by Tom Aherne

Welcome to our weekly look at events making the news around the Carrigkerry District on this cold, windy and showery Sunday afternoon. It was another poor week on the weather front with Saturday’s heavy rain the worst. A difficult time for the farming community who are behind in their work and the cold weather has affected growth and milk yields. It is much the same with the turf harvest which has come to a halt at present. We are due a New Moon on June 1st which should signal an upturn in our weather prospects.

The Queen’s visit was very successful and well received and the spin off should be of benefit to our tourist industry. We were disappointed she could not take up our offer to visit Carrig, but may include it in her next visit.

It was a week of sad goodbye’s as we bid farewell to a number of much loved Irish personalities including former Taoiseach Garrett Fitzgerald, who was a highly intelligent and honest man, who cared very much for his country and was saddened by the recent sell out.

Philip Greene the voice of Irish soccer when I was growing up and a life long Shamrock Rovers supporter. I still recall his leanings for them when they beat Limerick in two FAI Cup finals in the sixties.

Sean Dunphy was a much loved figure on the entertainment scene right up to his death at the age of 73 years. He will be always remembered for his Eurovision song ”If I Could Choose” which came second in 1967.

Congratulations to Leinster on winning The Heineken Cup for the second time in three years. It was a great comeback from 16 points behind at half time to win by 11 over Northampton. It was a personal triumph for Johnny Sexton who scored 28 points. James Downey the Northampton centre has links with West Limerick as his grandfather came from Mayne in Castlemahon. We look forward to the meeting of Munster and Leinster in the Magners League Final on next Saturday.

Congratulations to Father Tom Mangan, Glensharrold, Carrigkerry and Saint Josephs Parish, O’Connell Avenue, Limerick, who will celebrate 25 years in the Priesthood on Tuesday 7th June. He was Ordained in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Thurles, on Saturday 7th June 1986 along with 14 other Priests including Father Joe Cussen, Foynes, who now serves in Kilmallock Parish. Father Tom has spent the 25 years of his Ministry serving in three Parishes in Limerick City where he has received a warm welcome and great support from the people. He has enjoyed his duties and is very much at home there without forgetting his native place. He is a regular visitor to his home in Glensharrold to see his mother Peg and his brother Willie and all his other relations and friends. The local people are very proud of Father Tom and his great work to date  and wish him continued good health to serve the people in the future.

Following his Ordination he spent six years in his first Parish of Raheen-Crecora-Mungret on the outskirts of the City before his move to Saint Mary’s Parish in King’s Island where he served for ten years. Father Tom moved to his present Parish in Saint Joseph’s in 2002 where he has witnessed enormous changes in the past nine years. He is now the sole Priest there for the past two years or so where once there was five. It is a very busy Parish with ten Schools, and all the attached Church Ceremonies, as well as Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals to attend to. The Church was built in 1904 and has undergone a one million restoration in the past two years which is now near complete. Another local link with the Church concerns Father Tom’s aunt Bridie who married Michael Kiely there in 1951. It is a very popular Church for weddings with 141 performed there  in one year 50 years ago. This popularity may stem from it’s central location which covers Clare, Tipperary and Limerick and the nearby Glentworth Hotel and the Railway Station.

Father Tom Mangan will celebrate his 25th Anniversary in the Priesthood with Mass in Saint Joseph’s Church at 7pm on Saturday 11th June. It will be followed by a reception and get together at Mary Immaculate College on the South Circular Road with refreshments and music. He issues an open invitation to his neighbours, friends, parishioners from the locality to attend in the celebrations in his Parish in Limerick. He will be delighted to see all his friends on the night to celebrate and to recall events over the past 25 years which have flown by for all of us who were present in Thurles on that historic day.

The following are the lottery results from Foley’s  Bar, Reens, Ardagh, on Monday 16th May.

The numbers drawn were 3,9,15,30, and there was no Jackpot winner.

Congratulations to the lucky dip winners as follows.

€60 Marie Curley, Reens, Ardagh. Daniel Duggan, Ardagh. Sorcha O’Connor,  Ardagh.

€30 Timmy Madigan,  Ardagh. Aine Magner, Ardagh. Mike Donovan, Ardagh.

Next week’s draw takes place at Peadar’s Bar, Ardagh and the Jackpot will be €7,400.

Congratulations to Noreen O’Keeffe and Catherine Kiely, Mike Young and Mike O’Mahoney who were prize winners at The Flag Floor card game on Wednesday 11th May.

Congratulations to Mike Robinson and Jack Woulfe who were first prize winners at Shanagolden card game held on Friday 13th May.

Congratulations to the pupils of Carrigkerry N.S. who received the Sacrament of Holy Communion in Saint Mary’s Church, Carrigkerry  on Sunday last.

Congratulations to John Curley, Ardagh, winner and Paddy Quaid, Carrigkerry runner -up in the Desmond Dart League single hand competition held in The Shamrock Bar,  Newcastle West on Friday 29th April. This League was set up recently and the officers include locals, Chairman, Johnny Flaherty, Secretary,  Frank Moore and Treasurer, John Curley.

The Desmond Schoolboy’s/Girls League Awards were presented in The Gables Athea on Saturday 21st May. Congratulations to Carrig Celtic players, Eoin Moran U-14 Div 4 Award, Darren Ward U-10 Div 3 Award, Newcastle West ‘s Iris Kennelly U-10 Girls Div 1 Award, Creeces Celtic Liam Kennedy U-10 Div 2 joint winner, James Naughton U-16 Div 2 joint winner. on receiving their awards.

Receiving an Award also was well known referee Anthony Quinn, who is retiring after a long association, with Desmond League soccer at all levels. A native of Glensharrold he now resides in Kilmeedy and he is wished a very happy retirement.

In the Desmond League Div 1 Kilcolman Rovers were relegated to Division 2 after they lost 3-1 away to Kildimo Utd. Old Mill drew 1-1 away to Ballingarry and Carrig Celtic lost 3-2 away to Saint Ita’s.

In the League Cup Quarter final Kilcolman Rovers defeated Pallaskenry 3-1 at home to advance to the semi final. Old Mill lost 3-0 at home to Ballingarry.

Congratulations to Jim O’Dwyer, Ardagh and Tess Hartigan, Barnigue, Carrigkerry who were prize winners at Rathkeale Bingo on Thursday 12th May.

We extend good wishes to all students currently sitting 3rd level exams and preparing for their 2nd level exams as well.

Congratulations to Sinéad Nolan, Kilcolman on her documentary  Forsaí Fo-thoinn, which was due it’s first screening in Dungarvan on Wednesday 25th May. It will be shown on TG4 later in the year and Sinéad is the editor and doing a Diploma in Television Production.

Carrigkerry Development Association have decided not to enter this year’s Tidy Towns Competition due to the unsightly housing estate and the ongoing sewage problems in the Village. Court proceedings are currently taking place so it would be pointless participating from a minus points position until the issues are resolved. The decision is regretted as great progress has been made in recent years acting on the advice given by the judges in their reports. It is hoped to re-enter the competition again, when a level playing field applies.

The death has taken place of Martin Mc Namara, Killeaney Glin, at his residence on Wednesday 18th May. He was a former Principal of Newcastle West Vocational  School and in his early seventies. He was held in high regard as a teacher and mentor and many locals, including myself, will have passed through his hands over the years. He was most obliging with his car and gave many a student a lift from Carrigkerry into School. Burial took place in Glin Church Cemetery on Saturday 21st May. May he rest in Peace.

Rathfredagh Cheshire Home are holding an open air concert on Sunday 29th May from 1pm to 6pm.  A host of artists will participate including Mad For Road and all are giving their services for free. Admission fee for adults €10 and children €5 and support will be appreciated.

Feohanagh / Castlemahon Summer fair takes place at Coolyroe Grounds on Sunday 29th May  at 1pm. Stalls, wheel of fortune, bouncy castle, mini zoo, face painting and lots more to see and do and all are welcome.

The Estuary Rugby Club are holding a trad session in The Thatch Bar, Newbridge, on Sunday 29th May from 6pm until late.

I will conclude with our thought:

“Nobody can do everything,

but everyone can do something”