By Tom Aherne

Welcome to our weekly look at events making the news around the Carrigkerry locality on this sunny and showery Sunday afternoon. The weather is mixed and broken at present as we welcome the month of April, and the arrival of a new Moon. Best wishes to all mothers on this their special day and hopefully they will receive the attention and pampering they deserve. Mass in Saint Mary’s was an anniversary Mass for the late Paddy O’Sullivan, from Ballylin, Ardagh. We send get well wishes to all who are sick at present be it in their own homes, Hospital, or Nursing Home.

The death has taken place of Ned O’Shaughnessy, Knockdown, Athea, at Saint Ita’s Hospital, Newcastle West, on Sunday 27th March. He was born in Knockdown on 6th of February 1925 to parents Molly and Con and he was one of a family of seven. He attended Clounleharde Primary School, and second level in Glin for a short while as he was not that keen on the books. He worked in the bogs around West Limerick during the emergency and war years, like so many more people at the time. When the war ended work was scarce so Ned emigrated to England and settled in Birmingham, like so many more Irish men and women. He was a life long supporter of Birmingham City soccer club who struck silver this year winning the Carling Cup after many barren years.

Ned returned home in 1967 to care for his aged parents, which he did with great dedication, being very good to them in their final years. Con died in 1972 and Molly in 1983 and Ned lived on alone in the cottage near Knockdown Lake. He was a character and a free spirit who was not that interested in worldly  goods. He led a stress free life, with simple tastes and rogues ways, as he travelled the highway in his familiar mini car. He liked good company, a few glasses of porter and the dancing at Stack’s and Moran’s in Carrigkerry. Ned liked a sing-song and Shanagolden was one of his favourites, which Maura sang in his memory during his funeral Mass in Saint Mary’s Church. He spent the last ten years or so of his life in Saint Ita’s Hospital where he received excellent care and attention. He was very happy there and he loved people to call in to see him for a chat. He was blessed with a long and a full life and he was the last surviving member of his family at 86 years.

His remains were removed from Reidy’s Funeral Home to Carrigkerry Church on Tuesday evening with large crowds in attendance. Father Larry Madden celebrated his Requiem Mass on the following day and traced Ned’s journey through life in his very interesting homily. Family members assisted in the ceremony and nephew Seamus Ahern paid Ned a nice tribute at the close of the Mass. He was laid to rest in Kilfergus Cemetery, Glin on Wednesday 30th March. Sympathy to his nephews, nieces and all other  relatives, neighbours, and friends. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him and may he rest in Peace

The death has taken place in America on Saturday 26th March of Maureen Boland (nee O’Connor). She was a native of Carrigkerry and was aged 84 years old. She was buried there on Saturday last 2nd of April. We extend our sympathy to her brother David O’Connor in Carrigkerry and all her other relatives. May she rest in Peace.

Best wishes to Tom Mullins, The Commons, Ardagh, who retired from Estuary Fuel Foynes at the end of March after 32 years service. He commenced work there in March 1979 as a driver and he has covered many miles, of road in the intervening years. A founding member of the Glenside Céilí Band he will be well known also for his years on the road with The New Glenside and The Ferrymen. Best wishes for the future to Tom, Nora and family.

Last Thursday 31st March was the 30th anniversary of the death of one of Limerick’s greatest Bodhrán players, Jim (Rory) Sheehy from Baraginue, Kilcolman. He brought great honour to the townland winning County Munster and All Ireland titles during the sixties and seventies. He was a showman and an entertainer who possessed great wit and stories abound of his exploits over the years. His brother Mick who died in 1972 was also an expert Bodhrán player,who also won County Munster and All Ireland titles. They enjoyed a healthy rivalry in competition which brought out the best in both. They were recorded on TV and Radio, and appeared with the top entertainers of the time on many stages around the country. The fame and exploits of the Sheehy brothers, will never die as long as the Bodhrán is played around their native Baraginue.

The following are the lottery results from Peadar’s Bar, Ardagh on 28th March . The numbers drawn were 7,9,23,30, and there was no Jackpot winner. Congratulations to the lucky dip winners as follows.

€60 Brendan Duggan, Ardagh. Elle Liston, Carrigkerry. Richard & Noreen Dineen, Ardagh. €30 Kay Ryan, Ardagh. Marie Cahill, Ardagh. Karen O’Connor, Carrigkerry.

Next week’s draw takes place in The Thatch Bar, Newbridge and the Jackpot will be € 6,000.

Congratulations to Sean Danaher and Con Enright, Ardagh who were prize winners at The Flag Floor card game held on Wednesday 23rd March. The proceeds from the card game were donated to The Irish Guide Dogs Association for the Blind.

Congratulations to Áine Nolan, representing Saint Kieran’s Community Games, on winning a gold medal in the County  U 10 Art Competition. We wish her well in the All Ireland finals in Athlone in May. A number of events are upcoming in cross country gymnastics and swimming, as the season swings into action.

Jackie Geoghegan, and Sharon Kinehan, Ardagh would like to thank everybody who supported their Daffodil Day coffee morning, which raised €900 for the Irish Cancer Society.

Dromcollogher Organic College held their awards ceremony on Friday 25th March, before a big attendance. It is an exciting time for organic growers, the food industry and agriculture in Ireland at present and it provides an opportunity for people  to pursue a career in that direction. Congratulations to all the local students who graduated and we wish them well in their future careers.

The Micheál Kiely Memorial Tournament hosted by Carrig Celtic concluded on 26th March with the playing of the seven-a-side final and the third/fourth place play off. All donations from the event went to the Irish Neurological Association. A wall plaque was also unveiled in memory of Micheál, who was such a popular person in the local and wider community.

Sunday 10th April  is the date set for Census 2011 when all households are asked to fill in the form provided to them in recent weeks. The Census will count everyone in the country on that night and will tell us about life in Ireland at present. It will highlight changes that have taken place and help plan for the future. It will help future generations understand the past and it is important to every single person. The form is confidential, quick to fill and it is compulsory.

This year’s National Spring Clean will be held from the 1st-30th of April and all communities are asked to participate and help return Ireland to its clean, green image. Register for a free clean-up kit by phone on 01 4002220 or online atwww.nationalspringclean.org  This is the 13th consecutive year and An Taisce would like to thank everyone who was involved in the past and look forward to new volunteers participating this year.

The 12th annual Éigse Michael Hartnett Festival will be held in Newcastle West from the 14th – 16th of April. A packed and varied programme of events are planned to suit all sections of the public.  A highlight will be the unveiling of the Michael Hartnett commemorative sculpture in the Square on Saturday 16th at 2.00pm.

The children for First Communion in Ardagh will have their First Confessions in Ardagh Church on Monday 11th April at 7.30pm.

The children for First Communion in Carrigkerry will have their First Confessions in Carrigkerry Church on Wednesday 13th April.

This is also an opportunity for everybody to get Confessions for Easter, as priests from other parishes, will be present to hear  Confessions.

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service are holding a Blood Donor Clinic in Scoil Mhuire agus Ide, Newcastle West, on Wednesday 13th April, and Thursday 14th April, from 6.00pm to 9.00pm.

Munster defeated Leinster in the Magners League at Thomond Park on Saturday evening to stop their losing run. It took a Ronan O’Gara penalty with the last kick of the match to secure the points, against their biggest rivals. It was a very exciting game to watch as both sides gave their all in pursuit of victory.

It was disappointment for Ard Scoil Ris in the All Ireland College’s senior hurling final in Thurles on Saturday afternoon. A late Saint Kieran’s goal helped them to retain the title by two points.

I will conclude with our thought:

“Work is the yeast that raises the dough”