by Tom Aherne

Welcome to our weekly look at events making the news around the Carrigkerry locality on this dry and overcast Easter Sunday. It was another pleasant week on the weather front with high temperatures and lots of sunshine leading to good growth. The year is moving on as we approach the end of April and the season of Spring. The turf machine has arrived in Scotland Bog, over three weeks earlier than last year. It could be a record year for turf cutting with the rise in oil prices and the downturn in the economy.

Last Sunday’s Mass in Saint Mary’s was an anniversary Mass for the late Patrick Flynn and the church gate collection was in aid of the Great Southern Trail.

The national Spring clean-up continues around the locality with bags of rubbish collected to date by F.A.S. The countryside is a disgrace as people continue to dump rubble and household rubbish in ditches and entrances. Will they ever learn and start recycling and composting and taking the remainder to the dump.

Congratulations and best wishes to Jennifer Quinn, daughter of Gretta and John, Glenbawn, Knocknaclugga, Ballyhahill, and David Kelly, Lyreacrompane, County Kerry who were married in Saint Mary’s Church, Carrigkerry on Friday 15th April. The Reception was held in the Devon Inn Hotel, Templeglantine, and the happy couple will reside in County Clare.

Congratulations and best wishes, also to Michael Conway, Ardagh and Niamh Ryder, Shanagolden, on their recent marriage which was held in Limerick.

We extend happy birthday wishes to Paddy Faley, Glenbawn, Ballyhahill, who celebrated his 92nd birthday on Monday 25th April. A celebrated writer, and poet and a man of many talents who has provided so much enjoyment to so many over the years with his well constructed verses. We wish him continued good health plenty of ink and a steady hand.

Congratulations to Maria Cahill, Ardagh, a recent winner of the Shanagolden Lottery draw.

The following are the lottery results from Reens Bar Ardagh on Monday 18th April. The numbers drawn were 8,12,18,28. and there was no Jackpot winner.

Congratulations to the lucky dip winners as follows:

€60 Kilcolman Ladies c/o Moore’s Bar.

John Keane, Old Mill. M. W.  c/o Denis Greaney.

€30 Kathleen Ryan, Coolacokera. Kealan O’Connor, Ardagh. Ita Kirk, Reens, Ardagh.

Next week’s draw takes place in Peadar’s Bar Ardagh, and the Jackpot will be €6,600.

Congratulations to Peg Murphy, and Joan Madigan who were prize winners at the Flag Floor card game held on Wednesday 13th April.

Congratulations to John and Peg Mulvihill, who were prize winners at the Rathkeale card game.

The annual Daffodil Day collection, held around the Newcastle West area in March, was very successful again this year thanks to the efforts of Kate Buckingham and her many good helpers. Kate presented a cheque for €15,670. to Rose O’Dea, Irish Cancer Society, at a recent presentation attended by a number of the fundraisers.

Congratulations to Kilcolman Rovers on winning the Desmond Ladies First Division League title, in Askeaton on Friday 15th April. They defeated Murroe 2-1 in a play -off after the teams finished joint top of the table.  Niamh Ryan, and Sinead Dundon scored the goals, and Stephanie Griffin was the captain who accepted the Cup afterwards from Dave Fitzgerald from the Ladies League. TEAM  Dyann Carroll, Noreen Barry, Clair Mulcahy, Alva Neary, Catherine Hayes, Emma Guiry, Sinead Dundon,Niamh Ryan, Mary Ita Casey, Lisa Mahony Stephanie Griffin, MANAGER Mike King. Player of the match was Alva Neary.

The Desmond Ladies Awards night was held on Saturday 16th April in the Courtenay Lodge Hotel, and the club of the year award went to Kilcolman and the first division player of the year award went to Catherine Hayes Kilcolman.

Old Mill defeated Glantine 4-1 away in Division 1 of the Desmond League, to move up the table on Sunday 17th April. The goalscorers were Stephen Doody, Mossie Liston, Ray Cahill, and Darragh Woods.

Carrig Celtic B defeated Saint Ben’s 5-0 away in the Division 4 League Cup quarter-final.

Saint Kieran’s lost by 2-12 to 1-9 in Round 2 of the All County senior football League, in Abbeyfeale on Sunday 17th April.

Saint Kieran’s defeated Father Casey’s by 0-9  to 0-8 in round 3 of the premier minor football championship in Coolcappa on Friday 15th April.

The death has taken place of Eileen (Ellie) Scanlon, nee Windle, Knocknagorna, Athea, She was a native of Glensharrold and in her eighties and a sister of Maggie Moore from Upper Carrigkerry. Her remains were removed from Kelly’s Funeral Home Athea to Athea Church on Sunday evening last. Burial took place following Requiem Mass in Templeathea Cemetery on Monday 25th April. Sympathy to her sons Paddy, Henry, Eddie, and Tom, daughters Kathleen and Anna, the Moore family and other relatives and friends. May she rest in Peace.

Gaelic games followers will remember the displays given by Pat Ahern for Newcastle West footballers in the sixties and seventies. They will retain fond memories of the skills he displayed on the playing fields and the many fine scores he got around West Limerick. Other followers will be less complimentary blaming him for defeating their favourite teams.

He is a native of Ballymacelligott in Mid Kerry and he represented the Kingdom at Minor, U-21, Junior and Senior level. Pat captained Mid Kerry to win the Kerry senior football championship and won numerous other titles and awards in a distinguished career. He was wing back on the Kerry team that defeated Cork to win the first Munster U-21 Football Championship in 1962. This team was honoured  by the Munster Council at the recent U-21 Final and Pat was in attendance with his fellow players to receive recognition for this achievement. Pat suffered a stroke some years back and is wheelchair bound as a result.

He can be seen out and about in his wheelchair around the town and is a very popular figure in his adopted place. He published a book about his life and times in recent years ”Me and My Shadow”, which is well worth a read.

I am always a little sad when the cuckoo, and the swallows depart for foreign shores each Autumn and I wonder what changes will occur and who will be around to welcome them back the following Spring. I am happy to report that the cuckoo has arrived back in the locality and was heard singing on April 18th. People are delighted to welcome them back after the long Winter and it brings optimism and cheer for the months ahead.

The May Eve tradition of sprinkling holy water around households and lands continues in some places around the locality up to the present day. The younger generation have little time for these traditions but they were very important in the Ireland of the past.

Ardagh I.C.A. branch are holding their A.G.M. on this Thursday 28th April in Ardagh Hall at 8.00pm and all members are requested to attend.

The Irish Red Cross Society Newcastle West branch will host the annual party for the residents of Cahermoyle House in Ardagh on this Friday 29th April. Members of Ceól Luimnigh group under Pat Brosnan will provide the entertainment.

The second annual bodhrán competition will take place in The Ramble Inn, Abbeyfeale on this Friday 29th April at 9.30pm. The competitions are open to junior, ladies and seniors.

Rathkeale community arts group and Ardagh drama group presents ”Porkville” by Mike Finn at Rathkeale Arts Centre on 29th April at 8.pm.Tickets are available from John Dinnage, Library or members of the Arts group.

Father Con Cronin, on behalf of Saint Patrick’s Missionery Society Kiltegan, will make an appeal for help with their missionary work in Africa, West Indies, and South America at all Masses, this coming week-end 30th April / 1st May.

Enrolment is now taking place for new pupils, for Carrigkerry National School. Parents who wish to enrol their children for next September are asked to call to the school for the necessary forms.

West Limerick Community Radio are hosting a summer hooley at Father Casey’s Clubhouse Abbeyfeale on bank holiday Monday 2nd May from 9.30pm. Music by the Moynihan Brothers Band and John Buck.

Alliance of the two hearts 1st Friday and 1st Saturday Adoration on Friday 6th May 2011 at Saint Senan’s Church, Foynes. Starting at 6.15pm and ending at 1.15am Saturday morning.

Enquiries to 087-2910263

It was another late late show by the Munster rugby team in Wales on Saturday. A Ronan O’Gara penalty with the last kick of the match gave them the points over the Scarlett’s.

I will conclude with our thought.

“Some pursue happiness, while others create it”