By Tom Aherne

Congratulations and best wishes  in the future to Diarmaid Lawlor son of Marie, and Pat Knocknagun, Carrigkerry and Mairead Hyland daughter of Val, and the late Chris, Killasser, Swinford, County Mayo, who were married in All Saint’s Church, Killasser, Swinford  on Friday August 8th. The celebrant was Fr Durkan, and the Reception was held in Pontoon, Foxford,  in Mayo. The happy couple will reside in London.

The Irish Wheelchair Association would like to thank everybody who contributed to their annual Church gate collection in Ardagh/Carrigkerry on August 23rd/24th.  Thanks also to the people who took up the collection

The following are the Lottery results from Foley’s Bar, Ardagh, on Monday August 18th. The numbers drawn were 5, 9, 27, 29, and there was no Jackpot winner. Congratulations to the lucky dip winners as follows. €60 Michelle Brouder, c/o Ballintemple. €60 Molka, and Fionn, c/o Madigan’s. €60 Ali Rose Ambrose, c/o Old Mill. €30 Paddy Guinea, Ardagh. €30 Denis and Ann Marie Dineen, Ardagh. €30 Mary Bennett, Ardagh. Next week’s draw will be held in Neary’s Bar, Ardagh and the Jackpot will be €6,800.

Congratulations to all the local prize winners at the Newcastle West Flower Show held in the Community Centre on August 13/14. It was nice to see new names on the winner’s rostrum and all having their efforts rewarded by displaying their work to a wider audience.

The new Desmond League soccer season commenced on Sunday August 17th after a short summer break. Carrig Celtic defeated Killeaney 4-3 away in the Premier Division, with Anthony Molyneaux, 2 Seanie King, and Francis Moore, scoring their goals. Old Mill lost 1-0 away to Feenagh in Division 1.

Creeves Celtic drew 2-2 at home to Granagh Utd in Division 2 with James Bridgeman, and Jason Ahern scoring their goals. Carrig Celtic B lost 4-0 at home to Glin Rovers B in Division 3.

Saint Kieran’s defeated Knockaderry by 3-9 to 1-7 in the West Junior B Football Championship quarter final at Monagea on Monday August 18th. They will meet Glin in the semi-final

Saint Kieran’s lost by 6-11 to 2-10 to Daithi Brudairs in the West Minor Football Championship.

Robin and Ann Talbot from Ballacolla, County Laois were featured in a recent repeat episode of the Ear to the Ground Television programme. They run a very successful 600 acre beef farm and last year Ann who is a native of Ardagh, published a book A Year on our Farm which outlined the events which took place on the farm over the calendar year. Ann has a very popular weekly column in the Farming Independent each Tuesday.

Brother John M Feheney, from Ballysteen, and a member of the Presentation Brothers in Cork, has been in touch seeking information about people from the locality who have served as priests, nuns, and brothers, over the past one hundred years. The information he is seeking covers parents names, and their townland addresses. The name of the religious order and the places and dates they served in at home or abroad. He plans to publish the details in a book about Religious Vocations in West Limerick.  John can be contacted at Mardyke House, Mardyke, Cork.

Phone No 353-21-4251192 E-Mail[email protected]

Donie and Maura Nolan Kilcolman were the guests on the In Conversation with Weeshie Fogarty programme on Radio Kerry on Wednesday July 30th The popular hour long show is a mix of chat, and the playing of the guest’s favourite pieces of music and song. Maura took the opportunity to discuss and promote her CD Am Le Cheile- Time Together which was launched back in February. Over the hour Weeshie sought out details about her musical life and times, and how the CD came about. It was enjoyable to hear about their musical involvement over the years as the duo rarely do interviews. The CD is available in most of the local outlets and is also receiving air plays in the local radio stations.

I received the following information from Listowel Community College for to inform people of their post Leaving Cert courses: We provide a broad range of post Leaving Cert courses including Business Studies, Childcare, Sport & Recreation, Nursing, Engineering, Laboratory Technician, Furniture Making, Hairdressing, Horticulture, Music, Art, Animal Care, Information Technology. Get the full list of Courses and enroll now at www.listowelcc.ie  enrolling now. For further information please contact /06821023 or email [email protected]

The annual Mass will be celebrated in Ballyine Grotto on this Thursday 28th August at 7.30pm. This will be the 60thAnniversary of the first Mass celebrated at the newly erected Grotto on Sunday August 15th 1954.

The 29th Milford Hospice Harvest Fair will be held at the UL Sports Arena Limerick on Sunday 31st August, from 11am to 4pm. It is the biggest fundraising event for the Hospice each year and admission and parking are free. It is a family fun day out with lots of popular attractions and games for all ages, with lots of stalls, and the Wheel of Fortune to pass the time. Items for the Harvest Fair will be accepted on the grounds of Milford Care Centre up to August 28th. All are welcome and support will be greatly appreciated.

The Ardagh Chalice Project Group has produced a monument to commemorate the Ardagh Chalice hoard found at Reerasta Ardagh in September 1868. The monument will be unveiled on this Saturday 30th August and blessed by Bishop Brendan Leahy, outside Saint Molua’s Parish Church Ardagh. The evening is planned out as follows: 7.30pm Mass in the church followed by the unveiling and blessing of the monument. 8.45. A number of speeches and presentations in the nearby Community Centre. 9.30 Tea and sandwiches, and chat and discussion. The group would like to issue an invitation to people to attend and to join them in the celebrations. The group members deserves great praise for taking on this project which will enhance the grounds of the church and also commemorate the finding of the  famous Chalice 146 years ago. The monument is superbly crafted and a tribute to all whose skills brought it to fruition.  The catering for the event is being organized by volunteers, and all donations of sandwiches etc, will be most welcome and can be handed into the hall on the day between 3pm and 5pm.

The annual open air Mass will be celebrated at Gortnaclohy Mass Rock in Ashford on Sunday 31st August at 3pm. People who wish to walk to this scenic and sacred place are asked to assemble at Ashford Church car park at 2pm, and all are welcome. Killeedy is part of the same cluster area as Ardagh/Carrigkerry parish.

The annual Mass will be celebrated at Relig Mhuire Askeaton, on this Sunday 31st August at 3pm. People from our locality who have graves there are asked to attend to them before the Mass.

The West Limerick Branch of the Mental Health Association of Ireland will resume their monthly meetings at Maple Lodge, Gortboy Newcastle West, on Tuesday 2nd September at 8.30pm. New members are most welcome, and a full attendance is requested as important decisions are to be made.

The annual Ardagh/Carrigkerry parish pilgrimage to Knock takes place on Saturday 13th September. For further information and booking please contact John Joe at 069-76280.