taught me a lesson about asses. My father brought home a big ass from somewhere down the County Limerick and left him in the field by the side of the house. We were all young at the time and were fascinated by this new arrival and of course he was tormented from our attentions. One day I was encouraged to go up on his back for a ride and of course I took on the challenge. The ass wasn’t too happy about it and made getting on his back very difficult what with twisting, turning and kicking. We persevered however and eventually, with the help of a low ditch, I sprang onto his back and thought I was a cowboy riding the range. The ass, however, had not given up his opposition to this nuisance on his back and being both sadistic and clever, ran along the side of the ditch where there was a thick growth of briars sticking out. I was 9 or 10 at the time with short trousers and bare legs. The briars tore the skin open from the thighs to the toes and the blood flowed freely. The ass, being thick skinned and hairy, had no such problems and he got his wish as I quickly threw myself off and left him to his own devices. To add insult to injury, my mother did not appreciate what I had done and gave me a good whacking into the bargain. Lesson learned. I don’t really blame the old donkey because they had a very tough life drawing all kinds of loads in carts in all kinds of weather. They did not like the rain as they are really desert animals and should not be in Ireland at all. Unlike horses their coat is not waterproof so they get wet, just like we do. They have got quite scarce now but there was a time when there was one in almost every home and we would have been lost without them in the days before the tractor and modern machinery. Most of those that are left live in sanctuaries like the one in Liscarroll, Co. Cork, and live out their remaining days in peace and contentment. These sanctuaries deserve our support in the great work they have undertaken.
CHANGE IN THE TIMES
By Domhnall de Barra
The recent spell of fine weather brought me back to a time when the world was a much different place. The seasonal work was well defined and by this time all the dykes would have been scoured, hedgerows trimmed back, the garden sat and farmyard manure spread on the land. This was all done by hand or with the aid of a horse and cart (What we call a dyke is actually a ditch and vice versa but you will know what I mean). Scouring the dykes, using spades, shovels and four prong pikes, ensured that there was a free flow of water and that land drains were not blocked. These drains were also dug by hand and were made using flat stones. If done properly they were very effective and lasted a lifetime unlike the clay pipes that followed which were a total disaster. They collapsed too easily under pressure causing blockages and flooding.
I remember well when they were first introduced as my father used to draw then in the lorry. At first there was only one manufacturer of clay pipes in Ireland and that was in Kingscourt in Cavan. It was some drive in an old lorry on bad roads and would take about six hours – no motorways in those days. The reason I remember so well is that I usually got the job of emptying the load with him. The pipes, which were about a foot long, were stacked in tiers and there was a special pike that would take three of them together. Taking off the highest tiers was not nice because all the dust from inside the pipes fell straight down on whoever was wielding the pike. It was also a very slow job as great care had to be taken when placing the pipes on the ground because they were so brittle. Before too long a factory opened in Clarecastle just outside Ennis. This was a much shorter journey and made the pipes more affordable. Clay has been replaced by plastic now and the drains are all done by machinery.
The garden was very important in bygone days. It provided the staple diet for the house such as potatoes, cabbage, turnips, carrots, parsnips as well as mangolds or sugar beet for the cattle and oats for the horses. Again all the work was done by hand. Sods, called “taobh fhods” would be turned over with a spade in long rows of two that would almost meet in the middle. They were then turned back and manure placed in the centre on top of which seed potatoes were placed at regular intervals. The sods were turned back again and earth from the furrows in between the ridges would be placed on top. All the other vegetables were sat in single rows called “drills”. These had to be weeded and thinned at regular intervals. The spreading of manure on the land enriched the soil and helped the grass to grow into hay. Farmyard manure was usually in a heap outside the cowshed where the cattle were housed for the winter. It grew as the weeks passed with the sheds being cleaned out once a day.
In the springtime, when fine weather came, it was piked into a horse cart and drawn to the fields where it was left in heaps. Then it was spread by hand with a four prong pike. It was natural dressing and, unlike today’s slurry, did no harm to creatures such as worms who do so much good in the soil.
Then it was time for the bog. Everyone cut turf for the fires and had banks in the bogs that are so plentiful in our area. We had a very fine spring well at home that not only kept our house going but all the neighbours as well. When the turf cutting started there would be a stream of people taking gallons of water from our well to make the tea in the bog. That spring still exists and is now piped into my house providing us with the finest of water. People would try to get to the bog as early as possible and worked until the Angelus bell was heard tolling in the nearby town or village. There was something about the air in the bogland that made us hungry as soon as we arrived but of course we had to wait until my mother gathered a few dry sods, made a fire and put the kettle on it at about 10 am. The bread was usually buttered and there would be cuts of cold bacon for everyone at dinner time. There is nothing like the food in the bog. It had a taste all its own, especially the thick tea from the open fire. Of course cutting was only the beginning of an exercise that continued for the next couple of months with footing, re-footing, drawing out and drawing home. This all depended on weather which I think was much better in bygone days. There didn’t seem to be as much rain as we have now and the seasons were more predictable. Yes, the world was a very different place, very labour intensive but much simpler and more rewarding.
It was certainly a healthier lifestyle with plain, wholesome food and plenty of exercise. Maybe that is what is wrong with us today with so many people being overweight and suffering from diabetes and other illnesses. With the use of technology and modern machinery much of the back-breaking work has disappeared and that is good but maybe we need to do more physical exercise if we hope to have the health of our forefathers. The times they are a changing!
The late Superintendent John McCormack- Feb 2018
The death, announced in last week’s local newspapers, of John McCormack, hardly evoked more than a passing glance from most Athea readers. Yet it is worth noting that he spent a few short years as sergeant in Athea in the 1960s and made an outstanding contribution to the local environment during his short stay.
John was a late entry into the Garda Síochána having served for some time in the Irish Army, but his promotion up through the ranks was rapid. Promotion meant several quick transfers to stations up and down the country. He was in Ballinasloe when he attained the rank of inspector before finally seeing out the rest of his forty year career as Superintendent of the Askeaton District of the Garda Síochána.
When he arrived in Athea in the mid 60s with his wife and family he quickly settled into community life and soon got involved in the Con Colbert Memorial which was set up basically to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the 1916 Rising in which our own Con Colbert Lost his life.
Apart from celebrating the Rising our committee had decided to erect a memorial hall to Colbert’s memory so that there was now a dual objective which was a lot more extensive than we had had thought at the time. John McCormack, along with several other formidable members, played a leading role in a discreet way which would not, in any way compromise his membership of the Gardaí.
Higher authority had, obviously, decided that John was higher officer material and, unfortunately for, us he was soon moved on to more important stations.
I hope those who knew him, or served in committees with him in Athea will remember him kindly for a great community man who left a mark on the local community in a short tenure.
May he rest in peace.
Timmy Woulfe
Seán Fitzgerald R.I.P.
Domhnall de Barra
The sudden death of Sean Fitzgerald, or Sean Batt as he was known, came as a great shock to all who knew him. Although his health was waning for a while we thought he had many more years left in his famous pub. His popularity could be gauged by the large numbers that attended the removal and burial on Friday and Saturday. From bikers to ladies footballers, they all turned out to pay their last respects to a man who had been a steadfast supporter of theirs since he took over the pub in the ‘90s. I probably knew him as well as any one in Athea as we were raised little more than a mile apart in Cratloe and Knocknasna. He was four years older than me but I remember him well as a young lad who used to ride his bicycle like a demon. It couldn’t go fast enough for him, shades of what was to come when he progressed to motor cars!. We both set up shop in Athea in the 90s, across the road from each other and we were always backwards and forwards with news and gossip. He was the best of company and we spent many hours discussing people and places we knew in England, current affairs but , most of all, sport. A keen Arsenal supporter he had a vast knowledge of all sports and would love to catch me out with a question like; “Hi Barry, who was the first footballer with long hair”? He loved nature and tradition and roamed the bog roads taking in all the flora and fauna. He was a proud man, proud of his Irishness, proud of the Munster rugby team, proud of Athea but most of all proud of his pub, one of the last remaining traditional hostelries. He kept its character intact and took great pride in the fact that it was known all over the world. It appeared on the cover of a German magazine once to his delight. Like all human beings he had his faults. He could be “cranky” at times and if you happened to say the wrong thing in the wrong place (or sometimes even the right thing in the wrong place) he could, as they say, “eat you without salt” but it was soon forgotten and he was back to his jovial self. He was a man of integrity who lived his life by high standards. He will be sadly missed by his family, friends and all who knew him. Athea is a poorer place for his passing. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
Saturday Night
I have noticed a slight increase in the number of people in the village on Saturday nights lately. This is in contrast to the last few years when the place looked like a ghost town at midnight. It is nice to see people out enjoying themselves and I suppose it is a sign that things are improving and the bad old days are behind us. Saturday night is the main night for going out in most places but it was not always the case. In my young days Sunday night was the main night; Saturday night was reserved for other activities. Saturday was a working day, except for civil servants such as school teachers so all sporting activities were on Sunday.
The Sabbath Day was observed by all in those times and nobody worked unless they had to so people dressed up in their finest and attended church on Sunday morning. Much of Saturday evening was spent in preparation for this. The “Sunday clothes” had to be taken out of the wardrobe and “aired”. This was done by putting them across the backs of chairs before the turf fire. They had to be aired because dampness was to be found in most houses due to lack of proper heat and insulation. Walls were thick but very porous and it was easy for the rain to seep through. Of course there was no central heating and most of the houses had only one fireplace. For some unknown reason this fireplace was often on a gable wall furthest from the bedrooms. There was also a huge chimney which took most of the heat so very little got beyond the living room area. Bigger farmers houses had fireplaces in the rooms but these were only used if there were visitors staying, it was too expensive to keep them lit all the time.
Saturday night was the time for the weekly bath. Big pots of water were boiled and a tin bath was placed in front of the fire. The children were then washed in the tub, one by one starting with the youngest. Families were big in those days so if you happened to be the eldest the water might be cold and a bit coloured by the time your turn came. I don’t know how our parent’s managed it. I suppose they had a wash when we were all in bed. A woman once told how she washed herself. To preserve her modesty she washed down as far as possible, up as far as possible and when no one was looking “possible” got a rub!. Those were the days. Another chore on Saturday night was the polishing of shoes. These were of course the “Sunday” shoes which were worn to Mass and removed as soon as we got home. There would be a shine from them as they were lined up against the wall. For the men it was a night for shaving. Very few bothered to shave throughout the week and by the time Saturday came around there was a strong coat of beard which had to be removed with very primitive razors. This resulted in a few wounds which were covered with bits of newspaper. Some men preferred to go to the barbers to get the job done. They were experts at the game and guaranteed a smooth finish. One man had the misfortune to be shaved by an apprentice who was doing it for the first time. It didn’t help matters that the man was the local school master. The young lad was so nervous that he inflicted several nicks on the teacher’s face. Each time he did so he put a piece of paper on the cut the stem the flow of blood. The teacher said nothing and when he was finished he looked in the mirror to see his face festooned with newspaper. “How much do I owe you?” he asked, “ A shilling” was the reply. “you should get three”, he said, “because you did three different jobs; barbering, butchering and wallpapering.”
Once a month it was time for Confession. There was no escaping it as mother had the dates written down and you would get your marching orders. Going to Confession could take a long time in those days. There were long seats leading up to both doors of the confessional and these were usually full of penitents. As people emerged from the box you moved up one space until your turn came. At last the shutter went up and you said your piece hoping the priest was in a good mood and would not be too harsh with the penance. So there was very little social life on Saturdays but we made up for it on Sundays between sports, the Sunday dinner, a few pints and the Sunday night dance at Tobin’s or some other magical ballroom. Yes, those were the days!
Domhnall de Barra
Irish Examiner 1841-current, Saturday, 27 January, 1894; Page: 8
A KERRY Missionary. Among those selected by the Holy Father to go forth during the present year to preach the Gospel in foreign parts, is the Rev Thomas Griffin, a young Kerryman, who comes of a family which have given many faithful and zealous servants to the Church. Father Griffin, who is a son of Mr Jeremiah Griffin, formerly of Listowel, and late of Queenstown, was educated at the College of the Pious Society of Missions (to which Order he belongs) at Rome, where be was ordained last autumn, and had a most successful collegiate career, acquiring in addition to the indispensable classical and theological curriculum, a thorough knowledge of French, Italian, Spanish and German, which he speaks with fluency and ease.
In 1940 Palm Sunday and St Patrick’s Day fell on the same day. Junior Griffin remembers wearing a shamrock and a piece of palm in his lapel. This phenomenon occurred in 1799 and won’t happen again until 2391, so Junior is a first person witness to a historic occurrence.
Griffin
THE GRIFFIN FAMILY, GLENAGRAGRA.
(With a Langan/Woods/Mullane connection)
It is thought that the Griffin family originally came to Glenagragra from Kilmurry/McMahon Co Clare in the early to mid 1800’s having been allotted lands here by the then landlord George Goggin.
In Griffith’s Valuation records of 1851, we have a Patrick, William and a George Griffin listed, as been the occupiers of lands in Glenagragra. It is most likely that these three men may have
been brothers had to be at least eighteen years of age or more by that time, which would indicate that they were born circa 1820/30 or thereabouts.From George Langan Tree.
OLD TIMES
The Way we were from Domhnall de Barra and Athea News Letter.
I was thinking the other day about the many changes that have taken place in such a short time and some of the skills and pastimes we have almost lost. One of these is the art of “lilting”. Lilting, dideling or “pus music”, whatever you want to call it, was very popular and maybe necessary sometimes in days gone by. The oldest musical instrument is the human voice. In the days when musical instruments were scarce or too expensive, people would lilt tunes for dancers at the rambling houses which were the only centres of entertainment prior to dancehalls and cinemas. Many of the polkas and slides we play today come from old songs that were first sung and then lilted for dancing. “I’ll tell me ma” springs to mind as does “Maggie in the wood”, “Do bhíos Lá i bPortláirge”, “I wish I had a Kerry Cow” – the list is endless. Lilting wasn’t confined to the rambling houses. People going the road on foot, bicycles or in horse carts could be heard lilting away to pass the time. There were several different styles of lilting. Some lilters tried to reproduce the sound of a particular instrument such as the banjo or fiddle while others embellished their renderings with lots of ornamentation and lots of “skiderydoos”. Some had a great store of tunes they could reproduce. My father was one of those. Although he never learned to play an instrument, he had a deep knowledge of music and would often tell me if I was playing the wrong note. Another man with lots of tunes in his head was our neighbour Donie Cusack who gave many years as the Creamery Manager in Glin. On one occasion My father and Donie were coming home from Tipperary. They had taken a load of turf to Donie’s aunt who lived down there and after stopping for some refreshment in a bar in Kilmallock, had a bet as to which of them could didle the most reels between there and Abbeyfeale (they couldn’t pass Abnbeyfeale and take the curse of the town with them!). They took turns and lilted away, never repeating a tune. Nobody won the bet because Abbeyfeale came before any of the two had exhausted their repertoire so they agreed to an honourable draw!.
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éirerwann has a competition for lilting in the Fleadhs and it is hoped that it will encourage more young people to take up the art. There is also a competition for whistling, another dying art. Just as many people whistled as lilted, some with great volume and ornamentation. I well remember one gentleman who was famous for his whistling. He worked at Sheehy’s in Cratloe when I was young and it was a joy to hear him whistling as he cycled to Mass in Athea on Sunday. You could hear him from a long way off, coming through Cratloe Glen and it was a wonderful sound. I’m not sure of his name, I think it was McMahon but we all knew him as “The Bird”. There was another man in Knocknaboul who had a very loud whistle which could be heard in the next parish. He used to go to work very early in the morning during the Summer and started off his day whistling to his heart’s content. At the corner of his bothrín lived a man who was quite the opposite. He was more of a night owl and would not be long in bed when the whistler would pass by and wake him up. Needless to say he wasn’t too pleased with this carry on and when it happened one time too many he vowed vengeance. The following morning was a fine June morning so instead of going to bed about 5.30 as usual he stayed up for the extra hour and waited. Sure enough, at 6.30 the whistling started so he waited by the corner of the house and as the whistler was passing he rushed out and hit him in the mouth with his fist, splitting his lip. “Whistle now, you bastard” he shouted as he withdrew to his bed. People from the locality will by now have worked out the identities of the two but I am saying nothing! From then on the whistling didn’t start until he was well past the corner and peace was restored.
I don’t think we are ever going to return to those days; time moves on but it is nice to remember them and some of the good things that happened. I have great fears for the young generation of today going into the future. They are constantly on some kind of tablet or phone or games console. They invariably have earphones or plugs because they can’t do anything without what passes for music being blasted into their ears. Will they all go deaf before middle age? Will they lose the art of conversation as they have already lost the ability to write properly? Maybe not, after all I am only an old fuddy duddy who knows nothing, just as I thought my parents and grandparents knew nothing long ago. Let them enjoy their way of living which has its own advantages as well and leave me to my memories of times that, though hard, were very rewarding.
Domhnall de Barra
ATHEA INFO
Paddy Faley once wrote about the lakes as follows:
The Twin Lakes of Spahill by Paddy Faley
Some go to Lisdoonvarna for a dip in the Spa water
To cure their arthritis, their pains and aches to slaughter,
Since Spa water effects a cure you’ll find it nearer still,
In superabundance it is found in the Twin Lakes of Spahill.
So don’t you go travelling to far off County Clare
You’ll find Spa water in Knockdown better than anywhere
If you’re suffering from headache or any other ill
You’ll leave it all behind you in the Twin Lakes of Spahill.
No better place in Ireland to jump in for a swim
The magic of this water will loosen every limb
You’ll go leaping o’er the heather with the joy it will instil
And you will count your blessings at the Twin Lakes of Spahill.
The peaceful surroundings will bring pleasure to your heart
Here your soul will find God’s grace and you’ll be loathe to part
There you can view a monument in the shape of a limekiln
That tells the tales of other days by the Twin Lakes of Spahill.
To this spot the sportsmen come with guns to try their luck
And have a crack at the pheasants the woodcock and wild duck
You’ll see the graceful seagulls floating on each rippling rill
That dances on the surface of the Twin Lakes of Spahill.
So if ever you are travelling along the sweet Kerryline
In one of our hot summers when the sun decides to shine
Take the bog road by Ned Shaughnessy’s, your dreams you will fulfil
And go home bouncing like a hare from the Twin Lakes of Spahill
The tourists will soon be flocking when the good news gets around
That a miraculous cure in the Spahill water can be found
The Government grants we will be seeking, and get them I know we will
To improve the amenities by the Twin Lakes of Spahill.
The Knockdown Arms
Paddy Faley RIP
In Knockdown in ’85 history was made
There to build a span new pub the foundation stone was laid
Like a mushroom it quickly grew to withstand any storms
A landmark on the Kerryline now stands the Knockdown Arms.
Imposing in its attractiveness in this quiet countryside
You could hardly believe you were in Knockdown when you’d step inside
And view the luxurious layout, with Ta and Ita’s charms
Welcoming you with a friendly smile into their Knockdown Arms
On the opening night, oh, what a crowd descended on this spot
The spacious bar and lounge were packed, inflation was forgot
As pints and whiskies were filled out, they forgot their cows and farms
As they toasted to each other’s health here in the Knockdown Arms
Ta, an enterprising man, with a charming wife at hand
Has completely changed the face of this rural town land
First a shop and then a pub, where conversation warms
Hearts gone cold with worry here in the Knockdown Arms
How history repeats itself, for here in days gone by
In Tom Behane’s ballroom of romance danced many a girl and boy
And many a courtship here began that finished in wedding charms
Their offspring might find life partners now here in the Knockdown Arms
If you want to drink in comfort away from the noisy town
Come with your companions to this quiet spot in Knockdown
Where you can sit down and relax with no fear of any alarms
In the peaceful surroundings of the cosy Knockdown Arms
The crowds here are increasing on each succeeding night
With music and song ascending their hearts for to delight
And as the news is spreading they are coming here in swarms
There is talk of an extension to the spacious Knockdown Arms!
If further room is needed it will very soon take root
For Ta has plenty cash at hand and there’s no better man to do it
So good luck to Ta and Ita, God keep them from all harm
May they live long to serve their customers in the shop and Knockdown Arms
From Tom Ahern Notes
This year we saw a number of local books launched which would make ideal gifts or presents to give in the run up to Christmas. Newcastle West Bookshop and the local shops will satisfy all interests in reading material. The Kilcolman Centenary Booklet is still available to buy for just €5. This Haunted Island by Sean Goulding from Carrigkerry costs €12. A Year on our Farm by Ardagh native Ann Talbot costs €17.99. The Irish in the American Civil War by Damien Shiels from Ardagh costs €20. The Old Moore’s Almanac, The Cork Holly Bough, Ireland’s Own Anthology and the Green and White Primary School’s magazine, are also on sale now.
A tribute night for Tim Crowley, Ballylin, Ardagh, who retired as Principal of Ardagh National School last month was held in Ardagh Community Centre on Friday 6th December. School parents, fellow teachers, teammates, family and friends attended in large numbers to show their appreciation for the work he has done for the school and the community in general. It was appropriate that the function was held in the building, as Tim went to School there before the present School was built and opened in 1965. He has also been involved in the Hall Committee there for the past 30 years and was the chairman of the development committee that commenced renovating it in 1993. John Hough friend and neighbor was the MC for the night, and Ardagh/Carrigkerry Comhaltas provided the entertainment.
A number of presentations were made to Tim during the evening from John Ryan Chairman of the Saint Kieran’s Senior Club. Mike Ruttle Chairman of the Saint Kieran’s Bord Na Nóg Club. Mike Daly and Evelyn Mullins on behalf of Ardagh/Carrigkerry Comhaltas. Mairead Moran, and John Campbell, on behalf of Ardagh School Parents Council. Nora Madden, Principal of Coolcappa N.S. Donie Sheahan, on behalf of the Ardagh Fianna Fail Branch. John Mullins, Joan Molyneaux, and Patrick Mullins, on behalf of the Ardagh Development, and Hall Committee. Tommy Greaney on behalf of the Saint Kieran’s team that won the 1981 County senior Football Championship for the first time. Joan Molyneaux made a special personal presentation to Tim, they being the two members longest associated with Ardagh Hall. Moira Donovan presented Tim’s wife Maura Crowley with a bouquet of flowers. Tim in reply outlined his life and times, and his love for his native place. He thanked all the teachers, and people he has been associated with over the years, and the people who made the night possible. The night concluded with refreshments, chat and nostalgia, and we all wish Tim good health and happiness in his retirement.
A tribute night for Tim Crowley, Ballylin, Ardagh, who recently retired as Principal of Ardagh National School will be held in Ardagh Community Centre on Friday 6th December 2013 at 8.pm Parents and friends are invited to attend to show their appreciation for the work he has done for the school and the community in general. Tim received his education in Ardagh N.S. Copsewood College, and Saint Patrick’s T.C. During his long career in teaching he has promoted participation in the Primary School games for boys and girls, and has been rewarded with many successes. He has also been involved as a selector/ mentor with the West Limerick School’s teams who have won County titles. Tim has been deeply involved as a volunteer in his local community for many years. A man for all seasons he has been associated with the local GAA club as a dual player, selector coach manager and officer. He has also represented the club successfully in Scór competitions, winning West and County honours. He has represented Limerick in U-21 and senior football as well as U-21 hurling and he had the honour of being captain of the football team in 1982. He enjoyed a very successful playing career from 1968 to 1991winning numerous West and County titles, as well as Munster college honours. His favourite position on the field was centre field and his other interests outside the GAA include horse racing and golf. He was secretary of Saint Kieran’s from 1983 to 1985 and Chairman from 1985 to 1988.
Tim has a big interest in politics and has been involved in the Ardagh Fianna Fáil Cumann for many years. He was a founding member of Ardagh Drama Group and played the part of the Bishop in their first production of Moll. He was a founding member of Ardagh Development Association in 1992 and the Chairman, which helped to change and upgrade the appearance of the Village. He has been a member of the Hall Committee helping with the weekly card game, and many other events too numerous to mention. Tim has invested a lot of time and made a big contribution to so many clubs and organizations over the years.
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.
BEST WISHES: Julia O’Rourke, a speech and language therapist, a native of Ballyhahill, who received the Enterprise Ireland-Cleveland Clinic prize 2013 recently for Rempad, software which uses multi-media content to connect carers and residents with memories from the past to enhance the lives of people with Alzheimer’s.
From Tom Ahern
Stephen Goulding, son of John and Mary, Carrigkerry, will be standing for the Labour Party in next year’s Limerick County Council local elections which will be held in May. He is presently living with his wife and family in Newcastle West and is very involved in community and volunteering and would be a great asset and a strong voice for our area. He is presently the Deputy Principal of Listowel Community College, after a number of years spent teaching in Desmond College Newcastle West. Stephen is also National Treasurer of the Principals & Deputy Principals association of the TUI. He is a member of Newcastle West & District Lions Club, Newcastle West AFC and the Arra Players Drama group. He is also a Board member of West Limerick Resources since 2010 and was appointed to the board of Leargas last year by Minister Ruairi Quinn. Stephen is also a Volunteer broadcaster on West Limerick 102 and presents a weekly Sunday review programme.
Stephen has been working hard over the past 5 years in an area rep role. At a local level he fought hard to retain the CE Scheme in Carrigkerry when it was under threat last year. He also helped pilot the Carrigkerry Playground Committee’s application for the playground through West Limerick Resources and they have been provisionally granted 103 k for the project. Stephen has worked through his many contacts to secure Adaption grants for elderly people in our locality. Recently the new Saint Vincent de Paul building was granted 300k to build units in Newcastle West. Stephen worked with the local group to secure the funding to build these units after 10 years of trying by SVP. Also the local Energy Efficiency initiative is now in estates in Newcastle West & Abbeyfeale and Stephen secured people getting on to the scheme. He has also asked the Minister to send this scheme to rural estates across West limerick that are badly in need of insulation and this will be a priority for 2014.
Stephen would be a strong voice locally for our area if elected as this area has only had residual representation as it was at the periphery of the Rathkeale Electoral area. It is now fully embedded in the newly enlarged Newcastle electoral area. Knowing Stephen he would do his best to represent all people regardless of their party politics. It would be most important to have a local person elected to ensure that an adequate share of council funding is spent in our area continuously and not just at elections. He can be contacted on 0877441185/06977630 if people wish to avail of his services. Stephen is wished well in his campaign in the coming months, and it would be great to see a Carrigkerry man elected to Limerick County Council.
Congratulations to Sean Goulding from Carrigkerry who recently published This Haunted Island which is on sale in Newcastle West Bookstore. Sean is a philosophy graduate who has taught in Ireland, Yemen and Saudi Arabia. He is living in Saudi Arabia at present but will be back in Ireland next January. The following lines give the reader a flavour of the book; In Ireland we take an especial interest in the paranormal. Most people, with a little prompting, will eventually admit that they, or someone they know, once had a run-in with the unknown. While tales of banshees, leprechauns and fairies have become extremely rare today (a fact reflected in this book), accounts of omens of death, of houses plagued by poltergeists and unquiet spirits, and of spook lights on lonely roads abound in early twenty first century Ireland. Some people recount uplifting and reassuring stories of contact with departed loved ones. While it may well be true that ‘everyone has a book in them’, it seems almost certain that just about everybody has a ghost story in them…..It is published by www.choicepublishing.ie. And it promises to be a very enjoyable read and it costs €12.
From Tom Ahern
DEATH; Fr. William P Lane born 1925 at New Street, Abbeyfeale, died in Seattle, Washington USA on Saturday, October 19th 2013. Following Requiem Mass Fr Bill Lane was burial in Seattle on Monday, October 28th 2013 on his 88th birthday.
Athea Native Fr. Michael Moroney
Honoured with National Award in United States
Fr. Michael Moroney of Templeathea received a National Award from the National Catholic Education Association at their Convention in Houston, Texas on April 2nd 2013 for his outstanding work with Catholic Education.
He was one of the twelve pastors in the United States to receive this award and the first in the Diocese of Baton Rouge in the State of Louisiana. This award is given to pastors who have done outstanding work with Catholic Schools.
Fr. Moroney is son of the late Dan and Maireád Moroney of Templeathea. He received his elementary education at Athea National School and high school education at Mount Melleray Abbey and his college education at St. Patrick’s College, Thurles where he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Baton Rouge in Louisiana. Fr. Moroney holds a Masters Degree from Loyola University in New Orleans. While serving as pastor of parishes throughout his priesthood he has held jobs as the Director for the Office of Religious Education for the Diocese of Baton Rouge and continues to serve the Diocese today as Matrimonial Tribunal Judge, member of the Bishop’s Cabinet, Ecumenical Officer. He has been a teacher and guidance counsellor at the High School level and has been a pastor of four parishes, all having large schools. today he is the pastor of St. Alphonsus with a very young and growing community with a very active school.
Tom Lynch remembered by George Langan
‘Procrastination is the thief of time’ was the line he used when answering a family history letter of mine some years ago but sadly the Lord’s call is something that cannot be postponed and so on May 30th 2013 my uncle Tom Lynch at the grand age of 90yrs departed this world to be once again re-united with his family and friends in God’s heavenly kingdom. Tom was born in Glasha, Athea on December 27th 1922, one of a family of eight to George Lynch R.I.P. April 3rd 1971 aged 88yrs and Nora Barrett R.I.P. 1955. His grandfather was James Lynch and his great-grandfather was called George. James was married to Brigid Culhane from Leitrim Middle, Moyvane, Co. Kerry. James, who died on 4-8-1893 at a relatively very young age (46yrs), from a back ailment, so we believe, was responsible for the opening and making of the famous Kerry Line roadway. Following his death, his wife took over the responsibility for the maintenance and upkeep of this road.
Tom got his primary education at Ballyguiltenane National School under the tutorship of Mr O’Grady and Mr Casey. His class-mates as far as he recalled were as follows – Tom Sheahan, Ballyguiltenane, Ned Enright, Dromreask, John Culhane, Ballyguiltenane, (he died when he was in 6th class), Mikey Culhane, Ballyguiltenane, Dan Culhane, Ballyguiltenane and Mr. Casey’s two sons Sean (who became a priest) and Padraig who lived at The Terrace, Glin. He got some sort of secondary education from Mr James Dore in an old empty farmer’s house that was in the ownership of Mick Adams, Glin. After leaving there, he served his apprenticeship to a solicitor in Listowel. Like so many of his fellow citizens back in the forties, he endured the heartbreak of taking the emigrant ship to seek employment and so in the year 1946, at the age of twenty four, he emigrated to England where he remained for five years. He later headed for the U.S. to join his brother Dan and his sister Joan. His father and mother took him to Newcastle West by pony and trap from where he got the bus to Cobh having spent the previous night in the Central Hotel, Bridge St., Newcastle West. My grandmother Babe Langan accompanied them to N.C.W. Said Tom, ‘’the sailing took six days, eating, drinking and dancing every night ‘till dawn.’’ He initially stayed with his aunt Mary Lynch Bunce at 124 Villa Street, Rochester, New York. Soon afterwards, he went to live and work in Chicago. As far as he could recall his first visit home to Glasha was in 1955 the year his mother died. He worked in the U.S for a few more years before eventually returning to London where he remained until his retirement. He moved to St. Leonard’s on Sea in the south of England for a well-earned rest before spending a few years in the Isle of Man. He eventually returned home to Ireland spending time in Glasha, Tralee, Dromcollogher and finally to Abbeyfeale where he lived out the final years of his life.
Over the years, Tom dabbled in a bit of poetry from time to time but from whom he inherited the gift he could not say. He couldn’t recall there being any poets or sages in the Lynch family. One of his poems that springs to mind was one he wrote in the early 1980’s known as ‘Modern Progress’ It was around the beginning of the computer era and it went as follows –
I dream of the days and old-fashioned ways
Before life got confused with inventions
That has addled our brains, brought stresses and strains
And left us with headaches and tensions.
To move with the times is called progress alines
Where life’s a continual rat race
To reach for the stars after stopping in Mars
If ever they jet us to that place.
But that as it may but I’ll venture to say
That predictions too often come true
And before very long unless science is proved wrong
There’ll be nothing for man left to do
Take the silicon chip with a built in horse whip
To make robots perform just like men
Who will work night and day without overtime pay
And wont stroke over tea-breaks at ten.
They can wire TV sets and put engines in jets
They can make the spare parts for our trains
And they never get tired for their bodies are wired
To a mass of mechanical brains.
I have no crystal ball to tell what may befall
In the forthcoming decade or two
But computerised schemes will put paid to our dreams
Of a future with skies over blue.
Now heaven forbid but I’ll bet you a quid
Or a dime to a fistful of dollars
That the whole human race will be launched into space
Lest we stop teaching science to our scholars.
In a less sombre view let me add a refrain
To this preview that’s only hear-say
For no matter how great are the threats to our fate
Where there’s a will there’s always a way.
When the oil wells run dry don’t sit down and cry
Just because you can’t drive your new rover
Get a good lively ass that will take you to Mass
And your problems of travel are over.
He was close to us all, was kind and generous to a fault and hadn’t a bad word to say about anybody. He always stayed at our house in Glasha when he came home for his Christmas holidays. He was a decent catholic and always attended midnight mass in Athea when midnight mass was midnight mass. He respected the church and the clergy and I can remember him speaking so exceedingly of the said church on such nights, of the beautiful crib’s and the lovely sermons that the priest’s had given.
Tom remained single in life, had reasonably good health and enjoyed living to the full. He loved the theatre and was passionate when it came to the musicals. And wasn’t it poignant as he was being lowered to his final place of rest that his sister Joan and brother Dan bade him a fond farewell with a couple of verses of Adele Voice from one of his best loved musical’s, The Sound of Music.
Yes Tom,
‘Blossom of snow may you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever’…….
Rest in peace.
Pat’s Corner-27/03/13
by Domhnall De Barra under News
(The following was written by Michael McDermott whom Pat Brosnan recently wrote about. Michael’s late mother Joan Collin came from Knocknagorna and he has fond memories of times spent there)
It’s a frosty still night, winter is upon us, the cattle are nestling in their cosy sheds, the birds are working and scanning back yards and gardens for some domestic offerings, the coal bucket and turf shed is being shovelled easier, but is vital to stifle Jack Frost. I’ve just received a copy of the Athea and District News. I’m like a child of six excitedly opening a present, flicking and scanning the written word and pages. I see Pat Brosnan’s name and then my own family logo. It’s surreal as I glance down, and begin to read his very kind and thoughtful words. It fills me with a wonderful sense of place, of belonging, of family and acquaintances, ties which are the essence of life. I feel in great spirits full of verve and pride, that I have rekindled my roots, my attachment or bond to my mother’s home place and its people. It’s a feeling of melancholy, of remembrance, of drifting back the calendar years to days of agriculture, harvest, sunshine, sport, fun, smiles and the celebration of all these events in a typical West Limerick spirit. I want to reflect and try to capture my emotion and thoughts as I unravel some cobwebs and endeavour to write about this very special area nestling quietly and snugly on the western margins of the “Treaty County”. I feel a little under pressure, as I’m struggling to do justice and appropriateness to the people that lie in this great land of Athea town and country. I feel like hopping back up on my dear friend’ Mickey Liston’s pony and maybe veering towards Listowel and Ballybunion, but I would surely be getting a rather serious look if that happened.
My mind strays to my Uncle Mickey’s kitchen in Knocknagorna in far away days of hustle and bustle on those picturesque summer mornings. The cock screeching for all its might in the yard, happy in the knowledge that he is king in his harem. The smell of the turf fire and the hiss of the kettle flapping on the range, waiting for Bridie’s tender touch to fill the waiting family and relations with a hearty breakfast. Homemade white bread of course, to add to the fresh eggs, homemade black pudding and sausages. The flagstones as sturdy strong and powerful as when they were first laid, seamlessly taking the footsteps of the Collins family and cousin brood. The Sacred Heart light shining in all its glory, rosary beads dangling safely from its holder. The Farmer’s Journal showing pages of tractors, animals and news of impending E.E.C. talks in Brussels.
The bog was after breakfast, so Brussels would have to wait. My Uncle Mike’s gentle caring smile as he retorted that a few trailers could be filled today. And what matter if it wasn’t, tomorrow’s another day. We set off in horse and cart, ably pulled by Ben, a fine brown steed with a speck of white on his forehead. Mike stopped to chat with his lifelong friend and neighbour Tommy Barrett for a short while about our turf exploits before heading on and through the gates with the derelict schoolhouse in the distance. To say that the journey through the maze of pathways that led to the bog was akin to bumpy would be an understatement. Thank God our stomachs remained intact but were given a severe examination. The bog was a fusion of purple heather bushes, brown and black sods of turf in various stages of preparation, carpet-like softness as one walked on the surface, people footing, splicing, throwing, stacking, arranging neat piles of valuable turf that would repel winter’s impending lunge at the local inhabitants. Uncle Mike pointed to Curlew, Corncrakes and Thrushes, recanting to me the various warbles and tweets each one made. They wafted high and low in the breeze, keeping us serenaded as we tipped along at our own pace. The bog was a hive of activity, my Uncle Jack together with my cousins Paddy and Seanie joined us along with Ned Sheehy so the chat, craic and interaction was funny and educational in its own little way. One is cut off from the outside world, as it were, when the turf is being prepared, it’s a world of nature, peace, tranquillity and reflection, away from the hustle and bustle of modern living and ways. The sun was glittering majestically in the sky, but being in a bog means a cooling breeze is ever present to sooth and refresh tired backs and arms. When one’s back was turned, now and again a scrap of turf might hop off your back or pole, with everyone adjacent as innocent as pie. A jumper or short coat might disappear into the heather also, races from one end of the stretch might ensue also, with debatable photo finishes the order of the day. The work went on regardless, stacks of turf appearing in little rows waiting eagerly for the sun’s rays to do their work. I always worked near Uncle Mike and Uncle Jack, maybe looking for some praise, as I busily stacked and carried to show that the thirteen year old Tipperary cousin had inherited some of his family work genes. I felt so safe, secure and warm beside my two great Uncles. Yet they were like chalk and cheese. Uncle Jack was spirited, a born leader, a man of great honour, wisdom and sincerity. To watch him work and organise and plan the day was like poetry in motion. His experience always shone through. He would give you a great lift when he’d say “that’s it, keep it up, you are doing well”. One could sense from him the importance of the bog harvest, the quality and texture of the sods had to be nurtured also. He was also a kind, caring and considerate man who was just fulfilling his important role as head of the Collins family. When going into battle or facing up to a crisis being beside Jack Collins was the appropriate place to be. On the other hand Uncle Mike was a different type of man, easy going, old fashioned in a nice sort of way, caring and kind to a fault, religious and devout like all in his community, yet it was this happiness in his own place, the nature the animals in his surroundings that set him apart. He was like Eamonn De Buitléar and David Attenborough in one, noticing, watching, embracing, feeling and experiencing the beauty of God’s natural amphitheatre. Mick noticed the swallows hovering like bullets, gathering for their epic journeys, he noticed the bond between cow and calf, the gentle loyalty in Shep wagging his obedient tail, of breezes and winds shaking and tossing hedgerows and trees, of butterflies and bees dancing and buzzing in sun clad days, of trout and salmon hiding and nesting in swollen river torrents. Of rain and shine and fusions of colour as rainbows appeared in those moments after fresh showers had watered the land. Of seeing lilac, fuchsia’s, daffodils and daisies throwing their beauty and pleasantness far and wide. Mike Collins and Jack Collins were people to admire, look up to and to learn from. Believe me, I was always trying to retain and store up the rights and appropriate views on life on those heady and simple days in the bog.
Bog Day, Knocknagorna
At around 1.30 pm with brows damp and muscles straining, yet with spirits high, a welcome sight was seen approaching across the horizon. It was Aunt Bridie and my cousin Peg coming with our turf dinner. We were all delighted to see them and we were treated to a royal feast of ham, tomatoes, white soda bread, tart, buns, brack, tea and soft drinks. We rested and chatted about our progress, the weather and the serenity that is part and parcel of the bog landscape. I was given the task of ensuring Ben, our faithful steed, was well looked after. The flies hovered around his rear end and he swished his tail in gentle defiance. I patted his temple and he bobbed and preened as I gave him water and a handful of barley to thank him for his contribution. I looked back at the resting crew of relations and friends. The sun was glistening with all its might, the breeze ruffled the heathers and flowers ever gently, the black bog water looked like a deep foreboding pool, the banks of turf stood proudly clean and straight in their furrows. Larks, curlews and finches warbled and sang with gusto in their freedom. The horizon and hills beyond gave a warm feeling of history and continuity in natural beauty, unspoilt and unchanged in a setting tended most carefully by my blood people from Knocknagorna. The bog was to be appreciated, nurtured and conserved. Treat it with respect and tolerance and it will yield abundant harvest. My people well know this and honoured loving care on the brown sods of gold. I felt privileged in this moment in time to be experiencing the riches of nature in all its guises as we simply extracted, harvested, weathered and nurtured the turf to its safe haven in the shed , yet embracing God’s creatures, fauna and weather patterns on this lovely summer’s day. It was as if being in the bog was like freezing a moment that echoed back to other bygone days when the interaction, ambiance, characters and the beauty of the place was exactly like our happy toil. We returned and worked diligently, funnily and chattily for a few more hours blissfully happy, content and satisfied in our historical pursuits. The cows would soon be baying to be relieved of their liquid gold, the calves and pigs had to be tended to, tidying and sweeping up had to be done, the rosary would be worshipped, supper would be eaten, chat and laughter would be indulged upon about the bog day exploits. As the sun slowly set on Knocknagorna and stars glistened in the sky our day would come to an end; dreams and thoughts would flood our minds as we slept under the merry plough.
Michael McDermott
Pats Corner Jan. 30th 2012
Writings of Michael McDermott
Last week my neighbour Billy Collins, who lives on the western side of Knocknagorna townland, presented me with copies of some lovely writings by his nephew Michael McDermott who lives in Carlow. Michael is a native of Cappawhite in Tipperary where he grew up. His late mother was the former Joan Collins of Knocknagorna and his father, who was a native of Clare, was a Garda who was at one stage stationed in Athea but who is long since deceased.
Michael has written various interesting non-verse type of poems on different subjects and his interpretations and recollection of people and events that he has come across during his life he describes in rich, colourful and poetic rhyme that is truly remarkable.
Michael has written with great admiration and sensitivity about some of his fellow workers in Roundale where he works. He writes about Paddy Buckley, a popular local resident, a baker and a neighbour of Michael’s family when he lived in Cappawhite.
His writings are so varied and paint such a lifelike pen-picture of the people and places that he writes about that the reader feels as if he has somewhat personally known them. Those people that Michael has portrayed with such a depth of feeling are real figures and the kind of folk to be usually found in most workplaces around the country, but in Michael’s rhymes they are somewhat exalted to a higher and more special level without ever losing their everyday human qualities. He writes about the Poor Clare’s religious order and the great work that the Sisters are performing “going quietly and serenely about their daily tasks”. There is indeed a spiritual dimension to all, or at least much, of Michael’s writing that has to be read to become obvious.
Michael writes a story about John, an Abbeyfeale man, who fell on hard times in London, quote; “John huddled on his bench. His breath shallow in the chill wind. He coughed a few times as only smokers can. The lights of Piccadilly shone brightly in the distance”.
Michael goes on to recount how after getting some good advice and help from the Samaritans John managed to turn his life around and “John was looking forward to working again in the future. To going home to his people in Limerick. John had dreams of a future again. The crucifix around his neck dangled in appreciation as if understanding his thoughts. Too many of his friends and countrymen had left their lives, families and careers. In the Red Lions and Ladbrokes of English cities”.
Happily, according to Michael’s account John from Abbeyfeale was no longer going to be among them.
Michael’s description in writing about the time when he spent his school holidays with his near relatives in Knocknagorna with his uncles including Jack Collins and his wife Ita, his numerous cousins in Knocknagorna and around the parish and other local people whom he got to know all make for some fascinating reading, for those who in that time grew up in the locality.
Michael describes his trips from Knocknagorna to Athea creamery with his cousin late Mickey Liston in the horse’s car with its three milk tanks and Michael guiding the horse with the reins after taking over the job with Mickey’s consent and approval.
There are so many great stories/poems written by Michael McDermott that would require much more space even to outline their contents. What is surprising however is that any of this great writing has never apparently been submitted for publication to the two local annuals, Athea Parish Journal or Ballyguiltenane Rural Journal. Much of Michael McDermott’s writing would certainly enrich and enhance the contents of both those annual publications. Hopefully some of this new and wonderful writing will appear in the next edition of both Journals.
The McDermott family has for many years been prominent with GAA, Camogie and Ladies football in Tipperary. Michael’s niece Angela (Angie) McDermott has won many All-Ireland titles with Tipperary in both Camogie and Ladies football. Their near relatives in Athea and West Limerick have every reason to feel proud of the McDermott family.
Carrigside End Jan 2013-01-31
GOLF:
Newcastle West Golf Club is celebrating their 75th Anniversary this year. The Club was formed on the 14th April 1938 at Egan’s Central Hotel in Newcastle West. They played the game on a 9 hole course on land rented for 77 pounds a year from Mick Mc Coy at Killeline, which was known as ‘’The Tillery.’’ It was a short distance from the town up the Cork road and the course contained about 40 acres of land. This land was purchased in 1943 with the club house plot for 1,100 pounds. The Club provided the people of the town and beyond with a sporting and social outlet over the years. A drawback was that it was wet and often unplayable in the Winter months. The Club was on the lookout for a suitable parcel of land for a while to overcome this difficulty and they were rewarded when the present site came on the market. A brief history of the site which was owned by the O’Brien family from nearby Cahermoyle up to 1922 app reads as follows. Rathgoonan was once part of the 2,775 acre Cahermoyle estate which belonged in the 18th century to the family of William Smith O’Brien, the patriot who led the Young Ireland rebellion in Ballingarry in Tipperary in 1848 and who was exiled to Tasmania as a result. Charles Murrough O’Brien built Rathgoonan house in 1873 with stone imported from Wales. This part of the estate which contained app 100 acres of land and the fine limestone house was bought by Tom Lynch from Croagh, for a reported fee of eight thousand pounds from the O’Brien family.
It changed hands again during the war years (1945) when Mrs. Betty Cripps (nee Goodbody) from Annacotty Limerick bought the estate for 3,600 pounds. Her husband Lieutenant Colonel Cripps was in the British Army at the time and in active duty with the Irish Hussars in North Africa. He was missing on duty for a period during the War and when it ended he came to live in Rathgoonan and to enjoy a peaceful lifestyle. He ran a dairy farm plus dry stock and a stud farm. He had a number of famous horses in his stables, which won many races for him. The most famous was Shot Silk who won the Queen Mary Race at Ascot in the sixties. Rose of Tralee a daughter of Shot Silk won many valuable races and prizes as well. Colonel Cripps died in the Cheshire Home in the late seventies aged 79 years, and his wife Betty a year previous. Martin O’Connor from Ballylongford in Kerry was the next owner of the estate in the early eighties. He bought Patie Connors farm next door (in Coolcappa parish) which contained a sandpit and about 44 acres of land. This was intended for a Council dump but the plans were shelved after local opposition and the dump eventually opened in Gortnadroma.
The Club purchased this land in Rathgoonan Ardagh in late 1991 for a reported fee of 323, 00 thousand pounds. It was an ideal site for the proposed 18 hole golf course and about six miles from the Town. Jim Hickey was the contractor and Arthur Spring designed and built the course. A Community Employment Scheme was secured and the workers played a big part in the ongoing development. The new parkland course with a par 70 was officially opened by Tánaiste Dick Spring on 31 July 1994. The Club has grown and gone from strength to strength in the intervening years, and the house was renovated and extended and the old stables turned into a bar and restaurant. The course is now considered one of the best parkland courses around the Mid West and it attracts lots of groups and society’s. A lot of local people have joined the Club since then, and have made their mark as players, and officers. The Function Room and Bar in the Clubhouse has also been an asset for the surrounding areas, offering clubs and individuals a comfortable venue for recreational purposes. The Newcastle West Golf Club is now part of the local landscape, and it also provides much needed employment. It is set in a quiet part of the countryside and only recently was presented with the Munster Hidden Gem Award. The Club is also offering good deals on membership with all combinations and pockets catered for. The club is seeking material at present for their upcoming book celebrating their 75 year history. Material of interest, articles, and photos, is to be handed into the office before Friday 15th February. 2013.
Pat Brosnan Dec. 19th 2012
A Time of Memories
With Christmas just around the corner people of my generation are inclined to look back and remember with a certain feeling of nostalgia on Christmas times of the past when we were younger and in better fitness than we are now. But then on the other hand some of us who have lived into old age have every reason to be thankful to God for having spared us so long.
Since last year many whom we knew and who were in different ways part of our lives have passed to their eternal reward, we will remember neighbours from our own parish who have died since last Christmas, and others who were well-known public figures because of their special talents, people like Moyvane’s Dan Keane, Rooskagh’s Tom McCarthy, Broadford’s Johnny Donegan and before that late Paddy Faley, Patie Enright, Dick Prendeville and Mick Barrett, all very talented people in their own ways. God rest all their souls. Some of us lost near relatives as well, my own younger brother Andrew, who was better known as Ando, died in October leaving me as the only survivor of our original family, some of my own former neighbours in Lyreacrompane area also passed on, it was only today we were told when on the phone to my sister-in-law Kathleen in Dromada that a one-time neighbour of ours Jackie Cronin, formerly of Dromadabeg, had died. Jackie was at one stage in his younger days a member of our Smearla Rangers football team. He later emigrated to the United States and returned here with his wife and family in Castleisland area.
As already mentioned Christmas is a time of many memories, we remember our Christmas school holidays when we were young boys and girls, there would be toys and decorations there beforehand and some lucky children would be presented with these on the day we got the holidays. In many local homes there was a goose for the Christmas dinner, very few turkeys were eaten then, they would all have been sold in the pre-Christmas Market, mostly in Castleisland. There were trips to the local shops a day or so before Christmas and the usual Christmas Boxes for their regular customers, what a lovely old custom this used to be. On St. Stephen’s Day the young lads and sometimes the girls too in the townland would be out “going in the wren”, in our area it was always “giving” rather than “hunting the wren” as it is mostly called in West Limerick.
When we grew older and attended dances there was always a dance on the night of Christmas Day at Dan Paddy Andy’s Hall in Renagown which we used to attend.
Then on St. Stephen’s night we would travel to Ballintourig in Currow area, a few miles from Scartaglin, where my father’s cousin Jamesy Brosnan had a dancehall. There was an all-night dance there each St. Stephen’s night and we would stay there until morning and then go to our cousin’s homes to get a sleep and usually remain with them for a couple of days visit. In our own townland of Dromada there were often house dances in the different homes throughout the festive period and there would be tea, bread and jam and home baked raisin cake served to the gathering in all the houses. One Christmas, when working with the Jesuits in Rathfarnham Castle, was spent by me in Dublin. Together with some more of the staff we visited a local bar in Rathfarnham on St. Stephen’s night. There was some lively company there and a great sing-song in real old-world Dublin style. It was my first time hearing that great lively song “Patsy Fagan” and it was sung by one of the ladies present.
There were other times coming home on Christmas Eve from Dublin and from England to Lyreacrompane, all very happy homecomings. But there was one very special time coming back for Christmas to Mary and the children in 1966 after being away all the previous year working in Derbyshire. That was such a happy and emotional trip home that it inspired me to write a poem about it “Going Home for Christmas”. There were other lovely times to remember as well when Seanie was coming home for Christmas from a college he was attending in the Midlands and when our girls were coming home at a time they were working abroad.
There is another special pre-Christmas time in my memory as well, it was the Christmas that Mary came home from Kilcara Nursing Home where she had been recovering for a month after major surgery in the Mater Hospital in Dublin.
There are of course no doubt many other Christmas memories one could recall like the couple of times the local Knocknagorna Wrenboys held the Wren Nights at our house but space does not permit recalling them.
2012 Dec; Tom Ahern from Knockfinisk, Athea, made a 13 track CD of his songs. One of the songs ‘Barna Hill’ Tom is a well known traditional singer who performs at Rambling Houses, and the West Limerick Singing Club.
CarrigKerry Notes
Munster Final.
This coming Sunday 9th December 2012, promises to be a wonderful occasion for the Saint Kieran's G.A.A. Club, West Limerick when they contest their first Munster Junior Hurling Championship Final. They have won the West and County titles, to date, and remain unbeaten after eleven Championship games. They are representing Limerick with pride and meet the favourites Cork Champions Kildorrery in Mallow Gaelic Grounds, at 2pm. The story of hurling in the catchment area of Saint Kieran's has included a lot of heartbreak near misses and boardroom decisions, going against them down the years. The curse left by Saint Patrick when the locals stoned his ass and he passing through Ardagh spreading religion around West Limerick has been put forward as one reason. The loss of players through emigration, injury enclosed order, born on the wrong side of a stream, and a forgotten slip of paper has cost them a number of more titles. The club have contested 12 West Junior A Hurling Finals, and they can claim 5 successes, 6 losses, and the 2010 final which they won on the field of play was not awarded.. They lost 5 finals, in succession in 1940, 1947, and 1956, (boardroom) 1964, and 1975, before they made the breakthrough in 1977, and they lost also in 2008. They won on the field of play in 1956, and 2010, and they lost the titles in the boardrooms due to objections from the defeated teams. In 1956 they drew with Banogue 2-3 to 1-6 and they won the replay by 4-3 to 1-5. They lost the title following an objection to a number of players living on the wrong side of a stream in the Old Mill area. In 2010 they defeated Askeaton by 2-12 to 2-11. No West title was awarded that year, following an objection that Saint Kieran's had an extra player on the field of play and the referee had not received his slip of paper when they scored the winning goal. They have been crowned Champions in 1977, 1982, 1983, 1985, and 2012. They have won 2 County titles, which have been well documented in 1985, and this year 2012.
It would be timely to recall their first success in the West final all of 35 years ago this year. It was the year that Jack Lynch led the Fianna Fail party to a sweeping success in the General Election. The Northern Ireland Peace Movement members Betty Williams, and Mairead Corrigan, were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. In Britain a Colour Television License cost 21 pounds, and a Black and White License cost 9 pounds. In sport Liverpool won their first European Cup final, and the horse Red Rum won his third Grand National at Aintree. Elvis Presley the King of rock and roll died aged 42 years. Singers Bing Crosby died aged 73, and Maria Callas also died aged 53 years. The top films that year included Rocky which won an Oscar, Star Wars, Jaws, and Saturday Night Fever. The top songs that year included ‘’D’on’t give up on us’ ‘When I need you,’ and ‘Don’t cry for me Argentina.’
In West Limerick Saint Kieran's drew with Knockaderry 1-7 to 2-4 at Newcastle West on 30th October. They led by 0-4 to 0-2 at half time, in a low scoring game. Michael O’Connor from Glenville was top scorer with 1-3. This game will be remembered for the length of injury time played in the second half. Team Jim Coughlan, Johnny Kennelly, Denis Greaney, Mike O'Sullivan, Pa O’Connor (captain ) John Windle, Patrick Mullins, Tim Crowley, Tom Ahern,Broadford Pa Leahy, Maurice Windle, Michael O’Connor, Mike O’Brien, Sean Mc Carthy, Johnny Nash, Subs Tom Neary, Sean O'Sullivan, Mike Mullins, Dan O'Sullivan, Peter Mullins, John O’Connor. Saint Kieran's defeated Knockaderry by 4-11 to 1-7 in the replay played at Askeaton. The team showed a few changes in personnel and places for the replay and they were trained by Fr Willie O’Gorman the local curate. Great scenes of jubilation followed the presentation of the cup to captain Pa O’Connor. Both games were played in very wet conditions, and the team enjoyed great support both days.
Since the name change (to unite all the four areas together) to Saint Kieran's in 1972 the club has enjoyed a lot of successful and glorious days in hurling and football. The hurlers have experienced a number of lean years, as well, and we must thank the committed people who kept the small ball alive during those days. Following the glory days in the eighties, the team slipped down the ranks and even dropped down to Junior B level. The winning of the West and County B titles in 2006 saw resurgence in their fortunes, and West and County Junior A Hurling titles have followed since. At the start of this year Saint Kieran’ was only fourth or fifth favourites for to win the West Limerick title, which contained 11 strong teams. The team and all involved are to be applauded for what they have achieved to date. They have lifted the spirits of all Gaels and banished the thoughts of austerity bailouts and budgets. One wag has said ‘’it was the blessing of Saint Molua's Well last August that has changed the fortunes of the team this year.’’ Saint Patrick's power has weaned in recent years, and Saint Molua has become more popular in the village. If the team win on Sunday 40 years after their formation they will be all canonized saints, and no doubt it will be more than holy water the people will be drinking on the run up to Christmas.
Pat Brosnan
The Quiet Man
In a recent lengthy article in Ireland’s Own there was featured the story of Richard Fennelly the Garda from Trim, Co. Meath who composed that wonderful, haunting, never to be forgotten, ballad “The Isle of Inisfree”. As well as dozens of other famous songs and ballads.
Perhaps when the song was adapted for the theme music in that great film “The Quiet Man” in which John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara played the leading role it was then that the magical sentiments as expressed in the song became really evident. My first experience of seeing the famous film was at a Derby Cinema back in the late ‘50′’s. For those of us who were exiles in another country at the time it brought back many memories of our homeland and the nostalgia that our people away from home are likely to feel when Irish songs, music and other reminders of home are sung or played and likewise films with an Irish background such as “Ryan’s Daughter” or “The Quiet Man”. When we heard lines from the film such as “Oh, Inisfree my Isle across the ocean, Tis soon I will return again to thee” and livelier airs such as “The Rakes of Mallow” or other songs like “Have you ever seen the morning in Kerry or Killarney, when the dew is on the hayrick and every drop a pearl” . These are the kind of words that stir up the emotions in Irish people when they are away from home and living in another country. According to the article in Ireland’s Own Dick Fennelly got the inspiration to write “The Isle of Innisfree” on a bus journey from Kells to Dublin. This song has been recorded by dozens of famous singers including Bing Crosby and is still as popular as ever. But of course the original story called “The Quiet Man” was written by a neighbour of our own Maurice Walsh of Duagh. When “The Quiet Man” was being screened at the different cinemas in England there were people who got a very different picture of Ireland and its traditions compared to what they had previously known or heard about this country. The humour, the scenery, the music, the songs all made a big impression on some of the English people that we knew at the time. But the Garda composer of the song that was such a major impact on the great film should have been given greater recognition for his songs. It is nice to know that our own great Garda song composer and singer George Langan, who is a native of Glasha and living in Dublin, can hold his own with the best composers and singers in the land.
Finally there was the story about the Limerick man who was telling a friend of his that he had got his free travel pass “Now you see, I can go to Ennis free whenever I want to do so”.
Death of Bridie Quille
By Pat Brosnan
Requiem Mass for Bridie Quille was celebrated at Holy Family Church, Southill, Limerick on Wednesday 28th November 2012, Burial afterwards in Mount St Oliver cemetery Limerick.
It was while being half way through in compiling this column over the weekend that the sad news came through of the unexpected death of Bridie Quille (nee Long) of O’Malley Park, Limerick City and formerly of Lyreacrompane. My initial reaction on hearing about the death of such a special and dear friend was one of shock and disbelief because Bridie and her husband Joe, also from Lyreacrompane, were lifelong friends of mine since our early days in Lyre and many years before we all came eventually to settle in Limerick, Joe and Bridie in the City and myself in Athea. We had attended different National Schools. Joe and Bridie went to Lyre and our family to Reenagown, even though we lived in Lyre Parish Renagown was nearer to us. But through attending Mass in Lyre and meeting them now and then in the local shops and Post Office we soon got to know the Quille and Long families. Joe’s older brother Christy served Mass with me in the old Church in Lyre, while we also got to know Joe’s other brothers Timmy and John from playing football with them, and through this we also got to know Bridie’s brother Jerry Long. Bridie’s sister Maimie, who was married to Joe’s brother Christy, sadly died at a young age several years ago when the family were still young. Through our involvement in organising local GAA football competitions and our interest in the organisation Joe and myself became close friends and this has lasted all through our lives. On the day of our own wedding Joe was MC at the meal and the festivities but we were away in England when Joe and Bridie were married a few years later. Bridie’s father, late Jerry Long, was a native of Turraree and this means that the Long family of Lyre have many near relations in Glin and Athea areas, the Longs in Turrarree and Clounleharde, Gerry Griffin, Glenagragra, Mary Collins, Athea and her family, John Long and his family, Glenagore as well as other local relatives. Late Jimmy Long of Turraree was an uncle of Bridie Quille and Hannah Mae Collins and the family are near relatives of Bridie from her mother’s side of the family.
During my years working in Limerick City in the 1970’s the Quille household in O’Malley Park was for me always a home away from home where Joe, Bridie and their lovely son Tommy made me, Mary and other members of our family welcome whenever we visited and made us feel like some of their own. When Tommy was a small boy we often looked after him when Bridie and Joe would go out for a night. Mary, God rest her, and members of our family always loved to visit the Quille family as well. In more recent years Joe, Bridie and Tommy together with late Sean Murphy and Doris Shire visited us on several occasions in Knocknagorna and we too always enjoyed their company whenever they called.
Joe Quille is of course widely known as a Press correspondent and a writer as well as being a barman for most of his working life both in Tralee and Limerick City, but perhaps he was known best of all as a programme presenter in various radio stations throughout Limerick and beyond. But as the saying goes behind every great man there is nearly always a great woman. While Bridie Quille was all that, she was much more, she was a devoted wife to Joe, she was a loving mother to Tommy, a loyal sister to Jerry and late Mamie. She was a much loved aunt and a good kind relation of all her in-laws and her other relatives, a very loyal friend to all who knew her as such in both the past and in more recent years. We remember Bridie as a lovely young lively girl attending dances around the locality or taking part in the Lyre Drama Group in her earlier days. But we will also remember her in more recent years for the fine articles and stories that she contributed to the Athea, Ballyguiltenane and Lyreacrompane Journals. As well as all this Bridie was also a great homemaker, a wonderful cook and a kind and generous person who was always so well liked by her friends and neighbours both in Limerick and Kerry.
Athea Community First Responders
Hi to all from the Athea Community First Responders. It only seems a few years ago that we were setting up in the hope of being a real Emergency Life support presence available to assist our community in the event of serious need.
Well in October Athea CFR’s AGM saw the end of our fourth year of activity and with the election of a new committee we are ready for the 5th year of providing our enthusiastic responder system. Thanks for all the hard work for the last few years and now to more developments over the coming year. Sean Liston steered the committee over the past two years with excellent back- up from Mary Sheahan, Eilish Geoghegan and Dr Kieran Murphy, during which time the whole organisation underwent two yearly re-certification for HSE recognised “Cardiac First Responders” training with the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council of Ireland. To date we are confident that all those who want to be involved and keep their skills live are in the system trained and ready for action.
The group’s activities involved some income generation from which we bought some re-supply of equipment. In the summer we held a training weekend for a group of keen and curious public members to gain the skills of Irish Heart Foundation, Heart Saver CPR-AED qualification. During the year we have seen the Knockanure De-fib group members join in with Athea CFR’s 90 day update re-familiarisation training. Additionally we supported Richelle Griffin to undergo the HSE National Ambulance Services (NAS) Instructor programme along with two other team members from the Knockanure De-fib group. Athea CFR Instructors have assisted the Brosna De-fib Group and elaborate training with the Abbeyfeale District Search & Rescue Team. Also during the last year Dr Kieran Murphy has been engaged providing ongoing teaching sessions covering a range of topics specifically designed to expand the responders understanding of what we are capable of providing. Mike Hayes instructor was busy throughout the year assisting HSE Ambulance training sessions in a few mass training processes.
5th year will see a host of activity with the new Chairperson Richelle Griffin at the helm assisted by Asst Chair Denis Casey, Mary Sheahan in the role of secretary, Eilish Geoghegan as treasurer, Rodge Byrne Training director and Dr. Kieran Murphy as Medical director. We are pleased to say the Instructor team welcomes to Athea CFR Richelle as new instructor and the two Knockanure recently approved instructors, (Anne Flavin, Margaret Carmody) into the fold.
In October Rodge was approached by the Irish Times to assist in the assembly of an article on “what we do, why and who” are the responders. That article appeared in the Health Supplement 06 November 2012. The article identified how many real call outs we have been to and briefly highlighted the outcomes. At the committee meeting held Monday 12 Nov we were pleased to celebrate those successes and reflect on a call out over the past weekend. Every time a call out happens we carry out a detailed review of timings / personnel who responded / what equipment needs were utilised. Kieran feeds back on the issues, and as is frequently the case, celebrate our notoriety with the HSE Ambulance services. Paramedics who arrive are always impressed with the speed of responses, coupled with the competencies displayed. Never complacent we are always evaluating ” what it is we need to do to develop training and understanding coupled with expanding skills training”.
Saturday 17 November 2012, Athea CFR’s will be engaged in assisting TG4 with completing a short TV appearance in upcoming screening of “Cuth an Pobal” date to be notified. We are growing our influence and celebrating what the community has achieved. We are recipients of the Irish Heart Foundation Heart Safe Community award 2009, we gained affiliation in Feb 2010, with the HSE West Ambulance services. Recognition with the Irish Heart foundation for our recent Irish Times appearance. Next year will see a number of responders represent Athea CFR at thewww.resus.ie two yearly Emergency Care Conference in Limerick.
We wish the community a healthy & happy 2013 but if that is not so, then you KNOW we are “on your doorstep and on our way”, remember the Athea CFR Emergency Phone number 087 27 37 077, If you Know a relative in the area who does not have our Number, please pick up further info (coming soon) from either of the shops, the Church and soon each household will receive a CFR Phone number sticker to apply to your Phone.
BROSNAN Songs
________________________________________
DAN PADDY ANDY'S HALL
by PAT BROSNAN
In a pub in Limerick City
where the soft lights were aglow,
We joined in lively company
and the drink and talk did flow,
Then they asked me what my name was
and the place from whence I came,
And if I knew O'Sullivan
who bore a triple name.
Oh yes! I said, I knew him sure
and the home where he did dwell,
Within a stone-throw of our school
which I remember well,
It was there we learned about life
in the land of Renagown,
Dan Paddy Andy's native place
that man of great renown.
I related how we often danced
within his famous hall,
With accordion music ringing out
our young hearts to enthral,
The Siege of Ennis and the waltz,
the reel and the polka set,
In the happy springtime of our youth,
the times we won't forget.
I told them of the concerts there
and many a travelling show,
Who performed at Dan Paddy's
in the days of long ago,
And of the morning pictures there
when every seat was filled,
In that hall beside the crossroads
which my father helped to build.
And also how the colleens
came from hill and vale and glen,
To trip the light fantastic
with the sturdy mountain men,
A hush came o'er the company
and a stranger shook my hand,
When I told them how my brother Dan
was the dance hall's one man band.
In a pub in Carrigcannon,
the Four Elms is its name,
We sat beside the turf-fire
and recalled that hall of fame,
An old man spoke with broken voice,
saying: "May God be with you Dan,
And the neighbours all who knew you,
as a legend and a man."
DOWN BY THE SMEARLA SIDE
by PAT BROSNAN
(To the air of Kate of Baltimore. Composed and first published in 1949).
We think of happy days of yore
when in life's youthful dream
We often played and wandered
by the silvery Smearla stream,
There were many comrades with us then
who have crossed the stormy tide,
Far away to roam from their native home
down by the Smearla side.
In green and pleasant meadows
there we used to make the hay,
And on Sundays after Mass
we went the Gaelic game to play.
Our exiled sons have wandered far
but in dreams they still abide,
With friends they knew
whose hearts were true
down by the Smearla side.
To the youth who still are left at home
this message we convey,
Be always true to Ireland lads
like our fathers in their day,
When they joined with gallant comrades
and in youth and manhood's pride,
They fought and died for freedom's sake
down by the Smearla side.
To our exiles who have crossed the sea
this wish we send to you,
We hope you always will remain
to God and Ireland true,
It is our earnest prayer to-day
that your footsteps He may guide,
And bring you safely home again
to the lovely Smearla side.
PADDY Faley
My Home in Sweet Lyreacrompane
Far away from my homeland in Kerry
I've been for a number of years
Although I'm contented and happy
My memory it fondly adheres
To that dear little spot by the Smearia
Where I first saw the light of the dawn
And spent the sweet days of my childhood
In my home in sweet Lyreacrompane.
Oh dear Lyre I can never forget you
No matter how long I'm away
In my mind you're as fresh as a daisy.
Or the wind blowing in from the bay.
When Ireland was fighting for freedom
To her colours her true sons were drawn
And fought for the freedom of Ireland
And their homes in sweet Lyreacrompane.
The music and song at the crossroads
I can still hear so clearly today
As in fancy my mind often wanders
To those days that are long gone away.
There on the flag floor in the kitchen
We often danced until dawn
God be with the dear days of my childhood
In my home in sweet Lyreacrompane.
In dreams I am sometimes awakened
By the sound of the Smearlagh beyond
Where I often fished in its waters
And many fine salmon did land
Those days are now gone forever
All the wealth of the world I'd pawn
If I could only return as a gorsoon
To my home in sweet Lyreacrompane.
Paddy Faley
The Purple Pencil” – reflective poems celebrating everyday life
By Peg Prendeville
Emigration
There’s no more work in Ireland; she’ll have to go away.
I can see the sorrow in my daughter’s face.
This country is all corruption and decay.
She had great plans to be buried in this clay;
she wants to rear her family in this place.
There’s no more work in Ireland; she’ll have to go away
For the welfare of my daughter I have prayed
that all challenges in the future she’ll embrace.
This country is all corruption and decay.
In Australia her children will now play;
in King’s Park in Perth they’ll hide and chase.
There’s no more work in Ireland; she’ll have to go away
Her intention is to return – please God she may.
She is hoping that we’ll recover from disgrace.
This country is all corruption and decay.
With patience I am waiting for the day
When I will be gifted with that grace.
There’s no more work in Ireland; she’ll have to go away.
This country is all corruption and decay.
13 Sept. 2012
Tom Moran was honoured this year, when he was awarded the title ‘Limerick Person of the Year’ 2012 by the Limerick GAA Supporters Club. Tom Moran felt that the title spurred him on to do something worthy of the honour, so he has embarked upon a major fundraising drive in aid of Pieta House, the Centre for the Prevention of Self-Harm or Suicide, with a 250km charity walk in September, dubbed the ‘Tomathon.’
The aim of the ‘Tomathon’ is three-fold; to raise awareness about suicide, to remind people in distress where they can go for help, and to generate as much money for the charity, Pieta House, as it can. The started at Athea Community Centre on the 11th September and end on Friday 21st September at the Red Cow Moran Hotel, Dublin, the 24th anniversary of when Tom first arrived to the hotel. Towns that they will pass along the way, Adare village, Nenagh, Roscrea, Portlaoise, Monasterevin, Naas and Rathcoole.
by Pat Brosnan
Memories of a Castle
Recently some of our own girls visited Rathfarnham Castle in South Dublin which is now under the control of the Office of Public Works. Looking out from the main entrance to the grounds and the Castle there is a fine view of some of the Dublin mountains and particularly the ruins of the famous or maybe rather infamous Hellfire Club which is situated on the side of the mountain that overlooks Rathfarnham, Ballyboden and other outskirts of the City. The most reason that our family members were interested in visiting the Castle was because of hearing from me of my experience of having worked there back in the nineteen forties when the huge structure was owned and run by the Jesuit Order and where we were members of the staff at the time.
The building was divided into two main sections at the time, there was the Juniorite where the trainee priests were accommodated and where they studied, they also cycled on weekdays to attend University College. Of course there were many other subsections in the main building, the Brothers and Priests rooms, the large Refectory where all the community had their meals together, the staff quarters and the dining room which was known as the staff hall. Some of the farm workers as well as some of the indoor staff and members of the maintenance staff were also accommodated in separate outside buildings and there was a gate lodge where the dairyman and his family lived.
The 20th century had brought many changes to the Castle after it was purchased together with part of the estate in 1913 by the Society of Jesus who are better known as the Jesuits. While they maintained the structure and the main rooms of the Castle in good condition they added two large wings during the 1920 period to accommodate a hall of residence for the seminary and a Retreat House and Chapel. There was also a lovely Chapel in the older building. Fr. John Sullivan whom we heard a lot about when we worked there was a candidate for canonization and he was also Rector for a short period during the 1930’s.
It is my belief however that those of us who were working on the staff of the Castle had not much real interest in the previous history of the place as we were more pre-occupied with some of our own day to day problems, small wages and long working hours. The advertisement for indoor staff members which appeared in “The Kerryman” which got me the job mentioned good wages, turned out to be 15shillings a week with a deduction of one shilling and three pence for insurance contribution. Perhaps if we worked in the Retreat House over a weekend we might get four or five more shillings from tips left by those who came on retreat there. Those who came on retreat there were mostly Dublin working class people from various occupations bus drivers and conductors one week, the next week gasworks employees and so forth. The rules for those on retreat were very strict, no talking among themselves or with the staff, complete silence over the entire weekend until the breakfast on Monday mornings when they were allowed to converse freely. Those of us in the indoor staff got one half day off each week in the afternoon, no fixed working hours, no minimum wage and of course no trade union membership. Those on the outdoor and farm staff however were in a different category altogether, fixed working hours and much higher wages. We in the indoor staff were to required to attend early Mass seven days a week and we were also more or less compelled to be back in our rooms by 10.30pm at night which gave us little opportunity to attend dances in the city or even go to see a film. But however it was a job and we were glad to have it. Many of the community were nice people, but like in every other walk of life the religious community in Rathfarnham had its quota of snobs, who more or less considered working people to be a lesser breed, but on the other hand some members of the community there were wonderful people who treated us with dignity and respect. After leaving there some of the community wrote to me, particularly late Fr. Hugh Mulhall and Brother Paddy Brady, both now deceased. When brother Brady was stationed at the Jesuit House in O’Connell Stree, Limerick which was since sold it was great to meet up with him again on one occasion after all the years. During our time working at the Castle the staff used to play a lot of handball, there were two fine ball alleys there so we became useful at the game a least it was not in this context anyway all work and no play. We used to run handball competitions for the staff as well.
The original castle at Rathfarnham dates back to the Elizabethan period and was built for Archbishop Adam Loftus, a Yorkshire clergyman who came to Ireland as a chaplain to the Lord deputy and who quickly rose to become Archbishop of Dublin and Lord Chancellor of Ireland and who was closely involved with the establishment of Trinity College. In our own time working at the Castle, one of the brothers in the community was by coincidence named John Loftus who was a native of Mayo. It would be extremely doubtful if he was a relation of the original Bishop Loftus for whom the castle was built. There were many stories about the castle that we never heard about while working there. For instance we were not aware that the place was supposed to be haunted until reading an article in Ireland’s Own many years later with the title “Ghosts of Rathfarnham”. Some of the Kerry lads who worked with me at the castle have now gone to their reward, but some years ago Joe Cronin from Beaufort found out by chance where we lived and visited us a couple of times and we also met him on another occasion at Scartaglin Féile Cheoil. Joe was one of my best friends when we were in Rathfarnham but sadly he has died in recent years. Who would have thought back in the late forties that the Jesuits would sell the property and leave before the end of the 20th century, as the order seemed to be so well established there. But then again they have also left Mungret College and sold the Church and house in O’Connell Street, Limerick. The Office of Public Works is now in full charge of what has been termed “A fortified house” and this historic building is now a visitor’s centre where there are guided tours and talks on the history of the place. It seems strange indeed that members of my own family are now visitors to a place where we were once staff members working from early morning until late at night very often for the weekly wage of 15 shillings less 1 and 3 pence insurance contributions and of course our meals and accommodation in this ancient castle. It was nevertheless an experience that played a role in the shaping of our lives.
Pat Brosnan
9-11’11 notes
Kathy Moran of Toureendonnell, whose death occurred early last week in her mid-nineties, was a well known and highly regarded member of the local community and her passing was widely regretted not alone by her immediate family, extended family, relatives, neighbours as well as a wide circle of friends who will all miss meeting her and who so often enjoyed her cheerful and jolly company which was always a tonic to all who knew her. However Kathy’s earlier life was certainly not easy as her husband died at an early age several decades ago leaving seven young children which she then had to bring up on her own. How well she coped with this task can be seen in how successful her family were in their careers and the shaping of their own lives. But sadly as well two of Kathy’s sons Patrick and Sean both died at an early age in more recent times. But in spite of all her personal troubles and sad bereavements Kathy never lost her sense of humour and outgoing ways and she kept up her interests in attending football and hurling matches regularly and going out to social functions with her family, relatives and friends which were occasions she always enjoyed . She also visited and stayed on occasion with family members both in this country and in England and she also visited Australia and the United States. However she always loved to come back to her home in Toureendonnell where there was always a welcome for neighbours and friends who might call and the kettle was always on the boil to treat visitors to a cup of tea. Kathy was originally a native of Ballyguiltenane in Glin Parish before she married but spent the most of her life in Toureendonnell. Her son Tommy is the proprietor of The Red Cow Hotel a well-known Dublin landmark and he has also other hotel business interests both in this country and in England. Her other son Michael has worked in the bar trade for several years and he was a well-known and useful footballer in his earlier years and won a Limerick Senior County Championship medal with Athea in 1968, and he also played football for the County. Kathy’s three daughters are living in different areas, Mary in England, Joan in Templemore and Helen in Adare. Kathy spent some time in hospital earlier this year but later returned home and was lovingly cared for by members of her family until the end. A wake was held at her home on Tuesday and Wednesday nights of last week and the removal to St Bartholomew’s Church, Athea took place on Thursday morning. This was followed by Requiem Mass and the funeral afterwards to Knockanure cemetery. Huge numbers called to the Moran home to pay their respects and sympathise with the family and there was also a big congregation at the Mass and the funeral afterwards to Knockanure Cemetery was well attended. Sympathy is extended to her sons, daughters, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nephews, nieces and other relatives. ‘Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilis’.
Patrick Ahern, b.1829, Athea, Limerick
Posted by: Maureen Ahern Date: September 11, 1999 at 07:10:11
of 600
Looking for more precise information and additional family members of my great grandfather, PATRICK AHERN, B. 1829, CO. LIMERICK, AT GARRYGLASS FARM, BETWEEN ATHEA AND ABBEYFEALE. HIS PARENTS WERE JOHN AHERN AND MARY BRODERICK OF THE JOHN AHERN FAMILY WHO WERE AT THE GARRYGLASS HOMESTEAD IN 1770. The earlier family homestead was at LAURIGA. Both homesteads are still being farmed today by Ahern descendents. Patrick's brothers were John, Mick and Maurice (emmigrated to KY)and perhaps other siblings. Patrick emmigrated to Mass. Vt. and NH in the 1840's; he went to the Gold Rush in CA around 1849; returned to join his brother Maurice in a livery stable business in Lexington, KY. then bought the Ahern family farm in Charlestown, N.H., where his son Thomas Patrick Ahern, raised a large family. I visited Garryglass and Lauriga in Oct. 1998: they are being farmed by Maurice Ahern and Anthony Sheehy respectively, who have more detailed information about recent family members there and the members who emmigrated to Australia. Helen Ahern in Abbeyfeale is in touch with most of the Ahern families there. I believe that Patrick's brother John's descendents, John and Bill, were in NY city in the 1930's. Would like to get in touch with any of families of Patrick's brothers, especially those of Maurice Ahern who was in Lexington, Ky.
Followups:
Re: Patrick Ahern, b.1829, Athea, Limerick Kylie Hartnett 1/30/02
Re: BRODERICK in ATHEA, LIMERICK
malcolmhell2723 (View posts) Posted: 30 Dec 2006 8:31PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Broderick (Brouder) Singleton
I wonder are you still looking? It might just be that we have someone in common.
We are searching for descendants of my great grandparents Cornelius and Mary (O'Riordan) Brouder. Cornelius was born in Abbeyfeale or Cratloe, Ireland in 1850 but moved to Gortnadroma (Co.
Limerick) once he and Mary married. They had six children and three of the children immigrated to America and just disappeared. Bridget (b.1876), Catherine (b.1878) and Michael (b.1880) all left
Ireland in the 1890's or early 1900's. We have found Michael on a ship's passenger list leaving Queenstown in April 1904 to join his sister Catherine (Katie) who was living in New York. She had
left Ireland some years before and was now married to a man Jeremiah Singleton (married Nov 1903). In the 1910 census Jeremiah and Catherine Singleton were still living in New York and now had 3
children Michael (5), Cornelius (3) and Mary E (1). Catherine's brother Michael was shown still living with them as a boarder. The 1920 census shows Catherine as still living at the same address
but now she was a widow. No more children but Michael the brother was no longer living with her. Their home address we believe was 236 East 72 Street at the time of both the 1910 and 1920 census.
By the time the 1930 census came around Catherine had moved to Queens and the 3 children were still living with her but now brother Michael was back on the scene living with his sister. He was
shown as being widowed and had one son Cornelius who also lived at the Queens address. We can find no information about the lady he married. Of Bridget we can find no trace but the story in the
family is that she married a man called Callen in the States and she died in the USA November 1929. A fourth sister Mary did at sometime immigrate to the States but later returned to Ireland and
married a local man. The family still own the old house in Gortnadroma and one of Cornelius and Mary's grandsons Raymond Brouder lives there to this day with his wife Nancy. For some reason in
the searching the name Brouder becomes anglicised to Broderick.
Julie S.
I will try to check out the "Liz of the Forge" information with our Irish contacts but it might take a little time - they have no computer. Interestingly my mother's maiden name was Julia Brouder
which translates to Broderick in your part of the world
William Colbert and Bridget Woulfe - Athea, Ireland to Minnesota
KColb (View posts) Posted: 9 Aug 2008 6:16PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Colbert, Woulfe, McAulife, O'Connor, Kennedy
William Colbert (b. 1837) married Bridget Woulfe and had 6 children in the Athea, County Limerick, Ireland area. The 6 Colbert children were Bridget, Edward, Richard b. 1860, John b. abt. 1869,
Catherine b. abt. 1873 and Patick b. 1874. I believe at least 5 of the children came to the U.S. and settled in the St. Paul, Minnesota area around 1880. I'd love to hear from anyone who thinks
they may have a connection. My email address is KColb952@aol.com.
CRIME AND OUTRAGE (IRELAND)-SACRILEGIOUS INJURY TO ATHEA CHURCH, CO. LIMERICK.
HC Deb 14 March 1887 vol 312 cc182-3 182
§ MR. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)
asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If his attention has been called to the statement in The Times of the 9th instant that- The Protestant church which was built at
Athea, in the west of the County Limerick.... was entered on Sunday night .... the memorial stained-glass window, erected by Archdeacon Goold in memory of some of his family, smashed with
stones.... The Bible was also torn from the lectern, the seats knocked about, and the interior of the building disfigured and outraged; whether, if this report is true, he can give any
information as to the cause of these outrages; and, what steps have been taken to bring the perpetrators to justice?
§ MR. ABRAHAM (Limerick, W.)
Before the right hon. Gentleman answers that Question, I wish to know whether he has received a copy of a telegram received from the parish priest, in which he states that the utmost indignation
prevails among the Catholic inhabitants of the town; and, also, whether a public meeting was held yesterday, at which strong resolutions were passed condemning this outrage, and offering a reward
for the discovery of the perpetrators; also, whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that the utmost cordiality has prevailed among the Catholic and Protestant inhabitants for the last 50
years?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)
I have received the telegram referred to, and which I thank the hon. Member for having sent me. I also heard of the meeting which was held yesterday. The outrage is believed to have been the work
of some drunken boys. I am happy to say that the police authorities 183 do not think it has any political or sectarian character. Four persons are in custody, and will be brought before the
magistrates this week.
Danaher Family Tree
THE DANAHER'S
Castlemahon
In the middle of the 17th century, two brothers named Maurice and Phil Danaher came to the parish of Rathronan, nowadays called Athea. Tradition tells us that they came from north Tipperary "gan
brog gan stocai", fleeing from Brodel's persecution-a Cromwellian Officer who was rounding up hundreds of young people to be dispatched to the West Indies as "indentured labour" i.e. as slaves.
In their flight they delayed at Rathronan Where they ultimately got a tenancy of two holdings from the Earl of Devon. Maurice Danaher was allowed to settle at Mothar Glas at the eastern side of
Glenagower. Philip Danaher settled at Cnocatrasna-Choile. The land here has been broken-in and was one of the two places in the parish, which was designated as "gniomh" or "plough
land".....
...After Maurice Danaher's death the tenancy of the farm at Mothar Glas passed on to his son Daniel. Among the latter's family was a son named Daniel. He went to Spain where he was studying at
Salamanca. He spent some years in Spain in the Spanish army. It is no known when Daniel went to Spain, but he returned to Ireland in 1731. He brought with him from Spain several books and a Wife.
Soon after coming to Ireland he settled in Castlemahon in the town land of Lios an Uisce. He got a tenancy of a farm from the Landlord Viscount Southwell when he found that Danaher could
teach...
...A hedge-school quickly started up and soon the Landlord's sons gained entry ....
......Daniel Danaher was followed in Lios an Uisce by his son Patrick who carried on a hedge-school there as did Patrick's son John and one of this John Danaher's sons named Daniel......who did
not occupy the Tenancy of the farm.
Glenagower
When the area was applotted for tithes in 1833 Philip Danaher held 222 acres and Maurice Danaher 93.... In the civil survey of 1654 it seems to have been held by the McSheahys.
Advancing to 1852 we find that Thomas Batson was then the landlord in succession to Stephen Dixion of Limerick. The town land has a hedge-school in 1839, which had 36 boys and 27 girls in 1840. In 1852 Phillip Danaher occupied 336 acres and Maurice Danaher 93 acres. The lands were bought from the then landlord the Hon. Eva Frances Caroline Kerr in 1907. The residents in the 1910 census were:
William Danaher, Philip Sheahan, Ellen Dalton, Richard White, Pat Danaher , Dan Dalton, James Lynch, Pat Fitzgerald, Pat Ahern, Tim Gallagher, John Doody, Pat Murphy, Michael Kiely, James P White and Kate Roche
The population in 1841 was 125 people in 15 houses. The famine took its toll; by 1851 there were only 82 people in 11 houses.
Author unknown
THE DANAHER'S
West Limerick and North Kerry Family
With far flung genealogical line
*Cork Weekly Examiner dated Oct 16 1931
A brief account of the history of this re-markable family may be of interest to many who have doubtless wondered at the prevalence of the name in North Kerry and West Limerick, and may have some
knowledge of it's very many intersections. We have it from tradition that the first of the Danaher's to settle in West Limerick were two brothers, Phil and Maurice, who fled from the borders of
Cork and Waterford at the time of "Brodels Persecution" as it was called, when he (Brodel) volunteered to procure thousands of slaves for the English Govt. to be sent to work on sugar plantations
of the Bermudas. Those two boys ran away barefooted, it seems, from their home, and never stopped until they reached Rathronan, better known today as Athea in County Limerick. They settled, Phil
at Parkmount and Maurice at Glenagower, and both of these places are consequently the cradle of the name as far as West Limerick and North Kerry are concerned. At Parkmount, Phil married, and
there were 5 sons of the union; Tim, John, William, Maurice and Michael, besides possibly a daughter or two. (I'm only the messenger!)
Tim (the son) got married to a Miss McCoy, and retained Parkmount, of which place the family line is still in possession. Tim's son Dan passed the place down to his son of the same name, whose
son John is the present possessor. John son of Phil went to North Kerry, where his sons Dan and Tim held possession after him. There is no male representative of either today, and the family name
is extinct at Kilarda, North Kerry. Tim, who married a Miss Roche, was the father of one son and five daughters, amongst whom were three who became the mothers of the Trants and O'Connells of
Listowel and the Danaher's of Parkmount, Athea.
William, Maurice and Michael the other sons of Phil of Parkmount, spent their lives at Knocktane Valley, Templeathea, where they are individually represented today by the Hanley's, the Danaher's
and the Tierney's. One of Phil's daughters became Mrs. Woulfe of Cratloe West, and was mother of Phil Woulfe of that place, whose descendants are still in possession. So much for the Parkmounts
wing of the family. Maurice Danaher of Glenagower, was father of a family there amongst who was Phil and Mrs. Tierney, late of Templeglantine. Phil got married to the sister-in-law of the late
William Clery of Templeathea, and became the father of Maurice, Phil, William, Tim, Pat, Dan and James, besides two or three daughters one of whom was a Mrs. Quaid. The sons of Phil Danaher all
became settled in West Limerick, at Glenagower, Moyhaglass Bally-hahill, Shanaglden and Loughill, where they are respectively represented by members of their families.
The two original Danaher's of Parkmount and Glenagower, by their action in taking flight from Waterford, proved to the world that they at least would never be "willing slaves" and today (1931) it
would be next to impossible to enumerate their descendants and connections (times thousands in 2001)
The Danaher's of today (1931) have developed a marked amount of ability. Maurice Danaher barrister-at-law, Miss Bridie Danaher, now Mrs.
Lindsay, is an MA and was lecturer in German at Galway University Father Danaher of the Oblate order is a Doctor of Philosophy. Dr James Danaher is an MD in England. Daniel Danaher late of
Parksmount was a University graduate when such advanced learning was uncommon in Ireland, and his brother Timothy (my grandfather) has written attractively in verse. There is hardly a Celtic name
on the roll that has not become joined to the name Danaher.
The families of West Limerick and North Kerry are only a small part of the name, which is also found in Waterford, Cork, Clare and Galway, and in fact outside of Ireland the sun does not shine on
a settlement in which the name Danaher is not to be found. They have taken their places with distinction in the Legislatures of the world, and are to be found in the ranks of professionals as
well as being engaged in all legitimate pursuits in lands of their adoption.
Needless to say DANAHER is a Hibernian name.
*This is a re-print of an article from the Cork Weekly Examiner dated Oct 16 1931
Limerick Roots?
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Corbett/Dore/Hartnett of Newcastle West (Tom Corbett)
Tom Corbett - 06:39am Apr 22, 2007 Irish
Looking for information about my great greatgrandparents John Corbett and Honora Dore Corbett who died in the thyphus epidemic about 1849. They had a farm near Newcastle West and had five
children (Catherine, Margaret, Patrick, James Dore, and Nora). Catherine, Patrick and James Dore Corbett (my great- grandfather) immigrated to America in 1850. He married Bridget Conners, also of
Newcastle West, in Chicago, about 1858. James had an uncle, Timothy Dore, who remained in Ireland. I have a copy of a letter James wrote to him in 1872. John Corbett had a sister who married a
man with the last name Hartnett.
Any information regarding any members of the family would be greatly appreciated! Tom Corbett (Ann Arbor, Michigan USA)
Patricia McGovern - 07:49am May 4, 2007 Irish (#1 of 12)
Tom, My grandfather was Michael Dore of Athea, Limerick who came to NY in about 1922. He married Maryanne Woods from Athea, who came when she was 19 in 1924. They had two children, one being my
father, Patrick Dore. I am going to Limerick in two weeks and will meet about 20 cousins there. Maybe we are related. I remember my grandmother speaking of relatives in Chicago.
Tom Corbett - 07:16pm May 9, 2007 Irish (#2 of 12)
Patricia, Thanks for posting your note! I would really appreciate hearing any info you find during your trip. In addition to the Corbett and Connors families, there was also a large contingent of
Enright cousins (also from Newcastle West) in Chicago in the mid-1800s. I also recently learned that there were some Hartnett cousins in St. Louis. My great greatgrandfather's sister married a
Hartnett in Newcastle West in the early 1800s. Looking forward to hearing from you-
wayne lansdown - 04:31pm Oct 8, 2007 Irish (#3 of 12)
I'm looking to get in contact with John Corbett from Newcastle West who was living in Brisbane Australia with his sister around 1997, I worked with him selling home security systems then he went
on to sell advertising for the big colour pages if anyone knows of him please email me waynel@aceradio.com.au Regards Wayne Lansdown
John Corbett - 03:07am Dec 4, 2007 Irish (#4 of 12)
Tom,
My great-great grandfather was James Corbett who married Catherine Foster. They lived in Monagea which is very near Newcastlewest (townland Garryduff) and had 6 children (John, Michael, Patrick, James, Thomas and Mary). The baptismal records for James (1834.11.20) list Maurice Connors and Ellen Connors as godparents. The baptismal records for Thomas my great grandfather (1838.03.05)list Wm Connors and Agnes Cunningham as Godparents. The baptismal records of Mary (1840.12.11) list Maurice and Margaret Connors as Godparents. So Corbetts were close to Connors near Newcastlewest. I think these Connors are at least related to your Connors.What do you think?
best regards, Fr John Corbett, O.P. Washington DC
Tom Corbett - 06:05pm Dec 23, 2007 Irish (#5 of 12)
Father John, I just read your note. Thank you for sending the information. The Connors you mentioned may well be part of my great-grandmother Bridget Connors' family. Bridget's parents were John
Conners and Mary Enright (1813-1902). According to the family records, they were married about 1940 at Newcastle West. The Corbett farm in Ireland was in the townland of Danganbeg, Mahoonah
parish. I have much information which may be able to prove the connection.Is there some way I could send more information to you? Best wishes, Tom Corbett
William Corbett - 10:57pm Dec 31, 2007 Irish (#6 of 12)
Dear Fr. John and Tom:
I wonder if we are talking about the same Corbett family. Garryduff adjoins Danganbeg townland. The River Deel separates the two.
Could our ancestors have been brothers? Or perhaps of the same family?
Do you have any documentation to confirm the residence of Garryduff?
Regards,
Bill Corbett wacorbett@gmail.com
Sean M Delaney - 02:05am Nov 3, 2008 Irish (#7 of 12)
I have Corbetts that came to Canada. James Corbett came with his wife Bridget Malone and at least three children : Michael Corbett, John Corbett and Bridget Corbett. They settled in a small town
in Quebec between Montreal and Quebec City. They came in the very early 1850s. I found out that they came from Limerick from Michael's (my GGGrandfather) head stone.
So here is more detailed info on my Corbetts James Corbett born abt 1799 in Ireland death March 22, 1878 in Quebec wife Bridget Malone born Abt. 1811 in Ireland death December 9, 1885 in Quebec Children Michael Corbett born December 15, 1839 in Ireland death February 25, 1916 in Quebec John Corbett born December 20, 1837 in Ireland death December 1923 in Montreal Bridget Corbett born abt 1840 in Ireland no other info known about her at this time.
If you care to I do have a Genealogy site here http://www3.sympatico.ca/delaney.clan/genealogy.html
sue oleary - 04:16pm Nov 14, 2008 Irish (#8 of 12)
Hi all our gt gt gt grandfather was james corbett if am correct born 1814 married ellen kirby 1839 had a son among others michael our gt gt grandfather born 1840 married margaret bond among there
chidren were our gt grandmother maria(mary) corbett born 1867 married michael nash 1887 if these corbetts are in any of your tree please get in touch, thank you all for reading. sue
susan_oleary23158@hotmail.co.uk
Maureen Noonan Harbourt - 07:59pm Nov 17, 2008 Irish (#9 of 12)
Dear Fr. John,Tom and Bill:
James Corbett and his wife Catherine Foster were my ggg grandparents. Their son, Patrick, was my gg grandfather. My sister obtained his birth records which indicate he was born (or christened) in Garryduff. He emigrated in 1852 on the packet ship Ashburton with his younger brother Thomas, and his sister-in-law Kate (Catherine), wife of his older brother John, and Kath & John's two oldest boys. Patrick Corbett married Mary McGrath (also of Limerick Co.) in Madison Co. Ohio and two of his brothers also married McGrath sisters. Patrick's son, James Patrick Corbett was my great grandfather. He married Mary Louise Irwin, and their son, Eugene Joseph Corbett was my grandfather. My brother is Michael Patrick Corbett Noonan, and his son is Edward Corbett Noonan (so the Corbett name continues in the family).
Maureen Noonan Harbourt
Orlaith Foster - 11:45pm Jan 14, 2009 Irish (#10 of 12)
Hi all, Just wondering if anyone has more information regarding the Catherine Foster that was mentioned. Any info would be much appreciated,
Orlaith Foster Limerick
liz h - 09:02am Feb 11, 2009 Irish (#11 of 12)
Hi im doing a family tree for my boyfriend who is a Corbett from Ireland i dont have much to go on no dates hardly any names apart from his great grandad sean Corbett who married a Halpin around
clonmel and cork area's can anyone help?
K Corbett Langley - 11:47pm Jun 10, 2009 Irish (#12 of 12)
I have been researching for Thomas and his family. My Thomas was born in Ireland, Aug 1831 and came to the US after 1845. According to my Dad, still alive, thomas came over with a brother and
possibly a sister. both boys lived in the NJ area with a sister that had married a "rich" dairy farmer. Thomas migrated to St Louis MO by way of a few years in Ohio, and then married in 1856 in
Osage County. All of Thomas's children were born in Osage Co, and all later moved to NE Texas. Is there any possibility that my Thomas is the son of James and Catherine (Foster) Corbett as
mentioned in several message boards? Can anyone enlighten or clarify for me? K Corbett Langley
June 29th 2005 - Tom M. Liston - Kansas City, Mo.
I haven't done any genealogy work for years, but stumbled onto this site while surfing the web. My grandfather, Daniel Bernard Liston, emigrated from Athea, Co. Limerick, in 1891. He was one of
13 siblings, some of whom also came to the US (Chicago and Kansas City). I was never able to trace two of his brothers, John and Nicholas. Anyone?
[Top]
By Pat Brosnan
A Frosty Morning
Frost upon the window pane, the air is cold and bracing,
Sheep out on the bleak hillside in the winter sun are pacing,
Water birds stand on one leg down by the silent river,
Near children sliding on the ice and dogs their tails a quiver.
People out on icy roads go slithering and skating
But others stay at home awhile the coming thaw awaiting.
Old Grandad sits beside the fire and for his pipe he reaches
In a daze he dreams of days long gone
And warm summer beaches.
Sparkling icicles on trees their bare cold limbs adorning
Oh, isn’t it a lovely sight this cold bright frosty morning.
Winter Thoughts
When the short winter’s day expires
‘Tis grand to sit beside the fires
To watch the coloured flames so bright
On a cold and stormy, dreary night
We’re grateful now for turf and logs
Of summer days spent in the bogs
So that we can harvest winter fuel
For the weather that is cold and cruel.
When the snow falls softly on the ground
And there’s damp and darkness all around
On the frosty roads the ice holds sway
Then the nearest town seems far away.
The farmers now must fodder bring
To feed their stock until the spring
Sheep from the hillsides are brought down
Away from the bleak winter’s frown.
All wild creatures young and old
Must find some shelter from the cold
Some ones in hibernation sleep
While others to their burrows creep
In spite of all its faults and ills
Each winter time has many thrills
So let us with our spirits high
All welcome every winter joy.
by Pat Brosnan
Review of Athea Journal
Perhaps the first attractive feature of the 2011 Athea Parish Journal which has been on sale since before Christmas is the lovely colour picture on its front cover of the Carnegie Library which first opened in 1914 and was sadly closed down last year just like other familiar Athea landmarks of their times. Then turning to page 1 we find an index of all the contents and the names of the contributors. After this we have the Editorial from Lillian Fitzgerald and Domhnall de Barra featuring the “Uncertain Times” in which we now live. Following on this on page 4 there is an interesting article on medical matters by Dr Kieran Murphy our local GP. Tom Aherne next contributes an article about saving the turf last year 2011 and on page 7 Anne Denihan, who lives on the Lower Road, writes about the family of their own the Thornhill’s where she grew up with the other members in Kilfinane Parish. On page 10 there is an article about the late Tommy Finn, a former professional jockey who in later years settled in Athea and who sadly died here last year R.I.P.
This year’s Athea GAA activities occupies pages 11 – 14 with some interesting contributions. Joe (The Kerryman) Quille, Limerick City and formerly Lyreacrompane writes “Odds and Ends” on pages 16 and 17. On pages 18 and 19 Nora Hurley submits an article which appeared in the Limerick leader on September 24th 1987 about “The Blessing of Athea’s “Roman Basilica”. Amina Parkes writes on page 20 about the Athea Drama Group and its most recent production “The Man from Clare” Mary Collins asks on page 23 “Is there anything as versatile as an egg?” certainly an interesting question. My own contribution appears on page 24 and 25 Dancing in Derby 1950’s. Tommy Quille has a quiz on page 25 with answers on page 76. George Langan writes about the Lynch’s of Glasha on pages 26 -29 and George has also some lovely tributes and verses dedicated to the great bard of Glenbawn the late Paddy Faley on pages 30 and 31. Athea United Soccer Club occupies pages 34 – 40 with a well written account of the year’s activities by Pat Mulvihill, Club PRO. On page 41 there is a detailed account of the facilities and activities of Athea National School. Turning to pages 42 and 43 there is an article by Raymond Fennelly “All in the Game” much of it about football but more of a general nature. Also in a corner of page 43 there is a poem by Tina Brosnan Andrews “In Loving Memory of Mam”. Athea Golf Society and its activities are featured on pages 44 and 45. Athea Coiste na nÓg activities are detailed from page 46 to 52 with contributions from Chairman Paul Curry, Michael Buckley, John Hunt, David O’Connor, Roger Ryan, Kevin O’Keeffe and Michael Reidy. On page 54 there is an article about NKRO North Kerry reaching out Heritage Project with details of how and where to join. On page 56 there is an article by Manager David O’Connor about U-12 Community Games Soccer. Tom Aherne writes about “A Special Visit” on page 55 and on page 60 Tom Fitzgerald has an interesting article about the Railway Tunnel in Barnagh. On page 62 Peg Prendiville writes about her late father “In Memory of Paddy Faley”. On pages 63 – 65 Pa Fitzgerald of Knocknasna and USA submits “Historical Letters from 1856”. Domhnall de Barra contributes “Change of a Lifetime” from pages 66 – 68 which also includes a couple of songs. On pages 70 and 71 Patrick Fitzgerald tells about how “Every Photograph tells a Story”. Then on page 77 there is a short article about the late Dan Keane “Going Strong at 92” on the occasion of his book launch “A Kerrryman’s Limericks “ before Christmas. “Old Time Football Stars” an article taken from the Limerick Leader 9-3-1955 and submitted by T J Culhane appears on Pages 78 and 79. On page 81 there is “A Song for Dev” from Tales out of School by Raymond Fennelly. On pages 82 and 83 there is an article “The Irish Rural Servant Boy and Servant Girl” taken from the West Limerick Journal produced by the late Patrick T Aherne R.I.P. in 1985. Domhnall de Barra writes on page 84 about the activities of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann in Athea during the past year. On page 89 there is de Barra’s Crossword. On page 90 David O’Riordan, Granagh writes about “The Amazing Piper Jackson Story”. And on page 92 David also tells about “Famous Irish Singers in British charts”. The final articles in the Journal on pages 94 and 95 concerns the years activities of Athea Community Council the Chairman’s address at last year’s AGM and the Secretary’s report at the AGM held on September 19th last. It can be seen from the above review that there is a great variety of interesting material in the latest 23rd Edition of the Athea Parish Journal. But the photographs, most of these in full colour are a different matter altogether, page after page they enhance the quality of the Journal and make it much more attractive. There are of course a number of older interesting black and white photographs from the past including the 1916 Martyr Con Colbert and another of late Glenbawn poet and writer Paddy Faley. There are also photographs in both colour and black and white from George Langan’s Album. There are some fine photographs all in colour from the GAA and Soccer clubs and Coiste na nÓg and a page of photographs from Athea National School. There is a page of photographs from Athea Golf Society and another from the Comhaltas Annual Trad Féile. As well there are a couple of pages of photographs of the Soccer team representing Athea in the Community Games last year. There is a colour picture of the Barnagh Railway Tunnel and another fine colour picture of Paddy Faley submitted by his daughter Peg Prendiville. 4 pages of pictures in colour and black and white from the Cratloe area have been submitted to the Journal by Domhnall de Barra and further on there are 2 pages in colour of “Photos old and new”. There are some nice colour pictures in 2 pages in “Every Photograph Tells a Story” sent in by Patrick Fitzgerald. There is a colour photograph of the late Dan Keane taken from the front cover of his Book of Limericks also some wedding colour photographs and motor cyclists. There is a page of colour pictures from Mike O’Connor’s album. There are more photographs in colour and black and white from the Cratloe area from Maura Keane’s slides and Josephine McElligott. Dáithí O’Riordan, Granagh submitted 4 black and white photographs with his article about Irish singers in British Charts and the last colour photograph in the Journal is of an early draw in the Community Council “Lucky Numbers”.
US: Supreme Court. Of the nine justices, there are no Protestants. From 1789 until about 1969, nearly every justice was Protestant, and even as recently as 1994, a majority of justices were Protestant. Today, in the words of Christianity Today, we've got a Court composed of 6 Catholics, 3 Jews in 2011.
FLEADH:
Fleadh by the Feale
By Pat Brosnan
By all accounts the Fleadh by the Feale on this occasion was once again very successful and all the various events were supported and went down very well. On Sunday afternoon those of us who attended Daisy Kearney’s storytelling, singing and recitation session thoroughly enjoyed it. Kieran Curtin presided at the opening of the show and welcomed Daisy and all the other entertainers. Daisy herself told some of her great stories and there were some fine songs and recitations from many of the guest performers. These included – Con Warren, Kathleen Herlihy, Donie Lyons, Con Curtin, Pat Brosnan, Chrissie Roche, Jim Lyons and some others including the couple from Wexford who attend Daisy’s show each year. Ita McQuinn gave a very amusing recitation with a great anti-climax finish and Donie Lyons and Daisy Kearney performed the famous “Railway Line to Ardagh” which was composed and often performed by the late Paddy Faley. There was a special request for Jim Lyons to sing “Nancy Hogan’s Goose” before the end of the show and he gave a rendering of the song that had everyone laughing. After the session which was held in St. Ita’s Hall the performers and the audience were all treated to a lovely meal of tea, sandwiches, apple tarts and buns which was very much appreciated by all. The Fleadh Committee were very lucky that the weather held up so fine throughout the weekend which certainly added to the enjoyment of the events.
May 2012
by Pat Brosnan
Nothing Equals Home Grown
When we of an older generation think back to the days of the 1940’s and ‘50’s we remember with a degree of nostalgia the time when everybody living in rural areas whether they were farmers, small holders or one acre cottage residents had one thing in common they all reserved a plot of ground whether it was big or small to grow their own potatoes, cabbage and vegetables of various kinds including turnips, carrots, parsnips, onions, lettuce and so forth. There are some people who now talk about the hard times of the ‘40’s when everybody had to have a ration book to buy most everyday ordinary commodities such as bread, flour, tea, sugar, butter and so forth and no doubt the scarcity of some of these essential household items caused a certain amount of frustration and hardship, but on the other hand those who were living in rural areas had a lot going for them with their own home produce compared to those who lived in the towns and cities. In our own part of North Kerry when we were growing up we had our own turf for fuel, we had our own milk and homemade butter, we grew our own acre of wheat which we had cleaned and crushed into wholemeal flour at the Ryan Mills in Castleisland for 3 pence per stone, and we grew barley for pig feeding which we had crushed at Browne’s Mills, Castleisland for 3 halfpence per stone. So in spite of the fact that many of our generation look back on those days as a time of hardship it was not all bad and the one thing that contributed to making life a little easier and pleasant for rural dwellers was the fact that many grew so much of their own food. And of course most country people killed a pig each year which provided home cured bacon for the family. Also of course most rural housewives kept fowl of various kinds – hens, ducks, geese, guinea fowl and so forth which all in their own way contributed to the household budget. Please forgive the pun but is there not a great deal of food for thought about the situation in our country now and the time that home frown foods and products made many rural households at least partly self-sufficient.
There are still some people around rural areas who are interested in gardening and growing much of their household requirements and for this we need go no further than my own next door neighbours the Mumbrey family who settled in Knocknagorna 10 years ago after coming here from England. They have managed to turn a small plot of ground into a rich and productive source of fruit and vegetables. Of course for them like a great many English people working in their gardens is not only a hobby it is also a means of producing a great deal of fresh healthy food for the table as well as saving them the expense of having to buy all these items when they are out shopping. A native of Athea, Joe Hurley who lives in Waterford and who devotes much of his spare time to working in his garden, was the recipient of a high profile award a couple of years ago from the then President Mary McAleese. Joe’s brother, the late Denis (Sonny) Hurley RIP who lived in the Lower Road, Athea, was also a keen gardener and kept his interest in it up to a short time before he died a few years ago. Another good friend of mine Con Warren of Newcastle West and formerly from West Cork is also very much into organic gardening and fruit and vegetables of various varieties and is very skilled in this very useful hobby. Con, of course, is also well known in the traditional singing scene and has been County and Munster Champion on different occasions. He has been a member of Athea Comhaltas for many years. Up to around eight years ago before having a hip replacement we used to sow some potatoes, cabbage, onions, lettuce, turnips and occasionally carrots as well and we got great satisfaction from doing this work as well as having our own garden produce for much of the time each year. There are some people in Athea parish who still plant their own garden crops and it is good to see that this is still flourishing and that the lovely tradition of people growing their own in many places is still very much alive though by no means in any of the same scale as it was in the past. However with the introduction of the farmers markets in local towns in recent years it is now possible to get fresh healthy farm products rather than having to buy the processed and often preserved foods in the larger stores.
We hear regularly these days about the growing modern problem of obesity in children and of problems that this can cause in later life particularly in those who take little or no part in sports or physical exercise. Some surveys have unfortunately indicated that anything up to one child in every three throughout the country is overweight. There is little doubt that the food they are eating is a major factor in this trend and the sooner that these children are brought up and taught to eat and appreciate wholesome foods such as home grown garden products the better they will be for it. In our young days there was little or no obesity among school children. The Billy Bunter’s of those days were very few and far between and the reason for this was they were fed on wholesome food and perhaps not even too much of that unlike many of the children and teenagers of the present time who grew up on ready to eat fast foods that have many of the wrong ingredients. And of course this does not apply to children alone there are as well thousands of adults who are also grossly overweight and who make no attempt or have no inclination to reduce their intake of the wrong foods and for that matter the wrong drinks. Everybody at times perhaps needs to have an occasional splurge that is natural enough and unlikely to cause any harm, it is only when people make the wrong foods a part of their daily lives that the trouble is likely to set in. That is why the culture of people growing their own food is still as relevant and as important as it ever has been. Late Paddy Faley wrote a very stirring and enlightening poem about getting back again to “The spud and the spade”. Paddy was not just telling others what they ought to do; he was a shining example himself of planting his own vegetable garden as long as he was able to do it.
May 2012
Pat Brosnan.
A Story and Song
The songs of one of our own great singers late Tom McCarthy of Newcastle West and formerly of Rooskagh were featured in Pat O’Donovan’s weekly “Story and Song” programme on West Limerick 102fm Radio on Saturday last. The songs which were played back included – “The Pretty Little Girl from Omagh”, “My Donegal Shore”, The Wild Flower of the Laune”, “Somewhere in Between” and one of Tom’s most local songs “Lovely Glenagown”, George Langan’s song “A Tribute to Tom McCarthy” was also included in the programme. Tom’s son Martin, who is a member of the Newcastle West Pipe Band, also played a few numbers of airs on the pipes to enhance what was a lovely and enjoyable programme. Well done to the presenter Pat O’Donovan on his choice for the programme.
Athea Community Games
By Pat Bronan
Congratulations to Margaret Stackpoole and Sinead Hunt who recently won County medals for Athea in the Community Games Athletic competitions in Mungret. Well done too to all the others who represented Athea after they had qualified for the County finals. By all accounts they performed well in Mungret and some reached the final stages in the competitions. It is great to see that the Community Games are still going well in Athea since that rainy day away back in 1973 when we first organised a sports meeting under the auspices of the Community Games rules. Athea did not win any County awards in that first year but on the following year Athea made the first breakthrough when Mike McAuliffe won the silver County medal in the 100 yards race, the first Community Games medal for Athea. Breda Quaid had previously won a medal in the shot but in this Breda represented Abbeyfeale, that was before the Athea Association had been formed. From 1974 onwards Athea took part regularly in the Community Games and went from strength to strength in various competitions down through the years. During all this time many dedicated people in the parish have from time to time taken over the running of the games. While it would not be appropriate to mention names in case someone was omitted, instead we must pay a well deserved tribute to all these great people of the parish in organising and promoting Community Games. It has been my privilege to work alongside many of these people on various occasions and to be able to state that they were all wonderful.
Naturally at times, as in almost every other organisation, some differences of opinion arise, but generally Athea has never experienced any great bickering or major disruption or take over bids except perhaps on one occasion when a sub-committee tried to take over one of the functions of the main official body. However, it all seemed to pass over quietly enough without any great hassle or ill feeling and the running of the games soon resumed and continued as before. The present committee and their assistants seem to be doing a great job and there is now a big variety of competitions in which the children and teenagers can participate and play their part.
While the Community Games Association is of course a separate and independent body, co-operation and co-ordination with other local sporting and cultural organisations is not alone useful but it is essential.
While other organisations are all doing great work in organising and promoting specific games and various cultural activities the Community Games movement on the other hand is and organisation that caters for talents of all kinds and even for those children who might have no particular talents but who nevertheless benefit from the friendship and comradeship that can be found in the Community Games.
My own involvement in the promotion of the Community Games came about more or less by accident. When Sergeant Pat O’Leary, a native of East Kerry, was in charge of the Garda Station in Athea we used to meet when organising juvenile football matches for the local schoolchildren. In the meantime Pat had intended to form a Community Games branch in Athea, but then he was transferred to Rosscarbery Garda Station in Cork. Before he left he gave me the details of how to set up the Community Games in Athea. This was all very new to me because even the Community Games movement at National level and particularly in Limerick was still in its infancy.
However, with the help of some local interested people and financial backing from Athea GAA Club we entered a team for the County Athletic finals at the Gaelic Grounds. We then organised a sports meeting in the high field and bought medals for the winners with the money we got from the GAA Club.
As already stated we held our first Community Games Athletic meeting on a very wet Sunday in 1973 and after that the rest is history. Having got stuck with the job of Secretary for the next ten years or so, Athea Community Games gradually evolved with wins for our Association at both County and National level as the years went by right up to the present. It has been a great experience for some of us to have set the whole thing in motion.
Folklore by Tom Ahern
The folklore commission of Ireland commenced their collection in National Schools around the country on 1st July 1937. Pupils from over 5,000 Schools participated in gathering vast amounts of local knowledge over an 18 month period. Over 100,000 children from 11-14 were involved and they interviewed their parents, relations and neighbours to gather the knowledge. The local Schools participated and their original work is available in the National Folklore Collection in University College Dublin. The topics the children were instructed to research and write about included local history and castles and monuments, folktales and legends, songs, riddles, proverbs, customs beliefs, games and pastimes, traditional work practices, crafts, place names etc.
The death of Owen Neville, from Ballinguile, Croagh and Shannon on 1st July 2012 is much regretted around West Limerick. He was a fine singer and guitar player who performed in Ardagh Hall in the sixties. The fund raising Concerts and Talent Competitions attracted the best of artists and local talent and large crowds attended. Through the mists of time I can still see him on stage bringing great joy to all present. Owen played and sang at the top venues in Limerick in those years and also appeared with Tom and Pascal at the Savoy Theatre on 24th June 1976. He was laid to rest in the Old Cemetery Adare on Wednesday 4th July 2012. May he rest in Peace.
Maura O’Connor Dalton.
July 2012
Invariably, I only ever put pen to paper on the passing of footballing teammates. Pat and Kathleen have paid well-merited tributes to the girl I knew all through her schooldays in Athea N.S. and it stirred me to elaborate a litttle further on the exceptional Maura Dalton (RIP).
Maura inherited her talents from the genes of a wonderful family; what she did with them was entirely due to her admirable application as she progressed through her academic life. As well as her academic skills Maura excelled at anything she applied herself to. At school her IQ would bear comparison with the most intelligent stratum of pupils: some achievement over such a very long period !
It is fair to say that Maura was one of the most versatile pupils who attended the school. From an early age one had to notice her athleticism and while she became a skilled table-tennis player she was also developing into a top-class basketballer. In an age when hardly any girls played football Maura, along with Dymphna Brouder and Helen Stapleton played for the Athea under 14 boys and I remember remarking the three were the best players we had !
As well as her singing skills Maura developed into a first-class set-dancer, winning more than one county title, when the most difficult part was getting on the Athea Scor team. But time passed on and Maura pursued her career away from home. Imagine my surprise when word spread that Maura had returned to live in Athea, was fitter than any of the Athea ladies team and was ready to tog out once more.
Sadly, it was one of the years we were beaten in the Ladies County final by Mungret, certainly not Maura’s fault because she was outstanding all through. I had only sporadic association with her in latter years and was delighted to hear she was appointed secretary of Tarbert Comprehensive School. Her unexpected passing at such an early age was a hammer-blow, not just to her own family but to the community at large.
Not to finish on a completely mournful note: a little anecdote on Maura’s time in Athea school. Not every creature loved Maura; a stray mongrel – and there were always some in the village – took an intense dislike to her. So much so that the dog stalked her whenever she came out of doors, and managed to bite her on the nose one day. A few days later she bolted in the school gate, absolutely terrified, with the dog in hot pursuit and we had to push her into one of the prefabs for protection : the dog had no interest in anybody else!
An exceptional lady surely she was, universally loved – except by a stray dog. May she have eternal rest.
Timmy Woulfe
by Domhnall De Barra under News
Athea Credit Union Hosts Special Function for John O’Connell and John Joe Barrett
A special function is being hosted by the local Credit Union in the Con Colbert Hall on Sunday 11th inst. It is a rather poignant occasion, namely, to mark the retirement of two of its greatest stalwarts, John O’Connell and John Joe Barrett.
It will commence at 2 PM with a private session, confined to the officer board, to be followed at 3.30 PM by a public reception, to which all will be very welcome. I might mention that refreshments, supplied by Colleen Reidy, will be served.
It would be impossible for me, even to synopsise it, to adequately describe the contribution made by both Johns not just to the development of the Credit Union, but the life of Athea community over a long number of years. It would require reams of print to do justice to their achievements, and I wouldn’t dare to single out one above the other in terms of their significance.
John O’Connell is one of the great unsung heroes of our parish. There is hardly a development in Athea which doesn’t bear his imprint, be it St. Vincent de Paul, from which stemmed the Housing Association, the upkeep of the graveyard with Thady, the Tidy Towns, the Community Council, the GAA, the Carnival Committee, the Con Colbert Memorial Committee and ……………. !
John Joe, from Knocknagorna, like many of his peers, emigrated to the USA, probably in the early Fifties, where he found himself drafted into the American army during the Korean war. Safely emerging from that trauma, Kitty and himself returned to Lower Athea and, immediately got immersed in all community affairs. John Joe had a skilled pair of hands, and the brain to go with them and became one of the best-known tradesmen in the locality.
He, too, like his namesake, pitched into any community matters that needed him, along with rearing a very talented family. And it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge Kitty’s contribution both as entertainer and assistant treasurer.
It was John O Connell who first mentioned the Credit Union. The only thing he knew was that it had to do with money, something that was desperately needed at the time, to begin construction of the Colbert Memorial Hall.
It was a cold Autumn night when three Dubliners, one of them, Kathleen Matthews, was Nora’s sister-in-law, came to a meeting in the school to tell us about this new-fangled organisation, all about money in one form or the other ; alas, no bonanza for the memorial !
Maybe we hadn’t the gumption to tell them their suggested financial planning wasn’t what we needed so badly ; however, we went along with their suggestion that we form a study group, and thus Athea and District Credit Union was established in 1968, probably the first one in Limerick – or Kerry for that matter !
Among the officers chosen on the night Jerry Carey became treasurer. He was one of many outstanding Gardaí we had over the years; however, shortly afterwards he was transferred out of the parish and John Joe Barrett stepped into the breach. This was a brave decision, because it is the key position in any Credit Union and John Joe maybe hadn’t much experience of the financial management skills required.
But, we needn’t have worried : John Joe got stuck in immediately and history will testify to the wonderful success he made of it, to the extent that we can maybe boast that we are as efficient a branch as any around !
We invite all and sundry along next Sunday to show the community’s appreciation of two of its finest servants over two long lifetimes. Of course we wish them well and hope their wisdom will continue to be available whenever the occasion arises.
Go maire siad araon an cead !
Regards,
Timmy Woulfe
August 2013
“The days are so short and the nights so long
Thinking of Christmas and holidays coming on
So we sit in the workroom at study you see
Planning the day when we will be “Set Free”
I will never forget that day in November
When Mulhern was in a tare and showed up her temper
She called on the 2nd years and oh what a dose
She opened their bags and examined their clothes.
The first was Mary Agnes whom we thought was the best
But Mulhern was not pleased, she found fault with the rest
Her print and her overall were ironed so grand
That Mull “beat her away with the back of her hand”
Gretta came next with her clothes in a bag
Her print and her overall tied up like a rag
Mull chases her away and giving her a thump
Saying get out of my sight you lazy lump.
Written in c 1945 by Kathleen’s Mother of Athea.
Dear Sir or Madam,
1960’s
I am sorry for the poor distressed farmers who envy us Co. Council workers and the high time we have and tis a shame so tis for the Co. Council to burden them with the few pence that they levy on their rates for our enjoyment.
Ah tis well for us to be going off, whistling gaily, in the dark of the morning while the poor distressed farmer tosses and turns in his bed for he can’t get a good night’s sleep at the thought of getting only £80 a head for his bullocks.
For the last three weeks we had great sport spreading 360 tons of gravel daily on the road and what fun we had racing each other towards a clump of bushes to play hide and seek with the merry hailstones that came with the whistling wind to laugh and play with us; and what a delight it was to sit down on the roadside for our luncheon picnic without the bustle of women to serve it to us.
Sometimes too we have a fancy dress parade as we clothe ourselves in wellingtons, pull-ups, oilskin coats and caps resembling pirates and astronauts around the moon. And we’re exalted into high humour when our skin is tickled pink by the playful splashes of the pouring rain and we wish then that we had the lonely farmers with us to share and enjoy all this entertainment.
And if at times we stay overlong resting on our shovels who would blame us, for who could resist the pleasure of gazing on the blue curling smoke ascending from the farmers’ chimneys as they kindle the fire at ten o clock after rising from a troubled sleep.
We are glad to be able to recompense some of them by providing the dole which they collect weekly through our increased social welfare employment stamps.
Yours Sincerely,
Paddy Faley, Co. Council worker.
Peg Prendeville
Ice Bucket challenge
Am I the only grouch around
Who is fed up of all this water
Thrown on every head we know
To me, it’s worse than slaughter.
Give the money if you want
All causes need some help
But no need to plaster Facebook
With iced water and a yelp.
Ok it was funny for a while
But now its time to stop
And think of water charges
It’s too expensive for to slop.
And what about some people
I cannot help but think
Who have to walk for miles each day
To get water for to drink.
So please, all you kind people,
Donate if that’s your choice
But do it and move on in life
And then we’ll all rejoice.
See Athea News for more
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