Athenry - athenry.net, Athenry, Co Galway, Ireland

Athenry Parish Newsletter Sun 28th June 2009
Athenry Parish Website.
http://www.athenry.net/stmarysparish
Athenry 120th Agricultural Show
Will be held on Sunday the 5th of July.
A community event spanning three centuries is a great tribute to a Parish and all in the wider community who support this show by entries in
A most enjoyable day for a family outing.
Thanks to the sponsors and we welcome your attendance on the day.
Various competitions- cattle, sheep, horses, dogs, fruit, flowers, vegetables, art, craft, photography, home-baking.
Your support for this show is greatly appreciated by the Show Committee and the many people who help out on the day.
Checking up on our history
A conference in Dublin this week will examine how the Irish medical system coped with its many challenges in the 19th century. SMALLPOX, WIDESPREAD death from famine “fever” and overcrowded lunatic asylums were just some of the many challenges faced by Irish medicine in the 19th century, and a conference in Dublin this week will examine how they were tackled. Smallpox was widespread in the 18th and early 19th centuries in Ireland, but a successful vaccination programme had clamped down on the disease by the 1860s. Then a wave of smallpox washed across Europe in the early 1870s, and Ireland was hit – more than 10,000 people died from the disease here in 1872 and localised outbreaks erupted for several years afterwards, says Dr Mel Cousins from Glasgow Caledonian University. Isolation of patients as well as cleanliness, vaccination and disinfecting of clothing and bedding were considered important for controlling the spread of smallpox, he explains.
So during an outbreak in 1875, when a doctor in Athenry ordered the transport of smallpox patients to nearby Loughrea – despite the objections of the local and public health authorities – it sparked public disquiet that culminated in the burning of the workhouse van. The riot prompted widespread condemnation, but thereafter the authorities arranged for hospital services to be provided for smallpox patients in Athenry. “Whatever one may think about the action, it was clearly effective and not one single person in Loughrea caught smallpox,” says Cousins. (Irish Times)
Sister Cities Challenge
The Olympic Boxing Club in Westside this week launched a unique sporting event for Galway with a team from the US city of Chicago travelling to Galway to face a team of Tribesmen on 12 July in the Galway Bay Hotel. A squad of 12 Chicago men has been chosen out of the city's 2,000 strong amateur boxers and has been funded by the 2012 Chicago Olympic committee. Headlining the event is EU senior gold medallist David Oliver Joyce who will face off against All-American silver medallist Darren Smith in the Featherweight division. Other highlights include Athenry's Michael Ward – two time Irish middleweight champion – and Brian Barrett – cousin of Francis Barrett – who will face the US Champion Tracy Rollins. Tickets are priced at €20 for adults with juvenile tickets also available at €10. Doors open at 5pm with eight juvenile fights on first, followed by the seven senior fights. (Galway Independent)
Congratulations to Athenry Boys’ School
Congratulations to Athenry Boys’ School who were awarded their 3rd Green Flag recently. The school also won the award last year for the:- “Best Kept Public Building in Athenry “. Well done to the Principal, Staff, pupils and Parents of the School for all their efforts in caring for the Environment.
Athenry Drama Camp
Join us for a fun filled week! Why not explore your creative side, have fun and develop confidence? Meet new friends, develop new skills!. Where:- Gairmscoil Mhuire Athenry When: 3-7 August-10.30-2.00p.m or 10-14 August 10.30a.m. to 2.00p.m. To book your place, call Anna (Director of Gairmscoil Mhuire’s “Rubies in the Fields” on 087 6897148.
Athenry Tidy Towns Committee
Athenry Tidy Towns Committee has organised clean-ups on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for the summer months. We meet in the Church Car Park at 7pm. All volunteers will be made welcome. Please bring along a brush or spade. The Committee is also appealing to local businesses to put out floral displays for the summer months.
Athenry Student develops mobile app to monitor driver behaviour
A student at NUI Galway has developed a system to remotely monitor driver behaviour using GPS and accelerometer functionality on off-the-shelf 3G mobile handsets.
The system developed by Kevin Burke from Athenry has won the Accenture Academic Innovation in Computing Award.
The prototype system is capable of detecting when and where drivers exceed driving speed limits and potentially identify when they execute dangerous driving manoeuvres. click here to read more
Athenry's Beijing Olympian Paul Hession confirmed for Cork City Sports
Athenry's Beijing Olympian Paul Hession confirmed for 58th Cork City Sports on 4 July, with the Athenry native set to record a sprint double. Jamie Nieto and Dusty Jones (USA) will also renew their much publicised battle to sort out who is the best American high jumper at present.
Anger at removal of bottlebanks
Athenry.net has received several emails from irate Athenry residents who now have to travel to Oranmore and Monivea to recycle their bottles and cans. Peter Feeney should be contacted about this. Athenry.net would like to congratulate Peter on being re-elected to Galway County Council.
St. Mary’s G.A.A. Club na nÓg
The U10 & U8 Football in the Vocational School pitch will in future be held on Wed nights 7–8pm
Summer Dance Camp (Athenry & Loughrea)
Summer Dance Camp (Athenry & Loughrea) July & August For a week filled with fun dance/Singing & much more Contact Kim at 087 7799489. 5-12 yr olds welcome
Teagasc centre at Athenry
Serious doubts hang over the continuation of agricultural courses at Mountbellew College, Co Galway, where the 2009 intake of students may be the last. The locations chosen as regional centres for agricultural education will be outlined at the next meeting of Teagasc's board. The Teagasc centre at Athenry is to get priority at the expense of the nearby Mountbellew College.
Athenry Community Training Centre
Athenry Community Training Centre has received a training grant from Pobal under the Social Inclusion Programme to provide training free of charge for unemployed people, with priority for the newly unemployed and those facing redundancy in the current economic climate. Course details: http://www.athenryadc.com/Training for Unemployed.htm Places are strictly limited. Course will run Tuesdays & Fridays 0930 – 1630 for five weeks, 60 hours training in total, commencing Tuesday 16th June 2009. It is proposed anyone wishing to do the course would pay €20 to secure a place and complete a registration form available at the Training Centre as soon as possible. The €20 deposit will be fully refunded on completion of the course. The course will be offered on a first come first served basis. Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact 091-845422 or 086-6073261 or louise@athenryadc.com
Ballymore Cottage Creche opens it's Athenry branch
This summer Ballymore Cottage Creche opens it's Athenry branch at Gari Glas Estate in Athenry. The custom built creche will offer full and part time places for children from 6 months of age up to school going age, as well as an after school and breakfast club service. We will also provide free Montessori places for all children in the final year before school under the Government' new ECCE initiative. As with our other branches we will be HSE notified and fully compliant with all regulations. We know that your children are your most precious concerns and we aim to provide you with an affordable, high quality service. If you would like further information or wish to reserve a place please email me at marydelargy@iol.ie or call 0857184217.
Athenry adult group tennis lessons
Beginners and Intermediates welcome
Monday and Tuesday evenings
Also TENNIS SUMMER CAMPS in JULY and AUGUST
All ages and all levels.
Contact Aoife Wilson @ 086 2000 388