by Tom Aherne

Welcome to our weekly look at events making the news around the locality on this mild and misty Sunday afternoon. No great pick up in the weather in the past week with showers and cold temperatures  and little sunshine. We hope this coming week will be a lot better as we bid farewell to July. We welcome a new moon on Sunday and look forward to the August Bank Holiday weekend.
Last Sunday’s Mass in Saint Mary’s was an Anniversary Mass for the late Michael and Margaret Kennelly (my grandparents) from Glensharrold. The Church Gate Collection was in aid of the Desmond Complex Newcastle West. A total of €560 was collected for the Saint Molua’s Well Project at Neary’s Bar Ardagh, on Wednesday night last. Work has commenced there and donations are still very welcome.
A great win for Limerick footballers over Wexford on Saturday evening in Portlaoise and a match in the quarter final in Croke Park after all those years of heartbreak. A great display from Johnny McCarthy yet again and Jim Donovan made a late entry and played his part. The hurlers put in a good performance but missed chances cost them, but overall they had a good year.

The death has taken place of Margaret (Peggy) Lynch nee Leamy, Kilbradern, Shanagolden, at Limerick Regional Hospital on Monday 18th July. She was a native of Borrigone and was 79 years old and a homemaker. She was very well known around the area and always out and about calling to her neighbours and friends. Her life was touched by a lot of sorrow, adversity and ill health by the loss of her husband Tom thirty four years ago and also her son John. Peggy was a woman of great faith and prayer helped her overcome these great losses. She loved her flowers and her garden and the game of Bingo in the local halls. She was a dedicated card player and known far and beyond in card playing circles. The residents around Kilbradern Cross will be a lot more lonely and sadder as a result of her passing and she will be sadly missed.
Her remains were removed from Madigan’s Funeral Home, Shanagolden, to Saint Kyran’s Church, Coolcappa, on Thursday evening last. Father Mullane P.P. celebrated her Requiem Mass, assisted by her card playing friend Father Paddy Bowen P.P. Athea. It was a celebration of Peggy’s life and a ceremony she would be proud of on a lovely sunny day. Family members assisted in the readings, prayers of the faithful and the offertory. Symbols of Peggy’s life including deck of cars, flowers and family photographs were also taken up to the Altar. Father Mullane, in his homily, paid her a nice tribute, touching on her faith and her prayers and her strength in overcoming adversity in her life. Her daughter Mary in conclusion thanked everybody who helped the family down the years, and all who were so kind to her mother in recent years.
Her coffin left the Church as Ann Marie sang “A mother’s love is a blessing” and past the lovely bed of red roses, to the Hearse.
Burial took place in Kilbradern Cemetery close to Peggy’s home on Friday 22nd July. Sympathy to her daughter Mary, son Michael, sister Kitty, brother Michael, grandchildren Hannah and Ben and extended family. May she rest in peace.
Congratulations and best wishes to Evelyn Scanlon, Ballydoorlis, Kilcolman, daughter of Mary and Michael and Noel O’Brien, Strand who were married in Saint Colman’s Church, Kilcolman on Saturday 16th July. The Reception was held in the Woodlands House Hotel Adare.
Happy birthday wishes are extended to Jack O’Grady, Glenbawn, on his 87th and Patsy O’Sullivan Toureendonnell on his 80th.
Both gentlemen have close links with the parish and continued good health in the future.
The following are the lottery results from Peadar’s Bar, Ardagh, on Monday 18th July. The numbers drawn were 3, 8, 21, 22, and there was no Jackpot winner.
Congratulations to the lucky dip winners as follows.
€60 Charlie and Peg O’Connor, Ardagh
€60 Thomas and Andrew c/o Thatch Bar
€60 Joyce Tracey, Ardagh
€30 Joan Buckley, Kilcolman
€30 Kitty Maloney, Ardagh
€30 Nancy Barrett and family, Glenastar.
Next week’s draw takes place at Foley’s Bar, Reens, Ardagh and the Jackpot will be €9,200.
Fleadh Cheoil Na Mumhan was held in Ballincollig, County Cork from the 11th to the 15th July 2011 and it was the 51st occasion of the event. The O’Connor family, Kilcolman, have a long association with Comhaltas and have attended and participated in numerous County, Munster, and All Ireland Fleadh’s. The late Jackie was a great supporter, along with his wife Mary Aherne, and their interest rubbed off on their children Jacqueline and John at a young age. They are active members of the Templeglantine Branch and have been prizewinners down the years and Jacqueline is the present Oifigeach na nÓg officer at Munster Board level. In memory of Jackie the family presented a new Perpetual Cup for the U-12 Concertina event at the recent event in Cork. I am delighted to report that the Cup will remain in West Limerick for the coming year as it was won by a young Tournafulla musician. Jacqueline on behalf of the family presented the Cup to Diarmuid Curtin who is a member of the Tournafulla Branch. Congratulations to Diarmuid on his success and well done to the family for donating the Cup which will keep Jackie’s memory alive in the music he loved so much.
Congratulations to John Doody, Carrigkerry Village, winner of the Vice Captain’s (John Devine) Prize at Newcastle West Golf Club in Rathgonan, Ardagh, with a net score of 62. Jason O’Donovan Ardagh was 2nd with a net score of 67 and Ivan Neary Ardagh was 3rd with a net score of 69.
Ardagh native Pat Molyneaux wishes to thank everybody for their sponsorship for the headshave held in Askeaton during the Super Valu Wild Cats Big Event. The total collected was €1,570 and the charities who benefitted were Crumlin Children’s Hospital and the Oncology Unit, Limerick Regional Hospital.
Blackrock defeated Saint Kieran’s by 2-10 to 1-7 in the County Junior B Football League Final in Ballygran on the 12th of July.
Eoin Moran was on the Limerick U-15 panel that won the Humphrey Kelleher Plate final in Millstreet on Saturday 16th July. They defeated Tipperary by 3-7 to 0-6 in the final.
Gerard Kiely and Shane Lynch were on the Limerick U-16 panel that reached the final of the Munster Football Competition at Hospital on Saturday 16th July. North Kerry defeated them by 1-14 to 2-10 in the final.
I really enjoyed a story and a song on West Limerick Radio last week-end. Father Paddy Bowen P.P. Athea was Pat O’Donovan’s guest on the very popular programme. A native of Ballingarry, he was Parish priest of Ardagh-Carrigkerry before his move to Athea a few years ago. A noted hurler in his youth he is also a lovely singer and storyteller. He sang three songs on the show, “The Fair of Cappamore”,”The Garden where the Praties Grow” and “Old Shep”.
He was a dashing half back on the playing field and I recall his fine display for Ballingarry in a West Limerick hurling final in 1969. They defeated Killeedy in the final and the shouts from the crowd was “good man Bowen”
His sandy coloured hair and his artistry with the camán made him stand out that day.
It was a very enjoyable show and well done to all involved.
The show is on the air on Saturday 3:00pm – 4:00pm and repeated Sunday mornings from 7:00am – 8:00am
The Gortadruma dump is closed to the public from Monday 25th July to Friday 5th August. It will re-open to the public at 8am on Monday 8th August. The closure is required to enable essential maintenance to be carried out.
The annual graveyard Mass will be celebrated in Ardagh Cemetery on the eve of the feast of Saint Molua, Wednesday 3rd August at 7:30pm. The Rosary will be recited during the rounds of the Blessed Well after the Mass.
The August Bank Holiday Hooley in aid of West Limerick 102 Community Radio will be held in the Devon Inn Hotel on Monday 1st August. Music by Tony Kearney and the Wee Amigos, and dancing from 9:30pm. Admission €10 and a raffle will be held.
The next car boot sale and indoor market will be held on Sunday 7th August in Newcastle West Community Centre from 9am to 3pm. All support for the fundraisers will be appreciated.
Ardagh-Carrigkerry Parish are holding a collection for Trocaire in support of the people suffering starvation in East Africa on this coming week-end Saturday and Sunday 30th/31st July. Money can be put into the Offertory Basket during the Mass.
Charity Céilí in aid of Irish Cancer Society at Fr. Casey’s Hall, Abbeyfeale, on Saturday, August 6th from 9:30pm – 1am with the Striolán Céilí Band. Tea will be served. Brilliant spot prizes.
I will conclude with our thought:
“The best angle from which to approach any problem is the try-angle”