by Tom Aherne

The following are the Lottery results from Neary’s Bar, Ardagh, on Monday November 17^th. The numbers drawn were 4, 5, 12, 26, and there was no Jackpot winner. Congratulations to the lucky dip winners as follows €60 Tommy Dillane, Glenastar, Ardagh. €60 Frank O’Connor, Glenastar, Ardagh. €60 Claire and Deirdre Lynch, Newcastle West. €30 Bridie Noonan, Dromcollogher. €30 Seamus Behan, Ardagh. €30 Tommy Mullins, Ministerland, Ardagh. Next week’s draw will be held in The Thatch Bar, Newbridge, and the Jackpot will be €7,700.

Carrig Celtic held the first of their 300 Club Draw at Moore’s Bar Carrigkerry on Thursday November 13^th. Congratulations to the following winners 1^st Prize €1,000 Tom and Nora Kennelly, Barnigue, Carrigkerry. 2^nd Prize €250 Sean O’Dwyer, Rooskagh, Carrigkerry.  Three prizes of €50 were won by Thomas Murphy, Ballylin, Ardagh, Maggie and Sarah, O’Connor, Glensharrold Carrigkerry and Donie Collins, Glensharrold Carrigkerry. The once off fully paid up members draw for a €200 Shop Voucher from Moloney’s Shop was won by Peg and Bridget Flynn, Carrigkerry.

Tim Crowley from Ballylin, Ardagh, ex-principal of Ardagh N.S. was one of the teachers honoured by their former colleagues at a recent function held in the Devon Inn Hotel. A presentation was made by Grainne Crowley  Chairperson of Newcastle West branch of INTO.

Congratulation to all the local students who recently graduated from the numerous third level institutions. We wish them all well in the future in their chosen careers.

The death has taken place in England of Eileen Cardwell, nee O’Grady, a native of Barnigue, Carrigkerry. We extend our sympathy to all her relatives at home and abroad. May she rest in Peace.

The annual Cois Sionna Credit Union Arts Awards presentation evening was held in Cois Sionna Credit Union in Askeaton on Wednesday November 12^th. Congratulations to all the prize winners including Marissa Hayes, and Faye Sarsfield, from Coolcappa N.S.

Newcastle West/ Monagea defeated Saint Kieran’s by 3-7 to 0-8 in Round 4 of the County Premier U-21 Football Championship at Mick Neville Park Rathkeale, on Friday November 14^th.

Old Mill lost 1-0 at home to Feenagh in Division 1 of the Desmond League, on Sunday November 16^th. Creeves Celtic lost 4-3 away to Askeaton in Division 2 and Carrig Celtic had no fixtures.

In the Desmond Ladies League Kilcolman Rovers lost 5-2 away to Charleville in Round 1 of the Desmond Cup, and Ide Trant, and Ciara O’Donnell scored their goals.  Carrig Celtic, and Creeves Celtic matches were called off due to fog and a bereavement.

Congratulations to Billy Crowley, Knockfinisk, who was presented with the Golfer of the Year at the Captains Dinner, (Frank Moore, and Peg Murphy) at Newcastle West Golf Club on Saturday November 15^th.

The Feohanagh/Castlemahon Parish Annual was launched in Castlemahon Community Hall on Friday   November 14^th, by Seán Liston, Lisiniska, Knockaderry historian, and community activist. A good crowd was in attendance in the new venue which is a credit to the people of the parish. This is the 34^th edition of the annual which began life in 1981and which contains 112 pages of very interesting material. It is on sale in the local shops around the parish and beyond for €10 and it is well worth reading.

Because we now have no access to the patient list in any hospital, if you have a family member in hospital and they would like a visit from their local priest, it is up to some family member to get in touch with their priest: Fr Larry Madden.

Packets of Christmas Cards featuring a number of local winter scenes are for sale in Moloney’s Shop in Carrigkerry. With less than a month to go to Christmas it is time to secure the cards which always brings cheer to the receivers especially if they are living abroad.

The GAA has announced the staging of the second national club draw which was launched in Croke Park on Tuesday October 21st. The draw, which was embraced by many clubs earlier this year, will take place on February 27th, 2015 at Congress.  It has been organised again with the intention of assisting clubs in their fundraising activities. While all of the prizes will be provided by the GAA at central level, the proceeds from the sale of tickets stays with the selling club. Last year’s draw raised a total of €2.4m and it is hoped with an increased take up and heightened awareness that this figure will be increased. Tickets cost €10 and will be distributed to clubs via County Boards and the sold tickets must be returned to their County Board by January 24, 2015.

Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Liam Ó Néill said: “The success of last year’s draw was a tremendous boost to our clubs and offered tangible assistance to those who fully embraced the concept. “I would encourage as many clubs to give serious consideration to fully utilizing it in year two and I would like to acknowledge all who supported it earlier this year, and indeed those charged with organising it on behalf of the GAA at Central level.” A number of clubs excelled in their efforts through the draw last year. Maryland in Westmeath raised €14,000 while Kilcummin in Kerry topped the fundraising charts by selling €18,770 worth of tickets. All these funds remained with the clubs who raised them.

This is a win, win situation for all clubs who join up to be in with a chance to claim the valuable prizes on offer. With falling numbers to fundraise from and fewer volunteers to do the work it has become a major problem in recent years. It costs a lot of money to run a club for a year at present,  with travel costs, training costs, administration, and affiliation fees, to fund any assistance from headquarters is to be welcomed.

Sir Walter Raleigh in Ireland by Milo Spillane, local historian, is the title of the Rathkeale Historical talk to be held in Rathkeale Community Arts Centre on this Friday 28^th November at 8.30pm. The venue is overhead the Library and admission is free.

The Late Late Toy Show on this Friday 28^th November will feature Draoicht the group who originated at Desmond College Newcastle West under the guidance of music teacher Jude Keane. The members are Diarmuid Curtin, Laoise Curtin, Emma Roche, Jack O’Connor, (Kilcolman) Brian Hartnett, Patrick Moriarty, Ciara Brosnan, and Grainne Buckley (whose mother Fiona is from Kilcolman) We wish them well on the night and look forward to their performance.  

A car boot sale and indoor market will be held in aid of West Limerick 102 FM Community Radio in Newcastle West Community Centre on Sunday 30^th November, from 8am to 2pm.  This is a chance for people to do a winter clear out of items they would like to sell and earn some spare cash for the Christmas, which is only four weeks away. To book a stall please contact the Station on 069-66200. The final car boot sale of the year will be held on Sunday 14^th December.

Tickets costing €5 for the Christmas Hamper Draw are available at the West Limerick Community Radio Station in Newcastle West at present. It is a prize well worth winning and the draw will be held on Thursday 18^th December during the Exchange Programme hosted by Sheila O’Regan.

A Céilí will be held in Knockaderry Resource Centre on Friday 5^th December with music by Donie and Maura Nolan. The doors open at 9pm and the admission is €10 and tea and coffee will be served. All support for the fundraisers will be much appreciated.

The annual Christmas Celebration of Light Service will be held in Saint Augustine’s Church O’Connell Street Limerick on Sunday 30^th November at 4pm.Contact Pauline Londra, Console, 114 The Grange Limerick Tel 061-306792 Free Phone helpline 1800-247-247 email [email protected]