by Tom Aherne

Congratulations to Saint Kieran’s community games, who received two
awards at the annual Sportmanship Awards event in   Rathkeale House
Hotel on Sunday 29th January. The club was well represented in the nominations in the various team and individual categories and a large crowd was in attendance to lend their support. Congratulations to all who were nominated and who received awards as follows. U-I0 Girls Aine Nolan and Niamh Enright. U-10 Boys Daniel Collins and Eoghan Heffernan. U-12 Girls Roisin Ambrose. U-12 Boys Michael Shanahan. U-14 Girls Ciara Colbert. U-10 Teams U-10 Mixed Gaelic
Football. U-11 and U-12 Teams U-11 Girls Cross Country, U-11 Hurling,
U-12 Girls Soccer. U-13 and U-14 Teams U-13 Girls Futsal, U-14 Set Dancing. The U-10 Gaelic Football Team and Eoghan Heffernan  received awards for sportsmanship shown throughout the year.  Well done to all involved in community games  with Saint Kieran’s, and best wishes for 2012.
The annual Desmond Factor talent competition was held in The Desmond
College in recent weeks, and well done to all the local students who participated and who provided wonderful entertainment for the packed crowd present. Congratulations to the overall winner James O’Connor Kilcolman and to all the other winning students.
The following are the lottery results from Neary’s Bar. Ardagh, on Monday 30th January. The numbers drawn were 3,18,21,24 and there was no Jackpot winner. Congratulations to the lucky dip winners.
€60 John Burke, c/o Bus Eireann.
€60 Tom+Helen Nash, Kilcornan.
€60 Seamus Behan, c/o Neary’s.
€30 Frank O’Connor, Ardagh.
€30 Noreen Geoghegan, Newcastle West.
€30 David Culhane, Glenbawn, Ballyhahill.
Next week’s draw takes place at The Thatch Bar, Newbridge and the
Jackpot will be €14,400.
The death has taken place of Bridget Conway (nee Magner) wife of the late Jim, Evegallahoo and Newcastle West and late of Grange House Knockaderry. Her remains were removed from Reidy’s Funeral Home Newcastle West, to Knockaderry Church. She was laid to rest after Requiem Mass in Grange Cemetery on Monday 30th January. We extend
sympathy to her sister Kit, sister-in-law Mary, nephews, nieces, other relatives and friends in the locality. May she rest in Peace.
West Limerick Charity Wrenboys recently held a presentation night at Peadar’s Bar in Ardagh to distribute the €1,600 they collected out in the wren on Saint Stephen’s Day. The local charities to benefit included The Tuesday Club Ardagh, Pieta House Mungret, Brothers of
Charity Newcastle West and Ballingarry Senior Citizens. We compliment
the group members, John Mullins, Paul Moriarty, Paul O’Connor, John
O’Sullivan, Denis Daly, Mary Balfe, Mike Daly, Sorcha O’Connor, Micheál Daly, Denis Daly junior and Donie Clancy Ballingarry on their kind gesture.
All games were called off in the Desmond League for men and ladies, due to the inclement weather on Sunday 29th January. The draw for the 1st Round of the Desmond Cup was made recently and games are due to take place on Sunday 12th February. The local pairings are as follows: Carrig Celtic v Feenagh, Old Mill v Athea Utd, Kilcolman Rovers v
Newcastle West Rovers away Creeves Celtic v Glin Rovers, and Carrig Celtic B V Shannonside FC away. Best of luck to all and hopefully we may have a local winner.
Congratulations to Bill Downes, and Mick McQuinn who were prize winners at the Flag Floor card game held on Wednesday 25th January. Cards each Wednesday night at 9.pm and all are welcome.
The announcement that €12.5 million has been allocated for roadwork’s in County Limerick is welcome news. Areas to receive funding include the R523 Carrigkerry road which is due to receive €250,000. The narrow rural roads need to be upgraded also as they are holding water due to tear and wear and hollows which the car wheels make from
constant use.

The Ardagh-Carrigkerry Social Club based in Ardagh Community Centre  is due to re-open on Tuesday 14th February after the Winter break. All the usual fun and games will take place and the Bus will operate as usual and new members will be most welcome.
The 6th annual Valentine’s Party Night will be held at the Woodlands House Hotel Adare on this coming Saturday 11th February. A 4 course dinner will be served and music by Taylors Twist from Galway plus traditional musicians and a Disco, raffle, special guests and surprises. All proceeds will go to Milford Hospice, and the tickets cost €45. Contact Joan for tickets on 086-1625960 or 069-82166.
A charity walk in aid of the Respite Care Centre, Dromcollogher will take place on Sunday 26th February at 12 noon. Sponsorship cards are available by contacting 063-83934.

We were all saddened to hear of the death of Patie Enright of Gortnagross, Athea, peacefully at his residence on Tuesday 31st January. He was well known throughout Munster through his connections with the bands, The Western Star Céilí Band and The Boys in Blue, and
Enright Fitted Furniture. Patie and his cousin Timmy O’Keeffe RIP formed The Boys in Blue in the early seventies and they were one of the top dancing acts on the cabaret scene for 20 years. They were very popular in Stacks Lounge Bar, and Morans Country Club Carrigkerry and they enjoyed a great following with packed attendances wherever they played. Patie was a hard worker who loved life and he had a warm personality and a ready smile for all people and he will be sadly missed by his wife Gretta, sons Pádraig and Raymond and extended family members. Large crowds attended his residence where he lay in repose and at his Funeral Mass in Saint Bartholomew’s Church to pay their final respects. Burial took place in Holy Cross Cemetery, Athea, on Friday 3rd February. May he rest in Peace.
Carrigkerry Community Centre, in association with West Limerick
Resourses, is providing a new information service to the general public at present. It will be similar to the service offered in the Citizen’s Advice Centre, situated in The Market Yard in Newcastle West. People are welcome to call in during working hours, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9am to 2pm. It will be closed on Tuesdays, as Doctor Murphy from Athea holds a weekly Clinic in the
Centre, from 10.30am. The citizen’s advice centre will offer information in a confidential and sensitive manner, on a wide range of subjects. These will include health, social welfare, farming issues, MABS coping with debt, household charge, changes in the recent Budget, list of available courses and job opportunities etc. People will be able to receive information leaflets, handouts and will have access to the internet to source information. This is a new service to rural areas, and is to be welcomed. We urge people to avail of it to source relevant information, in their own locality where a friendly face and plenty of parking awaits.
The County Senior Football Championship 2012 Draw took place at The Woodlands House Hotel Adare on Wednesday 1st February. A total of 12
teams in 2 groups of 6 will compete in the league section, which gives all teams 5 matches.   The top 3 teams in each group will progress to the knock-out stages later in the year and hopes are high that Saint Kieran’s will be in the shake up for the title. They are in group 2 and they will play Galbally, Father Casey’s, Saint Patrick’s, Adare  and Mountcollins. Group 1 looks stronger with Saint Senan’s, Ballysteen, Monaleen, Ballylanders,Drom/Broadford, and Newcastle West, all in contention. It is time for a West winner again and with 8 teams in contention there is a great chance of the cup returning to the division. We wish the club well in the year ahead

“Let’s propose a toast
To all our absent friends,
For every road must end,
You’re always in our hearts,
Our special absent friends”