by Tom Aherne

The death has taken place of Connie Curtin, Reen’s House, Ardagh,
peacefully at his home on Friday 17th February.  Reposing in Magner’s
Funeral Home in Rathkeale, followed by removal at 8.00pm to Saint Mary’s Church Rathkeale, on Monday 20th.  Requiem Mass at 12 noon on
Tuesday followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery. We extend
sympathy to his wife Tilly, son Larry, daughters Margaret, and Joan, brother Jerry, grandchildren, sons-in-law, daughter-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours, and friends.
May he rest in Peace.
The death has taken place of Nora Dore (nee Bucke) Balliston, Shanagolden, and late of Broadford, County Limerick. Former staff member of Saint Ita’s Hospital Newcastle West. Reposing in her
residence, all day Wednesday 22nd February. Requiem Mass in Saint
Colman’s Church Kilcolman, at 12 noon on Thursday followed by burial in the local cemetery. We extend sympathy to her husband Michael, son Paul, daughters Mary, Michelle, and Laura, brothers, and sisters, sons-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandchildren, and extended family members, neighbours, and many friends. May she rest in Peace.
The following are the Lottery results from Reen’s Bar Ardagh, on Monday 20th February. The numbers drawn were 2,21,24,25, and there was no Jackpot winner. Congratulations to the lucky dip winners.
€60 Martin Geraghty,  c/o Tom Neary.
€60 Sean Noonan, Ardagh.
€60 John Mulvihill, Athea.
€30 Bridget King, Ardagh.
€30 Seamus Behan, c/o Tom Neary.
€30 Pa Healy, Arena, Askeaton.
Next week’s draw takes place in Neary’s Bar Ardagh, and the Jackpot will be €15,000.
Congratulations to Peg Murphy and Joan Madigan, Martin Flynn and Mike
Kearney who were prize-winners at the Flag Floor card game held on Wednesday 15th February.
Congratulations to Peg Mulvihill and Jim Lynch who were first prize winners at the Shanagolden card game held on Friday 17th February.
Carrig Celtic lost 1-0 away to Killeaney in Division 1 of the Desmond League on Sunday 19th February. Carrig Celtic B lost 4-0 at home to Granagh Utd in the quarter final of the Richard Hogan Cup.
Old Mill, and Kilcolman Rovers, matches were called off because the pitches were unplayable.                

In ladies soccer Carrig Celtic defeated Glin 2-0 away in the Division 1 League Cup semi-final. Lisa Collins scored both goals, and they will play Adare in the final on Sunday 4th March in Clonreask, Askeaton.  Kilcolman Rovers had no
fixture, and await their opponents in the Desmond Cup final on Sunday 25th March also in Askeaton.
Johnny Mc Carthy from Saint Kieran’s played full back for Munster footballers in their 1-16 to 1-13 win over Leinster, in the Railway Cup semi-final in Parnell Park Dublin, on Sunday 19th February.
The club is seeking members for the Limerick Club Draw at present. It costs €10 per month, or €100 for the 10 months to enter. The prizemoney each month is attractive, and the first draw is in March, and the club gets to keep 50% of the membership entry fee.
Congratulations to Cormac Long from Rooskagh, who defeated Paul Collins from Waterford to win a Munster boxing medal in the 80kg final in Nenagh, on Saturday 18th February.
Ger O’Connor, and James O’Keeffe, on behalf of Creeves Soccer Club, recently presented a cheque for  €500, to Nora O’Grady, Chernobyl Children International at The Thatch Bar in Newbridge.
We congratulate three special ladies, Nora Barrett  Rooska West, Mary
O’Connor, and Bridie Kiely both Glensharrold who recently celebrated
their birthdays. They are three of our most senior citizens, and an example, to us all on how to enjoy life. Long may they retain good health, to sing and dance and to enjoy social events, around the locality.
Congratulations to all involved in West Limerick 102 Community Radio who were granted a 10 year licence by the B.C.I. in recent weeks. This is good news for all listeners, who avail of the service to keep up to date with all the local news, and happenings around West Limerick
and beyond.
The 5th annual Entertainment Awards night will take place at The Devon Inn Hotel Templeglantine, on Monday 12th March starting at 8.45pm.  A host of household names will be performing including Declan Nerney, Crystal Swing, Mick Flavin, and Shawn Cuddy the Amigos.  A wonderful night is guaranteed and all support will be most welcome.
Lent has arrived and with it the campaign to help the poor through Trócaire in the third World. The boxes are available in the schools and the churches, and all people are asked to collect one and to give a little over Lent to help all those less well off. The money is well spent by Trócaire to help the people to grow food send their children to school and to earn an income to help them survive in tough
conditions.
The Desmond Foxhounds will meet at Carnagh Kilcolman, on Sunday 11th
March, and at Rooskagh Hill on 25th March, at 11am.
The County Limerick senior Scór finals will be held in Cappamore Community Centre on Friday 20th March at 7pm.
The annual Desmond League Ladies Dance will be held in The Devon Inn
Hotel Templeglantine, on Saturday 31st March.
West Limerick Resources recently launched its first in a series of Community Information Points in Carrigkerry Community Centre. An
Information Assistant is available to assist people to access relevant
information on-line or in printed form should they request it.
Literature on benefits and vital services is also available to view or take away. The free service is open four days a week from 9am to 2pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and no appointment is necessary. The list of information that can be sourced include the household charge, employment training, education opportunities, switch to digital television, health services available, farming issues, MABS and coping with debt. The service will operate on a confidential and
sensitive manner, and plenty of parking available, and all are welcome. This is a great service for the locality and people should avail of it where necessary. Our thanks to Ed O’Connor, and West
Limerick Resources, for putting the service in place.
The 12th annual charity céilí in aid of Chernobyl Children International will take place in the Devon Inn Hotel Templeglantine, on Friday 2nd March at 9.30pm. Music by Taylor’s Cross Céilí Band and numerous spot prizes and admission €10. Mike Kiely a native of
Glensharrold is very involved in this fundraiser, and all support will be appreciated.
A fundraising horse and pony ride in aid of Limerick Mid-west Cancer Care and Limerick Mental Health will be held on 4th March at 12 noon, starting and finishing at The Thatch Bar Newbridge, Askeaton. Tina Scully from Askeaton is the proprietor of the bar and one of the main people behind the fundraiser, along with her family and members of the
local hunts. The cost of entry is €50 per horse and €25 per pony and they hope to raise, €15,000 for the charities. To participate, contact Dympna O’Donnell at 085 703 5261.
At our most recent Pastoral Area meeting it was decided to attend the Eucharistic Congress as a group on Tuesday, 12th June. Tickets for the Congress are €30 each and the bus fare is €15 each. You must make your own arrangements for food and refreshments. The bus will leave at 5.30am. If you are interested in travelling, you must have your name
and your money given to the priest of your parish before 4th March 2012.
There will be a meeting of our recently formed steering committee, in the sacristy in Ardagh on Tuesday night, 6th March at 8.00pm. The Redemptorists who are giving the mission will be present.

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`:�=Enrolment for Post Primary will also take place Thursday March 1^st 4pm-7pm

All staff will be available to answer all questions  in relation to all programmes.  You can contact the school at 068 61023 or e mail [email protected].

Parish of Templeglantine

International Eucharistic Congress

Dublin June 10th – 17th 2012

A bus will travel from our Pastoral Area on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of the Eucharistic Congress week to the RDS.

Those interested should give their names and contact tel no. To the following as soon as possible: Fr. Bowen 087-6532482, Mike Hayes 087-7751386, Pat Higgins 087-2034626. The cost is €35 approx including bus and entry to the RDS.

The Principal Mass of the Eucharistic Congress will be celebrated in Croke Park on June 17th. There are 18 tickets allocated to each parish. Tickets €10 each. Anybody who is interested in going should hand in their name immediately as we need to know how many are interested. We will have to have a lottery if there are more than 18 names. Those who attend the Mass will be asked to fill in a simple health and safety form for the IEC Head Office. These forms have to be in the Limerick Office by March 9th.

Anyone who registers for three consecutive days of events during the week will be guaranteed a ticket for the closing Mass in Croke Park. There are 30,000 tickets for the closing ceremony set aside for those who attend the RDS events. Therefore anyone wishing to secure a ticket for Croke Park can register for three consecutive day’s events for €60 even if they do not attend these events. These bookings can be done online at www.iec2012.ie or try IEC Dublin.

There will be a day conference, open to everybody, in Limerick, in preparation for the International conference on Sat. March 10th. in the Halla, Mary Immaculate College from 10.30 to 4.00 Cost €30 including lunch, payable on the day.

“Communion with Christ and with One Another” a talks series in preparation for the Eucharistic Conference, in Newcastlw West Pastoral Centre on March 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th from 8 – 9.30pm